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aeor-is-for-reccing · 3 months

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MODERN AU: A Shadowgast Rec List

This week, we have modern AU! Check under the cut for a whopping 24 fics that all take place in modern times, and don't forget to comment and kudos if you like them!

LOVE & OTHER ENCHANTMENTS by LivThael (2092, General) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

An imagined review and synopsis of a movie about a Shadowgast modern-setting bookstore AU.

Reccer says: Hilariously awful, I say with great love, and by that I mean it purposefully and artfully swan dives out of the AU tree and hits every trope on the way down. This was written to be as cursed as possible, and Liv really delivers both that and non-stop laughs. This is clearly a love letter to terrible romcoms, cliché fanfic tropes, and the Shadowgast fandom as a whole. A+ satire, PLEASE read this!

like 80/20 on the kinsey scale by jakia (2772, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb bangs his hot TA and panics about it the next day. Beau did not sign up for listening to this.

Reccer says: Caleb -- who's only dated women before -- discovers he LOVES the D.

ask to be unbroken by chaotic_geeky (40038, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes, Unfinished Cliffhanger

Caleb gets a last minute chance to be a photographer at a big runway event. He meets the star model at the afterparty, and things go from there.

Reccer says: The premise is great, the story is excellent, and the characters are enthralling. It does end on an unfinished cliffhanger, but the beginning is so good it's worth it.

Fundamental Forces Other Than Gravity by mllekurtz (TheKnittingJedi) (40676, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

How cold, ruthless and lonely Essek Thelyss (a brilliant student with a secret) accidentally makes some friends and falls in love: a Shadowgast college AU.

Reccer says: This is a fantastic college AU! And the characterization is done so well it's phenomenal.

a smile is more than showing teeth by thought (13642, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

"you are welcome in Zadash should that be an option for you," Caleb had written, "and I would be pleased to set aside a few days to work with you in person." Or How to seduce your academic pen pal through basic kindness, stolen sweaters, and books. Mostly books.

Reccer says: This is the start of an incredible AU with two more after it in the series. I love this version of Essek and Caleb falling in love. SO MUCH.

Paradigm Shift by full_time_dreamer_behold (114291, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb joins a law firm. He meets Essek, the IT manager. Things happen. They fall in love

Reccer says: It's a super sweet slow burn!! Essek and Beau have a really fun dynamic and the budding romance is very satisfying.

(your face in my hands is) everything good i need by mllekurtz (25884, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Academics Caleb and Essek are nerds and fall in love over the course of a conference

Reccer says: I liked it!

like colored indigo inscribed with my name by KmacKatie (kmackatie) (30648, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

An exploration of tradition, culture, what is worth sacrificing in finding yourself and family. Essek learns how to make a new family.

Reccer says: This is an incredible pic with a lot of beautiful world and culture building set into it. Though I love the idea that Essek knits, I am especially fond of the other handcrafts that the Dynasty may do culturally, and this one does such a great job with it. And the interpersonal relationships are absolutely incredible!

we learn to live with the pain, mosaic broken hearts by vegabondfirelily (5777, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Sometimes things don't go as planned. Caleb will always be there for Essek, though, even after a life-changing accident. Non-linear narrative, angst with a better ending

Reccer says: I love this pic, even if it makes me cry every time. It is emotional and brilliant.

the fire kept closest (burns most of all) by Mousecookie (21822, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: Major Character Death

Takes place on a modern Rumblecusp, Essek and Caleb are volcanologists. Absolutely bonkers genre mashup of scifi disaster thriller ghost story romance that somehow works. There is a MCD warning but it is also tagged as Happy Ending and that does come through!

Reccer says: The writing style is like watching a movie and it made me cry both sad and happy tears.

Starting with your heart (bright heart) by 2manyboys (9914, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek and Caleb have been taking showers together, but it's totally platonic, they swear

Reccer says: I liked it!

scene: a shift in tempo by hanap (6790, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek, first soloist of Rosohna Ballet, comes across the mountains in an exchange to be Caleb's new partner.

Reccer says: A beautiful fic! I love the way the AU fits our characters so beautifully, and how it honors ballet while also subverting it just a little. Gorgeous!

A King in Cat's Clothes by royalgreen (1544, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Frumpkin is extremely suspicious of this interloper Essek who keeps visiting Frumpkin's domain (the cat cafe) and sniffing around Frumpkin's human

Reccer says: Frumpkin's POV is utterly hilarious. He is so angry that Essek is sweetly romancing Caleb.

read between the lines (everything is gradual) by SpottedEnchanse (SpottedEnchants) (3047, General) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

A series in which Caleb owns a cat cafe. It's amazing.

Reccer says: SpottedEnchanse's writing can do literally no wrong ever. It's like flossing for the brain

the golden thread around your neck whispered visions of my undoing by MarsBar2019 (191412, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek is the CEO of an arcane tech company in Roshona where Caleb gets a job as his personal assistant.

Reccer says: A tense slow burn that's sexy as hell, one of my favourite fics.

Sleep, With Benefits by KmacKatie (62272, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb tries out his coworkers' mattress. That's definitely all and not that he has a major crush on Essek.

Reccer says: I liked it!

take chances by 06151126 (3021, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek left Formula One and came back, but his return isn't going well. He hires Caleb to help.

Reccer says: This is the second work in a series, and the whole thing is wonderful! Well written and honest, it's very cool to see how Essek and Caleb come together over the course.

Empire of Lights by mllekurtz (TheKnittingJedi) (17215, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Rosohnans call it the rainy season: a time of humid days, heavy showers, and suffocating heat. Caleb, who feels less and less like a stranger in the city he recently decided to call home, finds it's also a time for revelations.

Reccer says: This is a fantastic, sweet AU of our wizards getting together and I love it.

A mile high by Mousecookie (545, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb and Essek (try to) get frisky in an airplane lavatory.

Reccer says: It's cute and funny.

The Kitchen Sink by mousecookie (17126, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek is a supermodel and Caleb is a jack-of-all-trades, and they keep meeting in increasingly unlikely circumstances. WIP with 6/12 chapters.

Reccer says: It's funny and the writing style is almost Pratchett-esque at times

The following fics each received 2 recs each!

Something to Believe in by AwesomeFroggy (108948, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek's mother sends him to Nicodranas as punishment, where unbeknownst to her he already has a friend. Jester thinks he'd really get along with her friend Caleb.

Reccer 1 says: I liked it! Reccer 2 says: This is an amazing incredible story! I love it so very much! The story is complete, though it is marked as one chapter left as no epilogue is out. Don't let that stop you from reading! I love every single second of this story so very much.

I’ve been lost before (and I’m lost again, I guess) by toneofjoy (165k, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Rock climbing AU! Caleb is the new athlete to the gym and Essek takes over his training. Despite the specter of their pasts, feelings blossom.

