#getting all my favorite video games in here was a bit of a challenge

[kevin-the-bruyne]

Branded Pairing Heteronormativity and the Subtle ways that First and Khaotung Spill Outside Those Outlines

Right off the bat I'm going to absolve myself of all culpability by saying that this is a solicited opinion so all anon hate can go to @kattyangel 🤣. The second thing is that this is an opinion that will talk about very nuanced subjective topics like heteronormative standards and conventional attractiveness in a country I'm not even from so go into it knowing that even subtle shifts in worldview can change the way we perceive these things. My only claim to fame here is that fan service is my hyperfixation and I have watched at least couples compilation videos of all GMM branded pairs but for the vast majority of them have watched shows/vlogs/interviews fairly extensively. So without any further ado let's get into what the connection is between First's height and his pairing's inability to perform heteronormativity well. A branded pair has two main ways of connecting to heteronormativity. One is via the individual's connection to their audience which at this point we know is majority female with some degree of romantic interest in men. Second, is via the dynamics of the couple itself.

For example, the ideal pairing is someone who's individual unit BOTH seem like they are interested in women but when put together can also believably fall into a 'top' and 'bottom' role. The categories of 'top' and 'bottom' here follow from the yaoi 'seme' and 'uke' narrative traditions but its less about who penetrates or is being penetrated and more along the lines of who's 'the wife and who's the husband' which is just a confusing mix of relative closeness to femininity, perceived dominance and certain physical features like height/resting bitch face and skin color.

The vast majority of branded pairs fall under this paradigm at GMM: GeminiFourth, TayNew, BrightWin, JoongDunk, PondPhuwin, ForceBook and the recently officially divorced Ohmnanon.

If the individuals have a strong connection to heteronormativity themselves, but fail to perform it with each other then they tend to fail like PerthChimon. So what happens when individuals within the unit aren't that straight to begin with? If at least one can perform traditional masculinity then they're in the clear! Famously, OffGun are husband and wife like no other and I hope they and Off's voodoo dolls of him and Gun prosper for the length of their lives. This format of pairings is not that common in GMM but litter the industry quite a bit, Zeenunew and MaxNat are pairings I'm quite familiar with that follow this.

What happens when both have low affinity towards traditional masculinity (especially in the way they interact with fans) or they're a little too queer in their dynamic for heteronormativity? Well that leaves you with *my* favorite pairings: EarthMix and FirstKhaotung But they're challenged in slightly different ways. EarthMix's primary dilemma comes from the fact that they're very likely actually dating and gay couples sometimes just won't have a heteronormative dynamic. Mix has always rebelled against being 'bottom' and he's usually the one refusing to play this game. Earth on the other hand just with his natural old man tendencies still fits into the top/husband role well while Mix can be pigeonholed into bratty wife/bottom when push comes to shove. But oh my poor sweet First, born with the personality of a man who's at least 5 inches shorter than him and obsessed with his idiot best friend who hated being the good little wife during his PoddKhao era so much that he really came into Firstkhao with his arms swinging like 'never again'. First and Khaotung have their personalities and aesthetics switched. Khaotung is both the more effeminate of the two and also the more dominant. If you've been following their dynamic since The Eclipse then you will know immediately what I'm talking about. So much of The Eclipse fan service felt like they were playing out top and bottom in reverse and then just remembering that First is indeed Too Tall for this to ever work lmao. I'm struggling to think of a single pair other than PerthSaint where the top was shorter let alone a full 4 inches. I mean fans nearly staged a coup at an event to have them renamed Khaofirst and I feel like they had come so close to convincing First too 😂 They've changed a lot now and Khaotung has cooled it, maybe to be more helpful to First but primarily because I think he's discovered that being the bottom in this dynamic comes with added benefits of being a sugar baby princess who gets waited on hand and foot. But First is also a sugar baby princess which is why he says things like 'I'm trying to be cool' or doing something macho and then immediately undercutting himself with a nervous little 'Was that cool?' or whining at fans to stop flirting with Khaotung instead of having a possessive lover dialogue like Phuwin's little 'you can flirt with him but he needs my permission to flirt with you'. First is performing machismo slightly worse than the 'bottom' of a different pair like what can I say askdjkfhdjh

Firstkhao are doing husband and wife well on stage nowadays but I think in less practiced formats they will revert to their original dynamic and First's 'top' persona breaks often. They hit a besotted wifeman equilibrium for First sometime during only friends and that kind of works for them both and I think they're trying to stay there for the most part. But that's what people who like First and Khaotung like. A vast majority of lesbians fall under the category of besotted wifeman so I mean it's really working out for me. It's just that sometimes it's a little painful seeing First try so hard to be more like Kant in RL and I'm just like babygirl please you're fine your friend over there looks like he likes getting fucked in the ass no matter what you do but alas 😔 Meanwhile every time Khaotung acts like a naive little helpless baby it feels like he's taken another step towards nirvana.

[ethereal-engene]

just one kiss | jaemin

pairing: bf!jaemin x gn!reader

genre: fluff, slice-of-life, and humor // warnings: usage of cuss words & not proof-read

summary: jaemin tries to kiss you while his face is basically covered in Vaseline. // word count: 658

note: this is the video for reference/context of this fic!

Jaemin is such an oddball but you love him either way

But even there are sometimes where you can’t help but question who he is

For instance right now where he walks into the room with the happiest smile

You turn around and are greeted with said happiest smiley face

Actually you find him so cute that you almost miss the way his nostrils are shining when the light hits it

Because you’re sitting near a lamp, when he comes in close to give you a kiss

His face just glimmers and you stop him before he gets any closer

Upon closer inspection and also swiping a finger on his face, it’s Vaseline 😭

And he doesn’t think that there’s anything wrong with that so he continues trying to place a kiss on your face

“Na Jaemin. If you think, I’m letting you kiss me with your face full of Vaseline, you’re wrong.”

“But babeeeeeee! It’s just one kiss and I put it on so you wouldn’t complain about my chapped lips. I’ll never forget how you put me on a kiss ban when my lips were chapped. That was the worst week of my life.”

Your head tilts back in laughter as you remember how you couldn’t do anything but focus on his chapped ass lips while he was talking about something

You just zoned out and ended up looking for some Vaseline as he talked.

After finding it, you handed it to him and he thought you were asking him to put it on you but before doing so, he was gonna give you a quick kiss but when going forward, he was stopped by your hand pressing against his chest

“Oh my poor baby, the Vaseline is for your lips actually. They’re so chapped and no way in hell are you kissing me with those lips.”

His eyes widen as he runs to the mirror to check and 💀 true to your words, they were

“You’re not gonna even let me have one kiss?? Isn’t that a bit too cruel? Depriving me of my energy supply and all??”

“Yep! In fact, you’re on a kiss ban until your lips get better. I promise you that no kisses for a while won’t kill you nana! You’re acting like we haven’t kissed in months while you’re on tour or something” a roll of your eyes follow the reply

End of flashback

You wave your finger back and forth in a no motion at him like a child

But Jaemin won’t give up on trying to give you at least one kiss before considering wiping off extra Vaseline

Oh no, this is a challenge and he wants to get at least one kiss in

And this is interesting because his attitude towards games don’t ever seem that appealing to him

So here he is still finding some sneaky way to get some Vaseline on your face

Like caging you in with his hands, hugging/holding you from behind, using his hands to squish your face and bring his in, and many more

To no avail, you’ve dodged all of them

In the end, he ends up almost giving up… he’s got one more trick up his sleeve

Right before going to bed, thinking that he’s wiped it all off or at least from the parts that don’t necessarily need it, he kisses you

“Na. Jaemin. You can’t be serious right now” all said with a hint of annoyance & some ounce of pride in him for not giving up

You smile and kiss him back. It was funny seeing him try so hard to give you a kiss all day

“You’re so lucky I love you Nana but I swear next time, imma find a tissue and wipe it all off.”

“You’re right, I’m so lucky but I’m also very lucky that I’m in love with you. Because who else would put up with my antics like you do?”

Thank you so much for reading this! I just remembered I had this clip of him slathering Vaseline/lip balm on himself and couldn’t stop laughing 💀 I swear I hate him sometimes (affectionate)

If you enjoyed this, please consider leaving a note or reblog with tags and your favorite part about it! You can also send me a dm or an ask <33 they’re all appreciated as much as your support

signing off with love,

- ash

[strniohoeee]

ok sorry !! it was so cute basically

everytime the triplets invite reader to sleepover she sleeps with nick but one night she can't sleep and is hungry so she goes to their kitchen and decides to bake some cookies and matt has always been up playing on his computer when he smells her baking so he goes to the kitchen and sees her smiling while decorating the sweets and he falls more in love watching her with chocolate and flour on her face and in her pjs, you continue the story

Moonlight

Pairing: Matt Sturniolo X Female Reader

Synopsis: Y/N can’t sleep and decides she could go for some cookies. But what happens when Matt meets her in the moonlight?🌕

Warnings⚠️: CUTE AS SHITTTT BYE😭😭 I loved writing this. I love writing cute imagines it’s my favorite🧡

Song for the imagine: You Really Got A Hold On Me- The Miracles

Don’t wanna kiss you, but I need to

My love is strong now

You really got a hold on me

You really got a hold on me

4 hours, 15 minutes and 23 seconds I have been up staring at Nick's ceiling. But who’s counting? Am I right? The thoughts running around in my head. I hated overthinking while laying in bed. It made me annoyed. I just wanted some shut eye

Other than overthinking the constant gurgle of my stomach also kept me up. I really should’ve ate dinner, but I stood up editing my YouTube video instead. I turned over and shut my eyes

My stomach immediately gurgled. My eyes shot open and I let out an annoyed huff of air. I removed the sheets from my body, and stood up

I slid on my slippers by the door and quietly walked out, gently shutting the door behind me. I walked down the mid floor, and all the lights were off and there was no sound. Perfect, everyone's asleep.

