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stoned-eren · 12 days

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summer character ref!

i realized i never made a character ref for my self insert/oc so here it is <3 she’s a part of the aot universe :3

more information about them under the read more, if you're interested! (it's long i am SORRY)

summary: born in the shiganshina district and part of the 104th cadet corps. they join the survey corps, and ultimately become a part of the special operations squad (squad levi). with a bit of naivety to them, they start off very hopeful for the future of paradis.

as she joins the survey corps, she is in charge of creating maps used for formations and battle strategies. there are also times where she helps in designing equipment, such as the executioner from hell (that large log device used to kill titans) and the new odm gear.

unfortunately, the pressure of dealing with titans on a regular basis, as well as the stressors from her personal life, start to plant a seed of uncertainty in her.

after sasha’s death, she loses a lot of meaningful connections with her friends. she begins to isolate herself and displays behaviors that are abnormal for her, such as excessive fear and panic.

additionally, she loses her ability to maintain a healthy day to day life. no one knows what’s going on- she’s met with resistance towards her “odd” behaviors.

it all becomes too much. since she's unable to “quit”, she runs away, living beyond the walls in a small cabin. she spends her days maintaining her land and learning how to become a fishmonger. her mental health improves slightly, but never really recovers.

occasionally they make trips into marley to sell their fish, forging documents that allow them into the nation. human interaction for them becomes far and few in between, usually only when they visit marley.

her visits to marley really open her eyes; seeing the worst of society. all the blame that’s put on her people, all the injustice, the misinformation.

at first, she takes a neutral stance on the rumbling. ultimately though, she realizes that the rumbling is inhumane and needs to be stopped, so she helps out in the end. she doesn’t fight directly, rather provides support on falco’s jaw titan with levi and gabi.

combat/skills: truthfully, she is not an expert in using her odm gear, being one of the lowest performing students in her cadet days. for some reason, she is unable to get the complexities of the odm gear down, but manages well enough not to get chomped up.

for summer, she is relied upon more for her ability to create diagrams and maps that the survey corps would use, mainly for battle tactics and navigation. she was in charge of making maps for different squads, spending long nights carefully curating each drawing.

personality: summer has an innate curiosity and unique appreciation for the world. she feels a deep connection to nature, the stars, and the moon. she can also be very creative and has a profound love for art, especially paintings and sculptures.

when it comes to interacting with others, she is very shy and withdrawn, opting to avoid individuals rather than approach them. unfortunately, she doesn’t trust easily, making it hard for her to form deep connections with others. nonetheless, she tries her best to be respectful and understanding.

she wants to be an optimist, but has had her hope taken many times, leading her to become increasingly pessimistic as time goes on. her world view can be very negative at times, especially during her visits to marley. but through it all, her love for the world never dissipates. to her, there is always something to find joy in.

appearance: her features are very round and soft. her eyes are an amber color, while her hair is an orange/redhead color. it’s styled to be in a wavy bob with bangs on the left side of her face.

summer is short in stature, no more than 5 feet tall. she has a very flat/emotionless expression most of the time, even when expressing intense emotion. she also has a hard time maintaining eye contact.

relationships: romantically involved with eren. they have known each other since they were children. as kids, they argued a lot, since summer and eren had similar personalities- the two of them being hotheads.

however, as they get older, their passion for the world brings them together. summer has a slight crush on eren during her cadet days, silently pining over him for years. after many awkward smiles and shy glances, eren drunkenly admits his feelings to summer at the party in marley, leading them to start dating.

while summer is living in the cabin, she doesn’t see eren much. when eren becomes a wanted man, he randomly surprises summer with visits that can last a few days. unfortunately he can’t stay for long, otherwise he risks the livelihood of both of them. the two of them simply appreciate the time they have together.

when eren starts the rumbling, they are still together, but summer completely disapproves of his actions, leaving their relationship in limbo (not that it’s that important at that point anyway.) she eventually decides she can’t let him go on with the rumbling and aids in his death.

best friends with sasha. they met in the 104th cadet corps, and instantly became friends after sasha’s potato mishap. sasha and summer’s personalities mesh together perfectly. they stay close friends until sasha’s death, which becomes one of the breaking points for summer.

friends with jean and connie. she’s not as close to them as she is with sasha, but she trusts them greatly and gets along with them very well. connie, sasha, and summer goof off a lot, while jean has to scramble to get everybody back on track. ultimately, the four of them have a solid bond.

aquaintances with mikasa and armin. despite interacting with them since she was a child, she doesn’t know them extremely well. but she gets along with them just fine. she appreciates the level of care they have for eren.

mentored by levi. the two of them have a unique level of trust with each other. levi is familiar with summer’s outbursts and panics, and is able to calm her down alot, especially during battle. summer deeply trusts levi and looks to him for advice and navigating through life. a few sarcastic remarks from levi is all summer needs to push herself forward, or see things from a new perspective.

likes: mystery, thinking deeply, art, the moon and stars.

dislikes: loud noises, being alone, mirrors, and eye contact.

#ok uhh i didnt expect to write that much but lol #also i changed her hair!! i felt like this was much more natural so :>#attack on titan #aot #shingeki no kyojin #snk #art.exe #ocs #self insert #star divider by saradika

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ellethespaceunicorn · 11 months

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Love, Napoleon!: Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Please Mr. Postman

Rating: Mature, 18+, Minors - DNI

Pairing: Napoleon Solo x Black!OFC

Fandom: The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Word Count: 2.3K

Series Summary: Love letters can only do so much, sometimes you need a grand romantic gesture. This is the love story of Napoleon “Leon” Solo and Roberta “Bobbie” Collins.

Chapter Summary: Bobbie waits impatiently for word from Leon.

Warnings: female masturbation, mutual yearning

A/N: New Story Art! Woot woot! So, in my story, Leon is an Aries. I just found out that in the Fandom Wiki, and listed in the film’s ending credits, his birthday is March 9th which makes him a Pisces. Since this is MY story, I’m ignoring the facts. He’s a damn Aries. Don’t @ me. Unbeta’d, we die like people who tried their best.

Dividers by: @firefly-graphics (envelope), @saradika (hearts)

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Bobbie woke up the next day to an empty bed and an aching core. A smile graced her face when she noticed the note on her nightstand. It never left as she read it over and over, memorizing Leon’s handwriting style.

She had to admit, he had a way with words. From his praise of her passionate vocals to how he said he missed her already. If she was honest with herself, she missed him too.

And yes, this was quite sudden and he was ten years her senior. But the way he looked at her? The way he held her. The way he made her feel, on and off her feet? It just had to be real.

Of course, he was pretty slick. He could’ve just as easily been trying to chase a skirt. She did agree to give him a little something the same day she met him. What does that say about her? She decided to push that down and see it as it was.

Two dynamic personalities enjoying each other. And enjoy each other, they did.

Bobbie quite enjoyed how she seemed to have Leon wrapped around her little finger. He loved kissing her so much, he told her he was addicted to it. Who says things like that? Well, Napoleon Solo does apparently.

She spends most of the day lounging around her apartment with Leon’s note close by. If she tried hard enough, she could close her eyes and envision his beautiful aquamarine orbs looking back at her. She could feel his lips on hers and his hands exploring her body.

Soon enough, it became too much and she had to retire to her bedroom. She explored herself the way Leon had. Although it had its intended effect, it just didn’t seem to be enough. When his name escaped her mouth, he wasn’t there to smile down at her and soothe her.

With a hand still in her panties, she turned her head and chased the remnants of Leon’s scent that lingered on her pillow. That spurred on two more heights of pleasure. When she finally felt satiated, she drew herself a bath and relaxed with a glass of wine and a good book.

“There’s something different about you, Cowboy,” Ilya says over his cup of coffee, “You didn’t flirt with our waitress. You going blind or something?”

Napoleon starts to reply but Gaby beats him to it. “It’s obvious, Ilya. He met someone in the States. I’m sure of it.” Gaby raises her eyebrows at him, daring him to deny it.

Napoleon rolls his eyes and gestures for Gaby to continue.

“While it is true, you haven’t been as flirtatious with any woman that has been in your path, that’s not the only sign. You not only haven’t had any guests in your hotel room, but you have this longing look in your eye that can only mean one thing,” Gaby takes a sip of her water, “And I also saw you buying that stuffed dog which couldn’t be for you. That trinket box from the embassy will surely look good on her vanity, as well.” She pats Napoleon on the shoulder.

“If you met someone, odds are she is civilian,” Ilya supposed, lightly tapping his thigh underneath the table, “What does she know, Cowboy?”

“She knows your first names. She understands she can’t know where I go for work, what I do for work, or who I even work for. She is also aware that you two are an item, even though neither of you has confirmed it yet,” Napoleon smiles as he looks from a flushed Gaby to a frazzled Ilya, and his suspicions are confirmed, “So, instead of worrying about what a civilian may or may not know? Maybe you should focus on your relationship, eh comrade?”

“How long have you known about us?” Gaby asks, leaning over to peer into her water glass.

“Since we became U.N.C.L.E., I just as easily assumed you two got married while we were Stateside a year ago. Your ring was picked out because it looks like costume jewelry. But a seasoned thief, me, could tell in an instant it was the real thing. And the fact that Ilya now wears a ring didn’t go unnoticed either. You two really thought it would slide right by me?” He shakes his head and purses his lips before speaking again, “We may still reserve three rooms where we stay but only two rooms ever get used. Doesn’t take a genius to put it together.”

“Point taken,” Ilya nods at Napoleon and looks off into the distance, “When we’re done here, we meet this woman.”

“Nice try. Give it a little time before you interrogate her, Ilya,” Napoleon using his given name makes Ilya turn to him and throw his hands up in defeat, “Great. Well, I need to head to the Post Office, if you’ll excuse me.” Napoleon stands, buttoning his blazer before heading toward the town square.

On his way to the Post Office, Napoleon stops at the hotel to grab the gifts for Bobbie and the letter he had written. He smiles as he hands over the package with her address on it to the clerk. The blonde taking the package tries her best to flirt with Napoleon and he feigns ignorance. It’s not that he doesn’t find her attractive, he just only has eyes for one girl.

“It shall arrive by the end of the week, Sir.” The fair-haired woman smiled as she leaned over the counter to accentuate her ample bosom.

Now, had this been about a week ago, Napoleon would have responded to all of this flirting with his own. He would have accompanied her back to her home and used all of his charms to knock her socks off. And plenty more.

But this wasn’t a week ago. This was now. And his flirting was spoken for.

“Thank you, Miss. Have a great day.” He walks off just as it seems the clerk wants to say something more. He may be a strong man, but he’s no god.

Four days. Four whole days of waiting for something, anything from Leon, and nothing. Bobbie has been checking her mailbox multiple times per day this week. She’s been biding her time at work, barely listening to her Boss’ demanding tone while he asked her to do various things around the office. At least he isn’t flirting with her today, that was a welcome surprise.

She would much rather be flirting with Leon.

Leon.

What if something happened to him on his mission? What if that’s why she hasn’t gotten anything? What if–?

She takes a deep breath and calms herself. Getting all worked up was not going to make the day go faster and it surely was not going to help keep her wits. Instead, she decided to get busy with extra work.

Technically, it wasn’t extra work. It was things she hadn’t finished so far this week. If she kept her head down and made sure to come around with a fresh coffee pot around break time, she could get all of these done before 5 pm. Thankfully, her Boss didn’t have any meetings for the rest of the day so she wouldn’t be needed for some time.

Soon enough, at 3:30 pm, she came around to fill coffee cups around the executive office. Only receiving a nod as thanks, she smiled in return and got back to her desk. The rest of the day was quiet and she was able to finish everything before the end of the day.

Boarding the bus back to her apartment, she chose a window seat and watched as all the business people moved throughout town. Families and couples strolling along made her miss Leon even more. She would love to be able to take walks with Leon around town, window shopping while enjoying an ice cream cone.

Bobbie didn’t want much, but one of her biggest fears about moving to a new town was being lonely. And Leon just stumbled into her life, or rather, she stumbled into Leon. She wouldn’t lie, she did like his outward appearance, of course. But it was his personality that got her.

She loved the way he made her feel like the only other person in the world, giving her his undivided attention. He also had a way with words and a way with his hands and tongue. She felt heat rush to her cheeks at the thought and was happy to be almost home.

As she saw her apartment come into view, she signaled the bus driver to stop and exited right in front. She checked her mailbox and there was something inside. A small note card from the postman that stated a package was delivered upstairs to her front door. She relocked the small mail locker and tried to be as cool as possible but gave up and ran up the steps to her door.

She picks up the parcel and unlocks her door. She closes it behind herself before she kicks off her shoes and sits on the floor of the living room to dig into the box. She grabs a pair of scissors and cuts the thin twine that holds it together.

Unwrapping the brown paper, she is greeted with the most adorable brown stuffed dachshund.

She immediately picks it up and cradles it. The dog is so soft to the touch and it smells like Leon. He must have sprayed some of his cologne on it. Clever man!

Shuffling through the box’s packing material, she also finds a small silver trinket box.

So shiny and intricately designed with a simple red velvet lining inside. She took the box into her bedroom and decided to put it on her dresser to hold her rings and smaller pieces of jewelry.

Coming back into the living room, Bobbie picked up the stuffed dog again and cuddled it while digging through the box. Picking through the rest of the box, she found at the bottom what she had been looking for.

Lifting the envelope from the box, she puts the stuffed dog down in her lap. Her name was written in Leon’s handwriting in red ink on the front of the envelope. Turning it around, she found a wax stamp holding a sprig of dried lavender that sealed it close. Opening the envelope, she unfolds and begins to read the letter.

My sweet Bobbie,

Not a day has gone by without my thoughts straying to you.

The sun here just isn’t as bright without you. Just imagining it on your skin is mouthwatering.

I can still taste you on my lips, and it’s the only thing keeping me going.

If you’ve somehow forgotten, let me remind you.

I am addicted to your kiss. And yes, I am claiming it for myself.

I hope you like what I’ve included in this little care package.

The trinket box was not easy to come by, but you deserve only the best.

But by far, I think your favorite will be the stuffed dachshund.

Let him keep you company while I’m away, and do give him a sniff.

Smell that? That’s me. I do hope you enjoy Aqua Velva.

Won’t be much longer now til I have you back in my arms, and maybe more if I’m lucky.

I am enamored with you, and that doesn’t happen to me. Ever.

If I timed this correctly, you should receive it shortly before I come back.

See you soon, Sweetness.

Love,

N.S.

Napoleon held his suitcase in one hand and a bouquet in the other. Staring up at his apartment building from the street below, he steadied his nerves before walking through the front door. Climbing the stairs, he stops at his apartment first and drops off his overcoat and luggage. Locking the door behind him, he leaves to head upstairs.

Knocking on the door to her apartment, his knuckles turn white around the bouquet and he searches his brain for something to say. As the door opens, their eyes meet and no words are exchanged. Bobbie grabs him by his tie and drags him into the room, closing the door behind him.

Napoleon gives Bobbie the bouquet, which she takes and inhales the scent of the fresh flowers. As he looks around, he notices the package he sent. The letter and stuffed dog were next to each other on the floor. He smiles at the stuffing of the box strewn about, obviously opened in haste.

