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mammoney-honey · 4 years

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Summoning Circles: What to Offer the Brothers GN!MC

MC doesn’t need to set up anything to summon them since they have their pact but sometimes its just nice to add a bit of drama. It’s also a good way to get the brothers to accept Just Because gifts. So what would would MC lay out as an offering for their favorite demon in their pentagram?

Lucifer

Lucifer is hard to get gifts for because hes a man of few words and fewer guilty pleasures

MC does their best to keep an eye out for things he does like and finally sets things up when they feel that Luci needs a bit of a break

They mostly offer things that would make for a good date night but with one small exception: special gourmet dog treats

He won’t admit it, he says Cerberus is just a well trained guard dog, but that big boy gets only the best and MC knows that Lucifer will appreciate the gesture

The rest is all about setting the mood so Lucifer couldn’t possibly say no to staying

The first thing to accomplish this is the finest bottle of hellfire aged wine, a special request put through to Diavolo for whatever he thought Lucifer would like most

And to accompany a good drink you need some good food as well. A charcuterie board supplied with recommendations from Barbatos and Luke. The little guy should be called a mouse rather than a dog with how much he loves cheese. It took a long time for him to stop talking about it

One of the things that MC looks most fondly on of their time with Lucifer was quiet nights in listening and dancing to new music. They didn’t always share the same tastes but they were always willing to give it a go

So MC would find a vinyl, the only thing Lucifer would listen to the purest that he is, of their most recent favorite song or band so that they could share it with him

The last thing offered is that which Lucifer would want above all else as his own, MC

They can think of nothing else that would gain Lucifer’s attention more than offering their full and complete self. His pride could never allow him to deny taking MC when they offer themselves so willingly

He appears in full demon form, he can’t think of who would be ballsy enough to try and summon him and he has to pull back on his full power once he sees its MC

“MC, my dearest love, the pageantry is appreciated but overall unneeded. All you ever have to do is call my name, all I wish is to hear my name on your lips. But now that I’m here lets make sure you are screaming it”

Mammon

He is another one who is hard to gift things to but for the opposite reason as Lucifer. He likes too many things, wants everything and so it makes it impossible to tell what would actually mean something to him

MC tries their best to lay out things that will show how much they love and appreciate their favorite demon

Money of course is the first thing that is set out but not just spare Grimm or human cash

No, MC will put gift cards out for Mammon’s favorite places or for a date that they can have together. It feels more personal that way and they hope it shows that they pay attention to the things he likes

Mammon has a wardrobe to rival Asmo’s but he insists that it all has to do with his job as a model. Gotta keep up appearances and all that yanno. Hes just a label whore though and everyone knows it

He also just melts at the idea that MC might be thinking of what he would look good in so if they put out a new outfit or accessory, even if its just new sunglasses or a belt, he just about explodes

He will scoff and say that hes not sure if human styles are really his thing but of course puts whatever it is on quickly

Next would be a very special edition of the TSL dvds, a directors cut that even Levi couldn’t get his hands on. He has watched it with MC so many times he could practically recite it but they were always borrowing from Levi so it was about time to start wearing out their own copy

The last two things are more personal, something that shows just how much MC thinks of and misses being with him

The first of that is MC’s favorite set of pictures they took with Mammon, a silly photo booth strip that captured their first kiss. MC had surprised him on the first snapshot and it showed a progression of him getting redder and redder before finally kissing them back

Lastly is a page from their diary, as intimate an offering as they can possibly give. Its from a day where the longing for Mammon was at its strongest and filled with sweet words of how much they miss their first man

Mammon is freaked out at first thinking he is being summoned by another witch and is confused to see MC before taking it all in

“H-hey you don’t have to go through all this. I mean of course The Great Mammon won’t say no to the the things he deserves but ... b-but you only ever need to say my name, there is no where I’d rather be than with you”

Levi

Levi has a bad habit of just buying whatever he wants but considering that he has so many fandom’s its not hard to find some piece or another he doesn’t have

MC feels like his brothers don’t give much thought to his gifts though, just typing in a name they know and getting whatever they find. They want to give him something more personal and can’t just be bought and shipped in two days

MC starts to watch a lot of craft, cooking and cosplay YouTubers to try and put everything together themselves. It felt more genuine that way at least to them

MC tries to keep things diverse, hitting a couple of Levi’s favorites but mostly avoiding anything Ruri related since they are afraid of messing it up lmao

Instead they focus on the anime’s and games that they watched and played together. Almost like a collection of inside jokes that they are using to summon him

The first thing MC sets out is a prettily decorated plate of macrons, doing their best to replicate the colors and flavors described in the one bakery time management game they always played

MC also went through Levi’s super secret fanfiction accounts I will fight you he is totally a fic writer because he has so many self inserts and fix it fics and wrote out comments for every single thing he had written. They printed them out not because they didn’t think he read them but to show that they were the ones that left them

Along with the comments MC also created art for Levi’s most beloved OC, creating cute enamel pins of them in chibi form with the cannon character he paired them with

The last two things came as a sort of combo, a couples cosplay from the romance anime they had watched together. The protagonist had been a shut in otaku who had found his soulmate when they were reborn into his world and Levi had latched onto him immediately

It had taken a lot of blood sweat and tears trying to get both of the outfits cannon perfect but damn it MC was not going to settle for anything less

At one point they forgot they were making it for Levi and just got caught up in the the drama that was finding the perfect buttons and trim color

Overall they were so proud of the sewing skills they just wanted to call on him the moment they were done so he could see but they got a hold of themselves so they could set up what they had planned

Levi was summoned into the circle still wearing his headset and fingers tapping at a controller that had been left behind

His demon side comes out at having been cost a serious match from the sounds of it but his anger turns to confusion at seeing MC and then into wide eyed amazement at all of the things in front of him

He started to gush about every single thing he saw before he realized that MC was there beaming at him

“You went through all this trouble to prove that you aren’t a normie and yet you summon me this way?? J-just say my name like you’re supposed to! I kind of like hearing you say it anyway ...”

