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eat0crow · 4 years

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Not So Dead

Summary: Kakashi’s regretted a lot of things in his life. More than he can ever hope to put a number on. He never imagined not being more philosophical would make its way onto the list.

Notes: Written for @amusl02 as part of the @akatsuki-gift-exchange. I”m so sorry this is late!

You siad you wanted angst so I tried to be emo about it :D

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Kakashi’s never cared enough to worry about whatever bastardization of the afterlife his soul would end up in.

Most shinobi’s don’t as a general rule. How can they when they stain their hands with enough blood to fill hundreds of small basins for a paycheck? Sure, there’s a few like the Hyuga and the Uchiha, whose clan lore glamorizes battle so much they have a clear picture of their soul’s destination. But the general population of nins are more than happy with understanding that wherever their souls go...it can’t be anywhere good, and leaving it at that.

Avoiding the afterlife is a much more pressing, present, concern.

But fuck if the information wouldn’t come in handy right about now. He’s regretted a lot of things in his life. More than he can ever hope to put a number on. He never imagined not being more philosophical would make its way onto the list.

He should have listened to Sasuke when he’d had been explaining, in excruciating detail, to Naruto and Sakura just where the departed go, last night when they set up camp. He would have, but the temptation to remind Sasuke that technically, he was oversharing clan secrets, had been at the tip of his tongue and—

Seeing Sasuke start to open up, even if it was over something morose like death, with progress that was downright groundbreaking for him, kept Kakashi from saying anything. He’d never heard the boy talk even a third as much. So what was the harm in him giving away lore.

Sasuke is the clan, it’s his right to decide what gets guarded fiercely and what gets given away freely.

Tuning the kids conversation out, while immediately satisfying, evidently, had been a mistake. Because Kakashi has no fucking clue where he is. Probably not hell? He feels like his soul would be a lot more tormented than it is right now, if it was. Definity not heaven. Not ever heaven. Not after Rin. Or Obito. Or Kushina. Or Minato. Or—

All he knows for a fact is that he isn’t alive anymore. He can’t be. And it’s not the darkness that’s telling him that, not the nothingness or the weightlessness or the cold that seeps into his bones and bites at him harder than the chakra exhaustion that knocked him out had.

No, it’s none of that.

No.

It’s Obito that lets him know that he’s no longer part of the world of the living.

Obito, who’s older than he was the last time Kakashi saw him, who’s his age, which makes sense and doesn’t at the same time. Death, he supposes, gets to make its own set of rules. Whatever they are, aren’t nearly as important as the fact that Obito is here.

Not as the boy Kakashi remembers, who’d been sunshine and summer, warm smiles and endless hope. Or even as any of the variants he’s spent years creating as the answers to half his ‘what ifs’.

No, he’s here and all hard edges. Mangled and torn and cold and so much more beautiful in that he exists. That he’s in front of him. Kakashi has missed him, more with every precious person he’s lost, and the longer he’s lived. Seeing him with his arms crossed, with an orange, swirled mask dangling from his side that screams Naruto, is like stepping back in time. He feels like a genin. Albeit one with slightly more trauma, not to say he didn't already have his fair share than.

The glare on his face is like none of the expressions Kakashi can remember from his friend, but exactly what he always imagined when thinking about them meeting again in the next life. It causes a weird sense of validation to flood him. How could any of the people Kakashi failed possibly do anything but hate him?

Saving Kakashi was the last thing Obito had done, and for what? Him to turn around and kill Rin? For him to shove his hand through her chest and carve out her heart with lightning? Obito loved Rin, in every way he couldn’t. Didn’t want to, for that matter. Kakashi was happy to let her love him, if it meant she was happy and stayed in his life. Existing in her life, being her friend, was enough—all he was capable of.

Rin, was a butterfly. She was always destined to outgrow him once she found someone who loved her back, in the way she wanted and not just in the ways he could manage. She deserved to. Rin was amazing and wonderful and worth so much more than team seven.

He’d have been more than happy to let her fly away, if fate hadn’t been a bitch that decided thirteen was old enough for her to die.

“Bakakashi.” There’s a warning in Obito’s voice, his eyes are murderous, and it goes against every single one of Kakashi’s instincts to stay where he is. Not that he thinks he can move much. Apparently dying doesn’t come with a healing session, he still has all his injuries, and he feels just as drained as he did in Wave.

“Obito,” he finally says, he’s doing nothing to disguise any of the complicated knot of emotion that’s had more than a decade to tangle up from his voice. Maybe Obito will hear it and be able to understand them more than Kakashi himself does.

All he knows is that he’s feeling something.

Whether it’s a good something remains to be seen.

Though, he doubts that he can be part of any something that’s good.

Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, they’re proof of that. He’d worried so much about them getting to keep their childhoods, he hadn’t actually prepared them for the reality of shinobi life. Despite team 7’s history of cursed C ranks, he’d let them take this mission with nothing more than academy skills and D ranks under their belts. Fuck.

And now he’d gone and died on them. He’d left them behind in the middle of Wave with no one.

Desperately, he hopes they have the common sense to terminate their mission and return to the village.

Realistically he very much doubts they do.

“Pay attention to me, God damn it,” Obito hisses at him, voice sharp-edged and dripping with venom. He’s standing at Kakashi’s feet, kunai angled toward his throat. When did he get there? It’s hard to focus in wherever the fuck they are. “I guess some things never change, huh?”

“That’s not true,” he answers, he can’t stop himself. It’s Obito. No amount of post mortem introspection is going to prevent him from being at least a little bit of a bastard to him. “I’m taller than you now.”

Obito’s breath catches. He freezes, goes impossibly still, his fingers curling around the hilt of his knife so tightly his arm shakes. “You don’t get it, do you?” That’s not his angry tone. No, Obito's beyond that. This is his furious one. The one Kakashi never actually heard but always assumed he had. “Unbelievable. Fifteen years. After fifteen fucking years, here I am, a living corpse standing over you with a knife to your god damned throat and you still won’t take me seriously.”

“That’s not true,” Kakashi says, only, his words come out thick, slurred together around his tongue and the black spots thickening in his vision. “I always pay attention to you.”

How could he not?

Above him, Obito looks seconds away from dismembering him. He says...something. All Kakashi can hear is the rush of blood in his ears. Whatever cutting remark that Obito has to say—that Kakashi deserves to hear—is lost over the sound of his breathing.

He doesn’t want to pass out. Not when he’s just gotten Obito back and there’s a good chance he’ll wake up somewhere else, alone. He doesn’t know how this whole afterlife thing works. He’s terrified that if he closes his eyes, he won’t have the chance to find out.

It doesn’t seem to be up to him, though. The darkness keeps slipping into his vision, the cotton clouding his brain getting thicker with every second he forces himself to stay conscious.

The last thing he sees before he's swept away in the waves of chakra exhaustion is Obito’s face, hovering inches from his own with something that might have been concern flashing across it.

Kakashi’s next return to the land of the not so living (purgatory?), is a bit easier. There’s less of the bone-deep cold from before and more of the floating sensation. Like he’s stuck somewhere with just enough gravity to keep him steady in one place. He doesn’t hurt as badly, the only aches he feels are the ones he’s always had. It would be stranger for him to wake up with them gone, so he counts himself fully healed.

He pushes himself up into a sitting position, his muscles stiff and protesting even with the simple movement. His side is tender, but, considering Kakashi remembers his ribs being broken by that fucking overgrown sword, it’s nothing more than an inconvenience.

“It’s not the same if you roll over and die,” a quiet voice says, off to his left. Kakashi blinks, his mask is gone, so is his hitai-ate. All he can do is run his hands over his face and blink the last bits of sleep from his vision. Obito’s breath doesn’t catch when he turns to look at him, which makes sense, assuming he was the one to take his mask off in the first place. And really, who else is there to do it? “I have to be the one to kill you.”

“Sorry,” he manages after what feels like a small eternity. His brain hasn’t caught up with his tongue just yet. “You can. If you want to.”

Keeping his shoulders intentionally relaxed, his movements loose and lazy in a way that takes effort, Kakashi reaches toward his thigh, grabbing the tanto still strapped there. For a moment he weights the blade in his hand. It's standard issue, the same one given out to all jounin. Nothing remarkable about it.

Handle out, he offers it up to Obito.

And Obito stares, for a long endless moment that stretches into the next. Around them the landscape echoes the tension in his shoulders, the dark grey nothing rising up into jagged peaks, sharpening with every fraction of tension that makes its way into his frame. “Just like that. After everything, you’re not going to fight back?”

“I would,” Kakashi says, looking away first. “If it was anyone else.”

“Then why?” Obito asks, searching.

Kakashi cuts him off before he can continue. “Because you deserve to. Obito, I’m the reason you died, if anyone has the right to run a blade through me it’s you.”

Long, spindly fingers curl around the handle of the blade, and even though they don’t touch his skin, Kakashi can feel the phantom sensations of them across his hand. “I’m not killing you for me, dumbass.”

Kakashi swallows hard around the lump in his throat. He still doesn’t turn to face him. It’s weird seeing Obito with only a single Sharingan flashing red in his face. In a way, it’s a bit like seeing his own reflection mirrored back to him, and Kakashi has never been good with looking at his own face. “I know, and if Rin or Minato or Kushina was here I would let them kill me, too. But they’re not.”

“So what,” Obito scoffs, harsh and cruel as he throws the tanto sheath. “I’m the consolation prize? A get out of jail free card? I’m here so I might as well absolve you of your guilt like a convenient little escape-goat, is that right? Do you even care?”

Obito laughs. It sounds like a sob. Like something wretched from a wounded animal that’s hurting and has been hurting for so long it’s forgotten how to feel any differently. Kakashi hates that sound, he really really hates it.

Before he can help himself, Kakashi turns, grabbing the hand not clutching the blade between them in a white-knuckled grip that looks painful, and pulls. The tanto goes chattering forward and Obito is mashed against him into something that might resemble a hug and what feels more like a lifeline.

“Of course I care,” Kakashi says into the crown of Obito's hair. He smells like clay and metal and something not quite natural that doesn’t matter nearly as much as his warmth against his chest. “You’re not an escape-goat Obito. You’re the one I owe the most to. I’m sorry I couldn’t find some way to make it up to you before I died and ended up here.”

Against him, Obito stiffens further, pushing away with bony elbows that dig into his stomach until clawed fingers make their way into the skin of his shoulders. Obito holds himself there, arms-length away and propped up enough for Kakashi to have to crane his neck to make eye contact. “Wait. What? Kakashi, where the fuck do you think you are?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” Kakashi says, doing his best to make his voice come out breezily. “I don’t know anything about the afterlife”s geography.”

Obito pinches his side, hard. “You’re not—Bakakashi—I’m not dead. Neither are you.”

“Wait, what?”

“How you—this whole time you thought you were dead?” Obito shakes him, throwing his whole body weight into moving Kakashi’s upper torso. “You were going to let me kill you a second ago!”

“In the metaphorical sense.” Kakashi raises an eyebrow at him, the confused look on his face natural with not even a bit of exaggeration. “I figured after you got your justice, I’d move on to whatever hell comes next.”

“You were bleeding when you came here. You’re sitting in a patch of dried blood right now.”

“I haven’t died before, I don’t know how death works.” Kakashi shrugs.

For all he knows the afterlife could just be a really bland version of...well life.

Maybe if he wasn’t recovering from the after-effects of what he now knows for a fact had originally been a concussion, he’d be a lot more suspicious. Probably not though, because even without the head injury he’d have a lap full of Obito and there is absolutely no way he could be skeptical about his living or dead status with his arms around the ghost of a boy he watched die.

“My heart's beating, you idiot.” Obito protests, reaching down and placing Kakashi’s palm flat against his chest. On reflex, Kakashi tries to jerk it away, the only time he ever touches anyone's chest is when he’s tasked with carving out their heart. Obito’s grip is crushing, though. He holds his hand there firmly in place, not allowing even a fraction of give. “Don’t you think It would be a lot more still if I was a ghost.”

Kakashi wants to say he doesn’t know. Wants to point out that he can’t feel Obito’s heartbeat through the overwhelming panic that's nipping across Kakashi’s skin—and fuck, if he didn’t already have enough triggers, he should have expected to have a little trauma surrounding this. He can’t get the words out of his throat, though. Not through his breathing, that’s coming out in harsh pants. Not over the panic attack that had no business ruining this and is a good chunk of time past due.

For his part, Obito just watches him through it. Immovable as he keeps his grip welded around Kakashi’s wrist.

Eventually, after however long time takes to move here, he forces his mind to steady itself and compartmentalize this into the little boxes in the far-off corners labeled do not revisit. When he finally does feel, not okay, he’s too shaky for okay, but solid, he makes the effort to feel what Obito’s trying to show him.

When he does, he’s met with the steady thump of a heart beating under his hand. It feels like a bird, beating its wings—and that’s enough of the fragile animal metaphors for today, thank you very much. “Oh. Oh you’re real.”

Obito blinks at him, and the final bits of anger that have steadily been falling away, drains out of him. “Yeah,” Obito breathes, letting go of Kakashi’s hand, finally, and slumping forward, back into his arms. “Yeah, Kakashi, I’m real.”

“You’re alive,” Kakashi whispers. His grip must be painful, but he can’t stop himself from tightening his hold. Afraid that Obito will slip away as some figment of his imagination the second he eases up. “You’re alive.”

“Come on now,” Obito huffs. Something hot makes its way to the crook of Kakashi’s neck. He can’t be bothered to check and see which one of them is crying. “You didn’t think I’d actually let Iwa kill me, did you?”

Yes.

Yes, Kakashi very much did. If he had suspected for even a second that Obito was still out there, somewhere, alive and whole, he would have hunted him down with enough vigor to make his ninken jealous.

But saying that feels cheap when actions speak louder than words and enough time has passed for anything along that vein to ring as hollow platitudes.

Kakashi thinks Obito expects him to get angry at him, to demand to know where he’s been for the last fifteen years. Don’t get him wrong, Kakashi wants to know, he really desperately does. But the answer isn’t nearly as important as the fact that Obito is alive and whole and with him, so instead he settles on asking, “Where is here, then.”

Obito lets out a breath, slumping impossibly more against him. “This is a part of Kamui. Somehow when you exhausted yourself, you managed to find your way into the pocket dimension created by the Sharingan. Since we share the same set, we can access the same place. You’re lucky I was already here. You really would have been dead if I wasn’t.”

“Oh,” Kakashi says, simply. He supposes, in a way it makes sense. Their Mangekyou can banish objects, it has to have a place to send them to. Maybe he caught himself in the reflection of Zabuza’s water prison.

Kaskshi closes his eyes, content to just hold Obito there. It’s not like he’s gotten the chance to be close to anyone recently, physically or otherwise. So while he’s hyper aware of every inch of skin Obito is touching, it feels good. In a reassuring, alive, kind of way.

They lapse into a comfortable silence, the only sounds around being their combined breathing which quickly takes the place of white noise.

Obito’s the one to break it, turning his face against Kakashi’s chest and looking up. “Hey, Bakakashi, if I asked to kill you right now, would you let me?” His voice is soft without the venom in it, with nothing to hide the uncertainty.”

Kakashi doesn’t have to think about his answer before he responds, “Yes.”

He’s not his father, he’s not about to throw himself down on his own blade just to run from his ghosts. But, he thinks if one of his ghosts, the one that’s not quite dead yet, wants him to be, that’s okay. It’s different.

“You’d really give me your life, just like that?”

“Just like that,” Kakashi agrees, because it really is that simple. For him at least.

He hopes though, that Obito will want to wait just a little bit longer to kill him. Kakashi’s waited so long to see him again, he’d hate to have to wait until the end of Obito’s life to do it. Though, that would be fitting, in an ironic sort of way.

“In that case,” Obito starts, moving to stand up. Kakashi helps him the best he can, supporting him with a gentle hand against his back even if he misses the warmth instantly. “Will you come with me?”

Part of Kakashi wants to ask Obito what he means, won’t he come back with him? Back to the village, to Konoha and….and a stone carved with the name of almost everyone that made the place a home.

A large part of Kakashi, the part that makes him bite his tongue, reminds him that Obito’s had fifteen years to make his way back to the leaf. Back to him. If he was going to return to the village it would have happened by now. No. If they’re going anywhere it’s going to be on Obito’s terms.

This time it’s Kakashi’s turn to chase after him.

So he doesn’t have to think about it before responding, “Okay.” The only thing truly holding him back is….Naruto, who won’t get another instructor who will look at him as anything but a monster and fuck, he can’t abandon him again, not after finally being allowed to see him. And Sakura who’s going to be flushed out as a paper nin, which is a complete waste of her potential. And Sasuke, who’s going to be snatched up by Danzo’s grimy hands the second he comes back to the village with no one to keep him in the light and away from the shadows and— “But I have some kids I need to pick up first.”

#naruto #crow writes #obito uchiha #kakashi hatake #kakaobi #kakashi x obito #akatsuki gift exchange

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ectonurites · 4 years

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for the character headcannons ask game, jason and cass?

ALRIGHT ALRIGHT im putting this one under a cut because it got SUPER long bc i cant shut up ever

lets start w jason

A (realistic headcanon):

ok using the ‘realistic’ category here loosely but GOD i love the idea of Damian & Jason having interacted while Jason was staying with the League before getting dunked in the Lazarus Pit. like. this obviously would need to be set more in preboot and following the Lost Days & Batman Annual 25 version of Jason’s resurrection, but god the idea of it just makes me scream in a good way. Like... these are things Jason likely doesn’t remember very clearly once he’s brought back to life more fully by the pit because he was uh pretty catatonic, but Damian being a little kid and knowing about the boy that his mother keeps around the base, that she’s trying to help bring back to health. Damian not even knowing that’s his big brother, just that he’s a presence that shares his mother’s attention. Jason again being unresponsive but like, ok god you know that part of lost days where Talia shows the others observing him that he only fights back at those he perceives as genuine threats trying to hurt him,

Because Jason can perceive that she’s safe, she’s not actually trying to hurt him, he trusts her because she saved him? thinking about lil child Damian who is ya know already being trained in fighting stuff and like the idea of him trying to provoke Jason just to see what happens but Jason not fighting back because on some level be it his connection to Talia or even little baby Damian visually reminding him of Bruce, he knows that Damian is safe too 🥺

and then when Jason and Damian meet again in Gotham as Red Hood & Robin respectively, Jason not really remembering because there was so much going on back then for him, but Damian realizing that oh... that was Him

B (hilarious):

alright so if we are looking at comics currently, in modern stuff jason is what, like 22? hes old enough to drink in the US but still definitely early 20s so around my around my age, thats what im using as a basis here. if we adjust timeline and still consider his death having happened when he was 15, that puts it around 2013. and then coming back to like interacting with people about three years later if we still kinda base things off of the preboot timeframe (since we never got a super solid retelling of the timeline of death -> resurrection -> training -> tries to get revenge aside from knowing he went to the all-caste instead of the lost days version of the story) making him reenter the regular world and stuff around age 18 in 2016. meaning a solid three years of pop culture that he was entirely missing, and like im sorry but he really doesn’t strike me as the type to bother looking into what he missed, he’s kinda busy focusing on other stuff. lets take a quick look at some major things from those years. 2013 gave us ‘what does the fox say’ and ‘the harlem shake’ . 2014 had that time U2 just put a fuckin album on everyone’s phones, The Fault In Our Stars movie came out. 2015 introduced the phrase ‘Netflix and Chill’ and the whole blue & black vs gold & white dress debate happened. imagine any of the other batkids (or even arguably roy during rhato stuff) bringing these things up and jason’s ensuing confusion. thank you for your time

C (heart-crushing):

so. there are two specific instances from rebirth era Jason i want to bring up here and much like a lot of these it’s less a headcanon and more of an inference based on observations, but i wanna take a sec to discuss Jason’s relationship with other people’s death. early in rebirth, Tim ‘dies’ from that whole thing in detective comics. he didn’t actually die, we as readers know, but in-universe they all very much so thought he was dead. frustratingly a lot of the batfam wasn’t really shown mourning him aside from in the Detective Comics Rebirth title itself (which just. when a major character dies even if its temporary- that should have a ripple effect) BUT an exception to that is in RHATO 2016, where we get this offhanded comment in Jason’s internal monologuing

similarly later when Roy, who like, had an incredibly close relationship w Jason that had just gotten mended before Heroes in Crisis, gets fuckin murdered in that whole thing... Jason doesn’t go to his funeral either. He leaves a dramatic voice mail and then visits the grave on his own later, choosing to instead keep working on the mission they’d started rather than going and taking the time to mourn properly.

