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whimsicaldragonette · 1 year

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Audio ARC Review: Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa

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Publication Date: May 2, 2023

Synopsis:

Aristotle and Dante meets The Hate U Give meets The Sun Is Also A Star: A stunning YA contemporary love story about a Mexican-American teen who falls in love with an undocumented Mexican boy. Finding home. Falling in love. Fighting to belong. The Santos Vista neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas, is all Ander Martínez has ever known. The smell of pan dulce. The mixture of Spanish and English filling the streets. And, especially their job at their family's taquería. It's the place that has inspired Ander as a muralist, and, as they get ready to leave for art school, it's all of these things that give them hesitancy. That give them the thought, are they ready to leave it all behind? To keep Ander from becoming complacent during their gap year, their family "fires" them so they can transition from restaurant life to focusing on their murals and prepare for college. That is, until they meet Santiago López Alvarado, the hot new waiter. Falling for each other becomes as natural as breathing. Through Santi's eyes, Ander starts to understand who they are and want to be as an artist, and Ander becomes Santi's first steps toward making Santos Vista and the United States feel like home. Until ICE agents come for Santi, and Ander realizes how fragile that sense of home is. How love can only hold on so long when the whole world is against them. And when, eventually, the world starts to win.

My Rating: ★★★★★

*My Review below the cut.

My Review:

This is an absolutely gorgeous story. It sucked me in from the very beginning, making me instantly love and care about the characters, and never let me go. It's about courage and bravery in the face of unfair authority, about finding who you are and what you want to do and who you want to be with, about embracing your roots and being unapologetically yourself no matter what anyone else says. Ander is a dramatic nonbinary teen in San Antonio who is getting increasing recognition for their murals and preparing to go to Chicago for art school. Santi is a shy and quiet undocumented immigrant teen fleeing from the violence that killed half his family. They meet in Ander's family's restaurant and sparks fly. Their love story is raw and honest and changes each of them for the better, giving them hope and courage and determination. Santi wears his heart on his sleeve for Ander, who does the same, and they fit together so well. I loved the many scenes of Ander painting and the way Santi loves all of their paintings. The way it's described, you can tell that the author is very familiar with artists and perhaps is one themself. There is so much love infused in each of those scenes and descriptions. I also loved how loving and accepting Ander's family are in this book. They are loud and they argue but the love always shines through and they support Ander through everything. Ander's friends also come through for them and show their love. Ander comes from such a vibrant, loving family that I was jealous. I also loved that the conflict does not touch Ander's nonbinary identity. It is an established fact at the beginning of the book and no one questions it. It never takes a central role except as an essential part of Ander. Ander is nonbinary and that's the end of it. The conflict, instead, first centers around Ander's self-doubt about their future as an artist and the way the influences they want their art to be shaped by, and then later, as Ander begins to figure themself out, the conflict shifts to center around Santi's undocumented status and his future and their future together. It's masterfully done, and never feels forced or artificial. ICE is a looming threat throughout the last quarter of the book, and things take a bit of a darker tone, but Ander and Santi grow to meet the challenges they are faced with and the ending felt right and inevitable and perfect. Did I cry? yes. Was it worth it? Definitely yes. 10/10 would read again. The audiobook was brilliantly performed, with every character feeling distinct and real, with their own voice and tone. The way the different character voices carried emotion was excellent. The sprinkling of Spanish scattered throughout also was performed excellently and enhanced the setting for me, making it feel more real. Did I understand all the words? No. Did I understand the meaning behind them? Yes. And the emotions and tone they were delivered with helped with that. This book needs to be in libraries and classrooms everywhere in this country. And it definitely needs to win some awards. *Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an early copy of the audiobook for review.

#jonny garza villa #ander & santi were here #best books of 2023 #favorites #netgalley #arc review #shilo reads #queer romance #YA contemporary #nonbinary mc #undocumented love interest #artist mc

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iridiumflowers · 1 year

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hello, mcrmy! it is day 35 since an mcr concert, and as such i have had to resort to Drastic Measures in order to please the special interest gods. as a verified List Autistic (tm), my only recourse was to, obviously, make a colorcoded timeline of every single notable picture, audio, video, event, flyer, blog post, and more from the bullets era. obviously. this was the result of a couple of weeks in a fugue state with nothing better to do over my winter vacation. feel free to use for any of your personal mcr-induced-autism needs.

the majority of credit obviously goes to @themychemicalromancearchive , who catalogued the majority of this information - i just organized it in as close to chronological order as i could manage with information readily available through google search. setlist.fm was also a big help for listing shows undocumented in the way of video, audio, or photographs.

some of the events listed were very difficult for me to find exact dates for, forcing me to use approximates. if anyone has more exact dates for these, please feel free to reach out! in addition, if you feel that there is anything that is missing or if there are any errors that you see, id love to hear it to further edit this document for better accuracy!

#my chemical romance #mcr #mcr tag #gerard way #ray toro #frank iero #mikey way #you brought me your bullets i brought you my love #bullets era

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iridessence · 8 months

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Would love to hear about you two ! What do you love about him? What made you say yes?

I guess aside from mutual attraction and good sex, I just have never felt better about myself in the context of a romance. from the start of our romantic relationship, things just felt easy, light and normal. I didn’t feel this fear in my gut that my feelings would not be reciprocated or that my time would be wasted, and like… I felt that way naturally. I didn’t have to convince myself that he was interested in me, he made it clear with words and actions.

He was very generous from the start and has maintained that generosity, and he actually listens to, understands and cares about the same systemic things I do, on every level, and those things were important to him long before we ever met. His work intersects mental health and immigration for undocumented people which I think is incredible. Our beliefs very much align.

He thinks my interests in style and history are really cool and actually the first weekend we met, he escorted me to meet a soon-to-be friend of mine for a historical costume meetup, and her husband was with her and they kind of fell in line to chat as like the dudes behind the ladies in big costumes, so that was a great test and he had a couple other unofficial auditions around my friends that weekend which he aced and has continued to ace.

He loves and supports my burlesque work, which I think actually makes a lot of men uncomfortable. They’re typically put off at worst or disinterested at best, but he goes to my shows and will often help out, insists on carrying my bags, and everyone knows him to be chill and helpful and a great tipper. And there’s been times when audience members have gotten out of pocket and he’s always at the ready to put himself in between them and the performers and de-escalate as needed.

We’ve lived together for a year now and we both spend most days at home, as he works from home and unless I’m gigging or out for social things, then I’m at home, and I used to wonder what that would look like but… We just simply haven’t gotten bored of each other. I go out for a few hours and then I’m excited to see him when I get home, or he works in his office and then he’s excited to come hang out with me after he’s done, and we give each other space is needed. He’s also just really good about communicating his feelings or letting me know he will take space when he needs to sort them out, if we’ve had a disagreement or if one of us has peeved the other.