Satan

Satan surprisingly doesn’t like being the center of attention and thus doesn’t really like surprises or receiving gifts. He also doubts that anyone understands him enough to give him what he wants cocky ass that he is

The idea for the things to set out in his summoning circle came to MC when discussing love potions with Satan and Solomon one day. They were talking about how smell plays such a strong part and Satan let slip some of the things he might smell after MC listed some of theirs

So while MC doesn’t have much, well any, experience in magic or potions they do want to try to stir up those feelings those smells produce in Satan

The first thing he had said came as a surprise to no one, the smell of parchment and ink

MC used each of them as their own separate offering on the pentagram. They used a fancy new calligraphy quill dipped in green ink that matched his eyes to write a long love note for him

The ink was still wet on the parchment that they set down and left the quill and remaining ink as the second gift

The next thing he mentioned was another one MC expected: tea leaves

So MC just walked into their local tea shop and let their nose lead the way. Anything that caught their attention or made them want to keep smelling they bought, creating their own special blend just for Satan

It wasn’t necessarily something that Satan would say for himself but MC had started to burn different candles in their room when he would come to rant when he was angry, trying to find a scent that he could associate with being calm when they helped him work through the anger

Whatever candle seemed to work the best is the candle that MC sets out for him. Probably something woodsy, pine or balsam or even sandalwood. It brings back good memories for MC, kissing all those worries of his away and hopes it does the same

The last item is one that made MC blush when they heard Satan admit it, he had liked the scent of their shampoo

He hadn’t said that specifically but he had closed his eyes and described a scent that he couldnt place but that he adored and when MC was taking their shower that night it clicked

It might have been a little lame, leaving a bottle of shampoo out for Satan but MC knew that when he realized what that scent he loved so much was that he would get the cutest blush

They weren’t disappointed when they summoned Satan. He hid his shock of being summoned this way well, taking his time to walk around the circle and examine each offering. He immediately knew where they had gotten the inspiration and teased them about being such a sap

He stopped when he got to the shampoo though, not sure how that fit into the equation until he smelled it. It dawned on him and there was that blush that he tried to hide by turning his face away

“You always did like to make things difficult on yourself didn’t you? I’m only ever a call away for you kitten. Now come here and let me really breath you in, you’re simply intoxicating to me and I can’t stay away.”

Asmo

Asmo is never shy about when he doesn’t like gifts that people have given him but he has only ever cherished what MC has gotten him. Every small trinket and gift he has on full display in his room and he will wear something that MC got them when he misses them the most

He also will do it when he wants to bother his brothers and show off that MC simply lavished him in gifts (Mammon and Levi are the only ones who fall for it lmao)

So MC decides to offer Asmo things that will allow him to parade around their love for him, things to keep them close when MC isn’t there

The first thing that MC gets Asmo is new nail polish, a color that they agonized over finding because they wanted it to match his eyes perfectly

Asmo has a very organized planner, its how he keeps track of all the events he is invited to, when he has dates, who hes slept with, who hes going to sleep with and everything in between

MC commissions custom made stickers for him so he can decorate the pages of his planner even more. Specifically a whole sheet of cute stickers of them together he could use for when they planned date nights

The next thing was something for Asmo’s room which he was always changing and refreshing so it looked forever interesting for Devilgram pics

MC gets a large print of Asmo’s favorite picture of them together and puts it in a beautiful frame that perfectly matched his favorite decorating style. Perfect to show to the world that Asmo was their favorite demon and that they looked so good together

And so they can take even more pictures of themselves together MC buys a Polaroid camera for Asmo. His phone will always be his favorite thing to take pics on but this way they could have them printed instantly and it continues to let him be trendy

Lastly MC gets Asmo a necklace. A dainty rose gold chain that he can wear with practically everything and with a diamond accented heart shaped locket that could easily be tucked away if needed. It was an enchanted locket, thanks to the help of Solomon, and it warmed when MC was thinking of him

Its the first thing Asmo grabs and quickly puts on, showing it off for MC

“Oh MC you are simply the cutest thing I have ever seen~ I’m sorry I don’t have something to give you in return. I hope the fact that my heart beats only for you will make up for it, now come here I’ve been without kisses too long.”

Beel

Its SO hard not to just grab whatever is in the kitchen at the time and throw it in the summoning circle and call it a day for Beel

But he is more than just his hunger and MC is always striving to show him that they understand that

It was harder than expected, just because asking anyone what Beel might want always got them food answers. They thought Belphie might be helpful but only got told “he probably just wants a nap ... its what I would want”

MC starts to think of all the most special moments they had with Beel, trying to think what about them made them so memorable and they knew for a fact that it wasn’t the food

The first thing they come up with is a banner that MC made to cheer him on at one of his games. It had gotten a little tattered and torn because it had rained that day but they just couldn’t let it go

Mostly because Beel after winning had ran up into the stands and kissed them for the first time. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t ever kissed but they had always been the one to make the first move but this time Beel had come to them. Of course in the biggest gesture possible

It was cheating a little bit offering a cookbook, it was still food related, but it felt better than putting in actual food

This particular cookbook was special to MC too, they had spent several months trying to recreate one of the recipes from it down in the Devildom when MC didn’t have it. Even their D.D.D had been no help in finding the human world dish they were trying so hard to recreate

It had finally been Beel who had found someplace that sold the food they had been craving. He had even been able to bring it back completely untouched just so that they could have it all though he didn’t complain when they offered him several bites from their fork

MC pulls the next thing from their own shelves at home, a well read copy of Lord of the Flies. The spine cracked and little notes about their favorite parts scribbled in the margin

