#I'd be curious to know which ending you guys would be more interested in
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83 and 84 ukus!
83. Intimate Artistry
84. Married to the Job
ngl I am always still puzzled about what "intimate artistry" is because like.... that could literally mean almost anything. A long time ago, Iris sent me that one and that's how I got to the scene where the Thief of Spades ties Inspector Kirkland to a chair and paints on him XD
But this time around, I think I'd have Arthur as this phenomenal sculptor. His sculptures seem more real than people and the truth is they are that way because to him they are more real than people. More beautiful and more important. His clients' money is all that matters to him as far as other people are concered and he spends weeks upon months locked away in his studio.
As a boy, he wished for this skill--a deal with a faerie with a devlish bent--a wish for all of his skills, passion, talent, motivation, and joy to be directed only toward sculpting and that is what he was granted. He is a misanthrope of the highest order. He leaves the house only to visit the shrines of the fae, but all business is conducted via letter and photographs; food and supplies are delivered and completed projects are shipped away via service.
One day, having not ordered it and receiving no commission to work on it, a block of the purest white marble is delivered to Arthur's shop. He can surely recognize a gift when it one appears, but with no instructions, he is nearly driven mad by this beautiful specimen. What should he make out of such a thing? What could he possibly think beautiful enough to match its perfection?
He spends days simply staring at it, smoothing his hands over it, threatening it with a chisel. Stubborn thing. The faeries surely sent it to him for the express purpose of driving him mad. He suddenly wishes he had someone to complain about it to.
Out of spite, out of pure defiance, Arthur finally puts his chisel to the stone. Once he starts, he cannot stop. For one year, he hardly sleeps or eats. Work outward from that first impulse of longing simply for a sympathetic ear, Arthur reveals a stunning young man from the marble.
A young man with strong limbs, good shoulders, fine, boyish features, and the smallest softness on his tummy, with a smile Arthur has never seen on anyone, anywhere. A silly grin that his hands recalled from dreams his mind tries to forget.
Yet now he is tortured again. The realness of his statue is not real enough. It doesn't stop Arthur from embracing his love, caressing every cold line of him, every smooth expanse of hard, unfeeling marble. Arthur kisses the statue's lips, wants to hear them say his name.
When the time of Imbolc arrives, Arthur forces himself out of the house to visit the shrines and make his offerings, trying to carry no hope with him.
And then I have two ideas for how this would go:
-Arthur pays his respects to the shines, returns home, just like in the myth (although it was the feast of Aphrodite), and there's Alfred all nice and alive and human and then Arthur spends about as much time fucking him as he did carving him
OR
-at one of the shrines, Arthur meets a faerie who looks just like his statue: Alfred, who saw the original bargain and didn't think it was fair and has loved Arthur all that time and this is how he could get Arthur to love him too and yes it's very manipulative but that's how faeries are and then Arthur spends about as much time fucking Alfred as he did carving the statue.
Anyway. some people who have possibly been following me since before I was alifeasvivid will know that I am fucking obsessed with the myth of Pygmalion so >.>
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Replying to a comment on this ask reply about evil in the North in LOTR (but it was too long to actually put in a comment ,)
@warrioreowynofrohan I'm so glad evil is in the north in The Silmarillion!! I have also been promised that the story of the creation of the world is also in there, since Frodo fell asleep during Tom Bombadil’s early medieval cosmology lesson. I really, really want to know what happens in Elf Creation, because Tolkien did not write a book about it academically but CLEARLY had at least a few opinions about early medieval ideas of where the world came from, which he possibly just put in Middle Earth, if he had them fleshed out enough. This makes me nuts bc CS Lewis, meanwhile, wrote a whole-ass book called The Discarded Image about his idea* of the medieval vision of the cosmos (like where is outer space, where are the planets, where’s heaven, etc, including How It All Got Made) and also per the word of a thesis supervisor back in the day who was super into this stuff, worked symbolism of the planets in the medieval cosmos into one of his fictional works.
*bc the rest is under cut: if you want a more accurate read for medieval and Renaissance cosmology, the textbook is Planets, Stars, and Orbs by Edward Grant. I would not recommend TDI for historical accuracy
Lewis brushes over early medieval ideas only briefly (early medieval anything is actually not usually included in medieval academia on a theme; it’s sort of a weird zone from ca. 600-1100 AD, and Grant doesn't cover it either). But while the book is interesting on some points, it's pretty misleading, and CS Lewis's one solid error was presenting all of medieval cosmology as a Single Idea, which it also very much was not. People did not magically stop arguing about how the world got made and what it looked like for one thousand years, and modern scholarship has looked at that. But he was reading all the same texts as Tolkien, and this weird oversight that has bothered me for years, and for YEARS i have been wondering if Tolkien thought something else. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t! WHY did he put the seven stars (the five visible planets plus the sun and moon) on Aragorn’s sword PLUS the sun and moon, throwing off the count entirely?? Maybe he did not actually give a shit). I look forward to finding out, and probably suffering for it.
RE: Gollum! Your actual question! Honestly at the moment (aka at the end of Fellowship), Gollum seems like such a thoroughly Grendel figure that I almost get worried I’m being lured into a 1:1 comparison, when Tolkien seems to enjoy making a bunch of different references within each character. Strider is King Arthur, Strider is that guy in that saga nicknamed Strider, Strider is another guy with a sword situation in another saga(??) (I have not read enough Norse sagas). Gollum, though, is associated with the underground and with water; he has his dark low pool; Grendel lives in a low dark pool (with his mum). Even being cast out by a matriarch maaaaybe suggests something of Grendel’s Mother, who is just as much a main character, or perhaps more so; she’s the final boss of the Grendel bit of Beowulf, after all. So in conclusion: yeah I see your point! I'd be curious to figure out what else is being folded in. However, assuming the Grendel similarities are on purpose, congrats to Tolkien for the only good Beowulf adaptation ever.
#astro lotr#i was trying to find the passage i was referencing in cs lewis but im sorry i read that in 2019 in a pizza parlor and i am late for work#always think critically of your sources especially if they are me!! etc etc
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sorry if this is a bad time to request and feel free to put this off till whenever or even delete it if you're sick of airheaded stronk s/o asks
I was wondering, could you do short headcanons about how hiei and/or kurama with a stronk/airhead s/o would react to someone random or even a minor antagonist actively being rude their s/o while they're in earshot
[for a more specfic example maybe that eyeball at the gate of betrayal calls their attempted sacrifice foolish or the pretty boy purple guy from the dark tournment says smth like "it's a shame such a pretty face is wasted on such a brainless oaf" which has the added bonus(?) of sounding underhandedly flirtatious.]
again no pressure to write this quickly or at all. i just figured i'd throw it in your ask box incase it interested you at all.
Also entirley seperate question but would you be willing to cover roroanora zoro in your stronk/airhead s/o series?
BONUS AIRHEADED S/O DRABBLES: How they react to someone insulting their S/O
An: Of course I don't mind! Never be afraid to request things, it just might take me a little bit to get to them but really I enjoy doing them!
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Kurama:
More than likely it would be a comment from Yomi or Kaito that would make him lose his cool. For this instance though, we'll go with the latter.
🦊🦊🦊🦊
It was a little after Botan got her soul stolen that Kaito decided to run his mouth. You having been kidnapped with Yusuke because where one went, the other followed. Much to Kurama's dismay.
"You've got me curious, playing house with a human I'd figure would be so far below you. Do you find them amusing? Maybe think of them as some sort of plaything? A way to keep yourself entertained?"
The taunt was an attempt to make the fox demon slip up. And it seemed to be working judging by his glare and increase in spirit energy.
