#so to stand out/appeal to me they have to be something either truly unique or done by an author I already know and trust?

[fandom-space-princess]

weird to reflect on my own preferences in fanfiction (and fiction more broadly). I don't like soulmate au's, except when I do, in much the same way as I don't like stories about love triangles/people being bad at polyamory, except when I do, and in neither case is there a pattern to this which is predictable to me 🤷🙃

#i think it might be that what I enjoy is the subversion of social expectations and these tropes practically never give me that #I've experienced too much of them being played straight #similar to stories about queer characters undergoing The Horrors. of course I want to read those! but not when it's all I ever get #media often only tells stories of jealous love triangles and One True Romantic Soulmates #in the same way as it often only tells stories about doomed gays #give me healthy polyamory and characters who reject the narrative of fated romance! #because i think I've had so much of the other kind of stories that I'm at capacity for them #so to stand out/appeal to me they have to be something either truly unique or done by an author I already know and trust? #anyway #fsp speaks

[snowmist-hashira]

[Chapter title: Feline]

Muichiro Tokitou x Reader

Warning: PG-13 content Word Count: 3,051

Wattpad: [KNY Fanfiction] (One shots) Tokito Muichiro x Reader

Archive: Kimetsu No Yaiba: Tokitou Muichiro x Reader Master list: ♠ Information ♠

Artist link: https://twitter.com/mboj321

I am open to requests for Muichiro x Reader content, and I also enjoy engaging in roleplays. If you're interested in either, please feel free to check out my pinned post for more information. ~ ♠

Y/n and Tokito Muichiro had been acquainted for quite some time. They had been in the same class for nearly three years, but it wasn't until they were assigned to be partners on a task that they truly began to interact.

Living alone was proving to be difficult for Y/n, not because of the tasks and responsibilities that came with it, but because of the constant feeling of loneliness. She had to adjust to a solitary lifestyle and rely solely on herself.

Y/n had a companion in the form of a blue feline, whom she fondly called her own. The cat kept her company throughout the day, especially since she lived alone. Being alone often led to loneliness, but having the cat around made things more bearable. After school, Y/n would sometimes invite Muichiro over to her place to hang out.

Y/n opened the front door of her apartment with a smile, announcing her return. Muichiro followed behind her and they were greeted by a warm meow coming from her cat who was waiting for them at the entrance.

"Have you been a good girl?" Y/n asked as she took off her shoes and knelt down. She stretched her palm towards her blue cat, who nuzzled against her touch, and Y/n couldn't help but squeal at the cuteness.

Y/n proceeded to stand up and adjust the curtains and blinds in preparation for the evening, as it was starting to get dark outside. As she did so, her blue feline gazed up at Muichiro, his mint-colored eyes glanced down, seeing the cat as if requesting something. Muichiro responded with a small smile, patting the cat, who let out a welcoming meow in return.

She sneakily stole a glance at the him, enjoying at the sight at how Muichiro’s gaze softened. Y/n found herself attracted to his unique personality. Although he appeared cold and detached on the outside, she discovered that he was actually warm and caring on the inside.

“She really likes you more than me.” Y/n remarked, her cat seemed to have taken a liking to Muichiro, as she observed how the feline was becoming fonder of him with each visit. Despite this, she couldn't help but feel a bit envious, wishing she could receive the same amount of attention from him as her pet did.

“I doubt that.” Muichiro replied.

The room was filled with soft lighting, casting a warm and inviting glow that immediately put them at ease. The comfortable armchairs and couches beckoned them to sink in and relax. The faint smell of coffee beans in the air added to the homely atmosphere. The absence of any tension or stress made them feel comfortable and secure, like they were in a safe haven. The soothing silence completed the calming ambiance, making them feel like they were wrapped in a warm, comforting embrace.

Y/n placed the freshly brewed coffee on the table, and Muichiro sat on the carpet right next to it, placing his bag beside him. "Thanks," he said.

Whenever Y/n was around, Muichiro felt an unusual sense of letting his guard down. As a demon exterminator, he was always on high alert and had honed his swordsmanship skills to their limits. But with Y/n, it felt like he could completely let his guard down. Her presence had a calming effect on him, and he felt a sense of peace around her.

He took pride in witnessing a different aspect of Y/n's personality, as she appeared gentle and elegant on the outside, but she also possessed a mischievous side that she only revealed to him. He found this sense of exclusivity appealing.

"Meow!" Her cat playfully growled as Y/n tickled its belly, causing her to break into small laughs. Though the feline appeared to be aggressive, trying to bite her hand, Y/n was quick to pull it away before it could do any harm. “Ahaha~”

The cat went to Muichiro and started to purr and nuzzle its face onto his lap. Muichiro was surprised but responded by giving the cat some affection. Y/n couldn't help but pout, feeling jealous of how the cat was getting Muichiro's attention.

‘Is he like that because it’s a cat?’

Y/N came up with an idea and mimicked a cat by raising one hand like a paw and lowering the other, tilting her head and making an attempt to look cute with her eyes, while saying "M-Meow~". She knew that this action could possibly make her look silly and undermine her dignity.

Y/n couldn't help but feel embarrassed at her childish actions, she looked up at him, hoping he wouldn't think she was too weird or childish. She was met with a pair of widened mint eyes, blinking confusingly at her antics.

And at that moment, she regretted it.

Mui couldn't help but lowly laugh at Y/N's playful act, finding it amusing and entertaining. "Well, I think you make a pretty convincing cat, Y/N," he said, chuckling. "But I'm not sure if all cats make that cute of a face."

“Wha-“ Y/N was surprised by his words and wondered how he could say something like that with a straight face. Despite this, she noticed that his demeanor remained the same, except for a laugh which had become common between them.

Y/N expressed her embarrassment and covered her mouth before turning away from Muichiro. She had a slight pink tint on her cheeks due to the embarrassment caused by his words. Muichiro chuckled at her reaction and playfully ruffled her hair.

Y/n couldn't help but steal glances at Muichiro, feeling the warmth of his hand and the tenderness of his gaze. It was clear to her that he regarded her as something precious and valuable, and she found that incredibly endearing. She was drawn to the way he expressed himself, and she wondered what other emotions he was capable of showing. Muichiro's charm had her a bit lost in thought.

Y/n suggested a playful idea to get closer to Muichiro. She crouched down with one hand on the floor, using her other hand like a paw. She then moved closer to Muichiro until their faces were only a few inches apart. Y/n then purred and said "Meow~" in a cute attempt to be playful, but she felt herself blushing from the close proximity to him.

She attempted to mimic a cat, but it appeared that her actions were unintentionally alluring Tokito.

Tokito blushed as Y/n got closer, her playful meows now sounding more like purring. He could feel her breath on his face, sending shivers down his spine. Y/n's playful cat imitation seemed to have unintentionally caught Muichiro's attention in a different way. Instead of finding it amusing, he found himself drawn to her as she leaned in closer to him. He couldn't help but notice how cute she looked, with her hand mimicking a paw and her soft purring. He felt a strange sensation in his chest as he looked at her, and he couldn't look away.

Y/n was surprised by the sight, as she observed the blush on his cheeks. She found it intriguing that the once cold and strong-looking Tokito Muichiro that she first met was now melting in such a manner. It captivated her attention.

Who wouldn’t? He looked vulnerable right now.

"Y-Y/n, I think that's enough teasing for today," he stammered, attempting to maintain his composure. He gently pushed her back to create some distance between them, feeling a little flustered.

Y/n's mischievous side was triggered by Muichiro's flustered reaction, causing her to playfully grin. She teased him by poking his cheeks and asking, "Are you feeling embarrassed, Mui~?" She found his flustered state to be adorable and couldn't resist reacting that way.

Despite his protests, Muichiro's flushed face betrayed his true feelings. Y/n's teasing had clearly gotten to him, and he struggled to regain his composure. "You're just being silly," he tried to insist, but the words lacked conviction.

Y/n teased Muichiro further by cupping his cheeks to make him face her. She had a smirk on her face as she noticed the bright blush on his cheeks. She could feel the warmth of his skin as well and exclaimed, "But you are!"

As Y/N continued to hold his face, Muichiro's face became even more flushed. Despite his protests, Y/N could tell that he was embarrassed. "I know you're embarrassed, Mui," Y/N said teasingly, smirking at the sight of his bright red face. She could feel the warmth emanating from his cheeks.

"I-I'm not embarrassed," However, Muichiro continued to deny it and repeated that Y/N was just being silly. Y/N could sense that he was panicking internally, even though he was trying to hide it.

Y/n chuckled and continued to tease Mui, not believing his denial. She held his chin and pulled him even closer, tilting her head with a mischievous smirk. There was a glint of dominance in her eyes that sparked.

She was clearly enjoying this moment too much.

As Y/N pulled Muichiro closer, he couldn't help but feel his heart racing. His cheeks grew even redder as he struggled to maintain eye contact with her. "I-I... I’m not," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. But even as he spoke, he knew he was lying to himself. Y/N's proximity was making him feel all sorts of things he had never felt before.

Y/n continued to hold Muichiro's chin and maintain eye contact, she could sense his nervousness and feel his heart racing. "Are you sure about that, Mui?" she asked with a sly smile, knowing full well that he was lying to himself. She could see the desire and vulnerability in his eyes, and it only made her want to tease him even more.

Y/N's mischievous side only grew stronger as Muichiro continued to deny his embarrassment. She moved even closer, lifting his chin and exhaling warm air onto his neck. Muichiro's face grew even redder and he felt increasingly flustered by Y/N's teasing. He tried to break eye contact, but Y/N's grip on his chin prevented him from doing so.

"I...I am not embarrassed," he stuttered, trying to sound convincing but failing miserably.

Y/N found Muichiro's reaction amusing and chuckled as she whispered to him, her breath gently brushing against his neck. She then asked him if he was certain, prompting him to finally give in and admit, while laughing softly, that he was indeed embarrassed.

She grinned triumphantly as Muichiro finally admitted to being embarrassed. She released her hold on his chin and leaned back, giving him some space. "Aww, you're so cute when you're flustered," she teased, poking his nose lightly.

Y/N tilted her head and smiled, as if reverting back to her innocent self. "See, that wasn't so hard to admit, was it?"

With a small smile, Muichiro chuckled and acknowledged Y/N's teasing had left him feeling slightly embarrassed yet amused. "You're quite skilled at getting people to admit things, aren't you?" He admitted that Y/N was quite skilled at making people confess to things.

"Oh, really? You think so?" Y/N replied innocently, creating some distance between them.

Mui chuckled softly at Y/N's question. "Yes, you are," he said, his eyes glistening with affection. "You're always full of surprises, Y/N. It's part of what makes you so lovable."

"...!" Y/N was taken aback by Muichiro's compliment and blushed slightly in response. She quickly regained her composure and thanked him. Y/N realized that getting compliments from him felt different than from others. While she had received many compliments before, Muichiro's words felt particularly heart-warming to her.

Muichiro saw how Y/N reacted and found her adorable, making him smile warmly. "You're welcome," he replied. "You really do have a way of brightening up a room, Y/N."

Y/N sought clarification from Muichiro that teasing him was a way to brighten up the room. She then gave him a judgmental look and asked, "Do you actually enjoy being teased?"

Muichiro chuckled softly, "Well, I wouldn't say I love it, but I do find it amusing and entertaining. It's a nice way to break the ice and lighten up the mood." He smiled warmly at Y/N. "And teasing me back is also a good way.”

Y/N pouted and mumbled to herself, almost inaudibly, "I only tease you because I like you." She then turned away, crossed her arms, and assumed that Muichiro hadn't heard her confession.

Muichiro, however, did hear her statement, and he couldn't help but feel a little flustered at her words. He cleared his throat, trying to compose himself before speaking. "I...uh...I like it when you tease me too, Y/N." He admitted, his cheeks tinged with pink. It was unusual to see him struggle with his words, as he usually sounded confident. But in this instance, he was searching for the right words to say.

“Wha..” Y/N turned to Muichiro with an intense gaze, her sudden movement startling him. She took a deep breath before mustering up the courage to ask him, "Why do you like it when I tease you?" Her mind was racing with possibilities, hoping that his answer would confirm that he shared her feelings.

Muichiro looked at Y/N with a faint smile on his lips, his eyes slightly squinted in thought. "I guess...I just like seeing you in a playful mood. And I know that teasing is your way of showing affection," he replied, his tone softening as he spoke. "It's...nice. It makes me feel like we're close."

"Like almost this close?" Y/N pushed Muichiro down on the carpet with a gentle yet swift motion, positioning herself on top of him and pinning him down with her hands. She ran a strand of hair behind her ear in a seductive manner and tilted her head with a look of dominance and confidence in her eyes. It seemed like she wasn't teasing him this time, but rather trying to convey a message.

Tokito's eyes widened in surprise as Y/N suddenly pushed him down, pinning him to the carpet. He felt his heart racing as he gazed up at her, her eyes gleaming with confidence and dominance.

He swallowed nervously before answering her question. "Y-Yes, almost that close."

He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked in that moment, her hair falling perfectly around her face, and the way she held herself with such poise and control.

He was amazed by Y/N's confidence and the way she was able to take charge of the situation. He knew that she was teasing him, but he couldn't resist her playful advances.

"But why do you ask?" he added, curious about her intentions.

Y/N's frown deepened as she looked at Muichiro, “Mui… You’re awfully dense.” Feeling a bit frustrated with his lack of understanding. Without answering his question, she lifted one of her hands from the floor and grabbed his chin, using her thumb to playfully touch his bottom lip. She held his gaze with her own, her expression a mixture of amusement and desire.

Muichiro's heart quickened as Y/N held him down and touched his lip with her thumb. He was immobilized, overwhelmed by her dominant demeanor. "D-Dense? What do you mean?" he stammered, staring up at her with a blend of bewilderment and yearning in his eyes.

The intensity of Y/N's actions only made Muichiro more attracted to her, and he found himself unable to resist her. His voice was barely audible as he asked her, his eyes locked onto hers. “Y-Y/N, what are you doing..”

Y/N released Muichiro's chin and held her hair in place as she leaned in closer to him, saying in a breathless and alluring tone, "I like you."

As she drew closer and whispered her message of affection, Muichiro's heart skipped a beat. He had always admired Y/N from afar, but he never thought that she would be interested in him.

Her eyes showed no hint of uncertainty, only a dominant aura as she closed the gap between their faces and tilted her head for a better angle. She planted a swift kiss on his lips, closing her eyes as her eyelashes brushed against her cheeks.

Muichiro was surprised by Y/N's sudden confession and bold actions, but he couldn't deny the fluttery feeling in his chest. He closed his eyes as she leaned in for a kiss and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her closer. Their kiss was gentle yet passionate, and it conveyed the depth of their mutual feelings for each other.

He felt a rush of emotion and passion that he had never experienced before.

Muichiro couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. He wanted to hold her close and tell her how much he loved her.

When they parted, Muichiro opened his eyes and looked at Y/N with a small smile. "I like you too, Y/N," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Y/N was surprised when Muichiro kissed her back, and she quickly pulled away, covering her mouth with the back of her hand in a cute manner. She was now blushing, and the confident aura she had before was gone, replaced by a shy expression in her eyes.

"I... I didn't expect that," she stuttered.

Tokito was surprised too, but he couldn't help but feel a bit relieved that Y/N had returned his feelings. He sat up and looked at her with a smile. "I like you too, Y/N," he said softly. "I'm sorry if I was too dense to realize it earlier."

"Yeah, damn you're right." Y/N cursed at his denseness, turning away in embarrassment "I like you too as well, idiot." She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down, but the blush on her face showed that she was still flustered.

Muichiro let out a soft chuckle, feeling a sense of relief and happiness at Y/N's confession. "I'm glad to hear that," he said, extending his hand to take hers. "I've actually been wanting to tell you for a while, but I wasn't sure if you felt the same way." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it.

He knew that he had found someone special, someone who understood him and accepted him for who he was. He couldn't wait to see where their relationship would go, and he knew that he would always cherish the memory of their first kiss.

