#it's so satisfying to witness this grand epic adventure | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

tinukis · 5 months

Text

i always tell my friends i dont want to talk about marineford/post war but then i realized thats the arc i talked about most and im just oopsies !! anyway uhh

one piece post war spoilers !!! analyzing luffy's behavior in post war and it's a bit of a heavy topic (suicide implications)

i've said what i wanted to my friends but i wanna see if anyone else thought the same or im just insane

so... when luffy woke up in post war, he immediately ran for it and screamed and cried looking for ace. but he's being haunted by that traumatic moment, akainu's fist through ace's stomach... ace breaking his promise, ace's embrace, ace talking to luffy as much as he can- until his last breath... ace's blood on his hands- "STOP IT!!!!"

it kept flashing in his mind and he's trying his damndest to get it away. by punching or headbutting whatever he sees. jinbe asked law what would happen if they left luffy alone like that:

luffy would die if he was left alone. of course, with ace's request, he couldn't let that happen. so jinbe goes and sees luffy.

after tuckering himself out, luffy is aware that this is reality and not some hellish nightmare. (looking back on the panels hurt so much... it hurts to see our mc broken like this) he belittles himself, he says hes not fit to be pirate king, he's weak, he couldn't protect anyone. he couldn't save his friends and he couldn't save ace. his spirit is broken. he's alone in this world.

thats what he thought at the moment anyway... with nothing left, luffy continues hurting himself. bashing his head against the ground. maybe even until it cracks open because what the hell is luffy even good for now? might as well end it all because he's got no one and he's weak. there's no point in being pirate king if he can't protect the people he loves. and loneliness is so much worse than being in pain.

luffy would go an extra mile, push the limit, to save ace. ace gave him a place to belong when luffy literally had nowhere else to stay. he'd go so far to save his brother even if it meant his own life.

if he can't save ace, he'd want to die. but... ace couldn't let that happen. ace still had to save his little brother. despite going through literal levels of hell to save ace, it was all for nothing.

and god don't get me started how ecstatic luffy was when he set ace free. and that they fought together, back to back. but it all ended within moments.

whether or not he knew he'd die if he kept hurting himself like this, it's much preferable anyway. he wanted to die. he wished to be left alone but when jinbe wouldn't "it's my body!!! i can do what i like!!!" he was intentionally hurting himself. to get those thoughts away even if it meant killing himself.

but again, with ace's request, asking jinbe to look after luffy for him: he couldn't allow luffy to die. let alone kill himself like this. so jinbe had to help and 'repair' luffy's spirit. reminding him of what luffy still had.

after jinbe's speech, luffy began counting on his fingers that were once stained with his brother's blood... and started sobbing when he realized there was still people out there he loved, waiting for him. he wasn't alone in the world. they were still out there alive just like he was. likely in a safe place where no one would hurt them.

luffy remembers he still had his friends, who were also his family.

had ace not ask jinbe to look after luffy and had jinbe not obliging ace's last wish, luffy would have killed himself then. maybe law would have stepped in as he willingly saved his life (and needed him for future reference) but i dont think he'd have much impact as jinbe because jinbe was there imprisoned with ace, listening to his story and how dear luffy is to him.

52 notes · View notes

harrypotterbirthday · 2 months

Text

In-Depth Study On The Harry Potter Themed Party

In the realm of children's birthday revelries, the quest for the extraordinary knows no bounds. No longer satisfied with mere mundanity, parents embark on quests to create legendary gatherings that will etch themselves into the annals of their children's memories. For those gallant souls tasked with planning such grand adventures, the path to glory begins with understanding the heroes that dwell within young charges' hearts. Behold, as you embark on a journey to curate the most epic of celebrations, where the whims of imagination reign supreme. Create unforgettable children's parties with superheroes, pirates, wizards, Star Wars, and more. For boys, the call of superhero birthday parties echoes loudly, their spirits alight with the valor and strength of comic book idols. Meanwhile, maidens dream of fantastical realms, where wizards and witches weave spells of wonder, echoing the allure of Harry Potter's birthday event. At the threshold of festivity, the heralds of joy arrive in the form of printable invitations, adorned with colors that rival the brightest of capes.

These missives serve as the clarion call, summoning comrades to join in the merriment of the superhero birthday party. Yet, the choice of venue holds the key to unlocking the full potential of this grand adventure. Here, beneath the open skies, children may frolic amidst games and laughter, while guardians share in the camaraderie. And lo, if the homestead serves as your fortress of revelry, let the chosen theme be your guiding star. Whether Spiderman's visage or the ethereal grace of a fairy's realm – these sweet treasures serve to enchant the senses and delight the soul at the superhero birthday party. Yet, the tapestry of festivity is woven with more than just sugary delights. Behold the helium-filled orbs of joy, bearing the likenesses of beloved characters from galaxies far, far away. Amidst the laughter and jubilation, culinary delights await, from cheese-laden delights to the siren song of cupcakes and confections, fitting for a celebration of superheroes, pirates, wizards, Star Wars, and more. But the heart of this celebration lies in the games that beckon children and adults alike to partake in joyous revelry.

Let there be contests of skill and wit, from the time-honored tradition of musical chairs to the adrenaline-fueled frenzy of sack races. And fear not, for even the matrons of the realm shall find solace in games tailored to their delight. Yet, as the stars twinkle overhead and the music sways in rhythm, remember this: the true magic of this gathering lies not in the trappings of spectacle, but in the bonds forged amidst laughter and shared adventure. So, gather your courage, dear revelers, and embark on this grand odyssey of joy, where every moment is a testament to the power of imagination and the enduring spirit of childhood wonder, whether it be at a superhero birthday party, a Harry Potter birthday event, or a gathering adorned with Star Wars characters and the whimsy of a Super Mario party entertainer.