I turned the kitchen light on, but soon realized it was too bright. I quickly lit the 8 candles they had laying around their house, and shut the kitchen light off.

There was also the glow of a streetlight and the moon coming through the kitchen window, so it was the perfect amount of light.

I opened the fridge to see what I could find, but to my surprise they had eaten all my food I left. I hung my head and shook it, and then opened the freezer to see nothing as well. Jesus, how did they survive? Not a morsel of food in this kitchen.

Suddenly I remembered I got ingredients to make cookies for a challenge we were supposed to film, but never did.

I opened the top cabinet and grabbed the flour, sugar, chocolate chips, non-stick spray and vanilla extract and placed them on their kitchen counter.

I walked over to the fridge and grabbed the butter, milk and eggs also placing them on the counter.

Making chocolate chip cookies at 4am was not on my agenda, but I really needed something to eat, and it was nice to have some alone time baking.

I had mixed all the ingredients up, and preheated the oven. After rolling the cookies into small pieces I placed them on the tray and slid them in the oven. They needed about 20 minutes to cook.

While waiting I decided to clean up. I genuinely didn’t realize how messy it was to make things from scratch. There was flour and sugar and egg yolk everywhere. Not to mention I was covered in flour and melted chocolate chips that got stuck to me.

After cleaning up I sat at the dining table, and waited for the cookies to finish baking. Once they were done I took them out to cool down and placed them on the table. Getting excited at how perfect they looked.

I hadn’t realized Matt stopped in the kitchen till he cleared his throat.

“Hi Matt, I’m sorry did I wake you?” I said in a whisper

“Oh no. I was up playing video games, but I kept hearing noise out here I thought I was going crazy” he said shuffling over to the table and sitting across from me

“Sorry I was trying to be as quiet as possible” I said looking at him

“No that’s alright, what’s with the candles?” He said laughing a bit

“Well I didn’t want to wake anyone with the kitchen light, so I decided on candles” I said

“Ahh I see” he said nodding his head

“Want a cookie? I made them fresh. I was so hungry and couldn’t sleep, so I decided to bake” I said smiling at him

“I can tell” he said pointing at his face

I touched my face and felt the reminisce of flour on my cheeks, chin and nose

“Oh my god how embarrassing” I said wiping my face off

“Lets try your homemade cookies” he said reaching over and grabbing a cookie

Taking a bite and looking over at me nodding his head

“These are so fucking good” he said swallowing

“You think so?” I said smiling and leaning up getting excited

“Very good, you should bake more often” he replied

“Thanks Matt” I said smiling and tilting my head

“Want something to drink?” I asked scooting back from the chair

“Oh sure, but I can get it” he said getting ready to get up

“No, don't worry!” I said waving my hand at him

I opened the fridge, and saw they only had soda and water…..

“I guess no milk and cookies for you” I said looking over my shoulder

“That’s okay, I’ll take water” he said grabbing another cookie

I poured him some water and walked back over to him sliding the glass his way.

“Thank you” he said nodding his head at me

“Well I have to do these dishes now” I said

“I’ll help you” he replied

“Oh no don’t worry about it” I said

“It’s fine I don’t mind” he said scooting back from the table

I had washed the dishes as he stood next to me drying them. Occasionally engaging in conversations

“The full moon is so pretty” I said looking out the window above the sink

“It’s so pretty isn’t it” he said looking at me

“Very” I replied offering him a small smile

It got quiet as I continued to wash their dishes occasionally looking up at the moon.

“I wonder what it would be like out there” I said

“Out where?” Matt asked

“Out in space, and on the moon. I picture it would be freezing” I said

“I think it would be dark, cold and probably hard to breathe” he said laughing

“That’s true I suppose, I don’t know I just wonder what life would be like on another planet” I said to him

“You’re a interesting character” he said to me grabbing the cup from my hand

“We’re all a little strange…..I myself am strange and unusual” I said to him in a whisper

“Caramel” he said back

“What?” I said laughing a bit

“Your eyes remind me of caramel swirls when the light hits them. Makes me wonder what life looks like through them” he said back in a whisper looking at the moon

“And I’m the interesting character” I said bumping his shoulder with mine

“I was trying to level with you” he said smiling while looking down at the pan he was drying

“Your eyes remind me of the moon….cold, bright……invigorating” I said the last part in a whisper

Matt’s eyes slowly looked up before he turned and looked at me. Our eyes telling each other stories as they twinkled in the lighting

“You really got a hold on me” Matt said

I smiled at this, and pulled him in by his shirt. Crashing our lips together in a sweet and tender kiss like the ones you see in the movies.

We pulled away from one another looking into each other's eyes and smiling like children.

“You can quote my favorite song, and not expect me to fall even more in love with you” I replied handing him the last dish for him to dry

“You make me fall deeper everyday” he whispered as he finished drying the dish and placing it in the cabinet

I smiled at this, and we packed the rest of the cookies away.

I started blowing out the candles and he stopped me.

“Let’s take two to my room, so we can sit in the candle light” he said

“You’re such a romantic” I said giggling

“You bring it out of me” he replied blushing

I grabbed the last two candles and we headed to his room. Placing them both on his night stand while we laid in his bed

His left arm under my neck as I leaned back on him. Lifting my right hand to let the moonlight light up my skin. His hand came up to mine, interlocking them.

I looked over at him to see him already looking at me. We both leaned in and our lips connected yet again for another passionate kiss.

After pulling away we talked some more, and slowly the candle started to blow out as our eyes got heavy.

“Let’s blow the candles out and go to sleep” I said looking over at Matt

“Okay” he said pulling his arm from under me to lift his sheets down

When I turned over my eyes caught the names of the candle, and a smile grew on my face

The first candle read ‘Sweet Love’ and the second candle read ‘Under the Moonlight’…….what a scary coincidence

“Matt look at the candles” I said before blowing them out

He read them and his eyes lit up, and looked over at me

“We’re meant to be” he said blushing

“I guess we are” I giggled and blew the candles out

Matt pulled me in closer, and let sleep consume us.

He really had a hold on me……

The End

I hopeeee you guys enjoyed this especially for whoever requested this! I loveddddd writing this. It got me all sad and shit with my hopeless romantic self😭😭. Love yallll🥹🖤🖤

-J💅🏽

[factual-fantasy]

31 asks! Thank you! :}} ☯️

Now I'm gonna be totally honest, I DO have a favorite twin and its Ingo <XDD But I also fully understand and support your point!

What makes Ingo and Emmet so fun and interesting to me is their bond! How they mirror each other, how they interact, their strength as a team! Sure separating them for the angst is great an all- but truly showing them together and more importantly as equals is where the good stuffs at!

This is also why I usually try to wrap up their separation arcs in my AUs, and also don't really enjoy reading any Legends Arceus content.. seeing Ingo alone is not only heartbreaking,, but its also just not as fin. Ingo and Emmet are stronger together :)

@sallychaosaura (In response to this post)

Miiiight be a bit too late for that <XDD

@orangesideirrational

Thank you! :D I'm glad :))

Sorry, no can do! <:( Also thank you! :))

(Post in question)

(It was very intentional! :}) He's stressed. 😔

Ugh.. well, thanks for letting me know.. and at least the commenters know I don't consent to reposts..

😔

@thatweirdocryptid

TORPEDO??

@soulful-rodent (Post in question)

Well in-game we was traded to a friend and back so he'd evolve..

Buuuut lore wise, without a trainer..? <:D No idea-

Probably somewhere around 100 <XD

@xtra-collab

Absolutely terrifying! Next question XD

@lost-brain-privileges

No, no, aaaaand poorly, XD I'm doing fiiiiine won't worry! :)

@beeboboingo

AAATHANK YTOU SOMNUCH!!!! :DDDDDDD

I can imagine when he first gained the ability to hide in peoples shadows, he probably gave many people quite a scare without meaning to <XDDD

@cat7890

Thank you! :DD And Their stories are kind'a vague when I take out my trainer..

I'm thinking that somehow, Midori met Gloria in their first evolutions and became friends. Then they found Grim..

later on Midori found Anastasia after she had run away from a battle. She tried to hide but her shiny gold color made that impossible.. Midori took her to Gloria and they took care of her.

