#featuring the infamous funny hat. i miss that hat

[transshion]

writing something sillay

[whenitsdarkweilluminate]

Moscow 2009 – Grand Final

Host: Russia Slogan: [none] Participants: 42 Voting method: 12-point system (50/50 system - combined; televoting only for the semi-finals) Format: 2 Semi-Finals / Grand Final = the top 10 of semi 1 & 2 + the Big 4 + host Winner: Alexander Rybak - Fairytale Country: Norway Points: 387 (78.7% of highest score possible) Language: English

General Overview: The 2009 contest is indicative of Eurovision's technological progress. Moscow constructed the most elaborate stage set-up thus far. The artists are engulfed by a sea of LED screens, which comprises an extra wide backdrop, the usual glass floor, and an array of overheard blocks that can be placed in various desired positions. The platform itself is comfortably wide. It's less limiting than the circles of '07/'08. Indeed, Ukraine's staging this year requires the space lol. Russia didn't skimp on the extravagance – the voting is even commenced by ISS astronauts! Meanwhile, the Cirque du Soleil opening features acrobatic stunts, trapeze spots, people jumping on and off a vertical wall, and a woman inside a de-layering Russian doll. This transitions into Dima Bilan's flashy entrance. He descends to the stage via wires, where he infamously loses a battle with his coat (it gets stuck in the wires). Dima then walks in one spot as the background transitions around him. It's probably a conveyor belt. He also jumps through a “brick” wall three times. This eventually leads to a reprisal of “Believe”. The interval act is mesmerizing. It involves performers dancing in shallow water on Plexiglas platforms suspended above the audience, accompanied by tribal music. The platforms later lower so the audience can touch the bottom of it. The presenters are comedian/TV personality Ivan Urgant and Russia's 2000 representative Alsou. She isn't “going solo” this time! (I'll see myself out). They are a welcome relief compared to that semi-final host. The intermission host has a couple of funny moments too. She gathers some of this year's artists to perform a folk version of “Not Gonna Get Us” by t.A.T.u., which I thought was amusing. The postcards are creative too. They consist of 3-D pop-out books which feature various landmarks from each country. The vignettes conclude with model Ksenia Sukhinova (Miss World 2008) wearing an animated hat of said landmarks, in a different hair style each time. Notably, Armenia and Azerbaijan had a dispute over a particular monument used in Armenia's postcard. So the 2009 Grand Final officially launches the 50/50 voting system, where the returning juries and the televote are given equal weight. Both methods have their biases (juries favour technical songwriting and televoters favour their neighbours), so this system balances it out. Incidentally, the ballads (Iceland, the UK, France, Israel, and Malta) were significantly boosted by the juries; as were Denmark and Germany. On the flipside, Albania was the most damaged by them. Suffice to say, 2009 is not a suspenseful vote reveal. Norway held an approximate 2:1 lead for the entirety. In regards to the satellite feeds, some notable moments include Malta's rave scene backdrop, Russia's spokesperson being in the actual arena, the Slovenian guy taking a moment of silence, and Norway being called last (cute). Lys Assia appears once again, to present the winner's award alongside Dima Bilan. Overall, the 2009 entries are divisive. There's 6 different songs that I wanted to rank #1. While the semi-finals contain some truly horrendous offerings, although thankfully they all DNQ-ed. Moreover, the auto-qualifiers aren't that objectionable (none are in my bottom 10), and the GF is noticeably absent of novelty entries (aside from Germany I guess).

Lithuania: Sasha Son - Love Not a great opener. Israel: Noa and Mira Awad - There Must Be Another Way - France: Patricia Kaas - Et s'il fallait le faire France recruits successful recording artist Patricia Kaas, which results in their highest placement since the famous ballads of '01/'02. Both of those entries aimed for towering vocal climaxes, whereas “Et s'il” is stuck in limbo. The piano and accordion notes follow a claustrophobic pattern. They strengthen as the song progresses, slowly enclosing Patricia into a trap, as her unwavering voice intensifies. The song concludes with the instrumental winning the battle, as Patricia does a little dance. The minimalist staging reinforces the message. And the instrumental sounds characteristically French. In the song, Patricia promises complete devotion even if it means self-destruction by sacrificing everything. Literally until she's reduced to “a shadow that follows you”. It's tragic. The anticlimactic structure feels incomplete, but it's also the point. Sweden: Malena Ernman - La voix - Croatia: Igor Cukrov feat. Andrea - Lijepa Tena - Portugal: Flor-de-Lis - Todas as ruas do amor - Iceland: Yohanna - Is It True? - Greece: Sakis Rouvas - This Is Our Night - Armenia: Inga and Anush - Jan Jan - Russia: Anastasia Prikhodko - Mamo Russia takes advantage of their own stage design here, with the placement of the mobile LED blocks. The screen behind Anastasia depicts her face gradually morphing into old age. She becomes quite tearful in her elder years. The image is... unsettling. Meanwhile on stage, Anastasia expresses emotional outbursts of devastation, especially at the end. It's her reaction to being dumped, as she recalls her mother's warnings about love. The verses contain intriguing instrumentation, and the chorus melody jumps out effectively. Anastasia gives a moving performance, but this entry is a little too hysterical and bleak for me. Her vocals sound flat in the chorus as well and her dress looks like a bath towel lol.  Azerbaijan: AySel and Arash - Always - Bosnia & Herzegovina: Regina - Bistra voda - Moldova: Nelly Ciobanu - Hora din Moldova - Malta: Chiara - What If We There's nothing outstandingly awful in this Grand Final, but something needs to be ranked last. Estonia: Urban Symphony - Rändajad - Denmark: Brinck - Believe Again - Germany: Alex Swings Oscar Sings! - Miss Kiss Kiss Bang Germany submits another retro entry. This time it's a homage to the American burlesque scene, completed by special guest Dita von Teese. This definitely belongs in the 2000s decade. The song pairs early 20th century brass with a more modern throbbing beat. Oscar serves horny charisma in shiny silver pants, while Dita knows how to pose seductively. The black-and-white aesthetic helps the illusion. And the bouncy melody is enjoyable. But the lyrics are too silly (ie. the “hee dee hi ho”s and the “gucci bang bang”s). The concept borders on novelty. It's a guilty pleasure though. Turkey: Hadise - Düm Tek Tek - Albania: Kejsi Tola - Carry Me in Your Dreams - Norway: Alexander Rybak - Fairytale (winner review below) Ukraine: Svetlana Loboda - Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl) There's an intermission preceding Ukraine in both the Semi-Final and the Grand Final, presumably to set up the elaborate stage. Romania: Elena - The Balkan Girls - United Kingdom: Jade Ewen - It's My Time 2009 sees the UK shockingly place in the top 5, following a string of floundering results. “It's My Time” turned out to be an outlier, however, considering what lies ahead. The song was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren (which probably explains the result), and it's sung by future Sugbabe Jade Ewen. ALW even “plays” the piano on stage. Unsurprisingly, the self-empowerment theme and the arrangement channel Broadway/West End showtunes. “It's My Time” is a methodically paced ballad where Jade claims her personal moment. Her vocal gymnastics ensure that the spotlight is on her. And the staging is classy. It's a respectable entry, but it's not a very interesting one. Oops moment: Jade gets too close to a violinist and the bow bumps her microphone lol. Finland: Waldo's People - Lose Control - Spain: Soraya Arnelas - La noche es para mí Spain deserved better. Of course the juries ranked “La noche” last, but the televoters weren't that generous either. The song is a burst of frantic, joyous energy from beginning to end. The chorus contains strong hooks – ie. the “take me”/“shake me” bit and the “la no...che es pa...ra mi!” pauses. The string-heavy instrumental is rambunctious and punchy. And Soraya is an enthusiastic performer. There's even a magic trick where she “disappears”. It's so random that I love it. That said, the choreo/camera work combination is dizzying and the lyrics are problematic (ie. “It doesn't matter if you want or not”). The Winner: Norway achieves their third win, breaking an 8-year streak of first timers. Moreover, “Fairytale” is the biggest landslide victory of the 12-point era. It also obliterated the points record, a distinction it retained until the tabulation change in 2016. And it earned “douze points” from 16 different countries (roughly 39%). “Fairytale” certainly belongs in the pantheon of legendary Eurovision moments. Which begs the question: is it “deserving” of that accolade? In my view, the answer is yes. Firstly, the violin riff is instantly recognizable, and it creates an electrifying, “arena-filling” effect. It's the most valuable aspect. The song also smartly begins and ends with it. Furthermore, the melody is incredibly catchy. The bursting chorus is encompassing, where Rybak projects turmoil while the stomping piano set the pace. The surge in the second verse (“HIGH ABOVE”) is particularly effective too. “Fairytale” is a pop version of Norwegian folk influences – fiddles and folklore both have connections to the country's culture. And the song captures the essence of fairy tales themselves. The female “da da da” backing and the twinkles are cutesy. Normally I'd find that grating, but it makes sense. The lyrics, meanwhile, are fairly straightforward. Rybak is bound to a fantasy – a lover from the past. It conveys a nostalgic theme; as do the stomping piano notes and the old timey outfits. And finally, the staging is charming. The three male backing dancers are a delight, with the body flips and the hand/foot jumps. Rybak also exudes confident (albeit smug) stage presence, as he bows his violin with enthusiasm. The positives vastly outweigh the nitpicks with this entry, though. Verdict: “S” Tier. Probably my favourite male winner ever. My Ranking: Grand Final: 01. Norway: Alexander Rybak - Fairytale 02. Iceland: Yohanna - Is It True? 03. Estonia: Urban Symphony - Rändajad 04. Azerbaijan: AySel and Arash - Always 05. Turkey: Hadise - Düm Tek Tek 06. Armenia: Inga and Anush - Jan Jan 07. Albania: Kejsi Tola - Carry Me in Your Dreams 08. Portugal: Flor-de-Lis - Todas as ruas do amor 09. Moldova: Nelly Ciobanu - Hora din Moldova 10. Ukraine: Svetlana Loboda - Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl) 11. France: Patricia Kaas - Et s'il fallait le faire 12. Denmark: Brinck - Believe Again 13. Croatia: Igor Cukrov feat. Andrea - Lijepa Tena 14. Greece: Sakis Rouvas - This Is Our Night 15. Spain: Soraya Arnelas - La noche es para mí 16. Finland: Waldo's People - Lose Control 17. Romania: Elena - The Balkan Girls 18. United Kingdom: Jade Ewen - It's My Time 19. Russia: Anastasia Prikhodko - Mamo 20. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Regina - Bistra voda 21. Israel: Noa and Mira Awad - There Must Be Another Way 22. Germany: Alex Swings Oscar Sings! - Miss Kiss Kiss Bang 23. Sweden: Malena Ernman - La voix 24. Lithuania: Sasha Son - Love 25. Malta: Chiara - What If We Full Ranking: 01. Norway: Alexander Rybak - Fairytale 02. Iceland: Yohanna - Is It True? 03. Estonia: Urban Symphony - Rändajad 04. Azerbaijan: AySel and Arash - Always 05. Turkey: Hadise - Düm Tek Tek 06. Armenia: Inga and Anush - Jan Jan 07. Albania: Kejsi Tola - Carry Me in Your Dreams 08. Portugal: Flor-de-Lis - Todas as ruas do amor 09. Moldova: Nelly Ciobanu - Hora din Moldova 10. Ukraine: Svetlana Loboda - Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl) 11. France: Patricia Kaas - Et s'il fallait le faire 12. Denmark: Brinck - Believe Again 13. Croatia: Igor Cukrov feat. Andrea - Lijepa Tena 14. Greece: Sakis Rouvas - This Is Our Night 15. Spain: Soraya Arnelas - La noche es para mí 16. Finland: Waldo's People - Lose Control 17. Romania: Elena - The Balkan Girls 18. Switzerland: Lovebugs - The Highest Heights 19. Montenegro: Andrea Demirović - Just Get Out of My Life 20. United Kingdom: Jade Ewen - It's My Time 21. Ireland: Sinéad Mulvey and Black Daisy - Et Cetera 22. Andorra: Susanne Georgi - La teva decisió (Get a Life) 23. Cyprus: Christina Metaxa - Firefly 24. Slovenia: Quartissimo feat. Martina - Love Symphony 25. Russia: Anastasia Prikhodko - Mamo 26. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Regina - Bistra voda 27. Slovakia: Kamil Mikulčík and Nela Pocisková - Leť tmou 28. Israel: Noa and Mira Awad - There Must Be Another Way 29. Germany: Alex Swings Oscar Sings! - Miss Kiss Kiss Bang 30. Sweden: Malena Ernman - La voix 31. Belarus: Petr Elfimov - Eyes That Never Lie 32. Serbia: Marko Kon and Milaan - Cipela 33. Lithuania: Sasha Son - Love 34. Malta: Chiara - What If We 35. F.Y.R. Macedonia: Next Time - Nešto što kje ostane 36. Poland: Lidia Kopania - I Don't Wanna Leave 37. Hungary: Zoli Ádok - Dance with Me 38. Netherlands: The Toppers - Shine 39. Bulgaria: Krassimir Avramov - Illusion 40. Belgium: Copycat - Copycat 41. Czech Republic: Gipsy.cz - Aven Romale 42. Latvia: Intars Busulis - Probka

[jq37]

i know you posted your thoughts on the big arguing scene in “we need to talk about pete” but i was wondering if you were going to post a full breakdown? that episode was a lot and i love hearing your thoughts on eps. ignore this if you have done a breakdown and i’m dumb and just missed it lol

**spoilers for the war of bugs and rats and we need to talk about pete**

What’s up denizens of Magic NYC? Now, I unfortunately live in normal NYC where I have to pay bills and stuff so I’ve been MIA with recaps for the past few eps but, no sweat. We’re gonna do a double feature of the above two eps and then I’ll group in the last battle episode with the upcoming episode. So lets catch up on what’s been going on in The Unsleeping City There’s a LOT to get through so vámanos y'all.