0 notes

xasha777 · 2 months

Text

Once upon a time in the quaint seaside town of Shell Cove, there lived a man named Finn with a passion for the ocean's culinary delights. Finn was a bearded chap with an appetite as vast as the sea itself. He was known far and wide for his love of seafood, especially the king of crustaceans: the mighty lobster.

One sunny afternoon, Finn strolled into the Blue Buoy Bistro, a cozy eatery famous for its fresh catch and nautical charm. As he took his seat, the patrons whispered, knowing they were about to witness another of Finn’s grand seafood adventures.

With a flourish, the waiter brought forth a platter that turned heads and drew gasps. There, in all its crimson glory, was the largest lobster Shell Cove had ever seen. It was a legendary behemoth from the depths, a creature of tales told by old sailors under starlit skies.

Finn’s eyes sparkled with delight as he sized up his formidable opponent. He lifted his fork like a knight drawing his sword, ready for the epicurean battle that awaited. The lobster, with its glossy shell and waving antennae, seemed almost alive, as if challenging Finn to the duel.

The bistro fell silent as Finn leaned in, his beard nearly brushing the lobster’s whiskers. He whispered words of respect to the ocean king before deftly cracking into its shell. The duel between man and lobster had begun, a dance of shell and silverware, accompanied by the soft clinking of cutlery and the murmurs of the impressed onlookers.

With every piece of succulent meat Finn extracted, the legend of the giant lobster and the bearded gourmand grew. People from neighboring tables cheered him on, their phones held high to capture the moment for posterity.

As the last piece of lobster disappeared into the annals of Finn's appetite, the crowd erupted in applause. Finn, with a satisfied grin and a twinkle in his eye, raised his fork in triumph. The lobster had been vanquished, but its legend would live on in the lore of Shell Cove, a testament to the day when man and sea met at the table in a battle of taste and tenacity.

And so, the story of Finn and the colossal lobster became a beloved tale, one that would be told and retold every time the ocean offered up its bounty, reminding everyone in Shell Cove of the day when the sea's greatest treasure met its match in a man with an epic beard and an even greater love for the ocean's culinary gifts.

0 notes

sometimesrosy · 4 years

Note

(1) Thank you for the gif(t)s of Misters Elba & Morley. I could always use a little more of them in my life ;) Sorry for the last rant but I’m perplexed by those regarding Bellarke as a six season platonic friendship possibly to turn romantic in the last stretch or not at all. And “turn” is generous since some prefer to use “forced” instead. I suppose it can technically be true but only in the strictest, most surface-level sense. It’s been a long time since I’ve thought of Bellarke as NOT part

(2) of a romantic narrative. I look back and see Bellarke as a three-sided dynamic- partnership, friendship, and romance, with each side of the triangle pushing and influencing the others and each season deepening the dynamic. Even season 1 had elements of all three. I’d say progression is the most accurate term to describe their story. Strangers of different hierarchical classes to political rivals to co-leaders to friends to lovers separated by trauma, politics, death, time, other partners to

(3) future couple. Not a single step exists in a vacuum. Their relationship and individual character development are pieces fit to form a complete puzzle over time. Or as I’ve come to see, a seamless 100-episode tale with interconnected threads from start to finish. The only right way to decipher meaning is to look beyond a collection of scenes to the full picture of what we have so far. All stories are chronicles of progression from one point to the next and romance plots are no exception. JR

(4) didn’t invent some newfangled revolutionary storytelling protocol. His story just requires us to look beneath the surface and connect the dots across a seven season sequence. By 6x10, there are no layers needed to be looked under. The romance is smack dab in the middle of the room for all to witness, figuratively and literally. Even the nonshippers can see it, it’s not exclusive to the trained eye of the romance lover. I thought I signed up for a great story years ago. But I never would’ve

(5) known HOW great it was without the thought-provoking, deep-dive analyses by you, jeanie205 and the 3rd in the triumvirate of fandom heroes, travllingbunny, the kind of insights that bring an accompanying joy to the show itself and leave one stupefied in awe. Thank you all, truly. I don’t have sure plans to watch the prequel yet but if the 3 of you will, it may just tip the scales for me into the affirmative. It’d be fun to geek out with you guys on a new-ish adventure from the start.

+++

I got chills when you said,

Not a single step exists in a vacuum. Their relationship and individual character development are pieces fit to form a complete puzzle over time. Or as I’ve come to see, a seamless 100-episode tale with interconnected threads from start to finish.

That was the most unexpected thing about this show. That it wasn’t just another fun show with hot people in the apocalypse with shocking twists dealing with complex questions-- which would be good enough, you know? Lots of fun. No, it was more. I did NOT figure out that it was a novelistic show until we got to season 3 and even then I didn’t understand how LONG TERM a novel was being told here. Not a novel, more like a series. A novel would be season long, but the narratives here have lasted for 7 seasons.

It is seamless. Subplots weaving in and out of the 7 seasons. Character arcs taking the whole series to complete. That actually really confused me in season 3, because I expected both Clarke and Bellamy to finish their hero’s journeys in that season, and instead, there I was, feeling like it was unfinished because they HADN’T returned from their journeys wiser and stronger, ready to change their worlds. Nope. They were still struggling and learning.

Just because I SAW the hero’s journeys in season 3 (a little late, mind you, since they started in s1 in the ‘hot people in the apocalypse’ phase,) doesn’t mean THAT was the entirety of the hero’s journey. It actually stands to reason that if they’re on a hero’s journey, that it’s a whole series long journey. Oooh. But then this hiatus, someone was like... are you sure Clarke isn’t on a HEROINE’S journey? And I, not really being an expert on the heroine’s journey and only seeing the hero’s part of it (which is like the first half of the heroine’s journey?) had to go research it and LO AND BEHOLD, her journey was the HEROINE’S journey, which TOTALLY fits with the dual protagonist, yin/yang, dark/light, head/heart, binary stars, feminist, mythic, epic love story of it all. NOW it all makes sense, why I couldn’t understand that her hero’s journey hadn’t finished yet (because it shifted into the more unexpected heroine’s journey.)

