#bring in the weird directors! just go ham!!!!

[sanstropfremir]

what are your thoughts on Mark’s Golden Hour? it was a lot for me like wtf were those lyrics, but I thought the visuals were cool! and it’s really different from Child last year, seeing the different solos the Neos are doing is interesting.

the visuals were soooooooooooooooooo good, its a fucking GREAT mv, maybe one of my faves this year? it's very much a return to spectacle form of taking an dumb concept and running with it to the highest possible degree. i love how much associative imagery is in the mv, both with words and shapes, i'd have to draw a crazy flow chart to track it all! it really feels like such a pure form of creating something for the sake of making something fun, which we very much need more of in kpop imo

[127luvr]

hey it’s the anon that requested the chenle fic. i think i’ll just call myself 💪anon so i have a name 😭😭 the exam was pretty good, it was similar to the practice exams we got and now i’m on like a month break til the second semester starts 🙏🙏🙏 onto the request 😈😈😈 can you write a chenle x male reader x jisung where it’s the first time the trio have been paired together for a concept shoot for their upcoming album. reader is known to be super reserved regardless of the situation. until the director tells the reader to position himself closer to chenji in order to get the perfect shots. turns out reader is battling demons which includes getting easily flustered when it comes to physical contact. chenji notice and tease reader about it. it’s a silly request but go ham with it🔥🥶🔥🥶

Work it

Zhong Chenle x Male Reader x Park Jisung

You watch Jisung from the computer screen, too scared to stare at him as he poses in real time on the football field. You’ve never been a part of a comeback this demanding. Having multiple sets for comeback teasers was usual—but having to do them for a pre-release along with the official title track was draining you. It didn’t help that the recordings weren’t fully finished. The creative directors were still deciding on which direction to go with you—something that should’ve been done before the comeback season began.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” There’s a beat. A moment of silence as Chenle shuffles to squeeze in between you and the staff monitoring the pictures. You didn’t want to burden Chenle with your troubles—nor did you want to lie to him. “Come on, you don’t have to keep up your cold persona with no cameras around.” You can tell Chenle is joking by the way his nose scrunches up, cheeks puffing out in a smile while he watches the screen with you. In an attempt to humor him further, you point at the cameras that sat in front of you—taking nonstop pictures as Jisung lays down on the grass below you.

It’s always been hard—verbalizing your thoughts to your members but you never wanted to come off as cold. You shook your head to yourself, knowing deep down that Chenle didn’t mean his comment to go beyond surface level. They didn’t mind how reserved you were as long as you were a part of the team and their family dynamic. At least—that’s what you told yourself.

“Chenle, since you’re here, do you mind joining Jisung and trying out some unit pictures? Pull inspiration from your Hello Future concept pictures.” Chenle gives you a small nod, lips forming into a thin line when he walks out into the sun to join Jisung on the field. You look back towards the monitor, only to lock eyes with the photographer who was just directing Chenle. “Let’s actually try going further back and remember the Empathy concept. It’s quite the opposite from this, but I want to bring out that ambiguous feel around the two of you.” He continues to stare down at you, his shifting eyes giving away how the gears in his head were turning. “Let’s throw (Y/n) in there. With Chenle and Jisung.”

It’s an odd combination.

Usually Chenle and Jisung were paired just the two of them—regardless of the concept. They were almost always seen together during promotions. It’s a weird feeling. Sitting in between the two men as the sun shines in your (e/c) eyes. You’re unsure of where to put yourself—scared to interfere with their chemistry alone—but the staff was clear. You were to sit in between them and create a barrier. The shoot started out awkward—stiff—as the three of you got the hang of posing with each other. They had no problem in working with each other, no problem with leaning into you or incorporating their bodies to help with the shoot but there was something off.

You.

“(Y/n), I want you to get closer to them, bring them towards you. Think of like this—you’re the sun and they’re the sunflowers. They’re attracted to you, they want to go to you specifically. Chenle, Jisung, there’s nothing wrong with guiding him if you so please.” There’s no telling if your rosy cheeks are from the makeup—the heat—or the flush of embarrassment that came with sitting knee to knee with both boys. You can feel their eyes on you, hard and unblinking as you snake one arm to rest on Chenle’s waist, and the other to rest on Jisung’s thigh. Chenle brings his head to your shoulder, arching his back into you—forcing you to tighten your grip around him. You feel his faint breath on your chest, and you hope he can’t feel how fast your heart is beating.

“(Y/n).” Jisung’s long fingers catch you off guard as they pull your attention away from Chenle. “Pay attention to me.” He brings you to face him head to head, hand still resting just under your jaw. You can hear the endless shutters of the camera—never forgetting that this was only for show. It was to bring in fans and talk towards the shoot. But everything the two men did felt premeditated. Every glance they shared before speaking or touching you suggestively had you confused.

Although you failed to make eye contact with Jisung, he had your full attention. He moved the tips of his fingers from your jaw to just under your chin, hooded eyes never breaking away from you. You shifted your gaze from the moles that sat on his face to his round lips. You don’t even feel your mouth drop—hand clammy as it sits stiff on Jisung’s bare thigh.

“(Y/n).” Chenle’s voice breaks away the spell that Jisung seems to have on you. He has a glint in his eyes, a certain mischief that you usually see directed towards Jisung. He adjusts himself to rest his head on your lap, staring up at you as his hair fans out on your thighs. You can feel Jisung’s gaze on you as you stare down at Chenle—whose eyes move to look at Jisung next to you.

“Perfect!”

The photographer breaks you away from both of them—capturing a picture that leaves you with your mouth hanging open and the eyes of both men on you as you sit with your ankles crossed. You feel Chenle’s body shake as he chuckles—eyes clenched shut as he lets his mouth hang open in pure amusement. It doesn’t take long for Jisung to join him, his face scrunching up as he laughs silently. Jisung brings a hand up towards your hair, tucking a strand behind your ear as he leans in to whisper in your ear. You tense up again—the faint touch of his lips on your ear causing you to shiver. “You’re so easy to rile up, you know?”

He sucks as whispering—his comment falling on Chenle’s ears too when he finally manages to calm down. His hand finds a way down your back, and you’re done wondering if it was the sun making you feel stuffy and flushed under their touch. Finally giving in to the affection that seems to come naturally to them even as a shoot. Not that it didn’t still catch you off guard but now you were aware of them purposefully messing with you, it was easier to handle.

[theharpermovieblog]

#HARPERSMOVIECOLLECTION

2023

https://www.tumblr.com/theharpermovieblog?source=share

I watched A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

I've definitely seen this before. The reason I didn't view this as a re-watch is because I don't remember jack shit about it. Did I think a young Robert Downey Jr. Was in this movie? Yes I did. Is he in this? Nope.

Child Killer Freddy Krueger returns, once again, to get revenge on the surviving Dream Warriors of the last film, and to begin a new reign of terror.

Go look up Director Renny Harlin on Google and you'll immediately know what kind of director he is. I'm not a huge fan, because he mostly makes Action and Adventure films with more interest in the action and Adventure than substance. Which, I admit, isn't exactly a bad thing all the time. (Especially when you're making a movie that's all about the kill sequences.)

So, when I found out Renny Harlin directed one of the Nightmare films I figured it had to be, at the very least, entertaining. And, I'll give it this movie right off the bat, it features some great songs.

For all it's flaws, I like the third Nightmare on Elm Street, which this movie is a direct follow up to as far as story. It's not a masterpiece, but it has a fun concept in having kids have dream powers they can is to fight Freddy Krueger. It also has some classic Freddy lines and kills.

Nightmare 4 takes the survivors of the third film and makes them completely incapable of stopping Freddy. Killing off the two returning cast members very quickly, and then pretty immediately killing off Tuesday Knight, the actress replacing Patricia Arquette.

So much for the Dream Warriors. On to the new kids.

The whole plot of this movie is simply: Freddy is back and 2 dimensional characters will give us just enough information about themselves so that each kill can relate to each character. Which is fine, I wasn't expecting much. There is plenty of Freddy and plenty of interesting and weird dream kills.

In-between kills we mostly get vague exposition with bad lines like, "Maybe Freddy can't get to the new kids unless there's someone to bring em' to him." Yes, the dialogue isn't great and the characters aren't much of an anchor, but who cares? We're all here for Freddy.

Robert Englund hams it up as Freddy as usual. He is creepy enough in some of the segments, but overall just an enjoyable bad guy.

The special effects are good and there is some cool imagery.

If you're looking for a Nightmare movie that's basically just kills, this is the one for you. It's devoid of any real plot and is really easy to sit through while mindlessly waiting for someone to die.

I guess Renny Harlin knew what the audience wanted and he gave it to them.

I was gonna watch Nightmare 5 after this, but I really don't want to now. I didn't have a bad time with Freddy, but I've had enough.

[soldrawss]

Aight I'm asking.

Any headcanons for the Warner siblings?

You seriously make we wanna protect them with my life, good job!!

YOU ASKED FOR IT! HERES A LITTLE LIST OF HC I HAVE FOR MY Warner Brothers Human au! (note: a lot of this was taken from both the new and old show in little one time gags but I decided to take them anyway and use it for here)

Yakko, Wakko, and Dot are adopted by Dr. Scrathansniff when they’re kids and become his legal wards. (They were living on the streets before, much like how they are at the beginning of Wakko’s Wish). They keep their last name, Warner.

Dr. Scratchansniff is a psychiatrist on a film lot in Burbank for the actors there. He sometimes brings the kids with him when he can’t find a babysitter, and even though for the most part they behave themselves, they are also often seen sneaking off and running havoc in the studios and playing pranks on actors and directors. (Though they can be annoying and they often have to have Ralph the security guard keep an eye on them, they do have a soft spot for the little Warners, and they adore Scratchy, so they tolerate the children running amok with threaded patience and understanding)

That premise being stated, lets move on to some fun facts

Yakko can’t swim

Dot snores in her sleep

Wakko sleepwalks and sleep eats

Yakko is an insomniac, and sometimes the only way he’ll fall asleep is if Scratchy reads him some of his thesis papers on mental health and psychological disorders (which works every time)

Wakko’s deathly afraid of clowns. Like, bone-chilling, heart will stop beating right then and there, terrified of them.

It’s a running gag in the family that Yakko has deep pants pockets, and he just keeps the most random items in there. Bandaids and house keys and chapstick are one thing, but a toy hammer, a miniature head of Dwayne the Rock Johnson, and a bag of salami sticks are on a whole new level of weird. Dot and Wakko find endless joy in the game “what’s in Yakko’s pockets” though, so Yakko doesn’t really mind the weird side glances he gets.

Yakko wants to be a history teacher when he’s older.

Wakko is the most protective of his siblings. Yakko prefers dealing with a disagreement with his words, but Wakko will straight up throw down with anyone who looks at their siblings backward. They’re not afraid to throw a punch or two, and biting isn’t playing dirty when Scratchy isn’t around.

Wakko is, of course, non-binary. He/them pronouns. 

Dot is very politically charged always, and often prefers to watch the news channel over cartoons.

Dot also loves to sew. Yakko taught her to sew long ago when they were still orphans living on the street, (Dot wanting to learn to make herself useful since she was too young and meek to do much else to help support them like Yakko and Wakko could, so she took up to fixing their old and worn clothes) Now it’s a fun hobby she enjoys. Wakko is often her mannequin/model.

Dot used to get sick a lot, and still sorta has a weak immune system, even though she hardly gets sick now that she has a healthy and stable life with Dr. Scratchansniff. (This leads to the brothers being extra protective of her)

Dot and Wakko are auditory learners, so Yakko used to make up all kinds of songs in the form of lessons to help them understand a school subject or topic of discussion or just general facts. (Which also ended up instilling in him a love for teaching)

Wakko chews on his hoodie strings when he’s bored or nervous. (Stimming by chewing)

Dot has a green thumb. Yakko fucking does not.

Wakko is a really great cook and has a natural palate and understanding of food combinations, so even though he’s never used a recipe, he can actually just make most things from scratch just by figuring out how they’re supposed to taste and go from there. (His specialty is sandwiches, but he also likes to experiment. Scratchy doesn’t like to dissuade Wakko’s creativity, even if it does occasionally lead to a small kitchen fire or mess, and lets him go ham in the kitchen (safely) whenever the creative mood strikes him, because in the end, most of his stuff does actually end up tasting good.)

Yakko can actually speak Japanese pretty well. He never tells Scratchy how or where he learned it from, which drives the doctor insane.

[bigskydreaming]

Hot take that all of the bats are theatre kids but on varying ends of the spectrum. Like Dick? 110% the legitimate performer. Jason? Just here cause he's weirdly obsessed with Shakespeare. Tim is the kid manning the stage effects. I haven't broken down the rest of them yet but I know in my bones that it works. Stephanie's probably a diva or always plays the fool

Yessssssss. Theater is absolutely the one thing that could unite them. Chaotically. Also potentially disastrously. Eh, semantics.

But Dick is of course a ham and I do believe he genuinely enjoys ‘taking a break from himself’ to immerse himself behind a cover identity.....but more than that, I honestly believe he’d love directing and putting his skills with coaxing potential out of people individually or in groups to use for something purely hobby-ish. 

Jason I also see as someone who potentially could love acting for a similar reason I see as behind his love of reading....its the vacation from the self or his own life, the trip in someone else’s shoes or story. Through books, and also acting, the ‘you can be anything you set your mind to’ thing has actual practicality. 

Tim I could see enjoying being the tech guy, but also I could see him liking the directing side of things too, or actually lots of different parts of the process, from script to stage.....like, I dislike when fandom focuses overly much on Tim as the tech guy because it tends to go hand in hand with acting like everyone else but Babs is clueless at such stuff, and also death to the instinctive correlation between smarts and tech like that’s the only possible place to showcase genius or the obvious go-to for how to show a smart person is smart, death to that I say, death and murder and also annihilation. But more than that its that IMO its not tech that Tim likes/focuses on in particular, its workshopping stuff. Taking something from idea to fruition, and being responsible for shepherding its progress every step of the way. 

Cass of course loves dancing and everything to do with it, but another headcanon I’ve always had is that Cass potentially could love choreographing dance. If dance appeals to Cass because its spoken in her first language, that of movement and the body, think about the potential that lies in not just the fact that dance innately is meant to put everyone else for once on the same page as her, watching the dancer for the story they’re telling with their movements.....but through choreographing others, Cass has the opportunity to tell stories of her own for other people to ‘hear’....again, in that same language so to speak. To communicate through others’ movements the way others’ movements normally just speak to her.

Damian I could see a case being made for him gravitating to literally any aspect of theater first out of his innate competitiveness....if his siblings have a skill, he wants to prove its perfectly within his own capabilities as well....but then discovering that oh no, he actually likes a lot of this, what trickery is this, he has been bamboozled, clearly Grayson is behind this, this....insidious attempt to....make him do things just because he “enjoys” them. What utter rot. And other such thoughts and inner rantings that all just further provide proof that this boy was BORN to monologue, and oh look, a stage for such monologues. Also, stage combat? Okay, having to pull his actual punches irks, but the applause for knocking a class rival to the ground instead of censure because he was directed to, look its literally in the script......that’s a plus. Because Damian’s unique form of middle-school Machiavellianism is such that he absolutely would audition for a role for no other reason than the role calls for doing something terrible to the character of someone he immensely dislikes (or just finds tedious, hey its a spectrum), and getting to spend a couple hours every week doing so is catharctic in a way the family isn’t entirely sure they want to encourage but hey, can’t argue with results.

