#the dopes are fighting but I won't stop them

[starlahuskyz]

Oh noes, the girls are fighting...

[sparklingmineraltequila]

American Wasteland

Note: Here we fucking go with round 2. Thanks to everyone reading, I hope it's somewhat enjoyable. Also, forgive the sometimes underbaked/ possibly mildly incorrect philosophy references but, for the sake of the fic, forgive me cause I doubt the people are here to hear a full blown thesis on Nietzsche's Anti-Theism

Warnings: drugs, violence, insinuations of smut

The interior is surprisingly clean given its owner and surroundings. Lodged in some armpit of Houston's outer bayous, the trailer park is littered with the Crusaders' Harley Davidson's, ripped up lawn chairs and the occasional hooker: slumped against an RV's entrance steps, faces vacant aside from the glazed eye euphoria of a particularly good rush of dope. While they were walking to his trailer, Rust noticed Cassandra looking at them in disgust, not the arrogant, middle class disgust reserved for hushed, cautionary tales at the dinner table, but a disgust of acknowledgment. Not necessarily directed towards the drugs but to the girls' stupidity, their pliability. Rust never met someone with such an aversion to weakness as Cassandra.

She glances around the trailer, duffel bag in hand: a mattress on the floor, the usual kitchen set up of these trailers, a lawn chair, a stack of books. She runs over the list of these items in her mind, repeating them like a grounding mantra like, if she doesn't, the exhaustion and desolation in her throat will bubble up into that sob that she has been suppressing for the last couple hours. Rust feels like he is almost seeing her for the first time, not bathed in dim lighting and the haze of cigarette smoke, out of the lace bras and free from the intoxicating smell of whiskey mixed her skin's natural musk. The under eye bags are visible along with the bruises on her left thigh, when one of the Crusaders got ahead of himself a few nights ago. Later on, Rust had taken him outside and punched him till he couldn't feel his hand, till each of his knuckles formed a raw cavity, the blood mixing with that of other Crusader.

Violence over apathy. Always.

'Wow, a fucking Sears catalogue you got here, Crash,' Cassandra states dryly, more to assuage the maelstrom of emotion in her than to genuinely be unkind.

'I don't recall boasting about the amenities,' Rust replies, his own drawl equally dry

She dumps her duffel bag onto the floor and moves to inspect the stack of books leaning against the wall,

'Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Cioran. Jesus, Crash, you really are one dark son of a bitch with all this pessimism shit.'

'Nihilism, technically. And Kierkegaard's an existentialist.'

She shrugs, still squatting in front of them, 'Same fucking thing.'

Rust regards her cooly, 'Stop acting stupid, Cass. It doesn't suit you.'

She gives him a look over her shoulder, before rising to her full height, 'What the hell do you even know about me, anyway?'

Here it is. That acrimony. His coping mechanism may be the booze, the drugs and the fights, but hers is the crushing of any idea of talent about her; talent means hope, a fleeting idea that things might actually get better, that she might get out of this squalor and desolation. The imperatives of this terrain don't permit hope and they both know it. Rust, however, pushes her. He's like a recovering alcoholic with taste of Listerine, having now seen the first few slivers of the true Cassandra, he craves more, refusing to relent now.

'Pre-law at Rice on a scholarship ain't something trivial, baby.'

'Well who knows what the fuck is gonna happen to that, now.'

'What do you mean?'

'I have nowhere to live, Crash. The only things I have in my name are my scholarship, my locker at the club and the contents of that duffel bag. Nowhere to live means nowhere to study.'

He raises an eyebrow at that, gruffly stating, 'I told you that you could stay with me. That's why you're here.'

She looks at him for a moment 'Don't fuck with me on this. Don't make a promise that you can't or won't keep.'

'Do I look like a sweet talker, huh? Have I ever fucked with your head?'

She acquiesces, slumping down onto the edge of the mattress. 'Poor kid,' Rust thinks, watching her slide off her cowboy boots, her pack of cigarettes falling out with the movement. The subtle innocence of that act, the hiding of the cigarettes, betrays her suppressed naivety. No-one round here would give a fuck that she smoked, quite the opposite; they'd probably encourage her to do the heavier shit, to leave her pliant and docile, a tender cutlet for their calloused hands. But no, she hides them, like a trepidatious kid with their first joint, hands clammy and trembling.

'You can shower if you want. Make yourself at home,' the warm phrase contrasting with the cold tone delivering it.

'You gonna join me?' she arches an eyebrow, a devious glint in her eye and, fuck, if he doesn't love it.

'Cool it, kid. This is only gonna work if we can maintain some level of fuckin' decency between the two of us.'

She scoffs, giving him a questioning glance as she peals her leather jacket off, followed by her tank top, 'There it is, again. You being weird. What biker doesn't jump at the idea of screwin' any decent looking girl.'

Rust watches cooly as she unzips her denim shorts, amplifying the Crash persona, to eliminate any budding suspicion, as he replies 'I ain't fucking you. And, even if I was, I'd wait until you were in a better state. I want my girls knowing what I'm doing to them.'

That makes her halt her movements, the flush on her cheeks in both desire and envy. She meets his gaze as she strips off into just her underwear and Rust prays to every God that he doesn't believe him that her hand doesn't hook into that lace waistband. The look they share is one of predator and prey, though the roles of who's who have been amalgamated into one. She's a smart girl, Rust knows, She won't let me see that, not yet. Infatuated as she is, girls like Cassandra don't place seniority of love over safety, over control. In a place like this, where violence for violence is the modus operandi, what hope do most women have when faced with a mean, drunk son of a bitch's fists. Cassandra knows the one way to ensure some tenuous semblance of control amongst the Iron Crusaders: sex. Not necessarily the act, itself; sometimes its denial is more effective, like now with Rust.

She stalks to the trailer's tiny bathroom, still in her underwear, throwing Rust one more coy look from over shoulder before going in and locking the door.

'Crash, baby,' she calls from inside, 'Your mouth might be able lie to me but your body sure as hell can't.'

As Rust curses to himself, adjusting the crotch of his trousers.

[ungrateful-cyborg-moved]

Enough time has passed that I can share my opinion about Dawntrail now. It's a potentially unpopular point of view at times so uh... beware? Idk, people have very strong feelings about stuff sometimes xD

At the very least, beware of spoilers.

Overall I liked the story. Liked it a lot more that Endwalker despite a few things that bothered me. The first half is the most solid to me, because the second half has too much incoherent stuff going on for my taste.

But first thing first. I'm really happy with how well they made us care for all those new people and this giant country. Once or twice, I wished they wouldn't insist on how diverse it is I must say, because while it's nice as a marketing point, it gets old after a while. I have eyes and ears, after all. I can see that for myself.

Wuk Lamat left me cold when we first met her. I was a bit worried about accompanying her at first because she's a character archetype I don't like that much, but she quickly grew on me through the expansion, and I love her now. I do think, however, that the voice acting didn't always match the energy of the scenes (in English. According to friends who use the French dub, it's not an issue in French). Since it also happened once or twice with Koana, I'm gonna assume it's due to how they were directed, but it took me out of the story on occasions.

I really really wish they'd stop with the world threatening shit though. They did it for Endwalker. Fine. Logic even, it was the end of a 10 years old story. Then they did it again with the patches, when really saving the dragon should have been motivation enough. Then they had to do it once more in the second half of Dawntrail, this time threatening the Source AND the reflections. Frankly, it feels cheap and unimaginative, I'm a bit disappointed and worried about what comes in future expansions if they can't find other reasons for us to fight. For a game that keeps insisting that doing the right thing is what matters, they certainly don't like making it our main reason to fight.

The Mamool Ja story bothers me. They survived for centuries on eating bananas apparently and there's no sign of deficiencies so clearly they're adapted to their environment? And if not, nothing stopped them from cutting down trees to make space for the sun? Idk the fact that they spent centuries down there but need a foreigner to teach them how to live well rubs me wrong.

Solution 9 looks dope, though. Loved meeting Otis and Gulool Ja. For Sphene, I understand why they kept Wuk Lamat as the focus, but it felt like a missed occasion to teach her that wanting the happiness of her people and actually bringing it are two different things. Instead, it felt like listening to a teenager telling you that fixing the world is easy when they have no idea what's even wrong with it. In character, perhaps, but frustrating when you have so much more practical experience.

Not to mention that Sphene's issues with the weight of expectations echoe nicely with the weight of the WoL's mantle, and we didn't even get to pipe in to try to connect with her. Or with Zoraal Ja, for that matter.

The twins were entirely unnecessary. Them joining us felt forced and nothing in the expansion made me change my mind. They have nothing to do here except stealing potential lines from the WoL to say out loud the most obvious thing like it's deep. I love them both, but they should have stayed in Garlemald. It's not like the Garleans give a fuck about how the rest of the world deal with their shit anyway, and they visited enough places already. Tural gave them nothing they weren't already aware of.

Erenville got many hugs from my WoL, idc that the MSQ won't make it canon.

I'm still indifferent to Krile, but the Scions didn't grow on me before ShB so I'm giving her time. Still, I would've liked it better if instead of the twins, we'd had her and G'raha with us instead. You know, the guy with actual ruling experience of people from diverse backgrounds.

Slightly disappointed we didn't get to fight Thancred and Urianger tbh. That would have been fun XD

The whole time shenanigans hurt my brain in the second part. Like, if 30 years passed in just a few days for us then they shouldn't have had time to prepare Tuliyollal's defense. The dragons intervening was cool but there were better ways to make it happen without mysteriously forgetting that time flows differently inside the dome. Unless I missed something to explain why very conveniently it aligns now?

I liked the last zone. Gpose bait lmao I found it sadder that Ultima Thule tbh. Though, uh... we were in a hurry. Now wasn't the time to talk to every dead people we met.

Also I don't think it'll happen since he seems to have joined the guards, but I want Bakool Ja Ja to travel with us and Erenville for a while xD

Overall, I really liked it don't get me wrong. Aside from Thancred and Urianger, I don't think any Scion was truly useful however (not even Krile). This was my main problem with the time stuff, but I suppose they're not ready to let them go just yet.

And the graphical update makes me want to travel through all the areas and take screenshots until my hard drive can't take it anymore x)

[lustkillers]

LOVE & WAR !

PART I. the garden heist.

⊹₊ ⋆ summary. - clyde and you yearned for each other, but poison ivy and spider-man were mortal enemies.

┃ tags/warnings. ࿐ ❪ friends to lovers? yet enemies to lovers? a whole lot of crime fighting violence, fluff, angst, injuries, a whole lot of swearing, clyde/spider-man is a part of the sassy men apocalypse. ooc clyde?? ❫

⊹₊ ⋆ pairing - spider-man!clyde x poison ivy!reader.

⊹₊ ⋆ note - this SUCKS and it was long overdue... might make this a multi-part series! if you do want it to be a multi-part series, please let me know!! requests are open as well :)

[ @cc-luvr , @amandayoungluvr , @insxghtt ]

YOU walked into the now closed botanical garden, your hands gliding on each leaf you passed by, bringing them life.