Bobbie walks up to him after putting the flowers in a vase quickly, tangling her fingers in his silky hair. “You’re here, Leon. I missed you.”

“I’m here, Bobbie. I missed you too,” Napoleon brings his hands up to hold her hips, bringing her closer, “I’ll be here for a while, as well.”

“Well then, I have a few ideas of how you can spend your time, Mr. Solo.” The devious smile on her face warmed his blood.

Instead of asking how they should spend their time, Napoleon’s hands move down under Bobbie’s thighs and picks her up. She wraps her legs around his waist and captures his lips hungrily.

The kiss he missed so deeply was back in his clutches. The taste of her was like ambrosia, food of the gods. He could and planned to get lost in this kiss over and over. He takes a moment to lean back, licking his lips and cradling her face in his hand. “Shall we move this elsewhere?”

“Bedroom, Leon.” Bobbie pleads, tightening her legs around him before leaning back in to kiss him.

Devouring her moans, he moved slowly through the apartment in the direction of her bedroom. Finding the door open, he enters and closes the door behind them.

To Be Continued…

Chapter 3

A/N: I ended this on a cliffhanger because I kind of plan on the next chapter being solely smut. This chapter’s song was Please Mr. Postman by The Marvelettes. It captures the angst of waiting for word from your man. Bobbie is the only one who refers to Napoleon as Leon, so in this story, you will see a back-and-forth between the two.

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Let me know if you wanna be added (or removed) 😁

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snkpolls · 3 years

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SnK Episode 65 Poll Results (for Manga Readers)

The poll closed with 318 responses. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Please note that these are the results for the Manga Readers’ poll. If you wish to see the results for the Anime Only Watchers’ poll, click here.

RATE THE EPISODE 309 Responses

Overall the episode was a hit with viewers, with the majority ranking it a 4 or higher. Over half of all respondents rating it a solid 5. The hype is real!

I thought this was a great episode. A lot of hype moments and the CGI worked for me, for the most part. Looking forward to the next episode!

All around exceeded my expectations if mappa keeps this up this will go down as the best anime in history

Chef's KISS!!! 10/10 episode, i was extremely hyped the entire time.

It was amazing and I hope MAPPA keeps up with the same quality for future episodes

Amazing episode really hype

I thought the voice acting was amazing! :)

Great episode, not perfect but neither was WIT. No adaptation is perfect. This was fantastic.

It was pretty good just maybe good have been done better but I’m just happy it was done at all.

I’ve lowered my expectations to rock bottom at this point

An enjoyable time.

I think it was great! I was very excited and left me wanting more tbh

It was a very good episode!! I'm so happy to see the survey corps again!

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING MOMENTS WAS YOUR FAVORITE? 310 Responses

Mikasa’s reintroduction to the series takes the largest piece of the pie, with 31.6% enjoying the scene the most. In second comes the coordinated attack from the Survey Corps against Porco, with 14.8% feeling that scene really brings the hype. At 10.3%, Levi’s first appearance in the season takes 3rd place, and with 9.7% is the overall fight between Eren and the War Hammer Titan.

Ackermans ran this episode as they should. They're on a whole different level.

Why isn't the Sasha-Gabi moment in the list of favourite moments? That's my actually favourite moment. Gabi seeing Sasha through the fire and smoke, Sasha's reflection in her eyes...chilling.

THE CGI CONTINUES TO BE A POINT OF CONTENTION. BE HONEST, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE EXECUTION OF CGI SO FAR THIS SEASON? 309 Responses

In general, the fandom appears to be understanding of MAPPA’s usage of CGI, with 38.2% being completely unbothered by it, 20.1% feeling that while it’s not ideal, it could be much worse, and 18.8% not particularly caring for it but not faulting MAPPA for it either. A handful of people just wish that there would be more appreciation that it’s getting animated at all, while others continue to be a bit salty about the usage of CGI this season.

Did people forgot the god-awful Colossal titan's CGI from WIT? Well, I didn't so I wasn't surprised by the same level of CGI in Eren's scene (thankfully just one of them). I rarely have issue with CGI in SnK except for truly awful looking ones so like couple of times in the season, usually.

I honestly wouldn't even know there's CGI if everyone wasn't complaining about it. I honest to god can't see where they use it.

It's mostly fine

I thought the war hammer titan looked AMAZING, the only CGI that looked odd was the scouts in the background, but that’s really it...?

A few sore spots (e.g. Erens titan looked kinda off this ep), but it's not season-ruining yet.

CGI Titans >>>>>>>> CGI Survey Corps

It works fine for titans that already look somewhat mechanical (Armor, Jaw), but it looks incredibly awkward for the others, to the point of taking me out of the story.

Sometimes great sometimes shit

Maybe I've been spoiled by studio orange and the previous seasons, but I know for a fact that they can do better. This is not a new anime, this is the final season of one of the greatest anime of all time, so yeah I expected much better CGI, it was poor and unecessary.

i think it’s gr8/unnoticeable,,,,,like we all put up with the colossal titan in s1-3 lmao

Some Titans like Eren and Beast look a little weird but I just really like how they made effort to make it blend with the art style. Maybe if they had found a way to cut the animation down to 12fps it might not look so bad? Anyways I think it’s good for what it is, MAPPA is doing their best!

I barely noticed it. The animation looks BOMB. Top 5 episodes of the whole series for me and BEST action episode of AOT easily.

I'm always going to prefer 2D but I understand why they're using it. Still sad about what could've been if they were given enough time to work on the season. Definitely going to lower my expectations.

My dumbass wouldn't even notice, I just want to see the pretty people

I think the CGI for the Titans is completely fine. It's the CGI for the Scouts that was a bit off putting for me. Still, not enough to ruin the episode. And if we continue to get animation of this standard I will be fine with it.

At this point after episode 7 onward eventually AOT CGI is going to be worst than EX-arm's CGI

I love it because it makes the titans scarier and more eerie? I also miss the 2D ones because they feel more natural. Overall, I think it's fine!

I think the CGi is well executed (for the most part), I just don't like that they had to use it so much.

It's a great job. They manage to execute it very well and go to a normal animation when it's needed. It doesn't bother me tbh

HOW WAS EREN’S ROOFTOP SWAN DIVE? 309 Responses

Eren’s dive in the anime was a bit different than in the manga, but it seemed to get a few laughs out of the fandom, so we asked you all to rank it. 58.3% felt it was the most beautiful dive to have ever dived, while only 5.5% think Eren really needs to work on his form. He did his best.

WHICH RETURNING CHARACTER’S ENTRANCE WAS YOUR FAVORITE IN THIS EPISODE? 310 Responses

Mikasa stole the show this episode, with 53.5% enjoying her entrance the most. Levi wasn’t too far behind though, with 29% of respondents hyped over his return. 11.6% were very happy to see Sasha again, while smaller chunks were glad to see Jean and Connie.

They massacred my Jean-boy’s entrance 🥲

WHICH RETURNING CHARACTER HAS THE BEST MAPPA-STYLE GLOW UP? 304 Responses

We got a more colorful and evened out pie for this question. Overall the largest chunk, at 24.3%, are enjoying MAPPA’s take on Eren’s iconic “hobo chic” look. 21.1% think Sasha looks the best out of all of them, while Mikasa trails just behind her at 20.1%. 16.1% are grateful for Connie’s design, leaving 9.5% favoring Jean, and smaller handfuls appreciating MAPPA’s take on Levi and Floch.

Chubby Floch

Here I am watching the trailer all over again because that's probably the only way to see Jean animated handsome and with his actual manga face. MAPPA what happened?

Levi has a thicc ass

I’m a big fan of all the time skip character designs, it was hard to pick just one favourite :)

Jean looked stupid... Floch too but that's not important.

OG characters designs feels a bit off to me. I understand why they use CG for some parts and I have mixed emotions about it. I hope they won't rely on it too much on the upcoming episodes.

#ITSTIMEMIKASA WAS TRENDING ON TWITTER BEFORE THE EPISODE AIRED. ON A SCALE OF 1-5, HOW MUCH DID IT LIVE UP TO THE HYPE? 304 Responses

One of the most anticipated scenes of the Marley arc was the return of the Survey Corps and the way Mikasa paves the path for their reintroduction. The fandom appears to be very happy with MAPPA’s execution of the scene, with 60.9% of respondents rating it with a 5, with 27% rating it a 4.

EEEEEEEEEEK MIKASA

Mikasa! Mikasa! Gosh love her!

im so glad mikasa is back owfejgrnrkdfs

MAPPA INCLUDED FILLER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EPISODE OF WILLY HESITANTLY DEPARTING FROM HIS TEARFUL FAMILY. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE ADDITION? 310 Responses

The series isn’t known for having too much filler, but typically what filler does exist seems to be appreciated by the fandom, and this was no exception. 56.8% of respondents were happy for a little more fleshing out of Willy’s character (also learning that those kids were his!) and being able to sympathize more with him. 19.7% appreciated the more sympathetic addition until they remembered he was willing to throw Liberio under the bus for his plan. 13.5% are appreciative of any and all additional Willy content. A small amount didn’t like the filler and would rather have had MAPPA put their effort into other things.

I liked it. Got to see more of his fine ass. lmao

Don't add extra 2d animation if You can't even handle what's in the manga

It would've been better to show before he was dead. Fleshing him out after the audience already know he's dead doesn't hit as much imo

Wasn't one of the scene itself, but then again I'm always interested in scenes I haven't seen yet.

I am so grateful, willy for is one of my favourites and omg we got to see his family and how is he a lovely papa 😭💕 I can't ask for more bless you MAPPA🤘

fuck them kids

Why should we feel bad for him? He tried to unite the world against Paradis. He got what he deserved.

this was a benefit. as manga readers, we had time to know willy. anime onlies will only ever have these 2-3 episodes and it was very humanizing

How is that possible that Tybur little kids in few seconds were louder nad more chaotic than THE WHOLE CITY DURING THE ATTACK??

It's very regrettable he left so many children fatherless because of what he chose to do. Really saddening..

I’d have rather seen more of the manga animated

I knew why they added it, but I (personally) think willy is crud. Not mad it's there tho!

He did his duty as a Tybur to the very end. Honestly I wish he could have lived longer, he’s a really compelling and interesting character.

I feel like some viewers have carelessly misunderstood Willy because of that scene in the carriage. They're like 'wow, he really hates and shames his own people huh?' but at the beginning of the episode we all saw his abundance of children. Would it not have been extremely contradictory if he had truly wanted the extinction of all Eldians and then at the same time did the complete opposite by mass-reproducing a small army of Eldian children? Maybe that's why that scene was added to the start of the episode, to keep people away from mischaracterising him. Unfortunately, this may have simply been missed or overlooked by some.

they should had polish the damn episode instead of fillers.

Loved it! Mappa is killing it with the episode additions

Reading the manga, I truly didn't even consider the possibility that these were Willy's children because he is so obviously a ~*bachelor*~. Like, it didn't even cross my mind that those children weren't his little nieces and nephews because he is suuuuch a Theater Gay. Nothing can change my mind.

Wait a minute, are these the kids in that ending slide from season 3?

IN THE ORIGINAL CHAPTER 101, MAGATH IS THE ONE WHO ADVOCATES FOR KILLING EREN INSTEAD OF EATING HIM (IN CONTRAST TO HIS SUBORDINATE KOSLOW) AND NOTES THAT “THE AGE OF TITANS IS OVER.” IN THE ADAPTATION, MAGATH INSTEAD ADVOCATES FOR EATING EREN, NOTING THAT KILLING HIM WOULD ONLY PROLONG THE PROBLEM. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CHANGE? 305 Responses

A minor dialogue change didn’t seem to have much of an effect on nearly half of respondents, with 47.5% saying they’re indifferent to the change. 43.3% like the change much better, feeling that it works a lot better with future story developments and makes more sense. A handful didn’t care for the change and felt it tampered with Magath’s overall characterization.

I think the change was logical and more consistent with the story, but I'm naturally skeptical of any AOT manga-to-anime change.

I forgot this.

It ovewrites the flaw of Magath's original plan. Even if I think its unfitting of him, it makes sense.

I'm not sure what I feel about it. Kinda like how they added Falco having a dream back in episode 1. For now, let's just see.

I suppose the new change is a little contradictory because Magath dislikes Marley’s reliance on Titan power and rather just wishes th ey had prowess in other ways.

Realistically eating him makes more sense for them to eat Eren so they gain control of the Founder but I think Magath accepting the age of Titans is now done for is more in character.

It obviously makes more sense logistically, but I think it's important for Magath to stand opposed to Marley national policy on this front, like, symbolically.

BETWEEN UDO AND ZOFIA, WHO WOULD YOU HAVE LIKED TO SURVIVE TO RECEIVE MORE STORY IN THE MANGA? 304 Responses

Though they are minor characters, the anime seems to have made some of the fandom a bit more fond of them. Still, 38.5% wouldn’t change anything about their fates, stating that they were necessary for Gabi to develop further as a character. 28% would rather neither of them died and are curious about how they would have developed if they lived to see another day. 23.7% say if they had to pick only one of them, it would be Udo due to his relevant commentary. A handful leaned toward Zofia, wishing they could have learned more about her.

Udo. But at the same time Isayama can barely handle all the characters that are still alive so Udo probably wouldn't get a lot of screen time anyway.

Zofia. I didn't care about her while reading the manga, but in the anime she was more unique. I liked her stoic voice a lot. Zofia and Gabi should have switch the places.

None cus i don't like Gabi

Both or neither. One would be just a third wheel to Gabi and Falco. I would love to see more of Udo and Zofia but I think their deaths were important

Udo and zofia's deaths hurt so bad. I didn't particularly care for either of them when reading the manga but i grown attracted to them in the anime. Udo's in particular breaks me. He was such a energic kid and he... got trampled to death. I'm just...

Neither. Both were serving an enemy nation and deserved what they got.

They weren't important to me so I don't really care

OPINION ON HOW THE ATTACK ON LIBERIO WAS PORTRAYED? 306 Responses

47.1% of respondents didn’t want to pick sides, stating that the attack was tragic in both mediums of the story-telling. 25.8% felt that it was much more devastating in animated form alongside the sound, music and voice acting. 18.3% felt a bigger impact while reading the manga.

Both versions are devastating, but Manga hit harder bc I just was so confused and couldn't stop trying to figure out wtf Eren was doing and why. Watching it knowing what I know made it somehow more devastating and yet also more palatable (bc I have a better understanding.)

It was more devastating in the manga. Especially Udo's death scene

I think I have to wait until the battle is over. So far it's alright.

Loved it

It gave me more emotions in the manga.

They got what they deserved

It was far more devastating in trailer 🙄

WE FINALLY HAVE A NAME FOR LADY TYBUR - LARA! THOUGHTS? 307 Responses

One of the few characters left with no name after the large guidebook released a few years ago, Lady Tybur was all we could call her (aside from fan-given names). Now she has an official name! 26.7% found it neat that we finally got this official detail. 25.4% feel that now they can finally sleep at night. 17.6% are forever grateful for the name drop and hated waiting so long for it. 15.3% don’t care at all and 11.7% feel this confirms that Isayama is a fan of Tomb Raider.

Not what I was expecting and wasn't expecting her to get a name. At least people can stop calling her Emma or those other dumbass meme names.

