#how many animators missed out on am opportunity on this?

[master-gatherer]

So they used AI to make the credits for Secret Invasion

And it looks like ass

[keeps-ache]

mm i Neeed to go the beach

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 203

Another Hydra prompt! Because I am enjoying the designs I’ve made lol. And perhaps it’s a bit inspired by @radiance1 ‘s different dragon prompts too. 

So they’ve succeeded! They’ve managed to combine their powers- with a bit of shapeshifting helped along by so many ghost allies- and become a giant duck-you dragon! Well, originally they were going to do something else, but they couldn’t agree on an animal, so dragon it was! 

And how mighty they are! They’re giant, absolutely massive- dwarfing the couple of skyscrapers still in Amity. Damages via ghost attacks and general sparring made it where people really didn’t want to rebuild those types of buildings. 

But anyway, dragon! Them! They’re absolutely stunning! And did they mention powerful? Because boy oh boy, are they powerful. The GIW’s guns do practically nothing against their combined might, and barriers shatter before them! 

The uh, issue is that they erm… can’t turn back. Which is fine, they’ve all sort of outlived most of their generation- thank you possessions and ecto-contamination, it’s just a tiny bit of an adjustment. But really it’s not too bad, and someone needs to stop the GIW from trying to poke their heads into Amity. Like it’s been a solid couple of generations, it’s time to stop, thanks. 

Actually they’ve been a bit quiet. Meh, that surely isn’t a problem. Probably. Honestly they’re all going to use the opportunity to sprawl out where the school yard once was, their favorite place to sun their scales. Huh. Usually more people are around now that they think about it- or really, as Paulina points out, sharpening her fangs on one of the rocks. 

…

How long had they been sleeping, because it couldn’t have been that long. One of them was always awake, they slept in shifts after all! Yet there are things missing now as they patrol the skies, both Wes and Tucker pointing out specific buildings that the others didn’t particularly notice usually that now lay empty. 

Hm. 

Oh. That is a… strong barrier there. A really strong barrier actually. Pfft, they can take it! They’ve shredded every barrier together before- Ow. 

…

Okay this might be a bit of a problem. Shit. 

You want a general size reference? :P

[best-kotlc-ship-2024]

TOURNAMENT RULES

Hello! I’m staying anonymous, don’t be shy to turn this into some tam cam thing lol. This is a blog designated to find out who the fandoms favorite ship is. The tournament will start September 1st, as long as everything goes according to plan! Now let’s get into the ACTUAL rules.

• You must send me an ask or private message if you would like a certain ship to be in the tournament. I’ll try to think of every ship possible, but I am capable of missing one :)

• If you send me an ask I won’t answer it, but rest assure I have probably seen it!

• You will be able to submit ships until August 25th so I can have time to organize everything

• Any illegal ships will not be included in the tournament. Examples- a minor with one of the adults, or an elf/human with an animal.

• Sokeefe, Sofitz, and Sodex are unfortunately not allowed in the competition. I feel like these are the main ships people talk about, and I would prefer if this made people discuss less popular ships

• Depending on how many ships are submitted, more explanation on how long this will take will be released soon.

• I will allow any propaganda/fanart for a ship, I would love for this to be an opportunity for some creativity!

• These can be submitted any time before/during the contest, as long as the ship hasn’t been disqualified. The art/propaganda will only be used for one round, so multiple people can submit things if they want

More rules/details will be updated soon as needed!

Tags-

@myfairkatiecat

@permanently-stressed

@sasharcyreal

@aspenaspenaspenaspenaspen

@bookwyrminspiration

@crumpetsandbiscuits

@doodle-do-wop

@fintan-pyrens

@ham-cheese-toastie

@imobsessed123

@jedikeeper

@lisalovesapplesauce

@sophieelizebethfoster

@thishumanformislimiting

@thepieceoflintonyourfloor

@thesoulfromhms2

@keefe--sencen

@your-fav-artists-fav-artist

(sorry if you don’t wish to be tagged, it’s only once so I can get the word out!)

[kpop]

Music Spotlight: MIYAVI

Are you ready for a special Music Spotlight guest appearance? This week, we’re featuring popular singer/songwriter, guitarist, and actor MIYAVI to celebrate the release of his anime cover album MIYAVIVERSE. Check out our full interview below!

Tell us about your recent album, and what you hope fans take away from it.

The new one is an anime song cover album. We cover anime songs like Evangelion or Naruto or Hunter, classic ones. One of the reasons why we did that was because I am Japanese, so it’s great to relearn that content, and I’m sure so many of my fans will be familiar with those anime. It’s a fun process to bring those anime tracks to MIYAVI’s world. It’s a different kind of vibe—anime songs, J-pop. But once I start playing the guitar, it’s like the original universe of the sound—and that’s why we named the album MIYAVIVERSE. It doesn’t have to be only the anime songs—it’s more like when we covered ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, or ‘Youth of the Nation,’ or other Japanese tracks as well. Obviously it’s MIYAVI’s sound, but it’s a fun process to do a cover.

Your 14th studio album is themed around hit anime songs—what would you consider your favorite anime of all time, and your favorite opening/ending song?

My favorite is Dragon Ball Z. I know, it’s too classic, but that’s the thing I was watching when I was young. And every anime lover is going to respect Dragon Ball Z. To be honest, it’s too hard to cover that song—we can do it, but I don’t know if it's doable to perform on stage in a cool way. So that’s why we gave that one up.

Your illustrious career spans the last 20 years and multiple mediums—what would you consider the highlight up until now? Are there any major moments of growth you can recall?

Yes, a lot. First of all, when I moved to Tokyo from Osaka when I was 17 years old. I was kind of beginning to start finding myself as an artist. And then I became a solo artist, and then, you know, I started focusing on the guitars, and people started calling me a guitarist—so what’s my name? And then, in 2008, I started going on world tours, learning English, and acted in the film Unbroken with Angelina Jolie—so of course, you know these are big moments. And then I became an ambassador for UNHCR—that’s huge.

If you could give your younger self advice on how to cope with the pressures of society, especially in the entertainment industry, what would you tell them? Would you give your kids that same advice?

First of all, keep going and polishing up your skill, what you have—you know—your talent. That’s everything in the end. Nothing else helps you. I still just keep telling myself that. You know, it’s not about the connection or relationship or, of course, personality is counted—it’s included. More than that, as an artist, what you can give to the world is everything—so just keep going. As long as you have "it".

What are your biggest passions outside of music and acting? Are there any hobbies you turn to when you need to destress?

I play games. It’s a great connection with my daughters. It’s a huge connection, and then even while I'm away from home, I can still communicate with my daughters. And then it’s great to have something you share with your family. At the same time, it consumes a lot of time. So that’s the thing—once we start playing, it’s like we keep playing because it’s fun, and we go crazy. But at the same time, time is time, and I do need to work. But that is the hard part, and it is working well for our relationship. It is also the same thing if you play soccer or basketball or sports, it’s kind of the same thing.

This year marks your 20th anniversary, and in that time, you’ve racked up an impressive list of accomplishments. Is there anything you haven’t done yet that you’ve always wanted to? And are there any opportunities you regret not taking?

Basically, there are no opportunities that I regret not taking because I take everything. I never miss opportunities, as you know. When schedule conflicts, and some things that I was not able to do, there are some of course. But, personally, I never missed any opportunities in my life—so there is no regret. But there are tons of things that I have not accomplished, and want to accomplish. We haven’t gotten any GRAMMYs. These are not everything you know, but that's a great goal to have—and I have to work harder to accomplish it.

