#but the real one is in this real super dark scene where you can barely see anything and that makes for a shit picture

[fuckingstupidbracket]

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AS WEAPONS

Flute:

- hit someone with it

- play high notes for psychic dmg

- it has sharp edges???

- take it apart and throw it

- stab

- do you guys know who Wei Wuxian is? yeah

Drumsticks:

- hit someone like a drum

- stab

- down someone's throat:))

- use it like an arrow, but you need some kind of bow for that

- sharpen it and STAB again

[samwise1548]

Doodle dump of scenes from the new Lego Dragons Rising season (that I'm just now binging). Theyre still doing my boy Jay dirty it seems :'(

------

[ID: Seven pictures of doodles done on lined paper of various scenes from Dragons Rising, the Lego Ninjago show and featuring the shows characters. The drawings add done with various supplies, like pens, color pencils and markers.

Image one) Two sequential drawings of Wyldfyre and Kai talking together. Wyldfyre says "You better be going ok a super boring mission." Where the word "bring" is underlined for emphasis. Kai replies with an amused chuckle, "The boringest."

Image two) Nya is running to Jay, who only has his bead turned towards her, and his body turned away. Nya is crying happy tears and exclaims "JAY! I found you!" Jay looks uninterested. The pair are stood where darkness surrounds them.

Image three) A closeup of Nya done in blue marker. She is saying "I know the real Jay could never forget me."

Image four) Wyldfyre is tearing up, stuttering out, "D-did Kai just leap to his..."

Image five) Geo looking at a photo lovingly. Some hearts float around his head.

Image six) Zane, very anxiously, holds up a plus frog, and says "It is a long and barely comprehensible story..." Sweat beads down his face.

Image seven) Jay holds up some cuffs and awkwardly asks with a shrug, "I'm supposes to capture you. So can you just let me do that?"

/End ID]

[george-weasleys-girl]

I have a request!!! I've had this idea rattling around in my head for a while. I've tried to write it, but I keep getting stuck!

So, essentially, the idea is Reader x George where the reader's dad is a vampire who got cast out of the vampire kingdom and found the love of his life, the reader's mom, a witch. So the reader is part vampire, part witch. I can't decide if I want the reader to be more powerful or less powerful than a regular vampire due to the magic that's also in her veins. I want the story to be focused around George catching Reader drinking a bag of blood sent by her parents and asking about it! Reader is defensive until she realizes that George isn't being rude, just curious. Then it's really fluffy about Reader opening up about how hard it is to not share her real heritage with her friends!!

If you don't want to do this, that's totally okay, I just can't stop thinking about it and I think you'd execute it really well!!!!!

As always, much love!!!!!

Sanguine Moon

Thank you for sending in such a fun idea!💗

George x fem dhampir!reader, platonic with the possibility of something more

Warnings: mentions of drinking blood, a few curse words

~•~

Y/N waited until she was alone before pulling out the bag of blood wrapped neatly in the package that had arrived this morning. Sighing, she undid the cap, wishing she hadn't forgotten her special drinking glass at home during her recent visit. She detested drinking from a plastic bag. There was just something so uncouth about it. If she had to drink blood, Y/N reckoned she could at least do it with a bit of style.

Oh, well. There's nothing for it now.

"Bottoms up," she muttered to herself and gracelessly upended her weekly ration. She'd barely gotten a taste when the door flew open. "There you are, Y/N! I was looking - " George froze, eyes wide as saucers as he took in the scene before him.

~•~

Y/N lowered the bag, wiping a trickle of blood from her chin. Dammit, how could I forget to lock the door?

"Um... is that what I think it is?" George stepped toward her, his stare focused squarely on the object in her hands.

"I don't know," she attempted to cover the bag. "What do you think it is?"

"It... um... it looks like blood," George stammered.

A million retorts raced through her head, each more ridiculous than the last. So she went with the most mature thing she could think of. "So, what of it!?" She snapped, jutting her chin out.

The redhead blinked, taking a tentative step toward her. "I didn't mean anything bad by it. It's just that it's not every day you walk in on your friend drinking blood, you know?"

"Oh. Right," Y/N's face burned a bright vermillion. "No, I don't suppose you do."

An awkward silence settled over the room. "So, uh," George began, moving to sit beside her. "Are you like a vampire or something?"

Y/N let out a long breath. No point in trying to hide the truth now. "I'm a dhampir," she said bluntly.

"A dhampir?"

"Half vampire, half human," she explained.

George's eyes lit up. "So, one of your parents is a vampire?"

"Yeah, um, my dad."

"And your mum's a..."

"Witch."

"Wow, that is so cool, Y/N!" George's mind whirled with a million different questions. "Do you have any special powers? Like turning into a bat, or super strength?"

"Ok, first off, vampires do not turn into bats. That's a myth muggles came up with to explain why some bats drink blood," she explained. "But as for the second one, I am stronger than the average human."

"Like how strong?" The corners of George’s mouth quirked up.

Y/N shrugged and took a sip of blood. "When I'm at full strength, I could carry the whole Gryffindor Quidditch team in one go," she confessed, then paused for a second, trying not to giggle at George's "deer-in-the-headlights" expression. "And I can see in the dark. Like no light at all, pitch-black dark." She took another sip. "Also, I can fly without a broom."

George's mouth fell open. "Seriously? Without an incantation?"

"Mhmm, since I was four years old." Y/N's apprehension had faded, and she was now openly gulping down the bag of blood.

"Could you, like, take another person with you?" George asked with a sheepish grin. "Flying, I mean."

Y/N smiled. "When I'm finished with this," she held up the half-empty bag. "Yes, I can." She then took another swig. "Would you like me to take you flying?"

"Hell yeah!" George grinned like a fool.

~•~

George held tight to her hand as they soared upward and away from Hogwarts. The warm air of late spring grew colder the higher they ascended. He was glad he remembered to grab his jacket.

"I never realized how relaxing flying can be," he commented. "Usually, when I'm up in the air, I'm either playing Quidditch or acting like an idiot with Fred."

"It's one of my favorite things to do. Sometimes, late at night, when I can't sleep, which is often, I'll come out and fly for a while," she smiled, then looked down. "C'mon, let's go down here. I wanna show you something."

She sat them down gently, making certain George stood steady before she released his hand. "What is this place?" He asked, turning around in slow circles.

"It's the ruins of an old muggle castle," Y/N said. "I don't know anything about it other than it's from the Middle Ages, I think. This turret is all that's left."

George nodded and peaked over the side, taking in the stone rubble that lay in heaps all around it. "It's a good place. Quiet. Away from people."

"That's why I like it. It's a good place to think or just unwind," she said, leading him over to a large wooden chest. "I brought this up here last year." Y/N tapped the huge lock with her wand, and it clicked open. "Here," she lifted the lid and pulled out a thick velvet blanket. "Lay this out. I'll bring the pillows."

~•~

They lay there watching the stars for a long time before George turned on his side and asked the question that had been burning in his mind since he discovered Y/N was a dhampir. "Does anyone else know your secret?"

"Only Dumbledore and McGonagall," she shook her head. "I don't think parents would be too keen on sending their kids to school with a half-vampire. I might go on a blood sucking rampage or something." She rolled her eyes.

George said nothing, but his mind wandered back to last year when the Headmaster hired Lupin to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts and the subsequent fall-out when it came to light that he was a werewolf. "I'm sorry you have to hide who you are," he said.

"It's ok. I've learned to play the part of a nice, normal human quite well," she gave him a sad smile. "But it just gets so fucking exhausting having to put on a show day after day. That's why I like coming here. I can take off the mask for a little while."

The redhead nodded. "And what about vampires?" He asked. "You don't have to hide from them, do you?"

"No," she sighed. "But my family isn't welcome within the sanguine community either. My dad was ostracized when he married my mum. Any vampire who takes a human partner is cast out for blood betrayal."

George rolled his eyes. "Gotta keep that precious bloodline pure. Fucking ridiculous."

"Yeah, it is..." Y/N exhaled a long suffering sigh. "But it's the law of the land. And it isn't changing anytime soon."

"Well, I, for one, don't care that you're a dhampir," George smiled and threw his arm around her shoulders. "And your secret will always be safe with me. I promise won't tell anyone. Not even Fred."

"Thanks, George," she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "You don't know how much of a relief it is to finally have a friend I don't have to hide myself from."

"Hey, what are friends for," he grinned ear to ear, a deep crimson blossoming across his freckled face. "If not to trust them with our deepest darkest secrets."

~•~

@milivanili99 @fancy-pantaloons @turvi @zvummyummy @xmjthewitchx @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @georgie-weasley @samberriejams @nighttimemoonlover @jsjcue @wzrd-wheezes @mrsgweasley @hufflepuffie @morally-grey-obsessed @fredweasleyyyyy @anvaaryn @samshifts @asuperconfusedgirl @hmisa11 @superduckmilkshake @mysticsheepsoul @gemofthenight @1lellykins @junerprsh @sierraluvz @wolfkill16 @kaysau2510 @qmylovexoxo @planetkt @costheticbabe

@drama-queen-fromthevault @smallsweetvanillabean @hanne-montana @greenapplegrass @el-de-phi @lizzytrees @scooby-doo1995 @spididerman @yoursarahg @marvelgirlstories @theimpossible-girl-whowaited @ceehance @Havenater1920 @jelloangela @charmedfandomgal @loca4moony @whotfskai @netflix-addict @lunacurlclaw @moonatician @sierraluvzz @min-aaa @now-that-we-dontalk @lillisummers

[mischiefmaker615]

Hehehehehehe here is an idea that has been floating around in my mind:

Loki is king and his queen is Sigyn, they are pretty good friends but Loki feels no real love for her. They only married out of necessity or smth. It turns out sigyn can’t have children so Loki kidnaps a normal midgardian that looks “similar” to sigyn and plans to breed her to have his heirs.