Duke I also could see taking a lot of different routes, but I think he’s another one who would do really well in the director’s chair, coaxing potential classmates didn’t even know they had out of a performance. In the sense that yeah, I think he’s one of the closest to Dick personality wise so a lot of the reasons I see that being ideal for Dick are why I see it working for him as well, but also just like....the way it naturally calls back to the fact that part of his meta powers is he literally boosts the powers of other metas. He has a knack for bringing stuff out of people.

Stephanie is the understudy that’s just there to goof off and have fun, its a nice, relaxing A and that’s the only reason she’s in theater class or using drama club as an extracurricular that can afford her skipping a rehearsal or two or three.....but for all her big talk of “Pffft, nerds, I just came for the stage combat class and stayed because I forgot what else I was going to do’.....she just happens to know all the lines and mouths them along with the actors on stage and gets personally offended when they mess up because they’re doing it BADLY and ugh are they trying to suck this hard or are they just naturally gifted at that part, here, lemme show you how its done, and that’s how she accidentally rom-com scenarios her way into being the star of the show two hours before curtain call or else the plucky impromptu interim director when the real one quits in a fit of high school theater histrionics, or y’know, is made to quit when Stephanie incites a mutiny among the cast because that’s kinda plausible to tbh. Look, there are options here is all I’m saying.

And then Babs as well I see as being not so much in a particular single role at the exception of all others, but whatever puts her most in the driver’s seat of taking something from idea to opening night, like starting with a script maybe, hell even just the line producer or script supervisor, and then accidentallying her way into more and more creative responsibilities and control because the parts just start to come together more easily/readily when she’s rearranging the pieces into orders and in ways that make more sense to others and they find themselves gravitating to, because maybe this was just a local community thing people were doing for fun or to blow off steam but without even noticing a change it starts to take more and more shape as an actual thing as she finds her groove and sees how to improve on this scene here or tighten up things here or what happens when these two actors swap roles and then almost belatedly people are like oh wait, this doesn’t just HAVE to be fun hobby shenanigans this could also be something actually good too, weird thought, hey did anyone else know things could be both fun AND good? Is this a thing or are we in uncharted waters here.

[matt0044]

“Now I’ll show you furry power!”

Anyways, our episode begins properly with in media res with the Dino Fury Megazord‘s Blade Formation against one Doomsnake. It’s a story structure rarely seen these days but one that I welcome since it breaks up the usual “slice-of-life antics interrupted by monsters” routine that tends to be the norm.

Add to that, it gives us the sense that this is just yet another day in the life of the Rangers as they fight the usual Sporix after but a few episodes in. It also leads to a pretty effective introduction to the next beast. Wolfgang uses his sonic bombardment as a means to disassemble the Megazord without even going big. This allows Mucus to go off and collect Doomsnake in his dormancy.

The Rangers bail in order to assess the situation when a poorly CGI bird flutters in and reveals himself to be... Mic Kanic. Yep, the objectively best character of Ninja Steel next to Victor and Monty has graced us with his eccentricity once again with Kelson Henderson going full ham. As the only person on Earth who liked Ninja Steel, I feel validated like nobody’s business.

It seems that Mic’s been quite the busy bee during Beast Morphers as he’s been getting selfies with over forty Rangers from all over the universe. I’m guessing some of them had “new powers” so to speak but it’s a damn shame we didn’t see if Kelson Henderson did get selfies with past actors for his return.

However, Mic’s also been on the lookout for the Ninja Nexus Prism’s current whereabouts and tracking it back to Earth. I love that they’re following Beast Morphers’ lead by casually reintroducing concepts from past seasons to tie them into the here and now. It’s still self-contained enough to not need to’ve seen Ninja Steel but might give some who missed out a moment to consider it.

Seriously, I feel like that season deserves a bit more of a reevaluation.

Needless to say, Zayto is quick to dismiss the idea of a semi-sentient floating piece of pressurized rock as an ancient alien warrior who fought on dinosaurs. Then again, he’s still pretty miffed that the zords got taken apart like Legos. It doesn’t get much better when Mucus overhears their little chat about the prism.

Later at BuzzBlast, Jane is hosting a baking stream with a totally real cake that’s totally not a prop when Mic sneaks in a delivered package to use their computers. I loved that Dino Fury is getting a lot more millage out of his shapeshifting compared to Ninja Steel where they wouldn’t “forget” but never really utilize since he and Redbot were the Alphas, forging up stars in the base.

J-Borg exposes Mic before he can use their database for any Ninja Nexus Prism sightings but he shape-shifts into a ball and bounces all over the place. Three guesses at to what he knocks right into Jane. It seems she choose the wrong day to make one of Chase’s exploding cakes from New Zealand. Way too bold. He makes a clean getaway from BuzzBlast only for one Wolfgang to corner him.

The Rangers assemble in time and give Mic a chance to become a toy race car. Methinks they were using old stuff they found in the garage for filming. It turns out the Wolfgang’s sonic bombardment can neutralize the Boost Key armaments the girls use. They decide to soon retreat with Mic back to HQ fast.

While Void Knight channels his inner Lord Zedd, Mic gives a rundown on the Ninja Nexus Prism itself with a data pack filled to the brim with Power Rangers history. I’m guessing that either he compiled it from Grid Battleforce’s archives or he’s the one who helped them with Ranger history. I sort of wish they used more clips of Ninja Steel to tease new viewers of past teams and their battles.

Solon helps to locate the prism’s location on their mapping system and sends the Rangers out to confirm its location. All the while, Mic decides to plan ahead by going into the kitchen. Kelson Henderson is clearly having a blast with the character’s constant gesticulations like he’s a YouTuber doing his DIY videos. :)

The Rangers find the Ninja Nexus Prism seemingly scanning the lake for something. Zayto decides to step up and engage his Rafkonian antennae in order to probe the prism’s memories. It’s hear where we get the origins of the Ninja Steel powers... two seasons after its finale. Better late than never I guess.

I kid though. I love that we’re getting new details of a past season by way of Zayto learning that the Morphin’ Masters of old created the Ninja Nexus Prism. In fact, they forged the Energems of Dino Charge as well as the Dino Gems from Dino Thunder from the visuals given. Now that’s good diagetic fanservice.

We even get brief clips of Ninja Steel’s Levi getting his Power Star followed up by Beast Morpher’s Steel in his final moments trying to stop Evox. I guess this means that the Masters brought him back to life as human when the Morph-X returned to the Grid. Previous plot contrivance now solved or more convoluted?

You make the call!

Boomtower and Wolfgang crash the party only for the Prism to NOPE right into the water. The Rangers find themselves pinned under barrels and boxes while Wolfgang’s sonic attack threatens to bring down the cliff on them. Thankfully, Mic’s Ninja Power Star throw hasn’t gotten rusty as he arrives and throws a treat into the mouth, making their foe sound like Eddy after Rolf’s pimple cure.

With no other option, Wolfgang grows before Boomtower taps into his residual Sporix power-up to gain a few inches himself. The Rangers pull out their Megazord’s Warrior Formation where all of their Zords combine. We even get a cool finisher that finishes off Boomtower where holograms of the other formations get a hit in. Are we sure that Judd Lynn isn’t still on the writing team?

Bye-Bye, Boomer. Hope you get rebuilt as another Ryusoulger villain soon.

While Mucus catches Boomtower’s Sporix, the Rangers manage to finish off Wolfgang with a weird edit of what was obviously an impalement. That Sporix Izzy catches by cutting off Mucus. Void Knight is temperamental over such a mixed bag of a day until he goes into his secret chamber and reveals to us his long lost love stuck in stasis. It’s clear that the Sporix’re all meant to revive her.

Hang on a second.

A villain with a violet color scheme utilizing a hero’s power and initially working alone in seeking out a specific source of power that can revive his love. Why’s it that I feel that Keith Silverstein would be voicing this guy if production still outsourced voice over to Los Angeles? Hell, I would be shocked if the Gold Ranger was his secret son and loved cheese a lot. *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*

Back at the base, the Rangers fill in for the Jays by ending the episode with some of Mic’s initial prototypes for his No Howl Treats. Either that or the ADR director forgot everybody’s recordings and had to resort to random noise in their sound library. Solon fixes it by bursting everybody’s eardrums. As you do.

Sadly, Mr. Kanic has Prisms to pursue and catches his Space Taxi back to the Lion Galaxy where he might open a steakhouse. I really hope they can adapt next Kyuranger if only to see the team stop by for a meal. Then again, Hasbro needs to sort out their Super Sentai problem before things get a little bit uglier.

[facepalming-since-chernobyl]

If you ever want to write a full account of your hospital stay, I'm so here for it. I want it all: the farts, the grannies, the fighting over windows, the other weirdos, why you want to murder the doctor and how your fam will help you get away with it, the works. Start writing while I grab the popcorn! 🍿

Ok, don’t remember what I have said here already, so I’ll give a full story plus some flashbacks from my childhood.

-I got 4 grannies in my room, the average age: 65+

-granny number one: ultra Catholic, made a cross on my forehead (I was so shocked, I didn’t say a shit, aside of screaming in my head – woman?! Covid restrictions?! Keep your distance?!), a farmer woman (one day she just said that when she wants a chicken soup, she goes outside, catches the chicken, chops the head and make a soup – the faces of the other grannies - PRICELESS), praying in weird moments, instead of sweat pants, wearing dress shirts and dress pants (and you know, we were doing physical exercises there???), loving dirty jokes and making them A LOT,

-granny number two – tiny old sweet lady (she was like 80 something years old?), usually sitting in the corner or on the balcony and praying silently, she was like Catholic kamikaze, she sometimes was sitting on the balcony and praying for FIVE HOURS, oh, and once shitted her pants

-granny number three – ex school director, Miss Ooooow, Ooooow, came with 2 suitcases and occupied ½ of the wardrobe (for example, I managed to put all my things in my night stand), was very surprised I came with so little clothes and was washing them, was crying when she had to wash her hair because she always goes to hairdresser…

-granny number four – on a wheelchair, my best pal, making her own cigarettes at evenings on the canteen (a place where the meals were served, close to the balcony), as much done with the other ladies as I was,

-our room were filled with weird Turkish soap operas (the first time they turned the television on some Mahmud wanted to kill some Bahar and the dialogues were so cringy I had to check if it was a real show and surprisingly it was). Every day after I was evacuating my ass to the canteen or to the balcony where I was reading (I’ve finished 19 books and my ass still hurts because of the fucking hard chairs).

-if it was not a Turkish soap opera, it was Polish News on the public channel (Imagine FOX news), so every fucking day when it was played, the traitors of Polishness and Polish tradition and the only good ruling party like me, were gathering in the canteen. We were like a few folks (me, the granny number 4 and some dude doing crosswords and having super high blood pressure, mostly because all dudes from his room were watching the news and agreeing with everything what was said there)

-food, examples

-so I was not eating too much, so granny number one made a cross on my forehead and blessed me, so I would eat more and have a strength to give birth to children – I shit you not

-when I said I don’t want children – they almost had a collective heart attack. I decided to not reveal my other social, religion and political opinions, because I would be strangled to death in my sleep by a rosary one night

-one day I was stupid too much and didn’t leave the room while they were watching Polish Fox News and while half listening to the bullshit I probably made a fuck-my-life-face. When they ask what I was thinking about, my, a fucking idiot, said that about the vanity of life. They almost got another collective heart attack and almost ran to the nurses, no idea why but whatever

-Granny number 3, was afraid of other people snoring, because she had problems with sleep. In the end she was the one who snored the loudest

-there was an opening/closing the windows war. Granny 1 had sick lungs and asthma and whatever so was always closing the window because she was getting pneumonia and oh my god, while Granny 3 had problems with breathing, was suffocating and oh my God, so she was always opening the window. Granny number 3 was always opening the window while other already left for the meals, while Granny number 1 was always returning first and complaining SOMEONE was trying to kill her with the cold air and closing the windows. HILAROUS stuff

-on the end of the first week I ACCIDENTALLY broke a small window that was situated on the top, a window that supposedly was not meant to be open, so for the next 2 weeks we had a window opened ALL the time. Don’t ask why no one called some dudes to fix it, I have no idea, but thanks to it I survived the nights full of symphonies of farts

-that one day they gave us beans for the dinner and boy, you can only imagine

-one day we got a meat chops with a crispy batter. If you added the batter on the bottom to the batter on the top of the meat, they were thicker than meat itself

-all soups tasted the same. One day they gave us a soup and I was SURE it was a pickled cucumber soup and I was AMAZED that they managed to make it without cucumbers. Then I have learnt it was a sorrel soup *sad music in the background*

-the grannies loved to motherhen me for some reason. For example, I was sitting politely in the canteen, reading another fucking book, when one of them came and said I should not read so much, it’s unhealthy and they are worried about me. I was blinking for 30 seconds, wondering if laughing like a mad hyena would make them having another collective heart attack. In the end I just mhm-ed and continued reading.

-later I have learnt they were behaving like that, because they thought I was in middle school…

-basically, I was the youngest person on the ward and some nurses and other patients felt sorry for me because I didn’t have anyone in my age to talk… and I was like… why the fuck I should have been feeling sad? I could read and NOT TALK??? Also, or reading or murdering the grannies with a plastic spoon in their sleep, so thank you very much, leave my ass alone.

-on one dinner I basically ate pasta with pepper, because the spinach, guys, the spinach was awful and I’m not going to traumatize you with the pic

-I had a deal with the crosswords dude during breakfasts and suppers – was giving him ham and cold meat, he was giving me jam

-the Granny number one was SLEEP SINGING one night

-two days per every week some farmer was coming and selling his vegetables and fruits. Guys, all patients were buying food there, for sure I was weeping while buying plums, apples and tomatoes.

-Granny number three was super annoying and acting like a bitch aka typical ex school director, because when she wanted to watch something in TV at night, she always did even if the others were upset, but when she wanted to go to sleep at 9 she owww owwww owwwwed and was turning the lights off. So, sometimes I was returning at 9 to the room and it was dark. And there were no night bedside lamps, so it meant you needed to go to sleep too. At fucking 9.

