#simultaneously but also uniquely

[astriiformes]

Friend groupchat has been doing TOH finale analysis all afternoon and @thesixthstar made the comment "Luz is the Collector's Azura" and I am going to be rotating that one in my mind for. A long time. Forever maybe.

[moongothic]

Seen at least one (1) person complain about Crocodile losing his "unique faceshape" (now having the same facial structure that 90% of OP men have) after episode 1086 came out and like

To be fair, yes, the shape of his head HAS changed since his first appearance in The Year 2000. The thing is, Toei's latest Crocodile Offering is frankly more in-line with how Oda drew Crocodile during Impel Down and Marineford than ever before. Like yeah he looks different, but this change isn't new

But that comment really did make me think about how FUNNY it is just how different Croc really looks from his first appearance, like. The evolution in how Oda draws the bastard is so facinating to me

These are from chapters 155, 160 and 205 respectively.

No massive changes happening here in the middle of the arc, but you can kinda tell that Oda was definitely still figuring out how this asshole was supposed to look as he got further into the Alabasta (which is perfectly normal), which just makes That First Appearance look even funnier with time because. Who the fuck is that lmaooo

But then we get to see him briefly during Miss Goldenweek's cover story, this being from the cover of chapter 413! All things considdered, bastard hasn't changed that much, still looks pretty much the same as in Alabasta. His head is maybe a little less elongated than before but still, chin is quite pointy still

And now we're in Impel Down at chapter 540. Again, dude looks about the same as he did before...

But it really doesn't take long for Oda to start reshaping this bastard's entire head at this point

Chapters 544, 546, 578, and cover of chapter 584

The chin is easily the most obvious part, but you can tell Oda kind of defaulted to giving him that same ol' evenly square-ish head most his conventionally attractive characters have during these story arcs (instead of the elongated shape he originally had).

And then we have the latest appearances, from 1082 and 1100

I do feel like comparing these to what's come before would be a little unfair considdering his health and eyesight and how those affect the artwork itself, but. They're there, for comparison's sake

But the point is still there. Crocodile's face shape has changed since his first appearance, but it's not like Toei was behind that, the change was (mostly) gradual and from Oda himself. And it mostly happened in 2008, so it's not new by any means either

So really, all Toei did was just update his character model because ⬆️ is more accurate than ⬇️ for One Piece right now

Regardless. The sheer difference between the two is hysterical to me

[ricksanchezbignaturals]

i just think it's really funny when people try to argue with headcanons. bro you're not gonna Facts and Logic your way out of rick sanchez being trans. rick is trans because i am trans and i like him.

[doctorweebmd]

me, watching any shounen with any protagonist: ok but izuku midoriya is better

[notmoreflippingelves]

Obsessed with the dynamic (not romantic, not platonic, but a secret third thing--both and yet neither) between two characters who knew and cared about each deeply years ago when they were both younger and life was much less complicated.

But then, tragic, transformative circumstances separated them. Assuming that this separation was certainly permanent, because how could it not be?

And yet, somehow finding each other again years later, and sometimes they aren't sure whether the reunion that they once longed for with every fiber of their beings is a blessing, a curse, a joke, or a punishment.

Because they've both changed in the intervening years--largely because of the hellish circumstances that caused their separation. They've both changed completely and irrevocably, even if one of them has changed much more noticeably and dramatically than the other to the point of seeming a complete stranger. It is about leaning to see and appreciate all the things that have changed about the other and all the things that have not changed. It's about learning to reconcile beloved, often rose-tinted memories with the complex, yet-equally-compelling reality of the person those memories are about.

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Victor’s Glacier Date (Eng Translation)

⌚Warning⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a date, 雪川之约, that is yet to be released in the global server! ♡

[Translation Under The Cut]

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

–

✧ [Chapter 1] ✧

“If you should find the time to speak, Then speak to me I’d never keep, You from your…”

The brisk music flows from the stereo, but it’s unable to wash off the slightly low-spirited atmosphere in the car.