Jason’s relationship with death is incredibly complicated, obviously. He has died, he has come back, and he now is willing to cross the line most other bats won’t and will kill people when he deems it necessary. I think thats something important though- he doesn’t just like... go around killing for fun (usually, some writers preboot made him a little murder happy but even then usually this still was vaguely followed) he kills people he thinks deserved it. Like, even looking back at the mess of Morrison’s Jason during Batman & Robin 2009, Jason was still trying to bring a sense of justice with who he was killing (”punishment that fits the crime”), it wasn’t killing for the sake of killing. He sees things in this kind of almost black and white ‘people who deserve it’ and ‘people who don’t’ way, and he has no problem dealing with death when it’s with the people he thinks deserve it.

but when someone who doesn’t in his mind ‘deserve it’ gets killed? i think he just goes into total avoidance mode. throws himself into other things he’s doing, tries not to dwell on it too much no matter how much he still thinks about it (this is especially evident in him consistently telling people “i’m fine!” after what happened to Roy, despite bringing Roy up literally like every few issues for a WHILE after he died and very clearly still struggling with it, Artemis is the only one who gets through to him on it a little bit)

but yeah, I just think that from Jason’s relatively unique situation of having been murdered, he knows what it’s like and he is perfectly fine wishing that on people he thinks are bad and deserve it, but it crushes him to imagine the people he loves and cares about having to experience something as painful as what he went through. not to mention the whole “I came back, why do I get a second chance at all this when they, who are a much better person than I am, probably won’t” mindset we get some implications of him having

D (canon is a coward and won’t)

hello DC i am once again insisting a batfam member is bisexual

CASS TIME

A (realistic headcanon):

ok so we know cass likes ballet. thats canon. however i think we also should in general explore cass experiencing other types of dance/performance as well, be it herself as a performer or even just watching. like... god imagine her & like my brain just automatically for group activities puts her with tim steph and duke but also for this in particular I feel would be a Jason embraced activity, but like them going to see a broadway show or some other professional theatre or something, and her just being enthralled by the reading of body language of the performers! like again by any point in current stuff cass does have like, the ability to speak fine (reading still hard tho) but even so I think like. okay im a theatre kid if that’s not obvious from the Everything About Me but one thing I always do after seeing a show is ya know spend dinner afterwards discussing it with whoever i saw it with.

I just think that like, bringing those people i just mentioned to the table to discuss seeing a show after would be so FASCINATING because cass would bring this whole perspective of critiquing their acting on a whole different level- not based on how well they delivered lines out loud, but by what their body language was saying as they moved on stage. like im very amused by the idea of cass getting a totally different picture in her mind about what a character’s motivations were because she was paying way more attention to what their physicality was saying vs the words that were written and how they were delivered. i think the debates her and the others would have would be EPIC there. jason defending the text as it was written adamantly and cass being like ‘ok yeah sure but thats not what they did’

B (hilarious):

cass having no concept of money because why would she bother? is SO funny to me. like it’s not that she couldn’t be reasonable if she wanted to, but like, she knows that the Waynes are well off so it’s not something she actually needs to be concerned about, so she just goes hog wild. takes steph out to fancy dinners and makes steph order for them since cass ya know doesn’t really read the menus, and steph’s like ‘jesus christ this costs-” “don’t worry about it” “but cass-” and she just holds up one of bruce’s credit cards and steph’s still like “but you don’t even know the range-” “it is fine”

bruce does not have the heart to tell her to stop

C (heart-crushing):

i mean this is pretty much canon but especially now after death metal where she’s remembering, not just being told by a guy using weird alternate timeline technology, that she used to be an adopted member of the Wayne family... like that hurts so bad. To look at these people who have ya know been kind to her, Bruce has still been a father-like figure to her (i mean literally from the moment they met in New 52 canon during the flashback in Batman & Robin Eternal, where he’s telling her that she’s not a monster just because of what people forced her to do.... that she’s a hero... that hug.... dad behavior), and they do to some extent treat her as family... But to then really know, to feel and remember that she was actually adopted! She was a part of their family. To look at how she’s been calling herself Orphan while working with them this whole time... that’s so heartbreaking! I have cried about this idea so much! I want so badly a conversation between her and Bruce now where he offers to officially adopt her again, I need it so bad and if it doesn’t happen at some point in the next year or two I will be so distraught.

D (canon is a coward and won’t)

i want an in-depth exploration of cass’ relationship to her own gender. being raised without language and you know with so much of her life being independent (remember: CASS RAN AWAY AROUND THE WORLD WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING ANY SPOKEN LANGUAGE) and outside of an organized society impressing too much of gender expectations on her, i feel like the way she experiences it would be very unique! like sure she’s so far been fine with being assigned ‘girl’ (ya know that comes with batgirl, and how people just automatically treated her based on how she looks) but in terms of gender expression and like her actual relationship with ‘traditional femininity’ etc like... because of how she was raised I just think she’d have a really different perspective on it that could be cool to explore, and I think she’d fall outside of the binary after she really thinks about how she identifies.

tldr on that: she/they nb cass is what i’m getting at here

#onwater #jason todd #cassandra cain #sam writes

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leonawriter · 4 years

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On Writing Fankids

Writing this because I now have two different fankids for the same pairing, in vastly different ways, and they’re very different people. So.

I don’t know how many points I’m going to make, and I don’t know how useful this is going to be, since Disclaimer: I’m not an expert on real children or medical practices, but I am trying to put effort in.

Most of this is composed of questions, because I don’t know who your fankid (or, OC-fankid) is, and the point is to make you think rather than just put ideas into your head by telling you what’s right and what’s wrong.

1 - How did they come to exist?

This is the FIRST question you should be asking when coming up with a fankid. What they look like and how cute they are is all well and good, but when you’re thinking of actually writing a story, that won’t help you.

If the parents are a cis male and cis female couple, then it’s easy to assume how they had a kid. That said, that’s not always necessarily the case, as some people may be infertile, or may simply choose to adopt. However, the answer to this becomes more complicated when fans get to wanting to give a gay couple children, as this usually means they want to give them biological children.

In the event of pairings where the parents are canonically not reproductively compatible (which includes gay, lesbian, nonbinary, and so on) there are still options, which include: a trans parent, which involves being able to write a trans person and not just overlooking how this would change their story; surrogacy, in which someone else carries the child to term for those who can’t, and the related idea of a sperm donor.

In going into other biological options, there’s also the question of “how believable and realistic do you want this to be? how scientific? how much fantasy or sci-fi do you want here?” and if the answer is “I have fantasy and/or sci-fi in my setting” then you can use that.

That said, please don’t rule out the possibility of adoption. Adoption is the most common way for queer parents in the real world to get kids, and just because a kid isn’t biological doesn’t make them any less their parent’s child. Even/especially in a fantasy setting! And knowing if a kid was adopted, that’ll extend into how they see themself, as well as who the parent is and why they chose to adopt.

Related to that, if a kid is adopted, how aware of that are they? How were they adopted? Are they a canon character that was adopted, or an entirely new character? If they were too young to remember the adoption, how do their parents (or parent, if there was only one person adopting them) explain? If they were old enough, how do they see the person who took them in? How do they see their adopted siblings, if any exist, or any future siblings? What about any prospective additional parents, if they originally only had one, or if their parent/s is/are polyamorous?

2 - How good are their parents at parenting?

Yes, you want your favourite pairing to be great parents, but no matter what people are going to have their own idiosyncrasies. How do the parents deal when the kid throws a tantrum?

What if the child shows signs of being neurodivergent, are the parents any good at spotting those signs, and whether they are or not, how do they handle the difference from what they might have been expecting?

My advice here is to pay attention to the pairing in their normal canon and how they deal with situations and also how they handle children in canon, as well as then going to further sources that show what parenting is really like. Your fankid is going to be a baby, they’re going to be a screaming toddler, they’re going to have a personality and wants and they’re going to frustrate their parents a lot. If you want to put the effort in to write the family well, ask someone you know who has kids, even.

3 - What are their circumstances during their childhood?

The fun one about this is that depending on the context the child was created in, the answer can be different for children of the same pairing!

In my case, I have Satoko and Fumiya. Satoko’s childhood (outside of her parents’ control) was traumatising, and left her as a quiet kid, despite how much she’s shown love later on. Fumiya, on the other hand, grows up in a loving environment from the start, and because of that he’s much more comfortable and confident, despite everything else that happens and so on.

This is where the child starts to develop their own personality. Think about how in the real world, children are shaped by their surroundings and the way that they grow up. Does your fankid learn that they can trust the people around them? How much attention are they given? Is that attention positive, negative, stifling? Do they feel neglected, or coddled? How easy is it for them to find food, or their favourite food? Are they surrounded by children of their own age, or mostly living around adults? Is their living situation, no matter whether their parents love them and take care of them or not, a dangerous one, and how aware of that are they?

Also important is the question of whether they even have both of their parents, or either of them. Maybe the situation here is complicated. Maybe they’re an orphan (sorry, parent pairing). Maybe they’re separated from their family, and they have to fend for themself. Maybe their parents are separated for any given reason.

Any one of these things is also going to affect their mindset while growing up from being a baby through being a toddler, a pre-teen, and a teenager. If you want them to feel like a fully rounded out person, you have to think of them as such.

4 - What do they look like?

I’m well aware that this is the first thing that most people go with when creating fankids. I’m just saying that it’s not the most important thing you should be thinking of.

Making a fankid shouldn’t be a mix-and-match game when you’re making biological kids. When you’re coming up with an adopted kid even less so. They aren’t a paper doll. Some children may look like a mix between their parents, while others will take on attributes from previous generations... although when looking at fictional characters you don’t own the IP of, assuming what genes a fankid’s grandparent might have passed on gets tricky. For this I’m focusing mostly on biological kids, but it should help for adopted as well in some parts.

One good rule of thumb here is to look at how genes actually work.

If nothing else, a simple starting idea would be to look at the general population and say “what is the most common eye colour here” and “what is the most common hair colour” and if your fankid is from that area, that’s probably the most dominant gene, over others.

When creating my own fankids mentioned above, my idea went that blue is an eye colour that tends to be dominant, and red hair tends to come through even just by making dark hair lighter.

That said, hair and eye colour aren’t all you should be thinking about!

Other things that should be thinking about are: how tall are they? what shape are their eyes? Does the structure of their face take more after one parent than the other, no matter their eye/hair colour? Do they have any markings on their body (moles, birthmarks, etc), and if so are they shared with other family members? Are their features they share with family members who aren’t their parents (i.e, a sister, an uncle, a great-grandparent)?

As they grow up, do they get taller or stay shorter than their parents? In terms of their body, do they become muscular, or not, and if so, why? Do they become fat, or thin?

Does their health impact on the way that their body looks? This can mean both disability in terms of walking around with a cane, using a wheelchair, or any number of other things.

Do they change their body in any way? Do they choose to add tattoos, or is something done to them in some other way? Do they have any scars? Would they want to share those scars with other people, or would they choose to hide them away?

5 - How canon affects them, and how they affect canon.

Whether or not your fankid grows up before, during, or after canon events makes a difference. If it’s “before/during” then you’re going to have to think of the consequences of that on both them and their parents, but also everyone else. This isn’t just “add in a kid, aren’t they cute” this is an entire new character, with the capability to become a loose cannon and change canon events.

Things can change. That’s something you’ve got to think about, and accept, the moment you want to add this new character into things. Are you willing to change things, and if so, how far?

The kinds of changes can generally be divided into two categories: internal, and external.

Internal changes are the ways that the characters change mentally and emotionally in response to a child (their child, even) being present. In one of my stories, I change very little on an external level, but the focus is on the internal side of things, as the father of this child faces the idea that he might have lost his son, and how that makes him feel when going into a dangerous situation he may not come back from. Other characters might not see any difference, but the internal conflict is there.

External changes are the big ones, where the child being present - and, by extension, the child’s backstory and its knock-on effects - affect the present, and cause things to change in visible ways. This can mean anything from “the pairing’s child has wandered into a dangerous area filled with plot, and needs to be rescued” to “the plot has found the child” or even just “the parents have relationship issues to sort out, and that changes the plot.”

Things to think of here are - aside from “how old is this kid” as you might have come up with a kid that by this point is an adult as far as I know - how active is this kid? Are they happy to stay put and not affect things, or dot hey have insatiable curiosity and the need to do something? Do they stumble into the plot without being aware of it, do they go seek it out, or does it find them? How much danger does this put them in? If it does put them in danger, how do they deal with that, and how do their parents (or single parent) deal with that? If no danger at all, do they have fun, or are they stressed?

6 - Interactions with the rest of the cast.

Honestly, my main point here is, not everyone is going to react to a kid the same way. Just because they’re cute doesn’t mean everyone’s going to like them! And no, that doesn’t mean they’re evil. And sometimes, even the “evil” characters might handle kids better than some “good” characters. In fact, some “good” characters might do so badly with kids that they make them cry, and that doesn’t make them any less “good.” It just makes them bad at handling kids.

Otherwise, how does the kid fare with the other members of the cast, in general and specifically?

Is there anyone that they like in particular? If so, why? Did that person look nice, did they give them their favourite food? Did they do something special? What did they do to become friends?

Likewise, is there anyone they dislike in particular? What did they do to deserve that? Were they mean on purpose, or did they become disliked by means of an accident or miscommunication? Is it that this person raises their voice and the kid doesn’t like raised voices, or they don’t talk loudly enough?

Depending on the situation with the child’s parents, they might prefer people who are positive toward their parents, or who are negative toward their parents. Because let’s not forget those who don’t like being compared, and those who have parents who aren’t any good. For instance, is the child’s parent a villain in their setting? Are they thought of as a villain? Are they a criminal, or on the side of the law, and regardless of which that is, does the child agree with them, and how does that affect their relationships with others who agree or disagree with that parent?

If your fankid, for example, was mistreated by a certain set of people when they were younger, then how does that relate to later on in life, or the canon cast? My Satoko’s backstory involves medical abuse, which makes her wary of doctors scientists, and things that would remind her (even subconsciously) of that setting. Two of the characters in the cast are medically trained. Her interactions with them are going to be affected by that, even if she grows to like and trust them.

In conclusion: a fan kid can be a fun five minute thing, but if you only put five minutes’ thought into their design, their backstory, and their personality, then you’re only going to get the same view of them as a sketch compared to the time it takes to fully line and colour a work of art.

If you want to write them, or create a full comic with them, you have to ask yourself questions about who they are, and also who you want them to be. If you want them to be a fully rounded person, then you have to put the time into it. And, really, that if this kid starts acting in ways you don’t expect, but that work, just... listen to that.

#fandom stuff #fankids #Writing tips #with minor appearances from Fumiya and Satoko

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abigailnussbaum · 4 years

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She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, S5

Overall I’d say this was the best season since the first one, and the ending it gives the story is a satisfying and moving one. I really liked how the show gestures back at some canonical She-Ra concepts - the rebels hiding out in the Whispering Woods, for example - while at the same time doing things that are completely outside the original canon’s scope - She-Ra in Space! And I thought the ensemble was well-used, main characters, side characters, and antagonists all getting their own storylines and resolutions in a way that isn’t easy with such a wide cast of characters, but was handled with elegance.

But look, if you’ve read anything I’ve written or tweeted about this show over the last four seasons, you know I have fundamental issues with how it chooses to direct its storytelling and characterization energies. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise that the concluding season didn’t address most of those issues. A big part of that is that the show I wanted She-Ra to be clearly wasn’t the one Stevenson and her team were making, and that’s fine. But I find it genuinely strange that of the three series that are obvious thematic and emotional successors to Avatar: The Last Airbender - She-Ra, The Legend of Korra, and The Dragon Prince - none of them reach the same heights of plotting and characterization, and at least in She-Ra’s case I think this is rooted in an unwillingness to complicate a rather simplistic central theme.

(Also, at least part of the problem has to be that the show’s five-season, 52-episode run spanned only seventeen months. Even if you add in the production period for the first season, that’s a truly bonkers schedule that must have told in the depth and complexity of the final product.)

Take Catra, for example. If you’d asked me where I thought her storyline was going before watching the season, I would have said pretty confidently that she was going to get at least some level of redemption story. After all, her situation at the end of S4 perfectly positions her to switch sides by stripping her of all the things she thought she wanted and placing her in a precarious position that she might not be able to talk or manipulate her way out of. The season premiere establishes those facts even further by making Horde Prime a literal monomaniacal monster. And yeah, it’s pretty clever that in a series that places so much emphasis on the importance of friendship as the path towards moral growth, the villain is narcissism personified, a person who has no use for others except as they reflect himself, and subjugate themselves entirely to his will. So it’s not surprising that, finally cut off from any realistic path towards power and made to feel her own vulnerability, Catra would finally start doing some soul-searching and realize how badly she’d treated the people who cared about her.

(Though if you’ll allow me a snide moment, I can’t help but point out that in the Best Redemption Story Ever, Zuko actually gets all the power and approval he’d thought he wanted before realizing that it means nothing without his honor and self-respect. I think we all know that if Catra had gotten a position of power from Horde Prime, she would have felt no loyalty towards Adora and Etheria, and helped him to conquer them.)