Want more MIYAVI? Check out his new anime song cover album MIYAVIVERSE here.

[perfectlovevn]

Is there any like. Tidbits we can know about the Milo's? Especially manipulation Milo I'm going feral over him- anyway, love your game! I've played it idk how many times at this point and I think I've found everything. All within a week of finding it but that doesn't matter hdhgsh

Here is a big list of Milo facts I made before.

Let's see if I can think of some more, probably just for Manipulation Milo then since right now its really hot and I can't think.

Manipulation Milo:

Probably owns like a ton of clothes for different occasions. Suits, dresses, headbands, trousers, shorts, whatever. He keeps up on trends and knows what works together well.

Sings very well in karaoke, probably has a soft yet playful voice, but when he gets desperate it becomes much softer, similar to how he is in PreMilo form.

Probably keeps up with a lot of shonen manga and whatever the latest anime is. Has a soft spot for anime about cats or romance animes back from when he was PreMilo.

Goes out of the way to talk to people who are loners quite often. Even if they don't particularly want to talk to him, he believes its important to leave some sort of rapport with them. Plus, the quiet ones always seem to know things they shouldn't. He should know, he was one of them before.

For some reason, I can imagine him lying down in a sunbeam like a cat does. Probably looks up at the MC and watches them every now and then.

I can imagine him always carrying snacks in his pocket and eating them through the day. Be careful if he offers you something, you never know whether or not it's drugged.

Manipulation Milo, I think I've mentioned before tries to mimic Eris in the way he talks. I think that unlike Eris who when speaking while walking is very pointed and decisive, he tends to sway gently from side to side, allowing his jacket to move back and forth.

Given the opportunity and the expertise, he does also have those kinds of malware on our computer, but only just for recording things like keystrokes, watching the camera or looking through your browser history. It's weird how he knows these things, am I right.

He's pretty good at rhythm games, and somehow never misses a beat when it comes to them. And fashion games. Inspired by that one post about mobile rhythm games. Hums along to the songs as he plays.

Physically much weaker than Violence Milo, but still is fairly strong for his height. Still, he is far less likely to use forceful methods and actually will feign getting hurt to gain sympathy.

[void-of-unparalled-chaos]

Okay so now that the semester is over, here is a list of actual things my paleontology professor said/did during lecture and discussion:

“I've watched this like 20 times now” (Prehistoric Planet 2 trailer)

“Hi yes I am me, an exemplar of our species. A prime specimen.”

*visible confusion while reading the Colossal website*

“Turkeys can be terrifying. Birds are terrifying in general”

“That’s David Attenbourough not a bird.”

“Thank you for clarifying.”

“You’re welcome! It’s what I’m here for! This is why I have a Ph.d!”

“You need to have a healthy bullshit meter to read any paleontology paper.”

“As I keep telling you, life hates us.”

“Look at the size of the head compared to the body. This is just stupid.”

“Look at the butt of that thing!”

*measures with hands on screen*

“This is a stupid looking animal.” (Cotylorhynchus romeri)

"for example comparing femur robustness is ... what does that even mean?"

“You can laugh…this is a stupid looking creature!”

“Then of course you have your penis worms.”

“Holding fossils from the Burgess Shale is a religious experience.”

“It would be a very mossy world, which I am not opposed to. I like moss :)”

“Taxonomy is a clusterfuck.”

“This is probably one of the most ridiculous animals to have ever evolved.” (Whales)

“It looks like a strange monster from the black lagoon.” (Maiacetus)

“It’s a magical Liopleurodon!”

*does push ups on a table to show us how a fish would have walked*

*showing us a video of a crocodile taken by someone in the water*

“Do NOT do this. Don’t jump into the water with a crocodile. It will end very badly :(“

“This was like one of the weirdest papers I’ve seen. Alright so Ken Carpenter is a very legitimate paleontologist in Colorado. He normally worked with dinosaurs but he also decided to try and figure out how mosasaurs swim. So you look at the skeleton but then you also put two undergrads in a pool, one grabbing the other one's legs to see how that double-limb locomotion would work. It's like the kookiest thing I’ve ever seen published… but yeah I'm not even sure how he got the approval for this… I don’t think this was grant funded… “I would like some undergrad volunteers to jump in a pool, one holding the other ones legs to see if they will drown.””

*rants about the size of the mosasaur in Jurassic World and debates with a student whether or not an actual size mosasaur could pull a T. Rex into the water*

“I like owls. They look like they are wearing trousers :)”

"The Ice Age movie was a missed opportunity. There were so many cool animals they could have used and they didn't use ANY of them! There were giant ground sloths that were so big you can stand in their fossilized burrows! Yeah sure we have that one guy...what's his name...Sid? Yeah sure we have Sid but Sid is NOT a giant ground sloth. That's not even mentioning all of the horses and bison and bears and lions! Its disappointing!"

...

"I was on a podcast about this :D"

[ruminiscence]

Paris: A Year Abroad in a short film

Audio: "Burnt Norton" by Lana Del Rey, a rendition of the original poem "Burnt Norton" by T.S. Eliot.

Where do I even start? Paris has wholly shaped me in ways I never imagined. We refer to Paris as the city of love, but I'm now more inclined to call it the city of art - which only leaves more room for love in your heart. There is so much to contemplate and appreciate in frequenting the vast array of art museums here - from the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Musée de l’Orangerie, the Centre Georges Pompidou, and many more. Not only has my perspective on art expanded, but so has my worldview. That’s because art is truly everywhere in this city; art can be found in the walkable streets amidst the rich architecture, the fashionable outfits seen in daily life, and even the exquisite decor in stores and when you cheekily peek into Parisian appartments!

There's always something new to discover in Paris, I'm almost saddened at the thought of the things I've yet to discover or missed. The treasures to unveil in Paris move far beyond the typical tourist hotspots we all know and love. I am obsessed with Parisian boutiques; they are chic and unique (that unintentionally rhymed) in the best way possible. One of my favourites is La Tonkinoise à Paris, located in the 11th arrondissement. This particular arrondissmenet is the best in Paris to be honest, it holds a special place in my heart as I had the wonderful opportunity of living there, so perhaps you can say that I am somewhat biased. Still, I can confidently say that this animated, hip and creative neighbourhood is one everyone should have the chance to explore.

La Tonkinoise à Paris, owned by the lovely Chantal, is my favourite hidden gem in Paris. I had the pleasure of befriending Chantal as I ended up frequenting her store one too many times; I've garnered quite a collection over time. This boutique offers a wide range of eccentric and sustainable jewellery, with her earring creations being the show stoppers, in my opinion. Her jewellery is composed of rings, pearls, brooches, charms, and watches, all unearthed in flea markets and recycled. I love that every piece of jewellery indeed is a unique piece. The decor changes based on the season and theme of her new collections, making it an ever-changing and exciting shopping experience. This is honestly the best jewellery store I have ever been to in my life! I wish the pictures I took could do the jewellery and the boutique's decor justice, but it simply won't, I'm afraid.

Now, onto food, I genuinely need to figure out where to start here. My favourite authentic French restaurant would have to be 'Le Potager du Père Thierry', located in Montmartre. Although it's incredibly small, I love the cosy vibe; I feel like I can enjoy delicious food with friends without feeling surrounded by strangers. Surprisingly, it's also very quiet (yet packed) - I guess the food is just too distracting.