It always frustrates me when people say I can’t admit I’m wrong and am delusional about bellarke, because I have continually adjusted my theories as the story has gone on, changing them when something is off and doesn’t match canon and THAT’S why my theories are still holding up, which they are. Because I keep checking them back against canon. And when canon confirms the theories I have, I keep using them. When canon josses my theories and headcanons, I adjust. I ask myself, okay where did I go wrong? what is he really saying here? I’ve been struggling, particularly with Raven and Murphy’s roles in the show, and talked to various people about them, because I couldn’t grab ahold of them. With shipping, particularly, things can get confused. I’m wondering if Raven’s love story is not for another person at all, what if it’s self love? Because her most consistent relationships have actually been with familial relationships. Clarke as sister. Bellamy as big brother. Abby as mom. Sinclair as dad. While the romances have failed her. (whether they intended to start out this way or not idk, since all the actors who played her love interests asked to leave or were fired.) And I’m wondering if Murphy’s main love story is actually a spiritual love story. His romance with Emori is a good one, but here he is now wondering about immortality and morality, and he’s always been concerned with that just not secure enough to have answers. Maybe spirituality is his route to finding peace within his soul and coping with his mental illness and trauma? IDK. ANYWAY

I don’t think this show is flawless, and maybe they’ve had to franken-stitch some of their plotlines together to fit when things didn’t work out, and maybe some of their subplots ended in a way that didn’t satisfy us because we wanted something BETTER for those characters even though the tragic ending was part of the larger narrative, but I agree that it is seamless, one leading to the other to the next. When I look back at the storylines I didn’t understand or didn’t like as much, I can see how they fit with the larger narrative. How they lead to the ending the whole show is heading towards.

It’s actually very exciting. It’s not a new way to tell stories, it’s an old one, but it’s not one we see on tv very often, with its ratings and early cancellations and dependence on seasonal !POW! endings to keep people watching, and it’s impatience with slow story telling. They COMMITTED to a long term story despite the risk, and that must have been really hard with the pressures from hollywood and the money people and fandom and reviewers and even the cast. it’s remarkable and I can’t wait to see how it’s wrapped up. No matter what the endings are for our fave characters, I think it will be fascinating to see. And being able to watch the whole show, knowing how it ends, and that it was all crafted to be that way, is going to be really cool. It’s impressive, actually. I think the future will actually be much kinder to this show than the present is. Watching it week to week, you can’t see the development so much, but when we get the whole thing, everyone will be able to see it. I think this series is going to count as a future classic.

It’s like the reverse of GOT. We expected GOT to be novelistic, based on the epic ASOIAF novels as it was, we expected it to have a grand structure that pulled everything together and gave it a bigger meaning, and in the end, it was trash shlock with no meaning past boobies, action, trauma porn, and dragons. HOWEVER, The 100 was thought to be some trash teen scifi soap with no meaning but hooking up, action, trauma porn and apocalypses, and it’s ending up being an epic novelistic series with a grand structure that pulls everything together and gives it meaning. Basically, if JR had been hired by HBO to do GOT, he would have done it right. But D&D were hollywood hacks and flim flam men who only know how to do surface and don’t understand story. (and are also racist and misogynistic bullies.)

ANYWAY, nonny. Do you have a blog? You should be writing this stuff down under your own name. If you send it to me on anon because you don’t have your own blog, you should think about it. I’m pretty sure that @jeanie205 and @travllingbunny would agree with me. I have limited what meta I reblog due to past experiences, but I think other people would like to follow you.

#the 100 #epic story #novelistic #narrative arc #series finale

32 notes · View notes

scrappywriting · 5 years

Text

Laslow has a crush on like, everyone, and he knows it. Selena and Odin sit there listening to him gush about the newest person; they're supportive or vaguely teasing because all of them know it won't last. It never does.

They've been in Nohr for three months exactly. They've been in the service of the Nohrian royal family for thirteen days and twelve hours. In those thirteen days they had met up, sometimes in pairs, sometimes the whole trio, but now was the first time they'd been unsupervised.

Laslow checks nonetheless- Niles is already suspicious-looking, and it's clear that not everyone was happy with three complete strangers being assigned to guard two princes and a princess.

But they must be in the clear because the first thing out of Laslow's mouth is "Lord Xander is amazing!" and it's higher-pitched than normal. Like Laslow is trying to contain his enthusiasm and failing, badly.

"Oh my gods," Selena groans, rolling her eyes in the most exaggerated way. "Laslow, not again!"

"Lord Leo's gone on about Lord Xander," Odin muses from his books. Nohr's library has as many as (present, not Future) Ylisse's. Odin devoured all of them for his theatrics, and simply because he loved to know things. How can he resist an entirely new world with entirely new lore? "The Crown Prince of Nohr. The eldest, most responsible sibling. The genius who excels in nearly everything, and only fails to outpace Lord Leo in magic."

"And he told you this much?"

"No, he told Niles. Lord Leo noticed and asked me to find a lodestone "imbued with the essence of darkness" immediately."

Selena looks at Odin. Laslow looks at Odin, too.

"...and did you?"

"Of course! How could the great Odin Dark fail to acquire a lodestone whose twin soul called out to him? I travelled long and far- buuut that's not the point." Maybe his backtracking has something to do with the look his friends are giving him. "From how Lord Leo spoke of his elder brother, fondly, but with envy dripping off every word, even my dark aura couldn't help being impressed."

"Now that you mention it, Lady Camilla spoke of Xander as well. But Lady Camilla is fond of all her siblings, and most of the castle, too."

"Even you?" Odin teases, and he leans back in his chair as Selena swipes at him.

"Especially me. I'm her favourite retainer." It's been under fourteen days, so who knows if that's true. But Selena seems proud, and then she stops, looking at Laslow expectantly. "What makes Lord Xander is so great, Laslow?"