I know it’s kind of corny, but he really is my best friend. It was hard to understand how that’s real with couples until i found it.

That’s not everything, but those are some highlight points for sure.

#my partner #eeee heheh #my fiancé #It’s wild to be able to bc say that

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boxdstars · 3 months

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I find the concept of ancient magic as a whole SO enticing and interesting. It’s literally so undocumented they just call it “ancient magic” which does make me giggle.

I don’t particularly delve into it myself, but i’d love to hear other people sound off on how their mcs use ancient magic, how they feel about it, or just any headcanons you all might have to begin with! Literally just sound off I want to put on the tin foil and theory craft >:)

#hogwarts legacy #hphl #hogwarts legacy mc #hphl mc #i would make an mc but i actually prefer switching between other peoples #if mara exists as a fake npc - then she gets to interact with infinite mcs #so i love that dynamic in of itself

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verdemoth · 8 months

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Perseverance! Rookie member of the EEG’s field research team. She’s a nerd-jock newbie who wants her idols to like her sooooooooooo bad.

-> Biology major with a particular interest in ecology! And bugs she likes bugs. And really all sorts of fun crawly invertebrates.

-> Perse is no stranger to the EEG headquarters, she’d been coming here for years before her official admission to the team! With two older relatives to shadow, she got to know a lot of the older members during her frequent visits. She greatly admires all of them.

-> She maintains some terrariums to raise and study copepods and amphipods. As well as several potted plants.

-> Perse has the same level of passion discussing a new and as of yet undocumented species as she does showing off the cute little house moth that almost gave Maven a heart attack.

-> She’s a hobbyist photographer with a Leica 1(A) 35mm. She’s into wildlife photography, and though her work isn’t very technically impressive, you don’t need to be an ace at something to have fun with it!

-> Perseverance maintains that she is NOT a nerd like her cousin, Maven, is a nerd.

-> She’s very athletic and energetic. She enjoys a daily jog, and plenty of exercise both indoors and outdoors. She loves going on hiking or full on camping trips with her uncle Phoenix.

-> She and Phoenix are very close. They’ve got a really easygoing and playful dynamic, with plenty of in-jokes built up between them. Phoenix was a constant in her early life, almost a third parent. He’d often visit to play with her and to babysit so her dads could enjoy a free evening every so often. He still dotes on her as much as Perse will let him get away with, but he respects that she values having a more adult relationship now. Still with plenty of fun, of course!

-> Perse and Maven weren’t really around each other as young kids, but became friends as they got a little older. Maven’s scientific leanings led to Perse finding and developing her own passion for study and exploration. Maven and the rest of her family have been nothing but supportive and nurturing, and she’s grateful for it. But she wants to make sure they know she’s not just a little girl anymore, and she’s ready to be the one offering support when needed.

-> She’s more than willing to get her hands dirty and to do ‘boring’, menial work. Especially if it means the people she looks up to see how diligent and cooperative she is :)

-> Perse is very needlessly competitive, though in a lighthearted sort of way. She doesn’t mind taking a loss, because it’s more about the challenge than the winning. It’s about the thrill. But don’t expect her to go easy on a challenger, because she still plays to win. Game night is a disaster

#image #alt text #my art #my characters #char: perseverance #set: eeg #flight rising #flight rising art #named after the Perseverence rover!!#she technically started this because i hatched her FR version to commemorate the rover’s landing #though Tune is the one who prompted me to generate a story #Perse’s tattoos are inspired by the ‘family portrait’ engraved on the real rover!!#also. Perse might have a sibling since there’s a twin rover to Perseverance named uhh Optimism i think?#if i do make them a character they’ll get a bug tattoo as well. they won’t be part of the EEG tho. they’ll be a background character #which is fitting bc the Optimism rover is for testing purposes and stays on earth #not a Spirit/Opportunity situation

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accio-victuuri · 6 months

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OCTOBER READS 📚

Another productive reading month for me! Manhua/Manhwa binge again and for those who are interested in what titles I tried, then this is the post for you. I don’t know what the next months will bring but I wanna get back to reading novels… we will see how that goes. for now, I just feel thankful that these works are out in the world for people to enjoy ^^

• The Tyrant Prince’s Last Promise ( Chapter 74 ; Ongoing )

Adapted from the novel, “the wife is first” so I see why there are alot of people following the manhua. Jing Shao ( MC ) is a prince who is good at battles and was made to marry a male concubine Han ( ML ). He didn’t treat him well for years but Han stayed by his side even if he was sentenced to death and was accused of so many things. Right before they died, he promised to treat Han better.

So his wish gets granted and he goes back to their wedding night. Then the whole story focuses on their relationship and how Jing Shao pays his dues and tries to be the best husband for Han. He also tries to make different decisions to prevent him from falling from grace like before. This story is just so fluffy and sweet <3 and i love their chibi versions! ☺️☺️☺️ I might read the novel to see where it goes but i have to say it’s a standard trope — and i will never get tired of it.

Guilty Affection ( Chapter 47 ; Ongoing )

Esper/Guide trope but this one is more problematic. LOL. The MC, Han Yoonjae is an undocumented Esper and living his life as a normal person. There is some mystery from his past because you can tell that he is strong but decided to leave his life as an Esper. Then here comes the ML, Cha Minhyung. A popular & strong guide who comes to his life and offers to be his guide and make his life better. These two have a shared past and the story tries to uncover that. Also what will happen to Yoonjae and his power. I really like his power, and I understand why he will be someone that everyone will want to control. The relationship between them is not really the “romance” type but more co-dependence and lots of smut.

Crushing Jade & Catching Pearls Chapter 51 ; Ongoing

This one is very unique, I have never read something with this plot. It is modern era, but the MC/ML both work as apprentices for an old art of sculpting. Tho the ML ( Ding Hanbai ) is much older and is more accomplished in the field. It’s really more of the relationship between the MC & ML and less “romance” so far. I feel like some people will find it boring, but there is something about it that draws me to it. and it doesn’t hurt that the art is pretty. Ding Hanbai starts off as an asshole who bullies the MC Ji Zhenzhu — but then they slowly become closer. The MC who is the goodest boy with puppy energy melts Ding Hanbai’s heart 💕

No arguing with Mr.Mo Chapter 71 ; Ongoing

The trope of Mr. Cold hearted CEO who is actually a simp for the MC is not new and I usually like it — I often root for the MC and hope they get together. But in this one, I find myself liking the ML ( Mr.Mo ) waaaay more than the MC. To the point that I don’t think the MC deserves Mr.Mo at all. I get that Xiao Nuo have some trauma and baggage of his own but his drama over nothing just irritates me. Mr.Mo is straightforward and clear with his intentions, but MC takes advantage of him, willingly or not, is not my cup of tea.

I won’t be continuing on, or if i do, maybe it’s to see Mr. Mo’s panels.

