#it’s like. a stereotypical zombie game and it Knows That
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I finished dead souls the other day and man. unironically one of the most innocently satisfying endings of any yakuza game ive played thus far. it was sweet and silly and a little sentimental and idk maybe it was just refreshing to end a yakuza game and not feel totally miserable. all the important characters lived and had nice, but simple endings. kiryu and haruka stop by ryuji’s takoyaki stand and ryuji makes haruka a special takoyaki plate just for her. majima construction’s doin their thing rebuilding the city and shit. akiyama has hana back and she lightheartedly nags him about collections as per usual. it’s just. it’s nice. thank u dead souls i am at peace
#dead souls is great dead souls is a gift I will not allow dead souls slander in my house#for real if you go into it not taking it too seriously it’s very enjoyable. like it’s chock full of cliches but that’s kind of the point#it’s like. a stereotypical zombie game and it Knows That#literally majima’s introduction is him watching a zombie movie in his office and then having actual zombies bust into the place#while he looks back and forth from the screen to the real zombies and back again. and out of fucking nowhere he pulls the Biggest Gun Ever#and is like. oh yeah. this is gonna be so fucking sweet#like come on. you can’t hate that it’s so dumb in such a fun way#majima in this game especially is just. something else. I think he’s allowed to be more unhinged than in any other game for much longer than#in other games (especially given he’s Playable in dead souls)#I mean dialogue-wise and whatnot at least#that one substory with daigo in drag ALONE.#they’re never gonna make dead souls kiwami and I know this but please………please can u remaster it for ps4 at least……..pls….#more people need to EXPERIENCE it#becuase it sure is. an experience#dead souls#yakuza dead souls#rgg#rambling
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What the Task Force and Los Vaqueros would be like if they were your dad!
(teenager edition)
Ghost
He’d obviously be protective of you. He loves you dearly and he didn’t expect to love someone so much all his life he thought he could never love again till you were born.
Although he may be protective he does like to teach you things like combat or anything that can help you protect yourself in certain situations. He loves seeing you feel proud of yourself for doing said task.
He actually and deeply enjoys spending time with you. Either if it’s going to a local fish shop or sitting on the sofa watching crime/ horror movies.
He knows that school doesn’t teach you the true ways of life so he decided to teach you what it’s like being an adult and the lessons of life. Although you do still go to school.
He would also spoil you as he doesn’t quite know how to be a proper father as his isn’t the greatest. But you and him know he really try’s his best to be a great father which you praise him for.
He’d bring you gifts from the places he went while he was away and you’d ask what the place looked like scenery wise.
When he’s home I feel like he’s definitely the type of dad that like to be ‘outdoors’ in certain ways like he’d ask if you’d like to go out and walk up a mountain or go on a hike.
If your not into stuff like that he’ll ask what things your into and try his best to have knowledge of what you like to do or enjoy.
If your into video games he isn’t that bad at them in all honesty. Feel like he’s more into zombie games or war games. If you offered him to play a game of Minecraft for example he’d probably make a small hut out of the trees around him then find himself a dog and name it Riley.
If your into reading or drawing he’ll ask about how you book or art piece is going and if he could buy or do anything to help.
If your into cooking then you’ve got yourself the best taste tester. Feel like he’s a dad that will want to be there as much for you as possible since he is always away. He’ll definitely like to try new foods or snacks you make then he’ll give an opinion on it.
If you get into a fight at school, he’ll looked annoyed especially if the teachers are around but as you get in the car he’ll tell you he’s proud as he taught you to fight and protect yourself.
Although he isn’t the one for feelings or emotions he’ll ask how you feel and if you want to vent. Then he’ll listen closely and ask questions then help you try to find a solution or something to help.
Soap
Feel like he’s the best friend type of dad. Like a best friend bond but he still shows his dad side when needed.
Loves to watch movies together with popcorn. He will let you pick and you’ll both watch it. If it’s a Netflix series god help you both. You’ll both binge watch the series and then anything that correlates to it like a side show or movie and binge that.
Later back type. Let’s you do whatever as long as it’s not drugs, drinking alcohol, etc. But besides that he’s pretty chill.
Definitely let’s you sleep in if your not well or for school holidays as he’s probably sleeping in himself. He loves lazy day. If you both feel like today is a lazy day, you’ll both wear your pyjamas all day relax and watch your favourite movies or play games.
Would like to have a hobby or any type of interests you both enjoy doing so you can do them together and have some quality time together.
Ghost is your godfather, even if Ghost doesn’t believe in god or he does your now his godchild and to be completely honest Ghost doesn’t mind as he prefers you over your dad.
Price
Definitely the ‘dad’ stereotype
Loves to spend quality time with you as he’s always busy and he doesn’t get to see you much.
Feel like he loves hosting bbq’s and he’ll ask you if you want to bring some friends and if their parents want to join as he says he cooks up a storm especially with stake.
Teaches you useful things and life lessons for the future. He teaches you about money management, cooking, how to clean a wound, taking care of yourself when ill or anything else that could come as handy.
You and Gaz have a sibling bond. You’ll even joke around and ask if Gaz could be adopted to your family. When he’s away you’ll take your dad to check up on him then do the same with Gaz but also send him TikToks as you know it makes his day.
Loves going out and spending the day with. Going on walks to eating some food by a nice view or climbing mountains if that’s what your into. He just wants to spend some time with his child.
If you like reading or writing, he will offer you to use his office while he does some paperwork or just sit there and maybe read his own book.
Alejandro
Definitely the ‘fun’ or ‘your friends love him’ type of dad.
Dilf (tbh all of them would be ngl😂)
Teaches you to cook like him or you show him your food tech (school taught) cooking and if he teaches you certain things you’ll make it in school and the teacher will be impressed.
If you have a dog he loves going on walks while talking to you. Anything that comes to mind you’ll both talk about. If you feel upset or anxious he’ll ask if you want to go on a walk and vent to him (if you feel comfortable) and like Ghost he’ll ask you about it and help find a solution.
Rudy is your uncle/godfather and Rudy is proud to be it!
If your not Spanish (if your mother isn’t) he’ll teach you some words that could help you and then he’ll teach you sentences and then conversations. And he’s proud when your able to speak any word especially if you can speak fluently.
Laid back but wants to know about your whereabouts and if your safe. So every few hours he’ll send a ‘are you ok?’ Text or ‘let me know if you want to be picked up’ and he will pick you up.
Rudy
Down to earth/nice and chilled type of dad.
Like to know about any new interests or hobbies you have so he can ask and maybe buy you stuff for the hobby or interest.
Like to take you out so you can have some ‘dad and daughter time’ so he will ask where you’d like to go and he’ll take you.
Brings snacks or food to your room if you feel upset or you both want to hang out sometimes even if you have friends staying the night.
Loves to have one to one conversations as he can’t always be home cause of work. Sometimes you’ll both watch a movie or go on drives and talk.
Alejandro is a proud Uncle no doubt. He spoils you when you see each other. Definitely mess around together and sometimes play pranks on your father.
Buys you trinkets or small note books to write in. He’ll try and take photos of the nicer scenery when he’s away so he can send it to you.
#task force 141#task force 141 x y/n#cod x reader#cod headcanons#cod mw2#task force 141 dads x teen reader#cod modern warfare#task force 141 and Los Vaqueros#task force 141 and Los Vaqueros as parents
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The Witch and the Beast / Majo to Yajuu Episode 1
Overall Score So Far: 9/10
WE'VE GOT A HOTTIE LINE UP OF ALL GENDERS!!