-the face of one dude who was eating with us on one table was always priceless every time when he was opening the boxes. It was a personification of a man who was done, crying inside and knowing he can’t escape

-the most traumatizing experience after my hip surgery was PEEING. The nurse brought me a bed pan and I needed to pee while laying on my back and it was weirdly difficult, maybe because the nurse was standing over me, talking to another patient. Also, I can’t imagine taking a shit while laying, but whatever. On one moment after like a minute me trying hard, she put a hand on my stomach and said, oh so hard. My face was probably a mix between: ==’ and O.O. But in the end I succeeded, yay…

-another traumatizing experience is measuring the temperature every morning around 6. You know, you are sleeping, but suddenly feel some movement, so you open your eyes and a nurse, wearing a mask is aiming a thermometer that looks like a gun at your forehead. Amazing feeling

-I talked with some dude who had the same surgery aka hip removal, but he was not sleeping so he herd everything, and said how blood was gushing all over the place and the surgeons and the nurse was bringing the artificial hips three times, because the surgeons were not sure if they are the good ones. FUN

-btw, the first time when I saw a dead body was in a hospital. There was a ward where one room was for children, the rest was for adults after accidents etc. Sometimes someone died and they were usually putting the dead body to the bathroom on the corridor (no toilets at the rooms, it was one of the two bathrooms for whole ward). They usually put an “out of service” paper on the door, but sometimes they forgot about it. So, one night, me, sleepy and yawning went to the toilet, opened the door and hellooooooooooo the end of my innocence.

-the most stressful experience from my childhood hospital stayings was “did you defecate yesterday”? Because if you didn’t for a few days an enema was waiting

[jumukus]

A3! Translation: Muku Sakisaka’s SSR [Mankai Encore] - Encore: Florence

translation under the cut.

Kumon: Haa~...

Muku: The water feels so good…

Kazunari: Real onsen is indeed different!

Misumi: It has a nice element for the body~.

Tenma: I feel refreshed.

Yuki: It also has a nice atmosphere.

Kumon: A'ight… Take this, water gun attack!

Kazunari: Whoa!

Nice one, Kumopi! Okay, I'm gonna launch a counterattack!

Misumi: Me too! Me too~!

Kazunari: Let's attack Tenten too!

Tenma: Whoa!

Kumon: Ahaha! Tenma-san, nice reaction you have there!

Kazunari: You look good with the water dripping on you~.

Tenma: Damn y'all… Fine, take this!

Yuki: So noisy…

Muku: Fufu, they look like they're having fun.

Misumi: Say, say! Let's take turns washing each other's backs~!

Kazunari: Sounds great! Let's do it, guys!

Yuki: Keep in mind that we won't be able to go onstage if we slip and get injured.

Kumon: Got it!

Tenma: For crying out loud…

Kazunari: But man, given how nice this feels, it surely makes you wanna go on an onsen tour!

Muku: If I'm not mistaken, the health benefit for each onsen is different.

I've read this on a shoujo manga called "Let's Love ☆ Steaming Onsen". It's said that each onsen also has different types of water.

Tenma: I didn't know an onsen-themed manga exists…

Yuki: Makes me curious what kind of story it is.

Kazunari: Looks like there's also a place where we can do rafting nearby! Isn't that like, super interesting!?

Kumon: Rafting is that one activity where we cruise the river with a boat, right!? I wanna try it!

Misumi: It seems fun~!

Yuki: I got super tired just from hearing the description.

Kazunari: Don't say that, Yukki! C'mon, join us~!

Misumi: Let's do river rafting~!

Kumon: Oh, speaking of, didn't you say there's a place you wanna go to, Muku?

Tenma: Hm? Is that so?

Muku: Ehehe...yeah. The truth is, there's a place that I've been interested in--.

***

Izumi: Whoa…!

Kumon: Amazing~!

Kazunari: Dude, this castle is no joke!

Misumi: It looks like the one in fairytales~!

Tenma: It's a Muku-like place.

Muku: This place is used for the live-action adaptation of my favorite shoujo manga.

It's also used for other works so I'd like to go visit it once…

Izumi: That means, this place is like a holy land to Muku-kun.

Muku: Yes! Now that I see it in person, this castle is really beautiful…!

Izumi: (Muku-kun looks so happy. His eyes are sparkling.)

Kazunari: Hey, guys, look! The people over there are walking around in a dress and a suit!

Misumi: They look like a princess and a prince~.

Muku: You can borrow costumes and experience being a princess here.

Kazunari: In that case, why don't you try wearing one, Muku!?

Yuki: Not experiencing being a princess, but a prince.

Tenma: And it's not everyday that you get to wear costumes at a real castle.

Izumi: Even though you can be a prince on the stage, it's not like we can build a real castle like this to accompany you.

Muku: But… But since we're all here, I'd like to…

Yuki: Oh, please. A group of men walking around in suits will stand out like a sore thumb.

Kazunari: It's okay! We're fine just seeing you in a prince costume, Mukkun!

Misumi: Prince Muku~!

Kumon: How about we play rock, paper scissors and the loser has to accompany muku in a dress!?

Kazunari: Sounds great! It seems fun!

Tenma: Huuh!? We can just have Director-san wear it.

Izumi: Huh!? No, I'm fine, guys.

Yuki: Besides, it'd be more interesting if you guys wear one.

Kazunari: That's it~!

Misumi: You won't wear one, Yuki~?

Yuki: There'll be no damage even if I wear one.

Tenma: Ugh--.

Muku: But is it really okay to decide it with rock paper scissors?

Kazunari: No problem☆ Let's do it right away!

Summer Troupe: Rock paper…

Kumon: Uuhh…

Tenma: That's your karma for bringing it up.

Yuki: Do you really have to be that arrogant?

Kazunari: Kumopi, you're totes adorbs! Let's take some snaps for commemoration!

Misumi: It looks good on you, Kumon~!

Izumi: While you still look very much like a boy, you guys sure go all out with the wig, huh.

Muku: Kyu, Kyu-chan, I'm sorry…

Kumon: ...You don't need to. I'm gonna try to be a princess that is perfect for you!

Muku: Kyu-chan…! Me too, then. I'll escort you properly!

Misumi: Good luck, you two~!

Yuki: The heck is this?

Kumon: Okaay! I'll do my best to be princess-like…

--Huh, whoa! Walking in heels is so hard…

Izumi: Kumon-kun, close your legs a little bit more and try to walk on your toes.

Kumon: Huh, like this? Oh, I think it's a little bit easier than earlier!

Izumi: That's right, you're doing great! If you pay attention to this, the way you walk will also look beautiful.

Kumon: I see!

Muku: Shall we go, then, princess?

Kumon: I shall be in your care, my prince!

Tenma: Why do you have to speak like that…*

Izumi: (Fufu. This is somehow heartwarming.)

Muku: Be careful, Kyu-chan. There's a steps here.

Kumon: Thanks, Muku.

My legs are already killing me… Makes me realize how amazing girls are to be able to walk in heels.

Muku: It's even more amazing since there are people who can actually run in heels.

Oh, Kyu-chan. Do you have a moment?

Kumon: What's up?

Muku: This is the place where the hero and heroine met in the drama.

Kumon: Heh, I see!

In that case, let's take a pic that Kazu-san--huh?

Muku: ...Don't tell me we got separated?

Kumon: What, what should we do? Sorry, this is because I'm walking slowly…

Muku: No, it's totally fine. Let's take our time.

Kumon: …

Muku: Kyu-chan?

Kumon: Muku is really a prince. You're a kind and cool prince that is loved by everyone!

I'm so happy that I can meet your Prince Florence again!

Muku: Kyu-chan…

Me too! I have a lot of fun performing with your Broto.

Kumon: Hehe, glad to hear that. Let's do our best for the repeat performance, Your Highness!

Misumi: Ah~! Muku and Kumon are here~!

Tenma: I thought you got lost.

Yuki: They're not you, duh.

Izumi: Sorry, we were busy searching for a place to shoot we ended up getting separated…

Kazunari: I've found a suppeeeeer Instagrammable spot over there! Let's take the snap there!

Kumon: Okay!

Izumi: Kumon-kun, are your legs not hurt? Can you keep going?

Misumi: Shall I carry you, Kumon~?

Yuki: How about Muku do it?

Muku: Huh!? I-I don't know if I can do it…

Kumon: I'm, I'm fine!

Izumi: (Thank goodness they looked like they were having fun.)

***

Izumi: Phew, the dress rehearsal ended without any problems! All that's left is the show…

Muku: Ah… Since I'm such a frozen ham, I may cause you all troubles by standing in the wrong position…

Kumon: Me too… What if I go onstage without my cloak…

Izumi: Looks like their pessimism has been activated, huh…

Tenma: You're nervous again? Seriously?

Yuki: Just get used to it already.

Misumi: You'll be alright~! You'll be alright~!

Kazunari: Let's take on the stage with full motivation!

Muku: You, you're right.

Tenma: So, what are we gonna do for our huddle today?

Kumon: Both of us came up with something again!

Muku: First, put one of your hand forward… Like you're asking for a dance with the princess!

Yuki: Oh my god, not the cringy stuff again…

Kazunari: That's totes prince-like!

Misumi: As expected of Muku~.

Kumon: Let's go, Muku!

Muku: Yep!

--Alright, let's go! Let's go find the flower of destiny!

T/N: Kumon actually uses the typical suffix wa which is usually used by females hence why Tenma is questioning his way of speaking.

Izumi: (During Florence's journey to find his ideal bride along with his retainer Broto, he helped Rose who got caught in a trap.)

Florence: “Look, you're fine now. Your wound is slight, fortunately.”

Rose: "Tell me, which part of this is fine? And what's with this floral print bandage?"

Florence: "This is a custom bandage that is developed by the royal family household's bandage brand. It's both practical and beautiful."

Rose: "Does it really need to be this flashy?"

Broto: "It's not."

Izumi: (Both Muku-kun and Kumon-kun are finally relaxed after releasing their tension with the huddle just now. Even Yuki-kun is doing great.)

(Muku-kun's gesture and movements are also more refined and beautiful than before.)

***

Izumi: (Florence arrives in the East Country to propose to a woman of unmatched beauty…)

Florence: "So this is the castle of the East Country. It's really big."

Linkle: "Not as big as mine, though."

Florence: "...You are? I suppose you're living in an extremely big castle."

Linkle: "I'm the second prince of Star Country, Linkle. Fufu. I never knew such a short prince like you does exist."

Florence: "That's right. I'm sure you've never seen such a short and beautiful prince like me, right?"

Shine: "What an overconfident prince."

Florence: "Who are you?"

Shine: "I'm the first prince of Moon Country, Shine."

Florence: "Nice to meet you. I'm Florence from Flower Country."

Sunny: "My name is Sunny. Keep that in mind."

Rose: "...The princes are all weird."

Broto: "I think so too."

Izumi: (Tenma-kun and the others are doing great from the start. They're able to bring out each prince's personalities well.)

***

Izumi: (In order to break the princess' curse, Florence heads to the Moon Country to search for moondrops that can grant your wish.)

Shine: "Are you looking for the moondrops? You'll get there faster if you use the path over there."

Florence: "I see! Thank you. I'm wondering if it's all right for us to take the left path?"

Shine: "You can. I shall go over there--."

Florence: "Wait a minute! I have no idea where to go after that."

Shine: "Turn right at the end of the road…"

Florence: "Then, after that…"

Shine: "You sure are asking in detail, huh. Do you perhaps have no sense in direction?"

Florence: "You are actually right. Thank you for telling me the way."

Broto: "This is my first time hearing such a thing, though."

Rose: "This is making me worried all of sudden."

***

Izumi: (By the time they arrive at the place, the moondrops have already been taken by the Moon Prince. That is when they realize that he purposely made them take a detour to buy him more time.)

(They are now heading to the Sun Country to look for the stone that can grant any wishes…)

Sunny: "See, look at this. They're all the sa--."

Florence: "Whoaaah!?"

Broto: "It's shining so brightly!"

Sunny: "This is--."

Florence: "Is this perhaps the stone of the sun!?"

"I have no doubt about it… It's so dazzling just like me!"

Broto: "I can't believe you're still acting like this even during this time…"

Florence: "On a second thought, I was wrong. It's not as dazzling as my beauty."

Sunny: "Quit it with the whole dazzling thing!"

Izumi: (Florence and the others' next destination is the Star Country. In this country, it's said that there's a sand of the star that can grant your wishes if you sprinkle it to the ground.)

(Florence manages to get his hand on the said item, but Linkle appears after that--.)

Linkle: "Say, can you give me that sand of the star?"

"To tell you the truth, my mother got sick. She won't live much longer. I could help my mother if I have the sand of the star."

Florence: "Your mother!? That's awful! You should give this to your mother immediately, of course."

***

Izumi: (Following a fight with Rose that prompts them to part ways, Florence returns to his home country.)

(There, his parents tell him about the existence of a dream flower that can grant any wish if you drink its nectar--.)

Florence: "It's here! It's here, Broto!"

Broto: "I've never thought that we had such a thing this near. With this, we can break the princess of East Country's--."

Florence: "I wish I could reconcile with Rose--."

Broto: "...Huh?"

Rose: "Are you stupid!?"

Florence: "Rose!?"

Rose: "That's dangerous! What are you doing!? You won't be able to break the curse if you use the dream flower for something like that!”

Florence: "But I wanted to reconcile with Rose no matter what."

***

Izumi: (After reconciling with Rose, Florence is summoned by the king of the East Country.)

(The other princes are not able to break the curse. However, Florence manages to do it by using the power of the dream flower--.)

Florence: "...Huh?"

King of East Country: "Thanks to you, Prince Florence, the curse of my beautiful princess has finally been broken. I'll let you be the princess' husband!"

Florence: "Rose…?"

"Rose is actually the princess?"

Rose: "The witch's curse turned me into a young boy."

Broto: "I see, so that explains everything."

Florence: "You knew it, Broto!?"

Broto: "There aren't any young boys whose names are 'Rose', see?"

Florence: "I totally thought it's such a sparkling name…"

Rose: "A conceited, good-natured and naive person like you will be hopeless if you don't have a clever wife like me."

"I have no choice, then. I'll marry you. You should be grateful."

***

Muku: Thank you for coming today, beautiful princess.

Summer Troupe: Thank you!

Audience Member A: That was interesting~!

Audience Member B: My heart skipped a beat after listening to Muku-kun's curtain calls greetings!

Audience Member C: Mood! I feel like he's gotten cooler than before…!

Izumi: (Compared to the first run, this performance has improved in terms of perfection. It's proof that they all have also improved.)

***

Izumi: Nice work right there, guys! It was really good!

Muku: Nice work. I was nervous, but… I'm glad I could play Florence again after a long time.

Kumon: Same! I had so much fun playing Broto!

Misumi: You were cool, Muku~.

Yuki: I think we wrapped up the show well.

Kazunari: I guess doing an escort was worth it in the end!

Muku: Ehehe…

Tenma: But make sure not to let your guard down. We still have more shows to come.

Muku: Yup!

Kumon: I shall support Prince Florence tomorrow as well!

Muku: Fufu. I'm counting on you, Broto.

[dreaming-of-the-arcana]

Christmas with the Main Six

ASRA

He loves to travel during the holiday season. It’s so interesting getting to see how different cultures celebrates different holidays

While travelling, you have to pack light, so it’s not as if he can bring lots of Christmas presents for you to open. No matter, because he takes you out for delicious meals and points out constellations to you as you sleep beneath the stars, and that’s as good as any other present

If you decide to spend the holiday at the shop, you have just as much fun! The snowball fights you have in the herb garden are Deadly Serious, and decorating the tree is a full day event

Muriel is invited over for Christmas dinner, and although he’s nervous at the beginning of the night, you three still spend a lovely evening together

Just as the night is ending, Faust brings you a Christmas present that she’s caught just for you! She can’t seem to understand why you don’t exactly love a half dead mouse as a gift, it’s something that she would enjoy to receive, so why wouldn’t you?

