#mad panda wisdom

[x-heesy]

𝗠𝝠𝗗 𝗣𝝠𝗡𝗗𝝠 𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗗𝝝𝝝𝗠

„𝙸’𝚖 𝚋𝚕 𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝚎𝚍“

𝚃𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍. -𝙶𝚎𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎 𝙼𝚊𝚌𝙳𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚍

𝙺𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚁𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚋𝚢 𝙰𝚛𝚝 𝙳𝚎𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝, 𝙰𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚞𝚜 𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗

[estelscinema]

Kung Fu Panda 4 Review: A Painfully Bland Cash Grab

After Pie is tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace, he needs to find and train a new Dragon Warrior, while a wicked sorceress plans to summon all of the master villains whom Po had vanquished to the spirit realm.

Dreamworks, I am not mad, I am simply just disappointed with you with your latest installment of the journey of the Dragon Warrior in Kung Fu Panda 4. After the surprising masterpiece of Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, I was expecting something exceptional, but what I got was the definition of mediocrity. Never before have I seen an animated film that is so predictable that it not only insulted my intelligence, but the intelligence of its target audience. Within the first ten minutes of the movie, you can predict the entire story. Every twist and turn could be seen miles away. From a character's obvious betrayal to their unearned and rushed redemption arc, this is an insultingly predictable script. Then when paired with a villain who has one of the stupidest villain motivations I have seen in a long time, leads to nothing but mediocrity. 

What is even more frustrating is the story of Po passing on the mantle of the Dragon Warrior and becoming a spiritual leader could have worked if properly set up. The story in its current form makes no sense as it contradicts the entire arc that Po has been going through in this franchise and that Po is not ready to become a spiritual leader. In the movie, it is clear that Po has only been the Dragon Warrior for several years, and is showing no signs of aging. Po becoming a spiritual leader while he is in his physical prime makes no sense. However, if the movie had decided to age Po the story could have worked. It would have been a compelling narrative to see Po face the fact that he is aging and that he can’t be the Dragon Warrior forever. To see Po slowly accept that he is aging and eventually open this new chapter of his life with open arms would have been just as profound as Puss accepting the inevitability of death in Puss In Boots: The Last Wish. Sadly, this movie puts no effort into crafting a compelling narrative. 

On the bright side, the animation was visually pleasing and full of creativity. The voice acting from the entire ensemble, except for Awkwafina who just plays her annoying sidekick type cast, was great. I must give a shout-out to Viola Davis, who gave a frightening performance despite her character having a moronic motivation. Overall, Kung Fu Panda 4 lacks the wisdom seen in the original trilogy as it decides to become a shallow cash grab. 

My Rating: C

[dasturdlydangerousduck]

A Proposed Darkwing Duck Celebrity Voice Cast

Part 3: Agents of S.H.U.S.H

Progressing through our voice cast, we now have the organization that Darkwing Duck works for, the spy agency known as S.H.U.S.H! It is a super elite and highly classified in the art of stealth, so our choice of actors should somewhat reflect that, whilst also having a sense of absurdity and quirks to their personalities!

Gary Oldman as J. Gander Hooter

First up is the main man of the headquarters and director of the organization J. Gander Hoooter! Professionalism is often the case with running a whole agency, and Hooter really represents this notion of a wise yet stern leader. We need an actor that has a great sense of wisdom as a leader, and also a sense of professionalism that will make him a combination of poised but also serious. Gary Oldman (Kung Fu Panda, The Dark Knight) is a pretty flexible actor in this area, being able to both keep a sense of professionalism and having a serious aura, but also a great deal of wisdom for an old man with a great amount of experience as well.

I imagine Lord Shen's voice from Kung Fu Panda is the closest sounding to Hooter despite him being a villain. (Kung Fu Panda 2, 2011)

Bryan Cranston as Vladimir Gryzlikoff

Next up is S.H.U.S.H's top agent, and a sort of bitter rival to Darkwing Duck, Ageng Gryzlikoff. Much like his species, Gryzlikoff is quite a ferocious, threatning, yet serious agent, always doing things by the book and is never a fan of incompetence in his fellow workers. Because of his Russian accent, it could be very difficult to find a celebrity that can perform an accent as strong without being too silly. However, there is one beloved American actor who has performed a Russian accent in his filmography and fits the character perfectly. I believe Walter White himself, Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, Madagascar 3, Isle of Dogs, Malcolm in the Middle) captures the cold and calculated sternness that Grizlikoff needs. And with his role as Vitaly the tiger from Madagascar 3, he can perform the Russian accent quite well!

Just the intimidating tone that fits a bear like Gryzlikoff! (Breaking Bad, 2008-2013)

This is the perfect voice for him. (Madagascar 3, 2012)

Margot Robbie as Sarah Bellum

The next agent we are covering is the head of the research division, and it is none other than Sarah Bellum!! She is by far the cookiest member of the division, having a great amount of knowledge in inventing and experimenting but also is shown to have no regard of professional ethics, and is rather imbecillic at the same time. We need an actress that is rather crazy by nature, but can also channel a seemingly normal and sane person. That's why Margot Robbie (Birds of Prey, Barbie, The Wolf of Wall Street) would be the best choice. She has the cooky side of her in roles like Harley Quinn, and can also somewhat maintain a normal sounding voice as well that can work well as a contrast!!