Guideau on the left, Ashaf in the middle, and Genderless Hottie on the right :3
HOW ARE THEY ALL SO PRETTY.
Anime, now with more CROW BAIT. This time it's literal!! :D
OF COURSE the Goth With The Coffin on his back can use CROW MAGIC. AHHHHHHH.
Also, Guys.
You guys.
Fucking TOSHIYUKI MORIKAWA is voicing Ashaf.
THE VOICE OF SEPHIROTH. GRIFFITH FROM BERSERK. DANTE FROM DEVIL MAY CRY. TYKI FROM D. Gray Man.
We get THE KING OF THE DARK AND BROODY SEXY MAN VOICE.
And Guideau is voice by Taichi, You - Jousuke from JoJo, Suphia from TenSura, Saya from Dead Mount Death Play, and Dorothy from Princess Principal!! A great rough and tumble voice perfect for Guideau. (1st Epi Spoiler: I can't tell if she's voicing Guideau's true form.)
More Episode 1 Spoilers Below!
I don't really know what I was expecting except for Hot Goth Dude with a Coffin Boyfriend, and a badass punch-em-up beauty with a nasty mouth from the PV on youtube, but that's what I got and more, and I am so very pleased about it.
I was SO EXCITED ABOUT THE CROWS YOU HAVE NO IDEA. Hottie Mage whips out a spell covered arms and MY BABIES ARE BURSTING FORTH IN A MURDER OF ADORABLE!!! I might have woken up Capybara's deaf elderly neighbors in my excitement.
What I was not expecting was a giant Zom 100 Shark to show up in the middle of the city lmfao.
Zom 100 Zombie shark on the left and Big Buff Giant Shark Dude on the right.
It's just a dude whose turned himself into a shark with magic, who immediately gets dispelled by a witch, and that THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURANCE??? People are like, oh noooo, there's a giant shark, Ione will deal with iiiiit, no worriesssss.
The implications this gives of a mixed soft/hard magic system tho.
I'm really looking forward to learning (or maybe not learning and discovering through negative space) the rules that don't get broken (which is necessary for a magic system), but also hope that they'll be playing hard and fast with what's possible. Cause seriously, wtf is this shark. Delightful, lol.
They mind games played with "Are Witches Bad or Not?" in this episode is fun, because as a viewer going in blind, we could have had some lawful good protagonists or we could have had some chaotic anti-heros, and I would have accepted either outcome. We kind of get both and that's even better!
Trying to include a speech about the morals of getting revenge with Ione as she tries to justify her actions for removing the lock on her grandmother was interesting, but I'm still not sure if her Grandma was the one to cause the fire and people 300 years ago killed her, or if her getting blamed for the fires and then killed just so happened to lock the fire away, but either way...
Along with this I'm not surprised by the coven of would-be witch's nor the attempts by them to claim that witches aren't bad, "you're just like everyone else," when you can tell from the art that the stereotypes in this world hold weight, lol.
However, I don't know WHY I was surprised by said witches getting their hands and feet removed as part of a ritual summoning of hellfire.
How... how is there not blood E V E R Y W H E R E ??!!?? Some heavy duty arteries have been cut, yo. I guess there kind of is but there should be MORE.
Ashaf finally figures out what's going on and gives in to Guideau, letting her go wild, and HELL YES I love it when we get a beast gremlin on a rampage!
Witch Laser Beams! Sure!
I also LOVE when Characters get the shit beat out of them and then
Keep. Standing. Up.
The very purposeful listing of the two ways to lift a Witch's spell at the very beginning of the show, True Love's Kiss or A Change of Heart),was such a great Chekhov's Gun that I knew there was probably going to be another (secret) way to deal with it.
Fuck yea, angry kiss!! Let Guideau feast on your soul!!
But the most surprising thing that has me fully on board and ready to rock and roll is Coffin Boyfriend.
What gender is Coffin Boyfriend? We don't know.
However.
Coffin Boyfriend is not a third character like I initially expected.
Coffin Boyfriend is Mother Fucking Guideau Y'all.
Everything makes so much sense now. Ashaf carries coffin boyfriend's true body around in his backpack like it's no big thing.
And Guideau, with all that rage packed into a tiny little body, has to go around kissing witches to switch from her current body back to the original to then proceed to beat the shit out of said witch.
I fucking here for this. I'm so hype.
Hot Bois, Crows, Body/Gender Swaps, Witch and Magic Fuckery. I'm here for it all, y'all.
(I might even go read ahead in the manga for this one cause OH MY GOD MANGA ASHAF IS ALSO VERY GOOD)
This ART STYLE.
But also... Chrollo? Is that you?
Ashaf on the left, Chrollo Lucilfer from Hunter X Hunter on the right.
I love this. I love their vibe. After Apothecary Diaries, this might just end up being my favorite this season. I'll save that judgement for a few more episodes in though.
ep2 ep3 ep4 ep5 ep6 <- these will eventually become links
#the witch and the beast#majo to yajuu#魔女と野獣#anime winter 2024#hot anime girl#hot anime boy#chrollo lucilfer#guideau#ashaf
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Zombie apocalypse au with the secret life players.
Cleo: got bit by a zombie and partially turned but is basically a human who doesn’t need to eat, sleep or breathe. She is however is a lot weaker and wounds take longer to heal or don’t heal at all. Zombie’s are targeting her more as they see her as a threat. Something that isn’t a human but isn’t them either.
Grian: always knew there would be a zombie apocalypse and has been preparing since day 1. He wants to help Cleo out as much as he can even though he knows she attracts more zombies to him. However they tend to go straight pass him so it’s a bit of scientific research on the side. He did not predict that.
Scott: old friend of Cleo who’s reunited with her after his band mates turned into zombies and tried to kill him. They end up parting ways after getting loss, also losing BigB in the process. Hopefully they will reunite again.
Martyn: is immune to the zombies but not like cleo. He’s fully human with a bit of blood lust but no one can tell if that’s from a previous zombie or if Martyn is just like that. He’s a loner and prefers to work alone. Whenever he does run into Cleo he will help her out. Dude just keeps running into her. (Double life soulmates? Maybe lol)
The zombies: fast and blood thirsty, recently turned one’s have their speech but over time it just becomes angry yelling and incomprehensible grumbles. All that the zombies want to do is turn people or kill them. Possibly a strain of rabies? These zombies rot slower then stereotypical zombies but their wounds do not heal. Cleo’s might but the actual zombies can not heal. They slowly break down and become more blood thirsty. They do have human intelligence at first but zombies slowly become closer to feral animals. Basically Gem is the smart stage and then Joel the feral stage.
Smarter zombies want to turn people and feral zombies want to kill people. I’m game logic yellows are more likely to be smart zombies and reds are more likely to be feral zombies.
Going over the immune two over again.
Cleo -> “immune” to an extent, her body is weaker but she’s not blood thirsty or craves brains. She doesn’t need to eat, sleep or breathe and can slowly heal. If she was to be bit multiple times (aka killed by an infected player in this case) then she’ll become a zombie. However it looks like most of the zombies want her dead.
Martyn -> immune so he can not become a zombie not matter how many bites or scratches is dealt to him. Martyn is on the blood thirsty side but it is unclear if that’s due to being bit or just him. He is still human so he needs to eat, breathe and sleep.
Basically the two only have some traits from zombies and mirror each other.
Grian and Scott are humans who are not immune and are very paranoid.