Laslow's eyes light up. His whole face lights up, and he spends the next thirty minutes telling them.

Camilla hugs him. She hugs everyone, so Laslow's really nothing special. The interaction is only three minutes at most, and a lot of fawning over Selena, not her "handsome little friend" (who she's surely heard all about from Xander, because the siblings are close). Eventually Camilla leaves and tells them to relax while they can, and to take care of themselves.

Selena turns, maybe to apologize for how huggy Camilla was, or maybe to smugly tell Laslow that Camilla really is the best Royal. But his eyes are wide and bright as he stares after Camilla, and all those thoughts scatter. She's seen that look. Odin's seen that look.

He's head over heels with adoration, and it's not even new. But for some reason it makes her embarrassed to think of: Laslow is going to be padding after her, asking her to have tea. Camilla will put up with it, maybe even coo over him.

"Laslow!"

"She's amazing," he breathes, and his voice- catches? in his throat? "I'd seen her training before, but now? Beautiful, caring, strong; you've told me of her threats to enemies, how she adores her allies. She truly is a goddess!"

"I mean, well, yeah. Lady Camilla is something special."

"She truly is! I can see why you adore her-"

Selena's cheeks go as red as her hair. Her voice squeaks, just a little. "Excuse me?"

It's not as sharp as it usually is.

Laslow talks, on and on, about the little things he's noticed from their interaction. About how Camilla really isn’t just a pretty lady; she wields a battleaxe with ease, and her hugs could break bone. (Maybe.)

For some reason, Selena doesn't tell Laslow to be quiet.

Odin calls Laslow to the library, then begs off for some epic quest. That's the only reason Laslow is in the library in the first place- the books Odin's been reading are good, but dense. The view from the windows is nice, though, and it's peaceful enough: occasionally castle staff wanders in and out, sometimes using it as a shortcut between other rooms.

Someone's left a chess board.

Lord Leo appears looking for Odin, then looking a little put out that the astounding Odin Dark has vanished into thin air. He’s undeniably pretty, and Laslow says something he doesn’t remember in the end: about difficult missions and grand adventures, and how Odin will likely be back with some tall tale to excuse the wait. Can he help?

Helping, apparently, is by playing chess.

He isn't terrible at it, but he isn't great, either. They talk as they play but in the end Leo beats him soundly. He thanks Laslow, then excuses himself politely; the assignment he has really cannot wait. Only when his footsteps have well faded and Laslow has put away, then unpacked the chessboard, running his fingers over the pieces, does Odin pop out from behind a bookshelf.

Odin is grinning, wider and smugger than usual. He must have heard everything- and only then does Laslow realize why Odin call him, then fail to appear to his new liege’s summons, even with the promise of some new and exciting adventure.

"You set me up!"

"Indeed! I heard you met Lady Camilla, but Lord Leo is... not quite a people person. But never mind that! What do you think?"

"He's very private and intelligent. Lord Leo plays long games to save as many pieces as possible, while Lord Xander balances time and sacrifices." He pauses to glance at the board, then grins ruefully. "I can't seem to match wits with either of them."

"And you're crushing on both of them! And Lady Camilla!"

"I know!" Laslow covers his face, and his ears go bright red. "I think it's because they're royalty; they're just, different from a normal per...son..."

He stops. Odin's smug grin goes even wider.

"No! I didn't mean it like that! Odin!"

"Remember that time-"

"Odin!!"

EDIT: Well. I posted this on AO3. Right now it’s just an edited version of this draft, but I guess I could edit this post to have some behind-the-scenes / author confirmation stuff with each new chapter? Assuming I don’t hide under a rock and try to forget about this.

I put in the notes of this post that it was supposed to be 10, but things change and I’ll explain why later. Anyway, each chapter is supposed to have 3 crushes, loosely related/connected somehow, and will be posted when I’m either satisfied with them or sick and tired of seeing them.

Chapter/Section 1: Nohr Siblings (Xander, Camilla, Leo)

"I think it's because they're royalty" - Intended as a noodle incident in which Laslow had a crush on any (or all) royal(s) in Ylisse's family. Despite being dorks, FE royalty tends to be good-looking and just "better" than common folk, yeah?

This chapter was the easiest to write, since I didn’t actually commit myself to the story. It’s been mostly done for a while, and just edited a bit since. Once I kind of committed myself to this being a 12-part (4 part?) story, this became the part I was kind of dissatisfied with: not really a “story”, because it wasn’t.

Chapter/Section 2: "Close Acquaintances” (Peri, Corrin, Felicia)

Odin and Laslow are both freaked out by Peri in their supports. I never understood that- they’ve dealt with the loss of their parents, and jumped back in time, and fought in a war they shouldn’t have been born for, and defeated a dragon who was also a god. Peri’s small fry.

I wrote the middle section envisioning Odin misfiring a spell and burning his arms up to his elbows. Magic’s energy, injuries are physical, so he’s totally wiped. If you assumed Laslow helped him to a cot and just threw him facedown, good! (Edit: He’s awfully chatty for someone who’s wiped, and that’s based on my personal experiences with injuries and general illness. Barring sore throats, I sound totally fine up till I conk out. I know it’s not the case for everyone, but Odin seems the type.)

Felicia reminds me a lot of Cynthia, and I imagine Selena would remember how she underestimated Cynthia and could only tie with her in competitions. Also, I believe Selena’s the best at giving people silent treatment until they cave. (Though, it doesn’t work on Beruka or Camilla.)

Chapter/Section 3: ??? (66% 'done’; aiming for March 12, 2019)

Alright, I obviously haven’t managed to update this as intended. Do I have a good reason? Nah. I managed to cut my pinky finger, which doesn’t super affect my typing. If I typed for longer than a few minutes it’d start to feel odd and tingly. But good news; the cut’s finally closed up and the tingling is dying down, so things should be back on track soon!