Hard Boiled Love Chapter 93 ; Ongoing

I only finished up until Chapter 40 cause I felt like there is nothing else for me as a reader to see, plot-wise. I could be wrong but maybe I will pick it up again when i’m in the mood. This is popular, and i understand why, the trope is catchy : Rich kid and his Bodyguard, then add BDSM into the mix. Boom! There is just no way that people will not click and read. It is a good read and enjoyable but I wasn’t in the headspace for that type of smut, the interaction of the MC/ML tho are sweet!!!! 💕

What captured me tho is the ML. Hwayoung Yoon. He is a lovable psychopath. He gave off so much Hisoka vibes ( from the anime hunterxhunter if you didn’t know ) and this type of character would do so well if done in live action. How he seems to be this sweet boy that his family dotes on but is secretly a sadistic bastard. I mean, look at him as a kid:

A master manipulator.

The MC too, Gyuwon, is well written. He is an ex mercenary who really wants to be someone’s sub ( in a sense ) but he doesn’t think that will happen because of how he looks. People have expectations of how he should be but lo and behold, he meets the fucked up Hwayoung. 😂😂😂 it’s more light and funny considering the subject — they could make the plot really dark, so i’m glad they didn’t.

Campus Trap Chapter 24; Ongoing

AHHHHHHHHHH! My new favorite. The omegaverse hoe in me is screaming! 🤍 too bad there are only a few chapters out. I honestly want to read the novel which is already completed but i’m still trying to figure out how to navigate korean sites. The plot of the story may seem dramatic to some, because it’s all about the MC (Chaewoo) who is an Omega and trying to make ends meet. He was once this kid who lived a pampered life but things changed and now he is a struggling student. One day, his Uncle, told him about the concept of a reset partner, which is kinda like a surrogate. So a dominant omega like him will be a surrogate to a rich dominant Alpha. He agrees and finds out that the Alpha is someone he goes to school with — Mister popular, Euigeon. It doesn’t help he doesn’t like the guy and Chaewoo is even jealous of his “success” cause he feels like he will be the same way if unfortunate events didn’t happen to him.

I LOVE IT. I LOVE THEM. The campus setting and the two being music students is also a bonus, it’s only beginning to be explored and I wanna see more. They have great chemistry and the way I squealed during the car scene. 😱😱😱 it’s also the type of story where I can’t wait for the ML to fall for the MC. I’m reading about Euigeon being this arrogant bitch to Chaewoo and i’m like— can’t wait to see you fall head over heels and regret your actions. It’s nothing abusive, if anything, I feel like his actions are reasonable cause he doesn’t want to make their relationship complicated. It’s supposed to be a business transaction. I wanna know more about ML too cause i’m sure he has so many issues that caused him to be this way. I have spoiled myself a by reading comments on the novel but i will surely keep an eye out on this till it’s completion.

Miss you, Lucifer 15 chapters ; Completed

A short Manhwa that is full of uwu and love! 🥹🥹🥹

If you want something to lift your mood up then this is the best pick. Honestly! It had everything: romance, comedy, angst and some plot in there even if it’s only 15 chapters. The premise is an “idol” from a boy group that’s not popular x A-list actor pairing. I don’t wanna spoil too much cause it’s better to just dive into it, and like i said, it’s not that long.

Business as Unusual 15 Chapters ; Completed

Another short one that I enjoyed. 💕

Tho i’m not a believer of getting back together with your ex. Lol. That’s the story here. MC/ML were a thing back in college and because of a misunderstanding they “broke up”. Years later, they meet again as office mates and rekindle their romance. I’m happy for the characters because they had a second chance at love and are now at a better place to stay together.

Considering the length of this, there was one scene that really stuck with me. The two are walking on the street late at night and ML is chasing the MC, he wants to talk but the MC won’t listen so he shouts:

“HEY! MY FIRST LOVE KIM MINJUN!” 🗣️🗣️🗣️

It’s so funny considering why it was said, to get someone’s attention — but also so romantic. It is like a scene in a k-drama.

Tied To You 64 Chapters ; Completed

I feel so lucky that I found this title in it’s completion cause i would absolutely go nuts if I had to wait, to find out what’s gonna happen next. As soon as I started, I couldn’t stop and took me 5 hours to finish the whole thing. So worth it. This kind of Manhwa is the reason why I keep reading, hoping that I will find something like this. It’s really something special. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

the synopsis is as follows:

It’s only sleeping together while holding hands, nothing else. That’s what Shin Wooseo tells himself when a red ring that ties a person to their soulmate appears on his finger one day. Once two people get tied by the ring, they cannot fall asleep unless they’re physically together. However, his destined partner isn’t his long-term friend and secret crush, Kang Jiseok, but rather his older brother, Kang Jigeon! And so starts the tragedy of loving one brother but having to share beds with the other. Although, it might not entirely be a tragedy, as Kang Jigeon doesn’t seem so disappointed about being tied to his younger brother’s best friend…

I don’t usually go for love triangle tropes, but this one is not really that kind of love triangle. The strength of this Manhwa is the storytelling. Every panel & interactions served a purpose. As a reader, you are pulled in and can’t help but want to know more. I also appreciated that we can see the perspectives of 3 different people, but moreso on the MC/ML. I liked the concept of “love” that was portrayed too — it’s something that you have to work and fight for. It’s a conscious choice and not all sweet gestures.

Now i wanna spotlight the ML, KANG JIGEON 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 If I was to rank my fave MLs from all the stuff I read, he would easily be in the Top 10. He is manipulative but in the best way because all he does is for Wooseo to pay more attention to him. I have to say that he ultimately sets up the “scene” but most of the time the choice is still with Wooseo. His devotion is very real and his approach to fighting for his love is ( to me personally ) admirable! GO GET YOUR BOY! I’m not even mad at him.

I’ve been wanting to read a character like him, a chaotic good if you will, and that’s probably why this made such an impact on me. It was hilarious seeing the comments of readers in the early chapters being sus about Jigeon and thinking he is gonna be an asshole ML. In the middle, they were confused whether to love or hate him and the schemes. Towards the end, everyone was cheering for Jigeon and applauding him. Lol. I guess he was successful in making the readers fall in love too. ❤️

The King and Me Chapter 36; Ongoing

The story is very unique, atleast to me, cause I haven’t read anything set in Ancient Egypt + Time travel. There is also some heavy plot aside from the romance and every character here is just beautiful and badass!!!! The first few chapters broke my heart. I swear. It was effective in setting up the MC’s quest and why he is so stubborn when he goes back in time. What he is after is so important. 💪🏼

I adore the MC (Zhang Li)!!! He is so smart and determined to find out the truth about his “Rocky” and the tyrant king. His circumstances are not the best, but he tries to adapt and is not some love sick fool. Even if the main reason that he is there is because of love. This story is still in it’s early stages and I feel like it could easily go up to 150++ chapters because of the plot and well, the progression of MC/ML relationship. It’s also a slowburn so if that’s your thing, you would enjoy this.