#grim talks#secret life spoilers#secret life smp#trafficblr#slsmp#zombie apocalypse au#secret zombie au#<— cool title to be honest#ZombieCleo#zombie Cleo
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The Art of the Pitch
When submitting your manuscript to an agent, your pitch letter is the first thing they read. But with hundreds of emails pouring into agents’ inboxes every day, how do you get yours to stand out? Author Jeff Herman has some tips:
On any given day, there’s a massive surplus of desperate manuscripts clamoring to fill way too few opportunities. It resembles hordes of famished zombies ripping at the walls and doors where a remnant of agents and editors have found sanctuary. This helps explain why the barriers to your success seem to be unreasonably extreme, not to mention insensitive and discourteous. The harsh process is a form of self-preservation for the gatekeepers. However, access is possible; sometimes you just have to reframe what you’re seeing.
Countless manuscripts that merit publication will spend eternity in the clouds because the authors failed to get agents and editors to read them. From the perspective of the gatekeepers, unsolicited manuscripts are a burden until proven otherwise; they’re an ever-accumulating digital landfill that’s humanly impossible to process and cope with, or even think about. But it’s within every writer’s power to change the math for themselves.
The following guidance doesn’t promise to be the cure, but it does promise to meaningfully elevate the odds that your manuscript will be requested and read. My advice is the consequence of reading more than one-million pitches covering everything you can imagine.
1. Don’t be boring. Boredom causes attention to shut down. The letter should be as entertaining, compelling, and alluring as the body of work you want to read. Too many writers treat their pitch letters like job applications; imagine having to read hundreds of those a day.
2. Don’t waste space. Avoid filler. Keep to a single page with short paragraphs (eyes detest densely packed sections).
3. Use lively and relatable descriptions. Make descriptive lines count with language that transmits visceral and dynamic images. Imagine movie trailers.
4. Get to the point by the second line. Don’t wander into the weeds or try to be a pen pal.
5. Say exciting things about yourself. For example, “I’m a third-generation serial killer.” Or, “I’m a former President of the United States.” (However, only share things that are true!)
6. Don’t compare your work to bestsellers. It might make you appear arrogant or grandiose. Do a little research to find the titles that best match your work.
7. Don’t reveal how many years you’ve been trying to get someone to read your pitch, let alone your work. Don’t reveal how many thousands of times you’ve been rejected so far. Don’t expect strangers to care about your aspirations from the goodness of their hearts.
8. Be softly immodest. Show you're a winner in ways that say it for you. Highlight your accomplishments, don’t hide them. Success tends to gravitate to people who know how to personify a successful image.
9. Don’t stereotype yourself in ways that could undermine your chances. For instance, there’s no reason to say your age unless it’s germane to the book. (Ageism is frequently an elephant in the room, and unfortunately, publishing isn’t an exception.)
10. Keep trying. Consistently showing up and doing the work regardless of how you feel will get you far. Writing and publishing is a game of long ball that rewards tenacity and resilience.
Jeff Herman is the author of Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents, 29th Edition and coauthor of the acclaimed Write the Perfect Proposal. He has presented hundreds of workshops about writing and publishing and has been interviewed for dozens of publications and programs. His literary agency has ushered nearly 1,000 books into publication, including many bestsellers. He lives in Stockbridge, MA. His website is www.JeffHerman.com.
Based on the book Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents, 29th Edition. Copyright ©2023 by Jeff Herman. Published by New World Library — www.newworldlibrary.com.
Top photo by Andrew Dunstan on Unsplash.
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Submission reason:
essentially, when he was first introduced he was still edgy, thats to be expected, but like not outright horrible. he's now kinda been reduced to just being sonic's edgy mean rival in most media. granted he does seem to be getting better in some things???? but. yeah
after sonic heroes sega basically just ignored his whole characterization in favor of making him a bland badass edgy boy and ignoring his personality, backstory, and what makes him edgy and angry in the first place (it's love)
Im not gonna delve into that wormehole here, but i can guarentee you there are multiple hour long documentaries on this exact topic on youtube
following Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) his character was ruined
Changed from a well-written, complex, misunderstood character who pushed others away and acted coldly as a result of his trauma despite ultimately having a good heart, to just Sonic's edgy asshole rival because it's apparently easier to write him that way.
because of the absolute Monstrosity that was the Archie Sonic The Hedgehog Comics and retconning his canon death due to massive demand from the audience way back when Sonic Adventure 2 first released, Shadow went from a mysterious and traumatized character with a kickass design, to one of the most shallow and inconsistently written characters in the franchise. Before, he was soft-spoken, yet still held his cold exterior, keeping people an arm's length away, but since the Ken Pender-ification, his character isn't allowed to have 'friends', isn't allowed to show emotions unless it is anger or aloofness, isn't allowed to really change and grow past his trauma and past, and even changed his voice to be more 'edgy' compared to the softer voice direction given to him in SA2. Just until recently with the IDW comics finally being able to have a very minute change to Shadow to make it feel more in-line to what his character actually is, Shadow has been always inconsistent and underutilized in canon due to SEGA's fear of history repeating itself and instead of trusting good writers to know what they're doing, they just gatekeep him and only give the fans shitty scraps of a stereotypical angry goth man who hates everyone because of his traumatic past.
shadow the hedgehog (2005)
Propaganda:
Gay/autistic icon tbh /hj
My boy deserves better than this, he needs so much more than just 'haha emo man with trauma who hates everyone and loves violence' treatment give my man this W
in his introductory game he was edgy but clearly still good if a little misguided (he made a promise to a character who was essentially his sister, who ended up being killed by the government precanon, that he'd protect the earth but was brainwashed into trying to destroy it for revenge) and in the idw comics (semi recently??? the idw comics are ongoing but this wasnt released like last week or anything) sonic told him not to do something and he quite literally said ""cowards run. i win."" and did the exact thing sonic told him not to do (he ended up being turned into basically a zombie as a result)
His canon feels like a rollercoaster
#look how they massacred them poll#look how they massacred my boy#shadow the hedgehog#sonic shadow#sonic#idw sonic#propaganda post
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Diary of an Idiot Trying to Learn to Draw Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Part 1: Escaping the Comfort Zone)
Before we talk turtles and the early steps of my art journey with them, let's talk about me for a little bit.
Hello, most people know me by my online nickname, Star. I'm a perpetually tired gremlin in her late 20s from New England who still lives with her parents and two brothers. (I'm the middle child!) I love my two dogs to bits, I have a weird fascination with shipwrecks and maritime disasters, and I am a known art enjoyer to point of attempting to draw her own pictures. Sometimes it goes well, other times... ah, we'll get to that.
When I think about my history in terms of drawing, it all starts with anime. My first exposure anime was through a fairly obscure one called Sky Girls; I encountered it through Dance Dance Revolution: Super Nova 2 on the PS2, as the opening to the original OVA was one of the songs available in the game. I ended up watching most of the television series and I was quick to discover that, hey, there's an entire genre of animated television series that originate from Japan; subsequently, I ended up watching several anime that were popular during the late 2000s with Lucky Star, Haruhi Suzumiya, Clannad, and Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni all being shows that I watched during this period. It's difficult to say what entranced me so much about the art style quirks we so heavily associate with anime, but it's definitely had the biggest influences on my art; not just anime itself, but video games with anime art styles as well. If I had to name which pieces of Japanese media have affected me most in terms of art development, it would be Odin Sphere, KyoAni's works (especially Violet Evergarden), and Hidari (the character designer for three of the Atelier games and Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia.)