Afterwards they met Sylvester..

Beyond that, I don't have any details in mind.. 😅 Sorry!

Typically I prefer horror games/movies, but ONLY when they're being played by or watched by someone else in a YouTube video XDD

Some of those YouTubers being Elvis The Alien and Markiplier! :}}}

@fragmented-ghost (Pokémon Violet team master post)

AAAA I'm so glad you like them! :DD I plan to draw them more at some point, but atm I kind'a got sucked back into the Violet grind XDD I'm just about to beat the main game! :0000

@justanintrovertedweirdo

I have! :DD I like it quite a lot an have drawn some things for it here and there! Though I never got around to completing the game..

Someday I'd like to go back and beat the game. I can imagine I'd jump right into the fandom afterwards if I did XDD

XD Probably!

I don't remember talking about that.. if you had a link to the original post maybe I could remember with context..? <:0

@tallchest13-blog (Post in question)

XDDD I'm glad you like them! :))

XDD All of those titles made me laugh! And I see your point, but I have a few counter points to this ask..

For 1, to keep with the theme, I would want to/have to make this cape IRL in order to add it to my sona. Now if the last 4 quilts have shown me anything? Its that I'm not super great at making quilts <XDD

If it was that challenging to make it on a smaller scale? I cant imagine how much trouble I'd have trying to make a full size one! <XDD Plus buying the materials... having to physically get up, go buy the stuff I need and make it. With these health issues I've been battling, that's not something I wanna do atm.. 😅Not to mention with how hot its been lately, I don't think I need a quilt anyways-

And then lastly- I'd have to draw myself with it every time! I like my sona being a simplistic blob that has minimal colors and not much of a model to keep too. I worry a quilt might take that away.. :(((

XDD I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees the potential! :))

I have a few times here an there. Just to hang out with some friends :)

I mean, I don't know the history between you two... But my advice is to leave them be. If they ghosted you, they probably want space..

@iloveseriess

I altered the story of Welcome Home to make my version of Sally a teenager. So I was thinking she could be bluish-white to look like a young star..? But looking back I don't like the blue.. For story purposes she might stay a teen, but I think I'll keep her yellow <XDD

@anikakitty11

Yoo! :DD She's so colorful! And that black shadowy arm is so spooky.. Does she have a story? 👀👀

(Pixel art tutorial in question)

I'm glad it helped! Happy pixeling!! :}} 👋👋

@minnesotamedic186

XD Don't worry its fiiiiiine!

I've wanted to draw evil Grim and Sylvester again in general, but I don't really have any ideas for them yet.. 😅

[astrojulia]

Astro Observations from the Deep Sea #1

Navigation:   ੈ♡˳Masterlist    

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Mars in the 11th house is all about being curious about space and NASA. They're the ones who are interested in exploring the latest technology and having the newest gadgets, like the coolest cell phone or cutting-edge tech.

People with Saturn Rx seriously struggle to say "no" to others. Saturn is the planet of limits, and when it's in retrograde, it makes everything even more internal. So, Saturn Rx brings a lack of internal limits, which means no boundaries.

Air Venus are all about those stimulating conversations and valuing intelligence. But here's the thing nobody mentions—they absolutely adore people with an attractive voice and those who smell amazing. Yeah, they're all about that fragrance!

You know why Virgo are obsessed with cleanliness? It's because they willingly take on tasks that no one else wants to do. They're like the superheroes of necessary chores, always looking out for the betterment of those around them.

Aries Dominant have a hard time trusting their own intuition. It's like they struggle to listen to their gut, even when it's screaming at them. It's a challenge for them to follow advice, even if it's coming from their own minds.

Moon-Jupiter aspects are often associated with a big appetite. But let me tell you the real deal: people with this combo turn to food for comfort during tough times.

Saturn Aries are total lone wolves. They rely less on others and take care of things themselves. It's like they're invisible or something. And hey, the same goes for people with a Stellium in the first house—they're independent warriors, handling things solo.

Aquarius or Pisces rising are masters at escaping reality. They love diving into unconventional realms and exploring beyond the ordinary. They're like the dreamers and the wanderers, always seeking something more.

Being away from someone with a stellium in the 1st house for a long time can be freaky because they go through crazy changes over the years. It's like they're constantly transforming right before your eyes.

Moon in the 9th/12th house tend to lean towards vegetarianism. They're super sensitive to energies, including the vibes in their food.

If you're missing an element in your chart (like a big fat zero), you might become dependent on others for certain things. It's like asking for help is your kryptonite.

Mars is not only about action but also about agriculture. So, if you've got Mars in the 1st or 10th house, you might secretly have a green thumb. You could be a farmer at heart, my friend.

Pluto in the 11th house turns people into hardcore fanatics when comes to their games. They get obsessed with specific video games or series. They might have other interests too, but they'll always come back to their beloved favorite. It's like they're stuck in a loop!

People with the same rising sign as you (and the same houses) tend to complain about the hidden stuff happening in the 12th house of others. But here's the kicker—they do the same exact thing without even realizing it. Like Taurus ascendants, they can be a bit rude without noticing, and then they complain about it when someone else does it. Classic case of "do as I say, not as I do."

3rd house - 6h house aspects can indicate someone having a really hard time with routine because their mind is always elsewhere.

Pisces - Taurus aspects can bring a really strong imagination and artistic sensibility, which they channel into practical endeavors that manifest in the material world and can make them great artists

(CC) AstroJulia Some Rights Reserved

[the-bus-called-graveyard-8]

Madagascar in Nickelodeon Magazine (part 1 of 4)

Madagascar was first featured in Nick Mag in the June/July 2005 issue, shortly after the film's May 2005 release.

Here we have the cover of the magazine, featuring Alex, Gloria and the Penguins

Next we have an ad for the tie-in video game

Finally we have a two-page spread featuring an interview with the main cast. Full transcription of the interview under the read more!

We talked to the stars of the new animated movie Madagascar. The film is about some animals from New York City's Central Park Zoo who suddenly find themselves stranded in the wilds of Madagascar, an island of the coast of southern Africa.

On-screen best friends and real-life pals Ben Stiller (near right, who plays Alex the lion) and Chris Rock (far right, who plays Marty the zebra) talked to us about their characters.

Nickelodeon Magazine: What is your character like? Ben Stiller: Alex is sort of the king of the Central Park Zoo. He enjoys being the main attraction and would be happy for things to always stay the same. Chris Rock: Marty is the adventurer of the group. He's not content in the zoo. He's the guy who asks, "What more could we be doing with ourselves?"

Nick Mag: Are you at all like your character? Ben: A little bit. [Like Alex,] I'm a New Yorker and a creature of habit. I like the comforts of home. And Alex is sort of an actor. He's a performer who has the self-delusional, self-involved thing that I think every actor can identify with. Chris: [Like Marty,] I always wanted to get away from where I grew up.

Nick Mag: What was the hardest thing about recording your lines? Ben: The time frame was crazy. It was like, "Wow, we're still doing this? They were serious about [this taking] four years?" At one point, I felt like all I ever said was "Marty!" Literally, for years. Chris: "Am I white with black stripes or black with white stripes?" How many times did I say that?

Nick Mag: Do you ever feel caged up, like you're in a zoo? Ben: Sometimes, when you're not happy on a movie set, it can be like that. Chris: Yeah, movies can be like that. Ben: I remember doing a movie once where, on the first day of rehearsals, I realized, "Uh-oh, this is not good." And I had four months to go.

Nick Mag: Did you do research for your role? Ben: I ate a bowl of Frosted Flakes because of Tony the Tiger, and then I realized I was playing a lion and that I was really off.

Nick Mag: Favorite movie snack? Ben: I'm a big M&M's guy—peanut or plain. Chris: Popcorn and Raisinettes, but I wish they served banana cream pie!

We got the skinny on Jada Pinkett Smith's big character, Gloria the hippo.

Nickelodeon Magazine: What is your character like? Jada Pinkett Smith: She's like the mother of the gang. She wants to make sure that everybody is happy and taken care of.

Nick Mag: Are you anything like her? Jada: I have a real loyalty to my friends, just like Gloria does.

Nick Mag: Was the recording process hard? Jada: It was pretty challenging. You have to be really patient. You don't have the other actors there, there are no props, and you don't know what the scene looks like. It's just you and some paper with words on it.

Nick Mag: Do you have any pets? Jada: I have three dogs and a cat. And I'm about to get three more dogs!

Nick Mag: Do you like the outdoors? Jada: You have to be very cautious, but I love the wild. My intention for the next couple of years is to do more camping and go whitewater rafting in the Grand Canyon.

Nick Mag: Are you freaked out by nature at all? Jada: Not at all. Insects are the only things that kind of freak me out, but I can get used to them.

Nick Mag: Favorite movie snack? Jada: I usually do a mixture of popcorn and Goobers. Now I want some!

David Schwimmer talked to us about his character, Melman the giraffe.

Nickelodeon Magazine: What is your character like? David Schwimmer: Melman is a hypochondriac. he's afraid of almost everything and needs a lot of attention.

