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chibivesicle · 3 years

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Golden Kamuy chapters 269-270. The cliff notes meta edition.

This will be a less detailed meta as I’ve just been spread too thin recently and the current events of the manga have been underwhelming to me, making it harder to engage with the content.

Having an online presence has been a double-edged sword for me and as we mark 1 year of pandemic life, it is hard for me to invest as much time in it since I have to do so many more things online for work. Sitting down to write meta isn’t as fun and relaxing as it once was when you have 7 zoom meetings over the course of several days. Add on the fact that I have not left the county were I live since February 2020 nor I have a seen any of my family or friends . . . yeah writing meta isn’t a much of a priority. As an aside, I think more people need to be stating that being ‘productive’ and ‘leveling up’ during these times is either unrealistic and even more damaging by creating completely unrealistic expectations of how we should respond to things.

[steps off of soapbox]

Chapter 269, quickly shows us how the chaos that Tsurumi unleashed on the divided Ainu resulted in a tragedy and Wilk is the only one who managed to survive the massacre.

Tsurumi is able to sort out that there were eight Ainu, and that Wilk staged his own death by working quickly to conceal the identity of the dead partially by removing the eyes.

Kikuta is the first one to find the man who dies soon after discovery and Tsurumi seems to be in awe of Wilk’s escape plan.

KIkuta also shows he’s a more empathetic individual worried about how they contributed to the death of Ariko’s father. Did Tsurumi push Kikuta away after the war since he knew Kikuta would feel bad about doing the ‘things’ needed to be done for the gold?

It further highlights that Usami and Kikuta were never on the same page. I do like how the following page shows both Kikuta and Ariko continuing to tie the narrative that Kikuta feels a connection with the younger man. Shiraishi and Sugimoto spot Ariko, calling him Ariko Ipopte, which is an interesting choice to use a hybrid name for him. Kikuta uses his full Japanese name, while these men use a mix.

The final panel showing a reflective looking Kikuta walking alone in the rain really emotional connects with the grief surrounding all of this unnecessary death. Tsurumi sought to be a leader of men by giving them love and being the stand in father for them. I think that Kikuta is the character who is the natural and honest father figure - we know he has a deep relationship with Ariko and we also know he has some sort of connection to Sugimoto.

Tsurumi continues his ‘discussion’ of events with Asirpa and Sofia. Tsurumi has such a complicated relationship with Wilk. He’s both in awe of the man’s determination to survive but at the same time he wanted him destroyed at such a great cost.

Tsurumi really lays on the guilt to Asirpa that Wilk did everything to protect her - under the assumption that she’d be unfairly treated if her father had killed all of those men. Perhaps that is the case, perhaps not. It seems contradictory to his own actions where he gave Ogin and the Lighting Bandit’s child to Huci to care for it. He has this weird approach to the impact of the ‘sins of the parents’ on the child . . .

Tsurumi doggedly pursues Wilk and they immediately recognize each other and he flees onto the lake with his canoe. By shooting at Wilk, he forces him to capsize the canoe and items sink down into the lake. Honestly, I’m not sure what Tsurumi was hoping to achieve by this - make him swim so that he could capture him more easily. We don’t know how skilled Tsurumi is with a rifle and I’d be more concerned about killing Wilk and loosing the information. It seems reckless in my opinion since the ultimate outcome was Wilk appealing to Inudou thus achieving protection from the 7th.

I think Tsurumi was fueled and blinded by his emotions which only made things more complicated and drew the hunt for the gold out even longer (to the present time).

The rest of the chapter explains how Kiro felt. First, the grief at the loss of Wilk, trying to move on my having a family, but ultimately coming back to realize that Wilk was still alive after the war. Really, Wilk underestimated Kiro’s intelligence since he figured out that Kimuspu was the seventh man, not Wilk. As a Kiro fan, I of course favor him, but he really showed he’s a good leader and actually willing to take risks. What is most important is that having a family only lead him to want to fight for them - even more.

Kiro sees the flaw in Wilk’s plan of Hokkaido as an independent unit as a place for various native peoples, while ignoring all of the logistical issues that Kiro already pointed out to him previously. The Far Eastern Federation has the flaw that it is connected by land to Russia, but would me much harder to lay siege to. But Hokkaido as an island could easily be cut off - and with not much industry within itself, you still can’t do a whole lot with all of those raw materials if you can get industrial technologies from elsewhere. If it were blockaded they’d be screwed. Sure, you wouldn’t starve, but you wouldn’t be able to advance quickly. All that gold and nowhere to spend it.

Thus, Kiro believed he was acting in regard to their original goals and had no choice but to remove Wilk from the equation. As Wilk had become the very wolf that he had observed as a child and played with its pelt. That is some next level foreshadowing by Noda, if I do say so.

In the end, Kiro remained much more committed to their fight as partisans than Wilk did. You have to give it to him, he stuck to his original plans and he died believing he did the right thing. Now, looking back at how upset Sofia was when she first saw Kiro, we know why she slapped him in the first place. I’ll take it to mean that she was upset by Kiro’s actions but at the same time understood what he did. But then Sofia let it go, as she would soon go on to also speak fondly of Wilk and his desire to be like the wolves. Therefore, I don’t think Sofia was completely angry with Kiro, instead she knew the decision that was made and perhaps, she too, would have understood that there were divided in their goals once they moved on with their lives.

The next chapter starts off with the bottle mobile boys and Ariko on horseback as they determine what to do next. Sugimoto is amazingly still not rushing in like a maniac which is out of character for him. Are you okay Sugimoto? Or have your encounters with Kikuta and Boutarou begun to have an impact on you without being aware of it?

The settle on letting Ariko go ahead, even though he doesn’t answer their question. I’d say he doesn’t have a clue what side he is on. He likely cares about Kikuta. But he wants to see Asirpa succeed since he feels ashamed by his own approach towards life in Hokkaido as an Ainu.

Off he goes alone to figure out how to rescue Asirpa. Really, a terrible idea since sure he’s a tough guy, but we don’t know what his fighting skills are like in the first place. . . . At least he isn’t a hothead, so sending him in alone will be less of a disaster than Sugimoto.

The action returns to Tsurumi trying to turn up the heat on Asirpa. She asks him about Kiro’s fingerprints at the crime scene - a lie that Tsurumi fed to Inkarmat to get her to help him. He writes it off as him doing a good thing for her - she closed a chapter of her life - then again - he doesn’t know that Koito let Tanigaki and Inkarmat escape. The next several pages are a slow psychological technique that builds up to Tsurumi reveling that the bullet that killed Fina and Olga had been from Wilk’s pistol. Dum da duuum!

So, according to Tsurumi it is Wilk’s fault all those Ainu died. That he should have never left Russia for Japan. That even his time in Russia resulted in Fina and Olga’s deaths. Everything is Wilk’s fault!

This page ends with how Tsukishima let go of the woman he had loved and his memory of her - yet Tsurumi kept the bullet and the finger bones of his family! We can see that Tsukishima is barely holding it together, so upset by this knowledge!