Further update: Turns out your pinky is actually important to grip strength and there’s minor nerve damage to the tune of “Hm, it’s a little difficult to bend it in a claw stretch”.

Chapter/Section 4: ??? (66% ‘done’; aiming for March 19, 2019)

#Fire Emblem Fates #Unfinished fic #Laslow #Selena #Odin #saved in my files as #Laslow: Puppy Love #basically he crushes on 10 people #over the course of the draft #and his friends make fun of him #and he regrets talking to them every time #FE14

11 notes · View notes

sparda3g · 6 years

Text

One Piece Chapter 909 Review

It’s only a week break and the craze over Reverie Arc isn’t stopping. After the last chapter, the hype level has gone through the roof. The break is over and we are back for the grand stage of them all, Reverie. That’s what I would like to say if the chapter did resume right where we left off. Instead, Oda has another plan in mind and it’s certainly an interesting one. While I doubt we will skip Reverie entirely, a small teaser for what’s to come after is looking very promising.

I was anxious to see the follow-up from the last chapter, but it shifts to focus elsewhere. While the series has done that many times before, it didn’t go back to Reverie here, which is disappointing. However, that doesn’t mean this chapter is the same. It makes up for exploring more lore depth of its world and a surprise that I wasn’t prepared for.

It’s good to see the Mink Tribe again after a long time, though they’re not at Zoe. They’re at some random island where Marco is located at. That’s a relief to know he’s not dead or missing or anything bad. In fact, he has taken a role of a doctor to the poor people in the island. It’s as if the series has concluded and we are witnessing his epilogue. The presence of the First Division Commander of Whitebeard is gone.

Like previous chapters, it has an inserted trivia, this time about Marco and the aftermath of Whitebeard’s death. It does upset me to be reminded that he couldn’t avenge his captain. It also reminded me that the crew have scattered apart, not knowing what everyone is doing. At least it’s good to know Marco is doing well and friendly with the citizens.

What adds a lot more to his contributions is the backstory of the island. It’s actually Whitebeard’s homeland and it’s separated from the World Government due to its poor finance, which means no resources or anything. It’s an island that can rot and no one would notice. Sure, pirates can land and roam free, but it’s not exactly uplifting. What’s uplifting however is Whitebeard and his dedication to his homeland.

He was the guy that strived to help the island with the collected treasures and such. Even if his friends or anyone he knew no longer live there, he still contributed. In short, Whitebeard was truly a kindhearted gentlemen. His crew treasured their life over money or whatever considered greed. Blackbeard is the one who ruined the flow. I have to admit, I was touched when Marco begins to weep because in reality, even when Whitebeard was stingy with his crew, they all knew why and they respected him. They were true pirates.

There’s an interesting note about Weevil, the guy who proclaimed himself as Whitebeard’s son. As of now, it appears that Weevil is full of crap, or rather Bakkin is. It’s evident that she would claim it since she was part of Whitebeard’s pirate for 40 years. It sounds to me that she uses the name in order to reign over the next inheritance, even if there is none. I don’t mean to judge but with that look, I highly doubt Whitebeard went there…

It’s a bit shame that Marco won’t be able to tag along with the crew. However, it’s very kind of him to look after the island in case of Weevil or anyone target it. It speaks volume on how faithful Marco is to Whitebeard like a true comrade. I admire that type of person. It’s amusing for Nekomamushi and Marco hanging out like good friends; always uplifting. Wano Country was mentioned, so I was starting to prepare myself for the so called epic arc. What I didn’t expect is we get to see it now.

I doubt Oda has skipped Reverie and already begun the Wano Country Arc, but I believe this is a hell of a teaser and preparation for the next set of adventure. The country looks really splendid with the mix of the typical design of Edo and Oda’s imagination. I like how the giant root is the place holder for the main tower (pardon me for not remembering the name) that goes around for tree to grow. It’s a really nice visual of its country; already looking forward to Oda’s input.

Speaking of the country, we do get inner sight of it by following the other Straw Hats Crew. Frankie is working as a carpenter and being praised for his fantastic work with insults. Don’t ask why, but apparently, it is fine to bad mouth them; as long as you praise their work. Usopp is a toad oil salesman that sells oil that can miraculously heal your cut and wipe off the blood instantly. I don’t know if he’s a con artist, but it would fit him too perfect if true.

As for Robin, she’s performing as Geisha. She does look pretty as one. Out of the three, she seems like the one that has the hardest to adjust the role. Then again, judging by that lady’s words about mastering the performance very fast, perhaps she’s stepping up rapidly. It’s very clear when the lady mentioned the chance to enter Shogun’s Drawing Room, so maybe she’s motivated to do so.

The flashback covers the notion on why they’re separated. Basically, they are exploring the country in the time being before they have enough people to engage. It explains why each of the characters have a different name, which is amusing to say the least. The Shogun’s name is Kurozumi Orochi; the first name already spells bad news (no pun intended). Kin’emon warned everyone that they shall not make a “noise” of their presence or else, Kaidou will know. What can possibly go wrong?!

The one character that I left out is Zoro, and wouldn’t you know it, he’s already causing trouble. As the chapter’s title reads, someone is getting seppuku and of course, it’s Zoro. In his defense, it’s unclear if he’s truly the “street murdering” culprit. I don’t see him causing that kind of ruckus. What evaluated his crime is him holding the legendary sword, Shusui. It’s important because it came from Ryuma, who was last seen in Thriller Bark Arc. The use of its lore is fascinating.

The cliffhanger is pretty damn cool yet very worrisome. It appears one of the official is the actual culprit yet hid away like anyone with power tends to abuse. Just before Zoro about to commit seppuku, he dashes and slice the crap out of him along with the building. All done with a seppuku blade. That’s badass. I really like the paneling before the slice; made the moment engaging and satisfying. That all said Zoro is exposed. What happens next is anyone’s guess. But hey, it’s his year now, right?