#muichiro x y/n #demon slayer kimetsu no yaiba #fanfiction #muichiro x reader #muichiro tokito #demon slayer #kimetsu no yaiba #one shot #female reader #x reader #txt fluff #fluff #pg13 #rating: pg13 #feline #cats #mischievous #dom female #playful #sweet flirt #kny x reader #kny x you #anime x reader #demon slayer x reader #anime x y/n #demon slayer x y/n #demon slayer x you #kny muichiro #muichiro x you #kimetsu muichiro

[hanasnx]

Which bruce wayne is ur favourite? (ex. Christian Bale, Robert Patterson) and follow up question why? -🐰

bunny, im so glad you asked. how much time do you have

i don't care about robert pattinson, i did not care about the batman (2022). i'm sure i'll do a full analysis once i'm able to establish my credentials as a lifelong batman fan, but there was a lot that fell so short for me.

christian bale was an exceptional bruce wayne, which is arguably as impossible a role to fill as the role of batman is. i loved bale's aloof and smug nature as bruce, his confidence and faults, but i can not stand his portrayal of batman. not only is the suit design egregious and unflattering, whoever helped him develop his bat-voice was a terrible guide. bale did his best, don't get me wrong, truly i can hear him giving his all and shredding his vocal chords in the process, but it was simply awful to listen to. the dark knight (2008) is still a rewatch-worthy movie of course, but batman begins (2005) & the dark knight rises (2012) was not memorable nor revolutionary. they pale in comparison to the middle of the trilogy.

more (and a TDLR at the bottom) under the cut:

i thought michael keaton's portrayal of both bruce and batman in batman (1989) and batman returns (1992) was boring. any personality he may have tried to bring to batman was washed out by tim burton trying to fit so much of... well... tim burton into something that didn't need any more of that injection. don't get me wrong, stylistically it's appealing, but if you told me that keaton just showed up and started acting as michael keaton instead of bruce wayne i'd believe you because there is no clear distinction between the two. the second movie was way more enjoyable to watch but it was because of elements that had... virtually nothing to do with bruce/batman. it was devito's penguin, and pfieffer's catwoman (and her subplot) that held my attention. i think it's definitely a burton movie, which is fine, and his morbid takes on those characters are interesting, but it was not a defining movie for bruce/batman. it honestly could've been better without batman entirely or benched as a side character / the antagonist.

batman forever (1995) is my secret favorite live action portrayal. val kilmer had bale's charisma when it came to bruce wayne, and gave batman a unique personality that i adored. he didn't shred his vocal chords to give batman a deeper voice either, instead gave himself an elegant yet commanding edge that reminded me of what i admired about kevin conroy's batman voice. as campy as it is, i love so much of what they did with this movie. i often think of it as a standalone vs it being actually a part of the "burtonverse." especially because batman & robin (1997) is supposed to be part of that franchise and i cannot tell you a single thing that happened in that movie besides maybe uma thurman.

another secret live-action favorite of mine was the foundational movie of adam west's portrayal in batman: the movie (1966) and i will elaborate on that another time either by someone's solicitation or my own hyperfixation driven wills.

now that the live-action shit is out of the way, let's get to the real winners.

the dcau or "timmverse" (bruce timm) or "diniverse" (paul dini) is the name for the dc animated universe franchise during 1992 - 2006 which includes loads of favorite shows/movies of mine. which leads me to say: my favorite portrayals of bruce wayne and batman of all time, is kevin conroy's from justice league (2001 - 2004) and justice league unlimited (2004 - 2006). those two might not be as solid as a legend like batman: the animated series (1992 - 1995) where conroy made his debut, but they were one of my introductory pieces to his portrayal and are a source of a lot of love and nostalgia that still hold up today as a twenty-one year old vs elementary school when i first discovered them. i stayed up til the AM watching them which i had never done before that (it was 7am). i would rewatch my favorite episodes over and over again which i have never done for any other show.

as many have already agreed, conroy was the definitive voice of batman for decades. his beginnings in the legendary batman: the animated series (1991 - 1995) put him on the map as bruce's most recognizable VA, and he went on to voice him in many adaptations that i also adore. a few examples are batman beyond (1999 - 2001) and the rocksteady arkham video game series (2009 - 2015). not only did he form a dynamic duo with mark hamill's joker (who is also so important for the joker's character, but i can't elaborate on that here without a terrific tangent) which employed one of the most potent examples of chemistry i've ever seen in media, but i would've trusted conroy's expertise on bruce/batman to the ends of the earth. he cared about that character, and he showed it in every faithful adaptation he performed. trustworthy and admirable, conroy is hands down the best batman by far, and did justice to his characterization that defined my love for the character. without conroy who brought him alive, i doubt i'd be into batman as much as i am or for as long as i have.

i knew that writing this post i'd get emotional. it's been a year since conroy's death in november 2022. i still remember the night before the news and how i had coincidentally imagined a world without him, come to find out the very next day that he had passed away. i remember exactly where i was when i found out, i remember exactly what i did after. he had honestly been a part of life through batman for almost the entirety of it. he was the celebrity i always wanted to meet, no one was important enough to me to go through that trouble. but conroy was worth it to me, and i missed out on the chance before he passed away. i heard he was always so personable and so kind, and who could ask for better from batman, you know? god there's so much more i could say, but i dont want to be disrespectful to his family who i'm sure miss him terribly, and are the ones that experienced that loss. in the grand scheme of things, i was nothing to him and that's fine, but i'm just very proud of him.

TDLR the character bruce wayne / batman portrayals in any live action adaptations fell short when it comes to animated adaptations of his character. batman forever (1995) is my favorite live-action movie, but it's nothing compared to my love for the voice acting of kevin conroy's bruce wayne / batman in justice league (2001 - 2004) / justice league unlimited (2004 - 2006).

#indy lore #indy shoots the shit #thanks for the msg!! #anon: 🐰 #indy overshares #rip kevin conroy #batman #bruce wayne #batman forever #dcau #dc animated universe #timmverse #batman: the animated series #batman beyond #kevin conroy #batman tas #justice league 2001 #justice league unlimited #the dark knight #the batman 2022 #battinson #christian bale batman #the dark knight trilogy #burtonverse #adam west batman #batman 1966 #arkhamverse #batman (1989) #batman returns #dc universe

[splatoonlink]

My Top 11 Favorite Fish

would’ve been 10 but i screwed up

#11: Coelacanth

this one almost tied with tripod fish, but i had to choose coelacanths because their story is just so moving. imagine thinking that a fish has been dead for millions of years only to discover it alive and well in the deep sea. it’s beautiful, and it gives me hope that maybe some day we might find some other wonderful creatures in the deep. bonus points for their beautiful appearance (no pic cause i hit the limit 😔), but i’m also subtracting some because their name is hard to spell. (also worth mentioning that including lungfish, they’re some of the only lobe-finned fish still alive today, making them our fishy relatives!)

#10: Leafy Sea Dragon

this one is an old favorite. as the name implies, it looks a lot like a bunch of leaves drifting around in the sea (and acts like it too). these guys are relatives of the seahorse, and while they don’t have the same weird upright position, they’re still very unique and interesting! plus they’re called dragons, which is awesome. (also worth mentioning that sea horses/dragons are related to pipefish! look it up and you can totally see the resemblance between pipefish and their freaky cousins)

#9: Black Sturgeon

these fish are just very appealing. they’re big, beautiful, and ancient. what else is there to want? plus, you can sometimes find them in aquarium touch pools and they’re really fun to pet. unfortunately, sturgeons are some of the most endangered fish on earth, partially in thanks to the caviar trade which harvests their eggs as a delicacy. i sincerely hope that we as a species can do something to stop this in order to keep these spectacular fish from going extinct.

#8: Red Cornetfish

admittedly i don’t really know that much about these guys aside from the fact that they live in japan. but, they’re really silly looking. like they’re so silly. there’s just something so delightful about a fish with a long snout... if you want to see some other silly fish, i’d recommend looking up trumpetfish, elephant nose fish, needlefish, and sawfish.

#7: Sockeye Salmon

these guys are like the archetypical salmon species. when you think of salmon, you think of them. honestly, salmonids are probably my favorite group of fish; there’s something so compelling about the transformation they go through and the upstream journey they face in order to spawn. they’re very unique and unusual fish. also, i like how they look when spawning, it’s very pretty… sometimes their bright, shiny red scales make my brain think they look like a fruit gummy.

#6: Longnose Gar

just look at its face- isn’t it just the cutest thing in the world? gar are a type of predatory freshwater fish that have been around for 100 million years, since the time of the dinosaurs! a lot of them have adorable scale patterns, like stripes and spots, and the longnose gar is no exception. but of course the reason i like it so much is cause of that big ol’ schnoz. it’s just so silly and cute!

#5: Moray Eel

a delightfully long boy with a terrifying set of teeth. moray eels like to hide in crags and crevasses and ambush unsuspecting prey! their bright colors might seem to make them stand out, but they’re actually pretty hard to spot among the coral. additionally, moray eels have a coating of slime on their bodies that protects them from parasites and infections. also i just think their faces are cute. there’s just something about them, y’know?

#4: Leopard Shark

a lot of people love sharks, and for good reason- they’re totally awesome! my favorite shark is the leopard shark. their spotted markings are beautiful and i find their body shape a lot prettier than most other sharks. watching them swim is truly mesmerizing… also, they’re one of those weird sharks where their eggs hatch inside the womb and are given birth to later. you’d think they would prefer to either lay eggs or give live birth but i guess some sharks just can’t choose…

#3: Atlantic Sailfish

what an extraordinary fish! in addition to being the fastest fish in the world with top speeds of 70mph, they have a striking appearance that’s hard to forget. the deep blues and bright yellows accented with a clean white is just perfect in every way. and have i mentioned that they can change color? it isn’t talked about much, but these fish are group hunters and will change color to confuse their prey and warn their buddies before they attack with the giant sword on their face. how wonderful!

#2: Hagfish

deep sea creatures hold a special place in my heart, and hagfish really encapsulate why with their perfect blend of cute, creepy, and interesting. for starters, their lack of eyes might be scary, but it just makes their little faces so much cuter! however, what looks like their mouth is actually just their nose! their real mouth looks straight out of a horror movie (in fact, i’ve seen a horror movie monster use this exact mouth) with a big mouth full of teeth. they don’t have jaws, so they just have to kind of wiggle around in order to rip flesh from the bodies they scavenge. and don’t even get me started on the properties of their slime! (seriously. don’t get me started). hagfish and lampreys are the only known jawless fish alive today, making them truly special. i just really love hagfish okay they’re everything to me.

#1: Cherry Salmon

it’s the fish you’ve been waiting for, the cherry salmon! i’m honestly not as much of an expert on these guys as i am on hagfish, but that doesn’t mean i don’t love them with all my heart. i love cherries and i love salmon, so cherry salmon are like an awesome combination of two awesome things. and just look at those beautiful markings! i’m gonna be honest, the reason why i like them in the first place is because of animal crossing. i kept catching them, and i was like “oh this fish is the best fish ever actually.” and i still think that. they’re just so cute, so beautiful, and they have an awesome name. (yes i’m called cherry cause of them what about it). overall, even if these fish aren’t super interesting or unique, they’re delightful little guys, and i really love them for that.

and that’s the end of the list! if you’re reading this, thanks for making it this far. feel free to leave a reply telling me what your favorite fish is, or send me an ask! if you have a list idea you think i should make, let me know because i love talking about sea creatures. i’m not making any of them as long as this one tho lol

#fish #marine biology #deep sea #sea creatures #mine

[fini-mun]

I’m going to talk about NFT real quick, because I don’t want to talk about it on twitter because of reasons I began to write down then decided it wasn’t worth listing- for reasons. One of which is ‘Twitter sucks for long form thoughts’.

It’s under a read more because this stuff is exhausting and everywhere and I’m so tired of it. I’m not going to explain what NFT are here if you don’t know because again, I’m really really tired.

Last night the thought struck me that the artwork used for NFT (uses, not ‘is’, the art is not an NFT) looks the way it does as a sort of a... adaption? To it’s niche.

Generally, legitimate artists don’t really want anything to do with it- a big part of it is that if you’re not already famous, you won’t get anywhere. Secondarily, because it requires you to have connections to sell at all. I’ve heard about artists who’ve attempted to ‘break into the scene’, but because they didn’t have the connections, they just wasted money over and over minting images that wouldn’t sell.

Which makes the ones that do sell and are very popular extremely weird, doesn’t it? Who’s looking at this weird pot smoking lion and thinking “this is worth thousands”.

At least that’s a question you’d pose if you were under the impression it had anything to actually do with the art. It’s about the token that has been assigned to the piece, and then acting as if the token has value because the art has value due to it’s ‘qualities’, so that the token can be resold for a appraised value.

But who is looking at one of thousands of computer generated pictures of monkeys with blunts or lions frothing at the mouth and going “this is truly a unique piece and is worth thousands”.

As if they weren’t cynically ground out for a goal. As if they weren’t random assortments of features. As if they were made with some, any sort of care.

The person is either someone trying to get others to believe this otherwise worthless token is worth something (a liar) or someone who was fooled into believing it was worth something by the prior.

Which loops back to my previous point. The art looks the way it does as an adaption. It’s quick and easy to churn out and takes no or very little cost to keep it going and generating after set up costs. It also looks like it has little value to the average person. That part is important, actually.

For the same reason that ‘foreign lottery’ or ‘Nigerian prince’ scam emails are so sloppily, messily written. Those scam emails with misspelled words, incomprehensible statements and faulty logic... the ones you think ‘this could never fool anyone’.

But they do, because those types of emails do appeal to some people- people who are willing to overlook all the glowing red flags because maybe, maybe this is real and it’ll all work out. The kind of people scammers love. Desperate people who need a win, and are willing to overlook danger to get there- who knows, maybe this pot monkey really will be worth millions.

I think another thing that ties into this is that crypto/NFT have a term in their communities- FUD. It stands for ‘Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt’. If you’re in their community and express uncertainty about the assets, you are told not to FUD. That you are a 'fudder’. You are actively discouraged from acknowledging and discussing red flags, because it’s considered a type of community toxicity.

That’s interesting to me.

#NFT for blocklist $^ #crypto for blocklist $^*&

[ducktracy]

Someone said Porky and Daffy’s relationship is *built around* Daffy just being a jerk to Porky while Porky just takes it and I think I will never forgive TLTS again.

let me preface this by saying i don't hate TLTS and don't exactly like pinning the blame entirely down on it, i enjoy the show for what it is, it makes me laugh, it has a very talented crew who i respect. i'm also glad it's got people talking about these characters again, and i won't blame people for their ignorance because i'm sure as hell ignorant to a lot of things myself. if that’s all people know of these characters so far, i can’t entirely blame them. with that said...

GEEZ does that make me sad. as both friends or enemies, Porky and Daffy have a pretty invaluable dynamic. they’re the perfect comedy duo and their dynamic is most certainly NOT built around that… if anything, you could stretch it to be the opposite—how many times has Porky raised a gun to Daffy’s head now? or an axe? the very first Daffy short is all about Porky trying (and failing) to kill him!

i enjoy TLTS when i’m in the mood for it and i’ve recommended it to friends. however, and i know i sound like an old geyser, i don’t think the sitcom format works for these characters. the show is funny and it does things well, and i realize i’m biased with my own love of the originals, but putting these characters in a sitcom format is incredibly hindering.

the great thing about the originals is that you can put the characters in whatever situations you please. their personalities and dynamics carry the shorts. one cartoon Porky’s a pilgrim, next he’s a hunter, next he’s in outer space, next he’s a cop, next he’s throwing a birthday party. Daffy lives in a pond one short, a house another, a junkyard another. while you can still have various misadventures in TLTS, it feels like typecasting. Daffy is one of the most varied characters in animation history, and i really don’t like that he’s been reduced to “Peter Griffin the duck”, and for every episode too. 

honestly, this is a problem with almost all post-theatrical adaptations--these characters vary from short to short, and there’s been a trend of trying to pin down ONE personality as THEIR personality. things get stale pretty quickly as a result, there needs to be some variety. make Daffy a jerk. make him a screwball. make him an in-between. just bring that CHANGE!! have fun! experiment! making Daffy a jerk who solely beats up on Porky as their personalities quickly eradicates any room for experimentation and evolution. this applies to LTC in the opposite sense, too (though i do like how The Case of Porky’s Pants has a slightly tamer Daffy. i hope we see more shorts with him like that).