"Did I strike a nerve? Don't tell me the great Yoko Kurama is actually infatuated with a human. And not a very bright one at that." There was a smirk on his face that only grew seeing Kurama manipulate the plants around him. Knowing he couldn't physically hurt him at the moment.
"You should have seen them. Getting all worked up over Urameshi being immobilized, only to fall for the exact same trap. It was almost too easy. Even when being told moving was useless, they still struggled. Yelling out curses and promises to...what was it? Oh yes, 'kick out asses' I believe. I never would have pegged you as the type to go after a stupid brute."
His cackling was soon disrupted by the sound of Kurama's voice. Speaking up at last with a tone so cruel, it temporarily frightened Kaito.
"You should hope I don't find a loophole around your no violence rule. Because if I do, you'll regret every last word." Eyes glowing an eerie golden.
When he finally bested the snarky human, he half thought to just crush his soul. No only because he put his friends in harm's way, but he also insulted you.
Insulted his relationship with you.
Buuuut, Kurama wasn't exactly allowed to end a human's life. And he refused to stoop that low anyways.
No, he'd just leave Kaito the way he was and focus instead on getting you and Yusuke back safely.
Overall he's petty about it, but not angry enough to lash out. He'll let it go for now....But if it happens again all bets are off.
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Hiei:
For Hiei it is most definitely Shishi that gets to him. I feel like maze castle is a little too early for him to get mad at someone making fun of you. Maybe a comment of 'A foolish sacrifice and yet you're the one who's dead'. But if it's during the dark tournament on the other hand 👀👀👀
⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️
Kuwabara had just gotten teleported to who knows where. Leaving you, Hiei, and Kurama left to fight. It was just your luck that the die landed on your name. The other once again on Shishi's.
"Oh great, another bumbling idiot. At least this one is easier on the eyes." The demon commented as you made your way onto the arena.
Already Hiei could feel his blood start to boil. Disliking the way Shishi seemed to look you up and down.
"Perhaps defeating you will boost my popularity. Just don't die so quickly. I want to be able to entertain my fans."
You were already getting tired of this guy yapping. And it didn't help that he made your best friend vanish into thin air.
"I wouldn't be so sure about you beating me."
But at your comment, he only grew angry and snapped.
"Are you delusional or just that stupid? You think I would let a mere human beat me? Especially one as klutzy as you."
You were not a fighter to be underestimated. Hiei knew that firsthand. Yet you continued to let that cretin berate you as you fought.
For some reason that made him furious. Wanting to both put him in his place and let you teach that bastard a lesson. He took a step forward. Already deciding that if you did indeed lose this fight, he'd be the one to beat that egotistical demon.
A firm grip on his wrist stopped him from taking another step forward.
"Refrain from doing anything foolish. I know you care for them, but you'd only be damaging their pride more by stepping in." Kurama scolded.
The words temporarily snapping Hiei out of his protective thoughts.
"Tch, I don't care for them."
Hiei is absolutely ready to throw hands on your behalf. Yes you're foolish, but you're his foolish human. The only one allowed to insult you is him.
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MASTERLIST
#hiei x reader#kurama x reader#yu yu hakusho x reader#stupid s/o#stronk s/o#x reader#yu yu hakusho#yoko kurama#shuichi minamino#hiei jaganshi
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{Unwanted Soul} What Next?
Go to MASTERLIST for {Unwanted Souls}, if you have no idea about it. This post is mainly for those who read this series.
Okay guys. There's like 5 parts that's up now and a lot, and I mean A LOT of trivia for {Unwanted Soul}. There's increasing request and ask on Reader/you meeting other characters outside of the hotel.
At first I answered it with "you're not gonna leave the hotel so you won't meet them" type of answer, but with the relationship established (you and Alastor) and you guys not wanting it to end. I want you guys to pick a general plotline that will change my writing plans for this.
(1) You stay in the hotel and do background work. There's not much to this, but it's something like mastermind work. Idk... It'll be very heavy on flashbacks to your living life and some more bonding with Alastor, then the rest of the hotel crew. More random moments and heavily reliant on your suggestions
(2) You slowly make your appearance in the open. There's a high chance of you interacting with other characters outside of the hotel. For this path, I got like 2 OCs that you will 100% meet because they have been mentioned in the recent parts and trivia asks. Someone you'll definitely interact with is Vox.
Basically, the difference between these 2 (for me) is how the 2 OCs would appear but I don't want to spoil things. I tried mixing the two, but it's very very different after thinking it through
Also, if you're okay with it. I'd love to know what you like about {Unwanted Soul} that made you guys interested. Please comment (if you're okay with revealing your account) or send me in the inbox (if you're shy and wanna be anonymous).
I'm really curious and wanna know~ Thanks!
Another thing, I've love to ask for artists' help on designing the 2 OCs (one female-friend and male-former lover). Privately DM if you're interested in both or either one, though I'd like to see any reference if you have! (It's okay if there's no one, but I'll just design one like Reader's)
#Circe's Nighty Writings#alastor imagine#alastor x reader#alastor x y/n#alastor x you#hazbin hotel#hazbin hotel alastor#alastor headcanons#hazbin hotel fanfiction#alastor#hazbin hotel oneshots#yandere alastor#yandere alastor x reader#yandere hazbin hotel#alastor fanfiction#hazbin hotel imagines#Unwanted Soul
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I'm curious if you have any thoughts on what Ben Paul would look like if he was alive years after S1 of TWDG :> I honestly prefer to imagine both him & Kenny going off on their own adventures after S1, because Idk if I'd've had Kenny as part of S2, it felt like when he returned it became less Clem's story & more his. That might be controversial among fans but it's how I feel :s I like to imagine Ben, Kenny & Sarita forming their own little family in fact <3
I'd expect Ben would end up with shaggier hair after a while but I wouldn't mind knowing what he'd look like with short, spiked up hair ;>
IM SORRY BOTH THE ASK AND DRAWING ARE OLD- but I came across the sketch I had eugeugeh. I do not have many headcanons but behind the cut is just a rant about. Kenny mostly. Too much should I warn? But yah I'm sorry it took me like 5 months lol
The only headcanon (regarding Ben's appearance) is that he'd keep his school jacket for as long as possible. Until it thorns apart. Or until he dies.
I'm big fan of Ben lives possibility btw I've gotta draw sum about that sometime (I say, about every twdg character i like,)
And dude, do I agree about Kenny. Man doesn't belong in season 2. The character they made him to be in the second season is not Kenny, it's just a nostalgia element. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, I'm biased as hell, I break that hug choice every time. But it made the character development in the first season just.... pointless. "For some reason, I saved that piece of shit Ben", man, that quote just disappoints me. Kenny lost everything. Father and husband of none no more, which was pretty much the arc of Kenny on the first season?? I think? . Everything he loved and he had he lost, and he killed the person responsible for it. But not as revenge, he killed a kid out of mercy. He saved the boy from suffering a painful death, and that was forgiveness, to the reason he hadn't any. He took a decision he would be fully responsible of, when it was time for him to go. And he was perfect.
Hell, if he had appeared during season 2, I do prefer the Kenny as Carver idea. Clementine wasn't even that close to Kenny in the past, the player was, so even then it feels... off, off to be forced to care about a man that says so much he wants to protect you. (They're not really family, but is as if Kenny tries to protect and have Clem on his side, to have Clem's loyalty through and through. Though he does let her go and is proud of her on her individuality... hm.) But still, I mean, second season Kenny is not first season Kenny, and it isn't even a change that made sense. If he had been antagonist (which pretty much feels like it in the Canon story already), he should have had some other background story, no Sarita or company. Maybe then the cynical view he has would have mattered. The violence and anger and whatever else. For him to change that way was a consequence of him losing what he represented, protection of family? Wasn't failure and grief and acceptance meant to be important after all?
