#maybe it is and vol 1 is done and coming 'soon'

[thyme-in-a-bubble]

daisy, porn links vol. 3

this one is centred around their summer after high school (chapter 10) and the time after the series (college vibes, we love)

there might be spoilers in this for the series

daisy series masterlist – p links vol. 1 – vol. 2 – vol. 4 – vol. 5

school is over and summer is upon us. sure, Steve is a bit sad that he's gonna have to say goodbye to the uniform, but it's good that he can cheer himself up a bit with flowy summer dresses...

beg and beg and beg on his knees till you occasionally wear them without anything under. give him easy access to tease you to his hearts content. watch as he gets you literally dripping down your thighs and wound up in a way that he might not even be ready for. although welcome the happy surprise none the less. it's his fault, if you can't get enough of him after he has cum, then that's his problem. he'll just have to take it (which he happily does omg, you can overstimulate him as much as you want)

and i mentioned that they go out on all sorts of adventures that summer? this one gives me trip to lovers lake. it starts off by Steve helping you with touching up your sunscreen and turns into this. he'd be whispering in your ear about how you never know who else could get the same urge for a dip in the water, maybe someone is just around the corner? maybe someone is already lurking behind those trees over there...

he'd totally also do that kind of thing where you go through all your memories together, like travel to the places where they happened. one day he takes you out into the woods at the exact spot where he told you that he loved you. it started out with him just being like well we have to reenact the kiss, but then before you knew it this happened.

and that road trip? *screams* CAR SEX!

he will make such a mess all over the seats...(ignore that the car is actually moving in this one lol)

and even at night when he's maybe driving the last bit before getting to one of the motels you were staying at, you're getting sleepy, getting comfy in the seat beside him. he just has his hand glued on your thigh, caressing it dangerously high. and the sleepier you get, the more you slump in the seat, gliding down and causing your dress to ride up... well, let's just say that he keeps you awake till you reach the motel...

but eventually you arrive at college, now with a new roomie at your little student apartment...

one could say that he's amazing company

he is your best friend after all

and now he's always just right there, ready to distract and help you relax, counteract some of that uni stress that is inevitable

one day you come home totally ready to fall back on the instant ramen that keeps so many students alive. but then, just as you enter the small kitchen, there is Steve! apparently, he's sick of watching you live off that stuff just because you don't have time. I have the time, I can learn how to cook! can't be that hard. so it becomes a ritual on days when your classes run long. you come home and sit up on the counter, watching the last few moments as he finishes up dinner

as soon as the food is in the oven and his hands are free, the pants are flying off! I've got you, ace, I've got you, he will whisper while keeping you from slipping off tiny sliver of the counter you're balancing on as he pounds into you

and even though you were done with private school, he still made sure you kept the uniform...

and living together means showering together.

and you two tend to get dirty so easily...

guess that just means a lot of showers!

steve, are you seriously hard again? I literally just blew you in the shower.

the former high school athlete even convinces you to join him at the gym, even if that just means never getting past your warm up because holy shit is your boyfriend hot when he's working out

you don't really wanna go to any college parties, but Steve keeps telling you how it's a crucial experience and that he'll go with you so that you won't get bored or even anxious. sure, you could say that he makes sure you have fun... he drags you into the frat house's bathroom after maybe a few too many shots, makes you stare at your own reflection as he fucks you from behind, telling you to ignore the crowd of guys that eventually gather outside the door once your activities became clear over the loud music. although, you can't help but notice how his own moans and grunts become louder as the audience outside offer drunken comments

one new years, this is his resolution. that's all. he just wants to train your throat throughout the new year so that you'll eventually be able to take him like that.

it's not because he needs you to learn that skill. you truly don't need to do anything but smile at him and he's blowing his load

and he knows he's huge and that you can barely even handle the tip, but fuck if he doesn't wanna try...

he just loves you so crazy much

and living together also means just all of the cosy domestic moments

just lazy little moments like this

an alarm clock? what even is that

from now on Steve is your alarm. he'll never let you get up late for class...

long story short, having your best friend as a roomie was a good idea

probably the best idea ever

#lea’s writing #daisy #p link #p links #steve harrington #steve harrington smut #stranger things smut #stranger things p links #steve harrington p links #joe keery smut #perv!steve harrington x reader #perv!steve #perv!steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington x female reader smut #steve harrington x y/n #steve harrington x y/n smut #steve harrington x you

[itsscromp]

Hi, I have a Rocket request. Can you do something before vol 1 where he meets reader and they are really kind to him, but no one's never be this kind except from Groot, so it takes some time for him to trust them and "get used" to it.

Kindness goes a long way

AWWWW, this is a super cute anon, I love this idea so much. Rocket don't you worry buddy, you'll have another best friend and you won't even know it. Word count:1K

All his life, all Rocket knew was pain... He lost his friends in the worst way possible, which made him closed off and angry. Pushing away anyone who tried to get close to him as he always knew they would just hurt them again. He then met Groot and then began to slowly open up. He knew because Groot wasn't the type to judge anyone. But then he met you.

He and Groot were trying to nab a bounty one night before they were beaten to it by you.

"Hey come on kid, that was our bounty" He snarled at you.

"I didn't see your name on it" You smirked at him.

He growled at you before Groot placed a hand on his shoulder, to make sure he didn't lunge at you and hurt you.

"Tell you what, I'm feeling generous tonight. How about we claim it together, split the reward evenly" You offered them.

Groot happily accepted it, but Rocket was hesitant, No one, especially in bounty hunting shared the reward with him. Usually, it was every man for themself, but it didn't seem to be that with you. But for now, he agreed.

"If as so you change your mind on this humie..."

"I never back away on my promises furball" You playfully scolded.

He grumbled to himself as you three then went to collect the reward, when you split the amount with the two, Groot then suggested...

"I am Groot" (Maybe They should join us)

"What absolutely no way driftwood, we ain't adding no more to the crew" Rocket shot the idea down as soon as he did.

"But I mean... He's kinda right though, I have seen you two in action before. Your brains, He's the brawn and I could potentially be your eyes to new bounties that you two probably would never get" You counter offered.

"Ok first off you understand what he's saying ??"

"Universal translator" You tapped the side of your head.

"I am Groot" (Rocket they would be a valuable asset with us) Groot continued to convince him.

Rocket rolled his eyes and thought about it for a bit.

"You got a name kid ??"

"Y/n L/n"

"Well... Don't get too comfortable, cause If I see you doing anything funny, I will shoot you"

But nevertheless, you were now officially a part of their little group, looking out for more bounties. But you pulled your weight along the ship too, Sometimes Rocket would be taken aback by your random acts of kindess.

"Oh flark I forgot to fix the cooler" He quickly tried to rush for it.

"It's ok, I fixed it earlier. I thought it'll help take the load off of you" You kindly smiled at him.

"Whatever I could've done it anyway" He scoffed.

Or when one morning you made him breakfast.

"Here you go" You handed him a plate of bacon and eggs.

"I ain't hungry humie" He shoved the plate away from him.

"Dude we got a huge bounty to collect tonight, you can't do that on an empty stomach can we ??" You once again kindly smiled at him.

"Ugh... fine" He muttered as he began to slowly eat.

And when you helped find his missing bomb project.

"Come on come on where did I put it !!!!" He growled as he tore almost half the ship apart to find it.

"What's wrong buddy ??" You tilted your head in confusion.

"First of you and I ain't buddies or pals. Secondly I need to find the bomb I was working on before it blows the damn ship in half !!"

"Ok calm down... Where did you leave it last ??"

"I put it right their next to the crate and when I came back it was gone.

"Oooh was that it ??, I thought it was some sort of gadget, I just moved it to the gadgets cabinet just in case, Sorry about that"

He grumbled a bit as he went to retrieve the bomb, but he was... kinda grateful that it didn't become a tripping hazard to neither you or Groot.

As this went on, he began to very slowly warm up to you and your gestures. Maybe he was wrong about you. Maybe you weren't like the other people he had faced in his life... you were different...

One night when it was your turn for rotation on the cockpit, he then went to join you.

"Seat taken ??" He tried to joke.

"It's ok" You chuckled as an indicator that he could sit.

He joined in with you gazing at the cosmos and fiddling with his thumbs for a little bit until finally gathering the courage.

"Y/n... I'm sorry for the way I treated ya during the beginning, It's just... No one has ever been this... kind to me in my life before... It made me... Really scared.."

"Scared ??" You turned to him, asking in a non judgmental way.

"Scared that..." He hesitated to say it. this was already big for him enough, as soon as he began his sentence, he began to stutter.

"Hey hey... It's ok... If you're not ready to talk about it then that's ok, I'm not forcing you to. You kindly smiled at him.

He then took a deep breath in relief. "What I'm trying to get at kid is... I'm sorry for the way I treated you from the start... Do you think we can start over ??" He looked at you.

You could see it in his eyes he really misjudged you, He really wanted to start over again. "Of course... Partner" You raised your fist for a fist bump.

He grinned soon after and gladly returned it. "Yeah, partner"

For the rest of the night, the two got to know each other properly and even engaged in some playful banter with each other, which made Rocket smile, something that very rarely happens.

Then soon after that, what turned from a simple partnership was turned into an amazing friendship. You two would have each other's backs for life.

Taglist: @callofdudes @fun-k-board

#platonic #reader insert #rocket raccoon #rocket x reader #rocket raccoon x reader #rocket gotg #gotg rocket #gotg imagine #guardians of the galaxy imagine #rocket imagine #rocket raccoon imagine

[pancake-breakfast]

This is it, everyone. The last volume. The final week. The end of an era.

I'm not ready.

Stream-of-consciousness thoughts for TriMax Vol. 14, Chapters 1-3 below.

Chapter 14 Covers

Mind Games, huh? I think Nightow is playing his own mind games with the readers with this bright-and-cheerful fully-blond Vash image here.

Oh, he just HAD to sneak a tiny Wolfwood into the joke cover. Rude.

The back cover is Vash doing his whole love and peace thing. But will this manga end with love and peace? Guess we'll be finding out real soon, huh?

Haahhaha, Chibi Legato looks terrified he's going to fall. It's cute.

GET THAT FEATHER, KURONEKO-SAMA! GET IT!!!

These titles are all so dramatic.

Chapter 1: When Rivalry Comes To An End

CW: Body horror

Gotta get that full ensemble shot in here before the end. I particularly appreciate that the way he drew Livio suggests Razlo is there, too. Though I'll note even here we're not allowed to see Wolfwood's full face.

"I've been livin' by my gun longer than you've been alive!" Hahahahahaha, that's what YOU think.

LOL, Vash's whole reaction to this is gold. He's so casual, and then he realizes the sheer level of discordance with his looks versus his age when people think he's human, panics, and rapidly changes the subject.

I feel like it's unfair to call this a rivalry. The whole of the rivalry is located in Legato's head.

Ugh, them fighting with all the debris falling around them. It's crazy. I wonder if we'll get to see this animated in Stampede.

Vash isn't gonna have any energy or power left for Knives at this rate.

Look at him. He looks so happy.

Yeah, Legato's right. This seems like a severe lack of foresight on Vash's part. Legato was literally giving him trouble back at the beginning of all this before Legato gave him the activated box.

*sigh* Vash is really into burning this Last Run juice here, isn't he. Idiot.

Dude, Legato, now you're polar opposites? I thought you just decided you and Vash were kinnies in the last volume.

I have no idea what's going on here. Legato is screaming. I got that much. I think maybe he destroyed Vash's prosthetic arm?

Awww, is that Little Elendira? What, did Knives just find a bunch of bitter, bitter children and decide to raise them to be bitter, bitter adults??

If Vash pulls the trigger, he simultaneously loses and wins. But... I know how this fight ends.

Heh. And here Vash is, still refusing.

Legato, honey, baby, my boy. Don't. It's ok if you don't get shot. It really really is.

Welp, that's grotesque and terrifying.

Godsdammit, I know how this is gonna play out, but part of me really, REALLY hoped I just heard wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. But the pieces are all in place now, and set up in the right positions, so....

Legato, you asshole. How dare you reduce Livio to only having worth as a tool! I mean, I get it. It's how Legato sees himself, and thus it's how he defines things, but it still stings.

And suddenly Vash is faced with a trolley problem he's not sure he can avoid or solve by other means.

WhAT is THIS??!!!?!?! Sudden Wolfwood?!

Chapter 2: Overkill

Oh, this isn't even Livio here. It's Raz. Not that the result wouldn't be the same.

Did... Vash shoot?

Yeah.... Yeah, he did. I like how Nightow doesn't focus on the violence of it, but instead on the grief of it. Just the simplicity of Vash's knee hitting the ground in defeat, and the place where Legato should be standing or kneeling or whatever in front of him is empty, instead replaced by just his feet and the edge of his cloak.

Just the way he couldn't let humans die because Rem gave her life to protect them, Vash can't let Livio die when Wolfwood gave his life to save him. He's still mourning that he had to make this choice. He still hates this situation. It's not a deed done with a clear conscious. It's just the path he can live with better.

Aww, Livio's trying to get Vash out of there. He knows Vash is in a bad place. I honestly think he could figure that out even if Vash's hair hadn't gone so dark.

Meanwhile, all Vash can think of is Wolfwood.