Similarly, I think I would have given you better odds than even that the series would end with some romantic storyline between Catra and Adora. And I don’t want to downplay the importance of depicting a story like that - before the end of the season I found myself wondering why Bow and Glimmer’s romance was being depicted so chastely, before realizing that the writers wanted the first kiss on the show to be between two women. I respect that impulse and the representation the show ends up delivering - we’ve come a long way from Korra and Asami holding hands at the end of their show. But at the same time, I can’t help but feel that the way that the show arrives at this point requires a significant rewriting of Catra’s personality and character arc, not to mention the history of her relationship with Adora.

As the fifth season argues it, the root of Catra’s resentment of Adora is romantic disappointment. She complains that “Adora doesn’t want me. Not the way I want her”, and leaves the team when Adora decides to risk her life by destroying the Heart of Etheria because she takes it as a personal rejection. But this is, to say the least, a massive whitewashing of what we’ve seen of Catra and Adora’s past relationship. In flashbacks, particularly the ones from S4, it’s made clear that even when they were on the same wavelength, Catra and Adora’s friendship was toxic and dysfunctional. Catra may have always loved Adora, but it was a selfish love, one that saw Adora as an instrument for the validation of Catra’s confidence and self-image, and denied her any opportunity for pursuing her own interests and desires.

There’s room for a story about Catra growing past that selfishness and learning to love generously and openly, of course, but we don’t get that story in S5. When Catra complains that in sacrificing herself for Etheria, Adora is refusing to want things for herself, it’s not an honest character moment. Catra has never cared what Adora wants - in fact, her refusal to acknowledge Adora’s right to make her own choices and take a path in life that left Catra behind has been the crux of their enmity since the series premiere. Having her suddenly change tunes doesn’t feel organic, but like a parachuted-in personality transplant.

To put it back in ATLA terms, Catra was never Zuko. Adora is Zuko - someone raised with bad principles who nevertheless has enough innate compassion, and a powerful moral compass, that with a little support - emotional or magical - they can break through their indoctrination and become a hero. Catra is Azula - obsessed with power, possessed of very little compassion for others, and, most importantly, seriously emotionally unbalanced. I’m not saying someone like that can’t be helped and can’t become a better person, but it takes a great deal more than what the last season of She-Ra has given us.

Meanwhile, if you look at Adora’s storyline, on one level it gives us what I’ve wanted for a while. I’ve complained a lot about how Adora has remained static throughout the middle seasons of the show while other characters - Glimmer, Catra, Scorpia - got character arcs and changed meaningfully. One effect of that has been to create a strange disconnect between the show’s central themes and its main character. In a story that is supposedly all about the importance of friendship and personal connections, the heroine is someone who achieves her heroic destiny by rejecting those connections in favor of a more global morality, and who then had to struggle with balancing her sense of global responsibility with personal attachments - to Glimmer and Bow as much as to Catra.

The fifth season finally circles back to these ideas and places Adora at its center. I thought her conversation with Mara about having the right to be more than She-Ra, and to do more with her life than sacrifice it for others, was a really powerful moment. I just feel like, once again, the foundation wasn’t laid for it. First because Adora’s growth has been mostly ignored during the intervening three seasons, and second because this is a character arc that clashes with the show’s friendship-above-all message in ways that aren’t really acknowledged.

When you think about it, the moments when Adora has been the most herself are the ones when she rejects toxic friendship and stands up for herself - in her confrontations with Catra, especially over the course of the first season, and when she defies Glimmer’s decision to use the Heart of Etheria and the end of S4 and destroys the sword. So to the already complicated issue of where to draw the line between the things you want for yourself and the things you owe others, you add the thorny matter of when to detach yourself from toxic friends who see you only as a means to an end. Except that She-Ra never really grapples with this extra wrinkle - and again, Catra’s hasty personality transplant plays into this, because we get to pretend that the only problem she and Adora ever had was romantic miscommunication.

In a season that is all about putting aside differences and personal grievances to fight for a common cause, there is a refreshing number of instances that remind us that those grievances are still relevant - the fact that nobody will ever really trust Shadow Weaver, for example, or the other princesses calling Entrapta out on her seeming indifference to the consequences of her actions (though in this case, and yet again, Entrapta’s neuroatypicality is used as a get-out-of-jail-free card from taking personal responsibility). Even Glimmer gets to spend a bit of time in the dog house, at the same time that she and Bow work together and save each other’s lives. But once again, when it comes to the main character, we can’t let pesky matters like a lifetime of toxic friendship get in the way of a happy ending in which lesbian love conquers all.

There was a good story to be told here, one that could have easily ended up in the same place as the series actually did. But it required actually delving into the complexity of a character like Adora, and dealing honestly with the problems in her relationship with Catra. She-Ra ends - as it did throughout it run - by choosing to paper over those difficulties in favor of a friendship-conquers-all message that is a great deal less convincing.

(Also, am I wrong or are there a lot of loose ends still? I don’t think we ever find out who Adora was, what Greyskull is, and what She-Ra actually is.)

#she-ra and the princesses of power #season 5 #is a good season overall #and i had no reason to expect #that the show would suddenly prioritize #the things i wanted it to be #over the things it always was #but i can't help but regret #the better and more complex show we could have had #if there had been any willingness #to complicate the very simple message at its core

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starr-fall-knight-rise · 5 years

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Humans are Space Orcs “The Riot”

Alright guys, here is another long one for all the people that have been encouraging me to do so. You guys are the best.

I need you to understand something before you read this. It is not a political commentary on today’s social or political issues,this is completely in-world and my interpretation of how things would play out. I just wanted to address an inevitability in this universe as I have made it. It was an interesting dive into politics and some other things. It does get rather violent and some of the content may be upsetting, so you may not want to read it, but hopefully it will be a realistic addition to the universe that I have made.

Commander Vir marched down the hall with swift footsteps surrounded on all sided by a clamoring group of crewmen, “No, not on her life, Tell Captain Young if she lets that Tesraki go, than she’s not going to see him again. And get a Comm to Captain Kozlov, if he goes into the Cobalt nebulae, he’s going to get his entire crew killed. Reroute him back to the GA, they can debrief him and give him his orders there. I want all the cargo sectors from A-D inventoried and the manifests in my files by the end of the week.” He took a sharp turn, and the rest of the crew members were forced into a half jog to keep up. The mechanical leg was one of the most powerful pieces of military hardware ever created, so it wasn’t a surprise that the rest of the crew had trouble keeping up especially when the commander got into one of his moods

The group of them clattered up the steps and marched onto the bridge where they dispersed suddenly like a wave breaking over rocks.

“Commander on the bridge!” One of the crewmen barked. At his call, the bridge crew turned to acknowledge their commander before turning back to their work. Commander Vir acknowledged them briefly in return before taking his seat in the captain’s chair conjuring up a Holo-projection to examine a cosmic, projected map of his fleet. He grunted satisfied and pulled up the shipping manifests for bays F-J. He looked them over with his one green eye flying critically across the image.

Since the introduction of humanity into the Galactic Community, intergalactic trade has risen tenfold requiring large shipments of cargo across wide swatches of space, however pilots were limited, and most, if not all, civilian pilots were just now coming out of the academies wet behind the ears and not ready for such large assignments. That put much of the burden on members of the UNSC to ship needed materials from one area to another. At this moment in time, they were at full-bay capacity and would need to dock-off soon to unload cargo. It was a real annoyance, considering their actual orders revolved around searing the known galaxy for additional sentient life and making peaceful contact, but he would keep that particular opinion to himself.

Commander Vir swiveled sharply in his chair, “Systems report, Lieutenant.”

The young woman leapt a little in her seat at the sudden barked order before turning to her screen, “All systems at 100% capacity sir, though, I would advise refraining from taking on any more cargo, for fear of putting too much stress on the warp core.”

Commander Vir nodded, “Thank you lieutenant.” The moment those words broke from his lips, the man slumped down into the captain’s chair to throw his legs over one of the armrests. The commanding faced was dropped as easily as a dog shook off water, “Corporal, How’s my time?”

“Two hours and fifteen minutes, Commander.”

The man’s grin grew wider, “New record, look at that, who said Commanding a fleet was supposed to be difficult.” He crossed his ankles and lazily rested his arms behind his head stretching luxuriously in the glow of his success.

Just then, one of their new Drev officers turned in his seat, “Incoming Comm for you commander. It’s the president of the galactic assembly.”

Commander Vir sat up quickly adjusting himself. The black long-sleeve T would be fine enough, and he left the eyepatch on. Aliens weren’t yet versed in human customs enough to know that the bit of finery was an odd eccentricity, “Put her on my channel he ordered.” Wiping the grin from his face to be replaced with a mask of stern professionalism.

The Holo-projection jumped to life in front of him to reveal the face of the chairwoman of the galactic Assembly, a Rundi, standing in her ceremonial black robes.

“Your excellency, how may I be of service?” The Commander said leaning a little forward in his seat.

“Thank Sanctum’s rings I was able to contact you.” She said breathlessly

“Is everything alright.” He captain wondered, worried.

“Yes, yes personally, but I am in dire need of a favor.”

Commander Vir lifted his head in a nod, “Of course ma’am, anything.”

She took a deep breath, “Well, as you know by now, since the introduction of your species into the galactic assembly, we have seen interplanetary travel and commerce increase by at least 600%.”

He nodded, “As to be expected.”

“Yes, of course, of course. Well this influx of human “tourism” has created some strange questions within the galactic community. The Assembly has been attempting to keep the laws up to date on such matters, but as always there are competing factions. A mixed coalition of humans and other species are coming together in a week’s time at one of the convention centers near Assembly headquarters. There to protest a decision the Galactic Assembly was forced to make not so long ago. Of course, while they are protesting against the Assembly, other humans have come forward to protest the coalition itself. Protests on earth have already turned violent, and none of my soldiers are equipped to deal with a crowd of angry humans no matter what side they are on.”

“So you want us to come in and help.” The Commander said, not bothering to make it a question.

“It would be most appreciated. As the one being in the galaxy that knows the most about both human and non-humans, I trust your crew to manage the issue. Can you be there?” She looked worried, or, at least, he thought she looked worried. The Rundi weren’t known for having particularly expressive faces, but then again she wouldn’t have called him if it weren’t required.

“I estimated that we are about two days out from a warp zone. Barring no complications, we should managed to make it in three days’ time.”

The relief was almost palpable, “Thank you commander. The Galactic Assembly is in your debt once again.”

The commander waved a hand, “It’s only our job your Excellency.” Before minimizing the holo-projection and looking to the navigations officer. He closed his mouth before speaking when he found the officer already plotting a course to the nearest warp-zone. Pleased, he turned away and called down to the equipment desk and ordered them to put together as many non-lethal tactical security kits as they could. He stood and paused for a moment in the doorway getting that far-away look that he did when communicating with the Starborn, Conn.

He shook himself like a dog shedding water, and then made his way off the bridge.

***

Commander Vir pulled the straps of the bullet-proof vest tight around his chest and then buckled on his utility belt over that. He leaned down to straighten up a loose lace one of his boots, and checked the extra pockets of his pants for his emergency equipment. He adjusted the straps on his knee and elbow guards, and then did a quick inventory of his utility belt, packed with all the non-lethal goodies one could hope for. Tasers, pepper spray, CS canisters, flashbangs, and (perhaps the most useful) the central spinal blocking Device (CSBD). Any one of the devices was enough to at least slow down a human, and most definitely, incapacitate any other alien if they decided to get feisty. After that, he pulled on his, open faced helmet with retractable visor and synched the strap around his chin. That in place, he reached down, and secured waffles to a carabiner clip at his belt by way of bungee clip. The dog wasn’t a tactical measure, or trained for combat, but she was intimidating, and known for her ability to keep people away from him in a pinch, besides, the crowd didn’t have to know that, and there was no telling when an attack might strike him.

Then he turned to his last line of defense, and his only lethal measure, the handgun in its biolocked holster on his right side. No one would be able to use it if he didn’t want them to, including himself. The last thing he wanted to do was to pull his weapon, and he hoped that the CSBD and other measures would be enough to make anyone think twice. He had never actually killed another human being before (he didn’t see psychopathic cannibals as particularly human), and he didn’t want to start now.

All around him, the rest of the crew was gearing up as well dressed in the same tactical gear stitched with bright white UNSC letters. A few of the men held collapsible riot shields on their backs while others held short-term force devices on their belts. More than a few of them held rifles with nonlethal options. They would be set up in stationary positions at height to watch what was going on. Honestly, were they over prepared and overdressed, likely, but if Commander Vir knew anything about human protests, he knew they could get violent better safe than sorry. The president of the GA may have been over exaggerating about the importance of the laws, but then again, she may not have been.

Off to his other side, Sunny was gearing up with her team. Each of the Drev had been outfitted with the “Buddy pegs”, which would allow them to carry one, or, if necessary, two humans in full gear weapons aimed over the shoulder. Someone like Cannon could potentially manage three humans at once, and could e outfitted as a walking tank if such precautions were necessary. Sunny was only large enough to carry a single human, but Drev as big as Cannon could easily manage two and then some if he really needed to. As far as weapons went, they had most of the same equipment as their human counterparts minus some of the armor, usually opting to use their own gear.

He stood at the head of their formation barking orders for team officers to take command of their detachments. They would meet up with commander Kozlov at the 100 yard perimeter of the convention center and determine what was to happen from there forward. He stood towards the back as the teams moved out in groups of ten before attaching himself to his personal team of bridge officers and Drev, Sunny and Cannon included. Waffles trotted next to him at pace nose sniffing at all of the new smells on the alien air.

Marching through the streets of the capital city, he was surprised at how dead the streets were. What movement he did see flickered from behind inside widows and behind buildings. Those creatures that WERE here moved quickly eager to distance themselves from the convention center.

As they got close, Commander Vir could hear Captain Kozlov’s barked orders as he directed the men into predetermined positions. The Drev members of their party had a rough time understanding the man as his moderate Russian accent shorted the translating algorithms. In the past thousand years, business practices, and the internet had made English the almost-universal language of Earth. It had the sad consequences of causing many beautiful languages to die out in wake of the stilted, amalgamation of junk that English was, but a few languages had managed to hold on. Mandarin had failed to spread past western countries as the western powers refused to adopt it, and with the influence of pop culture in the west, it had little chance though it still remained the primary language of Asian countries. Spanish still survived in one form or another as isolated as it was from the east and despite influences from its northern cousins. The great European Breakdown had caused the melding of many languages and cultures, and the Latin-influenced romance languages had eventually devolved into an almost incomprehensible underlanguage with the grammatical sense of English and the spelling sense of French. Eastern Europe, under the watchful eye of Russia, had separated themselves from much of the mess, and was eventually forced to adopt Russian as their main language after the war. Some pockets of original language survived, but if was few and far between.

At their approach, Kozlov turned from his command position at the staging area and snapped a smart salute. The man was terse, and professional, but he respected the Commander, and Vir felt he could detect a deep sarcastic streak running through the man, a feature that he appreciated. He stopped by the small, plastic table on which Kozlov had spread multiple maps of the area and the convention center.

“I made a few adjustments to your plan.” The man said motioning towards the map,

Commander Vir took a look at the changes ad had to admit that he had overlooked some of those issues in his original plan thanking Kozlov before offering to take the inside of the convention for the first few hours. The man agreed seeming uninterested in moving from his position at the command center. Commander Vir ordered the last of his men into position and then called Sunny to his side.

“Ready?” he asked

She nodded and fell into step beside them as they headed towards the main building.

***

Walking through the massive front doors and into the large atrium, they were immediately assaulted by a myriad of colored booths and bright eye-grabbing banners with the acronym LFIL plastered all over them. Where there weren’t banners, there were massive stylized flags, a white border with a large dark circle in the middle with galaxy coloring (blue and green fog over a black background sprinkled with stars) cutting through that, there were two silhouettes, one of a human hand and the other of an alien hand touching at the fingertips.

Captain Vir leaned towards Sunny, “What do you think this is all about?”

“Guess you should have asked the president when she called instead of just taking the job.” Sunny muttered sarcastically.

He nudged her with his elbow as they made their way further in. It was rather weird to see civilians off Earth, but there were quite a few of them, and all taking the time to help set up for the convention. As many humans as there were, Commander Vir was surprised to see how many aliens there were. The largest group of them were, surprisingly, Drev. Following them were the Tesraki, and the Finneri there were one or two other species in there that Commander Vir was only familiar with in passing, but all of them were wearing one of those shirts, or some other merchandise. Sunny and Vir glanced at each other in confusion.

Over to the side, a human was fiddling around with the sound system. Pleased, she stood and dusted her hands off leaning in to plug her device in. As they walked past, she scrolled through her list and picked a song. Sunny seemed pleased the electronic opening and simple drumline.

They were walking past just in time for Vir to catch wind of a conversation between two people helping to set up. They weren’t wearing T-shirts.

“Is this Katy Perry.”

“I don’t know man, I think so.” One said looking towards the speakers, “Damn this song is old.” He tilted his head, “What the hell is she talking about?”

The other guy shrugged, “About being in love with an alien I think. Either that or F***ing one.”

The other man snorted, “Didn’t see also sing about kissing girls?”

His friend laughed, “Ha, guess you’re right. Who would have thought, she was a prophetess. Calling it in advance.” The two men laughed before moving on.

Vir frowned in confusion. What the hell?

“Come on, Sunny, let’s go figure out what this is all about.” He said, breaking into a jog and heading towards one of the tables. Boots thudding on the floor, the alien and human looked up at their approach. The alien shrunk back, while the human took up a defensive stance. Vir came to a stop and raised his hands; the two of them must have looked intimidating. Sunny coming to a halt behind him. People were beginning to filter into the hall now, voices raised to echoing heights towards the ceiling.

“It’s alright, I just wanted to ask what all this is about.” He motioned around the room, “Afraid I took the job before I heard about the convention.”

The woman frowned at him, “Aren’t you the captain of that space ship?”

“There are a couple of those, but probably….”

She tilted her head about him, “I thought you of all people would know about this.” Before he could explain himself she waved it off and motioned to the banner, “Lifeforms for Intergalactic Love, and this.” She motioned towards her alien friend (A Ved, about five feet tall, furry, large eyes, sort of reminded him of a bat, “Is my partner.”

He stared at her blankly. She rolled her eyes at him, “We’re dating.”

“OH….. Oh ok…. Wait dating? Like dating dating?”

She frowned at him and pulled the alien closer, “yeah, you got a problem with that.”

He held up his hands, “Woah, woah I didn’t say that. I just, didn’t expect it.” He left quickly after that head reeling a bit intending to find someone a little less defensive. The next group they talked too seemed very interested in telling them all about it. The two of them were in for a surprise.

The woman grabbed her Drev partner by the hand, “We met at fight club, got pared in the ring, it was love at first fight.” Her Drev partner nodded his huge head in agreement. Sunny and Vir glanced at each other in shock. The others went around the circle telling their own stories. There were meetings of chance, running into each other off world, traveling together etc…..

“So, let me get this straight, you guys are…. Lobbying for….. Marriage rights and-“ He paused here, “A lift on certain laws that prohibit…… sexual…. Stuff.” He finished this last part a little awkwardly as the group of them nodded rather enthusiastically, “Um….. not to be rude or anything but…… well, you guys aren’t even the same species…. And well you know…..it would be hard to… do anything.”