It was one of the human novels that Satan had and one of MCs favorites from school. Beel had caught them reading it and thought the title was ironic but the more he watched MC get engrossed in reading the more curious he got

He eventually asked MC to read it to him, he actually liked books even if most didn’t take him for the type it was just that he had a hard time actually reading himself. He always got distracted by food but audio books always worked well for him when he was working out, it turned out to be even better when MC read to him when he was eating

It was the best of both worlds for him and he found the story actually pretty funny, slightly worrying MC but they figured they couldn’t blame a demon for getting enjoyment out of a story like that. He did find their lack of food concerning though so at least there was that

One of the things that Beel often complained about when MC was living in the devildom was that when he went to go eat they weren’t always there. Sure Beel would ask them to tag along whenever possible but it didn’t always happen. He would call them from the kitchen at times and tell them that he missed them

MC was sure the other brothers would have something to say about it but knew that Beel would genuinely enjoy the next thing MC offered. Amagnet with his favorite picture of them. It was MC caught in a candid he took, mid bite in a dessert he had made them and his hand could just be seen wiping some whipped cream off MC’s cheek

It was a way that Beel could have MC with him at his favorite place every time

The last thing that MC laid out was something that was inspired by Beel. He had once given them a coupon for a free meal by him and they had thought it was just about the cutest thing ever

They made him a whole coupon book of favors ranging from cooking any meal he wanted to recording his workouts for him and of course lots of coupons for hugs and kisses

Beel isn’t used to being summoned at all so hes slightly disoriented when he finds himself suddenly in the human world. As soon as he sees MC though its nothing but smiles and he doesn’t even notice the gifts until after

“MC did you know I was thinking about you? Sometimes I just say your name and hope you will appear ... so if you ever think of me just say my name. I want to be here, even if its during dinner”

Belphie

Belphie is not one to beat around the bush at all. He is a creature of habit and just wants more of the same things that he already has. Dont fix something if its not broke right?

So its fairly easy to fill his summoning circle with things that he loves, just adding to his ever growing collection of happy nap time things

That isn’t to say that MC just grabs whatever blanket or pillows they have laying around, they still want it to be special for him

So yes the first two things they offer to Belphie is a pillow and blanket, there was never going to be anything else but MC spent a long time putting their love into finding just the right ones for him ... and still couldn’t find what they wanted

MC used this as an excuse to create something themselves for their sleepy boy. They dived deep into youtube and pintrest and spent more money than they care to admit on materials until finally they made what they wanted

The first was a quilt large enough for three cause the twins like to make MC a sandwich in a cow print pattern that matched his pillow and demon form marks, lined with the softest fabric she could find that was the same purple as his eyes

His pillow was another quilted design, this time of a cloudy night sky with a sleepy cow jumping over the moon. MC stitched his name in pretty gold thread on the back long with a sweet ‘I love you’

There was one last fluffy thing to give to him, this one MC knew he would probably scoff and tease them about but they couldn’t help it. They saw the angry looking cow plushie and just could not walk away

They have actually been sleeping with it when they miss him most and even if he doesn’t like the plushie the fact they have slept with it so much will make him a bit fonder of it

Even though they were pretty sure that Belphie knew every star in the sky MC couldn’t help but get a book with stories about the constellations. He might already know them all but they thought that he might still enjoy hearing them read to him as he drifted to sleep

The last thing MC has to offer him is also star related. A star map of the day that they made their pact. It was the day that MC had fully forgiven everything that had happened before and their relationship had truly began

When Belphie was summoned he was half asleep but knew who it must be even in his sluggish state. He gave a big yawn and looked around at all the things around him

“At least things are already set up for the perfect nap, including having you. MC next time just say my name alright? Its much more of a drag this way ... and I want to know when you are dreaming of me”

#obey me #obey me hc #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me levi #obey me satan #obey me asmo #obey me beel #obey me belphie

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comicteaparty · 4 years

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July 6th-July 12th, 2020 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party week long chat that occurred from July 6th, 2020 to July 12th, 2020. The chat focused on Challenge of the Zodiac by Rachel Green.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

Comic Tea Party

BOOK CLUB START!

Hello and welcome everyone to Comic Tea Party’s Book Club~! This week we’ll be focusing on Challenge of the Zodiac by Rachel Green~! (https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/challenge-of-the-zodiac/list?title_no=36377)

You are free to read and comment about the comic all week at your own pace until July 12th, so stop on by whenever it suits your schedule! Discussions are freeform, but we do offer discussion prompts in the pins for those who’d like to have them. Additionally, remember that while constructive criticism is allowed, our focus is to have fun and appreciate the comic! Whether you finish the comic or can only read a few pages, everyone is welcome to join and chat with us!

DISCUSSION PROMPTS – PART 1

1. What did you like about the beginning of the comic?

2. What has been your favorite moment in the comic (so far)?

3. Who is your favorite character?

4. Which characters do like seeing interact the most?

5. What is something you like about the art? If you have a favorite illustration, please share it!

6. What is a theme you like that the comic explores?

7. What do you like about the comic’s story or overall related content?

8. Overall, what do you think the comic’s strengths are?

Don’t feel inspired by the prompts? Feel free to discuss anything else that interested you!

snuffysam (Super Galaxy Knights)

One thing I really like about the comic so far is how... passive the worldbuilding is? Like we had to be told what the challenge is early on, but, like, it's left up to the reader to figure out which races correspond with which sign, what prejudices this world has, etc. My favorite character is Elder Rion. It's interesting how he seems to walk on two legs too, yet even members of the higher ups are prejudiced against Fay. Like, do people refuse to throw ceremonies for him too?

rajmews

It's interesting how a lot of the countries in this world have a history of war and it seems like it's very on the edge of maybe falling into war again (but maybe I'm just reading into it too much? it's still early on in the story) yet they're coming together for this trail. Like an Olympic Games of sorts.

snuffysam (Super Galaxy Knights)

Yeah that is interesting, and I'm wondering how that will play out as the champions travel across the continent. Like, to a certain extent, the champions will probably be respected, but I get the feeling some countries will be way more hostile than others...