As of late, my favourite non-french restaurant has to be 'Big Black Cook' (let's ignore how inappropriate that pun is, though funny). It's located in the 2nd arrondissement and serves Caribbean food, my friend claims that it was the best meat she's had!

For brunch, I recommend Café Méricourt in the 11th arrondissement. Their green Eggs & Feta are absolutely incredible and quite innovative as far as brunch places go.

As for a boulangerie - seriously, anywhere, literally anywhere in Paris, go to your nearest bakery; there need not be a big fuss - you're in for a scrumptious baked treat regardless!

I'm ever so grateful for the chance to have lived in Paris for an extended period; you cannot appreciate Paris in its entire splendour from a mere short-term visit. The city is an actual work of art; art is everywhere in the city, from the street performers and musicians, the light filters through the trees, the city's many architecturally rich bridges, the picturesque cafés and boulangeries, the beautifully presented food, the way that the city's many different neighbourhoods each have their own distinct character and vibe. In Paris, art is everywhere.

[the-dork-urge]

Stable work || Reader x Zevlor ||

SUMMARY: Where the reader takes care of the Hellriders horses and gentle commander Zevlor is the first one to notice her hard work. Written in the middle of the night. Just a short one. Wordcount: About a 1000 Fluff

Growing up on a farm thought her how to best care for many animals. But beyond that, a profound love for all creatures had grown. And she would not part with any of it, from the awe-inspiring ickiness of birth, to the solemnity of death. Not even now, after she had moved to the city. People couldn't quite comprehend why she still chose to work amidst the mud and manure when the urban landscape could offer her so much more. She had found the transition from her rural upbringing to city just too great to entirely leave her roots behind. Each feeding, grooming, and tending to the Hellrider's horses provided her with a grounding stability amidst the chaos of urban living. Back in her hometown, she had her family – people unafraid to dirty their hands, indifferent to titles and fancy attire. It was all love and warmth, and while she missed the comfort of home, the small town had no more opportunities to offer her. What she hadn't fully anticipated was the profound loneliness that accompanied setting out on her own. The pungent smell and the messiness of her tasks likely explained the lack of people around as she worked. Occasionally, someone would arrive to pick up the horses, but they paid her little mind, even as she assisted them in retrieving saddles and reins.

"But you are a good boy, aren't you?" She spoke out loud, stroking the stallion between his ears. "You always wish me a good morning, don't you?" The horse nickered in response, pawing at the floor, ready for more attention. She stroked its soft and warm nose and pressed a kiss on its fur. "Don't tell the others, but you are my favorite." She laughed at her own words, at the absurdity of talking to a horse.

"Don't worry; this one's not the gossiping type." A voice nearby startled her, causing her to pull away from the horse with a jump. The horse, equally startled, blew air forcefully from its nose in response. "God's, I'm sorry. I should not have approached you two like this," the man said. "It's alright," she replied, her heartbeat gradually returning to normal. "No harm done. Just caught me off guard, is all." She offered a reassuring smile to the man, appreciating his concern for both her and the horse. She didn't recognize the man's face, but the distinct armor and insignia emblazoned upon it were unmistakable. "Commander," she acknowledged with a quick bow.

"Zevlor," he replied, extending his hand.

"Commander Zevlor," she repeated, then hesitated, glancing down at her hands, coated in dirt and grease. "I'm dirty, I should not sha-"

"Nonsense," he interrupted with a warm smile, dismissing her concerns. "Nothing dirty about it, especially not from my own horse," he explained, shaking her hand with enthusiasm. His smile was quite infectious, his handshake strong and warm as she told him her name.

"You have a good horse, Commander Zevlor.'' "Yes, and you seem to know your way around him. He's usually much more standoffish," Zevlor observed, reaching out to his horse and patting its neck with care. She imagined those hands, currently gentle with the horse, gripping reins firmly, leading his mount into the chaos of battle. It was a stark contrast, the tenderness he displayed now versus the potential harshness required in the heat of conflict. "I must confess, I haven't noticed you here before. Have you joined us recently?" he asked.

"About a month now, sir," she replied, her gaze fixed on the commander as he interacted with the horse. "But don't worry. Most people don't notice me; I am often crouched behind the stable walls, and it's easy to avoid someone covered in hay and muck."

"No, the fault is mine. I should have inquired about those caring for my horse. And for doing so, I thank you," Zevlor said graciously, looking at her. His demeanor was far gentler than she had anticipated from previous encounters with other commanders. It made her smile back in return.

"Just doing my job, Commander," she responded , though in her heart, she knew it was more than just a job. Her dedication to the care of these animals mirrored the commitment others had to their weapons. Zevlor's acknowledgment made her feel seen, a rarity in her routine. "You need your horse?"

"Yes, please," the commander replied. She strode past him, toward the tack room, retrieving the saddle and bridle with practiced efficiency. Reentering the stable, she was met by the horse's gentle whinny. Zevlor followed her inside the stable and without a a word, he took the bridle from her hands, allowing her to settle the saddle onto the horse's back. Zevlor swiftly attended to the bridle before standing beside her, offering his silent assistance once more. Making room for him, she started adjusting the straps of the saddle. Their hands brushed softly as they both reached for the same strap, a fleeting physical connection that sent a warm shiver through her. The heat rose to her cheeks as she suddenly lost her composure. Zevlor, sensing the pause in her movements, glanced down at her, his eyes momentarily meeting hers. Feeling his gaze on her, her heart started to race, and she found it difficult to maintain eye contact. Mortified by her own reaction, she wished she could disappear into the stable walls, or cover herself in hay and crawl off. Summoning all her composure, she forced herself to speak, though her voice came out as a mere whisper. "Thank you, Commander, for your help." Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she cursed herself for letting her nerves get the better of her in his presence. "It's my pleasure," he spoke. She double-checked if everything was adjusted accordingly before she took the reins in her hands, gently guiding the stallion out of its stable. The horse swung its neck in excitement at the newfound space to move around. She gave the reins to Zevlor, and as he led his horse away, he spoke. "I will see you soon, (y/n)." Hearing him remember her name, she couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness, worsening the already excisting blush on her cheek. As he walked away, she watched him go, already feeling nervous and excited at the thought of their next encounter.

[theamityelf]

Yandere Taka and oblivious Makoto? (I really love how you write these two) -@blueboybot

(🤗 Thank you! I'm not sure how well this came out, but here you go!)

------

Taka was not naturally very observant.

That was fine. It was normal. It meant he had to work hard to notice the important things. And he liked to work hard.

Makoto had been his study partner for over a month now. They met up every weekday after school (except some Fridays), and there was not a moment in those usually-two-hours that Taka was the slightest bit inattentive. In fact, the notes he took on even just Makoto's likes and dislikes, during their alone time, rivaled the notes he took for class.

He wasn't very observant, and Makoto could sometimes feel like a hard person to know things about. But he was eager to put in the work.

It wasn't until after their second month studying together that Taka learned he needed to elevate his approach.

It happened when Makoto walked into class one morning. To Taka's eyes (which of course had fixated on him right away, because he was not good at pretending not to be smitten) he looked completely normal. The only strange thing was that he was usually one of the early ones and today he was one of the last in, but that could have been a problem with his morning alarm.

And yet, as soon as Makoto entered, Kyoko asked him, "What happened to you?"

"Huh?" Makoto looked down at himself. "What do you mean?"