The group laughed and waved their hands at him, “You’ve never been in love have you? It’s not about just the physical, is about the mental, the emotional, and yeah things are different for us but we are all consenting adults and there are other ways to do things, so why can’t we?”

Sunny and Vir glanced at each other again before thanking the group and excusing themselves. Soddenly, everything about the room, the convention and their orders was making sense. Vir rubbed he back of his head, “Ok, I guess I should have seen this coming from humans, but from aliens too. That’s just hard to believe.”

Sunny tapped her claw on her upper arm and then shrugged, “Perhaps it is because they find humans strange and intriguing plus, if you haven’t noticed humans tend to spread their humanness to others…. Just look at Krill, look at me, cannon or Conn, all of us more human than we should be and you, no less human than you ever were.”

“Eloquently put, Sunny.”

Overall the first half of the convention was almost surreal as they patrolled the convention, they heart multiple stories about chance meetings, about people coming to terms with their new identity as Extrasexuals “as the term had been coined”, and now there were stories about being detained, and even imprisoned for what was considered “Lewd” actions in a public setting.

Sunny and Vir stood at the back of one of the discussions just staring at each other as the hour continued onwards. It was only when his mike was keyed that he had to turn away and respond, “This is Alpha 1.”

“Commander, this is Alpha 2, you need to get out here, we need backup.” It was almost impossible to hear the man through the static and roaring of what must have been hundreds of voices, and all of them shouting.

“Copy that Alpha 2.” He turned to a different channel and ordered all but three of his units outside before heading towards the door. He heard them before he saw them. It was the roaring, loud roaring, like the waves of a stormy sea crashing against a rocky cliff, or a raging wildfire. The two of them sped up the pace readying their gear as they pushed into the lobby. The front entryway was packed with armed security officers from Kozlov’s ship watching as people entered through the doors carrying picket signs and wearing their white T-shirts.

Commander Vir slipped through one of the doors with Sunny and pushed into the daylight and were hit by a wall of noise that almost bulled them over backwards. Screaming, roaring, incoherent shouting from all sides, signs being waved I the air, lines of riot police, and security officers doing their best to keep protesters outside, as they watched a fistfight broke out, and two security guards had to step in to pull the people apart.

“BEASTIOPHILES!” Someone shouted from the crowd.

Hey keyed his mike immediately, “Delta Unites to the front of the building, Delta units to the front now.” The two of them were jostled from one side to the other as the crowd churned around them.

The white-shirt protesters had taken up a new chant “LOVE IS LOVE, LOVE IS LOVE, LOVE IS LOVE.”

The crowd on the other side of the barriers booed and screamed. Riot shields had to be used to push some of the humans back into the crowd as they attempted to leap over the barriers. Captain Vir deployed his nerve block with his left hand and snapped open his riot shield with the other arm.

Drev soldiers, or, Delta units were marching onto the square. Sunny barked a couple orders over the crowd with her powerful Drev voice, and the Units fanned out to make a perimeter.

Sunny cleared her throat, and Commander Vir covered his ears. She took a deep breath, and bellowed her war cry. The noise was so loud it made the ground shake and his teeth vibrate inside his skull. The Drev soldiers took up the call beating back the sound of the human crowd who were throttled into silence by the bigger-louder and more intimidating looking aliens. You average human had no understanding of what the galaxy thought of them, and may went silent in fear and shock.

There was nothing but the shifting of the crowd as the Drev bristled towards the edges of the crowd.

A solider handed Vir a megaphone and he boosted himself up onto the buddy pegs on Sunny’s back. Waffles leaped up after him sitting with her back paws on the shelf paws resting around his legs. It probably wasn’t too comfortable, but she took it like a good girl. Commander Vir keyed the megaphone before the protesters could start up again, “This is a PROTEST and NOT a riot, so let’s keep it that way. Be civil with each other or we WILL detain you, we don’t care what side you’re on.”

The crowd shifted, voices started murmuring. Someone took that moment to take a stand on some platform or another hidden by the crowd now towering over them by a good four feet, and produced his own megaphone, “We have the right to speak here.”

Vir lowered his mike raising his voice instead, “Than SPEAK, but you do not have the right to HIT anyone. If you want a debate than do it, but the moment it gets violent is the moment we intervene.”

The man in the crowd nodded. Vir could now see the black T-shirt he was wearing. A human and alien silhouette covered with the universal red circle and slash of disapproval. “Alright, does any one of you want to defend yourselves, to speak for the group of you.” His voice was and posture was clearly hostile.

It took a moment, but finally one of the supporters took the megaphone offered from Vir and took a stand on a provided chair. He was a young man wearing the white T shirt with scruffy, dark hair.

Commander Vir glanced around at the crowd and muttered Sunny to keep an eye on any problems areas which she could identify. She nodded, and together they scanned the crowd.

“So why do you hate us so much.”

“Because what you’re doing is disgusting. It’s bestiality. Which is on par with incest and pedophilia.” He turned to look at his supporters who murmured their approval.

“Bestiality is wrong because they are animals, they aren’t sentient, they can’t consent, but THEY ARE sentient, they aren’t animals, and they DID consent. It’s a really disgusting thing to just call someone an animal when they are right there and they can hear you.” His half of the crowd murmured their agreement.

“They aren’t even your SPECIES.” More supportive shouting

“So, what does it matter, it’s not harming you.”

“I don’t want my kids seeing that.”

“That sounds like a personal problem. I don’t want to see people in happy relationships while I’m alone, but I got over it, so why can’t you just let us be happy.” The crowd started to churn a little bit. Commander Vir pressed the transmit button, and all of his men rattled their equipment. The crowd died back just a little bit.

The man in the dark shirt turned back, “And while we’re on the subject, how dare you consider this a sexuality ‘extrasexual’ it’s an affront to our history, all those thousands of people who fought to have GOOD HUMAN relationships and see them recognized without persecution. What you have is NOT a sexuality it is a fetish, a philia. Just like how pedophilia is not a sexuality and a foot fetish is not a sexuality. How dare you compare yourselves to people with HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS?” Commander Vir could see the anger in the crowd. Hot tears streamed down faces shoulders were hunched hands out in preparation to fight, blood rushed into skin.

The boy’s voice was shaking, “Thousands of years ago, they said the same things about same sex attraction, and they were WRONG just like YOU are wrong. You arguments are nothing, its not bestiality because they aren’t animals, it’s only disgusting because YOU don’t find it attractive and for no other reason. You have to justify yourself. No matter what you do you are just making excuses for your pointless hatred. There is nothing ANYWHERE in human history that even says it’s MORALLY wrong. There is no text, no ancient law, no biblical manuscript. Humans have depicted relationships with aliens since we THOUGHT they might exist-“

“BECAUSE THEY LOOKED HUMAN!”

“SO YOUD BE FINE WITH IT IF THEY LOOKED HUMAN?”

The crowd erupted.

“BEASTIOPHILE” The man screamed

People surged forward from all sides. Commander Vir quickly threw the signal catching the two men on either arm as they lunched at each other across the barrier. He caught one by his riot shield, and the other young man by his upper arm. Sunny roared a command, and the Delta Units created a line creating an impenetrable wall of massive armored forms and multiple arms. Nerve blocks were deployed by riot guards forcing the hostile crowd to the ground paralyzed.

With a button on the front of his shield, he applied a quick electrical current to the one and forced the boy to his knees with his off hand. He was skinny and easy to control. Just as soon as the crowd had churned into action, it was on its knees.

“BEHAVE.” He shouted, “This is absolutely disgusting behavior of both of you.” He glared at the white shirt side, “You are only proving that you are emotionally volatile and cannot be trusted as a group.” Then he turned to the black shirts, “and you are proving yourselves to be aggressive militants.” He let go of the boy as the other man slowly crawled to his hands and knees.

He glowered up at him, “You’re only doing this, because you agree with them.” He jabbed an accusing finger at him, “You and that Drev.” He motioned to Sunny, “You two are together aren’t you, you’re biased.”

Commander Vir felt his mouth drop open “What-“

The boy cut him off looking up, “What is your opinion, Commander?”

He kept forgetting that some people knew who he was. He should have seen this coming. And as he went to answer, he found that he couldn’t. He didn’t know what he thought. He was caught unable to think, unable to come to a conclusion on the subject. The grounds were silent as he struggled with his answer. People watched him from all sides. He squared up shaking himself back to balance, “It is not my job to give an opinion. I am a neutral party here, and either you will demonstrate peacefully or not at all. Which will it be?”

***

Some people had to be detained, others held themselves together as they protested. A few more fights had to be broke out and dealt with. Commander Vir worked to keep the crowd at bay that nagging question still in the back of his mind. He stood next to Sunny as they watched a crowd of angry, but peaceful, protesters roll and churn with the power of their emotions. Sunny glanced down at him, and he wondered what she was thinking. Did she agree with what her kin were doing…. Did he agree?

Camera crews had moved onto scene hours ago, but now the entire crowd was turning their attention towards a single point. Camera crews and reporters moved themselves upwards, and he dispatched a group of his soldiers for security at the behest of the council, who had made their decision.

The entire crowd went quiet, and from where he stood next to the podium, he could look out at the crowd. He saw human and aliens alike leaning forward in anticipation for the news. Strange, unusual pairs held hands for comfort, others hugged each other despite the glowering from the other side. A line of his men separated the crowd from the podium their riot shields at the ready. Cameras flashed from all sides as they waited with bated breath for the announcement. Commander Vir found himself holding his own breath before he realized it. A couple of the cameras seemed to be looking in his direction, so he let the breath go, and did his best to maintain a stoic face. Sunny stood to his side, and waffles sat at his feet.

The Rundi messenger, a short creature with long spindly legs, and a set of the council’s ceremonial black robes cleared his throat. And the crowd grew silent. The crowd held its collective breath.

“The council has voted, and in accordance with majority ruling, it has been determined that interspecies relationships-“

Was he holding his breath again?

“-are hereby and forthwith illegal in all assembly jurisdictions.”

He didn’t make it past that noise as the crowd exploded. Screaming and cheering at such a volume that Even the Delta units could not make themselves heard. Humans and creatures alike fell to the ground on their knees. As he waded into the crowd, Commander Vir was hit by the expressions on people’s faces. The malice and glee of those who had one, and the teary agony of those that had lost. Some knelt on the ground unmoving allowing themselves to be trampled below the feet of the crowd. Others fought as if for no other reason than to demonstrate their pain. A pair of unfortunate souls were dragged from each other’s arms and thrown to the ground. Sunny and he were forced to intervene and pull bodies apart.

Waffles snarled and growled, placing herself between him and anyone who dared get close. The protest had grown into a full blown riot. At a certain point the scene was so violent, that he unclipped waffles and ordered here away for her safety.

She refused to leave.

His crew just barely managed to bring the situation back into control and reduce the damage to the convention center itself.

At the end of the day, two people died, trampled to death under the feat of angry protesters. He felt terrible, but knew his crew managed to save a lot of lives that day. On the other hand 200 + and counting had been injured in the resulting melee. All those involved in the fighting were ordered off world immediately and shipped back to earth despite their protests. The alien assemblies had never seen anything like it, the anger of the humans towards themselves, towards others. They had never seen the horrible emotion as humans sat on the steps of the convention center bloody and weeping.

White shirts were stained red.

Aliens had now experienced the full force of human political opinion, and they were afraid. The good natured stumbling of Captain Vir and his crew had only heralded what was truly to come. Humans changed everything they touched, and now the members of LFIL had pledged they would not rest until the laws were overturned. Members of the GA were scared and panicked though they had called to thank his crew for their work in quelling the riot. He didn’t feel a particular pleasure in that.

He didn’t know it yet but suicide rates across the galactic community would skyrocket. Creatures that had never been known to participate in such drastic measures would follow their human counterparts into darkness.

By the end of the day, Commander Vir sat on the convention stairway in his riot gear helmet next to him on the steps holding an ice pack to his face. The ground was littered in trash. Torn banners and shirts, strange stains from spilled drinks, or something worse. None of the protesters still milled here, only the limping security and crewmembers finishing their assigned duties. Waffles sat on his other side holding one paw delicately in front of her licking at the bandage about her foot. He patted her side as he watched the last of the emergency vehicles ride away without so much as a siren. At some point, Sunny came to sit next to him, just a few feet away. She said nothing staring out at the greying sky absently playing with one of the torn and discarded flags the LFIL starry logo sitting dispassionately against its stained white background.

Captain Kozlov came to speak with him for a few minutes and then left once his orders were received. No one said anything more than necessary. As he was contemplating getting up, his Comm gave off a sharp chirp, and he answered it with a tired, “Commander Vir.”

“Hey little bro.”

In surprise He sat up “Jeremy? Is that you?”

“Yeah, it’s me…..”

“I…. wasn’t expecting your call.” He limped to his feet and took a few steps away from where Sunny was still sitting. “Did you need something?”

There was a pause, “No, I…. I just heard what happened.” Long silence, “I’m sorry.”

“Why would you be sorry?”

I would be interested in your guy’s opinion on this in world-social issue. Which side do you think you are or would be on? How did you like the story etc.

#humans are space orcs #humans are space oddities #humans are weird #humans are space australians #Earth is space Ausralia

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davidmann95 · 5 years

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Not sure if this has been asked (didn't see it in the link), but what are your thoughts on Priest's Justice League run?

So remember how right before/as this was coming out it was being heralded as the rightful, long-in-coming climax to a painfully unappreciated career finally being given the credit and opportunities he deserved, springboarding into him getting a spot in Detective Comics #1000? And then he did that one interview and now we just don’t talk about Christopher Priest anymore?

In the shining twilight beforehand however, this was a hell of a little run. Plagued by artistic inconsistency and chained to being an interim run - one that would only ever have so much space to explore what it was tackling in the main DCU under even the best of circumstances - but the most successful attempt at doing what DC had been trying to make Justice League for 15 years, right on the eve of finally dropping that approach. After years of the League grappling with inter-team drama threatening to tear them apart and the vaguely political repercussions of their actions and widescreen destruction, we finally got the plainly post-Authority take on the concept.

Not purely that: the currency this book traded in on an issue-by-issue basis was actually fairly Silver Agey in its puzzle-box science-quiz escapades, the kind that’s always fit well for the group and that Priest was smart enough to do exceptionally here, across scales from industrial accidents and terrorist attacks to space invasions and natural disasters. But the distinct juice here - aside from Priest’s profoundly distinct and calculated style of pacing and dialogue (people complain about how haaaard they have to pay attention to get what’s going on in a Grant Morrison comic, and I hope and pray those poor souls never catch wind of this guy) - is the context and knockoff consequences of the relatively traditional saves. That industrial accident has the dominoes fall in such a way that the League has to prioritize protecting a wealthy neighborhood in the most direct and severe danger, appearing to the public as if the team is pointedly ignoring the impoverished black citizens nearby who are also taking it on the chin. Rescues are blocked or complicated by political circumstance. The League relies on unorthodox methods to deal with global threats that don’t come in the form of superhuman physical force, and drop the ball with all they have to juggle at once. It’s an interesting take on the League as a ‘realistic’ team, less concerned with the nuances of any individual plausible complication than the degree to which they compound over time to tangle them up as they try and go about their superheroic business, with the main villain of the run being the worst kind of fan who, actually living in the DCU, wants to cut through the red tape at any price without a care that there’s a reason the heroes reckon with that sort of thing.

It’s a compromised run in more ways than one: while the assorted art teams all fit the tone and I tend towards being more accepting of those sorts of change-ups than most, having it happen several times in the space of a 10-issue run is unavoidably jarring, especially next to the bold, pared-down, lightly manga-esque aesthetic Pete Woods cultivated here as the main artist in a far cry from his Superman days. And amidst the briefer complications Priest does somewhat delve into more high-minded traditional “are superheroes violating civil rights and accountable for it if so/where and how do they intervene” genre questions without giving much focus to the answers. The implication at the end seems to be that they’ve recognized the criticisms levied at them and will attempt to do better, which fits on a character scale given who we the readers know they are, but thematically speaking - especially since they’re framed as akin to a special ops group in here as much as a classical superhero team - comes across as underwhelming. For a ten-issue run that had to end with the board cleared that’s unsurprising, but I can’t shake the feeling that less might have been more for that aspect given what struck me as the run’s primary goals and sources of conflict.

Compromised though it may be, this was quite a special thing. DC let one of their most unorthodox, clever creators loose on all their biggest guns and clearly let him do pretty much whatever he pleased within the space allotted him, and in the process finally successfully realized the ambition of a Justice League run grappling with their place in the modern world after years of trying, as the final hurrah and testament to the efforts of that era before the full shift under Snyder to world breaking Morrisonia moral drama. It’ll never be spoken of alongside your Snyders or Morrison/Porters or Giffen/DeMatteis’ in the annals of definitive Justice League runs, but it deserves note alongside the likes of Orlando and Waid and Ellis/Guice and Simone/Lopez as having done something worthwhile relatively outside the spotlight.

#Justice League #Christopher Priest #Pete Woods #Opinion

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thecomicsnexus · 5 years

Photo

UNCANNY X-MEN #143-144 MARCH - APRIL 1981 BY CHRIS CLAREMONT, JOHN BYRNE, BRENT ANDERSON, TERRY AUSTIN, JOE RUBINSTEIN AND GLYNIS WEIN

SYNOPSIS (FROM MARVEL DATABASE)

Flashback - The X-Men's first battle with the N'Garai, specifically Storm's destruction of the obelisk which was the nexus of the gateway between their world and ours. The X-Men believed that, with the obelisk gone, the gate was sealed, but a lone demon slowly crawled from amidst the rubble, free in our world.

In the present day a couple out looking for their first Christmas tree. Quickly their happiness became ashes - the N'Garai demon killed them swiftly and then feasted upon them, body and soul.

Meanwhile at the X-Mansion Kitty was learning how the Blackbird ran, backwards and forwards, when, to her relief, Angel interrupted to let Xavier know that it was time to be going. In the entrance-way, Logan introduced Mariko Yashida to Professor X. A mistletoe prank of Kurt's with Mariko drew Wolverine's ire, but things were soon set aright, although the mood was tense. Kitty lightened it by playing a similar trick on Colossus, who blushed deeply. Then most of the X-Men departed: Wolverine and Mariko, Angel off to see Candy Southern, and Professor X, Peter, Ororo, and Kurt off in the Rolls. Kitty Pryde was left in the mansion alone.

Kitty, feeling lonely, tried calling her parents with no luck. Scott called to wish everyone a merry Christmas. Finding only Kitty in the mansion, he promised to call tomorrow. He then found Lee Forrester to see about taking a job as a sailor. He is a little surprised to find that Lee is a woman when he was expecting the ship captain to be a man.

