#turnabout punchline

[trlvsn]

phoenix wright making apollo justice present forged evidence is, as rightfully rage-inducing as it is, also perfectly understandable and even justifiable to an extent. in this essay i will not cut my introduction off with an old-fashioned tumblr punchline and will actually elaborate on why i think so and what i think about phoenix wright in general.

the first few paragraphs will be rather surface-level, but bear with me: i'm writing this in one breath. it has already been established that the change in phoenix's character was so big and shocking that the fandom is still actively discussing it and making theories. i have seen people compare his sprites with mia and diego, kristoph and miles, yanni yogi and many others, and every single on of them is, in in my opinion, correct: there are actual similarities between them, intentional or not. i believe it can all be explained with two simple statements. one: phoenix is a sponge of a man. even before aa4, we frequently see him adopt mannerisms and figures of speech from the people he encounters. he learns, he absorbs, he changes, but only for a short while, as he stays true to his motivations, passions and drive. two: the seven years of being watched by kristoph and collecting data made him turn to that mimicking quality of his and use it as a weapon. phoenix wright could not afford to reveal his true motivations, therefore, he could not reveal what he was in general. it's a simple metaphor, really.

did he get lost in the deceptions somewhere along the way? absolutely. "what tangled webs we weave when we practice to deceive", a line said by him about kristoph, can easily be applied to phoenix. this is where the bloody ace comes in. incidentally, he is given the idea by zak: he is the one who says one can't win unless there's a ace up their sleeve, and, no matter how much of an influence that particular phrase had on wright, he follows the principle. here is phoenix's first motive for forging the ace: insurance. without concrete, dooming evidence, a trial could not end in his favor at the time. phoenix wright, post-disbarment, is no longer a man who relies on bluffs and "just believing in the client", he is strongly dissapointed in the system, outraged, offended, hurt, wounded, and he does not trust it at all, hence the dirty tricks. you can't just play fair against something unfair and win.

what i find far more interesting however, are his other motives. if the only thing that drive him to forgery was distrust and carefulness, he would have shared the plan with apollo or, perhaps, done something similar to the turnabout succession trial, where the letter is shown to the culprit, but never submitted as evidence and quickly admitted as a fake. really, i believe he is smart enough to find other ways. however, he doesn't. he gives the ace to apollo in a very specific way: through trucy wright, not a word of proper explanation. why is that? he is teaching apollo a lesson.

clearly, something about apollo reminds phoenix of himself. a young, bright, nervous mind, fighting for the truth and justice, full of belief, a little naive. phoenix knows what that naivety cost him, and he destroys it right away, because then it will hurt less, he thinks. the forged ace is a vaccine of sorts: you will experience some minor symptoms, but no actual serious consequences, and it will hurt for a moment, but for the rest of your life, you will never catch that sickness again. phoenix is already planning the jurist system reform and has already planned how this trial will go: the environment is controlled and safe for apollo, he will not get disbarred. if the truth is revealed later, under the new system, surely apollo won't be receiving the same harsh punishment wright did. so here you go, kid, learn your lesson, punch a lawyer or two in the face, and never ever, ever trust anyone like that ever again.

but wait, if the truth does get revealed, who will be receiving the punishment for it? of course, the man who forged the evidence, phoenix wright. here comes the third reason: punishment.

remember the class trial? young phoenix wright, blamed for a crime he didn't commit, overwhelmed and crying. what does the abandoned child do when the whole class accuses him of stealing? he stands up slowly and comes up to the kid with the grey hair to apologize for the money he stole but did not steal. he admits it. it doesn't matter what the truth is anymore, because if everyone thinks you did it, you might as well have.

you might as well do it again, for real this time, and maybe a weight will fall off your shoulders, because what you see in yourself will finally match the image the whole world has of you.

phoenix wright is working on the jurist system. phoenix wright is a father and phoenix wright is someone who will do his best to put kristoph gavin to jail. that doesn't mean phoenix wright sees any other use or future for himself. it simply does not matter. well, by the end of the first case, anyway.

he gathers more evidence. he thinks, a lot. he gives apollo advice on the cases, inevitability reminiscing. the new system is a success. in a new, better world, maybe he will take some piano lessons: he has grown tired of pretending he can play. he has grown tired of pretending in general. hell, maybe he will even take the bar exam again.

[mashbrainrot]

Colonel Flagg in 'The Interview'

In 2006, Larry Gelbart wrote dialogue imagining Trapper, Henry Blake, and Colonel Flagg had featured in the M*A*S*H episode 'The Interview'. Here is Colonel Flagg's, with the original available to read here via Google Groups.