"Your hair. It's uneven on one side."

"Oh! Near miss with a hedge trimmer; the guy said he was sorry. I didn't think anyone would notice. Guess I should've stopped by a mirror, but I was already running late."

"A hedge trimmer was that close to your head?" Leon said. "And you're still on time for class?"

Taka's thoughts exactly. He was absolutely brimming with a thrilling mix of attraction and indignation on Makoto's behalf. "I think I speak for everyone when I say we admire your punctuality!" he said.

"Taka, it's 8 am," Junko complained. "Can you talk at people volume, please?"

"And I'm glad to hear the Ultimate Landscaper was polite enough to apologize," he continued.

"Yeah, he didn't mean to be careless. I think he was just pretty wrapped up in what he was doing. The hedges do look fantastic."

So it had been the Ultimate Landscaper. Well then, that guy would be in detention every day for the rest of his time at this school. He was very lucky he hadn't done any real harm.

More to the point, Kyoko's immediate awareness that something had happened to Makoto was a sign for Taka that his work, as yet, hadn't been enough.

He had felt so triumphant to have learned Makoto's birthday, his blood type, his favorite color, animal, food, even song (and it was hard to get specific titles out of him!), but his efforts still hadn't brought his undivided focus to the same level of perception as a casual glance from the Ultimate Detective.

He didn't envy her talent. Quite the contrary: He was excited to learn that he needed to put more work in.

When it came time for their study session that afternoon, he asked if they could do so in Makoto's room, rather than his own. It would help him learn more things.

The first thing he learned was that Makoto didn't lock his dorm room.

At all.

He actually left his key in the room when he left for the day.

Taka saw an opportunity to be helpful. After all, it didn't make sense to leave a room unlocked when an Ultimate Burglar attended this school. So, he borrowed Makoto's key and took to locking his room when he left for the evening.

And locking it again after Makoto left for class each morning.

Which meant, the next time they went to study together, Taka had to matter-of-factly unlock Makoto's room for them both.

"Wait, when did you get a key to my room?!" Makoto asked.

(His startled reactions, and the straightforward way he asked questions as soon as he wanted to know something, were so refreshing, compared to the many people in their class who tried to pretend they knew everything all the time.)

"Sorry," Taka said, blushing a little. "I borrowed it without asking, last time I was here. I wanted to make sure you lock your door more often. There are students here who would love to rob you blind!"

"Ah, I guess it's true that I never remember to lock it. But isn't taking my key and locking it for me a little...?"

"On the contrary! When a friend has trouble with a task, it makes sense to help them out."

"You got forceful all of a sudden," Makoto observed mildly. "Well, if you're just locking it after me, then I guess that's fine."

And he made no further argument on the subject. Taka was in the clear!

Adding Makoto's key to his own key ring made him smile. They clinked together like wedding rings. It made him hopeful that, despite how casually Makoto acted towards him, they might have that kind of future one day.

When he found himself growing anxious, because Makoto looked at a girl for too long or rescheduled their plans or any of the other ways the world seemed unaccommodating of Taka's dreams, he reached into his pocket and ran his fingers over their keys.

And he reminded himself that things didn't have to happen naturally. Love didn't have to be a thing that struck right away. Love, like everything else, was hard work, and Taka was the best at working hard.

Then the Tragedy happened.

...

Taka had his worries about the outside world, but in the privacy of his own mind, it was a relief to be able to barricade all those problems away and just spend all his days with Makoto.

The problem was, he wasn't the only one who wanted to spend time with Makoto, and he wasn't the only one Makoto wanted to spend time with.

Of course, Makoto didn't seem to mind when Taka tagged along on his quality time with others, but the ones he was with would often look at Taka as if to say, 'Do you mind?'

"Is the hall monitor going to be shadowing us the whole time?" Junko said.

"Huh?" Makoto glanced over. "Oh, hey Taka. Did you want to come?"

"The invite only extends to Makoto," Junko interrupted. "I'm the shy type; I can't stand to have too many guys looking at me, you know!"

Blushing, Makoto said, "That...makes it sound like...We're just going to look through your closet, right? For old clothes Hifumi can fix up."

"Exactly! I'm already letting one boy into my room. You think I should let in two?"

"Oh, right. I didn't think about it that way. Uh..."

"That's fine," Taka said. "I guess I'll go spend time with Chihiro."

That was fine. Makoto's gregarious nature was part of what Taka liked about him. And time away from Makoto was time he could spend studying his notes on Makoto. So yeah, it was fine.

(Chihiro got a peek at his notebook during lunch one day and was amazed at all the details. When they took an interest, Taka couldn't help going over a lot of what he'd learned, rambling about Makoto and his many-stage plan to incrementally progress their relationship, for at least a full hour before someone else walked into the dining hall and he quickly fell silent.)

The first serious problem came when Makoto asked for his key back.

It was toward the end of dinner. A lot of their friends had already left for their rooms or wherever else: there was only Taka, Makoto, Sayaka, Celeste, Hifumi, and Kyoko.

"Hey, um..." Makoto scratched his cheek shyly. "You still have my room key, right?"

"Of course," Taka replied. "Are you turning in for the night? Do you need me to let you in?"

"Well, yes, but actually...could I have my key back, too?"

Taka's heart faltered. "You'd like it back?"

"It would be easier on you if you didn't always have to let me back in, right?"

"That's no trouble at all! I've enjoyed walking you to your room."

"...and also, if I ever had someone over, or something, it might be easier if I had the key on me...right?"

Taka wasn't very observant, but he noticed that Makoto was blushing and that he had briefly glanced at Sayaka, who smiled back. The implications filled his brain with heat.

"So, uh, do you have it with you now?" Makoto pressed on.

Taka reached into his pocket, consoling himself with the feeling of the keys at his fingertips. "No, I must have left it in my locker," he said. "Excuse me."

He swiftly exited the dining hall.

That glance Makoto and Sayaka had exchanged. Those shy smiles. Like they already had plans, for once Makoto got his room key. It wasn't right! It was...unwholesome! It was wrong!

Sayaka barely paid attention to Makoto. She had her innate charm, but she wielded it just like Byakuya (who bought Makoto expensive birthday gifts instead of caring enough to make something by hand) or Kyoko (who noticed things without even trying or bothering to spend hours following him). Sayaka didn't know the special way he tied his shoes, or the embarrassing nickname his sister called him over the phone, or what common allergens made him sneeze, or...She probably didn't even know his blood type, his shoe size, his height!

He thought through his options. It definitely wouldn't be right to let Makoto spend time with Sayaka alone in his room. That would seriously complicate their eventual plans to get married!

(Should he maybe inform Makoto that they were going to get married one day? The prospect made him really anxious.)

He could report them to Headmaster Kirigiri (to head off any inappropriate behavior), or throw Makoto's key into the garbage incinerator (necessitating that he sleep in someone else's room), or just refuse to give it back, but then Makoto would be annoyed with him.

For now, Taka settled on returning to his bedroom and not emerging again all night. Makoto didn't come knocking on his door, so for the moment he was fine.

Maybe he should have a frank discussion with Sayaka, warning her that Makoto was spoken for.

But what if she pushed back? What if she insisted on pursuing Makoto? What if she said Makoto liked her more? What if she thought she was going to marry him?

Taka could make them some tea, and lace hers with some kind of toxin from the chemistry lab so she would be too sick to ensnare Makoto. That seemed like a peaceful way of handling things; she would just spend some time in the clinic, and then Taka would have more time to build up the courage to confess his feelings to Makoto.