Still at loose ends, Kitty decided to work out, using a Danger Room exercise program. However, her work-out was interrupted by the intruder alarm activating in Ororo's room. Not wanting to disturb the police over what may be something as simple as a fallen branch, Kitty decided to investigate only to discover the N'Garai demon.

Kitty lead it on a merry chase through the mansion, phasing through walls with it fast on its heels. Losing it briefly at one point, she tried to make it to a phone to call the other X-Men. The demon was waiting for her, however, and while she phased in time, she still felt the claw as it scythed through her incorporeal form.

She escaped to the Danger Room, air-walking up to the control booth to use the room against her. The demon was taking its time to show, however, and she was starting to wonder just how smart it was when it entered the control booth instead of the room below. Kitty backpedaled into the Danger Room and it pursued her through the 'unbreakable' glass. The Danger Room came alive, and Kitty managed to barely keep just ahead of it and not get nailed by the room. Of course, the demon just tore through everything the room had to offer, but it delayed it long enough that Kitty got a good head-start, out of the Danger Room and to the rail-car to the hangar. Halfway to the hangar the demon ruptured the rail, forcing Kitty to travel the rest of the distance on foot.

Weary from exertion, Kitty got into the blackbird, its turbine engines pointed down the tunnel, the only realistic path for the demon to follow into the hangar. She started going through the ignition checklist. At the last second she ignited the engines, crisping the demon but wrecking the blackbird. She exited the plane, air-walking, confident nothing could have survived, when a burned claw arced towards her.

The X-Men returned home to a darkened house, having encountered police earlier warning them of gruesome murders that had occurred in the area. Wary, and with Professor X's telepathy somehow foiled, they entered cautiously. Kitty was curled up watching TV with a fire, and was overjoyed that the X-Men had returned. Kitty's parents were also with them.

It turned out that last swipe was the creature's dying attempt to kill Kitty. It made the supreme effort and it failed.

Jock Forrester, broken by the news that he was being killed by cancer, returned to the swamp he grew up in. Unbeknownst to him, he was watched by two entities: the empathic Man-Thing and a sinister presence. That presence pushed Jock over the edge, causing him to take his own life, and then it revealed itself as D'Spayre. Man-Thing attacked him, but D'Spayre was victorious, and then took the form of Jock Forrester.

Not too far away, Scott Summers was adapting to life as a fisherman. After a successful fishing trip the crew headed to a pub, where Scott caught up on his letters. Meanwhile at the X-Mansion reconstruction is preceding apace. Wolverine and Nightcrawler were playfully ribbing Kitty for the amount of damage she caused, but unintentionally ended up hurting her feelings. Back at the pub, Scott's shipmates got him up to play some pool, and while everyone was distracted by the football game he used his optic beams instead of the pool cue to sink every ball on the table. Lee got a call from her 'father' asking her to come visit, and she asked Scott if he minded keeping her company. Scott agreed.

They entered the house, only to discover that "Jock" was actually D'Spayre, and Lee's father killed himself that morning. Then reality went wild.

Scott found himself as a child on the plane with his parents, being pushed out with Alex in the only parachute. Then he found himself in Larry Trask's sentinel base with his brother, only the original X-Men were dead. Suddenly, sentinels that looked like the new X-Men battered through the walls, and though Cyclops managed to destroy them all, Alex was slain. But the sentinels rise again, but then Scott found himself with Jean on a mesa. They kissed, and then suddenly Scott was wearing a tux over his costume and walking down the isle with Jean, whose clothes switched from one incarnation to the next. They reached the altar, and were pronounced man and wife, and then Jean asked Scott to remove his visor, telling him nothing would happen - but this time he blasted her. Coming back to reality, but laden with despair, Scott ran from D'Spayre and tumbled headlong through a window, falling to the ground below. He lied there for a long time.

Coming to his senses, he discovered Man-Thing approaching him. Almost blasting the creature, he realized he wasn't under attack, as the Man-Thing traveled past him towards the door. Scott followed, to find Lee in the grip of D'Spayre. Man-Thing attacked the demon, but D'Spayre caused him to fear, which caused the Man-Thing to set himself on fire. After proving Cyclops' optic beams to be useless, D'Spayre disappeared, but Cyclops recalled him by thinking of Jean, and then grabbed hold of him. Cyclops had beaten his fear, and his resolve bolstered the Man-Thing, who grabbed hold of D'Spayre and the two were locked in a death-grip as Scott grabbed Lee and fled from the now-burning house. Then they left.

In the morning, the house was ashes and the resurrected Man-Thing searched for signs of D'Spayre, but found none.

REVIEW

The first story is so similar to Alien (the movie), that John Byrne feared a lawsuit.

We wanted to do an homage to the movie Alien, and I don't know whether I was demented or what in those days, but I honestly thought when I was drawing it that people wouldn't instantly realize where we got it from. I thought I was being really clever , how I was making little twists and turns to change it. Only the ending where she used the Blackbird (jet) to blast the N'Garai to death was the same. And then Chris kind of wrote [the script] even more like the movie. By the time I actually read it, it was like, "Oh, well, wait till the lawsuits come..." But they never did.

This doesn’t really take away the fun of the story. Both of these issues are centered in one character, the second being Cyclops. With Man-Thing, that couldn’t look more like Swamp Thing. I know, I know, it’s a terrible coincidence that both characters are so much alike. But still shocking.

The Cyclops story, however, wasn’t as exciting as the Kitty Pryde one. And that one was the last Byrne story.

Dialogues are complicated in this book. They get so majestic sometimes, and other times they tend to overdo it.

I give the stories a score of 7

#john byrne #brent anderson #joe rubinstein #danni crespi #terry austin #rick parker #dark phoenix #marvel comics #comics #review #x-men #uncanny x-men #kitty pryde #1981 #bronze age #alien #wolverine #cyclops

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recentanimenews · 4 years

Text

FEATURE: Rent-A-Girlfriend Is The Best Romcom In Ages

For as long as I've been into anime, I've had a fondness in my heart for romantic comedies. From will-they-won't-theys like Kimi ni Todoke - From Me To You to ridiculous love octagons like Nisekoi, watching characters tiptoe through romantic minefields on their way to finding true love is something I doubt I'll ever get completely tired of. However, anyone who has enough experience with the genre will tell you it can get repetitive. There are only so many shows about a person and their gaggle of love interests you can watch before you notice they are usually running around in narrative circles to justify keeping the story going. Recently there have been some standout romcoms for us to chew on — for example, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU keeps things interesting by developing relationships long before they become romantic, My Next Life as a Villainess: All Roads Lead to Doom! has a protagonist with as much genre knowledge as the viewer, and this season's TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You skips the courting ritual aspect entirely.

But if you just want an honest to goodness romcom, compelling without the need to seem subversive, Rent-a-Girlfriend has you covered.

Rent-a-Girlfriend has a pretty silly premise to start. Coming off of a recent breakup, main character Kazuya uses an online service to pay for some dates with series heroine Chizuru. After a series of wacky events culminating in both their families believing they are truly dating, they decide to keep up the facade for a while. This premise is really only there to get the ball rolling, though — the real hook is Kazuya's newly awkward and complicated love life.

His last relationship was his only one and it was shortlived. But that already puts him way ahead of most anime romance protagonists as far as experience goes. For the story's purposes, this means his romantic options are more realistic and open-ended. Where other shows would have a group of girls who have all fallen for him in no uncertain terms, Kazuya's relationships are more loosely defined and more interesting as a result. For example, fans aren't fond of his ex Mami, but her jealousy when she thinks Kazuya found a cute new partner before she did creates a compelling dynamic between them. She starts to act interested in him again, putting on moves that force Kazuya, and us, to consider more complicated feelings — should he get back with her? Is there something real going on with these other girls, anyway? Heck, does she even like him? Does he even like her? Does he just like the idea of being with her? These aren't problems that are cleanly resolved by simply “choosing” a girl, and as the story progresses and they both grow, so do the nuances of their dynamic.

And when I say they both grow, I mean it. Because to be honest, Kazuya starts the series as a total loser. Most anime romcom protagonists come in one of two varieties: little personality or unwittingly selfless. Both have their own functions as storytelling devices, but neither is particularly relatable. Kazuya, on the other hand, starts the show as kind of an unwittingly selfish guy. He wastefully spends the money he should be saving for his school life, he wants a girlfriend for the same base reasons most people his age want girlfriends, and he isn't very self-aware about how his behavior comes across to other people. This is best exemplified early on as Kazuya gives Chizuru a low rating on the rent-a-date app for essentially being too good at her job. He, like many people who believe themselves to be smart, justifies this as him seeing through her act and therefore being above her, completely missing the irony that he paid her to act like that in the first place. It's the kind of unintentionally mean-spirited mistake young adults like him really make, and Rent-a-Girlfriend stands out for having a cast filled with characters who have similar grounded flaws like that to work through.

Luckily for him, the seeds are planted early for his character arc. The one slightly selfless thing he feels is a sort of debt to his grandmother to find a good partner and continue the family she worked so hard to keep afloat for many years. Those are just the specifics that set the story off, though. When we, and Kazuya, dig a little deeper, the real issue becomes clear: Kazuya wants to stop feeling like a burden, to become a more positive force in the lives of the people he cares about. He learns this in a roundabout way through his time spent with Chizuru, who is herself an empathetic person almost to a fault. She doesn't start the show attracted to him, and still isn't really by the end of the first season, but that doesn't make their relationship less meaningful. By spending time with Chizuru — and eventually, the other heroines introduced later — Kazuya slowly gains self-awareness about his worst tendencies, and consciously or not, starts finding ways he can be a more kind and caring person. It's more subtle, but Chizuru learns a bit about the importance of finding time to prioritize herself and her own wants and needs, too. Their relationship is undeniably the main one in the show, but it doesn't start with any genuine romantic feelings between them — Kazuya's attraction is surface-level and Chizuru sees it purely as a job. As a result, the chemistry between them is able to grow naturally, which is much more interesting to follow than the typical instant love and resulting stagnant dynamics I've come to associate with the genre.

There are plenty of interesting things to find in Rent-a-Girlfriend, but I don't want to spoil them all for you here. At its core, it's a story about how infatuation is easy, but love is hard, and the trials and tribulations that go along with that. If the unconventional premise or general fatigue from anime romcoms has kept you from giving it a shot, I recommend giving it another go — its characters can be flawed and petty, but they can also be kind and relatable, and the show's allowance for those kinds of flaws and strengths to define its characters make them much more than they might seem on the surface. At the very least it is an unconventional yet familiar story, and if you've ever been awkward and lonely, you'll probably find something in yourself through Kazuya and his growing group of friends.

Do you have a favorite anime romance? Let us know in the comments below!

David Lynn can be found on Twitter @navycherub.

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll. Features!

By: [email protected]

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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eddycurrents · 7 years

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For the week of 13 November 2017

Quick Bits:

Babyteeth #6 opens the floodgates of story after getting through the initial hurdle of getting Sadie and Clark out of imminent danger. Donny Cates gives us more depth as to what’s going on broader picture of the world and introduces us to the cult geared to protecting and raising Clark.

| Published by AfterShock

Black Science #33 has the shit hit the fan as the confrontation between Grant and Kadir reaches its peak and then reality breaks. The mix of mad science and philosophy from Rick Remender on display here is wonderful, seeing a representation of Platonic ideals mapped onto quantum realities in a kind of unfurling of Gnostic cosmology is impressive. So too is Matteo Scalera’s art. He and Moreno Diniso really get to cut loose this issue and it looks wonderful.

| Published by Image / Giant Generator

Bloodshot Salvation #3 gives a revelation to the “soon” timeline of what’s happened to Ray, while in the “now” we get a confrontation between Ray and Daddy, Colin King helping out Magic, and Project Omen causing complications. I probably sound like a broken record, but Jeff Lemire, Lewis LaRosa, and Mico Suayan are doing some great things with this series.

| Published by Valiant

Brilliant Trash #1 is an interesting take on superheroes. It’s a mix of government conspiracy and potentially mad science, told from the perspective of a journalist looking for a story in the appearance of a V-like figure, Lady Lastword’s, final speech and death. Tim Seely’s got something interesting here. Priscilla Petraites’ art is also quite nice, kind of a mix between Jamie McKelvie and Phil Hester.

| Published by AfterShock

Dark Fang #1 continues the trend of not naming the protagonist in the body of the first issue. The solicitation copy and end piece are what’s needed to piece together the full premise of the series and name of the protagonist. That said, Miles Gunter does have a decent story here. It’s environmentalism through the lens of a centenarian vampire, Valla, who was friends with a fish until modern industry destroyed her ecosystem. But first, earning money as a cam girl and getting caught up in society’s obsession with cell phones and the internet. The art from Kelsey Shannon is a definite plus.

| Published by Image

Deadpool vs. Old Man Logan #2 is every bit as fun, humorous, and action-packed as the first issue. Declan Shalvey has a great feel for both Wade and Logan and Mike Henderson’s art is truly wonderful. Only two issues in and this is just a fun, must-have wild ride.

| Published by Marvel

Evolution #1 is a very strong debut issue with multiple voices brought together by the singular visuals of Joe Infurnari. Infurnari has a style that is a bit Tom Mandrake and a bit Bill Sienkiewicz and it is absolutely perfect. If you like David Cronenberg’s early horror films, even just a little bit, you owe it to yourself to at least check this out.

| Published by Image / Skybound

The Family Trade #2 continues Jessa’s investigations into Berghardt and Mikkaelsen despite the protestation and outright prohibition by her Family. Her technique of getting close by blending in as a simple cleaning woman is a nice touch. The end, though, suffers a bit in who exactly Jessa is speaking to. I think it’s supposed to be her uncle, but I’m not sure.

| Published by Image

Fence #1 gives me the impression that everyone, even the protagonist, involved in competitive fencing is an asshole. That’s not necessarily a good impression of the sport, and gives a poor outlook on who to “cheer” for in the endeavour, but it may be an accurate depiction. Especially since many sports seem to be populated by jerks.

| Published by BOOM! Entertainment / Boom! Box

Generation Gone #5 is a suitably insane conclusion to the first arc of this series. It’s violent, angry, and explosive - kind of like how you’d expect kids to react when they find out that the world is designed to see them fail. André Lima Araújo’s art has just been fantastic on this series.

| Published by Image

Hawkeye #12 is a team-up issue between Kate and Laura (All-New Wolverine) with Gabby and Jonathan in tow as well, illustrated by guest artist Michael Walsh who is easily proving he’s a force to contend with. This issue looks great and is fun as hell.

| Published by Marvel

Jenny Finn #1 now in colour. If you haven’t read this masterpiece of Lovecraftian lit from Mike Mignola and Troy Nixey before, now’s a good time to do so. If you have, especially since this has been reprinted and repackaged a few times before, you’ll have to decide whether or not you want Dave Stewart’s colour. There was something to be said for the original black and white, although the colour version’s not bad.

| Published by Dark Horse

Kill the Minotaur #6 is both an expected and unexpected conclusion to the series. Ariadne and Theseus’ confrontation of the Minotaur is suitably epic. I can’t say much more than that because they’d be massive spoilers, so enjoy this amazing artwork from Lukas Ketner.

| Published by Image / Skybound

Killer Instinct #2 does what I was afraid the first issue was going to do and dumps a lot of characters with intricate backstories from the game on us in one go. Where the first issue mainly focused on one character to ease us into the world, this issue gives us more of the Coven, a bunch of characters fighting over the Killer Instinct Tournament, and Jago. While the Jago and Tsar bits are fairly well executed, the central bit over Ultratech is a bit of sludge. As I said in response to the first issue, I’ve never played the game and know little about the world, so this felt a bit like being dropped right in the deep end. The art from Cam Adams is still nice, though.

| Published by Dynamite

Maestros #2 quickly installs Will as the new Maestro and he begins making sweeping changes to the multiverse’s society, trying to bring concepts like equality and freedom to a world that only seems to know subjugation under magical will. It’s an interesting exploration of sociopolitical ideas from Steve Skroce and naturally it brings about severe pushback from those previously in charge. And betrayal.

| Published by Image

Mech Cadet Yu #4 features the cadets first full on confrontation with the Sharg and it’s about as exciting as you would expect. Takeshi Miyazawa’s art is just wonderful and it’s really nice to see Yu thinking on his feet during the battle to ensure the continued survival of the entire team.

| Published by BOOM! Studios

Minky Woodcock: The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini #1 is interesting. The relationship between Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has certainly been in the zeitgeist lately, this one doing something different and focusing on the end of Houdini’s career, long since the two had their falling out. Cynthia von Buhler sets up Minky looking into Houdini debunking spiritualists at the request of Doyle fairly well, but the main enticement is von Buhler’s art. She has a style that reminds me a bit of Melinda Gebbie and it works incredibly well for the smoky, pulpy atmosphere of the story.

| Published by Titan / Hard Case Crime

Misfit City #7 lines up the dominoes in this penultimate issue. Overall this has been a great series and I’m excited to see how it ends. That being said, I wish there were more. The world needs more girl adventurer books and this one has been excellent.

| Published by BOOM! Entertainment / Boom! Box

Ninja-K #1 is a damn fine new direction for Colin King, looking deep into the past of the Programme, dealing with the history of Ninjas A through L, and putting forth a mystery as to who killed Ninja-D and appears to be targeting the other remaining operatives. Christos Gage gives us a compelling mix of mystery and spy thriller that’s only topped by Tomás Giorello’s incredible artwork. Damn fine work.

| Published by Valiant

Rasputin: The Voice of the Dragon #1 begins another pre-Hellboy, pre-BPRD series tying numerous disparate threads together and giving more backstory on the world. This first issue focuses more on Trevor Bruttenholm tracking down a decrypted Nazi message, but it could be about a talking head describing how to prepare an avocado because Christopher Mitten makes everything look amazing. Thankfully, though, the story isn’t bad either.

| Published by Dark Horse

The Realm #3 reveals some chinks in the baddies’ armour as strong personalities clash. The artwork from Jeremy Haun is again one of the main drawing factors. This series just looks great.

| Published by Image

Retcon #3 finally gets around to the premise that Matt Nixon and Toby Cypress were on about in the interview in the first issue. I’m thinking maybe for a storytelling point, they should have led with this, but it does give the series a better cohesion and purpose. This was the make or break issue for me and Crowley ripped from time to tattoo a baby won me over.

| Published by Image

Star Wars: Darth Vader #8 continues Jocasta Nu’s infiltration of the Jedi Archive to retrieve an artifact from under the nose of the Grand Inquisitor. This issue gets a little...explosive.

| Published by Marvel

Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #14 is Emilio Laiso’s debut on the comic and the artwork looks gorgeous. He did a great job on the Rogue One adaptation and it’s nice to see him back on a Star Wars title. Even if I’m going to miss the hell out of Kev Walker’s art.

| Published by Marvel

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #76 allows no rest for the turtles as they return home from Dimension X, also after the brief excursion with the Ghostbusters. Damian Courciero looks like he’s handling the art chores for this arc and it’s a welcome addition. He has a darker, somewhat more realistic style and it suits the chaos and destruction going on with the Earth Protection Force’s first contact with the Triceratons.

| Published by IDW

Unholy Grail #4 continues this dark and twisted retelling of the Arthurian legend. Part of what really works about this series, though, is that it really isn’t that far removed from the other stories of glorious knights and magic, just given a different context,

| Published by AfterShock

Other Highlights: Adrift, Alien Bounty Hunter #2, Amazing Spider-Man #791, Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #10, Bolivar, Champions #14, Curse Words #10, Defenders #7, Descender #26, Doctor Strange #381, Dreadful Beauty: The Art of Providence, East of West #33, Guardians of the Galaxy #147, Horizon #16, Incidentals #4, Incredible Hulk #710, James Bond: Kill Chain #5, Mage: The Hero Denied #4, Mighty Thor #701, Not Brand Echh #14, Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #297, Postal #24, Punisher #218, Ringside #13, Secret Warriors #8, Sheena: Queen of the Jungle #3, TMNT/Ghostbusters 2 #3, The Wicked & The Divine #33, X-Men Blue #15, Zojaqan #2

Recommended Collections: Ab Irato, Goldie Vance - Volume 3, James Bond - Volume 1: Vargr, Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Star Wars: Captain Phasma, Luke Cage - Volume 1: Sins of the Father, Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys: The Big Lie, Regression - Volume 1: Way Down Deep, Rough Riders - Volume 2: Riders on the Storm, Star Wars: Poe Dameron - Volume 3: Legends Lost, World Reader - Volume 1

d. emerson eddy knows that evolution is a mystery, full of change that no one sees. He sees the line in the sand.

