#i want to play around with it more but hoo boy i am all up in my feelings today! so it's probably not the best idea lmao

[fionnaskyborn]

Was tagged by @oceancamp to post my current five favorite songs! (They should invent a stages-of-grief-esque model that encompasses and accurately describes both types of anguish I had to go through making this list - the one of limiting myself to only five songs, and the one of trying to put as little videogame music on here as possible so that I don't end up looking like an absolute goddamn geek, which... I am... Oh well!)

Thank you so much for tagging me - here are the songs!

Heaven Pierce Her - War Without Reason

Tatsuro Yamashita - Love Space

This specific arrangement of Death And Republic + Meet Again

Winger - Junkyard Dog (Tears On Stone)

The Protomen - Light Up The Night

Is it courtesy to tag other people after you've been tagged in a post like this? If that's the case, I'll tag @spiralled-fury, @solradguy, @swamppossum, @five-by-five, @northstarring, @ineedmoredragons and @tbonechessor!

[arolesbianism]

In other news Odile crashed my game during her friend quest. Smiles in pain.

[gumycandyyy]

୨♡ Ｗｉｎｔｅｒ Ｋｉｎｇ ＨＣＳ ♡୧

I am ashamed of tumblr for not making more fanfic of this funky fruit.

We got some general HCS and then some romantic ones under the cut! (I went a little overboard with the romantic ones, hehe!)

Gender-neutral

୨♡ Ｇｅｎｅｒａｌ ♡୧

-Man's self care routine is off the charts

-I'm serious, he has like- 80 different bubble bath concoctions.

-Smells like mint

-or some kind of cold scent.

-I feel like he loves dressing up fancy, so he has a closet full of sparkly suits

-maybe even some dresses if he's feeling special.

-Doesn't actually need to wear glasses, he just likes how they look.

-While he loves his winter wonder world, I feel like he'd enjoy rainy weather more than snow.

-He got rid of all his madness and sadness, yes, but I think he'd cry at something especially cute. Happy tears, y'know?

"Why are you crying, sir? Are you okay?" "Oh, it's nothing. *sniff* Just those two rabbits that are cuddling."

-He is really bad at any percussion instrument

-like.. REALLY bad.

-His hands are too delicate for such a garish instrument as the drums!

-He loves playing duets on the piano, but rarely has anyone to play with.

-I mean, he could always concoct up an ice creature to play piano with him, but that's honestly quite dull.

-His favorite movie would probably be an old Christmas movie, like It's a Wonderful Life.

-He gets kidnapped by the Candy Queen so often, that occasionally he brings a book or something snuggly to help him wait for his ice scouts to rescue him.

-He once got so bored while kidnapped that he tried to read to some of the mutilated candy people

-That was the last time he saw his favorite book.

-Safe to say he doesn't bring his favorites anymore.

୨♡ Ｒｏｍａｎｔｉｃ ♡୧

-Will literally spoil his love interest rotten.

-You want that thing you saw earlier?

-Consider it yours

-You'd like for it to snow outside?

-A sprinkle or a blizzard?

-Literally anything, this man will go to the ends of the universe to get you what you'd like.

-Love languages are definitely gift giving and physical touch

-probably acts of service too.

-Loves dancing.

-Loves dancing.

-Whether it be a slow dance or ice-skating, he will take every opportunity to dance with you!

-He adores short people.

-Good, because he's tall as a giant.

-if you're shorter than him, he will no doubt use you as an armrest.

-He always makes remarks on how cute you are.

-Even if you're only two inches shorter than him.

-If you're taller...

-hoo boy.

-Expect him to be all over you.

-figuratively and literally.

-Will want you to carry him everywhere, sit in your lap, rest against you, whatever.

-Just let him touch you.

-He'll talk about how strong you are, how you'd be the perfect chair, etc. etc.

-He does the stupid "How's the weather up there?" jokes.

-Loves your body, no matter what it looks like.

-You're skinny?

-You're easy to carry around and dance with.

-You're chubby or fat?

-Literally will always be holding onto or resting on part of you. He loves squishy people.

-Somewhere in the middle?

-He could not care less. He loves you regardless of what you look like.

-And he makes sure to emphasize his point by complimenting you endlessly.

-He will never leave your side.

-Even if you need space, he doesn't.

-So why wouldn't you?

-Back to our regularly scheduled fluff-

-Candy Queen hates your guts.

-She thinks you're an obstacle, keeping her from the Winter King.

-No doubt tries to kill you.

-Multiple times. a day

-Her plans are always foiled, but if she gets too close to genuinely hurting you, Winter will be so upset.

"Oh, Dearest, please tell me you're okay!" "You are?" "Phew. I don't know what I'd do if you were hurt in any way."

-His petnames for you are probably

-Darling,

-Dearest,

-My love,

-There are a lot more, but those are the main ones.

-LOVES kissing you.

-Anytime, any way.

-He finds it adorable when his nose bumps your face.

-Favorite place to kiss would probably be the back of your hand.

-He is a gentleman after all.

-Overall, he just adores you.

-And he sincerely hopes you love him just as much as he does you.

Headcanon requests are open for Winter King! Don't be afraid to send an ask, and be shameless! I know I am! (No smut tho. Some spice is okay, however.)

Have some free WK art for coming this far!

reblog for a beginner writer?

[jellysimbean-blog]

So I came up with this new sims legacy challenge, i call it Wild apple tree. It consists of 10 generation and each gen has specifics to complete before moving forward. I haven't come up with the storyline between each generation just yet but other then that I think it's done. I feel i might have gotten a bit carried away and if i add more to each generation it might be a little to much but at the same time I feel it has room for improvement and new ideas so if anyone have any input please feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

(I'm hoping all the ideas I came up with are feasible and can be done I am still playing thru it)

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*

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*

*

Wild apple tree sims legacy challenge

Basic Rules

- Each generation must have an apple tree. It may be the founders tree and gets carried thru each generation or it can be a new tree but the new tree must grow from an apple off the last generations tree.

- Heir for each generation can be either gender unless stated other wise

- No money Cheats (optional)

- Color for each generation is optional

- May live where ever you choose unless location is specified.

- Each generation needs to complete their aspiration(all aspirations are whatever you choose)

- Must have the Career that is listed for each generation

- If you play this challenge and want to share please use #Wildappletree so it can be seen

- HAVE FUN SIMMING!

** This legacy challenge is ofc for your entertainment, the number one goal is to have fun. If you choose not to follow any of the rules or you dont have the packs use then that is perfectly A ok and feel free to change things up however you prefer **

1.Blended family - Golden Orange

*Founder can be any gender

*Your founder must be a single parent

*He/she must marry another single parent

*Both single parents must have one or more kids from their previous relationships prior to meeting.

* After Marriage have at least one more child using science

*Next heir must be Science baby

*Next heir must have ambitious trait and do well in school

Career- Career of your choice to start

2. Science baby - Jonagold yellow

*Attend a university(which ever path you choose)

*Have only one child while In university

*Don't have another baby till you are an adult and ,half way through the Science Branch

*Master Logic Skill

*Master Robotics Skill (Optional)

*Master Rocket science

*Visit Sixam At least once

*Always join Next heir to high-school(Must meet future spouse)

Career- Scientist but of course

3.High school sweethearts - Pink Lady

*Heir must marry their High school sweetheart of course

*Try for baby every time you woohoo(optional)

*Have relationship fail but never divorce

*Heir alway attend the romantic festival

*Have a child from someone other then spouse after marriage(preferably a co-star)

*Try for baby with more then one sim in the same day/week

*One Sim must have a bad relationship with their children.

