#I read vol 1 of veil

[beneaththetangles]

This week, Maison Ikkoku comes to an end (again); the mesmerizing A.I. story, Your Forma, receives a manga adaptation; Tomozaki-kun makes a difficult choice in the latest volume of his top-tier light novel series; and much more, including the debut reviews by our two newest reviewers, WacOtaku and Marg. Check out their reviews and the rest below!

Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki (Vol. 9) • Maison Ikkoku: Collector’s Edition (Vol. 10) • Oshi no Ko (Vol. 1) • Pandora Seven (Vol. 1) • Romantic Killer (Vol. 2) • Yakuza Fiance: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii (Vol. 1) • Your Forma (Vol. 1)

-----

Maison Ikkoku: Collector’s Edition, Manga Vol. 10

After a hit-or-miss middle portion that sometimes felt like Rumiko Takahashi was deliberately stalling, the final act of Maison Ikkoku gives this iconic RomCom a grand-slam home run finish. Volume nine ended on a cliffhanger, with an enraged Kyoko planning to return to her parents’ home after a miscommunication convinced her that Godai had two-timed her and proposed to his longtime sort-of girlfriend Kozue, when in fact he had deliberately broken off that relationship to tie up his loose ends. Now, with the finish line almost in sight, our luckless protagonist must overcome his lady love’s tempestuous nature, her father’s disapproval, and his own insecurities over whether Kyoko truly loves him or just sees him as the best available substitute for her late husband Soichiro. (Oh, and he still needs to find a full-time job as well.) This final volume centers around a remarkable shift in the relationship dynamic between our two main characters, and not simply in a romantic way. For so long, Godai has been an immature schmuck desperately trying to prove himself to an older and more established Kyoko. But now that Godai has grown as a man and closed the maturity gap between them, he is in a place to take the lead in their relationship, putting Kyoko into a situation where she must confront her own character flaws. I won’t spoil the details of the ending, but it forgoes bombastic displays of romantic passion in favor of a sometimes messy but incredibly tender intimacy that I’ve yet to see equaled by any other mangaka. Rumiko Takahashi finished Maison Ikkoku before I was born, and Yusaku and Kyoko would be about the same age as my parents today; but I strongly suspect that for as long as there are fans of manga, this series will remain evergreen. ~ WacOtaku Maison Ikkoku: Collector’s Edition is published by VIZ Media.

Pandora Seven, Manga Vol. 1

Lia is the lone resident human on an otherwise-utopian island where food is plentiful and strawberries come in milkshake form practically straight off the plant. She’s cheery, capable, and kind—too kind for her own good, as her mother (a very, very large dragon) intones to the audience of (humanoid) vegetables, animals, and demons—er, “village ladies”—who come to keep her company during the millennial festival. Mama dragon is too preggers to move, so they bring the party to her. That turns out to be short-lived too, as suddenly a shipful of aggressive, veiled humans led by a particularly imperious young woman rock up and ruin everything. Absolutely everything. Lia flees, leaving death and destruction in her wake—much of it of her own inadvertent doing. For amid all the turmoil, Lia accidentally opened Pandora’s Box! What strange power has she stumbled into? What identity crisis will this fateful encounter with her own kind spark? Only time, and hopefully subsequent volumes, will tell—because this volume doesn’t really. Instead, reading Pandora Seven is akin to being dropped in the middle of a Gordian knot: there is a profusion of subplots, characters, relationships, tropes, and meaningful hints branching off willy-nilly, alongside masses of world-building, both visual and dialogic, but no clear through-line—thematic or otherwise. There’s no setup for a central character arc yet either. Granted, I do suspect that things will clarify in volume two, and what we’ll have is a kind of paralleling of the tales of the two human girls, protagonist and antagonist, until they realize they have more in common than not and would be better off partnering up to overthrow the various oppressive forces in their lives. But this is just a hunch, and based more on the two pages of bonus material at the end than the four chapters that precede it. Indeed, the bonus material goes a long way to salvaging this first volume, clarifying the lore and teasing vital plot and character points that are enough to pique my interest again after it had waned halfway through. What this volume needs is one final edit. Yet even so, there is a spark of something here that could be quite epic, and so I’ll give Pandora Seven and creator Yuta Kayashima one more volume to pull themselves together and start to shine with clearer purpose and direction. ~ claire

Pandora Seven is published by Yen Press. Volume one releases on January 17th.

Yakuza Fiance: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii, Manga Vol. 1

I am beyond excited to finally have this in my hands!  This is one of my most anticipated releases from 2022! Yakuza Fiance is by Asuka Konishi, who also created the one-shot Haru’s Curse. Having enjoyed that manga, I couldn’t wait to read more of her work. Konishi’s storytelling and beautifully distinct art style make her stand out above the crowd. The story opens with our lovely heroine, Yoshino, storming in on her grandfather and demanding he give her an explanation about a newspaper article. She finds out that the article is about her, and that she is to be married off to Miyama, the son of a rival yakuza gang. To keep the peace between gangs, her grandfather coaxes her into meeting Miyama in Tokyo. Yoshino reluctantly agrees, and off to Tokyo she goes. When they meet, Yoshino thinks that Miyama’s just a little “too chummy.” He doesn’t act like she’d expect a yakuza boss’s son to act, just like a regular high school guy. Then late one night, unable to sleep, she happens to see him coming home with blood all over his hands and clothes. Maybe she was wrong about her first impressions of him. Little by little, she starts seeing a different side to Miyama, a scary one. Her first instinct is to go back to her grandfather in Osaka, but she decides to stick it out for one year. She fires back at Miyama and takes him by surprise—so much so that a switch is flipped inside of him, and he becomes utterly obsessed with this strong, fiery side of her. It looks like we are witnessing the birth of a strong, independent woman. Will she be able to continue holding her own against these rivals and a love-crazed Miyama? I cannot wait to find out! The next volume is set to release this month. ~ Marg

Yakuza Fiance: Raise was Tanin ga li is published by Seven Seas Entertainment.

Your Forma, Manga Vol. 1

Echika Hieda has always been head and shoulders above the rest of the Electronic Investigation Department of Interpol. Which wouldn’t be a problem, if it weren’t for the fact that Divers like her must be paired up with equally skillful Belayers, or else risk permanent brain damage—to the Belayer, that is. After frying the brain of her latest partner in less than two seconds flat, Echika is paired with her worst nightmare—an Amicus, or a type of artificial person that Echika loathes, for reasons that are only hinted at so far through tantalizingly brief peeks at her slow-burn backstory. Writer Mareho Kikuishi offers up some ingenious world-building and genre play here, making Your Forma ideal for fans of sci-fi mixed with psychological detective story a la ID: Invaded, as Echika dives into people’s minds through the Your Forma technology implanted in their brains (now you can just think your social media posts!) and Harold, the AI, pulls her out. The story sports an edginess that recalls the more unsettling side of the genre spawned by Asimov’s “Three Laws of Robotics,” as seen in films such as Alex Garland’s Ex Machina. It’s also a bit of a globetrotting adventure, taking the leads from Paris to St. Petersburg, to the wilds of Sapmi (Sami territory or Lapland, and an official no-go zone for tech) and its polar opposite, Silicon Valley. The two MCs make for an interesting pair, with Echika being strangely grizzled for one so young and more emotionless than any AI ever was, while Harold is as jovial as they come, with cut-glass good looks and a flirty readiness to use them—all in the line of duty, of course. This is the first of writer Kikuishi’s novels to be adapted for manga, and boy, does artist Yoshinori Kisaragi ever do a fantastic job. I would be tempted to read the novel rather than wait for the next manga installment, but the art is so vivid and expressive that I’m going to try to resist, even if it means perching on the edge of my seat for a few months. In short, Your Forma is an absolute corker! ~ claire

Your Forma is published by Yen Press.

Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki, Light Novel Vol. 9

Fun, addictive, intriguing, and now, masterpiece? Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki reaches the heights of the romcom genre in volume nine, blowing the lid on parallel stories—Hinami’s slowly churning tale on the one hand, and on the other the romance between Tomozaki and Kikuchi, thanks to their recent decision to date and the major challenges in their new relationship. What results from Yuki Yaku’s decision to dig deep into these major storylines is heavy progression in relationships all around as Tomozaki, with the help of friends old and new, must decide how to prioritize values in his packed life. His thoughts are scattered and often puzzling, but realistic for him (and more generally to 17-year-olds). There’s also serious character growth for Tomozaki as the author dives right into the complexities of romantic relationships, jealousy, and friendships with the opposite sex. He doesn’t shy away from these issues, creating considerable depth as Tomozaki evaluates his feelings for Kikuchi and how he should treat her, as well as what he really feels for Hinami. But not only are we treated to Oregairu-level thoughtfulness, we also get tender and emotional moments—more in this volume than in the rest of the series combined. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll sometimes scratch your head—and you’ll finish volume nine feeling satisfied. This story refuses to go in circles. I can’t wait to see how all lands. One caveat, though, which I haven’t previously explored: For all the laud I’ve given Yuki Yaku, I find this author’s notes at the end of each volume strange and sometimes deplorable. He gives little insight into his wonderful work, but always focuses on the cover image, explaining in great detail why these illustrations are so sexy. I wish he’d class these notes up to match the series he’s created. ~ @animepopheart​

Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki is published by Yen Press. Volume nine releases on January 17th.

Read: Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki Reviews: Vol. 3 // Vol. 5 // Vol. 6 // Vol. 6.5 // Vol. 7 // Vol. 8 // Vol. 8.5

Romantic Killer, Manga Vol. 2

Due to the ever-heated controversy on Twitter surrounding the shojo series Romantic Killer, I continued this series with just as much hesitant curiosity as I did volume one. Volume two kicks off right where the previous volume ended, as we get to know and learn more about the “childhood friend,” Junta. As Anzu becomes more acquainted with him while discovering how to survive in her “awful world” of being surrounded by hot guys, she starts to think she has a pretty good handle on things. That is, until Riri’s antics lead to another hot guy taking an interest in her! I have to confess that I was most interested in reading this second volume because of Kazuki. He and Anzu have such a wonderful and refreshing friendship that I needed to know if Riri would cause more romantic “mishaps” between these two. While I won’t say whether my expectations were well met (due to not wanting to share spoilers), I will say that I was very happy with the amount of page time he received. I also enjoyed getting to know Junta on a deeper level, even if, like Anzu, I wish that the “love spell” (as she calls it) would be broken. He is such a sweet young man! I did, however, deeply dislike the new guy that Anzu meets. I didn’t care for his actions or general attitude, regardless of how hard he tried to “change” so that he could get to know Anzu better. Despite that, though, I am curious to see where things go in volume three, even if it is specifically for more romantic mishaps between Kazuki and Anzu thanks to Riri’s relentless shenanigans. ~ Laura A. Grace

Romantic Killer is published by VIZ Media.

READ: Romantic Killer Vol. 1 Review

Oshi no Ko, Manga Vol. 1

What do you get when you cross the comedic cleverness of Kaguya-sama: Love is War with the unflinching stare at the seedier side of life found in Scum’s Wish and set the whole thing among teenaged entertainers in the Japanese film and music scene? You guessed it: Oshi no Ko (which can be translated many ways, the most pertinent to this story being “the children of my favorite performer”), which is co-created by Aka Akasaka of Kaguya fame, and Mengo Yakoyari, of Scum’s Wish. The results are intriguing, producing a rich thematic tapestry that both pushes and pulls, repels and compels with its various plots and punchlines. There are many moments that, if pursued a beat (or panel) longer, could make for a really uncomfortable scene. The premise alone is what my grandma would have called “near the knuckle”: Gorou is a massive idol otaku and an OB/GYN who treats—and then on the fateful day of labor, reincarnates into the child of—his favorite idol, Ai, who is a mere sixteen years of age(!). But Akasaka and Yokoyari know precisely when to cut short a particular thread before it crosses the line, and leave it up to the reader instead to wander (or not) into unsavory thought territory. If this were all this volume was—a sort of knife’s edge dance with titillation—then I’d probably pass on it and the upcoming anime adaptation (about which there’s already a fair amount of buzz). But actually, there’s a lot more on offer here. The story swiftly and unexpectedly moves into the realm of thriller, with the fate of the male lead’s soul in the balance. There are layers upon layers to the storytelling, with a clever framing device at the start of each chapter that gives the sense that the creators have planned everything out thoroughly, taking the time to refine the details and set up a potentially mind-blowing resolution, possibly years from now. The first volume concludes with two core mysteries in play: one that Gorou is aware of, and the other that has yet to dawn on him, though we already know the answer. This is a clever technique because the genuinely unknown plot hooks the reader, while the known mystery ties us to Gorou as we anticipate that moment when he finally realizes what we know to be true. Will this second mystery have lost its affective power by the time he puts things together, or will it be the missing piece that redeems him from a self-inflicted fate as ugly as any of those in Scum’s Wish? In short, an unexpected twist and skillful restraint in the writing here have piqued my interest, and I am looking forward to the next installment. ~ claire

Oshi no Ko is published by Yen Press.

=====

“Reader’s Corner” is our way of embracing the wonderful world of manga, light novels, and visual novels, creative works intimately related to anime but with a magic all their own. Each week, our writers provide their thoughts on the works they’re reading—both those recently released as we keep you informed of newly published works, and those older titles that you might find as magical (or in some cases, reprehensible) as we do.