MissGreenie

Hey guys, I’m the author of Zodiac! I’m really enjoying hearing your feedback so far as I would like to continue making the comic. Ever since quarantine happened, I lost the drive to start drawing the other chapters I’ve scripted out. Looking forward to seeing more as the week progresses : )

RebelVampire

What I like about the beginning of the comic was just kind of the no fuss about the world and, as @snuffysam (Super Galaxy Knights) termed it, the passive worldbuilding. I like that this comic kind of leaves me to my own devices to figure everything out and lets me gather information sheerly from how everyone in the world interacts and talks about things. My favorite moment in the comic so far was actually the bandit situation when Fay tried to rescue Elle. I kind of liked the attitude that Elle and Fay both had about it, plus I liked this mystery it opened up with Elle. Since it was pretty clear Elle was gonna come back, and now all I want to know is what Elle was up to and why come 180 that travel destination. Insofar, my favorite character is Leonard. I like Leonard's general personality just cause it's a lot warmer in contrast to a lot of the other characters. He's the sort of character I just want to give a big hug to, basically. As for characters interacting though, probably Fay and Elder Rion. I'm really interested to see how Elder Rion is gonna mentor Fay and I just overall like the respect that exists there despite them both being rather opposite. So I think it just makes for interesting interactions I can't quite predict. As for the art, I really like the overall style. It's simple and sometimes the lines purposefully wiggle, and I think that it gives the story a lot of character and emotion. In terms of themes, I really like this comic is exploring rich vs. poor with Leonard. Sometimes it's easy to just blame someone rich for everything, but just cause someone comes from a rich family doesn't mean they're magically responsible for everything bad. Even further, though, the comic also still leaves that door open for whether Leonard is obligated to do more because of his class privelege. So I'm interested to see where this all goes.

For the comic's overall story/content, again, the world-building. I just that it's this gradual thing as there's a good balance between stuff I don't understand but stuff I do. So I can always find a grounding element even when I want to know more. Which I do think this is the comic's strength since it let's you get right into the narrative without zounds of exposition.

Comic Tea Party

DISCUSSION PROMPTS – PART 2

9. Given the comic’s themes of discrimination, stereotyping, and more, which moment stood out to you the most? How do you think these themes will continue to affect the characters, and how might they grow from them (if at all)?

10. Do you think Fay’s team will learn to cooperate as they work towards a common goal? Also, why do you think Leonard and Elle are personally participating? How might this change how Fay sees them?

11. What do you think some of the other challengers are like? In what ways will they challenge Fay and her team? Alternatively, in what ways might gaps be healed and everyone bond?

12. Do you think Fay’s team will ultimately succeed and move to the final round? If so, how will that change things? Also, how would winning change Fay’s life, and would it be all she dreamed of?

Don’t feel inspired by the prompts? Feel free to discuss anything else that interested you!

snuffysam (Super Galaxy Knights)

yeah it's interesting how much of this story focuses on people making assumptions about others as soon as they meet them. even down to the initial challenge - everyone assumed that elder rion was looking for something shiny & gold because he's an important guy, but it turned out that the old slingshot was the real key. something i'm intrigued by is that Fay, our protagonist, also falls into this, despite being a victim of stereotyping herself. like she assumed things about leonard, she guessed that the ring seller was a scammer at first glance, and she didn't even intentionally pick the correct item for elder rion's trial. it really shows that nobody is immune to biases.

RebelVampire

I liked that too about Fay, @snuffysam (Super Galaxy Knights) . That despite it all, she also is just as willing to participate in the culture of discrimination. The moment that stood out to me the most was when whoever that dude was said they weren't going to celebrate Fay being chosen. Cause there's discrimination...and then there's super jackass discrimination. And that was the latter. It also stood out to me cause of the contrast with a later scene, where Fay is told she can't participate in an archery thing because she's from a group of what's considered to be natural archers. And I think that kind of really captures the fact that not all flavors of discrimination are the same. I think all the character will learn that individuals are not their stereotype, and that in some ways they'll all come out better for it. I think Fay's team will cooperate eventually. I do think someone will need to slap Fay and remind her sabotaging them is sabotaging herself. So even if there's bitterness, they'll at least aim for that similar goal. As for why Leonard and Elle are participating, Leonard at least I think is trying to prove something to himself and/or his family. As for Elle, I think Elle is after power in order to find something. I think in some ways this will flip how Fay sees them now, wherein she'll think more of Leonard and less of Elle. As for the other challengers, I want to assume somewhere between Team Fire and Team Water. In that they aren't there to be jerks but aren't there to lose either. I do think one team will instantly be able to cooperate though. But I think regardless of what they're like the interactions will make them all rethink that perhaps what they've heard about each group is not entirely accurate. I think Fay's team will succeed to the final round, if not just for the fact they're the protagonists. I do think winning won't be everything Fay wanted it to be though, mostly because I don't think Fay has the best grasp on what she wants.

mathtans

So, first thing I want to do here is just offer a thumbs up of encouragement. It can be tough when real life stuff kind of takes over. Graduation, moving, job, then the whole pandemic thing... kinda sucks. But I like to think I get it. I've been writing a time travel story since, like, 2001 (when I graduated University) and I'm still poking away at it in my very rare spare time. The story wants to be told. So, we find something in ourselves to keep at it. It's nice that you returned.

And don't necessarily let art pages not being at some standard get in the way. Like I'm one to talk since my drawing skill is way poor, but anyway.