REPORTER: As you might imagine, an army field hospital sees an awful lot of traffic in any 24-hour period. A certain percentage of those comings and goings have nothing to do with the medical personnel stationed here with the 4077. We spoke with one such officer on the strict condition that he be allowed to be interviewed only if he could respond to our questions with his back to the camera. Why this was so would soon become apparent – even if his identity did not. May I at least call you by your rank, sir? FLAGG: I’d prefer you didn’t. REPORTER: It’s all right to say that you’re an officer, though? FLAGG: It’s all right to say anything you like. One of the things our country is fighting for over here is the right for anyone and everyone to say anything at all they like. Likewise, it’s my right not to say whatever it is I don’t want to say.

REPORTER: Fair enough. FLAGG: It’s also my duty to report anyone to the proper authorities for saying something that they thought it was all right to. REPORTER: I’m not sure I follow. FLAGG: I’m not sure you realize just how much you do. REPORTER: When you say “the proper authorities,” can you be a bit more specific? FLAGG: About what? REPORTER: About just who “the proper authorities” might be? FLAGG: If you’re not doing anything wrong, you’ll probably never have any occasion to find that out. REPORTER: And what would qualify as doing something wrong? FLAGG: Anything, anybody that questions what we’re doing over here – any questions about our leadership. REPORTER: In short, anything that questions anything at all. FLAGG: Anything having to do with the war. REPORTER: Technically, this isn’t a war. FLAGG: Then technically no one’s dying, right? REPORTER: And just how does all that concern you, if I may ask? FLAGG: It’s my job to see that everyone in this effort is all on the same team. That everyone on our side has the right amount of blue and white to go along with however red they might be. REPORTER: You’re from army intelligence? FLAGG: You setting up your own punchline? Save it. I’ve heard them all. REPORTER: Basically speaking, what it is is you’re spying on people. FLAGG: Spying’s a crass word. I think of what I’m doing as monitoring their patriotism. REPORTER: And this is all in the cause of freedom? FLAGG: The price of freedom includes giving up however much of it is required so that you can hold on to the rest. REPORTER: Do you ever listen to whatever it is you’re saying? FLAGG: I don’t have that kind of time, really. REPORTER: I think I’m beginning to understand why it is you won’t face the camera, sir. FLAGG: Who I am is not important. The more people know about me, the harder is for me to find out about them. REPORTER: Does that include getting all the dirt you can on the surgeons at this MASH unit? The medical officers? FLAGG: (Scoffs) Officers. There’re enough bleeding hearts around here to fill up a bucket a minute. REPORTER: You don’t think that they do their job well? FLAGG: Saving lives? The odd limb? I’ll give ’em that. REPORTER: I’m sure they’d appreciate it. FLAGG: You going to need much more time, fella? REPORTER: You have to get back to work? FLAGG: Vigilance is not piecework, friend. It’s not a hobby either. REPORTER: I’ll let you go then. And I do thank you for your time. FLAGG: You mind if I ask you a few questions? REPORTER: Turnabout’s fair play. Shoot. FLAGG: Not now. Before you go. I did a little research when I heard you were coming here and there’re a couple of organizations you belong to that I’d like to know a little more about. REPORTER: Anytime you say. I’m not leaving until tomorrow. FLAGG: Let’s hope you do.

[representshinjuku]

Rep Squad – Matenrou Ver.– 

[Matenrou] What’s the time? Rep Squad It’s time to get live! Rep Squad This city’s reps take center stage, watch us closely now We’ll take this burning venue and throw oil on the flames H. Y. P. N. O. S. I. S. MIC We’re ready go now Are U ready for “Rep”?

[Jakurai] A dark gaseous fog descends over disorderly night The unending wail of the sirens interweave illusions Within the flickering traffic lights comes the signal Absorbing all that loiter; Pushing aside the warmongers Walk against the flow of the crowd That is this city’s status quo Endless strife (struggles), repeating cycles of violence Even god could not visualize the violence of his dear lambs (rebellion) Yet I will embody the anti-war stance Now we stand at the vanguard, Shinjuku, representatives of a new fate

[Hifumi] In high spirits as the champagne pop pop pop pops Tonight I take the tres bon you and L-L-Lock on! (Welcome!) All the lonely hearts and all the trendy crowds, I’ll have you on my terms, this is Hifumi’s invite! Matenrou gives you the beat With me now – “Pop! Pop!” Bare your heart naked for me too One more time - “Pop pop pop!” Every weekend grows more endearing This party will have you hooked Doctor and Doppo-kun join the festivities in this Special night