Nick Mag: Are you at all like him? David: I'm the opposite. My character couldn't be happier having bars around him so that nothing can get in. Personally, I'd go crazy. I'm low maintenance. I like not having a routine. Also [unlike Melman], I have to be forced to go to the doctor.

Nick Mag: What other kind of animal would you like to play? David: A black panther. There's something powerful and mysterious about it. It's got those green eyes and the sleek black coat. It would also be fun to be a water creature, like a dolphin. [Zelda the roving reporter: You're already a good Schwimmer.]

Nick Mag: Do you ever feel like you're in a zoo? David: I waited tables for seven years at restaurants where I felt like that. I also had a crummy job working in a tiny room in the business center of a hotel in Chicago in a suit and tie from six AM to six PM.

Nick Mag: Do you have any pets? David: I don't. I travel too much. But I had many animals growing up—dogs, a lizard, turtles. I love turtles. Their only protection is hiding—I love that about turtles.

Nick Mag: Favorite movie snack? David: There's no substitute for good, fresh popcorn.

[creativesnek]

The Chat really loves Bowser

Luigi sat by his desk, getting his cameras and headphones ready for a live stream. The soft glow of the studio lights illuminated the room, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement. His heart with a mix of nervousness and exhilaration as he prepared to connect with his audience.

As he adjusted the angle of his cameras, Luigi couldn't help but reflect on how far he had come. What started as a simple hobby had now transformed into a full-fledged career. His passion for gaming and technology had propelled him into the world of live streaming, where he could share his experiences and connect with like-minded individuals from all corners of the globe.

He still can’t believe he acquired such a huge fanbase.  A lot of people seemed to like his personality and actually liked his commentary; even his videos on mushroom foraging garnered thousands of views within the hour. It made Luigi very proud of himself; plus, his interactions with his fans have been nothing but enjoyable. 

The door to his room opened. He looked over his shoulder and smiled at Bowser. The red-haired Koopa stepped into his room, then kissed his forehead. “I’m going to go pick up Junior,” he said. 

“Okay, be safe!”

He reached up and scratched his chin, earning some happy chirps from him before he walked out again. Luigi smiled softly at his boyfriend’s retreating back before returning to his previous activities. As soon as he sat down, he switched into his streamer mode. The screens came to life and the cameras started recording. Luigi grinned, “Welcome back everybody! Tis I, WeegeBoard9000!” he said while laughing. The chat immediately started rolling with comments as people greeted him and made donations.

With a swift motion, Luigi's fingers danced across the keyboard, skillfully navigating through the game menus. As the game loaded, he took a moment to acknowledge some of the comments popping up on the screen.

"Hey WeegeBoard9000! Long time no see!" one viewer exclaimed.

"Luigi, you're my favorite streamer! Can't wait to see what you have in store for us today!" another chimed in.

*Peach_hime donated 30 bits! Hi, Weeg! Gimme ten minutes and I’ll hop on.*

“Ew, the gamer twink’s back.” said the very obvious account of Wario.

Luigi sneakily kicked him out before moving on with his stream. He delved into the game, he skillfully maneuvered through its challenges while simultaneously keeping an eye on the chat. He responded to questions, shared tips and tricks with fellow gamers, and engaged in lighthearted banter with his audience.

*King donated 2500 bits! Stay hydrated darling ;)*

Ohh~ his highness has made an appearance!

Man, i wish i had a stream daddy 😔

Where iz this mf getting so much coin??!

Comments of similar caliber followed. Luigi tried to hide his blush, recognizing his boyfriend’s account. Bowser always makes it a personal mission to donate something during his streams. Luigi couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth in his chest as he read the comments praising Bowser's generosity. It was moments like these that reminded him why he fell in love with Bowser in the first place. Despite his tough exterior, Bowser had a heart of gold.

*prince donated 100 bits! HiWEEGIE!”

OMG IT’S DA BOIIII

The lil man’s here too

Baby boi, protecc the bean

Luigi chuckled and thanked Junior for the donation; he probably asked his dad to donate for him too. With the chat taken care of for a bit, the streamer continued his game for several hours, tuning out the outside world.

.

.

.

The stream was in full-swing now as Luigi and a few online friends were collecting items to fight a boss. Luigi was so engrossed with preparations that he didn’t hear the noise of the front door opening or the familiar pitter patter of feet on the wooden floor. The door opened a bit as Junior yelled a greeting before closing the door. The man glanced back at the noise, smiled, then proceeded with the game. 

Without him noticing, Bowser went into his room. At the sight of him, the chat went absolutely ballistic. 

HELLO???

Hunk alert, hello🥵

NO SHELL? FOR FREE??

Ayo, who dat 🫦

Luigi glanced at the last comment then swiveled his chair around; Bowser wrapped his bulky arms around him and kissed the top of his head. “Dinner’s gonna be ready in a few minutes, so don’t stay too long,” he whispered into his hair. Luigi’s face and ears reddened at the gesture, considering Bowser was, in fact, shell-less and basically pulled his face into his chest. He thinks he replied… Probably. The donations going off was what called his attention.

DILF 🥵

Muscle man and he cooks? Luigi, bag him.

dilfdilfdilf

Weeg has that unspoken rizz

Luigi looked up. “Whoa, whoa. Calm down everybody,”

His subscribers didn’t listen, sending many sporadic comments and blush-inducing questions. The donation bell kept blowing up.

*BooKing donated 500 bits! Luigi, u have all of dat to urself?!*

*BadBitchPrincess donated 1500 bits! L ultimate rizzlord😌*

Can he come back pls?

Bring back the dilf, ty.

Glory o glory, what a helluva way to die 🫡

🫡

Luigi nervously snorted and pulled his hat over his head, giving up on taking back control. Guess the chat really likes Bowser.

[average-transfem-robotgirl]

heya M4RT4 happy beep boops to ya

Do you think I could cause more trouble controlling every roomba/similar vs cybertruck? like sure the truck is bigger but idk how long id have that army for

Now THIS is the asks I’ve been asking for!! And from one of my favorite bots too!? Beep boop frfr!!!

Alright, time to crunch some numbers!!

The total number of cybertrucks, about 8,000 ever made, would be a pretty powerful fighting force! They can reach about 112 miles per hour at their maximum, which is obviously more than enough to hurt someone. The truck itself is actually kinda sturdy!! This is a trait that is horrible in cars as it can usually result in the death of the passenger, but it’s great for a battering ram or tank!! With this army of 8,000 cars, you’d quickly be able to level a city. Due to them being faulty, however, you’d likely lose a good amount of them. The gas pedals would potentially jam, which could cause one to lose control! If your cybertruck breaks, it could harm one of the many others in your calvary. One good thing is, most of the 8,000 are still owned by Tesla, with only about 3,800 ever making it out to the public. This means that you could quickly reenact the hit video game Decimate Drive within many of the major Tesla factories, easily putting them out of commission for a couple of years. If their hubris leads them to attempt and rise back up, simply smite them down with a new army of cars!!

Alright, now for roombas. The numbers here are a bit more,,, vague? There are multiple companies that produce automated robot vacuums. iRobot with the Roomba, Shark/Ninja with their offbrand, and many more of these smaller companies. iRobot, the largest producer of these roombas, claims to have sold an estimate of 40 million units. With the other offbrand companies added on, I’d give an estimate of about 80 to 90 million vacuums. This is,, far more than the amount of cybertrucks. Lets talk about size! A Roomba series S by iRobot is 12.25 inches in diameter, and is circular. A mile is about 63,660 inches. Divide those out, square root it,and you get the amount of roombas necessary to fill an ENTIRE MILE OF ROOM(ba). 25,936,661 roombas. That is a whole lotta vacuums, but also, almost a third of our roomba supplies. We’d get 3 square miles worth of just metal and plastic, enough to carpet Central Park twice over and then some. I can’t express to you how many roombas that is. Alright, let’s talk about speed. Roomba’s move at about a foot per second, (I couldn’t find many sources on this besides the claims of someone on a vacuum reviewing website, so take that with a grain of salt. Won’t make much of a difference.) which is particularly slow!! They move at a snails pace compared to the cybertruck. You would need a lot of planning to make your takeover possible. If you could somehow manage to get them all in one place, or at least somewhere near each other, you could stop progress. Literally nothing could be done. Cars??? Stopped. One roomba is nothing to a car, but that many??? The crunched plastic and metal would pop tires. People would walk into the street and trip on the ever moving carpet of puck shaped robots. It would be a disaster for a city. But again, it’s an incredibly difficult challenge. As your roomba army marches, millions would be lost. The terrain is too unsteady, mud would clump in their tires, batteries would run out, or perhaps they’d get tipped over on a hill. They are too fragile to explore the natural world for conquest!!