The cooky nature of Bellum is pretty aparent here! (Birds of Prey, 2020)

Charlize Theron as Femme Appeal

And rounding out this chapter, we have a more than surprising addition!! Only appearing in the comics, we have one of the most trusted agents of S.H.U.S.H in the form of Femme Appeal! She is a usually a very calm and collected agent, but has her moments of lashing out with her allies, and especially when it comes to children, which is her weakness. Since she never had a voice ever, we can be pretty flexible with our choices for actresses. I think the best choice for this foxy agent would be Charlize Theron (Kubo and the Two Strings, The Addams Family, Mad Max: Fury Road). She has that seductive voice that the character's namesake would imply, but she also has an air of seriousness about her that we need for an agent.

This captures both a hardened agent and a deep seductive voice. (Kubo and the Two Strings, 2016)

And with that, part three has concluded!! The next part is gonna be quite the interesting ride as we finally tackle Darkwing's biggest and most recognizable baddies in the form of the Fearsome Five! We'll be covering Megavolt, Quackerjack, Bushroot, and The Liquidator in the next part!!

Part 1

Part 2

[influencermagazineuk]

March Movie Madness: Must-See Films Captivating Audiences in 2024

As winter bids farewell and spring approaches, movie theaters are blooming with diverse and highly anticipated films. March 2024 promises a thrilling cinematic experience for every taste, from adrenaline-pumping action to heartwarming dramas and captivating fantasies. Here are some of the most awaited releases that are sure to set the box office ablaze: For the Sci-Fi Enthusiasts: - Dune: Part Two (March 15th): After the phenomenal success of the first installment, fans eagerly await the conclusion of Paul Atreides' journey in this epic space opera. Expect stunning visuals, political intrigue, and even more sandworms as the battle for Arrakis intensifies. - Spaceman (March 22nd): This captivating sci-fi drama starring Adam Driver follows an astronaut who embarks on a dangerous mission to a distant star system, grappling with isolation, loss, and the complexities of human connection in the vastness of space. For the Action Seekers: - John Wick: Chapter 5 - Excommunicado (Teaser Expected in March): Keanu Reeves returns as the legendary assassin in another action-packed chapter. This time, John Wick faces new enemies and deadly challenges as he seeks vengeance and redemption within the ever-dangerous world of assassins. - Ghostbusters Frozen Empire (March 29th): The iconic Ghostbusters are back, facing a chilling new threat as they battle a monstrous entity connected to a long-forgotten chapter of New York City's history. Expect a blend of nostalgia, humor, and thrilling ghost-busting action. Image: IMDb For the Animation Aficionados: - Kung Fu Panda 4: The Paws of Destiny (March 8th): Po and the Furious Five return in this highly anticipated animated sequel. This time, they face a formidable new villain who threatens the peace of the Valley of Peace, forcing Po to discover a hidden reserve of strength and wisdom. - Imaginary (March 30th): This heartwarming animated adventure tells the story of a young girl who discovers a magical pencil that allows her drawings to come to life. As her imaginary creations become entangled with the real world, she learns valuable lessons about friendship, acceptance, and the power of imagination. For the Thrill Seekers: - Love Lies Bleeding (March 8th): This neo-noir thriller starring Kristen Stewart and Katie O'Brian follows a reclusive gym manager who becomes entangled in a dangerous relationship with an ambitious bodybuilder. As their bond deepens, dark secrets and hidden motivations come to light, leading to a suspenseful and shocking climax. - The Animal Kingdom (March 15th): This psychological thriller explores the dark side of human nature. Set in a dystopian future where humans are hunted for sport, a group of survivors must fight for their lives while questioning the morality of their actions in a world gone mad. Beyond the Blockbusters: - Frida (Amazon Prime Release - March 14th): This biographical drama delves into the life of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, exploring her tumultuous personal life, passionate artistic journey, and unwavering spirit in the face of immense challenges. - 1992 (March 15th): This powerful drama explores the events surrounding the 1992 Los Angeles riots following the Rodney King verdict. Through diverse perspectives, the film sheds light on the social and racial tensions that erupted in the city, sparking important conversations about justice, equality, and the path towards healing. This is just a glimpse into the exciting cinematic landscape of March 2024. With such a diverse range of films catering to various interests, there's something for everyone to enjoy. So, grab your popcorn, dim the lights, and prepare to be transported to new worlds, captivated by compelling stories, and thrilled by the magic of cinema. Read the full article

[tomorrowedblog]

First look at Kung Fu Panda 4

A new trailer has been released for Kung Fu Panda 4, which is set to release March 8, 2024.

After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to… give it a rest already. More specifically, he’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace.

That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position.

Even worse, there’s been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon (Viola Davis), a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.

So, Po’s going to need some help. He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen (Awkwafina), a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon’s reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po will discover that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.

[phantom-of-notre-dame]

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS THEN TAG THOSE YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW BETTER!