1. The beginning framing was very clever, I thought, with the classroom. Allows for exposition (somewhat subverted there), we see our protagonist is older, and is trying to improve herself despite having trouble making ends meet, which also comes up.

2. Favourite moment is probably back in Chapter 3, page 19. The exchange of "That could have been me back there"; "But it wasn't, let's keep moving". There's an echo there to whatever happened in Fay's past some panels earlier, when she came home (perhaps a point when she wished it hadn't been her) and the idea that you have to keep moving forwards.

Then the point was echoed again when talking to Elder Rion, about her picking the slingshot, and he told her not to dwell on what "could have been" (or words to that effect, sorry, not going to look up exact phrasing). I think it's a good message.

There's also the fact that the other Sags clearly are going to dwell on this with the cancellation. I feel like there's layers. Anyway.

3. I think I'll have to echo snuffy in Elder Rion as favourite character. He's just so anti-establishment, like "don't worry about my title" and "I'm not picking some gold trinket" and "the last challenger was so boring". But at the same time he knows he has a role in this and spoke of the gift giving to be well regarded in the Circle. This guy's seen a lot and knows things.

4. For character interaction, I'd say Fay and Elle. Fay's pretty headstrong, it's easy to push her buttons, and Elle has been acting as a pretty good calming influence. But at the same time she knows when an intervention might be needed like with Castor. I could also see Fay being a bit of a lightning rod, drawing attention away from Elle, which feels like it's in her interests... idk.

That said, runner up is what we've seen of Castor and Kukah. Like the latter is kind of an open book, and Castor's almost got to remind him who he's supposed to be rooting for. Some of Castor's reaction expressions were quite funny.

5. Art is really not my forte. >.< One thing that struck me looking back is there weren't massively detailed backgrounds, and yet I didn't even really notice that. It's got the focus in the right places, is what I think I'm trying to say. (So maybe a bit like what Rebel said already?) I also did notice improvement through the last few pages.

6. Related to the previous moment above, one theme might be soldiering on even against overwhelming odds. Sometimes, you just get lucky (and sometimes, like with capturing the thief by dropping the pot, you can make some of your own luck). But I think there's a deeper one about race here too.

Namely the whole 'half breed' thing. For one thing, if only one of Fay's parents were a Sag, what does that make the other? And what made her identify as a Sag, rather than the other sign? (Is the other sign Aquarius, which would have made her a slave, is that it? Wondering based on Fay's recent reaction.) It certainly doesn't seem to be appearance that was the main deciding factor in her choice, which of course is largely why she's being so shunned (she looks different). It could have been marksmanship.

(Random aside, it's interesting how the "item selection" process really was more up to the Gods versus some sort of skill based process. I mean, I could see it as a method for narrowing the pool but I'm surprised it resulted in the choice outright.)

I mean, there's also the possibility that the choice wasn't up to Fay at all, and it was chosen by her parents. It IS interesting how you can just say "I identify as a xxxx" and people are cool with that, not asking to see birth certificate records or anything. Does that make aspects of their society more tolerant? Or does it simply make it easier to single someone out?

7. Regarding story and related content... I was immediately curious about what happened 12 years earlier when that was brought up (the 'greed' thing), and it was neat to see the 'Lore' page startup after that to provide a bit of information (without giving up the whole game too). There was also the bit with Jupiter... and, like, did they conquor Uranus? It's the only planet I'm not noticing on the map. (And there could be an obvious zodiac connection to why, I'm not an expert.) I guess what I'm saying is there are definite questions out there that keep you wondering but that don't interfere with the story itself. So that's clever.

8. In terms of strength I think there's a relatable protagonist with an interesting world that you know has a lot more to it than you're seeing. I'll come back to deal with other questions late tonight or tomorrow.

MissGreenie

Jupiter conquered Uranus, yes, it no longer exists and that’s why most Aquarians are enslaved. There’s really no Zodiac connection to that, I just wanted there to be some tension between two countries and to show that Leos/Jupiter are more or less the powerhouse of the world

Also I don’t remembered if this has been explicitly stated yet, (it’s hard to remember my own story LOL) but Aquarians are very strong, can lift pretty heavy stuff, so they’re seen as kind of the perfect servants

Comic Tea Party

DISCUSSION PROMPTS – PART 3

13. What are you most looking forward to seeing in regards to the comic?

14. Any final words of encouragement for the comic?

Don’t feel inspired by the prompts? Feel free to discuss anything else that interested you!

mathtans

That makes sense. And I don't think it was explicitly stated, but it was at least implicitly, in terms of Leonard's description of the other person living there and Fay jumping to the conclusion that it meant an Aquarian.

9. One moment that stood out to me in terms of discrimination was when the Sagitarrius guy cancelled the dinner. Like, I get that they're not thrilled but seems like there would be implications for outright cancelling (not sure what Elder Rion would say about it for one). Yet the guy was all, screw it, we're cancelling, like not even worried about that. So much for the thought that Fay would begin to gain some respect among peers for being chosen.

Though I also wonder a bit about Fay's latest reaction. Like, she was willing to go along with Leonard (even given him embellishing stories) until she saw he was rich, now she's stereotyping him in with the rest of the Leos. If the prejudice runs that deep, wouldn't it have come up before? But then maybe she saw him as like someone in her position. In any event it will be interesting to see Fay coming to grips with her own issues there.

I suppose I've echoed Rebel a bit there. Interesting point about the archery thing later, like she kind of can't exist in either world.

10. I think Fay's team has already cooperated to an extent in how they handled Castor. They're better at coming together when there's an external influence; they don't know enough about each other yet to work internally. So they might blunder a bit into a solution but I think they'll stay on track. Elle, it might also have something to do with her appearance (I don't think we've seen her without the cloak), Leonard might be trying to prove himself given how I don't think he's the stereotypical type for his sign. I think Fay may have to put her foot in her mouth to change her initial preconceptions (just because she's pretty impulsive) but will get there. Or as Rebel said, maybe someone else will have to point it out explicitly.