Manhattan Romance Chapter 40; Ongoing

This reads like the kind of novel set in a specific city, in this case, NY, and two people meet each other and fall in love. Of course there are challenges and issues between the characters and their environment but the central story is their relationship. I think people who will read this would want to be the MC (Hyeon), in a way, all because of how much the ML (Luwan) dotes on him. Hyeon has his own issues and he is a precious bean that is too good for this world! I’m so happy that Luwan is the person who “caught” him and not some toxic shit. Let them live in their penthouse and be happy, Let Hyeon paint more masterpieces and the two of them to travel the world. ❤️

Ordinary life of a Universal Guide Chapter 61; Completed

Because i’m a sucker for esper/guide universe I had to pick it up. There is really nothing “special” with the plot, it’s the usual for the trope. My comments sounds like i hated it or something lol but the truth is — it’s alright. I picked this up after reading really good ones ( tied to you & the king and me ) so this was an in between read. I can’t always be that lucky.

The Third Ending Chapter 67; Completed

OMG how do I even begin to describe this perfection. I’ve been seeing this on other people’s list but for some reason I kept putting it off. Funny how I always manage to “start” reading something really good just before bedtime — which delays the “sleeping” I should be doing 😂😂😂

First of all, I love the art. It reminds me of Omega Complex that was so pretty so that helped a lot. 🫶🏼

Synopsis:

Suh Yoonseul has had life easy—everyone likes him, he’s good at his job, basically everything has always worked out as smooth as butter. However, there’s something that brings all of his good luck down, and it’s the infrequent dreams he has of Kang Joon. Who knew that rejecting a guy once would hang so heavy on your life? To make things worse, after he runs into Joon the dreams keep on coming daily. At his wit’s end, Yoonseul takes some advice from a friend so that he can free himself from this jinx. It’s simple. Make Kang Joon think that he’s a nice person. That can’t be hard, right?

Yoonseul is one of my favorite MCs. He’s a chronic people pleaser and has this perfect facade that he presents to everyone. So when he remembers being mean ( showing his true self ) back in high school to someone who confessed to him — he can’t let it go. It was so fun to see him suffer when it comes to winning Joonie over ( AHHHHHH Joonie is the most precious and can do no wrong!!! ) because tbh his intentions weren’t good. He is selfish. The entire season 1 was such a treat. Seeing their relationship progress and I— I don’t wanna spoil anymore but this could easily be a kdrama. There was that scene in the snow. AHHHHH! I was screaming while reading it! Lol. Season 2 is sweeter and more on fluff, by that time, you’re already so invested on them that you don’t care about any plot. Personally, what I loved about this is their mutual obsession towards each other. I’m a fan of that. I like tropes that are about “fated pairs” or something similar.

Between the Lines Chapter 20 ; ongoing

Not gonna say too much about this and I encourage people to wait for more chapters but it has a solid start. The MC/ML are both likable. Especially the MC. The premise is also hilarious, cause MC is a bl writer who is having a writer’s block and needs an inspiration for his protagonist. Here comes ML, who acts like Mr.Perfect ( but he isn’t ) and inspires him. There is so much more going on here that I feel like will be explored more as the story progresses so i’ll definitely come back to it.

Necromancer Survival 79 chapters ; 2 seasons completed and s3 is TBA

I had no idea what was in store for me when I decided to pick this up. I have a thing for necromancers and this one has the whole “dungeons” concept to it so I was down. But like — this probably ruined every other story for me. In a good way. Now I want a plot-heavy type of story with the romance as a bonus only. All I’ve been reading so are heavy on the romance & relationship, this has that element too but you get really invested with the plot.

Synopsis:

When the weak and unconfident Choi Yikyung first found out that he was a user, he thought he had finally hit the jackpot. In Yikyung’s mind, Necromancy seemed like the ultimate mix of cool and interesting. Back then, he had no idea that the Necromancer class was the weakest of them all! But as Yikyung enters the newly reopened Tower of Spirits in search of enhancement materials, he is sucked into a mysterious area of the dungeon where he encounters a frightening corpse. “Ding!” A quest window pops up, and it says… “You have made a pact with Seo Dawon, a vengeful spirit.” When tackling quests, it doesn’t hurt to have a companion or two, especially if one of them is the spirit of an ultra powerful and handsome young man. After all, “it’s dangerous to go alone”!

Don’t let the art fool you. It’s not some bright and shiny story. I made the mistake of thinking it’s gonna be some g rated adventure story lol It’s literally a necromancer whose goal is to make a master/slave pact with all the members of a dead team. He has to fulfill their wishes and help them get their revenge— which means killing a lot of people. It comes with a price, because every summoning is making him weaker in some aspects. Also no one knows what the true power of a necromancer is so whatever it is he’s doing — they don’t know what will happen to him in the long run. I freakin love the concept and how it’s mixed in with the romance. Is Seo Dawon only attracted to Yikyung because he is his master or are these real feelings? How will this relationship even work when one of them is Dead? A huge bonus too are how likable the other characters are. Especially Jung Garam!!! 🫶🏼

I hope the Manhwa continues cause I wanna see them get that revenge! 💪🏼 I wanna know too if Yikyung’s power will allow him to resurrect people and if so, what’s the payment?

I see lots of comments that say this adaptation does not live up to the novel & source material. Which i get it — a Manhwa will have restrictions, especially on the themes. The novels seems more gruesome and explicit ( not the sexual kind ) which usually has to be toned down for a Manhwa to get a license. Plus from what I can tell, the Novel is like 500 chapters ++ with a concept so niche and is for a specific type of reader. So yeah… I’m not sure if I will pick up the novel. I don’t have that urge yet, tho I am very interested in the censored scenes and if it’s really as dark as people are saying it is. I have a feeling it’s right up my alley. && I read some comments that Yikyung gets more dangerous as the story progresses ( getting corrupted by the summoning and the practice of necromancy ). I’m very curious! 👀

If anyones decided to read this, lemme know what you think. 💕

Black Mirror Chapter 64 ; Completed

This is the perfect spooky + sexy read for the season we’re in right now. From the first page down to the end, I can’t stop reading and wanting to know what happens next. It perfectly captures that eerie feeling, even if there are a lot of explicit scenes, it’s still there. The author really planned this well and the artist perfectly executed it. I don’t explain more because it’s best to go into this blind and experience the story for yourself. Highly recommend ✨✨

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See you all next month ^^ & feel free to recommend me some titles! 💕

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bugology · 11 months

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If you ever want to go down a bug rabbit hole, you can look into vulture bees that have been circulating not that long ago because of their interesting hives. (a lot of pictures of them have the bees swarming raw meat and their nests are very unsettling to those with trypophobia so be wary when searching)

Wikipedia wont help you either because apparently these bees are very undocumented and Tiktok has very much overexaggerated information to make these bees look like scary monsters ready to eat you up.

here's a video of their nest, from what I've gathered they do scavenge meat to make their hives (not honey) MAJOR TRYPOPHOBIA WARNING^^^

I was going through this rabbit hole and found this article that calls the wiki out for being so poorly documented and shining light on information as well.