Although Loki feels no real love to Sigyn, he feels bad for it and thus feels bad for the intense attraction he has towards the reader. He explains the situation to her and since Loki is so hot she is fine with him breeding her (not that she’d have a choice lol). This goes on for a week or so until she gets pregnant.

Reader inevitably falls in love with loki despite everything but feels sad for not being able to keep or help raise the baby. Little to her knowledge, however, is the fact that Loki has been falling for her as well. Maybe there can be a scene where the reader has been having some pregnancy blues and breaks down in front of Loki bc he hasn���t been there enough for her; he feels bad and spends the rest of the pregnancy comforting and coddling her.

For the end after the birth, Loki decides to screw the monarchy and end his unhappy marriage with Sigyn and get with the reader instead.

I understand if you don’t want to write this because it’s super lengthy and specific! No worries and have a great night <3

Bloodline

Rating: R with dark theme! Note: honestly i placed this in two parts and even then i wished it could be longer than a one shot XD only cause its such a heavy plot idea and a lot of ground to cover Lol hope it works for ya though ♥

The sound of pounding boots echoed through the palace halls of Asgard, indicating those in sight to stay out of the way and to not interfere, no matter how important the matter is. Loki’s cape flowed behind him while his helmet rested just above his brow, looking like every inch of power he had while holding the title as king. Yet what could have possibly upset him when he had exactly what he wanted? War? No.

His Wife.

Sigyn has yet again successfully pissed him off and he hated that it wasn’t even her fault. Per-say..

Honestly he would always love her, but his love for her had changed many centuries ago and so for him, unlike for her, he was fond of her as if he had fondness for a close friend. Any piece of affection she tried giving him, he would reciprocate but with an empty heart.

Its gone on for to long and every day he feels like he’s been lying to her, but leaving was not an option. They married for the thrown and Asgard required a queen, for heirs. So they’ve been trying. Trying for no damn reason.

It was clear that she was unable to bear children.

His heart mourned and hardened at the same time, hating he couldn’t provide her, nor his people the bloodline he was required to give. Until the idea sparked in his mind that very moment their latest argument ended.

He would merely find a mortal that resembled his wife and breed her. Their children would look similar as if Sigyn herself bared them and his people would never know the difference.

Mortals were disposable creatures anyway.

Finally reaching his own quarters- his old one anyway until he had to partake in the shared one, he made sure all doors and any openings were sealed with magic. No one would be able to enter or exit unless it would be through him.

his eyes flashed green before he raised his palm and a small mirror appeared before him, but no reflection appeared, just merely darkness.

‘’find me one. One who resembles my goddess, one who is able to bear an heir..’’ he mumbled before the mirror began to shimmer before producing a moving image of a woman who walked the halls of a Midgardian work building of some sort, but that didn’t matter. Loki’s focus was awe stuck at how close in resemblance she was to his wife, and fairly beautiful in her own way. Not bad, for a mortal.

‘’she’ll do.’’ He stated before the mirror grew to his size, stretching to full length before he took a deep breath and stepped through.

‘’fucking let me go!’’

Loki yanked her through the mirror, the mortal stumbling through by his grip strength, still in her short sleep wear- a reminder of where and when he took her, before he released her wrist, the mirror vanishing to prevent escape.

‘’let me intro-‘’

‘’I know exactly who you fucking are, Loki’’ she snapped, the fire in her spirit and eyes already making him like her more and more as she rubbed her wrist. ‘’news flash, you don’t kidnap people in their damn sleep. now return me right-‘’

‘’unfortunately your return will be impossible darling, your assistance is needed here.’’ he sighed, as if he had no choice in the matter as he used his magic to have his armor and cape vanish.

‘’what- I don’t even have any powers.. I’m useless to you-‘’ she stammered, aware of the temperature here and covered herself with her arms.

‘’in battle, yes. But Asgard needs a bloodline continued.’’ He explained, rotating his shoulders and neck as he spoke, his casual state spooking her more as if he was preparing for a fight.

‘’b-bloodline?”

‘’my wife cannot bear children, that has been confirmed. You resemble her likeness almost perfectly, my people will have no question on the child’s features.’’

Her body was shaking as she slowly took steps away from him, Loki not having to advance because the room was secure no matter where she went. ‘’you.. you cant do this- mortals don’t even live that long compared to you-‘’

‘’magic does not make immortality impossible, and will come quite in handy for you as well.’’

The more he spoke, the more her eyes looked on in horror as she breathing picked up, mind racing for excuses. ‘’-so you’ll just fucking show up with a baby??’’

‘’I will merely tell her I found the child and we will adopt. We will keep the information of the child not being blood to ourselves, so he or she shall not feel like they do not truly belong.’’

‘’like what fucking happened to you-‘’ she snapped and so did Loki.

Almost an invisible force had her on her back on the bed, keeping her there. A stream of cuss words began leaving her mouth before he raised his palm again and a silk, green tie wrapped itself to gag her, making her thrash her head to try to free herself while he strolled toward her.

‘’I truly understand your position darling, I really do and I deeply apologize. But aren’t you mortals- or at least those heroes of yours represented the greater good? Helping those who need it or something like that.. think that you will be helping a greater cause.’’ He explained, as if it would help as he got to the edge of the bed but didn’t make a move to free himself yet, to her surprise.

She glared at him, only able to move her head as her muscles tensed, feeling his fingertips move up her legs before gripping her night shorts, his fingers hooking onto her panties as well before pulling them down, causing her to try to fight again.

‘’I know mortals are very delicate things so I don’t wish to break you so soon love. I will do my upmost best to go slow and to make you fit me. Getting you wet would benefit the both of us as well,’’

he explained, his voice gentle as if genuinely trying to care for her and already felt himself hard by the sight of her. Her spirit is what merely attracted him to her first and it was amazing he didn’t take her in her own bed first but here it was much safer for the both of them.

Her legs were shaking, as of the rest of her beautiful body and half of him wanting to say screw the bloodline, but he fought to hard to gain the thrown just to lose it now because his wife wouldn’t get fertile. So with that, he moved forward and laid between her legs, her struggles against his magic doing nothing as he ran his tongue against her cunt.

This made her freeze, her back arch as if her body froze- not knowing what to do. Ignoring her reactions, he focused on his goal as he began to eat her out, his tongue and lips paying close attention to her clit while he now and again tongue fucked her.

 She squeezed her eyes shut, her body and mind screaming to different things but she was no match for his skills. He was by far, amazing, and her body thought so to as she held back tears with muffled whimpers, feeling herself get turned on.

Loki held back a slight smirk as he noticed it to but kept going, feeling her legs try to close themselves but he remained between as his hands gently caressed her hips and thighs. When her back began to arch more, he stopped.

This was merely a job, a duty, nothing more. If it was strictly based off pleasure alone, there was a higher chance of either of them getting attached, and a woman’s pleasure was the one thing that Loki loved to give.

Catching her breath, she looked with scared and glassy eyes as Loki crawled up her body and moved his hips between her legs. From her muffled cries, he knew she was pleading but he refused to try to let her stop him, even if seeing her like this made his heart skip slightly.

‘for Asgard’ is what he kept reminding himself and moved his eyes to her chest instead, refusing to look into her eyes any longer as he moved a hand down and freed himself. He’d have to move extremely slow as of to not injure her in the slightest, which is what made foreplay important if she didn’t get pregnant the first time, he’d have to repeat this action.

Her muscles strained against his magical hold, feeling him line up at her entrance and she only struggled more upon guessing how big he was by the mere feeling of his tip. She tried telling herself this all wasn’t real, how the hottest man she ever saw wasn’t the one who attacked New York, her people, who kidnapped her and now attempted to take advantage of her all to create another one of him..

There was no use. His magic was strong and there was no getting out. She could only pray that the child would come out not as cruel as the father as she closed her eyes and tried picturing herself with someone who actually loved her. When she relaxed her muscles, she tried forcing herself to not tense as Loki then began to push himself, inch by inch with a small pause between to try to help her adjust.

She was not a virgin, but he was by far the biggest she had ever seen and had. It hurt, and the foreplay did help, to her slight relief and sadness over the whole thing. She was stretched and the tears allowed themselves to far as her cries came with each time he pushed through. It was almost forever until he stopped moving and she knew he was to his hilt. Baring to look in his eyes, his own were closed while he panted, straining himself from rutting her wild. She hated to admit that despite it all, he was.. beautiful. Caring, even, if this was their first time together and not in a fucked up reality.

Her thoughts were interrupted when he took a deep breath and pulled out to the tip, before slowly moving back in without a pause this time. she gasped, her eyes lifting as her back arched, feeling the stretch again as she took deep breaths. At this point, all she could try to focus on was her breathing while he pulled back and moved forward, slow and steady.

She hated how slowly her body was adjusting to him, how more and more she got slick for him. her own body was betraying her and she wished that it hated him but at the same time, her adjustment was making the pain slowly go away and get replaced with pleasure.

Loki knew her body was adjusting and he began to increase his movement to a faster rhythm, his face contorting to pleasure as his lips parted and his fists gripped the sheets on either side of her. It was strictly a job.. but for a mortal.. she felt.. so.. good… he lost himself- and he fucked her fast, even gripping her leg up against his waist as he panted.