MC: [whimpering noise]  woo woo woo…

Victor: [sighs helplessly]  You’ve been “woo woo-ing” for ten minutes.

Victor: Even if you keep on whimpering, the service area won’t appear any sooner.

MC: I’m just a little depressed. If only I had paid a bit more attention…

–

[FLASHBACK BEGINS]

Three hours ago.

Victor: Are you sure you want to switch with me?

MC: Absolutely!

I bar the car door, speaking righteously.

MC: You were busy dealing with LFG’s affairs till the middle of the night last night and didn’t even get a proper rest. And then you drove all morning today.

MC: Keeping the matter of sound driving in mind, I should share the burden a little too.

MC: And you didn’t let me drive when we went to the desert the last time. So, shouldn’t you satisfy me this time?

–

[Tidbits]: MC is referring to their “Long Journey Date” in EN~

–

MC: Will you, please? Please, please, Victor… don’t you believe in my skills on the highway?

I blink hard and express my sincerity to Victor. He looks at me for a moment, sighing.

Victor: …we’ll switch back after getting to the next service area.

MC: No problem!

I gleefully pull the front passenger door open for Victor and salute him, brimming with confidence.

MC: Passenger, please fasten your seatbelt. Let’s continue our happy trip~

–

After the successful completion of our self-drive tour to the desert last time, Victor and I planned our next trip.

Since we already saw the scorching yellow sands, this time, we’ve planned to head to Northwest China to see the icy, crystal-clear glacier.

Right now, since I’ve got the rare opportunity to be Victor’s long-distance driver, it’s only natural that I must display my most professional side.

However, to be on the safe side, Victor is still occasionally voicing the pointers for me.

Victor: There’s a big car ahead. Steer left.

MC: Mm, I won’t drive in parallel with it.

Victor: Be careful not to squeeze in when turning right... very good.

Victor: It seems that a certain someone really doesn’t need me to remind her anything.

MC: That’s for sure! You can rest easy~

Victor smiles, relaxes his shoulders, and leans back in his seat.

Accompanied by the smooth road and the relaxing music, it doesn’t take long before the breathing next to me becomes light and even.

I quietly give Victor a sidelong glance. His eyes are closed, and a relaxed curve has now crested between his always-taut brows.

I turn down the volume of the navigation and shift away the wind direction of the air conditioner in silence.

MC: The next service area is still forty minutes away. Just have a good rest for forty minutes, big dummy.

Forty minutes later.

MC: The service area is packed!? That…

I look at the electronic signboard standing on the roadside and the densely packed vehicles in the service area ahead. The feeling finally dawns on me that we’ve arrived on a popular tourist route.

The highway is unlike the desert roads from before. On the desert roads, we could stop at any time to look for directions, but this now requires me to make an immediate judgment.

Victor, next to me, is still asleep. So I hesitate for a moment before turning the steering wheel and continuing to move forward.

MC: ...alright, I’ll let you rest for a little longer then.

One and a half hours later.

MC: Service area... service area...

MC: Darn it, did I miss this one just now by forgetting to get off the bridge...

MC: Where can I turn to change direction... oh come on, I’m already so far off to make a turn back...

MC: Whatever. Let’s leave it be. He’s still asleep anyway, so I won’t just tell him––

Victor: Who said I am asleep?

MC: !!!

I don’t know when but Victor has already opened his eyes at some point. He takes a quick look at the gradually darkening sky outside, then sweeps his gaze over the navigation.

Victor: [adorable mixture of yawning and sighing]  I don’t remember seeing the route like this before falling asleep.

MC: That... I just took a little detour...

MC: But don’t you worry. I’ll make sure to strictly follow the navigation guidance from here on and will drive back to the service area!

Navigation: 80 km to the service area. Please continue straight ahead.

Victor: ...80 km. It will be dark by the time we get back.

Hearing Victor say this, I feel even more guilty. Just as I’m about to apologize to him, I see him already reaching out to cancel the navigation.