This article about them also seems credible ( also contains a picture of raw meat covered in bees)

Alongside this, the bee frequently associated to being a vulture bee is not a vulture bee but Trigona spinipes and the only pictures i could find of taxidermized vulture bees are these

Anyways, if anyone has any other information about these guys feel free to add on because I'm all bee'd out for the night. Also please feel free to correct me on anything I might've gotten wrong, I love learning new bug things and thank you for reading my ramble.

( I'd also like to note that I'm no entomologist, I'm just a guy who really loves bugs and learning )

#bugs #buzz txt #ask to tag

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saints-who-never-existed · 5 months

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This might seem like a weird question, but what would happen if one of the sailors in the middle of a voyage like the Franklin expedition was discovered to be a woman disguised as a man? Would they keep her locked up until they landed at a port, punish her physically, or just do nothing about the situation until they landed? I saw that video about the peglar papers that I thought you said was an inspiration for your blog’s name mention that dna found on one of the skeletons suggested one of them could’ve been a woman (though she also said that it more than likely was the dna degrading over time), but I was curious about what would happen if that were true.

This is such an interesting question and it pains me that I'm not better equipped to answer it fully!

Women disguising themselves as men and joining up was not entirely uncommon, of course - there are many documented cases and likely many, many more undocumented ones. The case of "William Brown" springs to mind - a young black woman who served the Navy successfully aboard HMS Queen Charlotte and in the same position as Peglar, Captain of the Foretop, no less.

I've struggled, however, to find solid information on what would be done in any official sense if a sailor was discovered to be a woman in disguise. There are cases of female sailors being flogged and otherwise punished but it always seems to be for other infractions, not specifically for being female.

So, alas, I remain very much NOT an expert on the subject! For now then, I'm afraid you'll have to make do with my opinions and relatively-educated speculations!

I think if a woman were to be discovered during the Expedition, what they would do with her would depend chiefly on how far into the voyage they were at the time.

At Stromness or Disko Bay, the option most likely in my mind would be that she would simply be sent home with the last letters and crewmen discharged due to sickness (and with a minimum of fuss to preserve the prestige of the Expedition). There's historical precedent for that as it's what happened to William Brown aboard HMS Queen Charlotte - ultimately discharged for "being a female".

If they'd already entered the Arctic labyrinth at the time, they of course, would not have had that option. I think it unlikely that a disguised woman would be punished physically and I don't think she'd necessarily be locked up either. With conditions as tough as they were and resources stretching thinner over time, it seems doubtful to me that they'd sacrifice an able body whether that be the woman herself or anyone set to guard her.

I think at most in that situation that they might have set some restrictions on her movement and interaction with others for her own safety. It's important to consider, after all, that the prohibition of women aboard was in some ways for their own protection. It wasn't just bullshit attitudes of the time deeming women unlucky and/or inherently weaker/worse at being a sailor etc., it was also the sad fact that if they were found to be the only woman within a thousand miles of the ship, their safety from the predation of their fellow sailors couldn't necessarily be guaranteed.

In the case of the Franklin Expedition, I think personally that the deterioration of DNA theory is the most likely one. The remains that exist sat for a long time and in incredibly harsh environmental conditions, after all.

But I certainly like and am intrigued by the idea of female sailors embarking on the Expedition. I'm going to be thinking about all the implications of it forevermore and I'd love to hear opinions and information from others on the subject! :)

#Asks #Friendos #I'm so delighted and flattered to receive asks like this #Although as always I want to stress that I'm no expert!#Honestly I feel like I've just said a whole bunch of nothing #But I suppose it's worth it if it gets a conversation rolling on the subject and I get to learn from others who no doubt know more!#Franklin Expedition #History #Historic Context

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sproutbell · 3 months

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wish people would understand that white veganism is bad yes but the problem with white veganism is not the vegan part. it's an intersectionality and representation problem. class, race, and nationality. there are many, many nonwhite and nonwestern cultures that are traditionally plant based. the association of whiteness with veganism is a recent development. eating meat on a daily basis is a western invention of the last century. most vegans are not vegan because "they just love animals so much". they are vegan because of the rights of people who work in slaughterhouses- who in the us and uk are overwhelming staffed by immigrants. the people who work in these slaughterhouses also develop ptsd from killing so many animals or are literally physically maimed. many of them are undocumented and have no workers rights. meat packing plants are infamous for child labor. the jobs with the highest suicide rate in the country include people who work in farming and animal agriculture. the ecological effect of the animal agriculture industry disproportionately affects people who live in the global south. there's this weird narrative that because of peta, veganism is bad, or for rich people, or for white people, and that is just not true. statistically, black people are more likely to become vegan than white people. that's just... a fact! if you cannot eat vegan for health reasons, or because you live in a food desert without access to things like vegetables, that's fine! also, no one expects you to quit meat and dairy cold turkey! it's an impossible task. no one is asking you to do that. but if you are capable of making a choice or an effort, you have to understand that you are making that choice and that choice has consequences. we know that boycotting works, we know fast fashion is bad because of the environmental impact and working conditions that one again overwhelming affect poor working class people in nonwestern countries, but when it comes to the meat and dairy industry suddenly it's totally out of our hands? we have no choice? i'm not even vegan. i still eat eggs and seafood occasionally. but i'm at least trying. i encourage you all to try to consume less meat. also- people who hunt their food are awesome. people who use every part of an animal and respect their sacrifice are awesome. i did not stop eating meat because cows are cute or whatever. i stopped eating meat because i found out about the working conditions of slaughterhouses. also before anyone says "what about soy what about soy production for VEGANS??" 1) vegans are not the only people who eat soy? and 2) 70% of all soy produced is used to feed... u guess it.... livestock! i recommend this article if you're interested in someone smarter than me talking about white veganism. there are infinite resources available online discussing the inhumane things that go on in slaughterhouses to both human beings and animals. there are endless resources detailing the environmental toll of factory farming. if you consider yourself a humanitarian or an environmentalist PLEASE please please, do your best to limit your meat and dairy consumption.

#sorry to be an annoying vegan on main!#ALSO ON VEGAN LEATHER since people love to talk about that when theyre shitting on vegans #vegan leather was not made for vegans. they call it that bc at least that way they can still call it leather. for marketing purposes.#fuck off about “ooo vegans love plastic” you are making shit up to get mad about #the most ethical leather is NOT BUYING IT AT ALL bc vegan leather and (new) animal leather are not sustainable either way #buy second hand! or buy from a local artisan! if u HAVE to! i personally own leather products.

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spookyshipperfics · 7 months

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The Finer Things (Case Fic Complete)

This fake/pretend relationship case fic topped off with some Diana angst is finally complete. I've neglected chapter updates on Tumblr, so here is my attempt to make up for that.

