#what are sports anime tropes. what r they even

[jennydwren]

My Arthur: Some Night Thoughts

In between the cancellation of The Acolyte (there's still hope, Clone Wars came back) and the premiere of Rings of Power S2 -- and I PROMISE you that each and every dudebro I blocked in these situations on the former bird app either had crypto in bio or a timeline that was entirely focused on a sports team... I mean, why not think about RDR2? I want to think what it means that so many players speak of MY Arthur, like we all have little pocket Arthurs as pets. "I like my Arthur to be a scary bad guy so I keep him shaved bald." "Well, my Arthur looks his best with Level 7 or 8 hair and a Level 1 or 2 beard." "This time I'm making sure that my Arthur has the best satchel and the Legend of the East outfit." "I always pamper my Arthur before a hard mission. I buy him a ribeye steak at a saloon, get him a bath, and let him sleep just one more night in a hotel. I feed him up to Overweight before Guarma and Chapter 6." "My Arthur is high honor. He would never do XYZ." "Oh yeah? I think my Arthur loves being low honor and beating the crap out of people." "Weird. My Arthur's favorite missions are the dinosaur bones." All of these Arthurs are different and yet the same. All of them are doomed. You have to rewind the timeline and go back to a Chapter 2 save to have a healthy Arthur who can chat and sing with his compadres at the campfire. Nobody's Arthur, until you take him out of the game and into some of the absolutely and utterly beautiful fanart and fanfics, can succeed with Mary Linton, or Charles for that matter. The R* canon Arthur is always doomed. What does it say about us that we can't bear to let go of him, even though his own dialogue tells us he clearly sees the writing on the wall as early as Chapter 1? Is it just the natural human abhorrence of the reality that we too will someday die without accomplishing all that we wanted to? I can relate. Big mood, Arthur. In fragmenting into all of these disparate Arthurs -- Roger Clark has pointed out more people own copies of the game than live in Ireland -- maybe that's how the egregore, the Arthur conjured from the collective consciousness of millions of individual players, stays alive. Many writers of fanfics want their Arthur to be theirs. Not just a rough fuck on daddy's kitchen counter, although I've read that story too, and not just the Not Enough Beds trope, though that too was a fine story. They want to smash Arthur because who doesn't? But they want him to love them, despite R* Arthur having not one single solitary relationship skill. This new Arthur teaches you to draw (the preponderance of Arthur fics I've read involve a "you" reader). Your wish that he address you as he does a mare, "That's mah good girl," comes resplendently true. Sometimes, such are the fix-him powers of You that You and he escape the gang before the name Thomas Downes can be uttered. Arthur's heart beats for You and You alone. Sometimes he protects You from danger. Sometimes he accepts a free sample of sponge cake from You in a bakery. All of these Arthurs go out Arthuring all over the wrong but familiar RDR2 America, often with You at their side. Sometimes You even find him on the cliffside before his rattling last breath, and drag him to safety and a warm, dry climate. One Arthur I read was even saved by a doctor in Mexico with the only available treatment of the period -- collapsing part of the lung -- and recovered fully, having four kids with Sadie Adler and saving most of the RDR world along the way.

You can have your Arthur and play him too. Indeed, a fresh shot of Roger Clark's bravura performance -- combined, as he is the first to point out, with the animators' work, for example giving him the most delicious lower lip -- compounds the infatuation should it threaten to recede.

People suffer profound grief over this game. Of course, it is their own grief from non-digital life: "It is Margaret you mourn for" -- Gerard Manley Hopkins. Perhaps the loss of their Arthur and the way his surviving friends gradually adjust to the loss helps people make room for the holes in their own lives. But that's the thing. That's the comfort at the bottom of the grief pit.

Because once you find your Arthur, including within yourself (I don't just mean cosplay, but I've seen people of all genders don the stained blue workshirt, the suspenders, the neckerchief, the goddamn hat, and wear Arthur on their bodies)... you can't ever really lose him. He changes you. And that may be the strangest and most wonderful thing you can say about a work of fiction.

Keep sharing your Arthurs. The chibis, the young Arthurs cradling poor Isaac or reading to child John Marston, the AUs, the low-honor black coyotes and the high-honor 14-point stags. Marthur, Charthur, Albert Mason x Arthur. All the versions of him. Because they're also You.

[revasserium]

Also saw that your favorite tropes are retellings. What specific ones are your favorite? I feel like a lot of tropes work well with sports anime etc. They're already so emotional.

Is haikyuu the only one you watch?

Also, do you ever feel like you write one trope too much? Do you worry about it feeling repetitive?

so it depends! i think in my mind "retellings" is like a myth or a fairy-tale or even a folktale retelling -- so song of achilles is a retelling of part of the iliad. becoming jane is a movie that tries to reimagine jane austen's life and her relationships with the people in it in an attempt to contextualize her inspiration for the novels she wrote.

i like fairy-tale/myth retellings specifically because chances are, the reader already knows how the story goes. right so -- cinderella retelling -- you know off the bat, main character's probably gonna have a shite lot in life, there will be at least one step parent involved and step siblings. a shoe or shoe-adjacent thing will be lost at some point in time.

so you have the advantage of writing a story knowing what your readers already know about the original fairy tale. and then. the fun is the actual details -- how does your retelling differ? does it attempt to turn some of the stereotypes on it's head? do the stepsisters actually rock? perhaps prince charming suCKS and is super vain and cinderella kicks off her shoe to throw him off her scent as she tries desperately to flee the palace?

i think the fun of retellings is the same kind of fun the poets of old had with traditional poetry forms -- you have a set of rules (rhyme schemes, meter, etc) but within those rules? the world is ur fucking oyster and the sky is ur clam.

in terms of TROPES in animes though -- i think found family is my cincher. like. fuck bro.

idk romance makes me flail but like. FRIENDSHIPS?!?!?!??! sad lonely people finding other people who undersatnd them or taKE THE TIME TO TRY????? fINDING A PLACE TO BELONG??? to call UR OWN????

TEAMWORIK?!?!?!??! FUck me the fuck up.

i think that's what i love about sports animes SO MUCH (and no, it's not just haikyuu -- free!!, kurobas, most recenlty TSURUNE!!!) because it's BUILT on teamwork right. like U GOTTA. it's like THE ONETHING THAT MATTERS IN IRL SPORTS. PRINCE OF TENNIS??? bro. BRO.

yeah so that gets me the most. the TRUST. UGH dont even get me STARTED i will SCREAM.

(when i tell you my bf thought i was FUCKING DERANGED when i re-watched haikyuu and the ep where asahi comes back to the team came on and he screams "sUGAA!!!!!!" and suga is like "ah -- the ace is calling" and i was FULL BODY-HEAVE SOBBING MY EYES OUT)

like i joking say #PowerOfFriendship is like all shounen anime but like i am truly the biggest simp for this trope. the last ep of naruto shippuden when naruto asks iruka to COME TO THE WEDDING AS HIS FATHER?? BAWLING.

yeah. that. sry -- LMAO i got emotional there for a sec.

as to if i feel like i write one trope too much -- not really? my bf tells me that my "style" is pretty ubiquitous and he wants to see me try new styles, and i agree. i've settled into my writing style p comfortably and i like it the way it is.

but for tropes... i guess if there was one "trope" i say i write a lot if it's a nonlinear narrative? idk if you've noticed but i like to play with timelines A LOT. and i like to jump around.

i also like things coming back at the end bc that's #TheCircleOfLife y'know. and do i think i use it too much??? mmm maybe occasionally i'll be like damn i did that a lot. but i like it enough where i'm just gonna keep doing it cause it makes me happy :)

i guess i don't worry about feeling repetitive because in the grand scheme of things (and i REALLY like to think big picture cause it rly just gives u the perspective to not give a single fuck), every single story has already been written.

the hero's journey has been documented since time intinium. the anti-hero's journey almost as well documented (judas, anyone?). every romance, every friendship, every heartbreak, every war that's ever been fought -- has been fought before and will be fought again.

in the words of sarah kay "the universe has already written the poem you were planning on writing" and nothing under the sun is new.

so. if nothing is new anyway -- why worry yourself over it？

all you can do -- all any of us can do, is try to tell the same story in a way that's true to ourselves. in a way that speaks to us on a particular day, in a particular mood, under a particular climate.

and if you did that? then fuck. u did a good job! and im very very proud of you <3

[historyhermann]

“Birdie Wing”: A Golf Yuri Story Soaring to New Heights

On April 6, 2022, Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story premiered on Crunchyroll. This series tells the story of Eve, a girl who plays underground golf games to support her friends, and their orphan children, who meets her match in Aoi, a wealthy Japanese girl.

Reprinted from The Geekiary, my History Hermann WordPress blog (it will be published on Dec. 30 there) and Wayback Machine. This was the forty-third article I wrote for The Geekiary. This post was originally published on July 3, 2022.

Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story is an original golf anime series directed by Takayuki Inagaki and written by Yōsuke Kuroda. Unlike other anime, it is not based on a manga or a light novel. Bandai Namco Pictures produces the series. They are a subsidiary of a company formerly named Sunrise, which produced series within the Love Live! franchise, Cowboy Bebop and Dirty Pair.

Trigger Warning: This post mentions sensitive topics such as bodily injury, blood, and bullying.

The first season of this yuri sports series began with a bang, with intense female sports rivalries, golf mafia, and smoking hot characters. Eve (Akari Kitō) defeats her opponents time and again with her golf style of piercing their hearts (and minds) with her "rainbow bullets". Aoi Amawashi (Asami Seto) changes everything for her and makes her excited, ecstatic to play against her in golf. As a warning, this post has spoilers for the first season of Birdie Wing.

This series is unlike any other sports anime I've ever seen. It fulfills what some reviewers, like Yuricon founder Erica Friedman, hoped for in the past. It is not perfect, but its absurdity and clear yuri themes mix well together.

Birdie Wing is, by far, the best anime I've watched this year, much better than Komi Can't Communicate, A Couple of Cuckoos, and Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie. All those series have their merits, but are not as intense, wacky, or relatable as Birdie Wing by a long shot.

The last seven episodes of Season 1 had even higher stakes than the first six episodes which I reviewed in mid-May. Eve plays an "ultimate" golf game against Rose and wins. She then flees the European country of Nafrece to Japan to escape the golf-obsessed mafia who wants to kill her. The later episodes have Eve enrolling in a prestigious Japanese golf academy. She gets closer to Aoi, who has a crush on her, as she tries to fulfill her promise to play her once again and win.

One of the best parts of this anime is the intensity between Eve and Aoi. While some criticized possible "questionable tropes" in Birdie Wing, the absurdity and series' unrealistic nature puts those claims into question.

The series is weird in a good way and has a sports angle which is extreme at times. Even so, it is hard to say it is trading goods for fanservice, as some critics argue, with those same critics even becoming invested in Eve and Aoi.

The series has garnered a significant following. The official Twitter account has tens of thousands of followers. Over 270 people follow the /r/BirdieWing subreddit. Fan art is spreading across social media. This undoubtedly played a role in Birdie Wing's renewal for a second season. It will premiere in January 2023.