[Doppo] Everything low carb, days repeating like a forced diet Steady progress? Hell if I know, Doppo-san’s begging on his hands and knees Ignoring compliance and laws; The hay fever gets worse as I get older; Soaked ‘cuz someone stole my umbrella– “Okay, fine then.” If you think I’m scared of a crowd, gonna piss myself Laughing at me blind then I’ll show you my technics Even I can make the light shine; Shinjuku kicks it to the curb Spitting verses; causing a chain reaction (Hey!) We’re jacking this place

[Matenrou] Rep squad! Boom! Boom! Radiating three unique kinds of cool, burning up! Rep squad! Boom! Boom! Matenrou, the strongest Squad

Are U ready for? What’s the time? This’s our triumphant return It’s time to get live! Let ‘em hear our Anthem

This city’s reps take center stage, watch us closely now We’ll take this burning venue and throw oil on the flames Keep outta our Division Ride the beat to freedom Rule the Stage’s high-octane Show We’re ready go!

Are U ready for “Rep”? Welcome to our hood Beating through you low Time to stir up trouble Are you ready for “Rep”? Get out of here outsiders With a swipe from this microphone Heads put your hands up

Rep squad! Boom! Boom! Our local live style shoots through you distinctive Rep squad! Boom! Boom! Stabbed through you at the turnabout comes the punchline

Radiating three unique kinds of cool, burning up and Ready to fire through the venue–Hypnosis Mic

[7grandmel]

Todays rip: 10/07/2023

Neo Castelia

Season 3 Featured on: SiIvaGunner's Highest Quality Rips Volume A

Ripped by Sonicheroesfan1

For as much rambling as I like to do on here about the genuine passion and hard work that goes into all of these rips, at the end of the day I am a very simple person. I like Pokémon, I like Gen 5, and so I'm bound to on some level click with almost all of the team's rips of Unova's games. Neo Castelia has always stuck out as an exception even to that, though, and its been sitting pretty in my playlists ever since I first heard it.

I think there's just something about the absolutely infectiously happy and gleeful source track that just captures me everytime I listen to this rip - its a simple series of melodyswaps not really aiming to catch you off guard or make you burst out laughing, but rather just take you out on a ride through various themes you probably recognize. Ace Attorney's Turnabout Sisters, Dating Start from Undertale, even other Pokémon music, is all just strung along on cues planted in the original track, naturally transitioning from one to the next. There's very little in the way of theming connecting them all together, yet I find that gives the track a really positive, playful vibe. Given the rip's name of Neo Castelia comes from just one of its many melodyswaps, Neo Green Hill Zone from Sonic Advance, it gives me the impression that this was a project that just kept growing for the hell of it. I can picture the original idea simply being to follow through with a similar sounding cue from Neo Green Hill Zone into Castelia City's theme, only for things to gradually grow to a point where, screw it! EVERYONE's invited, so long as it sounds like it belongs in the track!

Though a simple rip it may be, it may perhaps be one of the most joy-distilling rips on the entire channel for me, and absolutely one of the channel's most underrated in my eyes. By not feeling any pressure to include a punchline, or overwhelm with sources, or step absolutely above and beyond in escalation, Neo Castelia provides an injection of pure happiness only comparable to hearing the original game's music for the very first time.

[silverjetsystm]

@themckaytriarchy asked:

"Grant, I've got one for you." Wow, Tess just walks right into an area and sits down as if she owns it, doesn't she? She's good at it, too. People don't like to get in the way of more confident people, although New York City has its exceptions. She rests her arms on the table, doesn't miss a beat as she launches into her joke: "A group of Jewish scientists--" she does falter for a second here, as if considering her wording--"who are cis men--go studying on a remote island. They get captured by cannibals." Another pause. "Also, these are white European cannibals. I'm getting that out of the way right now. Don't ask me where this remote island is. It's remote. Okay? Good. Anyway, The cannibals make them strip before tying them up next to the big caldron. That’s when they notice all the captives are circumcised. “Are you guys Jewish?'”' 'Yes!' cries one scientist. 'Ashkenazi or Sefaradim?' asks the cannibal. 'Does it matter?' another scientist wants to know. 'We're Jews!' 'Yes,' sighs the cannibal, 'obviously. The chef needs to know the right seasoning to use. You wouldn’t put shrein in falafel or za’atar in gefilte fish!”

[Disclaimer: I could not find information about wtf shrein is.]

"Mmm?" Grant wipes his mouth clear of sandwich. New York audacity is learned. The staff are used to Tess' entrances. Twice is a tradition. "Lay it on me."

He's heard worse versions of this joke before. It had made his nose wrinkle and shake his head. Humor needs updating, refreshing, for the second decade of the century. While he doesn't outwardly appear or 'act' Jewish, he's as Jewish as Lockley or Marc, as Tess across from him. "A remote island of white European gentiles," he chuckles with glee. Turnabout is fair play. "Maybe a cruise situation gone Lord of the Flies." Then he zips it and listens to her regain her stride.