But otherwise yea I think it would've been pretty cool if Ben survived :3 I am a sucker for tales of redemption, forgiveness, and found family. And I hadn't thought about Kenny, Ben, and Sarita, but hell yeah. Man, even if they appeared in the second season, it would've been interesting if the choice wasn't between two individuals, but between two families. Ben already had a relationship with Clem! He appreciated her and calls her his only friend during season 1, he did leave her behind during that scene, -but the point of Ben was that- He was a coward all the season, until when he wasn't. He wanted to help Lee help Clem. They would've had an interesting sibling relationship-? also Ben had a young sister before the apocalypse so ooooh projection and parallels and shi. And if Ben had lived, he would've completed his development to something close to bravery-?
Well, I don't know, at least I think that'd be one interesting way to bring back old characters. Otherwise, Kenny should only be mentioned on dialogue maximum. The way I see it.
(I repeat the same thing over and over when I talk about something I'm sorry
(I've developed no language skills whatsoever in my life
(Yippee
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Love ur au!!! You have so many interesting thoughts I just adore reading everything you’ve posted!
You’ve already established that Alastor would have exactly zero interest in any sort of bond with his dearly detested sperm donor but I was curious as to what you thought on whether Lucifer would want a relationship with Alastor? How would he approach that?
Hey, much appreciated! Honestly, with the first post I expected it to be a weird niche AU no one besides me would enjoy. I'm really glad you and others are enjoying it and I'm enjoying you guys' questions!
I do think Lucifer would want to try forming a relationship with his long lost son (that feels so weird to type, imagine how weird it would be for Lucifer to say the phrase aloud, lol). From what we've seen of him, he seems like a loving and sweet man who adores his family, even if he's not always the best at expressing that love. I think if he found out he had a kid out there, no matter who that kid was, he'd want to form some kind of relationship with them. Of course, Alastor being Alastor complicates things quite a bit.
They didn't exactly make a great first impression on one another, on top of which Lucifer harbors a lot of guilt for leaving Nicaise to raise a child alone, and Alastor to grow up without a father. Especially when he learns what happened to Nicaise later. Lucifer thinks it's his fault Alastor is the way he is, which... kinda sorta fair? Alastor definitely had an unstable childhood which certainly played a part in Alastor growing to become an unstable adult. That being said, ultimately there were a lot of outside factors contributing to that instability, and at the end of the day, Alastor's choices were his own.
I go with the 'Dexter-like moral code' interpretation of Alastor's murder targets. But I also think there was a fair amount of disproportionate retribution. A man who beats his wife definitely deserves to get beat back and then divorced, but not butchered like an animal. Granted, the culture being what it was at the time, it's doubtful Alastor's targets would have faced any other kind of retribution than what he gave them.
All this to say that Alastor feels perfectly justified in the horrible things he's done, and Lucifer blames himself for Alastor becoming this warped, vengeful person.
Lucifer's attempts to get close to Alastor are horribly, painfully awkward. Remember how he answered Charlie's phone call with, "Heeeeeeeey, bitch!"
Yeah.
He tries, he really does, but a lot of the times Alastor just shuts him down before he can even open his mouth. So he tries going to Charlie for help.
"Ooooof, see, here's the thing, dad... I want to help, I really do! But I'm trying to do this thing where I'm more respectful of other people's boundaries. I mean, I'd love to see you and Alastor getting along! But if he doesn't want to talk with you, I'm not going to force it? As long as you guys aren't fighting? I'm sorry."
And that's as far as Lucifer gets with Charlie. So he tries talking to Niffty and Husk, the two people in the hotel who know Alastor best. Niffty is... sweet, but not entirely helpful. Husk gives what advice he can, but he's got his own chip on his shoulder regarding Alastor, understandably.
"Look, Alastor's a mean son of a bitch who lives to make my life more of a hell than it already is. He's fucked in the head. Always has been. You might as well cut your losses."
That's disheartening to say the least.
I do want there to be a happy-ish end where reconciliation happens. But it would take a loooooooot of time and patience on Lucifer's part. Especially with Alastor making an active effort not to get close with anyone at the hotel.
#ask#anonymous#Hazbin Hotel#the Devil's Bastard AU#Lucifer Morningstar#Alastor#Charlie Morningstar#Husk (Hazbin Hotel)#wanted to say this up there but wasn't sure where to fit it in#Lucifer might try forming a bond by talking about Nicaise but that only serves to enrage Alastor#''Keep my mother's name OUT of your mouth''
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I Watched The First Two Episodes of Hazbin Hotel
Overall I wasn't bored. It's a fun show from the little I've seen. I have thoughts and notes I'd like to give so here's how this is gonna go:
🔵 Is for things I liked/would like to be expanded upon in the show's future.
🔴 Is for things I disliked ranging from nitpicks and just general critisisms.
Whenever something about Angel Dust's trauma I will come up, I'll mark "————" at the beginning & ending so you can avoid the topic if you'd like.
So let's dive right in!<3
🔴 I am so confused. This is narrarated by Charlie. And her goal is to redeem sinners so they can enter Heaven to save their lives. But she also knows that Heaven doesn't kill sinners to stop over-population, it's just plain evil. So, what are we doing here again?
🔴 This is the first time her relationship with her father is mentioned in the show. And it's done though a joke made by Alastor in a commercial he made. (Also, how would he know about Charlie's "daddy issues"? This isn't common knowledge as far as I know).
————
🔴 WHAT THE FUCK? I'M SORRY. WHAT THE FUCK? I hate being this negative in the beginning but WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK. I don't want to discuss this line any more than the shock I felt while hearing it. Next.
————
🔴 Everyone already talked about how the camera work is crap and I agree. But here's an idea: If they wanted to make something grandiose, why not make a classic musical number that's completely unrealistic, and then make the reality of Hell clash with it?
🔴 This scene could be cut off mostly entirely. The point here is to show how awful Adam is, and the second the talking's over, we get a better song that does just that.
🔵 At first I was gonna make this a critisism, but all it did was making me ask questions, which is good in a first episode. This has me wondering about the characterization of Heaven and how it came to be. I can accept them being a shitty bureaucracy who only appear good, but this is some Saturday Morning Cartoon villian stuff. I'm very curious about this.
🔵 Niffty couldn't say her lines and just stared at the camera and was completely unaware of the fact that she did a shitty job. How come? I wonder what they'll do with it.
🔴 This is edited. The scene didn't go like this. We cut from the hotel to the Vees before we see Alastor's counter-attack. They cut to a really long section of the episode, in the middle of something that could be dealt with in a second. I wasn't as invested as I could have been in the introduction of the Vees, because I kept waiting to come back to Alastor.
🔵 I'd like to know why Charlie is so naive. Optimistic? Yeah, makes sense. But naive? Now that's interesting to know. She clearly goes outside and sees how sinners aren't the safest people (ie Happy Day in Hell), so you think that spending eternity with them would get her acquainted with the culture and make her adjust her behaviors. But she's still looking at the guy who just tried to kill her and goes "Oh, hello again". I'm dying to know why she's like that.
————
🔵 I see where this is going<3 Despite it all, Angel Dust clearly still loves acting. So when he'll escape Val, he'll show his theatrical side by improvising and acting for Charlie<3
🔵 Despite Angel Dust not adoring the hotel, it's very much a safe place for him. A safe the Vees, from Valentino. Now, someone who worked for them just a second before getting discovered, is in. Can't wait to see more of this.
————
🔵 I liked the rivalry of Alastor and Vox. I liked how Vox is this perfect big shot, yet crumbles about Alastor when he's barely trying. Definitely a highlight.
To Summarize...