ANYWAY. i wish people would go and seek out the originals more. i gave 0 shits about LT before i got into it, and i totally know how hard it is to be like “this is old” or “this is boring” or “this doesn’t appeal to me so i won’t watch it” but... don’t knock it ‘til you try it! you don’t have to like it, but i really just wish people would see how GREAT these characters can be. see all of the different combinations they can be twisted into. i try to watch something new every single day that i haven’t seen before, whether i like it or not. it’s just good to expand your palette that way... and especially with THESE characters, there’s a lot waiting in store.

not to mention, Porky and Daffy are the only characters who are actually FRIENDS in the original shorts, and even then half the time they’re trying to kill each other! if their dynamic purely was based on Daffy picking on Porky, i doubt their smiling faces would be plastered on a number of publicity sheets/the opening of dozens of LT shorts (including many that don’t involve them at all!)

they’re definitely an anomaly and their dynamic is certainly unique, but that’s what makes them great. the whole “Daffy hates Bugs so he must hate Porky too and everyone else” mindset is just uninformed.

and again, if anything, Porky’s usually the bully—it seems that 9 times out of 10, Daffy only retaliates out of self defense. the only short i can think of where Daffy is truly a prick to Porky totally unprovoked would probably be The Ducksters, though i could be missing some. his heckling is relatively innocent, or at least lighthearted—if Porky tried to split me in half with an axe for trying to stay out of the cold, i’d probably set off some rockets and send him flying down an empty elevator chute too.

I DIGRESS, i’m all talk, and i know too much about these characters and LIKE them too much. i can’t blame anyone for thinking that when TLTS is all they know, and i don’t want to entirely pin the blame down on TLTS either, but yeah, it sucks. watch the originals and see these characters in their “””original environments”””.

wanna see Porky and Daffy work together? watch Porky Pig’s Feat, Porky & Daffy, Tick Tock Tuckered, Porky’s Last Stand, most of the Chuck Jones P+D shorts in the ‘50s. wanna see ‘em at each other’s throats? My Favorite Duck, Duck Soup to Nuts, Daffy Doodles, Tom Turk and Daffy, Boobs in the Woods, Riff Raffy Daffy. a mix of both? Yankee Doodle Daffy, Baby Bottleneck, You Ought to Be in Pictures, etc etc etc, i’m just naming off the top of my head. there are so many more out there.

POINT IS, their dynamic varies, and all versions are worth watching. i’m a strong believer that some of the best Porky and Daffy cartoons are the ones where they’re paired together. they play off of each other incredibly well. do your animation history homework and watch some of the originals, i promise they’re not as old and as boring and as unfunny as you think they are.

#long post #agaib i need to reiterate i’m not knocking on anyone or anything i’m just ranting #i just don’t want to come off as someone spouting constant negativity for the sake of stirring up drama or me shaking my old cane yelling #‘these dern cartoons these days!!!!’ #trust me. i get it. working in the animation industry i totally understand and feel the unnecessary hate towards things and it does suck and #i don’t want to come off as a ‘hater’. i’m more speaking out of my love and passion for the originals rather than disdain for new stuff #i just want to reiterate that because i don’t want to come across as an old hateful geyser who knows all. i don’t and am very ignorant to a #lot of things even including LT related facts #anonymous

[twistedtummies2]

Can I just ask how you make your ocs interesting? I’m trying to make my own Twst oc and he’s going to be a big eater himself, so what qualities could I give him to make him seem interesting?

Ooooh...okay, this is a HARD one to answer. So...buckle in, this will proooobably be long. 'XD First and foremost...I never SET OUT to make my characters "interesting." If...that makes sense? Here's the thing about writing advice from me: I'm bad at it. LOL It's not like writing is easy for me (it REALLY isn't) and it's not like there aren't certain things I try to keep in mind and ideas and concepts and even rules I follow...it's just that, in the moment of creating a character, I'm usually just...creating a character. And how that happens can work in a variety of different ways. Also, what makes a character "interesting" can be so many different things. It's not like there's some magic wand of interesting-making-power that I have. So...I guess what I can tell you is that there are a few things I keep in mind when I'm making my own TW OCs. The main ones, that is - including my preds and Chief Jehan (since he's the only recurring non-pred OC I have in my gallery CURRENTLY; I have another I'm actually planning to write about after I finish Nakoda's next big work, WHICH WILL BE DONE, I PROMISE YOU). First of all, I don't know if your OC is a TRUE OC or based on a Disney character. There are, of course, original characters in TW: Jack doesn't seem to come from anywhere specific, and it's hard to tell with several other characters. For example, most of the Heartslabyul students are clearly based on the Card Guards from Alice in Wonderland, but those characters in the film (and book) are really one solid unit, so they really do come across as original characters with a Card Guard motif beyond anything else. If your character is purely original, all you have to do is make sure they fit the style of this universe. If your OC is - as all of mine so far, and most in general, tend to be - a reimagining of a popular Disney Villain or other Disney Character, then you first have to look at what makes this villain who they are. All of the Night Raven students who are based on such characters - and that is the vast majority of them - have the sort of creative DNA of those characters in their personalities, motivations, and even appearance. Even with someone like Idia, there's a little something of Hades there; Leona takes a LOT from Scar; Azul goes in a somewhat different direction from Ursula (he's more like Mephistopheles or an old-time-gangster), but the basic idea of his modus operandi and elements of his look are found with her, as well. See what elements you think are most important to keep or throw out. And you WILL have to throw stuff out: the Disney Villains are usually pure evil. That's part of their appeal. Very few of them have much empathy or sympathy, what makes them interesting is usually just how much they ENJOY what they do, and how creatively they're handled, and how delectably they're voiced. No one watches Scar kill his own brother and try to murder a small child and thinks he's in the right; that's about the point where we stop finding him funny and instead think he's a right old git. But OH, how we love watching "Be Prepared," how we love seeing him toy with and tease people, and how we relish how much FUN Jeremy Irons is clearly having with every SYLLABLE of his dialogue. With Twisted Wonderland, the whole point of the "villains" of Night Raven is they really aren't villains at all. They're not always good people, but they aren't always bad, either. They all have sad and sympathetic origin stories, they all have understandable reasons for why they do the terrible things they do, and we like to see how they learn from their mistakes and even become friends and helpers to us. They are rounded, flawed people, not demons or lost causes. Your OC should be the same: someone the audience can understand on a fundamental level and find a way to latch onto. These characters can be dangerous, at times downright evil, but they should also be characters we care about: that's a BIG part of their identity, pretty much universally. Going back to Scar: with Leona, the first big change for his character is that he

legitimately cares for his family. Yes, he's annoyed by his nephew, and yes, he resents his big brother, but he makes it clear (perhaps without trying to, because Chernabog forbid he ADMITS having empathy) he does still love them. That, ultimately, above all else, is what separates him from his inspiration: Scar will kill and backstab anyone and enjoy it. Leona still has the capacity to care about other living creatures. Find what makes your inspiration tick, and then "twist" it up: if they're greedy, WHY are they greedy? If they're gluttons, is there anything you can add to that? If you can't find a way to justify your character, then you should probably consider trying a different one. Also, do try to stick with Disney characters. I guess there's nothing to say you can't do other franchises and such, but it feels like cheating to me to include non-Disney properties in a place like this. Then again, Disney freaking owns HALF THE BLOODY PLANET at this point, so that won't be too hard, I guess. :P Anyway...one last word of note: one very hard part is finding a way to make your character unique. I've come to find people have actually made a few different Kaa OCs, but none are the same as Nakoda. If you're familiar with people doing a lot of different versions of the same character, then make sure you're doing something that is truly your own: don't just riff off of someone else's work. Nako may be based on the same character as some of those others, but he's aaallllll mine. If you're not aware of it...then don't worry about it! Don't look it up, don't be discouraged, don't fret! Trust me, the more you freak out about if other people have had the same idea, the less inclined you'll be to try, and/or the more influenced you'll be. Just do what YOU like best. On top of that, be careful your character isn't too similar to other characters within the TW universe: one of the reasons I haven't and likely may not ever make a Shere Khan OC is because, as of now, I don't really know what I'd do with Shere Khan that other characters don't already have, on several levels. I love Shere Khan - he's one of my favorite Furry Preds - but I don't know what I'd do to make him all my own and make him different from both the canon cast and the OCs I've already planned or created. Again, you want your character to stand out and be all your own, as well as fitting for this universe. After all that...it's all aesthetics. Their powers, their designs, their names...maybe you have those ideas first, maybe you don't know yet. It doesn't really matter where you start - Billy and Nako both started with plot concepts, Eli and Reno both started with a desire to make OCs based on certain characters - but the basic idea is, what makes a TW OC interesting is this blend of elements: they need to be unique, and they need to be understandable, and they need to fit the rules and ideas of this world. I could say SO much more, but this post is lengthy enough, and I'm under medication, so I've probably been rambling for too long as it is. 'XD If you have any other questions I can answer more easily, you're always welcome to send them along.

#ask #answer #twisted wonderland #ocs #disney #writing

[imreallyhereforkataang]

I'm unsure about how's the best way to articulate this, but I'm kind of surprised there's not more fan content highlighting the otherworldly aspects of Kataang, and a part of me wishes we could see a bit more of that.

I'd expect that most if not all fandoms frequently have an affinity for glamorizing aesthetics of characters and ships, and content creators who I know often look for ways to convey that sort of thing. I've also witnessed lots of people on this site claim that they first became attracted to a ship for its aesthetic because they saw embellishing artwork that didn't really highlight much about the characters' personalities, but was still gorgeous and impressive to look at.

And yeah, it makes sense that content creators and consumers in fandom engage with works that make epic an idea that may be primarily based off the “what” of the characters, or the situations they find themselves in, rather than the finer details of the “who.” The resulting creation is similar to what happens when the personal elements of a legend get lost over time, while the sensational aspects continue to be retold and glorified. That sort of thing makes for extremely intriguing depictions of the original source material, even if it’s at the expense of some of the subject’s humanity. Though, even when that depiction becomes so far removed from the original that it's totally unrecognizable, I do think it's often still fascinating and creative, and maybe should be its own celebrated thing altogether.

It's just surprising to me, and kind of disappointing if I'm honest, that, based on the relative lack of fan content doing this, many people seem to either not recognize or not act upon how Kataang has that exact aesthetic potential.

If you were to keep the basics of their story intact but tell it through a different lens or genre, maybe dramatize it a bit, it would be so easy to emphasize how Kataang is literally like a demigod and a mortal falling in love. That on its own to me sounds like the premise for the epic love story fandom culture would traditionally find appealing. And it's really not much of a stretch -- that is one legitimate way to look at the pairing if you broke it down to its objective pieces, even if it's not the most focused-on part of their relationship in the original material (though it certainly is alluded to). The source material is much more detailed and personal, like watching a show where Oma and Shu are the main characters versus hearing the major beats of their legend.

For Kataang, we can definitely take it further with drawing out their major beats. The mortal comes into her own and is shown to be a force of comparable measure to the demigod, as she is his self-appointed protectress. She releases him from dormancy, bringing him back into the world to fulfill his grand destiny, and on their quest, she would become his teacher, both in training and in reacquainting himself with the new era. At one point she would even revive him and his line of divinity after watching him be struck down and killed. This mortal is his first devotee, and his personal connection with her makes her his attachment to the world and, in extension, the mortals he protects.

Meanwhile, the demigod is the personification of the mortal's faith, a vessel of the compassion she feels so deeply for others. He takes her places, literally and metaphorically, she never could have gone before, teaching her in turn about lost practices and new perspectives. He can legitimately bring her to the skies with a unique ability that no one else in the entire world possesses -- an ability that also defines much of what he stands for and what her world has been missing in his absence.

Not to mention how the mortal was one of the only people who believed this demigod would resurface, and the only person by his side from the start of meeting him in their warring environment. The two were born nearly 100 years apart, yet their connection and love is shown to transcend both time and space. Their elements and roles to the world and to each other can be represented by synergistic air and water, which are associated in canon with freedom/peace and change/virtue, respectively. And if one were going to dramatize Kataang's relationship and what it stands for, their exchange could reasonably be depicted as the bridge between the heavens and the earth (moon and ocean).  

Like, truly, their story is so mythical. The pieces are there. Think about how their theme is called "The Avatar's Love" and segments of that theme are reused for LoK, pointing to Aang's reincarnation cycle and how the love he feels transcends so many lifetimes, but he chooses Katara in this particular one. Think about what Yangchen says to Aang about the reason the Avatar is born a human and not a spirit, that the Avatar must live amongst humans and experience human emotions to recognize how precious the life is that the universe entrusts him with protecting. Think about Aang's chakras in The Guru, and not just the Love and Thought Chakras but nearly all of them, and how truly tied Katara is with his energy, his spirit. That can't be faked -- that's real, genuine influence, her touching his life in ways that highlight his humanity. Think about how Aang has a real-time vision of Katara without even intending to, and the only other being we see Aang do something similar (but intentionally) with is Appa, to whom Pathik says, "You and the Avatar's energies are mixed. You have an unbreakable bond."  

Think about the Pietà pose in The Crossroads of Destiny and all that symbolizes about Aang and Katara (honestly that alone should be enough because it speaks volumes), including their world savior/first believer dynamic. How Katara brings Aang back to life and says, "I don't know what I did exactly," thus giving fuel to the idea that saving him didn't just constitute normal healing on her end. Think about the visual parallel between her resurrecting him and her releasing him from stasis in the first episode. Think about Katara's extended opening narration in the pilot and how it evolves to when she meets Aang, with just as much trust in an idea as in what ends up being the real thing.  

Think about their relationship when Aang goes into the Avatar State, embodying his most divine form. How Katara is able to speak with and approach him, and how he can hear her and respond to her while in that state, honing all his past lives. Think about when Aang deals the heavy attack at Fong's base that would continue to haunt Aang for so long afterwards, which showcases how out of control he is here, yet his blow from all Avatars completely and deliberately avoids Katara while targeting everyone remotely near her. Think about how Katara is so unafraid of a raging demigod, even when the person underneath hasn't been acting like himself lately, that she doesn't flinch at the output of his anger and just goes to him as everyone else runs. Think about that visual where she grabs onto his arms and pulls him from the air that only he can bend to the ground she's tied to and into her arms. Think about how she always tries to catch him when he falls, because she is adamant about being his cushion to the earth.

Think about how Aang is the reason Katara gets to touch the heavens. Think about how he takes her on an epic journey across the world so she can learn waterbending and make the difference she's always wanted. How being with him, the one person with a divinely granted duty to the world and who will always choose her, puts her right on the foreground for making that difference. Think about how they can still waterbend together even if Katara can't airbend -- no one can besides Aang. Think about their push and pull of the water and how it highlights their equal footing, and that although, as the demigod he is, Aang can master all the elements, Katara is the mortal who teaches him mastery in the one they share between them.

I don't know, to me it's all so cool and awe-inspiring. Obviously the most important part of Kataang's relationship is how their personalities play off each other and how they treat each other, but in terms of this kind of grander depiction, I think of it more like Oma and Shu. We don’t know the details of how Oma and Shu acted towards each other, yet we hear the story about the power of their love and take inspiration from it.

So yes, I unfortunately don’t see this pronounced demigod/mortal iteration of Kataang very often in fan works, but it makes for a pretty dang fascinating legend to contemplate anyhow.