Unfortunately, toxins didn't come labeled with what amount would make you sick and what amount would kill you. And since it was more important to Taka to avoid doing nothing (to avoid letting Sayaka steal his future) than it was to avoid doing serious damage, he might have been a bit generous with the measurements.

Yes, that was really unfortunate.

But to think about it a different way, at least Makoto hadn't gotten too close to her before it happened! And at least they'd had tea in the rec room and not in Taka's room, so he didn't have to worry about moving her body.

He shut her eyes and folded her hands in her lap, to give her some dignity in death, and took the tea set downstairs to wash.

His heart was pounding with adrenaline. As soon as the teacups submerged in the dishwater, he reached into his pocket to touch the keys.

He relaxed.

It was for Makoto. He'd had to save Makoto from a future with someone who didn't love him the way Taka did. And the world was in turmoil anyway; it might have been doing Sayaka a kindness, to free her from a world that probably wouldn't need pop singers again until she was well past aged-out of the teen pop demographic.

He washed the cups and put them away, deciding to go back to his room for his notes so he could make one of Makoto's favorite meals. A nice, hearty meal to console him through the loss of his friend.

[foreverrandomwritings]

Alliance Maker-Chapter 4

Summary: Some of the inner circle questions you about your life. Wounds that are still fresh get probed at. Many questions are still left unanswered.

Pairing: Slow burn! Azriel x Afab!Reader

Warnings: Hunting, death, torture, whipping... I think that's it, please let me know if there is more that I missed.

Word count: 1840 (Azriel isn't in this part but I promise that in the next chapter he will make an appearance.)

Masterlist Series Masterlist

You didn't have to wait long for the High Lady and High Lord. You had put on a pair of trousers and an oversized tunic that you had been informed was Azriels who was currently out on business. Cassian knew you would completely swim in his own so he had retrieved the slightly smaller one from his brother's room. The holes meant for wings left your back exposed. Your own wings had disappeared when you had gotten injured. 

You all sat around the dining room table. The tension in the air was like a heavy blanket. For some reason however you were calm. The scent coming off the shirt you were wearing was soothing you. They all stared at you for a while before you finally spoke up. 

“Young huntress, I'm glad to see you are doing so well! You’ve come a long way since your first day in the woods.” She looked at you with quizzical eyes. You gave her a mischievous smile in return. 

“I would occasionally watch you hunt when I got bored. Also wanted to make sure you weren’t going to do anything stupid enough to get yourself killed. You caught on mighty quick however.” The approval leaked out of your voice with your words as you gave her a gentle smile. 

“I had never realized you watched me.” She said to you with an uneasy waver in her voice. Rhysand picked up on the tone in her voice and gripped the arm of the chair he was in tightly. 

“It wasn’t very often since I’d mostly be helping my father around our house and shop. You also were never very good at watching out for other people. You were always too focused on the animals around you.” You said simply shrugging your shoulders in nonchalance. 

“Now onto the harder questions, who would like to go first?” You asked the group as your eyes flicked to each of them. 

“How are you a Fae?” Nesta asked first, it was the question she was desperately wanting to know. The question that had been eating away at her since she first found you. 

“I am cauldron made. The first one thrown in as a simple mortal and dumped out a gifted Fae.” You said as your thoughts drifted slightly to the feeling of being embraced by the cauldron. You were quick to snap back to the reality in front of you not liking to dwell on the past. Nesta gave you a look of understanding. But the group had looks of indifference. You being cauldron made did make the most sense. But on the other hand they also didn’t realize there had been someone changed before Elain. 

“How did you come across the wall?” Rhysand asked you voice full of apprehension as he still struggled to wrap his head around you. 

“There were about ten of Hyberns men scrounging through the woods. I had been hunting when they found me. I knew it was dangerous being so close to the wall but I’ve always liked a thrill. I really should’ve known better since Feyre went missing after killing that fae wolf Andras.” You nodded towards the female across from you. There was a look of surprise on their face at the mention of the male that had sacrificed his life for the good of his High Lord. 

“I tried to take them down but they poisoned me with something before I had the opportunity to unleash hell.” Your nose scrunched up at the memory of the disgusting smell the poison had given off. Everyone around the table had a look of understanding in their eyes.

“I killed three of them before it fully took over my body. Which was something I paid for later on.” The gashes along your back seemed to burn as though you had been getting whipped once again. You shifted ever so slightly in your seat, willing the unwanted feeling away. 

“You’re about the age for a female to be married over there so did you leave a husband behind?” You shook your head at Cassian's question, thankful for the change of subject. Even if the question was slightly misogynistic.  

“I was taken from my father and that was all. I have been trying to contact him since escaping.” The thought of not having seen your father in so long sinking in had your voice lowering. It was the longest you’d ever gone without speaking to or seeing him. 

“Where is he at?” Came from Feyre, your eyes connected to hers before focusing on the windows behind her. 

“I’m guessing he is somewhere over here. I went back to our home and there was no sign of him there. Then I heard whispers of the Fae that had come and saved them to give them solace over here. To save them from a disastrous fate. I’m hoping he is safe and that I’ll be able to see him again one day.” You missed your father so much your chest started to hurt as the hope filled your heart of finally being able to see him again. Finally being able to embrace him and hear him call you the beloved nickname he had bestowed upon you many years ago is all you had hoped for. But you had refused to find him until you were somewhere safe. Somewhere that you could call home and could build a life. 

“You had wings when we found you but now they are gone.” Cassian said it with an even yet curious tone. You smiled at that and thanked the cauldron for the open back chair and slits in the shirt you were in as you popped the wings back out. 

“The cauldron was very generous.” You stretched your wings out and let out a sigh of relief. The feeling of them stretching your back caused a soothing ache to run through your body. You also didn’t miss the look Rhysand and Feyre gave each other, the only ones that they knew of that grew wings on their own command were themselves. 

“Those are different from illyrian wings.” This time it was Emerie that spoke up. She was right they were more like the wings of a beast not seen for centuries before Rhysand was even born. They were black as night and pure cobalt blue, the wingspan larger than that of an Illyrian. They were slightly thicker than their wings and went farther down your back by about half a foot. The similarities were the five sharp spikes at the bottom of each wing and a singular sharp spike at the top of each end. 

“Yes yes. I’ve been told it’s likely because I have a different form waiting inside of me to be let out.” You drummed your fingers along the table as you thought about the first time the wings had shown up. It was after you had escaped and you were extremely grateful that they had shown up when they did. They did a splendid job of shielding you until you learned how to fly with them. 

“And who told you that?” Your eyes found the short yet powerful Fae at the table. Amren you’d take it from the description you’d previously been told. She had arrived with Rhysand and Feyre. 

“Helion.” The one name answer seemed to shock everyone around the table. Yet Amren simply narrowed her eyes at you. She was trying to find a reason to tell her High Lord and High Lady to send you back where you came from. 

“And how were you able to get a visit with him?” Rhysand was sitting up straighter in his chair. Helion wasn’t known for being malicious or blind eyed. But taking a visit with a stranger that belonged to no court seemed a bit far fetched. 

“I asked nicely.” The grin you gave him was purely feline and proud. Cassian snorted at the answer though causing you to send him a wink. 

“Why didn’t we see you while we were within the walls of Hybern?” Nesta asked the question lightly. She didn’t like thinking of the experience so she wasn’t sure how you’d react thinking about it. 