You had always loved the botanical gardens ever since you were a child. The smell of fresh flowers and the sun shining down through the trees filled you with contentment and peace. Everyone at school had joked that it was your favorite place in the world, but truth be told they weren’t far off.

That was until it went downhill.

After years of neglect, the garden was now overgrown and unkempt. The once thriving trees were swaying lifelessly in the wind, and the place that used to be filled with laughter had become desolate.

But you still loved it all the same. You felt drawn to this place like a moth to a flame. No matter what kind of state it was in, you felt connected.

You made your way through the once-beautiful gardens, trying to ignore all of the signs of neglect and disrepair. You stopped at each flowerbed and examined it carefully, noticing a small patch of forget-me-nots that were still blooming despite the lack of care they had received over the years.

You knelt down and ran your fingertips along the petals of one of the flowers, feeling a strange sense of familiarity. As you did so, a small white butterfly fluttered out from behind one of the other flowerbeds, hovering over you for what felt like forever before flying away.

It seemed like a sign to you - despite how neglected this place was, you knew that it had the potential to be beautiful again.

And you were going to make them pay.

"Hands up where I can see them!" A voice shouted from the darkness, only a bright light flashing at you. You slowly raised your arms, revealing the thicket of rosebuds you had gathered in your hands.

"What do you think you're doing here?" The now revealed officer asked.

You took a deep breath and spoke with confidence, "I'm here to save this garden from neglect."

The man chuckled before raising his gun, "You're trespassing, little lady."

You stood your ground, raising an eyebrow. "If you shoot me, that won't save the garden. Instead, I'm offering to help restore it to its former glory. You can let me do that instead, or else."

"Or else?" The officer leaned into his comm. "We've got an intruder here who claims to be capable of revitalizing this garden." He laughed. "I'm sure the Chief will get a kick out of this, now c'mon. I'm taking you in," he said, coming closer.

"You're not taking me anywhere," you smirked.

Suddenly, vines wrapped around the man, tightly gripping on his ankles and hoisting him upside down. "I need backup!" He yelled. You sneered as you stepped forward. "Who's so little now?" you said, using your abilities to whip each rosebud into full bloom.

"What is this?" The man gasped, awe-struck but frightened by the transformation.

"This is what comes from corrupting and exploiting nature," you replied with a menacing smile.

You glared at the officer as he cowered in front of you. "Now what?" He wheezed.

"Now," You said menacingly, "I'm going to start restoring the garden and you're going to stay out of my way."

"So... Do you grow weed? 'Cause that would be dope!" A new voice echoed through the garden, making you whip your head around towards the officer. However, no one was there.

You turned back, only being met with Spider-Man. "Hey Plant Girl," he said casually, hanging from above. You groaned, not to happy that Spider-Man had showed up and interrupted your revenge. You knew that would never work out in your favor.

"Oh great, it's you," You spat. "I suppose you've come to save the day."

Spider-Man then replied with a sly smirk, "It's what I do best." He quickly swung himself closer and closer towards you until he was face-to-face.

“Hey, is that actual plants as your suit? That’s sick!”

You frowned. “It’s not a suit. It’s part of my abilities, and it's none of your business!”

He raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright, no need to get snippy! I was just wondering is all!”

His expression now turned serious as he continued on, "But if I were you, I'd think twice about taking on an enemy like me," He crossed his arms.

You scoff, "And why's that?"

He said simply, "Because I'm not someone you want to mess with."

You rolled your eyes, unable to suppress the smirk that was forming on your lips. "Is that supposed to intimidate me? Cause it's not really working," You crossed your arms and prepared for a fight.

"Did it work?" He smirked under his mask, raising an eyebrow.

You shook your head in disbelief and prepared to fight back. "Not even close," you said, scoffing.

You closed your fist, sharp tree branch jabbing him. He barely had time to react, as he quickly jumped back. You had hit him hard and you knew it, a satisfied smile creeping upon your lips.

He slowly shook his head and glared at you with confusion. "What did I do to deserve that?" He asked, pursing his lips together.

You rolled your eyes with a hint of amusement, "Are you serious?" You smirked, "You knew who I was and yet you still came here looking for a fight. What did you expect?" You mockingly laugh.

He shook his head, "I didn't come here to fight. I came here to protect the citizens."

You laughed again, not believing a single word coming out of his mouth. "Yeah right!" You scoffed and then pointed your finger at him menacingly.

"I don't need protecting, and I will do whatever it takes to protect myself and these plants!" You roared before launching yourself towards him in an attempt to hit him with your vines as he attempted to dodge out of the way.

He dodged your attack, flipping out of the way and landing on his feet. You barely had time to react before he charged towards you, a look of determination in his eyes. He punched you in the face and then kicked your stomach with enough force to make you stumble back.

"You're not getting away that easily," he said firmly as both of you continued to fight.

You and Spider-Man fought tirelessly, neither one of you ready to back down. You used your powers against him while he used his agility and strength against you. Despite all your best efforts, it seemed like he had the upper hand--that is until you finally managed to wrap some of your vines around his legs and trap him in place.

"I think we both know who the real winner is here," you said smugly as Spider-Man struggled to free himself from the vines.

"Game over." His hand extended, shooting a web towards your hands. The web covered your hands, trapping them and immobilizing you, your control over the plants letting both him and the officer go.

He gave you a couple blows, the last hit being at your face. With that hit alone, your mask fell off your face. You looked up and there he was, staring at you intently.

He knew who you were. And he knew your name.

"Y-You..." He said slowly, recognition filling his eyes.

You felt vulnerable, but yet a part of you felt some familiarity with the masked hero.

"So what now, Spider-Man?" you asked, a smirk beginning to appear on your face. You still hadn't moved from the spot and he had made no move to escort you away or handcuff you. It felt like there was something much more behind this whole exchange than just a battle between two enemies.

He was caught off guard, still staring at you with his hand gripping your outfit. Finally, he let go and stepped back.

"You give me your word that you won't cause any more destruction to the city, and I'll let you go," he said simply, crossing his arms against his chest.

You tilted your head, "Can't promise you that, Spidey." You smirked, flicking your wrist and tying him up with the vines again, now walking away.

Clyde watched as you walked away, his heart still beating faster. His crush was Poison Ivy.

"Shit."

[wee-chlo]

Been hyperfixating on Hazbin Hotel lately and I wasn't hip to all the lore and shit from years ago; I vaguely remember being being mad about the pilot but I don't remember specifics. But that trailer is dope and here's my theories; the more knowledgeable who know factoids can correct me. I watch Helluva Boss out of the corner of my eye and it seems like they're in the same universe so I'll be drawing on that too.

The vibe I'm getting is that Hell is structured in not just the rings of Hell, each ruled by the respectful Deadly Sins, and not just in terms of Imps, Demon Princes, etc., but also in terms of those creatures born of Hell and the damned who end up there.

People like Vag, Angel, Alastor, etc. are the Damned. They were once human, they died, they were cast into Hell for any number of reasons. People like Charlie, Stolas, Lucifer, Blitz and Moxie are all Infernal.

The Purge only effects the Damned. The lords and ladies of Hell, the princes and princesses, even the Imps who are the lowest cast of infernal folk, are not targeted.

Damned like Alastor may attain levels of power that protect them from the Purge, but not because they're off-limits officially. They're just too powerful to justify attacking. Alastor could kill off dozens of angels and the exchange is what? One demon?

Meanwhile, the majority of the Damned aren't juggernauts of infernal wrath. They're not dealmakers. They're just... people. They can't fight, they can't really defend themselves any more than the average human could. So the angels focus on them, and the powerful Damned let it happen because why ruin a perfectly good status quo?

Charlie is not in danger from the Purge; her position as a Princess of Hell protects her from that. But she takes it upon herself to not just try and fix this overpopulation problem but also, eventually, stand up for the Damned who are powerless to stop the angels slaughtering them en mass.

She tries to do it through official means, polite means. Talking to the angels, working within the system. But eventually it becomes clear that it just won't work.

Given that her father is a fallen angel, literally Lucifer Morningstar, I wonder if her journey won't mirror his in some way. Depends on how they write him, I suppose.

So ultimately, she decides that official, polite, "legal" means of fixing the problem won't do, because officials within that system don't want it to work. So she opts instead to rally the Damned to fight back, not just the lowly folk with no powers to speak of but powerful dealmakers like Alastor. And eventually, it works. But then she's caught in the crossfire of the Purge, perhaps locked into a section of the ring of Hell where the Damned live and are forced to remain for the duration of the Purge.

That's my prediction, anyway.

[kumalimited]

Miraculous Ladybug - Awakening : a review (spoilers without context)

(Made with love by someone who went to the world premiere - seen with the French dub)

The good

Nice animation

Nice OST (excluding the musical part)

Paris being a bit more like real life Paris (we love good metro representation ok)

LADYNOIR MY BELOVED I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD

George Michael royalties draining the film budget

DJwifi shenanigans all over again

The meh

Supporting characters of the show being in the background but kinda absent

Adrien being a loner for some reason

The pacing of it all is a bit all over the place even though they had 20 more minutes than the two Origins episodes

Stuff that is both bad but also makes it a must-watch

Plagg making fart jokes

Tikki rapping

Gabriel's Abba era hair

Gabriel Winx wings

Gabriel detaining random criminals in some dungeon under his house in the catacombs and criminals being casually ok with it as well as with doing a musical number with the guy detaining them

Zag making the deliberate choice to replace the "Ma Lady" surname by "Watermelon" for some reason

Adrien missing the goddamn apocalypse caused by his father due to ugly crying to Careless Whisper

The ending is a remake of Star Wars episode III last fight

Parisians being super casual abt the fact that the Seine became LAVA and that their flats won't be restored through magical ladybugs for some reason

Astruc is barely mentioned in the credits meaning that he was barely involved in its development and it shows

Stuff that is really bad imo

The SONGS.