As a master manipulator of people, Tsurumi thanks Sofia for what she has contributed to the story - he can help her feel better by telling her that she did not kill his wife and child. . . . on no, he only uses it as a way to add even more pressure on Asirpa!

To Tsurumi, Asirpa is no child, she is the direct tie to all of his anger and pain and his twisted soul.

I mean, he kept Wilk’s skinned face and he’s using it to get her to break! What is more interesting is after the initial shock, Sofia quickly regains her calm while Asirpa - well she’s clearly buying into Tsurumi’s explanation of things.

She is thinking about how her father ‘turned’ Tsurumi into the person he is before her . . . . I’d be willing to say that Wilk influenced Tsurumi - as much as Tsurumi influenced Wilk. Yet, Tsurumi as a human being is responsible for his decisions and he alone can respond to them in a constructive or destructive way. It is clear Tsurumi went for the latter.

Sofia’s calm in this pressure situation is clear as she asks him if it was for revenge. She’s a smart woman and has lived long enough to see these types of things through.

Tsukishima is ready to kill Tsurumi - it would make him a hypocritical leader - having him let go of his own earthly attachments only to serve a man bent on revenge. Koito is listening closely as well, unsure of how he’s going to respond.

Tsurumi makes it clear he could have killed Asirpa any number of times. I think this is another case of Tsurumi playing a verbal slight of hand. He’s asked if he’s doing this out of revenge, and his answer is - I haven’t killed her yet. Gee, based on how messed up you are Tsurumi, we both know that there is more than one way to take revenge. Killing someone in retribution is one way to take revenge or the worse way - make their life a living hell. It is clear that Tsurumi is going for the second one to break Asirpa.

There is a dramatic two page spread as he explains that he is doing this for Japan - and the implied increasing militaristic activities of the late Meiji government to expand their domain.

If feels - like a performance to me as a reader. The pages are remarkably light in tone giving it an optimistic and feeling of purity. Yet, Tsurumi is a broken and corrupt man . . . cruel in his intentions. He only says this as a way to combat anyone who were to contradict him . . . .

It is too perfect - too convenient - too good for Koito and Tsukishima to believe in my own opinion. As both of the men seem relived to have heard these very words as a type of closing statement.

Tsukishima looks relived that Tsurumi is continuing on the behalf of all of their fallen comrades and families. Again, this sounds too perfect like Tsurumi’s speech isn’t for Asirpa nor Sofia, it is for Koito and Tsukishima who are eavesdropping. Since Tsurumi is a next level planner/manipulator he likely came up with this well rehearsed speech to placate all issues around his inability to move on from his family’s death. It makes him look mature and that he’d moved on from his more basic human needs.

Koito looks like he’s trying really hard to believe Tsurumi and how Tsurumi’s words would comfort Tsukishima. But is that how you really feel Koito? That face looks - so - fake. Like Koito is overdoing it again and is actually unsure how to react. So, he he looks elated, Tsukishima will feel better - or something.

What I really want to know is why they are just there hiding and watching Tsurumi? If they are wanting to think independently and beyond Tsurumi why do it while hiding? It seems no matter what either man may think, they are still under Tsurumi’s thumb as far as how they react to his behavior and the current events.

And I’m gonna have to hold things here while I find a way to read the more recent chapters with non-shady software to decompress the files since I’ve been using Mangadex the entire time I’ve been reading GK (in addition to the english versions of previous chapters).

#golden kamuy #golden kamuy meta #asirpa #tsukishima hajime #koito otonoshin #kiroranke #tsurumi tokushirou #sofia #wilk #sugimoto saichi #Shiraishi Yoshitake #warrant officer kikuta #ariko rikimatsu

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junionigiri · 5 years

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Prompt: KiriMina; Kirishima listening to Mina's heart beating faster and faster

{Hey anon! Sorry this is a week late, I hope you like this! :) this is based on the new tidbit of info in the character book, where Mina admits that she’s never been in-love before.}

One afternoon--a normal day in the gym when the sun sets over a pink, flushed sky--Ashido idly tells him, “You know, Kiri, I’ve never been in-love before.”

Kirishima thinks he was paying close attention to what she’s been saying the entire time, but in an instant, he’s lost. Whatever it was they were talking about flies out the window, leaving nothing but the crystal clear timber of her voice over the noise in his head at the mention of love.

She chides him for not paying attention, followed by a jab at his side with a sharp finger. “Mt. Lady and Kamui? Living under one roof? There’s obviously something going on between them, duh!”

Kirishima tries his best to follow her train of thought. It’s tough sometimes because Ashido tends to go off the rails when she gossips, and his attention span can only manage so much.

“So what I’m saying is, I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”

“Living with guys in the same house? We’ve been doing that for a while now in the dorms.”

“No, it’s different when grown-ups do it,” she insists, dark eyes glistening with a shade of intrigue. “There’s usually sex and drama and messy feelings involved. At least, that’s what it’s like when they talk about it in manga.”

The type of manga he reads definitely doesn’t have those. He sticks to action--willful protagonists, simple plots, flashy fight scenes. He wouldn’t know about love in manga, about what Ashido thinks love might be.

That’s not to say that he knows completely nothing about it, though. But maybe he should keep that part of the discussion to himself.

“Maybe it’s different in real life,” he supplies helpfully.

She shrugs. “Uh-huh. So I’m saying, I wouldn’t know, because I’ve never experienced that before. Well--obviously the sex part, never. But the messy feelings part? Also never.”

She doesn’t flinch or blush even once during this discussion. Kirishima wonders if he can ever be that bold. He also wonders if Ashido will tease him about how hot his face suddenly becomes at the mention of se… um, the intimate parts. Gosh, he’s not ready for this kind of talk.

Trying to keep it cool, he focuses on the beams of the ceiling instead. “So... you actually want the messy feelings part?”

Ashido makes a weird, high pitched noise--bored, wistful, curious at the same time. Flopping on the mats next to him, she keeps her eyes transfixed on the ceiling too, as if looking for whatever it is that caught his attention. “Dunno? But doesn’t it make you curious to know what it feels like, being in-love? I bet it feels crazy. Ochako-chan won’t tell me anything about it, even though she’s obviously in the messy feelings part…”

Kirishima laughs. “Uraraka probably doesn’t know what she’s feeling either. It isn’t easy feeling things like that.”

He probably makes a mistake because Ashido suddenly stares at him with suspicious, narrow eyes.

“... I guess.”

“You guess.”

“Uh-huh.”

She shifts closer to him. The tang of the acid on her skin tickles his nostrils, the curiosity even more so. “So--you’re talking an awful lot like someone who knows what it’s like.”

She doesn’t need to be that close. He tries to keep it cool again when he says, “Knows what what’s like?”

“Don’t play dumb.” Ashido huffs in disdain. “Kiri, have you been holding back on me? Keeping secrets, telling lies? I thought I was your horn buddy. I thought I was your girl.”

