#but i finished the tower of nero and finally got to see these two happy so !!!

[thelilylav]

He ain't heavy, he's my brother.

(He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother, The Hollies)

My art, The World at Its Beginning (Dustin Pearson), The Tyrant's Tomb (Rick Riordan), The Fall of the House of Usher (Steven Berkoff), The Tower of Nero (Rick Riordan), Leto and her Children (William Henry Rinehart), The Moon Had No Light of its Own (Imaginary Future), My Love Mine All Mine (Mitski), Untitled (Lyra Wren), The Tyrant's Tomb (Rick Riordan), Electra (Sophocles), To Forgive (The Smashing Pumpkins), Unknown, The Tower of Nero (Rick Riordan), The Sun is Also a Star (Nicola Yoon), Doomed From the Beginning (@/veniennes on tiktok), On learning to write professionally (Interview with Jazmine Hughes by The Creative Independent), The Tower of Nero (Rick Riordan), My art

[sonicasura]

I think the funniest crossover ever would be Pizza Tower and Devil May Cry. We got one anxious pizza joint owner, Peppino Spaghetti, who would pummel someone with his bare fists while going at Mach 4 like a maniac. Then there's the wahoo half devil pizza man, Dante Sparda, that hunts demons for a living and has major family drama.

Dante would be such a common visitor to this strange pizza joint for two reasons. One is the pizza is actually good. Two Peppino practically the most interesting person he has ever met. Dante is convinced that this man got demon heritage from seeing him beat the shit out of any demons who try wreck the joint.

Hell there is a gooey doppelganger he seen multiple times with an apparent appetite for demon meat, living pizza toppins who dance around and another chef that rides on a giant ass rat. Peppino meanwhile just glad Dante pays for his massive amount of food(thank Vergil whose tired of his little brother's tab lifestyle. He does the funds.) He still doesn't know how this guy with the big ass sword even found his shop.

I got even funnier yet wholesome crack thought in the form of Nero being adopted by Peppino. He magically disappears from the orphanage doors and instead pops up outside the diner. Peppino is fucking confused as he just finished closing up his new restaurant only to find a baby. (DMC and PT are separate worlds that can be accessed through particular areas.)

Cue instant panic since who the hell would leave a baby here?! He can't exactly leave the kid here as there is no place to take him anywhere. Thus the start of reluctant dad Peppino and Nero Ink Spaghetti with special guest uncle Gustavo!

It was definitely a struggle raising a baby alongside running a pizza joint but our anxious man manages to do it. Peppino is an absolute happy crier when it comes to Nero's big accomplishments. Especially making his first pizza by himself as he definitely teaches our quarter devil how to cook.

Although Peppino hates the Noise a lot more than him being a usual nuisance. He can handle the mean pranks when it's on him but his son? You can thank one notorious mishap with the Noise that awakened a 10 year old Nero's Devil Trigger.

The kid was absolutely a fucking wreck when it happen not because he have no clue on his heritage nor demons completely. It's how Peppino would react as the man who raised him like a son is a massive ball of PTSD from being a retired war veteran. The man definitely got spooked when his kid burst into flames.

Nero being able to change into some kind of devil wouldn't make Peppino reject him though. This was just another side that everyone would have to get used too but yeah. Peppino definitely hates the Noise with passion after this incident.

Nero's first adventure actually doesn't start in Devil May Cry 4 but instead Pizza Tower which takes place a year before it. Due to Pizzaface antics, father and son got separated for quite awhile. Taking on the various levels of each floor before finally reuniting at Fake Peppino's boss stage: Bruno's Pizza.

Nero stole a random sword on Floor 1 and a gun from Floor 2 as he doesn't has his official gear yet. (He steals that from SWORD while at Fortuna.) Pizza Tower could be considered a perfect playground to figure his own abilities than just Devil Trigger. That and final boss tag team as both were completely done with Pizzaface at that point.

Now things around the diner absolutely changed a bit afterwards. Fake Peppino, Peppy, moved in without warning although Nero wasn't that offput unlike his dad. He absolutely pulled the 'Clone = New Kid' card on Peppino as the Toppins were practically adopted too from how fond said man is with them. (Those little guys taunt whenever Peppino does too!)

Ending up on Fortuna can be considered a Hell Portal in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or it shows up inside Peppino's Diner which practically leads Peppino, Nero, Gustavo, Brick, and Pep to get dragged in devilish shenanigans. You can bet your ass everyone was so fucking befuddled by these newcomers.

Dante the most as he had a feeling who Nero is but not the strange man who piledrived a Balrog with sheer strength and speed. Did Peppino think the half devil is his son's relative? Absofuckinglutely. White hair, can go Devil Time(what he calls Devil Trigger) and the obviously cultish spiel about this 'Sons of Sparda' was enough.

He would've torn into Dante if the man didn't admit to being clueless. (Vergil nor his other halves are safe though. Even V is getting suplexed.) Peppino and Pep do rip Dante a new one when he decides to call Nero deadweight. You don't insult their son/older brother without an ass kicking.

Our Pizza Tower makeshift family get involved in Devil May Cry 5 when Nero didn't call them back for awhile. He had decided to work under Dante so he could get to understand his family heritage better. Nero still calls and visits when he can even bringing Kyrie along.

Peppino did cry upon finding out the two became a couple like the proud dad he is. Kyrie gets quite well with Pep and thinks the Toppins are adorable little fellows. Now I can't forget about Vergil.

You can bet your ass it was fucking awkward when he found out not only Nero is his son but considers this weirdass anxious man as his father. Peppino loathes Vergil to no end especially with the arm cutting to get Yamato. The older Sparda doesn't visit the diner for awhile since Pep would try to tear him apart since he's just as vengeful. Fake Peppino likes the taste of demon flesh btw.

It took some time before things could smooth over between both parties. Now if only Dante and Vergil behave than try to kill each other near his restaurant. Peppino's Diner practically has a two way portal between both worlds due to the Hell Portal in the restaurant incident. (It's in the basement behind a closed door.)

The Devil May Cry crew do visit frequently thanks to that. Mainly Dante since the pizza is not only good but cheaper too. If a demon tries to slip through than Peppino will beat the shit out of it. Also he probably got a Devil Arm shaped like a pizza cutter now that I think about it.

Then again, Peppino's Diner never be the same after a little baby with white hair showed up at the doors. What do you guys think? For now enjoy this little jam.

[shiroscorner]

Okay! I Finished The Tower of Nero all the way back in October, but I got lazy and I recently re-read the whole ToA books again. I’m really glad I did because there where things I would have missed on first reading.

Before I give my final thoughts on the Book series as a whole I will be giving my  thoughts on events, Themes, and other miscellaneous things that happened in the books.

In the first chapter of the Hidden Oracle, Apollo talks about hanging over the Abyss of Chaos in Tartarus Which was a nice piece of Foreshadowing for the ending of ToA.

Rachael sassing Apollo over the other oracles like a bitter girlfriend is great.

I like how the books shows that Nico has been improving (Has friends, isn’t living with dead people, smiles, and participating in group activities), but that he still has a long way to go with his mental health. Rick works really hard at showing that a significant other isn’t going to fix all your problems and that its going to take a long time for Nico to get to a really good place mentally. Mental health is an uphill battle your whole life for people who suffer from mental health conditions no matter how much your life improves.

This series is the most inclusive LGBTQ+ children’s series ever written (Regardless of medium). Its makes me happy to see such a inclusive and well round LGBTQ+ characters. Including the main character which is huge for a children’s series.

Frank going out on his own terms to avenge Jason makes me cry every time even knowing that Frank survives on a second reading. 

I like to imagine that all the Jason hate is a vocal minority because of how many people were sad by Jason’s death (It couldn’t possibly be that they all suddenly love Jason now that he’s dead or anything like that).

Jason and Piper’s relationship. I’m really glad that though they broke up the still are friends and care about each other. They went on multiple quests together post break up. Most books, shows, and movies show that people can’t be friends after a break-up and it bothers me because people absolutely can be. Its nice to see that.