No really the songs are bad

i mean music is dope, lyrics are very bad

Zag wanted his own Disney musical except he cannot write lyrics to save his life and has no idea how to pace a musical number to make it interesting

i.e Marinette has three "who am I, how can I become who I really be" songs when all of her internal conflict is due to her falling randomly at times, which makes a very poor (but also the only one) character arc

i.e there are seven songs in an one hour and a half long movie

i.e those songs stop the action to make us listen to lame ass lyrics (at least in French)

if i took a shot each time a song by Marinette mentioned "être moi" (being me) or each time Ladybug and Chat Noir repeated "Plus forts ensemble" (stronger together) I'd be in ER

because the original show didn't have any catchphrase at all isn't it

since the songs are stopping the movie every time they happen, there's no time for character development so

no umbrella scene

no Adrien character development whatsoever

no justification for Marinette preferring Adrien to Chat Noir

no justification of why Adrien was chosen as a holder

TL DR : A very nice musical fanfic that I'll enjoy making fun of for the years to come

[judgementdaysunshine]

Addiction/Recovery prompts

Divider credits to @saradika-graphics

"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one"

"Being sober delivered almost everything drinking promised"

"Strength is what we gain from the madness we survive"

"I was filling a void with the numbing effect of getting high until it consumed me"

"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step"

"Without my mistakes, this version of me wouldn't be possible"

"Be stronger than your excuse"

"Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint"

"You either quit or keep going, they both hurt"

"Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars, you have to let go at some point in order to move forward"

"Do not give up, the beginning is always the hardest"

"Taking a step into the unknown is better than staying comfortable and never experiencing real growth or change"

"Heal within then shine out, every scar tells a story"

"You never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have"

"I know one day the truth will be louder than the lies, I'm fighting for that day"

"Alcohol and love don't mix, you either drop the alcohol for what you love or drop what you love for alcohol"

"What I feared most is eventually what saved me"

"The only way out is through"

"I did not know the weight of addiction until I felt the freedom of recovery"

"Recovery is a nonstop daily battle"

"Stop looking for ways to sabotage your life"

"Once you promise yourself that you deserve better, you will never look back"

"I wanna live, not just survive"

"Relapse does not erase your success"

"Healing doesn't mean the damage never existed, it means the damage no longer controls our lives"

"There's someone out there who needs to hear your story from you"

"When we recover loudly, we keep others from dying quietly"

"Your job isn't to save them, your job is to set the example and show them how you saved yourself"

"Destroy what destroys you"

"My life is proof that there is hope after dope"

"It's your road and yours alone, others may walk it with you but no one can walk it for you"

"When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person that walked in, that's what the storm is all about"

"Sometimes you have to lose all you have to find out who you truly are"

"Be proud of who you are and not ashamed of who you were"

"Addiction is a family disease, one person may use but the whole family suffers"

"I forgive you but I gotta see you change to believe it"

"The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are"

"You are not too broken to be healed"

"One day, you will tell your story of how you've overcome what you're going through now, and it will become someone else's survival guide"

"Sobriety is never owned, it's rented and rent is due every day"

"Addiction is giving up everything for one thing while recovery is giving up one thing for everything"

"The attempt to escape from pain is what creates more pain"

"I don't want you to save me, I want you to stand by my side as I save myself"

"We have a disease that tells us we don't have a disease"

"The drugs and alcohol will never love you but those kids waiting for you to get sober will!"

"You cannot heal in the same environment where you got sick"

"We don't choose to become addicted, we choose to deny our pain"

"The drugs are your band aid, but tell us about your bullet hole"

"I'm not telling you it is going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it"

"You have to have been through it in order to understand it"

[gen4grl]

Wheeze, here we are at long last before I have to go into College/Life lockdown again. You won't believe how much can happen in a month and the huge projects that lie ahead, but anyways! - It's cool how you have a PHD in Silver Handling. The closest acronym I could get for that was calling it a Psy.D (precarious Silver yeeting doctorate LOL) anyways you're so right, good analytic potential AND its interesting that it's him being Giovanni's son that you point out. I like that bit too, and I'd love to hear what about it makes it so dope to you :D - Twitter is the trenches </3 glad you like it here more :3 tumblr is THE place for neurodivergent folks like us and HARD AGREE on reading game dialogue. its my favorite lore hunting technique. I cannot fight Gyms until every inch of that city has been explored. - Literally bouncing up at down at the mental imagery of Leaf sitting at a blocky computer with Bill. I can just vaguellyyyy reach out to that era through memory, of idk, images, did I ever see them in person? in dreams? all I know is that even in the early 20s the age of dial-up phones wasn't instantly forgotten. maybe at someone's house. but there is SO much 90s to project there and it can be so enjoyable. nostalgia + growing up + that one era that is more romanticized in retro aesthetic and the social culture bc that's how the neighbors eldest daughters grew up and how do we, in modern times, achieve that? - if it's controversial, nobody's yapping about it when it comes to other characters lol. Leaf is pretty consistent if you keep an open mind so taking from other media 100% makes sense. I do it too :P oooh Silver and Leaf meeting on 5 island I love that!! aw man, with the Rocket base and that Scientist I'm just full of giggling here. Pff, Archer is going to get his butt kicked by the boss's son's friend HA tfw the same kids you see running around take down TR - oh I like how you bring the environment and economy into it, solid reasoning for moving + Pallet connects to the ocean that leads to Cinnabar, no? but yeah :D great customer base, little homey place but close to Viridian and the Indigo Plateau as well, plenty of people stopping by! omg Leaf coming from the hair sprouts 😭 oh that's clever I like it! - really enamored with the Bill + Leaf aspects of your story, it's just really speaking to some deep corner of my soul's memory. im so stoked somebody else likes this haha my Leaf is a bit more politically motivated (at least in one universe lol, bc it's the anime which is an utter disaster and she wants to be Champion to clean house and heal the economy) but also someone oughta do something bc Lance is working like 5 different jobs 😭 also, I can imagine with most of your HCs centered around character relationships they might feel like a hard sell compared to cold facts and I 100% feel you. so much of my fic is just character dynamics nobody else would get it LOL. but I'm honored you have so much you'd want to yap about it. fully encourage and love yapisodes - I looked at your Silver post and you said it's only if you're playing as Red but good news, Scientist Gideon STILL asks that if you play as Leaf. He says "Giovanni's kid" not his son :D - at the time you asked that, I was writing 6.1k of a chapter for another fandom, but lately I've had Leaf on the brain again and rlly want to get a solid outline for that series going. <-- the kind of yapping better suited for DMs lol. yess, love seeing how the Pokemon world is connected in media. utterly obsessed with Gen/Evo Specials, you can imagine the cheering when Silver's episode dropped 7 years ago he's so <3 <3 <3 if you like Silver + Leaf sibs then you feel like someone I can smuggle into Dad Lance city that doesn't leave her out, but hey. oldest daughter problems maybe if we incorporate the tendency to focus on Kris/Lyra/Ethan and thanks to Masters, LILLIE?!?!? <-- understand Johto kids but LILLIE???? and every time I see Lance with Red/Blue I'm like "aight, so I gotta fill this vacancy myself"

helllloooo first of all i want to say sorry for taking so long to get to this😭 my last couple months have been a mess and i’ve been dealing with annoying health issues (in every way). i apologise if this reply isn’t as long or thorough as usual🤧

i think what i like about the silver giovanni connection so much is how well it connects johto + kanto story wise. johto to me is still a very undeveloped and lowkey forgotten region unfortunately but silvers character is easily the shining part of the region. i also think it’s cool how he’s also connected to red (or leaf) due to the whole reason giovanni abandoning him being because of red/leaf’s defeat of team rocket, ultimately crushing his ego lol - just one big butterfly effect that i thoroughly enjoy :p and as stated in my post, i like despite how hard he tried not to be, silver was quite similar to his dad until the events of the the johto story. seeing his growth makes me so happy 🤧🤧🤧✨

lmao talking of reading game dialogue … the offical pokemon twitter account made this post for fathers day (i think…? my fathers day isn’t till september 🤷🏻‍♀️)

and the amount of people in the comments literally suprised gave me a stroke like??? lacey being clays daughter is explicitly stated LOL pokemon fans never cease to amaze me 😭😭😭

you’ve really got me thinking about kantrio in the 90s now LOL. i can see them all tryna message eachother on some aol type site and someone’s dial up cutting totally ruining their convos - most likely blue cause daisy wants to talk on the phone to bill or something … hmmm… ideas are brewing!!!! actually to sound old my family had dial up till 2009… insane😭😭 i used to get so mad at my mumma using the phone cause i just wanted to play club penguin LOL - oh and thx u for the compliment on the leaf + bill dynamic <3 bill is one of those random ass side characters that still is so iconic … i have so many hc’s for him too LOL no character can escape my headcanons

oh and i am the minister at the dad lance church!!! i’ve always seen him as not just a mentor to silver but the other johto kids and definitely the kanto trio before they grew up - that saying i still think as adults they turn to him alot since … half of them don’t have dads (both in canon and my hc LOL). i think as adults, the kantrio definitely have a more friend based relationship with him but as kids he definitely helped them through the spotlight that was put on them at such a young age.

ehghhh i very much apologise for this reply, my brain feels very disconnected from my body today and i feel like this hot mess of a reply shows LOL. again, i really apologise for the late reply. i wish you the best of luck with ur studies and writing ✨✨✨🩷🩷🩷

[rametarin]

My favorite rap songs.

I like the one that starts like,

"BOOTY BUTT, BUTTCHEEKS, CLAPCLAPCLAP, ASSORTED 'OH!' NOISES AND SEX."

And also the one that's like, FEMALE AND/OR FEMININE PERSON SEX NOISES ON LOOP "MY DICK IS HUUUUUGE. OH. SEX. YES INDEED." Love songs, you know.

Also the timeless ones: "WEED. YES, WE'LL SPELL IT. WE TOKE IT AND SMOKE IT AND BLOKE IT AND GEL IT. IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DISSECT MUSIC, WE SELL IT. THIS SONG'S ABOUT WEED! WEEEEEEEEEEEEED."

But there's also rap songs like: "BRAPPA BAP BAP BOW I GOTTA GAT AND IT MAKE NOISE LIKE THAT. SHOT A RIVAL SELLER ACROSS THE STREET, PUT HIS FAT BLACK ASS IN A BOX NEXT WEEK. I SELL DRUGS IF IT ISN'T OBVIOUS. IT'S THE ONLY JOB OUT HERE FOR SOME REASON BEYOND US. NEED A GANG FOR SAFETY, TOO MANY GANG BANGERS. WE'D PUT THE GUNS DOWN AND STOP SHOOTING, BUT THE GANG NEXT DOOR IS A DANGER. THANKS TO DRUG CHARGES, CAN'T OWN THEM LEGALLY. BUT THE DRUG DEALERS SELL GUNS, OR YOU CAN GET A HOT ONE THROUGH THIEVERY. DAMNED WHITE PEOPLE AND GUN CONTROL. FORBIDDEN TRIGGER FRUIT GET YOU LOCKED AWAY 'TILL YOU'RE OLD."

And also, "LIFE IS HARD FROM THE HEAT FROM ALL OF THE GANG DEALERS BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE A PAWN I WANT TO BE A TOP EARNING BIG WHEELER. I WISH THE LAWS DIDN'T TARGET INNOCENT BLACK MEN, BUT SO LONG AS CRACK'S ILLEGAL IT'S NOT IF, BUT WHEN. I LOOK DOWN ON OTHER BROTHERS FOR, 'BEING TOO WHITE.' IF YOU DON'T HAVE MY INFLECTIONS AND ACCENT, 'CUZ, WE GON' FIGHT."

Followed up immediately with, "FUCK COPS AND FUCK PIGS AND FUCK WHITE LAWYERS, ALL I DID WAS RUN FROM POLICE, B/C I'M A SOLDIER. THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO CHASE AND PURSUE, I GOT BILLS TO PAY AND THE RENT IS DUE. I DON'T PAY TAXES FOR THE DRUGS I SELL, I JUST COLLECT SAFETY NET MONEY, MULE DOPE AND YELL. THIS FILTHY SOCIETY IS NOT MADE FOR ME, I CALL 9/11 BUT IT TAKES HOURS TO SEE. PERHAPS IF THE HOOD HAD FEWER DOPE DEALERS, MORE PEOPLE TO BE NURSES, DOCTORS AND AMBULANCE WHEELERS. BUT INSTEAD WE GET CARNAGE, VIOLENCE, DEATH AND THE KNEE. I BLAME WHITE PEOPLE FOR GANG BANGERS, LIKE ME. THE LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE EMBEZZLED FUNDS AGAIN, OUR DISTRICT HOOD IS 99% BLACK, BUT I'LL BLAME THE WHITE MEN. WE WON'T EVEN DISCUSS THE DEAD KIDS BY STRAY FIRE, JUST ATTRIBUTE THAT TO OUR SITUATION, MOST DIRE."