She means it in an entirely platonic way, of course. She and him are friends and always just friends. Kirishima’s stupid heart shouldn’t be beating as fast as this. And he shouldn’t be stammering when he answers, “I’ve never lied to you, Ashido! That’s just not manly. I’m just saying, messy feelings are messy and it’s probably hard to let anyone know how it’s like by just telling.”

“Probably,” she repeats, with a stubborn pout.

“Yeah,” he pauses, then adds, “Hypothetically.”

He isn’t one for big words, but he’s really desperate in this situation. Ashido has that look in her eyes that she isn’t going to let him go without a satisfactory answer. He’s already worried about how long this back and forth is going to take, and if he’s going to get out of this one unscathed.

“So, hypothetically,” she says, pretending not to care at all, “Just hypothetically, Kiri. When do the hypothetical feelings start to happen?”

Ashido is the worst person to let things slip. It doesn’t matter how much he backs away or avoids her gaze, she’s on him like a demanding cat. “W… well.” If only he was really good at lies. “Hypothetically speaking, anyone can get their first crush in middle school.”

“See now that wasn’t so hard was it.” A little devilish smirk on her lips. Irresistible, really. “Go on.”

Kirishima exhales noisily. “Uh… yeah. I’m just guessing that a middle school guy (or girl) can get a crush on a middle school classmate who’s… who’s cool? Cheerful? Strong?”

“Manly?” Ashido adds with a smirk.

“Yeah, exactly,” Kirishima says with a laugh. “Also, smart, in their own way.”

The girl wrinkles her nose at that. “Eh. Brains are overrated,” she decides. “So tell me more. How does it feel like having a crush?”

“W… well… I wouldn’t--”

“We’re still doing the hypothetical thing, Kiri. Chillax.”

“Why am I the one who--”

“You started it.”

He didn’t. From the very beginning, it was Ashido who started it. Who started everything in him. He takes a deep breath.

“Okay. So… I’m guessing that it feels crazy, right. Like… you meet this girl (or guy)... she’s just there where you happen to be. She’s got okay grades, an okay quirk, and okay figure, she’s cute but like, everyone is cute so it didn’t matter if you guys are existing in the same space before. She probably thinks the same thing about you, and you’re lucky if she does. She might not think you exist at all.”

Ashido stares at him with a focus that he’s never seen before. So she can listen to someone talk for so long if she put her heart into it. “Okay, I can imagine that. Then what?”

“Then… something happens--” he voice catches remembering the giant man from years ago, threatening all those people downtown, “--and suddenly they’re not just someone who happens to be there. Suddenly they’re special. Suddenly being in that same space with them feels different.”

“Different how?”

Kirishima sighs. He wonders if he should tell her the terrible feelings that kept him up at night. The inferiority and self-doubt. The fear. The loneliness. The illogical urge to color his hair red.

“Wouldn’t know,” he says with an awkward laugh. “Maybe something like…”

Like he wants to be just like her, and it’s awful that he isn’t.

Like he wants to be with her, and it’s painful that he isn’t.

Ashido stares at him as he struggles with his words. “Kiri… if it’s so hard to describe, just show me.”

He stops. “... show you?”

He isn’t feeling very intelligent when she nods with that mysterious glisten in her eyes. “Yep. Show me how it feels like to love someone. If anyone can show me, I’m pretty sure you can do it Kiri.”

She says it like how she asked him to nab some of Bakugou’s chili from the fridge just last week. Like she isn’t making his entire world spin right now. It’s so ridiculous that he laughs. “Why would you think that?”

She shrugs. “You get me, I get you. Most of the time. If it’s you, I’m sure I’ll understand.”

She smiles at him then--a big one, all teeth and gums and creased eyes, pink skin. Silly and lighthearted. Similar to the smile that gave him hope that things will be better one day--that he’ll be a better, manlier guy and that she’ll be watching him get there.

Damn it. He really likes her.

So he fumbles a bit trying to show her. Tries hard not to think about it, but ends up thinking too hard about it the last moment and then forcefully shutting his mind off. “Okay. Close your eyes.”

Without hesitating, she does just that. And without hesitating (too much), he takes one of her hands, with its slight burn of acid lingering over his skin, and places it over the left side of his chest.

His heart, despite knowing what’s about to happen, immediately starts stuttering in his chest.

Ashido gasps. “Kiri… it’s fast,” she says in wonder.

Of course it’s going to be fast, he wants to say, but suddenly her eyes are open and looking straight at him.

“Is this how it really feels like?” she asks. Her eyes shifting, and suddenly--

--suddenly, suddenly, they’re not just someone who happens to be there--

“Yes. That’s how it feels to be with you.”

And he hates that he just lets things slip in front of Ashido. He is as terrible a liar as his heart, but he can’t change the way he is.

But then Ashido quietly reaches for his other hand. Time slows into an anxious pace when her eyes flutter. He wonders if she’s going to throw him away.

Without hesitating, she places his hand over her chest. Under his palm he feels the evidence of her existence next to him, beating faster and faster and faster. Warm blood gushes through her veins and into the skin of her cheeks, turning them into a cute shade of pink he’s never seen on her before.

Her breathless laughter sounds like music to his ears. “It feels pretty nice.”

He smiles. “Yes, I think that’s one way to put it.”

Their hearts, cheerfully aware of each other’s existence, continue to beat along with time.

#prompts #kirishima eijirou #ashido mina #kirimina #my fics #anon #i hope you like this!

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therealeagal · 6 years

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Boruto - episode 64

We're back in action, kids.

The episode begins with Mitsuki in the hospital. My boy got wrecked by one of them Otsutsuki plebs.

He tries to get out of bed but falls flat on his face.

Then Sarada shows up for some exposition.

Naruto got kidnapped by the bad guys and the Sauce and the other Kages went to rescue him for no explicable reason. Anyway, Boruto went with them, again for no reason. Should just let Naruto bite the big one, but oh well.

Then Sarada's like "he'll come home safely, right?" and Mistuki's like "Of course, Boruto is my sun".

Then Sarada leaves and Mitsuki's like "Boruto, you are amazing."

Then opening theme.

Cut to the place where Momoshiki is holding Naruto captive.

Momoshiki monologues a bit about his evil plan and Naruto's like "We ninja are different from you. Our powers took time and hard work to acquire." even though almost every single power Naruto possesses was handed to him on a silver platter and he didn't have to work for it at all. Literally the only thing he worked to accomplish is the Rasengan. Even when his life is on the line Naruto won't stop lying.

Then more villain monologuing and Naruto, like the asshole that he is, somehow concludes that Momoshiki's methods, which involve literal murder, are the same as Boruto's use of the scientific ninja tool.

Then he starts blaming himself for Boruto being the same as a literally genocidal madman...Naruto, are you a complete forking idiot? Don't answer that, you are.

Then Momoshiki's all like "STFU."

Then Naruto flashes back to one of his moments of being a shitty parent: Boruto is all excited about awakening the Byakugan and Naruto is shitting all over his dreams, talking about how the Byakugan can't be awakened without intense training even though freaking Himawari can use it and she's half Boruto's age.