MC: Eh?

Victor: Since this is already the case, it’d be better not to turn back. Let’s change our destination.

His tone is calm and unperturbed, as though my mistakes are nothing worth mentioning in his eyes.

MC: But we had planned to see the Mige Glacier on this trip. We won’t be able to see it if we change our destination...

Victor: I remember that the glacier was simply one of the plans. We originally started out intending to spend our time on this self-drive tour comfortably, am I right?

Victor: If there’s a “pouty teapot” woo-woo-wooing next to me the whole distance, I won’t feel comfortable.

As he says this, I immediately deflate my mouth, causing Victor to laugh out loud. Subsequently, the originally low-spirited atmosphere also loosens up.

MC: So, where are we heading next?

Victor: We still have plenty of time anyway. As a passenger, I’m at the complete mercy of the “driver” and must comply with her plans.

He pauses, raising an eyebrow as he adds.

Victor: A certain someone audaciously dared to venture out on the desert roads. And now, when the signal is good, and the road is smooth, she’s afraid?

MC: Says who?

With such a little provocation from Victor, my enthusiasm is rekindled. I sit up straight again and step on the accelerator.

MC: Eeny meenie miney mo. Wherever we’re headed, that will be our destination for the night!

[FLASHBACK ENDS]

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

✧ [Chapter 2] ✧

Unburdened, I candidly choose a fork in the road relying on intuition and drive down the deviated road.

After turning around a mountain, a stream of beautiful lights appears before our eyes in the twilight.

Colorful flags fluttering on the roadside seem to guide us to the small town in the embrace of the mountains.

MC: “Welcome to LeGong”... Victor, there’s a small town up ahead!

MC: Let’s just get some rest there, shall we?

I breathe a long sigh of relief at the thought of finally being able to rest and dash towards the brilliant rays unrelentingly.

—

After driving another two kilometers down the road, other vehicles from the nearby streets begin to converge, and before long, the entire route is blocked.

MC: Oh, come on…

A vague sense of foreboding sprouts in my heart, and sure enough, several youngsters dressed in local clothes trot over a few moments later and wave vigorously at the vehicles behind.

Youngster: Go, go!

Victor: Hello, is there something wrong at the front?

Youngster: What’s wrong! It’s just the hotels in the town are all full! Don’t stop! Go, go, go!

Victor: All full? There isn’t even a single room?

Youngster: Gosh, we didn’t have anyone coming here before. But no idea why it became so popular this year, and people have been coming like a swarm of bees!

MC: [sarcastically] …did we accidentally arrive at some online celebrity’s scenic spot or something?

Victor and I look at each other, helplessness rushing in our eyes. He contemplates for a moment before calling out to the youngster again.

Victor: Excuse me, we have another question. How far is the nearest town from here?

Youngster: It’s still about a hundred kilometers or so, I think. But all these cars must be heading there now, so it’s likely that there won’t be any place to stay.

Youngster: Oh right, if you guys have the equipment, you can drive to the east.

Youngster: There is a new camping site ten kilometers from here, and there shouldn’t be much of a crowd!

Victor thanks him, and the youth goes off to busy himself with clearing the traffic at the back. I poke him cautiously.

MC: Why don’t we go to the campsite then? From what he said, perhaps we won’t find any place to stop if we keep driving…

Victor: Okay. Get off, and let’s switch places.

MC: What for? We have ten kilometers to go. I can…

Before I can retort, Victor has already opened the car door and stepped out.

First, he goes to the back seat and brings out a black cat doll. And then he skirts around and knocks on my window.

Victor: Vent whatever frustration you have on it. And now, the autocratic capitalist is asking you to give up the driver’s seat.

With that, Victor’s finger is already pressed against my lips. As his finger pad makes its way downward, only then do I realize––

I’ve turned into a “pouty teapot” again!

MC: [makes sobbing noise]  …woo!

–

I know clearly in my heart that Victor is trying to ease my mood. After all, misfortunes coming one after another like this have indeed made me a little frustrated.