🔴 6 negatives 🔵 6 positives
I enjoyed myself a fair bit. Most of the negatives are either nitpicks or won't matter in five eps. It had some flaws but it's a start.
#AAAAA#hazbin is out!!#hazbin hotel critical#anti hazbin hotel#really just tagging because the stans scare me lmao#not an anti#hazbin hotel critique#hazbin hotel criticism#anti vivziepop#vivziepop critical#vivziepop criticism#vivziepop critique#spindlehorse critical#spindlehorse criticism#spindlehorse toons critical#anti spindlehorse#spindlehorse critique
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hello! I just wanted to know your thoughts on orcas living in accredited facilities. are they thriving, or are they too smart to be 'locked up' as ARAs say? I've been debating myself on this for a while, and I wanted to ask someone ^^^
Are captive killer whales doomed and depressed? Was it right to end the breeding program?
Hi there! Thank you for being curious and asking these questions!
I can tell you that current welfare data of killer whales in accredited facilities does suggest positive welfare eg. demonstrating optimistic welfare states and demonstrating healthy social and reconciliation behaviours in Loro Parque orcas. (source) (source)
Unfortunately we just don't have a whole lot of welfare data for killer whales the same way we do for bottlenose dolphins. But that's sort of a generalised answer.
I want to address your questions specifically though.
Are orcas "too smart" for being in human care?
I'd say that the intelligence or the supposed hyper intelligence of cetaceans has been overblown and has been the source of contention since John Lilley came on the scene in the 60's making wild claims about hyper intelligent dolphins that speak their own language that still persist to this day (never mind the guy killed dolphins in his experimental brain scans and gave them LSD... the 60's were wild).
The people claiming orcas are too intelligent are people like Dr. Lori Marino - a neuroscientist who makes unsubstantiated claims about cetacean intelligence and draws conclusions about intelligence and cognition from brain scans. Can brain structure give you some data to make educated guesses on intelligence? Sure. But you can't then draw conclusions about welfare about animals you've never examined or done a welfare assessment of.
None of the people making these claims have done objective welfare assessments with access to health and veterinary records.
Lori, as well as other lobbyists like Naomi Rose and Ingrid Visser, have been called out by the scientific community more than once on publishing papers that make unsubstantiated claims about welfare.
My colleagues published this paper refuted their claims that orcas were being "damaged" by captivity (using human comparisons of prisoner of war camps despite human and killer whale brains being separated by millions of years of evolution) . But the media had already picked up the catchy, shocking paper that got published by a journal with no cetacean experience ( the Journal of Veterinary Behavior who also refused to retract the paper despite letters from cetacean welfare scientists)
There is unfortunately a huge problem of lobbyists who are lobbying governments to change laws on cetacean welfare who are using science to skew data for their personal beliefs. And they are absolutely shameless and will block any other scientists that try to refute them.
If anything, intelligence creates adaptability. There's a reason we have bottlenose dolphins in human care around the world but not harbor porpoises. Bottlenose dolphins are socially intelligent and more easily adapt to new environments and bond with human care takers. Orcas are similar, though environmental change has been reported to upset them a lot more. They are very socially intelligent, which makes them very interested in learning and being curious and bonding with human caretakers.
If captive orcas were truly so utterly broken the way they're depicted by media and these "studies" they would not be able to learn new behaviours, they would not eat and play and socialise and they would not engage with the trainers and guests.
See a whole playlist of SeaWorld orcas in their free time - it really helps you look beyond those 10 second "sad SeaWorld orca" videos (it's usually just Keet resting because that's what he prefers to do in his spare time)
Are orcas in accredited facilities "depressed" or suffering in any way?
Now when it comes down to actual welfare of orcas in accredited facilities - based on anecdotal and scientific evidence, statements from trainers I've talked to who work with the animals every day (no they're not getting paid any more than minimum wage and speak freely), what I've witnessed through many hours of observation ect.
I can say with a fair amount of certainty that these orcas are not abused, depressed, doomed or going insane. They have a robust enrichment program, get the best vet care in the world (I'm sure @orcinus-veterinarius can attest to that), are engaged and motivated to learn regardless of satiety (though they'll have their off days of course) and they have good stable social structures that rarely see any hyper aggression (but aggression is normal in social groups too).
Could it be better?
Absolutely. If it were up to me, they would have the Blue World project done and built, bigger habitats, more novel enrichment ideas to encourage hunting behaviour that's not just Big Ball TM (they love it and it's easy but we can do better), more autonomy of habitat eg. being able to turn on water jets when they want to.
And waterwork would still be a thing trainers can do - not for shows but for the unmatched relationship building and desensitisation that it gave these animals. It actually made them safer to be in the water with (look at Kamagowa Sea World orca waterwork and how blaise they are with their whales - those whales will allow any sort of nonsense and someone falling in their pool wouldn't worry me at all)
What about the breeding ban:
I understand why they stopped breeding to appease the public but unfortunately it has introduced other welfare problems. Female orcas cannot be on Regumate - birth control - for longer than a year or it'll destroy her body very quickly. So separation of females and males occurs. And that can be really stressful - especially for matriarchs like Katina who had to be separated from Makaio.
Breeding bans are not done with the welfare in mind. They're done as a sanctimonious "save the babies" effort to "protect" them from no actual documented suffering. While denying animals the natural and very instinctive behaviours of reproduction.
It's amazing how much a calf can enrich a pod. Everyone pitches in to babysit and watch out for them, to teach them how to play and how to learn. It's really sad that the orcas of SeaWorld have been denied that now and it'll be very sad to see them die off one by one until there's only one very lonely whale left.
Anyway I hope that answers some questions. Happy to answer any more you might have.
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So many people want a "happy ending" for Young Royals but what exactly do you think that implies? I'm genuinely curious because it seems like most people think Wilhelm abdicating and ending up with Simon would be a happy ending but how is that happy? I know tumblr is big on (a very utopian version of) communism and "privilege," not to mention "freedom!!!!" and never feeling any negative emotions ever, and even bigger on vilifying parents and acting like they're barely even human but think about it realistically for a second.
They may not be the best parents (personally I don't think they're anywhere near as bad as people make them out to be, but again tumblr has a thing about parental figures) but they are still his parents. Giving up the crown would imply choosing Simon and "freedom" over his family. It would mean totally upending his entire life which can definitely turn out okay but is more nerve-wracking than happy.
Does anyone even know what Wilhem might want to do instead? What future job he'd want to choose? Where he would live? And most importantly, you do realise he'll never have a normal life, right? It's not like everyone will just lose interest when he's no longer the crown prince, if anything it'd cause a media frenzy. And people would really start hating Simon, what we got so far was nothing compared to the shit he'd be getting if Wilhem abdicated.
The point I'm getting at is that Wilhelm doesn't get a happy ending, no matter what he does. (I'd argue that, while a happy ending for Simon might be hard to achieve at this point, it doesn't look anywhere near as bleak and complicated as it does for Wilhelm.) It doesn't mean that he'll never be happy, it just means that there's no way to solve this in a way which would be fully satisfying right now. "Getting the guy" or "being free" (whatever the hell that means) does not contitute a happy ending, it's just a choice. He could make a different choice and end up with a similar result, but he needs to figure out what the hell he's doing and be emotionally stable (that means dealing with grief too) first, before making any decisions.
#young royals#young royals season 3#young royals spoilers#wilmon#yr s3 spoilers#if you cant tell im not a huge fan of tumblr lol#i block people i dont want to see for whatever reason but i know what the generally accepted mindset is
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Okay, this day was such a teen rom-com!!!🤧
After the exam, my friends and I usually discussed the assignments, but I was wildly looking for R and the philosophy teacher. (let's call him M)
obviously bc I was curious, he really is as handsome as my friend said on the phone yesterday. Bc of course I didn't really notice other teachers besides R. So after my friends went for coffee, I went to spy and literally hid behind one of the big plants from where I could spy on the corridor where the philosophy classes were held.