Career- Acting for both Heir and spouse (Must Join when ever they get a gig)

4.We're Adopting- Empire Purple

*First child must be from adoption (preferably as an infant)

* Must have at least one boy and one girl

* Next heir must be male ( can be the adopted sim)

*Live/ Move to sulani

*Master fishing

*Own at least 2 fish tanks

*Have your teens work as lifeguards

*Only leave the island to dig for bottles in Tartosa

*Best friend a mermaid

*Go diving at least once a week(Bonus finding mermaid kelp)

Career- Conservationist, the Marine Biologist Branch

5.Single dad - Cosmic Blue

*Live in an apartment

* Meet your girlfriend at a party or bar

*Must have a baby girl

*Have your girlfriend leave you after you have a girl.

*Must never marry or date again but Can woo-hoo around

*Must live with and have close relationship to adopted sibling. ( preferably both heir and next heir)

* Must Leave your daughter to be raised by your sibling before she becomes a teen.(you can choose to do this however you like.)

* you may have more then one child but your daughter must be next heir*

Career- Military Man (Either branch)

6.Raised by my aunt/uncle - Multi-colored Ambrosia

*Have a great relationship with your aunt/uncle

*Heir must be Female

*Heir starts this generation as a child

*Have a Bake sale as a child

*Have only one child by a one night stand(Can not take pregnancy test or keep trying with the same sim)

*Master Baking

*Sell your baked goods(You can do this with a yard sale table)

*Build your own bakery and work it part time(Optional)

*Cook Ambrosia(Optional)

Career- Critic career, Art Critic

7.Happy little accident - Fuji green

*Master painting skill

*Only paint landscape and photos you take(optional)

*Start an art club

*Have more then one baby

*Have loves outdoors trait

*Own at least one cat or dog

*Own at least 2 small pets (one must be a hedgehog)

*Own some chickens

*Have a drone to record and stream you when ever you are painting

*Upload your painting videos (Optional)

Career- Freelancer (Artist)

8.Soccer Mom/Dad - Arkansas Black and White

*Marry someone successful ( go dig for gold with this one)

*Must have at least 5 kids

*Travel at least once a week with all the kids for a fun day out ( just has to be somewhere outside of the house)

*Heir Can only make money from trendi (Other sims in the home can work however you choose including the children )

*Must help with any school project brought home and try to help with homework often

*Aspiration Super parent

*Celebrate all Holidays and birthdays

*Build a tree house

Career- Stay at home parent

9.Raised in a nursing home - Granny smith Grey

* Heir Must have more then one child

*Heir Must become Elder before last child becomes a teen

*All kids must be moved out once they hit young adults except the last child ( The Next Heir )

*When Heir is an elder they must rent rooms to at least 4 other Elders

*Have a game night ever Wednesday with the elders ( this includes bowling)

*Have dance night every Thursday with elders

*Master dancing

*Have Movie night every Friday (can be at home)

*Never have a real career( May make money any other way)

*Next heir can't move till they have at least 3 kids

Career- Job hop part time jobs. Call out of work at least once for each job. Quit/retire once you are an elder

10.Fullhouse - Red Delicious

*Must have at least 6 or more sims living together during the entire generation( 2 sims preferably Aunts/Uncles)

*Take a family vacation every season

*Throw a party every other weekend( Include at least one slumber party)

*Build a tree house

*Have Grandparents visit often(Include stay overs)

*2 Sims must master guitar

*All Sims must master comedy

*3 Sims must master singing

*1 Sim must master dj

Career- Entertainer(Both branches split between entire house)

[the-soliloquies-of-sadists]

#349

“You look surprised to see us in your home.  C’mon in we have things to discuss.  If you are looking for a place to run, Bubba behind you will make sure you don’t do that.  You should feel free to come into your own home.  Get in.  Bubba close the door….

“You seem too calm for this.  It’s like you expected three strange men to be in your trailer home out here in the middle of nowhere.  Do you know why we are here?  Yeah, you do.  You raped a fourteen-year-old girl, and then due to a technicality got off. 

“We have no idea who this little girl is, nor who her family are.  We don’t even know who the friend of the family is who contacted someone who contacted someone who contacted us.  We were provided your pic, your address, and who in town still cares for you.  Nobody.  We were sent here to make sure you never do it again. 

“Bubba.  Hold him.  You ain’t going anywhere.  Here, this collar will help with that.  Zeke hand me the lock….  And… it’s on.  Bubba let him go. 

“Ok Shithead.  I will give you one second to run, if you can get free then you are free.  One, two,… three. 

“Ha! Ha!  Your one second didn’t even get you to the door before that shock collar knocked you on your ass.  That delivered a punch, hunh?  Keep in mind that was on setting one.  There are five.  Each of us have a remote, and we can up it to any setting we feel like.  A few things about that collar, first it isn’t just an animal collar; it was designed by some very twisted men in Berlin.  There are three terminals, so that at least one will be in touch with your neck.  There are sensors that will monitor if you should want to put a barrier between the contacts and your skin.  There are other sensors in place should you want to cut it off.  Basically, you’re fucked.

“…Well, figuratively fucked.  The literal fucking will happen as soon as you get up….  Get up bitch….  There you go.  Now strip for us.  We want to see what we get to play with.  You heard me.  And take your time.  We are going to enjoy you putting on a show for us. 

“Shirt first.  Look at those pecs!  Nice abs too.  Your chest hair is kinda weird, like it’s all in one spot between you nips.

“What you don’t know about us three is that we prefer men.  I know I am getting a chubby.  How about you guys? 

“Now shoes and socks….  Pants and undies!...  Well lookie there….  You go commando.  More men should do that.  Average dick.  Zeke! Look at those balls.  They are huge! 

“Zeke likes balls….  Bitch, don’t you pull away.  We are going to be doing some nasty stuff to you.  We have every right to access every part of your body.  You don’t have any say in that.  You got that? 

“Now turn around and show us your asshole….  Damn! That’s one bubble butt.  Boys, I think we hit the jackpot with that.  Oh man….  Now show us that hole.  That’s it, bend over and pull your cheeks apart.  Damn!  That’s a virgin hole for sure.  Bitch, you a virgin back there?...  Hot damn!  We get to smash yet another cherry.  Hoo-wee!  Face us and get on your knees…. 

“Guys show him your remotes….  See them Bitch?  That’s so you don’t forget what non-compliance looks like.  Nod if you understand….  Good!

“Now which of us three do you want to rape you first?...  What the fuck?...  Pleading now?  None of us care about you other than being our cumdump pain freak.  So, you have three seconds before you experience shock level two.  Who do you want to take your cherry?  One… Two…

“Me?  Wow.  I haven’t been selected in a long time.  Our victims usually go for Bubba or Zeke, foolishly thinking that the quiet ones aren’t as much of an asshole.  OK bitch, crawl over to me and take my cock out of my pants.