Apollo is thirsty for literally everyone. I wanna re-read these books an catalog a full list of people Apollo thirsts for and has dated.

I don’t think I have ever mentioned it on here before, but I work a job that allows you to where headphones and ear buds so I listen to the audio books while at work. The narrator for the ToA books is Robbie Daymond. His performance is so amazing. Probably because he is a professional actor. If you haven’t listened to the audio books I highly recommend it.

Lavinia is my QUEEN! MORE LAVINA PLEASE!

Jason is amazing and selfless and we stan him here!

I like that Calypso and Leo still have a lot of working to do to make the relationship work. Most authors would be like “He saved her from a 4,000 year imprisonment so now everything is perfect” All relationships need work regardless of the history.

Crest was okay, but I wish we had known him a little longer before he died.

I love Emmie, Jo, and Georgie.

Apollo forgetting how to God because of how long he’s been mortal is so funny.

Am I sad that my fan theory didn’t happen? Yeah, but it still ended in a really good way. I still think Apollo will take over duty of Camp Director once Mr. D’s punishment is over. It will be a really good full circle moment for him because it will not only bring him down to earth, but also Apollo was the one who made Camp Half Blood / was the original Camp Director. I actually have a lot of fan theories about what everyone will be doing when they get older and in the future.

Okay so my final thought on The Trials of Apollo.

The Trials of Apollo is one the the most well planned and written series in the Riordanverse. While Apollo’s literal trails were about reclaiming the five oracles the actual point of the trails were about Apollo taking accountability for the awful things he’s done. While each books is about a specific Oracle they are also about a particular part of his life that he ruined with his self destructive behavior.

The Hidden Oracle was about Apollo taking responsibility for the death’s of his two greatest loves Daphne and Hyacinthus.

The Dark Prophecy was about how Apollo has failed and ignored his children.

The Burning Maze is about Apollo’s treatment of demigod heroes and the part he played in sending them to their deaths

The Tyrants Tomb is about Apollo coming to terms with and taking accountability for the absolute worst things he ever did and discovering how he can move forward from them.

The Tower of Nero is About Apollo bringing all the lessons he’s learned together.

As the books go on Apollo slowly becomes less self centered and more humble. His inner monologues are were the change is most noticeable. At the beginning of the series in the Hidden Oracle Apollo’s inner monologue is so obnoxious its almost intolerable. However, slowly over the course of the books he becomes less obnoxious and more down to earth. His thoughts over time shift toward the people he loves and cares about instead of himself.

Meg and Apollo’s Abuse stories were so profound and honest about how Abuse happens. How Nero and Zeus trained Meg and Apollo to see them as the good guys when they were actually being abused, how the victim blaming worked, and how they came to the conclusion that they were abused. All of it so realistic and honest. Books like these may help real people see how they are being abused and to seek help.

These books were so great and I am excited for the stand alone books (WE KNOW YOU WRITING A NICO BOOK UNCLE RICK DON’T TRY TO HIDE IT) and the Celtic series he teased during The Tower of Nero.

Interested in hearing what you guys have to say. Tell me! Please be nice and respectful to everyone who comments!

(Note I am dyslexic like many other demigods and any constructive criticism about grammar and spelling mistakes are welcomed)

[echo-three-one]

Chapter 40

THE ROAD SO FAR

It's not that hard to say goodbye. But it's really sad for the notable few who enjoyed it.

The SIXth Ship

"Alex"

Sierra Leone, Africa

"Echo 3 - 1 to Hunter One One. We have confirmed the presence of a suspected SAM Turret. Advising not to deploy air support until it's down, over." Alex muttered over the radio as he lowered his scope.

"Copy that, Three One. We'll stand by for your go signal." Roach replied as Alex signaled his team to move forward, covering Alpha Team's six.

"This place is suspiciously quiet." Price muttered over comms.

"It's 5 am. Bad guys probably needed sleep too." Alex commented, scoping on what's head of Team Alpha.

"Well, I want Volt awake, so I could beat Nero's location out of him." Price spat.

"Guardhouse on the east. Single guard, fast asleep."Alex shot his suppressed rifle as the guard dropped to the ground.

"Good Night."

"I'm hearing an engine starting on our east." Soap whispered as Alex turned his scope east. There was indeed a truck load of food arriving at their base.

"Civilian delivery truck." Alex warned.

"Let him pass. He'll notice the dead guard and run." Price predicted and it actually happened as the innocent driver sped off away from the base.

"How long till he calls the cops?" Alex asked.

"Never. France already bribed the guy." Soap answered.

"What?" Alex was puzzled.

"Welcome to Africa." Soap chuckled and they hid into the supply truck while Price drove inside.

"Alright, we're in. Soap and France should plant charges on SAMs and Comms. Once their alarm rings we light things up." Price ordered as Alex's team advanced and circled the perimeter, protecting the gates.

"Where could Volt be hiding?" Alex asked.

"Could be anywhere. This base has lots of buildings." Rocket replied not far behind him.

"There are also six ships by the dock. He could be in one of those." Royce added.

"Alpha Team, we've got movement on your six. Looks like they're looking for their supply drop. They're by the truck and unloading their supplies." Alex warned as the three remained quiet.

"Tango by the guard house down." Rocket confirmed his kill as the body dropped on the ground.

"They're about to discover their dead allies. Prepare for the alarm!" Alex roared as their alarm system activated, dozens of troops from their camps emerged carrying weapons.

"Shit! I'm taking sniper fire by the rooftops!" Soap yelled over comms. Bravo team immediately turned their sights to the rooftops and took down the snipers with ease.

"There's no sign of Volt here. He must've woken up early. Rendezvous with me by the tower." Price muttered.

"Sir. This is Meat from Charlie Team. We've confirmed movement on the docks. No positive ID of Volt yet."

"Copy that meat. Proceeding to the docks." Price said as gunfire echoed through his comms.

"Seeing multiple reinforcements from the gate!" Alex alerted as they attempted to shoot down armored cars loaded with more enemies.

"Alex! This area is compromised!" One of his allies suggested as smoke started to cover their forest.

"Shit! We'll have to meet up with them inside! Change to assault weapons and advance to the gate. You two cover our six using thermals." The two nodded as Alex switched to his assault rifle, advancing towards the gate, taking down reinforcements as they arrived.

"Price? Soap? France? Sitrep?" He roared through comms as his team was now barraged with heavy fire as they hid for cover.

"This is Bravo Six. I made my way inside the last ship. Looks like he's trying to escape. France and Soap are by the docks taking heavy fire. I'll handle Volt from here. You hold out for extraction. It looked like we didn't have a choice." Price said.

Alex felt the heat of the explosion as the ground shook. Soap had detonated the charges they set and help was on the way.

"Roach!" Soap sounded hurt.

"Way ahead of you!" Roach said as the air support bombarded the base with grenade shells, blasting every enemy away as the ground troops recovered.

"Reloading for another round. Stand by." He said as the plane circled back.

"Okay team! Their numbers have reduced. Let's finish this." Alex informed his bravo team as they finished off the remaining waves of enemies, which were too resourceful as they also had attack hyenas, something they didn't expect.

"These dogs are furious!" One commented as they entered the gates, securing the whole base or what's left of it, for valuable intel.

"Echo Three One to Actual. Jack, it looked like they cleaned this place already."

"Actual to Three One. Looks like it. I guess their getaway ship had all his latest work."

"Charlie team found a way to follow them. Bravo team resume recon on the five ships." Jack commanded and the rest followed

"Copy that, Actual. Proceeding towards the ships with caution." Alex replied as they carefully pressed deeper into the base toward the pier. Alex wondered how many piers and ships had been involved on his missions. Looks like Nero doesn't trust air travel.

The ships were rusted and broken, but the components inside were new stacks of equipment possibly used for his bomb making.

"This sly guy hides his stuff inside these rusty ships." Alex reported, his voice echoed around the ship.