First up, we have our big bug fight in Queens, which Sophie enters with a camelback full of box wine because Emily is Emily.

“I’ve heard of gentrification but this is crazy!”

Brennan enjoys making those gross, chittering, bug noises way too much.

Have we talked about Pete’s cowboy hat? Because, for real, what is up with Pete’s cowboy hat? It seems absolutely apropos of nothing. Was he just like, “Sick,” and he decided to wear it everywhere? That seems to be how he makes all of his decisions.

“Butthole 2: Electric Boogaloo.”

Emily clocks the cat *immediately*. Like to the point where I’m almost thinking, “Did this cat exist before Emily mentioned looking for one?” And I want to say yes because La Gran Gata seems very fleshed out, specific, and intentional. But folks, we are living in a post-Avanash world so idk what to think. (Edit: The cat does have a mini now that I’ve gotten to that but idk, that insert shot could have been shot post ep so like, who knows?)

Anyway, Emily’s entire mission objective immediately becomes saving this cat she’s vaguely aware of.  

“5E you crazy.”

The Cast, Knowing Emily just rolled a 25 and still has a 1d8 Bless in Her Back Pocket if She Needs It: Brennan, Just Ask.

The horror on Emily’s face when she realizes that she just called an attack on the cat cocoon.

So Emily goes off on a very Emily side quest to rescue a random cat but happens to unlock a very cool NPC–La Gran Gata–who is like the spirit of all the bodega cats out there. Sophie immediately calls upon the entirety of her limited Spanish skills to try and make friends with the cat, and succeeds.

The, “To arms, to arms my brothers!” thing kills me every time. Are all rats just Like That? Is that what they’re like when they’re out and about too?

Kingston rolling a nat 20 to literally walk across the store is wild.

Oh also, Pete failed a wild magic surge roll which just lets him fly. So far, those wild magic surges have really been working out for him.

Anyway, Bug Boss Becky turns Ricky into a “buff-ass” dog.

Zac playing dog-Ricky with almost exactly the same self-awareness (or lack thereof) as normal-Ricky is so funny. He’s an Akita and I was expecting Dalmatian but that makes sense too. Ricky, the very good boy, attacks Becky and–as a Sentinel–stops her in her tracks.

Emily does a ton of damage and Brennan, about to describe her attack, is like, “Are you still drunk?” Emily shuts down the opportunity to look cooler and is like, “I am a messy, drunk bitch. Describe that.” Emily isn’t here to be cool. Emily is here to roleplay.

I had never heard the word brindled before now and Brennan uses it to describe two separate animals in this ep.

Siobhan rolls a nat 20 to dispel magic on Ricky which is objectively good but also I would have loved for him to be a dog a little longer. Also, this moment makes me really, really want to get some backstory on Misty. Like, clearly there are some serious Fae Shenanigans going on with her and I need specifics yesterday.

Also, Ricky comes back with pointier ears and wolfier senses and I’m just picturing Channing Tatum in Jupiter Ascending.

Before I forget, Sophie, Pete, and Misty yoink magical items from the magic bodega within the bodega La Gran Gata opened up. Sophie’s is a magic ring that amps up her punches. Misty took a mirror and Pete took a grill (like for your teeth). Not sure what those do yet.

The fact that this whole fight wasn’t under the Umbral Arcana and there are people out there that remember is a little concerning for me. I can’t quite tell if it’s the sort of thing that will come back or more of a warning of what can happen if the U.A. goes down again.

Post-fight, Sophie asks La Gran Gata for mismatched David Bowie eyes like the cat has. Siobahn goes, “That’s what you’re gonna ask? You drunk bitch.” But Sophie has her wish granted. I’m sure that won’t raise any questions with people who have known her her entire life. 

“She’s gonna fuck that cat.”

So the fight’s over and they realize that the Key to the City is missing which I can’t imagine is a good thing.

This brings us to the RP ep, We Need to Talk About Pete, which picks up directly where the previous ep ended.

Ally and Emily go for the exact same joke of getting Guinness’s post-fight. Kingston–as a medical professional, Vox Populi, and sanest adult of this troupe–loudly objects (smacking the beers out of Pete’s hands multiple times) and wants to know what the hell is going on with the bugs they just fought.

Sidenote: Sophie took a level in Warlock with La Gran Gata as her patron because of *course* she did. I wonder if this was the plan from the beginning or if Emily was watching all her friends spellcasting and started getting the jitters from magic user withdrawal.

Murph’s “What?” face when Emily says, “I’ll be waiting, but not in an impatient, desperate way,” is gold.

They search the bodega and find a thing of 1000 Hour Energy and Kugrash gives it to Ricky over Pete’s objections. They also find Holy Grail Laundry Detergent (Kingston pays for it), The Grill I mentioned earlier (Kingston hates this), and this bagel. 

All the magic users show up. Alejandro wants an explanation pronto and everyone points a finger at Pete who explains everything in his typical, nonchalant, vague, kinda spaced out way which Alejandro is not digging at all. He starts to go off on the enormity of the situation and Pete starts dropping acid.

I’m gonna stop here for a sec to talk about how Ally is playing Pete. There are moments when I feel like Ally is doing something as a comedian for a bit. And there’s kind of a sense of, is this funny? Obviously. But what are the in game implications of this move? Like the running joke of Pete constantly being high on something is funny, out of game. But,  in game, it’s massively concerning. And I’m really curious about where Ally is choosing to draw the line between doing the funny thing and doing the prudent thing. I almost said the in-character thing but Ally made a character so consistently bonkers that whatever he does could plausibly be the in-character thing. Pete is kind of a massive disaster.

Anyway, Alejandro drives home the point that Pete’s actions have consequences and have caused actual deaths at this point. Pete’s magic is internally going wonky as he gets more distressed (I really wanted to see a wild magic surge fail here but alas). But he’s still outwardly like a 4 on the giving a damn scale when the situation is a 13 out of 10. Pete is only half listening to this because he’s halfway out the door, smoking. Alejandro plans with Kingston to discuss Pete later.

Misty, always sowing seeds of chaos, suggests Alejandro stock up on Juul pods before they stop selling them completely. Kingston hates this (this is basically his mood for the episode).  

Outside, Pete gets a text from Priya which ends with them planning a meet up for later after leaving her on read for a while. Pete dips without saying anything to anyone but Kingston who ignores him (and also Sophie who Emily hilariously guilts Ally into including out of character). Dipping on the conversation about how to fix YOUR mess isn’t the wisest move but Pete isn’t the wisest guy.  

In the meantime, Ricky does the Twilight Bark to summon a dalmatian (yes!) to help him find the stolen key to the city. Kugrash turns into a busted ass dalmatian who has trouble keeping up.

Ricky doesn’t have the plate mail armor that usually makes a Paladin so unstealthy but he is so hot as to have the same lack of stealthiness which is one of my favorite adaptations of the game for this setting. Anyway, Ricky does the superhero thing of running through the city, helping everyone with a problem along the way, and loses the key in the Financial District which smells like death (feels about right).

Siobahn playing Misty as, “Oh, I can’t believe I didn’t realize it was Emma Lazarus,” when, in reality, she was the first person who made the connection was great. S/o to ppl who separate player and character knowledge. Misty partied w/ Emma of course because she partied with every historical figure that’s passed through NYC since she showed up.

Post adventure, people need to go to their day jobs. Misty has a +10 to performance but rolling a 3 is rolling a 3. It’s not her best work. Later, her assistant brings her holly, silver, and assorted other stuff which sounds like Fae BS if I’ve ever heard it. Misty cuts her off before she can elaborate more. I know we’re getting a secret spilling episode next time so I’m really hoping we get some Misty lore because she is being frustratingly cagey. She talks so much but says so little that means anything.

Kugrash sneaks into his son David’s house (while Emily learns a rat fact she clearly didn’t want to know) and Murph  and Brennan tag team go for the proverbial emotional jugular.

Murph rolls a nat 20 on his investigate and so he gets a lot of his old files and puts together that Robert is Robert Moses–a famous historical figure in NY who I actually heard about for the first time very recently. Or maybe I should say infamous. He did a lot with NY infrastructure–especially highways–(Emily connects this to the Highway Hex immediately) and he wasn’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type. His bread and butter was working the system. There’s a Pulitzer winning book called The Power Broker about how he was able to amass power and influence. I don’t know enough about NY history to run my mouth off about the guy but the little I do know is in character with his T.U.S. incarnation. Also, just FYI, irl this dude died in the 80s. So, you know. That’s interesting.

Brennan, I guess: Why invent new bad guys when history is full of terrible people I just have to give magic to?

Brennan, continuing his tradition of letting people get emotionally destroyed by nat 20s, has Murph find a crushing letter from David to Kug which was never mailed.

Note: So, as I was writing this, my video timed out right at the line, “I don’t expect this letter to find you before my funeral,” which is kinda good bc idk if this is what I need at 1 AM. Anyway, back to the pain.

The letter reveals that David has devoted his life to stopping crooks like him (Kug) and that he’s mostly upset about how his leaving has affected the younger, more fragile Wally.

“I leave the letter because I’ll remember it.” Yeah I bet you will.

It looks like Kug is gonna confront Wally next ep which I am now even more excited to see.

So let’s move onto the SECOND big gut-punch of the episode. Kingston goes down to the station to give a statement about the Santa Incident. He sees a shit elemental in a lineup which isn’t super relevant to the main events but I can’t not mention something like that.

Anyway, guess what? Kingston’s ex (Liz) isn’t dead! She’s an attorney for the justice system of The Unsleeping City and she’s pissed the hell off. During their interview, he stops the tape recorder to cuss out Kingston for going on a “date” with Misty and for getting her involved in all the magical junk which means she has to do things like fingerprint shit elementals instead of being on track to be D.A. like she originally was. The way she described it made it sound like she was press ganged into it which seems like it shouldn’t be how this works, you know? Is there no blue pill option here? Also, not to be all grass is greener but I actually am a lawyer in NY (closer to Kug’s job, minus the crime) and I would swap with Liz in a heartbeat.

The fact that anything Kingston says as Vox is per se admissible is a cool detail. 

Sophie fights an old man (Jackson) in a CVS and joins a monastery which sounds like a shitpost but it isn’t. With La Gran Gata’s blessing she is now a member of the Order of the Concrete Fist.

I saw the Staten Island joke coming the second Brennan started talking but it was still hysterical when it landed.

At the same time, Pete is getting knuckle tats because, sure. And he also goes to see Priya who I am baffled was with him for any length of time. Maybe it’s the artist thing?

Also, Sophie keeps postponing her meeting with Mario which is concerning to me. The story is still happening when you’re not interacting with it. Brennan specifically said when she texted him that she got no response which doesn’t make me feel good about what’s going on with him.

Ricky has three super jacked, fratty firefighter bros, all named John who are like woke as hell. I wish I could follow the dude around for a day because every single facet of his life is wild.

Well, this episode promised we were gonna talk about Pete so let’s talk about Pete.

The gang, sans Pete, meet up with the magical powers that be to discus the destruction the newest Vox his leaving in his wake.

Sidenote, wild that Sophie has been magic for like 15 minutes and got to go to this meeting.

Alejandro wants to know what the plan is for if Pete’s powers go off the rails again. Kingston, who has clearly seen Old Yeller, offers the most drastic solution immediately: if it comes to it, we take him out. (Cut to Ally’s “Yikes” face). Kug, Sophie, and Ricky push back on that.

Misty, hilariously (and also suspiciously), is mainly concerned about NY because she needs theater to keep happening. This woman is chaotic something and I’m not convinced it’s chaotic good yet.

Anyway, I already did my big write-up on this part of the episode, but I’ll say it again: Kingston is right. He’s harsh but he’s right. This is some Phoenix Force BS that’s happening and do you know how that arc ends (the OG one, not the million other Phoenix Sagas that have happened since)? It ends with Jean Grey killing herself so she doesn’t lose control and eat another planet. Ricky is too dangerous for his own good and he doesn’t seem to have the emotional maturity to care (or at least to care at the correct level). Like, he was a drug dealer when this started which is already not ideal. He caused a huge mess and then just bounced without trying to help fix it. He thought that a week was enough time for human casualties to be water under the bridge. Frankly, not considering the nuclear option and just having to figure out if killing him is something the group is willing to do on the fly would be the more irresponsible option.

And not including Pete in the discussion would bother me more if he hadn’t openly blown off every serious discussion people have tried to have with him so far. If he’s not going to take things seriously, it makes sense they don’t invite him to the serious discussions.

The version of this story where Pete accidentally gets a bunch of people killed, finds out what he did, cries about it for a full day, and then finds out they’re talking about possibly killing him is a story where Pete is more sympathetic imo. But still, finding out that people talked about killing you under any circumstances has got to be rough.

IMO, the order of things that should be done right now are (1) putting magical training wheels on Pete, (2a) getting Pete trained or his powers transferred if it’s possible/he wants out, (2b) either way, getting Pete into therapy (like, he needed therapy before he got magic. now it’s just a matter of life and death–besides just his own), (3) talking to Pete again about the stakes and telling him point blank but not in while heated that there’s the possibility of a scenario where his powers go out of control and you have to understand that at that point it’s a matter of saving as many lives as possible. Like, Kingston can say, with conviction, “If I go rogue, you should do the same to me.” They’re in the same boat. Kingston’s just been rowing longer. Well, similar boats anyway. I imagine the Vox Populi powers are less inherently chaotic. And maybe the knowledge that a nuclear option is on the table would make Pete not want the job or want him to have his powers muted or something. Cool. Then you have that discussion at that point. Just, these are the conversations that need to happen. And maybe his own mortality will be the thing that helps get Pete’s head in the game. 