Cool. Next up: names for the Blouse kids, right? Right right?

I'm not kidding when I say I literally jumped up and screeched "SHE HAS A NAME!!!"

she didn't need it. she was the mysterious lady t.

Lara was more lucky than Traute, who got more panels in the manga but her name was mentioned only in the guidebook.

Still died

WHICH SCENE FROM THE PREVIEW ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO? 306 Responses

Of all the shots in the preview, 45.1% of respondents were most looking forward to Levi’s staged attack on Zeke. 17% favored seeing Mikasa assist Eren, 15% were most looking forward to seeing Falco emerge from the basement to see the carnage outside. 10.1% were stoked to see Pieck enter the battlefield. The episode has aired as of the publishing of these poll results - we hope these scenes lived up to the hype (even though we guessed one wrong lol).

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE EPISODE?

I enjoyed the episode very much. I felt that the CGI was handled fairly well given the time restraints. However, there were a few instances where it was a bit jarring like Eren eating Willy, Eren pulling the WHT's cord, Mikasa landing on Eren, and Jean climbing up on the roof. Also some of the CGI models looked a bit weird for the scouts. I'm hoping some of these issues can be improved on in the Blue-ray version. Overall, these issues were noticeable but didn't take too much away from my enjoyment of the episode.

As much as I don't like the CGI, episode was great.

Just that it was fantastic and I can't wait for the next one!

The music is top notch. I love it. Especially the new version of XL TT near the end

After re-visiting the trailer we got for this season, it's just....saddening. Everyone was wondering how Mappa was gonna animate AoT and after seeing that trailer, all that effort by the animators, I thought "it's in good hands!". Now that we're getting the episodes and it's underwhelming. I don't blame the Mappa animators at all and cgi is unavoidable at some moments. But whoever are the higher ups who said "animate this in the shortest amount of time" ARE the assholes. It's so upsetting for this anime and the workers of it to be brought down like this :'(

Continuing to enjoy the pictures on the page come to life in the anime.

It was pretty amazing, I was waiting for so long to see this part animated! Aaand I'm so happy I got to see again the scouts! (expecially Connie, my personal fav)

Erwin should had lived instead of Armin, so Erwin can nuke Marley dropping from a blimp

I really liked it! I don't understand all the critics about the animation. It looks really neat and smooth

the SC backlit in that final scene was sickkkkk

It was different from the manga, but all the differences just improved the storytelling and fleshed out the people in Marley. Well done, MAPPA!

aaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

I’m just grateful Mappa actually gives a shit about adapting the story properly. That alone makes this season a 9/10 for me cause that’s rare to see in the anime industry these days.

THE OST WAS FIRE

Gabi's voice acting was amazing this episode ! Also, it feels good to hear the ODM gear sound effect again. The CGI didn't keep me from enjoying the fight, we got awesome camera movements and good choreography, I'm very hopeful for next episode ! Also best boy Onyankopon might appear soon ?

I seriously do not know why people are complaining. It was amazing! Can't wait for the next episodes, it's going to be action-packed and intense!

I don't know if I liked the episode or not. I usually prefer manga so even episodes I like I prefer their manga versions but there is something in off with the episode and usually, Titans fight are more excited but this one Nah it was not at all. War hammer was great in animation it served a better understanding of its powers but the fight, in general, was like boring?? idk maybe because I am a manga reader so the titan power/character's introduction was not as thrilling as they were when I've read the chapters. anyways, there is still more of the attack on liberio in the next episode so I'll give my final thought when we conclude the arc

I really enjoyed and the CGI doesn't bother me.

I think the reason Attack Titan looks a bit off is it looks a bit thinner! Warhammer looks amazing because it's a true copy of the manga. If Attack Titan was a bit buff, I think nobody would have that much of a problem. Overall the chapter is amazing!

as much as i adored everything else i must admit... what is wrong with the character design? what happened to everyone's jaws?? i think jean, mikasa and pieck were the worst drawn. in the manga, they look flawless.

I just hope we would get actual discussions in the sub instead of circle jerking or bitching about the cgi/ost etc.

The soundtrack was epic as hell

Mappa is doing a good job, with the little time they had. But sadly, they had the capacity to do way better and I will always regret this situation. And the Jojo memes on Mikasa are on point: in that specific panel, she looks ugly and unlike her cute face in the manga. For the rest of the episode, she's well portrayed

I think this episode is a taste of what is to come. It’s one thing to read still, silent pictures of complete devastation, and it’s another thing to hear the explosions, the screaming and crying. Seeing the blood painted red instead of black and white. When Eren rumbles the world, more people will realize how evil it is, how completely irredeemable. Less people will be #teameren once they get to see it in the anime. I can’t wait to see what MAPPA has in store.

So many nice details in the battle that weren’t there in the manga, the war hammer animation was particularly great

I feel bad complaining, but this was the first episode of the season that has disappointed me at all. Every other episode I feel has elevated the manga. I don't want (and never expected) to be that person, but the CGI, especially on the humans (WHY??) was so awkward it was distracting. We also lost a little bit of expressiveness from Eren, which is kind of a big deal when there's so little from him to begin with.

Soundtrack was lit!!!!

It is what it is. But after I finished the episode I went back to watch the trailer and got sad that the season just isn't going to look like that. It's not bad by any means and I understand that these are people, not robots working on this with an extremely tight schedule. This entitled fanbase is super embarrassing with it's behavior and harassment of the people working on it. I kind of hope the final arc doesn't get animated now because these people don't deserve it.

Awesome! I was a bit distracted how the pacing was, cutting a bit weirdly from one episode to another, but I really enjoyed it!

That closeup of Eren's Titan after he nom'd Willy is NUTS.

It was emotionless and almost boring. The sound director keeps fucking up big time. I didnt feel anything close to the hype I felt watching the Armored/Colossal reveal animated. There were no exciting goosebumps, or tears. Nothing. Also the CGI was terrible. There were good things, but I expected much more for suck a climatic episode

It was a good episode after all, graphic was ok but i think that if they continued with the same titan 2d animation of first episodes and maybe changed a bit some sound it would have been waaay better. Still a good episode imho

The episode was very average. I'm not trying to complain, I know that the anime is mostly for anime-onlines, while we have a manga, but I expected better. I imagined the titan fight to be smooth, but in reality both - WHT and AT - moved like two, fat elephants. In the manga I felt that WHT was fast like a wind. In the anime Lara was slow, she looked like she had a hard time to even hold her hammer. The moment between Eren and Mikasa was disappointing. In the anime when Mikasa was upset about Eren's actions, he was completely unfeeling, while in the manga we see him being full of emotions and almost crying. I know he will turn into a cold bastard but MAPPA shouldn't dehumanize Eren so much now. I was surprised by Connie's glow up. MAPPA has done better job with him. In the manga he still looks like a kid, while MAPPA made him more mature-looking and masculine. That's good for underrated Connie. I'm grateful for the scene between Willy and his children. This way he feels more sympathetic and isn't ""just a guy who declared a war and was eaten by Eren"".

I really like how the warriors and Marleyans seem to be getting a somewhat equal amount of screen time as the scouts have gotten after they've come into the picture. I hope this helps to make clear for the anime-onlies that understanding the experiences, emotions and the development of the other side is just as important as understanding those of the scouts/Paradis.

WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES? 279 Responses

Thank you again to everyone who participated!

#snk poll #snk polls #shingeki no kyojin #attack on titan #snk #aot #snk s4

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aion-rsa · 3 years

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Holiday Gift Guide 2020: Books for Geeks

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The holiday season is probably going to look very different this year, but there’s one thing that hasn’t changed: the sacred ritual of gift-giving. While we might not be able to gather in the same way for the 2020 holiday season, we can still let the people in our lives know how much they mean to us with the perfect gift (and maybe get ourselves something nice while we’re at it—we deserve it).

We here at Den of Geek believe there is no better gift than a good book and, with nerd culture still very much mainstream culture, there is no shortage of geeky books to get the nerd in your life. From Star Wars and Star Trek to Outlander and Wheel of Time to those speculative fiction books that broke into the zeitgeist this year without a franchise to support them, here’s a list of books we recommend for every kind of geek…

Editor’s note: Den of Geek may receive a small commission from items purchased through the links in this story.

The Eye of the World 30th Anniversary Edition by Robert Jordan

For the “Wheel of Time” fan in your life.

We’re all excited about the forthcoming Amazon Prime adaptation of the Wheel of Time series, especially long-time fans of Jordan’s fantasy epic. It’s been 30 years since the series launched, and this special 30th Anniversary Edition of the first book in the series, The Eye of the World, helps capture all the magic of reading the book for the first time. This edition features a new introduction by Brandon Sanderson, a hardcover stamp of the snake-wheel symbol so important to the series, redesigned jacket art, and a ribbon bookmark. Whether you want to give this to a longtime fan or whether you’re hoping to hook an epic fantasy reader on the series, the high production value on this special edition makes for a great gift.

Buy The Eye of the World 30th Anniversary Edition by Robert Jordan

The Wintertime Paradox: Festive Stories from the World of Doctor Who by Dave Rudden

For the Doctor Who fan in your life.

This spin on Doctor Who features twelve stories in the “Whoverse” all set on or around Christmas. While the holiday doesn’t play an important feature in many of the stories, visions of the Doctor’s Christmas Past, Present, and Future are sure to entertain. Though most likely to appeal to fans of the series, this is also a collection marketed toward children, which makes it possible to share your love of the series with a young person in your life.

Buy The Wintertime Paradox: Festive Stories from the World of Doctor Who by Dave Rudden

Heroes’ Feast: The Official Dungeons and Dragons Cookbook

For the gamer in your life.

While cooking these recipes isn’t as simple as casting the titular spell, it does contain eighty recipes for fantasy inspired feasts. In addition to the recipes—some of which may be a little challenging for beginners, as they start from scratch rather than premade ingredients—the foods come with lore about the foods from the familiar Dungeons and Dragons cultures. Included are recipes for Feywild Eggs, “Orc” Bacon, Dwarven Mulled Wine, and Halfling Heartland’s Rose Apple and Blackberry Pie. Making some of these for game night might be a challenge, but Halfling-style Melted Cheeses with Chunky Tomato Broth sounds so good, your giftee won’t even mind if some spills on their character sheet.

Buy Heroes’ Feast: The Official Dungeons and Dragons Cookbook

Rebel Sisters by Tochi Onyebuchi

For the anti-war, YA fan in your life.

It’s been a big year for Onyebuchi, with this second book in his “War Girls” series and his first adult novel, Riot Baby, hitting the shelves. Onyebuchi’s Afrofuturist YA features nineteen year old Ify as a respected medical officer on the Space Colonies, and Uzo, a synth who’s working to preserve the memories and history of wartorn Nigeria. When a virus hits the Space Colonies, Ify must return to Nigeria for answers—even though she’d pledged to leave her homeland behind. For readers who love strong Black girls leading the action in a space-bound future, this is a fantastic pick.

Buy Rebel Sisters by Tochi Onyebuchi

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini

For the Eragon and space opera fan.

Fantasy readers remember Christopher Paolini from “The Inheritance Cycle,” published for YA readers, which were filled with dragons and magic. But Paolini’s first adult novel heads into space, introducing the Fractalverse setting, and focusing on a xenobiologist whose encounter with an ancient, alien artifact sends her across the galaxy, where the fate of humanity rests on her shoulders. This is a great choice for fans who grew up on Paolini’s YA novels, or for readers who like doorstopper sci fi.

Buy To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini

The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

For fans of The Strain.

The Strain had four seasons on FX, and the horror drama procedural won fans and awards. The show was based on a trilogy of novels from master of horror Guillermo del Toro and literary heavyweight Chuck Hogan, who have now reunited on a fresh series. The Hollow Ones follows a young FBI agent who discovers an otherworldly evil when it takes over her partner—and forces her to kill him in self defense. For fans who love their procedurals with a heavy dose of horror, this is sure to keep their spines tingling.

Buy The Hollow Ones by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian by Phil Szostak

For fans of Baby Yoda.

The Mandalorian has clearly been a breakout show for Disney+, putting new life into the Star Wars universe, and featuring everyone’s favorite new character, The Child (aka Baby Yoda). The end of each episode features concept art designed for the show, and for viewers who love seeing where the ideas germinated, The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian is a fantastic way to dig into the details of the first season.

Buy The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian by Phil Szostak

Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas

For queer paranormal romance lovers.

Yadriel is determined to prove himself as a brujo—even though his family hasn’t accepted him as a boy. But when he raises the wrong spirit while trying to solve the mystery of his cousin’s death, everything gets more complicated. In our review, we praised the book for its groundbreaking depiction of trans identity in Latinx culture and called it “a riveting, romantic read filled with paranormal wonder.” Fans who loved the queer romance reveal in She-Ra won’t be able to stop turning pages.

Buy Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas

Seven of Infinities by Aliette de Bodard

For the lover of science fiction sleuths.

This latest in de Bodard’s Xuya universe features an unlikely pair of detectives teaming up to solve a murder. Vân is a poor scholar hiding her possession of an illegal implant. Sunless Woods is a mindship who is also a thief and master of disguise. The pair have to work together to solve a murder—and unravel their own secrets. For readers who enjoyed de Bodard’s previous The Tea Master and the Detective or enjoy a good detective tale in space, this is a sure hit.

Buy Seven of Infinities by Aliette de Bodard

Super Mario: Manga Mania by Yukio Sawada

For the NES nostalgic.

It’s the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros! This is the first Super Mario manga ever available in English, and for classic NES fans nostalgic for the good old days of their vintage system, the zany adventures contained in this volume hit all the right notes.

Buy Super Mario: Manga Mania by Yukio Sawada

Sal and Gabi Break / Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez

For the young reader in your life.

The Sal and Gabi duology (Sal and Gabi Break the Universe and Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe) are ostensibly about a boy who can reach through the multiverse and bring things through to his part of reality—but they’re also about friendship, finding common ground, being your best self, and sentient AI. Most middle grade books depict middle school as an evil horrible place, as much an antagonist as the book’s real villain. The Sal and Gabi books do away with all of that. Not only is Culeco Academy the coolest middle school ever, the series manages to ramp up all the tension and drama needed without having an actual villain. (Even the people who seem villainous at first turn out to be different from expected.) These are a delight for adult readers who love middle grade fiction, but they’re even more important for middle schoolers, who deserve to see kids their age saving the multiverse in communities full of hope and love.

Buy Sal and Gabi Break / Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez

Outlander Knitting: The Official Book of 20 Knits Inspired by the Hit Series by Kate Atherley

For the crafter in your life.

For fans of either Diana Gabaldon’s time-travel romance novel series or the hit Starz adaptation, this collection of patterns inspired by the show will transport your crafting friend into the Scottish Highlands. Featured among the projects are clothing, accessories, and decorations for the home.

Buy Outlander Knitting: The Official Book of 20 Knits Inspired by the Hit Series by Kate Atherley

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

For horror fans.

Compared favorably to horror-master Stephen King’s It, this classic revenge horror seamlessly combines elements of social commentary and drama. The story follows for American Indian men who, as childhood friends, experienced a disturbing event together. Now, the past has come back with a vengeance, and there’s no avoiding the violence they tried to leave behind. Jones is making his mark in the world of horror, and this is a not-to-be-missed thriller.