#kataang #kataangtag #aang #katara #atla #avatar the last airbender

[maxwell-grant]

Can we talk about the Black Bat both in general, and and how he may have been an influence on two superheroes (Dr. Mid-Nite and Daredevil) and a supervillain (Two-Face), but was proven in a court of law to have no connection with the superhero who immediately comes to mind (Batman).

Having finally read a couple of his original stories and runs, yeah I got some thoughts on him. 

While not the first bat-themed pulp character, nor the first fictional detective with a disability turned superpower (that would be Max Carrados, who actually was blind), Black Bat’s main claim to fame nowadays is his correlation to superheroes with the mixed traits he has that would all become massively popularized by characters who debuted afterwards. Regarding the Batman lawsuit, it wasn’t so much proven that they have no connection, as much as the publishers of both characters argued they did it first, and then agreed to stay out of each other’s territory, with Batman staying out of pulp magazines and The Black Bat staying out of comics (not that it would stop his publishers from rebranding him as “The Mask” and doing comics).

Black Bat actually couldn’t have inspired Batman, because Batman debuted 4 months prior. Plus, both were already ripping off the same guy, and both of them were far from the first bat-themed pulp characters at the time. And the idea that he inspired Daredevil I find too much of a reach. Dr Mid-Nite I can definitely see the resemblance, and while Two-Face doesn’t have much similarities to Tony Quinn past the origin and the anti-hero aspects, “handsome crusading District Attorney disfigured after getting splashed in the face by acid goes on a rampage” is not exactly vague enough of a concept to pass for coincidence. Two-Face debuted just 3 years after Black Bat, while Bat was still a pretty successful character (he managed to outlast nearly every other pulp hero), so it’s very possible that Kane and Finger had a look at Black Bat’s origin and used it as the basis for their Jekyll & Hyde-themed villain. 

Okay so, that’s that for Black Bat, but what’s the character actually like? What’s there to him other than historical oddities? Does he have what it takes to survive and thrive again in a modern landscape?

The thing that sticks out to me about Black Bat is that he is a pulp character who feels like he was designed specifically with the arrival of the superheroes in mind, as when comic book superheroes began to carve a space for themselves, one of the responses the pulps had was to put out new heroes intended to be a part of both worlds, hybrids of pulp heroes and superheroes who could try to capture success in either format, characters like Ka-Zar and Black Hood who started in one and then jumped to the other. 

Black Bat’s got a lot of the usual hallmarks of dark detective pulp heroes and his adventures are largely him battling ordinary criminal masterminds and gangsters, but he’s got an iconic costume, he’s got a super dramatic origin story that the stories keep coming back to (unlike most pulp heroes whose origin stories are not usually mentioned), and he’s got superpowers brought in the aftermath of a tragic accident. Not just skills anyone can have by training hard enough, actual superpowers, even if they don’t see as much usage as his pulp hero skillset. 

To the world that knew about him, Anthony Quinn, once a virile, upstanding representative of law forces whose name had held terror for evil doers, was now an impotent blind man whose sight had been permanently destroyed by acid thrown at him in a crowded courtroom, and whose face was horribly scarred about the eyes. For a long time he had seemed to live in a world apart.

Such actually had been the case during the long months when Tony Quinn had lived in a sea of blackness. But Nature had been as kind as possible, giving him something in return for what had been taken from him. As a result he had since realized that his senses of feel, smell, and hearing were far more acute than formerly. Under his sensitive fingers whatever he touched had begun to tell strange new stories. His sense of smell had sharpened. His ears had become the ears of a hound, picking up with ease and sifting multitudinous sounds that once had been inaudible.

More months had gone by until, in the darkness of a lonely night, a girl with golden hair and blue eyes hadcome in through an open window like an angel out of nowhere to offer him hope where eye specialists had said there was no hope. Through a delicate operation by an unknown small town surgeon the corneas of the eyes of Carol Baldwin's policeman father - dying from paralysis brought on by a gangster bullet - had been given to him. An extraordinary thing had occurred. When at last Tony Quinn had been allowed to remove the bandages, he had been astounded by the miracle that had happened. His were the eyes of darkness as well as the eyes of day!

Interestingly also, Black Bat actually became one of the most prolific of pulp heroes when brought over to Germany. When German publishers Pabel decided to reprint a couple of Black Bat novels for the KRIMINAL-ROMAN serial, they discovered “Die Schwarzen Fledermaus” was somehow so popular that in 1962, they retitled it Fledermaus (Bat) and ran with it, reprinting all the original 60+ stories and then, when those ran out, creating 900 more at least. In fact, it seems like they are still publishing Black Bat stories even today, and now that he’s public domain it’s something just about anyone could get into.

Problem with that is, it’s not easy to conceive of The Black Bat having any kind of substantial popularity again, when he’s doomed by design to always be compared to Batman, to always just be seen as first glance as “oh it’s earless Batman with Daredevil’s shtick and Two-Face’s backstory”, and of course he doesn’t have a chance in hell of playing catch-up to the popularity of those characters (well, at least outside of Germany). Whatever niche he could have as an alternative to Batman is also null by the fact that said niche of Not-Batmen is already filled out quite extensively. He doesn’t have an incredibly strong personality the way Batman and The Shadow do, nor is he, despite being ostensibly a serial killer, enough of a trigger-happy anti-hero to latch on to the appeal of characters like The Spider or Punisher. The latest Black Bat comic run by Dynamite played up his ruthlessness, outlaw status and drew him on the covers perpetually holding guns and often with a big creepy smile. But smiling murder pulp Batman is already a niche that Midnighter fills considerably better than Black Bat ever could. So what’s left for him?

If I had to find a unique niche for Black Bat, I’d play his unique traits in ways that separate him from the super characters that ran with those later. I’d ditch the whole “oh woe is me I’m poor and helpless because I’m blind” shtick that’s terribly condescending to actually blind people, and make him at least truly blind in some form. Maybe he’s blind by day and by night he sees too much, or maybe his vision has some terrible secrets that go beyond mere enhanced eyesight. Maybe his powers are growing and expanding in ways he doesn’t know where they will lead him. But alongside that, one take on the character could be based on the fact that he really has nothing to lose. He is not Batman, he is not The Shadow, he isn’t Daredevil, he’s got little reputation to speak of, and he’s never going to be any of those characters.

He’s lost the position he’s coveted his whole life, he’s lost the respect of his peers, his former professional ethics don’t mean shit now, he’s had a long and painful brush with darkness that scarred him for life in ways both literal and metaphorical, and in the aftermath he’s begun spontaneously developing abilities that would be incredibly painful and uncomfortable for an average person to just develop without years of growing up with them. And then, a mysterious woman walked through his window one day, gave him the eyes of a dead man, and now he sees things in ways no person was ever supposed to, and now he goes around at night terrorizing and killing criminals in an animal-themed costume. 

The most he has to lose currently is the life of his sidekicks who’ve worked very hard to help him heal and focus and find a new purpose, which only means that they are on the chopping block everytime you wanna give a gut punch to Tony Quinn. And no matter how famous, or even great, his adventures are, or how prolific and successful he is or even has been, he’s always going to be the Bat-themed superhero who couldn’t cut it. He’s Not-Batman, stripped of all the grand splendour and allmighty self righteousness and reputation and role as foundational figure of an entire genre and most popular bestest superhero of all time ever praise be thy Bat God, sharing more traits with one of Batman’s most personal and tragic villains than the titular character.

That’s not an indictment, that just means that Black Bat ultimately should have more narrative freedom, since he is unburdened by reputation and status. He is a public domain nobody best known by his association with characters who eclipse him in popularity, who’s always going to have that accursed Bat prefix and costume to damn him by association, so why not work with it? He could be the character you go into to tell stories that you couldn’t tell with Batman or other big name superheroes, the grimiest, sickest, even weirdest crime tales of all. What does the Black Bat have to lose?

Those who have nothing to lose stand everything to gain, after all.

Also, Masks 2 once presented an alternative version of the character called The Black Bats, who dresses like a baseball player and dual-wields baseball bats, which is nutty and I’d definitely prefer Black Bat to ditch the generic pulp hero guns and instead just go crazy batting everything in his way.

“I gotta tell ya, this is pretty terrific! Hahahahah, yeah!”

#replies tag #pulp heroes #pulp fiction #the black bat #tony quinn #batman #two-face

[seasidewriter1-writes]

Answering Asks from @fadingclamalmondrascal : “Hi! I hope you're still doing asks, but I understand if you're not, it sounds like you've got a lot going on. I've got 3 questions for you:

1: What made you want to adopt this story and write an "Anakin's big sister who falls in love with obi" au? What about it appealed to you initially, and what about it keeps you coming back?

2: I love Elara's Sith name! Carus is so cool. What kind of thought did you put into that name and her sith design?

3: What does your writing process for each chapter look like?”

Hi!! My asks are always open, and even if my life his completely hectic, I’ll always get around to answering them! But, thankfully, my life has started to calm down in the last week. I’ve gotten a lot of writing done in the last day, so I’m in a very “Balance” mood, so I’m super stoked to answer these!! (I also wrote a lot again, so buckle up!!)

1. So fun backstory on my finding the story: I was living in England for my first year at University, and I was on a big ol’ Star Wars kick because The Force Awakens had just come out in December. It was January. It was cold, the evenings were getting rainy, so one night after dinner and scrolled through FFN to find something fun to read. And when I first found and read the original story, pre-adoption (which I believe is still up and called “Another Skywalker”), I remember being like ‘wow, this is an interesting concept.’ And as I read it, in my head, all of these ideas were coming to my head; and I remember being kinda sad about that. I didn’t want to write my own story, then have it seem like I’d ripped off the concept from the author. Because this was the first fic with the “Anakin’s older sister falling for Obi” concept that I’d ever seen. I didn’t know if it was something of a trope for an Obi x OC pairing, or if this one was an odd one out. So I finished reading the 11 chapters, and the author had posted a note saying that the story was, effectively, up for adoption. I have never jumped on something so fast. I drafted out two scenes (a now obsolete scene where Elara sees Obi-Wan off to Kamino, and a chunk of the final battle RotS) and sent it to the author. When she told me that the story and concept were all mine to do with as I pleased, I was so excited. Because I realized that all the ideas that had been tentatively brewing in my head, I could now fully bring to fruition.

What initially drew me to the concept was the idea of being able to explore a story and a romance that is, in a way, a foil to Anakin’s. Almost a way to show that maybe, if things had gone differently, Anakin and Padmé’s romance didn’t have to be doomed. Because I have always believed that there had to be some way that it didn’t have to end in disaster. Presenting a Jedi OC x Obi-Wan can explore similar issues (and there’s a lot of fun to be had with that concept, too). But then you have two people who were raised with/to follow the same ideals. Though they are both unique individuals, they will come up to very similar blockages––struggling with breaking the Code, with sloughing off ideals and a way of life they’ve followed all their lives. But with a Skywalker OC… that changes. You get someone who wasn’t raised to keep her emotions in ultra-check. Someone who, like Anakin, is family oriented, passionate about protecting those they love, and innately wishes to express their emotions in a more open manner. Those characteristics present unique conflict (particularly in conjunction with Obi-Wan’s characteristics), and I just… I wanted to, and continue to want to, play with that. Because Elara is dedicated to the Jedi Code. She’s a good Jedi. But put her want to be a good Jedi (for herself, for her brother, for the good of the galaxy) right up against an undeniable, innate need and want to love (because, at her core, Elara is just a purely loving person)––you get whole other obstacles to overcome. It’s a lot of fun to figure out how her overcoming her obstacles helps Obi-Wan overcomes his, and vice-versa. How we can see, in recent chapters, that Obi-Wan realizing he can’t hold Elara at arm’s length anymore affects her; how she starts being more gentle towards him again, tentatively letting him back in. I just love playing with stuff like that!!

And there are a whole lot of things that keep me coming back to this story. One of the biggest things, I think, has to be the idea that ‘love prevails.’ I love myself a complex romance. Maybe that’s why I love Regency/Period Dramas so much; because there are so many ups and downs––and that’s what makes it feel so good! Because while there’s hope and love and happiness, there’s also drama and frustration and confrontation. But through all of that, at the end… love prevails. I’m a hopeless romantic, I’ll own up to that any time of the day. So seeing a couple, so hopelessly in love, go through trials and tribulations and come out on the other end completely alright? That’s my jam! And when you’ve got someone who stands so steadfastly by their ideals as Obi-Wan, but who very clearly is… so passionate and loving… That just feels like the way a love story with him would go. And ‘love prevails’ doesn’t just apply to the Obi-Lara stuff either. It’s about the familial love between Anakin and Elara, and how that love for each other may thrive or suffer in events to come… it’s the platonic love of Elara and the men of the 442nd. Star Wars is a story of many things––family, adventure, coming into your own… but it’s also about love. And getting to add to that aspect of the story in any given way, for people who enjoy reading it, to have fun conceptualizing and writing everything… it keeps bringing me back for more.

2. I had so much fun thinking up all the Darth Carus stuff!! It was prompted by a question in a review, asking what I thought Elara would be like as a Sith/what her name would be. So I started looking at all the other Sith names, and realized a lot of them were words that stood for descriptors of the Sith Lord. “Maul” for (the literal usage of) “maul,” “Tyrannus” for “tyrant” (derived, likely, from Latin tyrannia or tyrannos), “Vader” for “invader” (or “father”). So I decided I would use a Latin word for her Sith name, and decided I needed to think of what she would be like as a Sith. Tyrannical? Violent? Rampaging? And none of those seemed… right. It felt, to me, that if she were to become a Sith, it would be out of heartbreak. And it wouldn’t be a denial of love kind of heartbreak; it would be losing someone she truly loved (Anakin or Obi-Wan) forever. Their death, perhaps by a mistake that she made. So I went, ‘okay, the birth of her being a Sith is related to love.’ I searched up some Latin words and found “Carus” which means heart. And because Elara, Jedi or Sith, is so involved with her emotions and with love, with her heart… it just seemed to fit.

Now, the outfit––ohh, I had so much fun with the outfit. I’ve got a BFA in Theatrical Arts, so I’m big on costumes and costume details, so creating Elara’s Sith outfit was absolutely delightful. Again, I started with what I thought Darth Carus would be like. There’s a mournful aspect to her, so black as part of her color palette works, but I didn’t want her to be dressed in all black. I thought that, in the wake of her heartbreak, there would be a dangerous passion about her. An angry passion. So ‘anger’ and ‘passion’ are typically associated with burning colors like red, so I through red (and orange) into the mix. And I wanted them to be bright––Darth Carus is no longer hiding in the neutrals of Tatooine or the Jedi Order. She’s letting the galaxy know her pain. I did, however, want to stick with clothing articles that were more robe-like. It’s what Elara’s known her whole life. But instead of multiple layers, I stripped it down to singular, more form fitting articles. In a way, the fewer layers is displaying the vulnerability that turned her towards the Darkness. Red is the predominant color (the tunic) because it draws attention. You have to look at her, you have to see her pain. It’s almost like staring into a fire, or gaping at an open wound. And because all good Sith Lords need a dramatic cape, I thought I’d do a fun take on it and do one of the ones that attaches at the shoulders instead of drapes over them. Maximum drama for sweeping down staircases or jumping off of tall platforms. Now, like I said, I’m a sucker for small details… hence why I added the embroidery on the tunic collar. It’s floral. It denotes her love of life. Now, if this were all real life, real costume design in an actual movie… the embroidered flowers would be Gleannish Snow Blossoms. And, of course, amidst all the bright reds, vivid oranges, and swaths of black… against all this intensity… you have the delicate, cool softness of the real Snow Blossom pinned to the spot over her heart. The very same Snow Blossom that Obi-Wan gave her on Gleann. A gentle reminder of better days… of the reason she became the ways she is… of the man she loved so wholly and deeply that, in losing him… she’d much have rather killed her own heart instead. (Also, a friend of mine and I had a wonderful conversation discussing how much of a terrifying, badass power couple Sith!Elara and Sith!Obi-Wan would be. It’s delightful.)