#Oshi no Ko #Romantic Killer #Maison Ikkoku #Bottom Tier Character Tomozaki #Jaku Chara Tomozaki kun #Manga #Light Novels #Pandora Seven #Your Forma #Yakuza Fiance: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii #Raise wa Tanin ga Ii #Reader's Corner #Manga Article #Manga Blog #Light Novel Article #Light Novel Blog #Articles #Christian Blog #Christian Manga #Christian Light Novels #Author: WacOtaku #Author: MargReadsManga #Author: claire

[intomybubble]

Series I want to add to my collection this year

O Maidens in Your Savage Season - a group of teenage girls in a literary club deal with puberty. the main girl accidentally walks on her childhood friend “relieving” himself at his desk

Call the Name of the Night - a young girl turns her surroundings into “night” when under distress. lives with a magic doctor to help her cure her ailment. (the artwork is really pretty)

Veil - a more than friends, less than lovers relationship told through vignettes between a blind runaway and an officer. suppose to release this year, but no specifics yet.

Otonari Complex - childhood friends between a tomboy girl and a crossdressing guy in college. the girl slowly realizes her feelings for her friend who has always protected and been there for her

I Want to End this Love Game - a several year long game between stubborn childhood friends, the first one to get embarrassed when the other tells them “I love you” loses.

Series I’m still contemplating about

Laughing Under the Clouds - i watched the anime back in high school. in the tokyopop release decided to actually romanize the family name (kumo - 雲) on stuff like the back of Tenka’s haori and it’s sooo distractingly ugly. i’m going to read it digitally before buying

Steel of the Celestial Shadows - i read some chapters for vol 1 years ago, it’s the same author as Kasane. the rest of vol 1 was translated last year and i’m sorta lost on what’s going on. i want to read vol 2 digitally before making a decision. the artwork and covers look really good

Mars Red - currently reading this and the artist is the same as Laughing Under the Clouds. the volumes look nice and i like the artwork a lot but idk if i like it enough to buy it

One More Step, Come Stand by My Side - really nice artwork and has some pretty interesting stories (one-shot collection). again, idk if i like it enough to buy it rn

Twisted Wonderland - i played the game, i like the artwork, and the MC for this arc being a guy doing kendo is interesting. i haven’t read it digitally yet and that’s mainly whats holding me back

Endroll Back - scanlations never completed past mid-vol 2. there isn’t a digital release, but the physical actually has the dust cover. i don’t actually want to own it, i just want to know what happens

#desiree talks #desiree reads #im also picking up gokurakugai bc the art is nice #i want to wait until more chapters/volumes release before i buy more #it’s early into a shounen and idk how to feel about everything atm

[kudosmyhero]

Detective Comics (vol. 1) #407: Marriage: Impossible / One of Our Landmarks Is Missing!

Read Date: April 30, 2023 Cover Date: January 1971 ● Writer: Frank Robbins (both stories) ● Penciler: Neal Adams / Gil Kane ● Inker: Dick Giordano / Vince Colletta ● Colorist: {uncredited} ● Letterer: John Costanza (both stories) ● Editor: Julius Schwartz ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: Story 1: ● rude, Batman! let Kirk be happy! ● “trys”? meh, I don't have room to talk. once I was so sleep deprived that I spelled "of" phonetically. that's right: uv ● I’m rooting for Francie and Kirk’s relationship, tbh

● 👏👏👏👏

Story 2: ● I could see Batgirl trying to get the power switch to go down, but she has to switch it up in order to deactivate the mines? how in the world… ● hmm, ok. beggars belief a bit, but ok ● “Your generation and mine…” I’m pretty sure Batgirl and Shelley would be of the same generation, no? or so very close--i.e. Batgirl at the end of one generation, Shelley at the beginning of another--as to make no difference ● 👏👏👏

Synopsis: Story 1: When Batman learns about the pending marriage between Kirk Langstrom and Francine Lee, he races down to the cathedral to stop the wedding. Interrupting the ceremony, he pulls a mask off Langstrom's head, revealing the face of the Man-Bat. Man-Bat flies off through the window leaving guests horrified and Francine in tears. Batman grabs her, demanding to understand how she could marry Kirk after everything that has happened.

He recalls how he tried to cure Kirk after their last battle against one another and even brought Francine to the Batcave, hoping she could convince Kirk to accept the antidote. This tactic failed and Kirk had escaped the cave the same way he got in. Francine then tells Batman how she pledged to show how committed she was to Kirk by taking the bat gland extract herself. She pulls off her veil and a mask revealing that she is now a She-Bat.

Francine flies off into the rafters and Batman chases after her. The Man-Bat peers down from above and tries to crush Batman with a chandelier. Batman evades the oncoming missile, and sprints up the cathedral staircase. Batman rings the cathedral bell, which causes the Man-Bats intense pain. Taking advantage of the situation, Batman knocks them both out and administers the antidote, turning them back to normal.

Story 2: Batgirl had stumbled upon the fact that the leader of the group Peaceful Protest has begun resorting to bombings to get the groups message across. This revelation, however, has gotten her trapped in a room where if she were to step off a circle of floor in the middle of the room the entire place will explode.

While Batgirl is utilizing her cape and a boot to try and turn off the switch that activates the explosives, Mal, Shelley and the Peaceful Protest group pay a visit to a man named Slavin, who had hired Mal to bomb the building in question because, since it was protected as a heritage building, Salvin was prevented from building a new high rise apartment building.

Batgirl arrives, and with the help of Shelly, captures everybody involved. Shelly is shot attempting to stop Mal from escaping, however. She is taken to a hospital where is expected to recover and testify against Salvin.

(https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Detective_Comics_Vol_1_407)

Fan Art: Bat-Selfie by DarkerEve

Accompanying Podcast: ● Batgirl to Oracle - episode 13

#dc #dc comics #my dc read #podcast recommendation #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #detective comics #podcast - batgirl to oracle #leave man-bat alone

[inafieldofdaisies]

Ship Songs Tag, vol. 2 | tagged by @nightwingshero | Tagging @strangefable @socially-awkward-skeleton @vampireninjabunnies-blog @shegetsburned @poisonedtruth @jacobsneed @direwombat @neverthesameneveranother and anyone that would like to do the tag 🖤

5-10 songs that you think describe or relate to your fav otp/personal ship(s). I did this tag a while back (vol. 1) but since then I've came across new gems, they're definitely worth sharing. 🖤

Salvation by Christabelle Marbun

I'll deny you of salvation I'll be the reason you repent Kiss me like I'm a conviction Beg for divinity in my breath

Swimming with the Crocodiles by The Veils

And there's no remedy I feel you when there's no one else around Hold me under until I drown Then pull me down Just tell me what you came for

Sin by Lia Marie Johnson

Smoke in my lungs from your burning passion Sing to me in melody Melancholies sew with a golden pistol Speak to me in poetry Bare my teeth to the wind River water on my skin Have I lost my innocence? To love again, is it a sin? The whiskey makes me numb It's never enough I'm feeling for your love I'll write it in blood

Silver Bridges by Skott

When we fall asleep and we don't wake up I believe that love still holds a meaning When the moonlight falls And it's time to cross Maybe we will find a new beginning Silver bridges

I am Fire by J2, Eivør

I am woman, I am child I am an animal, I am dangerous I was born to be wild I’ll entrance you, and enchant you You are brave but beguiled, you can’t hide I’m an angel, I’m the devil I am all the ones who’ve gone before I’m the fever, you can’t fight it I’m the sickness, I’m the cure I’m not giving up, I’ll never stop I am the creator, born to be a troublemaker

All Over Again by Caitlyn Smith

I wouldn't change a single thing If I knew then that we'd go down in flames If I could've seen it all when you first walked in Could've read the last page first If I would've known just how the story ends And how bad it would hurt I would do it allI would lose you all over again

God be You by Nostalghia

Would you die, Die for me Into the sea Would you die for me, baby? With you love is my religion And sickness is my drug Carefully craft incisions Until you fit like glove

A Dangerous Thing by AURORA

Something about you is soft like an angel And something inside you is violence and danger I knew from the moment we met, you are a dangerous thing When you are with me, I feel like I'm living And living besides you can be unforgiving I knew from the very first step, you are a dangerous thing There's no end to the fall You keep on getting better, I keep forgetting There's no love in the end

#tagged <3 #oc: sabrina donovan #ship: the diviner and the baptist #john seed x sabrina donovan #john x sabrina #john seed x female deputy #fc5 ocs #far cry 5 oc #fc5 deputy #oc character #ship dynamics #ship songs #ship songs tag #my ships #wip: in hope of tomorrow #original characters #edits #character inspiration #tag game #oc tag #my ocs

[famiconblogs]

The Heta-Uma Appeal

Garo 1982 September Issue with cover art by Yumura Teruhiko

Heta-uma. 'Heta' as in 'bad', 'umai' as in 'good'. Not officially recognised as an art movement, the wave of manga/art/illustrations that kicked off in the 70s were seen as being "so bad it's good". There are a number of different ways to describe heta-uma, with terms like "unskilled" and "ugly" being used to categorise the rough look of the art. Check out this highly detailed and informative article from Sabukaru for more on its history!

If you're wondering who pioneered the craze and led the charge, look no further than three artists deemed to be the most influential and notable: Yumura Teruhiko, Ebisu Yoshikazu and Takashi Nemoto. Garo was a platform that allowed these artists to spread the name and fame of their crude and raw drawings, often featuring gritty and vulgar subject matter. Heta-uma is a style that rejects the norm and pushes outside the box for new ways of expression, going against standards to evoke new reactions in readers. It aims to leave you laughing, gagging in disgust and everything in between with its sheer variety of storytelling. You can find gag manga, comedic shorts and satire. You can find political and social commentary veiled underneath raw and seemingly shallow drawings. It's a style that I honestly took me awhile to get into, but my appreciation slowly began to accelerate as I dived into alternative manga, especially mangaka like Ebisu.

Ebisu Yoshikazu: First Exposure

My very first read from Ebisu was a book titled "I Wish I Was Stupid" (Watashi wa Baka ni Naritai), now being released in English by Breakdown Press, an extremely exciting occasion for alternative manga fans. As far as I know, there are few heta-uma mangaka with an official English book, one being Hanakuma Yuusaku with his "Tokyo Zombie" published by Last Gasp in 2008. Takashi Nemoto also had his "Monster Men: Bureiko Lullaby" published in English by Picture Box in 2008. At the moment, Ebisu's "The Pits of Hell" by Breakdown Press is also being reprinted, so I'd hope that demand is high enough for more heta-uma exposure to the English market. There are also alternative manga anthologies like "Ax (Vol 1): A Collection of Alternative Manga", "Sake Jock", and "Comics Underground Japan" that feature heta-uma mangaka and artists like Suzy Amakane and Carol Shimoda amongst others.

But back to Ebisu. I was again exposed to his works via a haul video by Shawn from Japan Book Hunter, and the cover of the manga was enough to get me interested. The book is raw, disgusting, incredibly vulgar and in-your-face with its crazy drawings on confronting subject matter. It blends dark humour with satire on Japanese society extremely well, all supported by rudimentary character designs of salarymen, housewives and naïve children. I loved the weirdly random and surreal settings that feature UFOs flying in the sky, coupled with the desolate backgrounds that emphasise the other-worldliness of Ebisu's work. Its content is extreme, and it left such a lasting impression on me that I had to explore further into the world of heta-uma. I picked up "The Pits of Hell" after that, and am definitely planning to get more Ebisu books in the future.

AX Magazine: A Bigger Picture

Assorted AX issues featuring heta-uma artists Takashi Nemoto, Goto Yuka, Shiriagari Kotobuki, Family Restaurant and Hori Michihiro

After discovering Ebisu, I had bought myself a whole stack of AX issues, opening up a whole new world of more contemporary heta-uma. This is where I became addicted to artists like Goto Yuka, Shiriagari Kotobuki and Family Restaurant, all centred on more a more comedic/gag style of manga. I still have a long way to go in terms of reading up on all the wonderful heta-uma out there, so I would say I'm still only on the first couple of steps in. One of my favourite heta-uma works that I'm still reading at the moment is Goto's "Justice Corps" (Seigitai), a gag manga following a group of vigilantes fighting to protect the city from monsters and villains. It's a pretty simple premise, but the slapstick humour combined with very rudimentary drawings gives off a nostalgic kids-show vibe. Addicting, straightforward and fun.

Justice Corps vol 1 by Goto Yuka

Shiriagari's "Jacaranda" is another amazing story that follows the violent and chaotic destruction of a city and its subsequent rebirth. The manga begins with a woman on a train brutally beating an old man for accidentally leaning on her shoulder as he struggles to stay awake. Nobody tries to do anything to help, a common critique of passivity in Japanese society that you can find in lots of other manga. Over the course of the story, the city is ravaged by a giant Jacaranda tree that sprouts and destroys the entire landscape, massacring the people around it as buildings topple and fires burn. The art is intense and the civilian deaths are brutally depicted through most of the book. Though, the end result is that of a blooming Jacaranda tree that towers over the city, hailed and prayed to by the survivors. There is little dialogue with most of the sound dominated by screams and onomatopoeia, but Shiriagari's raw and rough art style very much lends to a violent story like this. You can interpret the narrative in many ways, with one observing the first event of the woman's violence on the train as a karmic catalyst to the Jacaranda sprouting. This book is a good example of how the heta-uma style can also lean towards quite sincere and more serious works, a great display of versatility.

Jacaranda by Shiragari Kotobuki

Although, I must say that not every heta-uma work I've read is a favourite for me. "Jacaranda" is, in my opinion, an amazingly raw and hard-hitting work, but Shiragari's "Twin Adults" (Futago no Oyaji) series is very much a hit or miss. You can find individual chapters throughout many of AX's early issues, and there are also tankobons that collect all the stories into one book. The series features two twins arguing and playing, both up to whatever antics they may be up to, but not many of them land for me personally. On a different topic, Takashi Nemoto's subject matter is also a bit too raunchy for my tastes. I appreciate his art style as a whole and actually really love some of art that don't feature extremely explicit imagery, but the usual abundance of the dirty stuff isn't for me.