That’s enough excitement for one day, you decide

JULIAN

What says ‘Merry Christmas!’ more than going to see a pantomime?

You get in free of charge, as Julian apparently ‘knows a guy who knows a guy who knows the director’, and you even get seats right at the front

This turns out to be a curse in disguise, as there is a shocking amount of audience participation in the play. At one point you’re about to be pulled on stage, but Julian volunteers at the last second

He’s hilarious up there, totally in his element. Banter with the other actors comes easily enough, and he winks at you so many times you’re convinced that the rest of the audience will think he has a twitch

Julian is practically glowing when he’s allowed to go back to his chair, and you have a stitch from laughing so much

Luckily, the rest of the show goes without incident, and you get back home in one piece!

NADIA

She constantly takes you out to the market before Christmas, and anything you even glance at for more than a couple seconds she makes a mental note of, so she can buy it as one of your many presents

Although she didn’t celebrate Christmas in Prakra, she just loves having the opportunity to spoil you

At least a couple of her sisters always manage to come visit during the holiday season, which always makes for an interesting experience!

It’s busy busy busy at the palace, but she ensures that her schedule on Christmas itself is completely empty. She plans to spend the entire day with you, and no meeting will get in the way of that

For once, Nadia is truly able to relax, and you spend a nice slow day opening presents, having dinner, perhaps sharing a bath that’s been scented with apple and cinnamon

Wrapped up in your brand new pyjamas, you and Nadia curl up in bed together that night, and it’s the easiest sleep she’s ever had

PORTIA

You two have a yearly quest : do the most crazy, most over the top decorating possible. Lights, tinsel, baubles where they certainly don’t belong, you just go ham

Honestly, it’s a little bit ridiculous how many decorations you’re able to fit in Portia’s little cottage

Of course, you two are also busy putting decorations around the whole of the palace, as well as doing lots of other preparations, but you find lots of time for your own festivities

Hours and hours are spent on your gingerbread house making competitions. It would likely take a lot less time if the pair of you didn’t spend half the time attempting to sabotage one another’s houses

Eating the walls of the houses is strictly forbidden however, especially after last year’s incident which is not to be mentioned

You both win in the end, and you spend the rest of the evening eating leftover gumdrops and icing

MURIEL

He doesn’t do big celebrations, but if that’s what you’re used to, he’ll try his best to accommodate

Of course, you can’t expect large parties, but a meal with just a few people invited? He could handle that, because it’s for you

Asra is on the guest list, obviously, he’s practically a VIP. Julian, Portia and Nadia are invited, all bringing drinks or dishes in tow

Your Christmas dinner is a weird mish-mash of homely comforts from Portia, high class dishes from Nadia, plus a pretty horrible blend of.... something that Julian brought along, which he claims is full of vitamins and is the best meal you could get on the sea (although it’s the worst meal you could get on land)

It’s a lot of socialising in one day for Muriel, and it’s clear that it takes a toll on him, but you catch him smiling to himself as you clear up once everyone has left

You two sit by the fire at the end of the night, quiet and content in the warmth, until eventually you both fall asleep

LUCIO

You’ve not properly celebrated Christmas until you’ve celebrated with Lucio

Christmas starts and ends on the 25th of December, you say? No no no, don’t be ridiculous! You can’t have nearly enough fun on just one day

Instead, the festivities start on the 1st, and that’s only because everyone had to draw a line somewhere

Parties, banquets, balls, feasts, soirées, the list of events is never ending

You’re by his side for practically the whole month, dancing and eating and drinking and dancing some more

The presents he buys you are either made of solid gold or worth their weight in gold, and it takes you at least an hour to unwrap all of your gifts

He’s giddy with excitement to see your reaction to each one, saying how he just knew you would love it, or that he was so pleased you were happy

Of course, he’s ecstatic about whatever you’ve bought him as well. Whether it’s rings, flowers, chocolates, or a handmade sweater, he love love loves it

In fact, for the rest of the day, he makes sure to show off your present to him to everybody he encounters. Guards, chefs, servants, citizens, everybody hears about how thoughtful and caring and loving his darling is

He falls asleep before you that evening, and you think you can even hear him murmuring about his gift in his sleep

//finished just in time for Christmas :,^) //

[destiny-smasher]

My personal 2020 GOTYs

1) Hades

This game, dudes. THIS GAME. A fraction of the budget, a fraction of the dev team size, reportedly HEALTHY development schedule and management...and imo it offers at least some of everything I want out of a single player video game. I have poured over 60 hours into this and I see myself putting in some more over time and ALL of the time I have spent has felt rewarding and edifying. Clever design, smart writing, organic voice acting, sharp gameplay, and all done at a fraction of the resources of these big budget, bloated games. You love to see it.

2) Final Fantasy 7 Remake (Part 1?)

I went into this year not caring much about this game at all. FF7 was a game I played as a teen, enjoyed, respected, and moved on from pretty easily. This Remake, so far, has done more than I could’ve expected in terms of actually REMAKING a game. It’s literally a new adaptation, and I as pleasantly surprised at just how hard it went. From realizing the world of Midgar into something so full of detail and plausibility, to reiterating and doubling down on its postmodern anti-corporation themes, to making Barret the character I loved the MOST somehow?? Combining everything I love about real-time RPG action with a tactical strategy element long missing from the genre, reimagining and fleshing out characters and concepts into something deeper and more meaningful...I’ve never considered myself a huge FF7 fan but this game was really something, and I absolutely cannot wait for more (and praying they do my girl Yuffie justice). I’ve been super skeptical of Nomura as a director given...the mess that has become Kingdom Hearts, but as it turns out, when he has others to reign things in, some surprisingly nuanced stuff for an anime game can come out of it. It has its flaws, to be sure, but it’s still the most enjoyable experience I had with a big budget game this year.

3) The Last of Us Part 2

I feel conflicted over this one in particular - I feel Neil is not longer a director I respect the way I did back with the first game. I feel Naughty Dog is falling victim to all of the late capitalist issues plaguing big budget game dev. But I also love this game. It’s much more flawed than the first, but that’s mainly because it’s more ambitious and complicated. It’s THE most flawed game on this game, honestly, but overall as a game I am compelled to respect its writing, its gutsier decisions, its art direction, acting, presentation, etc. It’s an impressive game and the most technically impressive game I played all year if not all generation. Props where they’re due, but at the same time, I think this game was poorly directed and I love it in spite of issues with its production, rather than because of some strong vision. That’s the big Sony bucks, I suppose, matched with a dev team willing and apparently somehow able to fulfil what they want to create. I still get the impression there was a bit of ‘design by committee for a mainstream audience’ kind of shit going on - how could there not with something this big? - and as a result I think the game is a bit bloated. Shave off about 3-5 hours from a few spots and it’d be a more focused game, and maybe I’d feel more edified and satisfied rather than weirdly conflicted. Even so, a huge accomplishment and I hope to see more games tackle premises as ambitious as this down the road.

4) Bug Fables

This game technically launched last year but it debuted on console in 2020, and I didn’t play it until then. This is as close to a follow-up to old school Paper Mario as it gets, while simultaneously doing a lot to forge its own identity and even improve on the formula presented in the previous games. Its rough around the edges but that’s mainly because it’s an independent game, and it’s amazing just how well the dev team was able to reproduce the scope and details of this specific subgenre of RPG, all while continuously implementing new game design elements and multiple features that make it feel more modern in its direction. Fantastic stuff, I’m still not even finished with it because I’ve been taking my sweet time, though I intend to finally finish it this month, and I have to say, it’s quite a special game in my opinion.

5) Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

Absolute banger of a multiplayer game, really love the presentation, the concept, the overall execution, the way the team has been updating the game every month or so in response to feedback and implementing new content. So good to see the battle royale genre FINALLY pushed beyond just...arena shooting. Can’t wait to see where else this game can go over time.

6) Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Somehow this one slipped my mind when I first wrote this up, despite having poured well over 100 hours into it this year. I think part of it is that New Horizons did a lot of things I’ve wanted the series to do for so long, and yet is still far behind in terms of so many other things I wish they would do. Quality of life things prevent me from really re-investing into it, and yet despite that I have to admit it REALLY sucked me in for a solid few weeks and I continued to play off and on for months. It was the perfect game we collectively needed right when it came out and graphically I can’t think of how to really improve on that style. A really relaxing getaway I needed earlier this year, though like with previous AC games, I don’t find myself going back to it as much as I’d think I would.

7) Going Under

A surprise hit for me, this rogue-like swooped in from ‘heh that looks amusing’ to ‘oh wow this is legit just a great game.’ Its weird visuals, funky 3D gameplay, and surprisingly sharp storytelling make for a rogue-like unlike any other and one totally near the top for me.

8) Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Squeezed this in just this past week or so, and this one also satisfied me greatly. I wish we’d see more big budget open-world games like this -- laser focused, not wasting any time, and not being repetitious aside for completionists. So cool to see another team’s take on Miles after how much I fell for Into the Spider-verse, and very glad the team both homages that movie while subverting some expectations fans of the film might have, all while continuing to adapt Insomniac’s take on Spider-Man from a couple years ago.

9) Demon’s Souls (Remake)

As a big fan of FromSoft who never got too far into this one originally, it’s been great to visit it as if it’s a new Souls game with an alternate art style. And a very clean art style it has. This was a good pick to be remastered because many, even FromSoft fans like myself, missed out on it, and it feels unique from its predecessors while still showing a solid foundation they’d go on to build from.

10) Crash Bandicoot 4

An amazingly well done follow-up to the original trilogy, this game GETS what makes old school Crash games good, and it improves upon things in a number of ways, from making Coco the alternate hero, bringing back old faces in new lights, going ham with the visuals both in raw art and unique filters when replaying stages, and giving incentive for completion with so many great costumes. Well done, great old school platforming with modern design sensibilities. 

Honorable Mentions:

CrossCode

This also technically launched before 2020 but I didn’t play it until this year, and I don’t think it hit consoles until this year. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect going in, just remembering that I had enjoyed the demo well enough. This game delivers in most ways you could want from an indie game, with an expansive world of sidequests and RPG growth, a flexible combat system that can be nailbiting and engaging, and old-school dungeon designs with lots of environmental and elemental puzzles that really ask a lot of you. All of this capped with a surprisingly great narrative with characters I grew to love, including a much needed protagonist with a unique identity unlike any in games that I’ve played, as well as extra bits of detail and production values invested at JUST the right moments where the story needs it the most. It feels a bit tedious at times and part of me wishes more of the sidequest content involved direct interactions with the named, recurring characters, but it’s still one of the most impressive and well-done indie games I’ve ever played.

Katana ZERO

Razor-sharp game design, this one. It’s a brief but intensely focused experience that feels like the video game equivalent of a slick, experimental indie film. Could do with some more replayablity for those who want it but what’s here is just damn good and I gobbled this game down like a fantastic, hand-cooked meal at an atmospheric dive bar barely anyone knows about.

Necrobarista

Haven’t quite finished it yet but this is definitely one of the best visual novels I’ve ever experienced just due to how hard it goes on presentation and pushing for a more cinematic and thoughtful vibe than any other VN I’ve ever experienced. The characters and writing feel ripped out of an early 2000′s webcomic, for better and for worse, but all the same, it’s some fantastic stuff and it’s so refreshing to see a game set in Australia tackling a well-worn genre by giving it a new spin.

Slay the Spire

Another personal pick since this released in 2019, and I’m not quite sure which consoles it hit or when, but I didn’t get into it until early this year, and was totally hooked. Fantastically addictive, probably the most well-design deck-building rogue-like I’ve seen, certainly one of my favorite deck-building games in general. Apparently I’ve sunk 50 hours into it this year, more than most on this list, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that number spikes up again at some point.

[intro2filmbitterrootcollege]

The Most Affecting Films of This Past “Year”

While gazing into the abyss of 2020, I don’t know if that hellmouth gazed back into me as Nietzsche envisioned it, because, like many, I fought this year’s monster in my sweats and talking to the walls while I scraped the barrel of Netflix for SOMETHING NEW to watch. 

But I damn sure threw out any organizing rules for what qualifies as a “film.” 

When called a “limited series,” long-form storytelling becomes cinema. And there shall be no argument. Thanks to The Queen’s Gambit and company, a number of these “films” by any-other-name delivered and found their way here. 

Plus, it’s now a good stretch into 2021 and the very-arbitrary rules of our Time Before the Coronapocene are being met with a weary “Fuck it.”

Then there’s the possibility, as you discover when screening Arrival, that time doesn’t work the way we think it does...

“People like us who believe in physics know that the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”

- Albert Einstein

HONORABLE MENTIONS 

The Explicitly Genre, the Dark-Hearted, & the B Movies

The Other Ones

Doctor Sleep Director’s Cut*

(*released in 2020)

The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone*

(*yes, this was technically released 30 years ago but Coppola’s new cut works like a new film)

IT GOES TO ELEVEN

11.  Let Him Go

Give me Costner and Lane in a neo-western all day. This is best viewed without knowing anything prior and far more somber than expected.

Loved the gender role-reversal as Lane dons the ten-gallon attitude typically worn by a male character.

10.  Promising Young Woman

Sadly spot-on in its enraged message. Dark, dark, dark, dark, dark comedy(?).

And not for everyone. 

But if you’re game, then this furious blast of filmmaking will be appreciated. Notice the foreshadowed symbolism spattered in neon and pink throughout (Saint Cassandra?) and the ending works. Mulligan being transcendent as always here.

9. Porno

Mileage will vary depending on one’s tolerance for/appreciation of severed male genitalia jokes. Being 14 years old at heart, I laughed myself hoarse.

A throwback with intelligent subtext about fundamentalist religious norms of repression and the dangers of a sex-negative culture.

8.  Taylor Swift - Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions

The album = classic already. 

The documentary = downright magical.

7.  Bad Boys For Life

As an old guy who also has some gray in the beard, I love how far they lean confidently into the old guy-ness. Been riding with these bad boys for 25 years now.

Just take my money already for the next installment.

6.  The Queen’s Gambit 

Cinema-as-a-novel. Sports movie as character study. Evidence that when you give a writer movie-budget money and trust their vision, you can get a hit. And a last episode that brings ALL THE JOY!

Bravo, Netflix.

5.   The Outsider* 

(*cancelled after one season so I’m calling it a “limited-series” and thus a film)

Just the weird and dark adaptation of King that fits with HBO and excises what I assume to be elements that work better on the page. 

Its tone haunts and elliptical editing rewards patience, and Cynthia Erivo should be in everything.

4.   Extraction

As subtle as having a lead character named Tyler Rake kill a dude with a rake -- which definitely happens here. On paper, its armature of a suicidal gunslinger with a weary soul seeking redemption in John Wick’s stylistic shadow shouldn’t work.