“There you go.  Reach up and feel my bulge.  It’s big hunh?  All three of us are.  Unzip me and take me out.  I too go commando.  Look at my dickhead.  Just think that’s going to be shoved in deep in just about a minute.  Right now, your job is to get as much spit on it as you can.  Throat slime would be better.  That’s the only lube I will use when I smash your cherry.

“If you want a lot of slime on it, try to touch your chin with your tongue.  Like that.  Here let me do this.  Your throat opens up nicely with that.  Choke and gag on this dick!  I can feel the slime coating my cock.  Remember this trick.

“Keep going.  You’ll want to get your hole to relax.  We are going to be using it all day.  All three of us are multiple cummers.  But we are going to do other things too.  My arm will eventually go in your cunt.  Zeke will be destroying your balls.  And Bubba will sit on your face for a deep tongue cleaning.

“We are here until around midnight.  We don’t want to be seen leaving with you secured in our truck.  And when Bubba torches this place, we want to have it burn completely to the ground before the fire department comes out.  Yeah, you are not going back to the shambles of your previous life.  You are going to disappear into the underground where you will be sold into a much different existence.  No one will care that you are gone.

“Guys, there it is; the realization has hit him.  Get him bent over his couch…  Hold him down.  Let him struggle futilely as he grasps the last moment of being a man.

“Bitch, we were paid to rape you and make sure you never do it again.  And if you are wondering how we will prevent you from doing it again, let me just say that Zeke grew up on a farm and he knows how to castrate bulls.  Your balls are the only verification the person who hired us wants.

“Hot damn!  Here it goes.  Scream fucker!  Scream!  Goddamn!  I love smashing virgin cunt!”

[the-boney-rolls]

The Great Covid Beatles Binge, Day 2: Give My Regards to Broad Street

Hoo boy, here we go!

OK so we open with a stern/bored looking Paul stuck in traffic in the rain and it looks like he's spacing out... hey, Paul, are you starting to daydream? Paul? Is this whole movie about to be a dream, Paul? Oh god

This silly little car! The computer, the carpet, the pool ball gear shift. It's giving the 80's car version of the Beatles house in Help! It's also giving hyper-masculine in a way that is, I'm sorry, not convincing.

This plot is already deeply inscrutable. Something about some missing tapes, a reformed criminal that Paul knows somehow and trusts for some reason, and some ominous business men. Something bad will happen at midnight if the tapes aren't found. OK!

Ringo looks so cool and hot! That vest over that sick as hell dragon shirt. Yes. This scene is genuinely funny, too -- Ringo spends the entirety of "Here, There and Everywhere" and "Yesterday" searching through his mountains of drum equipment looking for brushes, only to find them too late. Apparently, the reason for this scene is that Ringo just didn't want to re-record old Beatles songs!

And now we have Paul, Ringo, George Martin and Geoff Emerick all together in a scene! Makes me think about how George Harrison apparently was a little miffed Paul didn't just call him to ask for filmmaking advice since it was something he had experience with. What could have been!

“Wanderlust” is such a great song, actually, damn.

“I’m not a bad boy, really. I’m just — er, manipulated” John??

Now this is more like it! Surprise Linda in drag, hell yes!

I don't know why this scene is happening? It's a rehearsal for... something? But I'll take it. I love "Ballroom Dancing" and I love vaudeville Paul.

I'm starting to feel like Paul's grandpa in AHDN, "so far, I've been in a train and a room, and a car and a room, and a room and a room." Did Paul's experience on that set define what a movie is to him? "Ah yes, a movie must include lots of transportation from one location to another and then some musical scenes." But dear, it worked because there were jokes! And all four of you to play off each other.

I.......... what

This is Silly Love Songs, of all things!

Again, I don't know why this scene is happening in the context of the movie. Is it another rehearsal for something? A music video? Television special? Who knows, Yoko! But OK here we go, I sure am having fun! Linda is extremely into it. That slap bass kills. There's a Michael Jackson impersonator for some reason? Sure! It makes no sense but I love this man and his bizarre beautiful mind.

So now we're doing band rehearsal in some kind of barn? Or abandoned warehouse? Or something? All of the plot of this movie seems to happen in dialog in cars en route to some ambiguous musical engagement.

“Do you think we can get some heat in here or are we practicing to be Canadians?” God bless you, Ringo.

“Should we try Not Such a Bad Boy” “Do we have to?” “Yeah” Bossy Paul bosses around a Beatle, we love to see it.

Is this song about him or John? 

The French horn player coming in late to record "For No One," inexplicably in a bright red motorcycle helmet, so late that he’s preparing up until right before the solo starts. Reminds me of that story of Ringo recording Hey Jude. But it also feels very symbolic of something. There are so many odd inscrutable details in this movie, it could almost be Lynchian in someone else's hands.

“We’re running, and running out of time too” It feels meaningful but I don't know how.

Hello Mr. Darcy! Wow, can I have an entire movie that’s just this Victorian dream sequence? Can we go back in time and do a Beatles movie period piece, please??

The strings in this which are inspired by but are not quite "Eleanor Rigby" are lovely. Apparently this whole sequence is called "Eleanor's Dream," which implies that Paul is Eleanor. Make of that what you will, I suppose.

I like that Linda is a pants-wearing photographer in this period scene. Linda's gotta Linda.

This strikes me as very Evil Beatles. Again, make of that what you will.

Barbara and Linda are acting the HELL out of this going over the waterfall scene damn.

I don't know, I could screen grab this entire segment, it's amazing, it's insane.

But I can't gloss over Paul being horny for Ghost Horse Girl Linda. Incredible.

"That’s it you’re finished. What are you gonna do now?" Well ok at least this one is pretty obviously a reference to the critical reception of his career after the Beatles and again after John.

"Uncle Jim" Ok so I guess this is supposed to be his dad, but what is the point of this scene? And why the monkey? The further I get into this film the more I feel like I am looking deep into this man's psyche but through the murkiest of windows. I'm here for the weird dream symbolism, Paul, but if you're gonna go that route, again go full Lynch and get even weirder.

Just the straight up original recording of "Band on the Run" feels out of place with all these re-records. I wonder why that choice.

His car license plate is "PM 1" That's right, baby, you're number 1.

Another little cute but inconsequential day dream (presumably within the dream that is this entire movie). He looks like Roy Orbison here.

Oh ok Harry was just locked in a cupboard this whole time. So the whole "plot" was pointless. Cool cool cool.

Paul and Harry being giddy and laughing together is cute though, and it makes me wish that that relationship was fleshed out more. Who are they to each other, exactly??

Yup it was all a dream. Love it, love that for us. Thanks, Paul.

OK so this was definitely barely a movie. There could have been something here, but I'll go back to what I said above -- I wish he'd gone weirder with the whole thing! And I wish Paul himself had been weirder. The character Paul is kind of a dud, just plodding along from place to place and only coming alive when he performs. It's like that Hawaiian shirt is supposed to be a stand in for characterization. But worth it for the music video scenes and for getting a tiny glimpse into Paul's psyche.

[mrprettywhenhecries]

just finished Marmalade and lemme say, i am SHOOK.

spoilery rambling under the cut

I'd guessed the first major twist and I half guessed the second. Gunna sound a little boastful, but I rather pride myself on my observational and speculative prowess. My mum always gets mad when I guess the murderer before her in any mystery.

The storytelling in this movie was sooooo good. Love me an unreliable narrator.