And sometimes the song that goes like, "WHITE PEOPLE ARE EVIL, WINK AND NOD, I'LL MENTION THAT EVIL SCIENTIST, YAKOB. MORE SOUR GRAPES THAT'D GET A WHITE ARTIST CENSURED, BY FAR. LISTEN AS I GET AWAY WITH SAYING THE WORDS OF THE R-. CASUAL SLURS AT GAY PEOPLE, BUT IT'S OKAY, I'M OPPRESSED. WE'LL BLAME WHITE AMERICA, AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH DO THE REST. MORE CONSPIRACY THEORIES, LIKE ALEX JONES, JUST WITH VAGUE SEIGE MENTALITY AND WANT FOR POWER, BLACK OWNED."

And who could ever forget this wonderful little ditty. "THINLY VAILED CALL TO ETHNOSUPREMACIST ARMS, WE GOT AN UNDERDOGS GRUDGE AND WISH INCREDIBLE HARM. UH YEAH, OPEN TALK OF 'US' FINALLY RISING, SEIZING A STATE AND THEN GETTING 'ENTERPRISING.' SOLIDAIRTY FISTS AND LAURELS, ROSES SICKLES AND HAMMERS. IT'S JUST A PITY OUR FINANCEERS ARE IN SLAMMERS. BUT WE WON'T BE DENIED, SOVEREIGNTY IS OUR MISSION. WE'LL ANNEX PART OF AMERICA, OUR SECESSION AMBITION. C'MON JOIN MY MOVEMENT." Pity nobody actually joined it. The artist hasn't given up hope that Black America will eventually personally finance his vaguely/lapsed Islamic Caliphate that practices polygamy and consumption of pork, and hopes for splitting off from the United States to form a legally sovereign nation inside the United States. Preferably one that can cry for reparations and the poor state of the reservation every year while the leadership misappropriates funds as they have the right to do, letting the populace demendent starve. Echoes of Sean P. Diddy Combs' compound and any time they try this ethnoseparatist movement.

And the ever loved, "YEAH YEAH YEAH. MIC CHECK. POLITICAL COMMENTARY! THIS SONG'S ABOUT SLAVERY YES, AGAIN. 244 YEARS FROM THE FIRST TO THE LAST, WE BEEN LEGALLY OUR OWN FOR A CENTURY AND A HALF. BUT NOT IF YOU ALSO COUNT THE POLL TAX, AND TRASH. JUST A REMINDER THAT RACISTS EXIST, SO I SAY ON GOOD AUTHORITY, WHITE PEOPLE BE IT. IT'S WRONG TO STEREOTYPE AN ENTIRE GROUP, BUT ONLY IF IT'S US, MENTAL GYMNASTICS, WOOTWOOT. HOW DARE THEY SPEAK AS IF WE'RE MONOLITHIC. BUT IT'S COOL IF WE SAY WHITES COLLECTIVELY ARE DICKS. IT'S WRONG TO TREAT A GROUP LIKE THEY'RE ALL CRIMINALS, UNLESS THEY'RE WHITE, THEN: DAMAGE RECEIVED = MINIMAL. MY CAREER SURVIVES DESPITE INSISTENCE ON SLURS, AND I DON'T EVEN JUST MEAN THROWING AROUND THE N-WORD. IT'S THE 90S AND THEY'RE MAD, BUT CONSIDER IT CHARITY, TO LET A 'BROTHER' DROP GAY SLUR F-BOMBS AND STILL WANT MINORITY SOLDIARITY. SO WE GET TO SPICE IT UP WITH THE LYRICS, PEOPLE WANT TO SAY RAWNESS AND THEY ALSO WANT TO HEAR IT. WE'RE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE THE RULES LAX FOR US, WHITE ARTISTS CAREERS DISAPPEAR WHEN THEY MAKE THIS MUCH FUSS. THEIR STINT WOULD BE OVER AND THEY'D CATCH ENDLESS FLACK, SHOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER THAN TO CUSS ON AIR WHILE NOT BLACK. THIS DISPARITY COMES FROM ACADEMIC LEFTIST FLACK. WE GET TO MAKE WAVES, AND THEY'VE GOT OUR BACK. ANYONE ELSE TRY TO SPIT TRUTH, GETS HIT WITH VAGUEPOSTS THAT DIRECT PUBLIC RELATIONS' NOOSE. THIS IS FAIR AND IT'S TIGHT AND NOT AT ALL TRITE OR A SPIT IN THE FACE TO EQUAL RIGHTS. "

And who could ever forget the classic: "HEY YOOOO I'M A WHITE RAPPER. IT'S '94 TO '04, AND I HAVE MOXIE AND SASS. MORE THAN THAT, HOWEVER, I'VE GOT UNLIMITED N-WORD PASS. A PRIVILEGED, CARTE BLANCHED AND SHELTERED USE, DON'T YOU WORRY, BUT ITS USE CAUSES CONTROLLED OPPOSITIONAL CONTROVERSY. THE ONES THAT AREN'T COLLARED TO BIG BOY GAME RAPPERS GET THEIR CAREERS DESTROYED AND THEIR BUTTCHEEKS ALL CLAPPERED. SEE, RAP CAN BE PARTICIPATED IN BY WHITE PEOPLE! I'M PROOF! IT'S A LIE WE'RE NOT WELCOME OR EVEN TOP OF THE HEAP-LE, THE TRUTH. I HAVE AN AUDIENCE BECAUSE I'M A PLANT; WHAT A RACKET, IF NOT FOR MY USE IN WHITE SOCIETY, I JUST COULDN'T HACK IT. MY CLAIM TO FAME IS I USE A THESAURUS AND DON'T SPEND ALL THE SONG JUST REPEATING "UH" AND "YEAH", FOR US. M.C. PET-MAJORITY SIGNING OUT, DADDY NEEDS MORE LIPS UP HIS ASS."

But I also like that rap song that goes like: "UH. YEAH. CHECKIT. PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY, MY JAM. THIS SONG HAS NO POINT, BUT I'M FOND OF THEM, MAN. SOME ABSTRACT FLOW, WHERE IT GOES I DON'T KNOW, IT HAS NO POINT BUT THAT'S THE POINT OF THE SHOW. IT'S HARMLESS, GARMLESS, THERE'S NO CONTROVERSY HERE. JUST STREAMING OF CONSCIOUSNESS, MAYBE THANKS TO WEED AND BEER. BUT, THEY'RE NOT REALLY MENTIONED IN THE SONG, JUST IMPLIED BY THE TONE AND THE AMBIENT SOUND EFFECTS OF PING-PONG. MAYBE I'M REFERENCING RAPPERS THAT SAMP'D MORE POPULAR SONGS HOPING TO MAKE SALES MORE AMPED."

Maybe I'll add to this list when I can think of a few more rap song niches, complaints and themes.

Also, chill out. If you can handle boiling down country music as a genre to the same songs about beer, trucks, sex and racism, you can handle a tongue in cheek post about rap song tropes.

[ghostboyjules]

weeeeellllll hey folks! Finally back again - after ages of promising this - with Hob's playlist. I'm definitely not gonna be as wordy this time, mostly because I am Tired™, but hopefully these songs and their lyrics speak for themselves better than I could anyway. I'd like to dedicate this beast to these particular wonderful humans; @wordsinhaled, @wizardofgoodfortune, ily'all 🥺 y'all keep me creative <3 and to @landwriter for the amazing title inspo and just being super dope and having excellent Hob Gadling character takes in general.

This playlist is a lil more structured than Dream's was, so I don't recommend listening on shuffle, at least for the first time through, lol. I also have marked in my notes which songs relate to which like. Span of years, but tbh that could be kinda flexible, so use your heart ig asjhfvafbab Without further ado, below the cut will be my lyric selections and small note thingies. If you've read even this far, I thank you *mwah* (yes there's 30 songs I'm SORRY I can't be stopped 😭)

1389 –

Avi Kaplan – I’m Only Getting Started

[Verse 1]

Eyes clouded, blood on my face

No mercy coming my way

Yeah, I'm only getting started

Cracked knuckles, fist shaking

These rivers run, but I'm staying

Yeah, I'm only getting started

OKAY... thought this was kind of a cool one to open up with, plus the interesting thing about making this playlist is that I feel like I have a very linear sort of character progression to work off of, which is fun.. so this song speaks to me of that rough and tumble merc/bandit Hob of 1389... been through some shit, lost family,

Alice In Chains – Rooster

[Verse 2]

Walkin' tall machine gun man

They spit on me in my homeland

Gloria sent me pictures of my boy, mm-mm

Got my pills 'gainst mosquito death

My buddy's breathin' his dyin' breath

Oh God, please, won't you help me make it through? Mm-mm

[Chorus]

Here they come to snuff the Rooster, aw yeah

Yeah, here come the Rooster, yeah

You know he ain't gonna die

No, no, you know he ain't gonna die

this gives me very much merc or soldier Hob, kinda unhinged a lil bit cause he definitely should have died a few times there…but he didn’t.

The Mountain Goats – Up the Wolves

[Verse 1]

There's bound to be a ghost at the back of your closet

No matter where you live

There'll always be a few things, maybe several things

That you're going to find really difficult to forgive

There's gonna come a day when you feel better

You'll rise up free and easy on that day

And float from branch to branch

Lighter than the air

Just when that day is coming, who can say? Who can say?

makes me think about maybe after a long time at war or fighting as a merc or any plethora of things honestly, he’s like struggling with that.

Emigrate, Cardinal Copia – I’m Not Afraid

On the street that I remained

Some have made another hole

Could it be that I'm to blame?

When the ground has turned so cold

Can it be an audacing?

Can it be a guarded hole?

And what we say is just a game

The one we play 'til we get old

All, all the hands I have laid

All written along my face

I'm not afraid of anything

I just let it go

And now I take on everything

To get out from the hole

maybe avoiding thinking about things just so that he’s able to be the kind of man he wants to be rather than the kind the world is wanting to turn him into…but then he has to think abt them to come to terms with them (also no matter what I do,it will not recognize 'audacing' as a word but I googled it and everything so...lmao)

1489 -

Ryn Weaver – New Constellations

[Verse 2]

There's no walls and no ceilings as far as I know

Just the echoes of scars and the unbeaten road

Trip the gun on cautions that I've been sold

'Cause it's hard to believe that it's wrong to want more

Than the truest of blue and a love like a roar

I will run to wherever I want to go, oh

[Chorus 2]

Charting Neptune by the fire of the Sun

I'm looking for new constellations, new constellations

[Verse 3]

So keep callin' me crazy 'cause I never learned

You should stop loving fire because you got burned

Now it feels like I'm living some sick déjà vu

Like the answers were there when I stared into you

"What if there's more? What if there's more?" The more I look into this the more I want to cry about 1489 Hob and all the things he's seen.. I was on the Wiki page for ‘Spherical Earth’ and the years it was giving me... god he sure was just. there for that. the number of things we know to be just. absolute FACT, now that were kinda up in the air for the majority of his 600+ years??? are you kidding me? the maps the books the science the

Dawes – Living In The Future

[Verse 1]

I know all of my exits

I'm always planning my escape

It's the most aggressive symptom

Of this collective phantom pain

And the more that you ignore it

The more it makes you go insane

Just look around

[Chorus]

We're living in the future, so shine a little light

It may not make it any better, I'm just hoping that it might

I'm not talking about forever, how about just getting through the night?