But grit and kinetic craft and heart tugging father and son parallels and an impressive look at what constitutes masculine “courage” and what masquerades as it under the guise of violence give zero shits about “shouldn’t.”

3. Tenet   

“Don’t try to understand it. Feel it.”

“.ti leeF .ti dnatsrednu ot yrt t’noD”

A friendship love story at its core that’s going to live as an artifact and defy time, which is appropriate.

Branagh cooks the world’s largest ham and does so brilliantly.

So fun if you don’t try to play chess with Nolan (you’ll lose) and simply let it rip into the space-time continuum.

2.  Devs

It took three episodes (read: chapters) for this to wrap me in its embrace but, holy multiverse, did it ever. A noodle baker of the highest craft, Alex Garland shows again that whatever he touches is going to be a favorite. 

There’s multiple references to great poetry, a diverse cast reflective of humanity, and that many worlds theory to invite many more viewings.

1.  Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Gobsmacked, I kept telling myself there’s no way the next scene or sequence could top the previous...

Then the bonfire singing happened...

Then an Orpheus and Eurydice allusion reversal...

Then the opera scene and me having an out of body experience for almost five hours after the credits slid up the screen. 

Céline Sciamma’s film is the equivalent of Michael Jordan in an 80’s dunk contest: despite an abundance of competing talent, it can’t even be called a “contest.” 

Art shouldn’t be ranked anyway, but Sciamma and everyone involved are all, like…

[shemakesmusic-uk]

After releasing her film Black Is King as a Disney+ exclusive a few weeks ago, Beyoncé has shared the visual 'Brown Skin Girl' on YouTube. Featuring SAINt JHN, WizKid, and daughter Blue Ivy, the clip features appearances by former bandmate Kelly Rowland, Noami Campell, Lupita Nyong’o, and more. The video coincided with a special message the star shared with Good Morning America. "It was so important to me in 'Brown Skin Girl' that we represented all different shades of brown," Beyoncé said of the video, crediting director Jenn Nkiru with the concept. "It was important that we are all in this together and we're all celebrating each other." [via The FADER]

Eivør releases a new single and video, ‘Let It Come’, the latest lifted from her forthcoming album Segl. The transportive new clip - filmed in Iceland - is a prequel to the video for previous single release ‘Sleep On It’, which Eivør released last month. Both videos are directed by Einar Egils and feature actor Tómas Lemarquis (Blade Runner 2049, X-Men: Apocalypse). Speaking about ‘Let It Come’, Eivør says; "It’s one of those songs that took many shapes before it reached its final destination and I guess the opening line pretty much explains it all: “Sometimes I overthink the most simple things”. This song is a follow up to my previous single 'Sleep On It' - whilst that was about insomnia and making difficult choices, 'Let It Come' is about coming out at the other end of this struggle, embracing the uncertainties you might find yourself in and finding the courage to believe that something good will come your way." Of the interplay between the two music videos he has created for Eivør, director Einar Eglis adds; "'Let It Come' is a prequel to the end of the world that was portrayed in the ‘Sleep On It’ video. Eivør has been stuck in a loop of uncertainty for years, until she sees a vision that will end everything as we know it, and she is the key towards redemption. She must face these facts and embrace the golden idol she is to become."

The gentle, hypnotic sway of 'god's chariots' is central to MaryLou Mayniel's first full-length project Galore. Her catalogue of experimental electronica is impressive whichever way you look at it. Creating everything from video game soundtracks to an EP sampling the likes of Miley Cyrus and Carly Rae Jepsen to vast instrumental odysseys and empowering pop anthems, Mayniel can turn her hand to almost anything. 'god's chariots' is at the helm of the singer-songwriter's latest drop of new music. “It’s a fantasy, a place you’re in to escape reality, but it’s also about being so lonely that you kind of lose your mind,” explains Manyiel. A fragment of her forthcoming debut full-length project 'god's chariots' is just one piece of the ever-expanding story which Oklou shares on Galore. With additional tracks 'nightmare' and 'rosebud', also out n ow, we get to piece more of Galore's narrative of emotional rebirth together. Already an illuminating experience with its first six songs out in the world, soon you'll be able to witness Manyiel's first masterpiece in all its glory when the rest of the project is released next month. [via Line Of Best Fit]

Madeline Kenney has shared the visual for her Sucker's Lunch album track 'Cut the Real'. 'Cut the Real' is one of the most lyrically confrontational tracks on Kenney's new album Sucker's Lunch. Kenney has unveiled the accompanying self-directed visual filmed in Oakland that sees her dressed in a Rococo style suit and makeup, giving a heartfelt performance of the song's fierce lyrics. Madeline Kenney: "I wrote 'Cut the Real' when I was feeling particularly insane / depressed /"out of my mind" as I was starting a new relationship. I really struggle with self confidence and found myself spiraling out into deep holes of self-loathing -- even though I knew what was going on I couldn't stop that cycle. The concept was inspired by the aesthetic choices in recent Aldous Harding videos as well as old Annie Lennox videos. I wanted to put on a gender-neutral Rococo outfit and just really allow myself to ham it up, and occupy that same spinning-out headspace as I was in while writing the song." [via Line Of Best Fit]

Four years after she released her solo debut Slugger, Speedy Ortiz leader Sadie Dupuis is getting ready to release Haunted Painting, the second album released under her Sad13 alias. The album comes out next month, and  now we get another new song, and it’s got a pretty great music video attached. The new Sad13 track is called 'Hysterical,' and it’s a zippy synthpop track with layered lyrics: “I wanna see you disappear and laugh like I don’t need permission.” In a press release, Dupuis says that the song is about “unfunny comedians [who] love to argue that ‘PC culture’ destroys comedy.” Dupuis plays almost all the instruments herself. The video, directed by Kate Banford and Jamie Loftus, features Dupuis alongside comedy-world mainstays like Loftus, Mitra Jouhari, and Demi Adejuyigbe. Like the new horror movie Host, the whole thing takes place on a computer screen, and it’s all about what happens when a ghost shows up in a Zoom party and kills everyone. [via Stereogum]

When Cross Record’s Emily Cross and Dan Duszynski teamed up with Shearwater’s Jonathan Meiburg to form Loma, it seemed like it might be one-off endeavor. But then last month we got news that they’d be following their 2017 debut with a new album, Don’t Shy Away. Along with the announcement, they shared a stunning new track called 'Ocotillo'. Today, they’re back with another one.  The latest preview of Don’t Shy Away arrives in the form of 'Half Silences,' which the band shared an earlier iteration of last year. 'Half Silences' was the first song we recorded for Don’t Shy Away, and we kept tinkering with it after we soft-released an early version last year,” Meiburg explained in a statement. “When you start making a record, you don’t know which songs will make the cut — but this one always seemed to belong, and we wanted to give the final mix (and its DIY video) a proper debut. People have asked if the fireworks are CGI. They aren’t.” 'Ocotillo' was an almost foreboding song, cresting into horn arrangements that teetered on the brink of chaos. In comparison, 'Half Silences' is a dreamier and hazier composition. But in either form, Loma are making some gorgeous, otherworldly music. [via Stereogum]

Back in June, the Bristol songwriter Fenne Lily announced her sophomore album, BREACH. So far we’ve heard advance singles 'Alapathy' and 'Berlin,' and today she’s back with another one. Lily’s latest is called 'Solipsism.' Here’s what she had to say about it: "A lot of situations make me uncomfortable — some parties, most dates, every time I’m stoned in the supermarket. 'Solipsism' is a song about being comfortable with being uncomfortable and the freedom that comes with that. If you feel weird for long enough it becomes normal, and feeling anything is better than feeling nothing. I wanted this video to be a reflection of the scary thought that I’ll have to live with myself forever. It’s surreal to realize you’ll never live apart from someone you sometimes hate. Dad, if you’re reading this you killed it as shopper number 2." The song comes with a video directed by Tom Clover with the non-profit Film Co. “I asked Fenne what products she wanted to be and then worked backwards from there with the illustrators,” Clover explained. “Most of the references came from Asian Supermarket packaging — they are way more interesting. The most important thing was making sure that it reflected upon Fenne’s personality — there’s a bunch of details you might miss on the first watch!” [via Stereogum]

About two weeks ago Oceanator shared 'Heartbeat,' the third and final single from their upcoming full length debut, Things I Never Said and now it has a video. The highly anticipated album via Plastic Miracles captures Elise Okusami’s songwriting at it’s best, a strong effort that sits between pop, rock, fuzzy punk, and alternative radio gold. The video, directed by David Combs and Ben Epstein, is every bit as delightful as the song itself, opening with the same magnetic energy as we find Okusami seemingly lost and looking for companionship. She finds it eventually in the form of herself, quite literally, as she joins herself at a bus stop, and then again in a field, with ten of more copies, al rocking out, all enjoying each other’s company. There’s a brilliant barbershop quartet moment, cool animation, and enough smiles to keep you going throughout your day. Speaking about the song, Okusami shared: “This song is loosely about having a crush, and both the grounding feeling and the anxiety that feeling brings. We recorded it all together like a live performance, and then I went back and added the lead guitars and the vocals. Guitar and vocals by me, bass Eva Lawitts (they), drums Aaron Silberstein (he)." [via Post Trash]

Ontario-based project Falcon Jane – the moniker for primary songwriter of the group, Sara May – have released their soaring new single, ‘The Other Moon’ via Pittsburgh-based label, Darling Recordings – you can watch the new video that comes co-directed by May and Dominique van Olm above. ‘The Other Moon’, which is lifted from a larger body of material set to come from Sara May further down the line, finds the artist exploring deeply sentimental and personal themes, from death to memory, and the miscommunication that can take place between generations. May has a penchant for unpacking these emotions in succinct and comprehensible forms, making something so personal and idiosyncratic to her feel so familiar to the rest of us. Much of May’s forthcoming work found its source of inspiration in early 2019 when her songwriting synched up with a string of deaths that occurred in her immediate family; ‘The Other Moon’ pays a touching testament to her Nonna with May lacing the track’s stark honesty with swooning guitar and her enchanting vocal palette, a sound that co-director, van Olm visualized as May’s DIY journey through space. Speaking about the new track, May says: “‘The Other Moon’ is a letter and tribute to my late Nonna whose death inspired me to start recording this album. Despite being from two completely different generations, and speaking two different languages, my Nonna and I had a very special connection. We understood each other and cared about each other, even if we couldn’t find the words to express it. My Nonna would always cheekily joke about her own death, and through her broken English, she claimed that when she died she’d be going to “The Other Moon”. This song is not a story about a happy-go-lucky relationship between grandmother and granddaughter,” May continues. “It accurately depicts the contrasting dynamic of a very loving friendship mixed with a lifelong trauma-ridden miscommunication. The big hole in my heart, the black cloud over our love. This song feels like the message I always wanted to send to her; pushing through the darkness to find the deep love we shared and continue to share now.”

Baby Queen has released her third track 'Medicine' with a fab new video. The follow-up to ‘Buzzkill', it arrives ahead of her debut EP later this year. "It's about a tangle of mental health and navigating your way through this world,” Bella says of the song, “whilst being so unhappy and equally disillusioned with the cyber landscape that we are forced to live inside, and the different ways people might numb themselves, or try to find a place where they can exist in amongst all of this fucking chaos." [via Dork]

Oklahoma-born, LA-based electro-pop songstress Mothica has released her debut album Blue Hour, accompanied by the official music video for her single 'VICES.' The album was written over the course of a few months, starting with one of the worst moments of Mothica’s life: a psych ward stay for self-harm and ends with a song about never wanting to feel the “crash” of drugs ever again. “Following that incident, I sought therapy and wrote lyrics detailing my journey into sobriety. I am now 13 months sober at the time of writing this, and have never been in a better place emotionally.” With her new album Blue Hour, she chronicles her deep struggle with addiction + mental health and the process of getting sober. “Someone told me that every artist has their ‘getting sober album’ eventually,” she explains. “I find it ironic that my debut album is my ‘getting sober’ album, because I think that’s indicative of how quickly I was forced to grow up."

FKA twigs has always made incredible music videos, and 'sad day' ranks right up there with her best. For this clip, twigs worked with the director Hiro Murai, one of the best music-video directors to emerge in the last decade. Murai has mostly moved on from music videos in recent years. Instead, he’s directed episodes of Atlanta and Barry, two of the best shows on TV, as well as Donald Glover’s Amazon short film Guava Island and the forthcoming apocalyptic miniseries Station Eleven. The 'sad day' video is Murai’s first clip since he made the instantly iconic 'This Is America' with Donald Glover in 2018. I don’t want to give away much of the 'sad day' video, which starts out in a dingy takeout spot and transforms into a surreal dream-logic head trip. But you should know that twigs only made this video after spending three years studying martial arts at the Shaolin Wushu Center, and you can tell. A dancer named Teake, who twigs discovered via social media, co-stars. [via Stereogum]

The latest of Silly Boy Blue's ongoing build is 'Hi, It's Me Again,' a song she describes as the "too long text I didn't want to send at 3 AM to my ex." Like the rumination behind a loaded, emotional message to a former lover, she adds that it took months to assemble the words in her head but only one night to write out the lyrics. "I needed to write a song about this, because it's a very special place between the hate and the void during a breakup." With an almost lullaby melody, the spacey tune slowly builds into the ultimate warning: "You'll be the one I always haunt," Silly Boy Blue sings, her voice beautifully layered and atmospheric. All her thoughts throughout the song are interlaced with the relatable, somewhat insecure backpedal, "I'm sorry," capturing the headspace "just before resilience," as she describes. It's "when you start to understand the breakup, but you still have so many questions popping in your head." In the 'Hi, It's Me Again' video, Silly Boy Blue says she "needed to show the different parts" of her identity. "Some of them are masculine, some of them are feminine, some of them seem confident, some seem shy, some seem to suffocate, some stand proudly." Much like the nuanced feelings during a breakup, she expresses without binaries — and especially through fashion, as she opens the clip in only an oversized men's button-down. Scenes in the new visual roll by like memories or fleeting emotions, ranging from subdued drama to full on meltdowns. At one point, she's shown with a plastic bag pulled over her head to capture the most extreme feelings of dread, juxtaposed against a more innocent shot of Silly Boy Blue in all white with two lone tear drops fixated on her cheek. The artist also loaded in "important" references to her favorite movies, from the Titanic's necklace to The Rocky Horror Picture Show's big mouth. [via PAPER]

Dream Nails have released a video for their new single, 'This Is The Summer'. It's a song from their new Tarek Musa of Spring King-produced, self-titled record out now via Alcopop!. “[It's] a song about how our climate is breaking down irreversibly,” says singer Janey Starling. “Colonial capitalism, waged by UK governments and corporations for centuries, has ravaged our earth. “We need to be urgently fighting for migrant rights so the UK welcomes climate refugees displaced by countries hit by extreme weather. We must demand transparency from oil companies who relentlessly put profit before people, even as the world burns." Guitarist Anya Pearson adds: “We wrote ‘This Is The Summer’ in the heatwave of 2018, recorded it in another heatwave in 2019 and now we are releasing it in yet another heatwave! Our video for the track shows how the current pandemic, white supremacy and climate change are not separate issues but interlinked. The song is about the brazen complacency of getting drunk and catching a tan in the park while the world burns.” [via Dork]