#This Week in Comics

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jinjojess · 7 years

Note

Could you elaborate on what you dislike about Death Note? If you feel like doing it, of course! I always enjoy your unpopular opinions so I would like to hear more about this. I personally liked many aspects of it, but I can also see many flaws, and the second part of the story is way less fun. Also: "Remember how I can't stand characters transparently designed to appeal to a certain kind of fan" PLEASE GO ON. I need a serious critique of the characters!

Oof, I don’t know if I have that in me, but here’s a semi-short version.

Death Note has a lot of objective stumbles, but honestly the thing about it is that it’s very much Not For Me and that’s where I have the most issues.

Spoilers for the entire series, just in case.

Edit: This got really fucking long, I’m so sorry mobile users…

Note: This will be manga-based since I read the entire manga, but have only seen a few of the anime episodes.

So I was very on board with the series in the early chapters of the manga, because I liked how it was exploring the way that Light starts off as this really eager do-gooder who gets corrupted by power. In the early chapters he looks younger and adorable, and you can see a physical change in the way he carries and presents himself as he becomes more Kira than Light. Loved the idea of presenting a protagonist and then turning him into the villain and testing the reader to see if they would still side with him or not. That was cool.

I probably would have enjoyed his rivalry with L more if I didn’t find L so personally obnoxious. A lot of people like him (to the point where I feel like I am the sole dissenter) and I don’t think he’s necessarily the worst character, but just like…I dunno. Something about him and the way he’s treated in the series just feels so…I don’t know how to put this…wish fulfillment-y? Like he’s this dude who really shouldn’t be attractive because he’s gaunt and pale and clearly doesn’t take care of himself at all, plus he’s got all these nervous tics that would probably be at best politely tolerated while everyone talks about how awkward he is behind his back but like…I don’t remember that ever happening really.

Like if the police force were like “Jesus, dude, just sit like a normal human being for once,” I’d have found him more believable as an actual character instead of this guy conspicuously being weird to show off how “different” and “special” he is. Plus he’s also athletic, despite not ever being shown practicing or going to the gym or anything–he’s just super good at martial arts and a tennis champ, guys. Like sorry, but for those of us in the real world, we have to adhere to social codes and actually work for that kind of shit, and while some people find comfort in this sort of idealized escapism, it’s always just pissed me off from a personal standpoint.

Basically L feels like he was created to appeal to socially awkward fangirls who could squee over him and be like “he’s weird and socially awkward just like me! but everyone would be jealous of me if he was my boyfriend because unlike me everyone loves him!” Which in and of itself is not inherently Bad or anything, but it gives me a sense of unbearable second-hand embarrassment so I just cannot deal with that.

Let me be clear here: those kinds of fangirls completely deserve to have media aimed at them, and Death Note fills that niche pretty well. Again, this complaint is from a place of personal preference, and is just to get you to understand why Death Note turned out to not really be my cup of tea.

(Plus also where is the storyline where L gains weight or gets type 2 diabetes from surviving on sweets? Oh, it’s because his brain burns too many calories. Fuck that guy.)

Misa is similar in that she’s basically Yamato Nadeshiko: Goth Edition and that just ain’t my thing. Like don’t get me wrong–I love me some tragically loyal people, but I usually prefer that they also be capable in some other way (Pekoyama can swordfight like a badass, Sakakura is a world-class boxer, Mukuro is…well, Mukuro, etc.). MisaMisa is kind of a fuck up. Plus iirc she’s an idol and sorry, if you are not part of Maizono’s posse I have zero time for you.

Anyway, the fact that the reader is supposed to feel less sympathy for Light because of his treatment of Misa is interesting, but it’s kind of clouded by the fact that Misa is so annoying to me personally that I just wanted her to fucking die already and get out of the narrative. Rem, you are too good for this shit.

I did find the police force itself pretty charming, though. I was rooting for them for most of the story.

Ryuk was great too. A nice provider of very needed levity, and probably the most consistently good point of the series, at least until the very end which I’ll get into in a second.

Anyway, the more technical issues I have with Death Note are with its pointless meandering. There’s that famous tennis scene where it’s supposed to be really exciting because Light and L are trying to figure each other’s psychology out, but the things they’re thinking aren’t at all realistic. Like trying to win a tennis match proves you’re competitive ergo you must be Kira? What? It’s overthinking very mundane things that would have too many variables to ever be conclusive proof of anything, and it turns out to be pointless since they both reach that conclusion at the end of the game anyway.

So yeah, my biggest issue with Death Note was that it wasted so much of my time. It feels a little like the V3 trials, where you’d be purposefully led down this boring, clearly incorrect route so that the reader could be “surprised” when it turned out that something could be Occam’s Razor’d. There are entire volumes where nothing happens. And I don’t mean like, nothing physically happens, but the characters are having intense debates or whatever. I remember reading volumes where only two real conversations were had, and the rest of the time was everyone imagining and mentally preparing for said conversations.

Maybe my memory of the series is too patchy, since I read the manga over a decade ago in 2005, but I remember a LOT of padding.

Something I did think was handled well was how Light defeats L. That was pretty great because at heart I do love super smart villains with stupidly complicated plans, and that one was pretty great, especially since I figured that L wouldn’t be going anywhere.

However, the series should have ended here. It should have ended with Kira winning out over L, but the law being closer to figuring out who Kira is, leaving the reader in a state of uncertainty about the future of this world and Light as a character.

Would that have wrapped up all the loose ends? No. But it would be way better than what we got in the second half of the series, I think most people would agree.

So let’s talk for a second about Near and Mello.

To touch again on the “this was clearly for a certain kind of fan” subject, how hard do you think the publishers shit themselves when they realized that L was going to die but the series wasn’t over? L was and still is by far the most popular character from the series, and the fangirls were probably not going to be pleased that their husbando got ejected from the narrative.

So what do we do?

Replace him with more of the same!

While L was annoyingly teetering on Gary Studom, Near is basically that just with an added dose of “precocious child” which doesn’t really help the situation. I hesitate to call him Shouta L, even if that’s how it feels sometimes, but I just felt like Near was way too similar to L to be his own character. He felt more like L was reborn as a kid for the Death Note Babies spin-off.

Mello was a lot more interesting, with the inferiority complex and his tendency to, you know, actually do things. The only part of the latter half of the series I remember liking was when Mello kidnapped Light’s sister and there was this tiny glimmer of humanity left in him where he didn’t want her to die. However this was always offset for me by the fact that he was running around with an exposed midriff because yeah we need to have fanservice somewhere man. (Again, not inherently Bad and fangirls deserve their fanservice too, but like…not my thing, at all.) It just felt very…calculated, if that makes sense.

What would have been way more interesting to me would be Light finding out about these orphans being groomed to take over for L and there being some kind of commentary on how the side of “good” is using these really dubious and unethical methods to catch Kira, bringing up the question of whether or not they’re actually any better. Like let’s talk about that.

Okay so. The only thing left to talk about is the ending. And holy shit, that fucking ending.

I was still trying to be on board with Death Note even in the second half where I had very little desire to finish it but felt like I’d already invested the time and money so I might as well. I was trying so damn hard, and I was still kind of enjoying the ridiculous lengths Kira was going to get a one-up on his pursuers, with the fake out girlfriends and the cult, and the fucking pieces of Death Note pages inside the secret compartment of his watch and shit…it was so dumb but in like a fun way.

And to be clear, I’m fine with Light losing in the end, and being undone by his own hubris.

But to only have it happen because Ryuk decides to conveniently help the police? Like, that’s dumb. The entire thing hinges on Ryuk deciding at that very moment to fuck Light over–sure, whatever, he’s not on a side, sure. I don’t expect him to actually pull a Rem, but he must have fucking known that the lackey’s book was fake (who, by the way, should have planned to do away with everyone one at a time, using the power to determine how people die to make it look like an accident, and then he would have noticed that his notebook wasn’t a real one). At least hint toward Ryuk getting fed up, or bored, or something so that this doesn’t seem so frustratingly convenient.

Though Ohba apparently once said that L was the smartest character because “the plot needs him to be” so there you go. That’s his approach. Plot contrivances are the order of the day.

So yeah, anyway.

That’s why I’m not that fond of Death Note. Part of it is because of personal biases against certain kinds of characters that are not appealing to me, and part of it is because the entire story feels like it’s taking itself too seriously and is trying to be more clever than it is. As a more compact narrative I think it would probably get a pass, but the fact that it’s so bloated and sprawling really makes it hard for me to consider it objectively good.

…Turns out I did have it in me.

#ask #anon #opinions #long post #criticism #Death Note #no seriously it's long #you've been warned

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brianjaeger · 6 years

Text

2019 Academy Award Best Picture Nominees Guide For Those Who Haven’t Actually Watched Them

It’s the 91st time Hollywood comes together to pat themselves on the back and this year marks the 5th time I’m bringing you the rundown of every Best Picture nominee so that you aren’t the “goddamn idiot” someone at your Oscars party is referring to when they ask, “Who invited this goddamn idiot?” Only, as in 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 (check out the hyperlinks for previous years’ rundowns - and likely some jokes that don’t age very well) - this is all based on the name of the film, the poster for the movie, or things I’ve heard while flipping past Extra or E! So take it all in and enjoy my tips on things to say to other guests so that your party has an ending that is more like Ally’s and less like Jackson’s!

Black Panther

After Creed loses in embarrassing fashion to Ivan Drago’s son, he tats up, grows that hair out, and heads to outer space. After landing on a planet right between the planet from Avatar and Naboo, pissy Creed picks a fight with a space prince who was bit by a radioactive space panther in the movie that had audiences saying, “I bet Forest Whitaker is in this movie. How is Forest Whitaker not in this movie? I’m honestly shocked that Forest Whitaker is not...oh, yup, there he is.”

3 Things To Casually Inject Into Conversation To Prove You Saw The Movie And Sound Like An Expert:

A little insider Easter egg here - Wakanda backwards spells Adnakaw, which happens to be the name of Thor and Loki’s OTHER brother who is going to save everyone in Avengers: Endgame. He’ll be played by...Forest Whitaker.

In a deleted scene, Black Panther’s brother, The Pink Panther, visits to check out the Wakandan castle’s attic and then installs fiberglass insulation.

Spike Lee really turned the super hero movie genre on its head with this didn’t he? (Pause.) Oh. That was...um...oh, well um... (Slowly walk backward out of the room and do not return.)

BlacKkKlansman

The Chapelle’s Show’s first skit-to-feature length film gives the big screen treatment to the story of Clayton Bigsby. Based on the success of this film, 2019 also saw the big screen adaptation of The Chapelle’s Show’s “What Men Want” skit to a movie starring Taraji P. Henson. In 2020, anticipate a feature length Rick James biopic, a Playa Hater’s Ball film, and “Game, Blouses: The Movie”.

3 Things To Casually Inject Into Conversation To Prove You Saw The Movie And Sound Like An Expert:

This film marks Ricky Jerret’s first acting role after he was cut from the Miami Dolphins by Charles Greane - who he thought was his friend - for his use of PEDs.

This film holds the distinction of having the highest number of different spellings on social media - just barely edging out Bohemian Rhapsody and The Favourite (well, in America).

Reggie Miller purchased a seat in the front row of the Oscars and is planning to wear a The Favourite jersey and baseball cap, then spend the entire show heckling Spike Lee and screaming, “See?! How does it feel the other way around?!”

Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody is a French film with a title that can be loosely translated into English as “The Sassy Singing Lad With The Donkey Snout”.

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A bit of trivia for you. Did you know that Freddie Mercury wasn’t his first choice for a stage name? It was actually Fred Mercury.

A bit of trivia for you. Did you know that Brian May wasn’t his first choice for a stage name? It was actually Brian February.

A bit of trivia for you. Did you know that Queen’s first band name was actually Princess and they didn’t become Queen until they married Prince...and enjoyed a Purple Reign? Yup - I will show myself out now.

The Favourite

Rain droups on rouses! This perioud piece stars Oulivia Coulman, Emma Stoune, Joue Alwyn and Nichoulas Holt! It’s abot a grop of people in the contry of England that’s two hors long and y will find fabulos!

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This is the movie about a Queen that doesn’t end with an AIDS diagnosis...I think.

Wigs and bodices accounted for 48% of the film’s budget.

The film’s title has nothing to do with the plot or characters and is instead a sly attempt to influence the outcome of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences members’ voting.

Green Book

In this sexual thriller, we see the raw, animal side of Kermit the Frog as he provides details from his Little Green Book of every single Muppet he’s fucked. With an original working title of Fifty Shades of Green, we’ll see how Miss Piggy was at first a mousy and demure fill-in interviewer whose sexual spirit was awakened by Kermit’s dominant yet mesmerizing magnetism. Kermit also does some butt stuff with Bunsen Honeydew and gets down group style with all of The Electric Mayhem.

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There’s an odd cameo halfway through the movie where Mahershala Ali enters a gas station on the road and encounters a man in his late 20′s/early 30′s who says in a southern drawl, “I’m Stephen Dorff and I’m your partner,” then another Stephen Dorff, this one in his 40′s limps up and says, “And I’m Stephen Dorff. I’m also your partner,” then finally an old drunk one in his 70′s hobbles up and says, “I’m Stephen Dorff and I too am your partner!”

Mahershala Ali generally tried to avoid Viggo Mortensen, who continually would run up saying, “Dude, Mahersh! We have to get matching tattoos of the number two - for the two of us to commemorate this journey that we’re on together. It’s what you do with your cast mates!” When Mahershala would decline but say it was nice what Viggo and the cast of the Lord of the Rings trilogy did together, Viggo would walk off grumbling, “Hidalgo got a tattoo with me...”

*Before the next comment - be sure to do a thorough research on Google and on social media to determine the prevailing public opinion of if Green Book is a remarkable cinematic achievement faithful to the story of Don Shirley and Tony Vallelonga’s relationship and an examination of the complicated issue of race and its impact on friendship and business OR if it’s just another white savior movie before you speak, so that you can make sure that you’re aligned with whatever is currently the popular thing to say at that moment in time about this movie. Then say...

Ahem. This is the same director who wrote and directed a scene in Movie 43 where Hugh Jackman is on a blind date with Kate Winslet and has prosthetic testicles hanging under his neck which go into her mouth - and that’s, like, it.

Roma

Set in a world with no color, this movie is about a bunch of people (mostly children) hugging on a beach who may or may not be related to each other, may or may not be involved in some kind of national tragedy in either Italy or Mexico, and may or may not be sick, dying, sad or overcome with joy. I honestly have no clue on this one. But it IS on Netflix.

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They say that Alfonso Cuarón painted a realistic picture of his childhood in Roma which is the exact same tactic he employed in making Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Netflix forced Cuarón to cross promote other Netflix titles throughout the film, so there is an odd scene in which Cleo’s son meets his Big Mouth Hormone Monster to talk about masturbation and then later on the family enters The Upside Down (or Al Revés de Abajo). Also, every single cast member gets a stand-up comedy special.

Yalitza Martínez plays a housekeeper here and after this star-making turn, she’s got it MAID!

A Star Is Born

Jackson Maine wants to create a star. But after consulting a high school astronomy textbook, he learns that the only way that a star is truly born is to squeeze atoms of light elements under enough pressure for their nuclei to undergo fusion. He closes the book and says, “To hell with that science shit,” then gets drunk and just hires Lady Gaga to write a song that sounds like she’s a child screaming at her mom to watch her do a dive at the community pool.

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As a first-time singer, Bradley Cooper devoted countless hours over several months in order to unlock the instrument of his voice to become a mostly-inoffensive singer. As a first-time director, Bradley Cooper bought one of those chairs with “Director” on it.

Bradley Cooper refused to urinate for the duration of filming until the big Grammy’s scene so it played better on film. He did poop a lot during filming though.

The young actress from Eighth Grade is already planning her Oscar bait remake of A Star Is Born to come out in 2043 where SHE plays the aging star and enters a romance with a young male singer played by Boy from Bird Box.

Vice

As the DC Comics universe continues to expand, we finally get the origin story of Batman arch nemesis and super villain, The Penguin.

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Unable to shake his Saturday Night Live roots, Adam McKay decided to insert a scene late in the movie where - unannounced - the real Dick Cheney walks in to surprised applause from the audience and Christian Bale acts flustered before stammering out that it is an honor to meet him. Cheney pauses for the awkward “oh my god, can you believe this” murmur to die down in the audience and then stiffly delivers, “You know, Christian, you could have just worn a fat suit for this role.” The audience erases all memory of the terrible atrocities that the man has committed during his lifetime and erupts into wild clapping and bark-laughing like seals while Christian and the rest of the cast just have to hand it to the guy for being such a good sport about it all.

Dick Cheney is just happy that A Star Is Born is in the field this year so that in defiance of Vice he also doesn’t have to root for any movies about gay guys, black people, immigrants, or foreigners.

While watching the film, Laura Bush continually had to remind a startled and frightened George W. that no, he was not trapped up in the big movie screen.

#oscars

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virovac · 8 years

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MonsterVerse : adding to roster for eventual “Destroy All Monsters” style movie

Since a huge monster mash is likely down the line, one issue with the Monsterverse became apparent to me in doing so: copyright and trademark in Japan is harder and more of a maze than in America. While the Save the Earth videogame was in development I learned a large part of the fees for licensing much of Toho’s monsters is to pay for the hassle of finding and contacting every co-owner to a character. While Legendary is willing to fork over money for the big names like Rodan and Mothra; for rounding out the cast of an apocalyptic level film they might be able to get more cheaply get some Warner Brother owned or public domain monsters to pad the cast. Out of curiosity, I looked up what they could use. Links have been provided for nearly every monster mentioned

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms: Godzilla’s American Granddady. Works good as a smaller monster in the vein of Baragon and Varan. Should probably be no larger than the scale used for the Kong-sized skullcrawlers.