Reccer 1 says: It's well written, most of the esoteric climbing stuff is explained well, and I really enjoy their characterizations. There's a good balance between the relationship-building and the climbing part. Reccer 2 says: This is top three Shadowgast stories ever. It's a wild, beautiful, heartfelt ride. It's worth every second of time it takes to read. Also, this will make you want to take up climbing or at least start watching climbing. It's so well written and enjoyable. Everyone should at least give it a try!

The Secret Romance of Caleb Widogast by Cardinal_Daughter (15680, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

All Caleb wants is a peaceful, romantic weekend alone with his boyfriend. The boyfriend none of his friends know about. Naturally, nothing goes quite as planned.

Reccer 1 says: a sweet and silly story where we get a glimpse of the absolute chaos of a M9 group chat Reccer 2 says: A fantastic AU with a brilliant sequel. I love it!

coping skills by eldritchmochi (251061, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

BDSM fic for a disabled Essek and the trials he experiences

Reccer 1 says: There is so much good about this WIP! The depiction of both Essek’s disabilities and the kink community are so well done, and the characterization is super fun. Well written and super hot. Reccer 2 says: This is one of the best long fits out there for a modern prompt. It is an absolutely wonderful story, heartfelt and meaningful, and the characters have so much depth. And I'm a sucker for a well written chronic illness/chronic pain Essek, and this one is so realistic it walks the line to uncanny. I love this!

Aeor is for Lovers is an 18+ Shadowgast Discord server. The above fanfic recommendations were pulled from our community for this weekly event. All fics, unless otherwise specified, will primarily feature Shadowgast. Have any questions about what this is? Check out the FAQ! Next week, we’ll be back with WIPS

#shadowgast #caleb widogast #essek thelyss #critical role #cr fic recs #fan fiction rec list #aeor is for lovers #critical role fan fiction #cr fic #cr fics

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basedkikuenjoyer · 3 months

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Jojolands 13: Ohana Means I'll Set Your Ass on Fire

Dragona dropping some great truth about the absurd in this bizarre adventure. We finally got a peak behind that mask. I love it and I hate it, if you've read the chapter already you know what I mean. We'll get to that, because this right here isn't spoilery and it was such a cool nugget.

I love the way Dragona talks about the "absurd." Chance moments that alter one's life for better or for worse. The things that just don't make sense. Especially paired with Dragona opining about nearly losing their heart in the same chapter that last part about hearts being destroyed hits hard. I'm definitely sure we're looking at a trans narrative here and one we'll see play out. The chapter does a good job of implying what we need to know. Nudges at an early theory you've been changing your body with Smooth Operator. We ready? What follows is no place for beginners or sensitive hearts:

Oh HELL yes! As if I needed a reason, these two were well on their way to top Jojo status and now the dynamic duo of the Joestar Siblings are definitely there. Mean girl sets her sights on a much more timid Dragona who we now know looked way more masculine at 14 than 18. Talking physical build and not just fashion. You know, I don't expect an 18yo to have all that figured out and with this I do think we'll see her keep coming into her own. But holy shit that was fucked up and I sincerely hope we can get through the rest of this with no more sexual assault on my Jojos blorbo.

If they do...Jodio will fuck you up. Set a whole damn bus on fire! And while I'm not looking forward to having to relive the impetus in the inevitable anime adaptation, since we've already had the cop I kinda like the perpetrator being a girl here. For one because it shows a side of this kind of bigotry that often goes underrepresented. You see a little more space made typically for trans men who had bad experiences with men prior to coming out, largely because it tends to overlap with those who found a comfortable half-step in something like a radical feminist group. But this sets up Dragona pretty well for a realistic other side of the coin to that. Your experiences with bullying might make you a little skittish of girls your age, you keep a foot in this criminal world even if we keep showing you (not unlike Okiku) as someone who doesn't fit super well, all this would certainly explain why you'd gravitate towards a figure like Meryl Mei. Why there's great potential for drama if she shows a nastier side. It's all great for a trans story that justifies still figuring yourself out through it...but sticks to a fairly realistic path for a lot of young women who find themselves running with gangs.

All that said, Jodio you absolute freak. Burning the whole bus is metal, it's scruffy, he's protecting family. Doooooope. These two are fantastic and I can't wait to explore their story, their dynamic more. Jodio & Dragona's sibling bond is the beating heart of this part. As much as I love Kiku/Izo & Killua/Alluka yeah this is gonna be a banger. Speaking of, this chapter was also the second time we nudged at Jodio getting shit for looking fey too. These two are ride or die for each other and their awesome mom Barbara Ann. How this all ties into their family falling apart and their desire to become filthy rich? No need to ask...

In lighter news. They. When Meryl learns of the other lava rock that got smashed. We're all clear on who's the brains and who's the firepower in the dynamic duo right? I trust Meryl as far as I can throw her and she's a big lady. But for now everything seems on the up-and-up. Charmingman seems to have passed the sniff test and yeah it looks like he's just going to hang around. I like this new setup. Scouting a shadowy company to see if we can get more lava rock.

All in all one of the best chapters of Jojolands so far. I'm loving it, this is the exact direction I hoped it'd go. The backstory made this pretty heavy and I hope we can have more fun with this gang on the new excursion.

#jojos bizarre adventure #jjba #jojolands #jodio joestar #dragona joestar #chapter 13

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bonesandthebees · 5 months

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after barely reading (published) books for the past few years, I finally got back into reading around the end of 2023. I ended up reading 6 books total in the year, which isn't a lot but in total fairness I'd only read two books into november. then I read the other 4 all between november and december.

anyway in case you're curious what I read in 2023 was

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (listened to it as an audiobook when I was driving from New Jersey to Florida, I think McCurdy is an incredible writer and her authorial voice was so unique especially with the way she adjusted the writing style based off her age in the time period being talked about. incredibly raw and painful to listen to)

Game of Thrones by George RR Martin (worked through it so slowly from february all the way to november, I tried watching the first episode of the show while I was reading it and I got so pissed off at how much the show changed and flattened out characters, especially the women)

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (amazing, showstopping, absolutely love the exploration of gender and sexuality in it along with the constant push and pull between morality and ideas of destiny and grandeur. It's set in China during the time when the Mongols ruled and that's a time period I didn't know much about before reading so it was incredibly interesting to learn about, and I cannot wait to read the sequel)

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (definitely still think Gone Girl was better, but I adore Flynn's writing and how she explores incredibly fucked up women and their relationships)

