#that one flare lady in the manga that shows up at the end has started to manifest.

[picavecalyx]

  silva v: time to be EVEN MORE PARANOID!!!! WOOOO!!!!!

[thirstzone]

On The Interpretation Of Dante

Reflecting on how I write these characters and why helps me organize my thoughts. Plus, should I run into some trouble trying to write them, writing this can give me a point of reference.

Of course, everyone is free to write these characters as they wish! This is simply how I personally choose to interpret and write the characters!

So let’s ramble on about the legendary devil hunter Dante for entirely too long.

I think it’s important to trace where Dante’s been in his life. I’ve played every main Devil May Cry game (including the reboot), I’ve consumed as much of the other media as I could (the abandoned DMC3 manga, the first and second DMC novel, the anime, and Before The Nightmare), and it’s as though I’ve seen Dante grow and change with his maturity.

Let’s go back to the beginning. At age 8, demons invaded his home and killed his mother and (to his knowledge) his brother. This is the event that started him on his path to becoming a devil hunter, of course. An unspecified number of years later (people speculate 10, and I’ve no reason to debate this), he encounters Vergil again, although in a less than fortunate way. One of the demonic seals begs Dante to return its name that Sparda stripped away from it years ago. And that’s when Vergil re-enters Dante’s life, giving the seal the power to name itself “in Sparda’s stead.”

This was when Dante realized what his brother had become.

Besides that, another bit of information the manga gives us about Dante’s feelings towards demons is it seems to imply that he’s full of self-loathing due to the demonic blood running through his veins. In fact, it even goes far as to mention he might be downright suicidal. For those last 10 years, he despised the demons so much that he hated himself for having anything in common with them, even if it was nothing more than having demon blood in his veins.

A year after the manga is when the actual game DMC3 takes place. Dante is flippant, short-tempered, impulsive, and incredibly reckless. He’s young, perhaps about 19. A teenager. The way he acts is typical of his age, if not even a bit younger. Evidence of his hatred for his demon blood is evident when he responds to Vergil’s question about why he doesn’t seek to gain the power of their father. “Father? I don’t have a father.” He outright denies his heritage. 

Dante's struggled with the nature of who (or in this case, what) he is for so long. Lady helps him come to terms with this as he helps her come to terms with it as well. Most of the game she’s telling herself (and him, at some point) that he’s a demon, but by the end of the game, after Dante witnesses Vergil’s (presumably fatal) fall into the underworld, Lady sees that he’s not just a demon as he cries over Vergil. Dante responds that he’s not crying and that “Devils never cry.” But Lady responds that “even a devil may cry when he loses a loved one.” This helped Dante understand that he, too, isn’t just a demon. He learns to accept that while he’s half-demon, that doesn’t make him any less human.

Now that I’ve discussed Dante’s self-loathing and eventual acceptance of his demonic heritage, let’s discuss his personality. Dante’s personality is different depending on which point in the series he’s at, which makes writing for him a little difficult unless I can maintain those distinctions.

So I’ve already talked about DMC3 Dante, when he’s an impulsive, reckless, short-tempered teenager. He’s not incredibly smart, either, preferring to swing Rebellion first, think later. He’s incredibly stubborn (a trait that does sort of stick with him) and foolhardy. He’s also pretty self-aware about his arrogance and penchant for getting on others’ nerves, as he tells Jester, “I can’t stand anyone with a bigger mouth than mine.” His temper seems to be the trait at the forefront of his personality in this installment, however.

Let’s skip ahead to the first Devil May Cry game, the only one where Dante has a confirmed age. He’s 28 years old in this installment, and his growth since DMC3 shows. He seems much less angry and a lot more... I guess confident would be the word I would use to describe him. DMC1 Dante will still mouth off to any demon he faces, but it’s done less to irritate his opponent and more like he has a very high sense of self-efficacy; that is, he’s certain that he can win. He’s strong and he knows it, while also not going out of his way to display his strength. He seems to be honorable, as well. After the third fight with Griffon, Griffon is gravely wounded, but insists that he will not stop trying to defeat Dante. Dante tells him that he can’t fight with that wound, almost as though he wouldn’t fight Griffon unless Griffon could reasonably fight back.

That brings us to how he responds to Mundus and Trish. Dante is verbally enraged by Mundus’s treatment of Griffon, unable to accept that Mundus could kill Griffon, one of his own kind. That solidified his determination to defeat Mundus while at the same time revealing that Dante has a strong sense of justice. Later on, when Trish betrays Dante, he’s angry, and he’s hurt, but he lets her go. Yes, he cites the reason as being that she looks like his mother, and he claims that she has no soul, but he lets her go. He’s been hurt by Trish, but this doesn’t stop him mourning her death when she sacrifices herself to save him. He even works at Devil May Cry with her after realizing that she does indeed have a soul, making her, like him, more than just a demon.

I think overall, DMC1 Dante’s personality is focused more on his confidence, compassion, and justice.