I tried not to be suspicious, but I don't think I even noticed myself, I was so focused on seeing that certain handsome teacher. Are there seriously any teachers here who are as hot as R? I doubt! I have to see him, you know, and you have to concentrate on that!! lol
and now come the comedy girls *movie scene*
I was trying to peek, a direct question "What are you doing?" suddenly came from behind me and I was sooooo scared that a "Jesus fuck" left my mouth.
YES, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I SAID.💀
I think everyone can guess that my extremely hot teacher R was standing behind me, (so who else obviously…) who made such a surprised face. I was completely taken aback by his voice, and I told him that you "scared me" and he looked at me in confusion and then asked:
"What are you doing behind the bush?"
I simply answered: "I'm spying" As if it was the most natural thing in the world and I could see that he was a little confused, so I decided to initiate, and then I asked him to come closer, bc I didn't want anyone else to hear us.
✨Now there were two of us standing behind the bush, which was damn unsuspicious✨ (of course STUPID)
I told him that I only wanted to see the philosophy teacher, but how could I say that in a way that wouldn't be misunderstood??????? NOT POSSIBLE.
So I could see R's face getting more and more grim as I whispered fiercely to him like an idiot teenager then he asked:
"Why are you spying on M?
I to be honest with him, so I told him that a couple of my friends think M looks good and I just want to make sure.
Actually, I knew very well that there was nothing to react to this, so when R just stared at me in amazement, I told him to forget it was such a girly thing. Then our awkward situation was finally interrupted by the end of class and the students were just coming out of the room, and I remember very well that when I wanted to hide behind the bush, R grabbed my shoulder and specifically pushed me away from the bush while saying softly:
"Haven't you seen spy movies? No one hides so conspicuously"
At that point I had to laugh, and I'm still laughing now as I write this to you girls, bc yes, it was so funny, even though He wasn't laughing at all, in fact, he was very serious. But ahh he grabbed my shoulder (awwww)
Then M finally came out and guys I have to say, this man is really good looking. Of course, R will always be my first, I just thought I'd give my opinion. So, after quickly analyzing the man, I turned back to R, who I think I shocked with my scene, but before I could open my mouth, he was faster and said:
"I don't think I want to know but I'll ask anyway. So what do you think he looks like?"
I never thought that I would talk to another teacher with him as if we were best friends, but looking back now, it's even funnier than it was then. He seemed to be interested in my opinion, so I told him that the girls were right, and upon closer inspection, M really looks good.
I thought he would think me was childish bc of the whole situation, bc when I was hiding behind the bush, he cut his head like that. But now it's like he's making the same face, only with different emotions, which I don't know what it was, but it's definitely different.
Then he folded his arms in front of him again and then I noticed my bracelet on him and oh my goodness I was so happy for him that I had to grin at him. YES, THAT'S MY BRACELET! WEAR MY BRACELET!🎉
I jumped for joy inside, but then he spoke:
"But he's not too old?"
My mind was completely elsewhere, so at first I didn't understand who was old, but then YES *good morning* I realized that M was still the topic, bc I was the only one who wandered off for a few seconds.
So I quickly snapped: "like you?"
It was sooo funny to see that R coming after me in the hallway telling me not to say he looks 50 years old.
he immediately started explaining to me that He is not old at all and that M is about 45+ years old etc etc. 😭😭😭
So that was the point of the day and obviously not that I survived my exam anyway. Bahahhhaha 🙈
#tc community#tc crush#teacher crush#teacher crush community#tcc tumblr#my tc#tc love#male tc#tcc#teacher love#age g4p#girlblogging#just girly posts#story time#male teacher#teacher x student#my teacher#tc diary#my diary#dear diary#digital diary
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Hello!
I finally decided to write my thoughts about the game down! So here is my own "little" review, which is in fact quite long, and segmented in three parts, beginning with a general review, then my personal opinions on the LIs, and finally some more specific likes and dislikes.
Thanks in advance for reading 😘️
General Opinion
First off, the interface is refreshing, and I appreciate all the efforts put into it, although I admit it can be quite heavy, and therefore buggy (even without anything else running, on a good laptop). For this reason I'd like being able to disable some features (the animation of the transition between pages, for example, gives me a lot of troubles).
I like that Candy can have a more defined personality, and I also like how we can better understand the intention behind the answers now. No more "what? but that was not what I meant by choosing this"!
For the new AP and gems system… I am still wary of it for now, and will see later if it is really as manageable as it seems. I also like sending hearts to other players, so even if they don't end up useful I'm still happy to have them
I personally like the idle mini-games, and am quite curious about how the other game will be. I also think the calendar is a nice touch.
And lastly, the jokers seem nice and promising, though I would have preferred having a stock-limit instead of them being temporary.
Story-wise, I like that things are going rather quickly for the beginning, and I trust they'll know when to slow things down later.
I saw a few reviews saying these two first episodes felt punitive, and let me tell you… Yes. Amanda disliking me right of the bat on my first play was unexpected. So was Roy. And Devon. But I think it is kind of the point of starting a new game, we don't know their personalities yet, so it's quite normal to screw up when not using guides. But yeah, it was frustrating and Devenmentiel broke my heart.
The Love Interests
Jason is my favorite so far. Why you may ask? … I find him funny. The man is just having fun being an annoying bitch, and I absolutely love that for him! He also was one I had a quite good Lo'M with at my first play without even trying (rip Roy and Devon who did not appreciate), and it felt quite nice since things did not go so well with most of the other characters. And of course being the antagonist has its own ring, and in my taste the white streaks of hair too.
Amanda comes in the second place with Thomas. Even though my first play did not go well with her, I managed better on my second, and I quite like the relaxed Amanda.
For Thomas, he is the one I had the easiest time with on my first play, everything went smoothly and I found him pretty nice and relatable, though I do not plan on following his route.
Devon is the one I am the most neutral about I think, I don't particularly like or dislike him yet, though his route does intrigue me in a "Ah shit, here we go again" kind of way.
… Now, listen. I do not dislike Roy. He honestly seems like a great dolphin-loving guy who likes to be half-naked a lot and decided to dislike me when I was trying hard for him not to! He is just not my type. This is nothing personal, I swear!
Joke aside, Roy is the one I like the least for now. And honestly, it is a shame, because I totally see why other people appreciate him. But the warningless half-nakedness happening twice summed to his for now unexplained short-patience with Jason really did not woo me, quite the opposite in fact.
Other things I like:
I find Candy's customization quite good! Whether it is for the illustrations, where you can choose between different skin colors, or for our profiles. Candy can also have disability aids (though no mobility aids yet) and a panel of skin features for really cheap, and you can not know how happy it makes me! There also are so much outfits from the beginning, and though many of them have to be paid with real money, Beemoov needs to be profitable, so I think it's rather fair (and hopefully, we'll be able to get those outfits through mini-games).
The music and the animation. I said it before and I'll say it again, I absolutely adored the theme switch when Jason appeared, and I also liked the creativity in the animation very much too. I can not wait for other such things to happen again.
Things I find too bad:
So far there has only been one character that is not thin (two if you count Danica who will show up later), and I regret that all of the men Love Interests are so fit. I can not tell you how down bad I would have been for a fat Devon or Roy (I get that Roy is the athletic type here, but you can be incredibly strong and not be skinny).
Amanda being rich was really emphasized, too much for my taste, on my first play it made me feel like being rich was her main personality trait, which made me uncomfortable. I would have preferred a more subtle way to express it (show don't tell amiright?).