"We're all clear, Alex. This ship is empty of tangos." One of his allies reported.

"So are the other ones." Another one reported.

"We found the rest of Alpha team by the pier. Looks like Soap's injured." Said another.

"Copy that. Stay frosty. We have no visual of the entrance so reinforcements might arrive." Alex replied to everyone.

"Roger that." The rest of his team replied in unison. Roach's Air support chopper hovered ahead of them and followed the getaway ship, providing support to Capt. Price. Charlie team had borrowed some small boats to aid in Volt's capture.

"It's all up to him now." Alex muttered as they resumed securing the enemy base.

"So, how was your day?" Samantha smiled, slipping herself inside the covers as she lay down beside Alex. The tired man huffed out a sigh and looked at her beautiful girlfriend, whose eyes were staring at him longingly. It's been almost a month since the task force was created and they were on separate beds, but Alex always makes sure he sleeps over every time he's free.

"Oh, you know. The other kind of usual. We beat information out of Nero's bomb maker today." He said in an interesting tone.

"I know beating people is wrong, but when you've been played with by these kinds of people, it's kind of pleasant to the ears." She chuckled, her hand gliding on his arms and looked for his hands.

"Yeah. I'll never stop doing it until they get a taste of their medicine." Alex breathed and looked at Samantha. Her eyes that once looked blank and lost now looked happy. It was tragic how she just wanted to live a normal life but had everything taken away from her.

"What would you do when this is all over?" She asked, questioning his last statement.

"Well, I could finally take you out on a nice date. Maybe say hi to your dad or something." he blurted, making Samantha's eyes widen in surprise.

"Aww.." She smiled as she leaned in for a kiss, while Alex slowly lifted her so that she's now lying on top of him.

"Why is it that every kiss feels so different." She mused as she leaned for another one.

"Maybe because my love for you grows stronger every second?" He replied.

"Haha. You're funny." She said sarcastically.

"That I am." He grinned as they rolled over, giggling at whatever they were doing.

"I love you, Samantha." Alex whispered in the sexiest way that he could resulting to Samantha actually giggling in disbelief.

"I love you too, Alex." She replied.

"Now, go to sleep. I want you well rested for your work tomorrow." She added as she turned the lamp off. Alex groaned like a kid who doesn't want to go to bed yet.

"How can I sleep, when even in the dark, I could still see your pretty face." He whispered as Samantha laughed.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, mister." She said as she turned back, letting Alex hug her from behind. She always loved his warm embrace beside him, a feeling of security amidst all the times that she'd been kidnapped.

The next morning, Alex came back to the base after breakfast with Samantha. It has been a while since he had that and thought that it wouldn't hurt to go late once in a while.

"Where have you been?" Roach asked as soon as he got to the base.

"I overslept." he lied as Roach scoffed.

"You? Hahaha. Nice try. I know full well that no matter what happens you always wake up at the exact time." Roach laughed.

"Why? Is there something wrong with Volt?" Alex pressed on to the main topic at hand.

"The guy had a little fight. But he actually talked."

"Yeah? About what? Nero's location?"

"No. And This isn't like the official thing, it's just rumors. Price slept at the infirmary today and hasn't woken up yet. So the news is that his EMP tech is now capable of killing humans on a set radius."

"Shit." Alex hissed.

"I know. It could launch anywhere anytime and no one could hide from it. A whole new kind of killing weapon." Roach wondered, making them worry about what Nero's about to do.

"Volt better get talking soon."

"Yeah. He better." Roach approved with an encouraging voice.

Later that afternoon the whole 141 was briefed about a message sent from Nero himself. Thousands of humans, civilians and soldiers alike, were nuked just outside the American capital.

The blast didn't do much damage to infrastructure but machines and humans suffered more than ever. Some were able to withstand the mental damage while some were left in a trance state. Some who already had some form of mental problems suffered horribly and dropped dead on the streets.

It was estimated that about half a million people were affected as the nuke exploded by the ocean. Some say this was a miscalculation and others speculated that this was Nero's warning shot.

America had raised itself on high alert, any time Nero's troops would charge on American soil ignoring all authorities who wanted to stop him. This was it. His plan finally came to fruition.

As for the task force, they have located the main signal of the nuke's control. A place somewhere in Cuba. Alex and Jack knew this place was once visited by older CIA SAD members and rumors had it that one of their Black Ops comrades died there. It once housed the reverse engineered Greenlight nuke. Alex never told anyone in 141 about this as history would tend to repeat itself. He hoped that this was not the case.

This would be the lead that the rest of the task force will be focusing on. As the war rages, Alex was sure that the following days would be the toughest so, while waiting for any potential final lead and orders from above, they spent the rest of their time training for the final showdown against Nero.

Optional Chapter : The Fall of the Capital - Pvt. Ramirez

Next Chapter : FIVE Seconds

Notification Squad my Beloved

@enderio @samatedeansbroccoli @smokeywhalee @ricinbach @bumblingbee1 @whimsywispsblog

[shardweavers]

Chapter Four - Pray Return to the First

"I implore you: allow me to join you beyond the rift!"

"G'raha," came the response; hesitant and caring, "It's very dangerous. We can't promise you'll be safe. Why would you risk such a journey with us?"

"I have something I wish to find. An answer," he trailed off as he reached up to his right eye; its ruby color perfectly matched his hair. "Truthfully... the more I learn of the Crystal Tower, the less I am myself. I feel consumed with remembering... something. Something ancient, but ever so important. A-And I know... somehow... my answers will be in there; with Unei and Doga."

"We'll certainly rescue them, along with Nero."

"I know you will," the Sharlayan Miqo'te smiled, then flicked his tail. "I've only known you all a short time, but you've inspired a great change in me. I've seen it in others too," he fidgeted slightly, then crossed his arms over his chest. "I just want to finish what's been started. I must learn the truth that history hides from me. I would see this journey--our journey--through to the very end with mine own two eyes. I shan't cause you any worry in the World of Darkness."

"We'll protect you, G'raha," the response was warm, and caring, "We'll make sure you find whatever it is that you need to find, and make it home with us."

He smiled at their words, then wiggled his ears and flicked his tail as he put a hand on his hip triumphantly; as confident and prideful as he was, their words always managed to stir something within him. He believed everything they said to him, and knew he could entrust them with just about anything.

THUD!

The Crystal Exarch jumped, his ears perked straight up and his tail fluffed beneath his robes. His ruby eyes opened wide, then looked around for the source of the sudden noise.

"Ah! My Lord, I'm terribly sorry," Lyna jumped, her long ears twitched slightly as she quickly saluted.

"L-Lyna, what are," the Exarch trailed off, then shook his head. He saw the pile of books that had fallen over from his desk; the Viis must have bumped them when she leaned over to check on him.

"I came to check on you, and saw you were asleep at your desk. It's nearly mid-day," she explained, but got no further. The Exarch stood up swiftly at her last words, then spoke quickly.

"Mid-day?! I slept too long, I still have preparations to make," the Miqo'te turned to grab his staff from its resting place against the wall. "Lyna, notify the Master of Suites that our Warriors of Darkness will be staying with us again," he put his staff on his back, then paused. "Where is Beq Lugg? They were reading with me when I fell asleep," his expression was slightly embarrassed, but he looked to the Viis Captain expectantly.

She had saluted at his order, then paused to think, "I didn't see them when I came in, perhaps they went to market for something?" She tilted her head slightly. He looked thoughtful at her suggestion. After a moment of silence, she spoke up once more, "My Lord, is there aught else?"

"Do you think they would prefer sandwiches or pastries with tea this afternoon...?" The Exarch stared off to the side, at the few tomes still on his desk. Lyna blinked, then chuckled. He blushed slightly, then stepped around the desk, "Forgive me, Lyna, I'd like to ask you to pick up the tomes a bit. I must gather what I can for our meeting once they've arrived," he smiled at the Viis.