Filled with Yuri

Eve (left), the flirter, as arrived

As I noted in my series recommendation, I became interested in this series after reading an article by The Mary Sue fandom editor Briana Lawrence highlighting yuri themes. She later described Birdie Wing as a "fantastically campy golf (love) story". There's more than that.

Aoi openly crushes on Eve, who uses her charm. In the above scene, Eve flirts with two Japanese girls and hangs out with them all day. Although this annoys her wannabe caddy, Ichina Saotome (Saki Fujita), this doesn't worry Eve.

In some ways, how Aoi feels about Eve is akin to Akari Tokitō's behavior toward Menou in The Executioner and Her Way of Life. Unlike that series, Eve often embarrasses Aoi and does things that make her heart beat fast.

For example, she lovingly touches Aoi in the head, demands Aoi play her while coming out of the shower naked, and kisses Aoi on the cheek. In the latter example, she says this is "normal" for girls to do. Aoi's caddy, Amane Shinjō (Ami Koshimizu), and Ichina are flabbergasted. Amane declares she can't do that in front of the press. Ichina mentions lily flowers blooming, a reference to yuri.

As reviewers have pointed out, Aoi and Eve are "super gay". There are also characters like Vipére (the snake lady). She inappropriately flirts with Eve during a golf match. Her affection is ignored because she focuses on Aoi instead.

The snake lady later becomes a friend of Eve. She helps get Eve, her friend Lily Lipman (Akira Sekine), Lily's sister Klein Clara (Sayaka Kinoshita), and their three orphan immigrant children, the adopted sisters of Eve and Lily, the proper forms. With the documents they can live free from the Mafia.

Others pointed out that the series is able to flex its "sapphic muscles" more once episodes take place at an all-girls academy. This theme is common to many yuri series. Adachi and Shimamura, Bloom Into You, Sweet Blue Flowers, Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl, Dear Brother, and Blue Drop, are all set in schools.

Yuricon founder Erica Friedman added that the series is similar to I’m in Love With The Villainess, with a "hefty splash of...yuri". She asked whether the audience will get "passionate platonic sisters or passionate platonic partners in golf" or something else.

Friedman said we probably won't get the end we want but gave the series a top score for yuri. She further argued the series is close to "being the greatest Yuri sports anime of all time."

The Most Birdie Wing of Them All

Eve (left) tells Aoi (right) she likes no hesitation, one of Aoi's qualities.

Certainly, sports anime are relatable. Birdie Wing is nothing like any of the other golf anime or manga out there, including one short film centered on golf girls, Sorairo Utility.

This series flaunts the rules of the sports genre, with characters either arrogant or supremely confident in their skills. They are competent enough to back up those feelings. Any of their errors turn into comedic moments, often with a yuri tinge when Aoi and Eve are involved.

This makes the series fun to watch. Although some have voiced concern that the series will "run out of crazy ideas" which make golf interesting, I doubt that will be the case. Instead, the series has beautiful musical montages of golf bullying. It has underground assassins trained in golf techniques. U.S. corporate executives sitting in their plush chairs, cancelling queer shows, would laugh off this series.

Birdie Wing is filled with terrible women, from top to bottom. It features golf crime with Mafia who believe that golf games are a way to solve problems. What other series out there are like this? I can't think of anything remotely similar other than the yuri comedy, YuruYuri.

It is an over-the-top series with dramatic tension and absurdity which pulls you in. It makes golf, a disgusting elitist sport, interesting to watch. How this series got made, and why, I don't know. But, it's here for us to enjoy.

After all, golf competition and rising the ranks is central to this series, with Eve and Aoi wanting to have a rematch. Both have a dream to become professional golfers The series follows them as they "battle it out in the biggest tournaments" as the official description says.

Birdie Wing is nothing like other-girl focused sports anime, such as Kandagawa Jet Girls, Iwa-Kakeru! Climbing Girls, or Tamayomi, some of which have yuri subtext. It is in a league of its own. It is not on par to any other sports anime I'm aware of currently.

The interaction between Aoi and Eve is one of the best parts of the series. They often tease each other and have a good time, even able to work with one another despite their different styles, even making bets. In one episode, Aoi says that thanks to Eve's influence, expectations on her will not tie her down, which surprises Amane.

Handling Heavy Themes

Episode 7 is the first time that the names of Klein's orphan children are mentioned in the series

Some criticized the series of running the risk of "mishandling heavy themes" in the midst of its "high-octane action". This includes the claim that issues of police brutality and Eve's undocumented family fade into the background. For a series which can accurately be called "Birdie Wing : Yuri on Green" and with adorable golfer lesbians (Eve and Aoi), this criticism might seen to ring true.

It is a faulty criticism. The series does focus on heavy themes. The show's seventh episode is the first time the audience learns the names of Klein's immigrant orphan children: Emily, Charlotte, and Jessica. Thinking of her adopted sisters gives Eve the strength to defeat Rose Aleon (Toa Yukinari), who is a go-between for Eve (and Klein) to the underworld.

The snake lady gives them the proper identification forms after Eve's victory over Rose. All the while they are flush in cash. Later Anri (Chiaki Omigawa), one of Rose's subordinates, lashed out at Eve, for Rose's defeat, advising her to travel abroad to Japan. At the same time, Rose is assassinated by the Mafia after talking to Leo. Some heavy stuff!

We also learn, in the eighth episode of Birdie Wing, that the orphans are from Syria (Charlotte), Somalia (Jessica), and Palestine (Emily), as stated on their new IDs. Although this is not a major focus of the series after Eve goes to Japan, we do see the orphans going to school. In another episode, we see Lily and Klein are working at their new legal restaurant/bar, The White Hart.

This is an improvement for Lily and Klein. As one fan pointed out, they were implied in episode six of Birdie Wing as working as underage prostitutes in the Nafrece slums before Klein got her past restaurant which the Mafia destroyed in their crooked "redevelopment" effort.

In some ways, the series focuses on the exclusivity of golf. This is something that Malvina Reynolds sang about in her 1963 folk song, "Little Boxes". In the song, she sings about people in suburbia playing on the golf course and drinking dry Martinis.

Aoi, as a daughter of a business executive, is tied into the high life. However, Eve would never forget where she is from. Her presence and demeanor stands against the "professionalism" of golf, putting her street smarts to good use.

This fits with her utter disregard for academics. She is no Kim Possible and trying to excel in her classes. Instead she is a transfer student at a premier golfing school, Raiho Girls' Academy, backed by a golfing brand.

She likely sees the school as stuck-up. She gives it a bad name by declaring war on Japanese golf champion Mizuho Himekawa (Yukari Tamura). It is implied that she isn't a good student, even sleeping during class. Somehow she stays there without being expelled, suspended, or the like. Possibly, the academy's shady golf club adviser, Reiya Amuro (Tōru Furuya), wants her around.

Compelling Characters and Plot

Eve (right) and Aoi (left) enter the tournament hall, with Eve in her "battle suit"

The plot and characters of Birdie Wing are some of the series' strong suits. The show's official website currently lists 24 characters. While Klein appears to be the only character listed with brown skin, the opening sequence shows a Black woman at the end. This implies that Eve and Aoi would face a Black female golfer in the show's second season.

Episodes of Birdie Wing are filled with high-stakes golf matches. Signature golf drives by Eve, often terming it the "rainbow bullets", which come in many different colors, are at the center. There's also Rose's "Crimson Rose Bullet" and other "bullets" Aoi declares.

In keeping with the show's yuri themes, the series' opening sequence shows golf drives of Aoi and Eve intertwined. In the ending sequence, Eve and Aoi are lying side by side, with their silhouettes touching.

Leo Millafoden (Shūichi Ikeda), former legendary golfer, who trained Eve and other golfers, casts a shadow throughout the series. His motivations are unknown. They will likely be explored more in a second season.

The technologically advanced golf course owned by a mafia boss, Catherine (Umeka Shoji), added an interesting flair. The design of the course can be changed in an instant, even though it requires a lot of power and electricity.

The series became a bit sci-fi when it was revealed that Rose's arm is cybernetic, giving her an unfair advantage. The fact that her arm breaks off and falls to the ground, shows the stakes of the golf games.

The first season is divided into two arcs: Nafrece (episodes 1-8) and Japan (episodes 9-13). This is similar to the division of Disenchantment into various parts or acts which divide the first season of Arcane.

Even Ichina, who seems annoying at first, comes around to be a more compelling character. She becomes Eve's caddy and competes with Amane, Aoi's well-versed and tech-savvy caddy. Ichina grows over the course of the season.

There are funny moments, too. In one episode they talk with each other in internal monologues. In another, Aoi jumps toward Eve, overjoyed to see her, but Eve jumps out of the way. This series is filled with comedic moments, providing some levity.

The reaction of others to Eve makes the series interesting. For instance, students at the elite golf academy are intimidated by her, as she looks angry and pissed. Girls at the competition see Eve as scary, and mean, but pretty. They are taken in by her beauty.

Talented Cast and Crew

Eve (right) declares that her "rainbow bullets" will pierce through Mizuho Himekawa (left), who she challenged to a golf game

The amazing animation and backgrounds by Bandai Namco Pictures would be nothing without the efforts by the staff and voice actors.  The show's writer, Yōsuke Kuroda, was a head writer on Kokoro Library, Puni Puni Poemy, and Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid. The latter series is set in the same universe as Birdie Wing!

One of the two series composers, Kōtarō Nakagawa, is well-known for his anime work on the Code Geass series, Gosick, and Active Raid. The other composer, Hironori Anazawa, is known for her work on Scarlet Nexus, Shûkatsu Kazoku: Kitto, Umaku Iku, and many other series.

Takayuki Inagaki, the show's director, worked as an episode director on Chio's School Road, Sky Wizards Academy, and Rosario + Vampire. The show's animators and other crew worked on Azumanga Daioh, Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie, and Sailor Moon Crystal.

The show's cast are as talented. Some have lent their voices to characters in series with yuri themes, either indirectly or overtly, like The Demon Girl Next Door, Adachi and Shimamura, Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, A Centaur's Life, and Akebi's Sailor Uniform. Others voiced characters in the trans-centered slice-of-life drama, Wandering Son, and The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated!

Tōru Furuya, especially, brought back a similar voice to many Sailor Moon fans. In that 1990s anime series, he famously voiced Tuxedo Mask, a masked hero who has a crush on Sailor Moon.

Additionally, I recognized that the voice actors of this series provided voices in Simoun, Yurikuma Arashi, Princess Connect! Re:Dive, Princess Principal, Asobi Asobase, Girl Friend Beta, Strawberry Panic!, and Maria Watches Over Us. Many of these series have yuri themes, something the voice actors could tap into for this series.

Looking Toward a Second Season

(the video has since been made private)

There are many avenues to explore in the next season. The above preview premiered after the airing of the season one finale. It shows that the stakes are higher than ever, with games against students from other schools. This includes Mizuho Himekawa (Yukari Tamura), Kaede Oikawa (Yu Kobayashi), Kaoruko Iijima (M・A・O), and Kuyou Iseshiba (Satomi Arai).