He cracks up at the punchline, leaning over his plate and laptop, bright grin and finger snaps in lieu of applause. "Good one. I like it." If they don't laugh, they cry.

Sitting upright, he crosses one leg over his knee. "Can I buy you something to eat? Nothing Hannibal would make." Wink. "Guaranteed."

[mathamaniac]

I saw Redwood last night at the La Jolla Playhouse. It is Idina Menzel’s new musical, with a very small cast (5 singers) and an impressive backdrop done with digital projections.

i'm posting my thoughts here as a timestamp for my friend who is seeing it next week. Mostly I think it Is Good, but only because the performers are world class talents.

(This is basically unedited. TLDR is that I liked the vocals but not the writing.)

It has a little hydraulic platform in the middle of the stage, and one of the backdrop panels rotates 180° to reveal the trunk of a redwood tree, which the actors climb up using real rope climbing gear. Including Idina!

Her voice is a national treasure, of course, and she has total command of the entire theater for the whole night. But I was almost more impressed by her supporting cast! There was a young man (Zachary Noah Piser) who had one big song, a major solo at the end of the show and he absolutely nailed it. I had secondhand-adrenaline just thinking about how much the show needed him to stick the landing. There was an actress (De’Adre Aziza) playing Idina’s wife who held up their duets and had the strongest / most relatable writing behind her. There was a younger woman (Nkeki Obi-Melekwe) whose voice was so strong that I caught myself waiting for Idina’s verse to be over. There was also an older actor (Michael Park) whose song was the most active/energetic. It was not irrelevant to me that the supporting cast was 75% POC.

I did tear up three times, but didn't ugly cry. The subject matter is pretty heavy, but there’s 1.5 unambiguously fun & happy songs.

The talent was all on point but the writing was a little stiff. There was a little-mermaid quote that felt like it was supposed to be a punchline about Menzel’s other work, but she doesn’t have a connection there afaik? There was a fairly quick turnabout where Obi-Melekwe’s character was hostile at first, tried to open up, and then got rebuffed without any closure. Park’s relationship with his son is criticized but never really resolved.

At one point the cgi projection of the redwood tree is reacting & moving in response to Menzel’s dialogue, but they only have like one animation for it.

The songwriting and soundtrack is sculpted to showcase Idina’s voice as an instrument, but I didn’t think the lyrics or plotting did anything particularly clever or ambitious with it. The ‘ambition’ element came from doing something very out of the Broadway norm: this was more like a play with singing than a traditional musical.

The message about handling grief and living through a loss was a good one. However, there was definitely an after-school special vibe to the final dialogue. Like they didn’t trust us to connect the dots of the tree metaphor ourselves.

The clumsiest element was a line of dialogue calling logging companies “white cis male heteronormative companies.” (Maybe I missed it but the better target would have been *capitalism*)

Final thought: Idina is much shorter than I had imagined

[29pageshomestuckeveryday]

Homestuck, page 3,520

[S] 3x SHOWDOWN COMBO.

Storyboards: http://readmspa.org/storyboards/03517.swf.html

Song used: Trollian Standoff by Tensei

Song commentary:

Tensei:

(Triple Showdown Combo)

This was the song that accompanied THAT ONE FLASH WHERE NOTHING HAPPENED. This is also the song that probably had the quickest turnabout rate from being written to being used in a flash, which happened over the course of only a day or two.

I actually wrote this in direct response to all the people making spaghetti western jokes and references about the way the standoff was being set-up.

Stylistically I basically just tried to make it soun as spaghetti western-ish as possible, but I combined it with a bunch of horror movie style ambient sounds (and honks, obviously).

Toby Fox:

An awesome track that sets up really well... for the next one.

Author commentary: I recall this animation in particular was slapped together in record time. I don't think I was even considering doing one until very shortly before posting it. I just put the word out to whatever artists happened to be around to throw some quick assets together ASAP, I dumped it all in Flash, and posted it later that night. It's not even that important, in that nothing actually happens per se. It's just a good mood-building piece, to set the scene for this silly Mexican standoff situation. It builds the tension in your typical Western style (another minor genre spoof, I guess), which mainly serves to set up the punchline at the end, which plays out via standard panels: Kanaya storms in and ruins everyone's shit, thus thoroughly deflating all this standoff tension we just built up.

[piratejenna]

Turnabout Punchline

So, for literally no reason, I started thinking about what kind of cases I would like to see in Ace Attorney 7 (if we ever get it) and as a part of that I started to thinking about what kind of pairings would be fun and how to work in all my favorite characters that haven’t been seen since the switch to 3d. And I have stumbled upon the most surprisingly perfect paring, which because it’s me, has spiraled out into a lengthy outline that I’m getting really excited about, so I thought I’d share it with y’all.