We're living in the future, so shine a little light

ANXIETY… doesn’t wanna be caught being immortal…but also amazed and trying to see the brighter side of things, wanting to learn

Good Tiger – Salt of the Earth (Acoustic)

I tightened my grip

Around my bow

I'll try to save you all

Knuckles turning white

Blood runs cold

There's a boy with no face

I don't feel there's much separation

I'm an animal

Hope leaves when the waves come crashing

I've never been a religious man

But I'm slipping under drowning

In your eyes

I've never been a religious man

But I'm slipping under drowning

In your

More themes of being animalistic.. kinda nightmare-ish huh … this makes me think of maybe him having nightmares trying to help him understand how he really felt about all the killing he’s had to do, while also hungering so so deeply for more. More life, more knowledge, more people, more experiences. An animal wanting ..

1589 –

Hozier – Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene

[Verse 2]

Feeling more human and hooked on her flesh, I

Lay my heart down with the rest at her feet

Fresh from the fields, all fetor and fertile

It's bloody and raw, but I swear it is sweet

[Verse 3]

In leash-less confusion, I'll wander the concrete

Wonder if better now having survived

The jarring of judgement and reason's defeat the sweet

Heat of her breath in my mouth; I'm alive

I’m looking at this song as him falling in love with Eleanor, and I really like whenever they’re depicted as having this kind of.. definitely unconventional type of relationship for the time, and also maybe both being just a smidge unhinged, because Hob certainly is and I could absolutely see him being smitten with Eleanor because she’s maybe, kind of odd or something.. who’s to say..

Fair to Midland – A Seafarer’s Knot

[Verse 1]

Lucky are the leaves of the clover

She's digging for chemistry with the butcher's tools

Shifty are the eyes of the gambler

He's making his tricks his trade, and a job well done

[Pre-Chorus]

Through the motions, waving wishes

To your confidence and eloquence

[Chorus]

He's turning a-green from these envious glorious things

Applied ambitious faith that can keep us all safe

Invoking a blue that's meant for us too

What small amazing things we will turn to rain

Fair to Midland is one of my favorite bands of all time, so I was saving them for something special lol. A lot of the time Darrow’s lyrics don’t make.. a huuge amount of linear sense, but I feel like these are straightforward enough to take enough meaning. This, to me, feels like an examination of what Hob did to get to 1589, and perhaps some of the feelings behind that.

(bonus, made me think of the toast scene…ow)

[Bridge]

Gather 'round, hold your glasses up high

Drink to love while we wait for high tide

Keep it short, keep it brief, you have my word

Gather 'round while we wait for high tide

Everything Everything – Blast Doors

[Chorus]

Down in my beast heart, I build an empire

Whenever I'm blind, I open my wild eye

(repeated)

[Bridge]

I hear the death rattle of a time wasted

Time wasted

You know that I believe in it

You know that I believe in it

But I'm wasted

Back again with ‘animal hunger’ Hob. With this one I was really thinking about how… he really wanted to impress his stranger… only to be barely spoken to and then walked away from with no explanation. Like yes that hurts initially, but I’m thinking about all of the things he had to do to get there, I’m sure he didn’t like a lot of it.. and then to find out he pretty much wasted a lot of his time for an idea that had turned out to be wrong? oof

Ray LaMontagne – Such a Simple Thing

[Verse 2]

Take it if you want it

I'm so tired I just don't care

Can't you see how much you hurt me?

It's like I wasn't there

[Chorus]

Tell me what your heart wants

Such a simple thing

My heart is like paper

Yours is like a flame

I mean… -motions to lyrics- asfjvnfnb. Teehee abandonment issues lolololol

1689 –

40 Watt Sun – Stages

If I was only wise enough

To know everything sure and true about myself

You would not be here

What have I brought you to, my love, that you have followed me?

It is all my heart is worth

And more than I would ask of you

Y’all I’m so sorry that this is a 16 min song aldkfjgadj feel free to like, just look at the lyrics if you don’t have the brain space for the full thing, but I kind of forgot that it was so long until after I was so set on it 💀

Sleeping at Last – Jupiter

[Verse]

Wrote it down in the winter of 1610

Just a secret under lock and key until then

While collecting the stars, I connected the dots

I don't know who I am, but now I know who I'm not

This song always has and always will ruin me,, I just love the line “I don’t know who I am, but now I know who I’m not” honestly just everything about that song… make my messes matter, make this chaos count.. (also had to include because.. 1610 lol)

Gregory Alan Isakov – If I Go, I’m Goin

And I will go if you ask me to

I will stay if you dare

And if I go, I'm goin' shameless

Let my hunger take me there

This house, she's quite the talker

She creaks and moans, she keeps me up

And the photographs know I'm a liar

They just laugh as I burn her down

This song just has very Hob energy, like I feel like he would like it, as well, but also just OOOOOOFFFF this do be hurtin….

The Moody Blues – Melancholy Man

[Chorus]

I'm a melancholy man, that's what I am

All the world surrounds me and my feet are on the ground

I'm a very lonely man, doing what I can

All the world astounds me and I think I understand

That we're going to keep growing, wait and see

Another case of -motions to lyrics- tbh

1789 –

Sleeping at Last – Pluto

[Chorus]

Until one day I had enough

Of this exercise of trust

I leaned in and let it hurt

And let my body feel the dirt

When I break pattern, I break ground

I rebuild when I break down

I wake up more awake than I've ever been before

“I rebuild when I break down” this is put here specifically to signify his,, literal rebuilding of himself after the struggle of the previous century,..

The Deep Dark Woods – The Place I Left Behind

I'm a good ole ramblin' boy

Now that's just what I am

This fair land that you call yours

I do not give a damn

I've got the ramblin' fever down in my bones

And everywhere that I wanna go

The only place that I ever loved

Is a place I left behind

Discontent, I think, with where he’s at currently. Still missing and grieving his family, I imagine he probably spends these years pretty alone, and that could be why he seemingly turns his goddamn brain off -_-

Tunng – Fatally Human

Fatally human

We hover in the world

Fatal someone

We flounder in the dark

Take hold of another

Go mad in a moment

The soil and the wonder

Sway to the terror

There’s not really a lot I can say here, but. Yeah.

1889 –

The Oh Hellos – I Have Made Mistakes

I have made mistakes

I have made mistakes, I continue to make them

And the promises I've made

The promises I've made, I continue to break them

And all the doubts I've faced

All the doubts I've faced, I continue to face them

But nothing is a waste

Nothing is a waste, if you learn from it

This song sounds like how Hob looks when he makes that little jab at himself about making and learning from mistakes… couldn’t get that idea out of my head. Plus this song just really hits.

Greg Puciato – Through the Walls

Winter, I'm out of tune

Heating frozen stars

I'll keep spilling my guts out to you

Wherever you are

Dragging my anchor through you

I want you to know

Me before this night is through

Then you'll never go

Careful to not disappear

Offering dreams to the dawn

Nothing's impossible here

Still we can't go on

I didn’t want to make anything TOO outwardly Dreamling, but like… this song, omg…

Tubeway Army – Are ‘Friends’ Electric?

[Chorus 1]

So now I'm alone

Now I can think for myself

About little deals and S.U's

And things that I just don't understand

Like a white lie at night

Or a sly touch at times

I don't think it meant anything to you

[Verse 3]

So I open the door

It's the 'friend' that I'd left in the hallway

"Please sit down."

A candlelit shadow on a wall near the bed

Made that last comment and then there’s this song WHOOPS sdkfgadfbaasfjghfb

1989 –

Marina – To Be Human

[Chorus]

All the people living in, living in the world today

We're united by our love, we're united by our pain (Ooh)

All the things that I've done and I've seen

Still, I don't know, don't know what it means

All of the little name drops and the meanings and.. it just gave me very much the century flying by so violently but also colorfully and SO much happening..

Orville Peck – Dead of Night

[Verse 3]

Six summers down, another dreamless night

You're not by my side

Scratch on the moon like a familiar smile

Stained on my mind

Some other town, someone else's life

Dead in the night

In the night

Ofc I had to add Orville… this song and it’s placement… I wanted it to feel purposeful, and I hope it does. Character and theme-wise, and also like irl things happening in those decades..

Danny Schmidt – This Too Shall Pass

[Verse 3]

We think too big, we think our self is one whole thing

And we claim that this collection has a name and is a being

But deep inside when every cell divides

Well, it sets upon the rule that states self-interest is divine

[Verse 4]

And cancer too lives by this golden rule:

That you must do unto the others as the others unto you

All for the best, because it's all that life accepts

And so we kill it like a buffalo: with awe and with respect

This song also gives me overall Hob vibes, musically and lyrically, but.. I just think about the kind of friends he made and the things he tried to do in this century. Helping the people he could and loving those he couldn’t help. The knowledge that yes, this too shall pass…

1990’s-ish – Went on a lil’bit of a bender

Alice in Chains – Would?

[Verse 2]

Drifting body, its sole desertion

Flying, not yet quite the notion

[Chorus]

Into the flood again

Same old trip it was back then

So I made a big mistake

Try to see it once my way

I feel like after 1989.. and the overwhelming barrage of a century that was, I feel like he has some, emotions to sort through. N and I talked a lot about grunge phase 90’s Hob and like yes very much influential here, but I think I’d associate him with Alice in Chains, regardless. Stone Temple Pilots too, I think.. there’s more lmao

Def Leppard – Animal

[Verse 1]

A wild ride, over stony ground

Such a lust for life, the circus comes to town

We are the hungry ones, on a lightning raid

Just like a river runs, like a fire needs flame

Oh, I burn for you

[Chorus]

I got to feel it in my blood, whoa, oh

I need your touch don't need your love, whoa, oh

And I want, and I need, and I lust, animal

And I want, and I need, and I lust, animal

This man fucks. Obvi

2022 –

The National – I Am Easy To Find

[Verse 1]

How long have we been here?

Am I ever coming down?

I need to find some lower thinking, if I'm going to stick around

I'm not going anywhere

Who do I think I'm kidding?

I'm still standing in the same place where you left me standing

[Chorus]

I am easy to find

The National will always be my favorite sad Dad band, I cherish them. I feel like Hob would also like them, but this song of course had to be added because. “I am easy to find.” …. ach

The Narcissist Cookbook – Joy! Joy! JoooOOY!