Feel free to delete or add questions! tagged by: @majorxmaggiexboy 

nicknames: My mom calls me Mads/Madsie and Magdalena. And my best friend calls me Potato due to an inside joke

zodiac: I’m a pisces ho

height: I recently became 5′6″ and still find it trippy

timezone: Pacific

sexuality (if comfortable): this is the first time I’ve said it outside of tags, but bi/demisexual demiromantic

favorite band/artist: Of the 73 playlists I have on Spotify, 11 are not musical theatre cast albums. So there’s that. But of those, LP is a really amazing queer artist. And I really love The Amazing Devil.

song stuck in my head: Are any of us surprised that it’s “Beauty and the Beast” and “Labyrinth” from The Grinning Man? I just want to harmonize with Louis Maskell.

last movie i saw: Dirty Dancing is on Hulu again so I jumped on that immediately.

last thing i googled: scottish twitter. I tried to read them to my sister but she was not amused with my Scottish accent.

do i get asks: recently, it’s when i ask for them. I’m not a popular blog by any means, but popular enough to get a few.

following: apparently 256. I’ve had this blog for a while.

followers: about 220! Not a bad following, and I’m grateful everyone hasn’t blocked me yet.

average amount of sleep: about 8. I’ve been trying really hard to go to bed at a certain time and so far it’s working!

what i’m wearing: jeans that are frankly slightly too big cause i’m a weird size, and a Forks, WA t-shirt that my mom ordered for our vacation last week (yes, that Forks)

dream job: mysterious owner of a used bookstore like that guy from the Neverending Story movies

dream trip: literally any part of Europe that won’t kill me for being queer

favorite food: in This Moment, I’m craving a Caesar salad, so I’m going with that

favorite animal: orcas and pandas. They are my heart and soul.

play any instruments: I just hit my 10-year anniversary on the flute and the piano for 14-ish years. You’d think I’d be better at both than I actually am, but I have become mostly self-taught so yeah...

eye color: black (my mom says the color is technically called castaño since it is such a dark brown. I like to joke and say they’re black holes since the pupil is so difficult to spot.)

hair color: black (this is a true black, tho)

languages you speak: fluently, English. I can mostly understand Spanish, so I’ve been learning on Duolingo. I also have Duolingo courses in French, Italian, and German so I can understand words and phrases from that.

random fact: uh.... my wisdom teeth have been discussed among dentists and possible dentist students. If someone wants details, send me an ask and I’ll tell.

tagging: I never know who to tag in these things, due to the “not a really popular blog” anxiety, so consider yourselves tagged if you want!

[archiveofidentityconstellations]

had a dream about young Dick (like 9 or 10) and young Bruce moving furniture while Alfred is away. Eventually there’s this oak dresser, very old and expensive, teetering on the top of the stairs. Bruce is at the landing, going to grab something to make it easier to take downstairs. Dick is at the top, just making sure it doesn’t fall over. And apparently they had been fighting, because Bruce said something nonchalantly, Dick instantly saw red, and pushed the dresser down the stairs, where it clobbered Bruce and broke.

Bruce stared Dickie. Dickie stared at Bruce. A moment of silence.

And then Dickie screamed and took off, Bruce thundering behind him. It was basically that scene from Lilo and Stitch only WAY more intense 😂 Eventually Dick escaped through a window and headed for the woods, but Bruce caught him because at that point he was more worried than mad because there had been bear sightings throughout the week 😂😂

Bruce, 24 years old with the wisdom and understanding of childcare of a panda, holding a struggling Dickie above a bear trap: What is WRONG with you!!!!!

Dick, full of a child’s adrenaline and a criminal’s understanding of what it is to run: I’M NOT GOING BACK TO JAIL

the unnoticed bear, several yards away in the woods:

[artoflifehealingarts]

I am #fearless

Tantra #spirituality

Ancient #wisdom

#the Secret

Should not be only for those that can afford

Expensive retreats

Books

Expensive organic food

Life coaches at high prices

The knowledge should be shared for all or as many as possible with sacred roots to cross reference, to rise up

Heal

Be happy

All paths are equally sacred in the cosmic orobourus scale of things

I choose liberation

Inner peace

And not to say I found a secret and then sell something that only you can discover for yourself and at an unattainable price meaning I stay in the cages

Of the spiritual hierarchy ..my way or the highway

I am right..blahblah blah

This is only or best way

And commercialism shackles.

I choose and desire manifest

The sharing of knowledge for all trusting

Demonstrating trust in the well of abundance

Mmmmhhhhmmm

All links to new things up soon

Much love

Shakti

The divine gypsy tantric panda 🐼

#Shaktidurgahealingarts

#innerpeace

#Zen #love

#now

#hereandnow

#trust

#namaste

#nonjudgement

#exist

#be

#empoweredliving

Mad props to all the fearless artists of #wynnwood #Miami

#fearlessartist

https://www.instagram.com/p/B73tDcWBBWM/?igshid=kijyqv8tl37z

[x-heesy]

𝙻𝚎𝚝’𝚜 𝚙𝚞𝚜𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍, 𝙻𝚞𝚅𝚊𝚉

Doubt grows with knowledge......

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

𝗠𝝠𝗗 𝗣𝝠𝗡𝗗𝝠 𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗗𝝝𝝝𝗠

𝚃𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚜 𝚚𝚞𝚎 𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚜 𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚞𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝 (𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚐𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠𝚕) 𝚋𝚢 𝙿𝚘𝚝𝚘𝚌𝚑𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚎 🎧

[tansypoisoning]

Twenty-One Questions

I was tagged by @honeyhan-123. You can see her answer here

Nickname: Here people either call me Marcie or Tansy.