"Okay, but what about when you actually began to do your own art?" WELL, I can definitely say throughout elementary school I absolutely LOVED being in art class, but I didn't start seriously practicing until I was around 13; this was when my depression first reared its ugly head, but it was also about when I first got into fandom online. Now, the first fandom I actually made "content" for was Pokemon, but that wasn't drawing; that was fanfiction. The first fandom I actually drew for?
Call of Duty: Zombies. Yeah, I think we all have that one fandom we're embarrassed to mention that we were ever involved in. Regardless of the cringe factor, it was still important for me because that was when I first started interacting with other fanartists online and if I hadn't spent so much time drawing fanart of a bunch of WWII stereotypes while I was in high school, I wouldn't have laid the groundwork for what came afterwards.
In terms of overall skill, I'm definitely way better than I was back when I first started out, but there is still so much I have to learn; I do often look at other artists who are around my age or, hell, are even YOUNGER than me and think to myself "Why am I not that good?" and, ya know, art is an acquired skill that requires a lot of practice and due to my mental illness and lack of confidence/self-worth, there were periods where I would go for MONTHS without drawing anything, so the fact I'm not where I feel like I should be skill-wise is ultimately circumstantial (there are other personal shortcomings that have also been holding me back, but we'll get to those later). I have managed to learn to stop being so hard on myself and not be as perfectionistic, and I find myself drawing more and more for the fun of it and learning new techniques that'll result in better pieces rather than anything else. These are some of the Rune Factory 4 pieces I drew last year (all Arthur/Frey ship art, oops) and at this point I can look at them and think "Yeah, they're not perfect, but I also did a pretty good job."
All right, this is the part of the post where we finally get to talking about my experiences learning how to draw the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles--specifically, the 2003 versions. It's been about a month since I started studying the show's art and even if I'm not the best artist on the block, I still have a decent amount of experience under my belt that learning how to draw them shouldn't be too hard, right? Right? I mean how hard can it be to draw four humanoid turtles?
Oh boy, of all the fandoms I've drawn fanart for, TMNT 2003 probably has one of the steepest learning curves that I have EVER experienced.
All right, what are some of the advantages do I have going in? There is my existing experience drawing, but I'd argue the fact that my brain is so hardwired to draw anime is an advantage in some ways. When I first looked at the show's art style (more specifically that of seasons 1 - 5), I was thinking to myself "How the everliving FUCK am I supposed to draw this?!" However, when I actually sat down and studied the model sheets, I was delighted to discover that a lot of the basic fundamentals that I already learned drawing anime bodies can be applied to the turtles; one of the only major adjustments I had to make was exaggerating the muscles of the arms and legs. Not only that, but one of the less human aspects of the turtles IE the plastron is actually incredibly useful as a makeshift guideline for the torsos; it quite literally divides them into chest, abdomen, and pelvis areas and I absolutely love it!
Unfortunately, that's about where my happiness with drawing the turtles ends and where my actual struggles start.
("Nekomata Mikey" from January 7th, which is probably my best and favorite turtle attempt thus far)
So, I suffer from a little something called "not liking to leave my comfort zone." It's not something that I'm incapable of doing, but getting me to break out of a repetitive routine and try something new or challenging is insanely difficult--no idea if it's a result of my autism spectrum disorder or not, but it definitely explains why I've hesitated to experiment more with my art and try new things... which is important if you want to further develop your style and improve. Oooooooh boy.
Now, I'm not necessarily looking to accurately replicate TMNT 2003's style, but I am hoping to maintain certain aspects when I draw the turtles. Stuff that is definitely contradicting what I'm comfortable with when it comes to drawing; the thick lines you see in a lot of the official art, the fact this show really likes using sharp angles to define physical features, the dark color palette of the first five seasons, the fact those seasons break the rule of "don't shade with black" that I've been taught from the beginning--a lot of stuff that I'm just not used to. It's hard not to become frustrated because half the time you have no idea what you're doing and have no idea whether it's going to look good or not.
Beyond that, there is the matter of the less human aspects of the turtles that are giving me a run for my money. I can somewhat handle the chunky three fingered hands and large two toed feet, but when I get to the heads and shells, that's where I start tearing my hair out. Even with multiple reference screenshots from the show and sassatello's tutorial on the head structure handy, I still find myself fumbling and making heads that are too angular and chunky (especially in the cheek area) or heads that are too round to the point of almost looking babyish. The shells are another matter entirely; it's weird because they are basically a dome-shaped backpack, but something about those things keeps throwing me for the loop no matter what angle or pose I'm drawing a turtle from.
*LOUD SIGH*
For all the struggles and frustrations I have, I'm still very happy to be studying and practicing how to draw the turtles. It's been about a month since I started pouring over the model sheets, taking screencaps from individual episodes to examine and annotate, and just drawing, and I've already learned so much. Not only that, but this whole experience of trying to figure out how to draw the main characters from an (almost) 21 year old cartoon has pushed me to look up... A LOT of tutorials for art skills I've admittedly been neglecting. Basic shapes used in the structure of the body, color theory and shading, all that good stuff. It is also a fact that studying the art of TMNT 2003 is exactly what inspired me to start posting all the model sheets and concept arts I have saved on my laptop. When you have a ton of art resources at your disposal, why not share them? Someone else might need them as much as you do.
I'm hoping to make another post like this in a couple months or so just to see how much I've improved, where I'm still kicking and screaming, and what areas I ought to focus on. Until then, take care and have a good day!
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Stardew Bachelor/Bachelorette Halloween Costumes!
In celebration of the start of spooky season, I compiled a list of what I think the Stardew bachelors and bachelorettes would wear for their trick or treating! I know they have Spirit's Eve, but I'm yet to see connections to that holiday and costume wearing (if someone does have anything do hit me up).
Bachelors:
Sam
He's either going as a video game character or something classic like a clown. Either way, he looks like he's just come back from a night of killing. Tons, and I mean TONS, of fake blood everywhere. It doesn't even look authentic at that point; it just looks like he's dipped himself in a bucket of red paint. He'd have to have a second costume for when Vincent is around, hence the video game character. He's a whole cupboard full of Prairie King merchandise and costumes.
Elliott
Some infamous historical figure/legend. Think Sweeney Todd. He's always dressed like he came straight from the Victorian era in London, so you best believe he's got some cool costumes he just wears on the regular. Also, the acting is dialed up to 100%. Some townies (mostly Alex) can't even understand what he's saying because he uses a combination of Shakespearian, cockney rhyming slang, and drunken slurs.
Sebastian
Vampire, skeleton, or both. Lots of effort was put into his, so it looks really good. It's mostly made of up cycled old costumes and random merchandise he has. He went to Emily for a lot of help with actually putting it together, and it paid off! He spends most of the night trying to sneak up on Sam and scare him (which he does well). Lots of fun Sebastian times and scared Sam times.
Harvey
His costume is pretty tame. Honestly, he's just a more stereotypical doctor. He's not all too creative with these things. But when the farmer comes along, he tries stepping it up with a pilot outfit! A more historical one, of course. He does not have the money to go out and buy a whole suit for these modern uniforms. Some of the stuff is a bit old, seeing as it was mostly outfits from many years ago, but he still looks cute.
Shane
If it weren't for Jas, he's going as a bedsheet ghost. Not even holes cut out for the eyes, just crudely scribbled on magic marker ink. But Jas wants to be a princess, so he's going to be her knight in shining cardboard armor. Jas and Emily spent hours making it, and for what it's worth with its mounds of silver glitter, it looks pretty good! Shane swapped out his sword for a glorified pool noodle and is hitting whoever annoys him under the excuse 'it fits his character.'