The Poppy War by RF Kuang (wasn't my favorite, I've heard amazing things about RF Kuang as an author and I really like her writing style, but I know this was her first novel and it definitely feels like a new author kind of book. Loved the worldbuilding and thought it was super fascinating and appreciated the grim and brutal depiction of the realities of war. didn't grip me as much as I wanted it to. very excited to eventually read Babel though)

and then

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (one of my new favorite books ever. literally could talk about it for ages. amazing worldbuilding and a plot that takes you all over this incredibly detailed world, a fantastic cast of characters who are all so nuanced, a very deftly woven plot, gorgeous writing style, lovely wlw romance, just such a great epic high fantasy novel) (it's over 800 pages but didn't feel that long at all it's so easy to get into)

my goal for 2024 is to read at least 20 books which might not seem like much to some people but considering reading 5 books in 2023 was more than I've read in the past 3 years combined I think it's a pretty fair goal. probably will ramble about my to read list here soon, I've already started reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes which I'm really enjoying so far. as always I love Suzanne Collins' writing style :)

#ramblings #bee reads

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mspencerdraws · 3 months

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I've been thinking a lot lately... I frequently have the honor of working with fantastic indie publishers who are putting out great books, especially from diverse and often historically underrepresented perspectives. In a world increasingly politically hostile towards trans/queer folks, and in an industry increasingly permeated by AI garbage, working w/ these excellent people over the last few years has helped me stay sane, & feeling like the work I'm doing matters. So here we go, Some Really Cool People making some Really Cool Things (that I am vaguely or specifically involved in):

Neon Hemlock is funding their 2024 Novellas! They're super close to funding, and have plenty of time left to possibly discover some stretch goals?👀

Neon Hemlock consistently puts out amazing queer sf/f/h and the lineup this year looks incredible.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davering/neon-hemlocks-2024-novella-series

Atthis Arts' Be the Sea is out now! Climate-conscious Science Fantasy. Queerly Diverse/Diversely Queer. Sea Creatures & Mysterious Dreams.

Also! Author Clara Ward will be donating 100% of their royalties to conservation efforts for our global ocean.

New Edge Sword & Sorcery is funding their 2024 issues of New Edge Sword & Sorcery Magazine! I got to illustrate a trans revenge story last time. 👀 so I'm very excited to see what the next issues have in store! https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/new-edge-sword-sorcery-2024?ref=bk-social-project

And finally, If a "contemporary romantic drama about sad archaeologists" sounds up your alley, check out A.M. Weald's novel "Even if We're Broken" (out in April this year)!

#my stuff #book recs #crowdfunding boost #kickstarter promo #support small press #indie publishing #indie books #queer sff

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cbsxreader · 1 year

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if ur ok with more fantastical and/or meta stuff, could i please have the mercs with an s/o who was teleported to the tf2 verse from a much more serious setting and is still getting used to their comedic surroundings?

Oooh

Mercs with an S/o who is from a different universe

Tw: (slight mention of drinking in Demo's one)

Scout

Is a bit confused, since he's used to his world and hasn't really thought of it being different in some way.

But he does kind of understand his S/o's frustration, from what he's heard from them, his world doesn't seem bad in the slightest.

If his S/o asks him about something, he'll act as if he knows all about it, but his S/o can tell that he's just a motormouth. He does say the truth sometimes, but it sounds so outrageous that his S/o doesn't believe him anyways.

"Did ya' know that I'm God's gift to women?"

"Yeah...sure you are."

Soldier

Loves that his S/o is tough and ready for anything, but is oblivious to the fact that something must have happened to them that made them that way.

Once he does get it though, he is really protective of his S/o in the way that he teaches them his infamous necksnap, how to defend themselves and how to use certain weapons.

"You're doing great, cupcake!"

Pyro

Is kind of a distraction for his S/o.

Like, both the fact that they're strangelly wholesome and that they see the world completely differently makes their S/o worry less about everything else.

Pyro holds their S/o's hand if they are in public or are feeling paranoid.

If their S/o wants an explanation for something they'll have to ask someone else, but if their S/o tells them about it afterwards, they will draw a picture of them

Demoman

He is at a loss for words at first, because he, just like his coworkers, hasn't thought about his world differently from a different perspective.

He, for once, worries about his S/o drinking their trauma away and hides his alchohol better, locking it away in safes, lockers and cabinets.

If his S/o feels paranoid, he'll bring them away from people and soothe them.

Engineer

He's honestly sorry for it, but there are times when he's more enticed about how his S/o might have ended up in his world than his S/o's world itself or their backstory.

"Did ya' temper with anything that could have caused ya' to teleport to our universe?"

"...We were just talking about how leaders in my world killed people for no reason..."

"*clears throat* oh..right, my apologies...carry on..."

But other than that, he tackles one silly thing after another, telling his S/o about them as well as providing theories to them about his world to calm them down and keep them from overthinking.

Heavy

Is willing to act as a personal bodyguard for his S/o. He always stays by their side and makes sure they're not feeling paranoid or stressed.

If his S/o asks something about his world, he tries to explain it but quickly starts tripping over his words, apologizes and suggests they go and visit Medic or Engineer.

Heavy is also a good listener and wants to know what his S/o's world was like.

Medic

He is INVESTED in his S/o's world and backstory, gladly listening to them when they feel like talking about it. He even specifically asks to not leave out the gruesome and/or serious details.

S/o: *talking about a traumatizing event that dramatically changed their life*

Medic: *looking at his S/o, listening to them carefully, hand under his chin, unbothered by the theme*

Medic lets them watch his operations if his S/o needs a bit of space to breathe from exploring his comedic world.

Would try to explain anything that ponders his S/o's mind about his world, succeeding in explaining his medical adventures and achievements.

Sniper

He tries to slowly but steadily explain how the world works and he himself realizes how silly it is compared to his S/o's home.

"Wait, wait. So, New Zealand is underwater and you're the last person from there and Australia is full of buff people with moustaches, because of a metal very creatively called 'Australium'?"

"Yea...we're all so used these things that Oi haven't even thought why they work in such ways.."

He understands that his S/o is still paranoid and helps them get used to his world by making lighthearted jokes about their surroundings as well as actually gently soothing them when they're paranoid.

Spy

Spy is a bit confused at first, thinking his S/o is crazy. But he spends more time with them and from the way they talk, act and interact with their surroundings, he can tell that they're telling the truth.

If his S/o is paranoid or stressed, he lets them use his cloak, so they can observe the chaos from aside and learn the weirdness of his world without needing to worry about them getting involved in it.

Spy also promises his S/o that he's always going to make sure they're safe and will watch their back.

"From now on, zhere won't be a time when you aren't safe."

Ms. Pauling

Finally, someone understands her!

"Wow! And they called me crazy, can you believe it!?"

Pauling is a great listener and lets her S/o talk about themselves and their world, if it makes them feel better.

Always provides her S/o with something to always protect themselves with (guns, knives, tranquilizers - you name it)

She may or may not sneak her S/o in to her office, if they're feeling anxious about their surroundings.

Sorry for the wait, anon!