The ants from Them!: I almost didn’t include these guys since they are explicitly regular ants turned giant in their original movie rather than prehistoric monsters, but majingojira mentioned that they get vaguely referenced to on Skull Island. and there’s no reason there may not be more nests in other parts of the world. Heck, lets go crazy and make them semi-heroic with interactions with humans varying because the emergent behavior of mob mentality. If one ant has a taste for human flesh nearly all it fellow hunters present will attack, while another ant that was helped by a kind human in the past might remember and overrule and stop the attack. We know nowadays from research that ants can have individual personalities, they can be lazy, and queens that go berserk may be locked up and restrained. Introducing such research into the portrayal can add to the mystique of an adventure story, and complicated feelings for the audience when the military makes the sound judgement that overall the colonies are threats, even if we meet a few friendly ants. Of course , with pheremone knowledge the possibility of a nonviolent solution may be possible, a way to pen the ants in...

Definitely not from Godzilla’s era, ants are from the Cretaceous.

As for powers, the old trailers explicitly mention venomous fangs, so lets make them dangerous at both ends, though if you some survive being maimed, the bad news is the venom at the mouth and at the spray glands of the rear are different and would require two different antidotes.

The Giant Behemoth: A British Monster co-produced by Warner Brothers, from a film written by the screenwriter of the The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Daniel Lewis James, who also wrote Gorgo. While the name is uninspired, its terrestrial design with its aquatic habits make an interesting contrast, and bring to mind Christian stories of monstrous animals that survived the Great Flood through sheer determinations Works perfectly as coming from the same ecosystem as Godzilla, and has an interesting electric blast/atomic pulse attack. (By pseudoscience it gained from the power to use its natural electric-eel like abilities to project the radiation it’s body was contaminated with.) Like how Godzilla is not played for pathos, the monsterverse Behemoth would probably also be much more chill than its original portrayal , since it would be a natural radiovore rather than a victim of radiation poisoning in order to fit in better with the other monsters.

Gorgo and his mum: Not sure if these characters can be used, they might still be trademarked even though the comics are public domain. Still, to have all three monsters of Daniel Lewis James screenplay’s in a movie would be amazing.

The Black Scorpion: Mexico’s murderous arachnid from a Warner Brothers production. It brings with it a whole new ecosystem of underground terror. You know the lost spider pit scene from Kong? Several props were reused as one-scene wonders in the Black-scorpions cave. For added distinctiveness, and following the “nature spirit” design philosophy for Skull island, perhaps they can play up petrified forest aspect of the Black Scorpions’ ecosystem and give its armor a stone-like appearance, to play up how it has only one real vulnerable spot just under its neck.

Reptisaurus: Public domain comic book version of Reptilicus, started into a continuation of the movie, became its own thing once they lost the rights to the name. Not sure if they can use the green slime from the American edit, but they very least they can probably give it corrosive blood, and the movie lab scenes showed fact they turn any water they regenerate into basically a pool of digestive fluid (I appear to have had been misinformed here after finally seeing the MST3K version. Or I got it mixed up with a summary of the novelization) Their regeneration has great capability for body horror: we know a limb can regenerate into a new monster but the process was never explored:. Imagine a foot crawling like a spider, it grows a mouth to eat. It eventually gets enough mass to grow a serpent-like tail. Eventually the hand is replaced by a head and new limbs grow out from the sides of the trunk. The regeneration would likely be slightly different each time,possibly linked to the sheer adaptability of the speices. In the comics after a huge design change to be less like the movie monster, Reptisaurus sexually produced two differennt spawn: one resembling a reptilian rhinocerous , while the other was more like one of the intermediates between amphibians and reptiles. (see below). Personally I’d keep try to merge the multiple designs of reptisaur in the way that works best and is most distinctive, but I prefer the old fashion dragon head.

MGM’s The Kraken from Clash of the Titans: Warner Brothers has the rights to the MGM film library. Skull Island’s wildlife has let loose the door open for more fantastical designs. You don’t even have to bring up Greek or Norse myth, we’ll all know who it is.

I support also getting the right to Titanosaurus from Toho just for the greatest “Clash of the Titans” joke of all time.

Finally:, and remember the point of this is to point out what Legendary and Warner Brothers can do, not what they should do, Warner Brother has the rights to a particular segment of Godzilla’s history

Hey with the right writers, and a proper redesign it could work. Godzooky’s mix of bravado and cowardice mixed with a more realistic portrayal of how cornered animals can be the most dangerous could make him an interesting character. Let Godzooky maul a terrorist like he should have done in the Island of Doom episode and I bet everyone will forgive him.

I discovered Warner Brothers has the Valley of Gwangi in their film archive. While no way they could have a hidden valley of prehistoric life on the mainland , we could still size up Gwangi himself and have our Gorosaurus expy. Though honesty Gwangi might be much grumpier than Gorosaurus.

(Look at that sneer.)

Bonus points if they have a flashback show him being captured and moved to monster island by lassoing him with planes. If they have to update his design, the best way to approach it would probably be an allosaur that convergently evolved more Tyrannosaur style jaws, with the back armor osteoderms of an alligator. Gwangi was meant to be an Allosaurus but was based off various Charles Knight paintings of theropods, so its a good way to tie things together.

Now two monsters I thought might be in public domain that I sadly have to shoot down:

I have found that the original portrayal of Yongarry might be in the public domain, but it may be too risky to take. A shame, since an old DAM poster had what was meant to be either Godzilla or Gorosaurus looking like Yongarry.

Gappa is off the table; due to strange international copyright law its only public domain in the U.S. and that doesn’t really work for an international franchise, and the deign might still be trademarked. It would have been fun because the Gappa parents was inexplicably on a Turkish poster for Destroy all monsters.

#Godzilla 2014 #kong skull island #monsterverse #legendary pictures #yongarry #gappa #reptisaurus #reptilicus #the valley of gwangi #gwangi #the beast from 20000 fathoms #the black scorpion #the giant behemoth #them!

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suspected-spinozist · 8 years

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I’ve finally typed up my thoughts on Seven Surrenders. A necessary caveat: I really did enjoy the book; in fact, I couldn’t put it down. The notes I’ve made are mostly negative because the parts work don’t jump out at me nearly as much as the parts that don’t. At some point I get into my General Theory Of Weaknesses In SFF That Wants To Be Political Philosophy (a genre which, to be clear, I love completely and without irony). Spoilers follow.

I really thought there was going to be some deeper secret to Joyce Faust’s historical cosplay sex club. Maybe it’s because I lack a functioning sex drive, but it seems deeply improbable that modified 18th century French gender roles are such a universal turn-on that they’d work on 80% of major world leaders. Of course, part of that is Ms. Faust maneuvering her minions into positions of power, but her methodology seems much more effective than it has any right to be. I might buy gender as a general concept being that compelling, but she’s selling an extremely specific mode of gendered behavior. Hedonistic ancient regime aristocracy is at least as aesthetically specific as, say, BDSM, and it’s probably just as unlikely to ruin vanilla sex forever for the people who choose to participate.

More to the point, she doesn’t start out with any privileged information. If someone else read enough philosophy and wanted to start cosplaying as Voltaire and company, there’s nothing stopping them. From what little I know of human nature, the least realistic thing in the book might be that there aren’t innumerable brothels with themes like 5th century Athenian hetaerae or the interwar Berlin cabaret scene or what have you. A lot of this is explained as the special training she gives her protégés/slaves, but it feels like a cop-out. Whatever it is that makes Danaë or Héloïse or Dominic so irresistible in person, it doesn’t come through on the page.

On the topic of grand conspiracies that don’t really make any sense, I want to take a closer look at O.S. The first thing I want to know about this setup is why the database used to track flying cars has the kind of information one would need to figure out the emotional impact of a particular person’s grandson’s ex-girlfriend committing suicide. I’m fine with set-sets being able to make those calculations given the data, I have no idea how they’d get there from a glorified transportation grid.

But even suspending disbelief about the actual mechanics, assassinations are an awfully blunt instrument. I can accept that there are cases where they’re necessary to avert immediate crises, but the question I’d ask myself, and which probably should occurred have at some point over the past twelve generations of the Saneer-Weeksbooth bash, is - what other tools are at our disposal? And how can we head things off earlier?

Felix Faust correctly points out that that O.S. operates on the streetlight effect. Its founders were humanists, so they think in terms of targeting individuals - Sniper even says as much in their chapter - but this wouldn’t seem obvious to a Brillist or a European or a Mason. And there are plenty of problems for which assassination is not necessarily the most efficient solution. The fact that their targets are so indirect helps the Saneer-Weeksbooths avoid detection, but it also points to an important weakness - because of the limitations of their method, a lot of what they do depends on chance.

The disappointing thing is that the plotline ultimately devolves into a fairly boring battle of utilitarianism vs. deontology. “Must we abandon our peaceful near-Utopia because it is tainted with the blood of thousands?” isn’t exactly unexplored territory. There’s much more interesting ground to be covered in picking apart why the system survived as long as it did with relatively little criticism. It makes sense that for the Saneer-Weeksbooths to have internalized the values they were raised with, but there are plenty of other people who were in on the conspiracy, and who could have tried to use all that computational power to look for other solutions.

The Mardi/Apollo Mojave war plot has a lot of the same problems. Apollo Mojave’s case is more egregious, so I’ll start with him. He is simultaneously worried that no one will want to move to Mars, and that the prospect of moving to Mars is so tempting that it will provoke the first open war in (by that point) almost 600 years. He fears that the other hives will turn on the Utopians because they’re small and isolated, which makes sense, until you remember that most of Utopian culture is designed with the express purpose of being unintelligible and alienating. They speak in their own private jargon, cover their faces at all times, live on the moon, use their own transit, and mostly avoid terrestrials. There are so many options for defusing these inter-hive tensions.

A few thoughts, off the top of my head: allow Utopians to join non-Utopian bashes. Tone down the U-Speak. Promote Utopian art and literature on earth, maybe host science demonstrations like Cato. Build embassies. The money being poured into terraforming Mars seems like a sticking point, so work with the other Hive leaders to find alternate sources of funding. Which should easy if you’re Apollo Mojave and all the other Hive leaders are all literally in love with you. Anything, except “start a war so that the war that we can’t possibly avert 250 years from now might be less bad!”

The Mardis aren’t much better, though. To recap: they’re planning on starting what they see as an inevitable global war prematurely because they believe that the most important determining factor of war deadliness is length of time since the last major conflict, their evidence being WWI. I just looked up the list of wars by death toll. The biggest problem with their theory is that, while WWI might arguably have been more culturally traumatic than WWII (and that’s a huge if*), it was significantly less deadly. All that practice did absolutely nothing to keep casualties down twenty years later. The next most deadly war after WWII is the Mongol conquests, and I really doubt that 11th century Central Asia was noted for its long-lasting peace and prosperity. The Mardis are drawing from a trend line from a single data point, and it doesn’t even support their trend!

At this point, the question Mycroft should be asking himself isn’t “Would you destroy a better world in order to save this one?” It’s “why is everyone I know so fanatically committed to their largely unsupported predictions about extremely specific events centuries in the future?”

This is the point, when I was thinking this through, that I realized that all my issues with this book are essentially the same thing, and that they have a lot in common with my reading of Dune and The Traitor Baru Cormorant and a lot of other fiction in this loosely-defined genre. It’s the thing that happens when authors want to make a point of how good their characters are at understanding complex systems.

The problems inevitably crop up because, in order for all this very complicated manipulation to be legible at the level of plot, causal chains have to be drastically simplified. A novel where the Mardis or the Saneer-Weeksbooths sensibly decide to hold off on murdering anyone until they’ve conducted a rigorous statistical analysis and then decide to spearhead a series of medium and long-term economic and social programs would not be very interesting. It’s possible to do this sort of thing well, but very, very difficult.

*edit: having thought about it for more than thirty seconds, i'm pretty sure it’s total bs.

#terra ignota #fiction #this is just a biiiiit longer than I expected #and there's more!#but this is more than enough for one post #sff

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furiousconnoisseurcomputer-blog · 6 years

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How much will car insurance cost a teenager?

"How much will car insurance cost a teenager?

I will be getting my license in August and I was wondering how much insurance will cost me. My parents have AAA. I know there are a few factors that change the cost. I have good grades ( i know that is a factor) I will not buy a new car, but rather a safe older car (probably late 90s) How much will car insurance realistically cost me both initially and annually? I live in California and I am 16

BEST ANSWER: Try this site where you can compare quotes: : http://insureinfo.xyz/index.html?src=tumblr

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My parents are getting older now and I was wondering where was a good reliable place I can obtain low cost life insurance for them in case something happens to take care of their bills and wishes? I've seen ads on TV and the internet, but I can't tell who is a reliable company and it would be great if they don't have to go through a medical exam. I'm not looking for a million dollar policy or to get rich, just something reasonable to help take care of their bills and stuff should the worst happen.""

Question on best company for classic/historic car insurance?

Our family has had State Farm for 70 years now, several generations, and in the last 10 years or so we have been progressively more & more disappointed in their caring and customer service. Maybe its just the 'assistants' that my local SF agent (who never talks to his clients any more) use, they both seem to have just horrible attitutudes, sarcastic, and act like you are a complete PITA every time you call. I even have an email from his main assistant that I asked her to forward to the actual agent because I was told he was the only one that could answer my question, and just today I was SHOCKED when I re-read the email, and saw in the forward of my email when his assistant sent it on to the actual SF agent, She said This guy will just not give up, he keeps haunting me about this issue! I couldn't freaking believe it. I was going to forward the email to SF headquarters in Bloomington IL, but then as I read more & more about state farm I saw they are completely independent agents in each office, and have literally NO ONE who is their boss or who can reprimand or correct them. This is unbelievable. If I treated my customers at my work place & gave them the rotten attitude treatment we get from our SF office here, I guarantee you I would lose my job. No one is in charge at state farm obviously. Back to my question - I recently bought a classic car I have been looking for a long time - getting it next week - it is 25 yrs old, all original & in perfect shape. My state (Maryland) lets me register the car as Historic if it is 20 yrs old or more. I plan to do this. I contacted my wonderful state farm office today, to get a quote on a new policy/binder for this collectors car. They apparently don't like insuring a vehicle as Historic, maybe the policy is too cheap & they do not make any money off it. The 'assistant' said the best they can do, even if I REGISTER this vehicle in Maryland as Historic & get an Historic tag, which I will do, she said the best she can do is insure it as part time, occasional pleasure use, under 7500 miles a year . Which of course is NOT an historic policy. You can get that on ANY extra car you have in your household even if it is a 2011 model !! She did say (and I understand this being required) that in order to have is classified as Antique/Classic/Historic, you have to have an appraisal done on the vehicle as if it just came off the show room floor -then the premiums would be much lower if you had full coverage on it, as historic/classic . So here we stand. Can someone out there please help me understand - am I being taken for a ride by my State Farm office? Should I shop around for insurance companies that just specialize in Classic/Historic auto insurance? If so can anyone recommend the best companies that specialize in reasonable insurance for classic/historic vehicles? Thanks for your help. .""

How much do Hyundai Coupe S's cost to insure?

Annual Insurance 2002 worth 600 17 year old male driver

Do you need insurance on a leased car?

Easy question...do you need insurance on a leased car? I heard that the company you are leasing from takes care of it.

How did they steal my car? It a 2001 Lexus is200 . Stock immobiliZer fitted! Will insurance cover this?

Whill the insurance cover this? What todo? :(

How much will car insurance cost a teenager?

Florida car insurance question?!?

I'm 16 and have my driving permit, I want to get my license but since the insurance here is SO EXPENSIVE I'm looking for ways to reduce it. I would be put under both divorced parents insurance plans as soo as I got my license. My questions are: 1. If I get my own car, will I still have to go on both parents insurance? 2. What kind of driving school will aid in discounting the insurance, and do you know of any in Jupiter, FL or online? Thanks!""

Best insurance company for full coverage?

What's the best insurance company that's pretty affordable?? I am financing a Toyota Camry (new) and need full coverage. I have a DUI on my record but have my license. I'm 21. =\

How much is car insurance for a 17 year old male in maryland????????!!!?!?!?! PLEASE ANSWER!!!?

I got my license today lol....I need car insurance because I have an internship starting on the 29th...does anyone know a cheap but good/decent insurance policy??????PLEASE HELP!!!

Car insurance question regarding friends car?

(This is in Ohio). My friend let me drive her car when the roads were kind of bad due to weather. At an intersection, the light turned yellow, and I began to slide on the ice. I had control of the car, however, if I would have continued to slide straight I would have been hit side on by the incoming cars coming through the intersection. Instead, I had to turn the wheel and I hit a pole. No damages were done to the pole, any other cars, or people. Unfortunately when we took the car to an autobody shop, getting an estimate without the use of insurance, we got an average cost of $2,200. There's NOT that much damage on the left bumper to make the cost so expensive. Both me and my friend are insured, however, MY insurance company is saying it's her car, so her insurance has to pay for it. How will this work? If I ask her to pay using her insurance, I don't want her to pay any out of pocket. I would pay the deductible. Will this hurt her insurance, or my pocket? Any other good ideas? Thanks so much.""

A 1994 bmw i518 for an 18 year old car insurance?

How much do you think the insurance will be? thank u!

Anyone want to give me a rough estimate on this car insurance quote?

My friend drives a '98 Mercury right now. She's been into four accidents (three of them were caused by her), is one point away from getting her license taken away, and got a DUI last summer. Consequently, when she got her car back, she tried to get it insured only to find out her insurance premium for NO FAULT is almost a thousand a month. That's for a standard insurance company. She went to a small rinky-dink company for a lower quote and got a lower quote but I'm not quite sure what that quote was. Since she can't afford to pay that much in insurance, she (stupidly) has decided to get fake insurance proofs that she thinks will get passed secretary of state so she can renew her tags. I told her she needs to have real insurance or she could get into lots of trouble (not to mention end up owing tens of thousands of dollars if she crashes). She didn't listen to my advice and went with the fake insurance proofs which did NOT get passed secretary of state; her new plan is to pay for one months insurance and then stop paying for the next few years until her insurance goes down. She told me the other day that she wants to buy a BMW by the time she's 22. That means in one and a half years. Not only will her insurance still be high, but it will probably be even higher since she will have gone two years without it. So, considering the facts I've given you and that she has to pay almost a grand a month for no fault on an older Mercury, how much more do you think she will be paying for FULL coverage on a BMW?""

How much would lowering my mileage by 5k save me in california?