Alex
Gridball player, but zombie. Halfway through makeup with Haley she realised he was using actual paint, not face paint. Cue them both panicking and rushing to get it off his face. A little bit of paint got on her floor and now he's doing all her chores for a week. But for the costume, he took great care not to get paint on his helmet. If he could, he'd wait days until he's certain the paint has dried and most 'damage' it. He's having the time of his life in it, living out his literally dead dream (being a zombie and all).'
Bachelorettes:
Penny
Queen of the Junimos! It's got a very floral design and is pretty light. Bell-shaped skirt and sleeveless top. Lots of green, but also little bits of oranges and yellows to fit the season she'll be wearing it. Haley went crazy when she asked for help with her makeup and spent hours and hours making sure it looked perfect. She looks like she came straight out of a fairy tale.
Leah
Some sort of mythological forest being. Probably some sort of tree person. Either her outfit is lowkey high-key very revealing, or a straight up tree with a hole for her head. That, or something very weird and mixed media. She's trying to get the feel of a personification of her sculptures.
Abigail
Dead Red Riding Hood. Blood everywhere. It looks like someone murdered her violently in her sleep. She also has one of those fake knives that can retract into itself to make it look like she stabbed someone. That, or Sebastian hid some packets of fake blood in his jacket and Abi comes swinging at it with her sword. They both got in massive trouble and nearly killed Harvey, but it was worth it.
Maru
Alien! But hers is actually based off what aliens would look like under different planets with different environments. Each year is something new, and every time she looks amazing. She's even wired some electricity in some of them to make flashing lights or to equip a voice box inside. It's super stuffy though, so she's taking it off after a few hours for a break.
Emily
Her outfit is less of a costume more of her having fun making the most extreme clothing possible. Two-and-a-half rainbows of colours only visible to shrimp. She is the easiest to spot by far, having giant accessories. Each costume is based off a different animal, but her favourite is birds because she gets to use a ton of feathers.
Haley
A ghost! She's dressed in her best clothing; all white and grey. Her makeup took the whole day to do, and it paid off! She is by far the most beautiful townie and looks absolutely ethereal. She and Emily also came up with a fun backstory for her new ghost self, and when drunk Elliott hears it, he loses it entirely (in a good way). Little bits of glitter everywhere so she shines in the moonlight.
#sdv#sdv headcanons#sdv sam#sdv elliot#sdv sebastian#sdv harvey#sdv shane#sdv alex#sdv penny#sdv leah#sdv abigail#sdv maru#sdv emily#sdv haley#stardew valley#stardew valley headcanons#stardew valley sam#stardew valley elliott#stardew valley sebastian#stardew valley harvey#stardew valley shane#stardew valley alex#stardew valley penny#stardew valley leah#stardew valley abigail#stardew valley maru#stardew valley emily#stardew valley haley#ieatsmallorphansnamedtom
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There should be more talk as to why the Nymphs’ portrayals are problematic in Rayman Origins. First off, it’s not the fact that they’re “sexualized in a kids’ game.” I get it. Huge features. Sexbomb. All the raunchy jokes in Rayman 3. Rayman is not just for kids, I know. My issue with the Nymphs is the blatant misogyny and objectification.
I wouldn’t have a problem with two, three, or four of the Nymphs being sexy, but all of them are, cuz that’s how women are supposed to be. Each wears extremely skimpy clothing with unrealistic body proportions. There’s even one wearing a mini dress in the snow. Compared to the original Betilla and Ly the Fairy, the Nymphs are kinda just there. While they do offer Rayman new abilities to progress further, they don’t really serve much to the game. The Nymphs were designed out of nothing but male horniness. The E3 trailer where Rayman looks up his mom’s skirt and she quickly gets used to it, as if that’s supposed to be funny, is really telling you. 🤢 Poor Betilla. Instead of giving her a proper comeback, they turn her into gamer nut fuel.
Putting all the sexualization aside, I’d also like to talk about how the only role they play in the game is being helpless damsels in distress. Again, there’s nothing wrong with having a female character who is unable to defend herself, but not when it’s done with ALL of your female characters! Especially if they’re heavily sexualized. It delivers the wrong message that pretty women, by default, are weak, dumb, and passive. Betilla in Rayman 1 has actually attempted to fight Mr. Dark in order to protect the Great Protoon, while serving as a helpful guide to Rayman. Ly The Fairy plays a similar role, but she also gives Rayman physical exercise to boost his health, not to mention saved him from falling to his death! Meanwhile, the Nymphs, well, are introduced in the game as helpless victims. Then when you free them, you gain new abilities, and then that’s it. That’s all the Nymphs have a purpose for.
The following subject, that may be a bit of a stretch, but remember how I mentioned that the Nymphs reward Rayman with new abilities after you free them? Some might argue that they want to help put the bad guys in their place, and I can totally see that. But it also conveys the idea that a pretty woman will give you something in return if you provide a good deed for her. Kinda like the average “nice guy” who expects more than a kiss after taking a lady out to dinner.
The Nymphs aren’t the only female characters in Origins, though. We also have the zombie granny, the only one without big bajingalings or huge hips, and can actually fight, who is both evil and revolting. Sort of like the “angry, ugly feminist” stereotype. While it’s nice for Ubisoft to introduce Barbara in Legends, a badass, Barbarian human Princess with scars, I feel not much justice was done with her as she is still sexualized and doesn’t hold much to her character other than “girl boss.” In my opinion, Barbara is not that interesting to me. (I’m also against humans existing in the Glade of Dreams, as it doesn’t make any sense) Like the Nymphs, she’s just there. Ubisoft was too lazy to flesh-out her character, and just slapped her onto the game as a way of saying, “See? We’re not sexist! Look at our new female character who can fight and defend herself! Now stop being triggered.”
Now, you’re still allowed to like Rayman Origins! And I’m not gonna shame you for thinking the Nymphs are sexy! But it’s important to be critical about the misogyny present in the game. It doesn’t help that Ubisoft also has a terrible reputation for mistreating female employees, and women in general.
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Stranger Things Runaway Max Review (2/3)
If you haven't yet, be sure to check out my other Stranger Things Reviews. Like, Reblog, and let me know what your thoughts are regarding the show or the upcoming season! :)
Stranger Things Comics/Graphic Novels:
Stranger Things Six
Stranger Things Halloween Special
Stranger Things The Other Side
Stranger Things Zombie Boys
Stranger Things The Bully
Stranger Things Winter Special
Stranger Things Tomb of Ybwen
Stranger Things Into The Fire
Stranger Things Science Camp
Stranger Things “The Game Master” and “Erica’s Quest”
Stranger Things and Dungeons and Dragons
Stranger Things Kamchatka
Stranger Things Erica The Great
Stranger Things “Creature Feature” and “Summer Special”
Stranger Things Tie-In Books:
Stranger Things Suspicious Minds
Part 3: Max and her Parents
One theme centered around Max that's prevalent in the book and the show is how many people keep trying to mold her into the person they think she should be rather than accepting her as the person she is. They want her to act a certain way they deem acceptable, and then get upset and proceed to shame/belittle her when she resists. Nowhere is that more present than with Max's mom, her step-dad and her step-brother.
Let's start with the worst of them: Neil Hargrove.
I doubt I'm saying anything new by claiming Neil's a real piece of work. If you thought he was bad on the show for the 3 minutes of screentime he had, your opinion of him isn't going to improve when you read this book.