“I fought tooth and nail so you wouldn’t. I didn’t want you to see me as I was.” Your mouth grew dry as you finished your sentence. You looked down at the table and started scratching at a non-existent chip with your fingernail. A glass of water was placed next to your hand causing you to stop. You took it greatfully and gulped it down. When you looked back up there were many eyes looking at you that were full of pity. The High Lord went to open his mouth but you cut him off. 

“It is not a subject I would like to talk about. If you don’t mind, I would like for that to be the end of it.” Hands forming into fists you held his stare. He broke it when a hand laid upon his arm. He glanced to the side and Feyre was looking at him, they had a silent conversation before he turned back and nodded at you. 

“Please don’t try to enter my mind again either.” You had felt him trying while you were unconscious. Luckily your shields were still up while you were in your temporary coma. He kept his surprise and embarrassment off his face. Though you could see it in the way he flexed his hand and looked down at his shirt for lint that wasn’t there.

“You must be starving.” It was Feyre that broke the tension. Your stomach chose that moment to let out a large growl in reply. Then the house was setting down food in front of everyone. 

“Uhm?” You looked at the food and then up at Nesta. Then your mind snapped back to the water that you didn't hear anyone get up to give you. 

“The house is kind of sentient.” She gave you a bored look, the others had already started eating. 

“Thank you House.” You called out and in reply you got a plate of berry cobbler. Cassian then mumbled under his breath that he wanted some to but the house only answered with a glass of water. 

“How would you feel about coming to training in the morning?” Cassian’s question had you looking at him while picking up a fork to dig into your dinner.

“I would love to. I haven’t had anyone to train with in a while.” your mind went to your time spent in Dawn, training with the guard there many months ago. A smile graced your lips at the thought of being able to see Thesan and his lover again in the future. The group of you ate in mostly silence. They occasionally talked about the High Lord and High lady’s son Nyx. There was talk about Mor and Azriel. You went to bed that night wrapped in Azriel's shirt, the smell lulling you into your first nightmare-less dream since escaping Hyberns grasp.

A/N: The next chapter will get things cooking a bit. Thank you all so much for reading, likes, comments and reblogs are much appreciated.

Tags(open): @theeleggymeggy @wolfsbane44 @moonlwghts @maddietheshoe @hyemishii @fanboyluvr @kmc1989 @acourtofinkandpapyrus @luvmoo

[rumbelleshowdown]

-

Author: LikeASparkInTheDark

Group: C

Prompts: Sunset. She doesn't "like" you! Size matters.

-

Second Hand Assumptions

“Father, where’s Tilly?” 

Moe French turned, looking at his daughter blankly, “She was just here, I almost tripped over her loading the truck.”

Belle bit her lower lip continuing to look through the store. She had left briefly to pick up the keys to the library from the mayor.

She didn’t bring Tilly along because she wasn’t sure how dog friendly her new town was, she left her with her father hoping Tilly’s separation anxiety wouldn’t spike.

“I can’t find her anywhere, where is she?” Belle’s voice was panicked. She was in a new town, and no one knew her or Tilly except her father. 

Moe’s mouth was in a grim line, “I don’t know Belle, she might have just snuck out.”

“Were there any customers while I was gone?” She asked, trying to think of an explanation for her missing Australian Terrier.

“No customers, but that bloody Mr. Gold was here to remind me I was late on rent,” Moe paused thoughtfully, “maybe he saw her as an opportunity for collateral.”

Belle’s eyes widened, “He wouldn’t hurt her would he?”

“That man is capable of anything.” Her father’s voice was ominous.

“I need to find her,” Belle grabbed Tilly’s leash before running out of the shop, her heels clicking on the tile.

He felt slightly guilty but that dog held Belle back from so many things, she’d refuse to go out because “Tilly needs me”, it couldn’t be left alone for more than an hour. Belle would be better off without it, at least that’s what he told himself when he’d taken its collar and nudged it out the door.

“Higher dad!” Henry shouted.

“Be careful!” Arran shouted at his son and grandson, from the park bench he sat at. They had been playing at the park, but his bad leg started to throb and he needed to sit down. 

“Wait!” Henry shouted.

Henry squinted looking with each upward swing before he started dragging his feet in the dirt.

Arran followed his eyeline, for a moment he thought it was a fat squirrel running through the grass. 

“I’ll catch it!” Henry jumped from the swing and ran towards the animal.

“No Henry, it could have rabies!” Neal shouted, chasing after him.

Arran quickly rose from the bench limping to where Henry was crouching down. 

Arran wrinkled his nose, “What kind of rat is this?” He asked as he looked at the tiny creature, it wasn’t his idea of a dog.

“It’s not a rat grandpa, it’s a dog, I wonder why it's alone.” Henry looked around the park to see if there was anyone around.

“A dog? That's not a proper dog, size matters with dogs, this is a rodent of some kind. Now a sheep dog that's a real dog.” 

He turned to his son, raising a finger, “Do you remember Colonel?”

Neal grinned at the memory, “Yeah, I used to ride on his back like a horse.”

“It’s not wearing a collar.” Henry announced.

“Well what should we do? It’s too late for the vet to be open to scan for a chip.” Arran frowned.

It had pointed ears and long tan and black fur with a scruffy face. It’s tongue was hanging out and it was panting in his grandson’s arms.

“We’ll look around the park to see if anyone is looking for a dog.” Neal suggested.

“Here Grandpa.” 

Arran balked in protest, but Henry was already shoving the dog into his hands.

“What am I supposed to do with it?” 

“Hold her close grandpa she’s scared!” Henry advised before they ran off.

He leaned onto his good leg and raised the dog to eye level.

“Listen here you little rat, There will be no urinating on my suit, no leaving nasty little bugs on me, and no-”

“Let go of that dog!”

Arran's head snapped from the dog's face to the face of a beautiful stranger.

“I said unhand that dog this instant!” 

“Excuse me?” He held the dog closer to make sure the stranger wasn’t some dog napper, though she wasn’t wearing a spotted fur coat.

He was struck at her beauty, the sunset setting off the auburn in her hair that fluttered in the wind, big blue eyes glaring at him, her lips a lovely shade of red, pursed in annoyance. Before  he realized that she had said something else in her memorable accent.

“I’m sorry wha-, your dog?” 

“Yes MY dog, or did you not know that when you stole her from my father’s shop?”

Arran’s head tilted slightly to the side, “What?” He scoffed, amused at her accusation.

“My father told me all about you Mr. Gold, how you walk around this town like you own it. I didn’t think you’d use a dog for collateral.” 

She crossed her arms over her chest, relieved at finding Tilly, but angry at finding her with Mr. Gold. She wanted to snatch her from his grasp but she didn’t want the man to retaliate and toss her into the pond.

Mr. Gold seemed amused at her words.

“I didn’t steal your dog, do you think she’d like me this much if I had?” He jerked his head to gesture to Tilly, who was unfortunately cuddling into the crook of his arm.

It was Belle’s turn to scoff, “She doesn’t “like” you!” 

Arran’s amusement grew as the woman stomped her foot with that argument, making her skirt flutter. 

Fortunately Neal and Henry returned from their sweep of the park.

“Hi Belle!” Henry greeted the woman with a wave.

The woman, Belle, smiled warmly, and Arran felt his heart stutter in his chest. He was glad that smile was not aimed at him, or else he might act in foolishly.

“Um, hi, who are you?” Neal asked, raising an eyebrow.