I could discuss DMC2 Dante, but the reality of that is that I’ve played that game maybe twice, and that was so long ago that I don’t remember much about it at all. I remember Dante was much more stoic, but he maintained his sense of selflessness while appearing a bit aloof about it. I can’t talk about DMC2 Dante at length outside of “it was fun to make him cartwheel everywhere, also he had a cool coat.”

Ah, and this brings us to Dante as he appears in DMC4. My absolute favorite iteration of Dante. His personality in this one is sort of closer to his personality in 5, if not a little more carefree and over-the-top. This is the man who had a Shakespearean back-and-forth with an enemy in an opera house, the man who purposely irritated Nero probably because he found it amusing, the man who dropped in from the glass ceiling of a cathedral while flaring his coat out before assassinating the leader of a demonic cult in the middle of a church service.

He keeps the confidence of his personality in 1, but it mixes with the taunting nature that was closer to how he was in 3. He taunts his opponents intending to get under their skin. He knows how to hit their buttons, and he’ll absolutely do it. Of course, he knows that he can back up this attitude with results.

In Devil May Cry 4, he’s sassy, flamboyant, and absolutely at his most stylish.

Which brings us to Devil May Cry 5. I regret to say that while I can usually point out what’s at the forefront of his personality in each game, I can’t do so with Dante as he appears in 5. The way he interacts with the other characters is usually how I draw conclusions on his personality and a few defining features of it, but I can’t quite do that with this game. He’s similar to how he acts in Devil May Cry 4 if you mellowed him out, I suppose. It’s strange to me that he seems more inclined to act alone, a little irritated when Morrison implies that he should enlist the help of Trish and Lady. He’s adamant that V should hang back instead of help, regardless of the fact that V is the one who gave him the job in the first place and would reasonably know more about what’s going on, even if Dante didn’t know that V was part of Vergil (and I do legitimately believe that Dante had no idea until moments before V merged with Urizen; Trish never told him, and V never told him, and those two were the only ones who knew.) He insists that Nero stay out of it. He operates mostly alone the entire game, really. I think it’s because this job was more personal to him and because of his pride, he wanted to be the one to handle it.

When all’s said and done, Dante has a definite confidence about him, to the point that he’s rather smug, although it’s because he knows he can back up his words with action. I can conclude this mostly serious post by saying that I’ve never seen a character that embodied the phrase “Big Dick Energy” as much as Dante does.

[sillyfudgemonkeys]

Kasumi’s PT Outfit Analysis

Tell me what do these two have in common?

If you said “Cat theme” you are correct! If not, well then buckle up my dudes cause this is gonna be fun~! :D (I also want to take the time to point out, while this isn’t want I’m talking about, I do like this fan artist’s perspective on her gloves :D)

I know what you’re thinking, and no I’m not smoking anything I don’t do that, but Kasumi really does have cat thief themed origins (and no not because of the fan art, didja click on it? it’s cute!). I realized it after realizing she was a gymnast and was like “Why? Why does she get a gymnast theme? How does this fit with the outlaw theme? Has there been a thief who had gymnast outfit?....wait....could it be.....omg it IS!” AND THE ANSWER IS YES! 4 thieves actually, 3 are sisters in one series, and 1 is an expy of those sisters by the same author in his other work. If you know who I’m talking about I’m talking about.....CAT’S EYE! (and Phantom Thief 305 from City Hunter, I dunno the meaning of the name tho)

Let’s start with Cat’s Eye (not a 100% expert in it, but I know more than City Hunter tbh). Cat’s Eye is about a trio of sisters (Hitomi the middle who is the main character, Rui the oldest sister, and Ai the youngest) stealing things using their multiple skill sets (such as gymnastics), partially because they want to contact their missing dad who is also a thief (and their attempts to contact him are through the calling cards and stealing the items in hopes he comes as well). And....that’s basically it I think (been awhile since I read the manga and I’m in the process of re-reading it now). Movie wise, it seems they are in the process of trying to rescue him (hard to find info, no eng subtitles for me to watch so efsljdfl;aj).

Anne and Kasumi are the biggest shout outs to Cat’s Eye than anyone else (tho you could argue Cat’s eye is probs the reason Makoto drives a Motorcycle and Futaba is an semi-orange themed tech genius, and Haru who is “Noir” tho I don’t feel like looking up who came first, her or the Cat’s Eye Pachinko machine cause it’s not important). Anne’s outfit is more a shout-out to the Cat’s Eye Movie version while Kasumi’s is more a shout-out to the original manga/anime. Let’s focus on the Cat’s Eye movie for a second tho.

This isn’t the first time Cat’s Eye movie was used as inspiration for Persona. Back in P2 Tamaki Uchida dressed as Ai (the youngest sister of Cat’s Eye, but is the lead role in the movie), as the actress she is based off of (Yuki Uchida) played Ai in the movie.