What jewel did Ale take out of his pocket during this conversation? Taking note of that. (Juul, not jewel. Duh. Thx thethief )

Pete gets in touch w/ Alejandro’s granddaughters who tell him that Alejandro’s still pretty pissed (which is surprising to Pete but like, bro. People died). Then, Robert shows up to sweet talk Pete and show him the video (that he somehow has) of Kingston talking at the Pete Meeting. When I was watching this the first time I was like, “How long before this blows up in their face–oh, almost immediately. Cool.”

He takes Pete to his vampire nightclub and hits him with Pete’s own “I didn’t create the demand” line that you just know Brennan put a pin in to hit Pete with that Uno Reverse card.

Robert tries to get Pete to summon Nod and then just does it forcibly with some kind of blood magic when Pete is hesitant. Pete wild magic surges, kills a bunch of vamps, and Nod (super injured by being in the waking world) teleports them both to the subway.

The group (including Alejandro) meets them there so they can catch the L train to Nod but Epona shows up. And you already know from Fantasy High that Brennan is on the ACAB train (or is that AFCAB?). Epona is now wearing a crooked badge–crooked badge for a crooked cop. She wants Nod. No can do. The gang gets ready to–to quote Mr. Cubby-make some bacon while Alejandro tries to cast a spell to summon a train to Nod (the place not the person).

So I’ll see y’all next time (whenever that is) for some subway fighting and some backstory unlocking! 

[atinyidea]

A Promise To The Sea | Ateez | To Sea | Three

TO SEA – THREE

→ 3875 words

→ warning, brief mention of a sexually abusive past - not elaborated but insinuated.

→ ml | prologue | previous | next

Jiwoo didn’t move from the cot for another week and a half. Her knee hurt like hell, but she could feel her shoulder healing up nicely. She learnt that the master healer’s name was Yeosang and, that he was the owner of the first voice she had heard upon waking up. Yeosang was nice. He was soft spoken and talked to Jiwoo about things that didn’t really matter. She liked him, he was kind.

He also explained what exactly had happened to her, no beating around the bush. Jiwoo realised that she was grateful to be told everything, that it didn’t matter she was a woman. One bullet lodged into her knee cap, that Yeosang hadn’t had a hard time getting out but would leave quite the scar. He said that it would take quite a while before it would be fully healed – “A couple of months tops,” he said, “the bullet fractured the bone.” – but she’d be able to walk soon enough. The bullet to her shoulder had missed the joint but had unfortunately entered through the skin. Luckily for Jiwoo, it was a through and through bullet. Meaning she only had to wear the sling he had given her for another couple of days – “Ten days for the sling.” He smiled, handing her a piece of cloth.

Jiwoo would like to say Yeosang was slowly becoming her friend. Their short conversations turned into lengthy ones as he stayed by her side to keep the conversation going even after her bandages had been changed. She learned what she could from how little he spoke of the crew. Jiwoo knew how to find information in the smallest of words and how to keep that information in her thoughts. Something she had to thank her father for, perhaps the only thing she’d thank her father for. She had learned most of the crew’s names by now, Yeosang only liked to talk about a select few of them. He was smart, she noticed. He wouldn’t refer to them by name very often and she would get confused between the couple of names he had slipped at the beginning. But Jiwoo was also smart. She was also quick.

The first name he had slipped was San. He wasn’t really talking about him, telling Jiwoo a small story about her brother. Yeosang liked to talk about her brother, not that she hated hearing about him. In the middle of the story of how Wooyoung had managed to get himself, drunk, caught in the rigging, hanging from one of the masts (Jiwoo could honestly say she knew nothing about boats. Or perhaps she should say ships?) before he had been cut down.

“And the San just came swishing past out of nowhere, like the lunatic he is, cutting the rope before disappearing again.” Yeosang had laughed. “Wooyoung had dropped like a dead fish, landing right into our youngest’s arms!”

She had also deduced that this situation seemed to be a while ago, or at least before Nagyung was aboard the ship, Jiwoo recalled overhearing Nagyung saying she was the youngest of their little group. Unless, of course, Yeosang had meant that Wooyoung had fallen into Nagyung's arms. Jiwoo doubted it, considering Nagyung was smaller than she was and Wooyoung was, well, all big and muscly.

So now she knew nine names: Nagyung, Yeosang, San, Yunho, Mingi, Jongho and the last two names she had heard from passing voices - Seonghwa and Jisun.

And Wooyoung.

But he didn’t count.

She had yet to find out the captains’ names though, nor did she know of his infamous sister’s name.

“Would you like to take a walk today?” Yeosang asked her, fixing the dressing on her knee and pulling her away from her thoughts.

“What if I fall?”

He smiled and shrugged, fingers falling away from her knee. “I’ll help you, don’t worry about it. Your muscle needs to get used to walking again, even if you need assistance at first.”

It was strange. Jiwoo had never been helped to walk before. Sure, she had linked arms with her mother and handmaiden, Hayoung, and even with Gunho when he allowed it – “Lady Jiwoo, I can’t possibly hold arms with a princess! I’m a stable boy!” – but she had never had to rely on someone to keep her upright.

Yeosang was a gentleman however. Jiwoo hadn’t expected him to be so gentle and kind, bearing in mind that he was one of the pirates from the pirate ship she was on. Jiwoo constantly had to remind herself of that fact. Pirates. They were pirates. Pirates who’s faces were on wanted posters.

He helped Jiwoo stand like he had done previously, guiding her up by the hand before leaning forward slightly to hold her elbows so she could center yourself. He then manoeuvred himself around her body so now they were shoulder to shoulder and, strangely, Jiwoo didn’t mind it when his arm wrapped loosely around her waist. His other hand was free by his own side, using it to open doors and shallowly move things out of the way but she noticed it crossing his torso to hover by her elbow closest to him.

Pirate. He’s a pirate.

But he’d shown her nothing but kindness.

They walked slowly. Jiwoo tried her best not to wince every time she put too much weight on her bandaged leg, wanting to will herself better sooner. Her bare feet felt funny against the wooden floor. The floor wasn’t wet, or damp, but it was water damaged. She hadn’t felt water damaged wooden on her bare skin before. She felt it was quite comforting actually; that the ship could take on such a force as water and stay afloat. Jiwoo didn’t know much about ships or the sea, when her father would take her to visit neighbouring ports and cities, he always made her stay inside the cabin.

He didn’t want a woman to distract his men.

When they got out to the deck Jiwoo let out a gasp. The sea breeze felt good albeit, a little rough but good nonetheless. It smelled like the ocean, a scent Jiwoo had always enjoyed.

“What?” Yeosang asked, lips quirking into an amused grin. “Never seen a deck before?”

“No.” Jiwoo answered honestly. “Not at sea anyway.”

Yeosang’s amusement sharply turned into curiosity. Something Jiwoo had learnt he was full of. “How can you not have seen a deck before?”

“Whenever my father brought me along on his trips, he would force me to stay inside the captain’s cabin at all times.” Jiwoo shrugged. She failed to notice Yeosang’s expression fall for a split second. She wouldn’t have cared anyway, she was used to her father’s treatment by now. “It’s pretty.”

At her last words Yeosang almost made the two of them fall over. His laughter was loud, and he had to let go of Jiwoo as he doubled over. As he did, Jiwoo felt two small hands press against her back, keeping her upright just as she wobbled. Nagyung had come to her rescue, smiling gently at the princess. When Yeosang managed to look up at the two girls there were tears welling up in his eyes. Jiwoo hadn’t thought her words to be funny at all however, Yeosang looked like he was having trouble breathing because of them.

“Never have I heard a ship’s deck referred to as pretty. Especially not this one, have you seen the mugs who work on it?” He finally managed to get out between laughs.

Jiwoo had to admit that she didn’t quite know why Yeosang had found her words hilarious a smile bloomed upon her lips at the sound of it. His laugh was pretty.

“You’re one of the mugs that work on it.” A new voice came from behind her. Jiwoo turned her head to look over her shoulder, to the best of her ability, to see the pirate from the tavern coming towards them. The captain, one of the people Yeosang talked about the most but had yet to give her his name. At his voice, Yeosang seemed to snap out of his laughing spell, springing up to his full height and turning quickly to face his captain – “Captain!” – with a bright grin.

The captain grinned back at him, coming to a stop next to Nagyung, who showed no signs of struggling to keep Jiwoo upright. He nodded at the two women, grin still imposed over his lips. Jiwoo had to make a very hard effort now to gasp at the sight of his face. Now in the fresh air, under a golden sun and surrounded by his crew, his ship and the open sea, he seemed to glow. She had only seen his face up-close once, showed in shadow under a large brimmed hat with a frown and a sneer plastered across his face. Now he looked happy, in charge. And quite attractive.

He wore no hat now, replacing it for an orange patterned bandana to keep his fringe off of his face. It was tied as such in the back that the longer hair there was underneath it, sticking to his neck with sweat, due to the heat of the day. His dark eyes shone under the sun’s rays, sparkles that reminded Jiwoo of a clear starry sky at night. He wore a plan white cloth shirt; like she had worn (Does anyone own any other article of clothing?), like her brother had worn but he wore his differently. The shirt was buttoned up all the way bar the top three buttons, his collar bones only just in sight, tucked into a pair of linen trousers of the same colour, wider at the bottom and rolled up at least three times. He looked casual, hands in his pockets. He reminded her of a sailor boy, only, the ones in the stories she read. The real sailor boys in her father’s armada wore red. His skin glowed, a healthy tan from exposure to the sun. Jiwoo almost wanted to touch his exposed skin just to see if it was actual gold or not. She refrained, holding into Nagyung gently.

“Need your help with something. It’s Mingi.” The captain spoke clearly, keeping eye contact for a second before turning on his heel and walking towards the infirmary. Yeosang nodded once but didn’t move to leave after him. His eyes rose to the two girls, eyebrows starting to furrow slightly.

“Everyone’s being made use of today! Go on Yeo, captain’s orders!” Nagyung chirped, a smile falling over her features. Yeosang looked from her to Jiwoo before letting out a small sigh. A small smile crept onto his lips as he shook his head slightly.

“I’ll leave her in your hand then, okay Nagyungie?”

Nagyung only smiled in response.

Jiwoo could admit she felt safe with Nagyung. It wasn’t a weird feeling to feel safe around another woman, not to Jiwoo anyway. It wasn’t like she felt unsafe around Yeosang, she was just wary of all men. She hadn’t had many good role models to build her opinion on. Her father was abusive, her uncle a creep. Her brother ran away and left her with such father and there had been many a man bid for her favour with mis intention within their stare. There were few that were kind, that she felt safer around. Gunho had never put a foot wrong – whether that was to keep hi head or not Jiwoo was still unsure – and the old man who cooked for the castle with his wife was a wonderful person sadly, one Jiwoo hadn’t the pleasure of knowing on a personal level.

Nagyung was surprisingly strong for her stature. The two girls walked slowly but made their way to the bow. “Normally Jisun and I sit over on the bowsprit, but I don’t think that’d be a good idea with your knee. You wouldn’t be able to use your legs to keep yourself up and not in the water.” The girl giggled, pulling them to sit on what looked like a home-made bench. “This will have to do.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

Nagyung giggled once again, looking as if she were about to point out that Jiwoo had, in fact, just asked a question but she simply nodded instead.

“How is your hair different?”

Nagyung’s eyes lit up at Jiwoo’s question, like she had wanted to be asked the question for a while and Jiwoo had just handed her gold.

“I didn’t get around to telling you, did I? Im a mermaid!” He exclaimed, smiling like that answered the whole question. Jiwoo stared at her for a few moments, eyebrows furrowing a little. She wasn’t shocked about the revelation – at least not as she thought she should be – but she was still confused.

“Okay…” She said slowly. “How does that corelate to your hair?”

 Nagyung looked at her with wide innocent eyes for a few seconds, as if she wasn’t expecting that question to come from Jiwoo’s lips – “Not the follow up question I was expecting.” “What? Expect me to freak out that you’re a mermaid?” “Everyone else does” – but smiled up at her anyways.

“How much do you know about mermaids?”

“Not enough, apparently.” Jiwoo grumbled as Nagyung giggled.

“Well, I was granted my legs by a Sea Sprite–”

“–There’s only three of them, right? Like the Fates?”

“Yes! That’s right! You’re smart!” Nagyung enthused, her head bobbing up and down with furious excitement. “So I can only change between forms during the full day of a full moon.”

Jiwoo nodded, encouraging her to continue.

“My hair changes colour with the phases of the moon!” Nagyung exclaimed with a grin. “It’s it super cool? When the moon is full my hair is almost completely white! And when the moon is new my hair goes dark like the night sky without it.”

“So what’s the pink for? Im guessing the half colours is because the cycle is halfway done, right?”

“Again, you’re correct! My natural hair is pink! So I guess that’s what it is when it isn’t white.” She smiled. “Every mermaid has a different change colour, but it’s always black and white during the full and new moon. At least, from the kingdom I’m from.” Nagyung’s tone turned wistful, like she was stuck between reminiscing and not wanting to think about it.

Jiwoo could relate to that.

“Can I ask you a question now?” Nagyung’s voice was low in volume, like she was unsure of herself. Jiwoo nodded with no hesitation.

“It’s only fair.” She smiled kindly.

“Do you hate Wooyoung?”

Jiwoo had taken a few moments to answer. Not because she really had to think about it, for she knew she could never hate her brother. That word was reserved for her father and his equals. She was just angry and hurt. She knew what hate felt like and it wasn’t what she felt for her brother. Nagyung’s question had startled her a little, not expecting it.

“No.” She whispered after a bout of silent. “No, I don’t hate him.”

“Then why are neither of you talking?”

“How much do you know about my brother?”