Baron is SO precious. I wanted to give him the world. And his accent? So adorable. But also meticulously planned to add to Baron's character, to make him seem lovable and simple.

And oh lord, Joe Keery made that wig look good, but when he cut his hair at the end. Hoo boy, sex on legs. I need some gifs. May have to make them myself.

Cannot stand Marmalade (the character). So glad she wasn't actually real. LOL

Though every time she was writhing around on top of him, I wanted that to be me.

Loved how all the details of his story ended up coming into play, just not how you expected.

EDA LAMRAM ⟶ MARMAL ADE. So clever.

Otis made me laugh out loud so many times.

Before the second twist was revealed, I wanted so badly for the FBI to catch Marmalade and for Baron to realize what a scheming bitch she was and drop her ass. Like seriously, the whole time I was like, babe! she's using you!

The ending was SO fucking perfect. I'm glad Baron got away with it all, got the medicine for his mum, his foster dad and the pharmaceutical company got fucked over, and the TICKET HE LEFT FOR HUXLEY AAAAAA MY HEART!!

Now I just need to know what Baron's real name is. Gunna make writing any fic hard... unless I just make up a name for him? hmmm, I'll have to think on it.

All in all, I cannot recommend this film enough. Gunna rewatch it again tomorrow to search for more easter eggs and foreshadowing.

[desceros]

Oh I am so sorry for this but you reached into the trash pile and said “friend” so by the end of this you’re gonna be sick of me lol-

I got a request a little while ago that asked for the clothes bayverse likes to see “reader” in, not underthings or anything sexual, and it got me curious because I’m working on it right now- what your Amaranthine Donbon or Goldilocks Blue likes to see their reader wear? Comfy clothes? Dressed up?

Also are those in the same universe? I just saw a mention of “aprils roomate” in Donnie’s story and the thought that they’re “connected” made me go ooooooo~

i said friend-shaped i MEANT friend-shaped there is no tiring, only an event horizon that slowly draws us to the heat death of the turtleverse

ohh i love this, fascinating question! i think amaranthine!donnie loves seeing his insert-chan in as little clothing as you feel comfortable getting away with. short shorts, halter tops, that kind of thing. he likes being able to look over at you while you're reading and see all the places where he's been, almost like he can play a little movie of the previous night in his head and follow each mark like it's a script, and he really likes thinking about other people looking at you and knowing that you belong to someone, that you're off-limits, that he's watching over you. also he really, really hates long sleeves, or chunky bracelets, or anything else that covers up the turtle tattoo. if you come around wearing something with long sleeves, oops!! something got spilled on it ha ha ha!! luckily there's a (short-sleeved) shirt right here for you!!!!! bonus points if your shoulders are a little exposed so he can come up behind you and sneak in a little bite mark before you leave

as for goldilocks!leo, i think he really, really, really likes it when his insert-chan wears his clothes. the way they drape off your shoulder, or how you have to hitch his shorts up to your hips, how you eventually give up and have to steal one of his belts and even then it keeps sliding loose, showing tantalizing glimpses of skin... all while highlighting how much smaller you are, hoo boy. he worries that you work too hard, so he likes it when you dress down because it means you're relaxed for a change. he likes you casual, comfy, and all his.

as for connected, nope! but what i *do* love doing is putting easter eggs in my fics for the others i've already written. so like, someone looking like they got hit by a garbage truck, or donnie wanting to watch a jellyfish documentary, that kind of thing. it's more of a... uh... desceros cinematic universe LMFAO

[door]

1! 6! 11! 25! 26! 33! 41! 42! 48! 52! 54! 69! hoo boy that's a lot. also how's 30s

hi! oh wow that is a lot. enjoy??? (for the 30s ask meme)

gonna answer the last thing first because honestly i've loved my 30s, and since i'm going into my final year of them it seems apt to reflect. i figured out i was queer like a month before i turned 30, so my 30s have been about queerness and community, about taking risks on things that previously i thought i were too old for. i moved cities and careers, i got a masters degree, i found sooooo much friendship and interests and hobbies and got every single one of my tattoos. i am more myself now than i have ever been before. i used to joke that i had been waiting my whole life to turn 30, but i think that was true actually. getting older rules.

What was the first piece of furniture you bought?

off with a BANG. i think it was probably a knock-off saarinen tulip table i got from craigslist when i was in grad school the first time, long long ago. i think the guy had found the base (which may in fact be genuine) and he built a wooden top for it. it's lovely and i think i paid $100 for it. we don't have room for it in the current house (it's dining room sized, about 5 ft across), so it's hiding in my aunt's basement for now.

6. Most precious thing one of your pets has destroyed?

this wasn't actually one of mine, but my parents' dog punkin. the first and only thing i won at auction was a poster for the 1976 50th anniversary of the 1925 exposition des artes decoratifs (which cemented the art deco style and later contributed its name), and punkin ate it. i can still barely talk about it. looked like this:

11. What’s something you saved up for and then regretted buying?

weirdly the first thing i think of is an inflatable chair i got from kb toys in the mall when i was a kid. i thought that thing was going to change my life. it didn't. i cried. my mom helped me return it.

25. Favorite old person activity?

playing solitaire with real cards. when i was a kid, while the rest of us were rolling in the sand and getting our teeth knocked out by waves at the beach, my grandma would sit inside and play solitaire. one year i joined her. she taught me SO many varieties of solitaire and i remember em all.

26. Would you rather sit on the porch drinking sweet tea or sit by the lake drinking beers?

i don't drink alcohol so sweet tea gets my vote. lake vs porch really depends on the breeze situation, but most likely lake. i love a body of water.

33. What’s something you collect?

edward gorey books, including paperbacks he did covers for. also linda ronstadt records

41. What’s the oldest thing you own?

i don't know! i have a lot of old furniture i inherited or found in thrift stores so i really don't know how old any of that is. it might be a ring that belonged to my great-grandmother. it probably dates to the mid-19th century.

42. What’s an unjustifiably expensive appliance that you really want?

a roomba! which is unjustifiable in part because of the weirdness of our house. but how will we know until we try it!

also: this coffee grinder (unjustifiable because we have a perfectly good one already but this one is red) and this milk pan.

48. If you could build your home from scratch, what outrageous feature would you want to build into it?

A CONSERVATORY!!! i want a glasshouse i want to fill it with plants and enjoy the OUTSIDE while INSIDE. that's the dream.

but also like. so many secret passages.

52. Did your relationship with your parents get better when you stopped living with them?

i think it got worse, actually.

54. Do you decorate your house for holidays? Which ones?

i decorate the yard for halloween (full graveyard babey), but any spooky decorations that go up inside the house usually become permanent. we don't have room for anything more than stockings in the current house, but i put christmas lights up on the porch and around a doorway inside.

69. What are you looking forward to next week?

my paycheck lol

[la-scree]

Hoo boy I'm about to have a hot take and I'm sorry for putting it on your dashes. But I've done this event five times and I have Thoughts. Mainly one thing:

The XV event was better than the XVI one.

Yes we got good glam to show off our tits and we got a doggo mount but if this was a means for me to want to play XVI, this wasn't it.

Welp, going under the cut here so if you haven't done either the XV or XVI questline, turn back. Probably won't be as bad but you know, people probably don't want to get spoiled.

(Same Yua. Same.)

We good? Cool.