When I get into the front passenger seat, the black cat doll in my hand becomes a fitting outlet to vent my feelings, and I continue to poke it back and forth indignantly.

My index finger dips into the soft fur of the black cat doll, again and again.

I sneak a glance at Victor. His side profile is as calm as ever, as though all the mishaps just now never even happened.

–

As we get off the highway and wait at the red light, I softly make a “humph” sound, my evil fingers furtively shifting from the doll to the side.

MC: Poking once… poking twice…

First, I poke Victor’s cufflinks. Second, I poke the back of Victor’s hand. And the third time, he’s already clutched my fingertips before they even touch his skin.

Victor: Can’t you behave a little bit?

Victor: I especially gave you a doll. But poking it wasn’t enough, and now you have to mess with the driver?

His thumb runs upwards, gently drawing a punishing scrape against the thin skin on the inner side of my wrist. I give a startled yelp and immediately withdraw my hand.

MC: Humph!

—

Mercifully, we haven’t had any more turmoil along the rest of the journey, and we arrive at the camping base before darkness completely veils everything.

As that local person said, there really aren’t many people here. There was only a group of backpackers outside and a few scattered RVs stationed before we arrived here.

After communicating with the person in charge of the camp, we begin to set up our camping equipment.

When we finally get into the tent, I practically fling myself onto the sleeping bag at once.

MC: At long last, I can lie down…

Before I can finish my deep sigh, I feel a shadow coming up as it covers my head.

Victor supports himself on his elbow on my side, his breaths landing on my cheek.

Victor: Why are you sighing again?

MC: I thought my “eenie meenie miney mo” would be able to pick a unique and unmatched route belonging to the two of us.

MC: But in the end, I didn’t expect that there would still be people everywhere we go.

Victor: Are you upset about there being too many people or about not being able to find a unique and unmatched route?

MC: Both… after all, the opportunity of being able to make arrangements for you is so rare, and you must have hopes for being at least a little surprised.

MC: Why don’t I take a look if there’s any scenic spot nearby where we can go?

Just as I’m about to fish out my phone to search the map, Victor holds my hand down and slowly pulls the phone out of my hand.

Victor: It’s too late. Don’t look.

MC: But…

I still try to take back the phone, but Victor has already clamped my wrists irresistibly, tossing my phone on the other side of the tent while doing so.

Victor: A surprise that is sought after deliberately is not called a “surprise.” If a certain someone can rest peacefully now, that will be a surprise for me.

I open my mouth to protest, but Victor doesn’t give me the slightest opportunity to do so, blocking up all my words directly and efficiently.

Trapped in his breath and arms, that little anxiety of mine gradually dissipates, and I close my eyes.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

✧ [Chapter 3] ✧

Perhaps the fatigue of the long drive during the day has done it, but unexpectedly, I have an unusually sound night’s sleep.

That is until I feel something cool brushing against my cheeks. I can’t help myself from sneezing, opening my eyes in a daze.

I don’t know when, but the tent door has been opened at some point, bringing not only the glittering light into the dusky tent but also a refreshingly cool temperature.

A tall figure is sitting in the doorway of the tent, head lowered as he looks at his phone, shielding me from most of the cold wind outside.

Seemingly hearing my sneeze, he puts down his phone and turns his head, smiling.

Victor: [laughs so preciously]  Willing to wake up now?

MC: Victor, why did you wake up so early… WOW, IT’S A GLACIER!!!

The sight in front of me causes my words to take a turn, and I can’t help but gape in excitement––

Behind Victor are awe-inspiringly lofty snow-capped mountains!

The snow-capped mountains are majestic and magnificent. The sunlight draws the outlines of their continuously undulating edges in a golden hue, reminiscent of a landscape that can only be seen in oil paintings.

If the wide-open tent door is regarded as a frame, Victor is like the guardian of this glacier, just like the most crowning touch of the scenery to bring it to life.