Anne, however, seems to be based on Hitomi outfit with some Rui flare to it (they differ slightly)

(btw the movie opens up with an anime sequence before going full live action, Hitomi Left, Rui Right I think for both pics, Ai is in the middle for the bottom pic, and recolored Anne for better comparison and also because I can 8U)

I know what you are thinking, “But what about Catwoman????” I think she’s still related to Cat’s Eye tho. Catwoman came first in creation, and Catwoman was the first to use the leather outfits (tbh, mask wise, Tamaki’s mask/ears seem to draw from the Catwoman 60s tv show outfit), and it seems she/Batman were the inspiration for the movie costumes. Also considering how Persona likes to use Batman, I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of the cat theme stuff was also Batman/Catwoman related as well as Cat’s Eye. So there’s still a connection to Catwoman esp with the movie! 

Another possible connection to the movie is Anne’s name, specifically “Anne,” as the person who went by the stage name “Anri/杏里” (I mean Anne is just the  杏 kanji but still) who sings the theme song “Cat’s Eye 2000″ for the movie. Fun fact.

Now let’s look at the manga/anime, where it’s Kasumi’s time to shine (tho Anne will come back up).

As you can see they’ve been redesigned a few times (btw Hitomi’s colors in the first vol of Cat’s eye is actually blue with an orange ribbon, it was changed to yellow later it seems, also the top right is a spinoff manga of Cat’s Eye called Cat’s Eye: Ai where Ai is the MC)

As you can see, the girl who is mostly in the blue is Hitomi, and she has a tendency to wear a chocker with her leotard. Kinda like.......Kasumi! 

Recolored with blue to highlight the comparison (also because I NEED COLOR IN HER DESIGN ATLUS LORD GIVE ME STRENGTH DX) 

Fun fact, Hitomi I believe is a gymnast and she utilizes her skills as a thief (and thus where we get the gymnast as a thief outlaw theme and why it only works for Kasumi/gymnasts and not runners like Ryuji). 

But Kasumi also has similarities between her and Ai, both have red in their theme, both I think are first years. Also, while Ai isn’t as strong or skilled as her older sisters in fighting, she is the most agile (which we don’t know if Kasumi is in the same boat but it’s worth noting just in case). Another thing about Ai, is her connection to Tamaki up above, Tamaki who is based off the actress who played Ai was in the fencing club (which Yuki Uchida was also a fencer), and what weapon does Kasumi wield? A one handed sword similar to other fencers in Persona (like Mitsuru), so woot we’ve come full circle on that! (also if Kasumi is Hamuko reincarnated, or Hamuko’s younger sister, it should be noted that one of Hamuko’s theme colors is orange along with pink and red so fklsdjfsajf; bonus points if that comes true!)

Kasumi’s mask is also probably based on the Cat’s Eye calling card (or at least it follows a similar pattern):

Same point pattern, same eye shape and design (it’d also explain why it’s so thick, cause the emblem is thick looking too 8U)

So I mentioned we’d come back to Anne, and here we are! There is one last thing that is similar to Anne and the Kisugi sisters, and it’s that they are all hafus! The sisters are all half german, and Hitomi looks just like her western grandmother if Hitomi had blonde hair, and later dyes her hair blonde for her thieving:

Also *cough* a pink/red outfit I wonder who that reminds us of? 8U

Now onto City Hunter, which....I think is the biggest evidence that Kasumi was based off these people. And it’s this girl:

The girl with the glasses is the same one as the girl in the same girl in the green leotard (the one in the red isn’t a thief, but was wearing one to match the other girl while they stole a flower). 

This is the first episode this girl shows up (only one I’ve seen too tbh), she’s actually 17/a 2nd year iirc.... And guess what her name is? Kasumi Aso. Kasumi is spelled the same way too (aka only in hirigana)! From my research she only steals what is commissioned of her (I think she steals back what is stolen from other people). She has connection to flowers like Kasumi Yoshizawa (Aso is connected to the [black] tulip, Yoshizawa has flowers on her belt). Both are pretty unassuming in their civilian outfits too tbh. (tho slightly off topic, fun fact, there was a Japanese hafu rhythmic gymnast named Kasumi, I’ve been wanting to post about that for awhile but I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s who IRL Yoshizawa was based off of)

Sadly I don’t know much else about Aso, I need to read more of City Hunter to find out (even tho she’s not a super main character), and tbh this is where I kinda end with the Kasumi/Anne and Cat’s Eye/PT 305/Catwoman analysis. But I’ll use this time to talk about a few misc stuff and maybe a few theories related to cat themed thief ladies:

P5 probably got the “Thief who works at a cafe during the day (and the Cafe name also is a reference to their thieving as well as possibly housing a cat)” from Cat’s Eye and City hunter (which take place in Tokyo/Shinjuku, tho in different locations), as the Kisugi Sisters work at their cafe called “Cat’s Eye,” and Aso being their expy, also works at a cafe by the same name (tho it’s run by different people cause it’s in a different/parallel universe). 

I wouldn’t be surprised if Tamaki’s tendency to house a Nekomata in her workplace to be similar to the kitty (Tiger I think it’s name is) that Ai has at the cafe (esp considering, again, Yuki Uchida played Ai). 