This was a really good switch of scenery chapter. There was a nice heartfelt moment with Marco, who is growing to me as a character. I really admire his dedication. Wano Country looks very promising with its setting and buildup for what’s to come. It was amusing to see what Straw Hats Crew are working at the time being, exploring the country deeper. Zoro ended the chapter in a badass yet alarming way possible. Now I don’t want Oda to shift back to Reverie; not until this is resolved. Is this the year of Zoro? If he is taken hostage, it will be. I’m kidding…

I think…

#one piece #chapter 909 #review

7 notes · View notes

ramajmedia · 5 years

Text

Star Wars: 10 Most Crucial Leia Organa Moments (So Far)

While much hype surrounds the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, we can’t help but feel tinges of sadness at the fact Carrie Fisher won’t be around to attend any of the premieres or screenings of a movie that will bring an end to one of the most epic adventures in cinema history. Her character of Leia Organa has been a pivotal part of not just the original trilogy, but the sequels as well.

RELATED: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: 10 Showdowns We Want To See

Leia will still be in the movie of course, with JJ Abrams primed to use unused footage from The Force Awakens in order to give her a satisfying send-off. We now take a look at the top 10 moments for the character ahead of her final appearance this Christmas.

10 Hiding The Death Star Plans

Star Wars kicked off all the way back in 1977 when A New Hope released, allowing fans to dream of life in outer space. And one of the biggest moments of the entire saga happens early on when Leia hides the plans for the Death Star, sparking panic among Darth Vader and the rest of the Empire as they try to ensure they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

Leia puts them inside R2D2 before sending the droid on his way using an escape pod. This act ultimately paves the way for the Rebel Alliance blowing up the first Death Star at the conclusion of the blockbuster and shows her feisty, fiery and rebellious nature from the very start of the saga.

9 Standing Up To Tarkin

Grand Moff Tarkin may not walk around in a frightening mask, or wield a lightsaber, but he’s just as evil as Darth Vader. He shows little sympathy for Leia Organa and when she fails to tell the Empire where the Rebel Alliance’s base is hidden, this prompts Tarkin into destroying her home planet of Alderaan and murdering thousands, perhaps millions, of people in the process.

And while Leia’s refusal to give up the location of the base costs them, it’s a key moment for her character. We see that she’s not somebody easily intimidated, instead looking her captor straight in the eyes and putting her foot down. This was particularly revolutionary for its time period, making Carrie Fisher’s character one of the strongest female personas to grace the big screen in such a big movie.

8 Kissing Han Solo

Han Solo and Leia Organa have a love-hate relationship right from the moment they meet onboard the first Death Star in A New Hope. And that was ramped up several notches for the sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, where they seem to spend the majority of their time clashing and dealing put-downs to one another.

RELATED: Star Wars: 6 Best Sequel Trilogy Characters (& 4 Worst)

But there is a touching moment where she kisses Han Solo. At the time we didn’t know whether it was the loveable rogue or golden boy Luke Skywalker who had her affection but, all these years later, that scene stands out. It’s the first sign of romance between the two and paves the way for the rocky relationship that they will have over the next 30 years.

7 Saving Luke Using The Force

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was certainly a movie full of twists and turns and, even to this day, is commonly regarded as the best the franchise has to offer. Nobody saw Darth Vader being Luke Skywalker’s father, nor did anybody expect Vader himself to merely be a puppet for a far greater power.

And one of the biggest surprises of the blockbuster comes when Leia uses the force to sense Luke’s in grave danger of dying following his defeat to his father on Cloud City. Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca are shocked when she demands they turn the Millennium Falcon around just as they’re about to escape. And they’re even more surprised when Leia’s powers lead her into saving Luke from a premature death.

6 Killing Jabba

Leia is far from a damsel in distress during the original Star Wars trilogy but she still finds herself in need of help when she gets captured by Jabba the Hutt during 1981’s Return of the Jedi. The Princess is enslaved by the villain after she had tried to free Han Solo from Carbonite late into the night on Tatooine while the occupants of the gangster’s palace sleep.

RELATED: Star Wars: 10 Things We Wish The Sequel Trilogy Had Done (So Far)

But she shows herself to be more than a match for the giant slug when she chokes him to death using the chains used to keep her by his side. She does what she needs to in order to survive and demonstrates that, while Luke Skywalker and Han Solo do much of the killing, she’s able to cross the line when she needs to as well. It’s just what Jabba deserved.

5 Realizing The Truth

Later on in Return of the Jedi, we see Leia Organa learn the truth during a conversation with Luke Skywalker on the forest moon of Endor. That being that she has the force because she’s the sister of the Jedi Knight and, therefore, the daughter of Sith Lord and villain of the original trilogy Darth Vader as well.

This is huge because it’s also what Luke uses to help him defeat Vader during their epic showdown on the second Death Star. He’s on the verge of turning to the dark side, looking on course to murder his father in anger, after Vader provokes him by hinting he’d try and turn his daughter evil should his son fail to oblige. Leia doesn’t know this but we’re betting Luke told her afterward.

4 Choosing Han Solo

As mentioned above, Star Wars fans thought for a long time that Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa would actually be romantically linked. But when this is revealed not to be the case it clears the path for the Rebel Alliance hero to go with Han Solo instead.

Even Han thought that Leia would perhaps choose his close friend, displaying signs of jealousy as the movie goes on. But this allows Return of the Jedi to end on a high, allowing fans to dream of a world where the two heroes settle down, have children and live peaceful lives. The first two end up happening, of course, but the third? As The Force Awakens showed that doesn’t go exactly to plan.

3 Reuniting With Han Solo

Fans were hopeful Han Solo and Leia Organa would be living in bless when The Force Awakens released in 2015. How wrong they would be. For a large chunk of the movie it’s established that the duo split for unknown reasons. And only after reuniting on the planet of Takodana, following a Resistance vs First Order dogfight on the planet, do we learn the reason why.