“Quite a bit…” Nagyung trailed off, unusually not wanting to brag for once, “I would say he’s my best friend.”

“Then you know he ran away from our… predicament.”

“Yes.”

“I was fifteen.”

Nagyung laid a hand over Jiwoo’s. It was comforting, the most comfort Jiwoo had been given in a long while.

“So was I, when I ran away.” She whispered. Jiwoo looked at her through watery eyes. Maybe Nagyung would understand both of the Jung siblings more than they would ever know.

Jiwoo cleared her throat, the feeling of pushing away her tears before they fell was like routine to her now. “It happened faster than it felt like. It was about two month of looking that my father decided I would become his new toy to play with. He put me through training his soldiers went through, taught me how to use a sword and a gun. When my mother died a year later, he decided it was finally time to put me to use. Just like he had done with Wooyoung.” She chuckled humourlessly. “I always thought that he would come back and save me.”

After another bout of silence, while Nagyung twisted their hands so their fingers were intertwined, the young mermaid spoke up. “He did though, didn’t he?”

“Did he?” Jiwoo scoffed lowly. She knew it would make sense, the words of her captors before she passed out running through her ears, “grab her and let’s go,” he had said, like they were expecting to get her. It didn’t mean she had to acknowledge it.

“Jiwoo…” Nagyung started, biting her bottom lip as her brows furrowed in thought. “Why do you think we came to Gilway Wharf in the first place?”

Jiwoo simply looked back up from her lap to Nagyung’s face.

“We came to get you. I’m sorry that you had to deal with so many years of torture before we did.” Her words were serious, solemn and asking for forgiveness even though she had done nothing wrong, none of them had. Not even Wooyoung.

“’You nought ask forgiveness out of sorrow not yours’.” Jiwoo quoted. Ten they settled back into silence. It wasn’t uncomfortable, the sound of the ocean waves against the boat was calming, the sound of the crew working around them was somehow calming, the rhythmic stroking of Nagyung’s thumb on the back of her hand was soothing.

“Who said that?” Nagyung asked after a while, her innocent eyes making Jiwoo smile fondly at her.

“My mother.”

“She sounds… very wise.”

“She was. So very wise and so very kind.”

“Wooyoung hardly ever talks about his mother.” Nagyung whispered and Jiwoo almost didn’t hear her. She acted like she hadn’t.

Nagyung made the split decision to brighten the atmosphere by tugging gently on their clasped hands as she stood, her expression once again a bright grin. “I may have a way for your leg to get better faster, if you’re up for it?”

Jiwoo raised an intrigued eyebrow.

“Mermaid magic.” Nagyung giggled, wiggling the fingers of her free hand.

Jiwoo shrugged her shoulders, “sure”, as Nagyung helped her stand up. The two girls walked over to a couple of nearby barrels. Jiwoo rested against one as Nagyung popped the lid of the other one, open with her hands, to reveal clear and clean water.

“How strong are you?”

“I can lift four times my own weight! Five when I’m in the water with my tail.”

“Wow. Is that a mermaid thing?”

“Yes! Much to the crew’s disappointment. When they learned about it, they all wanted to learn how I got so strong and how they could themselves. I told them ‘be born with a tail!’ but they didn’t find it funny.”

“I think it’s funny.”

“Thank you! Wooyoung did too.” Nagyung smiled, the comment coming naturally to her as she let her bare arms rest in the water.

Jiwoo let herself smile a little. Nagyung really did like talking about her brother, didn’t she? Jiwoo decided that she didn’t mind.

“Now, I’m gonna lift you up and let you sit on that barrel, then we’ll get to the fun bit!” Nagyung said, and then she carried out her words. Jiwoo felt a little weird, being picked up by a girl both stronger and smaller than her, but she didn’t have the heart to voice her thoughts. Nagyung tugged gently on Jiwoo’s legs letting them sink into the water of the open barrel. Jiwoo watched as water sloshed out and onto the deck as the space was overtaken by her legs. She tucked at the linen ‘shorts’ she wore, not particularly wanting to get them wet.

“Okay, I’ve done this a few times, but it takes a lot out of me so Yeosang doesn’t like me doing it.”

“Then why are we doing it? I’ll heal in time.”

“Yes, in time! I can heal you right now and then you won’t have to rely on anyone to do something as simple as walking!”

“Okay.” Jiwoo yielded, though she didn’t put up much of a fight. She did want to walk by herself again.

Nagyung smiled and then closed her eyes, hands  under the water, fingers circling her injured leg. It didn’t hurt, not anymore than her knee already did anyway, but the feeling of water traveling up one’s legs like another layer of skin was weird. Jiwoo tried not to flinch as the cold water travelled over her knee but her body twitched a little involuntarily. She didn’t like anything touching her thighs – she still had problems with her own hands touching her thighs when she washed herself. She saw Nagyung’s head tilt towards her out of curiosity, but the young girl didn’t open her eyes, nor did she ask any questions. Jiwoo relaxed at the thought of not having to explain herself just yet.

Nagyung mumbled words Jiwoo couldn’t quite catch and then the pain in her knee started to fade away. After a full minute, Jiwoo couldn’t feel any pain in her knee at all, her eyes wide in amazement. Nagyung pulled her hands out of the water and gave her a tired smile.

“Shall we do your shoulder too?”

Jiwoo frowned, looking down to the shoulder in question, not sure how she had forgotten that she was injured in two places. Her gaze flickered back to Nagyung who pulled a reassuring smile across her face but Jiwoo was unconvinced. She knew what it looked like to hide ones tiredness – her mother used to do it often.

Jiwoo shook her head gently, smiling fondly at the younger girl. “You’ve done more than enough. I barely feel pain in my shoulder anyway, keep what’s left of your strength.”

Nagyung simply nodded, helping her out of the barrel and back to the floor of the ship. The girls grinned at one another when Jiwoo stood up by herself without her knee buckling.

“You’re amazing!” Jiwoo grinned, the first time her real smile had been seen in a long time, as she pulled the pink haired girl into her arms for a hug. Nagyung accepted it with the same amount of enthusiasm. Before long Jiwoo pulled away with a sharp jerk. “Did I just put my feet in drinking water?” She frowned, not wanting to have contaminated water for her own gain. Nagyung simply shook her head.

“These barrels are for washing the deck, the water barrels are further up deck, closer to the captain’s cabin.”

Jiwoo nodded out of relief.

“Speaking of captains…” the runaway princess trailed off as they started walking again, linking arms without Nagyung having to support Jiwoo anymore. “What is his name?” She asked hopefully.

Nagyung let out a little giggle, her smile growing as she noticed how much Jiwoo’s mood had improved. Nagyung felt proud of herself for helping the way she did. She couldn’t wait to tell Wooyoung all about it! When she opened her mouth to answer her new friend, the voice of the captain himself cut her off.

“Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

[nol-overwatch]

The Language of Flowers

He keeps getting flowers at his grave.

[Soldier: 76 | Jack Morrison x Reader]

He believed in the saying “Pity the living instead of the dead”, and at his supposed ‘death’ he hung onto that belief like it was his last lifeline. As the years wear on and his vigilante escapades all over the world stoked unwanted attention, it was safe to say that he pitied those who are even alive to incur his wrath. His conquest to uncover the truth of Overwatch’s downfall continued on, friend and foe remained a stranger in his eyes.

On his first year, he returned to his grave, not to reminisce, but to hide from a criminal syndicate who were adamant on hunting him down. It was for a brief moment, in the darkness while he tried to catch his breath, that he spotted a flower on top of his grave stone. It was too surreal; a dark crimson rose sat lonesome on the stone. He figured that some people still thought of him as a hero, and that thought sickened him. With rage he crushed the flower with his fist, and went on his way to find a car to steal.

It was a few months later, that when he passed by a flower shop in London, that he saw the same crimson rose in a bouquet on full-display, a card at the bottom saying “Flowers for Mourning”.

Was he happy that he ‘died’? That naive, charismatic, blonde, blue-eyed fella who thought he could take on the world on his shoulders and still look good for the press to snap a photo of? Maybe. He certainly didn’t miss having to kiss the UN’s ass all the time, or enduring the painful conundrum of the protesters outside of the base. The world despised him anyways, and while he, in turn, could hate them as well, he couldn’t. His moral compass may have shattered but duty above all else stamped right through. He is not Jack Morrison, Strike Commander of Overwatch anymore. He is Soldier: 76, the wanted vigilante in search of true justice.

On his second year, he returned to his grave, a little calmer and a little bitter as age wore him on. He meant to just pass by, before hitchhiking a train to the next state, when he saw another flower, a full bouquet this time, of beautiful pinks and whites. He mused that some people still don’t know when to give up, and left the flowers alone.  A month later, while camping at the mountains in Pakistan, a traveler pointed out to him the same pink and white flowers littered across the plain called Sweet Peas, the symbol of goodbye and farewell in the language of flowers.

Sometimes he thought this vigilante thing would never last. He often blamed his age for it, wondering when will be the day he’ll finally break down due to his old bones and weakening sanity. Sometimes they come in the form of danger, such as being strapped to the front seat of a car while sitting in the middle of the train tracks. It was mostly thanks to his super soldier strength, and the rest to his luck, that he was able to survive that, but Jack knew he couldn’t rely on those two for long.

The third year he returned in the form of an accident; he jumped off a plane and miraculously survived after dropping into the icy cold waters of a nearby lake. He didn’t know where he was going, too preoccupied with the cold settling in his bones, his legs unconsciously reaching the sight of his gravestone. He was dumbfounded to find purple flowers in a vase, reminding him of the lilacs at Gerard and Amelie’s wedding day. He didn’t need to go around and know what they mean: “Good luck to a new beginning.”

He was startled out of his wits when he heard a voice, “Sir, are you alright?” Immediately, he swiveled around, hand quickly going for his sidearm, to see someone wearing a gardening hat and holding a large broom on their hands. The keeper of this side of the cemetery perhaps?

“No, I’m fine.” He gruffly said before sprinting away, concerned that a civilian has spotted him.

Each year, he thought of the flowers and why on earth someone would waste their time on a problematic hero. It couldn’t be one of his fans, right? He remembered, during the glory days, he’d receive fan mail from teens younger than Oxton, and men and women who were definitely older than him. All expressed their admiration and love and at the time, he thought it was ridiculous. He still thinks it’s ridiculous. After all, he’s just a soldier. Surely they would’ve heard of the allegations held against him and Overwatch. Anyone would be willing to drop an Overwatch operative in hiding just for the reward money.

He decided to be a tad bit crafty, and visited his grave a week later just to see if anyone still cared. In his heart, he allowed a tiny spark of hope that someone out there still believes in their mission for peace, no matter how convoluted it was in the first place. He was still hiding from the local syndicates when he arrived at dawn, only to be disappointed at the appearance of an empty grave. No flower, no vase.

He wanted to kick himself; of course, nobody cares about a dead guy. Not anymore.

As he stood there, contemplating about his next move, a familiar voice sounded behind him, “Ah, you’re here again.”

He hesitated turning around to acknowledge them, but he nodded curtly. “Not surprised to see an old timer visit an empty grave?”

“No, more like I’m surprised to see Soldier: 76 around these parts.”

He growled at that, but he didn’t offer any more words. A civilian would try to apprehend him to the authorities, but like hell would he not resist at all. He waited for the signs of apprehension appearing on their face, but surprisingly there were none.

In fact, the keeper wasn’t looking at him, but the grave in front of them. “This man was a hero, not like the others here. And yet, you don’t see enough flowers in his grave.”

“He wasn’t worth any flowers.” He replied, only to see a flash of hurt cross the gardener’s features before it disappeared completely. “Of course he was. Last week, there were red and yellow zinnias on his grave. I just threw them out after they’ve wilted yesterday.”

He was quiet after the outburst, opting to replay the whole thing in his head. Somebody is still giving him flowers?

After a long moment of silence, of him staring hard at the ground and the gardener looking off into the rising sun in the sky, he mumbled quietly, “...What did they mean?”

“Mean what?”

“The Zinnias.” Another brief pause.

“Remembrance, and steadfastness.”

As time went on, he found some semblance of the justice he was searching for. The infamous assassin and guardian of Anubis, Shrike, turned out to be one of his long-dead best friends and former second-in-command, Ana Amari. After their escapades in Egypt, the two have agreed to work together again in search of answers. Ana had aged beautifully; though the same cannot be said for the old soldier, who admitted that he longed for the domestic life. The both wanted to return to their families, but they decided that the world isn’t safe yet for their respective loved ones. Ana, with her daughter Fareeha, and Jack, with his ex boyfriend Vincent.

On the fifth anniversary of the fall of Overwatch, Jack, at Ana’s insistence, visited his grave again. They were in the area and they might as well come see. He remembered, during his funeral, how his parents wanted his grave to be situated at Bloomington, Indiana, his home; not in a cemetery of heroes, not when the body wasn’t even found. He thought how funny and sad it was that they left Gabe’s grave alone, knowing full well how much he meant to their son. Five years later, and that day still held no special meaning to him whatsoever.

Except, maybe, for that one thing that continued to bother him.

When the both of them arrived, some time nearing dusk, he stopped dead at a figure approaching his gravestone. Ana, having noticed this, held tightly to her gun. “Who is that, Jack?” She said hurriedly as they hid behind some trees.

“I have no idea.” His mind was in hyperdrive and his heart was beating so loudly. Could this be the person who was giving him flowers for all these years? He wanted so badly to find out who they are, to ask why they’re still doing this, when his legs suddenly moved on its own.

He walked briskly, and then he started running, and he didn’t stop until he was face to face with the gardener of the cemetery.

He was out of breath, not from the run but from his thoughts all jumbled up, “W-why..? You, you know what happened..!” He roared, his voice echoing across the place. He should be more quiet, more respectful, but damn them all to hell!