Left: Takashi Nemoto page from Garo 1983 April / Right: "Futago no Oyaji" from AX vol 8

The King Terry Obsession: Present Time

Various 1983 Garo issues featuring cover art by Yumura Teruhiko

Yumura Teruhiko. King Terry. Terry Johnson. Flamingo Terry. My current artist obsession. The artist is a man of many names. King Terry is attributed as the founder and pioneer of the heta-uma movement from the 70s and onwards with his "artfully artless" illustrations, a quote from Ryan Holmberg which I find is an extremely fitting description. You can find his article below!

King Terry mainly drew illustrations and has only put out one manga in his career, "Penguin Rice", where he drew the art for a story written by Itoi Shigesato for Garo in 1976. I haven't found a copy of it yet, but my eyes are always on the lookout for it. But for now, I'm satisfied with the various Garo issues he'd illustrated covers for, all of them addicting to look at. Yumura had illustrated all the covers for Garo's 1977 issues, reappearing and staying as the physical face of the magazine from 1982-87. He's an artist that has grown on me over time, and I can't give a clear reason why, but it's very much tied in with my love for alternative manga.

And that's pretty much my experience with the wonderful world of heta-uma. To conclude, I want to have one last section about an event that I feel was an extremely important one for heta-uma and alternative manga fans outside of Japan.

Heta-Uma Mangaro: Le Dernier Cri Exhibition

Le Dernier Cri, a French publishing house headed by Pakito Bolino, is your one-stop destination for underground and alternative art that thrives outside of the mainstream. They sell high quality silkscreen prints, books and posters from many Japanese artists and mangaka, many of whom I've talked about before. In 2014, Bolino and Taco Che owner Ayumi Nakayama curated an extensive collection of works from Japanese artists in the double exhibition "Heta-uma Mangaro", a gallery of 40 years of Garo and heta-uma history. There was a catalogue book released for the event that is long OOP, but I'm still patiently waiting for one to pop up sometime soon. But having such a large event specifically for alternative manga and heta-uma is an amazing feat that I hope will inspire bigger and more frequent exhibitions like these. Thanks for reading!

#manga #hetauma #alternativemanga #manga recommendation #art review #manga art #manga panel #japanese culture #japanese history #contemporaryart

[mrlnsfrt]

Strong Female Character

Do you like simple straightforward stories?

Stories with a clear hero who never does anything wrong and a clear villain who never does anything good?

I have met many people who are only familiar with the children’s version of the Bible characters. We often refer to these characters as Bible heroes. They are strong, wise, and always obedient. They talk to God and God talks to them and they always know exactly what to do. They are never afraid, they never experience anxiety, and God gives them victories over everything that stands in their way.

These heroes are often portrayed as strong and brave men.

Many are surprised to discover that the great majority of biblical characters are flawed human beings whose lives are much more similar to ours than we would like to admit. Many often overlook the women of the Bible. They see them as minor characters whose stories are not worth telling and whose names are not worthy to be remembered.

In this post, I will explore Genesis 38 and the story of Tamar. She is the first woman mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, that portion of Matthew 1 you often skip. Just a heads up, this story is anything but straightforward and deals with mature themes. There’s a reason kids’ Bibles don’t include the story of Tamar. But if you are interested in tackling a challenging biblical text and discovering a fascinating character, I invite you to continue to read this post.

Wrong Story?

At first glance, a story about Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar immediately after the sale of Joseph and his arrival in the Egyptian house of Potiphar seems completely out of place. But a closer look at this story reveals that it is exactly where it needs to be since it is thematically connected with Genesis 37 and 39.

Going down?

It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. - Genesis 38:1 ESV (bold mine)

I quoted from the English Standard Version because it more accurately translates the original text. This may seem like a small detail but it ties this story in with the next chapter, Genesis 39 that begins with Joseph having been taken down to Egypt. The text does not tell us the reason for Judah leaving his brothers, but it could be that he is feeling guilty about selling his brother Joseph to the Midianites and Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:28 more on my post Betrayed by Family)

“At that time” correlates with the previous incident and suggests that the present episode should be interpreted in light of it. That Judah “went down” (from yārad) is a veiled allusion to the descent of Joseph into Egypt (37:25, 35; 39:1; cf. 12:10; 46:3–4), meaning that both sons have left their father’s house, though under vastly different circumstances. Ironically, Joseph’s case was instigated by Judah’s brainstorm. Judah in the Joseph narrative is an active participant whose choices, for good or for ill, make ripples in the lives of others. - K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 713–714.

When we combine the events of Genesis 37 and 38 we notice that Jacob’s family was being torn apart by hatred and overall disregard for the will of God.

Judah’s sons

2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. 3 So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him. - Genesis 38:2-5 NKJV

Judah’s progeny looks promising since he had three sons. This places him in good company since other notable patriarchs who produced three sons include Noah, and Terah (Adam has three sons named in the Bible but I wonder if he had more that were not named). Judah named his first son, Er, but the other two were named by his wife. Perhaps this indicates the preference for the firstborn as was typical in the local culture. There is also some debate regarding the identity of Shua. Was Shua the name of the father or the daughter? The text is not clear and it has been translated both ways.

Judah chooses Tamar

Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. - Genesis 38:6 NKJV

Interestingly Judah decides to choose the wife for his firstborn. Some interpret this to mean that Judah is becoming more concerned about his legacy and is perhaps returning to God. However, the biblical text does not identify Tamar’s background. Jewish Tradition reports that Tamar was originally a Gentile but, like Ruth, had converted to the God of Israel. (Doukhan, Jacques. Genesis. Nampa, Idaho, Pacific Press Publishing Association ; [Hagerstown, Maryland, 2016.)

Tamar’s ethnicity is undisclosed, but commentators often assume a Canaanite lineage since the text does not indicate an Israelite connection. Conversely, one could argue that the identification of Judah’s wife as a Canaanitess (v. 2) means that the silence of the text for Tamar’s ethnicity implies that she was Israelite.If she were of Canaanite background, matters were turning from bad to worse, since another generation would have married outside the Abraham family (e.g., Ishmael, Esau; also Simeon, 46:10). Joseph, too, will marry an Egyptian (“Asenath”), but the event is somewhat mitigated by his circumstances; she is a gift from Pharaoh (41:45). The text tends to veil his foreign marriage under the act of naming “Manasseh” and “Ephraim,” whose meaning revealed the mind-set of Joseph (41:50–52; 46:20). - K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 715–716.

Er was not a nice person

7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him. - Genesis 38:7 NKJV

Many wonder what exactly was the “evil” committed by Er, but the text does not tell us. There is likely a connection with divine judgment warnings found in texts like Exodus 22:23-24 that include the language “your wives will become widows.” The phrase, “evil in the eyes of the Lord,” is a popular Deuteronomic phrase that describes many different unlawful behaviors, especially idolatry (e.g., Deut 4:25; 17:2; Judg 2:11; 1 Sam 15:19; 2 Sam 12:9; esp. 1, 2 Kings). “To put to death” often describes God’s judgment or capital punishment by human agency (e.g., Exod 4:24; Num 35:19, 21). (K. A. Mathews, 716.)

It is worth noting that this is the first time in the Bible where the text explicitly states that God killed someone.

Levirate Marriage?

8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also. - Genesis 38:8-10 NKJV

Deuteronomy 25:5–10 provides the details of the practice, which is illustrated in the Judah-Tamar episode (cf. Luke 20:28). The purpose for this practice was to “produce [qûm] offspring” in the name of the deceased (cf. Deut 25:5, 7, lit., “to establish the brother’s name”). Levirate Marriage is also discussed in the book of Ruth, for more on that read my post Love is… (Part 4)

In accordance with the custom of levirate marriage (“brother-in-law”), Judah instructs Onan to have sexual relations with his deceased brother’s widow, Tamar. Onan, however, refused to impregnate Tamar, ejaculating on the ground (coitus interruptus).

Onan did not want to impregnate Tamar because he did not want to reduce his share of the family inheritance. He stood first in line after the death of Er, and producing a son by his brother’s widow would mean the loss of his new status as heir. His behavior possibly indicates that the men in Judah’s household had struggled for supremacy, as we have found it commonly in the households of the patriarchs Isaac and Jacob. This family travesty results in the kindled anger of the Lord against Onan (v. 10). (K. A. Mathews, 716–717.)

Some use this text to say that using any kind of birth control is sinful, others take it even a step further to say that masturbation is a sin. Interestingly people have taken the name of Onan and turned it into a verb, Onanism which Merriam-Webster defines as 1. masturbation, 2. coitus interruptus, and 3. self-gratification. I am not going to discuss whether or not I think masturbation or using birth control is sinful, but I do want to clarify that I believe this application of these texts is unwarranted. The Messiah was to come from the seed of Judah, therefore Onan’s deliberate refusal to give his brother an heir threatens the entire plan of salvation. Onan’s selfishness impacts many more people than he could ever imagine. Onan, like his brother Er, had the opportunity to be a member of the family line that ultimately led to not only to King David but ultimately the Messiah, the Savior of the World.

Onan had no way of knowing God’s plans for Judah’s family at this point in history, but do we likewise minimize the importance we play in God’s plan to bless those around us?

Does our selfishness cause those around us to miss out on blessings God wants to give them?

To focus on Onan’s specific behavior and say it is wrong is to miss the big picture. There are many ways that our selfish behavior can negatively impact those around us and generations to come, I would not limit Onan’s sin to simply the things indicated by the definition of onanism.

Tamar must be the problem

Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. - Genesis 38:11 NKJV

Is the Bible misogynistic?

Does the Bible prop up the patriarchy to the detriment of women everywhere?

If the Bible was pro-male and anti-female, it would have skipped this story altogether. The text here is not prescribing Judah’s behavior, but rather describing his behavior. As a man of his time, Judah assumed the problem must be Tamar and not his sons. But are not all parents tempted to think similarly? Blame the teacher, blame the other child, it’s anyone’s fault but my child’s, much less my own. It would take humility and maturity for Judah to grasp what was really going on. It was easier to blame Tamar and “protect” his last remaining son Shelah.

Judah protects his sole remaining heir by sending Tamar home to her father’s house (cp. Lev 22:13). By relegating her to the life of a “widow” (ʾalmānâ), for whom special protections are necessary (e.g., Exod 22:22[21]; Deut 24:17–21), Judah puts her future at jeopardy with no husband or potential son to care for her (Job 24:21; Ps 94:6; Isa 10:12; Mark 12:40). He does so under the pretense of Shelah’s adolescence, but he has no intention of subjecting his son to Tamar’s string of misfortune. “For he thought” translates the verbal root ʾāmar, “to say,” indicating interior dialogue, that is, he said to himself (e.g., 1 Sam 18:17). This is the narrative’s way of explaining to the reader Judah’s motivation for his peculiar behavior. He appears oblivious to the reasons for his sons’ deaths. - K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 717.

Desperate Measures

 12 Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. - Genesis 38:12 -14NKJV

Tamar’s desperate condition leads her to embrace desperate measures. Shelah is grown and Judah did not fulfill his promise to give him to Tamar. Judah should have taken Tamar under his wings to provide for her, but instead, he sent her back to her father’s house. Because she was supposed to marry Shelah she is not free to marry anyone else. Tamar is trapped with no viable options.

After the proper period of mourning had ended, Judah returned to his daily activities, including the shearing of his flocks. The timing of Judah’s trip to Timnah with his Canaanite friend at a crucial moment suggests that this trip could be a part of the comforting process. Sheep shearing was an occasion for partying (Genesis 31:19; 1 Sam 25:2-37; 2 Sam 13:23-28) and was even associated in Canaanite religion with the rituals of sacred prostitution (Hosea 4:13-14). (Doukhan, Jacques. Genesis. Nampa, Idaho, Pacific Press Publishing Association ; [Hagerstown, Maryland, 2016. p424)

Change of Clothing

Remember that apparel is an important signal of social status, especially in the narrative of Joseph (see Joseph part 1 and part 2).

Tamar takes off her widow’s garment which distinctively indicates that she has lost a husband (2 Samuel 14:2) and instead covers herself with a veil which suggests that she is promised to a husband (Genesis 24:65; 29:21-25). (ibid) After all, she was promised to Shelah who is now grown and able to marry.

A woman’s veil was not the garment of a harlot but of a betrothed woman (see Genesis 24:65; 29:21–25). Assyrian law forbid an unmarried woman from wearing a veil. The irony of the veil was that it not only hid her identity but it also could have signaled that she had been given in pledge to another, namely, Shelah. - K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 718.

Dr. Jacques Doukhan adds that according to Assyrian law, only sacred prostitutes had to be veiled in public; regular prostitutes were forbidden to wear a veil. (Ancient Near East Texts Relating to the Old Testament. 3rd ed. Edited by J.B. Pritchard, Princeton: Princeton University Press 1969, 183 #40) This means that by involving himself with a veiled woman Judah was not only simply “satisfying his sexual frustration due to the loss of his wife” but he is also involving himself in a Canaanite cult. (Doukhan, Jacques. Genesis. Nampa, Idaho, Pacific Press Publishing Association ; [Hagerstown, Maryland, 2016. p425)

Location, location, location

It was Tamar’s location on the road that suggested her business (cf. Jer 3:2; Ezek 16:25) and not necessarily her outfit. She stationed herself alone at the entrance to the town to ensure that she would encounter travelers (cf. Prov 8:3; 9:14; 2 Kgs 23:8). (K. A. Mathews, 718.) This description of Tamar’s behavior reveals the depths of her humiliation. She set aside her widowhood for the demeaning status of a prostitute. The widow who has been mistreated by the men of her family uses the sinful desires of her father-in-law to turn the tables on him.

Watch the eyes

she took off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. - Genesis 38:14 ESV (bold mine)

So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. - Genesis 38:14 NKJV (bold mine)

She chose “Enaim” (ʿênayim), meaning “eyes,” to spring her trap. Some translations translate it as “an open place” is not a bad translation, but you miss something, a certain play on words. Its location is unknown, identified only as “on the road to Timnah” from Adullam (but this place could be Enam in the territory of Judah, see Joshua 15:34).