So being a teenager(19) and a male with a ticket I'm paying around 900 for insurance. Tickets my fault I accept the punishment. However, I switched jobs and After calculating distance I'm only going to be driving around 5000 miles rather than the 10 on my insurance. Just kind of curious how much the mileage drop could save me since my insurance agency isn't being much help.""

If i cancel my auto insurance before the 6 months are up will i get money back?

i gave 730 dollars for 6 months of insurance in april and it expires in september...but im selling my car an not driving it and want to take the insurance off....will i get money back after i prepaid for 6 months even tho i didnt use all 6 months?

Cheap insurance companies for 17 year olds?

cheap companies that offer cheap insurance for males

How Much Is Insurance For a 16 Year Old Girl?

16 year old girl Good school attendance record.Grades could be better. Dallas,Texas. Hispanic(If that matters) Mom and Stepdad have Allstate insurance What is the general price range? And for these cars,can you estimate(I'm NOT getting these cars just curious)I am getting a used Dodge avenger though!(: 2008 Dodge Charger 2010 Chevy Camaro 2008/2009 Dodge Avenger""

Can you really find cheap health insurance ?

I live in mass and i can not find health insurance for my needs and have been denied by the state health insurance. Dont know what to do ... anyone can help ?

What is the best dental insurance in Florida?

I'm gearing up for braces, I need some filling and extractions first so I'm looking for a good dental plan. I need 5 fillings and two extractions. To be frank, I'm a little confused on which one to choose. I'm self employed so I don't belong to any insurance plan as of right now. I'm looking for whats going to be the cheapest for just what I need done (listed above) and nothing more. btw I live in Tampa. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!""

When will my car insurance go down?

Had a wreck in January first one I've ever been in I'm 28 my ex was driving and hit ice totalled my car, my insurance jumped to 190 from 120 how long until it goes down?""

""Wat types of car insurances are there for a 18 year old in Canada, how much do they cost?""

Wat types of car insurances are there for a 18 year old in Canada, how much do they cost?""

Can I keep my cheap auto insurance without my broker?

When I first switched to my current auto insurance I didn't even realize I was dealing with a broker, and was surprised when they charged me a fee in addition to what I am paying the insurance co. Well I paid it (this was 3 years ago) and now I'm supposed to pay them their fee every year! I'm just wondering if there is a way I can cancel the Broker and still have the insurance?""

Insurance rates for speeding ticket?

I accept all responsibility. I am an idiot for doing this and I should have been paying more attention. I was caught going 50 km/h+ on a highway in Alberta. How much will my insurance rates go up? Will they double? I'm 18 y/o but the car is insured under my father. Also, how will I know when they have gone up? Do they go up after the court date, or does it start the day my ticket was issued?""

How much do you think my car insurance would be(details inside)?

I am 15, I have taken drivers ed and I have my restricted liscense. I have a 3.8 gpa(I heard you get a discount for that) and I live in Kansas. I am looking at a 1995 Ford Explorer with 168,000 miles. I know you couldn't tell me exactly, but about what do you think my monthly payment would be? Thanks""

Which insurance company is father of reinsurer?

i need to know the answer for my interview in an insurance company. also which company is biggest insurance company in world.

Can i sue my car insurance company.?

I have had an car accident and made a claim through my car insurance, however they have failed to compensate me for the accident and rather than compensating me they have cancelled my policy claiming that i had provided them with incorrect information, which were genuine minor mistakes on my part, however i did not find out about any of these indiscripancies until my accident as my insurance company had not initially provided me with documents showing all the information i had provided to them to make sure everything was correct, they only provided me with the certificate. Since they didn't provide me with these details and a form to sign to say all the information is correct. Are they allowed to cancel my policy as i wouldve corrected this information if i had found out about it. And do i have any grounds to complain to the financial ombudman.""

How can you convince your parents to allow you to get your own car?

We went to the Ford Dealer and there was a 2007 Ford Taurus SE. The dealer wanted $8700.00 that is with tax. So I test drove it and took it to a mechanic nearby and the car checked out fine. My mom and stepfather went into the finance department and I waited in the room adjacent to them. The bad part is that I couldn't get the car because they had a small discussion about how much gas, insurance, and maintenance the car will cost. So I left the ford dealer with no car. My mom said because I am a young man I could buy my own car and take on the responsibility of a young man. I told her can she please do it and I will pay her back over the years. She said no and my stepfather said come on man lets go home. I felt a little embarrassed because everyone in the lounge was looking at me. So how can I convince my mom and stepfather to buy me this car.""

How much will my insurance increase after two at fault accidents?

I was in an accident at the beginning of the year and six months later I was involved in the same kind of accident. I was at fault for both accident. I was wondering how much would my insurance would increase. Thanks!

What is the cheapest insurance for a 17 year old driver?

Cheapest car insurance for 18 year olds?

I know the rate is different for everybody but what do you think the best insurance company would be for me? I turned 18 in December, I've had my license since September of 2010, no ticket, accidents, etc.. and I drive a 98' Honda Civic.""

Approximately how much does malpractice insurance cost for a Psychiatrist?

Just wondering about the average annual, or monthly, cost for the insurance. If anyone has a specific number for the state of Florida, that would be much appreciated as well.""

How much would it cost to insure a 17 year old driver with a 2003 corvette?

i should say how much more? right noq i drive a 2005 chevy avalanche LT and i have always wanted a corvette. i found one from a dealer that i might be able to afford if insurance isnt too much. i have usaa insurance and ive never had an accident or ticket, im not an honor role student but i pass with c's ans b's(I've herd honors affects insurance), i live in ct ( ive herd the state affects insurance), and i've done the minimal drivers ed (only the drug and alcohol courses which are required atleast in Connecticut). my insurance allows me to drive all the cars i want that are connected to that insurance plan. thank you!!!""

How much will car insurance cost a teenager?

Lapse in health insurance?

My husband is about to have a lapse in health insurance, for about 4 months? Reasons being, because I am pregnant, and no insurance company will cover an expectant father. We will be getting him covered once the baby comes. What are the reprecussions for having a lapse in health insurance? He has no pre-existing conditions and is very healthy.""

What is cheapest car insurance i am 18 years old with a crash?

i need the cheapest car insurance in florida can some one refer me to a company

""Insurance for a 16 year old male, owning my own car, please help(ontario)?""

Im 16, male, in ontario, single, no other drivers in my family. I plan to own my own car, i know alot of you will say; depends on model or year of the car idk the answer to that because i dont have the car yet... but i do know it will be between the years 2001 and 2004 roughly, it will probably end up being a chevy, toyota, honda (just the average company) can anyone please give me a rough estimate what i will have to pay either per year or month doesnt matter thanks :)""

""When I talk to a Christian, they remind me of life insurance salesperson, does it remind you of of that?""

They keep preaching (selling, giving) after death life insurance Of course they will tell you its FREE, but any time anything is free it most likely cost you a whole lot more that its worth.""

Is there a loop hole in motorcycle insurance?

I'm going to finance a motorcycle at a dealership. I know I will need full coverage insurance, and being I first time rider it will be expensive. My question is, can the dealership find some loophole through the system to make insurance cheaper? I live in california""

Which company is best for a first time driver to insure with ?

I am 17 in April and will be learning to drive and was wondering if anyone could recommend the best insurers Cheapest most reliable. please help ive been going round in circles.

I be 17 in April and i just got my learners and i want to know how much it cost for car insurance?

if my grand mom add me under her how much it cost

I need to get health insurance. What's affordable and good?

I live in Southern California. Recently, my neck has really started to hurt and I think I might need an xray. I haven't had health insurance in so long. What would be the proper steps to take? I need something affordable.""

How much is car insurance for a 23 year old male in Ontario?

How much is car insurance for a 23 year old male in Ontario? Hi I am thinking about buying a car in the $3000-$6000 used car range. Can someone give me a rough estimate or range as to how much it would cost me for insurance? I have never had an accident and have no recent demerit points on my record. So I have a clean driving record. And I am only interested in the required by law insurance.

Best car insurance for my children while they're at university?

My two children (aged 20 and 18) have gone to university this year. They've left their car (VW Polo) at home. What is the best way to insure this car now? It's only getting used when they pop home, and a bit more over Christmas and Easter, probably summer too. However I can't find any insurance that will take this into account. I've got my own car, so theirs is just sitting there for 8 or 9 months out of the year. Does anybody know of any insurance providers that will insure a car while taking this into account?""

Car insurance for the young?

any body know where to find cheap car insurance for my son aged 17 tried the usual site ie compare and money market.com just got him a 1999 1,2 corsa i have ten years ncb on my own car the wife has been on my policy for 7 years with no claims the corsa is going to be registred in my wife name thanks very much""

What could i expect to pay for insurance being a first time driver?

Hi, im looking to buy my first car with some money im getting from school; it will be used of course but i would like to know if anyone can give me insight on insurance costs. I will soon be 21 years old, have had a license for about a year and a half, and i have one accident on my record (possibly) that happened almost a year ago while driving my sister's car; and i was not listed on thier insurance as a driver does that make a difference? With all that being said how much could i expect to pay for insurance? Oh and i live in Philadelphia,PA if that helps with answers. Also what additional fees should i expect to encounter outside of insurance? Thanks!""

Car insurance question?

Ive got a younger brother who's 16 years old, newly licensed, had his drivers license for about 4-6 months... he's buying a car soon but he's paranoid of what the insurance will be! Its going to be a used car with a lot of miles (90-130K) and he'll spend no more than $4,000 on the vehicle. I know there are discounts for good grades, he has a GPA of 4.2 Advice? How much will it be per month, AND what provider is best? Thanks!""

How much will my registration fee be in California for a used car purchase.?

I recently bought a used car from a family friend and we have to go register it in California (that is where the car is from also so no change there). The tags are also due next month. So, how much can I expect to pay for transfer of ownership fee and can I pay my registration now or do I have to pay it again next month? I already have the smog cert and insurance. I am writing in a purchase price of $300.00. thanks.""

Progressive car insurance?

my mom is planning to get progressive car insurance , and they told her that it's going to cost her 81$ per month (I think) , and I am 18 years old and I wanna know how much will it cost if they add me to that insurance?""

""How much in total (average), does one pay for Car insurance (for 1 car), and Health insurance (for 1 person)?

im 17 years old and just curious

Lapsed insurance....?

ok so basically i sideswiped someone the other day and my insurance was lapsed, but their insurance is going to cover it but send me the bill right.... so how does that work?""

Cost to insure a 1987 Fiero GT?

Hi, I'm 16 and I currently drive a 1999 Honda Civic sedan and I'm wondering how much more money it would cost to insure me driving an '87 Fiero GT? My dad won't let me get it because of the up in price, any suggestions from you guys to persuade him???""

""What is the cheapest automatic car, for a new driver?

also cheap for insurance

What's the best car insurance company 2 get the lowest price rates on a 74 caprice classic?

Car insurance auto renewal?

my car insurer auto renewed my policy and started direct debiting the new policy without my approval. (i paid by direct debit installments previously) i was uncontactable as i was out of the country. the insurance was bought through my car dealer which had my updated contact information. i did not instruct them to do auto renewal. on top of that, it wasn't written in the initial policy contract. when i rang to cancel, they refused to refund and is charging me a cancellation fee. they claim that renewing the policy was in my best interest to protect me. however, if i hadn't paid through direct debit, they wouldn't had been able to protect me anyway! should i insist on getting my money back? would the Consumer Rights chamber in WA be able to help?""

How much will my insurance cost?

If i was 18yr old with a 92' 240sx with clean driving records how much would my insurance cost? any estimation? how about 17 then?

Getting health insurance with a pre-existing condition?

I just quit my job and no longer have health insurance. I also have a very mild case of Chrons disease....I take pills daily for it, but other than that I'm in great health. I would like to get on a health insurance plan. What are my options? Do you think I will get turned down because of my Chrons? If I can get on health insurance, what range will I be paying per month for coverage?""

I am 18 years old and i want to buy a used car but the insurance is too much for my budget?

it would cost me around $7000 for 6 months of coverage can someone please give me some advise on this matter?

Another pregnancy insurance question?

we live in california, and we need insurance very soon, what is the household income limit to get assistance for a pregnancy""

How much will car insurance cost a teenager?

Broad estimate how much do people think motorcycle insurance would be for a 16 year old?

I live in California

Cheap car insurance for young drivers?

Ok im 20 years old ands i expect to get my full licence soon. i think a Ford KA is my best option for price when thinking about purchase price, Insurance bands, TAX bands and repair costs. The problem is all the insurance company's i have looked at will charge me around 2500. Can anyone recommend any good insurance company's for young drivers. I have tried some price comparison websites none seem to come up with anything new.""

Car insurance for you drivers?

i am a 18 year old male and looking for car insurance on something like a micra, punto, clio or something small like that but the cheapest i can find is 3000 with tesco and thats as a named driver on my dads insurnace. Is there anywere cheaper that anyone knows of ? how much do other people pay? also it is a full uk licence i have and i have had it less than a year""

What auto insurance are in FL? I been through almost every single one of them and no one will take us. help?

I need some names of FL auto insurance companies who will take someone whose had PIP claims.

Range rover sport supercharged car insurance...?

I am in the process of buying my range rover sport supercharged (im 18) and i have found some really good quotes, i was wondering if it is posible to insure with a insurance company (mabey arabic car insurance company) because they might be able to do it much cheaper.... please help.....""

Can a car have two insurance policies but two different drivers?

for instance i have a car and i am insured with my insurance company, can my friend/relative then go and take out another insurance policy from a different company so he can drive, with out having me on his policy. two separate insurance policies for two separate drivers but one car. Thank You for your help""

""Anyone bought a trampoline, put it up and then have an insurance company demand you take it down or drop you?""

Insurance company has demanded trampoline come down. Saftety nets, adult supervisor followed to a T . Spent good amount of $$$ on it! Been up for less than a year. Under warranty. Anyone have any suggestions?""

Will my auto insurance company check my husband's credit and driving record if I add him to my policy?

I have been married for 4 years. My husband bought his car with his parents and has been covered under their insurance all this time. The car has been now paid off and he needs to go ...show more

No insurance ticket in jeffco ?

What are the penalties for a no proof of insurance ticket?

I just moved and am looking to find some cheap Massachusetts Auto Insurance. Can anyone recommend a place?

I just moved to Massachusetts from Rhode Island and recently purchased a new car. I need cheap insurance for my car because I am young and don't make a lot of money. Has anyone reading had a good experience with a Massachusetts Auto Insurance Agency? I really would prefer to do this all online instead of on the phone. Websites are welcome! Thanks!

Integra 2 Door VS 4 Door Insurance?

I know it has multiple factors, but how much would this change it? I'll be under my dad's name who has had a clean record for over 10 years. I'm 16 and live in an extremely low-crime city in California.""

How to get a good quote for my car insurance?

basically, i've got 1 year no claims with direct line car insurance for the past year( only 1 year driving experience). i was paying 85 for fully comprehensive, and was 24years old when applied for the insurance. i just received a letter from direct line for my renewal, and now it's gone up to 109. i was wondering what might cause it to increase, and if now am over 25years should i really inform them (if it's gonna make a difference). is it advisable to switch to another company for maybe cheaper deals?! p.s i have a vauxhall calibra year 1995""

Car insurance question?

So my car got scratched in a parking lot and I don't know who did it. I plan on filing a claim with my insurance company to get this fixed. My deductible is $500. My question is: What safeguards do insurance companies have in place to prevent me from changing my collision and comprehensive coverage to drop my deductible to $100, get my car fixed, then switch the coverage back to my normal rate?""

Can anyone recommend any car insurance companies to me that are pretty cheap?

Just bought a new car yesterday and need to get it insured before i go pick it up. I'm a 19 year old female and passed my test on august 27th last year so havent even been driving a year yet...dunno if that helps at all lol the cheapest quote i got so far is 920 annual...does anyone think this is the cheapest i'll get.

Least cost in teen insurance for either buying or leasing a car in NY?

Am i better off leasing a new or used car like a honda accord, toyota corolla or is it cheaper for the insurance to buy an Audi a3""

How much would insurance be for a 1999 Ford ZX2 Escort?

I'm 17, a boy, and I live in maryland just 5 miles from DC. Im getting my first car next saturday and its gonna be a Black 1999 Ford ZX2 Escort. How much can I expect to pay for insurance? I have a clean driving record. Also, my parents dont have car insurance so they have to start a separate account for me. Thanks!""

I will be 17 soon and i don't know the cheapest insurance for cars?

I am 17 in December and hoping to pass my test i would like a white car and did want to get A white ford focus Zetec but they are way to expensive for insurance, i would like a nice car as everyone is judged from where i am from i would also like it to be white. Does anyone know where i can get a good enough, white car? where i can afford the insurance? :) Thanks for your help in advance.""

What is the basic kind of insurance required by California Law?

What kind of insurance covers something like another driver hitting your car door, and then driving off before you could get their license plate # what is comprehensive , and what is collision, ?""

What company provides the CHEAPEST auto insurance?

I want the very cheapest auto insurance out there. The bare minimum so that if I were to be pulled over, I would be legal. The coverage is not important. Thanks!!""

How much will insurance cost me?

I'm 20 years old. clean driving record. the vehicle is a 1993 civic hatchback CX. also i would like to put full coverage on the car. i live in south east wisconsin and i will be the only one driving the car. if anyone can give me a rough estimate or a website that can give me an estimate but i don't have to fill out personal info that would be great thanks.

Am I paying too much for my car insurance?

I am a 23 year old male, I am driving a 08 honda civic LX and I am paying 150 dollars each month. Right now, my insurance is with Geico and I am getting the best discounts, student discount, anti airbag, defensive driving course and etc. another thing I have full coverage on it. so is paying 150 dollars the right amount, is Geico ripping me off. or are there any other car insurance that will charge me cheaper? Thanks""

Whats a good car insurance?

I am 16, no license, looking for car insurance so that i can get my license. i dont have a job, but mom does. at the same time, money is tight. whats an insurance that i can trust that wont hurt the bank?""

Can you drive a parent's car without insurance in NYC?

My dad has a car with insurance on it, but my name is not on it. Is it legal for me to drive the car? I live in New York City, and I'm not worried about the risk of insurance not covering damages because my name is not on the insurance. I'm responsible 18 year-old and my parents suggest that I just drive the car since putting my name with the insurance would cost a fortune extra. I just need to know if it is legal. Thanks!""

Who is the cheapest auto insurance company?

i live in CT and all the big name companies i.e. geico, progressive, esurance that say they are the cheapest are expensive. anyone know of any actually cheap ones?""

How much will my Insurance be for a 1970 SS Chevelle 427?

I want this as a 2nd car, i got my eyes set on one for about 18k...I don't think im gonna like the answer :(. theirs a few factors im scared of insurance 1st. Im 17 in california! 2nd. Im 17 in california....with an Accident on record. 3rd. Im 17 in california...with a pending speeding ticket (ima beat it tho :) 4th. IM 17 IN CALIFORNIA!""

How much will car insurance cost a teenager?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/anybody-knows-reliable-insurance-companies-insure-summer-fenton-zoa"

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