Hadn't considered the flip from Elle to Leonard, that's interesting, Rebel.

11. We've mostly only seen the fire group so far, and that's an interesting dynamic. (Marena has good facial expressions too.) Maybe one of the groups will cheat, and be called out for it, related to what happened 12 years ago? It might be interesting too if there's a round where two groups have to work together against the other two groups.

And then there's that whole "sign form" thing, which is apparently not legal in towns. Nice hinting there... maybe that's how a group will cheat, or maybe someone does a sign form to save someone else so they get a pass (or do-over) even though they didn't achieve some goal? Don't even know what it means yet, of course.

12. I feel like they will get to the final round, but it might be because one of the other teams gets disqualified or something, like they didn't necessarily do it all on their own merits. And then of course they'll have to go against each other (I presume) in order to pick the top sign, and that's where things could really change, depending on how much they've revealed about themselves. Will Fay will overall? If she does, I don't think it will really be what she wants, whereas if she doesn't, I think it will be because she's found what she wanted. Again Rebel made a good point there, she's a bit directionless.

Though I also think she's simply so used to being taken advantage of, and looked down on, and ignored, that the whole "you win the thing" is not something she knows how to handle, even at this stage. (She "won" the coin purse and used it to pay off her debts, but that was more a result of actions she took.) Then there's whatever happened in her past when she "failed" and came home, which probably hooks in somehow.

I'll return for Part 3 likely tomorrow...

RebelVampire

I am most looking forward to just seeing the actual challenge starting since that will really speak on how the team dynamics will be and so forth. And I think it'll be good to find out which each character is bringing to the table in terms of skills, which can lead to interesting speculation for the future. My final words are this is a truly interesting world, so I hope to see it continue and learn more about it.

mathtans

13. Hoping to see... well, there's a couple things. Character wise I'm wondering about whether Elder Rion would have anything to say about Fay's opinions about Leonard, in part since he'll be a teammate. Also wondering about the rest of the teams (nice move in the colour coding during the introduction) though I can wait longer on that since the Water/Fire dynamic has been set up well to play out.

Then plot-wise I'm wondering about the "sign form" thing. Both what it is and how it's regulated, particularly during the tournament. And maybe it has a connection to the events of 12 years ago? But maybe not. Also there's Fay's history (which I feel will be plot relevant) in terms of what happened that time she came home and why she's opted to go Sagitarrius rather than the sign of her other parent. But maybe that's character too.

14. Encouragement probably echos back what I said at the start. It can be tough, when you've had to take a hiatus because of life and stuff. And then you just start to get going and life goes crazy again. But it sounds like you've got a lot of the story roughed out, so see what you can do with it, if you're able! And don't necessary worry if art doesn't feel like it's at a particular standard, there will always be improvements we want to do, it all comes with time. But something has to be out there in order to see the progression. Best with it!

(Oh yeah... and there hasn't really been any talk of shipping... should we ship Fay and Elle? Is that a thing we can do? Someone else feel free to chime in with a better choice.)

rajmews

For final words of encouragement I just want to say it's a really neat world, and I can see that the author put a lot of time in making it--with the maps and the different cultures and all their histories. I know that things have been nuts lately so it's hard to create, but thank you for making what you've done so far, to give us a cool world to explore for a little while.

Comic Tea Party

BOOK CLUB END!

Thank you everyone so much for reading and chatting about Challenge of the Zodiac this week! Please also give a special thank you to Rachel Green for volunteering the comic and creating it! If you liked Challenge of the Zodiac, make sure to continue to support it via some of the links below!

Read and Comment: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/challenge-of-the-zodiac/list?title_no=36377

Rachel’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/challengeofthezodiac

Rachel’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachelgreenart

#ctparchive #webcomics #indie comics #comics #comic chat #comic discussion #book club #bookclub #webcomic book club #webcomic bookclub #comic tea party #ctp #challenge of the zodiac #rachel green

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asagi-s-garden · 5 years

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So I've been seeing posts about how "You Need To Calm Down" isn't the "right kind" of queer support and allow me, a humble bisexual, to interject my opinion

Though as a disclaimer: I obviously do not speak for the entire LGBTQ+ community and we all are different with our own opinions and that's fine, but I want to make a post from the side that SUPPORTS YNTCD and explain WHY I do as a queer person myself

Listen, I LOVE the positivity anthems, I love songs like "Born This Way" and songs by LGBTQ+ artists like Troye Sivan and Halsey, but I love YNTCD too, because sometimes- I'm just a salt pile and want to express that

The biggest complaint I hear about YNTCD as a song is that it's comparing homophobes to haters and instead of pushing LGBTQ+ people *UP*, it's trying to put homophobes *DOWN* and ? I mean ? That.. that isn't a bad thing, necessarily..? Obviously pushing our community up is the bigger priority but I'm a bitter gremlin and am always elated for EVERY chance to see homophobes put down

Lately it's become A Thing to out the assholes in art- be that visual art, music, film, literature, etc- but for the most part, in mainstream, queer people don't seem to be getting to have alot of these moments, a big problem with the way we're represented- still- is that there's still a limit in mainstream media that wants all queer people to be Happy And Gay And Quiet Unless You're Flamboyant all the time, Angry Gays aren't really a thing but ... they should be

I have as much a right to be angry about the people who would want me dead for liking girls as anyone has a right to be mad at anyone, and I could express that anger through Tumblr rants or poking trolls or sitting here being bitter.. or I could tell myself "These idiots need to calm down" and blast that song and go about my day