“Enaim” may have one of a number of potential wordplays when we remember that she veiled her identity, leaving exposed only her eyes, and the importance in the narrative of visual effects signaling sexual relationships (notice the usage of the word “saw,” vv. 2, 14, 15).

And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. - Genesis 38:2 NKJV (bold mine)

So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. - Genesis 38:14 NKJV (bold mine)

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. - Genesis 38:15 NKJV (bold mine)

A Harlot?

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. - Genesis 38:15 NKJV

The word used there is the usual term identifying a harlot (Genesis 34:31), although the root usage (zānâ) can include other forbidden heterosexual relations (Numbers 25:1; Judges 19:2). This seems like a small detail but keep this in mind as we continue to study this story.

An embarrassing sequence of events

16 Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law.

So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

17 And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.”

So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”

18 Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?”

So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. - Genesis 38:16-18 NKJV 

The biblical text is clear, Judah unwittingly had sexual relations with his “daughter-in-law,” fooled by her appearance (v. 16). His act transgressed sexual prohibitions stated later in levitical law (Leviticus 18:15; 20:12). He probably thought no one would know what he did. How could Judah have known that his “secret sin” would be read by people thousands of years later?

By the way, if someone were to temper with the Bible, or if it is simply a regular book authored by humans, why mention embarrassing accounts of the patriarchs of the faith? Why not omit these stories and only mention stories that make the patriarchs look good? These terrible stories, in my mind, serve as further evidence that the Bible is no ordinary book. But the story is not over yet…

This story brings to the forefront several of the themes of the story of Jacob (and Joseph).

Deception involving clothing.

Genesis 27:15 Jacob wears Esau’s clothing

Genesis 37:31-33 Joseph’s tunic was taken by his brothers dipped in blood and sent to their father.

Deception involving a young goat.

Genesis 27:16 Rebecca places skins of the kids of the goats on Jacob’s hands and neck.

Genesis 37:31 Joseph’s coat was dipped in the blood of a kid of the goats and then sent to his father.

As the story of Jacob and Joseph progresses we see those who deceive others end up being deceived by others. There are more themes and Matthews does a great job in pointing them out. Here are some things he mentions.

The recurring terms “know” (yādaʿ, vv. 9, 16, 26) and “recognize” (nākar, vv. 25–26) bring this motif to the forefront.

Judah wrongly ascribed to Tamar the reason for his sons’ deaths (v. 11), not knowing that the Lord had punished them (vv. 7, 10).

Judah does not understand why Tamar required the particular personal items for a pledge (v. 18).

Judah’s failure to “know” (yādaʿ, v. 16) her identity but his recognition (“recognize,” nākar, v. 25) of his pledge echoes Jacob’s ignorance of what became of Joseph, a ruse fostered by Judah and the brothers (37:32–33).

Judah’s lack of knowledge anticipates the motif of recognition in Joseph’s court, for the brothers failed to “recognize” (42:8) and “know” (42:23) Joseph’s identity.

That Judah was unaware of her identity recalls Laban’s deception of Jacob by giving him Leah (29:23–25) and the immorality of Lot’s daughters, who tricked him during a drunken stupor, catching him unaware (lōʾ yādaʿ, 19:33, 35).

That the text comments “[Judah] did not sleep [lit., “know,” yādaʿ] with her again” (v. 26) at the conclusion of his embarrassing confession provides a subtle allusion to his gullibility.

In addition to the brothers and Jacob collectively, Judah’s lack of knowledge provides a foil for the wisdom of Joseph, who is the interpreter of dreams par excellence and whose knowledge and insight gain him the upper hand over his siblings.

His brothers meanwhile are dim-witted like Esau, unsuspecting of their host’s identity and his knowledge of their conversations.  (K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, vol. 1B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 719–720.)

A business transaction?

The interaction between Judah and Tamar is so cold. It makes me so uncomfortable that they treat this encounter as a simple business transaction. After all, this is all it seems to be to them, at least to Judah. Judah is so oblivious he does not realize he is about to commit the sins of adultery and incest. Tamar is still betrothed to Shelah (Deuteronomy 22:23-24) and she is also Judah’s daughter-in-law (Leviticus 18:15).

Whereas Judah has lost his lucidity and self-control, Tamar behaves as a shrewd businesswoman and is in full control of the situation. - Doukhan, Jacques, 425.

Tamar plays out her role by asking for the appropriate payment, “What will you give me?” Matthews points out that this may be a play on the failures of Onan and Judah, the former who did not “give his semen” (v. 9) and the latter’s son to whom “she had not been given” (v. 14). (K. A. Mathews, 720.)

Tamar was probably aware that Judah would not have been prepared for this transaction and would not be able to pay cash. Considering her past experiences with Judah she required an immediate guarantee in the form of objects that would prove his identity. She took the equivalent of his driver’s license, his major credit cards, and his passport.

Foolishly he yields his personal identifying credentials used in official transactions. The ancient cylinder “seal” (ḥôtām/ḥôtemet) was typically made of engraved stone that was rolled across soft clay and on pottery handles, leaving an authoritative and authenticating imprint (e.g., Exod 28:11; 1 Kgs 21:8). - K. A. Mathews, 720.

The signet was attached to a rope, which was worn around the neck. The “staff” (מַטֶּה mateh) was a stick representing the authority of the owner (Numbers 17:3). The same Hebrew word also means tribe (Numbers 2:7,12) The holder of the mateh would represent the tribe, as its leader; thus the mateh became the ensign of royalty, the scepter (Ezekiel 19:11,14), with a messianic connotation (Psalm 110:2). In this story Judah’s staff may be an allusion to the messianic destiny associated tot he tribe of Judah (Genesis 24:17; Numbers 24:27) (Doukhan, Jacques, 425.)

She conceived by him

Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?”

So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. - Genesis 38:18 NKJV

The fact that Tamar became pregnant by that first and only act of intimacy (Genesis 38:26b) is one of many subtle indicators that divine providence superintended the events leading to her impregnation.

Are you okay with this interpretation? Are you okay with God’s will being accomplished in this manner? Is it okay for God’s will to come through even when deception and adultery are involved?

I am not saying it was God’s will for this to happen. But is it okay for God to work through the messy lives of sinful human beings in order to bring about great blessings for all of humanity?

Are we okay with this story being in the Bible? Does it make you uncomfortable or does it give you hope and peace?

This story is not about going out there an committing adultery or behaving like a prostitute. This is not a story that encourages deception as a means of gaining advantage. This story is about God in His infinite mercy using incredibly flawed human beings to bring about blessings and restoration.

But there is more to this story, we are not done yet.

Back to life as usual

So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. - Genesis 38:19 NKJV

Tamar goes back home and changes back to her usual outfit and no one is aware of what she did. Want to make this story even more uncomfortable. Place yourself in Tamar’s shoes. You go back home, you put on your widow’s garments. Along with your garments comes a reminder of your lot in life, a hopeless widow. You are betrothed to a young man who will probably never marry you. You can’t marry anyone else. You are doomed to live out your days in your father’s house, forgotten, ignored, forsaken. Would you be praying to God that you became pregnant by your father-in-law? Would you be praying to God that He blesses your deception? If you were God, would you answer that prayer? Would you bless Tamar’s plan, the deception of Judah, one of the patriarchs of the children of Israel? Would you choose the man who had power and freedom, or would you choose to help the helpless widow?

Not a simple story. This mess is what God has to work with. We know that Tamar conceived by Judah (Genesis 38:18), but she does not know that right away. She had one shot, and it will likely be a while until she finds out whether it worked or not. Even if she does become pregnant, what will happen after that?

Where is the harlot?

20 And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?”

And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.”

22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.” - Genesis 38:20-22 NKJV

Judah is probably embarrassed by what happened so he sends his friend, the Adullamite, who seems to be more comfortable with the task. It is worthwhile to note that the word used for “harlot” in Genesis 38:21 is not the same word used in Genesis 38:15. Genesis 38:15 used the word זָנָה zana or prostitute, whereas Genesis 38:21 uses the word קְדֵשָׁה qdesa or temple prostitute. One way of looking at this is that Judah sees a prostitute, but his friend perhaps feels awkward asking around about the prostitute while he has a young goat with him. Maybe it would be more culturally appropriate to ask about a temple prostitute because now he looks like a religious man as opposed to a random guy visiting their town asking around about a prostitute.

Side note, the popularity of temple prostitutes in pagan worship could be one of the main reasons why God did not have female priests.

And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.” Indeed there never was a prostitute of any kind there, only a wronged woman trying to take justice into her own hands.

Lest we be shamed

Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.” - Genesis 38:23 NKJV

Judah is afraid word will get out that he was outwitted, by a prostitute. Judah is embarrassed that he was bested by a woman and is now trying to do damage control. Maybe if he just forgets the whole thing and just sweeps this matter under the rug everything will go on as normal. Judah is likely hoping no one recognized him, hoping his friend won’t tell anyone and that he will never encounter that woman again. And perhaps that is a possibility if Judah learns his lesson, humbles himself, and repents for his past sins.

Tamar played the harlot

And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.”

So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” - Genesis 38:24 NKJV

Clearly, Judah had not released Tamar to marry another, which later was an option provided in Deuteronomy 25:5–10. Since she was to live as a widow in her father’s house (Genesis 38:11), implying that she was to abstain from sexual contact, the community concluded what was evident on the face of it: she had become pregnant by harlotry. 

If Tamar is Judah’s daughter-in-law, why is she living with her father and not with him? If she is under his authority why is he not providing for her? Should not Judah provide her with a home, food, and a husband? He is neglecting his responsibilities to care for her but he seems all too eager to punish her for her sin. Judah wants Tamar to be burned. That is a very cruel punishment and a terrible way to die, but perhaps he hopes to establish his honor and free his youngest son to marry someone else.

Most striking is the call for Tamar’s burning, which is rare in Mosaic law as a form of capital punishment; it is reserved for the heinous sex crimes of a man’s marriage to his mother-in-law and the promiscuous daughter of a priest (Lev 20:14; 21:9; contrast stoning in Deut 21:21, 24). Burning the body was an act of severe degradation (2 Kgs 23:16; Amos 2:1). The Code of Hammurapi (§§110, 157) provides for the burning of culprits in the cases of a religious transgressor and a sexual offender. Perhaps the essential idea behind death by fire for sexual offenses was purging the offense from the community (e.g., Josh 6:24; burned after stoning, 7:15, 25). - K. A. Mathews, 723.

But while Judah is playing checkers, Tamar is playing 3-D chess.

Recognize this?

When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.” - Genesis 38:25 NKJV

Although Judah and the men of the city appear to have complete power over Tamar’s fate, by her knowledge she maintains power over the bamboozled men. ( K. A. Mathews, 723.)

Tamar does not make a direct charge but permits Judah to draw the obvious conclusion. The language of the verse recalls the brothers’ request of their father regarding the identity of the torn robe (Genesis 37:32): “sent” and “recognize.” The theme of “recognition” recurs here (see Betrayed by Family).

More righteous than I

So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again. - Genesis 38:26 NKJV

Checkmate.

Tamar, the victim, the weak, the powerless, the person with no options or resources has come out victorious.

Judah also recognizes his sin and seems to grow from the experience.

 That the text adds that he did not have sexual relations with Tamar again showed that the patriarch had repented of his behavior.  Although the sexual encounter was wrong, Judah was not satisfied with acknowledging the obvious. He no longer is ignorant of his circumstances or their broader importance Judah’s insight into his guilt and the understanding of the reason that lay behind it points ahead to the character transformation the patriarch will fully undergo. Unlike Reuben and his brothers, Judah perceives the more important underlying issues of their actions, bringing about favorable results (Genesis 42:2; 44:18–34). As Noble summarizes, “Judah shows a remarkable ability to bring the heart of the matter clearly into view, and thereby to enable his present circumstances to be seen from a new perspective.” - K. A. Mathews, 723–724.

A friend of mine and fellow pastor J. Harold Alomia shared something with me that I had never considered. Here’s my paraphrase of what he shared.

In some ways, Tamar is like Christ. She has to become something in order to get something by that was hers to begin with and has to undergo the abuse pertaining to her sacrifice of playing something she’s not.

What do you think? It sure gave me some food for thought.

Tamar’s legacy

27 Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah. - Genesis 38:27-30 NKJV

That Tamar had twins reminds us of the birth of Jacob and Esau, even using the exact words of Genesis 25:24. The peculiar circumstances of their birth revealed that the younger superseded the elder. These details of Tamar’s delivery become important to determining the chosen successor to Jacob’s position. The narrative implies that Judah is the successor in the sense that his descendants will rule over their sibling tribes (Genesis 49:8, 10; 1 Chronicles 5:2). The children’s birth conveys the same rivalry that marked the chosen line in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Want to know what became of Perez?

18 Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron; 19 Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; 20 Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon; 21 Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; 22 Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David. - Ruth 4:18-22 NKJV

Matthew 1:3 mentions Tamar and Perez in the genealogy of Jesus. Tamar is the first woman to be mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. Interestingly Jesus’ genealogy excludes the great matriarchs Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah. Yet Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah, are mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy. Perhaps it is because all of these women had highly irregular and even suspicious marital relationships and in many ways foreshadowed Mary, the mother of Jesus, who also had a similarly suspicious case, being pregnant while unmarried to her husband. There is a theme here that we also see in the story of Joseph, where the suspicion of evil will be turned into good and will lead to deliverance (Genesis 50:20).

Just as God delivered Tamar through Judah’s dubious relation with her, God also delivered Joseph, and ultimately, the land through Judah’s sale of Joseph, and ultimately the entire world through the betrayal of Jesus.

God can bring good out of tragedies.

I am not saying that God wishes for tragedies, but rather that there is hope even in the midst of tragedies.