According to the Japanese fan wiki of Cat’s Eye, in the sequel “Cat’s Eye: Ai,” the Cafe is moved to a new location, which is Kichijoji, which is the new area that has been unlocked in P5R (maybe a certain cafe will be available for us to wander into? :0 Or maybe Kasumi works at a cafe XP or maybe is connected to the billiards place, tho that DARTSLIVE3 screenshot seems to have a “cafe” poster in the background so maaaaaaaybe that’s a cafe XP)

Part of me wonders if Mitsuru’s Arena outfit is related more to Black Cat, due to the signature “white fur” both characters wear. 

Kasumi Y’s hairstyle (aka if her hair was down, so basically we are going off her bangs) is similar to Hitomi (at least the Pachinko machine ver)

Anne’s circle zipper designs might be more of a shout-out to Marvel’s Black Cat, not that Catwoman hasn’t had that as well, but I don’t feel like figuring out who did the circle zipper first 8U 

Satomi Tadashi dressed up as Zorro and was romantically involved with Takami. Anne who is a Cat’s Eye expy is crushed on by Mona (who wields Zorro). And Kasumi, another Cat’s Eye expy, looks like a Hamuko Expy, while Mona’s human form looks like a Minato Expy. 

Kasumi has a similar black mask with silver line design (not the mask shape itself, the line design) as a woman named “Noir”(?) who appears in the Cat’s Eye Pachinko Machine (yes I did come across interesting things, no I don’t know what her deal is or really who she is tbh cause I think she’s a pachinko original 8U ;w;)

So yeah just gonna kinda end it here awkwardly. FYI this doesn’t mean you HAVE to like her outfit (you have every right to dislike or like it tbh), it’s just a history lesson, and explaining how it fits the outlaw/PT theme, where’s Ryuji’s track or Haru’s ballet doesn’t.

Oh! Edit cause I forgot, if you push her mask up over head, it might look like cat’s ears, just a theory tho (of course it might look like devil horns but so does Anne’s so fklsjdfk;aj;faj;f take this for what you will):

[echoeternally]

What do you do to get motivation? I have a fic that's been going on for years now. I have the whole thing drafted, I mostly know what I want to happen, though I sometimes get stuck on side details.

Motivation works differently for everyone. I wish I had one universal answer to simplify it, but it really depends on who you are and what drives you.

To help, I can give you some tools that I use to help inspire me, and maybe from that, you can find your answer as well.

Short version for that would be the following:

Books, Media, and Other Stories

Music and Art

Unexplored Territories

Rewinds: Re-read and Remind

Audience

Friends

Research

Creating Goals

Slightly longer blurbs will go under the cut to explain things.

Ok, let me explain some inspiration sources a little more. (And because each section is longer, this now is a very long post.)

Books, Media, and Other Stories: This is usually a good place to start, since you can help engage yourself to your work by getting into other things. Books get a particular special mention because writing and reading go hand-in-hand. This can be extended to comics and manga though. Media is the umbrella term for tv shows, movies, video games, and other forms that entertainment take to portray stories of different kinds. Other stories themselves are meant for the less conventional venues to explore, like articles or history, or even other fanfics as well. Each source has their own story to tell you, and by looking into things, you can find how storytelling flows from each of them.

It doesn’t have to all be good stuff either. Maybe you hated the latest episode of your favorite cartoon or tv series. There was a book you finished last week, and it just completely fumbled the ending into a mess. Perhaps history was duller than dirt. Think you can come up with something better to tell? Great! Then fire up and get into writing how you’d do it better.

Music and Art: Another good spot to rouse creativity. Music and art tend to help bring about some life into you that stoke your creative fires well. Both are broad to describe, but they each have a lot of forms to them, so you should go with what you like to delve into. For example, art doesn’t strictly have to be fan art for fanfics; maybe there was a cool painting you remember from a museum that you wanted to recapture or explore. That can be useful. Same goes for music, as maybe there’s a song’s lyrics that you want to elaborate on, or take into a story of your own.

Personally, I prefer music that doesn’t involve lyrics. Classical music and media soundtracks (movies, video games) are usually super helpful, because they can have dramatic flares to them, and don’t always have people singing with lyrics that you end up associating with the song, which becomes a story of its own. If you can get the right tune that you can relax to, it can then help you want to create a story that goes with the atmosphere. There are all kinds of feelings that songs can stir in you, so experiment and see what you like.

Unexplored Territories: Stories are mostly not quite groundbreaking in what they tell, but rather how they tell it. Nevertheless, there are numerous less explored resources that can be immensely helpful to get into. Most people go for realistic stuff, like cultures that aren’t as primed for media representation. It’s good when you’re doing grounded things that deal with people mostly. For those more engaged in fantasy, though, you’d want to get into stuff that’s not tied for cultures, or extract it from them. Maybe you look up a list of mythological creatures and want to write about something that isn’t the woefully tiring trend of wizards/witches, vampires, werewolves, or clowns. Even changing it up in simple ways, like establishing a difference between sorcerers and witches, or having werewovles, werecats, and werebears all in one story that operate differently.