Find it: a03 / Fandom: The X-Files / Rating: Explicit

Part of the Do You Like Scary Movies? series

Tagging @today-in-fic

What is it About? Scully and Mulder are sent undercover onboard a luxury train to investigate the presence of a suspicious and undocumented train car. Playing a wealthy married couple is tricky, but they run into even bigger issues when an unwelcomed agent gets sent in for backup.

Sample from Chapter 5: The cocktail car was exactly how she left it. Crowded and loud. Mulder was now by the bar, chatting to what looked like a young couple.

“Hey, Chrissy,” Mulder announced when he spotted her. “This is Brad and Mike. They’re headed to Vegas on their honeymoon.”

Scully nodded to the couple and gave her congratulations. One good look at her, and Mulder’s brow furrowed. “Are you okay?”

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Of course.” His hand had already found hers and was leading her away. “I’ll catch up with you, fellas, later,” he called over his shoulder.

Scully scanned the room. There wasn’t really anywhere private to stand, which was probably why Mulder dragged her toward the designated dance area.

“I don’t dance,” she whined, even as her hands slipped over his shoulders and his found a home on her waist.

“We’ve danced before,” he countered. “Now, what’s wrong?”

She wanted to scream the name Diana, but their cover forced her to speak in riddles. “That woman… the new passenger we met—”

“Irina?”

She nodded. “I let her use our private bathroom.”

“That was nice of you.”

“Well, my niceness was rewarded with her jumping down my throat. She disagreed with the conclusion we reached last night, and she let me know.”

“I think she’s been drinking.”

She scoffed. “Why do you always make excuses for her?”

“I don’t always make excuses for her. I just met her.” He emphasized the last sentence to subtly remind her they were undercover in a packed room of people.

Scully took a step closer. “She’s rude.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I know it doesn’t mean as much coming from me, but she shouldn’t have confronted you like that.”

“I think she’s interested in you.” The statement came out before she could stop it.

“Too bad I’m married.”

Butterflies started in her stomach. Their wings were weighed down by envy and uncertainty. It was like Arcadia all over again. “She wants to sleep with you.” Scully tried to say it clear and detached, but the quiver of her lip betrayed her.

Mulder grabbed her chin, tilting her head until their eyes locked. “I’m not interested in her.”

“She’s your type… was your type.”

He scoffed, the hand on her face dropping back to her waist. “If you think I’m still interested in her, then you haven’t been paying attention.”

Her mind sifted through recent memories. The kiss that never happened in his hallway. Mulder’s love confession in a hospital room. His needy behavior on Christmas Eve. She’d wanted him for so long, and for the first time, she allowed herself to believe that he wanted her the same way. That maybe Diana was the push she needed instead of the obstacle she initially saw her as.

“I wouldn’t know,” she responded. “We don’t usually talk about stuff like that.”

“Maybe we should start,” he challenged. “I meant what I said before. You look beautiful.” The statement was oozing with the same sincerity as earlier. Scully couldn’t help but drop her gaze.

“Thank you,” she said after a moment.

“It’s just so different than how I normally see you.”

She peered up. “Is that bad?”

“No. I wish I could see you like this more. Surrounded by the finer things in life. Dressed up. Dancing. Sitting across from me at fancy dinners.”

“I didn’t realize you liked those types of activities?”

“I like doing them with you.”

Her cheeks burned with the declaration. She took another step closer. There was no space between their bodies, and Mulder’s hands lowered on her waist, fingers hovering just above the curve of her butt. “That’s what certified besties are for,” she remarked.

He froze in place, their poor attempt at dancing coming to a sudden halt. “That’s the thing,” he said. “I don’t just want you as a best friend.”

Her heart pounded with anticipation. “How else do you want me then?”

“Like this,” he uttered as he leaned forward.

She knew a kiss was coming but still couldn’t prepare herself for how it felt. For the electric feeling of Mulder’s warm mouth on hers. For the way one of his hands threaded through her hair and tugged her impossibly closer. This was what she wanted to do in Arcadia. Hell, this was what she wanted to do since she’d shook his hand six years ago. The arousal between her legs was proof.

She reluctantly pulled back only because what she desired to do next couldn’t take place in the middle of the cocktail car. “I’m suddenly feeling like going back to the room.”

Mulder’s lips quirked into a smile. “Funny you say that. I was just thinking the same thing,” he said as he interlaced his fingers with hers.

Find the rest on a03

#the x files fanfic #x files fanfic #msr #msr fanfic #case fic

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girljeremystrong · 1 year

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✨best books i read in 2022 in no particular order✨

Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang (2021)

This "memoir of an undocumented childhood" is a beautiful story of a family who cared for and looked after one another and of a child who had a lot of fears but was at the same time wonderfully brave and curious and determined.

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2011)

This is the story of Elena and Lila, two childhood friends living in a rough neighborhood on the outskirts of Napoli. We follow their story, narrated by Elena, until they become teenagers, when their paths diverge and their friendship is transformed forever.

Persuasion by Jane Austen (1817)

Persuasion tells the story of a second chance, the reawakening of love between Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth, whom eight years earlier she had been persuaded not to marry.

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin (1956)

This is the story of David, an american man living in Paris, living off the little money his father is willing to lend him, while his girlfriend is in Spain, On a night out he meets a young bartender named Giovanni and goes home with him.

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders (2021)

Paired with iconic short stories by Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol, the seven essays in this book are intended for anyone interested in how fiction works, how the mind itself works while reading, and of how the reading and writing of stories make genuine connection possible.

Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger (1961)

When Franny’s emotional and spiritual doubts reach new heights, her older brother Zooey, a misanthropic former child genius, offers her consolation and brotherly advice. These two stories offer a touching snapshot of the distraught mindset of early adulthood and are full of insightful emotional observations and witty turns of phrase.

Jazz by Toni Morrison (1993)

a passionate, profound story of love and obsession that brings us back and forth in time, as a narrative is assembled from the emotions, hopes, fears, and deep realities of black urban life.

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (2021)

This is the story of Ailey and her ancestor's journey in America through centuries, from the colonial slave trade to our days. We meet Ailey when she is a child and watch her grow up, until the moment when, as a college graduate, she embarks on a journey to uncover her family's past.

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart (2022)

Growing up in a housing estate in Glasgow, Mungo and James are born under different stars--Mungo a Protestant and James a Catholic--and they should be sworn enemies if they're to be seen as men at all. Yet against all odds, they become best friends.

Real Life by Brandon Taylor (2020)

Almost everything about Wallace is at odds with the Midwestern university town where he is working uneasily toward a biochem degree. But over the course of a weekend, a series of confrontations with colleagues, and an unexpected encounter with a straight, white classmate, conspire to fracture his defenses.