Welcome to Turnabout Punchline! Athena’s first solo case, with Raymond Shields as her “assistant”

Based on my thoughts for an overall story for the game, this would be the 2nd case in the game (first full case)

Athena gets a client (Nick and Apollo are both unavailable for some reason [maybe Nick/Apollo is working a case with Trucy? Or family bonding trip for the siblings?])

Client is disappointed it’s Athena

The client is some kind of stand up comedian, but not a super well-loved one. The victim is someone they had an openly antagonistic relationship with

Something related to their alibi or the case is some legal work they did through Edgeworth Law Offices, and Athena goes to get more information

This is something related to either the issue with the victim or whoever the culprit is. Maybe something like they got sued over stealing material, or maybe they sued someone over the same

Ray is introduced with a joke off screen and his theme kicks in before we see him (he needs to still have the hat, but it would be cool if we saw him with the coat. and since he’s wearing the coat, maybe he’s wearing his badge?)

One of his dialogue boxes is “Edgeworth Law Offices” and he gives a small explanation of his history with Gregory

Athena mentions that she’s met Prosecutor Edgeworth and asks if there’s another Edgeworth who’s a defense attorney

This is a connecting point between her and Ray later, that he’s carrying on Greg’s legacy, but he’s still his own defense attorney

As he’s giving Athena the info she needs, she confesses that she’s nervous because she’s never been on a case by herself (without any help from anyone [maybe Simon is also occupied with something else]), and even the client doesn’t seem to believe in her

She may even half jokingly suggest she hand the case off to Ray

Ray tells her that he’s not busy and if all she needs for a confidence boast is somebody to stand around for her to bounce ideas off of, he’d be happy to help

Ema is the lead detective on the case, but Kay is also here doing a lot of the detective things, though Ema is the one who appears in court (we bounce back and forth between seeing Ema and seeing Kay. for the first investigation segment we don’t see them interact, but they might refer to each other)

We don’t find out until the end of the case, but Kay is there on Yatagarasu business and isn’t an actual detective.

Athena asks something about Kay at the end of the trial and Ema’s like “oh she’s not a detective”

Ray jokes throughout the case, and Athena shifts between taking him seriously and joking along with him.

Athena’s actually able to tell when Ray is joking and when he’s serious, which initially freaks him out, cause she can hear his emotions. However, because she knows Simon, she doesn’t really call him out on this and will play along, so they end up making a pretty great duo. (She does call him out at least once, but she does it when it’s just the two of them, which will be used to help emphasize her psychology training)

She does this in front of Kay at one point, who is very impressed and laughs at Ray, who jokes that he understands Miles a bit better now, referring to how Kay frequently seems to be “stealing” Miles’ thoughts (not sure how direct this should be, since we want to keep the Kay-Miles connection pretty vague at this point)

At one point, they see some notebooks and Ray comments he doesn’t like that brand. After Athena guess why, he says “that, plus they have an awful aftertaste”

Athena’s response in her inner monologue is something like “why would you lick the paper?”

Day one in court, the prosecutor is super tough

I kinda like the idea of the prosecutor being legit corrupt and creating forged evidence

This is why Kay is here. Miles has her looking into this situation

She and Ema are both furious after the first day

Athena (with Ray’s help) is able to get a second day, but Athena’s confidence is shot

Something about the situation causes her to shut down, panicking about how no one seems to be listening, this the thing with Simon all over again

Ray jumps in before the Judge declares his verdict and helps break Athena out of her spiral and offers a suggestion for how to get another day

To help her with her confidence, Ray gives Athena the truncated version of the IS-7 incident, explaining that when he was her age, the first case he was on went so poorly and he wasn’t able to save his client. However, he points out that despite that he’s still working as a defense attorney. He’s managed to pick himself back up. He even managed to get his client acquitted later. He assures Athena that if someone like him can do that, she certainly will be able to. She is in a much better place than he was, and even if she falls that far, she can get back up, and he expects she would do even better than he did.

Investigation goes well. More Kay, trying to find some solid proof of the corruption going on. She and Ray have some banter. Maybe see Little Thief? Feels like that’d be fun for Athena. Or maybe Athena pulls up the mood matrix to show Kay and she gets so excited about it

Day 2 in court. Athena is really nervous. Ray gives her a pep talk explaining that she’s a great lawyer, but she’ll never reach her full potential if she’s focused on being the next Phoenix Wright. Because Athena Cykes is too amazing to deprive the world of. He encourages her to do the case her own way, reminding her he’s there as support, but that she doesn’t really need him.