She gripped the sheets, her eyes fluttering as he seemed to stuff her and all she could do was take it. she swore she could almost seem him enlarge her pelvis every time he thrusted into her before it was suddenly- over. Her eyes snapped open as he moaned and felt warm liquid shoot into her cunt in large amounts. His limbs were shaking and he rested his forehead against her chest as he panted, slowing his thrusts to make sure she took all of him before he stilled inside her.

Even she was to exhausted to move- if she could as her limbs shook and felt him soften inside of her but he still made no moves. Not until both their bodies seemed to regulate themselves back to normal before he took a deep breath and slowly slid out of her, feeling his seed slightly trickle down between her legs as he put himself away and stood up. With a slight flash of his eyes, he released his hold on her, tie removed from her mouth as she took careful breaths but made no moves.

Watching her from where he stood, he took a breath and spoke slowly. ‘’I’m sorry little mortal… you will be brought three meals a day and will remain in these quarts. Drapes may be open but my spell prevents any means of escape of any sort. I will be delivering these meals myself and anything you might need. Every day I will fuck you and every day I shall check to see if we have created a child.’’

Through magic, she guessed.

‘’I have my ways of keeping an eye on you so please do not attempt anything stupid. Fight me, and magic will be involved in restraining you. I suggest you rest, I shall return in the morning.’’ He told her, his voice quiet but almost as expressionless as his face as he did not once look in her eyes as she had turned her face to the side to look at him while he had made his way to the door.

It wasn’t until the door was shut was when she then allowed herself to cry.

The past few days carried on like this, how he would show up to deliver meals and leave without a word or a glance at her before he would shortly return to have her stand. Most times he would have to use magic to have her cooperate, keeping her in place as he placed a hand on her tummy with closed eyes and used simple magic to seek out life. With every result coming out negative, he would fuck her.

Never giving her her own pleasure, he told himself he wouldn’t enjoy it either out of the equal rights of them both. Thus, he would fuck, not as so much as touch anywhere else before he would leave her stuffed and alone.

Days became weeks and fear turned to anger, cussing at him and throwing things upon him entering the room and she even tried starving herself. The fear of being under complete mind control by him to force her to comply is what made her cooperate, convincing herself she had at least that in control of herself.

It was pushing a month and that’s when she noticed her period was not on her mental schedule. Fear and relief flooded over her, unsure whether he would let her go if he finally got what he wanted.. it was only a matter of time before he would check her.

Loki came in, not saying a word as he shut the door behind him and strolled towards her before she raised a hand to stop him, causing him to throw an annoyed look but he raised a hand to begin using his magic but he paused.

‘’wait- I’m.. I think I’m..’’ she trailed off, almost afraid to even say the words out loud as his expression changed to almost a.. lightened mood.

‘’well.. we won’t know until we check.’’ He said quietly, the first words he had spoken to her in awhile as he lowered his palm and walked slowly to her. ‘’will you try to strike me today or do you think you can control yourself?’’

She ignored the annoyed feeling by his comment and shook her head. ‘’..i will not strike you.’’ She promised and sat on the bed behind her, resting back on her elbows.

Loki strolled towards her, confident that it wasn’t a lie considering what he was the god of. Standing before her, he leaned down and rested a hand beside her on the bed while the other rested on her stomach while he closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he concentrated while she stayed perfectly still.

While he used his magic, she couldn’t help but look at his face- call it her own little routine while his eyes were closed. He was.. beautiful. Cruel and beautiful. Damn him.. damn it all..

what was this feeling.. he was the only one who even gave her attention, as fucked up as it was to admit. She had no friends, no family, no lover.. which is probably why she gave up on being rescued a long time ago. If it wasn’t for his cruel intentions, she could stare of his face a little while longer if only he stayed.

Once Loki opened his eyes, he stayed leaning towards her, not moving as his features seemed to hold a gentleness to them, his eyes soft as well as his eyes. His stare almost made her nervous at the result and she glanced down at her tummy as if something else was wrong as she sat up.

‘’am.. am i-‘’

Loki then leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers, her body freezing from the shocked reaction that overfilled her while he closed his eyes and moaned against her mouth. Before she could even register what was happening, he pulled away and stood with a blank expression once more yet his voice sounded more.. kind.

‘’you are pregnant.’’

Her eyes widened as she looked up at him, a hand immediately resting on her tummy as her lips parted, awe struck as emotions swarmed her, not knowing if she was happy, sad, if she were to cry to rejoice and.. rejoice what? ‘’i.. I am?’’

‘’yes.’’ He said gently and straightened, looking at her with almost an intense expression, she had no choice but to pay attention. ‘’with each meal you will be served, I will be giving you.. think of it as a.. potion. it will help the child grow healthy, for your body to adjust normally and for there to be no pain while you carry an Asgardian.’’ He explained and she slowly nodded, both hands on her tummy now as if she was protecting the child already.

‘’..okay..’’

Loki gave a small nod and turned, walking towards the door before he felt a grip on his cape, causing a brow to raise as he turned to see her eyes darting to the floor, her lip quivering as she slowly released him.

‘’..stay..’’

Part 2

[joyburble]

The honey-coloured gown. It first appears in episode 13, and it alerts us immediately that something important has changed in the character's state of mind, several episodes before he works it out himself. Because the scheme of colour and texture is so totally different it's pretty hard not to notice, even in this light.

It is worn for the "why didn't you kill me?" converation with Shangque, in which he learns key information.

It's also worn for this moment where he decides to experience a positive emotion on purpose. We're looking at a river of dark honey, pale honey, soft reds, and shades of gold. All the textures are soft, and so is the shape and construction. The double collar wraps and yields, rather than standing tight around the neck. The pattern echos the flowers he has just spontaneously caused to fall like snow.

The hunting dress is also velvet, but it's a very stiff shape, like armour. The black-and-gold battle dresses we've seen him wear are made of crispy-crackly brocades and chiffons that float and fly and stand up straight, taking up space without actually filling it. This feels totally different to look at.

He reads a little book, trying to make sense of things. Here we can see that it really is the loose wrap-around shape it appears to be, and that there must be a dark underlayer, otherwise invisible, which perhaps also belongs to the long straight sleeves we can just see a corner of.

Look how gorgeous this is! The huge textured sunburst embroidery on the over-gown, the two different layers of facings on the mid-layer collar.

I'm pretty sure this headpiece is the same one he wears with the hunting dress, the one that looks like a present from an Ent. Like the roots of a small but ancient tree.

In Episode 14, the honey gown is worn for the explanation of the hellfire.

After this he returns to the green hunting dress to chase down the kidnapper, but the honey gown comes back in episode 16 for the discovery of Jieli's shenanigans. The cream-coloured robe with the red and gold belt seems almost as though it might be straight-cut, so the belt is actually doing work rather than just decoration. The black and gold robes all look very sharply tailored to the waist, even the one he wears in the dream.

There's also a gold layer we can't see from the front - it might be a lining of the outer gown? Anyway, the effect of this looser shape is to make it look cosy and comfortable, as well as warm in colour and soft in texture, and unusually like a real garment that a real person could plausibly put on or take off. The hunting dress looks like it would bite and then throttle you if you tried to get it off him. This doesn't.

Look at this fantastic texture (of embroidery over cord?), the variety of colour, and the subtle touches of pale green, the green of early Spring and Arwen Undomiel's wedding dress:

This outfit is a sensual feast.

Then, it's worn for the transformation sequence in Episode 17:

Briefly with bare feet! which is a hell of a visual message.

As sunlight falls on the tree, we get a view of the beautiful embroidery that looks almost representational, but not quite - it's a stylised design of branches or clouds or both, and it's gorgeous.

This look stays while he panics and tries to reverse the process, which doesn't work.

For the confrontations with father and brother, it's changed for one of the black-and-gold styles I'll come back to later.

Then in episode 18, he decides to roll with it, so it's worn for the smiling lesson, and the attempt at reconciliation with Xunfeng.

And this epic comedy moment

And the cave scene, which reinforces the idea that it is super warm and cosy: and in which he is comforting Xiao Lanhua with the best reasoning he can think of. "Of course you are an orchid, I took care of you according to the book, and it worked."

And for the scene where he thanks Xiao Lanhua and explicitly accepts the situation.

So: this gown is worn for the entire restoration process, from the initial moments of questioning, through exploration, confusion, bafflment, denial, agony, panic, resistance, despair, more confusion, acceptance, determined attempts at difficult things, unselfconscious sweetness, murderous sweetness, continued confusion, and gratitude. He switches to the green hunting dress for the chase interlude in Episode 15.

This is followed by much funnier confusion and exploration in the Human Realm, and after that the consequences start to hit, and I don't think this delicious outfit ever comes back.

It looks warm, soft, unrestricting, cosy, generous and comfortable while still being big, dramatic, and protective. It's visually telling us the direction his personality wants to go - not necessarily where it will end up, but the direction it's being pulled in, and I think it does a lot to bring us along, subconsciously, with this arc. I call it the honey-coloured gown, but its message is sun melting ice, warmth of feeling, and the possibility of happiness.

The DFQC costumes master post is here.