The gardener stared at him, too surprised to even form words, when they frowned ever so slightly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, vigilante.”

“That man was no hero--”

“He was a hero,” They countered, their voice ringing loudly. “And he saved my life and countless others. I don’t care what the world thought about him; he was a good person. Too good for this world I dare say.”

He didn’t like to hear those words, but his tongue stilled, too distressed and bewildered to think that this is even happening. He wasn’t paying attention when the gardener turned their back on him and continued to move towards the grave.

In a gentle, peaceful motion, they settled down a tuft of white chrysanthemums from the inside of their jacket, slightly crushed from the inner folds. They took their time to dust the grave before standing up to admire it; the soldier behind them sulked quietly. “They never found the body, some say it got crushed under all the debris, others say he survived. The latter...saddens me--” They didn’t see him flinch. “--but I find it understandable.”

“The world wanted him dead when he failed to keep them safe, when even with his abilities and his comrades, they’ve all forgotten that he is human as well. I’d hide too, even change my name and my essentials, just so society won’t reject me again. It’s not good, but it’s the most human thing to do.”

They stood up and looked back at the soldier, a look of sincerity evident on their face. “I don’t know what you thought of him, Soldier, but you can agree with me that if he were alive, he’d still be fighting for what he believes in, right?” They said, a gentle smile caressing their features.

When Jack didn’t say anything, the gardener thought it was time for them to leave and start work, when his gruff voice sounded up again, “Chrysanthemums, what do they mean?”

The gardener paused, surprised at that type of question, before sighing contentedly. “Loyalty to one another. I think it’s my way of saying that, I do still believe in Jack Morrison.”

[cryptostache-blog]

The 'Stache Invades Crypto Invest Summit; What I Saw & What You Missed!

All good conventions in LA begin about the same way, with sitting in traffic on the 110, 101, or the 405 at some point! This was, of course the case as I headed downtown Los Angeles to Crypto Invest Summit at the LA Convention Center. If you follow my journey here you know that I have been writing about all the things I was excited to see and do at this falls event and I was not disappointed. Check out all the trouble I got into at CIS and day-by-day review of the event and keynote speakers! Crypto Invest Summit Double Top Pattern Emerges As I wrote in previous articles, I was super excited about hearing both Steve Wozniak as well as Tim Draper speak at the event and I found both of them inspirational & motivating in very different ways. Each day of the summit kicked off with one of these major keynotes and it really set the pace. I JUST about missed the start of the Woz speaking, but managed to get my badge and get in there quicker than I anticipated. Here is how Day 1 at CIS went. CIS Day 1

I got my media pass quickly thanks to the amazing staff at CIS and headed into the expanded main hall (it was much bigger this year than last year). I got there just in time to see Adam Draper finish his opening remarks with event co-founder Alon Goren. Adam has a style all his own compared his father Tim and I enjoyed hear the tail end of what he had to say about the future of crypto and predicting that in the next few years you will have 3 apps on your phone that use blockchain and you won't even know it. 

Steve Wozniak came out next and was being interviewed by my buddy David Bleznak of Totle who always kills it on stage. When you talk about tech legends they don't get much bigger than Steve and hearing him recant the beginnings of his career and correlating them to current conditions with crypto as an emerging market was fun. Steve tends to go off on a few tangents from time to time which I actually enjoyed even if it didn't really answer the question presented. The spark that you see in other "crypto people" you can hear in Steve's voice as he talks broadly about the subject, claiming he sold all his Bitcoin and only retains 1 for testing purposes.

Network Hokey Pokey At CIS After Steve speaking I headed over to the booth floor and started mingling with people and projects. I first ran into my friends over at Blockchain Beach who had a media booth and were on fire with the number of interviews they were pushing through. They even roped me into doing an interview for them with a project that was overbooked and I had a lot of fun helping out!

Shortly after that I finally got to meet CryptoBeadles of my youtube buddies who also produces great crypto content as well as co-founding the Monarch wallet (which I will be reviewing very soon). He had the whole crew out there with him doing interviews on site as well and I had a blast hanging with them at the booth throughout the day. I headed inside to check out the booths, but I could hardly make it a few feet without running into someone I knew! One of the things I love about going to these cons is talking with everyone. I got to do an interview with my buddy Gaston for Blockchain Beach as well with a quick appearance by Ernesto from Crypto Space San Pedro.

I ran into the infamous Kenn Bosak and of course we had to get a pic of the epic meeting! This guy is a crypto warrior, spreading adoption everywhere he goes. Talking with him, he said he is on pace to hit 50 conferences this year! wow!

When you go to these things a few times you do start to see a lot of the same people which makes it fun and what conference would be complete with out a little Brekkie Von Bitcoin? We had multiple Satoshi Droppers in the house including Andy & Daniel from the Coinboys, BitcoinBella and CryptoWendyO on Day 2. I certainly made a lot of new friends on the day and saw a ton of other people like Crypto Rick here below. 

Favorite Booths I make a point to talk to just about every booth at the conference since there are 2 days and you can easily do so with the amount of booths there depending on how many speakers you catch. 

My overall favorite has to go to the Abra booth as they had a great looking setup, but they best thing? They were giving you $25 in Bitcoin for downloading their mobile crypto wallet right there on the spot! Epic! They had this screen counting down to how much of the free Bitcoin was left. I would have loved to see it counting down in Satoshis, but still really cool. 

I had fun at the Sense chat booth too as well as got to do a quick interview for them (Brekkie did one too!). Sense is a decentralized messaging app. They had one of those fun wheels and my first spin landed on a CryptoKitty, but they were out, so I ended up getting an invite to Taco Tuesday at their office sometime soon along with a sweet hat. I talked to Matthew at Kingsland School of Blockchain and I really liked what they are trying to do with training blockchain engineers and helping make the end connection. Since this is right up my alley I wanted to let them know I supported their cause and would love to help out if I could in any way.  The IDEX / Aurora crew was also at the summit and I got to talk to them a bit about the recent decision to stop allowing New York customers use their platform. They have a solid team and I think with a hybrid solution this makes a lot of sense legal wise to be cautious of where you operate.  Of course Totle is always on the top of my list and the Title sponsor of the event did not disappoint with David, Jordan, and the rest of the team help many learn how to improve their DEX experience by using the Totle software. 

Rounding out the list is the Autonomy chain project that had a cool autonomous car prototype there showing you how the scanner works. The folks over at Crypto Poker Exchange have a very clean and fun looking blockchain poker, and I HAD to include ODB coin (named after the late, great Old Dirty Bastard of Wu Tang) who are making coins for individual music artist.  Day 2 At CIS

As I walked into day two at Crypto Invest Summit bright and early, there was CryptoWendyO already doing interviews at the Blockchain Beach booth, so I said hi real quick and headed over to the main hall to hear legendary investor Tim Draper speak.  When it comes to crypto Tim knows his stuff a little better than The Woz does and I really love how excited he gets over how it can change our future. This is a guy who lost his BTC in the Mt. Gox crash and then doubled down and went in again because he believes in it that much. We kicked the morning off with some jumping jacks at Tim's request and then Alon settled in and they dove in. I think when we see well known and respected men like Tim & Steve giving crypto their seal of approval it really means we are headed in the right direction of mass adoption in my opinion. 

Directly after the great keynote by Tim, Ran Neu-Ner the host of CNBC's "Crypto Trader" show did a live taping and had Tim on as the first guest along with a few other great guests. It was cool to see them hustle to pull this off completely unscripted! I will say one of the highlights was this really funny eToro commercial featuring a Game of Thrones kinda theme! https://youtu.be/Ihd0moB0ehM I cut out a bit early before the taping ended to get in the VERY long time to get a free copy of Tim Draper's new book "How To Be The Startup Hero" signed by the man himself.

They had a huge pile of books to give away to everyone at the summit, but damn was that line long! I waited about an hour and thirty minutes but it was worth it to get a personalized copy of the book and this great selfie with Tim!

I hung out for a little while longer at the convention talking with people and projects and I was even surprised by my buddy Arnold with these amazing mustache shaped cuff links that he gave me! How amazing are the people I continue to meet in this crazy crypto world?!?

After such a great conference I am really looking forward to the next one, but until then... 'Stache That Crypto Friends!

Read the full article

[ateamforumjpulupdates]

[JPUL] 10/12/2016 - Updates

10-12-2016, 02:01 AM

Originally Uploaded by Forum User: TaikunZ

Due to a request, I'll be keeping the titles like this from now on to avoid spoilers. I'll probably do the summary of the thread here right before we begin. Special thanks to Valse for the Colosseum Medal Exchange Furniture information! We'll be having the re-release of All Hallows' Eve Event featuring Nightmare Jack, Battle Colosseum with new SSR Furniture in exchange for Colosseum Medals, a rerun of the Cipher Medal Event, more Halloween-themed Furniture, new Halloween-themed Gear in the FP Spawn (with the older Halloween-themed Gear available in the Cosmetic Shop), and the return of Halloween Spawn with new Halloween-themed Gear. Please be aware that I may or may not have made some mistake(s) in translations. Thank you!

1. Return of All Hallow's Eve I'm feeling nostalgic for some reason. It's the return of this infamous event which if I recall, was the first event to introduce the Stamp Rewards system. Nothing was changed on the Event to how it works in particular, so for those who wanted Nightmare Jack but missed him the first time around, here's our second chance if it comes back to Global this Halloween.

2. Battle Colosseum Last weekend, there was a Water and Light boosted Colosseum Spawn released, which hinted the coming of Water and Light Element boosted Battle Colosseum. Today is the release of this Event. Seems there isn't much of a difference from the previous Battle Colosseum events on how the event works, apart from the level changes to Blocks and new rewards found in the Colosseum Medal Exchange.

The new rewards are two new SSR Furniture that can be exchanged for 50 Colosseum Medals each.

Furniture #1 Stat: MATK Rarity: SSR MATK Basic: 710 MATK Max: 2575 Type: Wall Sub Effect: MATK Power Up Something along the lines of adding 100 MATK.

Furniture #2 Stat: ATK Rarity: SSR ATK Basic: 710 ATK Max: 2575 Type: Small Sub Effect: ATK Power Up Something along the lines of adding 100 ATK.

3. Return of Cypher Medal Event Well that was quick. Looks like this event is back in JPUL due to popular demand. Changes from the last time it was around is that there is now one Droplets of Ether available in the Cypher Medal Exchange. The Medal cost starts at 50 Cypher Medals, and with the Medal cost increasing for every exchange, for up to ten times. See this thread (https://forum.a-tm.co.jp/forum/uniso...ween-furniture) for more information.

4. More Halloween-themed Furniture Things are about to get 2spooky4u, as more Halloween-themed Furniture are added to the Furniture Spawn for a limited time only. Hope you already saved as much Furniture Medals from the time of the last post about these!

Furniture #1 Stat: ATK Rarity: SR ATK Max: 1330 Type: Small Sub Effect: Poison Resistance Up Increases resistance against poison by 1%. Furniture #2 Stat: ATK Rarity: R ATK Max: 716 Type: Small Sub Effect: N/A Furniture #3 Stat: MATK Rarity: R MATK Max: 716 Type: Small Sub Effect: Paralyze Resistance Up Increases resistance against paralysis by 1%. Furniture #4 Stat: MDEF Rarity: R MDEF Max: 716 Type: Small Sub Effect: Confuse Resistance Up Increases resistance against confusion by 1%. Furniture #5 Stat: DEF Rarity: SR DEF Max: 1330 Type: Large Sub Effect: Blind Resistance Up Increases resistance against blind by 1%. Furniture #6 Stat: DEF Rarity: R DEF Max: 716 Type: Wall Sub Effect: N/A

5. Halloween-themed Gear in FP Spawn Halloween-themed Gear are added to the FP Spawn for a limited time only.

6. Return of older Halloween-themed Gear in the Cosmetic Shop Last year's Halloween-themed Gear make a return and are added to the Cosmetic Shop for a limited time only. All of them cost 5 Gems each.

7. Halloween Spawn A new Halloween Spawn is out. This Spawn gives a random amount of Halloween Lollipops each spawn, which can then be used to exchange for various Gear and Items (seen in the screenshots section of this post). There's a 15x Spawn available for one time only, which is 50% off of the usual 30x Spawns, and will give a random amount of 20-100 Lollipops. The 30x Spawn will give a random amount of 20-100 Lollipops. The 3x Spawn will give a random amount of 1-5 Lollipops. Mary (more information here https://forum.a-tm.co.jp/forum/uniso...athena-changes ) is also included in this Spawn. Halloween Emilia is also in this spawn, but am not quite sure if the older Samhain DEF Gear are in this Spawn as well. (I'm getting some maximum Image problems upon posting the stats, so let me post these on the comment below.)

8. DEF Gear Rates Up Spawn DEF Gear Rates Up Spawn also makes a return. There are four 50x Spawns for each type (Armor, Clothing, Helm, and Hat respectively) of DEF Gear, only limited to one time only, and will also give 20 Lollipops. The two 30x Spawns have rates up for Body Gear and Head Gear respectively, and will also give 12 Lollipops. The single 3x Spawn has DEF Gear Rates up and give one Lollipop. Apart from the new Halloween DEF Gear, also featured in this Spawn are the previous Fatal Testament XL Gear, which was covered in this thread (https://forum.a-tm.co.jp/forum/uniso...weekend-spawns ). Click the link for more information.

9. Miscellaneous Updates The Halloween Lobby Background is back! WOOT! Global better have this back as well! D:< Also, updates have been made to viewing Spawn lists. It is now tabbed according to Rarity, and sorted by which is new or has its Rates Up. There are now icons indicating their Type and Element. I for one did feel that with each added Gear into the Spawns, it did became harder to navigate through the lists, and this is a much welcomed change.