I know there are people in the fandom who've questioned whether Neil ever physically abused Max the same way he did with Billy. From how the book depicts it, the answer for the most part seems to be no. There is a scene though where he grabs Max in a way she isn't okay with, and it's heavily implied that if Max had been a boy, he would have hit her in that moment:
His treatment of Max runs on threats (both spoken and unspoken) and emotional abuse. He's constantly disrespectful towards her (deliberately calling her Maxine when he knows she'd prefer to be called Max), pushes her away from activities she likes in favor of ones he thinks girls her age should be doing, intentionally cuts her off from seeing her biological dad (the one person she feels safe being around at the time), and is constantly awful to her. Everything about Neil's treatment of Max is just as dehumanizing as his treatment of Billy is.
Adding on to this, Neil's behavior is shown to be deeply sexist and misogynistic. It's not in the "sleazy womanizing" way Billy acts towards the girls he dates, but the way Neil gets his claws into Susan reminds me of the type of guys people post about on the subreddit for r/niceguys where they initially act pleasant before dropping the facade to show how entitled and unpleasant they truly are. Max at one point notes that Billy's attitude towards women likely comes from his father, and that the only reason Billy doesn't treat her the way he treats the girls he dates is because Max doesn't act in the stereotypical way Billy expects girls to behave.
Max is smart enough to figure out that this isn't a sign of respect from Billy. Like his dad, Billy expects Max to act the way he wants her to. The classic abuser molding the people they abuse into the person they want them to be. Neil has done it to Billy, and Billy spends most of the book trying to do this to Max.
Getting back to Neil, there's also this tibbit regarding his political affiliations in 1984:
Putting aside his love for Reagan for a minute here, it's noteworthy that he immediately talks over Susan in this moment before she can offer an opinion. He says there will be no political talk at dinner..........and then proceeds to talk about politics at dinner and demands everyone is on board with his stance.
In short, Neil has no respect for women (notice how he refers to Ferraro as "that lady"), he has no respect for Max, and he especially has no respect for Susan who is supposed to be his wife.
Speaking of Susan...........she is a frustrating person. I don't hate her, but she's hard to like. She is the kind of person who lets others walk all over her, often to the detriment of Max. Prior to her meeting Neil, it's mentioned by Max that Susan had a history of dating men who were straight up losers. They either mooched off Susan, or cheated on her:
Neil managed to stick around by charming the pants off Susan, and presenting himself as an "old-fashioned gentleman" to make himself stand out from the rest of the guys she dated. It worked, they got together, and everything went downhill from there. Neil saw a woman whom he could make into a Stepford Wife, and he got it. Max talks about how her mom disappears into the personality of every guy she dates, and that's exactly what happened when she and Neil hooked up. One of the most gut-wrenching moments in the book is the first time Max sees Neil hit Billy while Susan and Max are there, and Max realizes her mom wasn't remotely horrified by Neil's behavior:
General consensus in the fandom (even for those who haven't read this book) is that Susan was complicit in the abuse Max and Billy suffered, and she pretty much was. She didn't physically abuse them, or even get emotionally abusive, but she didn't do anything to stop Neil's reign of terror either. Max still loves her mother regardless of this, but she's never forgotten how passive her mom acted when she needed her to be strong:
There's only one moment in the book where Susan actually covers for Billy, and that's when she catches Billy and Max smoking in the garage and is furious with Billy for trying to get Max addicted to cigarettes. However, the moment Neil shows up and demands to know what's going on, she lies to Neil on Billy's behalf. Max sums it up as such:
It doesn't make up for all the times Susan refused to step in, but it's at least worth mentioning this for the record.
In any case though, it's pretty clear Susan will go along with what Neil wants, even if it's at the expense of Max's happiness. There are a few moments in the book showcasing that she does love her daughter to the best of her ability, but they're so few and fleeting that it's more sad than heartwarming.
Finally, there's Sam Mayfield, Max's biological dad. He is better than Neil and Susan, but that's not really a high bar to clear. I wouldn't necessarily say he's a deadbeat dad the same way Lonnie Byers is, but he isn't winning any "Father of the Year" awards in the near future.
On the one hand, he does care for Max, and Max speaks about him positively compared to how she talks about Neil:
He even gives her genuinely good advice that helps protect Max whenever she's in an embarrassing situation:
However, while all of this sounds cool on the surface, there's a deeper problem with Sam Mayfield: He acts more like Max's friend instead of acting like the father he's supposed to be. He's not interested in getting a full-time job to provide for Max, or even improving his living conditions, which are not ideal for raising a 13 year old girl. In a way, he's chosen his side-projects and gigs over her. He isn't a bad person, but he also isn't the kind of person that can provide Max with the stability she needs. There are two different points where Max seriously considers running away to her dad's house to escape the hellish situation under Neil's roof, and she's forced to realize that even if she did move in with him, it wouldn't fix the problems back at home, and her quality of living might not improve under her dad.
And finally...........we have Billy. 😒
To be continued in Part 3.......
#stranger things#max mayfield#stranger things runaway max#anti billy hargrove#neil hargrove#susan hargrove#sam mayfield#tgh opinions#tgh reviews#the duffer brothers
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Jurassic Dead (2017) Review
Jurassic Dead
So this movie was one that I bought on a whim. I was at a used CD and DVD place with my dad, and bought this while on vacation. I spent $4.00 and I regret nothing.
A couple nights ago, I watched this movie with @shxxtteredfantasy. This movie.. It was entertaining to say the least. And yes as the polls said, I am going full spoilers with this review because I am pretty sure none of you will watch this.
So the film begins with this professor dude. He's getting this secret green formula that brings dead thing back to life. The guy who gives him said formula is threatening to kill him. The professor guy injects a dinosaur and the dinosaur kills everyone at the scene, but the professor guy.
Skip to one year later, the professor guy is teaching his class about reanimation, and injects a dead cat, with the green formula. This scene bothered me because he said "You need a lot for it to work" HE USED LESS WHEN BRINGING BACK A FRICKEN DINOSAUR... Also where's the dinosaur during this?? Who knows... Well because of this professor being Frankenstein levels of insane, he gets fired, vows to get his revenge, and then gets hit by a truck...
Some time later we meet two groups of characters
the Black ops in which we have Duque (who looks like Duke Nukem... and yes they reference this), Stick, the only person of color in the film and one of the few who survive, some asshole guy with a bandana, and a badass token lady character who... I don't think had one line of dialogue.. At least none that I can remember... oh and one guy that dies in the very begining
The second group we have a stereotypical blonde.. (like so stereotypically stupid I'm surprised she didn't need to be reminded to breathe, by the characters.), a stereotypical jock...( who has a gun for some reason... and brings up the 2nd amendment for some reason when he's asked why he as one...), a nerdy girl playing Game Boy, and a nerdy guy doing weed.
After a meteor causes all the electricity in the area to stop. (phones, cars, gameboy, etc) the gang of high schoolers find themselves in a weird science facility. The same facility that the black ops people are investigating. The facility soon fills with green smoke, one of the black ops guys who had separated from his crew, breathes in the smoke and becomes zombie.
The high schoolers and the Black ops team soon run into each other, and the douche in the bandana (whom a couple scenes ago pointed a gun at them while they were driving, confiscated the nerd girl's and guy's weed.
A TV then comes on. It turns out the professor guy who got hit with a truck is not dead. He is wearing a cloak because he is evil, and a gas mask.. and he sounds like grocery store Darth Vader. He then announces his very evil plan to turn off all the electricity in every major city, and then turn everyone into Zombies. He then of course, announces that no one in the facility is going to survive and releases his dinosaur to kill him.