Whatever mess you are in, come to God and let him bless you and bring you out of it, regardless of what you may have done in the past.

Don’t count yourself out just because your life is messy. Don’t count yourself out because you have made mistakes. Don’t count yourself out because you have been wronged by those in power and those who should know better.

God can do mighty things in your life and through you. you have no idea the positive impact your life can have on the lives of those around you.

Tamar is a strong female character, not because she is perfect or has superpowers, but because in her weakness she refused to give up hope. Tamar is a strong person because in her weakness God’s strength was made manifest.

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -2 Corinthians 12:3b

#Joseph #Tamar #Genesis #Narrative

[toseeanempirefall]

"You have killed many, but I have killed more."

Threatening Sentences, Vol. 1

There’s little left to the imagination given how thinly veiled the threat is and Zemo is anything but oblivious when it comes to reading between the lines and yet the usual fear someone should feel bubbling within them is no where to be found. He sits in the chair, one leg coming up to cross over the other, casual as though the conversation is as mundane as discussing the weather. 

The Barons head tilts to just the slightest degree as he regards him, a silent and yet subtle acceptance and agreement with the words. “Such is the truth, yes, and yet the desired effect of your words seem lost.” His words are delivered in a particular manner, they’re deliberate and possess that touch of cockiness ever present in his speech. “Surely there’s a point to this mindless comparison of numbers, James?” 

#vekovoysoldat #Hi! Just got back on this blog after a serious hiatus so apologies if he's a touch off for now #just getting him back in my head lol

[wellntruly]

Mis more

Aaand I also read the first six books of Volume 4—it was a long flight! This volume though, is longer; we’ll be here some time more.

Vol. IV: Saint-Denis: Begun

Book 1

“An attempt has been made, and wrongly, to make a class of the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie is simply the contented portion of the people. The bourgeoisie is the man who now has time to sit down. A chair is not a caste. But through a desire to sit down too soon, one may arrest the very march of the human race. This has often been the fault of the bourgeoisie.”

—Sometimes you just read a bit of political theory by M. Hugo and think, dang! Absolutely LOVE re-framing categories, frankly.

The rest of this book then slides into another history lesson, I would say “devolves into” but the reemergence of that very present past-tense he used in Vol. I, Book Third, Chapter I - ‘The Year 1817’ can be nothing but evolving into imo. (I love it!!)

And then as if 170 pages have not passed without them, we spring back upon Enjolras and his lieutenants for one chapter, this whole brief bit just coming in like a bolt from the deep blue:

Astonishing scenes.

Book 2

Rather overloads one to then open the next book with Marius, nervily run out of his own room as the feeling has at last overtaken him, as it eventually takes over all who cross paths with him: “I think I should desperately avoid Inspector Javert,” arriving at Courfeyrac’s door, and by way of flustered greeting simply saying, and I quote:

“I have come to sleep with you.”

It’s exquisite.

We’re getting rather closer or nearly into recognizable musical plot at this point and perhaps that’s why my notes peter off a little—familiarity. But Eponine is dashing around in this section like a manic, off-kilter angel of the gutter, and I did write down at one point “aw, sweetheart :(“

Book 3

Floreal mention!! Check check ✓✓! We are two out of twelve for the Jacobin calendar seasons!

Anyway, Cosette POV for how she's experienced the last handful of years. LUSH secret garden she and Jean Valjean have these days, reveal that she has as awkward & insane a crush on Marius as he has on her (I mean thank god), and also this in every way thrilling confirmation of Valjean’s suspicious feelings about Marius ‘Lurking hard or hardly lurking’ Pontmercy:

“Nevertheless, it came to pass that Jean Valjean sometimes espied him. Marius’s manners were no longer in the least natural. He exhibited ambiguous prudence and awkward daring. He no longer came quite close to them as formerly. He seated himself at a distance and pretended to be reading; why did he pretend that? Formerly he had come in his old coat, now he wore his new one every day; Jean Valjean was not sure that he did not have his hair curled, his eyes were very queer, he wore gloves; in short, Jean Valjean cordially detested this young man.” [italics mine]

Book 4

Just a wild little eight page Montparnasse-Valjean-Gavroche interlude with roses in mouths and purses in bushes that I struggle to recollect as real and not an effect of the altitude.

Book 5

Fourteen pages this time but HEY they MEET! Just a couple of swooning little incredible weirdos, they’re actually rather perfect for each other. For instance—

“Beneath a veil of incomparable sweetness, he had something about him that suggested death and night. His face was illuminated by the light of the dying day, and by the thought of a soul that is taking flight. He seemed to be not yet a ghost, and he was no longer a man.”

—actually really figures that Our Little Cosette would fall in love with a ghostboy, of all boys.

Book 6

“Gavroche persisted, ‘What are you up to tonight?’ Again Montparnasse took a grave tone, and said, mouthing every syllable, ‘Things.’”

Someone please let me know if the original French was also one syllable long, please god I want that.

Vol. IV, Books 1-6 ✓✓✓✓✓✓

[Brickolage]

#Les Mis 2 More Mis #Brickolage #Les Miserables #Victor Hugo

[meowmageddon]

August Reading Check-In!

Is it a little late? Yes, mind your business 😹

I want to move my bookish updates back here since I'm not about training Elon Musk's AI. This update is gonna be a mix of mini-reviews, the current reading list, recent acquisitions, and a few upcoming releases to watch out for.

It's gonna be long, so keep reading if you dare. Or jump around to the bits you like!

Mini Reviews for July's Reads

Black Ghost of Empire by Kris Manjapra - 5 stars

A look at slavery and the emancipation processes across North America and the Caribbean in particular, as well as some of the colonization of Africa itself. Examines the way emancipations prioritized compensating slave-owners for lost "property" rather than restoring justice and reciprocity to the enslaved people who lost their labor, lives, and histories. Super informative, super vital, because they didn't teach this in US history. Just be prepared for an emotionally tough read.

The Veiled Throne by Ken Liu (The Dandelion Dynasty #3) - 3 stars

This is where the series finally ran into pacing issues for me, as many multi-POV epic fantasy series do. Mostly in the latter half. We had a very high-stakes storyline getting a slim chapter between multiple thick chapters about an all new setting and characters with a much lighter tone. I know heavy stuff needs to be broken up, but this was more frustrating than cathartic.

I am keeping in mind that TVT is technically the first half of what was supposed to be the final book, but the trilogy became a tetralogy because a 2000-page book would be ludicrous. Still, I feel it could've been broken down further, and we really need to allow more BIPOC writers the freedom to have sweeping, several-book-long series the way white authors can.

Get In Trouble by Kelly Link - 4 stars

These stories were quite a ride. Many featured messy people, places, and things. If we're being honest, the rating could bump up to 5 stars on a reread. There's just so much to unpack, and I'd need a closer reading, like studying scripture.

Current August Reads

• Trans-Galactic Bike Ride ed. by Lydia Rogue - As the subtitle reads, it's "Feminist Bicycle Science Fiction Stories of Transgender and Nonbinary Adventurers," written by queer authors. Technically I've actually already finished reading it, but I'll post about it separately at a later time!

• Babel by R.F. Kuang - BookTube's darling about a department at Oxford dedicated to translation and working silver- and translation-based magic for the glory of the empire. Problem is, some of the students and faculty are people from places on the receiving end of the empire's injustice. Down to the last 100 pages of this one!

• Speaking Bones by Ken Liu (The Dandelion Dynasty #4) - Despite my frustrations with the third book's pacing, I wouldn't dream of DNFing the series. The world is so lush and full, and the characters endearing. But there's another 1000 pages ahead, so this'll be on Current Reads lists for a while. 💀

• Lone Women by Victor LaValle - A young woman leaves her family home in flames and seeks a new life homesteading in Montana, a mysterious trunk in tow. I read LaValle's The Ballad of Black Tom a few years back, and really needed to read more of his stuff.

• Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection Vol. 1 ed. by Hope Nicholson - Was very excited to see this at the library, as I've wanted to read it for a long time. The stories vary in genre, and I believe there are illustrated stories, individual art pieces, and even a song or poem by Buffy Sainte-Marie in addition to regular comics.

Recent Acquisitions

• Loot by Tania James - I actually won this print copy in a Goodreads giveaway! This is why I encourage those who are able to enter for anything they're interested in; it can happen to YOU lmao. Anyways, it's a book about a boy in India who constructs an automaton tiger for the Sultan, only to have it seized in war by the British. He goes to England to try to retrieve it.

• Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas - My August Book of the Month pick. I enjoyed her debut, The Hacienda, and look forward to this one. Described with "Vampires and vaqueros face off on the Texas-Mexico border." I've seen reviewers describe it more as magial realism/historical fiction with vampires, rather than horror, though.

Upcoming Releases

No guarantee I'll pick these up... but here's some cool stuff coming out in the next month or so!

• From A Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi (August 29th) - Third collection of 40 short stories celebrating the 40th anniversary of Star Wars, this time inspired by elements of Return of the Jedi! I realized I still have to pick up the second collection, from The Empire Strikes Back, oh no!

• The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White (September 5th) - YA horror featuring a trans autistic teen protagonist who can commune with the dead. He attempts to escape an arranged marriage, is sent to a Sanitorium & Finishing School, and is urged by the institution's ghosts to expose its dark secrets.

That's all for now! If you read all this... just know that I love you. 🥰

#Kitty's Reading List #long post #books #TBR #August 2023 tbr

[aesthetic-solar-space]

The goal of 2022 was 25 books, and even that I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do cause the year before it had been a struggle to hit that number. However quite early in 2022 I hit 25 books, and just kept on going. I kept on going all the way to 50 books. I was and still am, beyond proud of myself. I never thought that would be possible, especially without reading basically only graphic novels and comics and yet I did it and hardly even read those formats. Now it’s 2023 and I’ve upped the goal by 5, making it an even 30 books to reach for the year.

Heartstopper Vol 4

Always Human

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Vol 3 : Beneath You

Fortuna Sworn

The Love Hypothesis

Credence

Desperate Measures

Things We Never Got Over

Forced To Be Queen

Compelled To Be Fae

Bound To Be Human

The Cruel Prince

The Wicked King

The Queen Of Nothing

Rhapsodic

Tempting The Cowboy

Wallbanger

Marriage For One

The Fine Print

Liar

Hate

Fake

Throttled

House Of Lies And Sorrow

Bow Before The Elf Queen

A Million Kisses In Your Lifetime

The Book Of Azrael

House Of Earth And Blood

The Spanish Love Deception

Throne Of Glass

Terms And Conditions

What Lies Beyond The Veil

What Hunts Inside The Shadows

An Heir Comes To Rise

Knot So Perfect Omega

Haunting Adeline

Flawless

Heartless

Twisted Love

Twisted Games

Lore Olympus Vol 1

Lore Olympus Vol 2

Lore Olympus Vol 3

One Percent Of You

Juniper Hill

The Umbra King

Tis The Season For Revenge

Icebreaker

King Of Battle And Blood

Fear The Flames

#college student #college life #chronicles of a sick person #adult ish #social distancing #long live the queue #it was always queue #all queued up #college #books and reading #booklover #booksbooksbooks #books & libraries #booktok #bookish #2022 #2022 reads #reading goals #goodreads #goodreads goal

[littlemissnoname13]

Walls & Veils (Draco Malfoy x Reader): Vol:2

Masterlist | Vol. 1

Summary:

Wednesday to-do-list:

Buy a red dress

Find out who replaced Harry at the DMLE 

Eat that almond biscotti everyone is still talking about

Draco Lucius Malfoy (There, I said it. Happy?!)

(Where Draco and the reader work for the ministry and communicate every day via “work reports” passed back and forth and have no idea they are actually talking to each other)

Genre: Fluff, workplace romance, enemies to lovers (ish)

Warnings: none except some light swearing, making out and mentions of food and one mention of scotch

Words: 2900

A/n: This is my second post for the Harry Potter Writing Event (Feedback and reblogs are always appreciated). I hope you enjoy reading this part just as much as I enjoyed writing it :) <3

Malfoy continued to oggle you with a never before seen expression on his face. His silvery eyes had darkened into slate grey and he was clearly grinding his teeth underneath his clenched jaw. You couldn't tell what you’d done to irk him this way. If you did, you’d probably do it again. And again. Just to get a reaction from him. 

“You seem tense.” You commented and he looked at you like you were asking him for his gringotts vault password. Like he was straight up mortified.

He opened his mouth to say something but decided against it. Instead, he began pressing the open button on the elevator excessively till the door finally opened halfway. Then, he ducked out without a word. 

****

He was now taking the stairs to the roof. He’d rather climb the 142 staircases at Hogwarts over and over than ride that elevator with you in that pretty red dress. 

Maybe the colour of your dress had been a mere coincidence. But then again, what were you doing in a party that was mostly people from the DMLE? The only explanation would be that you either worked for the DMLE and he was completely oblivious or you knew Linus personally. If you knew Linus personally, it probably meant you were the one dropping those files off every afternoon. 

When he finally reached the roof, Draco simply straightened his tie and pushed his hair away from his face. All those steps and he still hadn’t broken a sweat. Atleast, his insomnia driven runs were keeping him fit. 

Draco handed Linus the bottle of scotch and gave him a stiff side hug. Human contact still made him a little queasy but he liked Linus enough to do it. He was a good man who’d never judged his death eater roots when he first started working for the Ministry after the war. After his brief interaction with Linus, Fay Dunbar and that guy that always waved at him when he entered the office, Draco felt a little at ease.

 It wasn’t that he wasn’t thrilled that his washing-machine girl had been you all along. He was just worried you wouldn’t be so thrilled to find out he was the one you were talking to and it pained him. 

He’d never admit it, not even to himself but he purposefully came to work late sometimes to see the look of pure joy on your face as you shut the elevator door on him. It felt like a ray of early morning sunshine that seeped in through the door and drenching his entire body in warmth. 