3. So, if I’m writing a chapter that deals with a chunk of movie or episode, what I’ll do first is sit down and watch what I perceive I’ll be writing. I’ll take down notes on things that I’ll want to add in/describe. I’ve also got a whole document of ideas I’ve already written down, and a document of bullet-pointed ideas, so I’ll give that I skim/edit, too. I always have to pick what scenes to leave in or take out, decide if they can be summarized or should be left in. Sometimes this’ll happen the same day I start writing, but sometimes I take a day to really think things over, sleep on it, then start the next. Then I’ll start to write, and I’ll have the movie/episode open for reference. When I write canon dialogue, it’s a lot of: watch, listen, pause, transcribe; rewind, read subtitles, listen, pause, transcribe. I also usually have, like… five safari tabs open with different research pages open––one for the movie/episode, probably one for a character of some kind, a google image search of a costume or something, and another one that’s got, like, different kinds of starships or droids (because there are so, so many). A lot of the time I’ll just transcribe/describe a chunk of canon stuff, then go back and add in extra details, weave Elara into it, or change up the dialogue to fit. An example being Obi-Wan and Sugi’s conversation in the barn. I beefed that up a little bit, added in references, and used it to benefit the overall storyline.

With chapters that are more original content based, those take a little longer to plan. Even if I have an idea of what’s going to happen, it takes a bit of time to figure out how to order it all, how to get a proper lead in, how to make transitions. And I also contemplate whether or not what I want to write is really going to be beneficial to the story, or if it’s going to end up being meaningless filling. There are a lot of ideas that I have had or do have that would be fun to write, but don’t really… work into the story well enough (like, god, do I want a girls’ day chapter 😂). And it’s in writing these chapters in particular that I do a lot of my music listening. Star Wars soundtracks, the story playlists I’ve made… the right music can help me find the mood or setting of a scene, inspire a moment. Like, I cannot tell you how much of the bunker scene on Ryloth was inspired by Sebastian Böhm’s rendition of “Blue Monday.” Music plays a huge role in writing for me. I’ll have music playing when I’m driving or doing dishes or cooking, and I’ll start to formulate ideas while listening. There are times, too, when I feel stuck when writing that I’ll swap on over to YouTube and I’ll watch some Star Wars edits. There’s an amazing edit of “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath over battle sequences from the films, and it’s just… it feeds my soul when I get stuck writing battle sequences. I’ve got, like… a go-to list of edits I watch when I feel a little stuck, and they’re all phenomenal. And when all is said and done and I’ve finished the chapter, I usually take a break and sit on it for a bit. Then go back, read over it, do grammar edits, change things if I see fit too. Then it’s on to review replies and I get it uploaded and posted!!

#mary answers #Mary answers asks #balance asks #I’m alive! #And I’m writing again! #HUZZAH!

[ornamental-coral]

Do you have houses combos you love besides Snake Bird ?

Hi sorry it’s take me so long to get to you ‘nonnie human you. I promise if anyone sends me questions, I will get to them eventually! It just takes a while for me thinking about them, researching about them (doing Birdy Bird things with even a one-sentence question...), forgetting I have a sort-hat-chats centered tumblr account (which is... can sort of a Bird thing but also a me thing), and then coming back so we are here (there. somewhere)

I myself am a Snake-Bird. I think I’m pretty neat. Birds are usually very good at entertaining themselves. I think. And I’m lucky I like myself enough because I spend a lot of time with me haha.

I’m a little in love with a remarkable amount of Lion primaries, Snake secondaries and Bird primaries (especially with a Snake secondary to make them extra hard to hold onto *rolls eyes) and apparently I love writing Badger Primaries? I guess I find the challenge of building an “ideal” society that is willing to address the current failings of our timeline a worthwhile challenge and my ink-children rise from the ether to meet me.

I’ve expanded below bar because this is actually a really interesting concept to me - how does a particular house combination react to the others. Below is just my meandering through how specifically My Snake Primary Bird secondary might react on a surface level to the other house types. This doesn’t mean I’m right. There are as many ways of acting within the house system as there are human beings and keep in mind, this is all in good fun.

____________________

Lions

The Idealism of the Lion Primary is something that I find admirable. I posted a more extended musing on the position of Snake Birds within media here. I think the Snake in me understands that when you pick up a person the way Snakes do, you pick up a lot of their wants and regrets too. Snakes pick up People, so that means the whole package. A Lion with a worthy cause can be a very attractive thing to a Snake, who will follow and support them in a very specific kind of way. 

With Double Lions, and Lion Snakes there’s that urge to run after them with a fire-extinguisher in one hand and a big stick in the other - one to put out the fires a Double Lion inevitably lights and the Lion Snake may try purposefully to stoke, and the other to beat off anyone who dares to tell your Lion that they cannot Be A Lion. That’s something only the Snake can do, and that’s only because no matter what the Snake says, the Lion is still Their Person warts and all and the Snake Bird knows damn well what they were getting into, or at least thought they did.

Lion Birds house-match secondaries with Snake Birds but can have explosively different moral codes, largely because they method match. I personally find some Lion Bird characters a little grating because as the audience, I feel I’m getting the same information as the Lion, but as a Snake I have a little too much self-preservation to imagine myself doing anything much about it - at least not the way a majority of Lion Bird characters act - or I come to different conclusion. I also hate conspiracy theories because they require leaps of logic the my Bird model typically just can’t tolerate but the felt-house Lion will participate in. However, Lion Birds can also be the hard-boiled PIs, the Best-at-their-Job secret agents (hi Agent Coulson), the one who has Seen the World and Still Believes It Can Be Saved. So that’s admirable and fun.

Lion Badgers are sweet but my Snake Bird goes “fires, fires everywhere”. And like, not the kind your Lion Snake might think is funny when the Snake Bird tries to put them out. Think Steve Rodgers. MCU Steve has a really strong Snake Performance though when it comes to Bucky which MY Snake finds really confusing because it is So Strong I’d be willing to be money he would have at least tried to find a better way to get rid of the Tesseract if Bucky hadn’t fallen from that train and been declared KIA. I think that particular type of Snake performance also confuses Tony, which is part of why Civil War was the way it was.

But yeah, a fire that a Lion Badger wants to light? it’s not going to go out. For a Snake, having that as Your Person means you either really ride or die for them - and might actually literally have to die, or you are keeping them from burning themselves out before they accomplish whatever they’re doing. For a Snake Bird? this is alarming as hell and it’s a fight between the Secondaries to make sure the Lion takes care of themselves as part of the Lion’s “hard work” Badger, if they’re your person.

Birds

Bird primaries will “build” the people they love into the way they see the world. As a Snake, I think this is just really appealing to me? Snakes are loyal, and older Snakes have the life experience to realize that - painful as it is - this loyalty will not always be reciprocated in the way you hope for (this is the stereotypical bone of contention between Lions, Badgers and Snakes. Lions are focused on their cause and if the Snake’s protective instincts get in the way of that, that causes problems It also hurts when a Lion’s mission supersedes their affection for their Snake people. Badgers’ concerns are for their communities and the split of attention can drive the individually focused Snake crazy). If you get built into the Bird’s world, that always felt like something special and something that took hard work, which made it all the more valuable.

My Snake Birds also likes to imagine it’s equipped to learn to the things that a Bird variety believes in and address those things. It’s the kind of relationship that has the potential to go very wrong, and I do realize that. I think Snake Birds have the tendency to want to be everything for Their Person (or people) and our powers of observation mean that we take it a little personally when we’ve missed something. I’m tempted to call Kaz Brekker of Six of Crows a Snake Bird and it drives him to distraction that he can’t be everything, everywhere, all at once to the handful of a people he truly and deeply cares about.

The Bird Snake in particular house matches in a way that can be particularly challenging and attractive to a Snake Bird? A Snake Bird’s tool is, well, the Bird, and the whole persona can feel ridiculously pleased by being able to “pin down” the Bird Snake, which does not necessarily lend itself to being pinned. There’s also this strong urge to understand the Bird Snake. 

So there’s the Snake secondary who delights in finding new ways to be, and a Bird Secondary delights in learning new things. The discovery element in that relationship can, as long as the Bird Secondary is not stifled by the Snake Primary’s concern, actually be really rewarding. Birds, and Bird Snakes in particular are also often really unique. They think differently, act differently, can be off putting to certain types of house combinations because their moral code can come off is so blue-orange, and is Built on top of that. Snakes take great pride in being very “this is my Person and their brand of weirdness is just another thing I love about them. And on top of that, I Know them.” with their people in any situation, and if a Snake can eventually prove to their Bird Primary that that feeling is unwavering, that’s a relationship that becomes central to both Snake and Bird.

That isn’t to say Birds can’t go dark, but usually they learn to be that way given Birds are evidence-gatherers. Unfortunately, this means I love them too because people of my generation and all generations before and hence have a thing for characters with trauma (see Loki, greasy prince extraordinaire).  It’s -- it’s never not been a thing. Take a look at freaking Gilgamesh, which is the oldest things that we know of, look at Enkidu, and tell me he wasn’t your favorite. Gilgamesh is kind an arschloch of highest proportions. As a more palatable example of this Bird-villain thing, I sort of suspect Bucky Barnes is a Bird of some flavor. If he killed one person as the Winter Soldier, he’d feel bad but probably admit it was the brain washing - but he did it dozens of times. He wonders what does this say about him? He is possibly a Badger, but even pre-winter-soldier he doesn’t seem to care on as wide a scale as a Badger typically does. Steve is Built into the fabric of his world, and he doesn’t react to Steve’s death the way I expect a Snake to either. Maybe a really Old Seasoned Snake and I mean technically he’s old? but the cryogenics thing sort of means he’s not old enough to just let it go. He also doesn’t follow the boy from Brooklyn for reasons I would expect from a fellow Snake but I guess the new show might give more insight on that once I actually watch it.

Badgers

Okay, I like writing Badgers. [Leans back on chaise lounge] this probably has something to do with my mother.

Really though. I model Badger because my mother, although I love her and I’m really lucky to have her, is a teeny tiny bit horrified by Snake tendencies and drilled into me the morality that it is okay and it is above all Good to care about other people (for other Snakes, read Yes Even Strangers). To be fair, the prioritizing that Snakes do (which can get as focused as ”My people first, even if someone else far away is in trouble and I am acutely aware of it”) can seem pretty horrific to a Badger. They don’t necessarily get how you could believe everyone is a person and just... not care. And it’s hard to convince a Badger (for whom not acting can = they are not worth it) that you know exactly what you’re doing but are also aware that if you try to help everyone your head will explode because you can’t keep that many People up there. It’s why Snakes have their rings of caring.

But the result is that for me, Badgers are usually the ones left standing at the end of the story. If they’re done dirty, I like to try and fix it.

I don’t like how media treats Badger primaries generally though? There’s often something “goofy” or the Badger is treated as soft in a really unpalatable way. I mean, and to be fair this directly comes from the way a Snake can sort of be flummoxed with the way Badgers just do things for strangers, yes Badgers irl may be considered gentle. On an individual level, they are often the hearts and hearths of groups and homes.  But there’s this weird place where The State is supposed to be a Badger-shaped institution, so that uneasy balance comes out in weird ways.

I don’t remember who said it, but the difference with Badgers and Snakes is that, with a Snake, you start out at Zero. You’re human, but you’re not the Snake’s human, so I will treat you like a human, but there are My People above you. And with a Badger, you sort of start out at like 85-100%? At least this is my perception. Badgers need-base and that off-balances Snakes.

A Snake with a Badger in my opinion needs to be “eyes open” in a different way than even a Snake with a Bird does, because the Snake needs to understand that the Badger is going to look and act similar - until they don’t, and then the Snake needs to be able to put aside the part of them that was attracted to the mirrored morality and actually work with the Badger to figure out what the Snake needs and how the Snake can in turn support the Badger.

Anyways though, I’m writing a thing where a Badger Bird-modeling-Badger is the last woman standing, committed to fixing a broken type of organization that her Snake, Bird, and Lion companions are Tired of. Lady Badger is nothing if not resilient. I’m writing another thing where a really really Burnt Badger man gets a safe place to learn to be part of a community that is meant to be mutually protective again (he dies because this is a fan work and that’s what happened in cannon, and this is arguably because he’s still unburning at that stage and doesn’t Have a proper community, but I hope to show him having at least Some happy times because in the sh**show show he didn’t have any at all). I’ve got a slightly less developed thing where a number of Badger performing princes learn to work together to fix their kingdom and unbury the history that created it. 

Aaand It’s nearing midnight, I have clearly lost the thread of the thread or whatever

Goodniiight to all my houses. Love you all even if I didn’t write about you here.

-Ornamental

#ornamental answers #ask answered #snake primary #bird secondary #House interactions #lion primary #Bird Primary #badger primary #wip sorts #late night posts #sortinghatchats

[keelywolfe]

Creators: work on or post something from your WIP.

~~*~~

Okay, so this is a segment from a story that I’ve been working on, on and off, for like, two years, I think. I’m trying to work up some inspiration to finish it.

The premise is that one of Fellgore’s spies caught sight of Rus smoking outside at the Fell Brother’s home in Snowdin and reported it back to him. Of course he’s terribly curious about this strange skeleton and when he calls Edge to New Home to ask him about it, the only excuse that Edge can reasonably come up with without revealing the existence of other universes is that Rus is his new pet.

This leads to Fellgore inviting Edge to bring his new pet to the next feast that he holds, and denying a request from their King is a very quick way to end up in a dustpan. So, despite the fact that they are certainly not friends, Edge ‘persuades’ Rus to come with him. Rus is ever so happy about it.

~~*~~

"a dress?" Rus said flatly. Edge's mouth twisted. Rus was holding the dress out in two fingers as though it were something filthy. Edge couldn’t really blame him, he had every reason to be displeased. "Not my idea, I assure you. It was a gift from the king and unfortunately it would be a grave insult not to wear it." His excuse was not readily accepted. Rus looked between him and the dress, his sockets narrowed suspiciously. It was a common enough style for certain pets to wear more feminine attire, but this outfit was unique even amongst them. The bodice was made up of a variety of straps, some thin as a finger and others wider than his wrist. It managed to be somehow modest and indecent at the same time. Covering and uncovering skin, or in Rus's case, bone, as the wearer moved. It would certainly make for quite a tantalizing show for those who were watching, depending of course on who was wearing it. Rus finally seemed to decide that it wasn’t a cruel prank being played on him. He turned the dress in his hands awkwardly, trying to figure out how to pull it on. “Let me help,” Edge took it away and paused. “You’ll need to take off your other clothes first.”