Although Boruto doesn't actually have the Byakugan, but a different eye power, they didn't know that at the time and Naruto just assumed he was wrong. Instead of supporting his son's ambitions he immediately shoots them down like a douchebag.

I'd ask if there is literally any limit to what an awful person Naruto is, but I think we all know that there is not.

Then cut to another flashback and Naruto's talking about what stupid children Boruto and his friends are.

Then cut to another flashback and Naruto is blatantly lying to Boruto's face, saying he won't let "her" down (I don't recall specifically, but I believe this was when they were discussing Himawari's birthday party that Naruto promised he would attend and then didn't because he's a terrible father).

Then cut to another flashback and Naruto is trying to apologize for missing Boruto's birthday, even though if he actually cared about his son he wouldn't have to apologize because he wouldn't have missed it. Anyway, Boruto's like "I didn't expect much from you anyway, but you better come home for Himawari's birthday because Himawari is still too young to realize what a gigantic gaping anus you are." and then Naruto blatantly lies to his son's face, promising to attend Himawari's birthday party. Then Boruto's like,"I'll never forgive you if you break your word. This is a man-to-man promise." and Naruto pats him on the head, treating him like a child and once more establishing what a shitty person Naruto is.

Anyway, cut back to present day and Naruto's like, "I really didn't try to understand him at all." which under ordinary circumstances would be an astonishing admission of his own shittiness, but in actuality, as previously established, this is in the context of him comparing his son to a genocidal madman because he used a scientific ninja tool, so really it's just another tick on the old Naruto-is-an-awful-person-o-meter.

Anyway, then the rescue team shows up and for some reason save Naruto's life instead of helping Momoshiki kill him.

Then awkward father-son bonding, which makes no sense in a sane universe because Naruto literally could not deserve Boruto's love any less.

Then Naruto apologizes for being an asshole, even though as previously established if he actually cared he wouldn't have to apologize because he never would have been an asshole to begin with, so apology very much not accepted, Naruto. Die in a grease fire.

Then Naruto ruins what should be something approaching a touching moment by blatantly lying to his son's face, claiming he never goes back on his word.

Then they resolve to go and give Momoshiki what for.

Cut to back in Konoha and Shikamaru is organizing the ninjas to work on security, looking for any injured civilians and keep an eye our for...laser fishing pole guy. Urashiki? I don't remember.

Anyway, then Shikadai shows up and is all "Should we send reinforcements?"

And Shikamaru, who unlike Naruto is actually a good father, immediately empathizes with his son's worrying because his best friend is in danger. And he's like, "We gotta protect the home-front, dude."

Then cut back to the Sauce throwing down with...Kinshiki? He's using a laser axe.

Chojuro tries to attack him from behind but he dodges and gets in a hit and is all, "You're wide open." and Chojuro's like, "Right back at ya." and Kurotsuchi (the Tsuchikage) shows up and punches the shit out Kinishiki.

Then Sasuke uses like, a chidori sword attack thing on him from behind and his laser axe breaks then Chojuro shoots him full of spikes and Kurotsuchi uses a sealing jutsu on him.

Cut to Gaara and...that one guy. The Raikage whose name I forget. Kamui? I looked it up, it's Darui. I was close.

Anyway, Gaara and Darui are fighting Momoshiki and Naruto, Boruto and Sasuke show up and start shittalking to him.

Then Momoshiki looks at Boruto and is like "Foreshadowing no Jutsu!"

Then he turns Kinshiki into a chakra fruit and takes his power and gets all super strong and shit. And his super mode looks way different than it did in the movie, which is interesting.

Then ending credits.

#boruto naruto next generations #mitsuki #sarada uchiha #naruto uzumaki #sasuke uchiha #boruto uzumaki #momoshiki otsutsuki #kinshiki otsutsuki #byakugan #himawari uzumaki #shikamaru nara #shikadai nara #urashiki otsutsuki #chojuro #kurotsuchi #darui #gaara

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courage-a-word-of-justice · 6 years

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Mahou Shoujo Ore 5

Hey hey hey, this is the second show I’ve seen ape Osomatsu-san this year. Seriously, no show is safe in a parody as a target for humour’s sake…Note Osomatsu-san is also by Pierrot, though, so they’re attacking themselves to some extent.

Now that they’ve pointed the Osomatsu-san reference though, I can’t believe I didn’t see the scarf colours last time! But…this is episode 5…

Oh, I kind of noticed it, but I’m probably too used to it since I watched the first season of Osomatsu-san – the blue lines are part of that show’s signature style.

Muscovado is apparently a substitute for sugar. It literally translates to “black sugar” though…

Sagami is…a former place in Japan…?

Tama River. I’m terrible at Japanese geography, so I don’t think you should be asking me about this…

Dang, apparently Pierrot is based in Mitaka, Tokyo so whatever joke I was chasing there fell flat.

Wow, they got really self-referential this episode…yikes.

So this is the rumoured Chiba-san? Uhh…

Oh my…I do not see the word “Japanimation” get much mileage at all these days, but I cringe every time I see it.

It’s Pokémon Go! Wow, that’s another level of meta for sure. My hopes for resolving all the stray plot threads while maintaining that wacky sense of humour (or however I phrased it) definitely went out the window…Notice the footage is dated April 24th 20X8, which is about a week before the episode went to air if the X actually hides “2018”.

Suginami. Apparently, Bones, Sunrise and other studios are stationed there…but Pierrot isn’t.

If there’s one thing I didn’t expect in MSO, it’s the fact this show became Shirobako in a sense. I still need to get around to Shirobako, by the way…

Ey, wait a second! Astral, you got your wish! We get to see…Fujimoto’s face!

Whoa! They went all out on the CGI fire effects! What is this show, Golden Kamuy?! (LOL)

Comichiya’s probably Comiket. The katakana (chi -> tsu, to -> ya) look kinda similar if mangled.

Dangit! I missed my mark on the guesswork again! Tokyo Big Sight isn’t in Suginami.

Basically, this is just a long road to admitting they couldn’t do a recap episode, but they don’t have enough content to pad this ep either. Ah, sweet revelations (sarcastic).

Is it just me, or does the bottom of Fujimoto (1)’s face look kind of like…Mohiro??? Wagh??? Update: No, the hair colour’s off.

The “on the train” technically says “on the NEXT train” (emphasis mine).

Wow, they namedropped Ishikawa (probably Kaito)! Ishikawa voices male!Saki, so it makes sense.

Oh my gosh, Mahoutsukai Watashi! What a bold move this show’s taken – it’s telling its own meta-narrative. Which means when I cover it for the collab post…it’ll be meta of meta…that’ll put my head in a spin for sure.

You can see Fujimoto and Sakuyo character designs if you pause for one scene (the one with “staff working from home”).

You can see the name Masayuki Ito (伊藤雅之) on that list with the downward arrows, but I don’t know what significance that name has unless they’re an animator or something...