She nodded to his request, then smiled back, "Go, My Lord, make ready for their arrival. I will pick up the books I knocked over, then relay your message to the Manager."

"Ah, thank you, Lyna," his ears perked straight up, then he turned to hurry off to the Markets. She was left alone quickly, and sighed towards the door.

"You don't hide your excitement very well," she smiled as she knelt down to pick up the books, "I've been rather happy seeing you like this, though." She placed some of the books on the desk, then reached for the last few. One was open beside the desk. It looked to be fresh ink on the page, as some of it had been smudged in the fall to the floor. The Viis recognized the Exarch's handwriting, and realized that she could read the strange script it was written in. He'd taught her how to read through his books; most of which were written in various scripts; this looked like what he had called 'Eorzean', the most common script in his books. Lyna picked up the book carefully, then began to read before she had a thought that perhaps she shouldn't.

Observer's Log

The Scions of the Seventh Dawn remain trapped here on the First. Despite my best efforts, I have hit another wall. The Warriors have once more returned to the Source. Beq Lugg and I have been scouring through Allagan history and research in the Tower Library. There have been some promising discoveries.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying this just a little, despite the reason for it. It has been quite a long time since I have done this sort of research. Not since I was granted the title of Archon have I felt so involved in my work. I can recall the first days I had access to the forbidden tomes. I got lost reading as much as I could. I wonder if I feared losing access as I spent days alone in there, and had to be dragged back to my room. When I awoke, I was quite harshly scolded by Krile.

Enough of the past. What Beq Lugg and I have come to agree upon is that my Allagan heritage may be the key to returning the Scions home safely. We believe if we can successfully infuse the white auracite vessels with my blood, it may allow the safe transference of soul and mind back to their bodies on the Source.

I am happy we prevented the 8th Umbral Calamity that claimed the lives of the Warriors of Light, and necessitated my awakening to undo... but I would also be lying if I said I did not wish to go with them at all. Ever since I once more laid my eyes upon them, my heart has ached to pass through the portal beside them whenever they leave.

Perhaps, when the time comes, I might infuse a 6th vessel. I worry, though, is it okay for me to feel this selfish...? It's almost as if my very soul aches to return home, in a way I have never felt before. I must think on this, for the only way to do so would be to entrust everything to the Warriors my friends once again.

There was an ink smudge at the bottom, perhaps from where he'd fallen asleep while writing. Lyna felt sad as she realized what this said. She flipped only a single page back to find his notes on seeking out Beq Lugg in the Grand Cosmos, and how he was "nervous, but excited to join them in their adventures again, even for a brief time". He never spoke of his own thoughts and desires, but he had been writing them down. She carefully put this book back on the desk, then saluted the empty chair.

"Perhaps it may be best if I pull back from you, My Lord. This means enough to you to be selfish for even a moment." She smiled sadly, then turned away from the desk, "Though I would miss you terribly if you were to leave. It... is not my place... to ask you to stay."

* * * 'Ah, Beq Lugg was right, I may have been overdoing it lately.' It had been days since he last left the Tower, and he felt it in his back as he paused on the stairs from the Quadrivium. He composed himself, and looked over to the nearby stalls thoughtfully. It gave him a moment's rest, but he realized he still hadn't decided which sort of treat to serve with tea. He enjoyed sweets, as did his friends, but perhaps a sandwich with tea would be a nice lunch.

"My Lord?"

"Ah! Yes, Bragi?" He turned to the Ronso that stood beside him. He'd been slightly startled by the sudden voice, but usually managed to keep himself fairly well-composed outside of the Tower.

Bragi gestured welcomingly, "You seemed lost in thought this afternoon. Is there aught I might assist with?" The Exarch looked a bit more thoughtful at that. The Ronso tilted his head a little.

"Actually, perhaps you could," he flicked his ears slightly, then explained, "Our Warriors of Darkness will be returning this afternoon. I was of a mind to discuss things over tea when they did, but I have been stuck on sweets or sandwiches as the proper accompaniment." He put his crystal hand to his chin; his expression gave a weight to such a trivial decision that Bragi felt unsure how to immediately respond. He did, however, come up with a suggestion, as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Perhaps a basket of various baked goods might be a good compromise...?"

"A basket," the Miqo'te trailed off, then looked up at the Ronso. His gaze drifted off to the side, to Hanji-Fae's bakery stall. His expression lightened, and he gave Bragi a thankful smile. "Ah! Of course! Thank you, Bragi." He fidgeted slightly, "Perhaps it was a bit silly of me to get stuck on such a decision."

"Nonsense, My Lord," the Ronso interrupted, "We, all of us, are grateful to them for the return of the night sky." He looked up to the blue crystal canopy, the clear blue sky was visible around the edges of it, but most of the city was protected from weather. "Even now, many of us worry over what we can offer them while they are here, and if it will be good enough." Bragi smiled reassuringly to the worried Exarch, "We were also extremely grateful to see you return safely with them."

A pang of guilt tightened his chest, "I was... grateful to return... with them."

"I admit, I hadn't expected a Mystel under that hood," Bragi took a breath to continue, but was interrupted by an Elven female's voice.

"Aha~! I've finally found you!"

The Exarch stiffened slightly, his ears stood up straight at the sudden voice from behind. He turned quickly, and barely suppressed a wince at the sudden movement.

"Katliss, why were you looking for me...?"

"Have you an answer for me yet, Lord?"

"Pray forgive me," the Exarch smiled apologetically, "I have been quite busy lately." Katliss sighed with a half smile, then shook her head.

"The Artisans of the Mean have completed some designs for the commemoration of the night sky's return, but you haven't given us an answer." The Elf smirked, then put a hand out to the side as if holding something, "Would you prefer to be on coin," she put her other hand out to the other side, "or an automaton?"

The Exarch sighed, then frowned a little, "It would hardly be fair to take that sort of credit for such a feat. I sincerely appreciate your intentions, but I would prefer neither option." He smiled reassuringly, "Perhaps you should prepare to help the Warriors of Darkness this evening. They shall be returning anon, and I really must gather something for them to eat when they arrive."

"They're coming back so soon? Of course we'll prepare anything they should require," Katliss smiled, despite being sad at the repeated rejection from the Exarch. "That's only the third time you've said no, though. I'm certain one of the designs will change your mind, My Lord." She gave a small wave, then hurried off to head back to the Crystalline Mean.

Bragi nodded after she left, "I'll spread the word through the Markets for you as well. Let them know if they need anything at all, they can browse and stock up here whenever they are able," he crossed his arms, "After all, it seems like you'll be speaking with them for a while if you're buying food for their return."

"A-Ah," the red-eyed Miqo'te nodded, then gave as reassuring a smile as he could after Katliss' fluster. He hurried off towards the Culinarian's shop, his back feeling slightly better than when he left. "My desk is not the most comfortable place for a nap... which just means I need to finish my research that much faster." He mumbled to himself, then smiled as he stopped in front of the counter. He decided on half and half, as per Bragi's suggestion, and added a box of tea he could brew back at the Tower. He had just the kettle for the perfect brew, one which he often used.

* * * Ice was the first to arrive through the portal in the Ocular; immediately behind him was his husband, Angel. The Warrior looked around at the empty room, noting how brilliantly the crystal walls shone. He smiled, then turned to make sure his husband had made it through okay. Angel had stepped through, then immediately moved aside to clear the way. The White Mage curled his tail a bit, happy at the thought of seeing their friend G'raha again after their time away from the First. He did frown a little at the empty Ocular, then turned his ears a bit to listen for a voice or familiar sound.

"Ah, we seem to be the first to arrive, he looked around the room a little, "Do you think we're a bit too early?" The tip of his tail flicked back and forth, thoughtfully, "Or did we miss them at Mor Dhona?"

Ice looked thoughtful in response, but didn't get a chance to respond, as Shoto stepped through the portal a moment later. Angel's ears perked, and he smiled at her arrival. Yuki, then Sumire, followed immediately after her; the three of them took in the surroundings of the Ocular for a moment. The female Miqo'te's eyes fell upon the two Keepers nearby. She immediately waved with so much energy that it brought her on her the tips of her toes; a moment later, she bounded over to them in excitement.