With a long-suffering sigh, Rus stripped off, leaving his shorts and sweatshirt in rough pile. “happy?” “Ecstatic,” Edge pulled the dress over Rus’s head. Immediately, he managed to get tangled in the straps and Edge cursed, trying to free him even as Rus complained and squirmed. "Hold still!" Edge snapped. “You’re only making it worse!” It was easier when Rus stopped struggling, standing still and allowing Edge to arrange the dress on him. It took no little patience, organizing each strap from the most slender to the widest, but Edge could admit that the final product was very appealing to his sense of aesthetics. The deep purple was flattering against the ivory of Rus’s bones, the silken fabric inviting a touch. It would have been more appealing if the color didn’t hint at being royal property, but Edge had no leeway to complain about such a generous gift. Rus’s expression didn’t enhance the effect either, but that wasn’t anything Edge could change. "glad you're enjoying this," Rus said sullenly. "If I'm giving off the appearance of enjoying this in the slightest, it's purely accidental.” He picked up a small box from the table, not from Asgore this time but something he’d ordered made the moment Rus had agreed to come. “You'll need to wear this as well." Rus’s sullen expression flickered through shock to outright rejection as he saw what the box held. A slender collar, relatively plain with a tag hanging from it. There hadn’t been time for the creation of anything elaborate, but Edge found he preferred its simplicity. It would complement rather than distract. That was, if it was worn and Rus was shaking his head. "no, no fucking way. i said i'd help because of my bro, but a collar is asking too much, just no." "Very well," Edge said, flatly. "when Asgore has me executed for disobeying his orders, perhaps you'd be kind enough to help my brother sprinkle my dust." Rus started to say something and paused. Softly, he said, "you're serious, aren't you." "Do you think I'd be trying to drag you off to a damn feast with my King if it wasn't serious?" Edge snapped. Already a headache was lurking between his sockets and the night hadn’t even begun. "There is very little that I'd like to do less!" Rus exhaled slowly, "fuck." He picked up the collar gingerly, fingering the tag. "what's this symbol?" "It marks you as mine." "huh. red doesn't have a tag on his collar." "That would be because he doesn't belong to me. Red isn't a pet or a thrall, but he is under my protection.” A slow nod and Rus handed the collar to Edge. “well…i guess put it on. no point in putting on the dress if I’m not going to accessorize.” Threading the end through the buckle, he quickly fastened it on and stepped back.  “okay, this is a helluva lot deeper than it sounded when you were explaining it before,” Rus’s bored irritation had fled and now he was looking at Edge seriously. “i need some info here, what’s the expectation?” "Follow my lead, don't speak unless you're spoken to and for stars sake, keep whatever you say brief! You're supposed to be a pet. Don't eat before me or without permission, keep your head down, and maybe we'll get through this alive. Now let me look at you." Rus straightened, his casual stance shifting, and the difference was staggering. The drape of the skirt's folds moved as the wearer did, exposing peeks of his femurs, even as high as to offer tantalizing glimpses of his pelvis. The gift hadn't included shoes and Edge had been forced to barter for a pair of delicate sandals. They were both tall enough without forcing Rus to totter around on heels. He knelt and helped Rus put them on, buckling them with the same care he’d used on the collar. From his pocket, Edge pulled out a slender gold chain and fastened it around Rus's ankle. A little extravagance would be expected for a favored pet, though nothing too extravagant; his position offered more status than salary, no one would expect him to drape his pet in jewels. The delicate anklet was enough, it caught the light as Rus moved, gleaming prettily against the pale bone. He'd truly be beautiful, if it weren't for one detail. "are you fucking done yet?" "Watch your mouth," Edge warned him. "or there is no point to this charade." “yeah, yeah, i got this.” Silently, Edge pulled a thin cloak from his inventory, draping it around Rus. It would protect him from Snowdin’s chill, at least until they entered Hotland. He wondered dismally if he’d only condemned both of them by trying this. He supposed there was only one way to find out.

#keelywolfe #spicyhoney #work in progress

[audible-smiles]

Portland Burger Week!

4 veggie burgers (which were created specifically for a local annual food festival and which will never be seen anywhere else) REVIEWED for no particular reason

(All of these were $6, + sides/drinks; that’s part of what makes it fun!)

First up: New Seasons with ‘Slaw, Spice, and Everything Nice’

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New Seasons apparently has some really great lunch options; who knew??? Their veggie alternative was a Beyond patty, and I actually didn’t hate it! It still had that heavy meaty aftertaste that makes me want to brush my teeth (mammals taste bad, I stand by that) but whoever put this burger together is good enough with balancing flavor and texture that actually eating it was a great experience. They were liberal with that tangy, spicy sauce, so it was moist throughout and topped with a unique, crunchy slaw (kale, red bell pepper, corn, red onions, etc?) as well as one of my favorite cheeses. Overall, just a really well executed concept, and possibly my favorite burger of the day, right out of the gate at our first stop!

Next up, the West Coast Grocery Company with the ‘Beer Cheese Pretzel Burger’

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My review: This one was also a Beyond patty, and unfortunately they did not succeed at making it taste good. The burger was bland and generic, with the beer cheese and the pretzel bun much less flavorful than I hoped. They didn’t have a veggie alternative for the bacon, so they just left it off, which is rough because this burger needed all the advantages it could get. However, the place was packed, with a line out the door. They had sold out of so much alcohol (homemade and otherwise) that they ended up serving my roommate a mystery cider, the name and origins of which the server couldn’t remember. There was a guy outside with a parrot on his shoulder. It seems like they took on more than they could handle with Burger Week, but the place had charisma for sure.

Interlude: a trip to the Mad Greek Deli. Their promo claimed to have a veggie alternative available, but the enormous man at the counter dismissed the idea out of hand, so I watched my roommate chow down on a meat burger while I drank a can of Mug root beer that cost $3.22. Fun fact: this place’s house sauce is called “Omega Sauce”, which is terrible.

Next Up: Next Level Burger with the “Beyond Cluckin’ Good” Burger

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My Review: Can you truly call something a burger if it features not fake beef, but instead fake chicken and fake pork, and neither in patty form? I thought the...Beyond Chicken... (sigh) was thick and dense enough to make for an unpleasant chew, but my roommate declared it “better than most real chicken” (which made me profoundly sad for the state of chicken in this country). I actually really liked the tempeh bacon, which was smokey and lightly crisp, and of course chipotle mayo is an easy crowdpleaser. Vegan cheese is always risky, but this one wasn’t offensive. And we also had a really good coconut milk blackberry shake as well. A solid effort for sure. I’ll be back someday to try their housemade black bean burgers with avocados, which look amazing.

Last Up: Sunny’s Diner with the Flaming Hot Vegan Bumb (Big Ugly Messy Burger)

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My Review: Hey, turns out pickled onions are pretty good, actually?? I don’t seek them out on a regular basis, but they were freaking great on this burger. I didn’t get any “flaming hot cheeto” flavor whatsoever, which was sad because I was excited about how crazy it sounded, but it was still good. VeganCredible is a local food distributer, and their patty was noticeably better than the Beyond patties for the lack of that meaty aftertaste, but damn do I miss a classic veggie burger with visible chunks of beans, grain, and veggies. Real cheese wouldn’t have hurt either. But I get the appeal of a totally vegan burger...for vegans.

Postscript: There were 5-6 other places on the official list offering veggie burgers, but we decided to go home (after a brief stop at Boke Bowl for my roommate to pick up the Boke Vaxed Burger and take it home to eat later) BEFORE we died, rather than afterwards. 

#veggie burgers #image heavy #long post #portland

[writerbyaccident]

Jealousy Versus Envy (Yandere Jareth/Goblin King x Reader)

Request: I would like to see some Jealous!yandere! Jareth the goblin king content! ❤

           There was no telling how long you had been wandering the Labyrinth. Time flowed past as either individual grains of sand sluggishly falling through an hourglass or as fat dollops plunging past, without any sort of in-between. For all you knew, it might have been no time at all since you began your quest, or your thirteen hours might have nearly ended.

           A large part of you wondered whether this odd passage of time was simply natural to the Labyrinth, or if this was some extra trick of the Goblin King. It was impossible to be sure, but you swore that you could feel his gaze on you, could hear his cruel laugh each time the moments slipped past your fingers like water. He was trying to disorient you, you thought, trying to make it so you couldn’t deduce how much longer you had left and trying to make it so you couldn’t stand one more moment of stumbling through his maze. And as much as you were loath to admit it, his attempts were working.

           Although you had no way of knowing it, your assumptions surrounding Jareth’s interference were exactly right. The haughty king watched from his crystal your attempts to keep track of both the Labyrinth and how much time you had left with mirth in his eyes. Truthfully, he thought as he observed you hesitate in confusion as you came to yet another fork in the path, you were just precious. And yes, while Jareth did generally enjoy creating more challenges for the runners, there was a unique joy he felt from doing the same to you. Never before had he found a runner of the Labyrinth so fascinating, so enchanting. He couldn’t look away from you.

           Leaning up against a thick tree trunk, one that sat right next to a beautifully clear pool of water, you paused to consider your strategy. It was clear that just wandering through the maze would not bring you any closer to the Goblin City, but you were still at a loss for what to do instead. The only other possibility that came to your mind was trying to appeal to one of the strange denizens of this realm for help, but you hadn’t seen a single soul in ages. Biting your bottom lip in a way that the ever-present Goblin King found positively alluring, you gazed into the pool as though you hoped an answer would suddenly appear there.

           “Hello there,” came a voice.

           Understandably startled, you looked around the glade to try to find who had spoken, but still there was no one to be found.

           “Down here.”

           Approaching the edge of the pool, you peered down into the water, at first seeing nothing but your reflection. After a moment though, your reflection began to ripple, until it was no longer your image shown in the water. Rather, you saw instead the image of a dark-haired man, one with sparkling violet eyes and a charming smile. It wasn’t like you were looking at someone who was swimming underwater though, but more like the very surface of the water had revealed some spirit to you. And considering what you had seen of the Labyrinth thus far, that was certainly a possibility.

           “Uh, hi,” you said, a bemused smile on your face.

           The longer you stared at the strange face before you, the more oddities you noticed about him, if any of his beautiful features could truly be called odd. His canines were particularly sharp for one thing, and the tips of his ears were pointed as well. With those features and something more that laid hidden in his eyes, he reminded you a bit of Jareth.

           At the joy of meeting a friendly face, your fear of the Goblin King was slowly forgotten. In fact, when Jareth’s still-present gaze grew from affectionate to bitter, you failed to notice the change, even as the air around you became heavy with the king’s stormy thoughts.

           “What brings you to my corner of the Labyrinth?” the stranger asked. “It’s been quite some time since I had a visitor, and such a lovely one at that.”

           The nymph’s words alone, so unashamedly flirtatious, were enough to make Jareth burn. How dare that fool speak to you in such a way when you had already been claimed! How dare he try to steal what belonged rightfully to his king! Clearly, Jareth sneered to himself as his gripped his crystal tightly, that dolt’s mind had become water-logged.

           Yes, all of that was bad enough, but it was your response that truly set the Goblin King aflame with anger.

           “Oh, um, well,” you stammered bashfully as heat rose to your cheeks. “I was tricked into wishing myself away, and now I’m trying to solve the Labyrinth so I can go home.”

           You blushed. You actually blushed.

           Roaring in fury, Jareth threw the crystal he had been watching you with at his bedroom wall, watching with satisfaction as it shattered. His breaths heavy with rage, Jareth couldn’t get the image out of his head. You, averting your eyes shyly as a blush creeped over your cheeks, it played over and over again in his mind. You had never once looked at him in that way. You had never once taken his compliments of you seriously. You had never once shown him an ounce of such warmth as you did to that imbecilic bottom feeder.

           And hadn’t Jareth done so much for you? Hadn’t he taken you into a world that no mortal could imagine? Hadn’t he offered you your very dreams? Hadn’t he offered you his love?

           No, such disrespect would not stand, the king decided. He had spent too long simply watching you, allowing you to forget who exactly controlled your strings, who exactly you belonged to. He would teach you of your quickly approaching destiny as his for eternity, and he would teach all others in his kingdom what would happen if they tried to take you from him. With that determined, Jareth journeyed into the shadows until he came to the glade where you sat at the water’s edge.

           “Ah, I should have guessed,” the nymph was saying. “As wondrous as the Labyrinth is, even it could not create a creature as beautiful as you.”

           “Um, yeah. I’m actually just here because I was tricked by the Goblin King.”

           “How many times must I tell you to call me Jareth, pet?”

           Heart stuttering in your chest, you looked up to see Jareth standing a little ways beside you, his mismatched eyes boring into you possessively. Not wanting him to tower over you so easily, you scrambled to stand up, only for Jareth to place a hand on the top of your head, keeping you firmly in place. He smirked down at you, greatly pleased with the sight of you kneeling at his feet, and began to stroke your hair softly.

           “Isn’t this better, pet? Isn’t this easier?” he cooed melodiously. “You know in your heart that this is where you are meant to be, under my loving hand. Wouldn’t it be so much better to stop fighting the one who loves you?” As you stared up at him with wide eyes, Jareth thought that you might finally see sense, might finally give in, and his heart rejoiced at the thought of finally being able to take you home. But a moment later, your eyes hardened.

           “I will not stop fighting, not even if this were love.”

           “Oh, I promise you, pet,” Jareth snarled, grasping your hair tightly in his hand, “it is.”

           “But,” he continued, smirking once again, “you will soon have an eternity to learn that. Your companion here, on the other hand, will not be so lucky.”

           Your eyes turning back to the stranger in the pool, you saw that much like yourself, he was staring up at the Goblin King with fear in his eyes. Unable to bear the thought of Jareth punishing an innocent person, you moved to take Jareth’s free hand into your own.

           “Please, don’t!” you begged, your pride forgotten. “He didn’t do anything, he wasn’t trying to help me!”

           “Oh, I know that. Truly, I believe I would have preferred that he was. For while he might not have tried to assist you, he did something worse. He tried to lay claim to what is mine.”

           “Sire,” the nymph pleaded, “I swear on my life—”

           Whatever the nymph was about to swear, neither you nor Jareth would ever discover. For the mere sound of the nymph’s voice reminded Jareth of how his subject had tried to charm you, and how well you had responded to his flirtations. So before the nymph could finish his plea, Jareth gave a rough wave of his hand and froze each inch of water of the nymph’s home. The nymph himself was still visible in the ice’s reflection, though he was frozen as the water itself. And while you were just barely beginning to hope that one day the ice might melt and the stranger would be freed, Jareth’s heel came down on the ice, piercing through it was though it were paper-thin glass, shattering the image of the nymph until he disappeared completely.

           “All that,” you choked out, “all that because of your envy?”

           Chuckling, Jareth cupped your chin gently in his hand, lifting you up so that you could see the twisted fondness lying in his discordant eyes.

           “Not at all,” Jareth purred. “That was not envy, but jealousy. I refuse to let anyone take what is mine. And make no mistake, you are mine.”

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#Jareth x Reader #yandere labyrinth #yandere jareth x reader #yandere jareth #yandere x reader #yandere x you #yandere imagine #yandere prompt #yandere request #labyrinth fic #labyrinth imagine #goblin king #yandere goblin king #yandere goblin king x reader #yandere male #male yandere #yandere fae #fae x reader #yandere fae x reader #yandere fantasy #fantasy yandere #yandere imagines #yandere fic #yandere story #yandere scenario #yandere #yandere fanfic #yandere fanfiction #yandere drabble #yandere drabbles

[timeforelfnonsense]

Just a Taste

Astarion  x Dafni 

Rating: M

Ao3

Astarion passed along the far edge of the camp. A groan escaped his chest as he slumped down against the base of a tree. His whole body ached right to the bone. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the throbbing pain behind his eyes to disappear. He knew he needed to feed as soon as possible. He had waited far too long to make up for his little indiscretion with the boar earlier. The heat had died down at last and whispers of vampire among his traveling companions had, at last, died down. Unfortunately for him, his caution had left him weak and vulnerable. He clutched his head in his hands and took in a deep breath. His body tensed in an instant. The soft forest breeze carried the irresistible scent of pray. His mouth watered and the familiar, white-hot sting of thirst clawed at his throat. 

He would have to be mindful in the selection of his quarry. Lae’zel was the first to be struck from the list. She had a bitter, bordering on metallic scent that he found less than appetizing. And more importantly, he was certain she would slay him without a second thought should things go awry. Shadowhart was out next. Though her bouquet was much more appealing, she had a suspicious nature and seemed likely to be a light sleeper. Wyll had always seemed an alluring prospect - Strong, fast, and righteous. Despite the appeal, he would also be a dangerous choice, being a monster hunter by trade. Gale would due, he supposed, but as the wizard tossed in his sleep the delicate shimmer of a magical barrier caught his eye. That left him with one, final option.  

Dafni slept in a heap of pelts beneath the cover of an old oak tree a few paces away from the others. Wildflowers bloomed in the soil around her as if the earth was reacting to her very presence. His gluttonous gaze lingered on the pretty cleric. He watched her chest rise and fall slow and even. He’d never known her to indulge in sleep, preferring to take her rest by way of trance. She must have been truly exhausted. He took a silent step closer. 

Astarion took in another deep breath. She was floral, like lilac and primrose with just a touch of citrus. His pupils dilated as every fiber of his being shouted at him - Desperate for just a taste. It was a risk to be sure, feeding on a woman of divine persuasion, but of the options available to him she seemed the most delectable and least deadly.