The preview shows the tough nature of golf, backstories of Aoi and Eve, and a possible assassination attempt against Eve. There are hints that Eve and Aoi are sisters. The status of Aoi as "totally bourgeoisie", as Ichina put it in one episode, could be a topic of episodes. This could manifest itself in Aoi losing her privileges or those privileges being threatened.

Predictably, the second season will focus on Eve. It may show she is a golf supersoldier trained as a tool of the Mafia. Maybe there is a trigger word which makes her subservient. Likely any past traumatic experiences she relegated to repressed memories will come flooding back.

However, Eve has no reason to go back to Naeferce and will stay in Japan for the foreseeable future. The same is the case for Eve's aggressive and brutish golf style, which will remain intact. However, they may end up losing the championship match.

Undoubtedly, the romantic feelings between Aoi and Eve will continue. They may even share the same room! I'm hopeful the series will not go the route of the problematic yuri romance Citrus or romantic comedy, Candy Boy. Both have incestuous romances between sisters, which cheapens representation.

Closing Words

I look forward to seeing how the series improves and changes in the next season. Unlike what I wrote about The Executioner and Her Way of Life, I don't see any issues with tone and don't believe there need to be stronger storylines.

The success of this series could pave the way for more original anime series from Bandai Namco Pictures and those licensed by Crunchyroll, perhaps with yuri themes. I wait in anticipation for the show's next season.

So, spread your wings and watch Birdie Wing: A Golf Girls' Story on Crunchyroll!

© 2022-2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[rineotin]

who would you be in a sports anime

[ahtsumu]

what your haikyuu!! fave says about you

hinata: wholesome; there’s something pretty big standing in the way of your current goals that you hope to overcome; you send those heart memes into group chats; your life motto is to have courage and be kind; aka you are a hufflepuff; you tend to stan/identify with protagonists; aka your favourite harry potter character is deadass harry potter (… or neville)

kageyama: you want to be a bad bitch; you started drinking cow juice milk out of a little box with a straw bc you saw that kags does; wildin’ online but you’re a lil shy irl; “little shit” is one of your favourite insults/terms of endearment; you refuse to play any position other than setter for pickup games

tanaka: wack af; don’t know how to use your inside voice; short temper but usually very sweet; you like walking around barefoot; you have a pretty sick party trick–– probably something physical and reckless, like a headstand LMAO; high alcohol tolerance

nishinoya: also wack but you’re short so you’re even weirder; you probably play libero on your volleyball team; you’ve tried copying the rolling thunder move and your first attempt was also your last

tsukishima: all your faves are tsunderes; dry af sense of humour; probably spends an unhealthy amount of time on reddit; people who know you irl call you a troll; definitely a complainer; hate-watch reality tv shows; people ask if you’re anemic/sick/tired a lot–– you’re probably not, you just never sleep; drinks too much caffeine

kuroo: thirsty

kenma: you play(ed) at least one of the following: legend of zelda, any final fantasy, the elder scrolls, fallout; you wear thick-frame glasses; cat-person; you’ve dyed your hair before; probably watch(ed) danisnotonfire and pewdiepie; definitely went through an emo phase or is currently going through one; you like “smol” things

bokuto: life of the party; you may be a little self-centred/vain but you milk the shit out of it for comedic purposes; you know your way around a grill; VERY COMPETITIVE; you listen to nicki minaj and cardi b unironically; probably lowkey famous on twitter for memes; definitely know too many tiktok dances

akaashi: pretty boys are the bane of your existence; you definitely draw or make art of some sort; you do well in school and have “intellectual” interests; pink is one of your favourite colours; soft aesthetic; you watch yuri!!! on ice; you either can’t stop cursing or struggle to say “fuck” irl; you want to start a bujo or you currently keep one

atsumu: you were originally an oikawa stan but you switched lanes when he said that fucking goody two shoes line because his voice is pure sex; you text with HAHAHA instead of 😂; probably curse like a sailor; you flirt by comparing hand sizes; you have a sweet tooth; active on twitter; a little self-centred; you laugh at fail compilations

osamu: atsumu was too much of a dick, immature, or cocky; you’re drawn to quiet people; most if not all your interests revolve around food; you intentionally root for the underdog in most movies/books; not very competitive, you prefer to just go with the flow; you can relate to being in someone else’s shadow; you probably stan loki over thor too oh my god you do don’t you

oikawa: your fave fic genre is angst; hoe for astrology, sci-fi, and crystals/palm reading; you’ve probably gone through a HELLA rough patch in your life (possibly depression); you like writing and probably have written an in-depth character analysis about him; you struggle with finding balance in your life; you get played by fuckboys irl but you never learn bc they’re just so hot

iwaizumi: you know an oikawa irl; you also watch free! but not for the plot 👀; your favourite fanfiction trope is enemies to lovers; you flirt by being mean to your crush; probably a beast at arm-wrestling; you’re physically strong but might not seem like it; owner of a resting bitch face for sure

terushima: two words: tongue piercing

ushijima: very slim chance you have crackhead energy; you’re ambitious and tend to stan powerful/successful characters; most likely also “gifted” with some sort of talent or skill–– and you’re damn good at whatever it is; one of your hobbies is a sport; you’re doing well at school; people say you’re a chill person; definitely have a thing for his thighs; you want ushijima to r u i n you

tendou: you watch at least one of the following: hunter x hunter, one piece, naruto, or bleach; unconventional-looking or ugly anime characters are your type; massive fucking troll; you openly thirst on main; you shitpost on your main instagram; you fear nothing, god fears you

semi: be honest you just like anime boys with silver hair

[milkbreadtoast]

I finished TMR just a little while ago! I'm glad I took your rec on it!!! the ending was so satisfying and I love how Heewon (she's my FAVORITE) wasn't what I expected her to be initially bc I thought she'd be that sort of bitchy girl at first but she has so much heart to her and I love that she was almost immediately yeseul's #1 fan 😭 and I love how she wanted to work with Nuri and it put plus sized ppl in a good and respectful light. I love how the other contestants also had smaller arcs that were satisfied by end, it was nice to see minor characters have their own story. also the whole fiasco with uhhh.. Mr Bunny had me stressed as hell, I wanted him *obliterated* but I love that yeseul never thought of giving him a second chance, she's so strong and what a fantastic protagonist she is!!! I LOVE her dynamic with Yuseong especially. they were funny together and I was afraid they wouldn't have a strong chemistry but they really work together so well. THANKS FOR THIS RECOMMENDATION I'll likely pick up surviving romance after this

(this ask has spoilers so throwing that word in in case ppl filter that word)

AAAAAA THANK /YOU/ SO MUCH FOR READING IT!!! I totally agree with everything u said aaaa I love reading your thoughts about it 🥺🥺🥺 HEEWON LOML i cant even express how much i love her AAA😭💓💓💓 She absolutely was nothing like how I expected either I care her SO MUCH😭😭 shes one of my fav iterations of the "pretty/popular mean rival girl" trope... but ur absolutely right the entire cast is so strong!!! I LOVE YESEUL SM!!!! she's such an amazing protagonist and person AAA her flaws and strengths are so genuinely written and shes both deeply relatable and admirable😭💕 also her design is so cute... and EXACTLY like I really loved how the minor/supporting charas got their own mini arcs/moments to shine!!! kind of reminded me of sports anime like haikyuu where rival teams get their moments like that🥺💕 AND ANDJSJ same abt yuseong,.. i didnt know if id like their dynamic but its really good aaa😭 I really really love how all the female charas and relationships r written in this webtoon, its everything...

[detectivedamian]

J, R, i for the questions thing?

J:  What’s your favorite fanfic trope?  Have you written it?

Ohhh boy. I think my favorite fanfiction trope, stuff that isn’t like, main source material trope stuff... I think it’s probably Hanahaki Disease. I love the idea of unrequited love that isn’t actually unrequited, and Hanahaki Disease fics really just encapsulate what I love about that idea.

Hiding how much pain you’re in to put on a smile for the person you love most, for the person who figuratively (now literally) is killing you. Most of the time choosing to die instead of choosing to forget the person you love with the surgery to save your life. Something dramatic happening-- you faint, you cough up blood and petals in front of people-- and the person you love finding out and getting smacked with guilt because they’re hurting you they’ve been hurting you, and you smiled and told them you were okay, and they didn’t even notice.

I haven’t written a fic like this yet, and I want so horribly to. It’s so in character for Damian, for example, to hide this from everyone, hide it from his family-- most of all, hide it from Jon. Damian would hold it in until an attack gets him during battle, until he falls over coughing up blood and petals the same color as Jon’s eyes, and that’s how his family would find out that he’s dying. Jon finding out? It would kill him. His best friend is dying, he loves him so much.

But when he finds out that what’s killing him is unrequited love? His unrequited love? You couldn’t get Jon to confess any faster than that.

R: Which writers (fanfic or otherwise) do you consider the biggest influence on you and your writing?

I couldn’t tell you the name of the writer, but I can say that the short stories I read for school, in Springboard and in college, those really helped me pull together my style, let me break out of my own mental cages and write with what I think is my truest, honest style.

I: How many fandoms have you written in?  Do you have a favorite?

....oh god. Let’s go down the rabbit hole. Inuyasha, Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go, Sonic X, Monster Buster Club, Kick Buttowski, Ouran High School Host Club, Star vs The Forces of Evil, Haruhi Suzumiya, Static Shock, X-Men Evolution,  Detective Conan, Teen Titans, Phineas & Ferb, Pucca, Batman, Miraculous Ladybug, Wayside, Codename: Kids Next Door, Dead or Alive, BBC’s Sherlock, Jackie Chan Adventures, Tokyo Mew Mew, Paranatural, Overwatch, aaaaand Batfam!!!!

That’s a lot. Over a decade’s worth of fandoms. Some of these only have one fic, a select few have over 20. My favorite, up until a few years ago, that would have been the Paranatural fandom. I had a place there, made a name for myself, got asks and requests and reviews, and I made a lot of friends, made some enemies.... worst of all turned out to be the author himself Zack Morrison lol Not that he’s aware of my existence :P Basically the webcomic lost total direction, started focusing on characters literally nobody cared about, spent a whole fucking year making fun of sports animes with Hitball, so much so that it became the very thing it was making fun of, and oh yeah-- threw in a shoehorned lesbian romance between two women who just fucking met instead of focusing on the ship literally everybody wanted to happen Maxaac.

So I left, and most of the fandom did, too, tag is fuckin’ dead lmao

This fandom, though? This fandom is my new answer.