Day 2 goes better and Athena wins the case through some clever use of her mood matrix, pulling it off in a very unique way. It’s tied in with her psychology thing. Like she pieces it together not based on the logic of events but based on her understanding of the kind of person the culprit is and how they would react/behave. (This can be reflected somewhat in the investigation portion in regards to what Athena focuses on [there’s evidence that seems kinda weird and unrelated but Athena sees how it connects])

Maybe have some fun stuff with the client too. Like they come off as a jerk, but Athena can hear the fear in their voice and very quickly figures out this is a coping mechanism. Maybe uses this in the final, like you have something you can present to show that if your client had committed the murder, they would have done X instead of Y, or maybe you can work through that in the connecting the dots thing)

After case scene with Ema. Maybe Miles swings by to congratulate them, exchange some words with Ray, and vaguely hint that he’s here to visit someone (maybe he says his daughter, or maybe it’s completely vague)

[This is the build up over the whole game, that there’s some connection between Kay and Miles, but we don’t see them interact directly until the very last case, where at the very end of the game, we are told that Kay is essentially Miles’ daughter. There are hints to this effect throughout the other cases, as since our game prosecutor is corrupt, Kay is present throughout every case doing her Yatagarasu thing, though her presence in the other cases might just be references until the final case]

So there’s my ideas. I have a few more thoughts about overall potential ideas, and honestly I’m getting really attached to the pairing of Athena and Ray so I might actually write something for this at some point. Let me know what y’all think and if you have any questions/ideas. And here’s hoping that AA7 isn’t just a pipe dream!

[supersonicart]

Casey Weldon's "Tacit Turnaround."

Opening on Saturday, April 2nd, 2022 at Thinkspace Projects in Los Angeles, California is artist Casey Weldon's highly anticipated solo exhibition, "Tacit Turnaround."

"Tacit Turnabout" is a menagerie of ideas Weldon has collected over the last couple years. Each piece is inspired by real-life scenarios he has witnessed, including stories of loved ones, observations about his environment, and his own introspective self-evaluation.

The collection is particularly special as it represents a return to creation and work for Weldon, who has recently been through a long stagnant period due to recent brain surgery. With ‘Tacit Turnabout,’ he aims to make something beautiful and fun out of relatively dark origins. While he is not aiming to beautify the struggles, he sheds light on a different perspective, emphasizing optimism and hope.

The collection itself is a lovely convergence of many ideas, all in pursuit of connecting with the viewers. As Weldon describes it, “my intent is to be narrative, accessible, and hopefully pleasurable to look at. I definitely like to involve a lot of nostalgic pop references, especially for the more humorous side of my work, but I also like referring to nature and man’s interaction with it. In the end my major goal is to get the viewer to be inquisitive about the painting, either to get the punchline, or make one up on their own. I can only hope that I can be interesting enough for them without being too ambiguous, but still say something without spelling it out. Plus cats.”

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[afewnovelideas]

"Turnabout is Fair Play" AU - part 8.67

Ra's is... unsettled.

He can't recall the last time he felt this way.

He hates feeling.

When Ra's reached the abandoned subway station, a place that hadn't seen that light of day in nearly a century, the first thing he heard was the sound of "his" laughter. Then, Ra's finally spotted them in a small clearing between the derelict subway cars. There was the Joker, his filthy hands wrapped tightly around the Red Robin's neck and a dented forgotten metal pipe on the ground beside them.

Ra's felt a rage bubble up from deep within him. It had a different flavour that the fury induced by Lazarus Pit revivals. This anger had emotion... It had weight... It had...

A scene flashes before his eyes. Another time. Another place. Another young man lifeless at his feet. Another murderer standing before him with a grin and bloodied hands.

...a memory?

It was the sound of the blade being unsheathed that gave Ra's away. That sounds was the only reason why the Joker was able to keep his head attached to his neck, why he was forced to release his prey and put several yards of distance between himself and the immortal.

Joker seemed almost confused and very annoyed as Ra's stood between him and the broken motionless vigilante on the ground. "Why are you interrupting my fun? Why are you ruining my punchline?!"

Ra's didn't answer.

The clown nearly rushed Ra's, but was stopped short by the sound of gunfire. Joker turned to see Red Hood emerge from another tunnel, both pistols trained on him.

As Red Hood immediately went to work trying to kill the Joker, who had bolted down another tunnel, Ra's sheathed his sword and knelt beside Red Robin.

"Detective," he said as he removed Tim's cowl. "Can you hear me?"

It took a moment, but the teenager finally showed a sign off life. One eyes opened slightly, the other swollen shut. His breathing was shallow and his voice weak.

"I guess... you win."

Ra's stared at Tim. "What?"