“This is Belle, she’s the new librarian. I saw her on our field trip to city hall today with grandma.” Henry answered.

“This woman is accusing me of stealing her dog.” Arran said at the same time.

“Steal your dog? My grandpa would never steal someone’s dog.” Henry's brow furrowed at the thought.

“Your grandpa?” 

“Yeah, my dad. He may be many things, but he isn’t a dog thief.” The other man, Henry’s father grinned at her.

Belle was trying to catch the trail of thought that had gone through her mind, flustered she turned her gaze back to Mr. Gold, “May I have Rumplestiltskin back please?”

At its name the dog began wiggling in Arran’s grasp until he held her out to Belle.

“Rumplestiltskin?” He couldn’t bite back that smirk that he knew was dancing on his lips.

“That’s a weird name for a girl.” Henry piped up.

Belle took Tilly in her arms, holding her tightly against her sweater, giving her a squeeze, “That’s what the shelter named her, I call her Tilly for short.”

Mr. Gold seemed amused as he watched her slip Tilly’s leash on.

 “Henry I better get you home to your mom” Neal nodded a farewell to Belle and gave his father a parting hug.

Belle held Tilly close to her as Mr. Gold hugged his son tightly, and then gave Henry a large hug too. Surely a dognapper wouldn't be such a family man.

“Love you grandpa!” Henry shouted over his shoulder as he and Neal walked away.

Mr. Gold’s smile was rather lovely, Belle mused to herself, before she realized his attention was now solely on her.

“I’m sorry for accusing you of stealing Tilly.” She murmured softly, feeling ashamed that she had judged Mr. Gold just on rumors from her father alone.

“I’m sorry your father felt the need to bestow that assumption onto you.” He shrugged.

After fidgeting with Tilly’s leash Belle broke the silence between them, “Your wife must be ready for you to come home, I understand if you’ve got to leave.”

“My wife?” he couldn’t help the laugh that escaped his lips.

“Yeah, isn’t Mary Margaret your wife? Henry said it was his grandma that he was with earlier.”

Mr. Gold was trying very hard not to laugh outright in Belle’s face, “Miss French, I assure you, Mary Margaret is his grandma on his maternal side.”

Belle felt the blood drain from her face as he laughed.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go find a bridge to jump from.” Belle muttered.

“How about, instead,” Arran started, taking a tentative step towards her, petting the top of Tilly’s head.

“There's a restaurant just out of town called Marco's,  how about we take Tilly for dinner on the patio? That’ll give you a chance to form your own opinion about me instead of having a secondhand one.”

Belle tried to repress the smile that was bursting to break across her face, “I’d like that.” 

Arran Gold smiled and he held out the crook of his arm to Belle. She let the smile take over her face and she slipped her arm through his, with Tilly cradled in her other arm, they left the park together.

-

[hsr-texts]

I have faith that Hanabi's insult has a deeper meaning in the plot, they have been building it up too well to remain in nothing!

There have certainly been racist things and off-topic comments in Hoyoverse games, but never like this, there has to be something!

The thing is, I really feel that it is too early to say whether the insult was unnecessary or not, because racism is a real issue and there is no problem in representing it, there is no problem in representing minorities... The thing is, I really want to believe, that it is missing, because there is still a lack of story, and they haven't finished with Aventurine to say that it was a bad representation, more people may even appear!

I really have a lot of faith in Hoyoverse, because for me they are MiHoyo, that company that makes beautiful games and gives the opportunity to dozens of people to be artists, writers, musicians and also bring joy. MiHoyo gave me and gives me beautiful moments, but it can also be crude when dealing with its topics

k The story of Aventurine is missing, the story of all the people like Aventurine is missing, so much is missing, as marketing is doubtful, but I am not going to rush to criticize something that is NOTHING finished

If in the end everything was for nothing and they wasted that opportunity to address a serious issue, then I have to cry, no way, you don't defend the indefensible, but I don't want to unfairly cross out something

There is still about 3 weeks left to find out about Aventurine and if everything was really "unnecessary", and until then it seems fool to me to criticize something unresolved and so obvious, which is for the plot

¿Do you want to make your villain racist because your story lends itself to that? You can do it, but it will take time to develop, and we don't give it the time, there are still 1 or 2 updates left

I won't deny that Hoyoverse has provided tons of comfort and joy to billions of people all over the world. I won't deny that there's a beauty in their games. There's absolutely no shame in taking comfort in these games and consuming it. I can't blame anyone for being attached to genshin or hsr or hi3 or tears of themis, you get the idea.

But I can't lie to you guys and say that there's still a possibility that this would turn out well. I've witnessed how Hoyoverse handled the entirety of Sumeru. Are there some aspects of Sumeru that were good? Undoubtedly. It's one of the regions I had the most fun exploring.

However it's extremely telling to me that they haven't learned at all from that situation considering they keep insisting on adding racism plotlines to their story.

My faith in them to handle this properly and with care is in the absolute negatives since the Sumeru situation. I fear for what will happen when Natlan finally drops and to no one's surprise, the archon is gonna be white again and this whole song and dance will repeat just like a samsara.

At the end of the day, Hoyoverse is just another money hungry gacha company who wants to drain your wallets.

It's evident from the dogshit anniversary rewards in genshin,

it's evident from how they always design their characters to be these appealing anime waifu or husbando without ever straying from the standard formula of "thin white/slightly tan character with clothes that make fans bark like a dog",

it's evident in how they seem to drop more money on advertising than they drop on actually improving the game,

and it's evident with how little they actually listen to players' feedback.

Selling these characters and turning up a profit comes first, the story comes second. I'd rather trust a racism plotline in the hands of an indie creator who actually cares about the storytelling medium and does research than a corporation who HAS the resources to do the research but chooses not to.

Hoyoverse is special to many people, but it's time to wake up. Clinging onto a multi-billion company like this isn't healthy.

[journalsouppe]

Ghost trick!!!! Loved this game it was exactly what I expected from a Shu Takumi game. I do hope they plan to make a sequel or crossover, I really loved the mechanics of this game.

Writing typed below! (plus some extra commentary)

Rating: 9.3 Played: Su 2023 Port: Nintendo Switch Favorite? Y Replayable? Y Recommend? Y

Comments:

LOVE missile

really fun premise - you died and don't know who you are

DON'T GET A CONCUSSION MISSILE

not the PM erotica T-T

LMAO Payne and Wright

the kazuma pose (skull)

I'm in love with Cabanela

Lynne not again T-T

Sissel in the painting...

NOT THE FEET OUT AT WORK T-T T-T

omg the security camera murder and the meory are different. I know your tricks Mr. Takumi (I didn't realize Yomiel shot the gun twice here LMFAOO)

mmm... chicken kitchen

is everyone in love with Lynne?

I'm actually so obsessed with the Ghost Trick art style

ALL of your medicine????

he's already dead... and they used an electric chair.....

THIS IS SO FUCKED UP

chicken kitchen and execution fates were really fun

man I really want an AAxGT crossover

love how oversized all the objects are

MISSILE IS BACK AHHH and he has different ghost tricks omg... then how did the lamp know about mine

so many mysteries omg I love it

how was I supposed to get sissel to the top (skull) (I was genuinely stuck and when I restarted the level it spawned me at a different place LMAO)

SISSEL? IN THE PARK?