Buy The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

Teen Titans: Raven and Beast Boy box set by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

For DC fans.

Garcia and Picolo’s Raven and Beast Boy origin stories reinvent the characters for an audience who may have already met them in kid-friendly Teen Titans Go! or adult-aimed Titans. While the comic versions presented here draw on those previous incarnations, the stories are self-contained, giving readers both familiar and new to the DC series a chance to experience them for the first time. This hardcover box set gives the books an extra gift-worthy feeling.

Buy Teen Titans: Raven and Beast Boy box set by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

Thorn by Intisar Khanani

For the friend who needs a fresh fairy tale.

In this retelling of “The Goose Girl,” reluctant Princess Alyrra is happy to have escaped royal life. But when she learns of a plot against the prince, she must decide whether to reclaim the heritage she wanted to leave behind, or let the kingdom fall. This beautiful hardcover edition also features an additional short story set in the same world.

Buy Thorn by Intisar Khanani

Dinosaurs: The Grand Tour, Second Edition: Everything Worth Knowing about Dinosaurs from Aardonyx to Zuniceratops by Keiron Pim

For Jurassic World and other dinosaur fans.

While the 2020 entry into the Jurassic World franchise, Camp Cretaceous, was geared toward younger viewers, plenty of adults never grow out of their love of dinosaurs. And why should they? These prehistoric terrors continue to be amazing—and modern scientists continue to make new discoveries on an almost weekly basis. This huge guide to dinosaur species offers references for more than 300 species full of colorful illustrations that show these titans in all their (feathery!) glory.

Buy Dinosaurs—The Grand Tour, Second Edition: Everything Worth Knowing about Dinosaurs from Aardonyx to Zuniceratops by Keiron Pim

The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin

For the SFF connoisseur.

This series starter is set in a contemporary New York—but the city is coming to life. But a city killer is trying to stop New York from evolving, and the city’s mortal avatars are the target of its plans. It’s not uncommon to hear people considering N. K. Jemisin the best modern writer of speculative fiction, bar none, so picking up The City We Became, her most recent novel, is a no brainer if you’re buying for someone who likes smart, quality SFF.

Buy The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin

Cyber Shogun Revolution by Peter Tieryas

For the mecha enthusiast.

This triumphant conclusion to Tieryas’s United States of Japan trilogy, which can be read as a stand-alone, takes place in an alternate reality where Japan and Germany won World War II and divided the United States between them. An assassin known as Bloody Mary is determined to eliminate corruption from within the United States of Japan, regardless of the cost. It’s up to a secret police agent and a star mecha pilot to stop her, but determining enemies from friends is almost impossible. Tieryas balances the super cool world of mecha battles and spy action with searing social commentary and ethical questions, making this a challenging but imminently worthwhile read for fans of Pacific Rim.

Buy Cyber Shogun Revolution by Peter Tieryas

Star Trek: The Wisdom of Picard by Chip Carter

For the Star Trek fan in your life.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard has always been quotably wise. In this collection, Chip Carter pulls together some of the greatest lines, featuring Picard’s thoughts on leadership, justice, and space exploration. The quotes are accompanied by photography from iconic scenes of The Next Generation, making this a perfect gift for the Star Trek fan who already has everything.

Buy Star Trek: The Wisdom of Picard by Chip Carter

Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis

For fans of Arrival and Stranger Things.

This first contact story from Hugo-nominated video-essayist Ellis is set in an alternate 2007. In the world of the novel, Cora’s father has blown the whistle on the first contact cover up. Cora herself wants nothing to do with aliens, but when one of the aliens decides Cora is the only human he’ll talk to, she’s stuck in the middle of everything. For lovers of aliens and conspiracy theories, this is one to pick up.

Buy Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis

Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud

For lovers of YA court intrigue.

In this sequel to Daud’s Mirage, Amani, who has been forced to serve as the body double for Princess Maram, is on her last chance. The princess discovered Amani’s connection to the rebellion, and now Maram is suspicious of anything Amani does. Yet Amani is dedicated to the cause of seeing her people free, which means she has to make a choice: continue to work from within the palace and risk her life, or flee and risk her people. For a female-centered plot that deals with consequences of colonialism, this series conclusion and its predecessor are a sure hit.

Buy Court of Lions by Somaiya Daud

Star Wars From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back

For the Star Wars fan.

Called “one of the best Star Wars books released this year” in our Den of Geek review, this anthology is packed with stories from authors both well-known and unfamiliar, whose works delve into the lives of central and side characters from The Empire Strikes Back. While some explore relationships between key characters (Luke, Leia, Obi-wan), others tackle the points of view of previously unnamed creatures (Sy-O, the space slug that swallows the Millenium Falcon). The stories are sometimes delightfully weird, other times grim or tender, and all a good gift choice for the Star Wars fan whose favorite film is still Empire.

Buy Star Wars From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back

Remina by Junji Ito

For the manga fan.

This science fiction horror story centers on Dr. Oguro, who discovers a planet that has emerged from a wormhole and names it after his daughter, Remina. But as the girl Remina rises to fame, the planet shifts its course, threatening all life on Earth. Could Remina herself be the cause? This chilling story is a classic from Eisner-winner Junji Ito newly released for an English-reading audience.

Buy Remina by Junji Ito

Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee by Shannon Lee

For the martial arts enthusiast.

For friends who like a little more grounded, real-world take, this exploration of Bruce Lee’s philosophies, written by his daughter, offer insight into the legendary martial artist. Although this title offers no martial arts tips, it is full of philosophy, untold stories, and inspirational takes from the cultural icon.

Buy Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee by Shannon Lee

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

For the lover of gothic horror.

When her cousin begs her to come rescue her from a mysterious doom, Noemí heads to a house in the Mexican countryside. As she looks into the secrets of both the house and her newly-wed cousin’s husband, Noemí finds that there’s more danger—real and supernatural—than she ever imagined. Set in the 1950s, this supernatural horror blends elements of Rebecca and science fiction for a chilling novel perfect for lovers of classic gothics.

Buy Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Marvel Greatest Comics: 100 Comics That Built a Universe

For the Marvel fan.

In a collection that spans the entire history of Marvel comics, characters like the Human Torch, Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the Guardians of the Galaxy show their historical origins. If you have a fan who’s waiting impatiently for the next MCU offering, this collection of some of Marvel’s defining comics from the company’s history may be just what they need to tide them over.

Buy Marvel Greatest Comics: 100 Comics that Built a Universe

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar

For lovers of mythology and fairy tales.

Billed as Neil Gaiman’s Stardust meets Hindi mythology, this debut novel centers on the daughter of a star and a mortal. Sheetal tries to be normal, but when her starfire accidentally hurts her mortal father, she must travel to the celestial court in order to save him. The combination of court intrigue, mythology, and a fairy-tale like tone is perfect for YA lovers.

Buy Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar

Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews

For the romantic who needs a great stocking stuffer.

Although better known for the popular Kate Daniels series, the Ilona Andrews team (husband and wife Ilona and Gordon) has knocked it out of the park with the most recent installment in their “Hidden Legacy” series. There are now five novels and a novella in the series, with Emerald Blaze as the second book of a second arc, but while the book is most likely to resonate with readers already introduced to the character, it’s also a stand-alone magic-spy-action-adventure-romance. Despite that blend of genres, Team Andrews melds it all together in a world with both super cool magic and an alternate-reality Instagram, featuring characters you want to hang out with regardless of the stakes. The mass-market size also makes it perfect to slip into a stocking!

Buy Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews

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kitchenlegrecords · 3 years

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Out end of the month: Gabrielas

Gabrielas’ self titled tape for Kitchen Leg records features seven haunting songs by the artist, a radio snippet, a jingle from Mumbles and an unreleased track by the Berliner duo Floating Eggs. Out end of March!

https://kitchenlegrecords.tumblr.com/Gabrielas

Gabrielas, performed by a person called Martin Raack.

Does this name even exist as a living personality?

What is known so far: the name appears in other musical connections such as Bisons, Broken Jokes, Raack.nerei Falk, Rongkong Comas Crime Club, Härte Blüte and Hier Für Zeit. All these experiments together are a rough drawer-style mix of Musique Concrète, New Weird Saxony, Lo-Fi, Noise Folk, Ambient, Krautrock and Post New Wave Pop. So here it is. Gabrielas. Gabrielas does not see itself as a solo project. Gabrielas is a body made up of conversations with the artist Franziska Barcsay about feminism, friendship with Floating Eggs and people like Christine de Pizan and Sojourner Truth whom should never be forgotten. Cherish dreams. Live utopia. Dance with Gabi!

https://brokenjokes.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/raack.nerei_falk/

Floating Eggs is a Berlin-based band consisting of Marie Baumgarten of VORSICHT KINDER and Lars Bösch.

An oral tradition has it that the following story took place.

The North German sailor Lars and the East Saxon landlubber Martin met in a small Neukölln galley. Lars dancing, cooking and sweating. Martin dragging, hungry and thirsty. As a token of his love for his culinary arts, Lars received a tape from Martin a few days later. That was the moment that Martin found out that Lars does musical arts with Marie as Floating Eggs. Many afternoons, evenings and sandwiches both tried to describe their music with words. But then. One evening, Lars had finished work and went ashore. He and Martin were sitting in the port of Schilling.

With beer it was sealed what this tape is now.

Let’s set sail together!

#gabrielas #martin raack #new weird saxony #floating eggs #experimental #pop #ambient #noise folk #new tape

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matriarchcomputer · 4 years

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ASKS

anonymous asked:

Why does Solo ask Sanders if he is a little tired this morning? I never got that

From my understanding, it was Solo being a little tongue-in-cheek. Sanders was being grumpy about the German people (West Germany), in his opinion, being ungrateful to America, but he believes that inside them all, there’s a potential American. Solo’s facial expression was a bit of a ‘oh, gosh, where is this coming from?’ which prompts him to say “a little tired this morning, sir” which if I were to translate that in to modern speech would be “DID YOU HAVE A NAP TODAY?” But idk. That’s just how I took it—could be wrong!

anonymous asked:

An animated man from uncle film would be cool. The art style would be like Archer or Yellow Submarine. Realistically I wouldn’t mind just reading the script.

Yeah, having a new script would just be the best! Which voice actors do you think would fit?

anonymous asked:

Armie is basic/thirsty and Alicia is boring so I'd be ecstatic if they made TMFU into an animated series, maybe with a style like Archer but more serious.

Can’t totally disagree with that (Armie as Illya is probably the only role I think he’s been good in oops.) An animated serious would be interesting. I just adore tmfu characters so much. I’d like a TV series that was a mix of Person of Interest (in its seriousness) and Leverage.

anonymous asked:

There's a good biography by a real life KGB defector called 'Next Stop Execution' that goes into detail about life as a KGB officer/double agent and the writer's ultimate decision to defect to the West in the 1980s and how he goes about doing it. About 10 years after publishing the book and 20 years after defecting the Russian government still tried to poison the guy. Life as a KGB defector would never bring anyone peace.

Thanks for the recommendation! I’ve have to take a look at the book. Sounds like defecting would make Illya’s life far more difficult! Doesn’t sound like there would ever truly be a win scenario for him… he’d always have to look over his shoulder… I wonder what would motivate him to believe defecting was his best option….

anonymous asked:

Why do you think the movie didn’t get a lot of attention and a sequel

There are probably a lot of factors involved that I don’t know about like, like marketing, or something. Maybe because the lead cast weren’t all considered A list actors (Tom Cruise was supposed to play the role of Solo, which I’m so glad that didn’t happen, but a lot of people would have watched because of Tom Cruise). I think the main problem (if you can call it that) I see with movie (mind you, I love the movie, but I’m also a script editor) is that:

There is no strong overarching theme introduced.

You could make the case that it was about loyalty, or perhaps family? Maybe? But it’s not really strong. The audience it’s left with a conclusion to a story theme.

Predictable plot twist

Most people I’ve talked to about the movie say they saw it coming that Gaby was going to betray them/be a spy.

Simple plot.

American must team up with Russian to stop a criminal organization from acquiring an atom bomb. Find bomb, stop bad guys. Done. And there weren’t many strong subplots.

Here’s the thing though, what this tells me is that the movie wasn’t written like a movie—it was written like a TV pilot. Good TV pilots have simple plots because, like a show like The Man From UNCLE or Leverage or Doctor Who or a detective show, you want it to be character driven and to be able to “reset to zero” at the end of each episode. That’s why tmfu fandom has so many great headcanons and fanfics—because you have a lot of freedom to go places with the characters but still reset the story to zero at the end of the adventure. You don’t have to do the same general problem every episode (like season 1 of Stranger Things, for instance, there is something about the Upside Down or the Demogorgon or Eleven every episode that needs to be addressed.) In The Man From UNCLE, you can have a story about finding a bomb in Italy one movie/episode, and another dealing with a problem completely different in Istanbul, to stopping criminals in Minnesota. Another factor with the movie, I find, as mentioned before, is that it is very character focused. There are a lot of tiny details about the characters that might be left out of streamlined in a movie script. Again, great for TV, but not always great for a movie (I’m being general, not all movies and tv shows are like that, but there is a certain consensus on what audiences prefer to watch or rewatch). Movies are more about plot/theme. TV is more about character. If the movie have been a TV pilot, it would be on season 6 by now.

Idk, I’m rambling

sorry.

#tmfu #ignore my garabge what do i know #asks #anon #thanks for all the asks #the man from unc #ramblings #ain't gonna proofread this

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purplesurveys · 5 years

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418

Girly Do you like the color pink? It’s my favorite color. My phone case, wallet, purse, expander, water jug, two notebooks, backpack, pencilcase, clipboard, and paper clips are all pink. What have you spent more money on: a purse or a pair of shoes? Definitely shoes. I have one purse but I didn’t even spend on it, as it was a gift from my tita who was coming over to the Philippines. Do you ever wear heels? I have pairs of heels but people in the PH are so conservative and judgy that you can’t really dress up without them looking at you. As much as I want to wear my heels to places, I can only do so when I go to parties or other special occasions. What are the most stylish but uncomfortable shoes you own? I dunno, I find all of them pretty comfortable. Do you have any shoes you mostly only wear for photo shoots? No...I never have any photoshoots.