BBC Sound Of 2020 winner Celeste has shared her new single 'Little Runaway'. Out now, the single is about a crisis of faith, and features a towering vocal from the London artist. A song about succumbing to the depths before emerging renewed, 'Little Runaway' began as a jazz sample, before taking on a life of its own. Celeste says... “‘Little Runaway’ is a song about losing your faith, even if just momentarily, and seeking answers from spirits and ghosts as nothing seems to make sense on this planet. My favourite line in the song is ‘good news I could use some’ – I believe everyone has a guardian angel, a protector, and this is me talking to mine.” “The verses actually started as this saxophone sample we were playing around with and eventually it transformed into the melody. I always play the sax back in my head even though it’s not in the song.” 'Little Runaway' features an innovative music video, steered by Celeste’s frequent collaborator Sophie Jones. [via Clash]

Anna Sofia released a brand new music video for her song 'Don’t Play Pretend'. 'Don’t Play Pretend' is from her latest EP Broken Perfection. Over a million streams into her career, Anna Sofia sings this song about her own life. She might not be perfect. She might make mistakes. All that said, at least she doesn’t pretend to be something she’s not. Sofia said she doesn’t have a message. “It’s just real life,” she said. “One day, I hope to fill stadiums all over the world. I want to have fans everywhere and have some way of helping them or guiding them through my music. My confidence comes from being myself and connecting with people.” [via The 360 Mag]

Last year, the K-pop group BLACKPINK made big moves in America with their Kill This Love EP, becoming the highest-charting women-led Korean act on both the Billboard 200 and the Hot 100 (with its title track). They also played Coachella. Earlier this year, they had a guest feature on Lady Gaga’s Chromatica with ‘Sour Candy,’ a single that matched their previous chart record at #33. They’re releasing a new album in a couple months, which was led off by ‘How You Like That’ in June. Now, they’re putting out another song from it, a collaboration with Selena Gomez called ‘Ice Cream.’ The food angle of the track is appropriate for Gomez, who has most recently been in the headlines for her new HBO Max cooking show. [via Stereogum]

Tel-Aviv based artist Noga Erez shares the next in a series of game-changing singles leading into her mysterious second album (details yet to be announced). 'You So Done' and its striking accompanying video are out now via City Slang. Following the sparkling sass of 'VIEWS' and the irresistibly upbeat lockdown anthem 'NO news on TV', Noga Erez and her collaborative partner Ori Rousso's latest offering 'You So Done' has been highly anticipated online since appearing on NBC's Good Girls earlier this year. It sees Erez shift from outward looking political themes to personal soul-searching, opening up for a stirring track about rejection, toxic and emotionally violent relationships, and ones own inner violence. Along with the track she has shared a moving statement, saying: "At some point, exactly one year ago, I started flashing back to one of the darkest times in my life. I was young, incredibly confused and lonely... There was a moment during this period where I was actually so weak, insecure and in need of love that I was not able to step out of what I know now to be an emotionally abusive relationship." She concludes: "It really, truly means the world to me to give this song to you. I hope this story can help some of you to realise that you are not alone. And I really do hope to make it clear that even the darkest places are not impossible to free yourself from. They are eventually an opportunity to learn, grow and to become a stronger person." Erez has created a reputation for the captivating videos that accompany her songs, and this latest video sees her step it up a level yet again. Her third collaboration with Tel Aviv-based director Indy Hait sees Erez as a puppet in a dystopian future, being violently flung to-and-fro by an unknown captor. "The video for 'You So Done' was a big risk taker for me" she comments. "Usually, I have an idea or I work with a director on an idea together. Since this was my third video with Indy Hait, I decided to let him do his thing. He offered up an idea that included a robot and I immediately hated it. I was just not able to imagine how it wouldn't come off as a science fiction video and felt it wasn't my style. But after talking and tearing the idea apart, I realised that this is a truly meaningful character. The robot in this video is actually not the violent character.  Its job was to portray the act of violence through transferring the moves from an unseen character and helping them come alive visually. The video uses muscle memory as the 'engine' to that violent dance act, and muscle memory is something that fascinates me. Eventually this video is far from being science fiction, it is my most personal video to date."

[elizabeth-234]

The Supplejack

Chapter Six: Not so Empty Classrooms

Previous: Chapter Five - The Beginning

Hi Friends! Hope your September is going well. Hope you enjoy!

The subway ride home passed in a blur. The car was crowded but Peter paid no mind to the man arguing with his three children to sit down in their seats or to the group of women that sat huddled at the other end of the car. He didn’t even bother putting in ear buds, which was one of the tools he used to survive in public space. The background sound allowed him to concentrate on something other than what was going on around him. A place like the subway, one that was filled with noise and people necessitated space from those external influences. Sometimes the lights would glare or someone would laugh to close to him and his head was left reeling. The music would let him distance himself from those sensations until he was back in a safe place.

That evening none of those distractions could bring him out of his thoughts and by routine alone he made his way back to the apartment. He didn’t bother to switch on the lights and as he walked through the rooms the floors creaked under his feet. His clothes were a weird mixture of damp and stiffly dried material and he threw them into the dirt laundry pile; a pile that looked remarkably similar to the clean pile right next to it.

Peter headed to the bathroom that he shared with May. He observed the way her bottles of skincare were stacked, teetering on the ledge behind the sink and how the toilet, sink, and shower were all on top of each other. At least it made cleaning easier.

He studied himself in the mirror, the top of which was milky from water permanently. The only thing saving him from taunts about his protruding ears was the mop of curly hair covering them. His eyes migrated from the peninsulas to his small frame. He was aware of how small he had been as a child but now it was increasingly obvious now that his classmates were going through growth spurts. Peter stared at his naked torso as one would look at a science dissection. The bit of fat was malleable under his fingers and he tried to flex the muscles there but saw no difference. The thirty-day abs challenge seemed like a good idea until he forgot about it until the last week.

He pinched it harder, observing the redness that spread out from his fingers. With a sigh he turned away rubbing the sore spot, and stepped into the shower. His hands shook as he went through his routine faster than normal. He never liked the way their landlord looked at May so he volunteered to go ask about the water problem. He had yet to gather the courage so for now they suffered through a cold shower.

The bed beckoned to him from the doorway but he resisted. Peter paused only to gather a blanket and crept out onto the fire escape. Once the warm cover was situated in the right spot over his shoulder and the corner sat folded in his lap as a perfect rest, he started tinkering with one of his receivers. The message in Morse code came loud and clear. He listened to the dits and dahs, and then transmitted his own message back. The sound of their conversation lulled Peter into a pleasant focus. He only looked up to watch the red colors of the sunset turn to the darkness of the night sky.

—

Peter quelled the urge to sigh into his hand again. He was sure that school had never been this long before and wished for nothing more than to be on his fire escape taking to Dave from Dayton on his Ham radio. It had been a perfect night. The frequencies were open and strong.

The classroom sat in tense silence while Mrs. Brzozowski waited with the patience of a saint for an answer. She turned to look directly at him with the expression that plainly said, “I know you know the answer”, and he felt cajoled into raising his hand. The smile she gave him when he correctly interpreted the meaning of Mary’s choice in book made his chest clench and a small smile appear on his face but it quickly faltered when he heard laughter behind him. He knew better than to look a see who laughed. Nothing would come from letting them know he heard and his head remained frozen frontward. The only thing making the day bearable from there on out was the knowledge he was going to the Tower after school.

A bundle of nerves formed in his stomach at the thought of going back. Although he got the confirmation and went through the orientation, the whole experience didn’t feel real yet. The seat he sat in at orientation never warmed under him and the building felt too pristine for him to frequent. He resolved himself to work hard and prove that he should be there. If he did that then no one could kick him out.

The bell rang and Peter went through the motions of a school day. The lunchroom doors stood in front of him and he moved to the side to allow the other students to file in. There was an apple in his bag but the thought of eating made him queasy. Instead of entering he followed the hallway down and turned into the bathroom. The seat was cold and the stall was quiet. Peter flushed the empty bowl and then let the water drip on his hands. He avoided looking in the mirror and wandered out of the bathroom.

He could go to the library but it was surprisingly busy during the day. The thought of facing anyone else made his empty stomach flip so he wandered the halls looking for an empty classroom. Somewhere he could relax for a moment before the bustling students took over. His eyes caught the sight of an open door and it was too tempting to pass up. Most of lunchtime was left, Peter was tired, and he didn’t want to walk around anymore. His eyes followed his feet dragging across the floor when someone coughed.  

His eyes flicked upward as his body froze in place. Peter eased his arms in front of him and he pulled his legs together, aware that he was standing in the middle of the front of the classroom. The boy sat in the middle of the room with books and papers spread around him and Peter remembered they had been in a class together before. The boy’s dark hair was straight and hung down to his full cheeks. His eyes were furrowed and Peter wanted to leave before he interrupted even more.

“I’m sorry,” He said. “I didn’t know anyone was in here. I’ll get out of your way.”

“Peter, right?” Peter’s back tensed as he faced the door. He nodded but stayed where he was. “You can stay here. I only was working on some homework that I didn’t get done last night. That is if you want to?”

It was the hesitation in his voice that had Peter looking back and nodding. In slow steps he wound through the desks and took a seat two rows away from the boy. His backpack slouched on his lap and the straps wrinkled between his fingers. Should he talk to him? Or should he just mind his own business?

It turned out that he didn’t have to worry about making any decisions.

“I’m Ned. I think we’ve had a few classes together before.” Peter glanced up before studying the grains in the wood.

“Yeah, first term choir with Mr. Netterbocker?” Ned’s hand hit the desk and Peter barely suppressed a flinch.

“Dude, I thought he would kill that Sam girl if she chewed gum in class one more time.” Sam was someone in their grade who chewed gum everyday without fail to the irritation of their choir director. A smile stole across Peter’s face as he looked toward the boy, noticing that he was wearing a Star Wars shirt. He liked Star Wars.

“Sam,” Peter mimicked their teacher.  “Let the sound out. You can’t do that with gum. Now round the O sounds.” He blushed when Ned laughed at his poor imitation.

“Exactly! He almost had an aneurysm when she coughed too hard at the concert and spit a piece out onto stage.” A giggle bubbled out of him and before he knew it the boys were laughing and pretending to trace the trajectory of the missile. Peter wiped the corner of his eye and smiled at Ned not noticing that the boy had moved a row closer while they talked.

“Not into the lunch room scene today?” Ned asked. The earnest curiosity in his tone compelled Peter to answer at least with part honesty. Peter played with the strap of his backpack.

“You could say that.”



“Dude, you don’t have to be nice. The freshman suck, Flash especially.” Without thinking Peter looked up and stared at Ned who was back to reading the papers in front of him. 


“He’s not so bad.” Peter spoke quietly, afraid to show that he actually kind of liked Flash even though he was a bully, nervous Ned wouldn’t like him because he didn’t agree. Ned snorted without looking up.

“You’re too nice.” He wasn’t sure how to answer so he stayed silent. His fingers worked against a knot he somehow tied into the straps but it was too tight and he ended up bending his nail.  

“Hey Peter.” Ned was standing by the door with his stuff put away. Lunch must already be over with. “Congrats by the way. On the contest. That must be so sick. Have you met Stark yet?” Peter hurried to the door while Ned waited.

“Um, yeah, I met him once.”

Ned’s eyes widened and questions tumbled out of his mouth, asking Peter what happened, what his house was like, and if Mr. Stark was super cool. Peter was overwhelmed but tried to answer in between the continuous inquiries. He wasn’t sure he got his thoughts correctly across and he didn’t want to gossip. Ned seemed nice enough but Peter felt… protective, for lack of a better word, about the time he spent with Mr. Stark.

On one hand, like the contest, he was sure it was real. He had physical papers and from them a lingering hope seeded in him. On the other hand he still didn’t understand what a man like Tony Stark was doing with someone like him. The trails that thought led were dark and overgrown so Peter shook his head. He was surprised to see that Ned continued to walk beside him and was telling Peter all these facts about Iron Man.

They stood at the corner of two hallways. Peter listened while Ned talked, admiring the way his arms moved in tandem with his words and how he didn’t have to keep an eye out for any people that passed them. His own eyes followed them until they were out of his line of sight and then he wished he could sense them when they were out of his sight.

The warning bell went off but Peter couldn’t bring himself to move. It was the first time he stood idly in the halls talking with someone. Peter felt the blush creep up his cheeks at the thought. He, Peter Parker, was chatting with Ned before class. Ned clapped him on the shoulder saying they should talk again before turning to go to class.

“Hey, Ned.” He called before the boy walked out of hearing and Peter scrunched his nose at the one girl who stared at him for being loud. “I, uh, I like your shirt.” Ned smiled and waved before turning the corner.

Peter leaned back against the lockers pondering what just happened. All he was looking for was a quiet place to hide and he came across, well, he wasn’t quiet sure. He hurried to class barely making it in time but couldn’t wipe the smile off of his face for the rest of the day.

—

The elevator buzzed around him as Peter rested his against the side. He was quiet, thinking about his interaction with Ned, before he remembered his manners.

“Hi Friday! How are you doing today?” He tilted his head up still not entirely sure where to look but figured the effort would be noted.

“I am doing well. Thank you for asking. And how are you doing today?” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“Um,” he said thinking about his day. “I’m not running late today, at least.”

“Yes, you seem to be perfectly punctual.” He hoped it was humor he heard in her voice.

“Are there, um, is anyone else from the program here today?”

It wasn’t that he was nervous. At least not yet, but there was this thin feeling permeating his bones. It had been a very long day so far and if there was no one there he could let himself get lost in the project for the afternoon.

“There are two members of the other group here, Peter. If you want I can show you to another lab and…”

“No! I mean, sorry for interrupting, but I don’t want to create more work for you. I just was curious.” His fingers tightened on the knot he made earlier and stepped off the elevator. “Thank you Friday. I, uh, thanks for talking to me.”

“It’s my pleasure, Peter.” He nodded and then went to find his way.

The doors opened without warning, he reminded himself to try and get used to that, and he saw the two members working at a table in the middle of the room. The two smiled as he passed but went right back to work. He let out a breath he had been holding when he found a table tucked away against one of the windows. The view of New York was one of his favorites and he took a second to appreciate where he was… and why. With his notebook and pen out he started working on his outline.

The hours went by and the next time Peter surfaced he couldn’t see the skyline anymore. The room was quiet and he was alone. His papers were scattered around him and he gathered them up, periodically glancing about the room as he did.

While there were never official hours mentioned, he had a feeling that he shouldn’t be here. He stuffed the papers into his backpack and made his way toward the exit. The hallway was light brightly compared to the room and Peter swallowed before turning down the hallway. He heard the clicking of shoes and pushed himself against the wall before realizing it wasn’t hiding him.