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sasaranurude · 29 days

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I'm a loser who both spends too much time playing gacha games and loves to hear myself talk, so here's another game review style post, this time covering my first day playing Break My Case. This time I'm not even being a little hater! I'm a lover! I'm cringe! I'm free! I love you Coly! I love you ikemen gacha games!!!!!!!

Break My Case is a new puzzle-music-adventure mobile game from Coly, the developers behind Mahoutsukai no Yakusoku and On Air. More relevant to BMC/BreMai is their game Stand My Heroes, with which it shares a writer, some gameplay elements, and of course a naming convention. Coly has developed a bit of a cult following for their unique status in the Japanese mobile gaming world: they're a company that was founded by women and hires women to make games for women. They put a lot of soul into their games. From the start, BMC is no different!

"Could you have pulled a clean version of this image from the internet so it didn't have all the game junk" no. it's my tumblr and you get my screenshots.

I (with help from friends) overviewed the initial Break My Case announcement back when it dropped. You can read that here! I said in that post that I thought a "dark rhythm game" would be a really cool direction for the game… and that's more or less what we got! GO ME!!!!!

First: the game's presentation is fantastic. Super slick graphical design and just amazing atmosphere. The sound design of this game is incredible. Genuinely. Really, really, good. All the music is amazing—I'm not knowledgeable enough to say anything other than "IT SLAPS!", but it totally does slap. The illustrations for the cards are all wonderfully atmospheric in and of themselves, and are just a delight to look at on the homescreen with its chill background music. Even just navigating menus is a sleek, seamless experience. The live2d is well-done, although it clashes a tad with the art style for a bit of an uncanny look at times.

The atmosphere! The atmospheeeeeeere!!!

Of course, the draw to this game is the characters and story, so let's jump into that. I'll admit right now that I read the story through a machine translation—I have aaaalmost enough Japanese knowledge to fill in the gaps, especially since the story is fully voiced, but I'm definitely not getting the full nuance of the story that someone fluent in Japanese is going to get. THAT SAID, after completing the prologue, I was definitely intrigued enough that I want to continue slogging through the MTL just to read more! There's a great setup, centered around the bar Aporia and its three modes—a daytime cafe, a nighttime members-only bar, and, secretly, a "fixer" service who'll help anyone with any problem. Our main character, a woman who was just forced to quit her job at a corrupt company, gets hired to replace Aporia's eccentric owner while he goes on a who-knows-how-long vacation. The owner also has the role of "tail"—as in, the tail a lizard sheds to avoid being eaten. If anything in the fixer service goes wrong, it's the owner who takes the fall and the blame. This hasn't come to mean much in practice yet in the (quite short) prologue, but it's a fascinating setup. The story promises to touch on themes of the threads that weave our lives together, how small meetings can lead to massive life changes, and whether any human being is truly replaceable, even in our modern corporate world where people are treated like cogs in a machine. According to a staff interview, there are a handful of references to Stand My Heroes in BreMai, but the games' settings aren't otherwise closely linked.

Rough translation in alt text. The Aporia manager Ai may be the most mysterious, intimidating character, but he also beefs with a parrot the first time you meet him, so...

All the characters are staff at Aporia with various unique roles and background. The prologue just gives you a little bit of each of them, but everyone does show up, and they all have interesting dynamics with each other already. Ai, the stern manager, has some history with the MC that he refuses to divulge, and goes so far as to force psychologist Riku to agree to not look into it. The range of relationships among the staff run the gamut from the calm and mature friendship between fortune teller Kiho and art teacher Kyoya, to the unfaltering dedication of Yu to his ex-mafioso savior Tomose, to the ridiculous Takeru and Soyogu who spend their first appearance waking up after having gotten black-out drunk together the night before. My favorite dynamic of all so far is that of Kou and Mao—Kou is a playboy who insists he's not a playboy, and is introduced evading a woman by… asking the icy Mao to pretend to be his boyfriend so that she thinks he's taken and gay and leaves him alone. Which Mao exasperatedly agrees to, telling Kou that he's used up his allotment for this month which ohmygod how often does Kou do this. Kou if you're asking this guy to pretend to be your gay lover so often he gives you a monthly limit I think you might just have to admit you want him to actually be your gay lover, Kou, oh my god—

Rough TL in alt text. Kou is letting the implication do all the heavy lifting here. He technically never said he was dating Mao. Technically.

youtube

On to the gameplay. There's gameplay! Unique gameplay! Good unique gameplay! Oh my god, uncharted joseimuke territory! The main gameplay mode is a match-3 puzzle game with rhythm elements. As in other rhythm games, each song in the game is its own level, more or less. (Each character has two unique songs, and three songs shared with the other members of their unit.) You set up a team with cards you've collected from the gacha, which determine your power level and special skills. The "leader" of the team has to be the character whose level you've selected. The puzzle gameplay is a tile-swapping match 3—think bejeweled or candy crush—but the tiles you've matched are only cleared once a bar sliding across the screen hits them, clearing them in tune with the song. Everything cleared in a single swipe of the bar ups the combo counter. There's also a life system, where if the bar slides across the screen without clearing a single match, you lose a life… But the bar moves pretty slow. You're not likely to game over or even lose a single life any time soon. There are more difficult versions of the levels I've yet to unlock, so I'm sure the life meter becomes relevant then. There's also "auto" and "loop" features if you want to grind a level over and over for exp and items, but, of course, the computer can't score as high as you playing it yourself.

And, really, it's fun to play, so why would you want to!? The sound of matches clearing with the music is so satisfying and really makes you want to combo as high as possible. Once you've matched some tiles, you can't move them again, nor use them in a second match (eg, in a cross shape), so if you want to maximize your combo and make as many matches as possible with what's on the board, you have to think ahead about which matches you're going to make. The bar slowly crossing the screen adds a visual timed element that gives some urgency to putting all the matches together. It definitely feels like a game you can pick up an instinct for over time, which is super fun.

All in all, a really solid, enjoyable little puzzle game. It would be fun to play even without the promise of anime boys. Stand My Heroes is also a match-3, for the record, which is what really cements the two games as being part of the same series.

Admittedly, the anime boy staring at you while you play musical candy crush is a little disconcerting.

The second gameplay mode is "Snap'n Spin", a… gameplay-lite mode that just puts chibi characters in random strange situations and lets you take pictures of them. The mode is explained to be a video game within the world of BreMai, so it's not even trying to be realistic or relevant to anything else in the game. Once you take your pokemon snaps of the boys, they get a fun little caption. You can save up to 40 pictures in your album. Other than being cute, the main way this mode interfaces with the rest of the game is that it's the primary way to unlock card stories for the cards you pulled in gacha.