Mensore is explained here.Basically it’s youkoso in Okinawan.

Jimami Tofu…isn’t tofu, as weird as that sounds. It’s an Okinawan-sponsored drama.

Well, at least this time I got a big epic battle (no matter how short it is). Nothing better than that!

They got Akira Ishida, Tomokazu Seki, Koichi Yamadera and some other guys to voice the Fujimotos this time. Notice there’s no crossover between the Osomatsu-san voices and the Fujimotos, which was probably intentional.

I thought there’d be a real Shinzo Chiba, but there doesn’t seem to be one…

There was a shot of Fujimoto (before the manager)! Wah! Was that there in previous episodes???

Every time people promise wardrobe malfunctions, they tend to…uh, deliver on that…

The Monokubo illustration this time is creepy…I like it!

Yotsuiro Biyori 4

Is this a zombie movie (LOL)?

Wow, Sui really loves cats, doesn’t…he…? (LOL)

Oh, so that weird zombie movie in medias res opening was actually one of those fakeouts…DN Angel’s anime did that, I remember…

Wow, they make Tokitaka so epic in this scene! A determined man is more handsome than one in an ordinary state, don’tcha think?

You can even see rice flying! Amazing! Tokitaka’s got such skill.

I am so spoilt for smol boys this season, between this and Boueibu HK…

Ooh! My eyes have been blessed with the hotness of Tokitaka!

There’s more chicken than usual this ep, eh?

Shiratama anmitsu.

I never thought we’d need a backstory for the resident cat, but okay. It was hilarious and fun while it lasted and now it’s almost over…huh.

Denzou? Eh? (I kinda get why the name’s badass with the kanji involved, but it’s hard to explain to a non-Japanese speaker…)

Agedama.

The next ep title translates to roughly “A Loving Hand for the Lost Lamb”…as in, to extend a hand to it.

Lupin 3 Pt 5 5

Okay, part 5 episode 5 is confusing when it’s just “5 5”, isn’t it?

I think the guy in the green jacket will be important later…? He’s in a key visual for this show, at least.

“This pasta called soba’s pretty good!” – LOL, soba ain’t pasta, y’know…

I’ve learnt about the stack before. Here you go.

IP camera. Hey, I’ve done something on IP cameras before, but normally Detective Conan (and most other mystery shows of the modern day) seem to be reliant on CCTV…

Chicken game…? Sounds tasty!...Not.

Ami doesn’t seem too pleased about all the shooting, LOL.

Even Ami knows bowing is a sign of Japanese respect. Just like how dragons understand the meaning of “Hatori Chise” involves birds…(i.e. I’m kind of skeptical that a real French girl would learn to bow to her Japanese friends when her life is always on the line, a la Ami.)

Episode…1? Y’mean, there’s more adventures, but no Ami? Aw, I was enjoying having her in the fray.

Hinamatsuri 5

A TV? $30??? Wow, I would fight a psychic girl for that! That’s friggin’ cheap!

“Toshibu” (sic), LOL.

Bikkuri means “surprise”, LOL.

“A teacher and a student walk into a bar…” – it sounds like a joke. Not that that could be conveyed accurately in Japanese, though. The fact it even works as an English joke must be a coincidence…

Hitomi’s such a terrible liar! Wahaha!

Nitta’s just like “I’ve given up on this girl”. Either that, or he has a hangover…(LOL)

Sayo looks kind of like Hina. If it weren’t for the hair colours I would’ve mistaken the two.

BnHA 43

Carrying a gun to a fistfight…yep, bad. Plain bad, Mustard, ol’ boy.

Sorry, there was a lot of fighting this ep and nothing much to say!

Boueibu HK 5

LOL, the bald bodyguard…he looks kinda grumpy.

Notice Kyotaro goes “ore kyoumi nai” (I have no interest in it), but the subs missed the subject of the sentence! CR, you weirdoes!

Echire butter…exists!

“You know about genetic testing?” - Irina! I think this is your department!

Ryoma’s the end of the evolutionary line!

Hmm…if there was no Ice Age in Honyara Land…might there have been something else that caused the Furanui/Karurusu conflict? There’s only animosity from one side, after all.

Bunbuku Chagama. Magozaemon was fat, so he would make a perfect teapot/tanuki…

Wait, if Maasa = Ichiro in the age department (roughly 16), that would add up. He went abroad for 4 years and held off on carbs the entire time…yikes.

“The people of this world envy those who represent the opposite of what they fear for themselves, so they criticise and attack them.” – Ooh, Ata makes a lot of sense here…! It’s a quote for the collection.

Asobukoto = It’s not really “fun” per se, but “playing” or “hanging out”. That is, if you translate rather literally.

They’re all underage (roughly 16 – 18), of course they wouldn’t drink! Of course, this is coming from a person who doesn’t drink…the only samples of alcohol I’ve had are few and far in between…

Hey, I studied this stuff in the past, you don’t have to regurgitate this info (about needing food to better absorb alcohol). Lemmee tell you, alcohol ads are weird…

They didn’t make the “glasses fogging up” a weird plot hole. Phew.

Wow, to think I’d be getting a science lesson of things I already know in my Boueibu…I never thought I’d see the day where that happened.

According to this page, one of the things the ramen shop serves is gomoku soba. Wait…that’s right! Ramen’s appeared in this show before! In the Chri-pa episode! Sorry Astral, I gotta spoil s2 for you!

Wow, this chicken carcass is even less of a threat than anything else so far! Wow-hee.

Taishi only seems vaguely fazed about the fact he’s being made to fight monsters. Interesting. I never think about the perspective of the non-red boys regarding fighting monsters until they’re pointed out, really.

So wait, the magic knight of space…makes bubbles? Uh, Astral, you might wanna learn from this…?

Hey hey, I found a page on tonkotsu ramens (sic from the Hakata anime) and paitan ramen.

Kyotaro on stairs = basically my mood when I want to imitate the “draw me like one of yor French girls” meme. (Very badly.)

So…when I said I missed individualised attacks, I never saw this coming. Sorry about that, people. (Even if that was only Ichiro’s bubble attack.)

Kyotaro makes a lot of sense here. But seriously, I think I need Astral’s easy button right now. That was easy.

Notice Karurusu is acting as a pelt…weren’t otters hunted for their pelts?

Oh, Sujikawa’s a first year, huh?

*Sujikawa picks up the boulder* - *round of applause from me* Wow!

Both Maasa and Dougo have such supportive friends, it almost makes me jealous.

The English! It’s…correct! (thinks back to a magazine article with “Difence” (sic) written on it in pink letters)

I, for one, am happy they’re tackling relationships aside from “brothers” this time. Finally, here’s something that stacks up against its competition in regards to deeper themes, even if it is a comedy!

Dougo and Maasa (Magozaemon) were in class 2, if you pause at the right time. Notably, the members of class 2 were all boys, LOL. Even with the boy to the left of Magozaemon, I think that name might be pronounced “Ai” (due to this page), but it’s in manly kanji.