Too excited to put on clothes, I simply wrap myself in the sleeping bag and arch up to him.

MC: How come there’s a glacier here?

Victor: I asked someone at the camp just earlier. He said that the glacier in front of us is called “Yukun Glacier,” and the campsite was developed precisely for the view here.

Victor: He was very surprised when he heard me ask, probably wondering how could a tourist come here without knowing anything about the area.

MC: Pffft… that’s an accident on my part, isn’t it?

Victor: From a certain perspective, you did reach your goal by accident–– “to see the glacier.”

Victor casually smooths down my bangs which are in a complete mess, smiling.

Victor: Are you surprised now?

Within a split second, all the depression from yesterday vanishes like smoke in thin air. I wrap my arms around Victor’s neck and give him a big kiss.

MC: Of course! I’m too surprised!

Victor: Take your arms back. Aren’t you afraid of freezing?

MC: Just for a little bit. I’m not cold one bit~

MC: Watching the glacier in the early morning with the person you like by your side is so romantic and beautiful. Don’t you think so, Victor~

Victor: …what’s the beauty about a certain someone being all bundled up like a caterpillar?

Despite saying so, Victor has already pulled me into his arms.

Through the layer of the sleeping bag, I can still feel how firmly Victor’s hands are clasped around my waist.

His chin is rested against my forehead while our warm breaths mingle with the cold air, the early morning kisses lingering ambiguously between our breaths.

Just as I’m thinking about spending a little more lovey-dovey moments with him, a voice suddenly resounds from not far away.

??: Excuse me, are you Mr. Victor?

Victor: [panting mixed with a surprised gasp] …!

Eagle-eyed and agile-handed, Victor immediately stuffs me back into the tent, whose clothing situation is in complete disarray.

Victor: [blushing]  Put your clothes on.

With a snort, he’s already zipped shut the tent door.

MC: HAHAHAHAHA…!

It’s very rare to see Victor in such a flustered state. I can’t help but cover my face while bursting into laughter.

My cheeks are still tinged with the heat of his breaths, and my heart is thumping at a blazing speed because of the sweetness that just came to an abrupt end.

After toning down my laughter, I put my sweater on. Very soon, the tent door is opened again, and a shadowy figure lunges on me.

MC: [sound effect of Victor kitty-pouncing on MC] …!

Unable to dodge in time, I’m captured by Victor head-on.

Victor: [alarmingly sexy, deliberately slowed down, low voice]  What were you laughing at? I could hear everything from outside.

MC: Pffftt… because the way CEO Victor got flustered earlier, it really looked like…

Victor: [and now he sulks]  Looked like what?

MC: It… it… it seemed like we were a young couple caught in the act by the head teacher at school, HAHAHAHA!

Victor: Didn’t I get flustered because a certain someone was being careless?

MC: But you didn’t reject me, did you? And you still wanted to kiss me earlier!

Victor: …

Victor chokes on his words, which is a rare sight. Clearly, he is unable to find any justifications to retort.

Victor: It was the camp’s staff member who came to see me just now.

MC: Victor, are you changing the subject?

Victor: [return of the alarmingly sexy, low voice] …you’re really getting bolder by the day.

MC: No, no, I’m all ears! Why did the staff member come to see you just now?

Not daring to continue messing with him, I immediately hold up my hands in surrender.

Victor: He said that the backpacker group was leaving today, and the cabin in the camp happened to be empty. So, we could rent it if we still wanted to spend the night.

MC: So that means we don’t need to stay in the tent?

Victor: Mm. It depends on what you wish, and if you want to stay here another day.

MC: Of course!

MC: Since we’ve already found our surprise, let’s stay another day and look for more surprises!

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

✧ [Chapter 4] ✧

After that backpacker group leaves, the glacier suddenly becomes our world consisting of only two people.

This time, we don’t intentionally search on the internet or ask around for information about the nearby attractions. We simply drive around the nearby places according to our will.