You guys send me asks. You review my stuff. You understand character depth, don’t call every little thing problematic, can feel empathy for characters you don’t project onto, I’ve made so many friends after being here for? A few months? You guys like??? My OCs??? You guys support me, and you seem to like me, and I love all of you. I love this fandom, love even the comics, love the characters, love the ships. I’m so, so happy here. Hell, I could even score really big and get hired at DC someday, make a real living off of my fanfiction, and that has never been the case before. So thanks, Noni ❤️❤️

Ask me some questions? ❤️❤️❤️

[petalsbloomed-a]

( OK OKK OK I JUST SAW IT PLS ALLOW ME TO SCREAM UNDER THE CUT SPOILERS FOR EP12 OBV )

1. it had a completely different vibe from all the other eps?? prolly cuz the course was like this purple ass cave thing??? omg that was intense and frightening to watch kajkdhfkjskhdfks

2. I SHIT YOU NOT WHEN LANGA’S DAD APPEARED I LIKE AAAAACTUALLY BURST INTO TEARS??? UGLY SOBS?????? LIKE I GET IT IT’S KIND OF A COMMON-ISH TROPE BUT I SHIT YOU NOT LIKE THAT SHIT REALLY GOT ME HELLA EMOTIONAL FOR SOME REASON. AND THEM SPEAKING ENGLISH TO EACH OTHER??? DESTROY ME. BURY ME IN THE GROUND TODAY

3. REKI AND LANGA FINISH YOUR DAMN SENTENCES CHALLENGE. “after the final...” WHAT?? AFTER THE FINAL WHAT MOTHERFUCKER???? HONESTLY

4. tbh part of me expected an adam redemption arc but like??? i wasn’t the biggest fan of it tbh. like that motherfucker has been caught on camera literally fucking assaulting minors and people he’s competing against like???? he needs to fucking go to jail. i don’t mean to get political but i don’t like prisons and i’m an atheist but there’s a special place in hell for fuckers like that like jfc

5. SHADOW DESERVES BETTER I FELT SO SORRY FOR HIM LIKE WTF HOW DARE YOU. #JUSTICEFORSHADOW2k21

6. i personally don’t think the ep was SUUUPER baity??? like i understand peeps who say it’s queerbait but honestly there’s waaaaaay too much queercoding into this shit. langa literally said he LIKED reki and at the end of the ep he said langa was his happiness, so i gotta be real the bro and not lover energy was a bit disappointing, but tbh this happens a lot in sports anime i’ve heard.

7. THAT HUG WAS A GODDAMN GAY HUG IF I’VE EVER SEEN ONE HOLY FUCK. LANGA LITERALLY JUMPING INTO REKI’S ARMS AND BOWLING HIM TO THE GROUND WAS E V E R Y T H I N G I’VE EVER WISHED FOR IN MY FUCKING LIFE. THAT SHIT WAS CUTE AND DID THINGS TO MY HEART LIKE MY GOD.

8. last thing: i think the series is good with just one season, i don’t think we really NEED a second, but i’d be totally cool with one or more drama cd’s/extras/etc like they did with free

so yeah. those are basically my thoughts on the ep. i have too many feelings right now. i’m like fulfilled, disappointed, sad, a lot of things all at once. i will CHOOSE not to be productive for the rest of the day and likely all day tomorrow as well bc of this emotional-ass shit man. will my music theory homework get done? NOPE. will i do video observation hours for my 100 hours due at the end of the month even tho i’m only halfway there? NOPE. will i do any practicing? NOPE. will i get through the requests i got on my writing blog? NOPE. head empty but renga and this goddamn series live there rent-free.

also, now that i’ve gotten through that wave of excitement/anxiety/whatever the fuck that pre-episode emotional train was i can finally eat dinner bc my appetite is actually back and she’s here to stay.

so yeah i’m gonna go and listen the pain away with these four songs i found last night. oh and some movie soundtracks as well. also feel free to send me asks/dms/etc to scream with me i’d be more than happy to. uwu

[goddess-aelin]

So since 500 is a pretty big number and I never EVER thought that I’d have this many followers, I decided to do something a little different. I’ve been in the fandom since season 2 and I’ve read SO MANY fics over the years. So i decided to compile a giant list of my absolute favorites. Then I compiled that list and realized how long it was so now I’m splitting it up! Here are all of my favorite modernverse/farmer Bellamy/Hogwarts AU fics.  (Obviously I have my weird kinks) These are in no particular order and I don’t have an AO3 so I know that I left so many good ones out because I’m going off of ones that stick in my head.  

- A Song to Keep Us Warm  by kindclaws........N/R

   This is an absolutely beautiful fic. Dancer!Bellarke is definitely HOT.  Clarke and Bellamy are co-dance-instructors. Bellamy helps her find her passion again.

-The Girl Next Door by funfanfin.....M

   OH MY GOD. THIS FIC. just wow. I don’t even know what to say. Bellarke as neighbors. Angst, fluff, and of course, happy endings. 

-Turn the Tide on My Losing Side by Lalalli.....T

   Fun Bellarke + Jaha facebook shenanigans. Such a fun and lighthearted fic. “I want to touch your abs.” Iconic, honestly.

-Ice by rabiscar....T

Is it really a fic rec by me if there isn’t a hockey/ice skater AU? Hockey player Bellamy is hot and I absolutely love the dynamic between Bellarke in this fic. Not only does it have hockey, it also has bed sharing, enemies to friends to lovers, and so much teamwork, which is Bellarkes brand tbh.

-Potions et Patroni by @chants-de-lune...T

A Harry Potter AU where Bellarke are professors at Hogwarts. Also doubles as a soulmate AU. Meg does such an amazing job of bringing the show characterization to these characters in a completely different setting. I absolutely love this and am a huge sucker for Harry Potter AU’s. 

-What’s a Little Quaffle Between Friends? by @talistheintrovert...G

Another Harry Potter AU. Talis is a genius and had all the chapter titles be Harry Potter puns. Bellamy is constantly getting hurt and Clarke is always there to patch him up. So much light fluffiness but also so much angst! One of my fave fics! She also wrote a smutty follow-up to this, Finders Keepers. 

Talis also has so many other fics that are amazing and I’d so like to recommend them all here but this would be miles long. Definitely check out all of her others!!! 

-Weave Me a Myrtle Crown by AJRedfern....E

So this fic is on almost every fic rec list I’ve come across and its not finished but its literally that good. Mixes mythology, reincarnation, and firefighter Bellamy/EMT Clarke. The characters are so well written and there is seriously so much angst that it makes me want to cry whenever I re-read it. 

-The Odds are Good by tacosandflowers...E

Modernverse with so much angst that it hurts. This fic taught me everything I need to know about kayaking and waterfalls and now every time I go kayaking, I think about this fic. This fic is B E A U T I F U L.  The amount of love that Bellarke has for each other in this fic is only paralleled by show Bellarke. This author also wrote a follow up, New Expectations, which is a baby fic set in the same universe.

-Willing to Wait For It by LayALioness....T

FARMER BELLAMY. I’m not quite sure why i have a Thing^TM for farmer Bellamy but I sure as hell DO. Clarke is a vet that helps take care of Bellamy’s farm animals. She needs someone to come with her to her high school reunion. Features two idiots in love who don’t know how to talk about their feelings for each other.

-Without Giving Anything Away by chash...E

Another farmer Bellamy fic! Octavia leaves home but doesn’t want Bellamy to be alone, so naturally he puts an ad out for a wife. Clarke comes knocking. Not one, but TWO Bellarke weddings! 

-Of Coffee and Magic by @chase-the-windandtouch-the-sky ...T

Clarke owns a coffee shop with a twist. She puts magic into people’s drinks to take their pain away. The only downside is that she gets to feel their pain, taking “I bear it so they don’t have to” to a whole new level. So naturally, she thinks that Bellamy only likes her because of her magic. So fluffy it kills me. 

-Win a Date With Bellamy Blake...Bittyab18...M

So I honestly haven’t read a lot of the new chapters on this one but this is the first Bellarke fic I ever read, so it has a special place in my heart. Exactly what it sounds like is what happens. Clarke wins a date with movie star, Bellamy Blake, who she knew from high school. Of course, they become friends and then hide their feelings for each other.

-Did Venus Blow Your Mind (Was it Everything You Wanted?) by @selflessbellamy ...M

Clarke signs up for a body paint contest and Bellamy is her canvas. Is it weird that body painting is a kink? Because I definitely have it.  

-Jumping to Conclusions is Sacrificing Yourself to Embarassment by tempestaurora...T

Such a fun, lighthearted fic. Bellamy and Clarke take the same elevator everyday. She thinks he doesn’t speak English so naturally she talks about how hot he is to Raven right in front of his face.

-Take My Hand by winterwaters...E

A So You Think You Can Dance AU where Bellamy and Clarke aren’t too fond of each other. But, of course, the power of dance brings them together.

-Vienna Waits for You by panem_et_circenses....M

This is one of those fics that I could just read again and again. It has such a weird and unexpected mixing of tropes but the way that the writer put them all together works so well. Bellarke in college, Bellamy as an underground boxer, artist Clarke, nude model Bellamy, fake dating, Finn as his natural douchey self, and some Wicken, Linctavia, and Monty/Miller!

-To My Favorite Scar (To All of the Stars) by @prosciuttoe...T

So this is more of a college AU than it is a Foxhole Court AU but it has some of the delinquents as Exy players, which is a made up sport from the previously listed title. I read this so long ago and I still to this day remember how much I love it. Bellamy is the captain, Clarke transfers from another team, who she now shares a rivalry with. A relationship filled with animosity quickly turns into a loving friendship (and more, wink wink)

-I’ll be Home for Christmas (if Only in My Dreams) by @head-and-heart...T

An AU loosely based on Eliza’s movie, Christmas Inheritance. Bellamy is a grumpy hotel owner and Clarke is running away from her life in the city. Angst but so FLUFFY.

**definitely check out all of these wonderful writers’ fics! They’re all AMAZING!

Thank you to everyone for following me and helping me out with finding fics! Here’s to the 600 follower canonverse/fantasy AU list I already have compiled 🥂

[tribalcheif]

GET TO KNOW MAX “FUCKING” PERRY.

He’s toxic. His smile will poison you. His boyish charm dangerous. The glint in his eyes as he challenges you to do something devious is lethal.

1. Full Name? Maximilian Asmodeus ( yes what the fuck were Mr. and Mrs. Perry thinking ) Perry.

2. Preferred Names or Nicknames? Max. He absolutely refuses anyone to use his full name. His mother called him Maxi.

3. What does their name mean? Does it have any significance in their family? Do they like their name? Maximilian means “the greatest”, which goes well with his personality. It doesn’t have much significance other than the fact that his parents liked it. His middle name too, ‘till this day people are convinced no one knew it was the name of a literal Prince of Hell.

4. Age and Date of Birth? 18. October 21, 2001. He’s a Libra.

5. Gender and Pronouns? Cisgender Male. He/him.

6. Hometown? Boston, Massachusetts.

7. Does your character fit into any well known archetypes or tropes? A few actually. He fits into The Ruler archetype, and the Ambition Is Evil, The Leader, Really Gets Around, Daddy Issues, just like major antagonist vibes, an evil motherfucker from hell who happens to lead the future frat boys of America.

8. How long have they been at Broadripple? He has been at Broadripple for exactly four years.

9. What led them to apply to Broadripple? Was it a decision made by them or by their parents/guardians or somewhere in between? Both his parents are Massachusetts natives, and attended Broadripple, it was a birthright, his parents decided that’s where he’d be attending as soon as they found out his mother was pregnant.