#simulcast commentary #Happy Kiss anime #mahou shoujo ore #lupin iii part 5 #boku no hero academia #Hinamatsuri #rokuhoudou yotsuiro biyori #binan koukou chikyuu boueibu happy kiss!#binan koukou chikyuu boueibu happy kiss #boueibu #boueibu hk #magical girl ore #Chesarka watches MSO #Chesarka watches Hinamatsuri #Chesarka watches BnHA #Chesarka watches Yotsuiro Biyori #Chesarka watches the Lupin series Pt 5

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vantagx-archive-blog · 7 years

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{ So, first off, thank you all for 100 followers! I truly appreciate all of you, and hope you’re all doing great! I’ve been in and out of this fandom for years honestly, and I’ve been role-playing for eons, but this blog has quickly become one of my best experiences. Before I made this blog, I was in a massive writing slump and was having a difficult time with doing much of anything creative (it was probably one of the lowest point my writing itself has gone through in years). I went in and out of various fandoms, but they never quite worked out for me. And I stumbled back here because I missed writing for my favorite series, and I’m incredibly grateful I did! You’ve all been so wonderful, and I’m so glad to have gotten the chance to meet all of you! So, have a really sappy follower appreciation post because you guys deserve it!}

The loves of my life:

@latrocinari: Chibi, I am so grateful to have been able to interact with you on so many occasions, and I’m so blessed that you’re so patient with me. I can’t thank you enough for following my trash son through so many blogs, and dealing with his attitude. It really means a lot to me that you’ve stuck with me for as long as you have, and over so many different interactions/blogs, my dash and the time I’ve spent in this fandom just wouldn’t be the same without you to brighten it up. You’re a joy to have on my dash, and you always make my day with everything you post. You’ve been so kind and hilarious ooc, and I always love reading your tags because they always make me laugh (or have them feels). You’re such a talented writer, and your Zero owns my heart (and Kamui’s too haha). I’m so glad that I get to write with you, and I look forward to all of our future interacts, and, getting to talk to you more!

@gentlexbloom: Luna, you are such a blessing. You’re one of the sweetest people I’ve spoken to on this website, and you just radiate warmth and kindness no matter what you do. I know my blog or the time I’ve spent on it so far wouldn’t be the same without you welcoming me, and contacting me. I can’t say enough good things about you, honestly, you’re a joy to speak with, a blessing to have on the dash, and overall incredible person. I’m always so nervous talking to people, but you’ve been so easy to talk with, and come up with silly nonsense with! I am so incredibly grateful to you for reaching out to me, you’ve made my time here so positive, and I’m so serious when I say my dash just wouldn’t be the same without you. You’re an amazing writer, and I love getting the chance to create something with you!

@ardent-lux: Musouka, you’re such a lovely person, and I know we haven’t spoken too much, but I’ve enjoyed being able to make silly jokes with you in the tags, and bonding over terrible weather on Discord haha. I adore the friendship we’ve been able to build with our muses so much, it’s honestly one of my favorite relationships I have on this blog, and I hope Leon will continue to be the mother Neo most certainly didn’t ask for, but got anyway! You already know I love Neo, but I could gush about her for days because she’s so wonderful, and I’m so grateful to have the chance to interact with such an incredible character.

@honorbourne | @unladylikc: Livi, I’ve adored out interactions since we met on my YoI OC blog, and wrote one of my favorite threads I’ve ever had. It was such a riot, and just some good, old-fashioned fun to read about Vivi learning how to ice skate with June and Mr. Sturdy Pants’ help. And I’ve loved the threads we’ve had on this blog, as well! You’re a very pleasant person, and I’ve enjoyed talking to you ooc, as well as yelling about everyone’s favorite chair with you! You’re an amazing writer, and I’m still awed by how well you capture Say’ri in your posts, and we both know I love Vivian!

@mepivacainee: Espurr! You are such a sweetheart, and I love just yelling about our sons with you until some ungodly hour of the morning, and just, overall, being dorks. You spoil so much, and I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for me. You’ve been a lot of fun to talk to ooc, and it was really easy to get over my nerves when speaking with you because I think we were both really nervous to talk to one another at first (and now we just yell, a lot, haha). I know I’m slow as heck, but I love all of out threads, and everything we’ve plotted out/talked about, and I can’t wait for Leon and Abel to get to know one another better! You know I love Abel with all of my heart (pats purse Abel), and everything you do with him! I love reading your replies, and learning more about your son, as well! You’re an amazing writer, artist, and person, and I’m so grateful to be able to both interact with you and speak to you ooc!

Wonderful individuals who light up my dash:

I haven’t had the chance to talk with any of you too much, yet, but adore all of you, and hope to gush about each one of you in the future!

@nesufuratu, @siderealsmoke, @royal-botanist, @pueravem, @bravingskies, @convxction, @dreamsofvalla, @heiwanoryu, @nohrianlady, @goldenxdagger, @oakhearted, @featherbourne, @kouryou, and @i-nsubordination!

Each one of you is incredibly talented, and I love seeing you and your muse/s on my dash!

#{ . out of time . }#{ . bias list . }#{ I lied sticks leggy out I'm doing this first because I love everyone okay }#{ screams I hope I didn't miss anyone my head is killing me but I wanted to gush lol }#{ . follower count mention . }

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writer-of-worlds · 7 years

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gimme dat corrin and kaze fluff fam

Aw yis fam!Who said “I love you” first: Kaze! He's a sweetheart, and even in arguments he and Kamui has, he still says I love you :3Who would have the other’s picture as their phone background: Both! Kamui would have Kaze being badass, while Kaze has Kamui being adorable!Who leaves notes written in fog on the bathroom mirror: Kamui, and she does it just to tease him with surprise lovings ;)Who buys the other cheesy gifts: Kamui, though her gifts were just clothes, food, etc, and she does it in front of the Fangirls pining for Kaze XDWho initiated the first kiss: Kaze! He'd go for the pecking route, but Kamui holds him and gives him a more passionate kiss.Who kisses the other awake in the morning: Kaze. He's usually up to do his training, so he kisses Kamui "good morning" and "see you later love".Who starts tickle fights: Kamui, definitely X'DWho asks who if they can join the other in the shower: Kamui. Kaze would be super embarrassed to ask XDWho surprises the other in the middle of the day at work with lunch: Kamui! Though she's a terrible cook, so she asks Jakob to make some lunch for her to deliver.Who was nervous and shy on the first date: Kaze, even though on the outside he's calm, he thinks about his every move so he wouldn't embarrass himself or Kamui.Who kills/takes out the spiders: Both! Though Kaze does it more, after a particular incident where Kamui turned into a dragon to kill one...Who loudly proclaims their love when they’re drunk: I don't see Kaze as a drinker, but Kamui? She'd be a silly and lovable drunk and would try to kiss Kaze XD I blame my BF for making my Kamui a drunk

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fangirlnationmag · 4 years

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It’s Sam, your Cosplay Savant here and it’s time for a NEW set of Cosplay Features! With COVID 19 getting people down we wanted to share some INCREDIBLY CREATIVE folks who YOU can follow online without leaving your home! First up: Air Bubbles Cosplay!