Duque walks right over to the dinosaur and decks him in the face. The dinosaur is then presumed dead and they walk away. However, of course, the dinosaur is not dead! Now it wants revenge on Duque and the crew!
The groups have now split up for some reason.. It's the jock guy with the bandana guy. The Bandana guy gives the jock some beanie weenies, and then starts smoking weed and talking about chemtrails and other conspiracy theories, but their time of smoking weed and enjoying beanie weenies is cut short as the dinosaur grabs the jock guy. Instead of doing anything to help, Bandana guy books it,
Bandana guy regroups with the rest of the crew. However, the Jock guy is dead, but not completely. he is now a zombie. He arrives at the scene and says to the blonde (his girlfriend) "I love you." The blonde then runs over to hug him, despite him being a zombie. Duque however is on the scene and shoots him before he can bite/ kill her, but not before getting bit himself. The blonde is hysterical, crying about her boyfriend being murdered, despite him being a zombie, and while Stick is trying to convince her that she needs to get going.. The Blonde stupidly does not leave, and then gets eaten by the dinosaur that has shown up yet again.
The crew have two missions now, to stop the villain's evil plot, and get out alive, but.. when ya gotta go, ya gotta go. The nerd girl went quickly, not wanting to take her time while there's zombies on the loose, however, the nerd boy criticizes her on her bathroom hygiene. He then goes to the bathroom, presumably number 2, because he's taking forever... However, Duque isn't doing so hot... While in the stall, he becomes a zombie..
The bandana guy is also using the bathroom, and says that he's suffering from a case of the bubble guys. He then does some more weed... As he's doing his business, Zombie Duque opens the stall and starts strangling bandana man. The nerd guy during all of this... just stays in the stall, instead of doing the logical thing of leaving. Bandana man tries to get his gun out, but accidentally shoots the nerd guy right in the head.
Okay okay what next
Assassin lady kills the now zombie bandana man, the nerd girl somehow knows code and hacks into the system, but the system has a safeguard and now the facility is about to blow up.
The professor realizes he has to leave, but then the dinosaur shows up and eats him.
The remaining crew find a military vehicle equipped with a turret, they kill Zombie Duque and the dinosaur with it. They then escape the facility by somehow crashing the military vehicle through the wall and escaping, but it's too late, the villain won, and all the characters are zombies... but sentient... and they adopted the dinosaurs head as their pet.. They then drive off into the desert sunset.... The end..
This movie was a nonsensical mess, but... I love these type of movies. I was never bored. All in all I give it 6.5/10
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random OC ask: what is something about your OC that people wouldn't expect from looking at them?
what are the preconceived notions people might form or have formed about them? how does your OC respond to those notions?
There are I think two good ways to answer this question, pre and post game.
If you looked at pregame Siobhan you would see a wood elf wearing simple cotton clothes or Druidic leathers carrying a bow and a staff. It’s very easy to assume what she is tbh. She is simply the local mushroom elf and she wears that on her sleeve proudly.
What people don’t expect from her looks is her attitude, while yes she’s a friend of the forest she’s more into raising mushroom zombies and mauling monsters with her claws than giving farming advice and imparting the wisdom of the ages (people forget she’s only like 45). She can be impulsive, enjoys a good fight, and is decidedly not a pacifist which makes her oddly suited to be a protector of the fields and farmland (and she does do this btw folk hero background doesn’t earn itself).
Siobhan doesn’t care that when people first encounter her they assume she’ll be a wise boring sage or something as long as they don’t say it makes her a poor druid. She is proud of her power and what she has done with it even if it required a more fiery temperament than you might assume of a druid.
Post game her appearance gives off a very different vibe. She puts her medium armor proficiency to USE and she picked up a nice sum of gold so gone are the Druidic leathers and simple cotton clothes. You’d catch her in scale mail or other comparable metal armors or a nice doublet. She still carries a staff at times but she varies her weaponry more than she did (for example she made it a point to take orins twisty knife so she could threaten gortash with it). She branched out into swords and shields mostly.
When people meet Siobhan as the “hero of the gate!” They don’t expect a druid. She looks more the part of a fighter or even a paladin. The fact that she’s attached at the hip to a vampire also doesn’t lend itself to Druidic stereotyping.
Siobhan thinks it’s hilarious that she’s so famous but nobody knows she’s a druid. Nobody would assume the bloodthirsty slayer of Ketheric thorm, pugilist of the cult of bhaal, and destroyer of the netherbrain and illithid grand design is of the Druidic persuasion, it just sounds so violent. She uses this to her advantage over the years because nobody expects the hero of the gate to turn into an owlbear and charge. And like I said before traveling with astarion makes it better because when confronted with a vampiric rogue why would you assume their partner is a druid (and vice versa)? Raising mushroom zombies also becomes much more frightening when people don’t know about the spore druid thing. She LOVES it.
#she’s just a girl#(with violent tendencies and an appreciation for the balance of nature)#she’ll kill people like no doubt and most people don’t expect that from a druid#tldr#bg3 oc
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Okay, screw it, It's been on my mind alot, I'm writing the damn mirror post so I can get it off my mind.
There's a song I listen to often that has a couple of lines about "breaking the mirror". I'm the type of person who feels the need to understand every line of every song they listen to, so I googled the meaning. (Side note, part of me felt like it was right to write girl instead of person and she instead of they? I almost always use gender neutral terms in anything I say online regardless of being about me, but feeling like saying she is not something I've done before. That was weird. Back to the point.)
So I don't know how commonly known it is or whether people still pay attention to old superstitions, but apparently breaking mirrors brings you years of bad luck, but eventually you'll be just fine.
And there's obvious parallels between this idea and transitioning. Things will get alot harder after you start, but you'll be infinitely better off when you start to reach the other side. Right now, I can live simply as a guy and not have to worry about the perils of being trans, but once I break the mirror, it's on.
But I can't get over how there's this really old symbolism of taking the very thing that displays who you are, and shattering it, and it's gonna cause alot of problems for a while, but then the reflection is restored, better than ever, and all the bad is washed away.
And this was just a neat little idea in my head, until I saw a CERTAIN game with a certain stereotype was on sale for like £3 and bought it. And oh my fucking God, mirror symbolism is EVERYWHERE, because of course it is. The very incarnation of the bad parts of Madeline literally come from looking herself in the mirror and breaking it. People have talked before about the heavy Mirror symbolism in Celeste, often mentioning trans people's relation to mirrors, but recontextualising that with the superstition and the things I just mentioned made it hit so hard for me when it clicked and I put it all together.
Now, I always knew this would be an aimless rant, but I still spent a while trying to think of a good way to tie it together but its not working. I'm just gonna talk about the lyrics now and how they reflect my specific situation. Its 4 lines, in pairs, in two seperate verses:
"I need time to break all the mirrors,
But my mind is in pieces and not ready to make it clearer."
"Time to make it all clearer,
And if time never ceases I'll be ready to break the mirror."
How often do you hear trans people talk about how theyre not ready, or theyre finding excuses for themselves, and they don't know why? I'm the same, but I genuinely have a rock solid excuse for myself, that I live in an unsupportive and overcontrolling household, so I couldn't even start doing anything in secret because of how restricted I am. I should be going to Uni in about a year and a half, so that's the starting point. But even if this wasn't the case, I dont think Id start transitioing yet, Im not ready, my mind is in pieces and not ready to make it clearer.
But that's the thing, it IS time to make it all clearer. Ive got time, with no pressure, to figure myself out and improve my mental state so that I'm in the best position possible to break the mirror. So as long as I never cease doing that, I'll be ready to break the mirror.