Meanwhile, it looks like Knives has gone to space to meet his new friends up close and personal.

Either whatever he's paying attention to is REALLY important or he's just lying a trap for them. Maybe both?

Well, if the Earth Fleet can't stop itself, then I guess Knives will have to stop them.

Heh, Milly having to call Meryl by her actual name to get her attention.

They've found Vash! And Livio!

Oooh, Meryl just took one look at this situation and already knows how bad it is before Livio starts explaining.

This panel is... I dunno. This panel is feels.

Is Vash having a bit of a breakdown? What's he gonna shoot at??

Bless Meryl. She's doing so much for him right now. She's probably been thinking about this sort of thing since they parted ways before. She's ready now, and she's going to do her best. Just because it's a non-combat maneuver doesn't mean it's not important.

Six ships all aimed at each other with Knives in the middle, going for a smoosh move? Welp, this is bad.

Wait, are they talking to the Plants Knives has absorbed?? Silly me, I thought they were just gonna chat with the bulbed ones.

Chapter 3: Side By Side

What in the zombie wasteland even are these first few pages??

Knives looks very unconcerned by his supposed impending smooshing.

Are these flashes to just after the Great Fall, maybe?

Gods, these random dramatic floating feathers are so late '90's/early 2000's. All you kidses don't even know. Personally, I blame CLAMP.

OH THEY ARE CRYSTALLINE FEATHERS??!! WANT.

Hahahaha, this kid got biffed on the head by one. Also, there sure are a lot of them. Is this the Plants bleeding themselves off of Knives, maybe?

Oh, the Plants are making the people resonate with each other the way the Plants resonate with each other. That's... a thing.

Ah, yeah, these are definitely flashbacks. The town is growing up around the Plant.

Oh, NOW Knives decides to pay attention to his whole body going all vibratey.

"We need the support of more people." This reminds me of Horton Hears a Who. Like, they just need more individuals making noise and then the Plants will hear them.

Yeah.... Really, it doesn't even take 100 years for abuse to leave a very nasty mark that might be impossible to reach past.

"Be on the lookout for any retaliation." Knives looks VERY ready to retaliate.

This Plant just wanted to help, but everything kept dissolving into violence....

...but there were good people, too. People who wanted to help and to learn and to teach others and to give thanks.

Hahahahaha, this is the "more people." They're the people in the past. This feels soooo much like Vash remembering the people of July and thinking that, regardless of what else they were or could have been, there were so many he knew that were just... kind.

Dude, this guy here just telling Knives off. Not sure if he's got balls of steel or if he's just ignorant or if he's just dealt with enough renegade Independents to call them as he sees 'em.

Archive

Trigun Vol. 1: Covers + 1-3, 4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 || Vol. 2: Covers + Extras, 1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-8

TriMax Vol. 1: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 2: Covers + 1, 2-4, 5, 6-7 || Vol. 3: Covers + 1-3, 4-5, 6-7 || Vol. 4: Covers + 1-2, 3-5, 6-7 || Vol. 5: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 6: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 7: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 8: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5 + Bonus || Vol. 9: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 10: Covers + 1-3, 4-5, 6-8 || Vol. 11: Covers + 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 || Vol. 12: Covers + 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 || Vol. 13: Covers + 1-3, 4-6, 7-9

Extra Credit: Trigun Vol. 1: Nebraska vs. Vash's Motivations, Vash's Loneliness, Vash's Depression (pt. 2 of post), Soupy Brains || Vol. 2: Coin Factoids || TriMax Vol. 1: Lina, Vash, and a Haircut || Meryl, Vash, and the Pursuit of Happiness || Vol. 5: Knives, Vash, and Hatred for Humanity || Vol. 6: Coping Series: Wolfwood, Meryl, Vash || Vol. 8: The Uncoordinated Counterattack || Vol. 9: Justice, Punishment, and Mercy, The Tolling of an Iron Bell || Vol. 10: Crucifixion Symbology (pt. 2 of post), Merging of Families, Being Childlike (And Why God Hates Chapel) || Vol. 11: New Hair, New Outlook

#almost there #trigunbookclub #trigun maximum #volume 14 #pancake thoughts

[thranduilsperkybutt]

Warnings:  Stranger Things Season 4 Vol.1 minor SPOILERS!

Gif source:  Here

Imagine helping to tutor your little brother’s friend, Eddie Munson, so he can finally graduate. (Henderson!Reader)

---------  Request for ME  ---------

Leave it to your big-mouth little brother to volunteer you for something without even asking first. It wasn’t as if you weren’t familiar with Eddie Munson. You had known about him even before Dustin went and joined his Dungeons & Dragons club. When you were in your senior year, Munson was already retaking it. It didn’t come as a surprise to you that he had flunked out again.

“You did so well in Miss O’Donnell’s class, I thought you could help Eddie out! Come on, I need to get on this guy’s good side! Please?”

Damn your bleeding heart, you wish you could say you agreed only for Dustin’s sake, but it wasn’t really that, was it? If you were being completely honest, you were doing this because of the massive, well-kept secret that was your one-sided infatuation with the pariah of Hawkins High.

Grin and bear it should have been your senior quote, considering that’s exactly what you had done that year. Foolishly hoping that with graduation would come your salvation from the stolen glances sent his way and the silly thoughts that plagued your mind. You’d nearly cleansed yourself of your crush entirely, until Dustin brought him back up again.

Maybe, in the end, Dustin did you a favor.

There’s no doubt that you would never have gotten to really know Eddie the way you have if it wasn’t for Dustin’s proposition. You had barely been able to build up the courage to greet him in passing during high school, let alone actually befriend him.

Now, though? You found yourself laughing easily with his attempts at breaking the ice, and soon you’re left thinking that maybe Eddie wasn’t as intimidating as you had thought back then. That he might actually be kind of sweet.

And you’re barely a month into your tutoring sessions when his van screeches into your driveway familiarly, barely settled into park before he’s hopping from the driver’s side to wave a piece of paper in the air on his quick stride towards you, “Hey, you’re never gonna’ guess--- guess! You won’t get it right! I know you’ll never guess!”

“Eddie,” you’re still in your uniform from work. Unable to keep your giggles at bay with the way he waves the paper around your face in his excitement, “what are you talking about?”

“O’Donnell’s mid-term,” he all but sings, popping the paper properly in front of your face so you can see where it’s been marked in red pen alongside his handwriting. “I made--- wait for it---” Eddie grins, and you bite your lip with worried anticipation, “a seventy-two!”

You can’t help the excited squeal that leaves you at the news, because this was--- no doubt about it--- the best news you’ve had all month, “Oh my gosh, Eddie! That’s so great!” Eddie was barely under passing, and with this grade, if he didn’t do terribly on the final, he’d be able to pass this year. “Let me see!”

He dangles the paper over your head, grinning as you reach for it, “Oh, you wanna’ see, huh? Wanna’ see all the hard work payin’ off?” His teasing chuckles only die down once you manage to snatch the paper from his grasp, glancing proudly over the corrective marks.

With a contented sigh, you beam at him, “I’m so proud of you, Eddie.” He turns his head to look out over the lawn, but there’s no hiding his smile, or the slight flush on his cheeks.

Dark eyes glance back to yours, “What about we blow off the tutoring today, huh? We should celebrate.”

“Hmm,” you offer his exam paper back to him, “I guess one day of playing hooky won’t hurt. We’ll do exam review another day. Do you have something in mind?”

“Actually,” he fidgets with the paper in his hands, as if worried you’ll reject his idea, “my band has this gig. It’s kinda’ later tonight, though, so... I’m thinkin’ maybe we get some food and then you can come see us play? If you want to, I mean. You don’t have to---”

“No,” you stop his borderline-rambling and the smile that cuts along his jaw at your answer is enough to send your heart thundering like you were still fresh on the high of your crush from last year, “I’d love to.”

#eddie munson imagine #stranger things imagine #imagines by me #gif not mine #spoilers #stranger things spoilers #yall are getting eddie until im sick of him hehhehehhehe #jkjk ill post more than him but im on a kick rn

[impish-crow]

[TRANSLATION] DIG-ROCK HOUND ROAR vol. 1 - Track 05

Track 5: A matter of course

Shion: (sighs) What am I doing? I've been rolling around in Sogo's room for how long? Darn it… Boasting that living alone is no big deal, and here I am. Even spouting useless words to Yankee… In the end, if I don't rely on someone, I can't go on, and I can't even play the piano at all… Seriously, I feel like I have no worth. (Door opens) Sogo: I’m back. Shion: Sogo-san? Oh he’s back? Sogo: Are you up, Shion? Shion: ..Welcome back. Sogo Oh…! Your complexion has improved quite a bit. Shion: These days, I've been sleeping really well. Sogo: That's a relief. Oh, I'm going to make some food, so come out later and let's eat together.

**

Sogo: Oh, you’re here, Shion. Yes. …? …?! Toya: What's with that expresShion? Shion: Toya-san��?! Toya: Is it inconvenient for me to be here? Shion: No…! I mean, not at all… Toya: Don't just stand there; sit down quickly. Shion: …Yes. Toya: ..Shion. Shion: ?! Yes? Toya: Where are your glasses? Shion Huh? Oh, I left them by the pillow,. Toya: …Hm. In this distance, can you see my fingers properly? Shion: The shape is roughly discernible. Toya: You manage to walk around the house with that eyesight? Shion: Roughly, by feeling… Toya: How's your condition? Shion: Well… now it's quite… what should I say… Toya: …You. Can't you talk a bit more normally? Shion …! I'm sorry… Sogo : Alright! It's done! How about it? Looks delicious? Toya: Pretending to be so skilled just by stir-frying some vegetables. Sogo: Look carefully. Today, I added pork and eggs along with garlic chives and mung bean sprouts. And speaking of that, try stir-frying vegetables at least once by yourself. Shion, this guy here~ If I left him alone, he will forget to eat, so I have to forcibly bring him here sometimes. Shion: Yes… Toya: I didn’t forget it. It'sjust about a priorities. Sogo: Put the priority of meals above work… Ah, you can start eating first! the rice is not fully cooked. It should be ready in about 5 minutes. Toya: So, until when are you going to stick around Sogo's place? Shion: I'm sorry… Toya: That's not an answer. Shion: I'm sorry… Toya … I want to practice as soon a possible.. Shion: I'm truly sorry… Well, um… Toya: When do you think you can play? A week? Or maybe a month? Shion: Huh? A month… but… Toya: I made a song considering your piano. It can’t be complete without you. If you say you can't do it, I have no choice but to wait until you say you can. Shion: Toya-san… Toya: Recording without hearing the finished sound is out of the question. It was a rush during ROAR because if we missed it, we might not catch Hibiki, but that's an exception. I won't do it again. Sogo: That’s what he said…because Toya insisted, we had a hard time for a whole day. Even though the schedule was already confirmed… Toya: What he decide to do without talking to me is none of my business.. Originally, it was Haru-chan idea to include Shion. He should take some responsibility. Shion: Kasuga-san recommended me? Toya: Yes, he brought your demo, insisting to add a keyboard to create a different characteristic from other rock bands. He was incredibly persistent. Sogo: But ultimately, Toya made the final deciShion, right? Toya: Of course. If the results didn't seem promising, even if he insisted that much, I would have rejected it. So, Shion, what's the problem now? Your physical condition? Or is it something about your household situation? Shion: Excuse me… Can I continue playing Toya-san's song in the future? Toya: If you utter such sleep-talking-like words, I might want fire you right now.. Shion: I don't want that!! Toya: When can you play? Shion: I can play today or tomorrow! Toya: I don't want to entrust a precious new song to a pianist who took a 3-day break. Can you adjust it within a week? Shion: I can do it! Shoma: Excuse me-! Sogo: Oh, Shoma. How was it? Shoma: It's perfect! …Wait, Toya, were you here too? Such a rare view.

Toya: …I’m going home. Shoma: Oh, is that so? Hey, megane. I'll give you this. Shion: …? A key? Shoma: Your house key. A new one made by Haru-chan. Shion: Huh?! Shoma: I convinced your mom! Haruto only has the spare key. Now you can go home, right? Shion: You… just decided on your own! And how did you…?! Shoma: Got it. If anything troublesome happens later, just hand it over to Haru-chan!. …Listen well. All you need to do is play the keyboard without bothering with this and that. I'm telling you, if I don't continue with the HOUND ROAR for at least six months, I have no face to show to the Sogo-san who recommended me. Got it? If you're being a hindrance, I'll kick you out?! Sogo: Is the reason Shoma continues with HOUND ROAR because of me? Shoma: That's the main reason! Toya: More importantly, why six months? Shoma: I've never stayed in the same band for more than six months, so I'm aiming for the longest record! Toya: Seriously, I'm getting sick of this… I regret asking. Shoma: It's about making an effort. Be grateful and said Thank you. Sogo: Oh, the rice is ready. Toya: Well then, I'm going back to work. Sogo: Hold on, hold on, what about the food?! Toya: I don’t need it. I'll eat something outside. Sogo: …Sigh. I insisted on making the rice because he likes Japanese cuisine. Can't be helped. Shion, Shoma, take responsibility and eat Toya's portion too. Shoma: Yes! Why are you crying, darn megane. Shion: I’m not crying! Shoma: Oh~ is that so? Shion: …Thanks for this. Shoma: No biggies. More importantly, you, don't quit playing the keys. Shion: I won't quit, fool. Shoma: Ah, that's right!