I would have loved to see more not-conventionally-thought-as-attractive features in the LIs, like visible disabilities for example, or different noses, or scars, the kind of things that make the characters feel more real.
What I hope for later:
For the characters of color to be written like ones, with at least their cultures included in some aspects of the game. I understand Beemoov's wish to keep the game lighthearted, so I'd personally understand if they choose not to show racism in the game, but I would also hate that to be an excuse for ignoring the characters' cultures when addressing them would actually be relevant. Here is a better post about the matter.
More non-skinny characters.
Hopefully some in-game disability representation.
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🔥 curious about what the train hot takes are
I just realized I'm a bad person to ask about hot takes because I don't spend enough time talking to other members of most communities to know what is and isn't controversial, so this might be lukewarm at best but I will say: the more I look into certain restoration projects the less I like how much gets obfuscated in the locomotive restoration world. Which is to say, I don't think anyone who goes into restoring a locomotive goes in with bad intentions, but I sense a constant need to present nothing but the best possible version of the project at all times and it ends up meaning that bad news gets delayed and the donors get nothing but radio silence until it's too late and there's no hope of saving the project.
To me, it feels like a culture thing. The guys doing the restoration work want to continue to work on their baby and don't want to seem like they're asking too much or trying to tackle the impossible, but the truth is that bad news is better than no news, and people should be allowed the opportunity to have a realistic version of the hurdles involved, even if it means it's going to cost more or owning up to having made a mistake.
I'm being vague on purpose because I don't want to point fingers and say "I think this project is being mishandled" because the truth is, I don't know if it's being mishandled! There's not enough information to come to any kind of conclusion!
I think a lot of train guys would respond to this by saying 'Well, if you're so worried about it you should get involved directly.' which is the dream for sure, but I'm not really able to pick up my whole life and move to fucking Pottstown to work on the T1, as much as I'd like to! (And this is not to say the T1 Trust is a bad operation, I actually think they're the gold standard that other newbuild and restoration projects should try to emulate, this is just an example.) Realistically, the most people my age and skill level are able to do is donate, but we want to donate intelligently and we want to feel involved even if we can't be physically.
Like I said, part of it is maintaining a certain public image, the other part of it (I think) is cliquey subculture drama bullshit that happens in every hobby, and I think will eventually be the death of these kinds of projects if more isn't done to keep interest in them alive. 🔥
#asks#redeyesretrodragon#ask game#ooh this got long! sorry. this reads like an r/hobbydrama post lol#anyway ask me how i feel about the Flying Yankee going up for sale
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Feeling daring today - Haizaki for the character and ship bingo ;)
Your takes are much more interesting, so there may not be anything illuminating here but I tried. xD
*Non-sarcastically normal. Haizaki is a pretty neutral character when I think about him by myself, I just don't have that special connection to him.
*However I love him when you talk about him and I'm sure I would love him more if I just had an incentive to write about him. But I don't feel anything like that because you're already giving him justice. My brain doesn't really work unless I feel like I have something substantial to contribute, which I don't.
*Haizaki definitely still gets a lot of unjustified hate, because he was framed as a villain and people then interpreted his every action as coming from the worst place imaginable, while other characters' actions get understanding just because they can see those characters' sides but can't see Haizaki's since he wasn't written in a sympathetic way. On one hand, that's fair to me, if your fic needs a villain it makes sense to pick a character whose motivations were not discussed deeply, so you can turn him into as much of a villain as you want, because you have no need to think about that particular character so deeply. However, the rate at which this happens to Haizaki perfectly exemplifies how the same dynamic happens in real life, especially at schools. He has the outward characteristics of the person who is always the easiest to blame. Not that there isn't stuff to blame him for, it's just that when he gets blamed for more than his share, it becomes a vicious cycle. Not to say it would affect his likability to me even if he never grew less violent or got his shit together, because my like and dislike for fictional characters is not based on morality or whether or not I would like that character in real life. 😂 I didn't pay that much attention to him solely because I just overlooked his story as pretty been there done that. Any character depth he has is implied at best, because he's a side character. I would much rather see an actual depiction of the dynamics that get projected onto him. And you are doing that, so, I'm not complaining.
*I do think Haizaki is pretty silly, he's so macho but he's also kind of wishy-washy about it. Like, one minute he can be thundering on like any of the other macho characters but then his line for changing his mind and going like "you know what, not worth it, actually" is much lower. And somehow he gets depicted as pathetic for that, even though it may actually just be common sense and self-preservation.
*Honestly I need to remind myself that Haizaki exists, sometimes. I'm sorry. He just wasn't that compelling to me initially. I didn't demonise him (I'd like to think that I don't demonise anyone) I just wasn't interested enough. I knew there were reasons he acts the way he does but I didn't make actual effort to find out. You've done some good to me, reminding me that my perception is more limited than I would like, because I tend to pride myself for considering everyone's viewpoints. (Not 100% possible, but I try.)
*Well you said it, Haizadick is not an inaccurate term, no matter what way you look at it.
I didn't ship anyone with Haizaki because I didn't think about his life much before talking to you, so...
*Congrats, your Haizaki and his relationships are now basically canon to me. : D
*I just put that second tier text there because I imagine it's where the relationships that last a bit longer would go, and I think Haizaki just has many short relationships before maybe ending up with his end game.
*I mean I assume he has had fun short relationships with many girls.
*And probably many one-night stands.
*I literally just got it in my head that maybe he experimented with a guy once, while I was making this. He seems like a curious type even though I'm kind of assuming he's straight.
*Yeah, I theoretically get why these are ships but no I don't really get it, I would be lying if I said I truly deeply understood it.
I know my shipping tiers are a mix of "I actually root for it" and "I just sort of think it would happen" but that's what you get from me. : D
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My Favorite New Manga Reads of 2023
For the past few years on twitter, I've made threads of some of my favorite manga and light novel reads from the past year. This year, I decided I would move it over to two tumblr posts.
After the cut are some of my favorite titles that I picked up for the first time in 2023.
Talk to My Back, Yamada Murasaki
I like to pick up something a little more unusual at least once a year and so at the beginning of this year, I picked up this 1980s alt-manga title about the life of a Tokyo housewife played out in short vignettes. It's a frustrating read because of how real it feels and how much it feels like things haven't changed as much in the last 40 years as I'd like, but it's all the more fascinating for it. The essay at the end discussing Yamada Murasaki's work and placing it in context was a nice bonus too.
When a Cat Faces West, Yuki Urushibara
I love Yuki Urushibara's Mushishi (slow though I have been to actually finish it), so when Kodansha announced a license for Urushibara's much shorter series, I was there for it. It has a cool concept - there are areas of "flow" that will pop up out of nowhere and shift people and places out of time and space and one guy has tasked himself with helping people fix issues caused by it - but mostly it feels like Mushishi but set in the present day. I love a series that's just vibes all the way down.
Skip and Loafer, Misaki Takamatsu
I was absolutely smitten with the Skip and Loafer anime, so when it ended with what felt like a pretty definitive "we are not making a second season of this" final episode, I started the manga. A high school slice of life series lives by its characters and Mitsumi is the more adorable dork ever. The other characters are equally delightful, even when I don't necessarily like them, and I'm so eager to dive deeper into their lives.
Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki's Conjecture (light novel), Mikage Sawamura
This series feels a bit like what you'd get if you crossed The Case Files of Jeweler Richard and The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window: a college student with a supernatural ability to hear lies that alienates him from everyone meets a folklore professor with a mysterious past fascinated by mysteries, and together they investigate possibly-supernatural events. It's a bit silly, but the relationship between the leads is interesting and there's a lot of fun urban legends in the mix. There's also a manga adaptation that I haven't yet picked up, but maybe one day...