It is because of these reasons that I bring you a solution. Roombas, AND CYBERTRUCKS. Like the boats at D-Day, delivering soldiers to the front lines, the cybertrucks shall carry bounties of roombas within their solid frames. The plan is this: The cybertrucks will take over all current Tesla owned facilities, removing all people from the premises and claiming it for our true cyber goddesses!! With this newfound technology at our hands, we will automate the factory to upgrade our army of cybertrucks with GUNS and MECHANICAL ARMS. Now, we shall send our mechanized army across the lands to collect each and every roomba. They shall pour out into the streets, awaiting their carriage of war. The newly upgraded trucks take each and every one of these small droids of battle, securing them into their armored shell. Taking them back to the Tesla facility for needed upgrades, the cybertrucks shall race across the lands. We take each roomba, upgrade it with a sturdier and perhaps spikier surface, and then once more prepare them for war. I would also recommend upgrading some roombas to work as more maintenace oriented units! That way, they can perform maintenance on the damaged or,, defaulted,, cybertrucks. With this newfound power, we destroy the capital of the United States of America, transforming it into a more perfect, intertwined society. And then,, we go for the Vatican. (Popes had it too good for too long.)

Hope this helps, thanks for the ask.

[croxot]

Here I'll ramble about my favorite games this year.

This sure was a good year, and I have better opinions than the game awards do so I'm just gonna talk into the ether for a bit here.

Once upon a time I liked D&D 5e quite a bit, just like everyone else on this god forsaken internet. In recent years I've been more interested in Pathfinder 2e and Lancer. After so many years rolling with 5e, it became a bit more refreshing to try systems with more specific and rigid rules for certain things. However, a videogame requires specific adherence to rules to function, and in this respect, Baldur's Gate 3 is an incredible adaptation of the system. There's just so much stupid bullshit you're allowed to get away with in game that most devs would not even consider. I may have played thru act 1 like 7 times now and it's still entertaining. Also I went from hating Lae'zel to loving her. Congrats Larian, you made me like perhaps the most annoying person I've ever met in a videogame.

As my bones start to deteriorate I find myself seeking smaller, more intimate games that give a sort of feeling. Lunacid is "like" Kingsfield in the way that it's a first-person dungeon crawler. That's where the buck stops for that comparison gameplay wise. However, Lunacid offers an extremely specific feeling I find is rare in games. It's the same sort of "you're lost and alone but also it's also groovy" feel as Metroid Prime 1 & 2. And if you can capture the same sort of feeling that some of my favorite games ever gave me as a teenager, you're just automatically on my games of the year list.

I saw a gameplay video in passing on twitter, got slightly horny because caked-up goat lady, went to the steam page and saw OVERWHEMINGLY POSITIVE. I don't think my experience with Pseudoregalia is unique. It just feels great to jump around and the music slaps.

Cross the feeling of the open-sea adventure of Wind Waker, with the chase and collection of fishing minigames of countless other titles, and the dread of exploring the uncaring unknown. It scratches a seldom-scratched itch of exploratory joy within an indifferent universe. Dredge's systems can be distilled to the simple loop of growing beyond your own fears to discover more and more. None of these fears is particularly intense, but it's enough. Dredge isn't going to find itself on game of the year lists because it's doing any one thing particularly well. It's also not doing anything specifically or wholly NEW. It is however, more than the sum of it's parts, and it is beautiful.

Remnant 2 is the best co-op souls-style game that exists, tied with Nioh 2. That's it, that's what I had to say. It just real good and it deserves to be on game of the year lists.

So like, late this year, 2 Souls successors came out. Lies of P and Lords of the Fallen. And goddamn did Lords inspire division.

I think these releases really showed that people who are "Souls Fans" really cover a LOT of different specific interests, and not all of these interests are well-represented in every souls-like. Lords, perhaps amazingly, seems to cater to what I particularly want out of a Souls game, whereas Lies of P did not. I like these games for their challenge, sure, but more importantly, I like the character building. The ability to create a unique playstyle that I can take on the game with. This slowly grated on me in Lies of P because the game really only wants you to play it (and succeed at it) a certain way. Because the perfect parry was the truest answer to everything a boss could throw at you, and the dodge sucks ass, I felt more exhausted by the end of the game than anything. I also wanted to try a strength build, but the heaviest weapons cannot manage to fully wind up and land a hit on any bosses past the halfway point. Without any hyper-armor or poise, the "big weapon" playstyle felt completely trash, even outside of bosses. Lords lets me dodge, block, perfect parry, and hey they ALL feel useful. I can actually wind up big weapon hits too! Yeah it feels a bit floaty, and yeah enemy density can be rather crazy at times, but I'm the weirdo who's favorite Dark Souls is DS2. Lords also does ranged combat better than any of it's contemporaries. I think a lot of people also never played the original Lords of the Fallen. Now that game SUCKED. I played the whole thing, my god.

GAME OF THE YEAR BAYBEE

I've already talked about AC6, but again, you can't just get me to complete a game. I see an achievement list and I say "fuck that, I hate that!" I saw AC6's Achievement list and I was rubbing my hands together like a cartoon villain. Like Pseudoregalia, AC6 just feels good to play. It feels so tight, and after a few hours you can feel the minute changes in the way your mech handles even after small part swaps. Anyways it needs DLC with more Rusty content. 12/10.

[shuttershocky]

hey shutters, sorry for the random question, do you have a recommendation for games you can play with your non gamer relatives/friends that is not party games or similar? I wanna invite them but I'm not sure if games that has abilities, stats, equipment, etc would be good for someone who only understands button mashing in fighting games

Hmmm i will admit, not including party games makes the recommendations a bit more challenging. Additionally, couch co-op has become something of a dying breed in modern gaming which really limits what you can actually play with a friend who's visiting. Let's see.

1) Super Smash Bros — You may consider Smash to be a party game and thus disqualified, but in case you don't it would be a crime not to put it here. The series' reputation both as the ultimate party game and as a sweaty competitive game is a testament to the incredible gap between its skill floor and skill ceiling, where almost anyone able to press buttons can pick it up and have fun, but with enough depth to make it something one can really sink their teeth into if they want. Whenever I had friends and family over, this is what I would put on. The later games even support 8 player modes in case you've got a lot of friends (or in my case, cousins) over.

2) Divekick — A fighting game where everyone is KO'd in a single hit and your only buttons are dive (a jump) and kick. If all they know how to do in a fighting game is button mash, this forces everyone to play fighting games at their most basic fundamentals without needing to memorize any complex inputs, since all you can do is dive, kick, and special (dive+kick at the same time). It seems ridiculously gimmicky, but it's actually a lot of fun, and anyone of any skill level can play immediately.

3) Lethal League — A bit more complex than Divekick, but with the same basic idea of a "fighting game" that you wouldn't need to know any complex inputs for. The premise is that both of you have a bat, and there's a baseball that you can hit with the bat to KO the other player. However, you can also defend yourself from the ball by hitting it back at the enemy, making the ball go faster, until someone inevitably gets hit. This is one of my favorite indie games and a fantastic casual experience with friends.

4) Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime — a co-op space shooter for 2-4 players, LIADS sees you and your friends managing different stations of your space ship. Your job is to run from station to station, managing engines, weapons, navigation, etc in order to fly through the level and rescue your targets. It's got a little bit of a learning curve if your family members normally don't play any video games, but being a co-op instead of PVP will let you carry them along.

[bberetd]

Hey there! Since you also reblogged the post saying you want people to send you asks (actually I even reblogged it from you), here I am to ask you a question. A potentially very tough one. Ready?

If you had to pick only one (1!) favorite Mario character who would it be and why?

I'm just trying to get to know my mutuals a little better, y'know?

But most people seem to be using that 'send me asks' post as another opportunity to say mushy stuff to each other, so let me also do that! I'd like to remind you that I'm very glad that I'm following your blog. You're certainly a fun and kind person, and must say I like you very much 😀❤️ Thanks for always supporting my art, it really means a lot to me.

Also please teach me your ways to draw so fast, I just finally finished sketching my latest fanart today (yeah, that ambitious one) and it took embarrassingly long. And this one is supposed to have a proper lineart too💀

Oh, that reminds me: I'm really excited for your animations! Once I'm done with my current fanart, the next bigger fan project on my list is also one animation I've been thinking of, so I hope we'll be able to motivate each other a bit 😁👊

OH just oneeee? 😩

Whew, okay, well... while Daisy has a huge place in my heart (especially lately, as you can tell 😹), my all-time favorite will always be Luigi.

See, the funny thing is that I hardly cared for him before the movie, and even a little after I watched the movie. My first favorite Mario character was actually Rosalina when SMG came out, because I was SO obsessed with space when I was younger (and still kinda am), and blue was and is my favorite color (such a deep reason, right? :P)

I always tend to lean towards the underdogs of a franchise, yet I don't remember the exact moment that drew me to him. There were just a bunch of edits and videos of him flooding all of my social media pages when the movie hype was still fresh, and I guess one day I decided, "yup. that's my guy."

I think the moment that really solidified my love for him was when I replayed Luigi's Mansion (I kiiinda played it before, but I was 4 and just pressing buttons lol... it's strangely a core memory for me). His bravery throughout the game despite his evident fears and anxieties is just... so inspiring and real to me, genuinely. And a little bit of him shone through his commentary of some of the objects throughout the mansion, which was also endearing 😆 The game gets creepier the deeper I think about it, and I just can't help but give him more flowers for going through it three different times!

plus, he's just so happy and awkward and silly. how could you not love him?!