Zodiac: Taurus

Height: 165cm or 5′5 IF YOU’RE UNCIVILIZED (I kid, I kid)

Last thing I searched: Local news. Pretty boring, I no.

Hobbies: Being in a constant state of panic and therefore taking twice as long as I should to finish something, writing, reading, hiking, cooking, eating what I cook, looking at things in the internet that make me feel bad about myself, pr0n (I don’t get laid enough for that to be a hobby lol), going into research blackholes, trying to get animals to let me touch them, videogames, listening to music, sleeping.

Favourite Musicians: Oh, fam. It’s a whole fucking journey.

Those Poor Bastards, The Pine Box Boys, Leonard Cohen, Lana Del Rey, Tom Waits, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (and anything with Nick Cave, tbh), The Gerard Edery Ensemble, Salter Cane, The Dresden Dolls, Vivaldi, Hank Williams III, Nirvana, Johnny Cash, Mindless Self-Indulgence, Digresk, Pat “The Bunny” Schneeweis, Eartha Kitt, System of a Down, Buddy Guy, Vaghjime, Modena City Ramblers, Mercanti di Liquore, Digresk, Mikel Urdangarin, Violeta Parra, Silvio Rodriguez, Inti-Illimani, Talking Heads, The Builders and The Butches, Faun, Faun Fables, Terrance Zdunich, Ethnix, Björk, Zeca Baleiro, Voltaire, Jack White, Lonesome Wyatt and the Holy Spooks, TV on the Radio, Mediaeval Baebes, Emilie Autumn, Idan Raichel, The Goddamn Gallows, Rasputina, Stormy Six, Sopor Aeternus, Muddy Waters, Kevin MacLeod who is a fucking saint for providing royalty free music, Zé Ramalho, Quilapayún, Queen, Loreena McKennitt, Krauka, Emilie Simon, Fabrizio de André, Einstürzende Neubauten, Dr Steel, Dazkarieh, Buckethead, Blackmore’s Night.

Also, not a musician, but I adore Hadestown.

Song stuck in my head: This parody of Billie Eilish’s “bad guy”

If you had a time machine would you go back in time or to the future? I’d go nowhere; I’d stay right here, trembling in fear at all the possibilites.

If you had one wish, what would you wish for? I would wish for infinite wishes. My second wish would be t have the wisdom to use all that power.

Do I get asks? I do. Not regularly, but I do.

Following: 107

Would you rather be rich or famous: Depends. Famous for what? I’m an egomaniac, so I’d like to be famous if people generally liked me - I would hate to be famous if I was disliked.

Also, how rich are we talking about? I would love to be well off, but if I was extremely rich I’d try getting rid of that shit as fast I could. Keeping vast amounts of wealth is terrible for the economy.

Amount of Sleep: I try sleeping 7 and a half hours a day. Key word being try.

Lucky number: I don’t know, three? I like three.

What are you wearing: Jeans, a t-shirt, a giant sweater that used to be my uncle’s and flip-flops

Dream Job: Impossible to pick one. Super Sexy Succesful Pastry Chef™ ; stay at home mom; mad scientist; script supervisor; farmer; novelist; artifact hunter. I want to do all the things!

Dream Trip: I would love to visit Madeira. My grandparents on my mother’s side are from there, and my grandmother went back on a trip recently, and she was really touched. I’d love to see it for myself one day.

If you were an animal what would you be: But I AM and aminal!!

If I could choose? A tardigrade, maybe? Fuckers are resilient.

If we’re talking personality, maybe a deer?

I like being human, don’t ask me these questions Dx

Favourite Food: Chicken Lasagna.

Favourite Books: Harry Potter; A Series of Unfortunate Events; Coraline; American Gods; Good Omens; (what I’ve read of) Discworld; Pride & Prejudice; Nothanger Abbey; Wuthering Heights; and others I must be forgetting.

Favourite Movies: The original Disney Beauty and the Beast; Lilo and Stitch; No Country For Old Men; The Ballad of Buster Scruggs; District 9; Snowpiercer; Rashomon; Casablanca; Coraline; Labyrinth; For a Few Dollars More; The Good, The Bad and The Ugly; all the Kung Fu Panda Series; Shrek 1 and 2; Kiki’s Delivery Service; Spirtied Away; There Will Be Blood; The Hunchback of Notredame (1939); The Shawshank Redemption; The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and other movies I must be forgetting.

Tagging: @searchforanotherway, @nastybuckybarnes, @jtargaryen18... Other people I would tag I know have already been tagged xD

[aithne]

(Illume) Tomika's Letters 7/20 - 7/27: Skyhome

7/20/1583 at sea, leaving Miyazaki

Dear Lady Yukiko,

I know you've just left, but events today were so extraordinary that I felt as if I had to write you right away. It's not the same without you here; Panda appears to be doing the samurai equivalent of moping, the kitsune's been quite touchy (though whether that has anything to do with your departure is anyone's guess, really), and even my husband is not quite his usual charming self.

I have thought about your advice, by the way. I am trying to put it into action, but I fear the bold move may be beyond me for the moment. We will see, though.

Before he left, Akechi transferred five parts of the spirit he carries into Funitsu's orb. I feel a little left out, honestly, being one of the few among our company without a piece of the spirit. The transfer of the spirits, however, has caused the orb to gain strange new powers, which he has not quite puzzled out entirely yet. Or if he has, he has not yet told me.