10. Whether they’ve been at Broadripple four days or four years, do they enjoy it? Do they like Broadripple? He has a love/hate relationship with the academy.  Its became his playground throughout his teenage years, and no doubt had a big impact on him, his stomping grounds if you will. He’s found numerous ways to make his time their enjoyable all his own, and with the Broadripple Boys Club. However, for a schemer like him all the rules and regulations that come with such a prestigious school put an abundance of roadblocks in the way of his ideas of fun.

11. What house are they in? Do they care very much about their house? Fenwick! Again, the house of both his parents, again, he does care, but he doesn’t, all his antics, schemes, and overall demeanor does the house zero justice, however, he loves the sense of camaraderie, even if he and others are aware he is definitely the bad apple of the bunch.

12. Who do they share a dorm with, or are they on their own for the moment? What are they like to live with? Are they clean or messy? Early risers or night owls? TBD. Max is an absolute pain to live with, he’s bossy, complains a lot, he never quite got used to sharing a smaller space, let alone not having his own room, and he hates daylight, blackout curtains are a must in the room, he constantly complains about how he doesn’t have enough space for his clothes and shoes (although he has way too many in his possession) he’s still found a way to be surprisingly well organized. A total night-owl, he gets about three or four hours of sleep a night, and absolutely dreads mornings, especially waking up.

13. How is your character’s dorm decorated? Is it bare or bursting at the seems with personality? Any particular sentimental items from home? Bursting with personality, loads of it. A few photos of him and his mom, family photos, with devil horns, and a mustache playfully drawn on his fathers face. A custom made “Saturdays Are for the (Broadripple) Boys” flag on the side of his bed he was gifted, a few artificial plants, and all black sleek, modern decor.

14. What is their favourite subject at school? Do they even have a favourite? Why? He absolutely hates school, but he will never give anyone any reason to doubt his (limited) book smarts, creative writing is his favorite. He loves being given prompts and thinking outside the box when responding to them, or even making short stories all his own. But that’s lame and for pussies, creativity? Don’t know her, just put my A in the gradebook and throw the paper away, shred it, and then burn the shredder.

15. Are they involved in any clubs? Which ones? Only the agriculture club. His mother was an environmental politician, and a part-time florist with a natural green thumb, that of which she passed down to him.  So, “why the fuck not.” He obviously gets a lot of shit from the bros about it but he always hits them with this, or a total punch in the face ( as brothers. )

16. How does your character feel about Broadripple’s Unofficial Clubs? Do they know about them? Are they a part of any of them? As opposed to the Boys club, obvy, he thinks the others are complete jokes. The Chastity Club (God Squad, Virgins R’ Us), and Broadripple Unsolved (Scooby Gang, The Goonies, Nancy Drew Crew) are the butt of many of his jokes,  Chastity more so the other, because just, why?

17. Does your character participate in any sports? If so, what made them join the team? Swimming. He liked the uniform, it looked fun, so he went for it. Not to mention his father made him do something, he’s done it since freshman year and surprisingly grew fond of it.

18. What afternoon activities does your character do? Do they just do the one mandatory one or are they involved in multiple? Why? Just the mandatory one, volunteering at the animal shelter, simply because he’s an animal guy. He actually got his kitten from the animal shelter his junior year.

19. Do they miss their home when they’re at Broadripple? Do they often go home for the weekends or do they only go home during holiday breaks? Constantly. But only for Jingles ( the kitten we spoke about above ), and his room, aka his evil lair, and his one true escape. A big empty house with just his father isn’t his cup of tea, it hasn’t really even felt like a home anyway since his mother died. He goes home every other weekend, unless there’s a party going on that he’s throwing, or a field trip.

20. Did your character know Izzy De Santis or Maggie Monroe? He did, granted not very well, he’d had classes with both, and minimal interaction with the two.

21. Has your character heard of Edith Lynch? Do they know the story? Yes. Both his parents were attending when the incident happened and he constantly got told the story, no lie, it creeps him out to the max ( ba dum tisss) , and he immediately wants to change the subject when it comes up.

22. How does your character feel about Nighmore? Have they noticed the recently closed shops yet? Hates it. A strong word, but he steers clear usually, he doesn’t like what he doesn’t understand and refuses to go into town unless he absolutely needs to, so he definitely hasn’t noticed the shops.

23. Have you made any aesthetic Pinterest boards/WeHeartIt collections for this character? Or playlists? Anything you would like to share! Yes! Right HERE please feel free to follow! ( fun fact: his name was originally maximilianus but that changed, quick lol )

[birdlord]

Everything I Watched in 2019

Movies

The number in parentheses is year of release, asterisks denote a re-watch, and titles in bold are my favourite watches of the year. 

01 The Death of Stalin (17) does a neat trick of building goodwill for Steve Buscemi’s Krushchev, then brutally pays that off in the last few minutes. 

02 Sorry to Bother You (18)

03 Support the Girls (18)

04 Paddington (14)*

05 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (16)

06 Eighth Grade (18) probably the most terrifying movie I watched all year, if you didn’t watch it through your fingers, who even are you?

07 Morvern Callar (02) much less bleak than the book, but then, nearly anything would be

08 The Favourite (18) revolting and beautiful. 

09 Columbus (17) a really lovely movie about architecture and parent-child relationships.

10 Bring it On (00)*

11 The Land of Steady Habits (18) feels wackier than your average Holofcener, but still a good watch. 

12 Spotlight (15) i was really bowled over by this, and wasn’t expecting to be. Workmanlike filmmaking, but an extraordinary story, well-told.

13 The Killing of a Sacred Deer (17) Barry Keoghan is a blank, but somehow compelling screen presence. This one has an ending that made me bark with laughter.

14 Legends of the Fall (94)

15 Moneyball (11)* if you don’t feel like watching anything in particular, you can always watch Moneyball

16 If Beale St Could Talk (18) very beautiful, but I failed to connect with it on any other level. 

17 For Keeps (88)

18 Abducted in Plain Sight (17)

19 Oscar Shorts (Animated) (18) the offerings were very sappy this year, but the winner was decent! Lots of Toronto content (weird). 

20 Oscar Shorts (Live Action) (18) *unquestionably* the worst one of these won ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

21 Velvet Buzzsaw (19)

22 Vice (18) ugh

23 Friends with Money (06)

24 Can You Ever Forgive Me (18)

25 Bohemian Rhapsody (18) haha what. was. that.

26 Mars Attacks (96)*

27 Paddington 2 (18)

28 Buffy the Vampire Slayer (92)*

29 Shoplifters (18)

30 Blindspotting (18) jacked Ethan Embry in a supporting role?! Whither? Howso? Wherefore?

31 Witness (85)

32 Harry & the Hendersons (87)*

33 The Matrix (99)*

34 T2 Trainspotting (17)

35 Blockers (18)

36 The Slums of Beverly Hills (98)

37 Can’t Hardly Wait (98)*

38 Avengers: Infinity War (18)

39 Iron Man II (10)

40 Isle of Dogs (18)

41 Chinatown (74)*

42 To Live & Die in LA (85)

43 Age of Innocence (93) Daniel Day-Lewis manages to make Newland Archer compelling, where in the novel he’s...the worst?!

44 Shopgirl (05)*

45 The House (17) didn’t sustain all the way through, but then, that’s how mainstream comedies often go. 

46 The Beguiled (17)

47 Badlands (73)*

48 Poetic Justice (93)

49 The Empire Strikes Back (80)*

50 Calibre (18)

51 The Kindergarten Teacher (18)

52 Hounds of Love (17) a nice little Aussie thriller, set in the 80s

53 Kicking & Screaming (95)*

54 Octopussy (83)*

55 Jaws (79)*

56 Lover Come Back (61)

57 Frenzy (72)

58 Always Be My Maybe (19)

59 Certain Women (16) took a while to get to this one, but it’s as great as they say it is. 

60 Baby Driver (17) all flash, little substance.

61 Sneakers (92)

62 Roadhouse (87)*

63 Bull Durham (88)*

64 Ghostbusters (84)*

65 Booksmart (19) I think this will improve on multiple viewings, though I loved the soundtrack and the mix of characters. 

66 Hereditary (18)

67 Rebecca (40) George Sanders as Rebecca’s cousin is BRILLIANT

68 Vertigo (58)*

69 The Dead Don’t Die (19)

70 Crawl (19)

71 Dazed & Confused (93)* If you don’t watch this once a summer, what is wrong with you?

72 Jackie Brown (97)

73 Talk Radio (88)

74 The Guilty (18)

75 Killing Heydrich (17)

76 Lady Bird (17)*

77 Billy Elliot (00)*

78 White House Down (13)* Channing Potatum saves the White House!

79 The Film Worker (17)

80 Whitney (18)

81 Mascot (16)

82 Apocalypse Now (79)* technically I’d only seen the Redux version from the early 2000s, so the regular cut is new to me. 

83 Apollo 13 (95)*

84 Psycho 2 (83) the twist is very guessable, but there are a couple of nice-looking scenes.

85 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (04)*

86 The Bodyguard (92)*

87 Murder Mystery (19)

88 Wildlife (18)

89 The Stepford Wives (75)*

90 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (71)*

91 The Natural (84)

92 The Other Boleyn Girl (08)

93 Speed (94)*

94 Opera (87)

95 That’s my Boy (12) haha what?!

96 The Big Short (15)

97 Elizabeth the Golden Age (07)

98 The Glass Castle (17) when I read the book, I genuinely thought it was fiction, it’s so insane. 

99 Dawn of the Dead (78)*

100 All About Eve (50) lady on lady violence is a special thing

101 La La Land (16)

102 Morning Glory (10) remember Rachel McAdams?

103 Casino (95)*

104 Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (06)

105 Pet Sematary (19)

106 Clue (85)*

107 Her Smell (18) amazing soundtrack and the songs were well-chosen. Heartbreaking musical moment in the final act. 

108 Bobby Sands: 66 Days (16)

109 She’s Gotta Have it (86)

110 Good Morning (59)

111 Hustlers (19) I didn’t connect with this as much as the reviews led me to believe I might. 

112 Nocturnal Animals (16)

113 Kill Bill Vol 1 (03) I’d only ever seen the second one before, being a non-Tarantino completionist.

114 Fried Green Tomatoes (91)* I watch this more than anticipated...

115 Steel Magnolias (89)

116 Notting Hill (99)*

117 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (19) the tiny city models were inspired!

118 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (89)*

119 Let It Snow (19)

120 Frozen (13)

121 The Irishman (19) most interesting as a sort of pastiche/reckoning on the part of Scorsese about his other gangster films. Really outmoded view of unions. Definitely could have been edited down if anyone were able to come to it without undue reverence, but I did love the bit about the fish.

122 Girls Trip (17) actual plot is beside the point. 

123 About a Boy (02)* I always think of this as the “vomit and sweaters” movie, anyone else?

124 Animal House (78)*

DOCUMENTARY : FICTION - 4:120

THEATRE : HOME - 9:115

TV Series

01 Russian Doll - I think I would have enjoyed this more if it hadn’t been bingeable - would have made a nice week-by-week discussion sort of show. I loved to watch the changes between re-ups of our major characters, and I think the actual plotting would reward re-watches. 