The fact is that sometimes I'm in the mood for celebrating who I am through Pure Positivity and being entirely about "Being Queer Is Good The End" ... and sometimes I'm in the mood to be salty about homophobes and say "Being Queer Is Good And Also Ya'll Are Morons" and that's ok too, I don't need to calm down, I can be be angry and listen to YNTCD and feel like someone who's voice is louder than mine is speaking my anger for me and that feels REALLY good

The fact is, Taylor has never really been someone who expressed her feelings through Positivity Anthems, she's always been about calling out the people who piss her off- for better or worse, so YNTCD is very much HER style of support, it isn't less supportive for being a shade song, it's just a different kind of supportive than what most mainstream media wants to express, but that isn't an inherently bad thing

Taylor has put so much into this video and this song, so much that no one ever pushed her to put in, she is one of, if not THE, most watched face of music and she's using that power to not only say "I'm An Ally", she's saying "Yeah I'm an ally and also homophobes are no better than petty haters and also please sign this petition so we can actually DO something about the idiots who have power over this community thanks" and .. ?? Thank you?? I'm not asking anyone to like Taylor who doesn't already, but as a member of the LGBTQ+ community it's just kind of exhausting to see someone who's legitimately doing A Big Deal Thing for this community being criticized and bashed for it, and to downplay the fact that she's not just "being an ally" by putting up a rainbow photo on Instagram and calling it a day but actually taking legal action- and using her platform as a giant celebrity to ENHANCE that legal action- for a community that she isn't even part of herself, is a really unfortunate thing to do

You don't have to like YNTCD or Taylor, you don't have to think it's a queer anthem, but ya'll have really got to stop saying that Taylor isn't an ally/isn't a good ally when she's literally taking legal action to help us stay safe from the kind of people who would rather see us dead, and also acknowledge that just because this support isn't the flavor of support you personally prefer.. that doesn't make it less supportive, there ARE plenty of queer people out here who really appreciate having a Tea song, and downplaying homophobes as haters and not, you know, legitimately dangerous people who kill people like us all the time, might help some of us feel a little better, a little less afraid, it can be terrifying to confront just how violent and, at times, powerfull this particular brand of "haters" is, acknowledging that they're no better than petty assholes who pitch Twitter tantrums is cathartic in a way, and I personally actually appreciate the comparison, it makes these idiots less scary, seeing the way Taylor represents them and the way she represents us is cathartic, maybe it's not Pure Positivity... but that's ok, not all support has to be

TL;DR: Sometimes a salty bi just needs a tea-spilling bop to listen to *shrug*

#Taylor Swift #You Need To Calm Down #YNTCD

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wineanddinosaur · 5 years

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Everything That’s Worth Drinking in Mexico City, According to Limantour’s Simón Alberti

Simón Alberti epitomizes hospitality. One of Mexico’s top bartenders, his warmth and enthusiasm (not to mention skill) behind the stick at Mexico City’s Licorería Limantour earned the Roma Norte destination countless accolades.

Limantour and its team are “constantly evolving, constantly researching, constantly innovating the Mexican cocktail scene,” he says. It’s no wonder it was on the World’s 50 Best Bars list three years running

Born in Venezuela, Alberti arrived in Mexico City by way of Buenos Aires in 2016. He recently left daily operations at Limantour to work with Mezcal Ojo de Tigre, but found time to give VinePair an inside tour — and advice on how to order mezcal in a Mexico City bar.

Credit: facebook.com/simon.alberti

Here’s everything that’s worth drinking, eating, and doing in Mexico City, according to Alberti himself. “¡Salud!”

Drinking

Kaito

“Kaito is the ‘go to’ bar for industry professionals. It is an izakaya in the Colonia del Valle neighborhood, so kind of far away from the ‘main’ cocktail scene, which makes it even more interesting. When you get there, everyone is super friendly, the food is great, cocktails are awesome, they throw the best parties, and host best guest bartending shifts… It’s so fun! Luis Miguel all around! Order the Maneki cocktail, and be sure to try the ramen before checking out the karaoke room.” Location.

Baltra Bar

“Baltra is this dimly lit, cozy and comfy small bar in Condesa. Service is very cool here, and the cocktails are super tasty with a minimalistic, simple concept. Dani, the head bartender, is the best host you’ll ever come across in this city. Don’t miss out on the Regal Highball — I know this cocktail is about to [leave] the menu, but don’t worry, you can still order it off-menu. Dani says so.” Location.

Fifty Mils

“Fifty Mils is the bar at the Four Seasons Hotel in Mexico City. Right now, it’s ranked 45th in the World’s 50 Best bars. And it IS one of the world’s 50 best bars! From the moment you walk the long hallway that leads to the bar, everyone makes you feel like you’re unique, like you’re royalty. When you get to the bar, the bartender greets you very graciously, with that kindness and hospitality that Mexicans have very naturally… Cocktails, creativity and experiences are out of this world in this bar. Try the Bugs Bunny cocktail, or go for the Bartender’s Recommendation.” Location.

Credit: Fiftymils.com

Bósforo

“Bósforo is this small, dark mezcaleria downtown. If you’re looking for the best mezcals in town, you can find them here. The service isn’t great (it’s actually kind of rude) and it can get crowded quickly, and downtown after dark isn’t the best place to hang out. So…go early. When there’s not that many people around, the staff is more hospitable. You can chat and get the mezcal and the experience you’re looking for. Mezcals are poured in 1-ounce shot glasses, in order for you to spend less and try more (and not get so wasted)!

Here’s a general guide as to how to order the right mezcal for you, and not spend 30 USD for a shot of mezcal. First, be very kind. Second, start with an Espadín if you’re not familiar with mezcal. You can always ask if they have a favorite Espadín from Oaxaca, or which is their newest Espadín on the menu. That should get you started. Then, you can go deeper into mezcal. Try Cupreata (from Guerrero), Tobalá (Puebla or Oaxaca), Tepextate (any), Jabalí (any), and finally Pechuga. (Any Pechuga will do, and they’re quite expensive in comparison to other mezcals).” Location.