(phone ringing)

Hibiki: Toya, did you encourage Shion well? Toya: I said what needed to be said. I don't know if the encouragement worked. Hibiki: I said it yesterday too, but if Shion quit. I'll quit HOUND ROAR as well. Toya: Since you said that, I intentionally went to Sogo's place. Even so, well, you attitude has changed quite a bit. Hibiki: …What do you mean? Toya: The way you speaks sounds you don't want to quit HOUND ROAR. Hibiki: What's with that tone after bringing me here forcibly? And just so you know, I'm not hiding about my dad. It's the other side that's keeping things hidden. Toya: That might be the case. However, you don't want to be interrogated either, do you? Hibiki: Of course. Your approach is genuinely annoying. Throwing a fit at people, and even naming the band HOUND ROAR, it implies that you've investigated various things about me, right? Toya: That’s right, Because I want you no matter what. Hibiki: It's really the worst. At best, becoming desperate for something that makes noise, getting manipulated, and why does everyone not realize it's foolish? Even Shion, suffering so much, it's because of music. Toya; Then, will you quit HOUND ROAR right now? Hibiki: I won’t do as you want again, Once I started, it's meaningless unless I can perfectly achieve it to the point of destroying that person. Besides, I'm currently unemployed, so unless I save enough to live a carefree life for a while, even if I want to quit, I can't. It's all your fault for bringing up Akane's name. It triggered me instantly. Toya: Your pretentious tone, no matter how many times I hear it, it's tiring. Hibiki: Me too, Toya. Your attempt to evade the straightforward talk is exhausting and annoying to listen to. …And yes, I almost forgot to mention, Mitsuru was really worried. Toya: Why.. are you and Mitsuru..? Hibiki: While it's a bit much for me to butt into someone else's family matters, couldn't you at least contact him? If you don’t hate Mitsuru. Well then. Toya: That guy…

(footstep sounds)

Toya: It would be easy if I could hate him.

#digrock #dig-rock #dig rock #translation #hound roar #kouno hibiki #endo shoma #hayama touya #hayama toya #kido sougo #kido sogo #onozato shion #kasuga takaaki

[sonic-candy]

I'm back (ish) + updates

As I said months ago I'll be back by fall, and it looks like my guesstimate was correct! Just a smallish update.

TLDR; Working on Mega/Gigamix (At least one chapter a month) added a link to a fan translation of a doujinshi and added Slime Mori Mori to my TBA list and various minor stuff.

Kinda drifted away from the AB/Tezuka fandom a bit these past few months due to getting into the Kirby Fandom, but I'll never forget my roots.

Due to Team Phoenix getting an official English release, I decided to drop it from my project list. The Marine Express Manga by Ikehara Shigeto (Artist of Mega Man Megamix/Gigamix/Mastermix manga and the Jetter Mars manga) is still on the list to do. As far as Doujinshi goes, I haven't really seen anything that caught my interest.

Shoutout to @meion for translating Prophetic Dream(s)! I added a link to their site on my project list which is in my pinned post!

Speaking of Ikehara Shigeto and Mega Man, I finally started on Gigamix's first chapter. Sense the first chapter is a sequel to a story in Megamix, I decided that was a good way to get back into things. I'll start on Megamix soon, my goal is to do at least one chapter a month. The chapters are insanely long and I use my phone to scan and crop them properly so this sounds like a good goal to reach. No, I did not accidentally scan Gigamix first before the Megamix Vol.2 and realized it while uploading them hahahah.

I recently got into the Kirby fandom (The games, Anime, and the Kirby Manga Mania) these few months so I'll try to get some Doujinshi eventually, but it seems the ones I like are not in stock right now. Kirby Manga Mania is already in English so why bother. I'm not sure if the Japanese scans are available anywhere so maybe I'll work on that?

And lastly, another fandom I semi-gotten into while getting into the Kirby anime fandom is Rocket Slime or Slime Morimori, a spin-off of the Dragon Quest game series I haven't played any of those games nor the Slime Morimori trilogy. (I suck at Mega Man games but that didn't stop me from watching the 90's cartoon via annotations or reading/scanning the mangas) But as you know, I'm a sucker for niche stuff like this so when I found out there was a three-volume manga I decided to add that to my project list as well.

So recap:

Dropped

Team Phoenix (Offical English translation coming soon)

Recent upload(s)

Gigamix Vol.1, Ch.1

Ongoing Soon

Megamix Vol.2, Ch.1

TBA

Other AB/Atom the beginning doujinshi

Marine Express manga

Kirby Doujinshi

Japanese scans of Kirby Manga Mania?

Slime Mori Mori manga

Some other comics/manga I have around

Various

Upload older PC games (Ok so not scanning but still thought I'll share this here as a reminder for myself)

As always, thank you for the support! If you find my post via tags then welcome! Feel free to toss any spare change my way on my Ko-Fi that's available in my pinned post I've been thinking about switching to Buy me a coffee as Paypal fees are super high, but I'll use this for now. along with my master list of projects with links to all of my work done so far. My Twitter and Discord are also available if you need to contact me.

(Usually, I pin people but honestly, A good chunk of my followers are on discord/twitter so I'll just drop the link in there instead. Ask if you want me to tag you next major update)

#Astro Boy #Atom the beginning #tezuka star system #marine express #kirby nintendo #kirby of the stars #kirby right back at ya #kirby series #megaman manga #megaman megamix #megaman gigamix #rockman #rocket slime #slime mori mori #dragon quest

[waheelawhisperer]

Vol 8's climax was simultaneously depressing 'cuz I was never too keen on Winter actually becoming Winter^2 (and hey, neither was she); heart-gouging for the 'oh hell they all think each other's dead' angle, and interesting 'cause Cinder may never have it as good as she did here again: bottomless pit hazard, foes running on fumes with fleeing civilians to worry about, and an ally/pawn in play who's out for her main threat's neck. And then Cindy gets to 'doom' them *both*.

Spoilers blah blah because this is about as current as it gets with RWBY's canon etc.

Yeah, I definitely agree that this is as successful as Cinder is going to get as a villain. I think the show is setting her up to break away from Salem eventually, and I also think that the end of Volume 8 kind of showed her that maybe Salem isn't all that's cracked up to be. She can be beaten, outmaneuvered, tricked... and she doesn't have as much power over Cinder as Cinder thought she did. I'm not exactly sure how Cinder's going to come to the realization that she isn't going to get what she wants by sticking with Salem or what she's going to do after she escapes, but I think that she will, and I think she'll do it soon (within the next few Volumes). To be honest, I'm not great at predictions or theorizing regarding the future of the show, so I don't think I can get too deep into Cinder's trajectory, but I do think that her days as Salem's enforcer are drawing to a close.

In terms of the actual tactical situation surrounding the fight, you're right when you say that this was pretty much ideal from Cinder's perspective. She's fresh and her opponents aren't, she gets to start the fight on her terms with an ambush, she's surrounded by civilians against opponents who care about protecting them and will sacrifice themselves to defend them without hesitation while she and her ally think collateral damage is the height of comedy, she can fly while her opponents are trapped on a series of winding walkways that offer limited space to maneuver, Neo's initial ambush removed one of the two most dangerous fighters on the enemy side, she and Neo are able to split the enemy throughout the fight and repeatedly manipulate their foes' concern for both each other and the civilians to take free shots or give themselves favorable 1-on-1 or 1-on-2 matchups, her ally is specifically dedicated to countering the one enemy that has a power that she's specifically vulnerable to, and she gets to stab Neo in the back once she's served her purpose.

You know what? I wasn't initially planning to do this, but I think I'll go ahead and do a fight breakdown for the finale, paying special attention to Cinder's strategy and tactics. She does a great job throughout the fight of turning what could have easily been a 2-on-8 if RWBY and JNOR had concentrated into a series of smaller engagements where she and Neo achieve local superiority.

The fight opens up with Cinder drawing everyone's attention, and the brief engagement at the start shows that she's capable of taking on all four members of Team RWBY at once. They'd probably have done better in this fight if they weren't all tired, but they are, which means Cinder knows that she can handle drawing all the aggro to give Neo her shot (or maybe she's just arrogant enough to think she can handle it. Regardless, she's right). I'm not sure if her little speech is an active attempt at breaking Team RWBY's morale and throwing them off their game or just gloating (hell, it could be both), but either way, it's working. Team RWBY is focused on her, just the way she wants them to be.

Neo gets the gank off, and while it doesn't take out the intended target, the result is almost as good: Yang is the most dangerous fighter on Team RWBY and arguably the single most dangerous of the 8 heroes actively escorting the civilians at the moment, given Penny's visible struggles to adapt to her flesh-and-blood body throughout the fight. The psychological effect of losing the team's best fighter, as well as the Team Mom/Cool Big Sis/Love Interest, was clearly a pretty nasty blow, given the way Blake goes straight for Neo's neck with pure berserker fury that would make any Viking proud. Team RWBY is not in the best mental state, nor are Team JNR or Penny, whereas Cinder is fully in control and riding high, while Neo is pissed that her initial attack hit the wrong target and focused on killing Ruby, but doesn't seem to be shaken enough for it to affect her performance.

Ruby gets a lot of criticism for not reacting "properly" to Yang's fall, whatever that means, but to me it's always been pretty clear that she was in shock and struggling to process what had just happened for the literal 2-3 seconds that the show gave her to respond before Neo was on top of her and going for the throat. I do think the show could have done a better job of making it clear that no one could have reacted in time to save her: Ruby has been knocked to the ground by Yang's charge and Weiss is facing away due to how she was previously oriented when the group was trying to flank Cinder from four directions previously (the correct tactical choice based on what they knew at the time). Weiss is just barely turning her head when Blake is already moving in Yang's direction, and she doesn't have time to do more than raise her arm before Yang has gone off the edge. We know Weiss uses gestures to activate/focus her glyphs, and I simply don't think she had time to use her Semblance before she lost line of sight on Yang. Ruby, for her part, is still in involuntary motion from Yang's push when Yang's Aura breaks, looks stunned and disoriented from her landing, and just barely has time to raise her head and catch sight of Yang before her big sister goes over the edge. I think, based on the visual evidence, that she straight-up couldn't process what was going on in time to activate her Semblance to save Yang.

Blake, meanwhile, is booking it. Seriously, girl is moving. She looks like a cheetah hopped up on amphetamines. Blake is in a full-on sprint by the time Weiss even turns her head. Weiss hasn't fully raised her arm by the time Blake is past her and getting ready to launch Gambol Shroud into the void. The writers/animators deliberately placed her in the physical position to see what was happening and respond instantly, while also putting her as far away as possible while still maintaining the flank, which served to both make the way Blake feels about/is attuned to Yang as clear as possible and prevent her from saving Yang despite that depth of concern and instantaneous response. This was really well done by the crew in terms of... scene composition? I don't know if that's really the right word I'm looking for, but they positioned the characters in the set really well here, is what I'm trying to say.

I think what the crew intended to convey with this scene is that it all happened too fast for there to be any chance of stopping Yang's fall, but the use of slow motion hindered that. It was suitably dramatic for the emphasis such an important moment deserved, but I think it convinced a big chunk of the viewerbase that because we, the viewers, had time to process things, so should the characters in the scene. I know I had to watch this sequence of events several times to get a clear picture of just how fast Yang's fall was supposed to happen in-universe. There's a good 35 seconds of actual screentime between Neo making contact with Yang and Yang's ultimate disappearance into the void, 19 between contact and the beginning of Blake's throwing motion, and 25 between contact and the moment where we know for a fact that Gambol Shroud has missed. That's a lot of time for the viewers to come to an understanding of what's happening, but all of this is in slow motion. In-universe, things are going significantly faster, but the extended slow motion sequence can make that hard to pick up on. I'm not 100% sure how to improve clarity here without ruining dramatic impact, but I can see why the scene didn't hit as I think it was intended to with some people.

Anyway, Yang is gone, Neo's gunning for Ruby, Blake is gunning for Neo, and Weiss is just kind of thinking "Oh, God, I'm going to have to be the one to hold things together, aren't I?" Unfortunately, this leaves her squarely in Cinder's sights. Right now, Cinder is getting what she wants: her slippery ally, who she doesn't even like, is the target of two of their three opponents (including the one who at minimum soft checks Cinder), leaving her, the strongest fighter on her side, in a solo matchup against the support. Cinder's inner Zed main is salivating at the chance to carve up an unprotected support fighter here, and if the other three weaken each other while she's doing it, so much the better.

Penny comes in to improve the odds and square off with Cinder, but we see immediately that she is used to fighting as a robot and not as a human: she reflexively attempts to summon Floating Array and gets dunked on for her troubles. She compensates by using her Maiden powers to create a copy of her old weapons, but we can tell she's already a bit off balance. With Weiss to help her, she does okay for a moment, but then Cinder exploits the heroines' concern for the civilians they're protecting by trying to hit Weiss with an AoE that she can't just dodge. Weiss has to block it, and she has to block the whole damn AoE. She can't just use a glyph to hop out of the way because that would expose the vulnerable civilians behind her, so she's forced to use more of her Aura to defend, and Cinder gets a free shot at her on top of that. Cinder has cleverly set up an attack that lets her win either way: either she gets uncontested damage on Weiss or she forces Weiss to abandon civilians to save herself, crippling her morale.