Everytime he let the words “Morning Sunshine.” slip out of his lips, he’d meant it. 

“You’d rather take the stairs than ride the elevator with me.” He heard you quip as you took long, purposeful strides towards him, a flute of champagne in hand. 

“Why are you following me?” He deadpanned.

You let out a snort. “Why do you think I’m following you?”

“This is a DMLE party.” Draco reached for a glass of champagne himself and took a quick swig to wet his desert dry throat. “ You work for the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes–tell me, what is it that you do again?”

“Muggle-worthy excuse committee. Thank you very much.” You hissed before downing the entire flute of champagne. “And I was invited to this party. I think I know more than half of DMLE where you supposedly work.” You coughed. “Although, I think you hardly do any work in the department.”

“Why are you talking to me if you know more than half of the DMLE then?” He watched your cheeks burn the same shade as your red dress. Your pretty and ruffled red dress that reminded him of carnation petals. 

“I actually have a question to ask you.” You replied, making his blood freeze. Maybe you already knew it was him. Maybe someone had told you and you were there to tell him that you no longer wished to talk to him. Maybe you wanted the instructions manual back. His brain was spiraling. 

“Hm?”

“Do you know who is substituting for Harry?” You asked, scrunching up your nose. “I asked Linus and he told me to talk to you. So I’m assuming you know.”

You had no idea. He could still salvage this. Think Draco. Think. 

His eyes danced around the entire premises of the party, sweeping through the floors, the crowds of ministry employees, the finger food and the photo booth in the far corner, separated by a white coloured backdrop between thin, opaque curtains of fabric on each side. Anyone standing inside the photo booth would positively not be able to see the person standing next to them. The fabric acted as a wall, essentially a veil. Perfect. 

“Why are you looking for him?” Draco arched his brow. He needed to play along for a bit. It didn’t help that he actually wanted to talk to you. He’d have done anything to woo you as himself but you were clearly more into Harry's substitute. He could tell from the nervous energy you radiated. Tucking your hair behind your ear, running your index finger along the rim of your champagne flute. 

“Just curious.”

“How do you even know him?”

“He goes through my reports.”

“Isn’t going through muggle-worthy excuses just a formality to maintain communication within the departments?” Draco asked. He had no control over what he was saying and now he was coming off as condescending and rude about your job. He wanted to bang his head on the wall. “Please tell me you aren’t here to talk to him about work. It's a party Y/L/N.”

“You are a biscotti stealing know-it-all and no, I do not want to talk to him about work!” You seethed. 

“Then what do you want to talk to him about?” 

“Not about work!” You blurted, and instantly looked like you regretted every word that came out of your cherry painted lips. 

“Oh?” Draco wiggled his brows. “Is something going on between the two of you?”

 It felt all sorts of weird pretending to be two people at once but Draco couldn’t help himself. He was curious. His heart was pounding and his palms were clammy.

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I think I saw him near the photo booth earlier. Maybe you’ll see him there.” Draco shrugged. Yes, his plan was foolish and a little bit deceitful but he was going to tell you the truth somehow, by the end of the night. 

****

You waited by the photobooth while minutes ticked away like seconds–Fast and fleeting like days during the winter.With each second gone, you began to lose hope in seeing the “replacement guy”. Maybe he’d already seen you and decided that you weren’t his cup of tea. 

To make the waiting situation a bit more entertaining, you entered the photo booth with a few of your DMLE acquaintances and struck a few poses. Strips of black and white, moving photos were dispensed from the camera and your friends excitedly grabbed their copy and left. You decided to stay back, collect your thoughts. Maybe you would speak to the replacement guy about work. Just like Malfoy had suspected.

You shook your head to yourself but couldn’t fight the small smile itching at the corner of your lips. He looked handsome in his tightly tailored shirt and dress pants. The fabric of his shirt stuck closely to his biceps and torso and you could have sworn you saw ripples and cords muscles on his back through the fabric as he’d ducked out of the elevator in one swift movement. He was perfect and It was so unfair.

“I have a question.” A familiar voice seeped in through the curtain on your left. The emphasis on certains vowels, the pitch and the coarseness made you shiver. You knew this voice. Was he who you thought he was? Did you want him to be?

“Yes?”

“Do you really think Microwaves produce radiation that can harm the human body?”

“So you have a problem with microwaves too now?” You laughed.

“Not as much as washing machines.” He replied. This made your hunch turn into full blown suspicion. You hadn’t just been bickering with Draco Malfoy every single day just to forget what the croon of his voice sounded like. His voice was so distinct in your memories and that dream you had on him two nights ago. 

“Y/n. Nice to meet you.” You extended your hand through the gap in the curtain and he grabbed it. The contact made your skin sear. He had long, nimble fingers that were far too large compared to your own and you could feel the textures of his ring denting itself into your skin. It was Draco. You were sure of it when you managed to trace the serpent on his ring. 

“Nice to finally meet you too.” he replied. “You look lovely by the way.”

You instantly blushed and thanked Merlin that there was a veil between the two of you. Behind the veil you were both two different individuals. You weren't Draco and Yn who spent every morning bickering or shooting insults like arrows. 

“I’m dead sure I’d have to return the compliment if I got to actually see you.” You tested him and his grip on your hand tightened. 

“Are you flirting with me?”

“Am I?” You teased, picturing Draco with his clenched jaw again. Maybe you could kiss some of that tension away. You quickly backtracked and blamed the champagne for the lewd thoughts now sowing seeds inside of your mind. 

“I don't know Y/n.” He murmured. “You tell me.” 

Draco had seen you. He knew it was you and yet, he was still there, holding your hand, telling you that you look lovely. But why hadn’t he revealed his identity to you? What was holding him back?

“Let me see you.” You said softly, rubbing tiny circles on his hand with the pad of your thumb. “Please.”

“I don’t know if you’ll like what you see.” He said quietly, giving your hand a squeeze in return. 

“Try me.”

You heard him let out a nervous little sigh and it made your heart swell. You felt drunk on the idea that you were somehow capable of making Draco Lucius Malfoy nervous. It had always been the other way around. 

“Fine. I might take a chance.” He whispered, letting your hand go so he could lift the veil between the two of you. You’d be ready when he did, you embrace him and everything about him with open arms. “Only because it's you, y/n.” 

You sucked in a breath and waited in dizzying anticipation. Any moment now…

“Linus is making his speech.” Fay Dunbar jogged towards the photo booth, rouged cheeks and short of breath. “Come now Y/n..” She lifted the curtain between you and Draco. “...And Malfoy, you too.”

Draco coughed loud enough for most people to turn their heads towards your direction. You just sat there pinching the bridge of your nose. 

“Did I..” Fae alternated between looking and you and Draco. “I feel like I walked right into the middle of something…”

“For the love of Salazar Slytherin…” Draco groaned more or less to himself before looking up. “What does it look like, Fay?”

“It looks like you two were having a moment…I’ll just–” Fay mumbled something about getting more wine and vanished, leaving you and Draco sitting next to each other. The veil was still in place but it did little to nothing now that you both knew. 

“Hi.” He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at you with a wonky and awkwards smile. 

“Hi.”

“Why are you following me?” He asked, and you lightly punched his right arm. 

“Why do you think I’m following you?” You asked and he caught you by the wrist the second time you punched his arm, pulling you closer.

“Because you are always around, Y/n.” He began with his peppermint cool breath tickling your face. “When I try to take the elevator to level two every morning, when I want that one last almond biscotti…” His free hand trailed across your cheeks before setting down near your jaw, cupping your face. “I try to go to bed and you even follow me into my dreams, bicker with me–Merlin, you talk so much sometimes I just want to…”

 His lips ghosted an inch away from your, and his eyes were lowered to look at your lips. The intensity in his gaze made you nervous and loopy. You had to anxiously chew on the bottom part of your lip to keep yourself together and that proved to be more counter productive because now, Draco was licking his own lip. 

“Want to what, Draco?”

****

He took one last, long and meaningful glance at your lips. He’d kissed you so many times in his dreams before. Sometimes they were innocent, sometimes they were filthy. But whatever type of kiss it was in his dreams, he’d never been nervous. How silly he’d been to think it would be the same in reality. 

All of Draco’s senses were heightened as he drew his face closer. The place where you held him, your fingers twisted right along the hairs at the nape of his neck burned. Every little movement of yours lit his entire existence ablaze. He was nervous. He was so fucking nervous that he had to look into your eyes to see if you wanted this as much as he did. 

You closed your eyes and parted your lips slightly and that little breath that escaped you was as soothing as rain. It was the reassurance he needed to press his lips onto you and oh, he did. Firmly. 

When your rain met his fire, it sizzled. When his tongue met your tongue, Draco couldn’t help but let out a satisfied hiss. No feeling compared to the feeling of kissing the woman that he’d been pining for since the day he first met her. 

 “....that one time, I flirted with someone in the ministry and it had to be you.” Draco whispered in between suckling your lower lip. “What are the odds?”

“Slim to none.” You mumbled, clearly too preoccupied fighting for dominance with his tongue to think of anything else to say. 

“Either that or you’re following me.” Draco chuckled, as the two of you finally broke away. It was a work event. DMLE did not need more gossip, that one rumour going around about two interns getting it got and heavy behind the storage room was enough for now. 

“You got me, I am definitely following you.” You agreed and he pressed a tiny kiss on the tip of your nose. “You know, we probably missed half of Linus’s speech right?”

****

When you went back to the Ministry for work the very next day, you were humming. You were waving hello to everyone you bumped into and you hadn't even had your morning coffee yet.

The elevator called you towards it like a siren and you waltzed in, expecting Draco to show up any minute. You had to press the open button two to three times while you waited, assuming that he was running later than usual.

“Level 4 Please.” A man entered the elevator and waited for you to press the button and though you were hesitant, you had no choice but to oblige. Draco had missed your shared morning ritual. 

Another surprise hit you when you entered your cubicle and opened your file. Long wordy feedback, pros, cons and the DMLE stamp. Harry was back. 

Flinging the file back onto your desk, you raced to the elevator and pressed the Level 2 button so hard, the button almost went inside completely. Harry wasn’t supposed to come back for a few more weeks. 

“Draco–I need to talk to Draco.” You asked the new front desk clerk who just looked at you with owlish eyes, widened in confusion. 

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No.” You murmured impatiently. “I work for the Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee and I need to talk to Draco Malfoy, immediately.”

“But do you have an appointment?”

“No.”

“Then I’m afraid I must—”

“Y/N! What are you doing here?” Fay walked by, with a mug of black coffee, looking like the epitome of hangover after the party.

“I came to see Draco. Do you know where he is?”

“I think he went to the Atrium. Something about a cookie, I think.”

You said a quick thank you before you ran like hell to the elevator and the Atrium all over again. In a way, it felt like your whole relationship with Draco had come to a full-circle when you saw him standing in front of the pop-up shop with a brown paper bag in his hand. 

“Morning Sunshine.”He grinned and you scowled back at him in return. “What’s wrong?”

“I waited for you at the elevator and when I didn’t see you at the DMLE, I panicked.” You threw your hands up in frustration. “And you are here, getting a cookie?”

“Almond Biscotti, last one.” He held the brown paper bag tight, looking at you with an amused look in his eyes. “They always run out so I had to come in early and stand in line.”

“You little thief.”

“Here.” He lifted a brow that perfectly framed his face and extended his arm to hold the paper-bag within your reach.

“Is this for me?”

“No Cookie, it's for another girl I ride the elevator with. That’s why I wasn’t there with you this morning.” He smirked and watched you take a nibble of the elusive biscotti.

“You know, I take mixed martial arts lessons after work….” You threatened, with your mouth full and Draco palmed his forehead suppressing a laugh.

Everyone was right. The biscotti did taste like lemon groves and almonds and all things good. You would have even said it was the best thing you’d ever tasted had you not just kissed Draco yesterday. 

Nothing tasted better than him.

Draco Malfoy aka department of magical Law and Enforcement employee, arch-enemy, love interest, extremely attractive and…almond biscotti thief. 