Halloween Spawn Gear:

Halloween FP Spawn Gear:

Halloween Lollipop:

Lollipop Exchange:

Sword-O-Lantern Reforges from: Black Witch Sword Type: Sword Skill: Physical Testament XL Chance to massively increase physical damage when using an Ability. Ability: Halloween Trick Ability Cooldown: 6 Ability Cost: 5 Ability Description: [Soldier-exclusive Ability] Ability Power 30. Damages 1 enemy 3 times with physical damage. Chance to miss. Sickle-O-Lantern Reforges from: Black Witch Sickle Type: Scythe Skill: Physical Testament XL Chance to massively increase physical damage when using an Ability. ​Ability: Halloween Jack Ability Cooldown: 6 Ability Cost: 5 Ability Description: [Lancer-exclusive Ability] Ability Power 80. Damages 1 enemy 1 time with physical damage. Added effect: Reduces DEF of target by 10% for 20 seconds. Arc-O-Lantern Reforges from: Black Witch Bow Type: Bow Skill: Fatal Testament XL Chance to increase physical and magic damage when using an Ability. ​Ability: Halloween Surprise Ability Cooldown: 7 Ability Cost: 5 Ability Description: [Archer-exclusive Ability] Increases your physical and magic Ability Power by 10 for 20 seconds. Rod-O-Lantern Reforges from: Black Witch Staff Type: Staff Skill: Magic Testament XL Chance to massively increase physical damage when using an Ability. ​Ability: Halloween Lantern Ability Cooldown: 6 Ability Cost: 5 Ability Description: [Mage-exclusive Ability] Ability Power 80. Damages 1 enemy 1 time with magic damage. Added effect: Reduces MDEF of target by 10% for 20 seconds. Ghost-O-Lantern Reforges from: Black Witch Buddy Type: Relic Skill: Healing Testament XL Chance to massively increase magic healing effect when using a healing Ability. ​Ability: Halloween Party Ability Cooldown: 8 Ability Cost: 5 Ability Description: [Cleric-exclusive Ability] Ability Power 30. Heals 1 ally's HP. Added effect: Increases DEF and MDEF of target by 10% for 20 seconds. Horn-O-Lantern Reforges from: Vampire Horn Type: Helm Skill: Physical Damage Down XL Chance to massively reduce physical damage taken. Hat-O-Lantern Reforges from: Witch Hat Type: Hat Skill: Magic Damage Down XL Chance to massively reduce magic damage taken. Armor-O-Lantern Reforges from: Vampire Armor Type: Armor Skill: Physical Damage Down XL Chance to massively reduce physical damage taken. Dress-O-Lantern Reforges from: Witch Dress Type: Clothing Skill: Magic Damage Down XL Chance to massively reduce magic damage taken. (The names are so funny. These should carry over to Global plis. ; u ; )

[wknc881]

Hopscotch Kick Off (Part 1)

As September inches closer by the day, the city of Raleigh starts to prepare itself for that one magical weekend of the month known as Hopscotch Music Festival. This weekend, happening Sept. 7-10, takes over downtown Raleigh as music fans from just about everywhere descend upon the city’s many venues, some even makeshift just for the festival. We here at WKNC look forward to the festival every single year and would like to share with you some of our most anticipated acts for this year in our special Hopscotch kickoff! 

Run the Jewels 

Over the past four years, Hip-Hop has been turned on it’s head by the genre’s super-duo Run the Jewels. Comprised of emcee Killer Mike and producer/emcee El-P, the pair have created an undeniable sound for themselves that originates in their self-titled debut, and has been reinvented twice over on their 2nd and 3rd LP’s. But even more exciting than their studio albums, is the sheer legendary live performance that Run the Jewels has put on for fans all over the country. It only makes sense that Hopscotch would want in on this action, and out of all the amazing acts on the festival’s line-up this year, I am most excited to see RTJ hit the stage.

My favorite tracks from each album include “Banana Clip feat. Big Boi” (Run the Jewels), “Love Again” (Run the Jewels 2), and “Legend Has It” (Run the Jewels 3).

Killer Mike has always been a staple lyricist in Hip-Hop, representing a unique spin on the Atlanta-sound. But after having El-P produce his 2011 album R.A.P. Music, and featuring on El-P’s album Cancer 4 Cure, the two realized the chemistry was perfect, and they toured together to promote these projects. This of course led to 2013’s first release under their new moniker, Run the Jewels. Ever since, they have put on unbelievable live performances, arguably thriving the most successfully at festivals (which is good news for Hopscotch goers).

As Underground Music Director, I have of course promoted every Run the Jewels project, and they continue to be in regular rotation at WKNC, because they encompass the ultimate “Hip-Hop” sound, yet they also reshape it. This year’s performance will be a special treat for me, as I have yet to see them live. The exciting part about seeing a duo is the way they transfer energy back and forth throughout their performance, and I can only assume they have mastered their craft over the last 4 years of touring together. To me, the show just might be, as Run the Jewels would put it, a “Christmas F**king Miracle!”

Run the Jewels will be performing Friday night at 8pm at Red Hat. 

 -John Wilson, Underground Music Director

Cherry Glazerr

Los Angeles’s Cherry Glazzerr is upbeat indie rock with garage rock, punk, and synth pop influences. The band features songwriter Clementine Creevy on guitar and vocals, Tabor Allen on drums, Sasami Ashworth on synth and formed in 2012 when Creevy was just fifteen years old. Their music is an honest display of self expression and offers a modern spirit of the rriot girl movement with frontwoman Clementine’s songwriting themes of feminism and empowerment which can especially be heard in their second album Apocalipstick which came out earlier this year.

Tracks like “Nurse Ratched” feature upbeat garage rock influenced guitar laced in synth, powerful drums, and  strong smooth vocals with socially charged lyrics “She’s a wild one in a land that’s supposed to be free”.

Other tracks have a more self reflective feel such as “Told You I’d Be With the Guys” a reflection of youthful friendships. As well as a more punk influenced sound as Clementine croons with the ferocity of Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill) “ I told you, I told you I’d be with the guys, but I know better now than to be with the guys”. Apocalipstick was recorded with the talent of Joe Chicarelli (White Stripes, The Shins, The Strokes) and Carlos de la Garza (Bleached, M83, Tegan and Sara) and released on Secretly Canadian! records.

They are a band not to miss at Hopscotch and will be closing out the Pour House at 12am with a energetic, head-banding, feel good, empowering set.

For fans of: Speedy Ortiz, Diet Cig, Screaming Females  

-Mariam Marand, Local Music Director

Pie Face Girls

Raleigh based trio Pie Face Girls is comprised of Dani Hoffpauir on lead vocals and guitar, Tiffany Huff on bass and Klay Misenheimer on drums. Kicking off the high-energy lineup at Pour House on Saturday, they are sure to cause a stir. Their music is politically motivated with goals aligned against the patriarchy, the “alt-right” and any of their sympathizers. Join these warriors as they tear Trump a new one whilst infecting onlookers with the urge to aggressively move their bodies in solidarity. Their sound is very pop-punk and energizing, some of my favorite songs are “Get On The Floor”, “Dude Yr Girlfriend Sux” and their Peaches cover of “Fuck the Pain Away” (found of their Bandcamp). The Pour House is THE venue to attend Saturday of Hopscotch, with Pie Face Girls getting things started at 9PM and Cherry Glazerr ending the night at midnight.

-Farah Hamouda, DJ sPaRr0vV

serpentwithfeet

I have already seen serpentwithfeet open for Perfume Genius at Cat’s Cradle, but his performance was transformative for me; Josiah Wise, the artist behind the enigmatic music project, weaves together R&B and gospel, creating songs that sound like prayers. Wise is able to piece together the experience of queer love and heartbreak in both a theatrical and intimate way for his listeners. I’m excited to see what he brings to the stage for Hopscotch, since his stage presence demands to be felt, and I couldn’t get enough of his voice. One of the songs I’m most excited to hear (again) is “four ethers” ,an orchestral masterpiece filled with runs of Wise’s voice. During his actual performances, he tend to improvise a lot of his runs, making every show a unique experience.

serpentwithfeet will be performing Saturday night at Nash Hall, 12 p.m. 

-Cas Saroza, Program Director 

Madame Gandhi

You probably heard about the woman who free-bled at the London Marathon, right? She’s also a really neat musician and activist named Madame Gandhi, and she’s playing Hopscotch! Although it was tough to choose with the lineup this year, I’m probably most excited to see Madame Gandhi because I’ve been following her for a couple of years now, and she’s inspired me the whole time. She went on a world tour drumming for M.I.A. while simultaneously attending Harvard Business School through 2015, and she released her first EP, Voices, in late 2016. Additionally, she works with Thinx, a company which makes period underwear, and AfriPads, which produces reusable menstrual pads for people who do not have such products readily accessible. If you’re interested in activism, electronic music, hip-hop, and/or lyrics that *really make you think*, give Voices a listen! The EP is more relaxed than most music that I listen to, but I really enjoy the arrangements throughout it. I’m eager to see what her music is like live and to hear what she has to say. She plays on Friday, September 8, at 11:30pm at Nash Hall. Top tracks include “The Future is Female” and “Yellow Sea,” but they’re definitely all worth checking out!

-Ciera Cipriani, The Fuzz

The Make-Up

When Hopscotch 2017’s lineup came out, there are obviously going to be bands that everyone more or less knows. Then there are those bands that one must discover before the festival. For me, that band was The Make-Up. For many, this band might be one of those bands everyone knows, if you’re of a certain age. The Make-Up released their first album Destination: Love- Live! at Cold Rice the year I was born on the infamous punk/hardcore label Dischord Records. Funny enough, this album isn’t exactly what one might think of when they hear the words punk/hardcore. This album was released on Dischord given the band’s interesting history. Frontman Ian Svenonius and multiple other members of the Make-Up made up 80’s notorious DC hardcore band The Nation of Ulysses. Politically, both bands share a very similar message. Sonically, they are in two different playing fields. The Make-Up will be a band to witness this September at Hopscotch as politics are their bread and butter, right next to making a unique blend of funky, gospel tinged post-punk. They wear their communist, leftist leanings well on their sleeves and are sure to have a few things to say about the current political landscape plaguing America right now. Rest assured, they will still sound amazing with their special live show that calls for audience participation and takes many cues from gospel performances. Be sure to familiarize yourself with this band as they take the City Plaza stage Friday night right before local legends Future Islands.

 -Jamie Halla, General Manager

Make sure you check back in with us on Friday for Part 2 and throughout the next couple of weeks for more coverage! 

[riisinaakka-draws]

It has only been a little over a year since I started watching the show and joined the Black Sails fandom. I posted my first fanart exactly one year ago and it was the one above. Thus far I have drawn over 100 of them. I tried different mediums and styles, both for practice and for capturing the essence of the things I wanted to share. Some of them are great, some are silly, some are a bit out of character or not so good in other ways and some ended up surprising me in many ways. All are nonetheless very precious to me.

Under the read more there's a list of all my doodles thus far. Most of them feature Flint, Silver or both of them (there will be more of the other characters in the future, no worries). I have to admit I laughed quite a lot while going through these again. This is a really long post.

This is a list to show what sort of things there are and also for my own amusement and archiving purposes. The list is in chronological order, from first to the latest.

I tried to make this as concise as possible, but the tag/navigation page is here if you want to find something specific or don’t want to go through all this:

- Flint takes care of Silver's leg in the darkness of the captain's cabin.

- Some quick doodles of Flint, ballpoint pen

- Sharkdate cuties (really scrappy doodles of Silver gazing at munching Flint)

- Progress. A continuation to previous pic. Silver holding a cup, covered in blood and looking affectionally at Flint. Here’s a giffed version.

- Silver and Flint go for a night walk in winter and Flint finds the streetlights amusing. Modern Au, beanies and the BS logo

- “See any treasures, Capt'n?” Billy to Flint who is looking at something “shiny” with his spyglass.

- What if Silver stole that certain ponytail and made it into "a rabbit's foot"? And what if Flint had a medallion with pictures of the Hamiltons and later a lock of dark curls... I returned to this idea several times after this, lol. (still secretly wishing that anyone would write a ficlet about this).

- Overload of Blackbeard - several doodles of different adaptations of BB

- Shark hunting. Flint has the shark on his lap and Silver stands in front of him. Composition inspired by that infamous Wolwerine and Nightcrawler cover.

- A gif of Blackbeard with flowers in his beard (I share a birthday with Ray Stevenson, that's why).

- a quick sketch of displeased Jack

- The Red Lollipop. Flint eating candy which is distracting to Silver, inspired by this awesome post (x). Silver steals the sweets and peels some potatoes. Bonus: Randall and Betsy the Cat.

- Draw me like one of your quatermasters... Flint doodles sleeping Silver in the Captain's log.

- Random sketches of Silver and Flint. Learning to draw their faces

- Flint with a horrible mustache and Silver with a long braided beard. (I should redraw this someday..)

- Flint takes Silver for a ride (modern Au with motorcycles). The Walrus gang follows "the flagship"

- Black Sails moomin AU, part I (I had so much fun with these).

The domestic modern beach au serie with 15+ doodles, various characters, inspired by this hilarious post (x). - Jack takes pictures of everything and Vane ends up buried in the sand - Silver puts some lotion on Flint (Billy tosses people up in the background) - Max and Anne Bonny enjoying each other's company - Rogers is going to get hit by a beach ball "accidentally". Anne, Max, Vane and Jack in the background - Ben Gunn shows his ship kite to Billy Bones - Vane and Flint swim butterfly. Silver (*.*) - Vane flips his hair like a merman, Eleanor is drinking and enjoying the view. - Mr Scott and Mr Gates enjoy their drinks at the bar while others fight in the water. Max and Eleanor gossip together. Anne and Jack hold hands like otters on swim rings. - Silver and Flint sleeping on the sun, Flint has a book on his face - The Ranger Crew swimming. Jack is slathered in sun lotion, Anne waits for him and Vane makes a joke. + Mysterious swimming trunks. - Silver is the sneakiest shit and likes to creep underwater and drag people down by their legs. - Silver and Flint eating ice cream + some early sketches in a gif - the Fucking Warship (minivan) rides to sunset, Vane is forgotten in the sand but do not worry...