"Angel! Ice! I'm glad to see you both!" The female Seeker jumped and threw her arms around the dark-haired Keeper's shoulders. Angel's ears briefly pinned back in surprise, but he smiled and returned Shoto's hug a moment later. Ice just shook his head, "I see how it is. No love for me." He chuckled to himself as his tail wagged playfully behind him, "I'm just glad to see you are doing well."

"I am too, Shoto," Angel added. "We've been worried about you, but you seem to be feeling a bit better now."

Yuki couldn't hold back a smirk while she shook her head at the sight of their leader bounding off in such a way. "Well, it seems like she is in bright spirits at least," she said to Sumire, who was still at her side. 

The purple-haired Miqo'te grinned at the Viera in response, "What's this? You showing concern over another person's well being in front of other people?" He teased, his tail flicked slightly.

"Come now!" Yuki immediately crossed her arms defensively in a pout, "I'm not that heartless. Is it so hard to believe that I would show concern for our friend?" Sumire just smiled, then patted her gently on the arm, "I jest! Mostly. C'mon, let's join the others." The two made their way over to the group as they all awaited the Exarch's arrival to the Ocular.

They would only wait another few moments before the doors to the Ocular swung open. The Exarch returned with Lyna. She carefully guided a small cart into the room with her. The red-haired Miqo'te smiled at his friends, though he said nothing just yet. Lyna stopped in the middle of the group, then made sure the cart was settled. On the top was the basket of half and half baked goods. The scent of sweets immediately drew Angel's attention to the basket. Lyna saluted, as the Exarch raised a hand.

"Thank you for the help, Lyna, I may have overdone it a little..."

"Nonsense, My Lord, it is my pleasure to assist. Though... the wonderful smell has made me want to go pick up something as well after my shift," she smiled to the Warriors, then saluted them as well. "Welcome back. We've missed you all. Pray call on me should you need anything." The Viis turned to hurry out. The Exarch watched as she closed the doors behind her. He didn't turn around immediately.

"I most certainly did overdo it," he glanced back over his shoulder, "I got delayed several times in the course of the day. I sincerely apologize that I was not here to greet you all." His ears flicked, and his guard relaxed slightly. A smile crossed his face as he turned further to gesture to the cart, "I wanted to make sure there was something to eat when you arrived. I wasn't... sure what might be best, but I thought the cart could serve as a table while we spoke." He stood, then fidgeted slightly, his tail fluffed a bit more than usual... though, that was really only noticeable to him against his own leg. It wasn't that he didn't have a topic to discuss; after all, he had asked Feo Ul to contact them about returning; it was more that there were a few topics to discuss, and he was trying to sort out a good starting point.

Ice simply smiled at the Exarch in response. It felt like it hadn't been that long ago when they ventured to the Grand Cosmos to meet Beq Lugg. There had been nothing much for it but to leave the Nu Mou and the Miqo'te to research on the soul; ways of preserving and transporting it, along with their memories.

"It's quite alright," the Warrior spoke to break the thoughtful silence that had fallen over the room. "I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we appreciate it." The Exarch blinked; the words helped to reset his train of thought, as well as relax him a little. He smiled back, then put a finger to his chin.

"First, I believe tea and snacks are in order. Please, take what you would like," he gestured to the cart. Yuki nodded to the suggestion, then tugged at Sumire's sleeve. The Seeker stood from his seat on the steps that he had just taken, and reluctantly followed the Viera over to the cart. 

The Exarch pulled cups from the shelf below, and handed her one at a time as she poured tea for whoever would like some. She handed the filled cups to Sumire so she didn't have to turn around. Shoto happily accepted one, along with a danish, then moved back to be beside Angel. The White Mage sniffed at the sweet smell of her treat, then flicked his ears thoughtfully. Ice reached up to pat his husband's head, then headed over to the cart to pick something for them both.

Though everyone anticipated the Exarch's words, Yuki spoke first, "Any updates on our friends' return?"

Shoto paused, then looked up from her tea cup to hear the response. She had recently checked in with Tataru and Krile, and learned their bodies were still stable; for the moment; but the link between their souls and bodies was beginning to grow notably weaker.

"Yes," the Exarch nodded, "Beq Lugg and I are presently studying the principles underpinning memory transference and, I believe, nearing the requisite level of understanding, thanks to the Tower Library. Urianger and Y'shtola have also given input and clarity when the words began to blur from staring bells too long at the same pages," he flicked an ear, then tilted his head a bit. "It will definitely require my Allagan heritage if this is to stand a chance of being successful. The result will be a crystal vessel imbued with my essence."

"That sounds complicated," Sumire frowned as he held a second cup of tea for Ice to take. The Exarch nodded in response.

"It has proven... frustrating, to put it mildly. Practical trials of transference methods suited for use with the vessel," he thought for a moment, then finished his sentence, "have yet to yield... satisfactory results..." He found himself forcefully handed a cup of tea from Yuki. He blinked again, then gratefully took the tea, and smiled, "Though it may take some time yet, we are well on our way to a solution," he looked down to the tea in his cup, "And I swear that I shall not rest until one is found."

* * * Elsewhere in the Crystarium, far from this happy scene, a weakened shoebill flapped its wings as it came to a rest atop a high railing on the outer walls, its chest heaving for breath… An all-too-familiar shoebill, whose avian form was but a mask.

Hades felt like he was growing weaker by the second, but, at least in this smaller, bestial form, he could still fly. Though it was exhausting. By Zodiark, he hoped he was right, that they weren't already gone somehow, returned to the Source and lost to him forever. No, no, they were a sentimental lot, they must still be hanging around... 

He mustered all the strength left in his wings for a short upward flight, and this time came to rest much closer to the Crystal Tower itself... good, a perfect vantage point, one which let him see most of the Crystarium without much effort. 

A pity that, unless his vision were failing him (how weak would he become, severed from his wholeness as he was?!), he could spy neither hide nor hair of them in the city's wide expanse. Cursing mentally, the bird then turned his attention towards the Tower itself, towards some method of egress... squinting, he spied one of many small air shafts higher up on the tower. And here was one he could easily get through…! Perfect.

The bird's eyes narrowed as he opened his wings once more, rising into the air, then once he was in position, angled himself for a slow dive, and drifted almost indolently downward towards and into the air shaft, emerging inside the tower proper, into the presence of the blue and gold spiral staircase that snaked its way through the entire tower. 

It felt like forever since he had visited here, but still, the layout was familiar enough. He spotted another ventilation shaft as he flew over the stairs. If he remembered everything correctly, it should lead to the Ocular. 

Yes. Perhaps if he spied on the Exarch, he could find the adventurers he sought. 

The Shoebill flapped hard and dove into this second shaft, but fumbled on his landing near the end of it, wobbling as he came to a full rest and ruffling his feathers. He waddled slowly towards the sharp drop off that led into the Ocular. Stopping at the edge, he looked down through the beams of the chandelier, taking in the sight of several familiar figures gathered below... 

They were all standing near each other, save for the red and white-haired Miqo'te in his ridiculous robes, still wearing that great, ornamented staff. The Allagan-blooded fool they called the Crystal Exarch; "G'raha Tia", the adventurers had named him...? Oh, he recalled that one well enough...his power over the Crystal Tower and his enigmatic nature had been the most vexing mystery the former Ascian had had for a time. 

Now the shoebill turned his attention to the others standing around the Exarch. His eyes moved over to the two near the cart. A white haired Viera and a purple haired Miqo'te; if he recalled correctly, they went by the names Yuki and Sumire. He recognized the two male Miqo'te Keepers as well; he watched as Ice walked over to Angel with tea cups. They had all been present towards the journey to slay the Lightwardens. However, it was the one enjoying her tea beside Angel that had the most familiar presence; the one who'd bedeviled him from the beginning. The one who'd always made him feel at odds with himself, always made him question the works of his own hands. 