[darkfire359]

Thoughts on e1 of The Terror

I've started watching The Terror, mostly to understand all the random posts I see about catboys and about how OFMD totally should have had an ass-whipping scene. Anyway, some thoughts:

As I predicted, it is super hard to tell the difference between all the various old white guys, but the thing I forgot makes this even harder is the fact that sometimes characters use first names and sometimes characters use last names. I think that Francis Crozier is the name of the Terror's captain and Sir John Fitzjames is the name of the Erebus's captain (though maybe he is Sir James Fitzjames, which would be amusing). Goodsir is is the doctor and David Young is the kid who died? Reid and Tozer were mentioned (but idk who they are), someone (maybe multiple people?) is named James. Of course I can identify Hickey, the guy from all the tumblr pop song AMVs. I assume he'll eventually murder and eat some people.

I initially thought that everyone would totally die, but the scene at the beginning indicates that maybe some people only ambiguously die? Walking by foot when you can barely walk seems like a bad idea.

Francis is probably the main character? The scene where he was arguing to play it safe and the other captain was arguing "just two more weeks" made it super obvious who was going to be right and who was going to fuck things up for everyone. Also, the show is called "The Terror" not "The Erebus" so probably the other captain is going to get mutinied on and eaten. Especially given that the men don't him being religious and making them dig a real grave. The Erebus itself probably will get abandoned at some point.

The doctor seems like a good guy, maybe also main character-ish? I was a bit squicked by him not wearing gloves during an autopsy though.

Something spooky is afoot. I came in knowing that the manbearpig monster thing (whose name sounded like "Tumquack" but which I'm sure I'm utterly mangling) was real, but there seems to have been a spooky hallucination guy and something spooky in the water. No idea how this will all connect together. It's also unclear if Young died from tuberculosis(?) or general spookiness.

My watch-buddy and I have resolved to not get emotionally attached to the dog, who will probably die.

No real thoughts on shipping yet, except maybe that one guy and the guy who was helping him put on his clothes while talking to him in a dark corner. I promptly forgot who both of those guys were. Ships that I've heard about pre-show include Hickey/Tozer and Hickey/Crozier, but I haven't seen any of that.

[otakween]

Digimon Tamers - Volume 4

The beginning of this volume flat out spoils things by putting characters that haven't been introduced yet on the character page. (MarineAngemon, the Juri clone, the D-Reaper queen...) Maybe that's a common practice with shounen manga...but it shouldn't be. Like, what's the point?

Ch. 22

Lopmon and Terriermon interacting will never get old. Love how they lift their ears with curiosity when they first see each other.

I think I prefer experiencing the ~sad~ part of Tamers better in manga form. I remember it being quite drawn out in the anime and I rather just blitz through it at this point. I think the whole Leomon death storyline just annoys me because they barely developed his character and then the writing expects me to be devastated. Juri was more developed, sure, but we barely got any insight into her relationship with Leomon so her deep, dark depression doesn't feel super warranted either.

Ch. 23

I think this chapter was pretty well done. They're giving an epic battle it's time instead of zooming past it.

It bugs me that there isn't a specific name for digimon/human digivolutions. In this translation they called it a "true mega form." On the wiki it's called both an ultimate and a matrix digivolution. IDK why it doesn't count as a jogress. I guess there's like...two different things: the way you digivolve (matrix) and the digivolution level (ultimate)? If it's confusing for me, I can only imagine it'd be confusing for a kid.

It's a bit weird for an English translation, but I like that Guilmon says "MMA!" a lot. I can totally hear him making that noise with his OG voice. Creative onomatopoeia.

Ch. 24

Grrr Jian said "crumbcakes," so done with this stupid translation

This chapter was hella short, not much to say about it.

Ch. 25

Okay, now they're calling it a "biomerge digivolution." I guess the localizers also thought "this needs a cool name!"

Casual 90s/early 2000s sexism sprinkled throughout this translation. Takato says he "screams like a little girl" in a previous chapter and in this one he says "easy to forget Renamon and Rika are girls when they're always kicking butt!" Eye roll...

SaintGalgomon looked super badass but for some reason when Sakuyamon appeared they chose to dedicate two closeup panels to her chest and high heels? Sus...

Ch. 26

Juri's face didn't look as sinister here as it did in the anime (when it's revealed she's possessed). I guess that's probably a good thing. More subtle.

I don't remember the sovereign digimon giving Culumon a "you're a real boy now" speech in the anime. That was sweet.

They cut the part where Beelzebumon gets zapped by a bunch a digimon. In this he just collapses after the battle with Dukemon, which I think I prefer. (But why'd he say he'd be "bunny chow?" He wasn't even fighting Terriermon...)

Ch. 27

The grotesque, over-the-top facial expressions the artist keeps drawing for Hirokazu piss me off. They're just so ugly.

Ugh...they really had to ruin a serious moment (Guilmon getting the ark to stop) with a poop joke. This manhua does NOT treat its audience with respect.

Hmm they completely cut out Juri's family. So much for developing her character I guess.

They kind of forgot to imply that the ark is sentient. I mean they showed it stopping on its own, but in the anime they really hammered it home by having Guilmon have a conversation with it and showing it's HAL-like eye. That was one of my fave parts so I'm sad lol

Ch. 28

Okay, this is starting to feel totally different from the anime, they skipped like 5 episodes worth of content. Also, IDK if the scanlation I'm reading is missing some pages because the ending with Dukemon being beat up was completely nonsensical (it cut from Beelzebumon being hit to a panel with Dukemon outta nowhere?) I'll give it the benefit of the doubt that there are missing pages...

The scene where Beelzebumon uses Leomon's attack to save Juri played out differently here. She doesn't seem particularly perturbed by it and Beelzebumon can't save her because he gets attacked, not because Juri recoils for too long.

Ch. 29/30

Lol they completely cut out Justimon. Makes Ryo's role even more pointless! Ryo doesn't even reappear at all...

This manhua series was crap to begin with but they really screwed the pooch with this ending. SOOO rushed. Grani appeared outta nowhere with zero introduction. Like they just went immediately to Grani's sacrifice. I still don't know if I'm missing pages or if the writing is just that garbage. Oh well! I tried.

[faintingheroine]

I don't know how to feel about you trying to coin a trope name with a single example. Like, dunno, your definition of a Fainting Heroine is a bit too specific? Are there any other Fainting Heroines besides Nihal? Would, for example, early stage Hatice apply?

Yeah, this was mostly a jokey analysis of how Nihal compares to classic Gothic heroines. Of course this is not a legitimate trope.

As for Hatice, let’s analyze!!

The post

Differences 

- “GH tends to be a victim of an oppressive patriarch. FH is a victim of a neglectful patriarch.”

I would say that Hatice is the victim of a neglectful patriarch instead of an oppressive one, especially early on in the show: FH

- “GH is imprisoned in spaces and rooms against her will and experiences claustrophobia, FH wants to stay in her mother’s womb room for all eternity.”

The room thing doesn’t super apply to Hatice, but early Hatice doesn’t seem to want to leave her mother’s womb? : FH

- “GH is often orphaned and/or is the product of an unhappy childhood, FH is the product of a (seemingly) too happy childhood.”

Hatice hadn’t lost any parent until young adulthood, and with the way her siblings and mother dote on her, her childhood was presumably mostly happy, at least seemingly so: FH

- “GH is either extremely beautiful or noticeably plain, FH is simply indescribably elegant.”

Hatice is both very beautiful and indescribably elegant, so both: Both

- “GH can be seen in dark cramped spaces, FH’s surroundings tend to be well-lightened and comfortable”

As an Ottoman lady, Hatice is in well-lightened, comfortable, wide spaces: FH

- “GH has legitimate fears, FH’s troubles are mostly in her head.”

Hmm. Hatice has some real troubles, but she definitely makes up troubles in her head too: Both

- “GH is studious or curious, FH is easily distracted during her lessons and is not super curious.”

Yeah. I don’t think Hatice is a very curious or studious person: FH

- “GH faints during especially frightening circumstances, FH faints when she is sad.”

Both

- “GH’s fainting is a genre requirement, FH’s fainting is a medical condition.”

Hatice’s is a genre requirement, every woman in MC faints: GH

- “GH’s family history haunts her, FH’s family history is less explored.”

I would say Hatice’s family history is fairly relevant for her brother and thus for her own fate: GH

- “GH has creepy servants she fears, FH has annoying servants she likes.”

She doesn’t have substantial interactions with any servant besides Nigar and Nigar is at points both a creepy servant she fears (Season 2A) and an annoying servant she likes for some indecipherable reason (Season 3B): Both

- “GH’s story tends to end in marriage, death or madness, FH’s ends with a “return to normal”.”

Yeah. Hatice’s story ends with madness and death: GH

- “Men in GH’s life are creepy and dangerous, men in FH’s life are just jerks.”

Ibrahim has a dangerous edge but not towards Hatice. Towards her, he is just a massive jerk: FH

Similarities

- “FH is still the product of being imprisoned in a confined space: She does have to watch her brother running away to a new life in his school while she can barely leave the house, and that’s at the root of her troubles.”

Well, as an upper-class Muslim woman of course Hatice’s life is very confined, but she doesn’t seem to ever yearn for any “adventure in the great wide somewhere”, not even momentarily like Nihal does, so: No

- “GH and FH both tend to have artistic sensibilities and an instrument they play excellently.”

Hatice does end up playing the violin and it has a romantic significance: Yes

- “They both faint even if it is for different reasons.”

Yes

- “They both often have frightening dreams and see portends of death.”

Hatice definitely has those: Yes!!

- “They both are impacted by the nature’s beauty.”

Hatice doesn’t seem to have a special inclination for nature (at least I personally don’t remember) but I will say yes just for that scene in early Season 3 where she walked in the garden and the seasons changed around her: Yes

- “They both have an inclination towards everything French.”