March Comes in Like a Lion, Chica Umino
I was curious about this one from the second Denpa announced the license just because of how much I'd heard about the series for years now, and it did not disappoint. I love a good story about a depressed and lonely teenage boy sublimating his feelings into an obsession with a uniquely Japanese pastime, especially when there's so many people around him wanting to help him stop being alone. Now I just wish that the release wasn't quite as slow as it has been, even if I know the many reasons why...though at least I still have the anime to rewatch while I wait.
Don't Call It Mystery, Yumi Tamura
After reading Basara and Wild Com, I was eager to get my hands on a newer series by Yumi Tamura, and the fact that it's a modern-day non-fantasy series made it all the more interesting. Totonou's incessant observations about the things going on around him are delightful, especially when they lead him straight into all kinds of dangers or even just leave everyone around him wishing he'd stop talking for about five seconds. I just want to pat him on the head and ask him to make me some curry.
After the Rain, Jun Mayuzuki
I got a card for the Japan Foundation's ebook library not too long ago, which has been great for picking up a lot of books that aren't available in my local library's collection, including this series. I had heard about it but was a bit hesitant because it's about a teenage girl who gets a crush on her much older boss...but hey, why not give it a try from the library? I'm glad I did because there was such a sweet relationship between them that ultimately helped them both out of the ruts they were in with their personal lives and dreams.
River's Edge, Kyoko Okazaki
I still can't decide if I actually enjoy Kyoko Okazaki's work or not, but I got a little closer to it with River's Edge. It's a harsh story about disaffected teenagers who find a dead body, but somehow it feels less depressing than the other works of hers I've read because they're teenagers and there's still the possibility that they can escape the lives that are dragging them down. I will say this - Okazaki's stories are never boring, whether I enjoy them or not.
Her, Tomoko Yamashita
I got a little overambitious this year and ordered the Italian release of a Tomoko Yamashita title I've been wanting to read for years. Can I read Italian? No. Did I think maybe I could figure it out kinda okay because I've studied French and Spanish? Yes. Did I end up reading everything through a translation app? Also yes. But this collection of interconnected stories about women and relationships was excellent despite the language barrier. I was thrilled to finally see the context for the kiss between a younger woman and an elderly woman that I so admired in Yamashita's 15th anniversary artbook, and its story was a touching exploration of what "normal" means. I would love to see this in English, but unfortunately I can't see it getting picked up.
Glitch, Shima Shinya
I was thrilled that Yen Press decided to pick up another title from Shima Shinya after Lost Lad London, and Glitch has been well worth my time. While it is a fantasy story about a town full of glitches in reality that I'm excited to see play out fully, what really caught my eye is the sheer amount of diversity in the characters - one of the leads is nonbinary, there are mixed race characters, there's a lesbian couple, etc. It's all part of the story but not in a didactic way, which I appreciate immensely. Shinya's art also makes me so happy, and I hope Yen continues to get more of their work.
Lilies and Voices Born Upon the Wind, Renmei
Speaking of diversity in characters, I enjoyed this series not only because it was a nice yuri with a motorcycle lesbian (always a bonus in my book, the motorcycle) but because it had some really thoughtful discussion of asexuality in multiple forms. I wish I could've gotten one of the printed copies that were available for purchase at one con, but alas.
Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen, Hiromi Sato & Kamome Shirahama
Did we really need a cooking series spinoff of Witch Hat Atelier? Probably not. Am I glad we got it in English anyway? Absolutely. This is basically an Olruggio/Qifrey slowburn domestic au fanfic and I adore it. And I love that they keep up the conceit about magical ingredients in each chapter's recipe, even though they are legit recipes you can actually make with the real ingredients recommended as substitutions. What Did You Eat Yesterday? but with witches, clearly an ideal combination.
Scribbles, Kaoru Mori
I am not actually a diehard fan of Kaoru Mori's work - I drifted away from A Bride's Story when I ran out of volumes at the library - but I do unabashedly adore her art. Scribbles is just perfect for me with its pages from her sketchbooks and her commentary about things like the ideal skirt tightness. I bought this in hardcover and all and will continue to get the other volumes in hardcover even though I almost always get Yen Press titles digitally because it's so much cheaper that way, that's how much I like it.
Innocent, Shin'ichi Sakamoto
I've had my eye on Shin'ichi Sakamoto's work for a while because I saw a bunch of panels from Innocent on here and fell in love with the art. What I did not expect was that the violently erotic story about a French executioner would actually get an English license. It's gorgeous and violent and weird and I am so here for it. Now, if I could just be sure that Dark Horse actually plans on releasing the whole thing...
Barbarities, Tsuta Suzuki
Much like with Innocent, I saw panels from Barbarities on here ages ago and wished I could read it without much hope, given the lack of other licenses for Tsuta Suzuki's bl since SuBLime's relicense of A Strange & Mystifying Story ages ago. But thankfully I am getting to read this nebulously historical drama with all of its social machinations and pretty men getting flustered by other flirtatious pretty men. And such nice clothes!
A Home Far Away, Teki Yatsuda
Kuma really gets some stellar licenses and A Home Far Away was especially good. Set in 1990s America, it reminded me of nothing so much as My Own Private Idaho crossed with Banana Fish and made me weep absolute buckets in the end. I don't think it's for everyone, but if you were ever an aficionado of depressing 90s queer cinema like I once was, this might be one for you.
À vos cotés [Tonari ni], Basso
I was shocked when the announcement for the French release of this title crossed my twitter timeline earlier this year - France has even less by Natsume Ono than the US does, but one of their publishers managed to get one of her actual bl titles published under her bl penname? So naturally, I had to get it. It's super sweet, about a young man who likes to take photos of horses at a racetrack who meets a much older man, and I swear reading it was just like reading her non-bl work only this time the two characters actually got to say their feelings out loud. This would be a perfect addition to several mainstream US publishers' bl lineup, and I would be the first in line to buy it if they did license it in English.
Dear, My God, Nemui Asada
More by Nemui Asada in English! I love Asada's work for its unique storylines and this one didn't disappoint, with a story about a priest having sex with a cult member to help save him and another story about a guy who ends up with a talking plant. It's a bit disappointing that it's only available on futekiya - when will we get some of these titles in print already?
Ikigami & Donor, Hiko Yamanaka
Hiko Yamanaka is another one whose work is always a bit outside the mold, and Ikigami & Donor is an interesting sci-fi bl about powerful "living gods" who have tremendous abilities but can't heal from injuries without blood, bodily fluids, or tissues from one specific donor. It's a fascinating concept and the way the relationship between one ikigami and his donor played out made for an interesting story. I hope to see more from Yamanaka one day.
#2023 manga reads#tomoko yamashita#natsume ono#nemui asada#hiko yamanaka#teki yatsuda#tsuta suzuki#shin'ichi sakamoto#kaoru mori#hiromi sato#kamome shirahama#renmei#shima shinya#kyoko okazaki#jun mayuzuki#yumi tamura#chica umino#misaki takamatsu#mikage sawamura#yuki urushibara#yamada murasaki
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Ghosts 3 x 3 reaction
Here's my initial reaction to the episode. Side note, I've been going in surprised so... I know nothing other than the promo at the end of last episode.
Oooh a flashback 1875 for Hetty?
Painter paramour??? It was just an ankle!
LMAO Trevor. That's funny. Also, love Jay alone with the ghosts. Oh wait Bela and Eric are showing up.
Jay saying "no offense".
Aw Eric - I don't like him. I wish they weren't still together.
SHUT UP JAy.
LOL Hetty! WHAT THE FUCK!
I'm still annoyed that Isaac gets 10 grand. Where's Trevor's cut for saving the house twice? Including the blackmail for his body.