For me, what draws me to a story is the characters. With Noctis, he felt more active during his event as we do a mini road trip with him. He asks questions, he tells us a bit about himself, hell at one point he goes fishing and is like 'hey I wanna take a picture!' and having recently played it on Cinder, it felt nice. He takes the lead at times and it was fun.

Then I did the XVI event and at first, I thought it was nice and good. The fight idea felt like something from Persona and y'all know I do love that series (despite all the bullshit) and facing yourself and your fears are in fact tasty. But Clive...he was boring. It felt like I was guiding a lost puppy because Yoshi-P's insert told me to due to guiding stars he saw in a dream. Lead Clive to airship, lead him to various points in Gridania where he says basically the same thing until hearing about Garuda.

Funny how Garuda is some kind of key thing in both events but in XV's event, not only do we fight them but we understand a little about them and that this kind of thing is a test for Noct mainly. We don't know shit about XVI's Garuda or what a Bearer is. And if someone is going to say 'oh they don't want to spoil the game!' I am going to retort with that they did not spoil XV for me. All we know is that Noct is on his way with his bros to see his fiancee. If you played the game you would be able to figure it out but if you're like me who knows it through osmosis and an old memory of someone playing the game but not much, it wouldn't bother you.

I didn't connect with Clive but I wanted to...in the non sexual way unlike most of Twitter. Yeah, most of my exposure to him is people talking about his tits, how breedable he is, and getting him naked. There is the rare moment that someone puts a clip on that shows some kind of emotion he has that doesn't involve any of the above and I'm just like "Where is all the stuff for this?!" I want to see emotion come from Clive or at least SOMETHING other than blank face. He sees his Ifrit before the fight starts and yells "THAT'S THE THING THAT KILLED JOSHUA!" and he's never mentioned again. My knowledge of XVI is bare fucking bones but when Torgal got more of an emotional response than him...something is weird.

As a side note, never do complete memory loss plots for short term stories like this. Because people may assume (like me) that it's an excuse for them to have no personality. Btw Cid and Yotsuyu want to know your location. No reason. Also, I know when it comes to something heavy like that, you need time for that. I'm doing this with Cinder as she regains her past life memories up until 6.0 and Yua's bit in Faerun has her with no memories but both regain pieces as their stories go on.

So long story short: XVI event felt like a nothing burger but the wrapping (rewards) were nice. If I want to get into the game, Yoshi-P's insert saying to go play XVI won't do it. It might be from people who enjoyed the game and have passion for it that might. Make me have an emotional connection with the character, make me root for them when they need it, make me feel SOMETHING!

If you enjoyed the event and thought it was S-tier then good. I'm happy for you because we need some of that around. It just made me look more at the event after my third go and think '...hmm, the joy I feel is decreasing. Why?'

[midnight-light]

Master Detective Archives: RainCode; THE FINALE

SPOILERS AHOY! IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED THIS GAME PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

Alright, with the obligatory warning out of the way, LETS CRACK INTO THIS. First of all, I was definitely not ready for the twists this game was boutta knock me upside the head with, like, at all. Starting with the simple fact of how they turned something the fandom MILKED for all it's worth in jokes into a key plot point was just... well fucking played. Also known as the pink blood. Trying to wrap my head around 'Homunculi' was a trip and a half. Once I DID have my head wrapped around the concept though, things made way more sense . Makoto being a Homunculi I saw coming after the investiagtion in the labratory in the restricted area. Specifically that he was the first successful one that disappeared. I was confused, but not that confused. What did get me good was Yuma Kokohead...not...being...Yuma Kokohead...but rather number one. Oh dear. Cause I had originally suspected that the number one we saw on the screen in the office was the big bad or smth, I just knew there was something kinda off about him. I was barking up the wrong tree clearly. When I got to the part where the game finally revealed that homunculi have pink blood I had a realization and was very happy that this information was the confirmation I needed to know, MY CHILDREN WEREN'T DEAD. (Aka the other detectives for those who may not have seen my previous blab.) Then there was Makoto...hoo boy. Don't get me wrong, I like Makoto as a character, but I was a MIXED ass bag of emotions with him. Between first cussing him out wondering where the hell the others were, then changing to applauding him for his cleverness in using us to get rid of Yomi, then finally to; "Oh shit, I don't actually want to kill you anymore... uhhh-" Then the emergency exit coming out and Shinigami finally telling us what the price is for using it and... Oh dear I nearly started crying (and usually when it comes to emotional moments in fiction I am a stone wall.) We've been through so much shit with Shinigami, it HURT to have to go our separate ways from her, it just hurt! Finally I just wanted to touch on that EPILOUGE. I was SO happy to see all the other detectives (Sans Yakou, RIP.) at the office and getting ready to head out. Nearly had a panic when I couldn't locate Vivia, only for him to be hiding in a suitcase hoping someone would carry him. Kurumi going out to search for Number one and travel is kinda cute, I was also EXTREMELY relieved that the ramen shop owner was able to develop a ramen with all of the nutrients Homunculi need so they didn't have to eat the meatbuns anymore. Thank goodness TvT. ALRIGHTY. I DID mention I would list my favourite characters so HERE WE GO. (Keep in mind this is just MY opinion. I'll just do a top 5 list for the sake of length) 1. Vivia Twilight (Yakou WAS my favourite character at first, but then I got to know Vivia's character a bit better I couldn't help but love his lazy ass. Not to mention I found his forte SO cool!) 2. Yakou (I Miss My Wife Tails) Furio. (Ah yes, my favourite Hobo detective as I like to call him. I call him that because when he wears that big coat he kinda looks like a Hobo. Anyways, watching him try to be the voice of reason for the other detectives is just too entertaining to not like him.) 3. Fubuki Clockford. (She's so sweet, yet so forgetful. Tbh I find it cute. She's another one of the detectives whose forte I find really interesting. I will admit though, my first impression of her was; "Dumb, dumb as hell." but she's so cute. I just love her.) 4. Halara Nightmare (They're SO badass! Watching them kick around the Peacekeepers like it's nothing is always a good time! Also, we appreciate an Animal lover here, yes we DO! I love Halara's forte and using it during the Nail Man investigations was quite interesting. 5. Shinigami (Our adorable, lenient, troublesome, and mean companion! God I don't know how anyone can't like her? She's so amusing and has literally NO filter! Only reason she's lower on the list is because MY emotional attachment was more towards the other detectives.)

Whew! Okay I think I've rambled on this long enough, so this shall be the end of this ramble! Have a good day/night everyone!

[mostremote]

reflecting on 2023, thoughts for 2024, long personal post

How would I sum up 2023? Well, it's certainly been productive. Securing a permanent position at a university I adore is unreal, and I still subconsciously assume there's been a mistake and they'll fire me any day now. After what was essentially 7 years of precarity, having professional stability is absolutely wild. I love my job, I love my students, I love my colleagues, and it's insane to me that I seem to have actually "made it" professionally.

My second book is coming out with a Big Publisher and that's very nice too. I don't have much emotional attachment to that project, but it took a lot of work and I'm satisfied that it is reaching its appropriate conclusion. I will make, I am sure, zero money out of it, but that's academic publishing for you lol

I gave my first keynote paper at a (cute, small) conference, so that was also a milestone. I also organised a very successful conference in which like 1/4 of the speakers cited my work, which was absolutely surreal and made me want to disappear into the ground.