Blake looks over and sees that Cinder is clearly individually superior to Penny, especially since Penny does not have full access to her previous capabilities. She notices that Cinder is winning, while she and Ruby are not making particular headway vs. Neo. Blake has to make a choice, and she chooses to kick Cinder in the skull. I know a lot of people, myself included, were expecting a Semblance evolution for Blake here, but instead she just chooses to put protecting the people she loves over revenge, which... works, honestly, but I think it has less impact than the Semblance evolution overall.

This is where I think Team RWBY starts slipping tactically (understandably, they're not in the best frame of mind at the moment after losing the heart of their team, but they're still not making the optimal decisions. I'm not calling them out for this, but it's important to point it out as a contrast to Cinder and Neo, who are still very much in control). I think Team RWB + Penny's best play here is to try to force a 3-on-1 against either Cinder or Neo and assign whoever is best at stalling to handle the other one. There are a few ways they could have done that. Neo's already fixated on Ruby and Ruby's Semblance makes her slippery as hell, so Ruby could have fought defensively and kept Neo occupied long enough for Blake, Weiss, and Penny to gang up on Cinder. Alternatively, Penny has the ability to fly. She could've either stalled Cinder and tried to make her chase her or she could've taken to the air and bombarded Neo with Maiden Magic. Being able to move through the air is a huge advantage in this kind of fight, and either she or Weiss could have potentially leveraged that against Neo. Blake or Weiss could also have tried to hold off either Cinder or Neo with the innate disengage tools in their kits, though they'd most likely have an easier time delaying Neo than Cinder. Regardless, I think it would have been smart to try to find a way to bring Ruby's silver eye powers to bear against Cinder ASAP and in circumstances of their choosing, or as close to it as possible.

Yes, many things could have gone wrong with this strategy, but the one they actually went with resulted in a loss, so I think it would have been worth a try. Again, I'm not saying the protagonists should have been unfeeling machines that always make the most logical choice, I'm just trying to point out the difference between how they and their opponents are approaching the fight. Cinder and Neo had the luxury of picking their moment and planning out their attack, while the protagonists are exhausted and stressed. This was a very clever move on the part of the villains, is what I'm getting at here.

Ruby's still going up against Neo, whose superiority in terms of pure fighting skill is evident. We get Weiss punting Neo through a portal in the funniest moment of the whole fight and Cinder gets an advantage in the 2-on-1 in the background. What we see here makes me wonder if the strategy I proposed above would have worked at all, but I think it's still at least as viable as what they actually do. Ruby's not fighting defensively here, which leaves her open and forces Weiss to come to her aid. If she'd focused on delaying Neo instead of beating her, maybe the others could have capitalized on their numerical advantage. Or maybe not. Maybe this was just unwinnable from the moment Yang went down and Jaune and Nora committed to helping the refugees. That happens sometimes.

Cinder again exploits the fact that the protagonists are willing to sacrifice themselves for other people to get another free hit on Weiss specifically and break her Aura. She's got Weiss pegged, that's for damn sure, and this is the point where I think the fight truly becomes next to impossible for the protagonists to win with the resources they have on the field. Without Weiss's support tools, the only paths to victory I see are receiving reinforcements or activating Ruby's silver eyes, which have already been established as unreliable. Crescent Rose falling into the abyss kind of seals the deal, but Ruby pulls off a very clever little move to bait an opponent who is clearly superior in terms of technical skill but emotionally unstable into a trap. This was really smart by Ruby, if a bit concerning because of her willingness to use herself as bait, but it's a great reminder that while Ruby is generally sweet and pure and innocent and so on, she also can and will go for the throat if she thinks it's warranted. Tyrian learned this the hard way.

Cinder, once again, identifies and takes a free shot against a distracted opponent. She's still getting everything she wants, because now she can both remove one of the two remaining significant threats to her and get revenge against her underling at the same time. She already knows she can beat Blake, Weiss, and Penny. She's been doing it all this time. She's happy to trade Neo to remove Ruby. This is a winning play for her.

Cinder gets another free shot on a heroine who is concerned with saving someone else when Blake and Penny try to rescue Ruby. She's been identifying and taking these opportunities all throughout the fight, and it lets her land an attack on the other significant threat still in the game in exchange for giving her opponents the chance to rescue a fighter who is out of Aura and has no weapon. Cinder has done a great job picking her trades since the fight started, and this is no exception.

Blake and Ruby are now gone, disappeared into the void. This cost Cinder nothing. With two fireballs, she's gotten damage on Penny and eliminated two opponents, and all she has to give up in return is a couple hits when Weiss shows up wielding Gambol Shroud. Sure, Jaune is now here to help them and is fresh in comparison, but Cinder was winning when Blake was here, and Blake is much stronger than Jaune. Penny takes more damage protecting Weiss, by the way, because Cinder knows that targeting the helpless works against these foes and sees no reason to fix what ain't broken.

Cinder once again baits Penny into protecting her friends and then isolates her opponents with a clever use of her Maiden powers and gets an uninterrupted, uncontested strike on the biggest threat remaining. She cripples Penny in the time it takes for Weiss to get around the obstacle she created and engage her, which leads us into a scene that quite a number of people absolutely fucking hated, myself included. I honestly don't recall seeing a single positive response to this choice. Maybe my opinion will change once we see where this storyline goes, but right now, bringing Penny back just to kill her off again just feels cruel. Having Jaune, a character who has already received considerable backlash for perceived theft of the spotlight, be the one to strike the killing blow just makes things worse. I know a lot of Penny fans felt like the writing was basically telling them to go fuck themselves, and I can see why they felt that way. Again, I might change my mind once we get more content that shows us where the narrative is going with this, but as things stand, it just makes a couple of plot threads from the Atlas storyline feel pointless. Winter being the Winter Maiden was a red herring and Penny getting the powers was a twist? No, wait, Winter's the Maiden now. Penny has come back to life and is taking part in the group's adventures? No, actually, she's dead again, and may very well be revived a third time at some point in the future. Based on what I know now, rather than what may be revealed in the future, this is one of the worst writing choices RWBY has ever made. I truly hate it. It just feels mean.

That said, I don't think having Jaune kill a mortally wounded teammate is inherently a bad storyline in a vacuum. He's a healer, a defender, whose powers and skillset focus around healing, enhancing, and protecting his teammates. Forcing him to take a friend's life after he's already lost his own partner, even if (as the narrative wants us to believe) there was no better choice, is a fantastic vehicle for character development for a character like him... but there was no way it was ever going to go over well when Jaune is already such a controversial character within the fandom and a lot of people feel that Team RWBY doesn't have enough agency within the main plot. Not a choice I would have made when considering the context and the likely fan reaction, that's for damn sure.

I also don't think the show does enough to set up the idea that Penny's wound is actually mortal or that killing her was the best way forward. It looks like Cinder's Grimm hand penetrates her torso when the attack initially lands, but we don't see any blood, nor are there any visible wounds when Jaune tries to heal her. We don't get any concrete evidence that healing her will unambiguously fail and we don't see any sign of significant strain on Jaune's part, he just tries to heal her and Penny almost immediately shuts him down and says he can't do it in time. It's not really a surprise that Penny thinks about it this way. She's been trying to sacrifice herself the moment she has a chance for the whole damn Volume. She wants to make this choice, but I think we needed a better visual indicator or a line of dialogue or something to make it clear that this choice was anything but stupid. I'd have been a lot more willing to accept it if we'd gotten, like, a few seconds of Jaune visibly struggling to heal Penny's wound, followed by him saying "It's not working" or something, and then Penny makes the choice to sacrifice herself, now that it's clear that her death is inevitable and the only thing left is to make it mean something (obviously, this is an extreme off-the-top-of-my-head rough draft that could use a lot more polish, but I hope you get the idea regardless).

Anyway, after that, we get Maidenbowl, where Cinder is meaningfully challenged for the first time in this fight. Winter seems to be winning, but yet again, Cinder gains an advantage by directing her attacks at a vulnerable target her main opponent cares about protecting. She's done it so consistently throughout this fight that it is 100% a deliberate strategy, just like the way Yang destroys the terrain to give herself an advantage in combat, and despite my intense dislike of the specific story beat mentioned above, I think the writing/animation/storyboarding etc. crews did a great job of telling Cinder's story with this fight. She's definitely smarter than a lot of her haters give her credit for.

To be honest, I don't like Volume 8 very much, for a lot of different reasons. I might expand upon that in other posts, but this one is long enough as it is.

#rwby #analysis #cinder fall #neopolitan #ruby rose #weiss schnee #blake belladonna #yang xiao long #jaune arc #penny polendina #winter schnee

[firesnap]

your list of drafts has me excited! i didn't see anything about tommy. do you have any meta or crit planned? it's ok if you don't!

I am obsessed with that scene of Tommy striking WIlbur and them both being horrified and scared. Like, that was the penultimate moment of the whole stream for me and where the audience should have gone "oh. oh. they both need to get away from each other for a bit." I don't really have a ton of meta thoughts about it but I have avidly read all takes and posts talking about it as a trauma response and a really clever way to emphasize that the dependency ran both ways and could lead to really unhealthy behaviors. But I don't have any thoughts of my own that aren't already being talked about. I just loved that scene.

As for crit? Uhh.

Well.

The only critique of Tommy I have right now is also kinda why I don't have anything to write. Tommy doesn't have any active storylines.

Oh, I mean, he has tons of old storylines that people wish would be looked at more or hope "comes back." But, considering they had to prerecord Wilbur's lore to get it done before the end of vol 1, I don't see any of that happening?? Like, I completely believe cc!Tommy when he says he'll be doing stuff in vol 2, but considering all the talk is saying that's starting fairly soon and he's out of the country...

And he kind of put a lot of eggs into Wilbur's basket trying to help Wilbur get his stuff done (and maybe that is a critique there). There's just. Not a lot going on with Tommy's character. It has a lot of rich history and things that, if the server was still a more living thing, could develop, but nothing I see happening before the end of this volume.

[planetche]

L.O.V.E. Culture at Jax River Jams - Jacksonville, Florida 2024

Photo by Toni Smailagic

Living an Indie artist life is one of the craziest things you can do. Many walk this path, and find out quickly that it's not as easy as it implies via social media, etc. Shit is hard work - but it's easily (Behind my babies) the most fulfilling work I've done to date. I do it for my babies, I do it for everyone out there trying to survive this crazy world - and for this beautiful, beautiful view of the city that raised me. Let's take a quick walk from the beginning.

Photo by Tenny Rudolph

If you've been around for a while, you might have heard of us, maybe not- but I've been creating music with these guys for 7 years (2017) I am still a solo artist in my own right, but I found a beautiful space here in the collective, that allowed me to cypher through the pressures of being an indie artist. I wish I could say that like most, I knew I had something special, etc. but at the time, I kind of didn't- I was looking to be apart of something bigger than myself- call it spiritual, my soul was certainly on the move- and landed right in the world of multiple creators who simply wanted to do the same & here we are. We started making music, not knowing our hearts were in it - and it came to pass that we make pretty positive, thought provoking music. People were and still are wondering why we decide to move this way, rather than a faster route - but if you know, you know.

Not all roads are paved with gold.

Vol. 3 listening party, Jacksonville 2024 - Photo by Toni Smailagic

Now coming into Jax River Jams, I knew I wanted to show us in the light I just described to ya'll- what we're rooted in. LOVE. Integrity. energy. It was important to me to show the city that we are who we really say we are - a collective who loves Jacksonville down- for all of it's peaks and valleys - and to also remember the sacred practice of the vibration we carry. Too many people play about that shit, but not me. I'm aware of the way manipulation is the #1 tool to get people hooked, but tbh I really hate that shit, it's gross. The people deserve honesty. The people deserve real shit - especially in a world so performative and staged. I got a video recap of the process coming soon, because I think it's time the world knows just how much we really put into this shit. 7 years, for ya'll to see us in 59 running minutes. 3 months of rehearsals for 29 minutes of impact. I know people think we just get shit handed to us, but they don't see how much it takes to pave a road. To break a barrier- to establish a boundary. We're black artists in the south and we've got something to say, and to build behind that takes a lot of fucking work.

Recap video coming soon, My aunt just passed & my grandmother just returned from the hospital so I need time, but- I need ya'll to know this shit. I need to remind myself of this shit. We really all we got in this. US and those who rock with us, and you've read this far, I'd like to think you rock with me, too.

Welcome to the family. Talk to you soon.

Photo by Toni Smailagic

#artist #hip hop #Band #Collective #live #music #performance #wu tang clan #group

[hawkinslibrary]

😩😩😩😩😩

#also answered another comment asking if it was coming soon saying #'define soon' #no word on if the ost itself will also be split into two volumes though #maybe it is and vol 1 is done and coming 'soon' #idk idk idk #all i've heard is bits and pieces but it sounds soooo good and i just want to hear it in full #i'm absolutely greedy with this soundtrack #i want it all even unreleased tracks immediately #no but it's definitely gonna be worth the wait #and i guess hearing it for the first time while watching won't be so bad #it's gonna distract me though and it'll bother me until we can put titles to those sounds #i'll also miss the last bit of speculating that usually comes with the titles #i just really want this soundtrack lol #i am out here checking for news on it every day lmao #lex talks

[pancake-breakfast]

LET'S GET VOLUME 3 DONE LET'S GOOOOOO....