02 Catastrophe S4 - A satisfying ending to an excellent show, with very charismatic leads (and deeply weird supporting characters). Had to write around Carrie Fisher’s death, and I’m sure did a better job of it than Star Wars did. 

03 Friends from College S2 - More of the same, which is what I was after. A show like cotton candy (but with more infidelity). 

04 High Maintenance S3 - A lot more of this season took place outside of New York City, which was a great change of pace. And a great deal more information about The Guy and his own life; both difficulties and successes included. 

05 Losers - This was a great little docuseries on Netflix that I didn’t hear a lot of people talking about - it’s about sports losses, but unusual sports ie curling, figure skating and the like. You’d think it would get repetitive, being as it’s always about recovering after loss, but it doesn’t! I wish they would make another season….

06 Shrill - a tight six episode dramedy about an alt-weekly journalist in the Pacific Northwest, based on Lindy West’s memoir of the same name. John Cameron Mitchell as her boss (based on Dan Savage) stands out of the ensemble cast, as does Annie’s roommate played by a British standup Lolly Adefope.

07 Broad City S5 - I haven’t always kept up with Broad City, but I came back to it for its final season, and thought it did a good job of setting its characters up for big changes in their lives. 

08 I Think You Should Leave - It’s easy to assume that all sketch comedy is terrible and always will be, but then you see this, and throw your TV out the window (due to all the laffs)

09 Fleabag S2 - Everything you’ve heard is true, this season is goddamn hilarious and ridiculously sexy. A huge step up from the first season, which was already pretty fantastic and incisive. 

10 Fosse/Verdon - Musicals are not particularly my bag, so I’m sure there was a lot that I missed in terms of references, but the lead performances ably carried me through all of the time jumps and various performances. 

11 Stranger Things S3 - Say it after me: d-i-m-i-n-i-s-h-i-n-g r-e-t-u-r-n-s! Maya Hawke kills it, though. 

12 Big Little Lies S2 - Unnecessary, and (if possible) even sillier than the first season.

13 Lorena - Part of the ongoing quest to rehabilitate the maligned women of the 1990s, this gave me tons of context that I had no idea about at the time, due to being a dumb kid. 

14 Glow S3 - I felt like I was losing steam on this series this year, but episodes like the camping ep kept me coming back. A great ensemble, though some unusual character choices (like a certain kiss *cough*) took me out of it by times. 

15 Lodge 49 S1-3 - I’d kept hearing about this show, so I finally sought it out. I can’t say it was amazingly compelling (I almost dropped it after the first season) but it’s definitely an oddball of a show, slipping from setpiece to setpiece with little regard for logic. For me, a background show. 

16 Chernobyl - This show really gave me the Bad Feeling, humans were definitely A Mistake.

17 On Becoming a God in Central Florida - Kiki in a trashy mode, not as infinitely appealing as the version she pulled off in the second season of Fargo, but scrappy and industrious nonetheless.

18 Show Me a Hero - I’d put off watching this for years, it felt like it was going to be too dull (housing policy in Yonkers?) but it’s great, and larded up with Bruce Springsteen songs, obvs.

19 Great British Bake Off S9-S10 - I’d also held off on watching this for a long time, out of loyalty to Mel, Sue, and Mary Berry. But I needed some comfort viewing towards the end of the summer, and the new hosts and judge do an able job, although the show’s tropes are feeling a bit well-worn at this point. 

20 Righteous Gemstones S1 - A rollicking ride for sure, with a great cast. Your mileage/patience with Danny McBride may vary, so keep that in mind, naturally. 

21 This Way Up S1 - A small show starring the fabulous Aisling Bea, about mental health and families and some nice comic physical acting. Oh, and in case you were watching The Crown and crushing on Tobias Menzies’ version of Prince Phillip, he plays a hot dad love interest in this, which gives you all the Tobias you’re looking for, without the PP racisms. 

22 The Crown S3 - This is the first season of the big cast switchover, and I thought it stuck reasonably well, once we were in it an episode or two. This season concentrated even less on Elizabeth herself, preferring her sister, husband, and (newly!) her children.

[tristhyun]

                                           M E E T   T R I S T A N

1. Full Name?

Tristan Randall Hyun

2. Preferred Names or Nicknames?

He goes by his first name, Tristan.

3. What does their name mean? Does it have any significance in their family? Do they like their name?

Tristan means “noise” and “bold.” Randall means “one who is little” and “one who gives.” Neither of these attributes are relevant to his parents choosing the name. ‘Tristan’ was simply a name they found appealing. Randall was the name of his grandfather. Tristan likes his name well enough, but he doesn’t feel strongly about it one way or another.

4. Age and Date of Birth?

18. September 14th 2002.

5. Gender and Pronouns?

He/Him

6. Hometown?

Seattle, WA

7. Does your character fit into any well-known archetypes or tropes?

The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, The Charmer, The Natural Leader etc. I’m not good at character tropes 😭

8. How long have they been at Broadripple?

Tristan has been at Broadripple for four years.

9. What led them to apply to Broadripple? Was it a decision made by them or by their parents/guardians or somewhere in between?

Tristan wanted to apply to Broadripple because he was drawn to its prestige and academic rigor. he sees the school as a stepping stone to his ambitions of attending an Ivy League college to study Law. If it were up to his parents, Tristan would have stayed at home with them instead of traveling to a private school across the country. He handled almost the entire application process, preparation for entrance exams, and pursuits of scholarships by himself. Although he cares for his parents, his decision to attend school so far from home is a subject of tension for the family.

10. Whether they’ve been at Broadripple four days or four years, do they enjoy it? Do they like Broadripple?

Tristan would say he enjoys his time at Broadripple, and to a degree it’s true. He values his education and the opportunities Broadripple provides. He likes being busy, being involved with the student body, and more than anything, being in a position of leadership. That being said, he isn’t genuinely sentimental about the Academy. It’s a tool in his greater life plan, something he sees as a pit-stop along the way to his true destination. But he would never make this known. As far as anyone else knows, he is fond of his school and holds just as much school pride as any good Vice President and House Captain should.

11. What house are they in? Do they care very much about their house?

Tristan is in Keough. He cares deeply about his house, but mostly in regards to the way they reflect him. Maintaining his image is very important to Tristan, and having a successful house is integral to that, especially if he expects to write about it on application letters and be noted in letters of recommendation. He is motivated to win the Clary Cup solely for this purpose, although you would never think this. He portrays himself as someone with immense House Pride, affection for his fellow Keough students, and devotion to what the House represents.

12. Who do they share a dorm with, or are they on their own for the moment? What are they like to live with? Are they clean or messy? Early risers or night owls?

TBD. Tristan can be pleasant to live with, mostly because he represses any behavior that might be perceived as ‘unpleasant’ in order to preserve his image. He can be stern, but for Tristan to lose his temper is a rare and rather terrifying sight because it scarcely ever occurs. He is level headed, patient, but serious. He has high standards that he isn’t afraid to hold others to. He keeps his room clean, his activity considerate, and his presence welcoming. He expects no less from a roommate. Tristan is an early riser, taking advantage of the time where most other people are asleep to plan his day out and get a head start on his tasks for that day and the rest of the week.

13. How is your character’s dorm decorated? Is it bare or bursting at the seems with personality? Any particular sentimental items from home?

Tristan’s room is sparsely decorated. He likes to keep his space clean, clear and free of distraction. He dislikes clutter because it makes him feel overwhelmed. The only time there are items on his desk is when he’s studying, his bed is always made, blankets and sheets tucked in. His walls are bare except for a Keough banner above his bed ( a gift when he became Team Captain ), a few framed pictures of his family, himself with peers at school events and club activities, and a photo of the family dog.

14. What is their favourite subject at school? Do they even have a favourite? Why?

American History. Tristan has always been fond of history because he enjoys seeing the evolution of government, law, and social behavior over time. He is particularly interested in American History because it pertains to his interest in American law, which he finds deeply informed by history.

15. Are they involved in any clubs? Which ones?

Tristan is obscenely involved in Broadripple’s clubs. He is the Vice President of the Student Council, President of the Debate Team, and the President of the SWAT. He is also the House Captain of Keough ( although this isn’t a club ).

16. How does your character feel about Broadripple’s Unofficial Clubs? Do they know about them? Are they a part of any of them?

Tristan knows about Broadripple’s Unofficial Clubs and finds most of them a waste of time. He’s indifferent to the Chastity club because he sees them as the least troublesome of the groups. Albeit something he sees as ‘cringey,’ they are easy to manage. The Broadripple Boy’s Club is something he finds immature and idiotic at best and hazardous at worst. Broadripple Unsolved is a strange beast. The members are odd, but generally harmless. However, they tend to stick their nose into the school’s unsavory history and pointlessly ‘investigate’ things that seem unimportant to Tristan. Ultimately, they’re only a nuisance, but Tristan does feel a bit suspicious about what their activities could lead to.

17. Does your character participate in any sports? If so, what made them join the team?

Tristan does play sports and is a notable athlete. He runs with the cross country team and is a shooting guard on the basketball team. He knows participation in school sports is good for the body and conducive to academic success, in addition to rounding out his already impressive achievements.

18. What afternoon activities does your character do? Do they just do the one mandatory one or are they involved in multiple? Why?

Tristan technically has two afternoon activities, but he only participates in one per day, alternating between volunteering at the animal shelter and the nursing home due to his already time-consuming responsibilities.

19. Do they miss their home when they’re at Broadripple? Do they often go home for the weekends or do they only go home during holiday breaks?

Tristan does miss home, but sometimes it’s hard going back because his parents ( his mother in particular ) still seem hurt by his decision to attend Broadripple Academy, and there are bound to be a few passive-aggressive comments. His little sister is always eager to see him and doesn’t hold his decision to pursue Broadripple against him. He doesn’t go home on weekends due to distance and expense but returns home for holidays.

20. Did your character know Izzy De Santis or Maggie Monroe?

Tristan made it his business to be familiar with every member of the student body, although he wasn’t particularly close to them. He knew Izzy as a close friend of Damian Fitzgerald, the house captain of Fenwick, Maggie as the strange, deeply religious girl who, if Tristan was being honest, made him feel a little uncomfortable if he couldn’t courteously evade a conversation with her.

21. Has your character heard of Edith Lynch? Do they know the story?

Tristan heard of Edith Lynch when he first attended the Academy, but he gave it little mind after that, believing it to be a creepy story to frighten freshman and nothing more.

22. How does your character feel about Nighmore? Have they noticed the recently closed shops yet?

Tristan will always speak highly of Nighmore, although coming from a big city it leaves much to be desired. As someone who grew up eating authentic Korean food in a city with a highly active Asian community, Nighmore doesn’t do much to quell any bouts of homesickness. Thankfully he has a car and can drive to Boston during the weekend. He has taken note of the closed shops, as well as recognized the abnormal timing. However, he doesn’t truly believe the disappearances and closures are related.

23. Have you made any aesthetic Pinterest boards/WeHeartIt collections for this character? Or playlists? Anything you would like to share!