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach (2011)

This is the story of Henry Skrimshander who gets recruited by a small college to play baseball and quickly becomes the star of the team, and of Mike Schwartz, the baseball team captain who recruited Henry, and who doesn't know what to do with his life, as his relationship with Henry becomes more and more co-dependent.

Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (2022)

Emma was set to start med school but her father got sick with a brain disease and she decided to go back home to New Hampshire. At home her dad and her mum are in a fight, her brother is just out of rehab her childhood best friend is missing and Emma’s dad started seeing ghosts.

This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1920)

Amory is a boy with family money who attends a private high school, and then Princeton and then gradually becomes disillusioned with life.

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (1999)

Navigating between the Indian traditions they've inherited and the baffling new world, the characters in Jhumpa Lahiri's elegant, touching stories seek love beyond the barriers of culture and generations.

Fight Night by Miriam Toews (2021)

It is told in the unforgettable voice of Swiv, a nine-year-old living in Toronto with her pregnant mother, who is raising Swiv while caring for her own elderly, frail, yet extraordinarily lively mother.

Scoop by Evelyn Waugh (1938)

William Booth is a young man living in the countryside, writing for a newspaper little colums about nature, and he is sent by mistake (he has the same surname as a much cooler novelist) to the fictional country Ishmaelia to cover a war for his newspaper. Various other little mishaps ensue.

Maps of our Spectacular Bodies by Maddie Mortimer (2022)

This is the story of Lia, Harry and their daughter Iris, a beautiful loving family. Iris is a teenager and has to navigate all that comes with that while, at the same time, learning to live with the fact that her mum's cancer has come back, and doctors are telling them it's terminal.

Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897)

When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula with the purchase of a London house, he makes a series of horrific discoveries about his client. Soon afterwards, various bizarre incidents unfold in England.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (1937)

It narrates the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in California in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression in the United States.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016)

The memoir of one man’s coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (1952)

It is the story of an epic struggle between an Santiago, an old, seasoned fisherman and his life's greatest catch of fish, after eighty-four days that he has set out to sea and every time returned empty-handed.

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (1925)

One day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway. She is getting ready for a party she is hosting at her house. It is also a day in the life of a young veteran, Septimus who fought in WWI and got shellshocked: his last day. The two move around London and think back to episodes of their past.

Peril at End House by Agatha Christie (1932)

Poirot is vacationing in Cornwall, meets young "Nick" Buckley and her friends. He is persuaded that someone is out to kill her. Though he aims to protect Nick, a murder happens that provokes Poirot to mount a serious investigation.

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ladyloveandjustice · 8 months

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Blue Beetle was a fun movie with a great cast! You should go see it if superheroes are your thing, Jaime deserves it! It does stick close to the superhero origin formula in a lot of ways, but the chemistry between the cast, the focus on some heavier themes, and the fact Jaime's family was extremely involved throughout the entire movie kept it really entertaining.

Quick rundown of things I really liked and some not so liked things:

Liked:

-Jaime's family, but especially Nana the revolutionary. I loved that each of them got a moment to shine

-Harvey Guillen's De La Cruz-verse

-The Scarab learning Spanish was so adorable!

-Jaime's Mom getting a 'kick their asses' moment like in the comics and also talking directly to the scarab.

-When Kord cops went after Jaime's family it was really well done. You could feel the terror there.

-The heart to heart moments were also all well done

-Just Jaime in general as a character. They kept him sweet and relatable.

-It had a solid character arc and focus on characters, which is a miracle in the modern superhero landscape

-Honestly tragic villain backstory flashbacks usually don't get to me, but they handled this one really well. It hit hard.

-A movie that truly understand 'don't trust the cops' and 'there's no jobs in this economy, especially for minorities." The reference to the fact there were undocumented people in Jaime's family was also well done, and contrasted the original comic never really taking a stance on that.

-the fact that Jaime was so against killing people but his family absolutely wasn't and racked up a massive body count was lowkey very funny.

-Victoria was definitely hateable, glad she died.

Some stuff I'm like 'hm that wasn't a great change':

-I don't understand why they put cliche superhero beats that aren't even in the source material in this. Jaime's dad didn't have to die. He doesn't in the comics and that's what made his comic different. He didn't have a tragic classic superhero origin. Why give him one and make him MORE like everyone else?

-Also the fact the villain amounts to 'Blue Beetle and...Antagonist Blue Beetle' like 99% of Marvel villains. I think this was used a lot more meaningfully than most examples of the trope, but it's still overdone. They could have had a similar character but given him different powers than Blue Beetle that he was experimented on to have, something that would be difficult for him to go up against and give contrast. Or picked a villain from the comics. There were a ton of options.

-the girlfriend/Ted's daughter character was very bleh, which is a shame, because the original comic had really fun female characters outside Jaime's family as well as inside. The movie is still better than male superhero origins in the female character department overall because the women inside Jaime's family are so cool, it just sucks they couldn't have a love interest with a vibrant personality too. Her sad rich girl schtick just wasn't compelling.

-There was barely any conflict between Jaime and the scarab, compared to the comic, where it was like...the main thing. Jaime was just like "hey don't kill people' and the khaji da was like 'okay' pretty easily. I don't get why they didn't explore that a lot more, because 'trying to bond with something programmed to kill and deprogram it' is so meaningful and could lead to some really fun comedy too? The lack of struggle also made the reversal they pulled at the end less meaningful.

-Honestly I personally didn't need so much about Ted, let Jaime stand on his own for the first movie with Ted being mentioned a few times and leave the discoveries about Ted for later movies. I'm probs in the minority there!!! I like Ted, but this is about Jaime. It also kinda sucks they made Ted a bad dad with a fridged wife.

-I also think they shouldn't have made Victoria a victim of sexism, i guess they were trying to give her a sympathetic quality or something, but it didn't work. "She was passed over for the company because of sexism but that turned out to be a good thing" is kind of like...idk why is that there.

-Harvey Guillen died :(

But overall, solid movie, and I hope they get to do more.

#blue beetle #blue beetle movie spoilers #blue beetle movie

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mavigator · 5 months

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samuel..

under the cut because i'm insane

one aspect about them i love

i love how he's constantly contradicting himself. he's not necessarily a hypocrite, but he's always saying one thing + thinking another. doing one thing, thinking "what am i doing this for??" the entire time. it's very interesting to see, especially when street-level vigilantes tend to be, like, obsessively all-or-nothing dedicated to the lifestyle. i love re-reading his monologues from when he was indoctrinated into the Hand because he contradicts himself so much and it's really interesting to try to analyze how he actually feels and what causes any distortions in his thinking.

one aspect i wish more people understood about them

hmm... this is hard, because he has about 3 fans so there aren't super common misconceptions about him. but i guess i'd have to say his cynicism is pretty important to his character. he's clearly not a doomer by any means, because he does go out and try to make a dent in the evil in his community, but he doesn't tend to look on the bright side of things. it's not "oh, nothing matters, who cares" nihilism, just a lack of faith and optimism as a result of his experience as an undocumented person of color + certainly lu's interesting parenting techniques.