What's your all-time favorite lipstick (brand and color)? I don’t do makeup. Do you buy drugstore make-up or high-end make-up? What dog breed do you think you look the most like? Hahahahahahaha what omg

Do you like light blue jeans or dark blue jeans better? Light blue. I think they’re more trendy at the moment. What are your favorite type of pants to wear? I like my high-waisted ripped jeans! They’re super casual and can match any top. I wear it if I just want a chill day. What's the last good love story you read? I haven’t read those in a hot minute. Who is/was the most romantic of your friends? Jo I think, but I’m pretty sure it would be JM if he finally finds someone. Have you ever had a magical kiss? Always. Do you like kissing or hugs better? Hugs!!! Retro Do you own any records? No. I don’t have a turntable to play them on. Do you own a pair of bell-bottoms? Also no. I was never a fan. Have you ever tie-dyed anything? We had to tie-dye a shirt for a project in like sixth grade, but I’ve never done it just because I felt like it. What's one oldies song you like? We Didn’t Start the Fire. Do you think Disco is a cute name for a boy? Not at all. Poor kid. Do you own a lava lamp or disco ball? I own neither, but I wanted my own lava lamp really bad when I was like 14. Did you own a disco light when you were younger? I don’t think I did. Have you ever put a dime in a jukebox? Haven’t. The few times I ate at Johnny Rockets they had a jukebox, but I didn’t go near it because I was shy. When was the last time you went to the roller rink? We don’t have any here. Do you wear hoop earrings ever? I have a pair of clip-on hoop earrings I wear at least once a week. Do you own a kaleidoscope? No. I probably did when I was younger. Have you ever done hard drugs? No. Tumblr What are three of your favorite Starbucks drinks? Java chip frappe, caramel macchiato (iced or warm is fine), and peppermint mocha are my go-tos. Do you have photos on the wall in your room? Yeah but they’re nothing like the Tumblr aesthetic you’re probably asking for. I have frames of Audrey Hepburn on one wall and a poster of a Korean actor that I love, but that’s about it. If you own/owned a Polaroid camera, which color would/do you have? I’ve never had one but my sister just bought her own Instax the other week that I plan to borrow. It’s brown if I remember correctly. Have you ever done a craft with a record? if so, what? No. I don’t think I’d want to put my hands on a record like that either. What's one of the best Tumblr-inspired craft projects you've seen? Meh. I haven’t seen the crafty side of Tumblr since 2010. Do you have a Tumblr account? I wonder. Which do you like better: Tumblr or Pinterest? Tumblr for surveys and memes, Pinterest for ideas. Do you have a mandala tapestry hanging in your home? No...that screams 2014 to me. Do you own any succulents? I never got into plants. Fake succulents or real succulents? Do you doodle on your notebook paper? When I get bored in class, yes. Do you own Sharpies? Mmmm no, I don’t really need them for anything. What's your favorite Sharpie color? What color are your Converse shoes? White. I used to have a pair of red high-top Chucks as tribute to AJ, but I think my mom threw them out already because I stopped wearing them. Have you ever made an inspiration board for your room? No. Who is the best-looking male celebrity? Gregory Peck. Boho Where would you like to travel to next? Thailand or Vietnam, hopefully! List three more vacations you would like to go on. I want to go back to Singapore, then go to those two I mentioned above. Where are three places you go to relax? My room, the beach, a cafe. Are you a musician, artist, or writer? None of these, but writer speaks to me the most. Do you believe in truth, freedom, and love? ...Sure. What is your favorite store at the mall? I don’t have one I normally go to. Would you hitchhike if people were generally trustworthy? If I had the time, yep. What's the most daring thing you've ever done? Every time I overtake or be an ass on the road (because everyone else is) always feels daring lmao. Would you ever belly dance at a faire? No. If you became famous, would you change your name to something exotic? Idk, that’s kinda racist/appropriating. What are five exotic names that you like? What exactly are exotic names???? Do you own a dreamcatcher? Yeah, I have a large one above my bed. Do you feel closer to God in nature? No. Fashion What are five things that were in style when you were in high school? Roshes, ripped jeans, crop tops, statement shirts lmao, and hoodies. What does your favorite scarf that you've made look like? I don’t need scarves and more so have I not made my own. Do you wear scarves? No. It’s too hot for scarves. List the different colors of jeggings and/or skinny jeans that you have. White, black, dark blue, light blue, khaki. What color is your favorite pair of shorts? Black. What color is your favorite sweater? The XXL one Gabie gave me to use whenever I miss her is gray. List five people whom you think have great style. Audrey Hepburn, one of the profs in my college that has an impeccable wardrobe, Kate, Sophia, and tbh my aunts.

List five of some of the worst trends you've seen. I don’t feel like it. List five items on your current wardrobe wish list. More heels, high-waisted shorts, a new jumpsuit, a party dress for the year-end college party in May, and tube tops. Where do you shop the most for clothes? H&M. Do you own anything leopard print? No. Never. Do you wear earmuffs? I don’t need them. What color are your favorite pair of boots? I don’t really wear boots. Music What song makes you cry? Recently, it’s Louis Tomlinson’s singles- at least the ones dedicated to his mom. What could be the theme song to your life? That’s a pretty bold claim...but uhhh probably Misguided Ghosts by Paramore. What is a good break-up song? Walking in the Wind, One Direction. What song makes you want to dance? Any high-energy Beyonce song tbh. What is one of your all-time favorite songs? From Eden, Hozier. What is your current favorite song? Three straight surveys that this was asked. Talk, by Khalid. Which show has a great theme song? I don’t watch a lot of shows, so I wouldn’t know. Which song is so catchy it's easy to get stuck in your head? Depends on my mood and what my head prefers to play at the moment. Which song is used in a lot of youtube videos? Royalty-free ones? Idk. Which song is sad? The entire soundtrack of New Moon lmao. Who makes great song covers on YouTube? I don’t like covers. Who is one of the best songwriters? HOZIER Who has a beautiful voice? Also Hozier. Who made it big fast? Idk, it’s pretty easy to make it big fast nowadays thanks to social media. Arts and Crafts List five DIY youtubers you love to watch. I hate DIY YouTube. Who makes the best craft videos? Have you ever painted rocks and hid them in your town? No. Even if I had the time to, the idea doesn’t sound exciting. What craft project is harder than it looks? All of them, I would guess. Have you ever got hot glue stuck to your hands? Nooooo no no, that’s one of my biggest fears. Are you messy when it comes to painting? I’m messy in and out of painting. What color is your cutting board? Would you rather build something or decorate something? I’d rather buy something that��s already built and decorated. Just really not an artsy person so this category is not for me haha. Have you ever painted something on canvas? Never. I couldn’t, even if I tried. List a few of your favorite painters. Monet. Do you love the brand Natural Life? I don’t think I recognize the name. Do you love the brand Lisa Frank? Yessssss my girl Lisa used to be the bomb dot com. Oil pastels or chalk pastels? Which do you prefer, and why? Oil...they look nicer for me? And I’ve never heard of chalk pastels until now. Glitter gel pens or regular gel pens? Glitter. Colored pencil or regular pencil? Colored pencils, because I love coloring books. Charcoal or colored chalk? Chalk. Charcoal is messy. Painting or drawing? I hate both. Painting that shows brushstrokes or painting that looks like a photograph? I’d rather see the brushstrokes. Knitting or crocheting? I hate them both too. Sewing on a machine or doing embroidery by hand? Color or black-and-white? Color. Digital photography or film photography? Classic film.

#survey #surveys

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lalka-laski · 3 years

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What are your goals for April? I like this question! I think my goals are to be more physically active, take my supplements & vitamins more diligently, and limit my alcohol intake as much as I can.

How do you celebrate Easter? Tomorrow I’m heading to my parents for a (boozy) brunch, then me & Glenn will pop over to his parents’ place for dinner & dessert. Yes, we will be stuffed. No, we will have no regrets!

Which flower blooms first where you live? Not a clue. But I will say we are kinda renowned for our lilacs.

In which month do the flowers bloom?

What does your umbrella look like? It’s black & boring

Do you use an umbrella when it rains? Yep, because my primary mode of transportation is walking.

Do you like getting caught in the rain? I really love the rain so most of the time I don’t mind getting caught in it on an average day.

Do you do spring cleaning every year? I mean somewhat, but I have cleaning binges regularly, regardless of season.

^If yes, do you enjoy it? Most of the time I enjoy the process, but it’s the results that are REALLY delightful.

What is the hardest part of cleaning for you? For some reason I hate vacuuming just because I hate the process of getting the vacuum from the closet, unwinding the cord, then winding it back up. I don’t know why it’s such a tedious task for me but it is! So vacuuming has become Glenn’s duty.

What is the hardest part of staying organized? Bouts of depression for sure. If I didn’t have them, my apartment would be spotless and meticulously organized every single day. But every so often I get frozen in a bleak state and can’t lift a finger. That’s when the dishes and laundry heap up and films of dust cover every surface. Then I start to spiral about how messy the apartment is and it’s a really fun cycle....

Do you have any fake flowers in your room? Yep, in almost every room of the apt actually

Do you own any succulents? Yep! Some fake, some real.

What is your favorite thing about spring? Well I LOVE the rain, of course. But I also just love the overall freshness and newness of Spring. It’s full of promise.

What is the coolest corsage you’ve ever worn? I’ve only worn one.

Do you keep a sketchbook? I used to. I’d like to get back into art journaling.

What is something you find hard to draw? Most things. I’m *decent* at drawing but I don’t have the drive or patience to do much past doodling.

What is something you find easy to draw? Simple shapes, cartoon-like doodles

What is a current style that you think is horrible? I’m approaching the age where a lot of the current trends look absurd to me. I look at the stuff my niece & nephew wear and think “seriously?”

Do you wear bright floral tops in the spring? Yes! Almost exclusively haha.

What is your favorite spring drink? Lemonade is my favorite year-round drink

Was it sunny for your senior prom pictures? Yes actually

Does hearing others have regrets, too, make you feel better? I guess so?

What’s a collection you would like to start? Hm, I can only think of collections I need to STOP.

What’s something that makes you itchy? Bar soap

Do you have any ambitions you have to keep secret from your family? Not really. I’ve always had this secret pipe dream of being an actress but I think that’s typical? And if I ever chose to pursue it, I know my family would support me.

What color socks are you wearing? White

What color is your favorite cardigan to wear in the spring? I actually don’t love the way I look in cardigans (I’m broad shouldered but flat-chested), so I only have a couple. Though I did get a cute mauve one in my Stitchfix box that I like!

What color is the sweatshirt you wear the most? Gray

Have you ever seen a double rainbow? Yep!

Have you ever seen a rainbow out your bedroom window? Yep

What’s one DIY project you’ve seen that you think will never work? I mean, quite a lot of them

If you watch Niki and Gabi, which twin is your favorite? No idea who they are

If you were an Olsen twin fan, which twin was your favorite? I loved all their straight-to-video movies growing up and I always identified more with Ashley, the girly-girl.

Have you ever been to New York? I live here

How many pictures do you have stored on your computer? On my actual computer, hardly any.

What’s one thing you’re behind the times on? Ha, as I mentioned above I’m not up-to-date on my fashion trends.

What’s one thing you want to learn how to make? Candles! Glenn got me a candle making kit for Christmas that I have yet to use.

What is your favorite dollar store? Ok I love all of them. For real, something about dollar stores gets me HYPED and I want to buy everything.

Do you have stomach issues? Acid reflux like a MFer

Have you ever “fired” a doctor? Nah

Do you use a sunlamp? No but I should.

Do you have a least favorite nurse? Uh no.

Who is someone you miss from your past? Loved ones who have passed away.

What’s one thing you would never want to do? Go on a cruise. That is a HARD NO from me.

Do you know anyone else who has your handwriting? No, actually. I’m perfectly ~*uNiQuE~*

What is the first color you ever dyed your hair? Blonde is the only color I’ve ever dyed it. Although once in 9th grade I bought brown hair dye all ready to make the leap, then had an identity crisis & backed out.

Do you fantasize about revenge when you’re angry? Honestly yes. I’d never act on any of those fantasies because they’re just that: fantasies.

Have you ever had to cut a toxic person out of your life? I’m bad at that and sadly I’ve only loosely let go of the toxic people I’ve known. It’s something I need to work on.

Do you hate it when people are narcissistic? Absolutely

Have you ever thrown a birthday party for your dog or cat? I’ve never had either pet, so.

What was the name of the pet you grew up with? Dexter

What color pants are you wearing? Black

What’s one store you wish you could afford to shop at? BRUH LIKE ALL OF THEM

What’s one big regret you have? At this point, I have none.

Do you have a lot of pillows on your bed? 8

Do you own anything from Aeropostale? I used to like their jeggings but I don’t think I own any anymore.

Have you ever tried arm knitting? No idea what that even is

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movieswithkevin27 · 6 years

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Everyone Says I Love You

Each passing film Woody Allen I watch, I love. No matter how similar they are to one another at times or the consistent themes or even the same actors popping up can dissuade me from loving his work. Yet, in saying that, there has to be a film of his that knocked me so head-over-heels that it had me laughing throughout. Most of his films are great and lose a bit of steam towards the end or go the opposite route and only start to really hit their stride towards the end. Everyone Says I Love You, however, is a film that hits all of the right notes from the very beginning. As a musical romantic comedy, the film stands as Allen’s sole musical endeavor and yet it never feels out of his nature. Using realistic singing voices (read: decent to bad), comical musical numbers, and gooey song lyrics, as he explores the nature of love, the ups and downs, and the difference in love-based actions by everybody who engages in the feeling, Everyone Says I Love You is an absolute riot. Touching on various typical Allen themes - the nature of love, philosophy, psychotherapy, atheism, mortality, the changing of times (healthy food and technology), and politics - Everyone Says I Love You is whole-heartedly a Woody Allen film but it is handled - due to the music - in such a unique way that it stands apart from the rest of his filmography and becomes its own beast. Giving him room to honor old Hollywood, satire classic musicals, and deliver all of his typical neurosis, the film is perhaps the best Woody Allen film I have seen.

As with many Allen films, the plot is manic, neurotic, and obsessive. Here, however, it takes a page out of the book of Radio Days with a large family as the center for the film. At the center are exes Joe (Woody Allen) and Steffi (Goldie Hawn). The two remain good friends, while Joe struggles repeatedly to find somebody to love as he is still hung up on Steffi. For her part, Steffi is now married to Bob (Alan Alda). Joe and Steffi had one daughter together, D.J. (Natasha Lyonne) who serves as the narrator to our tale. D.J. is boy crazy as a college-aged girl, bouncing from one soul mate to the next, swearing she loves them, and even planning to marry one of them. Meanwhile, Bob and Steffi had four children together - Skylar (Drew Barrymore), Scott (Lukas Haas), Lane (Gaby Hoffmann), and Laura (Natalie Portman) - who all go through their own issues. Skylar is set to be married to Holden (Edward Norton), but falls for an ex-convict named Charles (Tim Roth) who her mother Steffi (as a democrat who regrets her privileged upbringing) campaigned for to receive parole. Lane and Laura compete over a boy named Jeffrey Vandermost (John Griffin), who turns out to be the heir to a major fortune. Scott, due to what is eventually revealed to be a brain blockage that is suffocating his thought process, is a conservative Republican which puts him at odds with Democratic father Bob, who grew up poor thus he does not have the same guilt as wife Steffi. Meanwhile, Joe tries to woo Von (Julia Roberts). With the assistance of D.J., who has overhead Von’s therapy sessions with one of her’s friends mothers in a fashion similar to the eavesdropping in Allen’s Another Woman, Joe pours it on thick and expresses a love for everything that he knows Von to love. As typical, a lot of theorizing about the nature of love, the ups and downs, and the swearing off of loving only to then love again occurs, but what becomes abundantly clear through Everyone Says I Love You is that nobody has any idea what they are doing. It is a free-flowing film with a quick pace to match just how quickly one’s mind changes as to where their feelings lie. There is no consistency and people, unfortunately, suffer from this ebb and flow of emotion with the tone and bouncy style of the film capturing this brilliantly.