I was also present, after Akechi and you left through the mirror for Kyoto, for the discussion of who was going to take what place in the Scorpions and, especially, the Black Hand. The librarian, as you have warned me to call him, has been declared the head, the person who provided Funitsu with his list of our enemies is the Second, and Funitsu offered the position of Third to Winter.

Winter accepted, and then turned right around and handed the position to Tadaki! At the same time, he handed his staff to the Sparrow. An extraordinary look crossed Tadaki's face, and he said, "That's....interesting..."

And Winter laughed, a little. He said, "My time here is done; I just needed to hand the staff off to a successor before I faded away. Hiroshi, I wish I could have stayed with you longer, but you'll do fine on your own. Tell Panda that I will miss her. And now, goodbye."

With that, his form faded until he was transparent and, then, gone. We all looked at each other, confused and silent, and then we all started speaking at once, trying to figure out what had just happened. Reiko went and fetched Panda, since she been out of the room during the discussion of the Black Hand. She was holding her orb with one hand and frowning. "That's...odd."

I happened to be standing next to her, and asked, "What is?"

"Tadaki's not there. He's just in that staff. Just like Winter was. How interesting."

Tadaki, for his part, was grumping and saying that the hengenyokai could have asked before he gave him the staff. Funitsu asked, "Would you have said yes?"

"Of course not!"

"Well, then, that's why he didn't ask. Welcome to the Hand, Tadaki."

I am pretty sure those were hengenyokai curses the Sparrow spat before changing into his bird form and flying off, presumably to have a good sulk.

Panda was still looking around, orb in hand. She pointed at the librarian's leg. "That, too, is odd."

The librarian looked alarmed, and asked, "What's wrong with my leg?"

"You have the tattoo wakizashi on that leg, do you not? Something appears to be spreading from it."

Both Funitsu and Reiko were looking curiously at the librarian's leg now. He took the tattoo off, pulling the sword away from his leg, but it failed to stop or even slow down the spread of the magic. Oddly enough, that leg seemed to be thicker and better muscled than the other.

After some examination, it was determined that each of the wakizashis that we carry that turn into tattoos has the crest of a clan on it--Funitsu had the Scorpion sword by sheer happenstance, Tadaki had the Dragon (which he gave to Haku, since the staff Winter gave him was by far a superior weapon), and the librarian had the Unicorn one.

The sword was changing him to suit itself, it seemed. It was changing him into one of the barbarian Unicorns. The change is happening swiftly, and within the next day or so it should be complete. A strange upset for our clever archivist.

We sail north, along the western coast, tonight. We'll be searching for Skyhome, since we have the entire key now, and perhaps try to contact the ship Shadow of the Scorpion.

One more note that I found interesting, if not useful--I happened to be standing by Reiko when Panda came to her with a message. She said, "I did as you asked. There is something very strange going on with Ito, as you suspected. It seems as if his kitsune spirit is actually female, but he's been bound permanently in male form. The kitsune in him fights, trying to become what it is meant to be, but the spell on him seems to bind him well."

Reiko nodded and thanked Panda, her eyes distant. She grows strange, Yukiko. She grows very strange indeed. Though I have not known her nearly as long as you, I think that the periods of lucidity between bouts of madness are growing; but at the same time sanity seems a relative term. This evening, she even told my husband that he should keep the fact that Hirohito, your brother-in-law, is unmarried in mind; if we needed to make another marriage alliance, he would be a good candidate.

Funitsu raised his eyebrows. "And who do you propose marrying him off to, Reiko?"

She shrugged. "I was thinking the Unicorn, myself. A closer alliance with Storming Bear wouldn't be a bad thing."

"You want to marry Hirohito off to a barbarian?"

"It's just a possibility. I mentioned it because I simply wanted to pass the thought along. I am a politican, Funitsu. You never overlook the opportunity to strengthen a shaky alliance. As it is, the Unicorns may not go to war for us. With a marriage alliance in place...they very well might."

She then walked off, silently, leaving my husband looking a bit stunned. He seems to have a lot on his mind, these days; and I fear I am but the least of his thoughts.

Let Akechi know that his many-great grandmother seems to be intent on marrying his brother off. Hirohito is a bit old to still be unmarried, I seem to recall.

We've a strong wind sailing us along. And away we go, north.

Warmest regards, Soshi Tomika

P.S. My new family name still fits strangely. I believe that is the first time I have ever written it.

How far fate takes us, indeed.

7/23/1583 at sea

Dear Lady Yukiko,

Such an exciting day! I tell you, a rousing battle always does wonderful things for my spirits. My father used to say that it was too bad that I took so after my mother in body, for I have a samurai's soul and love of action. He said I would have made a wonderful samurai-ko, like Panda. Unfortunately, being slight of build and not particularly strong, I was destined for the wu jen school instead.

All things considered, I think it's worked out so far. But I do love the opportunity to fight.

About noon, the crow's nest called down that there were three ships on the horizon--two before us, merchant vessels, and one behind us, a strange flesh-colored ship. We tacked hard to port, but the ship followed us rather than the merchant vessels, which disappeared quickly in the distance.