The one who had dealt the final blow, pierced through his heart and struck him down amidst the ruins of Amaurot.

The one that had ended his... suffering.

Shoto.

She was the one whose shard was so damnably close to...

The shoebill, knowing the darkness of the ceiling and its shadows would hide him, remained silent, watching them all.

Waiting...

* * * 'What was that...?'

Before the conversation could continue, the Exarch paused, then looked to the door. He could tell someone or something had entered the Ocular, as he and Beq Lugg had made a Ward to protect their research, and the vessels, within the Umbilicus. His ruby eyes focused, then quickly scanned the room; he could find nothing amiss. He put his finger to his chin and sat his half-drank cup of tea down on the cart.

'That's odd... I was certain...'

"G'raha?" Angel's worried voice broke the silence. He had noticed the Exarch's distraction, "Is everything okay?" 

The distracted Miqo'te's ear flicked at his name, spoken by his friend. He nodded as he quickly turned his attention back to the group.

"Everything's fine," he smiled to reassure them; in fact, to make a point of it being fine, he picked his cup up again, then drank a bit more. Once he placed the cup back on the saucer he gestured slightly, "In fact, I would ask a favor of you. There is still much to be done here on the First since the return of the night sky. This world still needs help to get back on track."

Ice beamed as he refilled Angel's cup; he made sure to stir in extra sugar, then took it and a glazed donut back to his husband. Angel nodded happily, as he took the refilled tea and the donut. Ice looked back to the Exarch.

"You know you can count us in!" Angel simply nodded along with a soft smile as he agreed, then nipped some of his donut.

Sumire chimed in as well, "You have my lance too, G'raha!" He smiled as he sat his empty cup down. Yuki immediately tugged his ear at his informal tone. "Er. Right, I forgot," he rubbed his ear, blushed, then looked to the Viera, apologetically. The Exarch blinked, confused; he didn't mind so much when they were alone here, but also didn't want to be too picky with what his friends could call him. Unlike the others, however, Sumire tended to forget where he was, and had confused quite a few people along the way by referring to the Exarch by his name. He had agreed to try to stay consistent with 'Exarch' so he wouldn't confuse anyone... of course, that was mainly between himself and Yuki for now.

"What he means is that you have our support as well." Yuki nodded, then crossed her arms over her chest; one hand still holding her tea cup. The Exarch brought up a hand to conceal a chuckle at the interaction between the two.

He smiled, then nodded, "I appreciate the gesture." "I see I'm the last to get a say in," Shoto folded her arms, then smiled at the Exarch, "but you know that I am also in full support wherever I'm needed."

"Despite knowing that you would help, it nevertheless heartens me to hear your reassurances," the Exarch smiled, a bit of relief crossed his face. "Thank you, my friends. Let us begin, then." He looked to each of them and took a breath to settle his thoughts. "As you are all aware, the Scions have not been idle either. Alphinaud has been helping Chai-Nuzz in Eulmore. Urianger and Y'shtola have been off doing some research of their own and sending me reports on what they've found interesting. Thancred and Ryne have mostly been helping to monitor and maintain Eden since you restored the elements to The Empty." He looked to the Miqo'te couple, "Angel, Ice, I'd like you two to travel to Amh Araeng." The two nodded in response. The Exarch continued his assignment, "First, check-in with our contact in Mord Souq to see if there are any new developments. Thancred, Ryne, and Gaia may also be around if there have been. If they aren't there, then rendezvous with Alisaie at Journey's End to see how things are progressing. Alisaie has been working with Beq Lugg to administer treatments to those affected by the Sin Eaters," he blinked and stopped, then flicked his ears back slightly as he realized what he'd just said, "Ah! That's right. They were going to check in on Alisaie's progress today. That must be where they went..."

There was a brief moment of silence before Shoto spoke, "Exarch?"

"Ah! Right," he looked over to the female Miqo'te after she drew his attention, "Shoto, I would like for you, Yuki, and Sumire to travel to Eulmore and rendezvous with Alphinaud. Once you've checked in with him, I'd like for you to head onward to the Tempest and check in with our Ondo friends regarding Emet-Selch's recreation of Amaurot."

"Is something happening to it?" Yuki asked, as she put aside her empty cup. The red-haired Miqo'te shook his head slightly, a concerned look crossed his face. 

"No, and that's what concerns me."

"I don't get it," Sumire tilted his head. 

The Exarch crossed his arms, "With Emet-Selch's defeat, we assumed that the magicks used to keep it around would begin to fade. Yet, upon a recent scrying, I noticed there was no sign of change. The area shows no sign of weakening as expected, though, for a blessing, it does not seem to be gaining in aetheric density nor expanding. I'd like you to see if the Ondo have noticed anything strange in the area as of late."

Yuki nodded, "Understood," the Viera shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Shoto's hands curled tighter around her teacup as she continued to listen to the discussion and began to think on the Exarch's words. That strange ache in her chest returned at the mention of Emet-Selch. Her eyes focused on the swirl of liquid in her tea cup. Things had been different, ever since Ardbert's soul had rejoined with her. She'd noticed strange things... yet she hadn't wanted to tell anyone else; it felt silly. They reminded her of things they had learned about in Amaurot from the shades; Creation Magic.

Angel seemed similarly focused on the remaining part of his donut; almost to the exclusion of all else. Ice and Sumire both seemed equally thoughtful, yet not as intensely so as Shoto and Angel were. Yuki looked around to the others as she thought about everything so far. She turned back to the Exarch and broke the thoughtful silence first.

"Have you asked Urianger or Y'shtola their opinions?" 

"I have," he nodded, "I contacted Y'shtola to ask for her advice on the matter, and she believes she may have new information from some recently rediscovered Ronkan ruins, but would like a bit more time to speak with Urianger and interpret what she and the Viis of Rak'tika found." He looked to the mirror on the back wall, "While she was here, she mentioned that she could see another presence of Amaurotine ruins; they were similar to the ruins that make up the Ondo Cups. It was farther into the depths; farther even than recreation of Amaurot." He fidgeted slightly, then flicked one ear, "While I am able to see a general view of the area, I have yet to be able to focus under the water, and I'm afraid that it's too far from the Tower for me to investigate. It was only due to Y'shtola's vision that we found it at all."

"New ruins...?" Ice's eyes went wide at the mention of more ruins, farther out than Amaurot. He shifted to step forward excitedly, and broke Angel's focus on his donut, "Do you think they might lead to more information on the Ancients like the shades and what we learned in Akadaemia Anyder?" 

Angel looked up to his husband with a confused blink. Ice's question snapped Shoto's attention back from her thoughts; perhaps, this would be a good chance to learn more? Maybe she could even find some answers to her own questions.

The Exarch nodded to Ice in return, "It's distinctly possible. Y'shtola has plans to arrive in Eulmore as well, as she is quite interested in these new ruins herself. Once there, you can all journey forth together." He paused, then looked among the group a bit sadly, "Would that I could join you in exploring, alas, I must continue my trials here if we are to send everyone home safely." 

* * * The shoebill had been straining to listen to the group below, moving from foot to foot impatiently. Yes, yes, all kinds of assignments and adventures for the intrepid Warriors of Light and Darkness, and their companions. This shard dearly needed "repairs", perhaps more than most others; none of this was new or particularly interesting, and none of it provided a moment he might dramatically emerge and demand information in.

Though... Amaurot. That mention struck a chord, all too sharply, and kept his gaze focused on Shoto. Kept it so focused on Shoto that he almost didn't notice that the image of her blurred with his waning consciousness. Damn it all. Even though he had taken on this smaller form, his strength continued to leave him; the injuries he'd sustained now caused him pain even as a bird. He struggled to remain standing... and he definitely wasn't going to keep his balance on this ledge.

Not now, he thought, but it was no use--he teetered over as he made a small squawk! noise. A rush of wind moved against his feathers. He was falling... falling down to the floor below.