- Silver and Flint sing the song "Dynamic Duet" from Starkids' Holy musical B@tman!

- Nooooooooo! Flint shaves his head, Silver doesn't take it well.

- Silver's character development. From little shit to actual scary fuck

- A HUG. (silverflint, done before s4. I really needed a hug)

- Bloodthirsty Bunny & Squinting Squirrel, (furries, i am so sorry)

- Flint brings water to Silver, a scene from the show. <3

- Sweetness of touch. Flint gets his hair/head touched by his loved ones.

The Walrus crew acquires some chicken. A lot of them. And a parrot. - Billy and Joji are tending them - people playing board games and ignoring the chickens - a coc- I mean a rooster between Silver's legs - Silver holding some chickens and Flint meeting "the Captain Flint"

- Flint gets his ginger crown back...sort of

Chickens, part II. Flint sends his regards. Teach has taken Anne and Jack to fishing and they get a surprise "gift" from the Walrus.

Fanart about Silverfin, a thrilling and unbeliavably funny (nsfw) silverflint fic by @jadedbirch and @zoinomiko (can’t tag u for some reason..).

Go read it :D I made some (sfw) fanart inspired by it (spoilers). - a comic of the tragic night - reunion and crowns (˵ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°˵)

- (a recap, not really a tutorial) about some of my messy work methods.

- Anne Bonny, without her hat, ready to kick your ass, season 3

- A portait of Max

- Every fashionable pirate captain needs a hat! Silver buys some silly pirate hats. Inspired by @vowel-in-thug​'s fic (part V, nsfw) and the CBeebies Bedtime Story etc.

- "Support". Silver and Flint approaching the Maroon camp.

- A portrait of Long John Silver on his way of becoming the legend

- Swords and time. James McGraw - Captain Flint. Sword placement comparison, gif experiments etc. (I really like this one)

- A canary. Flint finds a sad-looking caged bird aboard a merchant ship and then reads books to it in his cot. Inspired by @old-long-john​'s sweet and beautiful fic (x). Also thanks to @captain-flint​ for spotting the bird cage in s1.

Inktober 2016, 20+ doodles, various characters - Silver, a sad little face doodle - A bringer of death and destruction (Flint as an angel of sorts). Quick doodle with a brush - Silver and Flint. A little doodle with an ink-dipped cotton swap - "Hungry", Silver and Flint find the whale and prepare to hunt sharks. - "SAD?" NOT TODAY! There's always Silver Lining. Silly and shitty puns. - "Hidden", The treasure has been buried. - "LOST", Silver and Flint look for a bird on board the Walrus. - "ROCK", Ben Gunn and Billy Bones play rock-paper-scissors. (sorry, still no better doodle of them) - "BROKEN", Benjamin Hornigold misses his chair. - "Lock the door", Flint on the floor of his cabin when they were becalmed ;_; - "TRANSPORT", Anne Bonny takes Jack Rackham to safety on a horse. - Madi, a little sketch - "Dufresne admires his new tattoo" - "TREE", What difference does it make? Captain Naft shares his insight. Froom and Crisp agree. Morley and Randall (+ Betsy the Cat) are not impressed (for obvious reasons...). - "RELAX", A nice afternoon at the seaside with some of the brothel girls - A little sketch of John Silver again, because I cannot resist him. - "Flint has a meeting with Death". - "ESCAPE", Flint has retired and Silver still sails the seas. Occasionally he visits James and steals some of his baked goods (with some help from his crew and birdies). - "FLIGHT", a sketch of a parrot on a napkin - "SQUEEZE", Jack Rackham enjoying his bath - "LITTLE", a little sketch of Max and Anne kissing in little rain, under Anne's huge hat. - "Surprise", Charles Vane lurking in the water - "And then! You won't believe what the.." Hal Gates and Billy Bones spend their free afternoon gossiping and having fun - "Forget-me-not" / "one dozen", Miranda finds some familiar flowers and thinks about Thomas. - "BURN", Thomas, James and Miranda, just eyes. Inspired by the powermetal duet "Wish I Had An Angel"

- Oooh, What does my reflection shoooow ~. (Lovable) Little shit.

- Accidents with the spyglass. Flint acts like an asshole, Billy and Gates are having none of it, Silver is yet to learn.

- Death builds a raft and follows the Walrus.

- Portrait of Eleanor, the Merchant Queen of Nassau

- "long johns and puns". Silver is looking for a new pirate style and Billy offers to help.

- Black Sails Moomin AU - part II

- Silver at the wrecks, light and visual practise

- Eleanor Guthrie and James Flint, looking in / out. visual practise, parallels and contrasts

- My Heart Will Go On, but I'll keep your ponytail and get a parrot for my duets. ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

- Muldoon's tattoo ;_;

Some of the following have season 4 spoilers:

- Eleanor does some embroidery (of bees and fuck-yous)

- How Silver gets his new crutch (Israel Hands is handy)

- Flint and the Wanderer above the sea of fog

- Flint's mouth saying FUCK infinitely, a gif experiment

- "That's my wee lad, Gimli." Berringer's locket and asshole Rogers.

- For a moment there was a Hat Trio. Teach, Jack and Anne

- Silver and Madi, canon kiss

- The Spare Ginger. Silver doesn't like Eleanor's plan. Madi and Israel Hands try to comfort him.

- Eleanor Guthrie, a green portrait

- Long John Silver must make a tough choice, while Flint enjoys his capture at Eleanor's expense

- All those extra spyglasses in 4.08. Maybe the answer was Israel Hands' hoarding.

- Fresh air on the balcony of the Walrus. (a drawing of the ship at night). There're celebrations on the deck, Flint and Silver have a private talk.

I find it endearing how this list ends with the balcony one. Like a parallel (ha!) to the first one, where Flint and Silver are having a private moment on board of a ship, although it is a different ship and at a different time. A year ago I had no idea where this all would lead me and how much I would learn and get to experience *pats my past-self in the back awkwardly and fondly*

Looking back at them (doodles) I feel both proud and slightly embarrassed of my enthusiasm. I have never done anything like this for any other fandom. I have never felt so much and had such an urge to engage in this sort of thing.

This show, its creators and crew, this fandom. Just something unbeliavable.  I cannot find the words to say how much I appreciate you all. The brilliancy, the humour, the love in all kinds of forms. I am so glad I stumbled on this show (it was a gif or a fanvid about ep 2.05 that made me aware of this show, btw. I cannot remember it clearly anymore and for a moment I thought Crossbones was a pilot for Black Sails and almost missed everything, but that's a story for another time...)

Know this: I have loved sharing this experience (the show, the fandom) with you and I appreciate everything you have given to me or shared with me. I will treasure this. (I apologize not thanking more people individually, but this post would’ve never reached its end otherwise).

*throws hearts and forehead kisses to the best and inspiring fandom and the greatest show that broke my heart and healed my soul so many times*

All the possibilities and love to you. Thank you <3

(This is not a goodbye, btw. There’s still so much more to come!) (◠‿◠✿)

P.S. All this started as doodles so that’s why I have kept using that word eventhough it doesn’t really apply to many of these anymore...

[gaiapaia]

Kermit And Friends: Welcome Back, Flesh (Featuring Business Coach Erika Atkins)

Have you ever considered getting engaged to someone just because they’re so bad and crazy that it makes you look good and normal?

Welcome to Kermit and Friends!

Andy Dick made his return to the show this week. He was joined by numerous house guests and was just completely in his element, surrounded by wackos while acting like he hates his situation.

One of those wackos was the infamous Kali. If you remember, Kali has taken serious issue with Elisa and Andy’s relationship, so much so that she ran to The Daily Mail with slanderous accusations of fraud, calling Elisa and Andy’s engagement a sham.

Much to the shock of no one, Kali still isn’t a fan of Elisa. Andy’s apparently had his apartment robbed multiple times lately, and Kali’s stuff was among the things that got allegedly stolen. After Kali found out about the “thrift store” painting Andy gave to Elisa last week, Kali became suspicious of Andy giving Elisa some of Kali’s stuff, such as a Guns ‘N Roses sequin jacket and a $400 hair dryer. The thought of Elisa wearing a stolen Guns N’ Roses jacket highly amuses me. 

Kali had some more stuff to say, claiming Elisa and Andy aren’t really friends, complaining that Elisa makes Andy pay for $200 steak dinners and leaves him to walk home, etc. These are ridiculous lies of course but Kali’s jealousy is unbelievably hilarious.

But Kali isn’t the only thing driving a wedge in Andy and Elisa’s engagement. Andy is still Andy. There was another woman there with him who he casually mentioned sleeping with, and a guy named Eric, who Elisa was introduced to on Easter as Andy’s son. Turns out Eric is just some guy who likes to get high in Andy’s apartment, no relation to Andy.

A “love coach” by the name of Erika Akins joined Kermit and Friends to try to help Elisa sort out her relationship issues with Andy. Erika was extremely intelligent and uplifting, making great points every time she spoke and was incredibly patient and understanding towards Andy. I genuinely liked Erika a lot.

One of the big topic points between Elisa and Erika was narcissism. Elisa made the statement that it wasn’t until recently when she started hearing the word ‘Narcissist’ a lot to describe people. I agree with Elisa; that isn’t a word I often heard growing up but I hear it all the time now. I think it became a thing in the social media era... people who enjoy posting pictures of themselves and their daily lives can get labeled as narcissistic pretty frequently. But honestly, I do think the description is overused. Most people can share a lot about themselves on social media without being self-centered, selfish and rude to other people.

As critical as I can be of Andy’s treatment towards Elisa, I’m not sure I would label him a narcissist. He’s probably a lot of things all mixed together, truly one of a kind. Andy’s been through a lot of therapy and treatment, and nothing has helped him sort through his demons and fix whatever it is that’s wrong with him mentally. Maybe Erika can be the one to finally make a breakthrough, who knows? Hopefully though the day does come for Andy where he’s finally a happy person who treats caring people like Elisa how they deserve to be treated.

If you can’t tell from the title, Flesh-N-Bone from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony made his return to Kermit and Friends! Elisa asked Flesh about a recent article written on him about a beef between Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Migos. I really liked what Flesh had to say on the topic, claiming he’s a business man first and that he would rather work with younger rap artists rather than feud with them. If more rappers had this business first mentality, some of the all-time greats would still be alive today instead of senselessly killed... such as Biggie Smalls, who Elisa asked Flesh about now that the police are saying they may release the name of his killer. 

Elisa would play a fantastic song featuring Flesh called So Many Nights. Flesh is currently working as an independent artist, putting effort into creating the best music he possibly can. Flesh is also writing a memoir that will go into great detail about his life and experiences with other hip-hop artists. Most awesomely, however, is the fact that I have it on good authority Flesh will become a regular guest on Kermit and Friends weekly! I very much look forward to seeing Flesh back on the show as often as possible.

As great as Flesh is, as funny as Andy and Kali are, as lovely as Erika is.... the person who really stole the show yesterday was Kermit’s new dear friend, Sigmond.

Sigmond is an older gentleman who I believe thought it was St. Patrick’s Day instead of Memorial Day weekend since he was decked out in green, wearing a green shirt and an adorable green hat. Sigmond is actually a rapper like Flesh-N-Bone, you can check out his Soundcloud here.

However, music was not the focal point of Sigmond’s interview. Sigmond appeared at the time Elisa and Erika were discussing love stuff, and Sigmond immediately opened up about how he fell in love with a Russian Instagram model not too long ago.

The Russian IG model is named Karina and she’s 31-years-old, the perfect age according to Sigmond. I think Elisa got a little offended by that and was ready to become critical of Sigmond, but the more she heard his story, the more she felt sympathy for him and wanted to help him.

Sigmond met Karina randomly at a club, and they walked and talked for 3 hours. Sigmond would then text off and on with her through the following months, showering her with praise and compliments, only for Karina to eventually ghost Sigmond completely.

Poor Sigmond got blocked on all social media by Karina, and he hasn’t heard from her in many months. This is weighing heavily on Sigmond’s heart, so Elisa kindly made the offer to call Karina on his behalf, but unfortunately when Elisa tried, we found out that Karina’s number has been disconnected. I put my detective cap on last night to try to find Karina on Instagram myself with no such luck. Sigmond’s Instagram though is pretty fascinating... lets just say he really loves his young Russian models!

Sigmond was extremely entertaining with just no filter whatsoever. He’s perfect for Kermit and Friends and I absolutely cannot wait to learn more about him on future episodes. Major props to the wonderful Miss Elaine for booking him.

Speaking of wonderful people, I want to give a special thanks to Capt. Muttley, Smokey, Cool Boy, and Beetlejuice for supporting Elisa/KAF by donating via Youtube Superchat. Also, big shout out to Gonzo for the hilarious song he wrote and performed for Johnny B on the show. Great stuff!