We put up full sail and commenced running while we tried to asses the situation. Panda was scrutinizing the ship with her orb, and said, "That ship...is alive."

Gryphon went to go look. When he came back, he said, "I sang! I sang to it. And it sang back! It says it's hurt or it needs help. We need to help it! Let's go help it!"

Panda asked, patiently, "What's hurt, Gryphon?"

"The ship! The ship is hurt. And it has one of the people who wear things like he does on it." He was indicating Funitsu with one clawed forefoot.

We cross-referenced some notes that my husband had, and figured out that the ship was called the Shrike, which meant that the person on the ship was called General Hikaru. The notes said he was a "problem specialist"; we appear to be the sort of problem men like him are sent to solve.

After some time running from the ship, a clever plan was hatched. We would use the three wakizashi that cut holes in reality to quietly gain entrance to the ship. We would then kill the general, the wu jen, and the ninja who we saw in Funitsu's orb, the far-seeing one. The ship would be ours, then.

On occasion, our plans work out. This was one of those occasions. We gated into the living ship, which was an odd ship indeed--the walls were warm and almost pulsed with life.

We reached the control room, where we knew our targets were, and took out the two guards on the door with a minimum of fuss. It was the first time we'd seen the librarian in action in his new form, and he was indeed most effective as a fighter. Somewhat more so than he used to be, as a matter of fact.

Reiko opened the door, unleashing what I recognized as a Shatter spell, and most of us charged into the room. The ninja was nowhere to be seen until he dropped down on Gryphon's back, but Haku took care of him quite handily, his head going flying and nearly knocking Reiko into the control webbing. The wu jen, nearly dead, dropped a frostball at his own feet. Funitsu took quite a blow from that and went down, but Reiko kneeled and kissed his cheek, waking him. (I had an irrational bout of jealousy, though I quickly quelled it. The fact that the kitsune kisses people to heal them is still a trifle disturbing.) Finally, the general went down, and the day--and the boat--was ours.

Gryphon spent some time communing with the ship, and said that it rather liked people, but it disliked being forced to harm others when it wasn't defending itself. We asked it to follow us for a while, and it assented.

Reiko tried climbing into the control chair, which she'd been utterly dying to do during the battle but in a rare show of wisdom had waited until after the fighting was over. She cast a healing spell from the chair--and the ship healed! The others tried the chair, and for them the ship changed. For Tadaki, the ship became narrower, sparrowlike. For Haku, the hull became thicker and the defenses grew stronger, and so on. It is a marvelous thing, this ship, called Shrike.

The key to Skyhome is still leading us north. I am sure I'll write when we get there.

Subtlety seems to not be working on Funitsu. I will persist in this course of action for a few weeks and see if he notices, however. The samurai-ko's temper is shorter than I'm used to; is it possible that she caught a child in the pair of times she has been with her husband? She seems somewhat anxious about his safety, even going so far as to mention aloud that she would find it pleasant if we stopped by Akita, if our travels take us so far north.

Warmest regards, Soshi Tomika

7/27/1583 Skyhome

Dear Lady Yukiko,

We are here, at last! Though I know you already know this (and, hopefully, Akechi has told you the most surprising thing I will reveal herein), I thought I would write you with the story of how we found it.

The key began pulling Reiko to the east as we reached the town of M--. (The town, like the name of the librarian, is of course not to be committed to paper.) We disembarked and started out on foot into the hills surrounding the town. Reiko left Ito behind after much argument from him; he stays close by her whenever he can, for what may be obvious reasons. A pretty boy, but so very dangerous.

Into the foothills we went, until we came to a box canyon with a shimmering shield over it. those of us with better eyes than I could just make out two people moving around. Funitsu pulled out the odd gaijin spyglass that he picked up before I joined the group (well, was ambushed, kidnapped, and forced to marry Funitsu more or less at swordpoint, but let's let bygones by bygones) and said that there was a samurai and a wu jen at the shield, and the samurai was trying to hit the shield and having no luck.

Gryphon yodeled, "Home! Home! Almost home!"

With the distance cut to nothing by those wakizashis, we attacked the pair at the shield. we were doing brilliantly, if I do say so myself, until Tadaki shouted, "Hey, Reiko, behind you!"

Funitsu's Faery Fire outlined the shape of a large oni about four meters away from Reiko and closing. Reiko tried to run but the oni was faster and caught her. The first blow from its claws tore the shoulder of her kimono away, leaving deep furrows of bleeding flesh behind. The second blow sent her sailing through the shield.

And on the other side, she landed, eyes closed, bleeding into the dust.

Damn kitsune. Never any use during a battle. And she had the key--and was bleeding to death where none of us could reach her. The oni, running after her, smacked into the shield.

We all looked at each other, and then Gryphon charged into the shield. I expected him to bounce off, but he sailed right through, grabbing Reiko, disappearing through a shimmering portal on the other side of the shield.

The oni screamed, seemingly baffled. Panda stepped carefully around it, trying to circle it, evidently wanting to get the shield to her back.

Then the oddest thing happened. Panda got too close--and accidentally stepped through the shield.

Dodging the oni, we very quickly determined that Panda could get through the shield and the rest of us could not, unless we were holding on to Panda. In short order, we passed through the shield and through the door. We were met on the other side by Gryphon, who was very agitated, and asking to see the mirror.