(But first, I rework the archive because this is gonna take up a lot of space. Maybe I should move it somewhere else; I can't imagine anyone aside from myself really needs it right now....)

Archive

Trigun Volume 1: Covers + 1-3, 3 Detailed Thoughts, 4, 4 DT, 5-6, 5-6 + DT, 6 DT, 7-8, 9-10 || Volume 2: Covers + Extras, 1, 1 Supplemental Research, 2-4, 5-6, 7-8

TriMax Volume 1: Covers + 1-2, 2 DT, 3-4, 3 DT, 5-6 || Volume 2: Covers + 1, 2-4, 5, 6-7 || Volume 3: Covers + 1-3, 4-5

Stream-of-consciousness thoughts for TriMax Vol. 3, Chapters 6-7 below.

Chapter 6: Families

Awww, Vashie.... Take care of him, Brad!

Well, if that's not an ominous title page. Goshdarnit, Knives, can you even see out of the right side of that helmet? How can you get comfortable with the spike in the back constantly banging into that high-backed death chair? I have questions, sir!

I do like how the belts on his lower arm actually resemble the belts on Vash's.

Eyyy, it's the Gung-Ho Guns in their Palace of Terror! (I don't know what the place is called, but I assume it has an over-the-top name. It needs an over-the-top name.)

Is... he trying to create an angel arm?? Put that away, Knives. You don't know how to use it.

Oh, maybe... he was trying to locate Vash?

This looks like a flashback, but I'm not sure what it's flash-backing to. Oh! Vash's hair is full blond! Definitely a flashback.

Uh. Is his arm not a prosthetic???

I love how completely lost and confused he looks here.

OMG HIS FACE!!! Babygirl is SO WORRIED about Wolfwood! (Also, I know we all love spiky-haired Vash, but goshdarn, I just melt for his hair when it's all messy like this. It makes him look even softer than he already is.)

And then again when he sees the girls! Gods, he looks like he doesn't believe what he's seeing... which, to be fair, he could be forgiven for given all he's been through recently.

Aww, Meryl's happy to see him doing well enough to accept glomping hugs.

He is SO RELIEVED. <3

Whooooo is calling Vash a son of a bitch when he just woke up?? Slaps for them. Slaps to the face.

Ugh, why'd they have to remind him of all the deaths already? Just let babygirl rest for a bit. Even Plants need time to recover.

Good on them to shut down his self-deprecation. <3

Eyyy! It's Luida! Of course she's looking out for our babygirl. <3 <3 <3

Heh. Ninelives is now Twolives.

Oh, she straight-up ignored his question about Doc.

Vash knows. Vash knows she dodged the question. But he also knows she's trying to give his heart the rest it needs, and he's going to take it. He knows he needs it, too.

LOL, Vash, maybe don't scream at your buddy, the (former?) Gung-Ho Gun with the big-ass murder cross and a huge chip on his shoulder, as soon as he starts waking up in a strange place where he doesn't have his bearings yet. I swear, Wolfwood's like a startled cat here.

Dude. Wolfy. You should be happier to see your boyfriend. We'll have none of this "well, shit" talk.

Heh. Wolfwood's just grumpy 'cause he can't figure Vash out.

Something something what I said last time about Vash wishing maybe Wolfwood was around to pull the trigger where he couldn't.

"Feh!" is Wolfwood's way of saying, "I accept your apology, you big dummy."

"You mean it didn't tug at your heartstrings?" VASH. ARE YOU FLIRTING.

Wolfwood clearly doesn't appreciate self-deprecating as a form of flirting. Good for him. We don't build ourselves up by letting others tear themselves down.

(I know I'm being a bit ridiculous with these last two points. Vash likes to encourage people and make them feel good about themselves. But still, it's a sensitive and very kind thing for Vash to say, all things considered, and good on Wolfwood for calling him out for how he's going about it.)

"He really just says whatever stupid shit that comes to his mind." That makes two of you.

Actually, the idea that Vash is just spouting off words without thinking them through is a gross misreading of the situation by Wolfwood (assuming he actually believes that). Vash's surprise and frustration that his words didn't appear to have the intended impact on Wolfwood mean Vash put a decent measure of thought into them before saying them. Vash spoke with intention, not rashness. Very little Vash does is actually rash, even when it appears otherwise, and in this particular situation, he's basically told Wolfwood he put thought into his words. I'd guess Wolfwood's misunderstanding has a lot more to do with his own conflicted feelings than anything else.

LOL, Vash's grumpy, pouty face.

I liked how Stampede switched this reaction to a similar photo to Meryl.

Gods, girl needs to find a guy closer to her age and move on.

Ok, question: why did they even bother to show us Knives and the Gung-Ho Guns at the beginning of the chapter???

Chapter 7: His Life As A...

Are... these guys talking about Twolives?

Ah, yes they are. Looks like they're dead now.

Casual Vash! His proportions on this title page are killing me, though. Limbs too long. I know babygirl is lanky, but seriously.

Ugh, it's one of them coins. 'Cause if there's one person Vash always enjoys thinking about, it's freaking Legato.

HE STILL HAS HIS HAIR DOWN A:JGL:KJA:SDF:HAFK:JH DOMESTIC VASH!!!

LOL, Wolfwood carrying around his IV like it's the Punisher. Emotional support IV, indeed.

You know, you really shouldn't smoke when you're in recovery. It slows healing times. Unless you got some of them fancy-pants Stampede blue vials on you, Mr. Wolfwood?

UGH HIS FACE. Wolfwood looks just... dead inside. He hates his life. This is the look of a man full of regret.

So, I'm guessing that while Wolfwood knows Vash is Knives' brother, and knows that those two are somehow related enough to Plants for Knives to have been reborn out of one, he doesn't quite know whether Plants maybe have weird regenerative abilities that Knives took advantage of or whether there's something unique tying Vash/Knives to the Plants... or, at least, what the nature of that tie is.

Ohhhhh, that's what the flashback in the last chapter was to.

Teenage Vash!

Aww, Vash looks so at ease telling the girls about the cryosleep chambers.

Heh, babygirl has a long history with oversized coats, it seems.

Meryl, pondering over all the aspects of Vash she's seen.

Gods, Wolfwood. He seems so concerned over the idea that Vash might die in all this. I'm going to gnaw my own limb off watching this man fight himself.

Luida gets it.

Oh, shoot. Twolives escaped!

What kind of a name is Magsgarinch, anyway?

Ominous ka-n. Kan kan kan. Kakakakakakakakaka

Ok, I know babygirl is fast, but how the heck did he doff his coat so quickly??

Gotta respect that these two weirdos put the guy who still has both his eyes on the guns. Even though the guns are literally bigger than his head and I don't know hooooooow their little baby hands have the breadth to grip them.

Yeah, tossing aside his bullet-proof coat does seem unwise.

Left hand.

YOU AREN'T NINELIVES ANYMORE!!! YOU ARE TWOLIVES!!!

LOL, Wolfwood making an entrance.

Did... Vash wreck his arm again?

HE WRECKED HIS ARM AGAIN!!!

Wolfwood's mad at him for wrecking his arm. And putting himself in danger. And being a confusing, confusing person for Wolfwood to deal with because he makes Wolfwood face himself more than he wants to.

Vash knowing everyone's name. Remembering them all. I just keep thinking about the opening to Stampede where he's standing there in the chamber greeting each and every one of them.

LOL, Wolfwood and Luida tag-teaming calling Vash an idiot. It's definitely a term of endearment.

Vash the Stampede, fueled by his own infinite babygirl energy.

Ahhhhahahahahahahaha, Wolfwood's got it bad. He says "a true gunman," but he's hardly shown respect for that profession. Just... just admit it to yourself, buddy. You're head over heels for the monstrous conundrum before you.

Vash the Stampede. Babygirl, are you clueless, or just that awkward? Boooooooth???

Author Bonus Chapter (Untitled)

(I didn't forget this, post this post, and then have to go back and edit it. I promise.)

Who the heck is John Van Fleet? Wait, are they announcing someone?

"Jingle jingle, let's go!!!" I kinda want to use this in daily life somehow....

Oh. Oh, no. He went to a convention in the U.S. in... *checks date on volume* '04-ish. I hope hope hope it was a comic con and not Anime Expo. AX back then was a thing.

Oh, good. It's a comic con. I wonder if it was San Diego or... New York... or...??? I was actually at SDCC in '04. WAIT NO, I went in '05. Missed him by a year. It was my very first con... and the last time you could get tickets at the door, IIRC.

Yeah, that looks about right. It's... it's a lot. SDCC is a lot. Even in '05 it was a lot.

Wait wait wait. He's a fan of Mike Mignola?? The creator of HELLBOY?!?!? Huh, in retrospect, that makes a lot of sense. Something something similar themes despite very different presentation....

I love how he just butchers language. Because he can.

To be fair, you don't have to be a comic artist to be this awkward the first time you meet people whose work you're a fan of. I want to think his "death" here is him trying to add "desu" to English because he wants to come off as very, very polite to these people he admires, but... like... English doesn't work that way.

LOL, him dying over someone he admires having bought his book. In Japan. Presumably in Japanese. I'm glad he had this experience.

Oh, The Matrix.... I remember those days.... Gods, I feel old now. Thanks.

#i was talking with @sweetpotoooooooos about Wolfwood and now she's calling him Nicholas D. Simpwood #trigunbookclub #volume 3 #trigun maximum #pancake thoughts

[theroyalmisfitmess]

Stranger Things 4 Reax (not an essay format I don’t have the brain cells for that rn)

- MISSED THIS SHOW SO MUCH. I was a JUNIOR in HIGH SCHOOL when the last season premiered it’s crazy to think I’m finishing up freshman year of college

- the writing, cinematography, acting, and overall production is SO GOOD. This is the type of quality shows we deserve and I feel so blessed that I’ve been a fan since the first season

- character developments and storylines were done so well. I liked how the arcs were divided into factions and it reminded me so much of Avengers Infinity War when everyone had their own missions (home-base Hawkins for Vol II, I am so ready for you)

- the way everything wove together in the end was absolutely phenomenal. Everything we’ve found out since Season 1 finally made sense and I am thrilled to see how the last two episodes of the show will wrap things up

- gonna transition to more of the non-important but maybe important things now starting with... I’m curious to know what Will’s painting is and am terrified that he might die given how it fits the trope of gift-giving after someone dies

- Jonathan and Nancy/Jancy is the only couple in the show I actually care about (okay, maybe Joyce and Hopper/Jopper too but I’m pretty sure they’re endgame) so I’m really hoping they see each other soon. It’s so obvious Nancy’s feeling a little bit lonely with Jonathan gone. They’re just really perfect for each other

- okay but speaking of... I find it hilarious that there are Stancy hints. I don’t think it’ll be too deep but closure on Nancy’s side could finally be given. I don’t like everyone else shipping them but we can pretty much say that they need to have a formal clearing of air after their break-up because... It just ended in a snap

- I like how Lucas isn’t just a “side main character” now. Like don’t get me wrong, he has purpose and agency, but he didn’t really have anything super interesting going on his life aside from having a sassy sister before. Now he has his own struggles that we see and I love that

- pretty surprised that Chrissy’s boyfriend isn’t as asshole as I thought he was (LMAO)? Like okay, I don’t like how irrational he is being over hunting Eddie but he’s just a genuine and confused teenager who lost someone he loved. He doesn’t know the situation and I feel sorry for him too

- speaking of Eddie, WHAT A GREAT ADDITION. Right off the bat, he was interesting. He has agency. He fits perfectly. I would really like to see him interact with Jonathan when he finally comes back to Hawkins (they look like they could vibe). JUSTICE FOR EDDIE PLEASE!!

- also since I mentioned Jonathan on my last point, we gotta give it to his buddy Argyle! I didn’t know if he was fitting for the story at first, but I found him so entertaining it worked. I bet him with the whole Hawkins teens squad would be really funny to watch because it’d be so unhinged (ESPECIALLY HIM AND ROBIN THE ENTERTAINMENT PLS)

- oh side note, for some reason I thought there was gonna be a Jonathan-Nancy-Steve parallel with Eddie-Chrissy-Jason (that forest scene was cute don’t @ me)

- so far these are what i have in mind. Will share more if I think of some. I’M SO EXCITED FOR VOLUME II

#stranger things #stranger things 4 #stranger things 4 volume 1 #stranger thingd 4 volume 2 #st #st4 #joyce byers #jim hopper #eleven #jane hopper #mike wheeler #will byers #dustin henderson #lucas sinclair #max mayfield #nancy wheeler #jonathan byers #steve harrington #robin buckley #eddie munson #argyle #chrissy cunningham #jason carver #jancy #stancy #jopper

[dialovers-translations]

DIABOLIK LOVERS MORE,BLOOD Vol.01 Sakamaki Ayato [TRACK 3+4]

Original title: 吸い殺してやる & 乾いた喉

Source: Diabolik Lovers More, Blood Vol. 1: Sakamaki Ayato [CD not owned by me]

Audio: Here

Seiyuu: Midorikawa Hikaru

Translator’s note:

Track 1+2 ll Track 3+4 ll Track 5+6 ll Track 7+8 ll Track 9+10

→  LIKE MY TRANSLATIONS? SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI!