To the north of the camp is a waterlogged lake near the glacier, where we take lots and lots of photos;

To the east of the camp is an unexplored area of forest, where a little squirrel runs away with a piece of cookie from me, and then we also let it have a taste of Victor’s craftsmanship;

On the south side of the camp, we meet herdsmen who train saddle horses, and Victor also displays his equestrian skills to them;

On the west side of the camp… is the way back to LeGong. And to my surprise, there is a Sichuan restaurant in town, and the food there is unexpectedly delicious! [...]

–

[Tidbits]: Sichuan is a special Chinese cuisine originating from the Sichuan Province~

–

When the sky begins to darken gradually, and the layers of clouds are covered in a gray-blue veil once again, we return to the camping base perfectly satisfied.

The wooden cabin is indeed not luxurious compared to the lodges Victor and I have stayed in on our previous trips, but it does have all the needed facilities available.

The most special feature of this wooden cabin is that one side of the roof is made of frosted glass, which at the moment is glowing with a translucent silver light as the evening twilight filters in.

Pushing open the door, the warm airflow in the room is cozy that it immediately makes me squint my eyes.

For a split second, I suddenly feel that we are not next to the distant glacier, but have returned to the warmth of our home.

I stretch my back and turn my head with a smile.

MC: How was that? I’ve done a pretty good job at being an “aimless tour guide” today, haven’t I?

Victor: [laughs preciously] Mm. Occasionally, a certain someone’s intuition is indeed very amazing.

MC: If I ask you to choose, which was the place you liked the most among the ones we visited today?

Victor: There were things I liked in all of the places.

MC: Eh, since when do you talk with soft-soap like this?

Victor: [chuckles helplessly] It’s not soft-soap. It’s the truth.

Victor gives me a glance. Then, he browses the photo album in the camera in his hand and replies to me simultaneously.

Victor: The waves of the lake were like a fluttering skirt, the ponies were lively and hopping up and down, and the squirrel was also very cute…

Victor: So, there were things I liked in each of the places.

MC: Victor, how come I didn’t realize that you’ve become so good at aggrandized compliments lately?

Victor: [teasingly] I’m just giving aggrandized compliments to the views, nothing more.

Humph, that’s just you being duplicitous. My heart feels as sweet as if I have eaten a hundred caramel puddings. So, I don’t unmask him and just shuffle closer as I sit next to him.

MC: By the way, didn’t the herdsmen we met today say there was a snow-capped mountain around here that we could drive up to?

MC: Let’s go there tomorrow! I’m sure it will be even more magnificent that looking up at the scenery from the foot of the mountain today!

Victor: It depends on the situation. We may not be able to go tomorrow.

MC: Eh?

Victor: It’s gonna be snowing here in this area tonight. And if it snows too hard, there’s a good chance that the road to the mountain will be closed.

MC: It’s gonna be snowing tonight? So can’t we go watch the snow, then?!

Victor: [laughs softly] …so that’s your focus now?

I nod earnestly, giving him an ear-to-ear grin.

MC: Isn’t the biggest lesson I’ve learned on this trip “to take things as they come?”

MC: Even if the plan doesn’t go smoothly, we will find the interesting aspects of the not-so-good things!

Victor is stunned, then the corners of his lips bloom into a gentle and soft curve.

MC: It seems that today a certain someone is not a dummy, but a smart devil.

MC: Hehe~ And sure enough, I like it even more when you praise me so straightforwardly~

MC: Come on, let’s go see the snow!

I’m just about to pull Victor out of the door, but he points me in another direction.

Victor: We don’t need to go out. Let’s go upstairs.

He takes my hand and leads me to the attic of the wooden cabin, where there’s actually a window on the glass roof that can be opened.

Victor pushes open the window, and the rampant cold air from outside comes rushing in the next second.

MC: Ooh… so cold!

I wrap the blanket tightly around me and look out. At this moment, a tiny snowflake just happens to drift in and clings to my cufflinks.

MC: It’s really snowing!