“How cliche,” He thought, “a creature of the night- Driven by sanguine desire to drink a lovely maiden, asleep in a bed of flowers.”

He dipped to his knees and with a delicate hand brushed her hair from her neck. He steeled himself, preparing to strike. Leaning in close just as her eyes shot open.

“...Shit”

It was the cool tickle of breath on the back of her neck and the feeling of an almost loving hand on her waist that pulled her away from her dreams. When she first saw him standing over her, ruby-red eyes wide, white hair tousled and untamed, she had assumed something must have happened during his watch. However, the guilt and shame that twisted across his handsome face quickly did away with such assumptions. 

“What are you doing!” She hissed. 

“No, no- It’s not what it looks like I swear!” 

His words were rushed as if they could not leave his mouth fast enough. Dafi sat up in her bedroll, her eyes fixed on Astarion’s pleading expression, his hands outstretched in surrender. He reminded her of a wild animal backed into a corner facing down what was to be their demise. His bravado was all but gone and in the place of the cocky rouge she had come to know was a frightened young man. 

“Were you trying to kill me?” 

“No! I wasn’t going to hurt you!” He promised, “I just needed - well…”

He trailed off his eyes fixing themselves on the holy symbol that hung from a silver chain around her neck. At that moment the pieces fell together: the boar, his unique appearance, his eagerness to keep watch at night. There, in the dim glow of the fire, she saw him for what he was...

Vampire. 

“It’s not what you think!” He pleaded, “I’m not some monster. I feed on animals! Boars, deer, kobolds - whatever I can get. I’m just too slow right now. Too weak. If I just had a little blood, I could think clearer. Fight better. Please.”

The last word was dripping in melancholy. His head hung low and his shoulders sagged. He had proven himself to be proud, even bordering on snobbish - never asking for help and turning his nose up when it was offered. His suffering must be great if he had been willing to admit his weakness and need. Against her better judgment, she reached out to him, placing a hand on his pale cheek. 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She whispered. 

She tugged on his hand, pulling him close. He sighed as he took a seat beside her leaving an uncomfortable space between their bodies. 

“At best, I was sure you’d say no. More likely you’d ram a stake through my ribs. I thought I could keep it to myself but tonight I felt so awful…” Astarion slumped into his hands unable to meet her eyes, “And… I wanted you to trust me. No. I needed you to trust me. And you can trust me.” 

His logic, it would seem, was far more rational than her own. She was a cleric, sworn to the preservation of life. She should have set him alight with divine magic the moment she realized what he was. But, when she looked at Astarion it wasn’t a monster that looked back at her. He was her friend. Her heart ached to think of the fate he had been doomed to. He was an elf, never to return to Avandor. And was it not her very reason for existing to care for all of Corellon’s children? Why should Astarion, whom she had come to care for, be any different than the rest of their kin? 

“I do.” She smiled, her thumb stroking his cheek, “I Trust you, Astarion. If you say it wasn’t your intention to harm me then that is the truth.”

Dafni’s touch was almost painfully kind. How long has it been since he had felt a hand so gentle with such kind intention? She held his face so tenderly in her sage-green palm he thought he might melt. He had spurned her kindness on countless occasions. Thinking it had been a sign of weakness. Now, on the receiving end of her light and he felt a fool for having ever encouraged her to tamp down on her compassion. He leaned into her hand, savoring the warmth of her touch. 

“Thank you.” He purred, leaning in close to her ear, “Do you think you could trust me just a little further?” 

He could hear the steady thump of her heart pick up. He was tantalizingly close throat. The sight of blood pumping through her veins was near irresistible. Her cheeks went flush and the intoxicating smell of her blood threatened to send him into a frenzy. 

“I only need a taste. I swear.” 

Dafni shuddered at the feeling of his lips along the blade of her ear. It was a dangerous proposition to be sure… He was a deadly creature and was she to bank on whatever small fondness he held for her to keep her alive? He was in need. What if harm befell him because he was in a weakened state? His voice was so coxing, his fingertips on the hollow of her neck almost loving. She had said herself she trusted him. Why not with this? Besides, being drained dry by a vampire seemed a far more glamorous way to go than letting the tadpole rot her from the inside out. 

“Fine” She spoke in a voice little more than a whisper, “But not a drop more than you need.” 

“Of course.” He promised, “Not one drop more.” 

Delicately, he guided her back so her head came to rest in his lap. He brought one hand to rest on the swell of her full hip and while the other remained in place, cradling her neck. Only at the moment before he sunk into her tender flesh did she glimpse the fearsome creature she had offered herself up to freely.  

The moment he broke her skin, he realized why Cazador had forbidden his minions the blood of ‘thinking creatures’. If her scent had been captivating her taste could only be described as transcendent, sweet, and earthy. Yet it was more than the flavor that had him completely delirious. It was the irresistible happiness that began to bloom in his chest as his heart fell in rhythm with her’s. She was a lush and colorful field, the feeling of the sun on his cheeks for the first time in 200 years - Spring incarnate and he was ravenous for more. His grasp grew tighter on her hip drawing her into himself no longer satisfied with gentleness and charm. A strange feeling began to build in him. Not hunger, but desire. A shaky gasp slipped from her lovely lips. She twisted in his lap. Lancing her hand through his hair, tugging him closer. She was pleasing to the eye to be sure. Perhaps he shouldn’t have been so shocked when amorous feelings began to stir.

“I think you’ve had enough.” 

Her voice was small and shaky but it was enough to bring him back to reality. He removed himself with haste, realizing his tight hold on her body. Relief washed over her and Dafni allowed herself to crumple against him. Above her, Astarion was still struggling to catch his breath. 

“Of course.” He gasped, “I was just swept up in the moment.” 

A small squeak passed her lips at the feeling of his tongue running over the aching wound in her neck.

“But it worked.” He continued, still nuzzled at her neck, “I feel good. Strong. Happy!”

 “Good.” She yawned, “I’m glad. I feel a little lightheaded though...” 

He found himself absentmindedly stroking her hair as she began to nod off, curled up in his lap. He hadn’t expected the act of feeding to be so… intimate. He couldn’t be sure if it was always this way or if the elation he felt was a side effect of her being an eladrin. Either way, the temptation to linger, to taste her in other ways was almost unbearably tempting. A disheartening pang of thirst still lingered in his throat however and she was far too weak for him to take anymore. Intimacy would simply have to wait. 

“I hate to disturb you, darling, but you’ll have to excuse me.” 

Dafni huffed, snuggling closer in protest. He was warmer to the touch now and a faint rosy hue colored his cheeks. Astarion was hardly the picture tender regard but his arms were strong and his slow heartbeat thrummed in time with her own. And for just a moment the threat of the tadpoles seemed far away. She stuck out her lower lip in a pout as he untangled himself from her. She could hear the laugh he was trying to suppress as she tucked herself back into bed. She reached up for him, wrapping her hand tightly around his wrist as he turned to leave.

“Come on.” He teased, “You’re invigorating, but I need something more filling.” He bent down placing a kiss on her forehead, “This is a gift you know. I won’t forget.”

 “Is- it’s nothing.” She babbled, “I’m just… Just glad you feel better.”

#astarion #bg3 oc #bg3 spoilers #bg3 #bg3 early access #dafni of gwynneth #elf writes

[kobayashi-aika]

Before “a new departure”—Kobayashi Aika, Takatsuki Kanako, Furihata Ai’s five years with Aqours (Translated Interview)

For simplicity’s sake, each seiyuu’s line indicators will be denoted as either F(urihata), K(obayashi), or T(akatsuki).

TL: arb TLC: xIceArcher QC: Mega, Yujacha

All nine of us are a little different, but put us together and we become Aqours

—It’s the 5th anniversary of Love Live Sunshine’s school idol group Aqours. The “Aqours 5th Anniversary Jimo Ai! Take Me Higher Project” is now underway, including the series’ first dome tour. But first, please tell us your impressions about the Dome Tour’s theme song, “Fantastic Departure!”.

T: (joyfully) It feels like “the sea”! (laughs)

F: A whale?

T: A dolphin?

All 3: (all having fun) Yeah, yeah, yeah! (laughs)

K: That’s the part that leaves an impression on you, right?

T: It’s easy to think of what it would look like at the concert, right? Like, you...

K: Like getting beckoned by a dolphin to ride a whale? (laughs)

F: The new songs totally have a sea motif, which is something we’ve surprisingly never had before.

K: “Fantastic Departure!” has lots of back-and-forth lyrics, so the image of everyone [in the audience] singing comes to mind. It’s making me excited for the concerts.

F: It’ll definitely be a really nice song live.

T: It feels like every year, our new songs keep getting more difficult.

K: Right, right.

F: [This song has] quite a lot of low parts, right?

T: The A melody is low, but the chorus is high.

K: I think it’s also because we’ve become an Aqours that can take on these kinds of challenges. Our cooler sides can start showing.

T: Recently, our songs have stopped sounding anime song-ish, but in a good way. We’ve had a lot of songs that are somewhere in between anime songs and J-pop — a very “Aqours-like” place.

K: The genre is “Aqours”!

T: A stylish feel...?

K: Stylish sound!

T, F: Ahaha!

F: The lyrics are packed with an Aqours-like feeling, and the song has a stylish sound!

—What were some of your favorite lines during the recording?

K: I like Hanamaru’s “Where is it? Where is it?”

T: Hey! (laughs) Recently, my habit’s been getting worse every time we record...

K: You noticed? (laughs)

F: (while looking at K and T) Those two often record first. I listen to their voices while I record.

K: When I listen to Hanamaru-chan singing, I can find lots of parts that I really like.

T: I want to listen to all of the individual versions once. When we’re recording, we don’t know who will get which part, so there are phrases we approach differently. Everyone has their own unique ideas, so it’s exciting to hear them and think “Ah, so that’s how they’re singing it!”

K: They’re releasing the solo albums (Aqours First Solo Concert Album), right?

T, F: Right! That’s great.

F: I want everyone to hear how much we’ve all grown. The nine of us are all different, but the moment you put us together and we become Aqours is amazing.

K: And speaking of the “Fantastic Departure!” lyrics, the “A fantastic departure” phrase had a pretty difficult rhythm.

T: I know~. The rhythm was really tight.

K: Right. I could really get used to that.

F: It’s a little nerve-wracking thinking we’ll have to perform that live, huh?

Hata Aki-san’s lyrics really represent Aqours’ feelings

—In the B-side “Aqours Pirates Desire”, you have the “Dan-Da-Dan//We’ll steal it!” part. It’s a really addicting song.

All 3: (joyfully) Dan-Da-Dan!

K: You like that part, right, Kanako?

T: Right, I love the world view. I also love the “Dan-Da-Dan” and the “Da-Dan Da-Dan” parts.

—How was the recording?

All 3: (smiling) It was really fun!

F: There were a lot of “Dan-Da-Dan”s, so it was really fun.

K: But it feels like I’ll mess it up at some point, so I’m a little worried about the concerts. (laughs)

F: You might end up repeating the wrong one.

T: I’m excited for the choreography and the costumes! I want to have some accessories on it.

F: Some pirate accessories?

K: Oh, right! I thought we would have taiko drums! (laughs)

T: Just call them regular drums! (laughs)

F: There’s that line, “Beat the signal drum“. (laughs)

K: Everyone doing it together!

T: We might just have a performance like that (laughs).

F: I like the (singing) “The red flag of freedom//will part the wind for you to run“ part.

T, K: I know, right?

T: Then there’s “(A black skull and crossbones//The wild seas)//We’ll overcome it～～♪ “, and it gets really low after.

K: Is that the lowest Aqours has ever gone?

F: Maybe! Both songs are really cool. They’ve got a lot of really powerful lyrics like “Plunder” or “We’ll steal it! “.

T: “Fantastic Departure!” and “Aqours Pirates Desire” make for a strong combination. Both give the feeling of strength on the seas. I think they’ll be popular songs at the concerts.

K: They seem really exciting. [The fans] will probably like them.

—In what ways do you feel the charm of Hata Aki-san’s lyrics?

K: The lyrics often represent our feelings. In these two songs, there’s “A fantastic departure”, “A huge world//A vast world is waiting for us “, and “Search for it“. All of which really symbolize the current Aqours.

T: Recently, it feels like we’re walking down a path Hata-sensei created. It feels like she’s guiding us towards the future.

F: Even if we haven’t fully grasped the lyrics by the time we record, as time passes, we come to realize that “this is what Hata-sensei was talking about.” We sing a lot of songs about how we’ll feel in the future. Like, “Hata-sensei was already thinking this far into the future with her lyrics”. And as time passes, the appeal of those lyrics start to sink in.

K: Very deep.

T: Yup, very deep.

“It’s thanks to Aqours that we’re back” μ's words were really moving

—Going back in time a bit, Love Live! Fes was held in January 2020. You overcame the “walls” of the franchise to perform together with μ's and the Nijigasaki High School Idol Club. In particular, you were all able to make the dream of standing on the same stage as μ's come true. Looking back, how was that? 

F: It was really... I’m glad we did it. (She seems deeply emotional)

T: (lost for words) Wow... It truly was...

K: (while deeply nodding) Yeah...

F: The thing we’ve always been wishing for these five years finally came true.

K: We've been wishing for it for so long... while it was a goal, we also ended up thinking it would be a dream that would never come true. So it made us really, really happy. 

T: The Love Live! series’ 9th anniversary project gave us a lot of chances to interact with μ's and the Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, so we had a lot of chances to speak with them. μ's gave us some very kind words.

“It’s because Aqours has been doing these concerts and other activities that we, too, could come back here.” When they said that... it was so touching. They really were watching us. It made me so happy.

K, F: (nodding)

—If I might ask, were there any other happenings with μ's?

K: We had a sort of photoshoot after Fes, right?

F: Was it after Day 1?

K: We came on stage to take a group photo, and afterwards it turned into one.

T: And then it turned into free time?

K: Right. Photo time started. It was sort of like at a theme park, when...

—Sort of like when you meet the mascot characters?

K: That’s right. (laughs) Everyone was lining up, and going “Please take a photo with me”. Well, except for Aqours.

—Except for Aqours? 

K: Everyone in Aqours was a little gun-shy. μ's are pretty much goddesses... they’re like something out of a dream, so we all thought “Is it really okay for us to be this happy?”, and started acting really shifty. (laughs)

—To have them right in front of you...

K: We stiffened up. (laughs)

F: Even when they said it was okay, we still didn’t go. We turned into regular old otakus. (laughs). But I think Komiya (Arisa)-san took the initiative and went over to the other groups.

—When μ's came on stage, were you in awe?

T: We felt the mood in the arena change in an instant. It was the moment that so many people who came were waiting for; it felt just like a holy atmosphere.

K: I couldn’t stop my goosebumps. The arena started shaking. It really was.

T: It felt like it’d be alright if they just stood there doing nothing. At the end of Day 2, Aqours went after μ's, and after the audience was engulfed in orange light for “Snow halation”, we came out on our ship. We felt just like pirates.

K: When I saw that orange light reflecting off the ceiling, I thought “Ah...” And when we came out, it changed into a sea of blue, and I went “Ah...” again. It was really moving.

Eating natto rice... it’s freedom before the live starts!

—Aqours also debuted their new song “Mitaiken HORIZON” at Love Live! Fes. The trio units of CYaRon!, AZALEA, and Guilty Kiss also performed, right?.

T: Debuting a song, and especially as the first song at Fes, was pretty nerve-wracking. The “Mitaiken HORIZON” costumes are cute, and it’s really in sync with the PV, so we really wanted to kick things off with a “This is Aqours!” kind of performance. It really was an honor to be able to debut it there at Fes.

F: CYaRon! was the first subunit, and because there were a lot of groups performing at Fes, some people might not know CYaRon!. So we were really enthusiastic about giving it our all.

But when we got on stage, the entire arena was really warm and welcoming. So while we were dancing, we were thinking that “Love Live! is really amazing.” That warmth is one of the good points about the fans.