TRACK 3: I WILL SUCK YOU DRY

*Cling cling* 

“Now tell me...What did they do to you? Aahn!?”

*Cling*

“Tsk...Ah, haah, haah...This pisses me off! In that case, I’ll just check myself…”

*RIIIIIP*

“Hahaha...I’ll rip off all of your clothes…Ughー!!”

*RIIIIP*

[00:41] “...Haah? What’s the matter? Gettin’ embarrassed' now? Just how many times have I done this sorta thing to you? Get used to it already. Usually I wouldn’t mind that kind of flustered reaction, but right now...I’m not in the mood!!”

*RIIIIP*

*Rustle rustle*

“Come on, gimme a better look...You shouldn’t mind showin’ me everythin’ if you’ve got nothin’ to hide, right?”

*Cling*

“Let’s start with your nape…Come closer!”

You hesitantly scoot closer.

“More!”

*Rustle*

“Exactly. You better behave, ‘kay? ...Or else, you’ll be in a world of trouble.”

*Sniff sniff*

[01:44] “Hahaha...You reek. It’s their scent. The smell of multiple men. I didn’t even need to strip you out of your clothes to check. I knew all along. ...Fuck!!”

*Cling cling*

“Haah, haah...Dammit...My body feels heavy...I haven’t had anythin’ to eat or drink this whole time...So I can’t even find the strength to do anythin’ to you…”

*Rustle*

[02:28] “While I was goin’ through hell and back...You were havin’ the time of your life, weren’t you? Hahaha...What a joke!”

You flinch.

“Aah...I feel like I’m gonna puke...Their stench gets stuck in my nose...Almost as if they’re still closeby... “

You look at him with tears in your eyes.

“Hahaha...Ahahaha! Why are you givin’ me that look? Are you hurt ‘cause I’m appalled by you?”

*Rustle rustle*

[03:12] “Don’t get all teary-eyed…Kuhーー!! Ugh...Haah, haah…!”

*THUD*

“Haah...I can’t believe tryin’ to tease you only makes it harder on myself...I’m disgusted with myself. Lame...Kuh! ...Dammit…! I’m definitely gonna beat those guys to death!”

*Thud*

[03:56] “...What’s wrong, Chichinashi? I don’t have the time to mess with you right now.”

You ask Ayato if he’s okay. 

“Ah? You’re worried? Have you lost it? Maybe you should worry ‘bout yourself instead, huh? If they took a likin’ to you, who knows when they’ll come for you again.”

You reach out for him but he shakes off your hand. 

“...!! Don’t touch me!!”

*Rustle*

[04:29] “Didn’t I just tell you to leave me the fuck alone? ...Shit! I’m hungry right now and extremely irritable. So much so I fear I might just suck you dry, no matter how hard you cry or scream...even if it means flat-out suckin’ you to death. I’m beyond parched. 

Haah, haah, haah...It feels like the inside of my throat might stick together...Since you’re still here... I guess that means you don’t mind things turnin’ out that way if you continue to pay mind to me..”

*Cling*

[05:15] “Although, I want nothin’ to do with you while you reek of those other dudes.”

You give him permission to suck your blood. 

“Hahaha...What do you mean ‘I don’t mind if you kill me’? Don’t play with fire when deep down, you don’t have the balls. ...Kuh! Fuck…I’ve seriously gotten dizzy…Haah, haah…”

*Cling cling*

[05:57] “...! You really never learn, do you? Didn’t you hear me just now? I wouldn’t be able to hold back right now, nor do I have any interest in you right now…!!”

He attempts to push you away.

“...Or do you want to be sucked dry and die maybe…!?”

You insist.

“Aah…? ‘Suck’, you say? ...Chichinashi. ...I’m not jokin’ ‘round right now!!”

You look at him with serious eyes.

[06:32] “...Che. You sure have some nerve...Spoutin’ that nonsense when you have no idea how I feel right now.”

You explain.

“Ah…? You feel bad for me? Your pity won’t work on me. Do you think all it takes is that sweet, meek attitude to wrap me ‘round your finger? ...Fuck! This seriously pisses me off!”

*Thud*

*Rustle rustle*

[07:05] “Don’t...trigger me...Haah, haah...Get out of my sight!! NOW!!”

You shift around on the spot.

“What part of ‘go away’ did you not understand, aah!? You can’t just find some way to get rid of these chains, no!?”

*Cling cling*

[07:31] “In that case, how ‘bout I just chop off your leg?”

Your eyes widen in horror.

“Hahaha…That’d get rid of the shackles. I’d say it’s a much better option than remainin’ locked up down here.”

You protest.

[07:51] “Fuck...That expression...You really don’t understand the danger you’re in, do you? I bet you’re convinced I’d never do such a thing, aren’t you? ...Fine. Seems like persistent hypocrites only learn the hard way. ...You’re spreadin’ this disgustin’ stench all ‘round...I’ve had enough of it.”

*Rustle*

[08:23] “Even though you’re my prey…! ...Now brace yourself!”

*Cling cling*

*Rustle*

“ーー Chichinashi. I’m gonna suck you dry.”

TRACK 4: PARCHED

*Cling cling*

Ayato bites you.

“Mmh...Nn…Hah...Hahn...Mm…”

*Gulp*

[00:19] “Hah...Should I just rip your throat apart with my fangs like this? Hahaha...Hahn...Mmh…”

*Sluuuurp*

“Fuckー ...I can’t get enough...I know I talked shit earlier...But your blood is still hella delicious...Hahn...Mmh…”

*Gulp*

“Hah...Mmh...Nn…”

*Gulp*

“Hahn...Mmh…”

*Gulp*

“Nn…”

*Rustle*

[01:10] “Your blood drives me mad. Hahn…”

*Gulp*

“Nn...Hah…”

*Cling*

“Haah, haah…”

*Rustle*

[01:33] “Fuck…! I’m playin’ straight into their hand...I’m sure they hurt you, ‘cause they predicted I would do this..I realized as soon as I sucked your blood.”

You tilt your head to the side.

“...How can I tell? Beats me. I’m sure they tampered with your body in some way. I bet they did it while pretendin’ to suck your blood. This fuckin’ pisses me of…! So everything’s goin’ exactly accordin’ to their plan, huh? Shit!”

*Cling*

[02:19] “But still...I can’t suppress this thirst...Haah...I need more...More...I haven’t had nearly enough...Give me more and more!”

*Rustle rustle*

“I don’t like how I’m basically dancin’ to their tune...but right now, I could care less ‘bout that. Haah...Haah, haah...Up next...is this place.”

*Rustle*

[02:58] “I’ll suck from your earlobe. Seems like those guys missed this spot. Hahaha…”

Ayato bites you again.

*Sluuuurp*

“Hahn...Mmh...Nn...Hah...I want to just devour you whole...Hahn…”

*Sluuuurp*

“Hahn...Mm…”

*Gulp*

[03:37] “Nn...Hah...Tastes great...When I realize they got to savor this blood as well...It seriously grinds my gears. Like my head’s ‘bout to explode or somethin’...”

*Cling cling*

“Ughー ...Now don’t get the wrong idea, ‘kay? I don’t like havin’ to repeat myself a million times. I have zero interest in you as a person. I just can’t get enough of your blood...That’s all.”

You whimper, completely dazed by the pleasure. 

[04:18] “...What’s wrong? Did it feel that good? You’ve totally got that dumb look on your face. ...Do you want more? Hahaha…”

*Rustle*

“Don’t try and hide it. You should realize that’s pointless already. Haha. Well, I also said a bunch of shit earlier, but I don’t feel satisfied yet, so I’m still gonna suck more of your blood. ...I’m so parched, it’s killin’ me…”

*Cling*

[05:01] “I’ll bite your other ear next.”

He bites your other ear.

“Mmh...Nn…”

*Gulp*

“Hah…”

*Gulp*

*Sluuuurp*

[05:21] “...Hahaha. Look at you twitchin’...What? Do you want more? Don’t get all worked up when I’m only tryin’ to enjoy my meal over here. Hahn…Mmh…”

*Sluuuurp*

“...Hahaha...Aahー Thanks to your blood, I feel somewhat brought back to life. However, I still haven’t had nearly enough…”

*Rustle*

[06:05] “Haah...My body aches even more than usual. What kinda shit did those jerks put inside of you…? Fuck...Oi, Chichinashi! Tell me what they did!”

You go quiet.

“Che. The silent treatment again, huh? Is it somethin’ you can’t say? Hahaha…”

*Cling*

[06:38] “Guess I’ve got no other choice…”

*Rustle*

“In that case...I’ll loosen your tongue this way…”

Ayato kisses you deeply.

“Mm...Nnh…”

*Smooch*

“Mmh…”

*Smooch*

[07:03] “...How’s that? I parted your lips for you, so now you can talk, can’t you? Hurry up and tell me.”

You look up at him. 

“When you look at me with those greedy eyes, your inner desires are clear as day. ...Now tell me, what kind of trap did they put on you? If you won’t, I’ll have to punish you harshly.”

You flinch. 

[07:36] “Hahaha...That terrified expression is pretty sweet, you know?”

*Cling cling*

“You want to know why I’m coiling these chains ‘round your neck? Isn’t that obvious? I’m goin’ to strangle you with these bad boys until you almost suffocate…”

Your eyes widen in horror.

[08:00] “I won’t tighten them all in one go, don’t worry. Instead, I’ll slowly rob you of your oxygen…” 

*Cling cling*

“I need you to tell me how they’re hopin’ to use you to their advantage after all…”

You shake your head.

[08:19] “Haah? You can’t tell me regardless? I see. ...Chichinashi, seems like they’ve captured both your body and soul by havin’ their way with you. That’s why you’re goin’ along with their plan and tempted me into suckin’ your blood, correct? Right!?”

You deny it.

“...I’m wrong? Then tell me! If you lay yourself completely bare and come beggin’ me to suck your blood more, I wouldn’t mind believin’ you.”

You hesitate.

[09:06] “You can’t, can you? You’re the type of chick who is in constant denial of her own inner desires after all.”

You protest.

“Shut up! Cut the crap! ー Also don’t cry! ...It pisses me off. I’m tempted to bite you to shreds right now and throw you out in front of them.”

You sob.

[09:34] “If you cry any more, I’m seriously gonna do it. ...Oi, understood?”

You nod.

“Hahaha...Look who’s being obedient now. You’re scared of these chains, aren’t you?”

*Cling cling*

“...Or is it all just an act, perhaps? Do you think I’d enjoy seein’ you shiver in fear like that and hurt you in return? 

ー You try and reason with him.

[10:05] “Haah…? I’m readin’ too far into it, you say? You really are an idiot, Chichinashi. Even before this whole ordeal, I never trusted you.”

You seem shocked.

“Hahaha...I can’t get enough of seein’ you hurt like that. I think you look the cutest when you make that expression.”

*Rustle rustle*

[10:41] “Human logic doesn’t apply to us Vampires. The fact that you’re gettin’ the wrong idea and lettin’ things get to your head proves that you’re nothin’ but a fool.”

*Cling*

“...Whatever. I rambled on for far too long. I’m thirsty again. My body is like a desert right now. ーー I became parched once more in no time.

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

#diabolik lovers #dialovers #ayato sakamaki #diabolik lovers more blood #diabolik lovers translation #diabolik lovers drama cd #drama cd

[destielfanfic]

Unofficial Rec Bulletin #176, Fanfic Edition, August 2021

The show is over, long live the fandom! The irregularly posted Unofficial Bulletin is back this month. I’ve good news and bad news for you. Let’s get this ball rolling. 

Contents

Fandom events

Destiel fic on AO3 is approaching 100,000 mark

AO3 Ship stats 2021 by @centrumlumina

Tumblr plus and You post by @transformativeworks

Author Romilly King and plagiarism of destiel fic

update about apokteino’s fic With Understanding

update about moosefeels’s fics

@destielficarchive

@whyissupernaturaltrending and @spn-season-16-chronicles

Destielfanfic stuff

Destiel and Saileen

Destiel AU, vol. 7 - Soulmates and Blind Dates

from the inbox

in the beginning there was ...

Always the best man, never the groom

Lost Fic Group Asks #189 -#192 

@destiel-fic-rec-lists

Fandom events

Are we there yet? Not yet, but very, very soon the all time biggest ship on AO3, destiel, will cross 100,000 fanworks mark! As I type this on August 7, 2021 the number stands at 99,882 sorry, it’s 99,887 as I hit post. Here’s some posts anticipating the big even - post 1, post 2 and post about Misha tweeting about destiel fanfic. 

tumblr user @centrumlumina has been making and analyzing AO3 Ship Stats for years, and making them easily understandable in tumblr posts. Here’s  AO3 Ship stats 2021 All Time 100 with destiel as number one, and This Year’s Top 100 with destiel as number 2.  (link to the same post on AO3). Do not be sad about the second place on This Year’s table. That is a very huge improvement over 2020 listing, when destiel was number 16. According to OP, the low increase in new works could be explained with deleted fics making a dent in total numbers. Well, something clearly changed between the last survey and this year’s stats, if destiel is back on top. I wonder what.... 