"This... is what you wanted, right?" Tim coughed up some blood. The teenager had an expression like one resigned to never seeing the sun again. "Broken... Dying... Failed by Bruce again..." A tear slipped from his good eye. "... not good enough... Never enough..."

Once upon a time, Ra's may have agreed.

Not tonight.

As Timothy slipped into unconsciousness once more, Ra's made a choice he hadn't in a long, long time as he gently stoked the boy's hair in a comforting gesture.

[magewardensurana]

First lines meme!

List the first lines of your last 20 stories. See if there are any patterns. Then tag 10 of your favorite authors as many authors as you like!

I got tagged by @chocochipbiscuit!  Thank you!

It's been two months since my first trial, and if I'm being honest with myself I'm still a little uneasy about it. - Apollo Justice: Alternative Turnabout, Ace Attorney

It's impossible to pinpoint the exact moment it happens; it's flint striking stone: sharp, sudden, searing. - Catalyst, Fullmetal Alchemist (Royai)

For the third time in fifteen minutes Riza smooths an imaginary wrinkle out of her skirt and gives a quick, careful look around the room. - Black Tie, Fullmetal Alchemist (Royai and Marier)

The world isn't simple black and white. - Chess, Fullmetal Alchemist (Royai)

"I've been thinking about names," Franziska said.  - Names, Ace Attorney (Fradrian)

An airplane 39000 feet in the air was a terrible place for dwelling on things. - Thirty Nine Thousand Thoughts, Ace Attorney (platonic!Narumayo)

“I don’t know how I let you talk me into this,” Rae muttered. - Time Off, Dragon Age (Seradaar)

“Little brother!” Miles had got very used to those words being the first thing he heard when the door to his office was suddenly flung open. - Consideration, Ace Attorney (Fradrian, asshole sibling bonding)

She had been waiting on a new magic trick being delivered, and had gone down to check the mail before school, while her father was having breakfast. - You Are Cordially Invited, Ace Attorney (platonic!Narumayo, Fradrian)

Maria woke up because she was freezing. - Blankets, Fullmetal Alchemist (Marier)

The needle stung her back as the words were carved. - Undone, Fullmetal Alchemist

Kirkwall was a mess. - Wolf of Skyhold, Dragon Age

Emily couldn’t sleep, which was something that had become too common in the last six months. - Long Live The Empress, Dishonored

Everything they are, everything they experienced, leads to this. - Fragments, Dragon Age (f!Cousland/Leliana, f!Cousland/Morrigan)

She noticed the golden hair. - Gallimaufry, Fullmetal Alchemist

It’s a nightmare. - Blue Flames Burn The Hottest, Fullmetal Alchemist

In the six months since Edward Elric had become a state alchemist, the soldiers assigned to Colonel Roy Mustang had got very used to the sudden explosive shouting matches between him and their commanding officer. - Vernal Equinox, Fullmetal Alchemist

The solider had died alone in the desert. - Good Man Goes To War, Fullmetal Alchemist

The advantage to there being so few women at Briggs, Olivier found herself thinking, was it avoided unnecessary and pointless distractions on her part, and a lack of distractions was something she could do with at this moment. - The Art of Courtship, Fullmetal Alchemist (Marier)

Greg had got used to a great deal in a very short space of time. - Fated, Steven Universe

My trend seems to be having pretty straighforward and direct first lines.  Almost every single one of these lines is followed by something a lot more interesting.  It possibly comes from the fact that I used to write a lot of comedy, so I’m still using that structure of ‘build-up/punchline’, even in more serious stuff.

*shrugs*  Or I just suck at first lines.  And titles.

Also, I really don’t like using names.

Anyway, I tag

@rizahawkstang, @orcteeth,@xennariel, @jouissezduprintemps, @queenxolivier, @rizascupcakes, @solas-you-nerd and whoever else wants to do it.

[representshinjuku]

Rep Squad – Fling Posse Ver.–

[Fling Posse]

What’s the time? Rep Squad

It’s time to get live! Rep Squad

This city’s reps take center stage, watch us closely now

We’ll take this burning venue and throw oil on the flames

H. Y. P. N. O. S. I. S. MIC 

We’re ready go now

Are U ready for “Rep”?

[Ramuda]

Let’s get started, pretty girls filling the seats

Sorry to keep you waiting ladies, Ramuda in da house 

Rapping on this hot beat like a picaresque rogue

Weirdos stand no chance; We’ve got control rollin’ rollin’ 

Shibuya’s reps, three wise men descending Pump pump!