All in all, yesterday’s Kermit and Friends was an instant classic and I really do feel it’s only going to get better going forward. If you’re somehow reading this review and you didn’t see the episode, you must click play now. Thank you :)

[itsjaybullme]

Gaming Roundup: Holiday 2017 Edition

1 of 10

1. Destiny 2

Courtesy of Activision

A more-than-worthy successor to the 2014 phenomenon, Destiny 2 shows how closely Bungie listened to its community, building on the co-op and competitive aspects that made the original so great and improving on the story, which most players agreed was lacking. Destiny 2’s campaign is a complete, satisfying experience, even if it only deepened the mystery around the Traveler’s origins. Even leveling up feels simpler, if only because most veteran players have already established their preferred playstyle, taking tough decisions about which direction to move your character out of the equation. Shooter tradition almost demands that you finish the campaign before hopping into multiplayer, but it’s probably smarter to mine as much XP and gear as you can through crucible matches before going too far solo. With a stronger character, you’ll breeze through the story. The Collector’s Edition of this game is one of the crazier editions we’ve seen; it comes with an ornately detailed leather bag and triangular metal tube, modeled after the one carried by a character named Suraya. That tube opens up and folds out into a portable solar-powered USB charging station. It also includes a bevy of printed collectibles, a steelbook edition of the game, and a pass for DLC packs I and II.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC

2 of 10

2. Super Mario Odyssey

Courtesy Image

On the surface, we’ve got this: The same Mario game you’ve played a hundred times, only now he’s got a boomerang hat. Play beyond the first 30 minutes, though, and you’ll discover an almost flawless game in every detail, sure to be one of your new personal faves. Switch owners were hoping for a worthy Mario game to help cement the system as a success. Nintendo over-delivered in spades, shipping a game that leapfrogged to the top of the Game of the Year discussion, and somehow entered the Best Game of All Time discussion. It’s hard to argue with any of that buzz. The rhythm, balance, and pace of Super Mario Odyssey is perfect, a confounding feat considering its open-world nature. At times it can feel like Nintendo has a patent on human curiosity and joy. That’s how effortlessly this game can make you feel like a kid again.

Available on: Nintendo Switch

3 of 10

3. Call of Duty WWII

Courtesy of Activision

The first campaign stage on Normandy Beach feels like a playable version of the opening scene from Saving Private Ryan. It’s brutal and frantic, and sets the tone for this welcome return to Call of Duty’s roots. Multiplayer and zombie modes are as tight as ever, but what makes this one stick with you is a story that respects the real sacrifices made by the Greatest Generation. That lifeline to the real world gives it some staying power that’s just not possible to achieve in a far-flung sci-fi adventure. As long as this much love and attention goes into each iteration, we’re completely fine with COD coming out every year.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC

4 of 10

4. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

Courtesy of Bethesda

A story about Nazis taking over America wasn’t supposed to have the kind of real-world resonance that it currently does, but that’s where we are. Setting aside that unpleasant reality, The New Colossus is a brilliant follow-up to 2014’s The New Order, with you picking up right where BJ Blazkowicz left off (spoiler alert: he survived the first game’s climactic scene). Just as it did with the first game, developer Machine Games eschewed a multiplayer mode altogether, focusing entirely on an engrossing single-player experience. That shines through in everything from its smooth gameplay mechanics to its distinct characters you can actually remember. It’s a bold, old-school mentality, but the payoff is huge. Makes you wish more developers would have the guts to follow suit.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC

5 of 10

5. South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Courtesy of Ubisoft

This giant, 15-hour episode of South Park is so funny and packed with clever satire it deserves to be mentioned with the best South Park multi-episode arcs ever. (It’s right on par with the Imaginationland trilogy, the Black Friday trilogy, and the Coon series.) That would be reason enough to make this a mandatory purchase for South Park fans, but the fact that it’s a surprisingly deep and well-crafted RPG seals the deal. You have a ton of options for character development, from how you look to how you fight. The racial commentary is also sadly spot on. For starters, you select the difficulty of the game with a skin color slider—white is easy, tan is difficult, black is very difficult. As you get deeper into the game there’s a sequence where the South Park cops task you with taking down a supposedly infamous drug dealer, who turns out to just be a black guy in a nice house. Ouch. That’s South Park at its best and most biting.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC

6 of 10

6. Gran Turismo Sport

Courtesy of Sony

It’s been four years since a Gran Turismo game came out, and with Forza firmly in command of the biggest virtual garage in gaming, GT put its efforts elsewhere, namely online play and VR. Serious players will get a kick out of the online mode. Over time, it’s easy to imagine that players with low sportsmanship ratings—those involved in the most pileups—will be shunned and shamed. While you can’t take VR online or into the campaign, it’s a pretty awesome arcade experience (if you’re not susceptible to motion sickness). With the price of the VR headset dropping $100 for the holidays, and with a steadily growing library to go with it, Gran Turismo Sport stands as another worthy selling point, and you can now get it bundled with the headset.

Available on: PS4

7 of 10

7. Crash Bandicoot: N-Sane Trilogy

Courtesy of Activision

Crash never looked so good, from the newly rendered opening sequence to all three PS One games remastered in HD to smooth out his jagged polygons. Those are welcome changes because the core gameplay has aged well, even for an on-the-rails 3D platformer. Everything is slick and responsive, and once you get going you won’t rest until you smash every crate on every level. One downer: long load times are one of the few carryovers from '90s games that don’t satisfy any nostalgic urge.

Available on: PS4

8 of 10

8. Forza 7

Courtesy of Microsoft

What was missing from a racing series that has given you an accurate representation of nearly every car on the planet? You probably didn’t say story mode, but you won’t be sorry that that’s what you got. It’s actually a perfect way for the game to sink its hooks into you and get you to sample a ton of different tracks, cars, and weather conditions right out of the gate. The replay value is huge; you can unlock a whopping 700 lovingly detailed cars. Forza 7 is also the poster child for enhancements on the Xbox One X, but it looks good no matter how you’re playing.

Available on: Xbox One, PC

9 of 10

9. Middle Earth: Shadow of War

Courtesy of WB Games

The first Middle Earth game played fast and loose with Tolkien lore while borrowing heavily from the Arkham series gameplay mechanics. The result was a shock: tight and cohesive, and hands down the best game of 2014. Shadow of War finds the co-main characters Talion and Celebrimbor forging a new ring of power to destroy the inhabitants of Mordor for a story that leaves off just before the events of The Lord of the Rings. Developer Monolith jacked up the dials on everything that worked in the original: the nemesis system, your ability tree, and the brutal combat animations, which have all been expanded and polished. For an open world game, the pace remains lightning fast because it’s just so densely packed. Wander in any direction and you’ll discover something, be it a collectible, a side mission, or a pack of enemies to sneak up on.

Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC

10 of 10

10. Cuphead

Courtesy of Microsoft

Styled after early 20th century cartoons, Cuphead has been the subject of much anticipation since it was first teased three years ago. It’s a standard platformer, but one that looked so unique everyone wanted to pick it up. Now that it’s finally out we know what took so long: every frame you see was drawn by hand, from the main characters Cuphead and Mugman, to the level bosses, to the top-down map where the locations pulse with life, an intentional side-effect of hand animation. And in true throwback fashion, this gameplay is solid, difficult, and addictive. For $20, you can’t say no to this.

Available on: Xbox One, PC

TOP 10 GAMES OF THE YEAR

1. Horizon Zero Dawn

2. Super Mario Odyssey

3. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus

4. Destiny 2

5. Zelda: Breath of the Wild

6. South Park: The Fractured But Whole

7. Middle Earth: Shadow of War

8. Injustice 2

9. For Honor

10. Call of Duty WWII

Previous Next

from Bodybuilding Feed https://www.muscleandfitness.com/features/edge/gaming-roundup-holiday-2017-edition via http://www.rssmix.com/

[globlenet-blog]

Eiffel Tower hats, golf 'fashion' and clubhouse fish: the worst of the Ryder Cup

https://clearwatergolfclub.com/eiffel-tower-hats-golf-fashion-and-clubhouse-fish-the-worst-of-the-ryder-cup/

Eiffel Tower hats, golf 'fashion' and clubhouse fish: the worst of the Ryder Cup

Several things tend to be more traditional than the others with regards to the 41st match-up, but all will probably possess a place at Hazeltine in Minnesota a few days ago

The vice-captain

The very first factor that happened in the inaugural Ryder Cup in 1927 was they captains performed one another. In those days there wasn’t any doubting the significance of the captain, leaders off and on the program. Consider 1963, when Arnold Palmer grew to become the final also to wield his clubs, the function is becoming partially tactical, partially motivational and largely about arriving to press conferences and flirting with sponsors. Possibly it had been since the captains began to feel just a little trivial the role of vice-captain was invented, since exceedingly important individuals have multiple assistants. Within the initial few days each match can get its very own vice-captain, departing one remaining whose job is, within the words from the official website, to dispense advice and supply assurance towards the quartet of players overlooked. He’s, basically, vicecaptain of having the pints in. This isn’t a real job.

Ambassadors

Another relatively recent innovation, since 2012 ambassadors have blossomed like a lot of azaleas at Augusta National. This year’s roster includes Peter Schmeichel, Kevin Pietersen and Niall Horan in one Direction. The Ryder Cup is easily the most famous event in golf as the active participation of 23-year-old celebrities may open it up up to and including new demographic although one whose interest rarely is in sustained once the kind of Mike Torrance get involved it’s difficult to observe how additionally, it can take advantage of a connection with 52-year-old Danish former goalkeepers. Seeing guys who combat one another every week being best buddies for any week, its great to determine, Horan states. I’m able to understand from finding yourself in a band, the brotherhood, the friendship. Horans band take presctiption a long break among rumours of fractured relationships, while Horan has declared his will need to go away, be a mad old recluse, then return having a giant beard, possibly explaining his readiness to spend more time with Darren Clarke.

IMG 2 TT

Bill Murray, Huey Lewis, Niall Horan and Paul OConnell: giving it some Ryder Cup. Photograph: ddp USA/Rex/Shutterstock

The fashion

Team captains are responsible for choosing the uniforms their team will wear, a tradition that continues despite Ben Crenshaws infamously hideous design for the final day of the 1999 Ryder Cup that featured photographs of past victorious USA teams and which Tiger Woods declared he threw into the fireplace and burned because it was so ugly. They certainly brought luck to the team, whose stunning if aggressively celebrated comeback from a 10-6 deficit on that last day was surely assisted by their opponents being paralysed by aesthetic horror.

The merchandise

Property prices may have spiralled in recent years but only at the Ryder Cup has the cost of keyrings kept pace with that of the houses for which they assist entry. In 2014 a Ryder Cup keyring, handmade in Scotland, cost 40. For a keyring. This year organisers expect to sell 100,000 hats at the rate of one every 2.4 seconds, and the online shop thus lists 77 varieties. If the organisers claim that less than 5% of what is offered in the store will be sold online is reflected in hat designs, there will be 1,540 options available for those who actually go to Hazeltine. Also available will be official Ryder Cup hockey sticks, which seems wilfully confusing.

IMG 3 TT

Roll up, roll up. Photograph: Scott Halleran/PGA of America via Getty Images

The Ryder Cup Trophy Tour

If youve missed the Ryder Cup Trophy Tour, its probably because it didnt come anywhere near you. The European leg started in Northern Ireland, took in France, Germany and Italy and then left again, having visited the homelands of precisely two members of the 12-man team. The US leg was a little more extensive but still 80% of states didnt get a visit. It was, overall, like an Olympic torch relay for people who cant really be bothered organising an Olympic torch relay.

Hype

The official Ryder Cup website splits its news stories into a variety of categories. Most of them are hard to quibble with: history, behind the scenes, team, corporate partners, but then theres a section labelled trophy and hype. An event as storied and celebrated as the Ryder Cup surely needs little hyping, though the page at least allowed fans to follow the Trophy Tour as it made its way around a handful of extremely distant locations.

Fish

In 2005 Paul McGinley ended the year ranked the 21st best golfer in the world. Nine years later, as Europes team captain, he got to choose the fish for the dressing-room fish tank. This is what modern-day Ryder Cup-taincy entails. It was my idea for the fish tank and it worked great, he crowed. It was the colours I was interested in rather than the breed. It was just a little, small touch. In 2014 the European team played under a blue and yellow flag, wore blue and yellow clothes, and saw only blue and yellow fish. Buoyed by their piscine proponents, they swept to victory.

IMG 4 TT

Paul McGinley was allowed to choose the Europe teams fish. Photograph: Alamy

Teamwork

As Horan points out, the brotherhood forged between teams of sportsmen used to competing only as individuals can be inspiring but this is a difficult path to tread. An excess of team spirit, as at Brookline in 1999, is grating but a lack of it’s as bad. Phil Mickelsons critique of Tom Watson after USAs defeat in 2014 was awkward, as the fallout from Nick Faldos captaincy of Europe in 2008 was still being ongoing 2 yrs ago once the Englishman declared Sergio Garca showed up at Valhalla having a bad attitude and began to become useless, prompting Torrance to point out when he desired to hire a company without any idea working inside a team he need to look within the mirror, pal.

Politics

The Uk once competed alone within the Ryder Cup however they found existence in isolation unforgiving and success difficult to achieve. More lately they’ve discovered working with the remainder of Europe has elevated their likelihood of making an effect around the global stage which for the disparate languages of the home continent there’s something some type of natural common outlook on existence that bonds its people. (This common outlook may be the main one articulated by Paul Casey in 2004, who revealed you want to beat them as badly as you possibly can for the reason Americans could be bloody annoying.) Obviously, there could be British golfers who feel frustrated when some Spaniard arrives and takes their devote they, but blah blah Brexit yadda yadda.

Fans with funny hats

In 2008 Lee Westwood accused the united states captain, Paul Azinger, of inciting the USs shameful and abusive fans. There’s something concerning the Ryder Cup that transforms the normally staid golf enthusiast right into a screaming, baying fiend. Worse, it brings about their inner fancy-dress enthusiast, and stars-and-stripes onesies and comedy outsized Eiffel Tower-themed headgear duly abound. It is extremely possibly the view of the second that drives individuals to the store looking for more sober alternatives in the rate of 1 every 2.4 seconds.

IMG 5 TT

Some fans, yesterday. Photograph: ddp USA/REX/Shutterstock

Find out more: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2016/sep/30/funny-hats-golf-fashion-clubhouse-fish-worst-ryder-cup