Tumblr staff scared us all with their new blog monetization feature Post Plus, which prompted huge discussions about merits and demerits of putting your fanfic behind a paywall. Here’s a Tumblr plus and You post by @transformativeworks  that takes a deeper look at the problem from AO3 perspective and OTW’s Legal Committee answers some common questions.

and now the bad and sad news

An author of some 20+ m/m erotica books on Amazon, Romilly King, has been found to plagiarize at least 2 destiel fics. All important information with regular updates in notes and reblogs can be found on this post by @unforth. If you like dark, kinky fics, please check it out and see if you can help to track down other copycat novels. There’s is a strong suspicion that the author has ripped off fics from other fandoms besides SPN.

as we already mentioned on our post from January, 2021, destiel writer apokteino deleted their AO3 profile, including their most popular fic With Understanding (our rec post). There’s some misunderstanding about the fic appearing on AO3 as an orphaned work, but we are pretty sure that the repost was not done by the author. Please see this post and its notes for more info. 

and now even sadder news. It has come to my attention that a popular destiel author moosefeels has made all their destiel fics unavailable. I feel like a broken record, but for heavens sake, guys, please comment and kudos your favorite authors and download the fics you want to cherish. You’ll never know when they will be gone. 

one more shout out to @destielficarchive and its lovely mod @unforth!  This bulletin couldn’t be made without their posts. Check out the blog and give them a follow. 

and if you want to be always on top with destiel fandom news, check out @whyissupernaturaltrending and @spn-season-16-chronicles! 

Destielfanfic stuff

To celebrate #Their Love Was Real challenge held in February, we prepared a short rec list with destiel fics that also feature saileen. - Destiel and Saileen. 

Destiel AU, vol. 7 - Soulmates and Blind Dates - everyone loves a soulmate, right? Maybe not? Find out what happens in these latest additions to our #bonded tag! 

from the inbox - a new type of post where I answer selected fic rec asks. The irony for this kind of post is not lost on me. We stopped answering asks on the blog to make modding less time consuming, and yet here I am, answering asks on the blog again because this way I can be at least sure that the answer will be seen by our followers. 

in the beginning there was ... - after Mr.Ackles caused a great chaos in fandom with his announcement of an   SPN spinoff/ prequel The Winchesters, with young Mary and John no less, this fic rec list was born. 

Always the best man, never the groom -  a wedding themed destiel fic collection with a twist - it is not their wedding. In these fics Dean and Cas meet or finally get together thanks to other people’s weddings. I’ve been nursing this rec list idea for several years and was planning to post it after SPN finale. Needless to say things didn’t go as planned in fandom and I postponed it. Well, better late than never!

Lost fics were looked for and found on following Group Asks - #189, #190, #191, #192. If you asked for lost fics in past couple of month, check them out. Or see your DM, when I knew the answer, I sent a DM. <3

@destiel-fic-rec-lists - a self promo! Since I’m very behind on all new destiel fics, it seemed a good idea to collect other people fic rec lists in one place and share them with our followers. The blog was started to preserve destiel fic rec posts by`destielmybeatingheart after they deleted their main blog, but now it is expanding. I aim for several postings per week, usually a fic rec post and a fanfic meme or writing related post. 

We are NOT accepting submitted fic recs or any kind of promos anymore, lost fic asks are posted to Group Asks. Link to previous bulletins.

#destiel #destiel fic rec #destielfanficnet #unofficial rec bulletin

[stxleslyds]

LET’S TALK ABOUT BATMAN AND ROBIN #20 (2011).

And the issues that followed that story (Batman and Robin vol.2 #34-37)

DC and the fandom really let Bruce get away with what he did to Jason in that issue. DC because they had Jason go back to Bruce a few issues later to finish their story and the fandom because this moment in comics isn’t talked about enough which has led people to believe that the the concept of “batfamily” as it is in fandom belongs in canon.

This type of moments in stories should make a bigger impact on comic relationships and fandom’s perception of said relationships. From where I am standing Bruce’s actions in that issue are right on the edge of unforgivable and they could have used them as a key moment for Jason to finally move on from all Bat related bullshit without thinking that he had to stay and finish the job (of getting Damian back).

Making Jason move on so easily from that situation really makes it look like if Batman is physically, emotionally, or mentally abusive to his children then it’s not that much of a big deal, it’s just a subplot to a bigger story.

And that is something that happens repeatedly in current comics and it’s disgusting.

Anyway, now that I am done with my rambling, I will start talking about the issues that I mentioned.

Batman and Robin (2011) #20 – Written by Peter Tomasi.

For a little context, this issue is set after Damian’s death and Bruce is looking for ways to resurrect him.

And in this particular issue of this run, Batman recruits Jason Todd between the events of RHatO vol. 1 #18 and #19, that’s why in the cover of the issue the name of the run is changed to ‘Batman and Red Hood’.

A bit more context is that in issue #18 Jason finally recovers from the injuries that he got when the trap that Joker had put on his helmet detonated, and Jason was also having an existential crisis after the Joker convinced him that he was always present in Jason’s life and that he shaped the man that Jason had become (If you want to read more about that and the times' Joker has played with Jason’s mind, I have this post in which I talk all about that).

Good, now I can finally talk about this hellish issue.

Bruce asks for Jason’s help because he wants to take down some marksmen and women that are based in Ethiopia that might or might not have been the same people who took on the job of looking for Damian when his mother had put a bounty on his head.

One would imagine that Bruce calling Jason for this job means that he would let Jason kill some people, bounty-hunters that are money-driven enough to kill children seem to be the kind of people Jason would have in his black list, but Jason is smart and he knows that Batman won’t let him kill so he asks why is Bruce asking him of all people to join him on this mission, Batman replies with “Because I am seeing red”.

If you, like me, don’t understand why Batman would ask the Red Hood to stop him from killing some very shady people then don’t worry, Batman was lying, he didn’t ask Jason to go with him to beat some bounty-hunters, he has ulterior motives.

I will give it to Tomasi, he wrote Jason as the smart cookie that he is because Jason doesn’t stop picking up on the weird technicalities of the mission, and I will go as far as to say that Jason never truly believed that Bruce was being honest about the true nature of their mission. Smart Chonky, I miss you and love you.

Once they get to Ethiopia Bruce starts setting the rules of engagement (don’t shoot to kill, only hands, knees, and elbows), and off they go. Bruce even makes a comment about how it “feels like old times” and Jason is all happy and warm that Bruce invited him to beat some baddies and he also brings up the fact that Bruce stayed by his side while he was recovering from his injuries, very lovely stuff that will soon mean nothing (and that should have meant nothing because Bruce and his lies had resulted in Joker knowing all of their secret identities and messing with all of them in horrible ways, but the Bat can get away with that too).

Here is part of Bruce’s speech about trust and his lies, “You don’t ever need to thank me, Red Hood, for a family always looks out for each other” to which Jason says, “Yeah but a family also needs to earn each other’s trust” and Bruce continues his speech with, “comes a time when having to keep earning someone’s trust stops and you hope the people you’ve put your faith in will always have your back no matter what”.

Batman, everyone, master detective and master manipulator.

As Batman is talking manipulating Jason he beats every bounty hunter almost effortlessly because he had brought some bat-gadgets that were going to make the fight really easy. And as the fight is over in what looks like a minute Batman and Red Hood get on the Batmobile ready to leave Ethiopia… or not.

Jason is very aware that Batman didn’t need him for that so-called mission so he starts to ask more and more firmly about the real reason as to why Batman brought him to this place.

Batman brought Jason back to Ethiopia, but most importantly back to the Magdala Valley because he wants to see if Jason going back to the place where he died will make him remember how he was resurrected.

Yep, talk about having messed-up parents. Bruce is positively the worst at this moment, but it gets worse.

Jason is rightfully pissed off, he says, “You lied to me, this wasn’t about taking down those mercenaries. You wanted to bring me here, to the worst place in the world and here I was starting to believe all your crap about trust and faith...”

To which Bruce says, “I thought bringing you here could jog your memory, maybe retrieve a detail buried deep in your subconscious that could help piece together how you came back to life so I…”

And my man Jason really continues his thought process only to later tell him how much of a piece of shit he truly is (I love this Chonky, go Jason show this man that he ain’t shit).

“…could apply it to getting Damian back. Yeah, I get it. Did it ever occur to you I might like keeping whatever the hell happened to me buried deep? If you cared about me, you wouldn’t want me to dredge up the one thing I’ve been trying to forget. I don’t want to remember the most horrific day of my life all right? You may like wallowing in your tragedies, Bruce, but I’m done looking back!”

Jason, bravo, tell him exactly how you feel! Any sort of good human being would surely accept that they crossed a massive line and that they should ask for forgiveness next, right?... Right?

No. And that’s because Bruce is a horrible human being, I am sorry but it had to be said, this man has zero empathy for Jason and he proves it when he says the following.

“If you cared about me and what I’ve lost, you’d want to dredge this up! Don’t you see, there is a chance you can help me erase one of the worst days of MY life, Jason! You can give me the greatest gift of all and help me figure out how to bring my son back”

Fuck Bruce Wayne. This man has no right whatsoever to talk this way to Jason, no matter how you see this situation, the whole thing is fucked up. Bruce puts his needs above Jason’s feelings and he diminishes Jason’s position as his son because Bruce only refers to Damian as his son. This whole thing is incredibly nasty.

Here we should have had the point of no return for Jason and Bruce’s relationship, although if you are like me, you might think that the point of no return happened way back in Batman (1940) #650 when Bruce decided that saving the Joker by throwing a batarang at Jason’s neck (how did he know that Jason would survive that, I have no idea, maybe Bruce can see the future) was a better option compared to Jason finally killing the clown. Because that’s the thing, Jason was going to kill the clown but Bruce didn’t let him because he didn’t want more blood in Jason’s hands, I laugh until this day about how stupid Bruce’s thinking was there.

Anyway, the point I was trying to make is that Jason should have said bye-bye to Batman and all related Batman crap from this moment on. It would have been perfect but DC can’t help themselves and Lobdell’s self-insert-Jason really wants to be part of this amazing family so, no luck for Jason or us.

If you have read my latest post about Joker getting under Jason’s skin or read issue #18 of RHatO you know the context of what Jason says next.

“Yeah, and how about me? How about the gift of not knowing that the Joker manipulated my entire life, huh? The clown tainted everything, the good, the bad, hell my life’s even been tainted by you!”

Yup, Jason was going through it, and he had talked about these feelings with Bruce previously in issue #17 of RHatO, he had asked Bruce if he thought that Joker had created him and Bruce said, “No Jason, He didn’t make you, I never did either. You made you” and Jason was extremely thankful for that. And now, here we are, these feelings are being brought up again but in a very different situation.

Them arguing becomes a physical fight and after Jason asks Bruce “why are you making me stand in the exact same spot he beat me to death?” He replies this “Because I want to watch Damian grow up damn it! Damian earned that right! And I want to give it to him!”

This conversation only gets worse and Bruce’s most horrible side comes to light, like, I understand that Bruce wants Damian to be alive and all that but he is saying all the wrong stuff to Jason. I feel like as the reader I am being told that Bruce values Damian more than he ever did Jason because he is willing to put Jason through his own personal hell for Damian but refuses to see the reasons as to why Jason doesn’t want to do it. Bruce is being incredibly selfish and he is not caring enough about Jason to notice that he is hurting him. He even doesn’t notice after Jason says, “I was ready to stand by your side and you’ve thrown it all away!”

It is incredibly sad but it's also a bit of a look into what Bruce will do to Dick in Nightwing vol. 3 #30. It has the exact same vibe in both issues, Bruce going completely berserk on his children and telling them that he “trained them to be better”.

This issue ends with Jason punching Bruce several times and Bruce taunting Jason by telling him that he might as well continue because he is “still standing”. The levels of manipulation that Bruce had going on here weren’t as high as the ones in Nightwing #30 but he sure was a little bitch every step of the way.

Jason, being smart, doesn’t take the bait and tells Bruce that he is leaving and he is taking the car.

Wouldn’t this have been an amazing moment for Jason to finally rid himself of all Batman-related events and bullshit? How did DC miss this amazing opportunity to make Jason Todd/Red Hood a character that can stand on his own and with his own rules?

The potential that was wasted when they made Jason go back to Bruce and help him get Damian back in issues 33 to 37 of this same run is immeasurable. And just like Joker being able to get under Jason’s skin, him going back to Bruce and the “family” for plot purposes harmed Jason’s characterization greatly.

Batman and Robin (2011) #34-37 – Written by Peter Tomasi.

Whatever kind of respect I held for Tomasi because of the way he wrote Jason in #20 is now gone. Issues 34 to 37 have Jason fighting alongside Batman and him being all buddy-buddy with him.

Now, let me make something clear, Bruce wanting to bring Damian back to life/from Apokolips is absolutely fine with me, a father fighting for his son’s life can always make a good story, the thing is that at this point in time not only the events of Batman and Robin #20 have happened but so have the events of Nightwing #30.