But don’t be afraid to turn to real life stuff too, especially for less explored spots. I tend to use LGBTQ+ stuff (mostly gays) to both give representation to groups that I identify with, as well as use character dynamics that mainstream media is too afraid to touch. Those two main male characters that are best friends? Make them boyfriends. That lady who seems like she’s super sexy? She’s actually asexual. I’m not telling you to specifically use this stuff, mind you, but this is an example of less explored territories that you can have a little more flexibility with. Heck, it can even simplify the story you tell with minimal changes: Beauty and the Beast’s titular characters are both female. The rest of the story plays out as follows, but it now gains brand new angles to be explored by a small change. That’s part of why I also like shipping and going for “rare pairs” for romance stories: they’re not as explored, and therefore, prime for new content that can be exciting just by existing! 

Rewinds (Re-read and Remind): A simple concept, but sometimes you can help stir some motivation by looking back over your old work. Checking back on things can help remind you of what’s going on, or can help create the desire to continue what was going to happen next. It’s basic, but sometimes just the smallest trick to help start some sparks you lost.

It doesn’t have to be a lot, either. Maybe you just wanted to write up this one scene, but you haven’t gotten there yet. Write it anyway, and then work on how you need to get there. While you’re reading over something you wrote, don’t focus on editing, but on the content. Maybe there’s this one line of dialogue that you really loved, and it’s this excellent one-liner that defines your character really well. And then that can make you want to give more to them. When you rewind and recall things you had ideas for, sometimes reviewing them can help you expand on them.

Audience: Has anyone read your stuff yet? If not, ask a few people to do so! An audience can help you immensely, because their reactions help gauge what works and what doesn’t. By giving them content to look over, and interacting with your readers as well, you can end up helping drive yourself to want to deliver more to them. It keeps things flowing nicely! (And this is why writers cry a lot about wanting feedback: it super seriously helps out in a great big way!)

Make sure to look for readers too, not just other writers. Sure, other writers can give you tips and tricks, but they’re looking at it from a similar perspective to yours: the creator’s. For readers, they’re specifically interested in consuming the content, and therefore, have different interpretations and interests for the story. They can give you opinions that other writers can’t quite so easily offer, because they can be more to the point of entertainment engagement. (Writers do typically double as readers, though, so it works out either way.)

Friends: I wanted to add a special distinction for friends as opposed to audience. Friends are nice, but are infinitely less likely to read your work. Online pals, irl friends, whichever you’re comfortable with talking to, they’re still not always the people you’ll go running to so you can grab a new reader. But that’s ok, because you have other ways they can help!

Sometimes, just telling a vague summary of things that are going on in your fic can help you get interested in telling more about it, and to others that might understand it more. Telling your friends puts you in a spot that helps you come up with ways to break down your story to its bare bones, and then what you want to do to help build it up. Another way to go about it would be to listen to stories that they have to tell you. Maybe they’re not writing, but sometimes just interacting with others can help you with developing dynamics that people can share in stories. Or events that are so out there, and you can come up with a way to create a related scenario. (No, I’m not telling you to write your friends…unless they make good characters, lol.) Even just being with friends to take your mind off of things and relax? That helps out too, more than you realize in the moment or immediately after.

Research: It kind of goes with some stuff above, because by viewing media, other stories, unexplored territories, music, and art, you’re doing a type of research. Each one presents a different medium that lets you get to know about them, and the more you look into it, the more you learn.

But the cool thing about research is that it takes you places. Websites like TVTropes and Wikipedia can take you to all kinds of weird places, but that’s what makes them great! You end up learning new topics and angles to explore, and they can help inspire new ideas by doing so, or help you restructure ideas you might think are too cliché or simply don’t work. Delving in deep can be time consuming, but also can lead to major payoffs.

Creating Goals: This one I’m not quite as sure about, because it depends on what you’re looking for out of stories. Still, it can be a helpful boost in its own way, so I’ll include it. Goal creating isn’t just something like, “Today I want to write a sentence.” That’s good to do in general, but I’m talking a little more along the competitive lines.

You’ve got a fic written up, but you’re looking to keep it rolling. Maybe you’re exploring two neglected characters from a movie and giving them a new life. But, guess what? Someone else tried something similar about two years ago. Heck. Are you going to let that stop you though? Heck no! What you do with that is see what that story nets for ratings, and plug away at trying to match them. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to outdo them entirely, especially the top ranking stuff. You don’t have to be the best. But you want to compare as well, so see how your content measures up. If they have bookmarked readers that stack to several hundreds, and you can net half after writing about the same characters? That’s pretty great stuff on your part! Even if you don’t have something specific to go up against? Tackle the archives or stories in general! See how highly rated you can get your stuff to be, and duke it out to be visible among everyone else’s content.

This one is really dependent on your personality type, so if you’re not competitive, don’t put stock into it. But if you get fired up about a challenge? Bring it on!

…

…

There’s a bunch of different avenues that you can look into, and different ways to help bring some motivation and inspiration into your creative mind. These are some suggestions based on angles that I’ve personally attempted, so they may or may not work for you. But that’s ok, because you might be able to come up with more ideas as well.