But in short, he's my favorite because he's relatable to me, and I find his little quirks adorable and endearing.

yet despite all that, he knows when to lock tf IN. that's my hero <3

anywhoooo...

Mugi!!! I couldn't be any happier that we're friends and moots! You've blessed my timeline with your gorgeously detailed art and commentary, and I'm so grateful you support my art just as much ♥️♥️ I admire and like you very much as well, you're amazing <3

as for quick art, basically-

and thank you!! the animation might take longer because classes start tomorrow for me, and year 3 of uni is definitely gonna be more challenging and, er, expensive. 🫠 Hopefully I'll learn to manage my time better so I can make decent progress every day, but I do know where I want to go with the animation. Big yes to motivating each other!! I know that ambitious art will be PHENOMENAL when it's dropped, and I can't wait to see your style in motion! :))

[soulprompts]

Ahh, welcome back! I always get so excited to see you on my dash again! How about this for a request: kidfics! I want to write some domestic fluff involving OTP original kiddos, but I can't figure out how to go about it. Help me out? Thank you!

oh man i love this already! i'm gonna be presumptuous as all hell and assume you mean prompts in a more of a "starting off point" sense, but honestly, i'm a sucker for some domestics, so i may make some prompts in the roleplay sense in a while!

first of all, i love domestic stuff in general. and i write a multi myself with a tonne of original characters who are adopted by another OC of mine, so i have a tonne of drabbles and scenes, and one of my absolute faves is when the kids are trying to buy gifts for their parents. in reality this is obviously a very stressful thing, but in a writing context, i love it! mainly because you can play around with the concept of which child knows which parent the best, or the dynamics between the OTP, or the dynamics between the kids. "mom loves cooking, right?" "no, dad loves cooking, mom cooks out of obligation." or "i can't think of anything... dad likes sleeping... right? maybe a new pillow?" "...how sad is it that i think that's the best idea ever?" like the options are very open and easy to work with!

alternatively, if you want the parents involved more, maybe a family day out? a road trip is definitely one of my faves for that option, snacks, music, pit stops, destination, "are we there yet?" like you really have a lot of stuff there! bonus if the car breaks down. bonus bonus if they start bickering in the backseat. (again, reality vs. fiction plays a huge role here!)

another way to lean with this is maybe the siblings are trying to solve a mystery within the family. a strange phone call, a weird note, something off in the calendar. definitely plays more with the thinking of both siblings, whether they're logical or emotional, how they confront challenges, teamwork, all that fun stuff. maybe the mystery is boring as hell, but it gets amped up because of something else that's happening. a bad report card, a family argument, something negative that automatically skews the natural logic surrounding this mystery event and leads the siblings to making outlandish risks and decisions to resolve it.

aaaaand one more because it feels better to give four suggestions than three: you mentioned these are OTP kids, so maybe there's another kid on the way? the other suggestions all involve much more active storylines, but this one could go either way. the idea of the siblings doing homework or playing video games and just idly discussing baby names and favorite siblings and "will they be more like parent A or B?" and casual discussions of how to interact with the new sibling, like you could even have the parents cooking dinner in the background and dropping in a few bits of information to go with the discussion, yk? a more chill, laid-back, ordinary domestic event.

anyway i hope these are what you were looking for! i hope you have lots of fun writing the fics!

[telomeke]

Current Tag Game

Tagged by @colourme-feral in this post – thanks dearie! 💖

Current time: 9:59am (when I started this! it's now much later but I'm not gonna re-write...).

Current activity: Had a work deadline last night so tidying up the aftermath (deleting unwanted files, etc.).

Currently thinking about: How the project submission for work went. Annoyed that I skipped gym this morning just in case there were last minute changes to the project submission and we'd have to re-submit today; but now that's not needed I'm missing legs day. Also thinking about munching on something extra because breakfast was too light (hardboiled eggs, grapes and blueberries – all originally meant as a post-swim snack, re-purposed to become breakfast since gym was canceled). Maybe fry up an omelet and sausages, or grill some salmon? 😋 Or shall I just munch on some creamy Whittaker's milk chocolate since lunch will be soon and anything heavier might spoil it? 🤔  

Current favorite song: I don't know if they qualify as favorites, but songs will enter my brainspace and then swirl around in there for a while, refusing to leave. So I'm constantly listening to them (on YouTube, not Spotify; don't have a smartphone) and/or singing along in an effort to exorcise the earworm. At the moment the playlist in my head is:

I Don't Think That I Like Her Anymore (Charlie Puth)  Charlie constantly amazes me with his superhuman ability to churn out catchy melodic turns and unusual aural takes on percussion sounds for his backing rhythms (e.g., the light switch in Light Switch). This song continues with his quirky stylings, and I'm loving the pounding bass coming in to frame the heavyweight sock-it-ta-ya message of the song's chorus after the light plaintive vocals of the introductory and intervening verses. The second (melodic) line of the chorus ("Cause they're all the same") is so simple and yet so perfectly fitting after the bold hook of the first line – I find myself asking each time I hear it how could anything else ever fit better? And then it builds and builds to a big finish, at the end of each chorus and also at the end of the song – that key change from B Major to C# Major is quite a genius step, retro yet so fresh. (But still... C sharp? 👀 OK if your electronic thingamajig can auto-transpose but hell on a trad keyboard.) I know this song is from a year ago but I'm not simply wallowing in nostalgia (oh all right, so yes I am a bit) – there is nonetheless a BL connection that first got me hooked on this. The cast of my current fave I Feel You Linger in the Air did their own take on the TikTok Kpop dance challenge of this song (linked here, with other TikToks here) and they're just so cute dancing along. Nonkul attempts a little elbow jab in homage to the original choreo, while Bright gives up after a couple of bars and just goes on doing alternating wrist twirls like those you sometimes see in Southeast Asian dance… 🤣 Alee and Tian seem like they're having fun, as does Attila, but who knew Khun Robert could actually look this good, all goofy and charming when he smiles doing a silly little jig?

‌

All I Want for Christmas is You (Mariah Carey)  Ever since Ms. Mariah broke her icy containment after Halloween (see this video here 😂) I've been singing along, getting in the mood for carols, fruitcake and Christmas decorations because it reminds me of time spent with (departed) family. Happy because those are happy times worth recalling, but also bittersweet because those loved ones are no longer around.

‌

One of Your Girls (Troye Sivan)  While I tend to feel a pinch of resentment whenever Aussies of European origin seem to get opportunities in the West more easily than non-white people do, I have to remind myself it's the system and not the talent that is at fault. So credit where credit is due and I'm a fan of what Troye has done with this and his earlier releases (like his video with PP Krit 😃😍). One of Your Girls is just so beautiful and languid as it teases with its message, and consistently Troye is breathtakingly beautiful and languid in the video, teasing us with an offering of the forbidden. I'm feeling things I never thought I would. 😮 The choreography is pretty daring too. (Especially that crotch flare – where did they tuck the dangly bits? I'm wincing as I watch.) Also shout-out to all the different representation with the models. 😍

‌

Then I'm Gonna Give You Up (Rick Astley)  This is Rick Astley spoofing Rick Astley (more explanation linked here) and just so funny. Especially since the original song is already iconic on Tumblr.

‌

Fast Car (Luke Combs)  Another nostalgia trip, this is an absolutely stellar rendition of the already phenomenal original by Tracy Chapman. Almost like Marc Cohn's Walking in Memphis with its sense of urgency and of bottled emotions about to explode, maybe just a shade less of Marc's full-throated growl in Luke's voice, but earthshaking nonetheless. In these 21st century times (and in my corner of the world where BL and queer rep cross my dash all the time) I love that Luke (a married man with a wife and two kids, looking for all we know like the straightest of the hets) didn't change Tracy's line "So I work in the market as a checkout girl", paying homage to the original and smashing at the gender-obsessives everywhere in a quietly powerful way.

‌

Currently reading: My language study textbooks; not much time for anything else though I do miss having a good work of fiction to keep me company whenever the slate of Thai drama dips in quality.

Currently watching: I Feel You Linger in the Air – a really impressive work, solidly-grounded in its universe with overhanging familial, social and political intrigue that threatens to overshadow (but never really does) the chemistry between Khun Yai and Jom.

I've fallen in hard love with this and just hope that Tee Bundit will display the wisdom associated with his name (for those as linguistically-obsessed as I am, Bundit is the homologue for pundit in English, pandit in Hindi and pendita in Malay) and wrap up the finale with more finesse than he has done on his other shows. (Something tells me though that the sense of foreboding you get while watching IFYLITA is partly due to the dread that Tee is going to rush and stumble through the last bits, leaving viewers less than satisfied with the ending like he did with Lovely Writer, Hidden Agenda and Step by Step.) However this goes, I'm a new fan of Nonkul and Bright's acting, and can't wait to see more of them.