This gameplay mode is... cute? I guess? It being so disconnected from the style and aesthetics of the entire rest of the game felt weird. The chibis are adorable, so it has that going for it. And I do like some of the captions you get on the photos afterwards. My favorite were the scenes you catch of a character drinking, and then the caption reveals their current favorite drink. That's a delightful detail for a game set in a bar. Mostly, though, this mode left me wondering "why?" ...And I imagine the answer is something like "because merchandisable chibi characters are a requirement for joseimuke games." This mode could've been anything so long as these cute, starry little dudes were in it.

Urara here hated the drink and the caption revealed that, lately, his favorite thing is sparkling water. He's the youngest character in the cast, so I guess he hasn't grown into booze yet...

One last feature I want to mention is the jukebox. Like many games, BreMai has a music player that lets you listen to tracks from the game… But its music player is, genuinely, a fully-featured music player app with shuffle, repeat, lyric displays, and even background play that works when you're in another app or your phone is off. What! Wild! When I first learned a few days ago that BreMai had a built-in player for its BGM tracks, my first thought was "Well, what's stopping someone from downloading the game just to use the music player and never spending a cent on it? Wouldn't you rather have the songs on spotify so you at least get a pittance of ad revenue, in that case? It's more than nothing."

But having played the game now, I see what they did to prevent that, lol. You don't unlock the songs in the jukebox until you get an SS score on the song's level. Which, I mean, that's normal rhythm game stuff, of course. Can't fault that decision. But, as in other gacha rhythm games, your score in a level depends on the power of your team of cards, and the cards you get from the initial handful of pulls aren't gonna get you anywhere near an SS score without significant investment. So you're either buying in-game currency to buy upgrade items, more gacha pulls, or both. Of course, you can also put a bunch of time into grinding for upgrade items—they drop from levels. Gacha currency is harder to come by. So you're not getting songs in the player without actually playing the game lmfao. The character solo songs in particular (the ones with vocals rather than just instrumentals) also require you to build up rapport with that character—the game calls it "Nice". You build up Nice with them by playing their other songs and using their cards in levels. It takes 1000 Nice on a character to unlock their song. In my first day of playing, I was able to get one character to about 250 Nice, another to 200, and a handful more with a few points, so it builds at an okay pace. There's ways to pay to speed up the grinding for Nice and for upgrade items with things like level skip tickets. So, basically: you're not getting that music player to a useful state without investing either money or time, lmao. Is paying-or-grinding to get cool music you can listen to while not playing the game more "worth it" than the usual freemium game goals of better units, new in-game outfits, or prettier card illustrations? ...Honestly, maybe it is? It's novel, at least.

All gacha rhythm games have the same card select screen, don't they. These were my cards' levels after my first day of play, and you can see they didn't quite reach a suggested score of "A", much less the maximum "SS".

But I do want to stress, the monetization is, for the most part, pretty easy to ignore. Nothing in-your-face. The button to go to the shop screen is a different color, but it's not flashing with an eternal indicator, it's not popping up at every second, it's just sitting there alongside all the other menu buttons. The game isn't shoving timers in your face at all times—there's a stamina meter, which is mildly annoying, but you get ten plays when it's full, and if you're just playing casually you're probably not going to want to play the puzzle game over and over enough to fully deplete that. I know the bar is on the damn floor here but Tokyo Debunker seriously made me realize how bad it can be with mobile game monetization. BreMai is freemium, yeah, but as far as dark patterns go, it's not egregiously bad.

So, the verdict: if you're a joseimuke game fan and aren't afraid to play a game that probably won't get an English port and doesn't even have a fan translation yet (which I realize is already counting out 99.99% of people), definitely give this one a try. See if you like the gameplay—it really is worth trying—and do check out the story if you've got the ability. Or just look at the pretty anime boys.

#suchobabbles #break my case #do you know how self-conscious i feel posting this. its actually so bad #so many feelings like 'did you seriously just write 2k words about a gacha game you played for a single day'#'why are you trying to pretend to be a game reviewer you have no qualifications and nobody cares about your opinions'#'stop roleplaying like youre a columnist blogger in the 2010s youre literally a tumblr nobody'#but im fighting the demons and im posting this anyways

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centrestagereviews · 7 months

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Interview: Chlöe Hart - Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World

The empowering smash hit pop musical Fantas&cally Great Women Who Changed the World is touring the UK this winter, kicking things off at New Wimbledon Theatre from 30th November – 2nd December! Based on the popular book by Suffragete relative Kate Pankhurst, this inspiring, joyous show has won over audiences across the UK with its catchy pop soundtrack, inspiring heroines and TikTok favourite…

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#Centre STage #Chlöe Hart #Fantastically Great Women #Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World #Musical Theatre #Theatre #theatre blog #theatre blogger #Theatre Interview

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dustteller · 6 months

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I just finished watching all the available episodes of The Apothecary Diaries, and I have to say that it surprised me!

The premise of an apothecary working for the emperor's consorts and solving medical mysteries is already a gun one, but the execution really elevated the concept past entertaining romcom to genuinely fantastic storytelling. It's not revolutionary, but it's certainly deeply endearing, and I really enjoyed how it found a balance between lighthearted comedy and acknowledging the awful aspects of sex work and being a woman/lower class in a world where neither are valued. It doesn't explore the darker side in detail, at least not so far, but it still does a fantastic job in making the horrible parts feel like a real part of the setting while still making the choice to focus on the women's joy even when faced with hard situations. I guess I just appreciate these things being openly discussed without immediately having it be a psychological story about dealing with trauma?

The characters are also soo good, and while most lack depth (its been nine episodes, so for a cast this big, that can be excused), usually their schtick is strong enough that it can easily carry their appearances. You also get the sense that while a lot of these characters do fill out comedic roles/archetypes, there's a lot more going on beneath the surface. Their schtick is fun, but its not all they have, its just there to help the audience familiarize themselves and bond with the charcaters while their entire personality is unearthed. The entire cast is genuinely absolutely delightful and reasonable and feel incredibly real while also being really funny.

The romance portion is also really really fantastic. Both Maomao and Jinshi are hilarious little freaks, and their dynamic is so fun to watch. Maomao is such a good take on the cold, blunt, genius character, who is socially challenged but very far from frigid. She's practical and logical while also keeping a very strong emotional core founded in empathy and genuine care for the people around her. Her obsession with poison is also pulling triple duty, as it 1) serves to break her cold facade and provides comic relief in the form of an ongoing gag, 2) gives the reader a strong understanding of her guiding motives/desires, and 3)gives her role as a medical investigator narrative justification. Of course she'd know what was used to poison someone, that's her whole thing! Jinshi himself is a counterpart to Maomao's colder tendencies, being very clingy and emotional. This show is not afraid of making him a pathetic little obsessed man, and it's all the better for him. Unlike other possesive and obsessed male leads, Jinshi manages to mostly stay away from the creep factor by being so uttely pathetic and cringe that he never really comes across as an actual threat. Couple that with him actually being very respectful of Maomao, only engaging in light flirting, and how he never actually wants to change her (most rapey MLs try to break the FL out of their feisty charcater or demean her for it while showing her how they're more powerful), and Jinshi makes for a very good love interest that also feels like a very safe comfortable person, which I feel matches the tone of the show very well. He's also as much of a freak as Maomao ("she wants to crush me like a bug <3333🥰🥰🥰), so they're very well matched there, too. He's such a petty loser, and that makes him a stronger character.