Hahahaha nope: No

- “They are both pressured into unwise marriages.”

Frequently: Yes

- “Both have unusual family situations.”

Yes

- “FH is also partially orphaned.”

Hatice does lose her father in Episode 1: Yes

- “Both often inherit their mother’s looks/diseases/fate.”

Hatice is the sister who looks the most like Ayşe Hafsa and she does inherit her mother’s enmity with Hürrem. But I don’t know if I would say yes: I don’t know

- “At the center of both of their stories there tends to be a scandalous secret that they slowly discover, it is just that the secret FH discovers is more prosaic.”

Yep, the Nibrahim affair just like Nihal learning about the Bihter/Behlül affair. I would say that the Nibrahim affair is at the center of Hatice’s story in Season 2, so in a good chunk of her arc. It is prosaic but it is a scandalous secret, and one she has multiple frightening dreams about: Yes

- “Often both have “happy endings” that leave you unnerved when looked at more closely.”

Hatice’s ending isn’t “happy” in any way. Not even in the esoteric way of Valide and Cihangir where they move on to the Heaven, maybe because Hatice committed suicide. So no “happy ending”, not even the unnerving kind: No

Conclusion: I won’t tally it up but I think it is safe to say that Hatice Sultan of Magnificent Century can be considered a Fainting Heroine.

[blazehedgehog]

Would you mind going more into detail on the visual side of Superstars? Some of its shortcomings, inconsistencies, etc. I haven’t had the time to put anything together to discuss it, but had the same feelings about the way it looks that you seem to have, and no one else really seems to see it.

Sure! I actually already broke a lot of this down in my discord for my patreon donors, so I'll just mostly copy and paste what I said out of there. Warning: LOTS of images ahead!

The problem I have with the way the game looks is the lighting. Let's take this screenshot as an example:

I want you to ask yourself: where is the sun positioned in this image?

Let's look at Sonic. On Sonic's body, the sun is above him, to the right, slightly in the background. The top edge of his head has the highlight, which fades in to a shadow closer to the camera.

The shadow on the grass suggests the sun is in the same position, but shining from the foreground. The shadow is being cast going in to the background, away from the camera. This is the opposite of Sonic's body.

This rocky outcropping near the top of the image is receiving very intense edge light from both the left and right sides, but barely from the bottom.

Under the grass at the bottom of the image, we see light shining up from below this rocky arch. You could say that maybe it's light reflecting off the water (caustics), but it lacks the caustic pattern and is pure white light, when the water itself is teal. Caustic reflections also generally don't carry 25+ feet away like this does.

The palm tree fronds are receiving light from the same direction as Sonic is, but the trunk is being lit like the rocks are, which is to say its edges are lit up, even in places that should be in shadow.

This is what's known as "rimlighting." It's an important detail in photography and 3D graphics rendering, because it creates a strong outline for characters and important objects.

The catch being rimlighting is one of those things that works when it makes sense. In photography, getting a good rimlight requires very carefully positioning physical lights in a scene, and that light obeys the properties of reality.

What Sonic Superstars has done is grab a very basic rimlight effect that applies a cheap, colorless halo around objects using a shader. It doesn't obey the properties of real light, it just makes everything look weird and inconsistent, giving it this awkward glowing outline. This type of effect was common in Wii games from the mid-2000's. For example, Super Mario Galaxy uses this type of rimlight quite a lot.

Galaxy gets away with it because it's a game set in space, and these bright glowing rimlights help characters pop out from the dark space backgrounds. And, on brighter levels, the rimlight intensity is reduced considerably:

Sonic Superstars has applied its rimlighting in a very haphazard, cheap, ugly way. Some have called it "Generic Unity Rimlighting" because a lot of low-effort games use it to bad effect. And, as far as we can tell, the game is being made in Unity, because the debug menu uses the default Unity background color.

The whole game's lighting situation just looks muddy and dark and confusing, when I think the ideal should be something like New Super Mario Bros. or Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze.

Lighting is a bit flat, but everything is bright, clear, and consistent. Superstars is very messy and dated looking by comparison. And the above two games are like 9 years old!

[liminalpebble]

Eddie's Education: Chapter 25

Masterlist link

Minors DNI

In the main room of the community center six set of eyes fixed on each red circle in turn until the discussion itself began to run in circles. Dustin sighed dramatically. “There're too many options! We can't drive around to every backyard pool or fish pond in Hawkins and be like 'excuse me, mind if we look for a portal to hell real quick?'.”

Robin spoke up. “But...but you said there aren't portals anymore. How would we even get into his lair in the upside-down? Or how would he get out?”

El said gently, “I can open a portal. I think he's counting on it, if he's not strong enough to do it himself. But I don't need to. I can fight him psychically like I did last time...and like I did when I pulled Max from her coma. He said he'll make Leia come to him. So, he's either counting on me to make a portal to the upside-down or he's gathering what's left of his strength to do it himself.”

Mike nodded. “Yeah, and since he's just had a pretty hearty murder meal, he might be strong enough to do it.”

They all grimaced at that. Knowing he was right but not particularly wanting to think about it that way.

Nancy's eyes went wide, remembering a very specific swimming pool from years ago, where her ditched best friend was sucked into the upside-down, flayed, dismembered, and devoured by its monsters. The small woman rose her surprisingly-commanding voice. “What about places where the first murders took place. Those deaths created portals before, and even if they're healed over now, maybe those places are still....well...thin...maybe it's easier to break through there.”

Dustin rose his eyebrows. “You have a hypothesis?”

“Yeah.” She tapped a pink-polished nail on a specific coordinate. “Here. The Harringtons' backyard. The pool would be large enough for his...tank...or whatever, but also it's where....where Barb died. It'd be perfect for him. He can work on creating a portal in a 'thin' place while he's recharging. There aren't any other locations that have both a container that size and a murder, right? This would be his best strategic position.”

Everyone nodded and agreed, allowing small reluctant smiles of relief to surface. Held breaths were finally exhaled.

Dustin was in the middle of congratulating Nancy's sharp thinking when the lights flickered. Just then, Steve's panicked howling pierced the air like an arrow shot from the other room.

“JESUS CHRIST!” he hollered.

---

“Believe it. I can be super confident but also, you know, kind of an idiot,” Steve said with a wry smile. He looked away from Leia for a moment, recalling the past and his mistakes with some humility. When he looked up again he flinched hard and shouted “JESUS CHRIST!”, scuttling away from her and tumbling off the loveseat. Her deep coffee-colored eyes were now clouded over and rolled back, thick black lashes bobbing unevenly over ghostly corneas, like a broken doll. For a moment, all Harrington could do was stare up from the floor in petrified dread.

He was barely aware of the others tumbling into the room until Eddie shoved him out of the way to grab Leia's shoulders, screaming and babbling for her to wake up. His mind flashed to his old trailer, to Chrissy's eyes doing the same eerie blinks in the strobing lights, to him pleading with her to wake up...before...before...

“Leia!!” he wailed.

El pushed him away as gently as she could but he still wriggled and resisted. She held him by the arms and stared into his face, “Eddie! Listen to me! You need to move. I'm the only one who can help her now.”

He nodded in a haze of confusion and let Steve pull him back, keeping a hand on his shoulder.

El sat beside her on the sofa facing her. She put her hand to Leia's clammy forehead and closed her eyes, willing herself to descend to the psychic plane where Vecna had her.

Everything turned dark and quiet, then El paced forward into the horrible scene in Sam's childhood bedroom. She witnessed Leia's impossible choice, heard her agonized sobs and Vecna's cruel goading. She squinted and felt her heart ache. El knew for herself the pain of being used as a devastating weapon, but for now all she could do was watch. From this position she had no power to interrupt or stop any of it. For that she would need to get closer, much closer, and she would need help.

Still entranced, Leia was hyperventilating and tears were streaming from her eyes. Rusty hints of blood mixed with the saline of her tears. Besides El, none of them knew what hell she was enduring, but watching her suffer was breaking Eddie badly.

“Wake her up...please please...god please wake her up. Why won't she wake up?” Eddie muttered and implored to Steve over and over again, and Steve just let him, keeping his arm around his friend.

After moments that seemed like an eternity to everyone in the room, Leia and El's eyes simultaneous blinked back to normal as their bodies slouched heavily onto each other from the lurch of being thrown back into the physical world.

Leia sat up. El was still holding her gently as she struggled for air. Leia's pleading eyes met El's and she croaked and stuttered between sobs and short hiccups of breath, “I..I...k.k..killed him...oh god.”

El shook her head and held Leia's face. “I saw it. It wasn't you, Leia. You don't have the powers to do that. Even if you wanted to. That was Vecna. It's not your fault.”

Leia slurred on, shaking her head, “But he made me help he..he he..s...said I had to kill Sam or watch Eddie d..d..die. He won't take Eddie. I won't let him take Eddie!”

Hearing his name from her lips pulled him to her like a magnet. He flung himself towards her again, sliding to his knees and clamping his arms around her waist. He chanted, “I'm here. I'm here...I'm right here.”

El slowly stood up and joined the others saying quietly. “There's nothing else I can do for her right now, but there will be.”

As Dustin scanned the details of the scene before him, he noticed Leia still had one ear tucked under her headphone, the music still buzzing out in a tinny stream. “Oh fuck...” he sighed out, shoulders dropping.

“What?” Steve asked.

Robin, as usual, was a step ahead. She pointed to the headphones and said, “The music was still playing. It didn't stop him.”

“Fuck,” they all said in a depressing chorus.