The doors in the hallway were all closed and he would have been even more nervous to wander in one that wasn’t meant for him. The clicking came closer and he resumed walking to the elevator, making sure his head was down. The door was open and there were a pair of shoes already present.

He raised his head without making eye contact and wished it were just him and Friday in the small room. The shoes were some type of heel and Peter was in awe of anyone who could walk in them, let alone take the confident strides he heard earlier. He switched his gaze to his own sneakers, noting the way the sides of the shoe spilt over the soles. His toes pressed against the brim but they were his favorite shoes and he didn’t want to get rid of them. Still, he couldn’t help the flare of shame that clawed its way in him at the comparison between footwear. This was a fancy lady and she shouldn’t have to share the elevator with him.

“Long day?” Her voice was solid but smooth and Peter was reminded of May when she was more serious. He glanced up and blushed. Pepper Potts was in the elevator with him.

It was a shock to many when Mr. Stark handed control of his company to her but the profit margins and successes following the transition were proof enough of her expertise. She was a formidable woman and Peter looked up to her almost as much as Mr. Stark.

“H-hi, I mean, hello. I mean, yes it has. Not that it was bad. I mean I got a lot of work done if that’s what you’re asking but it was long because of school and I’m sorry.” His head dropped a fraction while he clenched his hands around the knot. “How-how was your day, Mrs. Potts?”

“Same here. Work was long but it looks like we both had productive days.” Peter smiled, keeping his face forward. The elevator seemed to be going slower than normal and Peter wondered if Friday had something to do with it before passing the thought off.

“You can call me Pepper. Mrs. Potts sounds so stuffy. You were in the S.T.A.R.K. contest? The Weaver, right?”

He could have been hit by a train and swept away right there and then. How could he call her by her first name? It might be one of his odd tics but since he was young he always called adults with a title. It was polite and what May and Ben taught him. Not to mention that she remembered him. That could be a good thing but Peter was convinced it was because of his poor performance at the contest. The blush intensified and he nodded.

“Um, It’s Peter, Ms. Potts. Yes, I made the synthetic webs.”

“That’s what it was. I hope you are like it here.”

“Everyone has been beyond accommodating.” He said hoping that placated the searching stare he could feel on his face.

“Peter?” She asked, her voice softer than before. He looked over and was drawn in by the calming expression in her eyes. For some reason he had the errant thought of the day Ben and May took him to the ocean for the first time. It was overcast and the waves were crowned with white peaks. Peter held no fear in his tiny limbs and he ran straight for the water. As if it knew what Peter was seeking the waves calmed for a moment and let the little boy dip his hands in the water, leaving him room to turn to his watchers and show them the wet digits. Her eyes were the same color of the waves that day and Peter’s breathing slowed imperceptibly.

“If you need anything don’t hesitate to ask anyone. In fact,” she paused to open a portfolio binder and handed him a card. “Here is my number if you ever need anything.”

He inspected the card and when he looked up the elevator stopped. Ms. Potts was waiting with her hand stopping the door from closing so he could exit.

“That’s, um, thank you.” He said backtracking from rejecting the number at her firm look. The lobby was empty and Peter offered to walk her out to her car. He should have known she had a driver waiting for her out front. His fingers curled around the handle as he opened the door for her. She thanked him and complemented his manners, which brought another bout of blush to his face.

“Do you need a ride home, Peter? We can take you.”

“No,” He said quickly and then continued firmly. “It’s okay, Ms. Potts. Thank you though. I can get home just fine. Thank you, again.”

She insisted once more but Peter was resolute. They said goodbye and he was left standing on the steps alone. Summer was just around the corner but the spring breeze cut through his thin jacket. He wrapped it around his shoulders tighter before walking down the steps.

At the base of the stairs he turned back to take in the building once more. The structure truly was a marvel and he tried to convince himself he could see the window he looked out of before. He popped his ear buds in and started home. It seemed like a million years since yesterdays subway ride. Peter’s eyes were heavy as the car chugged along and he stared out the window with blurry vision watching the people waiting at their own stops. It had indeed been a long day but a small smile traced Peter’s face as he thought about it.

Thank you!! :) 

Chapter Seven: Friday, Friends, and Jet Rockets

[nomilart]

Final Thoughts on Kingdom Hearts 3

I’m gonna gush and bash this game in great detail in a sort of rant/ organized essay manner

Spoilers… duh

               I’ve been a longtime fan of the Kingdom Hearts series. I’ve played every single damn game. The only two I haven’t finished were CoM (Could never get into the gameplay) and Ux (The story isn’t even finished yet… which I’ll get to). I have lived and breathed KH for most of my life and anticipated the climax to my favorite video game series for so long. Upon finishing Kingdom Hearts 3, I was washed with a tidal wave of emotions. I just finished the game I have been waiting on for 5 years upon confirmation that it even was a thing and anticipating it for even longer. There was so many amazing things about this game. Plot points involving characters I longed to make a return in some form were tied together. Things like the reason for why Xemnas and Ansem have returned were answered or what happened to replica Riku. The triumphant return of Aqua, Terra, and Ven and my personal most favorite the reuniting of Axel, Xion, and my favorite character Roxas! On top of super fun gameplay, graphics that dazzled my eyes even playing on the base ps4, a solid ost as usual thanks to Yoko Shimomura, and Disney worlds that really complemented the flare and grandiose of the rest of the game, this Kingdom Hearts game was shaping up to be my favorite among the entire series. Upon finishing the game, despite trying to overcome my biases of Kingdom Hearts 2, am still unsure of if I think I consider KH3 to be better or worse than KH2.

               Story:

               Whoooo boy what a STORY. The KH series is (understandably) mocked for its ridiculous and often convoluted approach to writing and storytelling, but I have stuck with every cheesy line and dumb plot point until this very day. I like to think of KH’s story telling as some kind of weird Avant-garde experience that is really just something that the series director, Tetsuya Nomura, comes up with as he goes along. The often awkward yet charming writing definitely comes from this.      

               KH3 starts off with Sora trying to regain his lost strength from the events of DDD and he is to search for the “power of waking” in order to rescue the hearts tied to his so he can help assemble 7 guardians of light to hopefully overcome Xehanort and his 13 darknesses. All is good until Sora finds out that Xehanort is very close to completing his 13 and just deciding to avoid waiting for the 7 guardians to assemble so he sends his “real organization” to search for the new seven hearts of light instead (these ultimately have little significance to the plot). Towards the end of the game Sora manages to save Aqua because for some reason Riku and Mickey just were too incompetent to go along with their mission even though Sora was allegedly the one who wasn’t strong enough to join them in saving Aqua. After Aqua is singlehandedly saved by Sora they all travel to Castle Oblivion were Aqua reverts it back to the Land of Departure in a really cool cutscene. They find Vanitas and stop him from preventing Ventus from waking up and get ready for the big fight after Sora dives into his heart. Sora and his friends all seem to die but not really after some weird stuff I’ll talk about later goes on. In short the last parts of the game are Sora stopping the remaining organization members and hearing their reasons for joining. Eventually they reach Xehanort and he merks Kairi and screws off to Scala ad Caleum. To be completely honest I’m still lost as to why this place has as much significance as it does besides the fact the Xehanort states it to be the Nexus of all worlds but upon further research, HOPEFULLY it makes more sense (I was caught in the heat of the moment). Xehanort’s motives are revealed and he reconciles after we defeat him and he *seemingly returns to Kingdom Hearts with Eraqus (This is only my theory). Afterwards Sora uses the x-blade in order to *seemingly free Kairi from death. All is well and everyone saved lives in harmony in a really touching scene but we soon learn that Kairi’s return seemingly costed Sora’s life or ability to be enjoy the peace with his friends because he fades away before the credits roll.

               Oh boy that was a real basic summary but now I’ll talk about things I liked. I loved Sora so much in this game. He has grown on me more than ever because he displays so many more emotions than just being happy go-lucky most of the time. While that I the core of who he is, I know he has experienced pain (hurt is a silly word in KH) in the past but it was never this serious. He lost one of his best friends because he wasn’t strong enough to save her in time, he kind of understandably beats himself up for losing his strength and having to rely on his friends for strength, dealing with the pressure of being the bearer of a lot of people’s hearts while simultaneously being expected to rescue them, and last but certainly not least, seeming to sacrifice himself in order to save a friend/ potential love interest. I thought I’d hate the way Roxas and every other nobody would return based on the trailers seeming they were going to get all the data versions of them and implant their memories into them. While that is still somewhat how it goes down, it’s handled slightly better. Instead of using the bodies of data Roxas or Namine, they only use a “vessel” which I like to think is basically a human shaped husk that can only be a human when a person’s heart and memories are placed into it. It sounds goofy but I can get behind that. While a part of me wishes Roxas, Xion, and Namine stayed the way they were because I think It’d give the series some seriously needed consequences, I’d be a damn liar if I said I wasn’t glad my favorite character gets to be his own person. While the whole “Vessel” program can be seen as a cop out, I think it could have been handled much worse. I loved the interactions Sora and the gang had with the Disney characters and I 100% feel like this is the best integrated Disney worlds in the entire KH series. My definite favorite moments include Woody roasting Young Xehanort, Sulley yeeting Vanitas out of the world, and Sora going ham on Davy Jones. I also really liked the reveal that Ansem’s guardian was Terra, it was so badass. Although I totally called Xehanort being a villan who had good intentions but went about them in the worst way possible, I still liked the way it was explained how he got to where he was. I loved the ending scene where the wayfinder trio pay their respects to Master Eraqus (REAL DEATH CONFIRMED IN MY KH GAME?!) as well as the sea salt trio hanging out with the twilight town trio and SAIX/ISA. Also the secret reports have some super dark implications and it only makes me wish they were actual cutscenes. I haven’t read all of them but my favorite so far is one where Saix writes about how Lea and him snuck into the chamber of repose and heard screams of children being experimented on. They also mention a girl they were friends with (WHiCh ill GeT INto LaTeR).  Pretty content with the story as a whole.

               Now I talk about some things I did NOT like very much or at least still don’t understand at the moment. The main thing that REALLY peeved me off was the amount of KHUX stuff that is not only connected to the story of the XEHANORT SAGA but the fact that a lot of it is infuriatingly still not answered like the damn black box or why Maleficent specifically wants it so bad. On top of that there’s a lot of set up for the next entry in the series or what my personal cynical theory is, more backstory for KHUX that will be revealed in future updates. What I’m referring to is characters like Marluxia/ Lauriam , Larxene/ Elrena, Demyx, and Luxord who are intentionally left with super vague backstories. Lauriam and Elrena were revealed to be important to KhUX so I can only assume Demyx and Luxord will follow suit, especially after being revealed to have connections to the keyblade. What’s worse is that Marluxia and Larxene only seem to remember this after Sora defeats them… again… Luxord also gives Sora some assistance with this mystery card and it lowkey pissed me off. Oh yeah speaking of stuff that pissed me off, the “final world” section was super frustrating to me not because it was inherently bad, but because it was blatant setup for KHUX/ next game in the series especially with Sora seemingly* being transported to this limbo like area where the spirits of people who have died roam. One of these supposed spirits seems to be either a friend of Ephmer, Ventus, or Isa and Lea. It is intentionally vague and there only to spark speculation especially after she tells Sora a secret (Or was it the Chirithy? I don’t remember). I’m all for speculation and theorizing, I AM a KH fan afterall, it’s that this is speculation with a character we have no clue who it could be despite our best efforts and they throw her on us like she’s been part of the series this whole time…ESPECIALLY when Saix and Axel bring her up… I have my theories on who this girl might be but it ultimately doesn’t matter or doesn’t feel like good speculation because their might be multiple “mystery girls”. I personally think this mystery girl could be Strelitzia, Skuld, or some new character because Nomura hates us. The problem with it being either Strelitzia or Skuld is if it really IS one of them who is in this world or friends with Lea and Axel, then it leaves us wondering what happened to the other.  Ugh. Next this is really a gripe but I’m just lost to be honest. I have no idea what happened to Demyx or Vexen. They both defected and while Vexen/ Even helped out with the “real replica” or “vessel” program, I either missed what happened to Demyx after providing the vessel for Roxas or they actually just forgot to write a conclusion for him.  While I liked the interactions between Kairi and Axel I wished they actually showed Axel and Kairi training with their keyblades especially since they don’t do much with them in the final battle anyways… Kairi especially. It’s no secret that Kairi is literally worst girl in the KH series but I had hope that she’d get some much needed character development. My hopes were dashed when I found out she was just as useless and bland as ever and on top of that results in getting our sweet boi Sora sent to the shadow realm or wherever he gets sent to at the end of the game. A lot of annoying ship people really think that Riku and Sora were going to get together at the end of the game, and while I don’t blame them for thinking that way because honestly I would love to see that happen, the setup from KH1 and Com forbids that. I however, DO take issue with Riku taking a back seat in the story and honestly not contributing a whole lot besides motivating Sora do complete his mission. I like that Donald and Goofy were so charming in this game and that they joined us in the fight with Xehanort, but I still really would prefer that Riku also joined us like in KH2. We still have no concrete idea on what Kingdom Hearts itself actually is but as usual, I have my theories. The Kingdom Hearts that Xehanort summons in BBS and KH3 is the heart of all people and I think it’s the KH equivalent of Heaven or the afterlife because that’s where Eraqus and Xehanort go away to. The Kingdom Hearts in KH1 s the heart of all worlds and is apparently “light”. I’m also indifferent to the reveal of Xigbar being Luxu...anything to do with the black box or KHUX honestly bothers me. I know I must sound like I hate the story but I actually think it’s still the best out of all of them, I’m just expressing my concerns because I love the series and take serious issue with some of the choices made.

 Gameplay:

               The gameplay of KH3 is arguably the best of the series depending on who you ask. The general fan who mostly meanders through the game on the easiest difficulties on each entry might not really appreciate the depth of the combat and just stick to the go-to mash x to swing keyblade or triangle to do cool move. I however normally play on the hardest difficulty not only to seek a greater challenge, but to be forced to see how good or bad the game’s combat really is. I never really liked the argument of floaty combat because neither side really understands the real issue/ consequence of floaty combat. It all really comes down to enemy design, behavior, and placement. When a game has floaty combat and bad enemy design, (Enemies that don’t stagger or randomly stagger, shoot projectiles that do a lot of damage, big and un-telegraphed attacks) it cause the player to play the game in a really uncomfortable way. In BBS spamming dodge, surge moves, and shotlocks was essential in order to stand a chance against some of the bs that the game would throw at you. In DDD, flowmotion was far better than normal attacks because they gave you super armor, did better damage, and could be spammed. Balloonra was also OP AF. In KH1 Sora felt like a rock and while I personally enjoyed how it felt to control him, I can understand why someone wouldn’t like a lot of jumping and attacking over and over. Kh2 however, has the best combat in the series to this day in my opinion because of all the options you have. Your basic keyblade attacks are effective on every enemy in the game but at higher difficulties, the game suggests you branch away from mashing x and experiment with magic and summons. Then you realize how good it is. On top of solid enemy design, KH2 is probably my favorite game to play for action rpg gameplay.