Haku held out the mirror and he ran into it. Confused, we looked up to see Reiko lying beneath the paw of a very large, evidently older gryphon, asking her, "Are you all right?"

She opened her eyes and squinted upwards. "Eh. Everything seems to be in working order. I suppose I shouldn't call you Kittycat, eh?"

The gryphon was saved from having to respond by our Gryphon's arrival back through the mirror. "Panda! Panda! You're the chosen one! Akechi said! You're the chosen one!"

Panda, I am afraid, gaped a bit. Gryphon has that effect on everyone, sooner or later. "I'm a chosen...what?"

"And none too soon, either." The older gryphon's voice sounded, and he got up from where he stood. "There's not much time, the last air spirit is dying. Let's go."

We could feel the ground beneath our feet shuddering, and I recalled the tale that Gryphon told me once, that Skyhome was a city in the sky, held up by air spirits...the last of which was, evidently, almost dead. And when the last died, the city would fall from the sky...

We hurried.

We came to a grove, and Panda was brought before an old, old woman, looking like nothing more than a husk of a being. But she smiled brightly when she saw Panda. "You're here! Praise be. Quickly, child, come forward."

Panda did so, kneeling by the old woman. She said, "I'm sorry. I don't understand. I'm not an air spirit, I'm a spirit of the bamboo. How am I the chosen one?"

The old woman laughed. "Ah, child. You're more than you think. You see, Akechi, when he came here as a very young man, was changed into a spirit of the air. We sent him back to earth, there to find a Bamboo woman to mate and have a child with. That child is you; you have both, but the air is stronger, and it called you here."

She blinked, raising one hand to her mouth. I have never seen her betray surprise before, and I doubt I ever will again, but in that moment she was deeply startled. "Akechi is my father?"

"The one and the same. But the change left him unable to have children with human women, much, I believe, to his sorrow. We all liked Akechi so much. It grieved us that he would not be able to have his own human children. Though I have to say, you seem to have turned out all right."

Funitsu muttered in my ear, "Then Yukiko--"

"Akechi has to know, and more than that, he has to approve. Sssh."

The old woman was still speaking. "And so I will transfer my power to you, and you will be the new anchor for Skyhome. And your children, and their children, will be linked to this place. I hope you like it, dear. It's yours."

And with those word, she laid her hand on Panda's hand, muttered a word, and faded away. Her robes fell to the floor, empty.

We sleep tonight in Skyhome, and I am sure that Panda will have questions for Akechi, when next she sees him.

I heard Reiko mutter, "Are all of these my grandchildren? Ah, kami."

I certainly hope that Akechi let you know before you get this letter. I am sure you have a few questions of your own. As do we all, but none deserve the answers more than you.

Warmest regards (and best of luck beating Akechi about the head and shoulders if this news comes as a surprise, because he will very well deserve it!), Soshi Tomika

(play date 8/8/2004)

Quotes:

"He has a fine sense of tumor." --Laura

"Wait a second. Barbarian Librarian?" --Derek

"I rolled a 4. I go on an 18." --Bryan, showing off his shiny new Init bonus

(Laura puts dice down the back of Kris' pants) "I'm still missing a D20..." --Ray 

"We're playing musical chair." --Laura

"So the first in the Black Hand is...a barbarian." --Derek

"Hiroshi SMASH!" --various people

"The dandelions are taunting me." --Derek

"Mmmm mm mmm mph mm mm mm!" "How many times do I have to tell you not to play with your food?" (dropping Reiko) "It's not food, it's friend! It's broken, fix it?" "Are you sure?" --Gryphon and his Grandfather

[a-fucking-velociraptor]

Q+A! 😃

Rules: Tag 9 people you want to know better. Answer the provided questions.

Thank you @one-girl-a-dozen-fairies for tagging me!! 

I was tagged on my sideblog, but I’ll do this one here cause I think it’s fun 

Nickname: I don’t have a cool one tbh, people call me Ju cause it’s shorter. The closest thing is that my grandma calls me yoyo (really long story)

Starsign: Libra

What I’m wearing: Jeans and a salmon blouse with a couple of tigers on it. 

Dream job: working with animals on a conservation center

Favourite quote: “I’m dying by inches, from not having anyone to talk to about insects” - Charles Darwin

Favourite Food: My mom’s tiramisu 

Favourite Movie: Oh boy...absolutetly can’t choose just one. I love How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. 

Favourite Sport: I don’t actually practice anything, but I love trekking. 

Dream Trip: The Okavango delta (I have this dream since I was 6. Can’t wait to graduate so I can start making my own money and save enough to go there)

Languages: Portuguese and English. Now I’m also learning Libras (brazilian ASL)

Favourite Song: oh man... also so hard to choose because it’s always changing. But one that is always on the list in Bo-Rap, so I guess that’s the one?

Favourite Book: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

What do I hate: Not to sound to millenial but... conservatives 

Random fact: My greatest talent is grabbing things with my foot. 

Describe yourself as Aesthetic things: Sitting on a field during spring when is sunny but just a little bit chill and a bee passes buzzing while Africa, by toto is playing in the background. 