It just depends on what you like, what you want to do, and what stories you want to tell. From there, just let loose and explore.

But, please do keep in mind to keep yourself (yes, you) in check and feeling good. Tired? Get some rest! Hungry? Go eat! Overwhelmed? Decompress and relax. Know your five senses? Engage them all! Your mood definitely matters as well, and it’s little things that can sometimes hold you back in major ways. Take breaks, and when you come back, things might flow a little easier.

No matter what though, make sure you’re having fun! That’s what really counts in the end, above all else. Do stuff that’ll make you happy, and you’ll flourish in ways you might not even realize. These may be typical lines you’ve heard in countless places before, but they’re pretty helpful.

Again, go for it, and have some fun with the writing!

[professorpalmarosa]

Flame Fatale - Malva, Team Flare

For my play-through of Pokémon Y, Malva was repeatedly one of my favorite parts. From the first time she showed up and gave me lip about defeating “big bad Team Flare” in Pokémon League HQ to her pretty much telling me to fuck off at Hotel Richissimme in Xerosic’s post-game arc, I couldn’t get enough of her. She made me giggle profusely, just because it’s been ages since any Pokémon character threw that much sass in my direction.

I miss you, Professor Rowan. Please come back in a Sinnoh remake.

One of the main reasons I keep coming back to the Battle Chateau in Pokemon Y is just so I can kick Malva’s ass again and get called a wicked little trainer. I love her. Well…her game version, anyway. She was alright in the anime, but homegirl went overboard in the manga.

I mean, who on earth thinks it’s okay to chain a grunt up in a dungeon somewhere and beat him senseless for failing a mission? She’s downright adversarial toward Diantha, unnecessarily rude toward poor Xerosic, thirsty as a dehydrated Spheal toward Lysandre, and struts her stuff as though she’s the first lady of Team Flare!

Oh…wait. That’s exactly what she is, isn’t it? I take everything back. Ha ha!

When designing a bath bomb for Malva, it had to smell just as beautiful as it looked. I wanted the water to turn as vibrant pink as her hair, but surround me in a sea of potent aphrodisiacs. The end result is a blend of some well-known amorous boosters (sandalwood, ylang ylang, jasmine, blood orange) with some lesser-known libido boosters (vetiver, osmanthus). All of this partnered up with end notes of patchouli and lavandin grosso makes for an experience like no other.

So light a few candles, grab a naughty book, heat that bath water up until you can barely stand it, and bathe like a queen. You deserve it.

Now it’s time to talk about the pros and cons of these oils from a safety perspective…

Aromatherapy isn’t just about pretty smells and scented bath water. Essential oils are in such a high concentration that even absorbing them through your skin can leave you with the therapeutic (and potentially toxic) benefits.

If you are allergic to a plant, you are 100% without question going to be super allergic to the essential oil.

There’s also such a thing as contraindications: where some oils may affect you in weird ways if you have a certain medical condition or take certain medications.

The information below is for your safety if you want to attempt to make this blend at home (as a bath bomb, a body spray, or even scented bath salts). And do be sure to wear gloves. Some of these oils (especially the Balsam of Peru) have recommended dilution rates as small as 0.4%. You don’t want that to slide on bare skin!

Indian Sandalwood Essential Oil (20% of Synergy)

Sandalwood has a warm, woody scent and is very popular in men’s soaps, colognes, cosmetics, and incense. In certain parts of the world, it is also popular as a flavoring for foods and drinks. It’s a very dense wood, so it’s also very popular for wood carving.

Note: I received my Indian Sandalwood as a gift from a friend who was on a business trip. If you are going to attempt to make this blend at home, I recommend buying Australian Sandalwood as it is way more ethically and sustainably sourced.

Pros:

In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Sandalwood Essential Oil can be used as an antiseptic and astringent. It can also be mixed into pastes to soothe inflamed, itchy, or flaky skin.

Bugs also hate Sandalwood, especially lice and mites.

Additionally, Sandalwood is one of the best aphrodisiac essential oils you can purchase. There’s a reason a lot of men’s cologne uses this wonderful wood as a main ingredient!

Cons: Although Indian Sandalwood is considered to be a universally safe essential oil, people with very sensitive skin have reported an increased risk for temporary inflammation. This is also not a cat-safe essential oil.

Vetiver Essential Oil (15% of Synergy)

Vetiver has a unique smell. By itself, it reminds me of marsh grass minus the stench of pluff mud. It’s like tall long stalks of grass with a cool, crisp undernote. It’s a lesser-known aphrodisiac, but can also help put you to sleep if you’re finding it hard to drift off to dreamland.

Pros:

Reduce the damage of nerve and circulatory problems! Vetiver can be inhaled to ease your sore joints and muscles.

Have a slow period? Vetiver can help bring it back to a regular cycle!

Reduce stress and anxiety! In fact, Vetiver’s considered so effective for this that people will diffuse it during times of emotional trauma, grief, and shock.