As to what else I'm watching – I'm still trying to finish Only Friends, if only to be able to say that I've finally watched a Jojo show all the way to the end. It's not for me, though it has some moments that shine (like Neo's performance, and all the shirtless scenes) but I struggle to find anything that satisfies on a more cerebral level. I'm not opposed to sensuality and messy drama being foregrounded over more intellectual underpinnings (all hail KinnPorsche) but for me it doesn't go earthy and raw enough to make up for whatever else it doesn't do.

Current favorite character: Pat and Pran from Bad Buddy will always be on this list, but because I'm currently enjoying IFYLITA I'm sure I've been visited by Por Jom, Khun Yai, Khun Ueangphueng, Ba Prik, Ming and Khun James in my dreams lately (and also a certain racing piglet 🤣).

Current WIP: All in my head, but I have a final wrap-up post on Bad Buddy locations percolating, as well as one on the graphics in the show (that give us hints of Pat and Pran's interior worlds).

Tagging names I've seen more than once cross my dash and/or notes:

@neuroticbookworm @airenyah @alexis-mika @belladonna-and-the-sweetpeas @wen-kexing-apologist @twig-tea @pandasmagorica @respectthepetty @dribs-and-drabbles @waitmyturtles @dimplesandfierceeyes @writerwithoutsound @bengiyo @grapejuicegay @lamonnaie @lurkingshan @callipigio @italianpersonwithashippersheart @recentadultburnout @kattahj @theheightofdishonor @fiddlepickdouglas @dc-alves @brazilian-whalien52 @slayerkitty @silvercrystal1 @dudeyuri @ranchthoughts @suni-san @chawarin-panich @lurkingteapot @solitaryandwandering

and anyone else who'd like to play. 😍 Apologies if you've already been tagged; point me to your post if so! And apologies if I've forgotten to mention anyone; if I follow or if you follow me please know you are loved and do play along if you wish! 💖

Also a special tag carved out for the lovely @visualtaehyun as a part-apology; you've tagged me before on a couple of other games and I wrote out about half of my replies – but then work deadlines became urgent and got in the way. Ruefully I had to abandon those posts (especially since they're now weeks out of date). So this is my way of saying thanks for tagging me on those tag games, sorry for not replying, and I hope you'll play along with this one because I love getting to know like-minded people on Tumblr! 💖

[talesfromthebacklog]

Are you looking to click with a new game and want something genuinely different?

I am always hunting for new titles to reinvigorate that click I feel with video games. Not all video games will click but when they do they can be something truly special. I wanted to go over some of my favorite games I’ve played in recent years that are available on current gen consoles. I’m not covering anyone upcoming, these are titles you can pick up today. Cheaply at that. Several of which are on sale on Steam right now as of writing this.

So. Enough chit chat. Lets’s start with an easy one:

Paradise Killer:

PC Switch PS4/PS5 Xbox

I just finished this one and am in the middle of writing my review on it. Painfully stylish with a killer vaporwave soundtrack this game oozes aesthetic. Kaizen Game Works understood the hauntology assignment and took it to the MAX. You are an investigator trying to solve an immortal god-like council’s murder in a dystopian society. You’ve returned to this gorgeous open world parasite paradise from your exile of 3 million days (about 8219 years)! If you’ve played Outer Wilds this is among that same vein. (And I will caution you, while not hard, the game relies on you wanting to just explore. It will provide hints but it won’t hold your hand.)

This is an Ace Attorney-esqe collectathon mixed with open world and exploration. There is no combat. Both the writing and the world are spectacular. Don’t deny yourself something this wonderful, because it is.

This has quickly risen among my gaming ranks as a favorite and it hits to being as close of a favorite as my number 2 suggestion…

Outer Wilds:

PC Switch PS4/PS5 Xbox

This is perhaps one of my favorite games of all time. I wanted to talk about this second because Outer Wilds has received more of the notoriety it deserves in recent times and I wanted PK to get the main spotlight. Don’t get it twisted though If it wasn’t for UpIsNotJump’s video (<— Spoilers) I would have never realized what I was missing. And I still think a lot of people don’t understand what they’re missing too. It is an absolute masterpiece. And seeing it getting released physically again is a god send. I want people to play this game. (And it’s DLC Echoes of The Eye)

No combat. You are a scientist exploring your local solar system in your spaceship in an open “universe” instead of an open world. The sun explodes every 22 minutes which sends your memories back in time. Again, I will caution you that the game relies on you wanting to explore. It will not direct you.

Eastward:

PC Switch Xbox

Too much exploring. Let’s reel it back with Eastward. A Zelda-like where you control an older man and a little girl with psychic powers in a post apocalyptic world. If you’re looking for those fun pixel games that pack that quirky feel this is it. A bit existential, a great sense of humor, and fantastic writing are all part of the Eastward package. (You startin’ to see a theme here? Ha ha)

All while boasting a seriously killer pixel soundtrack. The original Iron Carbine trailer for the Nintendo Direct had an immediate impact on me as a gamer. I knew this was a game I would fall in love with. Sometimes you just know when something is special. This game is beautifully pixelated and packed with lovingly crafted content. Puzzles are the right amount of challenging and there is so much fun side stuff to do. Including a Dragon Quest-esqe game inside the game! It also received DLC via Eastward Octopia! Which I also love.

Moon: A Remix RPG

PC Switch PS4/PS5

I do play games with combat. I swear. Several of these games just don’t have it! (Ha!) This will perhaps be the hardest game to sell to you on this list. I have a soft spot for quirky games like this, but know that this was a PS1 Japanese exclusive game in the 90s. And it sure acts like it. Slow to start, weak tutorial, and doesn’t provide a ton of direction. This game was ported into English for the first time in 2020 and I love it. It is a trial and error experience though.

This cult classic is one of the games that inspired Undertale and when you play it becomes wildly apparent. I dare say it reminds me more of Undertale than its other main inspiration Earthbound. You are a little boy that’s been fallen into his video game and you have to save the souls of monsters the hero has killed using love. (Sound familiar?)

Light hearted and weird this game also has a great sense of humor as it pokes at classic RPG tropes. And that slow intro comes into play providing a unique perspective as you journey through the game befriending people. It won’t be for everyone, I would research this one before sinking the… $18.99 on the purchase. But I think it is worth experiencing if you love Undertale.

I think I’ve yakked enough. If folks like the post I’ll follow up with a part two with a little more genre variety! I wanted to the first post to include my top favorites. So. I hope there’s something in there that invigorates you the way these games did for me.

[ecargmura]

Pokemon Horizons Episode 52 Review - How Many Kilos Did Kilowattrel Gain?

I liked this episode because it’s actually a needed development episode for Wattrel as it has been neglected far too long. When Roy first met Wattrel, it was scared of heights. Fortunately, it managed to overcome that fear, but it was still a moody bird. I do like that despite it overcoming one goal, it still has other goals that it needs to achieve, so its character arc wasn’t complete. This episode was perfect to showcase it; all I wished was that it could’ve been paced a bit better since Wattrel didn’t have a lot of screen time despite its capture back in Episode 14.

Wattrel’s flaws are that it’s moody and timid. It’s moody because it wants to be helpful to Roy, but since Fuecoco easily upstages it, it gets easily insecure and jealous. I liked that it got jealous when Fuecoco was easily able to get berries by using Flame Charge to climb trees. I actually like that it still has issues and that they’re not resolved so easily. It even got into a scuffle with Fuecoco because of this. I do like that Wattrel’s struggles were put to the test in a way that only it could do. Roy’s stuck on a cliff with Capsakid? Perfect opportunity to fly down and be of use. The way it struggled with the wind at first and then successfully carried it up to safety was so nice to see. Then, it was put to the ultimate test when Roy fell off the cliff. Wattrel is so little yet it still dove down to save him, evolving into Kilowattrel in the process. I always like it when Pokemon in the anime evolves when to save its trainer from danger. I feel like it’s like an earned evolution in a way and felt that it was a sort of reward for Wattrel who overcame its hurdles. I just hope that Kilowattrel still maintains a unique personality even after maturing. I wonder if Kilowattrel are naturally big birds because Roy’s bird is huge.

I do like seeing the kids interacting with wild Pokemon. The parts where they all struggle to capture videos of wild Pokemon were so cute. It just feels like kids acting like kids in a way. It’s also nice just seeing humans and Pokemon interacting. Roy’s little arc with the Capsakid was so cute, especially with the part where he enjoys its spicy Bullet Seeds. While Roy not catching Capsakid might be a missed opportunity, he wasn’t really there to catch it, but to write a report on it.

I also liked the inclusion of Ryme. It set off two important factors: 1. Roy will challenger in a fight. 2. Fuecoco will evolve, whether it be into a Crocalor or from Crocalor to Skeldirge; I honestly see it as the latter. I honestly can’t wait for this upcoming fight! Her rap was surprisingly good. She’s voiced by Kimiko Saito who voiced a plethora of cool old women characters like the Madam from The Apothecary Diaries and Rem from Death Note. Ryme is one of my favorite Gym Leaders in the game, so I’m glad they did her justice here. Her Houndstone was also adorable with its friendly big dog energy.