First Cosplay: Codex from The Guild

Location: Seattle, Washington

Gender: Female

Welcome Air Bubbles Cosplay! Let’s kick this off with my favorite question: What was the FIRST convention you attended?

My first convention was probably Sakuracon. I can’t remember quite when because it was before I really cared much about conventions or cosplay. I attended with my mom because my sister had a booth (she’s an artist). The first convention I ever attended for myself was probably PAX West (PAX Prime back in the day) in 2008. I went for one day, mostly to stare at everything Halo related.

Halo…I remember being smitten by that game when I was younger. So, are you a part of any cosplay organizations?

Currently, I am not part of any organizations. I am apart of a lot of groups that I love dearly such as Seattle Online Broadcasters Association and She-Prop but no organizations yet!

I ADORE She-Prop! Do you have any pop culture genres that inspire your cosplay style?

I like to keep myself pretty open to any and all cosplay genres. I really like to create costumes that speak to me or be characters that I feel a close connection with. Even though I keep myself open I do have my favorites! I have cosplayed quite a bit from Magic the Gathering (the card game) and my first armor build and second cosplay ever was Chandra, Pyromaster. A fiery hot red head with some attitude. I also cosplay from the video game Destiny. I cosplay very frequently as Mara Sov, the Queen of the Reef. That particular cosplay turned 4 this year! Lastly, I am a huge fan of the show Critical Role. I’ve been a fan since the first campaign and continue to follow it to this day. While I don’t have many cosplays from it, I always keep my eyes peeled for some fan drawn art to create based on my favorite characters!

Pyromaster Chandra

Mara Sov

Codex

I am seeing a gaming trend here; you’re a cosplayer after my own heart! What motivates you to create cosplay?

Ever since I was a child I wanted to be an actor of some sorts, I ended up moving away from that in college when I discovered costume design, but my heart still really enjoys becoming a character and being on a stage. My entire life goal of what I wanna be when I grow up is a professional content creator (which I have been able to dip my toes into!), so my motivations are pretty much, learning new things, bringing characters I love and others love to life, teaching what I’ve learned to other people and that… awe factor. I shove lights and smoke into anything I can because I love the look of awe and shock on people’s faces, especially kids. Warms my heart!

Special Effects in costumes often add that extra “zing” that pushes the creation to the next level. Do you have any particular expectations of yourself or others in cosplay?

I find putting expectations on others is something I don’t do too often. I have a lot of expectations of myself though because I can control that. For others I at least expect people to be kind, respectful and helpful. I’ve encountered a few cosplayers in my day who took losing a contest very poorly and talked badly about the winners, or who were just overall rude to everyone other than their friends or famous people and lastly I’ve seen people gate keep tips and tricks. I find the cosplay community grows positively when people share things they’ve discovered that have helped them! This is why I teach panels, I love to share those little tips and tricks I wish I had known when I first started. As far as expectations for myself, I have a few over different scenarios. I compete a lot because I love the stage and I love to meet new people. Not necessarily an expectation but I try to make at least one friend every time I’m backstage. I’ve made so many amazingly talented people that way and I love it! I also expect to be kind, respectful and helpful as best I can. I really lean into that helpful and kind part because as a streamer I want to be a super chill and fun place to hang out where you could learn a thing or two!

I like your chill, it’s absolutely needed in this community. Speaking of the cosplay community: who do you admire in it?

I admire a lot of people in the community. Partially for their drive and talent but also their heart. I really admire my friend Hannah (Miss Tyo) a lot. She is an abundance of knowledge and loves to share it. She’s taught me so many things as a seamstress and it’s really helped keep my head on straight! And she’s honestly just the nicest person ever. If you ever see her a con, maybe say hi and see if she has any neat tips or tricks to share! Every costume she makes has a little nugget in it. I would also have to say my friend Kat (Valkryie Studios). We had a rough patch (we’ve known each other awhile), which I won’t get into but through that we both grew as people and as creators. She can build anything she puts her mind to and isn’t afraid of trying new things. She has admitted she is not particularly good at sewing but picked a character that had an embroidered jacket. She created a pattern and taught herself how to embroider all the detail on. She has a keen eye for detail and sets out to really capture the detail of everything she makes and it just blows me away every time. We just attended C2E2 together mostly to meet a bunch of Critical Role fans like us and the amount of love and joy her costumes and props have brought that community just seriously warmed my heart. I aspire to bring that to the communities I am a part of too. I will also add Kamui Cosplay and Kinpatsu Cosplay. Their patterns and tutorials have helped me SO SO much. I am terrible at shapes sometimes and their patterns have helped me get unstuck on certain costumes. I hope I can give back a fraction of what they have to the community someday.

Alright…the time has come: What is YOUR favorite cosplay?

My favorite cosplay?! Oh geez, I think I have a tie… Chandra has been one I’ve made… 3 times I think? She is my favorite character and I’ve worn her A LOT. She even helped me get some work with Wizards of the Coast last year where I attended San Diego Comicon as Chandra and then created a custom Chandra cosplay for the famous shogi player, Manoa Kagawa in Japan. Yes… I did get to go to Japan and hand deliver the cosplay, it was the most amazing time of my life and was one week before my wedding! And the other tie goes to Mara Sov from Destiny. Mara Sov was a cosplay that I won my first award in (ECCC 2015, 3rd in Tailoring) and I’ve also made a few different versions of her. I feel like a queen in that cosplay and the Destiny cosplay community is just so kind and fun to be around! I just love wearing her and being able to be a part of that community.

Pyromaster Wizards

Mara Sov 2

Woah…that is amazing. Well…since we’re on the favorites train, do you have a favorite cosmaterial?

Favorite cosplay material is, hands down, Worbla. Worbla every day any day, I love it so much. I also have some schooling background in sewing so fabric is nice.. sometimes. Also.. LED’s. I love putting lights in everything!

I can’t disagree with you on Worbla…their thermoplastic series are very adaptable. Let’s get to wrapping this up as I could talk with you all day and I am sure you have lots of creative things to focus on. So, for our last question, what advice do you have for cosplayers out there?

The advice I have is similar to expectations. Be kind, be respectful and helpful. Helpful could be just a safety pin that someone needed because their skirt tore or a hot glue gun or an amazing tutorial. It can come in all levels! I also want to tell you, don’t be afraid. Some people have been doing this a long time, some people haven’t and some people learn and grow faster than others. Go at your own pace and create what YOU love. If you make something you think is popular and you hope it makes you popular, I guarantee it will not look as good as something you’ve poured your heart into and you will feel much better wearing something you love. Yes, I have made something I thought was popular and I hated every second I wore the costume and it looked awful. Also if you want to compete but you’re scared… that’s ok! Just do it! You’ll meet amazing people in the process and you’ll have a great time!