On the windowsill, on the branches of the trees, on the tents in the camp… the snow has already accumulated in bits and pieces, drawing this place completely into a winter world.

The delicate, crystalline snow continues to flutter down in a spiral. Amid the silence of the wilderness, the only sound that can be heard is the very soft, occasional rustling of the pine forest in the distance.

Victor holds up the hurricane lamp, and a warm yellow light softens our vision.

The snowflakes descend onto the glass cover of the oil lamp and soon melt from the heat, turning into tiny frozen rivers that flow down the glass and then disappear.

At the far end of our line of sights, the glacier shining with a silvery glow has been dyed with a layer of heavy indigo, staring at us in silence.

Victor: Cold?

I subconsciously shake my head, pause halfway, and then nod again vigorously. Victor laughs and pulls me into his arms.

Victor: [laughs softly, whispering into your heart] No one will be disturbing us now. We can watch it for a long time.

I lean on Victor’s chest, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat. After a while, I softly open my mouth.

MC: Victor.

Victor: Hm?

MC: Victor~

Victor: What is it?

MC: Nothing. I just wanted to say your name. Because I think… you’re just so wonderful, extraordinarily wonderful.

MC: Even though today you said that you’d follow me to play around in the nearby places aimlessly, in reality, you already did your research on the surroundings ahead of time, didn’t you?

MC: I originally had no plans to take cookies with us, but you reminded me to do so;

MC: And when we went to the lakeside to take pictures, I was still trying to find a suitable attractive spot, but you were already in position;

MC: And that Sichuan restaurant. It rather seemed like you took me down that road at dinner time on purpose…

Victor: [laughs helplessly and a little shyly at being exposed] I don’t possess such remarkable abilities. Some of them were merely coincidences.

MC: So that means some of them were not coincidences?

Victor: [continuation x2]  I got up early today, so I just casually asked around a little more, that’s all.

Victor’s reply does not match up with my grilling, yet it has already answered all my questions.

He is always like this. He is akin to the safest backstop and insurance. Even if the path ahead is uncertain, he will steadily stand side by side with me.

My heartbeat gradually becomes one with his. Amid the quietude, it seems to be the one and only sound that knocks on my eardrums.

The snow begins to fall harder. And in the distance, we can see the flashing headlights of a car. It seems that new travelers are coming to this camping base.

MC: Victor, tomorrow I’ll get up early together with you.

Victor: Still thinking about watching the snow?

I shake my head, turn around, and bury myself in his arms, looking up with a smile on my face.

MC: Before setting off, I’d like to share the surprises we’ve found here with them too.

—

[Calls]: Here!

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

[nemesis-is-my-middle-name]

You know how you hc that the twins battle each other all the time, and thus are basically their hardest opponents? That post you made about Ingo's brutal Path of Solitude made me desperately want Ingo and Emmet challenging each other to various versions, sometimes with Ingo having the upperhand like in the game, sometimes with Emmet making Ingo use a wurmple against a staraptor. And sometimes, for fun, they even make it a double battle. They make the most buff pokemon in existence and everyone is sufficiently terrified

they so would frfrfr. wait this reminds me i had two sort of mutually exclusive path of solitude points i wanted to make in the same post i'm just gonna do it here hang on

1) ingo was really like, here's a new style of battle challenge i'm introducing that's literally not done anywhere else even in the future, i invented it myself. the challenge is you have one single pokemon and you have to face a very difficult opponent and you're not allowed any other help than what you go in with and you're all alone forever. this is based on absolutely nothing at all and was inspired by nothing. i am fine.

2) path of solitude is really like turbo single battles honestly like of course the guy who is The Single Battles One came up with this. what do you think emmet would have done if he was here instead. would he be like ok pick a pokemon and i'm giving you an entirely random partner. no planning beforehand gotta figure it out when you open the pokeball and we start the battle. dwi.

[genesis-quoi]

While I’m here I think that while SatAM Robotnik is a piece of shit and very good at it I really don’t think any version of Eggman will ever be as fucking twisted as aosth’s version.