Dustin took the lead. Reaching forward for Eddie's arm, he said in a soothing tone, “Eddie...we need to go and...”

Eddie flinched at the contact, inky eyes frantic and feral, teeth gritted. He barked out, “Don't fucking touch her!” and squeezed her closer. Her small body was now slumped against him on the floor, cradled in his arms. He nuzzled his face against hers. Shivering and squinting hard against his tears, he whispered, “I gotcha...I gotcha. Hang in there, baby. Stay with me.”

-----

The catalyst; that's what it was. That's how Dustin thought of it as the group sprung into action, in a fiery explosion of purpose.

Mike, El, and Dustin were working in Eddie's trailer, filling a kiddy pool with bag after bag of salt and gallons of water. They tacked up thick blankets over every window to build a make-shift sensory deprivation tank. From there, El could plunge deeper into the psychic realm and fight Vecna with her full power. At the very least, she planned to protect Leia and keep 001 occupied while the others launched their offensive. She took a calming breath and envisioned their endgame; dragging 001 out of the upside-down, destroying him by divorcing him from the source of power so he can never come back.

Eddie was in his bedroom sitting beside his love, stroking her soft sleeping face and quietly playing guitar for her (for whatever good music could still do). She had lost consciousness in El's arms in the back seat of Eddie's van as they drove, and she was still unconscious as he carried her in. El assured the panicked boyfriend that she was keeping a psychic link on Leia, monitoring for Vecna's presence within her mind. She explained that the experience had just overloaded her system and she needed rest now. It was blessedly silent inside Leia's head, and El suspected 001 had other plans at the moment than harassing his “pet” again. He was preparing for the battle just was much as they were.

Robin, Nancy and Steve were preparing for war in a different way. Steve awkwardly greeted his parents as they pulled up at their house under the guise of a holiday chat and visit (even though they had just seen each other at the community hall). While Steve did what he did best (talking about nothing and being friendly for long periods of time) Robin and Nancy investigated the Harrington's swimming pool.

It was surreal for Nancy to be back at the same house. This was where she was busy losing her virginity while her ditched best friend was being slaughtered in this very pool (or rather, in this pool on the other side). Robin's bright perceptive eyes watched Nancy's blanched troubled face. She knew the story, but didn't realize how the guilt still stretched taut like a string inside of her across all these years. Fuck. No wonder she's so high strung. She mused.

“You okay?” Robin asked, as the two women stared down at the dusty tiles of the bone-dry crater (it was well after swimming season, after all).

As expected, Nancy only answered a curt “yeah”. Stiff upper lip firmly in place, she quickly bypassed the subject. “Look,” she said pointing to a corner of the pool which gave off an eerie red luminescence in the gathering fall dusk. Steve saw it too, looking out the back window over his pumpkin pie and coffee, and past his parents faces, to where the glow rose up.

Before long the three were back in the car after their reconnaissance; an awkward heavy silence hanging between them. Everyone's old hurt and memories were surfacing, unwelcome and unbidden, like garbage bubbling up to ruin a placid lake. The mood was dour, polluted.

Then Robin held up the foil-covered pastry keeping her company in the backseat and began to snack on it, mumbling, “Holy shit, Steve. Your mom makes really good pie!”. The bubble burst and suddenly all three of them were laughing and crying simultaneously as they continued their quest around town.

They got guns and bullets from the sporting goods store; ingredients for Molotov cocktails from the grocery and hardware stores as puzzled cashiers rang them up warily. They stopped by Nancy's to retrieve a shotgun from her back shed (one she hadn't needed since she used it against Vecna 15 years ago). Car now weighted down with supplied, Robin buckled in and announced, “One more stop, friends.”

“Where?” Steve asked, looking over his headrest.

“Leia's place. I have a spare key.”

The other two just stared at her blankly as she rolled her eyes and huffed, “just trust me. There are some loose ends to tie up. Then we'll extract and flambe this asshole again...for good this time.”

-----

El knocked gently, peaking around into Eddie's bedroom, where he still sat with his eyes glued to Leia's sleeping form.

“Hey. I have to disconnect from her now to clear my mind for the tank. Mike and Dustin and I are going to prepare weapons by the fire pit down the road. The others will join us there when they're finished with their part. Can you stay with her for the rest of the time and watch her?”

“Uh yeah...uh...but what what if something happens.”

Mike and Dustin came over, and Mike chimed in, “We think it's pretty likely that he's biding his time now, and El has to disconnect. There's not really much else we can do.” He pointed to the guitar and smiled wryly, “music might still help though...a least a little.”

Eddie nodded, as Dustin and El left.

Mike continued fidgeting while he spoke. “We also...um...we wanted to give you some private time alone together as well. You know. In case....in case things....in case you have some things to talk about.”

Eddie smiled wryly back to Mike, but his eyes were still sad. “You mean in case one or both of us kick the bucket, Wheeler? Just spit it out, man. But yeah...I think that's wise.” He paused swallowing heavily and enveloping her small hand with his larger one, ringed fingers skimming over her knuckles. Then he said, voice shaking with a new tone of determination, “I died once, and I have no intention of dying again...and neither will she. We've both fought our way to a second life, and we're gonna live it together.”

@sweetsigyn @veemoon @elegantkoalapaper @sunflowerdaydreamer @little-wormwood @hellfirenacht

[mobscene-london]

LONDON AWARDS 2023 AFTER PARTY:

Location: Westminster Pier. Hosts: Alexis Larsson & Yvonne Rutherford. Date: Friday 31st March, 2023. (roleplaying will start when awards complete.) Dress Code: Formal. Dress to impress. Short dresses are fine.

EVENT SUMMARY:

If you're asking why the Rutherfords would own a giant ass yacht that's too big for them to use, then you must be a poor. It's because they can, and the only reason you're able to breathe in its vicinity, let alone step on it, is because you're invited to the exclusive after-party to dance, drink and celebrate with London's biggest winners and losers no one will even remember tomorrow. All on a fucking super yacht along the Thames.

Make sure to thank Yvonne Rutherford for acknowledging your existence.

The party will kick off with a fireworks show greeting the guests over the open deck where the main party is. Just be careful not to trip into the swimming pool—yes, there is a swimming pool—as you dance the night away to the raging beat courtesy of the in-yacht DJ Tiësto. Worry not, there's a bar at the three main levels (of the available five) to quench even the thirstiest socialites London has to offer.

If you're looking for a more chill vibe, the party carries on in the interior living spaces, littered with plush chairs and comfy couches for you to vibe off your feet or perhaps partake in illegal substances in relative privacy. Hors d'oeuvres prepared by the staff of The Empire's Michelin star restaurant will also be served.

Meanwhile, those who seek further privacy, wish to rendezvous with someone they maybe shouldn't be seen with, or are willing to partake in some mystery may venture into the theatre room—because of course this yacht has one. The seats are cleared out to convert this cozy room into a dark dance hall, barely illuminated by colorful laser lights and underscored by the richest bass beats afforded by the cinematic sound system.

Despite the size of the yacht itself, the guest bedrooms do come in limited number, thus their occupancy is at a first come, first serve basis, aka be sure to knock before you enter and lock the door behind you. By the request of the Rutherford family, their respective bedrooms are locked and will not be accessible for privacy and sanitary reasons.

Safety is of utmost importance, with a small medical staff and helicopter on board for emergencies. That said, your RSVP comes with a waiver clearing the organizers of any legal responsibility over whatever shenanigans may occur during the event itself.

The jet ski somehow arrived with the yacht itself. It shouldn't have, but it did, so that's off-limits, too. 

ATTENDANCE & IMPORTANT NOTES:

Everyone can attend this event, regardless of their affiliation or whether they attended the ceremony itself. That said, if you feel you character wouldn’t participate, then there’s no pressure to. Take note that there will canonically be a lot of important members of London’s social scene present, so the party will be pretty jam-packed with the city’s self-proclaimed finest and most famous. This will be considered a monumental social event this year, so people will be looking to go wild and make the most of it.

TWI will be paying attention. It is not a private event.

There will be no mob drama. Can people fight and have verbal spats? Absolutely. Encouraged. Given that everyone from all of the mobs should be in attendance, this will be inevitable. I don’t mind a bit of physical fighting if you want to go that way. There will be nothing large scale, though, or anything to derail the party as a whole. No stabbing, shooting, casual murder until you’re on the way home.

PERKS FOR THE AWARD WINNERS:

For all of those who walked away from the ceremony with an award in their hands, your fortunes do not end with a golden statue. Thank God because that ain’t real gold fam. You will be entitled to some complementary treats as an added bonus, courtesy of Amir Dawar. These cannot be exchanged, nor gifted to non-winners, though winners are permitted to invite guests to their suites.

All winners will enjoy free drinks for the entirety of the evening. This will include bottle service so the peasants can feel special.

All winners will be offered access to a hotel suite at The Kingdom Hotel in Westminster for the entirety of the weekend. Winners for Best Couple and Should-Be couple will get presidential suites. Enjoy them.

Winner of both Man of the Year and Woman of the Year will win an all expenses paid trip, transfers included, to any of the Khan-Dawar hotels (* with the exception of the Belize location.) A private jet will take them and a guest of their choosing whenever they wish to redeem the prize.

Winner of Best Dressed Man and Best Dressed Woman (awards that will be announced at the after party, rather than the ceremony itself) will both win £15k of credit to spend at Harrods in Knightsbridge.

Winners of the Best Dates award (also announced at the after party) will win an all inclusive spa day at the hotel, at a time of their choosing.

[spinningbuster98]

Mega Man X6 Part 1

It’s here.