The story seems to be ramping up, and while I don't think it'll ever lose the lighthearted tone, I'm excited about how it already seems to promise a more in-depth exploration of the world it's set up the scaffolding for. For what it's worth, I also think the show has done a very good job at making the world feel expansive and mysterious, while also balancing that wholesomeness, which for a show centered around sex workers is quite the feat.

Anyways, long story short, I think the nine episodes that are out so far are really great, and the story thrives through how utterly endering it is. I am charmed by the world and the characters and what the plot has promised us, and while I don't expect it to revolutionize anime or whatever, it's still a masterclass in narrative shorthand and the act of balancing its heavy themes, especially when it comes to the characters themselves. There's so many of them that are so fun and memorable that I didn't mention, but who absolutely deserve their own posts, and that's only nine episoded into a comedy show, which I think goes to show how strong of a start this series has. Overall, I'd rate the show so far an 8/10, and I'm really excited to see what will come from the next 15 episodes.

#my thoughts #the apothecary diaries #maomao #jinshi

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straightplayshowdown · 4 months

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Angels in America: In the first part, we meet Louis and Prior and Harper and Joe, two couples whose relationships are on the rocks: the former because of Prior’s AIDS diagnosis and Louis’s inability to cope with illness, the latter because of Joe’s closeted homosexuality and Harper’s incessant fears and hallucinations, as well as her addiction to pain-killers. The second part focuses on the story of Prior Walter, a gay man living with AIDS who has recently been left by his partner, Louis, after he could not cope with the physical and personal impact of the disease.

The Importance of Being Earnest: Two bachelors, John ‘Jack’ Worthing and Algernon ‘Algy’ Moncrieff, create alter egos named Ernest to escape their tiresome lives. They attempt to win the hearts of two women who, conveniently, claim to only love men called Ernest. The pair struggle to keep up with their own stories and become tangled in a tale of deception, disguise and misadventure.

Propaganda under the cut!

Angels in America:

painful funny surreal and down to earth all at the same time somehow, even without being a landmark piece for me personally w/ regard to queer literature

The Great American Play. The definitive exploration of how AIDS affected an entire generation of queer Americans in the '80s, and what it left behind in its wake. Those more eloquent than I am will be better at doing this play justice, but my sincerest hope is that the sheer significance of this work is clear enough to carry it all the way through to the highest end of this showdown.

honestly the peak of modern theater 2 me. everything i write and create is in the hopes that i might someday make something that lives up to the bar that angels set. it treats every one of its characters with such depth and compassion and the world it creates is so vivid and fantastic. and the context in which it was created will always be beyond important to me like i don't know how to describe how important it is that a play widely considered an american classic is about the aids crisis. she's the blueprint she's perfect she's everything

genuinely changed my life when i first read it. andrew garfield played prior walter in the 2018 national theatre version and he fucking kills it. it's 6 whole hours of joy and heartbreak and, most of all, hope. stan harper pitt!!!

This epic stageplay has become more accessible since its HBO miniseries adaptation in 2003. It is epic, intersectional, commemorative of a collective trauma that had been silenced for too long at the time of writing. (also Harper deserves to be as much a Tumblr Sad Girl icon as Lana del Rey or Sylvia Plath.)

The Importance of Being Earnest:

Queercoded love interest and Victorian dandies, what’s not to love?

Quite possibly the funniest thing I have ever read.

It's very funny.

there is a HANDBAG and it is a MAJOR PLOT POINT. jack pretends to be ernest because he's been doing it for ages and why not am i right? algernon pretends to be ernest to get a girl and also so screw stuff up. as one does. gwendolen and cecily have a REALLY passive aggressive tea party. this play slaps. it is so good. go read it and/or see it

“Nothing will induce me to part with Bunbury, and if you ever get married, which seems to me extremely problematic, you will be very glad to know Bunbury. A man who marries without knowing Bunbury has a very tedious time of it.”

Lady Bracknell: “I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square.”

Lady Bracknell: “My nephew, you seem to be displaying signs of triviality.”

Jack: “On the contrary, Aunt Augusta, I’ve now realized for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest.”

#angels in america #the importance of being earnest #round 3 #polls #the straight play showdown

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chiefbeifongcanrailme · 7 months

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Floating Back in Love

Here’s my submission for day 6 of Lin Beifong’s Week. You can also find it on AO3.

Pairing: Lin Beifong x Tenzin

Rating: T

Art made by JadeLotus💚 And inspiration brought to you by @ilovelin

“Lin, come on! I never ask you of anything!” he cried.

Bumi had been following Lin all evening, chasing her from crime scene to crime scene, the precinct and back. He would’ve followed her into the lady’s room too if it weren’t for the metal bars she erected in front of the door.

“Please, please, please- I will never ask you for anything else.”

They were now in her office. It was nearing midnight and Bumi was not even close to quitting. Lin was wrapping up her paperwork for the day as he continued trying to persuade her to no avail.

“Bumi,” she groaned, gently slamming her head to the back of her chair in frustration. “Why won’t you just take no for an answer? Has Tenzin not crushed your spirits sufficiently?”

“Well, Tenzin’s on some other kind of bender right now,” he said, chuckling slightly. “You won’t believe what he’s up to.”

She had to admit it piqued her interest, but there was no way she was going to ask him about it. After years of animosity, Lin thought she had finally reached a good place in her relationship with Tenzin. They were friends- not close friends, but friends. Friends who knew and understood each other like nobody else did. Friends who couldn’t function being anything more or less than friends. Friends, that she thought were once soulmates, that weren’t, ultimately.

“But coming back, to ME,” he said emphatically. “Please, Lin! Please, please, please—”

“Why is this so important you, Bumi?” she asked, sighing loudly.

“I hear his sister is wayyyyy sluttier than me,” he explained. “I really need to, no, must screw her—”

“Don’t want to hear it!” Lin cringed, raising her hands in surrender. “Why do you need me to court some girl you know is promiscuous enough to sleep with the likes of you?”

“Court—” he laughed to himself, but quickly recovered when he saw Lin’s nostrils flare. “Thing is, she doesn’t quite leave the Fire Nation enough. She’s only going to be here because, her brother, a member of the cabinet of ministers in Izumi’s council is bringing her as his date.”

“Okay?”