I made a huge amount of progress on my novel, it's pretty much finished, and my one real resolution for 2024 is to make a proper effort to get it published. I'll wait until my academic book is out to start that process, but that's the one resolution I'm setting for myself. I don't know if I'll have any luck (it's not exactly a book with mass appeal) but I want to at least give it a shot.

Healthwise, well. It's been a ride. A good ride, but a ride nonetheless. I switched medications for my chronic illness, coming off a really major one and getting onto a much milder one, as I've been basically asymptomatic. This is good news all round: I've adapted well to the new meds, and I don't have to deal with all the nasty side effects of the old meds (they fuck you up long term). The main problem I have now is that I can't drink much alcohol, but that's a small price to pay for good health.

But one side effect of the medication was weight gain. I gained around a stone after I'd been on it for a year but I figured that was just "not being in your early 20s anymore" weight gain. Turns out nope! I haven't weighed myself lately but I have visibly lost a lot of weight and it's a little disconcerting to be suddenly, well, very skinny again. I look much younger and smaller. It's not bad, it's just a stark difference to adjust to and not something I was expecting to happen in my 30s.

I've also adjusted my hormone regimen. I don't have any long term plans (i never do lol) but I've been enjoying playing more with feminine presentations. I'm just, comfortable with my body and happy with who I am. How about that!

Mental healthwise, hoo boy. Let's address my being cursed by an ancient amulet and becoming crushingly obsessed with the fictional villain of The Hunger Games. I haven't spoken about this on here but The Shivering Season is significantly informed by my own experiences with different forms of abuse and mental health problems, and I have been processing a lot while writing it. Sometimes I've had anxiety attacks while writing, which never happens to me! There was a point before Christmas I was having anxiety attacks at random everyday, just hanging out watching TV, because it seems I was bringing so much stuff to the surface. And I seem to have worked through some things, because the intrusive sexual abuse thoughts/fantasies I have experienced compulsively for, idk, 15+ years have gone. Completely gone. Really, really weird! I need to go back to therapy about this but I just don't know how to explain "I became obsessed with The Hunger Games and now I have 70% less trauma" in a normal way.

And I have been extremely manic these past 2 months. That is probably obvious from how I've been posting, but jesus christ. I wake up at 5am, I fall asleep at 11pm (and as someone who historically needs 8-9 hours every night, this is significant). I write thousands of words almost every day. I am generally inclined to periods of mania, but this is extremely intense and it has lasted since the start of November. I'm scared of crashing, both because this hyperproductivity is giving me a lot of positive brain chemicals and because I don't know what kind of person I'll be if it goes. Will the intrusive thoughts come back? I don't want them to! I've been very happy without them!!

And that's the conclusion, really: I've had a very happy year. I'm mistrustful of happiness, but I am still happy. I don't know what to expect of 2024, but I am optimistic, and content, and marvelling at in what a good place I'm in now compared to how I was.

Happy new year!

[good-bye-bear]

Okay, after a nights sleep I'm less mad about tumblr nuking my post before I could ever hit the post button.

The Ravening War

(Spoilers)

I think that Raphaniel and Karna dying to the Disposal, being the two that were more closely tied to the bulb and the hungry one, made their deaths at the hand of this third unimaginable force very poetic.

Karna and her extremely close ties to death via the rot and the hungry one; and Raphaniel being close to death via his visions and his vacant ramblings of calls to the singularity that was in his visions. To end up where they did, it was a story of futility. That no matter how well you did or how well you prepared, sometimes it's just not enough and never would have been.

Then there's Deli, hoo boy. I loved the theme of helplessness with him. Such a huge force to be reckoned with on a physical scale but finding himself in a place where things are so much more complicated. To spend most of his life just doing what he thought he needed and to find out that none of it has ever really worked for him. It's a return to the theme of futility, and when he finally comes to terms with that he decides to not be a part of it. I think in the end, while under the guise of trying to save his only 2 other friends, Deli wanted to die. So when it was time to go back to this life that he finally was able to see through, he couldn't do it. So he walked into the north and became an outlander.

Without Lou's input we can never know. but to me it felt like Deli was upset that he lived when 2 of his friends did not and that, alongside his realization of his willingness and enthusiasm to be a pawn, made him wish he died in that tunnel. That his friends would have lived.

Amangeaux seemed like she just wanted to be vindicated in any and everything to me, and she would mimic those around her to do it. She attempted to become a political authority, to become queen, because that's who was around her and it was the life she knew. When she found that she was maybe not as battle hardened as the others, she sought to become like them. Training to become stronger. Even at the very end, she seemed to only follow and mimic those around her. Where in she kept trying to reach out, to the mycelium, for answers instead of just making decisions.

I feel like it shows her lack of control and influence. She started this game as probably the most powerful person in the world of Calorum (As Queen) and to see that she never really knew how to wield it or use it. She lost in her identity from the very beginning and it shows in her epilogue where she choses to become spymaster to Uvano because she doesn't know what else to do. So she latches onto someone else to keep herself going.

Maybe there's a metaphor for co-dependency there too but I feel the helplessness and loss or lack of identity is the big play.

Then there is Provolone. The man who seemed to just be along for the ride. He did not come from nobility or power, he did not seek fame or fortune, he never wished to deal in fate and prophecy. Yet he was found to be right in the middle of it all and to be the one that struck down the avatar was beautiful.

All he ever wanted to do was just get by. He was happy just selling his sword and doing whatever he felt was right in the moment. He never played games with the powers that be because he did not want to tempt anything bad. He always seemed to let the things around him bend and shape him but never change him.

But in those final moments, because he did not try to play at some grand design or try to tempt fate or forge his name into the history books, it seems that fate had chosen him to be the one to end the Disposal.

~~~~~

This is all speculation based on my interpretations of the characters and what I watched. I can be wrong, and in fact maybe am completely wrong, but this is what I took away.

It was an amazing game and it was a beautiful love note to the world of Calorum. Even though I'm not a huge fan of Mercer's DM style, I think he did great here. Maybe he didn't go into as much depth with things as Brennan might but he still did well.

I can't wait to see more crossovers and hopefully more guests dancing through the dome.

~~~~~

Another aside, or P.S.S. or whatever.

Raphaniel was my clear favorite, if only because Brennan with his wide knowledge of the word was able to create just the most unhinged holy many ever. And to be honest I love that.

But Karna get's an extremely close 2nd place. She was just a girl trying to make it in a world that was maybe just a little too big for grand plans she had in mind. But that never stopped her from trying. Also Aabria just makes amazing characters all the time.

[justmybookthots]

Chess & Mate

Okay, first of all: This isn't a bad book. I want to preface my review with that, even if 'bad' is a nebulous term. I want to make it clear that at this point, I'm absolving Ali Hazelwood of her sins with Love Hypothesis. While I hated Adam, I loved Jack from Love Theoretically, and I do like Sawyer… to a degree. I think her heroes have evolved slightly since Adam, and now they're kind of at a very acceptable Jack-Sawyer stage.

I'll elaborate on the hero part in a bit. But for now, I also want to make it clear that while I don't love this book anywhere as much as I loved Love Theoretically, I can see a lot of people loving this, and I understand. It really all boils down to personal preference. (Though that… pretty much sums up any kind of book review, so you can ignore this statement, really. But I guess what I'm trying to say is: Love Hypothesis pissed me the fuck off. Its issues were egregious to me. Chess & Mate got on my nerves a bit, but I recognise it was just due to my own weird preferences as a reader.) 