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have about this character

i think he's transgender because i like him :-) this also isn't necessarily a headcanon but i consider him to be very softspoken. i think a ton of the people he went to school with never heard him say a single word for years or even knew he existed. i think he drinks like four vitamin waters a day

as well as

one character i love seeing them interact with

only one... i don't knowwww. i can't choose between matt and hannah. matt because (EARS RINGING, VISION GOES BLURRY, GASPING FOR AIR, CRAWLING ON MY HANDS AND KNEES) and hannah because their sibling dynamic as Sister Who Was Cast Aside and Neglected Hardcore + Older Brother Who Had To Pay The Rent Himself Because Mom Was Doing Some Bullshit and Was Neglected In A Different, Just As Sinister way is realllyyyy fascinating.

one character i wish they would interact with/interact with more

HANNAH. PLEASE. FOOD.WATER.HANNAH CHUNG . i also think it would be fun to see him interact with MILES MORALES just because i like them

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have that involve them and one other character

i think sam's favorite game is singing songs under his breath every day until he catches matt humming them. psychological warfare

#sam

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deathsmallcaps · 8 months

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Blue beetle spoilers. And spoilers for Macario (1960)

There’s plenty of articles out there already with this info but these are my thoughts.

Ok I just saw Blue Beetle and I’m in love with Xolo Maridueña!!! His character Jaime Reyes is so enthusiastic and loves his family and ultimately kind. And he has sweet eyes XD. It’s really cool he got the role because of his martial arts skills.

Harvey Guillén is in there! He plays another character with the same last name, de la Cruz, so maybe we can jokingly have crossovers in this universe with What we do in the Shadows. Blade (admittedly Marvel but still) is semi-canon already. (I didn’t catch the entirety of his real name sorry, just definitely the end.)(idk if Guillermo de la Cruz is his full name or if his name was shuffled around/inaccurately represented due to USian naming customs)

I loved George Lopez as Uncle Rudy. He rocks the kookiness!

Nana was hella cool. Between her implied revolutionary backstory (she hates Imperialists! The way she pulls out her braids when it’s time to attack makes me think that she was part of a pro-Mexico or maybe pro-Indigenous force back in the day) and Ignacio’s backstory (his mother, his only family, murdered in a ‘anti-communist’ attack in Guatemala, and then he was sent to ‘Escuela de las Americas’, a USA funded ‘school’ that basically churned out child soldiers and later adult destabilizers sent out to disrupt Latin America in the name of USian interests (its still in operation), and then he was experimented upon by the very people that ruined his life (a la the Tuskegee Airmen Experiment) really speaks to the racism and imperialism that affects the family in the movie and many people face today (preaching to the choir I know). The fight ain’t over.

(First link is in spanish, second link is the English Wikipedia page)

I appreciate that a good half of Jaime’s family were not in the US legally. The constant terror and unwillingness to seek help for fear of attention was quite palpable, and I think really adds to the idea that superheroes are supposed to make sure ALL people live safely and happily - legality should not contradict human rights. And hell, even though they were in the USA, their home was still threatened - by gentrification!

The poor Dad’s death is sadly not an uncommon phenomenon. Many immigrants, but especially undocumented ones, work themselves to the bone, both physically and emotionally. Poverty and instability kill more than any capitalist would ever like to acknowledge. And yet Alberto still found it in his heart to be kind whenever possible. I really respect that. And I think his kindness inspired Rocio (the mom, who is totally cool) and Milagro (sister) to keep on after his death.

The body horror aspects were interesting, for both Jaime and Ignacio Caripax. I hope they lean into that in later works.

But what really caught my eye was the cave of candles that appeared twice in the story. There’s a European story, Godfather Death, about a godchild of the personification of death who gets given the power to heal, and ultimately (in some people’s views) wastes it in greed and/or love. He gets to watch his life, represented as a candle, blow out. However, in Spanish, death is a feminine concept, and so Death is a godmother in that situation. Godmother Death* is thus a common story in Latin America too, but especially in Mexico and Guatemala, where Maya beliefs mixed with Catholic ones.

It turns out, the creators wanted to bring in some Latine magical realism and reference the classic Mexican film, **Macario, which is based on a novel based on a local legend that was likely based on La Madrina Muerte. I’ve ordered the book, lol, and will watch the movie soon. I’m quite excited to see it.

I found it quite interesting that Jaime’s acceptance of Khaji Da and the Macario/Madrina Muerte scene happened really close to each other. In a way, he chose compromise to continue with life, as opposed to Macario’s/the Godson’s stubbornness which lead to their deaths. His willingness to work with Khaji Da (scarabs are symbols of rebirth btw) shows a willingness to work with his place in the life and death cycle, and the Madrina Muerte themes showcase his interest in alleviating suffering***.

In any case, if you have money for a ticket, I highly suggest going to see Blue Beetle! It’s totally worth it.

*La Madrina Muerte, in Spanish. I’ve been somewhat obsessed with it since I was a preteen, as I came across the Spanish version translated to English first. My tumblr name is *somewhat* related lol.

I was somewhat inspired by La Calavera Catrina art, Santa Muerte and the Grim Reaper when I drew this.

**for some reason tumblr has decided that two links is quite enough for this post. Sometimes it just doesn’t let me add more links? Or copy/paste!!? Anyway if you’d like to read a more knowledgeable article about the relationship between the two films, look up ‘macario blue beetle’ & then an article by slashfilm will appear.

***In the legend, the godson is given a plant, a potion, or just the power to heal. But he must abide by Death’s position by the bed of the afflicted person. If death is at the foot of the bed, then they were meant to live, and he gets to take away their suffering and cure them entirely. But if Death stood by the head of the bed, then the person was meant to die soon, and so the Godson had to leave them be. In either case, Death prefers to end suffering - through complete healing or a cessation of life. However, Jaime makes sure (when he can) to help people live and be able to choose what to do with their life (like in the case of Ignacio). And Khaji Da respects that.

#blue beetle #blue beetle (2023)#Macario #Macario (1960)#dc #last thing: I like that thefilm shows collaboration between different Latine peoples in the face of cultural destruction & imperialism #(and intergenerational collaboration!)#Jaime (Mexican American and hasn’t ‘made it’) Harvey Guillen’s character (unspecified and some may say he ‘made it’ some May say he did not)#and Ignacio (Guatemalan and arguably same sitch as HG’s de la Cruz character)#ultimately work to undermine Victoria Kord and the OMAC weapons of destruction #sure Ignacio killed de la Cruz but ultimately he took down Victoria #you could also argue Jenny Kord (Brazilian & made it)#but I know its a somewhat contentious issue for both Brazilians and Spanish speaking peoples of the Americas as #to whether Brazilians are Latine or not

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