If you're wondering what the song is, It's The Gift by Kevin Sherwood and Elena Siegman. The rest of the song isn't a trans allegory or anything, I honestly couldn't tell you what most of it is about, it's from fucking COD: Black Ops 3 Zombies lmfao. Every map in the Zombies mode of the Black Ops games has a secret song, usually by Kevin Sherwood and often with Elena Siegman singing, but sometimes its a different vocalist.
The reason I'm mentioning all this is because the map this song is on is Literally called "Revelations". Yep, certainly having a few of them lmao.
So, thanks for reading this unhinged rant about mirrors that's probably unoriginal as shit, I'm going to cut this off Immediately before I launch into a rant about how good Kevin Sherwood's music is. Honestly, hes too good to be working on COD, not to mention how Elena Siegman has the voice of an angel and a demon at the same time, that girls range is insane. Fuck, Im already slipping into a rant, I just need to stop writi
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The Quarry video game has Werewolves in it. How do you feel about their portrayal?
I don't know anything about the game or its portrayal of werewolves, but one quick google search reveals they are hairless zombie creatures that don't remotely resemble wolves whatsoever, and they probably act exactly like zombies and guides seem to imply that they're largely depicted as them, too.
So, I hate it. I certainly hate that design. I'm not even picky about werewolf designs, really, like I've found myself moving a little bit away from the "fully furred" design simply because because it attracts too many furries and internet people think it looks "cuddly" (and I do not like cuddly werewolves) - but for crying out loud, would even a LITTLE bit of fur have killed them? Even a single HAIR? At least the same amount of hair as a human??? Why does it lose ALL OF ITS HAIR?
That thing looks ridiculous and awful. It's just blood and muscle. It's a freaking Licker except without the unique design and the scary teeth and claws, with its eyes popping out.
Not a werewolf. That thing looks so strikingly dumb. In what universe does that resemble a "werewolf" at all? How did werewolves get so absolutely removed from wolves?
(note: don't read the article I got this image from; if you've followed my blog for a long time and you read that article you'll want to just explode, like I did)
Why not at least wolf-men? Wolf-men are great.
But as for portrayal, I wouldn't know. I never had any plans to play the game, though I didn't know werewolves were in it. Knowing what I know now, I have plans to never play it, ever.
Like I said, from what little I see of a cutscene clip and what I read, they're stereotypical crazy stupid evil characterless generic antagonist zombies, so from what I am seeing right now, yeah, I won't be investigating it further.
Sorry for the harsh answer. Things have been beyond not-so-great for me lately and frankly this "werewolf" portrayal only worsened my mood.
But thank you for asking!
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bg3 playthrough🗡️
met Raphael
cleared some of the goblin camp out
forgot to talk to pain guy in all the killing that was happening.. never mind
meet my guardian 👀
killed 2 of the 3, minthara I just knocked out.. since I knew about her I wanted to meet her later.
rescued volo and the prisoner, didn’t need to find halsin as I already cleaned out the camp so he made his way back there himself
saved the grove, called out kagha siding with the shadows (stopped her killing the tiefling girl) didn’t get my reward because erm a little vampire had already pickpocketed it before 🤭
forgot about the harpy nest even tho I know about them so sorry poor other tiefling child I wasn’t there to save you from them..
lobelia had sexy time and some neck biting with astarion after the trifling party 🫠even if it is just for him to make sure he's protected from certain ppl.. also.. pick him up pick him upppppp!!!!!! PICK HIM UPPPPP
gale wanted to spent time he was jealous like excuse you mr waterdeep we havent hardly spoke since i pulled you out of that magic hole ... back uppppppppppp 🤚 lollllllllll
volo took lobelia’s eye the morning after!!! (If I didn’t know what I would have got in return I wouldn't have allowed him but it hasn’t taken away my fun or finding out new things..)
and not to be bias but i am, shes so prettyyyyy. more bodytype 3 love needs to happen 😭 like i've seen ppl stereotype it too much.. shut your holes.
erm didn’t rescue the ppl from the burning building .. oops
talked my way into the zhentarim hideout, astarion was inspired 😌 killed everyone ofc, let the artist escape, stole all their loot!!
helped astarion with seeing his back scars
meet my guardian again 👀 no... i didn't give him gambit eyes i don't know what you're talking about....kinda hate I know who he is 😭 I made him too .. well he is very nice to look at..🥴 i think i made him a half elf
FINALLY went back to auntie ethel it was so much easier to defeat her this time, stole all her stuff, woke up zombie collin and gave marina the wand 👋 good luck
came upon the gur, let astarion do what he wanted, but decided to knock him out not kill
went back to the goblin camp to finish off the left over goblins that were outside..
changed out karlach and shadowheart for gale and lae’zel
spoke with voss persuaded him to leave without a fight astarion was again inspired ~ lobelia is becoming so charming and persuasive ~ 😌
astarion pick pocketed lady ester of as much of her goods as possible then we erm.. displaced her. no gith egg for you laaady
baby owlbear came by and astarion wasn’t happy the little snack ran away. I love how astarion says the line "oh now look, you’ve scared off the little snack"
killed some skeleton big guys and made our way to the creche and came upon the monastery
if you couldn't tell i'm having so much fun with this game and i haven't had that in such a long time 😭
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The Santa Clarita Diet: Witty Dialogue, Zombies, Gross-Out Humor, and Skyler Gisondo
Someone on a fan board said that Skyler Gisondo's character on The Santa Clarita Diet, Eric Bemis, is gay, but after a glance at the fan wiki, I can't see how. He has a will-they-or-won't-they romance going on with Abby, the daughter of the zombified Sheila Hammond, that lasts through three seasons before becoming canonical in the series finale; plus he has sex with other women and female zombies. But I'm game, so I'll review the first episode
Scene 1: Establishing shots of the stereotypic "idyllic" Santa Clarita. Heterosexual husband Joel (Timothy Olyphant) awakens and sniffs Sheila, signaling how aroused he is, but she only likes to do it in a romantic setting -- no "humping."
Anyway, time for breakfast: toast and a green liquid. They have two different conversations without interacting with each other. Teenage daughter Abby enters and demands a car, because they live in the middle of "freakin' nowhere." I know the feeling.
Suddenly Sheila keels over with sharp pain in her stomach. Abby wants to know if she's dying, but she insists that it's food poisoning.
Scene 2: As everyone leaves for the day, they run into snoopy heterosexual neighbor Dan (Ricardo Chavira, left), and his wife. They want to know why the light in the study was on all night; didn't Dan and Sheila have sex? No, Sheila couldn't sleep, if it's any of his business.
Dan points out that he's in the L.A. Sheriff's Department, far superior to the "dickless" cops, like Rick (Richard T. Jones), who happens to be walking by with his wife and baby. Geez, they are establishing that everyone is heterosexual at first introduction. What are they afraid of?
Dan calls Rick "honeybunch," suggesting that he is a woman because he has such a feminine job. Being a cop is feminine? Then: "Suck me!", an insult, because of course gay sex would be terribly humiliating.
The men all leave, while Dan's kid Eric (Skyler Gisondo), in his Mom's car, gazes wistfully at Abby. Mom tell her, "He worships you. You're the queen of his spank bank." So much for Eric being gay. Wait -- did his mom just tell his crush that he masturbates while thinking about her? How would she know? Why would she think this information was important to share?
The full review, with several nude photos, is on Righteous Gemstones Beefcake and Boyfriends.
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