FOLLOW AIR BUBBLES COSPLAY ON… Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/air_bubbles_cosplay/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AirBubbles Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airbubblescosplay/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/airbubblescosplay Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/airbubbles Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/airbubblescosplay

Photographer Credits: UN4A0151EE – Alexadra Lee Studios – Mara Sov from Destiny ChandraClose – Soul Studios – Chandra from Magic the Gathering Beaufull – Soul Studios – Beau from Critical Role WarlockFire – Soul Studios – My own warlock from Destiny 2 kagawasan – idobataer – Custom Chandra I created NewMara – The Portrait Dude – Mara Sov, dreaming city version from Destiny 2 Scanlanjourney – Journeys in Color – Scanlan from Critical Role DSC00753 – Eurobeat Kasumi – Una, the Skyhunter from Warmachine taako – KP11 Photography – Taako from The Adventure Zone

Cosplay Feature – Air Bubbles Cosplay It's Sam, your Cosplay Savant here and it's time for a NEW set of Cosplay Features! With COVID 19 getting people down we wanted to share some INCREDIBLY CREATIVE folks who YOU can follow online without leaving your home!

#Air Bubbles Cosplay #Cosplay Feature #fangirl nation magazine #fgn

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thepoolscene · 7 years

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The Pool Scene - Karl Boyes - Independent

New Post on http://thepoolscene.com/?p=22169

Day 1 Report From the RYO Rack Classic in New York City

Low Expectation Brits Shine Bright On Day 1

Admittedly low on confidence, Karl Boyes and Mark Gray burst out of the gates of the World Pool Series’ RYO Rack Classic in New York.

(New York City)–Can a player win a tournament even if they are not playing their best pool?

Generally when you have the best pool talent in the world under one roof for four days, the answer is usually a resounding no. But sometimes in pool, those that have the least expectations can do the most damage, especially players that have entered the winner’s circle more than a few times in their career.

Take Englishmen Mark Gray and Karl Boyes. The two Brits arrived in New York City for the third leg of the World Pool Series, The Ryo Rack Classic Championship, admittedly in the dumps. Gray just came off a miserable performance at the scotch doubles World Cup of Pool in London, and hasn’t had a solid finish in all of 2017. Boyes, a former World 8-ball Champion, has barely touched a cue over the last six months and came to the Big Apple with a confidence level near the bottom of the Hudson River.

But both players, playing without a shred of expectation, each put in two impressive performances at Steinway Billiards Café in Queens on Wednesday, and have put themselves within one of reaching the final 16 single elimination stage of this 8-ball extravaganza.

The usually reliable Gray first thrashed American Greg Mitchell, 11-0. Later in the day on the TV table, in front of an audience that reached over 50,000 viewers courtesy of social media giant Unilad Sport, Gray faced off with American Dennis Hatch. The talented and passionate Hatch has had a good year so far and is close to getting back on the Mosconi Cup for Team USA.

After a slow start by both players, Gray picked up the pace and played some of his best pool this year. He broke well, played solid positions, and kept the game simple. The result was a scintillating 11-3 thumping for the Brit.

“I played better in the second half of the match, but I still don’t think I played very good” Gray said afterward, trying to downplay any possible resurgence in his game. “I haven’t had a good year, haven’t had any good results and it’s just been awful. I don’t think I’ve turned things around yet. But I guess I have to just take things one game at a time and see what happens.”

Boyes, who won the World 8-ball Championship in 2010, had an even better day than his mate Gray. The Blackpool native first manhandled Qatar’s Waleed Majid, 11-5. Then in his next match he downed American great Johnny Archer, 11-8. It was as good a start as anyone could ask for, but afterward Boyes was having none of it.

“ I have no chance to win,” Boyes said in jest, obviously trying to project a care free attitude that he hopes might actually generate a few more wins and a shot at the crown on Saturday. “I played terrible. I have no clue what I’m doing out there. But, hey, maybe I’ll get lucky.”

The two Englishmen will actually face each other in the next round so at least one of them will have an excuse to keep their expectations down low.

And while both Englishman are clearly keeping their expectations justifiably low, some players here in New York clearly showed up with every intention to win this third leg of this fledging 8-ball tour.

Austria’s Mario He recently won the World Cup of Pool with his partner Albin Ouschan and came to New York brimming with confidence. It showed on Wednesday as He outlasted 19 year old American Manny Perez, 11-7. He then went on to bury German legend Ralf Souquet, 11-3. The big Austrian needs one more win to reach the final 16 single knockout stage.

American Skylar Woodward also has been riding a wave of good vibes lately after his runner up performance with Shane Van Boening in the World Cup of Pool. Woodward, who is hoping to move into the top 10 in the Mosconi Cup rankings for team USA ,had a good start to the event with wins over Blair Levandowski and Tommy Tokoph.

Albanian Klenti Kaci, who won the second leg of the World Pool Series in April, the Aramith Masters, had a bye in the first round and then took down American Jorge Rodriguez , 11-7. Ireland’s Hall of Famer Karen Corr, who resides in Philadelphia, looked the goods today with two solid victories, including a round-two victory over talented Spaniard Mark Vidal. England’s Imran Majid continued his fine play this year with two wins, first by a hill-hill shootout over Raymond Linares and then Korea’s Lee Kang.

Singapore’s Sharik Sayed had a confidence boosting day. In round one Sayed and the Philippines’ Warren Kiamco took their match to a shootout, which Sayed won handily. Sayed then sent German great Thorsten Hohmann over to the losers side of the bracket with an impressive 11-4 win.

Israel’s Zion Zvi, who is the house pro at Steinway and lives just down the street, took advantage of his home knowledge and won twice on Wednesday, including an 11-8 win over talented Estonian Dennis Grabe. Mult-world champion and Hall of Famer Mika Immonen, who lives in New York, won twice. World Pool Series founder Darren Appleton had a walkover in the first round, then went the distance with American Corey Duel in round two, and stayed on the winners side by winning a shootout.

Play continues on Thursday for the RYO Rack Classic Championship beginning at 10:30am Eastern Time in the US. By the end of play on day 2, the field will be paired down to the final 16 where the format will become single elimination knockout.

The winner of the RYO Rack Classic Championship will take home $10,000.

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For the complete draw and live scoring please CLICK HERE.

The third event of the World Pool Series, The RYO Rack Classic, is being held at Steinway Billiards in Astoria, Queens, New York City from July 12-15, 2017. The World Pool Series is sponsored by RYO Rack, Aramith, Molinari, Predator, Cheqio, Iwan Simonis, Kamui, Billiards Digest, Cuescore, Ultimate Team Gear, and High Rock Productions.

For more information on the World Pool Series, please visit www.worldpoolseries.com.

The World Pool Series is on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/worldpoolseries/. And Twitter at @WorldPoolSeries

The Ryo Rack Classic will be streamed live and free on both the WPS Facebook Page and through the Unilad and Unilad Sport Facebook Page. To watch the free stream, you can visit www.worldpoolseries.com and click the “Watch” button to go our streaming page within the website.

#Karl Boyes

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