[Verse 2]

Tonight let's turn the shower on

Full blast and hot

Lie down in the bath like it's a casket or a cot

We'll try to sleep

But we won't sleep

I thought writing it down might make me wanna stop

But I want more and more

And more of this

Til there's no room in me

There’s not a lot I can say about this one either, just.

Broken Bells – Perfect World

[Verse 1]

Oh, London moon, help me stumble home

Let me lose myself along the way

I've got nothing left, it's kind of wonderful

'Cause there's nothing they can take away... away

[Bridge]

But it's another way to win a useless fight

You've been lying so long don't know when you're faking

See the water on the rise

Just another day into a useless night

I've been pushing so hard now my hands are shaking

See the water on the rise

This song is beautiful. I think I had a religious experience when I heard it for the first time a few years ago,,, it’s also just very much a Hob song to me. Not overly optimistic, but still down for life.. the struggles…

Avi Kaplan – Song For The Thankful

[Verse 3]

Goodbye evening, hello to the night

I'm not seein' the wrong from the right

Walkin' blindly on a path without an end

Then the morning comes and leads me out again

I thought this would be the perfect song to end on.. I hope I’m right.

[uenodivision]

Rap Guerrilla (Remix)

Bring the Beat!

[Lana & Ace:]

Welcome to Hypnosis Mic!

[Yuriko & Nadya:]

Prepare yourselves! (Are you ready?)

[Chuohku's F8:]

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh oh-oh-ohhh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh oh-oh-ohhh

[Aranai:]

Not afraid at all, this redhead's full of vigor

Greatest accomplishment of rap was putting me in it

Physically small, but I make up for it in spirit

The HBIC, Ride or Die, I have no limits!

[Shisuta:]

Grace and tranquility, make up my entity

Everyday, spiritually, I fight the enemy

With the faith of a mustard seed, I'll go beyond

I am The Saint of Sakurai, and my word is bond

[Kisouna:]

Logic and reasoning are my best friends

The meaning of 'defeat', 'surrender', I can't comprehend

Verdict stands tall against injustice

Against any and all, there will be punishment!

[Tomi:]

Prosperity's on my side

No, I will not be denied

Wealth and fame makes me better

High Class will be the winner!

Silly, foolish peasants

You can't see your own failure

Cease your mindless and idiotic behavior!

[Karada:]

The past isn't something I normally think about

Why would I? It is something that Nike can do without

Long as I have JST, my strength and my fame

Then I can proudly hold true to the Kessaku name

[Luis:]

Fire burning high, it'll reach up to the sky

I have an abnormal way of doing things, I definitely won't deny

But I'm true to myself, I've no need for bravado

I'm a hot-blooded bandito known only as El Dorado

[Aranai:]

Blah, blah: I've heard more than enough from you rich freaks!

[Tomi:]

You dare insult us, peasant?! You'd do well to kiss my feet!

[Aranai:]

Yeah, keep dreaming! This rap game is ours. You should hurry up and quit!

[Tomi:]

Astonishing how the middle class has nary a bit of wit

[Aranai:]

The darkness blinds us, but in the distance, I see one light

[Shisuta:]

Together with our family, we wield this one mic

[Kisouna:]

Live the best you can; you only have one life!

[Shisuta & Luis:]

Never gonna stop, we're never gonna stop (Hey!)

[Luis:]

Look around the town, there's so many bright lights

[Karada:]

Who will be the one to seize Glory's spotlight?

[Tomi:]

Enough talk and words. It's finally the show time!

[Leaders:]

We'll take you to the top

Welcome to the DOPE World!

[Chorus:]

Hypnosis Mic, do or die

We'll snatch the top clean, we're the rap guerrilla

We'll show you what's what, so ride on

We are the No. 1 hip-hop tribe y'all!

[Chuohku's F8:]

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh oh-oh-ohhh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh

[Miho:]

Up atop, I look down from below

I can't help but smile at the city glow

My tower will ascend to the highest of the Heavens

Iron Maiden's acumen leaves more than first impressions

[Ritsuko:]

In my lab, equations and calculations thrive here

Ignore mercy and breathe in the screams of the atmosphere

To create the ultimate lifeform, I've no time to be kind

The greatest mind to ever live: The one and only Strychnine

[Sumire:]

Enough with the slow beat. Let's liven up this whole place!

As I tinker and code, my mind goes deeper into Hackerspace

Call me Diabla, a.k.a. the Queen of the Underworld

Even the Devil won't dare try something without my express word!

[Sayaka:]

With wings that I've crafted and grown on my own

I fly high above the sky, keeping a watch below

My loved ones, as long as I've them, there's nothing to fear

I'm Rhopalocera, Saitama's one and only 'Mama Bear'

[Lola:]

What's up, fans?! Did you think that you wouldn't see me?

What's a show without the one and only Goddess of Beauty?

Aphrodite, looking and feeling so sweet

Now that you've laid eyes on me, your life is complete

[Kureha:]

Ahh, Kazu-chan, you're so cute

With you and my family, everything else is minute

Transform together, Eclipse becomes a tiger

And nothing will hurt you, especially not a spider

[Ritsuko:]

Dear sister, I can see you trembling

Is it the thought of facing me so intimidating?

[Sayaka:]

I'm trembling with excitement at finally making you pay

Ritsuko, for your sins, I promise you'll suffer someday!

[Ritsuko:]

The darkness blinds us, but in the distance, I see one light

[Miho:]

Together with our family, we wield this one mic

[Sumire:]

Live the best you can; you only have one life!

[Sumire & Kureha:]

Never gonna stop, we're never gonna stop (Hey!)

[Kureha:]

Look around the town, there's so many bright lights

[Lola:]

Who will be the one to seize Glory's spotlight?

[Sayaka:]

Enough talk and words. It's finally the show time!

[Leaders:]

We'll take you to the top

Welcome to the DOPE World!

[Chorus:]

Hypnosis Mic, do or die

We'll snatch the top clean, we're the rap guerrilla

We'll show you what's what, so ride on

We are the No. 1 hip-hop tribe y'all!

[Chuohku's F8:]

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh

[Lana:]

Kyoto's leader is back, with a brand new track!

Give me a canvas and some paint, I've no need for restraint

With my family and my mic, I'll expose all you frauds!

One of the best MCs to ever live, I'm the one called Facade!

[Itsuki:]

Despite all my flaws, I'll stand tall for my friends

The love for all of the people in my life, it has no end!

Protector of this team, that's the title that I bear

Tsuki, the guardian, standing firm, no matter where

[Kanade:]

Big sis and Itsuki-kun are doing all that they can!

So it's time for me to step up to the plate and help them!

Spooky is flawed, but she never gives up!

I may be small and weak, but I'm ready to corrupt!

[Evelyn:]

P-A-R-T-Y? Cause it's time for some fun!

Now that I'm here, it's guaranteed to be a good one!

S-P-I-R-I-T, I'm the best girl around!

I may be out for a second, but I'll never stay down!

[Ace:]

Classy and sassy, that's me to a 'T'

Forgive me if I blind you from my gold and jewelry

I don't normally show off, but I'll make an exception

MC Patriot, please don't raise an objection

[Rashaad:]

Calm and cool, that's how I strive to be

No sense in getting angry, just chillax and breathe

If you need a good drink, you've come to the right spot

Straight Up will serve you a nice drink on the rocks

[Lana:]

The darkness blinds us, but in the distance, I see one light

[Itsuki:]

Together with our family, we wield this one mic

[Kanade:]

Live the best you can; you only have one life!

[Kanade & Evelyn:]

Never gonna stop, we're never gonna stop (Hey!)

[Rashaad:]

Look around the town, there's so many bright lights

[Evelyn:]

Who will be the one to seize Glory's spotlight?

[Ace:]

Enough talk and words. It's finally the show time!

[Leaders:]

We'll take you to the top

Welcome to the DOPE World!

[Chorus:]

Hypnosis Mic, do or die

We'll snatch the top clean, we're the rap guerrilla

We'll show you what's what, so ride on

We are the No. 1 hip-hop tribe y'all!

[Chuohku's F8:]

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh

[Yuriko:]

'Will this be the moment where the legend fades away?'

'Will Black Dahlia, the martyr, finally cease to exist?'

Such thoughts invade my head each and every single day

But as I look at my daughters play and grow, they are soon dismissed

[Kaoru:]

From the deepest, darkest crevice of the dark web

The world of Arachne is where this decker thrives

With a jack in my head and a deck in my hands

I'll let you see the Matrix through this prodigy's eyes

[Kanra:]

Will the memories of the past ever come back to me?

Why is it that the world seems so dark and fuzzy?

I wonder what people think when they see the mind of D'Vil?

But all I know is, right now, I'm hungry for a meal

[Meari:]

Yeah! Time to get amped up and start shit!

Mirror, Mirror, please tell me, who's the deadliest bitch?

That's right! It's Bloody Mary, and I'm ready to brawl!

Best watch your back before I appear on your wall

[Aika:]

Oh honey, please don't be scared of me

I'm just here to lead you to euphoria, see?

Turn off the lights, close the curtains, and don't mind the time

The woman known as VeeXn's about to blow your mind

[Nadya:]

Venom in its pure form is so deadly

Infecting its victims before they even know what's happening

Colder than the eye of a snake about to strike its prey

Vipera, my revenge is getting closer each day

[Yuriko:]

You think you know revenge, but you've barely scratched the surface

[Nadya:]

Is that so? Well then tell me, what is it that I'm lacking?

[Yuriko:]

To truly kill your victims, you must bide your time and wait

[Nadya:]

Your advice is unneeded; I do things my own way

[Yuriko:]

The darkness blinds us, but in the distance, I see one light

[Kaoru:]

Together with our family, we wield this one mic

[Kanra:]

Live the best you can; you only have one life!

[Kanra & Meari:]

Never gonna stop, we're never gonna stop (Hey!)

[Aika:]

Look around the town, there's so many bright lights

[Meari:]

Who will be the one to seize Glory's spotlight?

[Nadya:]

Enough talk and words. It's finally the show time!

[Leaders:]

We'll take you to the top

Welcome to the DOPE World!

[Chorus:]

Hypnosis Mic, do or die

We'll snatch the top clean, we're the rap guerrilla

We'll show you what's what, so ride on

We are the No. 1 hip-hop tribe y'all!

[Chuohku's F8:]

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh oh-oh-oh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh

[Aranai:]

The greatest leaders have assembled on stage!

[Tomi:]

It's the beginning of a new age!

[Sayaka:]

The time is now, so turn the page!

[Ritsuko:]

Primed and ready to engage

[Lana:]

Our path forward is straight!

[Ace:]

This alliance is great!

[Yuriko:]

You stand no chance against us eight

[Nadya:]

Kneel before Chuohku's F8!

[Chorus:]

Hypnosis Mic, do or die

We'll snatch the top clean, we're the rap guerrilla

We'll show you what's what, so ride on

We are the No. 1 hip-hop tribe y'all!

[Chuohku's F8:]

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh oh-oh-oh Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Hey! Whoa-oh-oh oh-oh-ohhh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Hey! Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhh

@saitama-division @shinagawa-division @kyoto-division @okinawa-division @edogawa-division @minatodivision

[cheemken]

If you could change something about any of the Pokémon story lines, what would you change?