I will post these soon.

[theparanormalperiodical]

Scary Halloween Costumes: Your Guide To Realistic and Really Spooky Costumes (On A Budget)

“In the real world, Halloween is when kids dress up in costumes and beg for candy. 

In Girl World, Halloween is the one day a year when a girl can dress up like a total slut and no other girls can say anything else about it”

Set your stop watches people - we’ve got 11 days to prepare for the most wonderful time of the year: Halloween. 

And despite the cultural traditions echoing across the world, there is one phenomenon that dominates the rest.

Halloween costumes. 

It’s the personalised touch Christmas loses out on, and it's the one day of the year we can awaken our inner child.

And no, I don’t mean the therapeutic kind where you get in touch with your real, raw self. I mean the inner child that wants to pull on a Pennywise cosplay and eat an unrealistic amount of processed crap.

Working out your halloween costume requires thought and consideration. And then giving up on creating a latex prosthetic and slapping on a pair of cat ears. 

But at the Paranormal Periodical, we like to do things a bit different.

If you like things spooky and you’re a bit skint, pull up a chair - welcome to your complete guide to realistic halloween costume ideas!

Every year we see the classic costumes: a witch in a black hat; a vampire sporting a single drop of fake blood on the lip; and a zombie with a scrape of blood down one arm. 

I’ve decided to shake shit up. 

I’ve taken the most common costumes, and gone back to the roots of the creatures. Yep, I’m rewriting halloween, and putting scary back on the menu!

So, if you’re considering being a witch, vampire, zombie, or mermaid, here is your guide to the realistic costumes.

Let’s get spooky!

The Witch

It’s a classic.

It’s the go-to option for women, merely requiring a pointy hat you can grab from Claire’s, and the clothes from your goth phase when you were 14.

Add a smudge of black eyeshadow, practice a cackle, and boom.

You just got halloweened. 

But actual witches from way-back-when weren’t so Instagram.

In fact, they were considered the worst kind of women: hag-like, old, ugly, disgusting women. If you can think up a trope for a stereotypically ugly woman - which isn’t necessarily true, I mean, people rock unibrows every damn day - then put it in your costume.

Back in the 1640s, witches were considered poor, crone-like women. That’s a moustache, wrinkles, hairy brows, squinted eyes, and crooked teeth.

Also, they had teats! No, that’s nothing to do with their actual nipples, you won’t have to do anything to your own.

Basically, a point of ID for a witch was a devil’s mark - that’s scars, pimples, birthmarks - anything which symbolised their pact with the devil. Or, they had extra nipples which their animal sidekicks would suckle from.

Speaking of scars, if a witch pricked her finger, and it didn't bleed, the subject was a witch fo sho. And if they placed their hands on a dead body that they had killed, the body would start to bleed.

The final trademark fashion statement comes from one of the witch tests: dunking.

Aside from being stripped to her scanties, the witch’s thumb was tied to her big toe and a rope was cinched around her waist. She was chucked into a body of water - if she floated, she was a witch! If she sunk, she would die!

Yeah, it’s not a good test.

So, how does all that shizz translate to a costume?

Here’s how:

For the signature makeup, go with a heavy brow, and dark, eyelined eyes to perfect the squint.

Then, fake scar it up. I’m talking dots of red on your hands, maybe draw a pink circle on your face for a nipple, and slash a lipstick scratch up your arm.

Or, ditch the red dots on your hands for literal red hands - just like the blood pouring out of your victim’s body. It could be fake blood, it could be red nails, it could even be patches of dark reddy-brown!

Whatever it is, finish the look with the iconic style of a witch:

Follow up with the fashion twist on a black pointy hat, tie a rope around your waist to give shape to the look, and tie some wool or string around your fingers.

That’s right; accessorise your way to authenticity.

The Vampire

This is the unisex approach to halloween.

Couple of drips of fake blood, maybe an Edward Cullen inspired quiff - anything can be a costume if its teamed up with the im-100-years-old-but-look-17-so-its-not-creepy smoulder.

But there’s a lot more to the vampire phenomenon that didn’t make it into Nosferatu, nor Twilight.

Vampires were popularised in the 19th century, so most of their style inspo was based on Victorian vibes. But in terms of their bodies and faces, there are some striking features you need to know about:

Vampires were often regarded as have bloated faces and bodies, and ruddy looking skin; these are the supposed effects of blood drinking.

And this blood was also believed to seep out of the mouth - and the nose. But fangs? They were rarely reported.

These features from past vampire sightings have been typically debunked via two explanations: the disease, Poryphoria, a group of diseases which cause blistering and itching in sunlight, and the past’s lack of knowledge regarding decomposition.

So, fancy reworking your Edward Cullen into something a little less up-to-date?

Here’s what you need to do:

Take your fangs and fake blood stash from last year, and do the classic drip from the lip look.

But this time, smear a little under your nose, too. 

Speaking of facial features, it’s time to get ruddy - that means giving yourself a flushed look. So, grab some blush - reddy, pink tones, only - and go to town. I’d suggest a patchy look for the deathy vibes.

And make sure you leave your contouring kit in your make-up bag - aim for a bloated, round-faced look. Or, opt for loose clothes or something baby bump-esque to bloat out your half-dead body.

To finish the look, dab on some liquid latex and pull apart to give wrinkly, blistery skin in patches. You can even check out my tips for being a zombie to ensure you achieve the death you aim for!

The Zombie

In more recent years, this has become to go-to for quick costumes, thanks to show like The Walking Dead.

But it’s not the easy part of the look that I love, it’s this: a zombie is an inclusive halloween costume. 

Anyone can do it. 

You can pull out your FX make-up stash to show your skull’s skin peeling off and limb rotting, or simply pull a face and make a groaning noise.

You don’t even have to buy new clothes! Put on your usual get up, and stick your arms out like a Mummy.

#nailedit

But - if you’re asking me - achieving the realistic death look isn’t an expensive or difficult feat.

Zombies are supposed to be the undead; they’re infected and they’re decaying. 

So, let’s go through some of the features of slowly rotting corpses:

A few minutes into death - aside from going cold, and going pale - cells begin to die and leak as they breakdown. Couple hours after the beginning of that process, things start to get shitty...

Yep, piss and poop just start leaking out ya body.

Then, your skin starts to sag, leaving it pale with red patches. Then, that skin shrinks, making your hair and nails appear as if they are growing.

Following this, your skin turns green as you begin to digest your organs. Then bugs, like maggots, take part in consuming your body.

It’s not long before you turn purple, lose hair, and slowly become a skeleton.

And there you have it.

#decayed

Question is, how can achieve this look?

Settle in folks, and let’s get dead.

(Oh, and I can assume you don’t want to be a skeleton with purple skin draping on your bones; so let’s cut to the early effects!)

To get your undead chic on, here’s what’s on your to-do list:

For ya face, make things red and patchy with a dab of red lipstick smudged around your visage. Oh, and don’t forget to moisturise and highlight - think less leaking cells, more dewy finish.

A few patches of grotesque green will further the final look. You could even put gel on the ends of your hair to make it seem wet, or longer, and define your fingernails with brown eyeshadows.

Yep, start contouring your nails - let’s start a #trend. 

Ready to take things to the next level? Cut some gummy worms up, and latex ‘em to your face.

Et voila, ya ded. 

The Mermaid

Our final option is the current Insta-fave.

Joining the ranks of the pastel-aesthetic is the glittery, highlighted-on-fleek mermaid.

But why be pretty, when you can be pretty damn realistic?

Fact is, nothing is more realistic - and scary - than climate change. So, it follows that any mermaid will probably be struggling in the plastic-filled hot tub that is the ocean.

It’s time to swap the dewy, contoured fish finish for an actual mermaid. Or, well, a dead one.

Typically, a dead human who had been left in the ocean would have several zombie-like characteristics that would be exacerbated by the sea water.

Your body breaks down much more slowly in water, and salt water - like sea water - would slow the decaying process even more so. A body left in the ocean for 2 weeks will look the same as one left in open air for a week!

So, that’s the red, patchy, dewy finish we already discussed with zombies.

And instead of the pruning you get in a bubble bath, imagine blistering, black skin. Plus, that skin also becomes swollen, and bleached, giving you the bloated, patchy glow that you don’t see in The Little Mermaid.

Oh, and don’t forget your body!

Thanks to accumulating gases, the abdomen swells from bloating. 

Fun fact: this is what makes corpses turn upside down and rise with the torso and head at the water’s surface!

So, are you ready to get your mermaid on?

Swap your Ariel wig and beachy waves for patchy, red and green skin, and use latex to create blistered, wrinkled skin in patches.

Simply follow my tips for a go-to zombie look, and like, make it wetter.

Don’t forget to stuff a jumper down your shirt to puff out your abdomen - bonus points for farting out those gases filling out your torso.

Now, go get your fish on!

So: which supernatural being are you vibing with this All Hallows’ Eve?

And which of your past halloween costumes have you been most proud of?

(Mine was my Man-Spider costume from last year...)

[awildhanmonster]

Character Ramblings for Wyrd!

At Wyrd’s behest, I’m trying to write down a little master post of some recent characters she bullied— I mean enabled— me to create.  This is for our casual Loserverse world— i.e. the fast-and-loose All The Myths Are True low fantasy trope where a bunch of well intentioned idiots try to get by in an apartment complex for largely mythical creatures.  I’ve accidentally made up a lot of new side characters in the past month and it’s getting hard to keep track of them, so here we go!

THE HOMESTEADING SHAPESHIFTER TRIO: AKA NELL, LEONORA AND BARNES

I’m listing these three together on their own because they are an active “couple” (… trio? I’m not sure what the right polyamory term is) who all live together in a more rural part of the county on some acreage generationally owned and tended by Nora’s family line.  Their personal plot is pretty manageable (just a few acres) and a small portion of the entire property.  They have a little flock of maybe 2 dozen combined sheep and goats, some chickens, and possibly an alpaca.  The land is woodsy and picturesque with an old country house they share.  

Nell J. Harriet, aka Nell: approximately 32 years old, born intersex, happily nonbinary (pronouns are ‘they’).  The tallest of the bunch at around 6’ even, with a pale wiry frame and knobby, angular corners all over.  Jet black hair with a striking chunk of white smack dab at the front of the widow’s peak like the trail of a dog’s blaze, one solid brown eye, one split tweaky blue/brown mess.  Shifted form is a black and white border collie with (surprise!) heterochromia and a chunky white blaze cutting through the forehead right at the widow’s peak.  

Despite being born to a mother with a long family history of (gene-recessive) shifters cropping up every generation, Nell was still a surprise to everyone involved, given that their father had presumably been human.  Their mother— who I’ll call Meryl for now— comes from a fairly mundane lineage of canine shifter (while being a non-shifter Rr carrier herself) which typically manifests in early childhood and has a certain period of semi-conscious malleability during the formative years in which things like coat color, length, ear set, and other minor (external) features can be changed through great effort and trial/error before eventually “settling” into a constant, unique physical identity with time.  They heal several times faster than average humans, scar less, and tend to show greater physical resilience, taking a few seconds to painlessly and more-or-less fluidly change shape, but lack any kind of “burst healing” mechanic or unusual magical attributes.