At long last.

So in this first video I only go through the intro stage and the alternate route of Shield Sheldon’s stage in order to beat Nightmare Zero and so unlock the real Zero as soon as possible. Therefore I won’t focus on gameplay now since there’s not much to talk about here.

No let’s talk about this thing’s plot for a second or two

As I’ve previously stated: no X game has a throughly good plot. They’re usually full of contriveancies, plot holes, characters acting like morons, things left unexplained in the games themselves and just lots of angst for the sake of it.

X6 however may just take the cake

If there’s a recurring theme in this game’s plot it’s “Retcon”. This game, its whole existence, is just one big retcon, a retcon used to bring back things to their status quo after X5 had brought them to a close. This game exists for the sole purpose of telling the fans “No wait! We’re not actually ending it! Things are getting right back where they used to!” so that Capcom could keep milking this series a little while longer

The opening cutscene, which is really only a recount of X5, contains about 4-5 retcons within the first minute, I’m dead serious:

First off the game seems to act as if both the Good and Bad endings of X5 are canon at the same time, which is simply impossible and convoluted at best

We’re told and shown that Zero crashed his shuttle into Eurasia to stop it like in the Good Ending and we’re told that he succeeded...only for its remains to crash on the Earth with cataclismic consequences....like in the Bad Ending

But unlike the Bad Ending this seemingly doesn’t cause the Colony virus to mix with Sigma’s Virus on Earth thus infecting Zero and turning him evil since we’re shown his death scene as it happened during the Good Ending plus X remembers him while in X5′s Bad Ending his memories of him are wiped out.

We are ALSO told that this game takes place only 3 weeks after X5, despite that game’s epilogues for BOTH endings taking place 3 YEARS after the fact.

It’s the first minute of the game, we haven’t even pushed a single button yet but continuity is already broken. Kudos. Not even Sonic 06 was that fast.

So I go through Shield Sheldon’s stage which is incredibly simple, short and uninteresting, just such a Meh kind of level, go through its alternate path (more on those at a later time) and defeat Nightmare Zero

And then the real Zero inexplicably pops back up from the dead

Judging from his words he was waiting for X to take care of his fake copy because,as we all know, Zero is a really bashful guy who is super self conscious of his public image and what others think of him, like when Sigma mocked him in X5 about his past and true evil nature and Zero told him to shut up because he doesn’t care. Or in the Zero series, where Zero will be branded a literal terrorist but he won’t give a fuck because he does what he think is right no matter what others think of him. Truly a very bashful guy

And when X rightfully asks him how the fuck can he even be alive, his response is simply “I hid myself while I tried to repair myself”

This is not one of this game’s innumerable mistranslations, no this is ACTUALLY what he says in the japanese script.

So....

I want to remind you that, last we saw him, Zero looked like this

I also want to remind you that his last thought were about how his death was perhaps for the best, since he came to the conclusion that his dark origins presented a threat to the world, after all Sigma had nearly ended it in an attempt at awakening Zero’s evil self.

Now

I want you to picture Zero suddenly thinking “What the heck am I thinking!? Dying SUCKS!!”

He then drags his pierced, legless torso with the one arm he has left allllll the way to the nearest town, through what appeared to be a big desert landscape in this now ruined, post apocalyptic Earth where the very atmosphere is toxic and, according to X6′s intro narration, “Reploids can barely work”. He then finds a random mechanic and goes “Dude, got some spare parts?” and starts rebuilding his body with his one arm over the course of 3 weeks. His very VERY advanced body. So advanced in fact that not even Dr.Cain, the greatest scientist of the 22nd century, could repair it in X2, and that, according to Signas and Lifesaver in X5, goes beyond modern science’s understanding (same deal with X’s body), something that even X6 reminds us of later on.

And I must assume he must’ve installed a pretty powerful bullshit generator while he was at it because there’s no way any person with an IQ over the negative digits could ever buy any of this....which is why X and the gang immediately believe him despite the former having SEEN the state Zero was in in X5!!

Now here’s the thing

There’s an optional conversation between Zero and Dr.Light that seems to imply that it was actually the latter who repaired him, as Zero explicitly asks him if he knows who it was that did it

First off:

This implies that he’s genuinely bullshitting in this scene: why? No really why? X is your best friend, he was clearly distressed by your death and you make this shit up for....reasons?...to hide your insecurities...? Why!?

But even putting this aside: the idea that Dr.Light repaired him, aside from being sketchy on principle (he’s a hologram, this issue is also present in X5 where he’s shown repairing X offscreen, but whatever Sci-Fi magic I dunno), literally contradicts X5: in an optional conversation between the two Light explains that he can’t create armors for Zero because he knows absolutely nothing about his body structure. This makes sense: Zero is Wily’s robot, not Light’s. But X6 wants me to believe that Light went from not being able to create armors for Zero due to his little understanding of how Zero works...to just perfectly rebuilding over half of his body from scratch in a little over 3 weeks. Beautiful.

We’ve just started. JUST started.

In the next video we’ll take a step back from this miserable excuse for a story and look at the actual levels and gameplay

Oooooohhhh boy. It’s gonna be a doozy let me tell you...

[pansyfemme]

Oooh!! Tell me ur new oc ideas! (I Love talking about OCs as someone with an extensive inner world as well)

mmgh theyre not rlly that indepth yet i just have loose ideas tbh. pretty much all my ocs are in the same universe, they live in a small city arts scene lol. I have a few recurring locations, one being a bookstore/coffee shop that has a performence space where bands play that’s basically a combo of like. three real life places i go to a lot in my hometown lol. Basically tho ive been workshopping a few bands that would play this space, and one of them i’m slowly creating members for. This is kind of a weird tangent, but my father is a writer and had a long running blog that was essentially like. a music collumn but all the bands and venues and songs were fictional. He had hundreds of these and he would write them the exact way he writes his actual music collumns. He used to have this theory that small city music scenes were easy to fabricate as long as you had three clubs of different types and enough bands to rotate through each club’s specific genres without the same band playing all the time. And he’s since abandoned that project but ive kinda took over the ‘making fake bands’ thing from him following his rules. I imagine this bookstore cafe place is much less of a club as much as. if you’re friends with the owner you can play there, but it does have a specific vibe to it. The band ive been populating aren’t very good in my vision. theyre indie, but claiming to be punker than they are. A bit rough around the edges, maybe- but they can barely hold onto a bassist for more than a few weeks. Theres neil, (she/he) a stuck up person no one’s really certain of the gender of, but she sucks regardless. He’s super obnoxious about music, works in a record store and will think she’s being a lot funnier than he is when she gets in hour long arguments about what’s the most obscure elephant six band or whatever. He does have a beautiful voice though, honestly haunting. Mostly a guitarist, but was classically trained on violin as a child and will occasionally pull it out for a show if he deems fit. The other consistsnt member i have is Tadhg. (he/him.) I have a very clear vision of him. short, chubby trans man, around 24. natural blonde but bleaches it even lighter to the point it’s dry and frizzy, he cuts it super choppy and uneven. He has some facial hair, but can’t grow much. Lots of facial moles but not really freckles. Dark, round eyes. He’s sweet, if not a little obnoxious himself. He rarely sleeps, has a day job as a barista but isn’t super into it. He’s the drummer, and sings occasionally, his voice is raspy. He’s first gen american, he has a british dad and an irish mother. He has a thing for older men. His recurring boyfriend i haven’t got a solid name for yet but it’s something like eric or carl or something kinda basic lol. He’s a cis gay man, almost forty. Professor type, prob a gender studies one or film or something like that. Writer as well. Taller, going grey. Round glasses. He’s absolutly infatuated with tadhg, likes to spoil him. tadhg is charmed by this, but is a bit more non-commital. They’re sweet together. That’s mostly what i got rn lol

[deepfriedhopesanddreams]

Bits and bytes from the Box au! (Also the ones that I didn't add!)

Bluebella Twiggse the bluebell bonsai, Cori Blossom the blueberry bonsai and Jinxonica the Japanese Camellia bonsai aren't actually from the mall or the gardening store, but rather a secret colony deep in the woods, where they get all the sunlight they can have and never interact with the humans. BT left the colony to seek fame outside of her colony (just like Mirrorglow Majesty). While CB wanted to keep things in order (whatever that means). Jinxonica wanted to seek a "wizard" to help her with her magic.

Marcus was originally supposed to be a police officer. He's supposed to sympathize with Dave and help him. He's supposed to also have this detective role and get to the bottom of mysteries (But after watching a funny TikTok, I changed it). Of course that personality is now given to Raven, she's also supposed to be 12, in a club called the "superstition club".

Gabby was supposed to be working alone in a gardening store (which was originally named "Eden Greenhouse"), and her mom is barely present. And the store was also originally a cafe. Gabby wasn't really supposed to be a Cyborg, but over time, I gradually liked the idea!

There's supposed to be a character nicknamed "Beanie". His role is supposed to keep Penz-eye out off fights (she was originally aggressive and hothead even to humans).

Sabine was supposed to work for the government in a way...

Originally, the Taurus Tech facility story was super dark. There were supposed to be both human and cybertronian experimentations. (But being a good friend for Bloom, I changed it) like I really don't want redeemable characters.

Shutter's facility designation was originally called "Lilith". But I realized that associating her as the actual Lilith, the she-demon isn't really right, but Eve fits for what I imagined Shutter to be in the story.

She's also more human in my head, with exposed lungs and intestines.

There was also a part where she stabs Bumblebee repeatedly after Sideswipe triggers her too much.