Like have one character be more active with the story, have another character have less impact, or have someone do something else that you thought they should’ve done instead

I would’ve like it if the League was more involved with Team Plasma in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. They already did good with having the gym leaders fight in the first games but I thought they would’ve done more in the second games

My guy you don't know how much I love Diantha, it would've been so dope if she were more active in the story to shut every hater up ncmxn

Like I want her to be more involved w the whole Flare thing y'know, I want her to find out abt Malva being part of Team Flare and then finding out abt Lysandre too, and actually helping the player stop him and ough the fucking symbolism w her having an angelic aesthetic and being the righteous judgement when it comes to battling Lysandre and Flare, how in that final battle she's debating if it really is worth saving him or not, and in the end she decided that it's best he actually dies

But I also have like,, another concept that Diantha is actually the mastermind behind Flare, cause I feel no one would actually find out she's the real boss of Flare, she's an actress ofc, she's good at playing pretend, good at acting like Flare doesn't even exist in the first place

I want her to be there at Lysandre's final moments, looking down on him w these cold and empty eyes, telling him how much of a disappointment he is that smth as simple as beating a bunch of new trainers he couldn't do, and she and her Gardevoir teleports away as Lysandre is left there helpless to die. I wanna add that Diantha did keep Yveltal in this, the main trainer didn't, and when the public found out she just said she saw Lysandre still trying to use it's power as Calem, Serena, and Shauna were trying to get away to safety, so she fought Yveltal and caught it so there won't be much destruction anymore

That's a lie, ofc, she already had Yveltal beforehand, and if shit really went down she'd just use him, but she thought maybe it isn't the time just yet

But yeah I just want some kinda evil Diantha, kinda manipulative Diantha, bc I think she deserves it. Like, maybe not the actual boss of Flare but y'know just as manipulative as Lysandre that she knows which champions are so willing to do anything for her, she'd give them all the reassurance they want, and they'd kneel before her like the queen she is (I do have concepts abt this one tho bc this is one of my fave aus abt Dia hahaha)

[jacksgreysays]

Always happy to meet a fellow multishipper! Sorry I read you wrong 😅

As I've been trying to write that fic we talked about (which is finally a priority now that I've reached stopping points with other stories), I think I've found it why I struggle to come up with and write DOS fics. I don't think I have an accurate gage of Shikako's character. Have you ever struggled with that?

Also, thank you for answering my asks about more Hail to the Queen iterations. I love that stuff!

No worries! Shipping to me kinda feels more like personality/sexuality/circumstances puzzles as opposed to, like, a hill I’m willing to die on type of thing. A lot of my most interesting fics are the ones where someone prompts a pairing I never considered which leads me to figure out how such a pairing would work and, again, under what circumstances. It’s very fun :D

Oof, there are some fic that live in my head—not even as plot bunnies but, proto-bunnies. They’re not even ambulatory yet, lol—that will never see the light of day. Most of them involve Naruto and Kakashi. Not because I don’t love them, but because ahhhhh their character voices are SO DIFFICULT FOR ME. Naruto is more difficult than Kakashi because at least with Kakashi I have an idea of how he feels/his main motivation (sad all the time and GOTTA MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE I LOVES DIES BEFORE I DO) but Naruto is just… O_O I don’t know… what… how do you make decisions, bro?

And this is probably a personality failing on my end but Naruto is just so trusting so often even when there have been so many cases where he shouldn’t be and he pulls the weirdest lessons from certain experiences and he loves to fight and loves jutsu that don’t do anything but cause harm but doesn’t believe in killing even though he lives in a world of shinobi and he wants to be Hokage in order to protect his precious people and he hates war but also he hates the things that a Hokage has to do in peacetime so it’s like… WHAT.

It may also be that he suffers from shounen protagonist syndrome which is that he is more of a force/narrative than a person so any contradictions in his decision making process is because that’s just what Kishimoto needed him to do at any given point.

My struggle with Kakashi is more that while I understand him internally, he’s so good at deflecting and zagging that there’s a strange sort of… layering to his dialogue and behavior that I’ve never quite managed to finesse. Like he says one thing and does another thing but what he ACTUALLY means is neither. It’s very look underneath the underneath

I’d like to think I have a good handle on Shikako’s character although it might be a sort of cyclical me reading DoS (literally the first First Person POV fic I didn’t nope out of after a chapter) and projecting onto Shikako turned into me podficcing DoS and internalizing Shikako which lead to me writing recursive DoS fic and going back to projecting onto recursive Shikako, etc.

Also, unsurprisingly given my ever faithful writer’s block and how I’m no longer as prolific as I used to be, there are a lot of other things I struggle with. For me I don’t think it’s the ideas that are the problem—my brainstorm to actual fic ratio on this blog is out of hand—but it’s the execution of idea into fic that is the worst. Or having cool concepts but not necessarily the background/foundation to manifest them.

Like, speaking of current fic idea that just… won't... just refuse to let me wrangle them... absolutely slip through my fingers...

@loveelemental helped me brainstorm a DoS crossover (won’t say what fandom at the moment) and it would be so dope, but I don’t actually know that other fandom very well even though my brain insists this is the fic it should be writing. Another problem is that, it’s PRIMARILY set in that other fandom AND THEN it’s not even Shikako that is the DoS character!

And I’m just like… WHY IS THIS WHAT MY BRAIN WANTS TO WRITE. WE DON’T KNOW THIS. I ALSO CAN’T COME UP WITH STUFF. EVERYONE IS AN ESTABLISHED CHARACTER WITH A DISTINCT VOICE AND NONE OF THEM ARE SHIKAKO!

So, yeah… the struggle is real.

I also very much enjoy brainstorming collaboratively with people. Often I don’t even think of things until I’m asked a question, so I also appreciate you sending in those Hail to the Queen asks. Legit, the She Who Has Divine Right in which Shikako takes over Haido’s failed invasion force because their literal god chose her over both him and the last of the royal bloodline is EXTREMELY entertaining to me and I don’t think I’d have ever come up with that by myself.

So thank you, too, aryaokayfriend! :D

[shinagawa-division]

Something I was working on in my spare time. Hope you enjoy it: Bring the Beat!

[Aranai:]

Sakurai, we're the guerrilla!

[Tomi:]

JST in your area

[Sayaka:]

Femme Fatale, we will take it all!

[Ritsuko:]

CodeX, we will burn you all

[The Deadly Four:]

Hey! Whoa oh oh-oh-oh-oh Hey! Whoa oh oh oh-oh-ohhh Hey! Whoa oh oh-oh-oh-oh Hey! Whoa oh oh oh-oh-ohhh

[Aranai:]

Not afraid at all, this redhead's full of vigor Greatest accomplishment of rap was putting me in it Physically small, but I make up for it in spirit The HBIC, Ride or Die, I have no limits!

[Shisuta:]

Grace and tranquility, make up my entity Every day, spiritually, I fight the enemy With the faith of a mustard seed, I'll go beyond I am The Saint of Sakurai, and my word is bond

[Kisouna:]

Logic and reasoning are my best friends The meaning of 'defeat', 'surrender', I can't comprehend Verdict stands tall against injustice Against any and all, there will be punishment!

[Tomi:]

Prosperity's on my side No, I will not be denied Wealth and fame make me better High Class will be the winner! Silly, foolish peasants You can't see your own failure Cease your mindless and idiotic behavior!

[Karada:]

The past isn't something I normally think about Why would I? It is something that Nike can do without Long as I have JST, my strength and my fame Then I can proudly hold true to the Kessaku name

[Luis:]

Fire burning high, it'll reach up to the sky I have an abnormal way of doing things, I definitely won't deny But I'm true to myself, I've no need for bravado I'm a hot-blooded bandito known only as El Dorado

[Aranai:]

Blah, blah: I've heard more than enough from you rich freaks!

[Tomi:]

You dare insult us, peasant?! You'd do well to kiss my feet!

[Aranai:]

Yeah, keep dreaming! This rap game is ours. You should hurry up and quit!

[Tomi:]

Astonishing how the middle class us nary a bit of wit

[Aranai:]

The darkness blinds us, but in the distance, I see one light

[Shisuta:]

Together with our family, we wield this one mic

[Kisouna:]

Live the best you can; you only have one life!

[Shisuta & Luis:]

Never gonna stop, we're never gonna stop (Hey!)

[Luis:]

Look around the town, there's so many bright lights

[Karada:]

Who will be the one to seize Glory's spotlight?

[Tomi:]

Enough talk and words. It's finally the show time!

[Leaders:]

We'll take you to the top Welcome to the DOPE World!

[Chorus:]

Hypnosis Mic, do or die We'll snatch the top clean, we're the rap guerrilla We'll show you what's what, so ride on We are the No. 1 hip-hop tribe y'all!

[The Deadly Four:]

Hey! Whoa oh oh-oh-oh-oh Hey! Whoa oh oh oh-oh-ohhh Hey! Whoa oh oh-oh-oh-oh Hey! Whoa oh oh oh-oh-ohhh

[Miho:]

Up atop, I look down from below I can't help but smile at the city glow My tower will ascend to the highest of the Heavens Iron Maiden's acumen leaves more than first impressions

[Ritsuko:]

In my lab, equations and calculations thrive here Ignore mercy and breathe in the screams of the atmosphere To create the ultimate lifeform, I've no time to be kind The greatest mind to ever live: The one and only Strychnine

[Sumire:]

Enough with the slow beat. Let's liven up this whole place! As I tinker and code, my mind goes deeper into Hackerspace Call me Diabla, a.k.a. the Queen of the Underworld Even the Devil won't dare try something without my express word!

[Sayaka:]

With wings that I've crafted and grown on my own I fly high above the sky, keeping a watch below My loved ones, as long as I've them, there's nothing to fear I'm Rhopalocera, Saitama's one and only 'Mama Bear'

[Lola:]

What's up, fans?! Did you think that you wouldn't see me? What's a show without the one and only Goddess of Beauty? Aphrodite, looking and feeling so sweet Now that you've laid eyes on me, your life is complete

[Kureha:]

Ahh, Kazu-chan, you're so cute With you and my family, everything else is minute Transform together, Eclipse becomes a tiger And nothing will hurt you, especially not a spider

[Ritsuko:]

Dear sister, I can see you trembling Is it the thought of facing me so intimidating?

[Sayaka:]

I'm trembling with excitement at finally making you pay Ritsuko, for your sins, I promise you'll suffer someday!

[Ritsuko:]

The darkness blinds us, but in the distance, I see one light

[Miho:]

Together with our family, we wield this one mic

[Sumire:]

Live the best you can; you only have one life!

[Sumire & Kureha:]

Never gonna stop, we're never gonna stop (Hey!)

[Kureha:]

Look around the town, there's so many bright lights

[Lola:]

Who will be the one to seize Glory's spotlight?

[Sayaka:]

Enough talk and words. It's finally the show time!

[Leaders:]

We'll take you to the top Welcome to the DOPE World!

[Chorus:]

Hypnosis Mic, do or die We'll snatch the top clean, we're the rap guerrilla We'll show you what's what, so ride on We are the No. 1 hip-hop tribe y'all!