K: Some of Guilty Kiss’ songs make you want to do the “Guilty Kiss!” call, even if you don’t know us. (laughs) Even the first timers do the “Guilty Kiss!” with everyone. So I feel like everyone will remember us. Or at least their mouths will remember us from the calls. (laughs)

T, F: Just their mouths? (laughs)

K: Mouths that blow Guilty Kisses. (laughs) On the grand stage of Love Live! Fes, we were able to show the greatness of the Love Live! series as both the Aqours that worked so hard to get here and as our subunits..

—How do you spend your time backstage? Is there anything you always do before every live?

K: It’s just the huddle up, right?

T: We’re quite free, huh? And then there are people who eat a lot of natto. (laughs)

K: Natto and egg rice is the fad. Pretty much everyone is eating it, right?

T, F: Yeah, yeah.

K: On live days, you have to do that. My mouth will remember the taste.

T, F: (laughs)

T: Having the chocolate fondue from catering was so nice!

K: I was so happy! It was white chocolate, right?

T: I was like, “Do you think I can drink this chocolate?”, and Komiya Arisa-chan went, “I said the exact same thing earlier.” (laughs)

K: We’re all just talking about food. (laughs) Some things never change. But when showtime comes, we flip a switch, right?

F: That’s right. Our liveliness has an on/off switch. Speaking of which, (Osaka) Shizuku-chan (Maeda Kaori) gave us all chocolate. It was the kind with a message on the back, and she wrote messages like “Ganbaruby!” for everyone. It was really cute.

K: We wouldn’t normally do something like that, huh? (laughs)

F: Right. So it was really cool.

T: The only thing we think about is eating. (laughs)

The first years’ strong point is being able to feel “at home”. We can be ourselves around each other

—There have been a lot of subunit activities recently, but this interview is with your year group. How would you sum up the first years’ strong point in a phrase?

K: (happily:) We get along!

T: (smiling:) Yup.

F: Like a place to come home.

—A place to come home?

F: We’re all in different units, but when we’re together as first years, I really feel at home and at ease. That’s the atmosphere when I’m with everyone.

K: It’s like you’re “at home”.

F: “At home”! Yeah, that’s it.

T: It’s simple, but fun. Enjoy!

K: We can just be ourselves.

F: We can mess around and have fun. The first years have lots of very energetic songs, and the three of us all play around with each other and enjoy, so concerts are always really fun too.

T: We’re like a box of toys.

F: And I think that’s great. The second years are very serious, and the third years give off this mature and calm vibe, and we have an energetic and casual style. But of course, I really respect the other year groups.

K: And we have that underclassman vibe.

T: We’re the moodmakers, too!

—I definitely can see that. While talking to the three of you, I’ve felt strangely relaxed and at ease.

All 3: (together) That’s great! (laughs) At home.

—Tell me about some times when you’ve felt the bond between you three.

All 3: Our bond, huh?

K: We’ve never had those kinds of emotional moments. (laughs)

T, F: Yeah. (laughs)

F: But when we debuted “Mitaiken Horizon”, I somehow felt... glad that we were the first years. (doing the choreography) Like in the “Let’s give today everything we’ve got”, where the three of us form a triangle and dance with our arms out, and we look into each other's' eyes as we sing. That part is really touching. It made me think, “Ah, we’ve really grown.”

K, T: Yeah, yeah. That’s true.

K: It’s nice that the first years are always in the center for “Mitaiken Horizon”!

T: I’m glad that the three of us are always together.

F: Our singing parts are also all together, and it feels really powerful.

T: Even so, in the chorus, we’re the ones who have to bring the energy. (laughs)

F: Right, the “More!” “More!” “Yeah!” parts. (laughs)

K: Usually, the first years (when dividing the lines in songs) are in charge of the extra lines. Like the “Fu!”s. Those energetic parts are very “first year”.

—Between the three of you, who’s the mature one, or the one who can help you when you’re in a pinch?

All 3: (together) Eh... none of us are really the mature one?

F: We really feel like we’re in the same year. That’s pretty much how we are with each other. But I’m the one who gets teased, and (looking at T) she’s the teasing type.

K: (while pointing at herself) I tease and get teased. Even when the other years are ignoring us, we feel like we’re always energetic. The first years are always just going off and doing whatever. (laughs) We pretend to be clueless, but we’re always watching our surroundings while we play around... I think.

T: And the helper... do we even have times when we’re in a pinch?

K: We probably just laugh our problems away. (laughs)

T: If I had to say, we’re the type to have fun even when we’re in a pinch. They (pointing at K and F) probably feel the same way, and it puts me at ease.

—What are your tics? 

F: Recently, it’s been “Right, right?”. It changes a lot, but before that it was “Yup, yup.”

T: She says it twice. (laughs)

K: All three of us do this, but I always say funny things a second time. (laughs)

T: It’s immediately after, too. We do it unconsciously.

F: What was your tic, Kanako?

T: “Water”, maybe? I really like water. (laughs) I drink about two liters a day, so I’m always looking for water. What’s your tic, Kyan (Kobayashi)?

K: Maybe when I always say “Oh no~”. I say it no matter what happens. (laughs)

I’m glad that we can be one with Yohane, Hanamaru, and Ruby

—Now, looking back on Aqours’ activities, can I ask how you feel now that five years have passed?

F: When Aqours first formed, the other eight members... I still really look up to and respect everyone... but when I compared myself to everyone, it was really clear that I had no experience. I couldn’t dance, I couldn’t sing well, and I couldn’t act.

But now, we’ve spent five years together, so I’ve come to realize my own place in Aqours, and I’m really glad that Aqours is the nine of us. If it wasn’t these eight members with me, I probably wouldn’t have felt like this.

—Five years is quite a long time.

F: Getting this close with a person for this long, as I have with Kurosawa Ruby, is the kind of thing that doesn’t happen often. But on both the outside and the inside, getting closer to her in my own way is something I’ve thought of as very important. It’s made me aware of a lot of different sides to myself, and I feel like my love for both the franchise and Ruby is stronger than anyone else’s. Of course, the other eight members probably feel the same way.

—What about you, Takatsuki-san?

T: For me, my natural voice isn’t very high, and I’m taller than Hanamaru-chan, so I don’t have much in common with her. So when we started our activities, on top of being Aqours, I was also worried about if everyone would accept me. During concerts and performances, I was focused on whether people were looking at me.... I had a period where I didn’t have much confidence in myself.

But now, no matter what I do, even if I’m just talking normally, people often say to me, “Oh, it’s Hanamaru-chan~”, so I’m really glad that I could become one with Hanamaru.

—When did that start to change?

T: Around 2nd Live. (2017′s Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours 2nd LoveLive! HAPPY PARTY TRAIN TOUR) Up until then, I was afraid of people looking at me on stage, but since 2nd Live, it’s become just like a festival, and I’ve been able to do more and more things.

I wasn’t very good at dancing to start, but I felt myself slowly getting better, and I started to really feel the joy of Love Live! inside me.

—What about you, Kobayashi-san? 

K: Aqours had a few people who were new to voice acting, and I was one of them. Acting with your voice, and living Yohane’s life alongside her was a first for me. But by asking myself, “How can I get closer to her?”, I’ve been able to grow all the way until today.

Over these five years, I’ve learned to do a lot of new things, like learning how to use a low voice, how to sing in a voice completely different from my natural voice, and lots of other things.

By facing Yohane (Yoshiko) head-on, so many new possibilities have opened up; it feels like “a me that isn’t me”. Every day, I get the chance to grow alongside her. I’m so happy that this mysterious feeling can continue. It’d be great if Yohane and I, as part of Aqours, can do more and more and more fun things together.

—Takatsuki-san was talking about how she changed around 2nd. Live. So, Furihata-san and Kobayashi-san, when did your outlook change, and you started becoming more confident?

F: For me, it was slightly after 3rd Live (2018′s Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours 3rd LoveLive! Tour ~WONDERFUL STORIES~).

At 3rd Live, we debuted “Awaken the power”, which had 11 people. (Saint Aqours Snow’s collaboration song with 9 of Aqours and 2 of Saint Snow) I felt a lot of pressure for that song. I was desperately giving it my all, and there are a lot of painful memories... But when everyone who went to 3rd Live was cheering, “I’m glad that Kurosawa Ruby is Furihata Ai”, it was a really big moment for me.

—The voices of your fans became your strength...

F: That’s right. Up until then, I didn’t have any self-confidence. And so for 4th Live (2018′s Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours 4th LoveLive!~Sailing to the Sunshine~), I went in with the positive mindset of “Aqours made it to Tokyo Dome!”.

—What about you, Kobayashi-san? 

K: I think it was at 2nd Live. 1st Live (2017′s Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours First LoveLive! ~Step! ZERO to ONE~) was at Yokohama Arena, a place where I never thought I would be, even in my wildest dreams . And then 2nd Live was a tour. In my mind, I was thinking “Is this really going to be alright?”.

You have to really take care of your health, and because it’s a tour, you have to treat every venue with care and importance, while also making sure every performance is better than the last. And because we all overcame that together, and made each and every performance of the HAPPY PARTY TRAIN TOUR a unique one, I realized that my outlook had started to change.

—Thank you all for your stories. Now, the focal point of your 5th Anniversary Project is the series’ first Dome Tour, isn’t it?

F: It’s our first nine-person concert since Love Live!’s 9th anniversary’s first full-member Fes in January. Just like how the lyrics of “Fantastic Departure!” and “Aqours Pirates Desire” are, I want to bring out an even stronger Aqours.

I’ve always felt a sort of desperation, but for this tour, I feel a sort of calm from being more in sync with Kurosawa Ruby. I hope this can be a concert where we can show off what’s in store for Aqours.

T: The Dome Tour will probably have a lot of songs that we’ve never performed before. I’m excited to see the setlist, and I want to find all my favorite points in the staging, choreography, and costumes. I’m really looking forward to it!

K: When I look back, when we made it to Tokyo Dome for 4th Live, we sort of “burnt out” in a way... While we felt the relief of having reached our goal, it was also a day where we decided that we would keep on giving it our all. So this dome tour performance really feels like a dream. 

Up until now, for our tours, we always just made small changes to the setlist, but this time, I’ve been thinking, “What if every performance had a different setlist?” I feel like the current Aqours could pull something like that off, so I hope everyone can have fun with both our new songs and some of the songs that are important to us, in true Aqours fashion.

What are the charm points of each of the first years?

Kobayashi Aika -> Takatsuki Kanako

It’s amazing how she can brighten up everything around her so naturally. Her smile is contagious. Her charm point is her sleeping face; it’s really cute! It’s my favorite part about her. (laughs) The two of them (Takatsuki-san and Furihata-san) have this in common, but she pays close attention to her surroundings and says the right things. Her actions give off this air of maturity, and I love how she’ll always mess around together with me. (laughs)

Kobayashi Aika -> Furihata Ai

The fact that she’s created her very own genre. Her existence itself is a charm point. (laughs) The small things she says are amusing, and she has a lot of parts that are so cute that you just want to imitate her. The three of us are really close, and we have a lot of matching things. We have matching sweatshirts, and sometimes we wear things that we find together at a sale, but pick in different colors.

Takatsuki Kanako -> Kobayashi Aika

I love that Aikyan (Kobayashi-san) is so amusing, and she brightens up the dressing room. When I first met her, she seemed really mature and stylish, and her long black hair was really beautiful; she seemed like the picture perfect city girl. But we’re the same age, and as I spent more time with her, she opened up. Recently, it feels like we’re partners-in-crime. It’s amazing how she’s more devout than anyone for Yohane, too.

Takatsuki Kanako -> Furihata Ai

Furi-san (Furihata-san) is an airhead, but in a good way. (laughs) The things she says are funny, and I like how she’s always the butt of the joke. My first impression of her was that she really had things together, and since she's the eldest of three siblings, I thought she would be like a big sister. But she unexpectedly has some weird sides to her. (laughs) But she’s also my partner-in-crime.

Furihata Ai -> Kobayashi Aika

Kobayashi Aika-chan is our trendy fashion leader, and she’s really knowledgeable. I’m a tech boomer, so she’s the first person I turn to for help with games and social media. Also, she takes really good care of her image. She’s really good at singing and dancing, and it’s amazing just how multi-faceted she is.

Furihata Ai -> Takatsuki Kanako

Takatsuki Kanako-chan’s unique personality and vocabulary are really charming. She latches onto things that most people will let slide, so you can’t just deal with her like your average person. She works really hard at being a good singer, but she never shows that. I think she taught me how to be serious with my work. 

Kobayashi Aika’s Q&A!

Q1: Tell us what you really love about Tsushima Yoshiko-chan!

(sounding troubled) I love everything about Yohane...

I love how she’s honest about the things she loves. After meeting Aqours, she’s been able to be more open about the things she loves. She’s grown to be able to share that love with so many different people. I’m glad that she met Aqours.

Q2: What’s something you want to have or want to do?

I’ve always wanted to go to England, which is Yohane’s “World Image Girl” country. They have a “Magic Museum”, where they have a lot of pots and things that real witches used on display, so I want to go see that. I think Yohane would like it, too.

Q3: Have you read any interesting books or played any interesting games recently?

Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I even play in my dreams, and in one of my dreams I built a bridge. (laughs)

Q4: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A singer and a nursery school teacher. I’ve loved singing and dancing since I was a kid. And I love taking care of little children, so I’ve always admired nursery school teachers. I went to school and got my nursery school teacher’s license. Hopefully, my second dream will come true some day.

Q5: What do you do on your days off?

Usually I stay at home. I’m either sleeping or playing games. I play so much that it’s the only thing I think about. Like, “When I go home today, I need to do X in ACNH.” (laughs)

Takatsuki Kanako’s Q&A!

Q1: Tell us what you really love about Kunikida Hanamaru-chan!

How cute she is! (laughs) I fell in love with her from the moment I met her. She’s a shy bookworm, but she’s also super curious. And as the story progresses, she begins to feel more real. In season 2, she started becoming a gag character, but I love watching Hanamaru eat, so I was happy to see so much of it.

Q2: What’s something you want to have or want to do? 

I’m not actually a very materialistic person. So for now, I just want some inner peace. I hope the whole world can be enveloped in happiness soon.

Q3: Have you read any interesting books or played any interesting games recently? 

It’s actually a movie. I recently bought a projector, and I’m enjoying using it to watch movies or dramas. Ninagawa Mika’s “Followers” is really interesting.

Q4: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

A singer. I started wanting to become one around 4th grade, when we sang for our class recital. I didn’t have a particular genre I wanted to sing, so I just vaguely wanted to become a star.

Q5: What do you do on your days off? 

I’m an indoor-type, so I just play games or watch TV. Also, I like going on trips, so it’s a little tough right now, but I want to go to Hawaii one day.

Furihata Ai’s Q&A!

Q1: Tell us what you really love about Kurosawa Ruby-chan!

She seemed like a little sister-type from the moment I saw her, so on the flipside, how she’s very strong-willed. She might seem a little timid, but mentally, I think she’s just like her big sister (Kurosawa Dia). I love how much she loves her big sister, too. And like with school idols, I think it’s wonderful how dedicated she is to the things that she loves.

Q2: What’s something you want to have or want to do? 

To spend time with all the people who support me. When I take questions on Instagram, I get a lot of messages from overseas fans, too. And of course, there are plenty of fans from Japan, too. I just want to see them soon.

Q3: Have you read any interesting books or played any interesting games recently? 

Grand Maison Tokyo. I got hooked on the drama, so I read the novel, too. The scenes and food appear vividly in my mind, so it was an easy read.

Q4: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

I loved drawing, so I wanted to be a mangaka, artist, or something to do with art. But I thought that doing something I like for work might make it tough, so I started wanting to become an anime seiyuu.

Q5: What do you do on your days off? 

My little sister, little brother, and I all live together, but usually I’m with my sister. I’m also the kind of person who likes to go out in the rain, so I go out and end up buying something I don’t really need, and my sister usually gets mad at me. (laughs) I collect vinyl records as a hobby, so I end up buying jackets for them.

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