Everyone else in the family before Nell had turned out some kind of pleasantly functional “mutt” shape in the end, but Nell erupted onto the scene as a full blown black-and-white border collie looking thing from day 1 of the change as a bouncy toddler.  Meryl could only guess that the father (long since vanished from their lives with no hard feelings, the affair was brief) was a similar, incidentally compatible shapeshifter himself, but that’s about as well as anyone can guess since he’s not around to ask.  

Nell, for their part, is exactly the kind of plucky, sunshiny, high-energy velcro person you would expect from a border collie on two legs.  They struggled in early childhood with some rough ADHD and OCD type tendencies, but managed to get through public schooling with the help of family support/tutoring, and wound up not pursuing college in favor of trying out a more rural living, instead.  They met Leonora while bouncing around odd jobs a couple years after high school and the rest is history.  They’re much happier now with a largely outdoor existence and animals to tend to, burning off the excess energy that plagued them for years without a direction prior to homesteading.  They’re one of those types who thrives with an outlet for physical and mental stimulation but loses their mind for lack of it.  As one would expect from any good BC.  The farming life is an ideal fit.  

Leonora Basso: aka Nora, but only if you’re close to her.  Approximately 34-ish, a shameless bohemian woman from a long line of shifters almost functionally identical to Raiker/Nicky’s species, with the exception of taking on the form of giant (thanks, conservation of mass) white maremma type guardian dogs instead of akbash.  Built square, stocky, and a little short (probably around 5’4’’), with olive/bronze-y skin, brown eyes, and a giant fluffy mess of fluffy, platinum white-blond hair the exact color and texture of maremma fur.  

She’s chill, with admirable patience for things that warrant it and a long fuse for small annoyances, though she’s also the only member of the three to ever knock someone’s teeth out, so take that with a grain of salt.  Like any good guardian dog, she’s placid until you start messing with her flock— literally or metaphorically.  Then she’ll be the one to quietly walk across the bar and slam your head into the table.  She met Nell during a trip to the inner city by complete happenstance when the two hit it off over conversation, during which she invited them to come visit her farm over a public touring weekend, and within weeks wound up dating.  Their relationship was exclusive up until Barnes came along  and none of them are quite sure how it happened, but they’ve never been in a better place.  

Chancellor Barneston Augustine-Kingslay, aka Barnes: and ONLY Barnes, okay.  Repeat his full name N E V E R or he’ll just, seriously, die.  Of embarrassment.  The youngest of the bunch at around 27-28 or so, Barnes was adopted by his (human) parents as a (human, presumably) infant, and had a perfectly normal (human, presumably) childhood until one day when his mother came in and found that her napping four year old was suddenly a napping 40 pound maine coon cat— or at least, what LOOKED a whole lot like one.  Needless to say, the following week was a scramble of buying every “Help!  My Child is a Shapeshifter, What Do I Do!” parenting book off Amazon and learning how to cope with a toddler who could suddenly vault over double stacked safety gates unaided, but they learned how to adapt, and life continued on happily for the little family anyway.  He’s an average sort, and arguably handsome to some: about 5’8’’, not especially pale or tan, hazel eyed, and sporting what looks like perpetually dark-ticked mouse brown hair, cut short.  He performed well enough in public school with a mostly human peer group who went largely unaware of his “talents” and even went on to earn a bachelor’s in business/finances/something akin, which seemed like the thing to do.  He wouldn’t describe himself as unhappy in his accomplishments; by every metric he was doing fine in life, and could easily figure out a career in some white collar job that paid his bills well enough.

He just couldn’t shake a certain feeling of restlessness and dissatisfaction about the idea, and wound up making a habit of weekend demos and classes to see what else was out there in the world: one of which happened to be a sheep shearing weekend out at the Basso Homestead.  On a whim, Barnes attended a demo headed by none other than Leonora while she was using a feisty ram (named Ramses) to walk visitors through the shearing process, Ramses was being fighty, Nell wasn’t around to help wrangle him, and Barnes, thinking he was capable, volunteered (despite Nora warning him repeatedly that rams were pretty feisty) to help hold him down.

… Needless to say he earned a spectacular nut shot via ram horns in the groin and wound up sitting out the rest of the day with an ice pack and a lot of sympathy, but it got him talking to Nora, and then Nell, and the three of them just gelled in a way that kept bringing them back together.  He’s realized in hindsight that he’s much happier in the suburbs than the big city, and enjoys putting his schooling to use by handling the home taxes and business numbers.  

(Fun fact: years later, when it Ramses got too big for his britches and was sent to the abattoir, they were given part of him by the Basso family and cooked a roast to celebrate the asshole sheep that brought them all together.  Ramses was delicious.)

Barnes, incidentally, still has no idea just WHAT kind of shifter he actually is thanks to being a doorstep baby/anonymous adoption acquisition by the foster folks— aside from a giant 100+ pound country cat, that is.  He’s observed that his shift is nearly as swift as Leonora’s, though there are queer persistences that he seems to have (pierced ears not healing instantly or trying to close after a change) that she lacks.  Coupled with the fact that he seems to be a magnet for comically mundane/irritating paranormal activity, he’s put in his research (mostly as a boredom hobby, not a necessary pursuit) but keeps drawing blanks on potential labels for his identity.  The TRUTH of the matter (which he’ll probably never know in canon) is that he’s actually a cait sith— born in the form of a cat, rather than a human, and bewitched by his mother to retain a human form as long as possible in the hopes that it would get him a better chance at finding loving parents.  His shifting has a much heavier magical component to it than his SOs, though he has no real sense for it, and it’ll probably just be a mystery the rest of his life.

Wow, yeah, this got super long!  I’ll make a separate post for the other losers I’ve made up lately, though these three are the most fleshed out so far.  

[fille-lioncelle]

K, S, P, T, Y :) x

K: What’s the angstiest idea you’ve ever come upwith?

When I was about 15 I wrote a fic that had kidnapping and graphic sexual abuse and amnesia and emotional child abuse because… teenage me didn’t quite grasp the full depth of what any of that meant (thankfully, I guess?) and thought they’d be ~interesting.

I’m currently kinda maybe slightly considering writing a fic where the afterlife is shaped by what people believe and as such Isak and Even have ended up in hell several centuries ago and have over time turned into hell demons whose task it now is to terrorise humans? make sure vice doesn’t die and hell stays populated? just have fun being, well, demons? Honestly I just want an excuse to write a gorey, fucked up, “this isn’t love but I am literally eating your heart, don’t worry, it’ll grow back. probably.” scenes. Um. Not sure I’ll ever do that, but if I do…. I guess you heard it here first?

On a slightly more realistic note I’ve also been toying with the idea of writing a fic in which Isak has to deal with some internalised biphobia. And other internalised shit.

P: Are you what George R. R. Martin would callan “architect” or a “gardener”? (How much do you plan inadvance, versus letting the story unfold as you go?)

My story planning process goes as follows:

“What about a story where [insert elaborate setup]??”

?????

and then they fall in love

This is probably why I tend to write one-shots, because I’m not always interested in filling the ????? space with many words. When I do, I need at least a vague outline, because otherwise I will simply get bored. I am still much more of a “I’ll just go with this” person than a planner though. That’s probably also why most things tend to be longer than I intended.

S: Any fandom tropes you can’t resist?

Oh man. I love so many tropes. I love any combination of enemies to friends (with benefits) to lovers kind of stuff. I love “and they were ROOMMATES!”. I love fake dating. I love royalty AUs. I love Pride and Prejudice AUs. I love Harry Potter/Hogwarts AUs. I love any and all kind of magic AUs. I love the ridiculous “x character has randomly turned into a cute animal - PANIC!” AUs. I love artist AUs (any kind of art, including literary). I weirdly love tennis AUs??? Or most sports AUs actually. Just. The kind where you can tell the person is writing about a field that means a lot to them. There was a time when 1D fandom had TONS of marine biology AUs suddenly??? Brilliant. BAKING AUs!! COFFEESHOP AUs!! Mythology AUs! If it’s at all a ridiculous rom com trope, I’m probably there, though execution does matter.

And that’s not even getting into the many sexy tropes.

Oh no we must fuck cuddle for warmth. Oh no, you walked in on me masturbating and now you can’t stop thinking about it. Oh no, we must practice kissing and it’s going too far. (ACTORS AU!) And the classics, like sex pollen, or fuck or die, even though both of those are dub con AF.

… I’m gonna stop now. But basically, I love tropey things as much as I love trope subversion. If someone’s done something clever with a trope, I will literally sit there going “ohohoho!” gleefully.

T: Any fandom tropes you can’t stand?

Jealousy. Man, jealousy as a romantic trope will have me groaning deep as the Mariana Trench. Any kind of trope that’s more about character/behaviour than circumstance, probably, because the cool thing about tropes is having different characters react to the same circumstances in their ways. Not having all characters act exactly the same. So though it’s not anything specific, as soon as a certain dynamic or a character trait or something becomes overpronounced to the point where it starts to feel like caricature rather than a genuine character trait I tend to not be super into it.

Y: A character you want to protect. 

You know that buzzfeed (?) video where they get people drunk and then they bring in the puppies and that one woman starts crying and goes “I can’t protect them”? That’s me. Re every character I like, pretty much.

[pinejay]

things i hate abt rwby that i can think of off the top of my head even tho i haven’t watched it in months:

the animation. do i even need to fucking say it

everyone is so pale they’re glowing. what kinda white ppl skin

every single character has the same exact body shape i’m surprised they’re not all the same height too

boob windows for children????????? i hate roosterteeth

big tittie blonde 17 yr old yang xiao long out here as pedophilic fanservice

this is a nonissue but it’s annoying how white she looks w the very chinese name

also her family’s names don’t even fucking make sense?? like why is yang her first name. why is her name yang xiao long & her dad’s taiyang xiao long what

any time they give a character a chinese name they fuck it up cough cough sun wukong

why r they wearing heels....in combat

the whole furry oppression narrative is so ...

it’s liberal propaganda like “violence to combat our oppressors is bad”

also that voltron looking guy being all militaristic...stupid

what’s that character?? the fucking joker?? awful design

vig mchgiogngghhfja as a va

the entire sports festival arc is cliche & 100% ripped off of winx club alsdfkjaldksfjlkj

what the fuck even is the worldbuilding...what r the rules behind their like special moves.

tbh i never understood weiss’ magic snowflake nonsense

every single fight is so fucking predictable & goes thru the same pattern of heroes seem like they’re struggling, heroes r reinvigorated & push thru to the end

i dislike the pacing of the writing it’s not engaging. the entire recent volume was dumb like nothing happened

i hate jaune

it’s so straight it’s hard to watch

and last but not least u kno me. u kno i fucking hate the chosen one trope. i hate it so fucking much. & what’s his name?? osborn? oswick?? the dumbledore reinarnation guy out here, once again forcing some farmer kid who just wants to live on his farm, to house him like he’s some fucking parasite, forcing him to drop his life to ~save the world~ god it makes me so mad