[stacks-reviews]

New Releases 11/14/17

‘Happy New Release Day! Today brings a few new manga and a graphic novel, along with a couple of new shows/movies, and even a new video game from Nintendo.

In Books  --Fairy Tail Volume 62 by Hiro Mashima “During the chaos of war,the demon Acnologia slinks his way into the ranks. As Erza, Wendy, and Gajeel prepare to face their hardest battle yet, a strange woman shows up to lift their spirits! The woman knows the secret to sealing Acnologia away, but will the gang be able to execute her orders! Meanwhile, brothers Natsu and Zeref go head-to-head, with their lives on the line! The fate of the world sinks further into peril when Zeref reveals his ultimate mission: Neo Eclipse!”

I can’t believe this series is almost over (at least in the US). Just one more volume remains. I think I’m going to wait to pick this one up until volume 63 comes out so I can get them together. The last volume I read was somewhere in the early 50′s, I think. I started rereading the series but paused midway through volume 8 and will continue from there once the last volume is released.

--Forbidden Scrollery Volume 1 by Moe Harukawa “Where else would a girl with the power to translate any tome she sets in her lap reside except a library? Sure, some books may be more dangerous than others, but that's far from discouragement for a true bibliophile like Kosuzu Motoori!”

Books that are dangerous. That may or may not magical in some form. With artwork that reminds me of Cardcator Sakura. Sign me up. I really would like to try this series cause as I’ve mentioned before I’m a sucker for books that have books being a form of power in worlds. I did flip through some of this volume when it arrived early at my work. And it looks promising.

--Frau Faust Volume 2 by Kore Yamazaki “After narrowly escaping a battle with Lorenzo, Johanna falls unconscious. In her wounded state, the century-old memories of her first encounter with Mephistopheles run through her head. In these memories are answers Marion is beginning to understand: what is the nature of his master’s immortality, and how is her curse inextricably tied to the body of her demon? Faust, Marion, and Nico’s immediate aim is to find Mephisto’s right leg, a mission that becomes more urgent when evidence of a young girl using demonic power comes to light. To find the next piece of her precious demon, Johanna may even need to form a tenuous deal with Lorenzo...”

From the creator of The Ancient Magus’ Bride comes Frau Faust. I enjoyed the first volume of this series which included a cute short about a museum that houses invisible exhibits. I would like to see Yamazaki explore that short more in the future. The first volume follows Johanna as she tries to find the missing pieces of the demon Mephisto held captive by the church. Along the way she gains an apprentice named Marion and they meet up with Nico, Johanna’s daughter.

My favorite part of volume 2 was learning about how Johanna meet Mephisto.

--Rose Volume 1 by Meredith Finch, illustrated by Ig Guara “A classic fantasy tale about a girl trying to restore balance to a broken world. Rose must connect with her Khat—Thorne—to become the Guardian the world needs. But things aren’t easy for Rose and Thorne, the powerful sorcerous Drucilla has many powerful and demonic allies—all of them focused on stopping one scared little girl who’s desperately trying to stay alive and do what’s right.”

I have been waiting on this one since I first saw the cover to issue one earlier this year. A warrior-girl with her giant black panther companion. It was a good start to the series though the volume felt a bit rushed. A few of the pages cut off part of some sentences near the end of the volume. I am looking forward to volume 2 and hope that the pacing might find a better flow. I think it’s worth checking out.

In Movies/TV Shows --91 Days “Prohibition—a lawless era where bootleggers prosper and mobsters prowl. Avilio Bruno has grown up alone in this murky world after the Vanetti's murdered his family. One day, he receives a letter that holds the key to revenge. Befriending the don's son, Nero, Avilio works his way through the Vanetti family and sets his vengeance in motion.”

I haven’t had time to try this one out yet but I really want to. There is a standard and an LE edition. The LE has an art box and comes with a 40 page companion guide that has, “artwork, character profiles, background information on Prohibition, the Chicago mafia, period firearms, and more.” And a set of six art cards.

--Atomic Blonde “An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.”

I was really excited to see this one because of how they treated the main character. They made her fight how a woman would actually need to fight. And they made it also realistic by how bruised and cut up she was after all this was over. When she got punched in the face that bruise would stay there. Some of those fights were painful to watch just of the pain you see was being done to her. The fight scenes in this movie were just fantastic. But the plot was a little convoluted. Maybe it will make more sense during a second watch. Either way it was an enjoyable movie to watch. 

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/atomic-blonde-doesnt-pretend-women-fight-like-men-and-the-result-is-awesome_us_597b3c67e4b02a8434b5df58

--Blue Exorcist Kyoto Saga Set 1 “Born the spawn of Satan, Rin Okumura decides to hide his origins, and become an exorcist. He enrolls at the Exorcism Cram School, a training institute for exorcists located on the True Cross Academy grounds. But, his cover is blown during an attack by Amaimon, the King of Earth, and he is revealed to be the son of Satan. Terrified of Satan’s blue flames, his friends start to distance themselves from Rin…It is then that someone steals the Left Eye of the Impure King, sealed away in the deepest part of the academy, and Rin and the others find themselves embroiled in an unexpected crisis.”

The newest season of Blue Exorcist is starting to release. It was a pretty good season. And now I’m trying to remember if I finished it or not. I feel like I did but now I can’t remember.... Anyway. This is an Aniplex title so it is going to be a bit higher. There is a DVD edition and a Blu-Ray. They contain episodes 1-6 of this season. But if you buy the Blu-Ray it also comes with a booklet and some postcards.

--Doctor Who Complete Series 10 The final season of Peter Capaldi as 12 and with Steven Moffat as executive producer is now out as a complete set. Pearl Mackie was great as Bill Potts though sometimes I can’t help but feel like they could have done more with her character. Once I see the season again I might change my mind but for now that thought occasionally pops up. 

My favorite episodes of this season are “Smile”, “Thin Ice” if only to watch the Doctor punch that guy over and over, “Empress of Mars”, and the two-part season finale.

--In This Corner Of the World “Based on the award-winning manga by Fumiyo Kouno, In This Corner Of the World tells the emotional story of Suzu, a young girl from Hiroshima, who’s just become a bride in the nearby city of Kure during World War II. Living with her husband’s family, Suzu has to adjust to her new life, which is made especially difficult by regular air raids. But life must go on, and Suzu - through the help of her new family and neighbors - begins to discover the joys of everyday life in Kure. Much is gained in Kure, but with war, many things cherished are also lost.”

This just looks fantastic. I’m really excited to see this one.

--Pokemon Indigo League S1 The original that started it all is out on blu-ray for what should be the first time. I love the Indigo League. It’s where I started with Pokemon. And it has some the saddest episodes I’ve seen from the series. At least up until the point where I stopped watching. I tried to pick it back up during the last season and the new Sun and Moon seasons but it has been sporadic. 

This set has the first 52 episodes of the series. It also comes with a 64 page manga sampler, a recipe card, the complete Pokerap, and a “Who’s That Pokemon” gallery. I feel like they could have done more for this release as the extras just feel like a pull for you to start buying the manga and one of their Pokemon cookbooks.

I really hope they kept the other songs in at the end of episodes instead of just the Pokerap. I love the Pokerap but I also love the other songs. Yeah, I have them on one of the soundtracks but I’d still like to see them at the end of the episodes. 

The box itself is really cool. It is designed to look like the original Pokedex.

--Preacher S2  “Jesse, Tulip and Cassidy hit the road in search of God, and quickly realize they're being stalked by a killer cowboy from Hell.”

I wasn’t as crazy about this season as I was the first. I’ve been that way with a lot of series this year. It is still a good series and had a great start to the season. And ended with a great cliffhanger.

In Video Games --RiME (Nintendo Switch version) “In RiME, you play as a young boy who has awakened on a mysterious island after a torrential storm. You see wild animals, long-forgotten ruins and a massive tower that beckons you to come closer. Armed with your wits and a will to overcome—and the guidance of a helpful fox—you must explore the enigmatic island, reach the tower's peak, and unlock its closely guarded secrets.”