RELATED: Rise Of Skywalker: 10 Star Wars Mysteries We've Never Had Answered

It was the fall of their only child, Ben Solo, that caused issues. The pain of seeing their boy follow the same path to the dark side as his grandfather Darth Vader was too much for the duo, with Leia choosing to fight alongside the Resistance and Han opting to go back to his own smuggling ways. They also share a touching scene later in the movie before Solo dies via his son’s hand on Starkiller Base.

2 Stopping Her Son From Killing Her

While Ben Solo, AKA Kylo Ren, had no qualms about murdering his father in cold blood during The Force Awakens, we learn during 2017’s The Last Jedi that he seems to have a soft spot for his mother. He is instructed to murder her and the Resistance fleet by Supreme Leader Snoke and appears on course to do exactly that - before an interaction with his mother prompts a change of heart.

Leia and Kylo interact using the force and it’s clear that Kylo is left emotionally impacted. He pauses on pulling the trigger but the two First Order TIE Fighters take fire anyway. It shows, though, that Leia is special. And it also shows that all hope may not be lost for Ben Solo after all...

1 Saying Goodbye

There’s only one place to end this list. And that’s with Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa’s emotional final exchange during The Last Jedi on the planet of Crait, shortly before the former sacrifices himself for the sake of the Resistance escaping the planet and continuing their fight against the First Order.

It’s one of those movie scenes which gives you goosebumps and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy on screen. It was like witnessing something special seeing both Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill sharing the screen for one last time - we think. And it was that goodbye, that reconciliation, which gave Luke the courage to do what he did. Leia’s ability to keep her emotions intact, despite knowing of her brother’s intentions and losing Han Solo mere weeks previously, is something to be admired as well.

NEXT: Rise of Skywalker: 6 Force Ghosts We'd Like To See (And 4 We Don't)

source https://screenrant.com/star-wars-best-leia-organa-moments/

#screenrant

0 notes

rajasthantourism · 5 years

Text

Things to do in Sambhar

When it comes to hidden gems and places to explore, no place comes close to Rajasthan.No matter what you want to enjoy or experience, you are bound to find some or the other destination in Rajasthan that caters to your aspirations.

One among these destinations is Sambhar that’s located in Jaipur district. It is a small town which is quite well-known among visitors. Sambhar is surrounded by Sambhar Lake, which is actually India’s largest inland salt lake; and if you think you’ve heard of the place, it’s probably because Sambhar is famous for Bird watching, Adventure activities, Film and prewedding shoots.

To help with your itinerary, here are the top things you can do at Sambhar:

Wildlife

India’s largest saline wetland, the Sambhar Lake is also a designated Ramsar Site (recognized the wetland of international importance) attracting tens of thousands of flamingos and other migratory birds from northern Asia and Siberia from November to February. When the monsoon arrives in the month of July, the lake erupts with joy with the chirping cacophony of the avian species the most common being coots, black-winged stilts, sandpipers and redshanks.

In addition one can also find foxes and blue bulls roaming freely in the 24000-hectare area.

Film Destination

It’s exotic locations the Bollywood has found an interest in Sambhar. Scene of some of the popular cinema shot here includes names like Rajkumar Hirani’s popular Film – PK, Ashutosh Gowariker’s – Jodha Akbar, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s – Delhi 6 etc.

Photography

As mentioned before, Sambhar Lake is also one of the most popular destinations for pre-wedding, fashion shoots and Film Shoots. But, did you know that it is also quite popular for astrophotography?!

Far away from any kind of light pollution, the Salt Lake at Sambhar offers a naked eye’s view of the Milky Way galaxy on any given new moon night. As for the lake itself, it is a paradise for videographers and photographers as they can gaze upon millions of colours that they can capture within their lenses.

Sambhar Lake happens to be one of the purest and the most satisfying natural landscapes that makes for a perfect shoot. The beauty of the place, especially at sunset and sunrise is something that words fall short of describing.

Adventure – Biking, Stargazing, Camping

Another popular activity that adventure seekers and adrenaline junkies can enjoy at Sambhar is going for a bike adventure. You can also head out to Sambhar Salt Lake and choose from riding ATVs, quad bikes or head out cycling.

Also, As the area is so far away from the city, it becomes the perfect place for star-gazers. After moonset and on nights with a new moon, people can gaze straight into the heavens as this is a place that offers you a naked eye view of the Milky Way galaxy.

Whether it is for photography or just to enjoy a small moment in time, you get to revel in the presence of thousands of stars which make for the perfect backdrop of a beautiful memory. If star-gazing is something that interests you, Sambhar is where you need to go.

Religious Side of Sambhar

Sambhar is just not famous for wildlife and adventure activities, It has a religious angle too. Whether it’s Shakambhari Mata Temple, Devyani Kund or Sharmistha Sarovar each the site has its own importance.

The 2500 years old Shakambhari Mata Temple dedicated to the Goddess Shakmbhari, believed to be and incarnation of Goddess Durga is one the 3-shaktipeeths attributed to Mother Shakambhari. It is a venue of a grand religious fair on the days of Bhado Sudi (Shukla Paksha) Ashtami.

Devayani Kund also known as the little Pushkar, it is one of the several freshwater bodies surrounding the Sambhar lake. The places find mention in the epic Mahabharata as the site where Devayani, daughter of the guru of demons, Sukracharya married the King Yayati. A temple dedicated to Devayani stands by this trank.

Sharmistha, the friend of Devayani was the daughter of great Daitya King Vrishparva and was given as dowry to King Yayati when he married Devayani. King Yayati also married Sharmistha and one of their three sons, puru of epic Mahabharata is claimed as the progenitors of Jat Clan. Sharmistha Sarovar is another such water body dedicated to Sharmistha.

Heritage Walk

Amidst the temples, kunds and bazaars, you can take a heritage walk exploring the historic settlement of Sambhar.