Fin.

~~~

Draco Fluff Taglist: @found-againn @haroldpotterson @Lolo2bougie @Cha_woozii @immeli_ssaaa @onlyangelsweetheart @thehalfbloodedwitch @mvdbldd @onyourgoddamnleft @delsij @i-have-my-issues @forevermalfoysgirl @evahpmcu @marcela6malfoy @official-fangirl @drxylvr @awkardnerd @itsnotquimey @vodkandjin @dracoslittlesunflower @darckxlady @bokutos-babyowl @wobblymug @Simrah1012 @myshamalfoy @dilf-lover21 @carnationbasement @arianagreyy @o-rion-sta-r @naisnape @youreso-golden @maybesandohnos @justfangirlthingies @dlmmdl @desiredmalfoy @trainintersection @wh0re4blaise @marrymetheonott @quacksonsssandtea @letoof @rvaldez7569 @lolooo22 @emma67 @berriemalfoy @thegaudess @itchywitch33 @lunar0se10 @savagelysarcasticslytherin @fleursbabe @teawineaddict @malfoyxxdraco23 @fantasyfairysworld @trashyvicks @h0ggyw0ggyh0gwarts @l0vely-lupin @linasylveon @dracomalfoyisindahouse @sycathorn-slush @lalunemoonstone @supermisunderstoodoceans @belladaises @riddleswh0r3crux @justreadingficsdontmindme @axdxis @97santoki @laceycallisto @haroldpotterson @thetipsysaquatch @darlingmalfoy @letsmariya @malfoysbiitch @turn-to-page-394-please @malfoysgem @m4lf0ym1lk3rs @ameliasbitvh @slythermuf @wolfstar_lb @underappreciated-spoon-321 @yiamalfoy @louweasleymalfoy @fa-me @dracoswhore007 @xiayre

(if your name has been struck through, please look into your privacy settings because I was unable to tag you)

Join my tag list here . Alternatively, you can message me if you’d like to be added or removed from my list.

#harry potter writing event #Draco Malfoy #draco lucius malfoy #draco malfoy fluff #draco fluff #draco malfoy fanfic #draco fanfic #draco malfoy fanfiction #draco fanfiction #draco fic #draco malfoy imagine #draco malfoy fic #draco x reader #draco malfoy x reader #draco x you #draco x y/n #draco malfoy x reader fluff #draco malfoy x slytherin!reader #draco malfoy x fem!reader #draco malfoy x female reader #draco x female reader #draco one shot #draco malfoy one shot #draco x ravenclaw!reader #draco x gryffindor!reader #draco x hufflepuff!reader

[beneaththetangles]

Reader’s Corner: D-Genesis, The Liminal Zone, and Bleach 20th Anniversary Edition

In this week’s column, we look back to a couple of classics (including one getting a reprint), and to the usual suspects: isekai, romcom, and…magical school?

Chitose is in the Ramune Bottle, Manga Vol. 1

When I reviewed the opening light novel on which the Chitose in the Ramune Bottle manga is based, I explained just how obnoxious the characters and series overall are. The titular Chitose is smart, athletic, popular, and arrogant. He’s also thirsted after by a swarm of equally high-stat girls who don’t mind being referred to as his harem. In this initial volume of the manga, Chitose’s homeroom teacher gives him the task of convincing shut-in Kenta to return to school. Chitose may be two-faced, putting on the role of the perfect guy in front of others while constantly thinking in harsh and judgmental terms in his mind; but that less-laudable, authentic part of his personality is bound to come out as he deals with the angry otaku Kenta. Despite all his flaws, however, Chitose is only mildly aggravating in the manga compared to the light novel. Without being constantly in Chitose’s head, readers don’t constantly run up against his conceit, and that’s a good thing—until perhaps it isn’t. I ultimately gave the light novel volume a good evaluation because of the strong hints that there’s depth to the series. We don’t get to that (at least not yet) in volume one of the manga, which reads as if it were the first volume of Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki from Hinami’s point of view (and with none of her cute quirks). The storyline, in fact, is much the same, with Kenta taking Tomozaki’s place. I am eager to see how the manga handles the next volume, which should be better than this volume (if it follows the manga)—though it wasn’t too bad, especially when supported by the beautiful character designs and nice, crisp artwork. If you can stomach the lead’s arrogance, Chitose in the Ramune Bottle is definitely a series to keep an eye on. – Twwk

Chitose is in the Ramune Bottle (manga) is published by Yen Press.

Mashle, Vol. 7

If Mashle is a thinly veiled manga-ization of Harry Potter, then volume seven is this series’ Goblet of Fire, featuring top students in the school competing in a head-to-head tournament with high stakes and villainous surprises in store. In fact, it’s that last bit that’s most interesting in this volume, literally awakening me from my stupor and leading me to wonder if this series—which has for three volumes now transitioned away from straight-up comedy and more towards action and a fuller (though far less entertaining) tale—might now be gaining its second wind. Mashle, which can be forgiven for so closely emulating Harry Potter because the comedy is so uproarious, has become less and less interesting as it tries to explain the larger story of Mashle’s origins and his importance to the magical world as a non-magic user, as well as revealing a greater scheme of the villains of Innocent Zero. The jokes have slowed from a mile a minute to once or twice a chapter, and the action lacks suspense with its overpowered hero. But there’s promise in these chapters that some dramatic tension may have finally developed. I’d welcome that in volume eight—but not as much as I would a few more dozen references to cream puffs. – Twwk

Mashle (manga) is published by Viz Media.

D-Genesis: Three Years after the Dungeons Appeared, Vol. 1

In 2015, RPG-style dungeons began appearing across the globe; three years later, they remain profoundly enigmatic. When overworked chemist Keigo has an unexpected dungeon experience, he acquires a strange skill that opens the way for new research and development. Keigo and his partner-in-crime, Miyoshi, have a chance to obtain tremendous profits as they investigate the dungeon’s secrets; but they also risk getting dragged into fierce political conflicts (foreign and domestic). This story is part fantasy adventure, part science fiction, and part diplomatic/political thriller. (When I say sci-fi, I mean that if, say, a character acquires the power to manipulate magnetism, there will be a discussion of Faraday’s law of induction and the physics principles behind rail guns.) Besides the fun blend of fantasy and sci-fi, the story also sets a big mystery: the dungeons. What is their purpose, and who or what is behind them? Arcane inscriptions within the dungeons may hold the answer… In short, I really enjoyed this volume. I thought the magic-science blend—the intrusion of fantasy into our world—worked well and gave the story a unique feel. You can bet I’ll be back for the next volume. ~ JeskaiAngel

D-Genesis: Three Years after the Dungeons Appeared is published by J-Novel Club.

The Liminal Zone

Even Junji Ito’s “leftover” ideas turn into captivating “short stories” of horror and mystery. The Liminal Zone, developed out of old thoughts that he later decided to develop further, is a collection of four manga stories that were originally released in Japan on LINE’s manga app. They are diverse in topic and style, and all wickedly clever and mesmerizing: the tales range from one about a man who wakes with memories of slaughtering people in his sleep to another of a Catholic school gone awry via the corruption of its leader. While the former story is my favorite in The Liminal Zone (and the only one that I would call traditionally “frightening”), the latter one, “Madonna,” is certainly ripe for analysis on our Christian-focused blog. The story slowly unravels the history of corruption at the school, a corruption mixed with a theology that goes into deviant directions because of power gone unchecked. There’s something to be said here about how each of us, particularly leaders, can cause severe damage when indulging in sin; but the story also leaves room for hope through the kindness and purity of one character who does not fall. That story is certainly worth a closer look for Catholics and other Christians, but the other three in the collection are likewise excellent, combining various measures of whimsy, fantasy, the spiritual, and of course, horror. – Twwk

The Liminal Zone (manga) is published by Viz Media.

A Silent Voice, Vol. 2

I came into volume two of A Silent Voice with much hesitation after really despising Shoya’s actions in the previous volume. However, with this second volume, I strangely enough feel the tables have turned, and now my heart feels heavy for Shoya. I didn’t expect that my heart could feel this way after everything he’s done, but this volume really shows how Shoya has changed. It might have been five years since he bullied Shoko in elementary school because she couldn’t hear, but now he boldly declares to a new character, Yuzuru, that he will dedicate his life to Shoko and making up for all the wrongs he has done. We see him truly remorseful for his past actions and cannot help but feel compassion for him as he shares how he hates himself and how he views the people around him. As much as I didn’t like his earlier actions, I would never want him to take his own life or live completely alone. I was deeply concerned on his behalf and was very thankful for the very subtle change in him when he questions what friendship is and when a friendship forms. Also, as odd as it might sound, I was glad that this volume opened up with Shoko saying she hated Shoya. I don’t condone hate, but it made her character a lot more relatable because until this volume, I was genuinely at a loss to explain how she didn’t seem to express any anger. She continues to be a very inspiring person in that, despite her own feelings, she is still willing to give Shoya a second chance. Her actions are indeed humbling and inspire hope as I continue this series. ~ Laura A. Grace

A Silent Voice is published by Kodansha.

READ: A Silent Voice Reviews: Vol. 1

Bleach 20th Anniversary Edition, Vol. 1

I remember reading volume one of Bleach for the first time, picking it up in a Barnes and Noble and standing near an aisle of books, unable to stop myself from tearing through the manga. Twenty years later, an anniversary edition is coming out, but the sheen of the series has dimmed—by its conclusion, Bleach had become a textbook example of what happens when you create too many OP characters that you don’t know what to do with, either placing them in meandering, boring arcs or forgetting they exist for volumes on end. So why purchase this volume, whose only extra is new cover art from the launch of the series on Shonen Jump? Well, what’s the only reason for buying manga at all? Because it grabs you, because it’s engaging, because it’s good. And volume one still hits hard with slapstick humor, a really cool cast of characters (and two leads who are particularly endearing), and some pretty awesome action scenes. All these aspects get lost later on, but for one volume—and to be fair, for many thereafter—Bleach reminds readers why this series was so popular and beloved. For me, it was the manga most responsible for stirring my love of the medium. So for nostalgia’s sake, as well as for the strength of its initial chapters, I’m not sure there’s a single volume of manga that I’d rather own. – Twwk

Bleach 20th Anniversary Edition (manga) is published by Viz Media.

=====

“Reader’s Corner” is our way of embracing the wonderful world of manga, light novels, and visual novels, creative works intimately related to anime but with a magic all their own. Each week, our writers provide their thoughts on the works they’re reading—both those recently released as we keep you informed of newly published works, and those older titles that you might find as magical (or in some cases, reprehensible) as we do.

#Manga #Light Novels #Chitose is in the Ramune Bottle #Chitose kun wa Ramune Bin no Naka #MASHLE #Mashle: Magic and Muscles #D Genesis: Three Years after the Dungeons Appeared #D Genesis: Dungeon ga Dekite 3 nen #The Liminal Zone #Genkai Chitai #Koe no Katachi #A Silent Voice #Bleach #Reader's Corner #Articles #Author: TWWK #Author: Jeskai Angel #Author: Laura A. Grace

[sweetchup]

Things you might not know about Bivalve (Ch.12)

A/N: Once again, Minors do not read. Explicit content you have been warned.

Chapter 12; another fun chapter. Get ready Folks.

Fact 1: Vol. 3 is called Kiss the Girl. Messed up in many ways as it’s a Disney reference (and Amphitrite ironically looks like Ariel) and it is right after they hit 3rd base.

Fact 2: Reader casually wishes she had google to help search up what to do if you have sex with a god. Just normal things.

Fact 3: Poseidon is the type to read a book then fall asleep after sex. Then again he probably has more stamina than the reader so he isn’t likely that tired.

Fact 4: His bedroom also secretly reveals a similarity between him and Triton. Poseidon bed is a circle bed in the center of his room, Triton build a nest like bed out of pillows. Poseidon is laying on a pile of soft and silk pillows to keep himself upright, Triton likes soft and comfy things. Coincidence? I think not.

Fact 5: Reader casually insults Poseidon by saying she doesn’t see him as the type to read. Poseidon is also reading a book about Penguins btw. There was going to be a scene where the reader snatched the book away but that got replaced by the pillow scene.

Fact 6: The fact that Poseidon wrinkles his nose up at the term “wife” when referring to reader, once again shows that Poseidon and Reader are physical attracted to each other. They aren’t emotionally nor do they like each other like that yet.

Fact 7: However when the servant knocks on the door and both of them think it’s Amphitrite, Poseidon acts very defensive and suspicious. This shows that he is instinctively acting protecting over the reader, not feeling yet but he’s ahead of the reader a little.

Fact 8: Poseidon casually gives reader a vitamin/birth control pill. This reveals Poseidon didn’t wear a condom. Poseidon is an asshole.

Fact 9: Reader casually thinks it’s a good idea to throw a pillow to Poseidon. Poseidon also didn’t catch it. This shows his guard was down, either because he didn’t care since the reader is human or that he felt relaxed with her. I’ll let you guys decide which one is correct.

Fact 10: When Poseidon says “You aren’t going anywhere, Human.” Was this sexual? Yes.

Does that mean Author wrote another smu— Shush. Yes. Just take the answer as always yes. Once again, it’s locked in the deepest dungeons of my abyssal docs.

Fact 11: Amphitrite casually wondering where it all went wrong when Poseidon is currently having sex with reader. How convenient.

Fact 12: Amphitrite wears a dark veil to hide herself from the eyes of the gorgon sisters. This reveals that gods are affected by the powers of the gorgon sisters.

Fact 13: In Bivalve, Medusa is not pregnant with Poseidon’s kids (Pegasus and Chrysaor). This means Medusa is not raped by Poseidon. And before you all come for my head about that, I have my reasons. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that version of the Medusa story. I just felt that it didn’t fit with the fact that a. Amphitrite scares off any female near Poseidon and b. Snv Poseidon in Bivalve doesn’t really fit Mythology Poseidon. I made him much colder than a gross player.

Fact 14: So, this begs the question, SPOILERS IF YOU AREN’T CAUGHT UP TO CHAPTER 19, how did Euryale get pregnant with Orion. Well, that will be mentioned in chapter 20. It’s not through the usual way I assure you. Could this mean Medusa could secretly have Pegasus and Chrysaor when her head is cut off, perhaps? It’s going to be a little weird writing it though.

Fact 15: Now, I know people liked the gorgon sisters during this chapter but I promise from Ch 20 or 23 forward you will hate them. I will be surprised if you don’t.

Do with this information what you wish.

#bivalve #shuumatsu no valkyrie #snv poseidon #shuumatsu no valkyrie x reader #snv poseidon x reader #record of ragnarok #snv #the more you know

[kudosmyhero]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (vol. 1) #6: The Triceraton Homeworld

Read Date: March 01, 2023 Cover Date: February 1986 ● Writer: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Pencils: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Inks: Kevin Eastman ◦ Peter Laird ● Letterer: Steve Lavigne ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● going to the Triceraton home world ● I hope they treat Honeycutt decently ● meditating turtles?