We’re writing a modern-day myth full of endorphins

So sweet cream but the secret ingredient’s spicy

Goddess, this cake’s calling you over to ruin it with this kiss

[Gentaro]

As if every dream has been nothing but a lying verse

Alongside the field of flowers you shake according to my lines

Illusion at the threshold of this world; 

Amidst this miserable universe

Let this recitation of emotion convey our yearning

“The dew tumbles down”

Your passion begins to cloud into worthless murk

Humans can always play at two natures as actors

One day the lotuses will sink, an inescapable fate

Together as friends we challenge this life, revising the tale

[Dice]

Enter the stage! I’m betting real big again today

Raisin’ it through the roof; Dice’s where you should Bet! Bet!

To the limit, never stayin’ down; fightin’ the sting against all odds

This right here’s a fair fight

Shibuya controls this show

Holla! Holla! Our win’s for sure, we’ll end you like game over

Yeah, tonight no sweat we’re gonna cross the border

I’m runnin’ red hot, your blood’s frozen in a cold sweat

In the end it’s gotta be us, no doubt

[Fling Posse]

Rep squad! Boom! Boom!

Radiating three unique kinds of cool, burning up!

Rep squad! Boom! Boom!

Fling Posse, the strongest Squad

Are U ready for?

What’s the time? This’s our triumphant return

It’s time to get live! Let ‘em hear our Anthem

This city’s reps take center stage, watch us closely now

We’ll take this burning venue and throw oil on the flames

Keep outta our Division

Ride the beat to freedom

Rule the Stage’s high-octane Show

We’re ready go!

Are U ready for “Rep”?

Welcome to our hood

Beating through you low

Time to stir up trouble

Are you ready for “Rep”?

Get out of here outsiders

With a swipe from this microphone

Heads put your hands up

Rep squad! Boom! Boom!

Our local live style shoots through you distinctive

Rep squad! Boom! Boom!

Stabbed through you at the turnabout comes the punchline

Radiating three unique kinds of cool, burning up and 

Ready to fire through the venue–Hypnosis Mic

[representshinjuku]

Rep Squad –MAD TRIGGER CREW Ver.–

[MAD TRIGGER CREW]

What’s the time? Rep Squad

It’s time to get live! Rep Squad

This city’s reps take center stage, watch us closely now

We’ll take this burning venue and throw oil on the flames

H. Y. P. N. O. S. I. S. MIC 

We’re ready go now

Are U ready for “Rep”?

[Samatoki]

Rep Squad

Verses reap what they sow; we’re ‘Hama’s three crows

Under the cover of the stormy night we’ll conquer this place

Port City Syndicate’s gonna mess with you

Too late to regret talkin’ big outta your ass–

It’s the end

I’m a big deal; standing over the chaos

Kickin’ weaklings to the curb, knights in black armor

Mic in hand, on or off; doesn’t matter 

You wanna fight? Alright

You’ve got a real hit incoming

[Jyuto]

You scum are powerless in the face of what I’ve laid out

Government, civil rights, privilege--all used in this trap

This territory’s lawless; I’ve got a grasp on your weakness

MAD TRIGGER CREW dominates

Dirty fakers get swept away

Bang! Bang! Without having to pull the trigger

I’ll have the likes of you yelping like dogs in no time

You’ll play along? “Well done, well done”

I’m not fond of dispute, 

But it costs me nothing to finish a fight

Your reckless game of russian roulette is closing in on you

[Rio] 

Dope beats & Lyrics--that’s my only weapon

If it’s live or die then of course I’ll keep up the tempo

Who is the enemy? For whom is this elegy?

No hesitation we fire these words

“‘Cause we’re EMCEEZ”

Warring all year round; every day we improve

I’m ‘Hama’s bulwark unsinkable ship

Our rhymes born of drastic measures lead us to greater pleasures

Behold the magnificent unity of our triangle

[MAD TRIGGER CREW]

Rep squad! Boom! Boom!

Radiating three unique kinds of cool, burning up!

Rep squad! Boom! Boom!

MAD TRIGGER CREW, the strongest Squad

Are U ready for?

What’s the time? This’s our triumphant return

It’s time to get live! Let ‘em hear our Anthem

This city’s reps take center stage, watch us closely now

We’ll take this burning venue and throw oil on the flames

Keep outta our Division

Ride the beat to freedom

Rule the Stage’s high-octane Show

We’re ready go!

Are U ready for “Rep”?

Welcome to our hood

Beating through you low

Time to stir up trouble

Are you ready for “Rep”?

Get out of here outsiders

With a swipe from this microphone

Heads put your hands up

Rep squad! Boom! Boom!

Our local live style shoots through you distinctive

Rep squad! Boom! Boom!

Stabbed through you at the turnabout comes the punchline

Radiating three unique kinds of cool, burning up and 

Ready to fire through the venue–Hypnosis Mic