There were a lot of chase scenes that I got rid of. There's one with Ava, zombie cybertronians and Shutter's minicons.

Gabby was supposed to bring back the security robot and attach them into the house.

Enma was supposed to be evil.

About "Gretchen" the secret botbot city goddess, it's not really complicated but still sad. She's actually one of Shutter's crew members, who unfortunately died.

Dr Janet was supposed to bring a Zweihänder with her.

Dave was supposed to strangle Melachole (in self defense) and fall down a flight off stairs with him. And the gag was supposed to be comedic as the stairs just look like it's never ending.

Shooting stars were supposed to have a bigger role in the Box au.

Cosmopatty is a primordial being from space.

The Mega Pizzaplex botbots were supposed to be lost children souls, but that's too much.

The first Rottentron encounter was supposed to be in this "Mirror room", where it shows different versions of the characters.

Fanfictionus was supposed to return to the Archive as a human sized, Hawaiian shirt wearing transformer Divine.

The time wraith is supposed to be either Bonz-eye or Lady Macaron. But I realized it's going to be too complicated.

Gabby was supposed to learn about the secrets by a video tape left in the facility.

Kabiguan was supposed to show Gabby the room where he was made.

Dr Rue/ Noxweaver was supposed to make an appearance the very moment Gabby and Box came deeper down into the facility.

There are supposed to be more secret botbot colonies like a floating city and an underground city.

There was supposed to be an indirect kiss for Bryce and Penz-eye, taking place in a festival.

In the "biscuits in the rain" story, the original ending was supposed to be, Bryce and Penz-eye stepped out of the convenience store, before Bryce entered his mom's car, he asked Penz-eye, "Are you actually a real human?", Shocking Penz-eye.

Kat was supposed to work at a food truck in the park.

Joseph and Connor (Gabby's relatives) are going to have a bigger role!

There were three of the Taurus kids, Kabiguan, Leo and Gabby. But I got rid of Leo.

Burgertron was supposed to lose an arm and a leg...

The Park Party leader was a tree that's the center of the park, but I gave that position to Skitternutter.

The Beast Buffet had an antagonistic role in the Au.

And most importantly, het llam si ytcllaua a tinat!

[mrtashiduncan]

IBLBM, Chapter 4 live slug (me) reaction

idk how you did it, but you've so easy for me to relate to jake, it's insane

"it's not a french press morning" lmaooo

jake. baby. love of my life. of all the bradley memories you have to choose from, you chose THAT ONE to remember in the middle of your medical???

"you don't need it" AH WTF WTF WTF

why mango though, is it bc he's hot?

willingness to leave people behind.. DUDE. they way i projected

okay brief but relevant parenthesis: i think it's amazing the way you've built jake from the scraps that the movie gave us on him. the material is close to nothing AND YET, you've managed to perfectly encapsulate jake's barely-there essence and make it something real and palpable and layered. also i think what's truly remarkable is that every single thing he says or does or thinks, feels in sync with movie!jake. there is not one thing i've read where i say "hmm not sure jake seresin would say that", quite the contrary, really

ngl i feel kinda weird that he didn't sit with fanboy and payback right away, BUT i'll attribute this to this widely-accepted fanon's idea that somehow all the daggers became like siblings in 2 weeks (which btw reminds me of the dark times in the mcu fandom when all fics post-avengers (2012) took place in the stark tower with them living together) lmaooo

fanboy my love i want a hug from you

oh man. my boy is down bad

i'll be a good former catholic and keep to myself my thoughts while readings jake's thoughts on bradley's body

ANOTHER RELEVANT PARENTHESIS: i also love the way you've built bradley. obviously the movie gave us a lot more material than with jake, but still, it feels (read: i feel) like you might've taken some of miles' personality (or at least what he and kaleigh let us on) and attached it to the character? am i correct? did you intend to? in any case, let me tell you this: YOUR BRADLEY IS AMAZING. he is, in my very not-so-humble opinion, The Perfect Man (haha i just remembered jake says this in Like What Up) because, again, he feels very real and in character with what the movie presented us with

you really should get an award for you E scenes

PHOENIX MY LOVE

god the pet names

THE PHILLIES. I KNEW IT. miles' traits bleeding into bradley YESSS GIMME MORE

ah this progressive camaraderie between everyone does feel natural!

OH MY GOD. OH GODDD. I'M-

teagan, you'll be hearing from my lawyer AND my therapist

no, for real, i LOVE angst, i love complicated and kinda self-sabotaging characters so that last part with jake and what we get to see of his past and the way he reacts to everyone, but particularly bradley is just *chef's kiss*. everything felt like a natural progression. it hurts in the best way

i've said this before but it bears repeating: you are an incredibly talented writer and i cannot wait to see where this goes <3

the way I love you!!!!!!! a live slug reaction so epic deserves it's own appropriate under the cut (with spoilers) response:

yes thinking of THAT while in medical... well it wasn't Jake's best plan was it

honestly any callsign I give a student I can guarantee I've given zero thought to 😂 it's usually the first word that comes into my head. you are absolutely welcome to picture mango as being hot <3 (if you're even referring to his callsign)

your first parentheses has me like 😭 thank you!!!!!! Jake is so precious to me and I try so hard to both keep my version of him true to the movie while also adding depth where I can... ah. thank you <3

re Jake not sitting with Payback and Fanboy straight away... yeah. I don't really believe that they'd go from the open animosity at the beginning of the movie to Super Besties by the end of it/after the mission, personally! gotta build that friendship first imo

re your second parentheses... thank you ahhh!!! I haven't necessarily consciously taken aspects of Miles' personality and applied it to Bradley! I just think that outside of a high stakes, stressful mission he'd be very confident and cool and collected and cocky because in their line of work you sort of have to be, I feel?

'you really should get an award for you E scenes' hehehehe 😈

'ah this progressive camaraderie between everyone does feel natural!' I'm so glad!!!

'teagan, you'll be hearing from my lawyer AND my therapist' I tried to warn people!!!!!! good to know that the angst lands well 🫣

'i've said this before but it bears repeating: you are an incredibly talented writer and i cannot wait to see where this goes <3' we are holding hands right now 🫶🏻

[scary-senpai]

Hello! I once read your post about Bang's red flags and it was very eye-opening to me 'cause I liked his char and chose to ignore all his behaviors 😩😩 Thank you very much!🤝🌷🌷

Oh, thank you so much for writing, lovely Internet Stranger! I’m assuming you’re talking about the one from my main blog, “Bang is made almost entirely of out red flags" ^_^ You probably are, because that's literally the title... But I know I've posted about him on here, too.

I think the "red flags" essay was the first fandom essay I ever wrote? I think I hammered it out at some wee hour of the morning and went to bed fully expecting OPM-Tumblr to come for my kneecaps during the night. I was pleasantly surprised to see that most people seemed to enjoy/appreciate it.

So, I’m glad you enjoyed my essay, but I didn’t intend to guilt you or make you feel wrong for liking a particular character. I do my best to keep my language at least somewhat neutral and not to be too harsh about anything, but I’m certainly not out to yuck anybody else’s yum. Also, when it comes to the “constantly beating your disciples thing”… I sometimes wonder if I’m being too harsh considering the piece of media. By and large, the audience is here to open up a beautifully inked can of whup-ass, not to watch an estranged disciple hug it out with his former mentor (although there’s certainly a highly invested/very vocal subset that is dying to see that).

I think it’s definitely okay to like a character even if they aren’t exactly a role model (or even if they’re the opposite of a role model)—I feel like that’s sometimes the point, actually. We can dissect behavior in fiction to an extent that we can’t in real life, so it’s a low-stakes place to talk about human behavior and gain insights applicable IRL. I appreciated Bang’s character more after I put all the pieces together. I mean, which is a more interesting story? Bang is the perfect mentor, and Garou goes down a dark path anyway? Or Bang does his best to help Garou but makes some notable missteps, and perhaps comes painfully close to getting it right, only to fall victim to a longstanding character flaw—I don’t know, maybe losing his temper at a time when Garou most needed compassion and patience? The second example is more interesting, I think—it gives us something to talk about.

I try to own up to my own bias, because I do find myself projecting a lot of my own emotions on Bang and Garou’s relationship. Around the time I started watching OPM, I had transitioned out of my long-time job in a rather toxic environment. It was my first real job out of school, and I worked for 7 years under someone who was very brilliant and had overcome some of the same obstacles that I did, but unfortunately he was also quite angry and downright manipulative at points. I stayed for a long time because I didn’t know any better, and I’m still kind of untangling that, honestly. He taught me a lot about systems, operations, and human behavior, and all of the skills I learned are fine as long as you use them in a neutral way--my boss was just super mean about everything. (He had mostly worked in high-stress finance jobs although we were in healthcare/human services, and I assume he was just carrying out the cycle of abuse when he told me things like: "if you worked for me at JP Morgan, you could get fired for making a mistake like this." ...And my mistake was double-sided copies instead of single-sided ones. Like, I am a salaried employee working 60+ hours per week, and I am still barely making rent, my guy. For JP Morgan money I will gladly eat your files instead of shredding them.) In any case, I feel a little conflicted when I pull these lessons out, even if I’m using them differently… like, "ugh, ex-Boss, why did you have to be so mean and so brilliant and so right all time..." It almost seems a bit like the scene where Garou pulls out Fist of Flowing Water Crushing Rock on the Tank-Toppers because he has no other choice. So actually, instead of thinking back to my ex-mentor I try to think of that scene instead ^_^ it saves me dredging up something unpleasant.