Fight insomnia! Vetiver is a natural sleep aid and very effective. However, its sedative properties are so strong that you might want to avoid using Vetiver in the morning or if you intend to drive or operate heavy machinery. Pull this oil out right before bed or at least once you’re in for the night. It’s worked for me!

Repel lice and other unwanted insects! In the summertime in Charlotte, we sometimes get these nasty giant cockroaches called “Palmetto Bugs.” Since my old house was in a wooded suburb, the bugs were unavoidable and you’d get about 3 or 4 in your house per summer. On days I’ve diffused Vetiver Essential Oil, I didn’t see so much as a fly in the house!

Cons:

Vetiver Essential Oil is an emmenagogue (can be used to start a period) and some people use it as an intentional abortifacent. If you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or nursing; do NOT use Vetiver Essential Oil.

Lavandin (10% of Synergy)

Lavandin Grosso is not a naturally-occurring plant. It is a man-made Lavender cousin to better regulate the lavender scent in the perfume industry. You’ll find that on average, Lavandin Essential Oil is cheaper than Lavender. They share a lot of therapeutic benefits, but aren’t the same thing.

Pros:

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula latifolia) is perhaps the most versatile essential oil out there, as it pairs with virtually everything. It has a slew of therapeutic benefits, while Lavandin has much fewer.

That said, what Lavandin does do, it does really, really well. It has a stronger, and slightly more camphorous smell. Just one strong whiff will clear out your nasal passage. It’s intense, sharp, and in-your-face…in a good way!

Cons:

Due to its high camphor content, Lavandin is not safe to diffuse around cats or dogs.

Although rare, some people experience allergic reactions to Lavender and Lavandin. If you experience difficulty breathing, a closed throat, a swollen tongue, puffy lips, or hives; discontinue use and seek help from a physician immediately.

At higher concentrations, Lavandin may cause drowsiness. If you need to drive, operate heavy machinery, or need to concentrate at work, don’t diffuse or apply this oil.

When combined with alcohol, Lavandin can increase drowsiness. Exercise caution while drinking.

When combined with some antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, sedatives, anxiety medications, pain relievers, muscle relaxants, or seizure medications, Lavandin may increase the effect of those drugs. If you’re on a medication that may also cause drowsiness, don’t use Lavandin Essential Oil or this bath bomb.

Jasmine Absolute (8% of Synergy)

Jasmine Absolute is one of the most costly, expensive, marked up oils you can potentially buy. This is because it takes 3.6 million flowers just to make one pound of Jasmine Absolute Oil.

There are several artificial fragrance oils for the scent (which you can purchase at places like Brambleberry and Whole Foods) that are only a fraction of the cost, but have none of the benefits. This is one of the safest, but also most useful, oils on the aromatherapy market and the scent truly is unforgettable.

Despite the cost, I actually do have the real deal in this bath bomb because I bought some Jasmine Absolute in Hong Kong!

Pros:

It’s a very potent aphrodisiac! Mix this oil with some Blood Orange and Ylang Ylang, and prepare to have a steamy, passionate night of love-making. Not only does the scent carry some seductive qualities, but Jasmine Absolute can be used to aid with sexual problems like impotence and premature ejaculation.

Restore your dry or dehydrated skin to its natural radiance! Dry skin, dehydrated skin, eczema, or dermatitis can be treated with Jasmine Absolute. However, it’s important to note that you should not apply Jasmine Absolute to open wounds.

Regulate your menstruation or labor pains! Jasmine Absolute is a strong emmenagogue, which means it stimulates menses. This can be used to speed up a period that hasn’t yet arrived, as well as reduce cramping by having more material flush out of your uterus at once. Some studies indicate that it can be beneficial during childbirth, as it strengthens contractions and promotes breast milk flow.

Treat spasms! Coughs, cramps, and muscle spasms don’t stand a chance against Jasmine Absolute.

Banish negativity and boost your spirit! The smell of jasmine brings with it feelings of joy, positivity, and confidence. Emotions like guilt, shame, stress, and grief melt away; leaving you with a calm, peaceful mind that’s ready to take on anything.

Cons:

Jasmine Absolute Oil is considered to be universally safe, non-sensitizing, non-toxic, and a non-irritant (though my sister gets migraines from the artificial fragrance oil). That said, do not use the oil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

You should also never orally ingest an essential oil. Put Jasmine Absolute in a diffuser or on your skin with a carrier oil. Just remember to use it in moderation as going overboard might interfere with your concentration by “relaxing” you a little too much.

Blood Orange (12% of Synergy)

There’s a large and vast variety of orange essential oils out there, but most fall into two categories: those derived from the Seville bitter orange (Neroli, Petitgrain, etc.), and those derived from the sweet orange (Sweet Orange, Tangerine, Mandarin, Blood Orange, etc.).

Out of the sweet orange oils I have, the Blood Orange has the strongest and juiciest scent. If you love oranges, Blood Orange is something you’ll want to get for yourself. It smells fantastic!