· Tourist walk-Sambhar Town: Sun Temple(Chhota Bazaar), Joshiyon ki gali (Via Charbhuja Temple), Nizamat (Nagar Palika Bhawan), Dadu Dwara, Bada Bazaar, Nikasa Mohalla, Mataji ka Chabutra, Ram Leela Rang Manch, Dargah, Jain Temple, Gola Bazaar.

Salt Museum

The destination also provides a glimpse into the process of salt extraction. Witnessing the salt wagering wagons and a visit to the Salt Museums displaying salt samples from all over India housed in an old colonial building is a unique experience.

Train Ride

The 117-year old meter gauge train line has been repaid over the stretch of about 11 km along the lake. The tourist train having four coaches, which will bring tourists up and close with the winged wonders and breathtaking vistas of the lake merging with the Skyline.

Sambhar is truly an amazing destination that has a lot in store for the traveller, the nomad, the purist, the stargazer and the adventure junkie in you - it is a slightly off-beat experience that will etch its place forever in your heart.

0 notes

b1narytake0ver · 7 years

Text

My Favorite Games of the Year - 2016

I know it's a little late but now that the year is over I thought this would be a good time to look over the games that were. 2016 has been an amazing year for games even if it was a pretty bad year overall. So without further ado here is my list of games.

Honorable Mentions

This was such an amazing year for video games and there were some games that just didn’t make this list. Keep in mind I haven't tried a bunch of late year releases (Final Fantasy XV and Last Guardian). These are the games I really enjoyed this year but just didn’t make my top 10.

Doom

Owlboy

Oxenfree

Rhythm Heaven: Megamix

Headlander

Punch Club

Hitman

10. Glittermitten Groove / Frog Fraction 2

Frog Fractions is a little known web game that came out of nowhere back in 2012. Frog Fractions 2 on the other hand was kickstarted some years ago with the promise that it could appear as any game. Well recently the game was found out, Glittermitten Groove. Buried deep in a fairy building simulation game is Frog Fractions 2. Just like the crazy lead up the game bends and pulls around the definition of what a game should be. You play it knowing that anything can happen at any time and it really captures a feeling so few games can. If you like wacky games this is a must play.

9. Overcooked

This is the best local multiplayer game of the year bar none. The best part of Overcooked is the sheer simplicity of the mechanics. There is something about the mechanics that just lends itself to replayability. It scratches an itch to make things more efficient. Every map feels like an efficiency puzzle that there is always a better way to move around ingredients. Grab some friends and play this game!

8. The Witness

The Witness is a one of a kind puzzle game. The game slowly reveals the rules of its world without a single line of text. Answers are never explicit so you end up building a set of rules in your head. The puzzles are quite satisfying and deep, you really need a pad of paper to make any progress. The visual and audio polish only adds to the world even if the gameplay is relegated to small line puzzles. A must play for fans of puzzles big and small.

7. Dragon Quest Builders

Dragon Quest Builders is an impressive game in many respects. Square Enix is the first developer I've seen really embrace the minecraft formula. The big difference here is they mix minecraft with structured quests. You are placed in a dragon quest themed world where no one knows how to build anything… except you! You basically act as their savior taking on quests and building the things they ask for. This leads to a really addicting formula, hours just melt away when you play this game. I’ve only played a little more than half the game with over 30 hours in. There is so much to get lost in when your playing Dragon Quest Builders.

6. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

Uncharted 4 is a complete spectacle from start to finish. Easily the most technically impressive visuals I've seen in a game. There were countless times when I stopped playing just to gawk at the scenery. Uncharted 4 is a well balanced adventure game. It lets you get in grand firefights but still surprises you with its intimate moments. Playing crash bandicoot with your wife has to be one of the best gaming moments of the year. There might be one too many climbing sequences but Uncharted 4 is an epic adventure that never stops surprising you.

5. Inside

Inside is an impressive achievement for games. The animation quality in this game is second to none, everything has a distinct look that just instantly won me over. The game does a great job of telling a story without a single line of dialogue. Some of the puzzles are innovative in a way you don’t see too often. The ending is surprising to say the least but its easily one of the best moments of year.

4. Pokemon Moon

Pokemon Moon is easily one of the best Pokemon games ever made. Nostalgia aside it’s the most accessible and easy to play Pokemon yet. The new trail system is a nice change of pace compared to the old 8 gyms and elite 4 trope. With this entry GameFreak finally adds a ton of quality of life improvements to the core game and it really makes Pokemon Moon a joy to play.

3. Firewatch

Firewatch is a stunning game, the vistas alone are gorgeous. Its not all looks as it has some of the most down to earth and fluid writing of any video game I've ever played. I really feel a connection to the main characters Henry and Delilah. The story starts really strong with lots of mystery and intrigue but I wasn't a big fan of how everything ends up. That’s totally fine because I enjoyed every minute leading up to it, it’s a journey worth taking.

2. Overwatch

Overwatch is a game I have come to really admire. Blizzard was able to create a perfect follow up to team fortress 2 while still making it feel fresh and new. The personalities alone are some of the most refreshing characters in years. It's even more impressive when you hear that Overwatch is built up out of the old assets from their cancelled MMO Titan. The holiday events are smart and keep me coming back to the game over and over again. Overwatch is a great game with clever game design that never stops surprising you with its depth.

1. Stardew Valley

The image attached is a picture of my real stardew valley farm. Up to this point I’ve put over 50 hours into this game. I can confidently say that this is the harvest moon I always wanted. Harvest moon has been special to me growing up, I have many fond moments bonding with my sister over the game. Harvest moon felt transcendent, it had heart. It was more than just high scores, It was about making deep connections with friends and animals. Stardew valley nails what made those games so addictive while even improving on the formula. This game was made by a solo developer and it shows how much care he put into each character. This game took be by surprised in the best way possible, Stardew Valley is far and away my favorite game of the year.

#GOTY #goty 2016

0 notes