Do I get asks?: Sometimes, but I’m not great at answering them (sorry to anybody who ever felt I was ignoring you. I wasn’t, I’m just a mess of a person who thinks is going to be akward to respond to your lovely messages after months - again, I’m so sorry)

Other Blogs: My art blog: @procyon-art, my queen sideblog: @good-bi-everybody and a blog of animals/nature stuff: @cultured-vullture

Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff

Patronus: Otter

Favourite Characters: Hiccup (from httyd) and Newt Scamander (hate the franchise, love the character)

Relationship Status: Single 

Top Three Ships: the Flying Duchman’s, the Black Pearl and this little beaut 

Lipstick or Chapstick?: none 

Spell out your name in songs:

Javert’s suicide (not a great start eh?)

Under pressure 

Liar 

I’m Going Slightly Mad

Another One Bites the Dust  (those were the first that came to mind... as you can see I’ve been listening to a lot of Queen lately)

I’m tagging @do-you-hear-the-bloggers-sing, @jellyadult, @consultingzoologist, @hard-yearned-wisdom, @star-spangled-jackass, @i-am-an-adult-i-swear and whoever read this and feels like doing it! 

[fuckinghomepage]

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018

IT'S FUCKING THURSDAY. DID YOU KNOW A GROUP OF PANDAS IS CALLED AN EMBARASSMENT?

WORDS OF WISDOM OF THE FUCKING DAY:

DO THE BEST YOU CAN UNTIL YOU KNOW BETTER. THEN WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, DO BETTER.

PERSON OF THE FUCKING DAY:

MOTHERFUCKING MAD JACK. more>>

EDUCATE YOUR IGNORANT ASS:

HOW THE FUCK TO TAKE NOTES. more>>

FUCKING MIND-BLOWING BOOK OF THE DAY:

START YOUR OWN DAMN PODCAST. more>>

USEFUL SHIT OF THE GODDAMN DAY:

PROTECT YOUR FUCKING INTERNET PRIVACY. more>>

APP OF THE FUCKING DAY:

PRACTICE YOUR MEDITATION AND BREATHING. more>>

AWESOME-AS-SHIT VIDEO OF THE DAY:

HOW TO MAKE HELLA FRIENDS. more>>

SWEET-ASS PICTURE OF THE DAY:

CLIFFS OF FUCKING MOHER. more>>

[anewdirection-ff]

What would each character consider to be their spirit animal?

I don’t know a lot about spirit animals, but I looked around online, so I don’t know if all my information is accurate. To get these I did a quiz as each of the characters and then I looked into the animal they got to see if I agree. This ended up being more who I think their spirit animal should be, not so much what animal they might feel kinship with.

Hazel - Doing the test Hazel got the Owl, which symbolises wisdom and the ability to see things that are hidden from others. It’s interesting that the owl is symbolic of exploring the unknown, while the unknown is something specifically mentioned as scary to Hazel.

Emilia - I’m going with a raccoon for Emilia as it represents illusion and self-defence. The raccoon is also linked to secrecy and questioning, which also fits her arc.

Arcelia - I think a fox is good for Celia. Cunning is a big thing for the fox and the ability to find your way out of a tricky situation. I think Wolf could be good for her too, with it’s symbolism of sharp intelligence and an appetite for freedom.

Kalyani - Doing the test Kalyani got the wolf, and I’m actually kind of happy with that. The wolf is all about instincts and I think Kalyani relies on her intuition a lot. The wolf also has an aspect of feeling threatened or not trusting yourself or others that fits her.

Tobias - I think a bear is a good one for Tobias. A key aspect of the bear is healing and I think that’s something Bai needs. I think he would feel a little awkward about it, because the bear also symbolises courage and tells you it’s time to stand for your beliefs.

Stella - I think the Panda is good for Stella. It represents gentle strength, nurturing ability and calm determination.

Dakota - Dakota got the wolf on the test, and I think it’s an okay match for him. The aspect of feeling threatened, or not trusting in yourself, feels very right for him.

Katrina - I like the Panther for Katrina. It symbolises an ability to know the dark and reclaiming your power.

Brielle - Brielle got the turtle on the test, and I can see how that makes sense. The turtle has a lot to do with persistence, staying grounded and emotional strength and understanding. It also deals with pacing yourself, which might be something Brielle could learn from.

Winchester - This one might seem a little weird, but I like the Raven for Chessie. It was the aspect of “honouring ancestors” that got me thinking of Chessie. Other aspects I think connect Chessie to the Raven is the introspection and shapeshifting associated with the Raven.

Iris - Iris got the snake. I sort of see how this makes sense. The snakes focuses a lot on unconscious drives and I don’t think Iris is completely aware of who she does a lot of the things that she does. The snake promotes personal growth, and I think Iris needs that.

Frank - Frank got the deer, which I’m not mad about. The deer has a very gentle side, and I think that makes sense, there’s a sensitivity and innocence to the deer that works for Frank. I think he could learn from this spirit animal that being gentle does not mean he needs to be defenseless. There’s also something to be said of the deer as prey, and apparently it takes the deer time to trust its environment or the people around.

Levi - Levi also got the bear, and I like it for him. I think the courage, strong grounding force and confidence are very natural for Levi. I think the healing side is something he might also need to work on.

[khun-sam]

i’m so mad that i got scammed and it had to happen in the same very week that i got my wisdom tooth pulled out, i mean i’m still looking like a freaking panda and now i have the deal with this freaking guy who scammed me