Oceanic manta rays are the largest species of ray in the world, with a wingspan of up to 26 feet. Despite their immense size, they are completely harmless to divers - they have no barbs to speak of, unlike stingrays, and spend their time filtering the water for plankton with the help of their cephalic lobes (the big paddles on each side of their mouths). Socorran mantas have grown very used to divers, and often seek out our bubble curtains seemingly because they feel good and may help clear away parasites!
total drama horror au where after the "contestants" were chosen, chris kidnapped them and dumped them on an island to compete in death games against each other whilst broadcasting it to the masses livestream style. they're forced to comply with their "host" or else their food/living accommodations are stripped away and they're left to fend for themselves in the forest, but participating in the challenges is arguably more dangerous.
each elimination ceremony is taken to it's literal extreme, as the voted out player is just straight up executed on the spot.
the audience think it's some sort of ARG type deal at first, with the campers being actors, but eventually- probably by the first on-screen death- people catch on to it being Very Real.
(chris funds this little 'project' himself mr beast style using his vast amount of tv star wealth, so there's no network/producers that he has to answer to.)
Trying to think about what would make Lu Guang open up about going back and am forced to admit that the only times he's in any way opened up in-series are when he's been forced to by outside circumstances beyond his control.
He panics if Cheng Xiaoshi is about to go off plan or he doesn't know what's coming photo-wise, but otherwise is incredibly good at keeping his cool.
That said, the only times he's been "confronted" to any extent so far remain post-earthquake and you could also argue when he was called on his reaction to the idea that powers could be passed on in s2. In these cases, he tends to deliberately underplay his reaction and let others just make their own assumptions. His deflections at present work because no one is truly looking to realise it's what they are. His quietness also absolutely comes to his advantage because his personality doesn't allow him to "slip" in the same way as a more talkative character would. (And doesn't that just make me think about how all the comments about him being "mature" imply he wasn't always like he is now. I doubt it's an entire façade he's putting on, but he has changed irreparably.)
The exception to this is, of course, when Cheng Xiaoshi was shot and he completely lost it. It's not that he's just dead emotionally or anything the rest of the time, but this is the one thing (person) he's sacrificed his beliefs for. And before it got to this stage, there was still some control, but Cheng Xiaoshi getting shot is a double whammy. Not only is Lu Guang no longer in control of the situation (he lost that back when he got stabbed) but if the implication is that Cheng Xiaoshi got shot the first time, then his reaction here is pure instinct. There's no thought in it whatsoever and even after both of them return from the hospital, he's clearly not taking it for granted.
Thinking to season three though. He's still off-kilter for now and Liu Xiao will likely ensure he remains that way. The fact we've been let into Lu Guang's POV now means we'll get to see those cracks that have been forming throughout season two and watch them widening.
Qiao Ling's knowledge is the key. If Lu Guang is to open up properly, it has to be external. Either a danger to Cheng Xiaoshi so potent he's forced to act without thinking or someone actually pushing and not letting him deflect. Someone with enough knowledge to realise that he's deflecting in the first place.
I pull out so many random facts about the making of Lord of the Rings that people usually respond with, 'how do you even know that?!'
oh, friend.
my brother, a most pretentious lotr fan, snatched up the extended edition hot off the shelf and for weeks it was the only thing on the tv all day long. I've seen every commentary, every special feature . . . twice. maybe more. I didn't have a choice.
Bat at hornets nest here but I can't wait for the "genshin is a rip-off of botw" gang to find out that genshin has underwater exploration (something they've been complaining about the lack of FOREVER) while totk doesn't
One of the only saving graces of MegaMan XDiVE is that we'll never see something as amazing as Bass.EXE with a submachine gun ever again in anything else!
Made an 8-min music mashup of the train ride back to Iwatobi from The Final Stroke movie, featuring the different "Rhythm" bgm soundtracks from the Free! OSTs. Enjoy the extended ride. :)
[00:01] Rhythm of Port Town - Free! Iwatobi Swim Club
[01:41] Rhythm of New Sensation - Free! Dive to the Future
[04:21] Rhythm of Pure Memories - Free! Timeless Medley
[06:23] Rhythm of Home Town - Free! The Final Stroke (Pt 1)
the ready room is a master class in duality -------------------- there's an electric quality to the air; nerves and excitement hang over the rows and rows of fold - out chairs in absolute silence ( save for the occasional announcement over the PA system, of course; and the cheers from the unseen crowd just through that door. )
she's managed to get an entire row of seats to herself, ample space to sit with her ears covered by headphones and let her music play a little louder than she normally would, eyes closed while she attempts to visualize the 5154d she's got ahead of her in the next group. a familiar ping cuts in, momentarily pausing her music; and while she knows she should just ignore whatever the message is until afterward, curiosity gets the better of her knowing it's from @razorfst----- he might be halfway around the world in the middle of a season of his own, but it never seems to stop him from making her feel like it's just a little bit closer.
so when she goes to open her messages, she expects a little pep talk; or words of encouragement -------------- but what waits for her instead is something else entirely. ( not that she's complaining; nor is she really surprised. he's just got some pretty spectacular timing, whether it's intended or not. ) there's a squeak when she opens the attachments one at a time; allowing herself a moment to grin before she texts back.