● I mean, the Triceratons seem decent enough… ● …or maybe not ● ah, so that's what TCRI stands for—Techno-Cosmic Research Institute. I never knew that. ● I guess sportscasters are the same all over the universe… ● some sort of gladiator event? yikes, yup ● battle time ● looks like Raph draws first blood ● bummer, broken sai ● a broken bo ● 👏👏👏

Synopsis: The Fugitoid, a captive on one of the Triceratons' asteroid ships, is taken to the Triceraton homeworld—an unbelievable conglomerate of other asteroid ships connected into a single, gigantic planetoid. As the Triceratons try to convince a doubtful Honeycutt to join them, the turtles are found on board the ship which brought them here. The turtles have put themselves into a meditative trance to conserve the limited oxygen that was available in the cargo hold during the space journey. Surprisingly, the Triceratons who find our heroes decide to keep them alive.

Meanwhile, the Triceraton High Council is meeting with the Fugitoid in effort to convince him that the Federation is a terrorist organization that must be stopped. Prime Leader Zanramon of the Triceratons states that the good doctor's Transmat device is just what they need to accomplish their goal. Honeycutt confesses that even if he could build the device, he wouldn't do it for anyone, as he has no desire to see it used as a weapon. As Zanramon makes a veiled threat, he is interrupted by his men who display the captured turtles. The Fugitoid asks the Triceratons not to harm his friends and the High Council quickly seize on the opportunity to blackmail Honeycutt into working for them.

The Turtles are shackled and lead to a jail cell. Before they're incarcerated, Michelangelo picks a fight with one of the guards and a scuffle breaks out. The Triceratons are impressed with Mike's spunk, but the battle is easily won by the saurians (who have the advantage of being unbound) and the Turtles are thrown headlong into the awaiting prison.

We cut to the Fugitoid who is mourning the situation alone in nice quarters. Honeycutt decides that he cannot work on the Transmat, even if it means the death of himself and his four friends.

Back on Earth, we find April entering her apartment and missing the boys, who have been gone for two days. April turns on the television and hears a news report regarding a strange phenomena emanating from the T.C.R.I. building (where the turtles had gone 48 hours ago). A police captain explains that when the boys in blue attempted to enter the building to investigate, it sealed itself off and has become an impenetrable fortress. The National Guard has been requested for back-up. April sits on the floor in shock and dejectedly wonders what she can do to help her friends.

On the Triceraton homeworld, the turtles are being forced to fight for their lives in a monstrous arena filled with thousands of bloodthirsty fans. Fortunately the boys are no longer shackled, and their battle against the Triceraton gladiators goes well. As the fight wages, one of the television camera ships that's covering the event zooms in too close to the action and the turtles are able to board it. The team maneuvers the vehicle to the platform housing the Triceraton High Council and the Fugitoid and bail out. The turtles quickly take the Prime Leader hostage and prompt him to lead them to a ship. As they approach the hangar, our protagonists are ambushed. Zanramon is (apparently) killed in the crossfire by his own men. Just as the turtles and Honeycutt are about to be blasted to bits, they're engulfed in a power field… along with three Triceraton warriors.

(https://turtlepedia.fandom.com/wiki/The_Triceraton_Homeworld)

Fan Art: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Zlydoc

Accompanying Podcast: ● Shellheads - episode 07

#mirage comics #my mirage read #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #shellheads #podcast recommendations #podcast recommendation

[bleachbleachbleach]

Seireitei Communications Headcanons (Vol. 2)

Featured Author: Soi Fon

Soi Fon is surprisingly prolific as a Seireitei Communications contributor--who knew she was such a big writer? Canonically, she’s produced two columns for the SC, one of which has a whopping 54 issues and one of which clocks in at 4. But what, pray tell, are her columns about?

The Road to Assassination (54 issues):

list of thinly veiled complaints about Oomaeda, as he slowly drives her further and further down that road. Similar in tone to Nanao’s column, but hyperspecific.

I’ll Do Anything to Live (4 issues):

Reads like a survivalist manual--crisp no-nonsense prose, though readers attempting to follow the directions sometimes find it a bit underwritten

That’s because it’s actually a sapphic love story masquerading as a utilitarian newspaper column

No one can imagine Soi Fon writing something that wasn’t instructions, so it hides in plain sight

No one except Rukia. Rukia definitely reads “I’ll Do Anything to Live” like the sapphic love story that it is, and she’s a big big fan

Rukia even sends fan mail!! and Soi Fon writes back!! but Rukia uses a pseudonym so Soi Fon doesn’t know who she’s writing to; no one does, not even the editors at the SC (who have been soundly interrogated) 

Well, not no one. Renji knows. Or he would, if he read the Letters of the Editor section of the SC, which he does not

But oh, Son Fon’s planning to find out, one way or another. There’s a special interest team in the Onmitsukidou on the case as we speak.

Hisagi reads the Letters to the Editor, and understands Soi Fon’s fanmail as the SC’s flagship sapphic love story. The column itself he reads like a survival manual. (He takes meticulous notes.)

--

The second half of this is partly based on a manga panel that for the life of me I cannot begin to locate (I tried, I failed) where Renji makes some comment about Soi Fon and Rukia objects, saying, “Soi Fon is nice!” 

I don’t think we really see Soi Fon and Rukia interact in canon, and though Rukia is a member of the SWA I get the impression that her attendance is not as strong as many of the others (since many of them we... primarily know from SWA omake as that is most of their screentime lol). rn I’m really vibing with the idea that Rukia has a very strong single-blind parasocial penpal relationship with Soi Fon.

Anyway, if you remember this panel and know where to find it PLEASE HELP ME 🥺 I swear I didn’t dream it up! but I also cannot fathom an instance where they would have needed to have this conversation.

Also, I just looked at the Japanese title for this column, which is ニャンとしても命にかえて, which I assume is some kind of cat pun, only further convincing us that it’s secretly a sapphic love story.

--

Vol. 1 (Editorial Practices) | Vol. 3 (Kyouraku)

#seireitei communications #bleach headcanons #soi fon #kuchiki rukia #bleach

[ammocharis]

Avvar History Reconstruction, Part 2

In this part, I’d like to pose a couple of questions: where exactly did Tyrdda’s tribe live? Why did she decide to break away from the Alamarri? Where did her people go? The answers are not as straightforward as it may seem.

The Seven Magisters weren’t the first people who tried to get into the Golden City.

Read >Part 1<

The next major event in the timeline was the separation of the Avvar from the rest of the Alamarri tribes.

-1815 Ancient: The Alamarri living near Lake Calenhad break away, becoming known as the Avvar. The two groups war with each other for centuries.[1]

The reason why Tyrdda chose to break away from the Alamarri was a conflict with Thelm Gold-Handed, a chieftain who subjugated multiple lesser tribes.

(As a side note, Lake Calenhad obviously wasn’t known as such in the times before Calenhad, who lived during the Exalted Age - some 2300 years later. I’ll continue calling it Lake Calenhad so as not to cause too much confusion.)

“Thelm Gold-Handed, fingers greasy, jeweled rings with glitter shone,

Took in tribes in times of trouble, fed them fat to weaken bone.

Warriors great and great in number, sun-kissed swords to fight his wars

Drake-scaled shirts their bodies covered, heart-wine stained the salty shores.

Told his tribes a tale of treasure, over sea to north it gleamed,

Whispered words to drive the droves to golden city where he dreamed.

Counseled quick in dreams alone,

Voices wiser man ignores,

Pushed the tribes until they screamed,

Heed the dreams and cross the Waking.”[2]

As we can see, Thelm wished to cross the Waking Sea and collect a treasure within the golden city he had been promised by mysterious voices in his dreams. It appears that he controlled a large territory lying by the sea.

Personally, I subscribe to a theory that Kirkwall was the place where the Magister Sidereal breached the Veil to get to the Golden City. I won’t elaborate on the details here, but it’s a widely popular theory so I invite you to read about it on your own, if you haven’t come across it already. I mention it here because I believe that Thelm was one of the first people who were influenced by whatever is lurking inside the Golden City, and he was being prompted to follow the same steps as the Seven Magisters, which includes finding an entrance to the Fade -  an it just so happens that a there’s a suitable location, atop the Primeval Thaig, near the place where the City of Chains would once be built. Kirkwall is located north of the Fertile Valley, across the Waking Sea. Perhaps Thelm was contacted in his dreams because the area he controlled was located in the vicinity of a possible Fade entrance.

I’d also like to point out that Tyrdda was aware that the gilded city was nothing but a lie, a trap for the greedy. She received a warning from the Lady of the Skies.

We’re told that prior to the separation movement, Tyrdda’s tribe lived near the Lake that is now known as Lake Calenhad, but that’s the extent of the information we’re given. I want to propose a somewhat counterintuitive idea and say that Tyrdda’s tribe inhabited an area to the east of the Lake, not west.

Figure 3. Green area - tribes led by Thelm Gold-Handed Blue area - tribes led by Tyrdda Bright-Axe (Disclaimer: All maps included in this write-up are meant to represent only rough estimations of areas that might’ve fallen under the influence of various tribes that belong to the Alamarri cultural group. These are not firm borders.)

Firstly, the Saga of Tyrdda mentions that:

“Tyrdda Bright-Axe, bold and bloodied, took her tribe from placid plains Tribes with blades by farming blunted chased and fought, their parting pains.”[3]

Which makes me think that her tribe lived in the Fertile Valley proper. West of the Lake is already a mountainous region, judging by the way it’s depicted on Thedosian maps.

Figure 4. Lake Calenhad and the surrounding area on the Inquisition map

Furthermore, it stands to reason that the region controlled by Tyrdda was adjacent to the lands under Thelm’s rule, which, as I explained before, appear to have been located in the northernmost part of the Fertile Valley. Thelm was aiming to gather a massive number of warriors in order to cross the Waking Sea and claim the riches of the Golden City for himself. Naturally, he would first look for “allies” in the neighbouring tribes.

And so Tyrdda abandoned the other Alamarri tribes and led her people away from the plains.

“To the mountains, shorn of shelter, snow-slicked peaks gave wind its bite”[4]

Here I’d also like to pose another theory - Tyrdda didn’t lead her tribe west, to the area that’s considered the Frostbacks in modern Thedas. Instead, she took them south, following the shores of the Lake, until they reached the place that is now known as the Hinterlands. Let me explain why.

In Dragon Age: Inquisition, we explore a mountainous region called the Hinterlands, specifically the part that surrounds the settlement of Redcliffe. A storyteller encountered in the village describes it as such “Even before the sky fell open, this was a land of spirits and demons. Magic grows wild in the hills of Redcliffe.” During the exploration, we can find landmarks that reveal the Saga of Tyrdda Bright-Axe. After discovering all stanzas, a war table mission becomes available, titled “Locate Weapon of Tyrdda Bright-Axe”. Sister Dorcas Guerrin, a Fereldan scholar, explains that:

“The rich oral tradition of the Avvar has been largely lost, leaving only these rune-marked fragments. [...] Based on marker runes left at each of these locations, I may be able to find the site where Tyrdda���s legendary axe is located.”[5]

So it appears that there are Avvar marker runes sprinkled around the Hinterlands, which point to a place where Tyrdda’s staff, along with her other earthly possessions, were stored. It leads me to believe that the Avvar had presence in the Hinterlands after they separated from the Alamarri, since the Saga of the Avvar-Mother describes events from Tyrdda’s life up until her death. When Tyrdda died, her tribesmen (perhaps with the help from dwarves, as Tyrdda had allied with prince Hendir) installed marker runes in the Hinterlands that if combined together would reveal a path to the site where Tyrdda’s relics had been safely put away. This vault was located in another part of the highlands, but it’s unclear where exactly. In my mind, it just makes sense that the marker runes would be left in the place where the Avvar tribe settled after they separated from the Alamarri.

(As a side note, the Avvar do cultivate their oral traditions. Tyrdda’s identity as a mage wasn’t a shock to them - “the Avvar were completely unsurprised by Tyrdda being a mage. While it was lost to Fereldan history, it was evidently taken as an unspoken truth among the Avvar.”[6])

Figure 5. The region where the Avvar might’ve settled after separating from the rest of the Alamarri

Another argument for why the Hinterlands were the place the Avvar relocated to is the tree dedicated to Tyrdda’s lover, which can be found on Dennet’s horse farm.

“The farmers remember the old ways and the old blood, and we’ll honor that [...] If the farmers want to leave that tree to honor Tyrdda’s leaf-eared lover, we’ll let it be, and whatever we lose from the land, we’ll gain in loyalty.”[7]

The age of the tree in question is unknown, I would assume it’s not from Tyrdda’s time since it’d have to be over 2500 years old (though it’s possible, the oldest known tree on Earth was almost 5000 years old) but it’s still a sign of the Avvar beliefs being present in the area for a substantial amount of time. Admittedly, the Alamarri also believed in the Lady of the Skies, though in this case, the importance seems to be attached to the deity being Tyrdda’s lover specifically, not the goddess of the skies.

In Jaws of Hakkon, Scout Lace Harding mentions that when she was a little girl “a lady in our village used to tell me Avvar tales” which is yet another hint of the Avvar influence on the Hinterlands, as Harding was born and raised in a settlement located near Redcliffe.

I imagine that for the Avvar lore to become so ingrained in the Hinterlands, the Avvar had to be present in the area for a long time, well after their separation from the Alamarri. I theorize they held it at least until the times of chieftain Morrighan’nan who lived around -355 Ancient (more on her and the area she might’ve controlled in Part 4).

To sum up - I think that “Frostback Mountains” used to refer to a much wider area. The highlands located west and south of the Lake were all included in its definition, while “Fertile Valley” was the name of the lowlands east and north of the Lake. When the Alamarri tribes first crossed the mountains, they settled in the Valley, and the Frostbacks remained largely uninhabited until the Avvar took them as their home.

Figure 6.

Redefining regions Blue area - Frostback Mountains Green area - Fertile Valley

Next up - did the Avvar completely disappear from the Fertile Valley?

~

Sources:

[1] Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 13

[2][3][4] Codex entry: Saga of Tyrdda Bright-Axe, Avvar-Mother

[5] War Table mission: Locate Weapon of Tyrdda Bright-Axe

[6] War Table mission: Send Relics of Tyrdda Bright-Axe

[7] Note: Tyrdda's Lover, written by Elaina to her husband, horsemaster Dennet

#dragon age #dragon age lore #avvar #alamarri #theory #theorycrafting #fictional history #tyrdda bright-axe #avvar history reconstruction #part 2