Anyway. Spoilers ahead.

Things I liked:

Sawyer. He's very similar to Jack and if that's the kind of hero Ali likes, I ain't complaining. He knows what he wants; he's mostly straightforward with his feelings and is unabashed about them. Neither is he growly or saying "babe" and all that cringe stuff. He's just… calm, same as Jack. It's very attractive. And ALSO. He is a virgin. I so, so love that? Too bad this was YA so the sex scenes were closed-door, because I felt that would have been a fun dynamic to explore in an adult book. 

I like that for once, Mallory (the heroine) is the one who sleeps around. It's all very sex-positive and I support that immensely. Also her being bi? I 100% am for it. 

I really liked Oz, for most of the book. And Dfne? I think that's how you spell her name. [But I may be wrong and I'm too lazy to check.]

I think all the loose ends were tied up rather conclusively, re: Eaton and Mallory's family.

Now…. The things I did not like. Hoo-boy.

I'm not into the Mary Sue scene. This is my biggest, biggest gripe for this book. Mallory being this good was not to my liking. She was just winning match after match even though she hadn't played in years. She felt unbeatable, and it took a lot of narrative tension out of the story for me. At some point, I was just like: Okay, I get it. You're the best. And Sawyer is also the best. You are both the best, and you two can sit above the plebs in your couple-y thrones. Reading this book felt like I was reading a power fantasy between two people, and while I get that being everyone's cup of tea, it wasn't mine. At some point, it felt like Sawyer was only ever interested in her because she could play as well as (or better than) he did. 

I wished Sawyer hadn't been interested in her from the start. It would have been fun to really lean into the 'enemies' angle for a bit and have her slowly climb her way up to face off against him later. But then again, that's asking for a major rewrite, and that's a whole can of worms I'd rather not open.

But speaking of interest, I was conflicted on the insta-love on Sawyer's part. Him showing up at her house early on in the book and eating dinner with her family was really abrupt and it took me aback. They went from almost no interaction save for her beating him at the first match and the encounter at the pool to… this? Or maybe there were more encounters that I can't recall off the top of my head now, but it just felt too soon for me.

Oh gosh. Her family. Her mom was fine, but her sisters, especially Sabrina? I was being driven nuts. When Sabrina called Mallory egotistical, I was like: wtf? Mallory was practically slaving her ass off to support her family and she made so many sacrifices for them. I get that that was the point—Mallory was clinging to martyrdom and refusing to let herself need them and it upset them. But being antagonistic to Mallory was NOT the answer. Her martyrdom stemmed from a place of self-loathing and trauma. I hated how everyone at the end of the book was yelling at Mallory to get her head out of her ass. Maybe this wake-up call works in books/fiction, or maybe it works for some people, but it's not ideal. It's callous and cruel. I approved only of how Mallory's mother handled it: she very calmly talked things out with her. 

Mallory had EVERY right to be angry with Sawyer. I hated how everyone, including Eaton, fed this narrative that Mallory was completely in the wrong for her blow-up at him and how everything he did was right for her. If a man I was developing a romantic relationship with was paying for my fellowship/my fucking SALARY all along and omitted telling me (don't give me the bullshit about "you could have just asked"—omission is still lying), I would be furious. This is crucial information that should have been voluntarily shared sooner. Even if he came from a good place, it doesn't make it okay to hide this imbalance of power from me.

I also want to say that the bad guys are cartoonishly bad. Like you know right away who the 'villain' of the book was going to be, and it felt rather juvenile how unapologetically dickish he was. There wasn't a lot of nuance to it, but eh. Whatever.

The PDA between Sawyer and Mallory (her sitting between his thighs and him… biting her earlobe? I… Okay) while they played chess with his friends was… not for me. I had the same complaint with a hauntingly similar scene in Love Theoretically. I get it: this type of thing is just not my cuppa, but Ali loves it.

All in all, while it sounds like I'm complaining a lot, I don't hate this book. I just don't really love it. Or… like it very, very much. But it had its cute moments, so it's, well, not that bad? I think?

- 13 Nov 2023

[characteroulette]

A study on prosecutors -- (previous) (next)

Nahyuta Sahdmadhi. Hoo boy.

You want a hard sell? THIS guy is a hard sell. A pretty boy who continuously forces his own views onto us for a pretty unfunny bit. Someone whom we don't even really see the true face of until the very end of the game. And yet I found myself liking him anyway.

Again, sorry if I get any of the events of Spirit of Justice wrong here. I played it through once and am waiting to do so again, so some of the details are less clear to me than the other games in this series.

That being said, I do remember we get a pretty standard buildup to Nahyuta's presence. Ema mentions him being actually reasonable, that she's gonna do her best to try and talk him out of the worst for Trucy. (Also Trucy is on trial here. This is definitely not gonna haunt Nahyuta later for spoiler reasons.) Apollo has an odd hitch, too, but he's back to refusing to say anything about himself so we're left to wonder until the end of that first investigation day.

...is what I WOULD say, if there wasn't a one-time opening cutscene introducing Nahyuta to us in a really confusing way. See, Spirit of Justice is unlike any other Ace Attorney game because it has a special cutscene it plays when you boot up the game for the first time. This cutscene is kept in the extras content, so you can view it later, but it literally only naturally plays when you boot the game for the first time. Wild decision. In this cutscene we get a nice little view on where Phoenix and his lawyer kids are now, including a mention of Maya being off in some other country. She calls Phoenix up and then the restaurant she's in gets attacked and who else saves her but one Nahyuta Sahdmadhi?

This cutscene is bonkers for several reasons. For one, I was thrown off completely when the first case begins proper and Phoenix is so chill. Like, didn't we just see you rush off because Maya was in danger? Is that no longer an issue?? For two, I legit thought there would be some building romance between Maya and Nahyuta because of that cutscene. He saves her and her expression is pretty anime language of being hit by the shoujo sparkles is all I'm saying. But nope! I was wrong on all accounts!! This is probably from some of the early promo material for the game, if I had to guess. I don't know why it's here or implemented into the game as it is, it's very confusing tonal whiplash for everything that follows.

But anyway. Back to the actual narrative of the game. The first proper look we get of Nahyuta is him sitting beneath a tree and surrounded by animals like a real Disney princess as Ema approaches to talk to him about the situation. He seems to recognise Apollo's name, just as Apollo recognises him. He also calls a butterfly a restless wandering spirit which is a good setup to his whole thing, at least, but it did make me think he had more to do with butterflies than he really did. Just like another well-known Ace Attorney villain. (I was wrong but uh maybe be careful there what sort of image you want to build with symbols all ready in play.) (Unrelated side note, shoutout to Apollo sticking his hand into a dude's back pocket in this case. Apollo the only attorney who gets to grab ass and he's arguably the least interested in it, I love it what an insane detail to just throw in there.)

Then the trial begins and what a disaster that is.

Nahyuta's running gag, as we learn, is assigning us increasingly ridiculous levels of hell. He also throws around his prayer beads to restrict our big gestures, but I take less umbridge with that one. His soft-spoken, calm and collected front is interesting, but he falls apart pretty quickly as the trial goes on. I'd say he falls apart as fast as Franziska does, and this owing to Spirit of Justice's strange structure of one day trials only. We have to get his intro in and his breakdown as we prove him wrong all in a single trial day. A tall feat, but not one wholly unfamiliar to this series.