Casa Franca

“Casa Franca is this old house in the beautiful, romantic neighborhood of La Roma. It is an antique house, dating probably back to the beginning of the 20th century. It has been fully furnished with long comfy couches and carpets, just so you can get comfortable enough to experience the live jazz/blues band playing that night. The atmosphere is completely intimate and the cocktails are cool, but the music and ambiance are everything in this place. This is totally a date night kind of bar. Order the Naked and Famous cocktail.” Location.

Limantour

“Limantour is very interesting because it is a high volume bar that has… a deep concept of what Mexico should taste like in a cocktail, without detaching from people. People understand Limantour, and like it… You can visit Limantour and have a great experience without necessarily being a connoisseur of the cocktail industry.

“The drinking experience at Limantour is different because ambience is different. There’s such a fun energy around. It’s like the vibrant city, the culinary expressions, the colors in Mexico City’s streets and the Mexican natural-born hospitality all come together and make sense when you’re having a cocktail at Limantour… And the always relaxed and friendly service is what I think keeps Limantour among the best bars in the world today.” Location.

Credit: Facebook.com/limantourmx

Eating

Huset

“A super-fresh-food concept. Everything they cook arrives the very same day in the morning, and they get to work very quickly to get a fully prepared, fresh dish to your table in the middle of this naturally lit garden in an old colonial house in the La Roma neighborhood. Also — and I can’t stress this enough — they make their own bread every morning. So delicious! I would recommend the gnocchi con crema de limón, hongos y parmesano. WITH the homemade bread. Order freakin’ extra of it.” Location.

La Docena

“You can find this restaurant in Mexico City in a couple of different neighborhoods, but it’s originally from Guadalajara, a city known for its unique cuisine and for being the land of tequila. La Docena has incredible Mexican cuisine with different types of dishes, specializing in seafood. Actually, it is the best place in town to try Baja Kumos, a species of Kumamoto oyster that grows in Baja California, Mexico. The flavor of the Baja Kumos is intensely briny, and the salinity gives way to signature creamy, cucumber notes. It’s faintly metallic on the finish.” Location.

Comedor de los Milagros

“This is a very fun place in La Roma, with everything you want to eat and try from Latin America, all under the same roof. You have different types of cuisine, ranging from Argentina all the way up to Mexico, with styles like Uruguayan, Venezuelan, and Colombian being my personal favorites. It is definitely a great place to come watch a game, grab some beers with friends, or try their excellent food and cocktails. Opt for the arepas (either the Pelúa or Reina Pepiada). Also, try some empanadas uruguayas.” Location.

Carmela y Sal

“Chef Gaby Ruiz runs this new bad boy in town… They have revisited versions of many traditional Mexican dishes, and they have a special touch for whatever seafood they get their hands on. It’s very, very busy, so you should always try to make a reservation for Carmela y Sal. They have very high-end cocktails and a wide variety of wines; to eat, try the tiradito de pulpo y camarón or ceviche. Location.

Credit: Facebook.com/carmelaysal

Street Food

“And last but not least… street food! Mexico is all about street food. The food is so good, and with little money you can get the royal treatment at lunchtime. There are many places famous in the city (street food-wise), and everyone you come across will tell you that they know THE best place. I will recommend a very good, easy-to-find, delicious place you should try. You should definitely go to the corner of Álvaro Obregón e Insurgentes in La Roma and eat until your pants won’t fit anymore.

“Also, try one of the many local markets, such as Medellín or San Juan to try different dishes and immerse yourself in the whole market extravaganza experience that is one of a kind. As a disclaimer, of course there can be some sanitary issues concerning street food, so please consider them if you’re not used to this. Tacos carnitas are a must-try (either pierna or lomo) and make sure to try all the sauces.” Location.

Sleeping

Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City and Las Alcobas

“So, I haven’t stayed in these hotels, so I couldn’t tell you firsthand what service and everything is like in the rooms. But, I’ve visited both several times, and well, they’re both beautiful. Las Alcobas is a super-modern and stylish boutique hotel overlooking the neighborhood of Polanco. The Four Seasons is one of the best hotels in the city because of their high international standards, their support to Mexican food (their restaurant Zanaya has one of the best chefs in town). I have a close bond to this hotel because the Fifty Mils is there, and I hang there a LOT. Location and location.

Credit: Fourseasons.com

Extracurriculars

Coyoacán

“I love Coyoacán. It has this small-town vibe, though it’s well inside the city. It’s like a different universe. On the weekends, there’s always a party, a celebration, or some cultural event to attend; the food is great, both in the markets or if you prefer going to restaurants. My favorite place in Coyoacán is definitely the Cineteca Nacional, which is the National Cinema center. The building is awesome; walk around, lay on the grass, buy geek cinema paraphernalia and then hop into a movie.” Location.

Roma/Condesa Neighborhoods

“Roma and Condesa are totally walking neighborhoods. Wanna know what’s good? Don’t Yelp, just grab your coat and take a walk. Coffee places, restaurants, bars, architecture, people, crazy shops emerging from every corner…you name it, it’s there.” Location.

Chapultepec

“Chapultepec is this big park right in the center of the city. It’s the best place to chill during the weekend and maybe get to know some Mexican traditions. Order a Michelada or a Clamato and sit around the lake. Or visit the museums inside the park (Modern Arts, Tamayo, Castillo de Chapultepec, and Anthropology).” Location.

The post Everything That’s Worth Drinking in Mexico City, According to Limantour’s Simón Alberti appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/bartography-mexico-city-simon-alberti/

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