HE SAW ME AND TURNED TOWARD THE SCREEN (Skull)

but his name wasn't sissel... who is the lamp....

love this crazy arm contraption

red suit man had radiation in his body... so I/Sissel died near it... but who am I... (I forgot about the cat LMFAOO)

Temsik... kismet... mmmm kismet (kismet is the name of my favorite restaurant)

STOP looking at the screen

yomiel...

I WAS YOMIEL'S CAT T^TT^T

ZAM RAY WAS OLD MISSILE

little Lynne T-T

Sissel has temsik...

Game Dev Notes

really fun animations and character design

unique gamplay - I love moving thru objects

love the character dialogue - great humor and timing

extra puzzles and challenges similar to professor layton

characters have tons of personality in design and posture

LOVE the cool toned shadows on the sprites

great music

fun and sweet ending credits

Summary

Shu Takumi has done it again (even though this is a remaster lol). What and incredible mystery game with really fun mechanics. There were definitely a couple times I was stumped on what to do or was stuck bc I missed my window of opportunity, but I think it worked well since the puzzles were difficulty and you couldn't just immediately breeze past them all. I also really enjoyed gaining missile's abilities later and having to think of the puzzles in different ways. The characters and animations/sprites were really fun. There's so much personality in them without even saying a word. The game also reveals character information in a really good way as you slowly learn more about the mystery of the game yet also feels like you're getting farther from learning who you are. I also just love how this game is just made with so much love for Takumi's real pets and how Sissel ended up being Yomiel's beloved cat... what a sweet ending oh my god. Each level had such a fun and unique design while also adding a twist to the puzzle, like the stealth level or submarine sinking level. The game also has many unlockable achievements to encourage replayability as well as concept art and other illustrations to unlock. There's so much added to this game and you can really feel the love and care the team put into this game, I hope there are more Ghost Trick games in the future or hopefully even a Ghost trick x Ace Attorney crossover -- I wonder how that would play out esp with Maya's spirit abilities. All in all, such a sweet and fun game. Not too long either. Can't wait to replay it to get all the achievements and make fanart!

[fantasygerard2000]

WISH Story Ideas I'm Lowkey Salty No One Bother To Come Up and Use

It's been a while since I wrote about Wish. So, why not discuss it more because Wish is fun to talk about.

So, most rewrites I find tend to just share the exact same idea; it's literally the movie but with Star as Asha's boyfriend. I am not against this as a concept in general, but after seeing most of them are just being the exact same idea, it no longer find it intriguing to be interested in. Kind of like an anime isekai, same shtick, different skin.

Even few and rare rewrites like for example giving Asha a black love interest are intriguing to me. After seeing so many of them just stick with the white boy Star, a black girl Star actually makes me interested in wanting one even tho it's a small change. And you know it's a problem when there's so much of the same that a slight deviation is considered an original.

So, let's workshop some ideas, shall we?

Most rewrites tend to stick with the humanoid Star idea, which I still find intriguing, and not the imaginary "he was a love interest" misconception fans glued onto. Another major factor is that the first draft for Star is that they were a shapeshifter, an idea I see rarely use or depicted in artwork. The Art Book literally says that Star was a mix of Peter Pan and Genie, yet most rewrites sticked with the Peter Pan idea. The real mis-opportunity here is a magical being that is actually magical.

So, for one idea that's inspired after the shapeshifter idea as well as the plethora of elaborate unused Star designs before Disney sticked with the simple "plush" design we got is have Star having a monstrous form. Like, the story is still generally the same but Star is this big monster who starts turning more human as the story progresses while Magnifico starts becoming monstrous as he succumbs to dark magic. If Starboy is catered for people with basic tastes, why not design Star catered for the gays and the furries?

Another idea I see that is used a lot in rewrites is making Asha Magnifico's daughter. Again, an interesting idea but a bit problematic considering that Asha's is black, mixed race specifically. I mean, you can come up with the idea that she was adopted but most tend to make her his and Amaya's legitimate daughter, which means redesigning her. Just like my comment on how fangirls drew the Peter Pan inspiration more for Starboy than both Peter AND Genie, redesigns for Asha as Magnifico's daughter tend to cater more on her European half than her North African half.

If you want Asha to be a princess with Magnifico being an evil family member of hers, here's one.

Tomas, Asha's father, and Magnifico are brothers with Tomas being the crowned king of Rosas and Magnifico the spare. After Tomas falls in love with Sakina, a servant girl and had a baby with her, Magnifico sees this as an act of betrayal to their royal line and secretly killed Tomas as punishment but mostly to take the throne. Sakina in this version died to childbirth so Asha is raised as a servant girl, unaware she's the true heir to the throne. An homage to Cinderella and Snow White since Wish has numerous homages to classical Disney films.

You don't even need to center the premise about wishes. If you want to write a Disney movie celebrating their 100 years with homages to their classical films, you can center it on romance, adventure, family, basically any theme you find in old Disney movies.

You can even write a reverse Enchanted-esque story with Asha from the modern world entering a magical kingdom through a book her late grandfather made.

Sure, everyone has preferences on what media they wanna make and consume, that isn't a bad thing in general. But there are endless ideas that people are missing out on.

If you want to make a better Wish, more than these samey Starboy romances, you have the power to do so.

[puella-1n-somn10]

Thought: The name of Mallow's late mother is 'Aina.

I am a little busy w/ exams rn to fully articulate it, but the name of Mallow's family restaurant is literally called "'Aina's kitchen", and, of course, nobody from the family that we know of happens to have that name, save for her deceased mom who was left nameless. I know that Bulbapedia stated that it is Hawaiian for "meal", but not only do I really not trust that site for when it comes to the SM anime especially, but 'Aina happens to actually be a name that exists in several other cultures irl including Hawaiian.

Laying them out as a sort of quick example- in Japan, the name comes from a combination of "love" and "greens/vegetables", while in Scandinavia it simply means "forever/eternal". It is also an uncommon name in the Arabic language, as well- coming from the word "'Ain", meaning "Eye".

Hell, I'm going to have to drag Bulbapedia by their ears for this one, because, in the Hawaiian language, 'Aina means "the land that which feeds/provides"; symbolizing Mallow's affinity for the grass type and the whole reason why she and the rest of her family keep its operations going- to provide delicious meals for the people. It's all about the symbolism, ba-bey! (And this shit only took me one Google search...)

Now, I know the name might not refer to anyone specifically - as is the case with many restaurants irl -, and Mallow's mom is far from the only unnamed character present within the anime- but you can't tell me that a character that integral to the plot and Mallow's development as a character remained unnamed throughout the entirety of anime's development cycle! Perhaps she was given a name amidst the writers, perhaps she wasn't- and I'd be stumped if the latter case ended up ringing true because of said contributions to the plot and the implications of her reincarnating into Mallow's shaymin.

On top of that, we did see an unnamed character being given a name later down the line- 'Anela, who was simply dubbed as either "old lady" or "shop lady" in the captions depending on the episode. So, who knows? Perhaps if the writers weren't so worried over trying to catch up to the events of USUM, maybe we would have seen all these story elements that were presented to us be finally utilized within the overarching plot, and I guess some of these lesser-appreciated characters would have been given the spotlight and identities for themselves if that wasn't the case- but now is not the time to mope over missed opportunities, esp with how well the anime has wrapped everything up and sent us off on our journey with Ash and Goh on a high note.

Pour one out for Lana's and Sophocles' parents; I remain bitter over the latter especially because of how many times they popped up in the story and they STILL didn't receive their own names!