“And if you snag the brother to be your date at the Annual Summit’s gala, I get that lovely lassy all to myself.”

“Bumi, I won’t be attending the gala as a guest. Remember my job?” she asked, gesturing around the room they were currently seated in.

“Taken care of that! I’ve got the airbenders to provide security, courtesy of my dear little brother. Mako has promised that he’ll take care of everything and lead your officers.”

Lin scoffed. “And what makes you think I’d be okay with that?”

“Because Kenzo is quite the looker?”

“Try again,” she deadpanned.

“Why? When have I ever let you down?”

Lin scoffed. “The last time you set me up with someone, it was a complete disaster.”

“What? Why?” he asked, standing up to demonstrate his shock.

“That guy was such a pervert. He tried sliding his hand down my pants!”

“That’s fantastic!” Bumi cried.

“What? No! In what world—”

“A patriarchal one where men don’t finish women off—”

A heavily scandalized Lin stood up and clapped his mouth shut. “Don’t ruin sex for me!”

Bumi laughed like a maniac. His lips tickled her hand, so she quickly moved it away. “Come on, Lin. When was the last time you—”

“Don’t—”

“Mr. Perv was probably wiping off the cobwebs—”

“Are you forgetting that you need me right now?”

“Fine, fine, fine,” he said, walking around her desk towards her. “Please, I really need a distraction. Tenzin is driving me crazy and, Lin, this guy’s great. I promise he won’t try any funny business. I’ve done my research with Song and Mako about your perimeter check- the whole nine yards. I even bought you an evening gown and got Opal to do your hair. It’s three months from now, so even if you change your mind, which I hope you won’t, I’ll call it off. But please, please please, please—”

“Why can’t any of your other female friends do this?”

“You’re the only one I haven’t slept with,” he said with a meek grin. “We could change that if you like, though…” he trailed off so his eyebrows could jump suggestively to finish his sentence.

She pinched her nose in thought and looked over at him. She wanted to ask what was going on with Tenzin, but she bit her tongue. Instead, she said, “Fine. It’s a date.”

Bumi hadn’t lied, she thought back. She was wearing a long, forest green gown made of the finest of silks- it was so reminiscent of Gaoling and Poppy Beifong. The thin straps streamlined up her clavicles to meet the back of her neck, secured by a neat bow. Lin was aware of how low her dress was cut and a small part of her wanted Kenzo’s eyes to linger a little, but alas, he was by far the least exciting person she had ever met. He not only talked in a slow drawl, but also exclusively talked only about his own very uninteresting interests.

She had been on worst dates, she admitted. And the only thing she wanted to do then was escape. From the corner of her eye, she saw Bumi giving her a thumbs-up, leading the curly haired bombshell of a woman towards the exit with him. Seeing that as her cue, Lin’s dress bounced behind her as she made her way to the balcony for an escape.

The past three months had been exceedingly tumultuous. Nearly every day Lin found herself learning new-fangled ideas about the occurrences at Air Temple Island.

First, it was Rohan and Pema coming in for records of domicile. Next, it was Mako receiving a call from Korra about information on lawyers. After that, it was Ikki being arrested for some petty crime. And finally, it was Tenzin. He showed up, rage blowing in the wind around him, to the precinct, likely to bail his little girl out.

Lin felt it obligatory to see him and talk things through in her office. The last thing she needed was Tenzin’s children turning into mini Suyins around her city.

“I take that you’re here for your daughter?” she began.

“Actually, no,” he whispered. “I want her to serve her sentence to the fullest. I also want her to see me here, expecting to be bailed out only to spend the next two nights here.”

“One complaint from the holding cell and I kick her out,” Lin warned.

Tenzin laughed aloud while she awkwardly stood there, waiting for him to stop. He was not acting like himself and Lin didn’t know how to behave. He calmed himself a few moments later, and smirked at Lin. “She’s just acting up, you know? Divorced parents- terrible father—”

“Tenzin!”

He blinked at her blankly.

“What’s going on with you?”

“I got divorced,” he said softly. His demeanor had totally changed. He looked somber now, emoting with his face instead of that frightening numbness. At least it seemed sincere. “It’s been very trying.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, placing her hand on his shoulder. “Is there any way I can help, old friend?”

Tenzin took her hand in his and squeezed it. “You’ve been perfect, Lin. Thank you for being my friend.”

“Of course,” she whispered. “I’m here for you.”

He snaked his arms around her back and hugged her lightly. She placed her arms on his shoulder and pat his back delicately. His arms glided over her back and squeezed her further into his body. She felt his beard by her neck and then she felt his kiss on her skin.

“Tenzin,”

His lips brushed over her ear and then down her cheek to find her mouth. They ghosted over her lips- it was a mere touch- when she stiffened and gently pulled away.

“We shouldn’t—”

“Yes,” he agreed. “I should leave.”

“Yeah.”

“I need to process—”

“You should.”

Now, at the balcony, Lin started remembering being Tenzin’s date. How they’d sneak away to hide from the boring lots like her current date. Sometimes, they’d fool around- and it was cute. And now it wasn’t because Lin could feel Tenzin’s lips haunting hers.

Abruptly, there was a switch in the wind. Instead of blowing in her face, it was now pushing her hair into her face. She looked straight into the horizon to see if the waves in Yue Bay had changed course when suddenly, Tenzin appeared right in front of her face.

Startled, Lin raised the stone platform to defend herself, and Tenzin just chuckled softly. He was seated on his air scooter and smiling- ever the picture of Aang if Lin could believe it.

“What are you doing here?!” she asked, still reeling from her start, bending the parapet back into place.

“Bumi told me you needed to be rescued from a boring gala, and, from an oath I swore on a mangled fruit pie about forty-five years ago, I’d always save you from any and all dull social engagements.”

Lin was taming her hair when Tenzin reached a hand out to help. “Sorry, I had to borrow some wind to fly up,” he said softly.

“When did Bumi talk to you?”

“He radioed me from the conference room downstairs,” he told her. “So, I flew right in.”

“That’s- thanks, Tenzin,” she whispered. “But I think I’ll be okay.”

“I’m sorry about the last time I saw you. It was… Difficult. Seeing you brought back a lot of feelings.”

“It’s fine, Tenzin,” she said.

“No, it’s not. I shouldn’t have tried to- anyway,” he replied. “How can I make your evening better?”

“I don’t think there’s all that much you can do,” she said. “I’m destined to a boring evening.”

Tenzin scoffed with amusement. “Of course not, Lin. So long as I’m here, the fate of your evening is in my hands.”

Lin snorted. He always knew how to make her laugh. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because,” he shrugged, beaming. “I have vowed to spend the rest of my life doing right by you. Whether it’s from a distance or floating right here to keep you company. I’ve done enough damage to your—”

“Tenzin, why?”