               Going into KH3 I set my expectations on the gameplay low based on the 0.2 gameplay and the seemingly super floaty gameplay of the trailers. Although KH3 does have its floaty feeling, I can say that the game is designed to be fun while having the best floaty gameplay in the series. The enemies almost all stagger to your basic keyblade attacks and larger enemies that don’t consistently stagger to finishers and keyblade transformation attacks. Magic feels AMAZING to use and is clearly useful early on. Team attacks, while I feel are still better as limits you can individually choose, are still fun and satisfying to use when provided. Attraction Flow was my least favorite feature not because they are all useless, quite the contrary as the pirate ship and splash run seem pretty good, but because I don’t have the option to turn them off. They fill the situation command slots with too much clutter and I’d like to turn them off since I don’t use them much anyways. As for combo modifiers, it’s pretty subjective what you prefer to run with but personally I only used one air combo plus and no combo pluses for my ground combos, speed slash as my only equipped finisher, and the air launch move to render my enemies useless while I air comboed them Marvel vs Capcom style. Shotlocks while useful, aren’t busted as they were in DDD. I recently found out that the Hero’s origin shotlock, when not fully charged, actually heals you a little which came in handy in the battle gates. Links or Summons, are actually pretty bad except for Simba and Stitch. The reason they are so bad is because they cost a FULL mp bar to use and they all leave you vulnerable to damage, granted you take less damage but doesn’t really matter on harder difficulties or battlegates. Simba and Stitch are good because their damage output makes up for the full mp bar. Links also fully heal you but I think that’s because you don’t have I frames and the devs just hope you wouldn’t notice. All in All pretty solid gameplay. Not better than 2 in my opinion but I wouldn’t laugh at someone for saying KH3 has their favorite combat. Regarding the final bosses they are all designed great but they come in groups which I don’t like and wished there was a way to fight them individually. I know they come in groups because it makes it the endgame drag less but, it result in super short fights that have too much going on in them and abruptly stop when you beat one member one by one. I also wished we fought Ansem and Xemnas in their final forms instead of all 3 in a group (Also they have the best boss theme and it should’ve been the final boss theme but the real final boss theme is still good). Every other boss is SOLID my favorite was definitely the ice wolf and mother gothel’s heartless thing.

               Last but not least, Music

               It’s Godlike. The end.  

[thelogicalghost]

Hellboy (2019), a review

First, some background.

Hellboy is the title of a comic series centered around the character of the same name. Its core concept is a subversion of the Lovecraft genre: a demon (summoned by Rasputin working with Nazis, for extra evil) destined to bring about the apocalypse who, having been raised by humans, instead travels the world killing other eldritch creatures and preventing dime-a-dozen Lovecraftian apocalypses. Though it's been handled by multiple artists and writers, there's a definitively unique art style and tone that stays constant. Hellboy is a combination of antihero tropes, preferring to shoot things first and ask questions later, although how much his impatience and irreverence may be masking considerable intelligence varies from writer to writer.

In 2004, Guillermo del Toro directed and co-wrote a big-screen adaptation starring Ron Perlman as well as other highly capable actors such as John Hurt and Doug Jones (the latter of who played a fishman who likes to read, and then 13 years later would play another fishman for del Toro). While not perhaps the most faithful adaptation, the 2004 movie got a lot right, and del Toro helmed a sequel in 2008. The movies came just before and after another del Toro classic, Pan's Labyrinth (2006), and the aesthetic and atmospheric similarities do suggest that del Toro was maybe going through a bit of a "fairies but horror" phase. Neither movie was received well at opening, but they've slowly risen in popularity as the comic adaptation genre picks up new converts who now return to these movies and enjoy them as the dark demonic superhero genre-flip that they are.

So now it's 2019, 15 years after del Toro's Hellboy, and with superhero and comic book movies raking in big bucks even on R ratings and nostalgia for del Toro's vision still present, the movie industry has tried to revive the franchise. Kind of.

What this means is that this new movie not only has to adapt one of the trickiest kinds of source material, with a highly stylized feel of its own, but also has to follow two movies made by one of the most incomparable creatives in Hollywood today. Like him or not, del Toro's work is neigh impossible to copy. It also has to recast the equally unique Perlman.

The short version is, it doesn't succeed. Probably no one could have. It has a number of deep flaws, some of which are common to comic adaptations but some not.

I'll start with the plot, because the overall plot is, I think, a strong example of why I had to go through all this background.

The new movie begins with Hellboy as an established character, both to the universe he's in and to the audience, and I liked that. Hellboy's in Tijuana looking for a fellow agent but the rescue is derailed because the agent's been turned into a monster and Hellboy has to kill him. This is classic Hellboy, where all other characters are inevitably killed by the darkness and only the indestructible demon is left to finish the job and move on to the next. Except that Hellboy gets SUPER depressed by the death of this agent, going on a drinking binge for possibly weeks? Unclear dialogue? Anyway, okay, so it's a younger Hellboy. Oh, also, the movie quickly establishes that Professor Broom - Hellboy's dad - is still alive in this movie, and still parental.

This was, to me, the first warning sign. The 2004 movie did the establishing-universe-coming-of-age story, killing off Broom as part of that. So we're resetting the universe, but also not bothering to frame this movie as re-establishing Hellboy's character, assuming that the audience will already be familiar with the basic premise. It wants the easy access of an origin story but also getting to take the shortcut of building off previous incarnations. What that means is that the movie opens with a flashback to Arthurian times to set up the antagonist, but ALSO has to incorporate the re-tread flashback re-establishing Hellboy's origin as a Rasputin/Nazi experiment. We get the awesome sense of worldbuilding with characters who refer to a shared history, but then that history is blatantly exposited or flashbacked. The coming of age narrative has to share screen time and space with a plot that only really works when it's not the first in a series, so plot elements pop up and then are discarded or timing isn't explained or consequences are unclear.

Nowhere is this more keenly felt than in the character of Alice: her introduction is fantastic, implying that years ago when Hellboy saved her as a child they established some sort of relationship that sets up a great sibling dynamic between the two. BUT then in order to explain how a secondary villain is relevant, there's an extended flashback to how he saved her, as a baby, with no indication of further association as she grew up, which completely invalidates the previous worldbuilding and implied relationships.

I don't know exactly where the blame for this falls specifically, but I think it's indicative that the director, Neil Marshall, has to now mostly helmed the kind of blood-filled horror flicks where the quality of the dismembered body props is more important than the quality of the plot. Whether it's his direction, or the direction of producers (there are so many listed in the credits I don't know who to research first) or other creative controllers, it's clear that this new movie is intended as horror first and foremost, a sentiment supported by the excessive screen time devoted to redshirt humans being dismembered with unnecessarily vivid brutality.  This in turn brings with it the hallmarks of cheap horror: ignoring plot for the sake of blood and scares, spelling things out so the audience doesn't have to think and can just mindlessly consume, and generally mishandling pacing and tension because the ending is a foregone conclusion.

I understand WHY someone might get this idea from the del Toro movies, especially since I'm pretty sure the creative team also watched Pan's Labyrinth while putting together specific scenes. Unfortunately it's the most surface-level reading of the movies one could get, and it completely misses the point about what makes Hellboy an interesting character and property. They literally did not have his right hand DOING anything, which showcases how much they missed the point.

However.

Strip away the CGI gore and ham-fisted retreading (and cut the retelling of Broom's death, it would be effortless to replace that subplot), and there's actually a pretty awesome movie hiding underneath.

Someone on the writing staff knew what they were doing. The actors are almost all great. (Seeing Ian McShane as Broom here was weird, but I think that's partially because my feeds have been flooded with American Gods S2 trailers, so I had some strong "the fuck is Wednesday doing here" dissonance.) I love the lack of love triangle and instead the strong teambuilding with sibling-style chemistry with situational allies developing trust through necessity.

The main through-line of the plot is exactly what Hellboy should be: monsters, undead things coming back, an ancient evil threatening to engulf the world in darkness, and a determined attempt by the villain to appeal to Hellboy's demonic nature to draw him to her side. If the movie had been confident enough to position itself as a sequel to the del Toro films, rather than a reboot, the revelation of Hellboy's ancestry would have been a great development of his ironic destiny. 

Just take the secret society set up in the first act. An old boy's club of British gentlemen who ritualistically hunt down undead giants on horseback with electrified lance/spears and mount their heads in a Victorian trophy room? This is the world of Hellboy, absolutely. Love it. Baba Yaga! Bleeding trees! Whatever the hell those throat-ghosts are! A fairy ripping out someone's tongue and putting it in their own mouth in order to speak with the person's voice! Hellboy! (Granted that last point was utterly terrible in the context of the plot, but I already ranted about that.)

The movie is pretty optimistic about setting up further sequels, and while I don't know if the box office and reviews will make a sequel happen, I would love for the seeds planted by the good movie underneath the bad one to be nurtured into an actually good Hellboy movie. It just desperately needs to be taken away from people who prioritize cheap horror and its tropes, and given back to people who understand that Hellboy is a fantasy superhero narrative within a Lovecraft setting, the way that del Toro did. 

[ungarmax]

people have been talking about lup and barry having a kid in the 2 years they spent on faerun before lup disappeared, and i suddenly had the urge to rewrite the entire story with taako raising this pair of half elf twins that he thinks are his cause they look like him, but he has no idea who the other parent is.

like, it's a work in progress because i cannot imagine barry would have had taako kill him when he started forgetting lup if he had two lil babies waiting for him, but just hear me out.

imagine sizzle it up with taako & family, with these two little kids hamming it up as much as taako does.  imagine one of them almost eating the poisoned chicken, and taako manages to stop them at the last second, vowing right then and there that he will never, ever feed these kids his cooking again.  taako still never settles down in an actual house, so he ends up with a pair of street savvy caravan kids good at making themselves useful and better at picking pockets.

taako is extremely protective of these kids, trying very hard to always be there if something happens, but also teaching them how to look out for themselves.  he teaches them to rely on each other, because he knows how terrible it is to grow up all alone.  he teaches them to protect themselves and each other first, to not be ashamed to run away from danger, even if others (him) need help.  he teaches them survival.

they're ten when he takes the job in phandalin, and he leaves them in an inn in neverwinter.  even with the gauntlet in his bag, he refuses to leave without his things from the inn, much to killian's annoyance. (her annoyance dissolves when taako leaves the inn with a pair of angel faced pre-teens trailing behind him.)

imagine lucretia's joy when she sees these children with their uncle, growing up strong and bright, and imagine her contrasting sorrow when she realizes these children have no knowledge of their biological parents.  at least, she thinks, they were raised by family, and there's no doubt that these children are loved.  at least, she thinks, taako didn't end up on his own.

magnus adores the kids and brings them trinkets and toys from every place they visit.  he carves them wooden animals whenever they ask and regales them with stories and tall tales about his travels.  merle pretends he doesn't like them but always seems to have sweets for them stuffed in his pockets.  he is surprisingly patient with them, and they almost immediately see through his teasing.

and for his part, taako is still taako, but he's got more compassion.  he doesn't hesitate to show his children love and affection, although he is private about it.  he is still slow to trust -- possibly slower, now, because he has more to lose.  but he isn't the aloof, uncaring persona he wears in canon.  he doesn't let people in easily and he no longer is desperate for validation from his peers.  he is more patient, but only for those he is close to.

the children become the darlings of the bureau, befriending nearly everyone with their charm and pretty faces.  they become very good at getting what they want, although the first time they try to pick carey's pocket, they get a lesson in when it's acceptable to do so (and some tips on how to be more subtle).  the twins are angus' first friends.  (they pick on him as much as their father does.)  magic lessons are for three now instead of one, although the twins already know the basics.  they know how to protect themselves.

as it turns out, the umbra staff is as protective of the twins as it is of taako.  it even rolls to either of the children on occasion, when it would normally roll towards taako.

taako doesn't make macarons for candle nights.  he's too careful, has too much to lose.  but when he finds out what sazed did, and after he buys the no-sodium salt shaker, he relents.  he isn't going to be a famous chef anymore -- that ship has sailed, and he's found something else he's good at anyway.  he stays up late and bakes the twins' favorite cake while everyone else is asleep.  he has neglected to bake a cake for too many birthdays now.

the twins are ecstatic.  it's been a long while since dad cooked anything, but they clearly remember that his food is always better than anyone else's.

taako still goes on a date to the chug & squeeze.  it's a little extra awkward.  most people wouldn't want to date a single dad.  but the grim reaper isn't very much like most people.  i'm afraid no one else will have me, is not said in this reality.  instead, i don't think there's a safer place in the world for my kids. in the end, it means the same thing.

barry knows where his children are -- he tracked them down as a lich, because how could he not?  i imagine that whatever the scenario is that led to taako being the one to raise them, barry never, ever meant to leave them alone.  barry knows, but it still kills him a little bit when the pair of liches in wonderland try to take some of taako's memories of their childhood.  

(taako refuses.  losing his beauty is nothing compared to losing anything of his children.)

in this world, taako is not so eager to quit the bureau.  he will go with magnus and the red robe, but only if they can promise to help him get the kids out of there.  the red robe has no real face to speak of, but the earnestness and sadness radiate from him when he replies, “seeing those children get hurt is the last thing i want.”

eventually, they all remember.  the twins taako has raised as his own aren't strictly his, but they sit on either side of him and steadfastly hold his hands in the director's inner chambers as she helps him and merle and magnus remember.  they learn of their origin at the same time taako does.

they are there when the hunger attacks, when taako understands where lup is, when he snaps the umbra staff over his knee.  and they feel the glow and warmth of a maternal love they haven't felt in ten long years as the flames encircle them but do not harm them.

they are supposed to hide during the fight against the hunger.  they do not.  they fight alongside their biological parents.  when taako comes back through the portal, he sees them for a split second, their eyes bright and their wands at the ready, with lup on one side and barry on the other, and he thinks about himself and lup when they were kids.

he wants to stay, and he wants to protect them, because that's all he ever wants.  because they were always the most important people to him.

but, he thinks, they're all right now.  he thinks, they've got someone else to protect them.  he thinks, even if he doesn't make it back, the twins will be okay.  he is needed elsewhere right now.

he does make it back.  somehow, everyone does.  he hugs the kids for a half an hour and won't even let barry or lup near them.

he still doesn't ever forgive lucretia for taking lup away from him.  he thinks that these children would have grown up better surrounded by the family they've made, even if their mother was absent.  he thinks that barry, at least, should have been able to be a part of these children's lives.  but the open animosity is not as ever present here.  his life has not been terrible, and part of lup never left him anyway.

things do get a little weird.  the twins do not stop calling taako 'dad.' instead, they adopt barry as 'papa.'  magnus punches people who have a problem with the arrangement.  not many people do.

some might think it would raise a problem, that taako would have to give the children back, or that lup and barry would have to give up their children.  those who think that don't know them very well.  taako doesn't intend to leave lup's side ever again, so the children are collectively theirs.  magnus builds them a house with plenty of room for five.

eventually, kravitz moves in too.  the kids call him 'father,' mostly because it's funny to watch his face the first few times they say it.