HEAR ME OUT I KNOW HE’S GOOFY AND WRITES EVIL ON HIS CALENDAR EVERY SINGLE DAY AND PUTS A HEART AROUND IT BUT

I’d say it’s a fair assumption to say that all the 90s cartoon Robotniks are aware they are fighting literal teenagers and that’s their L to bear HOWEVER

Fucking with them psychologically comes a distant second to just straight up murder most of the time (I’ve never seen most of Underground though so I’m gonna leave RoChalknik out of this)

Im just saying it takes a real fucked up bastard to know you’re beefing with children and THEN concoct a scheme to impersonate said orphan’s probably dead parents so you can blackmail the dude he’s always hangin with

AND THEN CONTINUE TO KIDNAP HIM FOR 50 MORE EPISODES LIKE SIR STOP HES ALREADY DEAD

[edge-oftheworld]

btw when i said 'pop punk meets male delta goodrem' close my eyes was exactly what i meant genre wise and vocally. but i did not even think it may also have strong vibes from both 1989 and smoke and mirrors (two of my favourite albums) at the same time as well as two references that make my water sensitive urban design drenched brain very happy so just letting you guys know, the rest of the fandom is cool and all but luke made this song just for me. it's too much of a coincidence otherwise

[sonic-adventure-3]

i would pay so much money to have a sonic game where wave and rouge and blaze and amy interact for extended amounts of time. the amy, blaze, rouge, princess peach, and daisy interactions in mario & sonic at the olympic games london 2012 3ds version was the closest i ever got to happiness

[funeralbelle]

hi click  {{ H E R E }}  for #756 gifs of culkin-esque actor OWEN CAMPBELL (b.1995) in Super Dark Times (2017), made by me for use of the rpc, and for to not be cropped into gif icons. Please do not crop into gif icons. Everybody stop telling me to put my page links in the post source so they show up in the tags. If you’re seeing this just consider this gif pack our little secret and feel cool about being in on it. Please do not crop into gif icons.

split into parts for slower computers: PART I. 526 gifs. //  PART II. 228 gifs. OR if your laptop is as weak as mine: pt.1 (168 gifs) ; pt. 2 (195 gifs) ; pt. 3 (165 gifs) ; pt. 4 (110 gifs) ; pt. 5 (118 gifs). 

Please do not crop into gif icons.

[hidden-highlands]

the thing abt having a sister 12 years younger than you is that eventually they will go to your old high school and be taught by people you went to high school with . whom they will see as Adults in the irrefutable sense and then come home to someone who is the exact same age as their teacher who lays about and plays pokemon and watches supernatural with them.

[shoutsindwarvish]

i have a lot of problems with the theology of christianity and want to actively start practicing judaism but i’m still fascinated with the gospel story as a story

i can’t unsee the appropriation of jewish scripture at best and anti-semitism at worst that’s built into the whole thing for my own faith journey anymore but it’s still got some really compelling themes and characters, like most pieces of problematic classic literature that have stood the test of time

i hope this doesn’t disqualify me from being religiously jewish, i’m just like “that’s my blorbo from my ancient religious text”

[llycaons]

hm yeah forgive me if this is blindly obvious to everyone/not really unique but um I don’t think lwj ever wanted to die with wwx or particularly wanted to give up his life, even if he risked it when he fought for what he believed in. I think he would die for wwx if the circumstances called for it, but unlike wwx I see him as such a continuously life-affirming character for himself as well as people he’s close to. he’s selfless but not self-sacrificial to the degree that we see other characters. he just never comes to a point where he would give up on that, on living that life that’s filled with good things he loves, or at least on living a life he can be proud of. he fights for that. he persists in his actions and values even in the face of the death of the person he loved the most, a situation where other characters in the series absolutely just lose it. he wants the people he loves to thrive and he wants to be by their side...he wouldn’t accept dying with them or after them. for both their sakes

[noxtivagus]

h. hermes

[passports-pls]

Mine for the character bingo:3