So, Bruce going through all of this for one of his kids (that keeps being brought up as if he were his only son) after he emotionally manipulated Jason and Dick makes this story very bitter.

But I understand what DC is doing, you know? Here is how they manage to make this story as bitter-sweet as possible. In issue 34 of this run, Dick shows up in his Spyral get-up and offers his help in getting Damian back, because the kid meant a lot to him but Bruce can’t have Dick helping him out along with Barbara and Tim because Bruce has everyone convinced that Dick is dead. So, DC was like “here is this big brain idea, let’s have Jason, Barbara, and Tim helping Bruce get Damian back”. And that’s exactly what they did.

They dragged Jason back to Batman-related crap after he was manipulated, insulted, and punched by the man that is supposed to be his father. And this issue is also happening after Jason had such an immense existential crisis that he decided to have his memory wiped so he could cleanse himself on any doubt that the Joker had manipulated his free will.

How on earth are we supposed to believe that Jason is dumb enough to go back to Batman after all that? Does DC and its writers read their own material? Do they check if the characters that they are planning on using have contradicting narratives?

It’s so messy, the opportunity that DC, Tynion, Tomasi, and Lobdell got to make Jason his own man and his own character was completely wasted, just for a Batman event!

And it isn’t like Jason’s participation in getting Damian back was crucial, it really wasn’t, if I am planning on taking a team of heroes to Apokolips for a rescue mission, Jason, Barbara and Tim wouldn’t be my first options. Jason was put in that book only so they could have someone making snarky comments and for Jason to be like “Bruce we are family, we will always have each other’s backs” I mean, who is Jason supposed to be, Dom Toretto?

Here are some of the moments that seemed the most out of touch for Jason in these issues.

Batman and Robin #34

In issue 34 Bruce gives a long speech about him not wanting to hide things anymore from them (like he did during the events of Death of the Family) and that he wants a new start because they “have been broken long enough” so from that moment forward “good or bad, the truth rules”.

The audacity of this man, my god, how dense can Bruce be? “we’ve been broken long enough”? YOU have broken your relationship with these people time and time again! As you are standing there talking about the truth you are hiding the fact that Dick is alive and well somewhere far away because YOU sent him on a very dangerous mission after he died and you manipulated him.

THE AUDACITY OF THIS PIECE OF SHIT! Am I becoming an anti-Batman blog? I think I am and quite honestly, I am having the time of my life. Fuck this guy.

But back to the issue, after Bruce says that the truth is all that goes now, Barbara basically says that she doesn’t believe him, that all it takes for Bruce to go back to lying is “another situation that justifies you going dark on us in more ways than one” HA! You go, girl! But he is already hiding something from all of you.

Jason being himself supplies a situation like the ones where Batman lies to them in order to get them to work for him, he says, “or bringing me to Magdala Valley on a sightseeing trip to reminisce about the good old days of crowbars and explosions”, ah yes, sure, Bruce did all that back in issue 20 and now it is brought up as an afterthought… how wonderful.

Bruce, of course, lies to their faces when he says “I promise that nothing gets held back. We speak our mind no matter what the cost” to which Jason says “Unconditional truth now and forever, Bruce, otherwise this is all a load of crap”.

AND IT IS! IT IS ALL A LOAD OF CRAP CHONKY! RUN, RUN LIKE THE WIND!

Man, what a mess, poor Dick. He had to wait there and watch his father lie his ass off. And he really wanted to help Bruce get Damian back. Even after Bruce told Dick (as well as Barbara, Tim, and Jason) that he had to go to Apokolips alone Dick still helped Bruce in other ways, Dick really is the MVP, what a man, I love him so much!

(I really needed to show my love for Dick right then and there, sometimes you just have to do it. Dick Grayson is, after all, the greatest comic character to have ever been created).

Batman and Robin #36

First of all, seeing Jason and Barbara wearing the Robin symbol really makes me laugh. It’s just weird to see Barbara wear it, it almost feels like it’s something that shouldn’t have happened and in Jason’s case, well, the last time he wore it he died and it’s kinda funny to see beefy and tall Red Hood wearing a Robin symbol, it’s just funny not a critique.

What I am going to critique from this issue is that after they (Jason, Barbara, and Tim) go to Apokolips and find Bruce they say, “You’re here in this hellish place for your son, Bruce” and Jason continues that with, “And we’re here for you”.

Ah, the irony. Of all people, having Jason say that to Bruce is wild. This man has done nothing for Jason and here Jason is, in Apokolips, of all places, to help a man that does not deserve it. This is proof that Jason is a good man but its also proof that he is an idiot in the New 52, I am sorry but come on, writing Jason this way after what Bruce did to him in issue 20 seems like DC is confirming the fact that even though Batman does the most horrible stuff to his kids, he can still get away with it because his kids still love him all the same.

I understand, loving your parents when they are flawed but Bruce had been written at this time like an abusive father, and he was written like that towards Jason and Dick, so it is not a good look. Bruce saying that he promises that he won’t do it anymore isn’t enough DC, make the man pay for being that way, make his kids stay away from him for a while (or forever).

And here is the other thing, I say that Bruce is Jason and Dick’s father but DC doesn’t, they only acknowledge Damian as Bruce’s son and they do it because the New 52 timeline is non-existent. After all, they deleted a lot of history from these characters, I think it’s fair to assume that Bruce never adopted Dick or Jason and that both of them were Robin for a very short time. What I am trying to say with this is that not only is Bruce getting away with being abusive but he is also getting away with being an abusive father. Because Bruce is their father, at least I see it that way, he isn’t just his friend/mentor/tutor he is their father. He used to be before New 52 and that’s not something that we as the readers are ready or want to let go of.

All in all, Jason didn’t do much in these issues thus confirming (to me, at least) that the only reason he was invited to the party was because they couldn’t use Dick. And that’s an insult to Jason’s character, it would have been better if Jason didn’t appear in this story and he actually had the chance to do something else, like go back to being the proper Red Hood, an anti-hero that does what Batman won’t do for Gotham and its people.

#jason todd #red hood #batman and robin #batman #robin #dc comics #batman and red hood #dick grayson #nightwing

[kleptosuperstar]

hiii so uhh i really don't think anyone will see this because...i literally have one follower but im kinda making this for myself because me and my cousin are going to the mall and a few stores around the city in a few days SPECIFICALLY to lift and I made a list of things that we both want PLUS some tips for these stores seeing as I DO lift from most of them a lot sooo..yeah

SPENCERS: a moderately easy store seeing as there are TONS of blind spots and LP isn't employed. To top it off, cameras are never monitored, however they are low-hanging and somewhat high quality. Usually only 2-5 employees but the store is almost always crowded so if you find a blind spot it's a free for all. They wont chase but might call mall security.

What we want:

h20 piercing cleaner x2

toy cleaner

jojoba oil

hemp oil

septum and nose jewelery (we will actually have to purchase this, seeing as if you steal the jewelery they hand to you they WILL know you stole no matter what. Plus the packaging is riddled with RFID tags)

HOT TOPIC: Not that many blind spots, but employees usually don't care and rarely count clothing articles, which may have a tag or two, so check for those. Cameras are never monitored and the stores usually have a large layout so just watch out for customers and employees, find a blind spot and throw a bunch of shit into your bag They don't chase! :D.

What we want:

distressed thigh highs

over the knee thigh highs with bow

black fishnet lace thigh highs

black and white stripe arm warmers

black fishnet fingerless gloves

black floral tights

CLAIRE'S: whew lawd. I really really want to be helpful on this one but Claire's is a laughably easy place to lift from. No cameras, usually only 1 or 2 employees and if one is giving a piercing it's a free-for-all. THEY HAVE MIRRORS SO AVOID THOSE. My favorite blind spot there is behind the register if there is no one there, and that's all I have to say there.

What I want: (she doesn't want anything from Claire's apparently🙄)

Headphones

A tiara

Nail polish

VICTORIA'S SECRET: first of all lol, i feel ZERO shame in lifting from them. Please note that they do have cameras, and their SAs are trained to look out for shoplifters, however most of them are just confused college girls lol. Panties are NOT tagged. What I like to do is take a medium sized empty makeup bag and put it in my purse, and once I arrive to VS i put the makeup bag in the tote, I also drop my phone into the tote. I go around the store, picking out panties that are my size and i drop them so they can fall directly into the makeup bag. I do this with as many as I can fit into the bag and I do this with small makeup items as well. Once I'm done, I reach into the bag as if I'm looking for my phone (which i dropped in earlier) and that's the moment when i zip up the zipper of the makeup bag and pull out my phone immediately after and pretend to check the time and say something like "Damn, I gotta go. I'm late." Or something like that. Put the makeup bag in your purse and play around on your phone as you exit the store. And that's really it :) I rarely lift bras from there anymore so I can't REALLY help you there.

What I want:

a bunch of panties and some lip gloss!

BARNE'S AND NOBLES: I've never lifted from this place but I know friends who have. I'll give you the tips they gave me. There are cameras, and they are being monitored, but there are PLENTY of blind spots seeing as it is a very large store. The kid's section has no cameras tho, so if you're like me and look younger than you are, this could be for your advantage. No one expects you to steal when you're vibing in the kid's section. Most books have RFID tags, and hardcover books sometime have books engraved in the cover, so watch out for those. Most manga, some magazines, and just overall 99% of the books are tagged. Get what you want, flip through them and look for RFID tags while pretending to "read". If an employee sees you sitting down "reading" they won't suspect you unless they actually see you ripping out the tags. The worst that could happen is that they could ask you to move out of the book aisle so other customers can come through, if that happens, simply find another blind spot. Slip them into your bags like they're yours as SOON as you know they're rid of RFID tags. They won't chase, but probably will try to get you back into the store and if that doesn't work they'll try to get a license plate number or give your description to the police, neither usually goes anywhere tbh.

What we want:

fire force volume 1

fire force volume 2

fire force volume 3

fire force volume 4

Akame Ga Kill

Soul eater

Black lagoon

Kakegurui vol. 1

The seven deadly sins volume 1

Spy x family 1

Spy x family 2

Spy x family 3

Black butler vol. 1

Black butler vol. 2

Black butler vol. 3

Black butler vol. 4

Wotakoi vol. 1

Wotakoi vol. 2

Gangsta

Dictionary of witchcraft

The anatomy of the occult

Charms, spells, and formula

Moon spells

Gothic beauty magazine number 19

Nocturnal witchcraft

Necronomicon

The good witch's daily spellbook

A big book of practical spells

Any book on astrology

Gothic grimoire

Shingeki no Kyonin

Ulta: The second store I've ever lifted from. This store is easy, but not laughably. I feel like this would be a starter for babylifters. This store has mild LP, so watch out for those and NEVER EVER EVER conceal in front of customers, you should never do this in general but especially NOT in an Ulta. Get to your blindspot and make sure to detag depending on what you plan on lifting. Those mfs at Ulta tag like crazy. Put everything in your bag and remember to NEVER get too greedy at this store. They have a STRICT, VERY VERY STRICT no chase policy.

What we want:

better than sex mascara

lipstick

eyeshadow

makeup brushes

black liquid and stick liner

pink liquid liner (if they have it)

bronzer

brown eyeliner

eyeliner pencil

maracuja oil

any colorful eyeshadow pallate lol

WALMART: My walmart is so easy it hurts. Maybe about 5 cameras throughout the whole store to my knowledge, so the whole thing is basically a blind spot. The makeup aisle is heavily monitored tho so whenever I'm over there I make an effort to never look up to those cameras. Grab whatever you want/need and AVOID EMPLOYEES!!! they're everywhere. As well as customers. They are the two most annoying problems I've ever had lifting from a Walmart. I've noticed that aisles where you get things such as building materials are the most empty with no cameras. People usually only go to walmart because the food is cheap, so there are a lot of families who are usually only at one side of the store. Its rare that people ever need materials like those so seek out aisles like that to use as a blind spot. Wal-Mart doesn't seem to tag that many things, but ALWAYS check no matter what store you're at. If you're lifting something on the expensive side, just check for that.

What I want:

kinder buenos x2

sugar free monster energy

paint

paintbrushes

black lace

blue eyeliner

blush

nail polish

socks

THE DOLLAR TREE:

Pretty easy store tbh. The cameras are fake, and if they aren't they're never being monitored. I don't know about ALL layouts but mine has SO many blindspots it's crazy. If you're just looking for a snack, some makeup, or maybe a meal ? (Yes, you can get a whole meal if you lift enough stuff) then the dollar tree would be your place of interest. There are almost no employees walking around the store. There are usually only 2, and they switch between working at the registers and cleaning out the front of the store or whatever. Honestly this store is so easy just stuff shit in your bag lol. Even if you get caught they won't chase or call the police. Their stock is WAYY too cheap for that. I go there to steal candy or makeup brushes which is usually not worth paying for anyways so this is a beginner store. Knock yourself out ;)

What I want:

literally anything i see there that i want😭

welllll if you actually made it this far, thank you so much! I hope this helped someone and I hope one day I can make a master list of stores myself instead of just picking selective ones but this was all i was able to do :( i really REALLY hope this helped someone lmao just remember

✨ if its chain, its free reign✨