I’ve been really excited for this game for a while. But I am conflicted. It is half price if I get it on my PS4 but I was really hoping to get it for my Switch. Visually it looks gorgeous and the OST is supposed to be really good. But I have heard that the puzzles aren’t very challenging. I still want to try it out. Now I just need to decide what console I want it for.

[hellojessicabrown]

There + Back, a Day in Northern Ireland

Ireland is such a beautiful country and lucky for us, an easy one to travel as well. We spent our third day trekking through Northern Ireland, which is actually part of the UK. The whole day was full of excitement including The Dark Hedges, Carrick-a-Rede Bridge, The Giant's Causeway and Belfast. We booked our tour through Paddywagon Tours, and we would recommend them to anyone traveling in Ireland. You hop on a bus, the tour guide tells you everything you need to know and then you stop in some of the most beautiful places. No hassle, no worries.

(This is a long one, so grab a cup of coffee or a snack to hold you over) Jeremy and I had to get up and get moving early so that we could meet at the Molly Malone statue by 7:30am. We had to take the Luas 20 minutes into St. Stephen's Green and walk the rest of the way. Unfortunately, most coffee shops in Ireland don't open their doors until about that time. Luckily, once we were on the bus, the tour guide told us that we would be making a stop for restrooms and coffee about an hour in. We grabbed coffee and a muffin at Costa coffee in the rest stop. Not the best coffee but some coffee is better than none sometimes. I did however manage to leave half of mine on the bus...on the floor...not in the cup. To be fair though, I spent the first few days in Ireland not feeling so hot. I started to fall asleep on the ride out to the Dark Hedges and that's when the coffee hit the floor. (I had to add it, Jeremy will enjoy me fessing up on here...) The first stop on the trip was the Dark Hedges. This place is gorgeous. The whole road is lined with beech trees on both sides creating a tunnel of beauty. The trees were planted in the 18th century and are starting to reach the end of their life cycle. In the next decade it is expected to be gone. Trees that have fallen recently have been made into doors representing each of the 8 seasons of Game of Thrones. There's another fun fact: Game of Thrones has filmed here. Our tour only gave us about ten minutes but we made the most of it. [gallery type="slideshow" size="large" ids="2348,2349,2350,2351,2352,2353,2354,2380,2381,2382,2383,2384,2388,2387,2386,2389,2355"] After everyone climbed back on the bus we headed to Carrick-a-Rede Bridge. This bridge is a rope suspended bridge that is 20 meters long and 30 meters above the water. It connects mainland Ireland to Carrickarede island. There is a little over a half mile walk to get to the bridge but well worth the travel. We also paid €6 each to cross. The National Trust monitors the use of the bridge and with good reason. If too wet or too windy, it would be very unsafe. Lucky for us we got good weather, the two days prior people were not so lucky. The walk to the bridge was nothing short of the breathtaking beauty we had come to expect from Ireland. We waited in line, crossed the bridge and then crossed the bridge back. I faced my fear of heights and came out on the other side a little more adventurous. That's the thing about Ireland, you don't want to miss any second of it. If they tell you to climb down extremely steep steps to a rickety (which it's really not) bridge then you do it. [gallery type="slideshow" size="large" ids="2390,2391,2398,2397,2396,2395,2394,2392,2393,2399,2400,2401,2402,2403,2404,2405,2413,2412,2411,2410,2409,2408,2407,2414,2415,2416,2417,2418,2419,2420,2427,2426,2424,2423,2421,2422,2428,2429"] Remember those doors I was telling you about? It just so happens we had lunch at Fullerton Arms which has the 6th door. Once we were finished at Carrick-a-Rede we headed there for lunch. Jeremy and I ordered the Guinness Stew and Seafood Chowder. I got through some of the stew and chips but the seafood chowder was a no go for me. I was still having the issue of not being the slightest bit hungry. With all the hiking and walking I should have been starving but even the thought of food sent my stomach turning. [gallery type="slideshow" size="large" ids="2433,2432,2431,2430,2434,2369"] When lunch was over I was ready to get going. Our next stop was The Giant's Causeway. Every stop on this tour was on my bucket list of things to do and see but the Causeway was #1 on that list. There is a legend behind The Giant's Causeway that was really fun to hear. I know there are different variations but the premise behind the story is that there was a giant in Ireland named Finn, and a giant in Scotland (you can see Scotland from the Causeway). The Finn went across the bridge to Scotland and found an even larger giant there. He ran back to Ireland to his wife and told her about the huge giant in Scotland. He then went and hid in the baby's bassinet while his wife had the giant from Scotland over for dinner. The Scottish giant did not believe that her husband was not home so he went room to room in search of him. When he came to the baby's room he saw the Irish giant in the baby's bassinet and got scared. He said to Finn's wife, "If your baby is that big, how big is your husband?" In his fear he ran back over the bridge to Scotland breaking up the bridge as he went. Now today you can only see these hexagonal rocks in very few places including Ireland and Scotland unless you want to go deep sea diving. [gallery type="slideshow" size="large" ids="2437,2441,2442,2452,2453,2497"] The actual science behind these interlocking hexagons is the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. No matter what story is more intriguing this place was phenomenal. The tide was low so we got to venture further than we maybe should have. Slick maybe, awe inspiring, absolutely. Not only were we able to walk about these basalt columns but there were places that towered over you as well. After wandering with the crowds for a while we decided to take a hike up the side of the cliff. We only had about 30 minutes left so we gave ourselves 15 to get to the top and 15 to get back to the bus. That was something we did a lot the rest of the trip. We made it to the point we had hoped to reach and it was again beautiful on the other side. This was the only point of the trip we wished we had more time. If/when we return we will be spending a day at the Giant's Causeway to do the 4 hour hike. [gallery type="slideshow" size="large" ids="2373,2372,2374,2438,2439,2443,2444,2447,2448,2499,2500,2501,2503,2504,2505,2506,2507,2509,2510,2511,2512,2513,2515,2516,2517,2518,2520,2521,2522,2525,2527,2528,2530,2533,2534"] We still had two stops left before making our way back into Dublin. Dunluce castle and a stop in Belfast were next on the itenerary. Fun Fact: This castle was also filmed in Game of Thrones. They actually paid to have some of it rebuilt (to look authentic) so that filming could occur here. The story behind the castle is that the kitchen and cellar fell into the sea on a stormy night. We stopped on the side of the road for pictures but getting up to it and going in is a feat so it was back on the bus for us! That meant we had a short journey to Belfast and then we'd be finished with our stops for the day. I'm sure if you have more than an hour Belfast could be an interesting place. The Titanic was built here after all. We were tired from the day, not finding much to do within our short amount of time and decided to grab coffee at Caffe Nero. Jeremy and I got back on the bus early and were ready to get back. 12+ hours is a long day. [gallery type="slideshow" size="large" ids="2539,2540,2541,2542,2543"] At the drop off location we saw a footprint of blood on the ground. It didn't look real though because of the amount and the bright red color. We walked back toward the Luas talking about what to grab for dinner and noticed the print kept going, everywhere we were going. I had initially thought it was a fun hoax for the ghost tours but by the time we started worrying we found out where it was from. A guy was lying in the entrance of a shop with people surrounding him calling for help. Jeremy and I got out of that area as fast as possible. Not like we ever felt unsafe but we don't like to be in situations like that. Unfortunately homelessness is a big issue in Dublin and this was probably a bad case of what we would call a bum fight. Finally after not eating much of anything for three days I was able to eat something for dinner. Jeremy and I don't eat McDonald's. Ever. Like, I can't remember the last time I had it was. I'd much rather cook at home every night. That's what we had that night though. A happy meal for me and some kind of chicken sandwich for him. No I did not take pictures, you all know what that looks like. For the first time on this trip, Jeremy had to work the next day so it was back to the hotel and bed time for us.