While Allen is not really known for his musicals (okay, he is not known at all for musicals), Everyone Says I Love You nonetheless fits right into the classic Allen narrative formula. At the center of this film are a manic family defined by their neurosis and who brush shoulders with people who use psychoanalysis extensively. As their grandfather dies, the family does not mourn but instead takes it as a chance to ruminate on what happens after death with Bob asserting that he is absolutely an atheist though he was raised Jewish. During this same moment, a remark is made about how the standards for what is good to eat changes all the time, which falls right in line with Von’s earlier complaints about technology which previously led to Joe to invest in a typewriter. The politics in this film are decidedly Democratic with Republicanism defined as being a mental disorder, but Allen does not go easily on the Democrats as he mocks their lax attitude towards convicted criminals and their “bleeding heart” nature. In essence, all of this combines into a perfect combination of everything that a Woody Allen film can be about. There is religion, psychoanalysis, discussions about mortality, a resentment about the changing of the times, and the mocking of politics while being deeply political itself. Furthermore, Everyone Says I Love You additionally establishes itself as classic Allen material with how referential it is to old Hollywood. Name dropping Bernardo Bertolucci or Noel Coward, while Joe makes a crack about how Kirk Douglas playing Vincent Van Gogh is the only thing he knows about art, Everyone Says I Love You is a film that, while greatly experimental for Allen in terms of execution, is at its core a film that hardly breaks new ground for Allen. All of his films have these same themes and the same knack for referencing the classics or filmmakers who Allen idolizes. Yet, while it is nothing ground-breaking for him, what establishes this one as being one of his finest is the package in which it comes. Utilizing musical conventions could have been dangerous, but under Allen’s steady hand, he manages to balance the need for musical numbers with his typically neurotic sense of humor and his typical thematic endeavors with relative ease.

In the process, Allen creates a film that is as much a referential and deeply derivative as it is a satire about the musicals of old. The irreverent randomness of the musical numbers - such a ghost-led number or one set in a hospital where even the patients get in on the act - mocks the exuberance and burst of emotion of classic Hollywood musicals by pointing out their absurdity and then taking it a step further, a classic trait of satire. The ghosts or the patients may be absurd to see engaging in song and dance, but so are the other-worldly dance numbers in the middle of the street like in West Side Story or Gene Kelly running around and snagging light poles in Singin’ in the Rain. None of it makes sense and Allen, while honoring those musicals’ sensibilities and style, mocks the absurdity of their numbers with hysterically conceived ideas that only get increasingly absurd and funny as the film progresses. However, where the film truly nails the musical satire bit of its focus is in the final number. As the film switches from being partially set in New York City to having the whole cast converge in Paris - both classic musical settings with even La La Land switching to Paris by the end - Allen puts both Joe and Steffi at a bridge that carries a lot of memories for them before they break into song and dance. As the number progresses, Steffi is put on a wire, floating over Joe or sliding a hysterical distance away from him as if she were skating on ice. With these exaggerated movements, the whimsical nature of the scene, and the otherwise classic choreography of the number, Allen skewers the exuberant, over-stuffed, and fantastical nature of musicals with a closing number that allows Everyone Says I Love You to end on a truly excellent comedic note.

However, one of the best touches of Everyone Says I Love You is the singing. As an Allen film, it is obviously a romantic comedy with this musical touch being in addition to the other two bits. Thus, it is no surprise that everybody uses their natural singing voice - except Hawn who sung worse on purpose and Barrymore who was dubbed because she thought she was too awful - to communicate this tone. The singing is never bad, but it is decidedly average and realistic. It is not Hollywoodized, autotuned, or commercialized, just average people walking around the streets singing about love or their broken heart. With the pitch perfect notes, Everyone Says I Love You doubles down on its satire as it breaks the facade created by musicals - the facade being that this is the real world where these people are just so happy they sing perfectly and dance perfectly without any help - with these average people stumbling their way through these overly mushy songs about how they feel in the present moment. This incredibly tongue-in-cheek decision made by Allen to let his cast sing as they normally would is not just great for the satire, but great for the tone of the film. If he had stuck with great singing, the musical numbers would be at odds with the comedic approach to the rest of the film. It would be as if half the film was trying to be a serious romantic musical while the other half was just a typical neurotic Allen comedy. The pairing would be awkward and, largely, unenjoyable. However, as the entire cast sings poorly, it matches the light, not-to-be-taken-seriously tone of the rest of the film and allows the hilarity of the numbers and musical encounters to take center stage instead of how great their singing voices are.

In blending the romance, comedy, and musical, elements of the film, Allen deftly juggles everything he throws at this film and allows each piece to complement one another rather than stealing the focus for itself. The romance is gooey, creepy, and neurotic, as it always is in Allen films. The aforementioned endeavor to show how hopeless everyone is in love is well-written and often exemplified by the neurotic encounters between characters that elicit laughs or the musical moments expressing this hopelessness. All combine to make the romance always feel authentic and the problems the characters face are always grounded in reality in spite of the inclination on their part to break into song. The comedy is typically excellently timed and delivered, right down to visual gags such as the camera exploding as Joe takes a picture. It, like the romance, both enhances the awkwardness of the romantic relationships - such as Skylar screwing up deciding to go with Charles or as she eats her engagement ring with Holden - and makes the musical moments all the more enjoyable as Allen tosses in irreverent numbers or visual gags in those scenes. The musical bits are well-written and perfectly sung for the style of the film, while also serving to reveal a lot of inner thoughts regarding the romantic side of the film and helping to make the film funnier due to the goofy choreography or lyrics. In essence, what makes Everyone Says I Love You so effective is how top-notch each element of this film is in its own right and how it blends into the others. This is a film that is romantic, funny, and has great music. It does not sacrifice one or the other to give another side of the film more screen time, instead they all gel with one another as Allen deftly weaves them all together to create a highly entertaining and enjoyable experience.

A funny, inventive, daring, and incredibly unique take on Woody Allen’s classic narrative and themes, Everyone Says I Love You is a film with strong acting, fun musical numbers, top-notch comedy, and authentic romance. Honestly, there is not much this film does wrong with Allen hardly ever putting a foot wrong in this one. This one is very much an under-the-radar film from Allen, but for me, it is low-key his best film.

#film analysis #movie reviews #film reviews #1996 movies #1990s movies #woody allen #everyone says i love you #natasha lyonne #goldie hawn #julia roberts #natalie portman #edward norton #drew barrymore #alan alda #lukas haas #tim roth #billy crudup #liv tyler

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ihamtmus · 7 months

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Ahh the Let There Be Frames project is finally out! This is the frame I drew for it — frame #005! ✨

I was a pinch hitter and drew this literally overnight 😅 I'm so happy I got to be a part of this wonderful art collab even though I joined late, it was an honor! Everyone go watch the video, it turned out so great! Huge thank you to @katherine-everything for organizing this 💖

Here's the original frame next to mine 😇

#good omens #good omens fanart #good omens 2 #lettherebeframes #let there be frames #angel crowley #crowley #aziraphale #my art #my post #gabi tries out new art styles

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thegeekcurmudgeon · 4 years

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The Other Worlds 2019 preview Day 3

Art by Lauren Kitching

Returning for a sixth exciting year, Other Worlds, one of the premier SciFi Film Festivals in the US, features some of the best and unheralded genre films. Beginning on Thursday December 5 at Austin’s Galaxy Highland 10, the four day event includes over 20 feature films, a slew of shorts, a screenwriting workshop, and the Mary Shelley Award. This year also features the return of Under Worlds, which brings the best of indie to Austin.

Not terribly surprising to anyone who regularly follows my writings, I’ll be there.

Here’s what to expect at Other Worlds 2019.

Saturday, December 6

11:30AM SciFi Shorts 1: Love in the Time of Robots

11:30AM Dementer (Texas PREMIERE)

Chad Crawford Kinkle | USA | 80 min

Writer: Chad Crawford Kinkle Cast: Larry Fessenden, Katie Groshong, Stephanie Kinkle, Scott Hodges

Katie begins to put her life back together after escaping a backwoods cult by taking a job in a home for special needs adults. Then the dark messages of her past tell her one of the sick patients needs more than just medicine. Dementer is an art house horror passion project that came to life when director, Chad Crawford Kinkle wanted to make a film with his special needs sister. Shot in an almost documentary style, the film embraces and properly represents the developmentally disabled, both in the script and in the actual casting, while still being both thrilling and disturbing.

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11:45AM I Am Human (Texas Premiere)

Taryn Southern, Elena Gaby | USA | 90 min

I AM HUMAN explores the co-evolution of humans and technology, focusing on a small group of people with different ailments that choose to use robotic implants to cure themselves. Diving deep into the current technology and where science could take us in the future, I AM HUMAN fills its frames with heart-warming stories of real people and their process of deciding to accept technology as a part of their bodies.

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1:50PM 1BR (TEXAS PREMIERE)

David Marmor | USA | 90 min

Writer: David Marmor Cast: Nicole Brydon Bloom, Taylor Nichols, Giles Matthey

After leaving behind a painful past to follow her dreams, Sarah scores the perfect Hollywood apartment. But something is not right. Unable to sleep, tormented by strange noises and threatening notes, her new life quickly starts to unravel. By the time she learns the horrifying truth, it’s too late. Caught in a waking nightmare, Sarah must find the strength to hold onto her crumbling sanity…or be trapped forever in an existential hell.

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2PM SciFi Shorts 2: Crossing Over to the Future

2:15PM LIVE FROM OTHER WORLDS FILM FEST – IT’S “SCIENCE VS FICTION”

Scott Weinberg is a veteran film critic. Steven DeGennaro is a doctor of astrophysics. Every week they compare and contrast two noteworthy SciFi films on their popular podcast “Science vs Fiction,” where they discuss the artistic quality of the films, whether they get the science right, and whether or not that even matters. Past pairings have included ARMAGEDDON vs DEEP IMPACT, ALIENS vs STARSHIP TROOPERS, and JASON X vs LEPRECHAUN IN SPACE IN SPACE.

Other Worlds, they will open the massive can of worms that is cinematic time travel when they turn their talents on the 1979 classic (and Opening Night Film!) TIME AFTER TIME.

4:20PM The SciFi Lecture: The Old Dark Trope

“It was a dark and stormy night.” The couple’s car breaks down, blows a tire, crashes into a tree and runs out of gas. Yes, all at the same time. An ominous Victorian house at the top of the hill is the only refuge for miles and miles. They have nowhere to go and must seek refuge in THE OLD DARK HOUSE.

This year at Other Worlds, we are exploring the trope of the Old Dark House, how it originated, other tropes and stories that appear in within the Old Dark House, and how the trope has evolved and continues to be used today. Join Other Worlds Programmer and Screenwriting Director Eric Harrelson for a discussion and curated clip show curated by Other Worlds newest Programmer Wyatt Walker. Find out why old tropes never die, they just get subverted.

4:25PM Long Shorts: Lingering Visions

4:35PM Dead Dicks (US PREMIERE)

Chris Bavota, Lee Paula Springer | Canada | 83 min

Writers: Chris Bavota, Lee Paula Springer Cast: Heston Horwin, Jillian Harris, Matt Keye

When a young nursing student named Becca receives a series of panicked messages from her older brother Richie, she rushes over to check on him. Following a seemingly successful suicide attempt, Richie, who suffers from mental illness, discovers what appears to be his own dead body. When Becca gets to his apartment, they find more dead versions of Richie as well as a strange hole in his bedroom wall. Together, they must figure why his suicide just won’t keep.

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4:20 UW Shorts: Dark Nights & Dark Thoughts

7:20PM Afterlife

Willem Bosch | The Netherlands | 93 min

Writer: Willem Bosch Cast: Sanaa Giwa, Romana Vrede, Gijs Scholten van Aschat, Jan-Paul Buijs

After her mother’s passing, teenage Sam takes up most of the household responsibilities. When she, too, ends up in the afterlife and finds out she can get a do-over, Sam gives life another try with the sole mission of saving her mother. A fantasy science fiction film, Afterlife tugs on the heart strings and deals with the hard realities of life and death.

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7:30PM The Ascent (North American Premiere) (screens again Sunday, 2:15PM)

Tom Paton | UK | 100 min

Writer: Tom Paton Cast: Rachel Warren, Simon Meacock, Bentley Kalu

Special ops squad “Hell’s Bastards” are sent to infiltrate a civil war to retrieve intel. The unit soon find themselves trapped on a never-ending stairwell forced to climb or die. To survive, they must revisit their past sins if they ever want to get off.

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9:45PM Doppelganger (Founder’s Choice)

10PM Volition (Texas Premiere)

Tony Dean Smith | USA | 91 min

Writers: Tony Dean Smith, Ryan W. Smith Cast: Adrian Glynn McMorran, Magda Apanowicz, John Cassini

On a rain-soaked night in 1991, two cars collide, leaving all drivers dead on the scene, including the mother of the lone survivor – a child – James Odin. Seven-year-old James foresaw the accident happening two days prior and tried to prevent it, but who’s going to believe a kid who claims to see the future? Twenty-plus years later, James is a product of the failed foster care system, using his ability for petty crime and cheap thrills. But when a pre-sentient vision reveals to him his own imminent murder, James must go on the run and change a fate he knows is fixed.

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10:15PM Scare Package (Texas Premiere) Under Worlds Centerpiece Film

USA | 103 min

Directors: Emily Hagins, Baron Vaughn, Noah Segan, Chris McInroy, Anthony Cousins, Hillary & Courtney Andujar, Aaron B. Koontz Cast: Toni Trucks, Joe Bob Briggs, Dustin Rhodes, Chase Williamson, Baron Vaughn, Noah Segan

A meta Horror-comedy anthology film where each segment subverts a different set of Horror tropes, SCARE PACKAGE intertwines its components around the on-boarding of a mysterious new employee at a struggling genre video store: Rad Chad’s Horror Emporium.

This year’s Under Worlds Centerpiece film is very special for our programming team for many reasons. It’s an intelligent, creative look at the Horror genre that is both hilarious and scary. Furthermore, three of the segments were shot here in Austin by local filmmakers, one of whom is an Other Worlds alumni. The producing team for the film does a great job managing the tone of the anthology while still maintaining each director’s vision. It is rare to see an anthology film where connecting material is just as compelling as the individual parts, but the team has done it here.

The Other Worlds 2019 preview Day 3 was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

#1br #afterlife #dead dicks #dementer #i am human #other worlds #scare package #science vs fiction #the ascent

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potrix-the-queerschlaeger · 7 years

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Nursey’s Family: Headcanons

Since I didn’t manage to get any stories done for @nurseyweek, I thought I’d share some of my Nurse Family Headcanons with all of you instead.

Genevieve “Evie” Nurse: Nursey’s biological mum, French American, a general surgeon working in a critical care unit. Has auburn hair, the same green eyes as Nursey, and almost as many freckles as Dex.

Jonathan “Jon” Owoh: Nursey’s biological dad, born in the US to Nigerian parents. An environmental lawyer working and living in California.

Gabriela “Gabi” Nurse (born Herrera): Evie’s wife and Nursey’s adoptive mum. Her parents moved from Guatemala to the US with her and her four older sisters when she was little. Works as an art curator.

Evie gets pregnant with Nursey in her last year at college, after a one-night stand with Jon. Both her and Jon’s families urge them to get married after Evie decides to keep the baby, but they refused because they aren’t in love, and don’t want to force a possibly unhappy relationship on them or their baby. Jon’s parents eventually come around, but Evie eventually breaks off contact with hers.