“I owe you all that you deserve and more.”

Lin shook her head. She rested her forearms on the parapet and placed her chin on top. Tenzin’s eyes gleamed at the sight.

“You’re beautiful, Lin. And that doesn’t even begin to cover why I have admired you my whole life.”

“Are you hitting on me, airhead?”

“Maybe.”

“You have to try harder, then.”

Tenzin flew over the parapet and landed beside her. She tilted her head sideways as he placed one hand on her arm. “Those green eyes you have could be the death of me,” he whispered.

Lin straightened up and turned to face him. “What do you want?”

“One chance,” he said. “Let me take you out on one date. Let me prove myself to you- to show you I’ve grown and just how much you’ve changed me.”

Lin rolled her eyes. “One date. That is all I will agree to.”

Overjoyed, Tenzin stepped forward and proffered his arms out. Lin ran into them and held him close. It was strange in a new way how they ended up hugging. She couldn’t help but relax in his arms. He was warm, comfortable and he smelled like home like he always did. She felt him squeeze her tighter as a drop of water touched her temple. At that she hugged him closer, ignoring the feeling that she was floating- because he’d always make her feel that way. Then, she turned up to face him and saw a single stray tear left on his cheek. But when she brought her hand up to wipe it was when she realized—

Immediately, she looked down.

They were not only a long distance from the gala, but also from the Earth. Best of all, there wasn’t an air scooter in sight.

“Tenzin,” she said fearfully.

He hummed.

“Tenz, we’re flying—”

“Wha—”

The airbender realized he had started soaring. Let go of his Earthly tether he did. He had entered a void in his embrace with Lin. Empty, and he became the wind.

“You’re not my Earth, Lin. You’re my wind.” His voice was hoarse from shock.

Lin was less than thrilled, however. “Sure, but let’s get back down to Earth, and—”

“We had it wrong this whole time. You’re my wind and I’m your Earth. We’re not bound by manmade tethers. It’s our very souls—”

“Tenzin!” she screamed. “Put me down this instant!”

He chuckled before pressing an innocent kiss to her cheek. “Yes, my soulmate.”

#lin beifong #chief beifong #linzin #tenzin #linbeifongsweek

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seekers-who-are-lovers · 1 month

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There’s a reason I trust Junya “Enojun” Enoki’s interpretation on the projects (that I love) he’s been doing. He did excellent portraying Yuji Itadori. He was so lovable (and believable) as Toto Isshiki. There is this insight that he and, interestingly enough, his co-VAs see when it comes to the interaction of the two main characters of “Kuroshitsuji /Black Butler.”

(Ryumaru) Tachibana: I thought it would be nice to have a taste that doesn't change even after years have passed. Because it is a long-lasting work, there is a part that grew up when it became an anime for the first time in a long time, but there is something like a “long-established taste” that does not change. When I saw and heard the interaction between Sebastian and Ciel, “The Black Butler is back!” I felt like that.

(Junya) Enoki: Sebastian and Ciel's interaction has an exquisite “flirting feeling” (laughs).

Toshiki Watanabe, Shunsuke Takeuchi, Tachibana: That's right! ( lol)

Enoki: That sense of distance is interesting. It's not that they like each other separately, but for some reason, I thought that the two people who seem to be flirting are unique to “Black Butler.”

If the VAs notice the nuance of S and Ciel’s relationship, why can’t we?

Other selected passages :

The P4’s impression of “Black Butler : Public School Arc”

Toshiki Watanabe: "Black Butler" was originally my favorite work, and I also had all the original comics. When I saw an anime for the first time, I said, "That is such a fashionable work!" I remember thinking that. I also like British fashion, and it is a work that stuck in my heart, including the world view. In the “Public School arc,” I like the Houndstooth check pattern of uniform slacks.

Junya Enoki: It was a work that I knew before I became a voice actor, so I didn't expect to be involved like this over time. I read the original story well after I decided to participate in the boarding school edition, but after all, the line of “I’m one hell of a butler” is amazing. The picture is beautiful and popular, so I thought it was only for women, but the mystery part is also interesting. I felt like I understood why it was loved by a wide range of people regardless of gender.

Shunsuke Takeuchi: I'm also in the generation that hits directly around the second season, so I have many friends around me who are reading “Black Butler” comics and watching the anime. I myself was shocked when I was watching Seasons I and II of the anime, and the character design was amazing. The color of the characters drawn by Ms. Toboso is chic, it leaves a great impression. The character has depth. The illustration itself is gorgeous and fantastic, but each person feels realistic and muddy as a human being. I was entertained, including such nuances, so it felt rewarding to be involved expressing in that world.

Tachibana Ryumaru: There is also grotesqueness in the beautiful world view. Originally, I was watching it under the influence of my sister, but it was a content that can be enjoyed by both men and women of all ages. While there is a serious part to solve the case, it feels good to see the interaction between unique characters. There was also a variety of scenes that made me laugh, and I was looking forward to it as a viewer when "Public School arc" started, because it was a work that I had been watching for so long as a longtime fan that I didn't think I was addicted to it. I never thought I'd be involved in that... While doing my best, I'm playing one of the P4 because I want to become a breath of fresh air of the latest “Black Butler.”

The dirtiest dormitory

Tachibana: Violet Wolf Dormitory is a group full of weirdos (laughs). It's a dormitory that can be recognized if you are good at one art, so personality is more important than anything else. Each of them has a strong view of the world, so no matter what the people around them are doing, there are many students who can't see anything other than what they are concentrating on. We have a lot of love and pride for our dorms, but the dormitory seems to be the dirtiest among the four dormitories. I feel like I'm not cleaning enough (laughs).

General atmosphere during the recording

Enoki: Bluewer and Redmond are a bit like arguing. There was also a sense of disjointedness, but there was also a sense of sharing with a hidden thing or an attempt by the four of us, so I think that teamwork was played well.

Watanabe: There was also one scene that was significant to the P4, and I really remembered that it was fun.

If you are going to enter the prestigious boarding school Weston, which dormitory do you want to enter?

Tachibana: Purple dormitory!

Watanabe: I want to enter the red dormitory, but I think it's the purple dormitory that suits my personality.

Takeuchi: Purple dormitory where you can concentrate on what you want to do at your own pace, isn't it?

Enoki: If I were to go in, I wonder if it would be green or purple dormitory.

PS: I am so sorry but the photo shoots/press releases on P4’s VAs are suggesting the possible pairings of their respective characters. First and foremost, it has always been Yana T’s idea.

#kuroshitsuji #black butler #sebastian michaelis #ciel phantomhive #yana toboso #sebastian et ciel #public school arc #season 4 #junya enoki #Toshiki Watanabe #shunsuke takeuchi #ryumaru tachibana #this is kinda long and my fave of all the articles about them #kuroshitsuji bts

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