Pros: The peel of sweet orange varieties (which includes Blood Orange) can be used to increase your appetite, reduce phlegm in your nose and lungs, treat coughs and colds, calm down asthma, reduce intestinal gas, settle indigestion, treat kidney stones, lower cholesterol, regulate blood pressure, and reduce the risk of stroke.

Some research even indicates that Blood Orange Essential Oil can help with prostate cancer and cancerous breast sores.

One other super cool thing about Blood Orange is that it’s listed as an aphrodisiac oil. Spritz yourself with a little and have yourself a grand time!

Cons:

Due to its high limonene content, Blood Orange is not safe to diffuse around a cat. Your dog should be fine, but cats lack a liver enzyme that helps them break down this chemical. It can create a toxic buildup and make them very, very sick.

Although Blood Orange is perfectly safe for adults, do not use the essential oil with babies or children under the age of 6.

If you are taking any of the below medications, do not use this essential oil:

Celiprolol (Celicard)

Ivermectin

Pravastatin (Pravachol)

If you are taking any of the below medications, exercise caution when using this essential oil:

Quinolone antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), Enoxacin (Penetrex), Gatifloxacin (Tequin), Levofloxacin (Levaquin), Lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), Moxifloxacin (Avelox), Norfloxacin (Noroxin), Ofloxacin (Floxin), and Trovafloxacin (Trovan).

Fenofenadine (Allegra)

Medications moved by pumps in cells (P-Glycoprotein substrates) such as Etoposide, Paclitaxel, Vinblastine, Vincristine, Vindesine, Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Amprenavir, Indinavir, Nelfinavir, Saquinavir, Cimetidine, Ranitidine, Diltiazem, Verapamil, Corticosteroids, Erythromycin, Cisapride (Propulsid), Fexofenadine (Allegra), Cyclosporine, Loperamide (Imodium), Quinidine, and others.

Ylang Ylang III (12% of Synergy)

Ylang Ylang is a powerhouse oil for those who want to get a good night’s sleep, keep their hair looking beautiful, or just want to spice up the bedroom. It’s one of the strongest floral oils and can cost a pretty penny!

A good Ylang Ylang will make you want to close your eyes and pretend you’re running through a Victorian greenhouse. A bad Ylang Ylang will smell like pool water.

I’m not exactly new to the rodeo. I bought the good stuff.

Pros:

Fight insomnia! Ylang Ylang is a natural sleep aid and very effective. However, its sedative properties are so strong that you might want to avoid using Ylang Ylang in the morning or if you intend to drive or operate heavy machinery. Pull this oil out right before bed or at least once you’re in for the night. It’s worked for me!

Repel head lice! Ylang Ylang can be used in a combination spray to repel and even kill head lice. Developing evidence suggests that a homeopathic blend of coconut oil, anise oil, and ylang ylang oil had a 92% effectiveness rate on killing those unwanted creepy crawlies in children’s hair.

Lower high blood pressure!

Increase your sex drive! Ylang Ylang is a natural aphrodisiac and has been used for millennia for that exact purpose. There’s a reason this flower is also known as the King of the Flowers!

Cons:

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil is considered to be universally safe for general use. However, it is not safe to diffuse around a cat.

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil is a very potent sedative. Do not use this oil in higher concentrations if you plan to drink alcohol, take melatonin pills, or are taking any sort of sleep aid.

Patchouli Leaf Essential Oil (13% of Synergy)

If you aren’t familiar with the smell of patchouli, stoner shops tend to burn it as incense to hide the smell of cannabis. It’s spicy, smoky, and very distinct. It blends with a lot of different oils and is one of the few that actually grows stronger with age!

Patchouli Essential Oil has a familiar smell. This scent was a favorite among the Hippie Counterculture of the 1960s and we still associate it with stoners and smokers today. It covers the scent of marijuana and blends wonderfully with so many things. It’s actually my grandmother’s favorite essential oil!

It has a slight peppery aroma and is also the key ingredient in my favorite Lush fragrance (Lord of Misrule).

Pros:

Aside from being the quintessential pot deodorizer, patchouli oil is also used as medicine for colds, tumors, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Also, if you’re an alcoholic and suffer from chronic bad breath, patchouli oil can be used to hide the smell.

I also love the fact it can be used to increase your libido!

Cons:

Patchouli Leaf Essential Oil is generally considered to be safe, but is best avoided if you suffer from asthma. We found that one out the hard way in my family.

Osmanthus Absolute (10% of Synergy)

Despite my best efforts to convince my favorite essential oil distributor that they really need to up their game and add Osmanthus to their product line (even as just an Oil of the Month), they have yet to do so. As a result, it’s a royal pain in the ass to locate it without breaking the bank.

Good Osmanthus absolute can run you at about $90 to $200 for a tiny bottle, so I took my chances with a lower quality oil I refuse to diffuse because it’s chunky. My sister has smelled the real deal and says it smells legit, so that’s close enough.

I don’t know too much about the pros and cons of this oil, other than the certified aromatherapist I spoke with at Plant Therapy said it’s considered “universally safe.” Whatever that means. Still, it’s best to be on the safe side and dilute it if you’re going to put it on your skin.