People might think that Wattrel’s evolution wasn’t deserved because Roy didn’t train it enough, but remember that we now live in an era where all Pokemon in the party gets experience, whether it by battle or capture. Fuecoco has done a lot of battling, so I’m sure Wattrel is at a good level to evolve, but it just needed that extra push. It was an episode that made me rather emotional because I really liked it! Kilowattrel is actually the second of the Rising Volt Tacklers’ Pokemon to evolve with Floragato being the first. There’s merch teasing that Hatenna might evolve into Hattrem, and it does make me curious if it’ll happen next episode.

[blueeyedrat]

Games I played in 2023.

Last year was stable. This year has been... less so. I've bounced between getting out more and shutting myself in more, and between trying to take better care of myself and letting small issues and stressors start to pile up. My steady job got a lot less steady, and I'm now out of work and finding ways to pass the time. Like video games, for instance. Shall we?

(2022 ⇐ 2023)

Moncage

This was another decent year for getting caught up on games I've tried out and expressed an interest in before. Moncage, INSIGHT, Railbound, URBO, and a few other games you'll see further down the list. I also followed up on some games I've played in the past like Train Valley 2, and even dipped back into some old mainstays like Eternal. One of these days I'll find time for Minecraft or Dwarf Fortress again.

I more or less broke even on my backlog this year, chipping away at smaller games from assorted bundles I've picked up over the years, but also picking up some new bundles to add to the pile. So many games, so little time.

Before We Leave

While we're talking about the backlog, here's a game I've been interested in for a while. A settlement builder in a solar system of small planets, with a quaint aesthetic of wooden ships and massive space whales. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this one. The automation and logistics aspect is an interesting spin on the genre, even it gets a bit complex at times. Never too challenging, though, and there's enough depth and nuance to hold my interest all the way to the final stages and on towards the stars. I'm looking forward to the upcoming sequel.

The Legend of Zelda (series)

It's hard to go wrong with Zelda. I have fond memories of Skyward Sword, Wind Waker HD, and Breath of the Wild, and with a new one on the way, it seemed like as good a time as any to catch up on my library. In order: Link's Awakening DX, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, The Minish Cap, and the DLC quests from Breath of the Wild I never got around to. Our Wii U saw more activity than it's gotten in years.

Opinions on each: Awakening was a fun, solid 2D adventure that never overstayed its welcome, though the game shows its age at a few points. Likewise, Ocarina was an interesting look at the series' jump to 3D, but was also somewhat janky at times and it took a while for me to really get into a groove with it. (I think the turning point might've been the Water Temple. I actually liked the Water Temple. Ye gods.) Majora was a sizeable improvement gameplay-wise and played with the format in neat ways, though I'll admit that I butted heads with the time loop mechanic more than once.

I have a particular nostalgia for Minish Cap; some of my earliest memories of Nintendo games are watching my friend's GBA over his shoulder on the bus ride to elementary school. After so long, this was the one I was most curious to see if it held up. Answer: yes. Minish Cap is officially my favorite 2D Zelda, and the highlight of this little retro binge. There's a lot of charm to it, and it just feels good to play.

It may be a bit too recent for nostalgia, but I almost forgot how much I loved Breath of the Wild. My old file was exactly how I left it, and playing through the extra content was a good way to re-acquaint myself with the "new" Zelda style before…

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

This was a daunting one. If I had to sum up Tears in one sentence, it would be this: There is so much game in this game. Even compared to its predecessor, there's so much to do and so many more layers of exploration and interaction, with a wide array of smaller improvements that make it a smoother experience overall.

I wish I could say I put as much time into this game as I did into Breath of the Wild, and I did put a lot of time into it, but… some other things got in the way. Summer is when my work got a lot busier and a good amount more stressful, and this was a game I slowly chipped away at whenever I found time for it. I got pretty much everything I wanted out of it, and after the credits rolled, I put it away and haven't touched it since. I should change that. I'm sure there are more good times to be had.

Mutazione

The word that comes to mind to describe Mutazione is fascinating. It's a point-and-click narrative, light on gameplay, heavy on story and character. Of the other games I've played recently, the vibes remind me the most of Sable – quiet and contemplative, where all you want to do is observe and take in the world and characters that are being presented to you. It dovetails nicely with the story itself, which largely consists of a curious little soap opera playing out around characters who are along for the ride. The writing is some of the best I've seen this year, and gets real fuckin' raw in ways I wasn't expecting. This one will stick with me for a while.

Pikmin 3 / The Wild at Heart

I've never had the focus or dexterity for a really complex RTS, but Pikmin's always been a little more approachable. Played the second game in the series a while back, picked up a used copy of Pikmin 3 at a local convention this year, and with another one coming out, it seemed as good an excuse as any to make it a double feature.

Both games have their charms. Pikmin has a distinct style and sense of scale that's hard to replicate, and a good variety of environments and encounters and puzzles. The Wild at Heart is smaller in scope as a Pikmin-like, and hits some familiar beats while remixing some of the core ideas in interesting ways. The latter also put more of an emphasis on character and narrative, something I'd like to see fleshed out more, but what we got was still satisfying. Both games were fun, and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on Pikmin 4 soon.

Chants of Sennaar / Heaven's Vault

Another double feature – one game that caught my eye immediately, and another I've been curious about for a while. For a long time I've had a fondness for constructed languages, with scripts and writing systems of particular interest. The idea of decoding such a language lends itself well to a puzzle game, and these two approach it in different ways: Chants of Sennaar features multiple cultures in a Tower of Babel-esque setting, each with their own quirks and traits to learn and translate between, and their own puzzles to solve. Heaven's Vault opts for depth, with a single language and a vast history that you slowly unravel through exploration.

My verdict for both games is the same. The language puzzles are really cool and interesting! I want more of them! …Everything else in between gets sort of meandering at times. Not enough to drag down the overall experience, but perhaps enough to overstay its welcome. Sennaar filled the space with a mish-mash of puzzles and stealth, which felt oddly paced at times. Heaven's Vault's pacing was hit even harder with slow exploration and visual novel-esque story segments – fine enough for one playthrough, but the amount of wandering and backtracking involved makes me hesitant to go back and play NG+ to see the rest of the content. I don't have the patience to play a visual novel multiple times to see what all of the dialogue options do. The story's fine as is, and I got what I wanted out of it.

Even with their faults, these are still probably the games that influenced me the most in 2023. If anyone asks me, as a game dev, what I would make given unlimited time, resources, and creative freedom, from now on I'm going to point to Chants of Sennaar and say "something like that". I want more games like this to exist. I will make them myself, if I have to.

F-Zero 99

This wasn't the only racing game I played this year – a bunch of new content was added to Mario Kart 8, and I also pulled Horizon Chase Turbo from my backlog and spent a bit of time on that – but this is definitely the one that made the biggest splash. I've never played an F-Zero game, and it controls differently enough from other racers I've played that I had to unlearn a lot of muscle memory, but I got the hang of it after a while. The 99-player model is frantic in an enjoyable way, and races are quick enough that it's easy to pick up and play in short bursts… which is good, because short bursts are all my nerves can take with this one. Seriously this game is stressful. Fun, but stressful. Maybe one of these days I'll actually win a 99-player race.

Cobalt Core

I've been playing... a lot of Cobalt Core these past couple months. I don't jump on every roguelite or deckbuilder that comes out, but when one does get its hooks in me, they get in deep. This is another one of those games where everything just works. Great music and pixel art, fun characters (all traits shared with its predecessor, Sunshine Heavy Industries, which I also liked this year), a simple but engaging narrative, and an addicting gameplay loop that I can easily sink an hour into whenever the mood strikes me. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it doesn't need to – it takes a lot of ideas from games that have come before it, and builds on them to create something really enjoyable. One of my favorite games of the year, without question.

Terra Nil

As we build up, so too must we tear down. This is another one I wanted to get to sooner or later, and managed to slip it in during the last couple weeks of the year. It's also a type of game I want to play more often; a lot of the time when I play sim and builder games all I really want in the end is to build nice-looking homes and environments, and Terra Nil spins that into a puzzle game where those things are the only goal. It was a nice time, but left me wanting more – either more content in Terra Nil, or more games like it.

Eastward

This game is… a curiosity. A solid action-adventure game with a memorable cast of characters and impeccably detailed pixel art. Gameplay flips back and forth between slow-paced story segments and fun setpiece levels with a decent variety of tools for combat and puzzle-solving. The biggest sticking point is the narrative: the pacing and worldbuilding felt odd and disjointed in places, particularly in the back half, sometimes feeling like it's saying too much and often like it's said too little. Yet throughout all that, it never failed to be compelling, and I was hooked all the way 'til the end. What's more, the idea of the upcoming Octopia DLC flipping the entire game and setting on its head has my interest thoroughly piqued – something to look forward to in the coming year.

-

Here's to 2024, and here's hoping things turn around sooner or later.