Even though they aren’t in a relationship, Jon and Evie move in together after they both finish their studies, when Evie is around three months pregnant. It’s much easier to afford a place if they can split the rent (New York isn’t cheap), and Jon wants to be there for his friend, and later his baby.

Evie meets Gabi when she’s six months pregnant, literally bumping into her in the door to the studio where she attends prenatal yoga classes. Evie refuses to call it love at first sight, but she immediately says yes when Gabi apologises and asks her out for coffee (or tea with no caffeine, in Evie’s case), and has zero regrets.

(This got long, watch out for the cut!)

Gabi and Evie teeter on the edge between friends and more for months. Gabi starts spending nights and weekends at Evie’s place literally a week after they meet, they go out on not-dates all the time, cuddle on the couch, hold hands, share cheek and chaste mouth on mouth kisses, and generally drive Jon crazy with their mutual pining.

Both Jon and Gabi are present when Derek is born. They both cry, and it is when Evie looks at Gabi’s blotchy, tear-streaked face as she holds Derek in her arms for the first time that she decides, “Yes. I’m going to marry this woman one day.”

Jon cries again when Evie tells him she wants Derek to have the middle name Malik, which was the name of Jon’s beloved deceased grandfather.

Gabi moves in with Jon and Evie after Derek is born. It is cramped, but they’re all friends, and they all love Derek, so they make it work. Evie and Gabi sharing a room/bed helps, too.

Shortly after Nursey’s first birthday, Jon gets an amazing job offer in California. At first, Evie and Gabi consider moving with him since Evie isn’t picky about where she’s going to do her residency, and Gabi has been missing her family living on the West Coast ever since moving for college. But then Gabi gets a one of a kind offer to manage her own gallery in Manhattan, an opportunity rarely ever given to someone her age, and things get complicated. Eventually, after a lot of talks, arguments, and tears, they decide that Jon will move to California alone, and Evie and Gabi will stay in New York together.

Jon makes it to New York as often as possible in the following years, but it isn’t nearly as much as he’d like, especially after he marries, and Nursey’s half sisters are born. He tries his best to make up for it with postcards, emails, and (skype) calls, and he never ever misses one of Nursey’s birthdays, no matter what.

Evie and Gabi work hard to achieve their dreams, and it’s definitely made easier by Derek being such an agreeable baby. He’s usually happy, never shy with strangers, sleeps through the night early on, and rarely fusses unless he’s sick. He’s gets along with almost everyone, but seems equally content to be quietly by himself, nose in one of his many books. He almost never makes trouble for them or his nannies, or later on his (kindergarten) teachers.

When Derek lands in the hospital due to alcohol poisoning during his first year away at Andover, and is later diagnosed with depression, all three of his parents blame themselves for not having seen what was happening and realised that Derek being quiet was a sign that he was unhappy. They never really forgive themselves, but the whole family (including Jon, his wife, and Derek’s half sisters) take some time off after Derek gets out of the hospital to start family therapy. It doesn’t magically fix everything, but all of them work hard, and grow closer as a result.

Bonus ideas:

One of the biggest fights Gabi and Evie have is about Derek playing hockey. Gabi think it’s too violent for a little kid, especially one as sensitive as Derek, but Evie insists they at least have to let him try. Gabi never really gets used to the violence, and always covers her eyes during games when she thinks Derek’s about to get checked, but she supports Derek nonetheless.

Despite being an angsty, emotional teenage cliche, Derek never does the, “You’re not even my real mum!” thing with Gabi. Because to him, she absolutely is.

Jon is the first person Derek tells that he’s pansexual. Jon cries. Not because he’s disappointed, obviously, but because he’s touched that Derek chose him to tell first.

Shitty is the one who finds Nursey when he’s barely conscious after that party at Andover, and calls for an ambulance and Nursey’s parents. Nursey’s parents basically adopt him into the family after that. Shitty pretty much adopts Nursey in return.

People always tell Nursey that he looks like Gabi. Nursey hates it, because they obviously only see “brown” and not any actual, physical similarities. Gabi thinks it’s hilarious. She tends to gasp, hand over her heart, and go, “Really? That’s impressive, considering I wasn’t the one who gave birth to him!”

Nursey is very affectionate. He likes cuddling with Evie when she reads, head on her chest while he plays with her hair, or draping himself over Gabi’s back while she cooks. He walks hand in hand/elbows linked with his mums, and has zero shame about it. When he hasn’t seen his dad in a while, it sometimes happens that Nursey literally jumps at him, and Jon has to carry him around for a while, koala style. (Jon does not mind one bit. Even though his back protest more and more the older he gets.)

Ransom has a crush on Nursey’s dad. “He looks like Idris Elba, Holtzy, what do you want me to say?” Nursey is embarrassed AF. Jon loves it.

Evie and Gabi have a bet as to when Derek’s going to realise he’s in love with Dex. Jon thinks it’s pretty hypocritical of them, since they took forever to figure out they were in love with each other, too.

#derek nurse #nursey #nursey's family #shitty is a good friend #mental health issues #headcanons #myheadcanons

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delhi-architect2 · 4 years

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Journal - 12 Tips for Creating a Perfect Architectural Rendering — From the Experts

A good architectural rendering is not one that conforms to “rules” or industry conventions. This was made clear by every Winner of the One Rendering Challenge, each of which was unique in its composition, style and narrative. Having said all that, there are certain tips and best practices that can help elevate your architectural visualizations to another level. If you’re wondering what these might be, who better to ask than the professionals?

Duy Phan, Iman Kimiaei, Yasmin Tzeiman and Gabi Lagomarsino are all rendering artists plying their trade on Fiverr, a global marketplace for freelancers with expertise in specialist services including architecture, design and visualization. Each of them achieved recognition as a Finalist in the One Rendering Challenge, with Duy Phan creating two Commended Entries.

We asked these four talented designers for their go-to rendering tips, and they provided some amazing advice. Use the following tricks to up your rendering game and achieve success in this highly competitive field:

From Duy Phan:

Renderings by Duy Phan

1. Sketch first, always!

Sometimes you might find yourself working really hard on the details of your file, only to realize the overall image doesn’t align with your original idea. Sketching your scene first not only helps you to quickly imagine your composition, it also keeps you on the right path as you work. Whenever you stray from the concept, the sketch can remind you to focus on the most valuable areas of the composition.

Renderings by Duy Phan

2. The 3-ground rule: fore, mid & back

As well as placing the “main-actor” on the stage, you should have supporting actors in order to tell the story you are planning. In this case, supporting actors are usually in the foreground and background of the image. You can see how important these “supporting-grounds” are in the comparison of before and after images above.

Typically, giving the fore & backgrounds different light intensities makes sense, as it helps you to make the focal point stronger.

Renderings by Duy Phan

3. 3d or 2d?

You could populate the whole scene by 3d assets and vegetation, but it doesn’t mean you should. Using cut-out 2d assets will save you more time than you expect! In an appropriate context, a well-captured photo can look more “realistic” than the full CGI asset, avoiding you having to buy a 3d model or investing too many hours creating one asset yourself.

From Iman Kimiaei:

Ekoplast by architect Max Kobiela; visualization by Kimagination

4. Break the chains of your medium

Most of us search for inspiration within a limited circle of sources that have only been masterfully done in the medium that we are currently working on. However, the greatest artists in history always seek their ideas in other mediums. One medium that can provide infinite amounts of ideas for architectural rendering is cinema. Cinema is a combination of all the other forms of art. From literature to painting and music, these are all served to you in a full package.

When I was making a visualization for the architect Max Kobiela, I was inspired by the movie Fargo by the Cohen brothers. Although it was an industrial building, the architectural design followed the language of simplicity, and after I had a brainstorm with the architect, we both felt it was a good direction to create a “Minnesotan” environment to emphasize the warm colors inside the building.

CONTACT by architects Iman Kimiaei / Maziar Mohit; visualization by Kimagination

5. Unleash your imagination

Most of the time, a subtle feeling of self-control leads us to avoid doing unnatural things. This is a great instrument for our social behavior, but when it comes to “creativity”, this aspect of our brain holds us back from creating something that stands out.

This can be very tricky and you can easily fall down on the other side. In order to understand how you can break the structure, you need to have an acceptable knowledge of the structure in the first place. That’s when tip number four comes in handy.

When I was creating the visualization CONTACT (above) as part of a series for the project Star Crown in collaboration with architect Maziar Mohit, I tried to create a composition with elements that can be naturally seen in everyday life, but as a combination, they create a single image that is separate from reality.

6. Be prepared

Whether you are using reference images from the internet, your own photographs or hand-drawn sketches, it is very important to prepare a solid plan before you begin. There are great artists out there who improvise during their creative process, but whenever I am about to work on a new project, the first few days of planning are the most crucial period of my workflow.

Especially for longer projects, writing notes and creating sketches can save you a lot of time later on. My tip is to use natural items for this part of your project, like a pencil and paper, instead of using electronic devices.

From Yasmin Tzeiman:

Left: A photograph of a real Bertoia Chair; right: A 3d model of the Bertoia chair; images via Studio Tze

7. Photorealism is not realism

We can create renderings by learning to use 3d softwares and render engines, but creating good renderings is about much more than that. My great mentor Ciro Sannino wrote:

“Live perception is one thing and photography is another. What are we really reproducing with our renderings: reality, or its “representation” through photography? That’s why I really like to use the term ‘Photographic Render’, to remind us that, in the end, what we are creating is actually a photograph.”

The geniuses who created 3D software and rendering engines made a fictional replica of how our world works, both physically and mathematically. Therefore, within that “fictional world”, we can recreate reality.

When we create a rendering we are effectively taking a photo: We are lighting a scene and taking a picture from a camera. Taking this into account will help you pay attention to how a camera works, which lens to use and how to illuminate the scene correctly. You should also take into account the composition of the image, the framing, the color balance, the focal points, among many other concepts within photography.

Detail: A 3d model of the Bertoia chair; image via Studio Tze

8. Model and Illuminate as in real life

As I said before, when we make a rendering we are able to recreate the real world. Therefore, for the rendering to look as real as possible, we must model each object with the greatest possible degree of realism. Take a look to the level of detail with which the chair above was modeled. These types of details will make your renderings look more photorealistic.

We should also illuminate the scene as we do in real life. Organize your lights and give them a clear hierarchy. Primary, secondary and fill lights are three elements you will have to use to obtain a three-dimensional effect.

9. Make materials physically real

To recreate materials with accuracy, we should learn how to “represent” them photographically. This means that we need to analyze how materials behave in real life, in order to create the best physically correct representation of them.

For this purpose, it is very important to observe them in detail. Begin by searching for pictures of the material. Investigate how the material looks when it is photographed in real life. Observe its properties, its exact color or map, its amount of reflection, refraction, its glossiness, etc. Then use all that information to make your material as close to reality as possible.

From Gabi Lagomarsino:

Rendering by Gabi Lagomarsino

10. Use high quality components

Components that are used to populate your scene are a key element. The more complex and detailed they are, the more realistic the final 3D rendering will be.

There is nothing that takes away more realism from a scene than seeing furniture and objects with rough or hard geometry.

Rendering by Gabi Lagomarsino

11. Master realistic lighting

Illumination is another crucial element. It takes a lot of practice and technique to achieve good lighting in a scene. It is not just about adding lights; those lights also need to look natural and real. Good illumination makes all the difference between an average and a well done rendering.

Sample image created for Detail Movement Interior; rendering by Gabi Lagomarsino

12. Avoid wide angle shots

Using wide angle shots can often lead to a bad composition. Sometimes it is better to show a small portion of the room (like the image above) rather than try to capture all of the space in a single shot.

To see more talented rendering artists’ work on Fiverr, click here, and to explore all Architecture & Building Design services on the platform, visit the store.

The post 12 Tips for Creating a Perfect Architectural Rendering — From the Experts appeared first on Journal.

from Journal https://architizer.com/blog/practice/tools/architectural-rendering-tips-fiverr/ Originally published on ARCHITIZER RSS Feed: https://architizer.com/blog

#Journal #architect #architecture #architects #architectural #design #designer #designers #building #buildings

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biofunmy · 5 years

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Yoga’s Instagram Provocateur – The New York Times

You cannot swing a cat (pose) on Instagram without hitting photographs of yoga instructors with perfect figures twisted into perfect shapes, selling essential oils and greeting-card spirituality.

Alex Auder is not one of them.

Ms. Auder, 48, is something of a yoga auteur, sharing homemade videos that are more performance art than content. In them she satirizes, mocks and sometimes fillets the wellness industry, its relentless marketing and “the commodification of yoga,” as Ms. Auder calls it.

She writes, stars in and films a regular series of videos in which she has painted a dollar sign on her forehead in eyeliner and plays a character hawking essential oils with names like “urine mist,” “feces” and “The One Per Scent.”

She also plays a Wall Street dropout who has invested in wellness companies and thanks yoga instructors for continuing “to convince your fellow women to buy into me. I’m making more money than I did on Wall Street and you are still poor.”

Then there is the series in which she plays the role of an exacting yoga instructor who berates her students, played by naked dolls whose bodies are covered with Sharpie-drawn dollar signs and the names of yoga clothing brands like Spiritual Gangster.

In one popular video, Ms. Auder has herself wrapped in what appear to be Ikea rugs as she exits a car. “Being a healer who is sponsored by more than 500 brands is a lot of pressure,” she says. “Mercedes gets me to my ayahuasca ceremonies quickly and efficiently and Coke keeps me hydrated.”

Her Instagram feed is not one for glamour shots celebrated by 10,000 prayer-hand-emoji comments. She currently has about 6,000 followers, many of whom seem to delight in antics of someone trying to cling to the last vestiges of yoga’s counterculture roots.

Ms. Auder has been an instructor for decades, teaching for many years at Kula Yoga Project in New York. She now runs a studio called Magu Yoga in Philadelphia, where she and her husband, the filmmaker Nick Nehéz, moved with their two children five years ago. She has been practicing yoga since the late 1980s and teaching it since 1994.

She said she is not making fun of any one Instagram yoga celebrity, but all of them. “It’s a conglomeration of personalities, and when people say they see themselves in my characters, I think that is their problem, not mine.

“I think it’s ridiculous for gorgeous wealthy white women to tell anyone what they should love about themselves,” Ms. Auder went on. “Rosemary oil is great for the immune system, fine. But the people who really need a boost for their immune system can’t afford rosemary oil, and they can’t even go to the doctor. So let’s give an Instagram heart for that, shall we?”

Ms. Auder’s is one of a handful of social media feeds that holds to account (as it were) the overly branded, idealized version of the yoga lifestyle that has exploded on social media. Others include @shallow_yoga, which features a Barbie doll named Skye Moondust Shallow doing ridiculous yoga poses in ridiculous locations (with captions like, “I hope this picture of me holding my leg up in the air in front of a mirror inspires you to say ‘Because of you, Skye, I didn’t give up’”).

Ms. Auder is in fact a performance artist IRL, on many different stages. She has made guest appearances on the HBO series “High Maintenance,” which depicts the interactions between a weed delivery man in Brooklyn and his clientele. (On the show, Ms. Auder plays Gloria, a yoga instructor who tries to win a dance world record.) She also regularly walks the runway for fashion designer Rachel Comey.