Aw Jay. I felt for him in that moment. "I'm going to do this in every room."
Oh my god Hetty.
OMG Jay explaining a few things and Alberta being upset that her murder didn't rank.
Ohhh, Why doesn't he want Sam to be there?
LMAO Alberta's reaction.
OMG did you think that he would forget?
OOOOH, ERIC IS LYINGGGGG???? OMGGGGG!
He was right at first.
Hetty insulting Sass and Pete! Aw, Pete. OMG Isaac.
A prenup for ghosts? Also, how do you break up as ghosts??
I DO LOVE THAT Hetty clearly isn't as friendly with Nigel as it seems - which I appreciate since we never saw the make-up after the blackmail thing.
OHHHHH He wants to use it to be with Bela. How has he been making this up for months?
AHHHH SAM!
LOVE them trying to tell her! GREAT SCENE!
I really enjoy the Thor/Trevor/Alberta situation.
I like playing around with the pairings.
THREE MONTHS?? That doesn't make sense. It was like two days and he didn't mean to catphish her in the initial episode.
OMG that's not the bigger person there, Jay.
Because you never had a connection in the first place - she never liked you.
You are such a hypocrite Jay.
The ghosts are such bad influences on Sam.
Hey let him say the words in his background, Alberta. Also, giving him crap about the pants is really fucking annoying.
Prenups are always going to get this conversation. Did Nissan breakup?
OMG Hetty. This is hilarious. Sass is very upset.
Thor wants him to die.
OMG Lying about the hair.
This is so terrible - how did Bela believe this?
LOVE THAT BELA PAYS ATTENTION TO THIS STUFF.
Why would you throw yourself down the stairs? SO SO DUMB.
LMAO I love Bela being upset. OMG Eric made up a ghost that she would actually like.
"I'd like to be top choice."
Aww Sass and Hetty. It's interesting that he was a choice between money and love. Do we think this is more Hmoney than Nissac?
Nancy! OMG!
Sam! OMG SAM! That's cute!
"You thirsty bitch"
Kind of weirdo. Talking him in a coffee shop.
NOOOO I don't like Eric.
Cute Thor/Pete moment with the joke.
OMG JC inside Eric the whole time.
I'm sooo disappointed. He made it all up.
LOVE bringing up the Prom Date.
We're at the final minute - what's going to happen? SOOOO CURIOUS.
Ahhhhh. OH MY GOD, Isaac is terrible. Hetty making up for her behavior. It's very sweet.
Wait, Wait, Wait - you guys are terrible at least for Sam. I would be freaking out, too.
Overall, it was great - funny episode, but I am disappointed that Bela stayed with Eric and there was no talking or working through the Jay/Trevor and Trevor/Bela thing.
Or Hmoney for that matter. Like... what?
The promo is very interesting....
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volume ix thoughts wooooo we're out of casa
first off, return of a legend: the beach hut
i was fully expecting the compatibility test to be more like the season 1 compatibility test with the zodiacs because that's fun but i guess that's less of a pot stirrer than a fun game to have. though the narrator poking fun at it i guess is making fun of the fandom for thinking it was gonna be horoscopes 🤣
so very obvious ass test though especially with the two answers only about the two guys you're pursuing, which I think is a missed opportunity to throw more lore about the guys in there. or at least make it not as obvious? really goes to show how surface level the characters are compared to, say, the Mr. and Mrs. Challenge towards the end of S2
I'm going for Jin and Max rn so I thought it was funny their personalities were boiled down to "funny" vs "extroverted" and my MC had to pick between the two as if they were mutually exclusive
anyway just nearly got Jin lmao
I'd like them to stop with the Claudia/Theo storyline because it feels like they've already decided they're done with each other and are ready to move on? However, Claudia being compatible with Theo on paper but like not really feeling it is an interesting idea. Like she feels she's got no other option to stay safe except for him and they like each other enough. Meanwhile Bea's settling for Liam because he's shown any interest in her at all. (Let them date each other if MC can't! They deserve better!!)
also I know that I joked about Theo being just some mildly attractive white guy to fawn over and settle for but the way that Claudia is just settling for him? actually upsetting like I'm so sorry, Theo 😟 I didn't mean it I thought he was fine after the first dates 😖
Hari mention! I was pretty sure the game forgot about him lmao
anyway the compatibility thing still doesn't make the most sense because like,,, why did all the guys get the Villa girls and none of the casa girls? I just think we should stir up some shit. I know it's annoying but it is the perfect opportunity to try to make Emel angry at Oakley again by saying he's most compatible with some casa girl. And she can show growth by not getting upset this time.
idk why but Kyle's poem to Emel is giving wannabe rap crew vibes (i.e. I'm missing S1 I'll take what I can get). Also, Claudia said he's giving game player vibes?? I'm actually so upset with how the LI's are all interchangeable because simply this cannot be the same Kyle y'all are fawning over (it's not 😭)
I'm kind of curious what it's like replaying on a straight route bc personally my heart hurts every time they show Claudia's little sad face but like I have to talk to Max it just makes more sense because MC can't couple with Claudia in stick or twist
Close your eyes and pick at random is actually hilarious as an option for stick or twist and I almost did it
i've already said my piece about Sienna, I love her design. I will admit though, her open mouth smile is a little stilted but people get botox so... not out of the ordinary lol. The bigger problem is how her hand on her hip is a little fucked up (color in between the lines, fusebox!)
as someone not on a Theo route, I really don't understand why he's sticking with Claudia unless he's got some personal turmoil he's working through and trying to actually reform his player ways. And I wish MC could talk to him as a friend and we'd see that. like in the way S2, you get to know Rocco's insecurity about never finishing university and Gary's anxiety even if you aren't on their routes
Anyway I'm still upset at the forcing MC to couple because she's single thing. They could've still had her coupled with Jin (or even with Hari it would work) and then she can either walk in single or with a casa boy. And then she's the main character: just say that the single islanders don't get dumped post casa (like it's SUPPOSED to be) because in that situation, she's the only one! Or if you need the numbers to be right, literally Emel is right there. She can come back to Oakley later if anything
still not the best stick or twist could've gone in terms of drama (or maybe that's just bc I've been looking at spoilers), but compared to S5-6, not too bad (I assume also s7 but tbh I did stop right at stick or twist for that season)
So fyi when I played Casa, I had my MC go for Shawn most of it, and then last minute switched to Max because I remembered she's a musician and I thought that would be cute. That being said, I wish it was like in the too hot to handle game where you unlock certain dialogue if you happen to have something in common with a character. Because why is Max explaining music stuff to my musician MC?
is Hari not an LI? Because they made him seem like one and then just all of a sudden we're not talking about him, it's only about Jin and Casa Boy. And I'm fine with not all the boys being LIs, but it is odd the way he's just shoved to the side in the story
Okay so I'm writing this as I'm playing and it seems like maybe he is. They just forget to mention him most of the time.
Hari and Hazel are a hot couple though. like I don't love Hari's design but like if he was drawn better?? I see it.
the swimming game is a fun idea but imagining everyone splashing around to get to MC is so funny. like I can hear it in my head and it's not the best game, but for the fictional game in the app it's fine.
although why tf is Theo suddenly interested in MC? I haven't been romancing him at all but for the chat at the pool I couldn't decide between any of the characters I'm actually kind of interested in so I had MC go talk to Theo and then he was also flirting? then the pool game he also thinks MC has the best chat?? sir I barely know you
omg not emel deflecting the drama to Claudia (and it's about her hookup with MC???) oof this is the drama I crave I think we're gonna need a movie night soon
so not too bad yet I just hope these storylines can come through!!
#litg#litg s8#rambling#i typed this out on like wednesday when the volume came out and then forgot to post 😅
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