[The Deadly Four:]

Hey! Whoa oh oh-oh-oh-oh Hey! Whoa oh oh oh-oh-ohhh Hey! Whoa oh oh-oh-oh-oh Hey! Whoa oh oh oh-oh-ohhh

Whoa oh oh-oh-oh-oh Whoa oh oh-oh-oh-oh

[Chorus:]

Hypnosis Mic, do or die We'll snatch the top clean, we're the rap guerrilla We'll show you what's what, so ride on We are the No. 1 hip-hop tribe y'all!

[The Deadly Four:]

Hey! Whoa oh oh-oh-oh-oh Hey! Whoa oh oh oh-oh-ohhh Hey! Whoa oh oh-oh-oh-oh Hey! Whoa oh oh oh-oh-ohhh

Hey! Whoa oh oh-oh-oh-oh Hey! Whoa oh oh oh-oh-ohhh Hey! Whoa oh oh-oh-oh-oh Hey! Whoa oh oh oh-oh-ohhh

Aahebbfifhhfguf AHHHHHHHHH-

Ueno your mind!!! I just wanna kith it thank you sooooo much! This is one of the greatest things to wake up to, thank you! ❤️

The fact that I can tell which character sang each part is even better omg thank you sm you absolute genius

[a-master-procrastinator]

Quick thoughts about 7.2 story, spoilers ahead!

Went with Airistan, because as much as I wanted to just go with my Mando bounty hunter, I needed to see the story first with a different character.

I loved Ruhnuk, even with shadows set to low, such a pretty scenery. The level of detail is amazing.

Rass is adorable (and ofc he won't stop reminding Commander about their habit of another-happy-landing ships), and now with flirt options available I'm seriously thinking of having one of my characters pick those options. No idea yet, but I'll think of someone.

As expected, Akaavi and Torian didn't have a big role in the story, but it was nice to have a bonus quest where you talk to each one of them (and Rass). Although it would be good for them to have a more important role, especially Torian, seeing as his clan's name is used by Heta to rally her allies against Mandalore. Can't imagine him being fine with it.

The fight between Shae and Heta was dope. I appreciate them having the same blades in the duel, because if they fought with weapons as on the art, I would've lost my shit. At least this way, the odds are even.

Speaking of which, Airistan did not mess around with Bask Sunn and his weapon being used against Shae. She used it on Heta (bc she hated how it was used on her), and then killed Sunn, because if he changes loyalty like gloves, why won't he betray Airistan in future?

It was interesting to learn the story between Rass and Ri'kan. I knew the Ordo sister was not mentioned for nothing, but I also didn't think Heta would turn out to be this lost sister (there was this theory, and I wouldn't put it past bioware, but I didn't think that was the case).

In the end, we're back to where we started - Heta and her followers escaped, and now we have to hunt her down again, which is a little disappointing. But we got some new information, and I'm intrigued by where this is going.

I feel like I'm forgetting someone... right, Sa'har. She, well, acted a little dumb, and I can understand it, she wants to make up to her brother for leaving him in the past, but girl, I hope you're not about to give this (yet another) superweapon to Heta. Please.

[sexymultifacetshadowling]

Eonan wasn't the type of person that enjoyed inflicting violence, they never did before and doubted that they would one day. At least not seriously.

A good brawl in a bar isn't the same thing as beating someone until they can't walk. Raiding a ship for their own survival isn't the same as torturing the ship's crew just because you can.

But he understood that everyone does what they need to survive, so he doesn't judge; it's not an easy nor pretty thing, living in Pirate Bay when you ain't got the money to leave it when you want to. Sometimes you have to become someone that eats so you're not eaten.

Eonan just didn't want to do that- to become that.

Their sibling was different. Eorac was harsher, it knew what it wanted, and they took it without remorse. Eorac was the type of guy you didn't want on your side, but wanted less on the other.

If Eonan's weapons was his wit and charm, Eorac's was it's actual weapons.

But they knew their sibling cared for him, in it's weird way. In it's careful and meticulous planing of their day or in it's tearing down of Eonan's fighting until it was perfect or in the almost soft way it would put their hand over his shoulder and tell the room "This is my brother. Behave yourselves around them".

So even when Eorac was like this, angry and scared and aggressive, because something went wrong, and they refuse to talk about it, even though they really fucking should- Eonan takes a deep breath, because he knows that his sibling loves them and doesn't mean it.

"Dude, calm down, it's fine. We'll figure it out like we always do" they say, keeping their hands where Eorac can see them and their voice low and with a slight amount of persuasive charm, "just tell me what's wrong."

"Stop that." Eorac says harshly, "Your fucking tricks don't work on me, I know what you're doing."

It bounces it's leg, ready to snap and attack if they sense anything bad is coming. Even just sitting in their own bed, Eorac looks so on edge and out of place that it makes Eonan's heart ache.

"Fine." They say, propping themselves against the door, "You don't want tricks? That's fine."

Eonan takes a deep breath. Again. Because what else is he supposed to do? They've played this game before.

"I won't fucking move until you stop acting like a prick and tell me what's going on."

"Why do you want to know? You think you can help me?" There's bitterness in Eorac's voice, it drips with sarcasm, "You can't even help yourself. Go back to your fucking music and your dope and leave me alone."

They hate when this happens. They hate that they have to stand there and listen to the person that's literally the definition of a "self-destructive streak" talk about his problems like it knows anything about it.

He hates that it would go there in the first place.

"Stop acting like a child." His voice is calculated, slow, but not angry, because Eonan knows that if he gets angry, it's gonna be worse "If you don't want help, then stop brooding. You're putting yourself in a situation that you don't need to."

Their voice wavers, just a bit, because he's an emotional person, Matra dammit, and they just want Eorac to be fine for once in their life.

"Let me help. I want to help" the please is silent "as your backup if nothing else."

It's kinda weird, to see the face that is the same as yours and somehow so different look at you with such wild eyes. So angry, so sad - so Eorac.

For what it's worth, Eonan can see the second that the sadness almost won, when Eorac's eyebrows twitched just a little and it's lips pressed into a thin line. The second that it almost admitted that they could be helped, if it let them. The second that they almost got his sibling to listen to him.

Alas, it was only for a second.

"Fuck you" it spits, "Get out of my way, I need to do this alone"

Eorac gets up from the bed, grabs it's dagger from the nightstand, and makes it's way to the door with heavy steps.

"I said I won't move until you tell me what's going on." Eonan, now also standing to their full height and slightly taller than their twin (Eorac has terrible posture), keeping his back to the door. "I meant it."

"Move. Now" Eorac it's not joking, they both know it. "I won't tell you twice"

Eonan fucking hates this dance, but he dances anyway.

"No."

Eorac is much stronger than Eonan, always was. When they were younger, Eorac always won every single game or fight that depended on it. But Eonan was faster, no one could ever catch up to him, not even his sibling.

When they fought, really fought, the outcome was always decided within the first seconds: was this going to be a fight that relied on strength and endurance or a fight that relied on dexterity and strategy?

This one was no different, but Eonan had the disadvantage: he couldn't move away from the door, if they did that Eorac was gone.

So when Eorac punched their face, and all they could do was put his arms up to protect it, both knew who won it this time.

Well, at least he would get a good hit in.

Using his left hand to quickly grab Eorac's fist and twist it, Eonan used his right elbow and hit their sibling's jaw.

Eorac grunted and stumbled back, hand holding the side of it's face.

When it looked up, their eyes were simmering with anger - and pride, if you knew how to look for it.

"You're gonna regret that."

(Yeah, yeah, I know) he thought as he saw their sibling's fighting stance (I already do).

Next thing they knew, their stomach exploded with pain. Doubling over from his sibling's hit, Eonan couldn't protect himself from the following punch in the face, that knocked them to the ground, conjuring that familiar metallic taste of blood.

Next was a brutal kick in their left leg, that made him curl into a fetal position - to protect himself or to avoid making their sibling see his pained expression, Eonan couldn't tell you.

Eorac kneeled next to their brother's face, grabbing it carefully - or as carefully as it could - making Eonan look into their eyes.

"I-" it swallowed, as if searching for the right words: 'I'm sorry', 'I told you so' or 'Why do you have to be so fucking stubborn all the time?'

Maybe a mix of all of them, or maybe none.

"I'll buy you a drink when I get back." Then they were gone.

Eonan just laid there, blood pouring from his nose and staining the already dirty floor of the bedroom. Their childhood bedroom, that both he and Eorac spend so much time and money trying to get. So much effort to turn that ugly and cold attic into a place you can live, so many years to get it furnished and make it so that even though it was small, it was theirs and theirs alone, and they shouldn't be fucking fighting in it.

He laid there, and he fucking cried, because they were tired and sore and pissed and no one was around to judge him.

They cried until their chest hurt and the tears began to die in his throat, because sometimes you have got to just let it all out, or you are going to let it consume you until there's nothing left (like Eorac is doin-).

No. Stop it. He is not going there. Not today.

Eonan gets up, finally, and looks at himself in the small cracked mirror they leave above the piano. They look disheveled, sure: his eyeliner is running through his face, a bit of dried blood under their nose and a bruise on the cheek that will definitely turn purple soon; but nothing that washing their face and a little make-up won't fix.

So they do that.

They go to the sink on the floor below, being careful and not letting any of the workers see him before they're clean. The cold water on their face is a blessing, and as he rubs and gets the dried blood out, they began to feel better. They run his now cold hands over the bruises on their stomach and over their scalp, massaging it to try to avoid getting a headache because of the heat of the Bay.

He is getting tired of the braids, maybe he could let their natural hair down for a while (Eorac would be pissed, people can only tell us apart because of the hair difference), the thought delights them.

They are smiling at themselves, thinking of all the ways he could impersonate and annoy his sibling, when a knock came from the door.

"Eonan? You there?" Michaia's voice sounded worried, "I saw the Shadows leave a while back, and you didn't come down."

"I'm fine!" He says quickly, "Be out in just a bit!" They apply their eyeliner messily, - it's part of the charm - then he opens the door with a smile.

"How's the worst hooker in the bay doing today?"

"Better than the third rate prostitute standing in front of me, that's for sure." Michaia says, with mischievous tone in their voice but with worry in their (for now) golden eyes. "You guys had a fight?"

"Yeah, but don't worry about it" Eonan says, cheery and warm all over; there's no use lying to them, and he knows it, but he can at least sooth their worries "Eorac's gonna buy me a drink."

Michaia shifts into a muscular and tall orc, and looks down at him with a lifted eyebrow.

"It's cool. We handled it." His tone it's now quieter, restless, it's a warning, much like their sibling's, that he's begging to avoid this conversation.

Luckily, Michaia doesn't push, they almost never do. Instead, they turn themselves into a small halfling girl and say:

"Let's get you two drinks then, and put it on it's tab."

Eonan smiles, and follows them to the bar on the first floor.

If Eorac comes back 6 hours later, smelling of blood and gunpowder, neither of them mentions it. They also wouldn't mention if Eorac slept against it's brother's back that night, or even if Eonan woke up that morning with a bottle of a very good rum beside his bed.