She comes from a family of activists and artists. “She’s always been outspoken, outrageous, passionate, sensational,” said Ms. Auder’s sister, the actress Gaby Hoffmann. (They have matching “SIS” tattoos on their wrists.) “Now it’s playing out on Instagram, instead of just on the dance floor and the yoga studio and on the sidewalk.”

Put another way: “When the machine is corrupted, you are the grit that gums up the works.” This is how Ms. Hoffmann said her “husband-person” (as she calls her partner, the cinematographer Chris Dapkins) described the artistic instincts of Ms. Hoffmann, Ms. Auder and the people who raised them.

Ms. Auder is the daughter of Viva Hoffmann, an Andy Warhol superstar, and Michel Auder, the French filmmaker. Ms. Auder and her sister were raised in Room 710 of the Chelsea Hotel, which was a headquarter for a mélange of counterculture artists like Dylan Thomas, Sid & Nancy and Leonard Cohen.

After Mr. Auder split from Viva Hoffmann, he married the contemporary artist and photographer Cindy Sherman. (They divorced in 1999.) Alex Auder and Gaby Hoffmann for many years were raised by the triumvirate, and they remain close to these parents.

Ms. Auder first tried yoga when she was a senior at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, after having studied at the School of American Ballet (which she got thrown out of for telling an instructor what he could go do to himself). She became obsessed with Jivamukti Yoga Center, a studio and teaching school that has been a yogic home to thousands of Ashtanga disciples over three decades, like Russell Simmons, Sting and Donna Karan. At the time, there were only a handful of yoga studios in the city. “I would sob, I loved it so much,” she said. “I went to two classes a day.”

After graduating from Bard College, in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., Ms. Auder and Mr. Nehéz opened a studio in Rhinebeck, N.Y., before they returned to Greenwich Village, with their baby daughter.

The family moved into a bedroom in a townhouse owned by the photographer Annie Leibovitz, for whom Ms. Auder became a daily private instructor. The mattress-on-the-floor family bedroom doubled as an underground studio, where Ms. Auder taught to private clients like Anohni and Parker Posey. She also did private home sessions with clients including Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Ms. Auder might have been the last hippie who still could afford to live in the Village — until Ms. Leibovitz decided to sell the townhouse.

Now in Philadelphia, the yoga provocateur is devoting as much time to social media as the mat, with photos of her children, ages 15 and 7, promotional notices of her upcoming classes and videos, like one from last month that shows her with a feather in her hair and a dollar sign painted on her forehead, hitting one doll with a stick for not practicing yoga every day and forcing the legs of another behind its own head. (By the way, that’s an actual yoga pose — yoganidrasana.)

People who are offended by her work might be missing the point, said Nikki Vilella, an owner of New York’s Kula Yoga Project, where Ms. Auder still occasionally teaches. “She’s a rabble rouser,” Ms. Vilella said. “I know there are people who think it’s too much, but I don’t think it’s too much. I think the yoga world is asleep. They are numb, walking around with their telephones like robots.”

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benefits1986 · 6 years

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Lista Ng Mga Mainstream Spots Na Ayoko EP 02

Medyo hindi pa ako matahimik sa listang ito kaya ipagpatuloy natin. Pagkagising ko today, ayaw niya akong tantanan so go! Sayang naman. DISNEYLAND + OCEAN PARK, Hong Kong Sa Disneyland, 1 hour pa lang bored na talaga ako. Sa totoo lang, kaya ko lang naman gustong pumunta ng Disneyland noong bata pa ako para makabili ng pencil na hugis Mickey Mouse. Napaka babaw. Everything about it is just too made up. I tried looking for the hidden Mickey pero wala e. Ayoko talaga ng mga tourist spots na manmade. Isa na naman ‘yan sa mga biases ko in life until death. Sa Ocean Park naman, simula pa lang, naaawa na ako sa animals. Jusko. Bakit sila ginagawang accessory to capitalism? Bakit kahit na isipin ko na they are well taken cared of, ang sakit-sakit pa rin ng puso whenever I see them? Bakit ang lupit ng tingin ko sa business model ng Ocean Park pero, hindi ‘yun nagma-matter kasi suportado ng government ang tourism na generated ng Ocean Park (just like Disneyland). May sariling station ‘yung papuntang Ocean Park. Hindi ko na nga gustong tumuloy noon kaso sayang ang entrance fee kahit kasama siya sa iVenture card na sobrang mura na naman like crazy. Sinubukan kong tumambay na lang para mag-yosi pero hindi makatao ang locations ng smoking area sa Ocean Park compared sa Disneyland, kaya I failed. Nag-enjoy naman ako ng slight sa penguins and jelly fish pero ‘yun lang talaga. Jusko. Gusto ko na lang umuwi. Mag-bike sa city side and mag-photowalk tapos sumakay ng ferry. VICTORIA PEAK, Hong Kong Hindi ko magets why tourists need to go to The Peak. May pa-wishes pa sa taas at may pro photographer para macapture talaga ‘yung view kahit gaano pa kayo karami. In fairness, mas na-amaze pa ako sa skills ng photographers kasi kaya niyang tumayo just on the beams ng stairs para maitawid ang picture-perfect shots.

Hindi ako nagsulat ng wishes. Hindi rin ako masyadong nag-picture. Napatigil lang ako sa idea ng smog na matinde. Nakakasad kasi with progress ba talaga comes a huge cost na endangering the sustainability of a rich and vibrant city? Bakit ba ganun iniisip ko ano? Hindi ko sure pero kasi totoo naman. Saka ‘di ko talaga magets ‘yung ganda ng artificial things.

STREET ART, Hong Kong Medyo torn ako dito kasi maganda naman ang idea ng artsy finds sa tabing-daan, pero kasi ang overrated lang talaga. May mga napansin akong street art na tucked in hidden corners na higit ang ganda sa mga go-to spots like Hollywood Road saka ‘yung sa Elgin Street. Noong una kong punta doon, ‘yung kasama ko sobrang hype niya ‘yan pati yung Central Mid-Levels Escalator pero natawa lang ako noong andun na kami. Maganda siya sa picture, pero kahit mahilig ako sa snaps, mas gusto ko pa rin ‘yung mga spots na mas maganda sa personal. Honestly, gusto ko ‘yung breath-taking in real life na nasasabi kong photos and videos do not do justice to the places I visit level. Ganyan. ‘Yung swelling ‘yung insides ko na pakiramdam. ‘Yun.

Go for exploring the city on a bike and via ferry and bus. Tapos ride all the colors ng cab, too. Gusto ko rin ‘yung Ngong Ping trip. Then, hanap-hanap ka ng mga small art space sa Central. Merong malapit sa Little Bao. Parang First United sa Escolta siya pero ‘yung mas organized and mas progressive. Too bad na hindi ko binili ‘yung wooden musical box na handmade na Little Prince. Sigh. Daming artists sa HK. Try mo rin ‘yung mga free tours nila depending on the season. Kung swerte ka, worth exploring din ‘yung film scene nila especially during film fest season.

RUINS OF ST. PAUL, Macau Probably one of the most disappointing landmarks na pinuntahan ko to date kasi though super steal ng deal na na-score ko from HK to Macau both for transpo and tour, hindi talaga siya makatarungan in ALL aspects.

Daig na daig ng Intramuros and kahit na ‘di ko bet and overrated for me ang Corregidor Island, wala e. Pero mas malapit sa Intramuros ‘yung lugar sa tingin ko lang naman. Hindi naman kasi madamang ruins siya. Tapos wala kang ibang gagawain doon kung ‘di magpicture then super saglit na roam around and visit sa museum. The place gets easily congested kasi nga maliit lang siya tapos wala ka pang mapag-stayan to chill and people watch.

Go for exploring ‘yung mga old world feels ng mga kalsada ng Macau lalo ‘yung mga hindi matao.

RECLINING BUDDHA, Thailand Hindi talaga ako fan ng mga temples and mga museums in general though I like history. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kasi they are supposedly co-existing pero thing is, ang dalang kong makatagpo ng museum and temples na authentic ang vibe. Minsan iniisip ko if yung mga relics/artifacts e tampered na or worse, replica na lang. And the reclining buddha is not an exception kahit na I hoped na sana ‘wag ganun. First stop, ang daming tao and ang gulo-gulo which is very unbecoming considering na temple siya. Noong nakita ko na ‘yung statue I was like, eto na ‘yung pinunta ko dito? Eto lang? Bakit name-mesmerize ‘yung mga tao sa ganito lang? Grabe lang ba expectation ko? Hindi ba realistic, pero sana kasi maramdamin ko man lang ‘yung solemnity or at the very least, the calmness of the place, but no. Plus, nakita ko pa ‘yung mga jars/vases na may paandar na lagyan ng coins for good luck or wish or whatever. Grabe. Dinaig pa wishing well na kahit magkano lang ibato mo, good to go na ‘yung good luck or wish mo. I really cannot stomach it. Go for the less known temples. Similar naman ‘yung architecture nila so maganda pa rin magpicture and all pero madadama mo ‘yung break from the bustling city sa mga medyo mas hindi kilalang temple. Actually, we just stumbled upon a temple nung killing time kami for the famous/infamous crab omelette spot nearby. Hindi pa kasi bukas because we did not have any reservations. We were so lucky that we were able to climb the temple all the way to the top. Had the chance to reflect and feel that calmness. Plus, I got to see the non-stereotypical na mga monks. One of them pa nga had a large tattoo in full color. Was so tempted to ask if I can take a snap/video of him pero sabi ko I had to temper myself kasi monk e.

CHOCOLATE VILLE, Thailand Gaganda ng mga shots sa lugar na ito pero underwhelming sa totoong buhay. Effort pang puntahan kasi medyo in the middle of nowhere siya at wala ng ibang katabing mga spots. Seems like ginawa lang talaga ‘yung place para puntahan for photos, so, lels and luhs. So, go ka if ang gusto mo e isang series ng feed na pangmalakasan pero walang nakakabit na kwento at quotes lang ang panlaban mo.

Go for a cooking class under Chef Liz instead. Sobrang sulit and to be honest, ‘yung mga niluto namin sa class na ito beat the shit out of the restaurant food na magaganda ang reviews sa TripAdvisor or mga blogs or vlogs combined. Best ever sticky rice to think na ang sasarap na ng mga sticky rice be it sa tabing-daan or sa classy restos. ‘Yung rice kasi ang nagdala since ‘yung paggawa niya is not mass produced plus ‘yung coconut cream is made from scratch as well. Rice was cooked traditionally as well and was served hot and that elevated the satisfaction level even more. Sobrang passionate pa ni Chef Liz and her school helps girls to finish their studies.

ERWAN HEUSSAFF’S THAILAND FOOD TRIP, Thailand Fan ‘yung kasama ko ni Erwan. Ako hindi. Sorry na lang kasi hindi ko talaga ma-dig ‘yung mga ginagawa niya kahit ilang beses kong subukang i-appreciate. Will definitely go for recos nina Mark Wiens and Mikey Chen, instead. ‘Wag na isama si Anthony Bourdain kasi given naman na ‘yun. So, we tried some of his recos and sakto lang. Underwhelming.

Go for the spots na medyo shady man e frequented ng locals. As in ‘yung medyo tabi ng estero, nasa tagong pasilyo or nasa weird location like in between ng mga automotive supplies area. Puwede ring mag-scour ng food courts sa mga maliliit na shopping centers. Isa sa pinakamasarap kong food trip e ‘yung sa mga street vendors na suki ‘yung mga salespeople ng unknown shoppping center. Nevermind na marumi kuko ni kuyang taga-ihaw. Legit na ang sarap. Tapos ‘yung chicken na parang Hainanese style sa isang weird na weird and shady spot malapit sa hotel ko, malamig ko na nung kinain kasi busog na ako pero ang sarap pati nung kanin. Sauce pa lang ulam na! Basta, go where the locals go. Bring lang your own water bottle para mas may safety blanket ka and Loperamide if mahina tummy mo, but I did not have a queasy tummy naman ever sa trips ko so far.

CHATUCHAK MARKET, Thailand Ang init noong punta namin is hotter than Divisoria levels. Ang to be honest, any clothing na tiangge find worth 200 PHP is pricey na for me. Wala ring wow factor sa mga stalls so I got bored easily --20 minutes to be exact. ‘Yung mga tindera pa doon sa mga pinuntahan namin e napakakikinis at napakapuputi so nakakahiyang tumawad for me. Iniisip ko lang paano nila na-achieve ‘yung ganung level na kakinisan and kaputian in life.

Skip the shopping and go for a food trip. Ang daming masasarap na street food doon. Better get a Grab/Uber na rin kasi ang hirap kausap ng mga cab drivers. EGG COFFEE, Vietnam Got my fix in Giang Cafe, ang OG na creator ng egg coffee sa Hanoi. Maganda ‘yung lugar kasi very old school siya. Maganda rin ‘yung spot ko kasi overlooking ‘yung kalsadang puno ng mga motorbikes and gabi pa so mas putok na putok ang prod-like vibe. Pero ‘yung coffee itself, okay lang. Nothing special. Hindi man ako fan ng coffee, whenever I go to new place, I always taste coffee kasi it reflects culture. Go for the weasel coffee in hazelnut. Since naligaw ako kasi ayokong mag-local sim sa ngalan ng first ever solo trip ko and solo trip ko na rin sa labas ng Pinas, push ko ‘yun. Hindi ako magaling magbasa ng maps din so, liko-liko lang sa mga kalsada then nakita ko ‘yung maliit na coffee bean store na may weird packaging. May hayop na nakapatong sa coffee beans ‘yung logo. I was asked to sample it ang sinabi nung good-natured owner na weasel nga daw ‘yun. Sobrang mura. May libre pang coffee dripper kaya sold na ako, solve pa. Plus points kasi hindi rin ako fan ng hazelnut, but it tasted so good.

HA LONG BAY, Vietnam El Nido 5ever, mumsh! Nadali ako nito kasi UNESCO-approved ito. ‘Di ko napagtanto na four hours ‘yung one-way trip dito so basically, isang buong araw ‘yung nakain sa stay ko. Nakakatawa sa cave kasi para maganda ang look, nilagyan nila ng mga ilaw which made it so pretentious. Our tour guide was really full of effort pero no deal. Points for the old world looks ng boats and napaka walang hassle na pag-tour na walang kahit anong mababasa sa’yo unless mag-kayak ka. May lagoon pa na meh na meh. ‘Yung tubig hindi super blue so ako, ano ba uwi na ako ‘yung pakiramdam ko.

Go for biking around the city and nearby places. I had one very early in the morning. I arrived in Hanoi at 1:30 AM then rachada na ako ng 5:30 AM. Hindi mabaho ‘yung mga palengke nila and ang sarap lang manood na nagu-unfold ‘yung city. Wonder how it looks ‘pag gabi on my bike.

Pansin ko lang mas masaya talaga ako na wala ako sa mga spots na touristy. Mas rusty is trusty ang peg ko sa life. Looking forward to more trips na walang itinerary masyado and more focused sa interaction and immersion with locals for a more authentic experience na surely one for the books and hindi confined sa feed goals. Oh, the roads less traveled! See you.

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