I appreciate though that he does seem to genuinely hold a deep respect for Ema and what she does, going so far as to even request she accompany him back to his home. That's really sweet, a small insight into his less cold nature.

Unfortunately, I can't say much for any intrigue they wanted to build between Nahyuta and Apollo, as they have Apollo act in his pretty standard way during this trial. They could have built up more to the strange connection Apollo and Nahyuta share instead of just dropping it on us at the end of the trial! But I have issues with the implementation of every idea in this trial in general so I can't really hold that against Nahyuta in particular. He certainly does his job of making us want to defeat him right out the gate! They did that real well, so points there.

Ah, right. That ending of the trial scene. We win the case and Trucy's innocence, and then Nahyuta comes to spirit Ema away. Apollo's language towards him, specifically his "you've really changed", was a bad choice. I'll say it. It calls to mind the same way Phoenix and Edgeworth reacted to one another all the way back in the first Ace Attorney game, which is *most definitely* **NOT** the vibe they wanted to go for. Because it had me (and my sister) both asking ourselves, wait. Is this guy Apollo's ex-boyfriend or something?? Like, I get they wanted to show that he and Apollo have some kind of history together. And it's even a fun little nod towards what happened with Phoenix! But these are the absolutely wrong vibes to set up hi yes I hate this. To be fair, this could just be me reading too far into things. I am, after all, too invested in these silly little lawyer games. But I stand by my literary analysis brain getting thrown for a loop because hey why did you use the Narumitsu language for Apollo and Nahyuta brothers?? It's weird, please tell me it's very weird.

Either way, we head on into case 3 and start really rolling into Nahyuta's long week of no sleep.

First off, it's great to see Maya again, even if we have to defend her once more. Nahyuta being her prosecutor makes sense, since he's our main one of the game, and it only furthers our dislike of him for threatening to convict yet another of our best girls. First Trucy, now Maya?? They really did a good job on the front of making us want to defeat him right out the gate. And they have the gall to allow him to basically win on that first day, too! If not for Maya being accused of a second murder, she would have been sent to jail after that first trial day. We lost. Nahyuta beat us into a corner we couldn't fight our way out of. Strike three, you're out.

But we do manage to defeat him the second time around. We prove Maya's innocence on both accounts and it's not even satisfying to rub it into his face. Granted, the end of THIS trial is uh. Distracted, what with Dhurke showing up out of the blue, but you get what I mean. We don't really get a moment of relief, a moment to consider hey what the hell is up with this guy?

He doesn't really get a chance to relax, either, as he heads straight back across the sea in order to start case 4.

Now, however, we get to the good stuff. Nahyuta is dead tired by this point, he hasn't slept in like two days, and it's immediately apparent. He's so goofy in this trial! He's goofy and cranky and he pushes Athena into a near panic attack (boo on him, what a bastard move) and he's actually starting to be kinda a fun opponent. At least, I thought so. He's still his mostly calm and collected self, but his being so refreshingly goofy adds a great layer to his character, even if it's borne from how exhausted he has to be.

This case isn't really about him, though. It's about Athena and Blackquill being fun siblings. That they made him a mostly fun addition though is great, it went a long way towards endearing me to this otherwise infuriating priest.

When we roll into the final case, another shocker: Nahyuta isn't our opponent for the first trial. It's Phoenix. Nahyuta doesn't even appear until we have to book it back to Khura'in, and that's when his character really starts breaking through.

I will never forget this moment he and Apollo have against one another where Apollo accuses him of lying, knows he's hiding something, and Nahyuta throws all of his anxiety on at full force. This guy just weaponises his anxiety against us to shut down this line of questioning! Iconic, really. His avoidance of telling the truth is both really sad and really good.

He's not even our opponent in this last trial, either. It's Ga'ran. Nahyuta gets to act her supporter for a bit until she tells him to confess for all the crimes she's committed. The wide swing his role has taken works really well, I think, because even if I wasn't 100% sold on him yet, I didn't want him to continue suffering, either. His relationship with both Apollo and Dhurke ended up so complicated and got me invested, damn it! I couldn't just let Ga'ran get away with taking his chance to reconnect with his brother away from him!

(Spirit of Justice's finale is excellent, I cannot stress this enough. It has so much going for it and Apollo is squarely at its core and I really love it a lot.)

Once we convince Nahyuta to fight back, once we reveal the whole truth, seeing him stand up is excellent. The way he throws his glove off to reveal his dragon brand, his dragon heart, it's so good. I was finally sold on him right here as he made the same declaration as the rest of the dragons. His reveal as Rayfa's older brother certainly sweetened the deal, though the two have a long ways to go before they reach a comfortable understanding with one another.

Anyway Nahyuta took a while to get to me but gosh darn it he sure did. I hope you can understand my perspective on what made him such a hard sell at first.

[gumballavocadoharry]

A dialogue of Roger needing his diaper changed and running around the house while Jack chased him?

"Roger come here!" The little 1 year old was darting around the house with a soggy diaper and screeching giggles. The sight was adorable for Jack, but his alert mecca was zeroed in on Roger.

"Baby boy, Daddy needs to change you. I promise afterwards, we can play okay?" But Roger still ran, squealing gleefully thinking his father could never catch up to him. Jack knew Roger hated diaper changes, but what else was he to do if Roger couldn't go potty yet like a big boy? Jack outwitted Roger, by faking his defeat. "Oh, boo-hoo, I can't catch my little baby....all I wanted was to make sure he was nice and clean so he would be happy, boo-hoo." He faked cried and made a fake pouty baby like voice.

Roger came closer; pondering the reason for his daddy's 'tears'. Like a gingerbread boy who steps closer to the conniving fox who licks his lips subtly, planning a nefarious attempt to gobble the cookie whole that led the boy to his morose demise. "Gotcha!" And with a quick swipe, a wailing Roger was tucked tightly in Jack's arms. "Oh, don't cry baby...." He pecked his face with kisses, "I'll be quick, I promise." He donned in a babyish voice.

Jack gently laid Roger on the changing table in his nursery and strapped into it. The father soothed his baby boy with raspberries to his tummy and kisses on his feet. "Daddy's gonna take the diapie off now pookie," He said babyishly. "Oooh, look who's becoming so big? Now, no squirties like the last time."

Roger grew a puckish smirk. He knew that "last time" was no accident. In between the touch of the cold wet baby wipes, Jack would smother Roger's chunky cheeks with pity kisses. "Mm, mm, mm, mmmuah! That's my little teddy bear. Does my cuddle bug want powder?" Jack sprinkled on some diaper powder along with a thick layer of diaper paste for extra protection.

Roger gave a low grumble, "Oh Rogie, I don't want you getting a diaper rash! It protects you from any nasty little germs that could make you sick. Plus....your little bottom looks like a little cotton ball," Jack joked with a baby tune.

"Wah!" "Okay, okay, I am milking it aren't I?"

Jack sealed up Roger's fresh diaper before unstrapping him and hugging him like a little child hugging their toy. "There, all clean." He kissed Roger's nose and hugged him some more. Jack didn't ever wanna let go.