#WHERES THE SHOWMANSHIP

[lnane]

WHY DOES EVERYONE PLAY THE SAME FUCKING DINOSAUR COMMANDER PLAY SOMETHING FUN INSTEAD FUCK

#YEA ITS GOOD BUT THAT DOESNT MEAN ITS FUN TO PLAY #YOU DO THE SAME THING EVERY SINGLE TIME #EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU #YOU RAMP TO GET IT OUT YOU HIT AND THEN YOU GOT AN ARMY OF DINOS THAT ALL DO BULLSHIT THINGS #WHERES THE DIVERSITY #WHERES THE SPLENDOR #WHERES THE SHOWMANSHIP #BE FUN. STOP DOING THAT

[turtleblogatlast]

Imo the most impressive thing Leo’s done is hold this pose for as long as he did while covered head to toe in gold paint:

#rottmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt leo #rise leo #if you’ve ever had to wear body paint that stuff can be UNCOMFORTABLE #AND to hold that pose for so long - not moving a muscle even when they first started falling? #as humorous as this is it is no joke highly impressive #I also love the implication that they disguised Leo SO FAST that Big Mama JUST finished with item 1 #this is why Leo grows to become the worlds greatest ninja #bro’s dedication to subterfuge is godly #also #Leo 🤝 Mario: being painted gold and tricking the villainess into thinking you’re a statue #side note but in this same episode leo makes a comment about being betrayed by his brothers all the time in a happy tone #and I wonder if that’s part of where his love for epic betrayals comes from #or if his bros partially did those betrayals because they know he likes them #also also #nearly all of Leo’s absolute best moments are contained within episodes that feature either Hueso or especially Big Mama #and I find that interesting #ALSO also also #Karai and Big Mama both embody different aspects of Leo’s key character traits and in this essay I will- #side note but as I mentioned in the notes LEO WOULD BE SUCH A GOOD CHEERLEADER AND SPECIFICALLY A FLYER #bc here’s the thing he has literally all the marks of a good one - the main one being what he shows HERE #the ability to LOCK HIS POSITION #plus his affinity for showmanship like #AND his literal JOB AS A MASCOT??? #let my guy be a cheerleader plz #he and Mikey both would be so good at it

[underhanded-lamb]

More Pokemon Prototype AU brainrot ✨this has nothing to do with me starting a new Soul Silver game shssssss

#fnaf au #pokemon au #fnaf daycare attendant #fnaf sun #fnaf moon #prototype au #lambs art #sun x moon #They have completely different dynamics with their teams #Sun is was and has always been a stat man and loves his battles #the showmanship #the dedication #all of it #where Moon is way more interested in how Pokemon just exist #how and where they live #what they do #Your tag lore tidbit: Sun's Shining Charm is actually Moon's. Though Sun has never found a shiny in the wild on his own #Every one he's seen has either been with Moon or was a rescue due to poaching

[starsfic]

Fun idea but Sun Wukong used to love being on the stage.

Subodhi taught him how to read and write, proud of the beauty he would write. Another disciple, a former music teacher, taught him how to sing. When he got home, his subjects were enthralled. He would recite poetry, sing, show off his talents. It wasn't just the bawdy tales he would tell for his brothers at the dinner table.

Slowly, though, Macaque was known for being on the stage. He had worked at his talents, made them better that what training Wukong received. For a long time, his voice and his acting skills were what he had to depend on for survival. Slowly, Wukong allowed him to take his place on stage. He liked the spotlight, yes, but it made Macaque happy.

For a bit, he was back on the stage as a hero. But slowly, those gazes dug deeper and deeper into him. Even at this, Macaque would be better at then Wukong.

At the talent show, he froze.

#LMK #Monkie Kid #LEGO Monkie Kid #I was going through a person's tags where they pointed out all the qualities of Wukong that were instead given to Macaque #and showmanship was one of them #what if it was a process? #Sun Wukong #Macaque

[bloody-wonder]

omg im the tsc anon, i literally sent it cause i knew from the past aftg opinions you shared - you'd likely feel similarly to the way i did about tsc

neil outshines jean to such a shocking degree when he only has a handful of scenes... neil is a fantastic protagonist so ofc it's hard to live up to, but come on 😭 jean has such a weaker personality imo? he does/says less interesting things, but also has a less interesting perspective on things. his lack of standing up for himself when the trojans badgered him constantly and talked behind his back bothered me to. can u imagine neils reaction if the foxes had been sharing his secrets over a group chat?

but just in general. tsc felt like a sanitised version of aftg, if that makes sense? scrubbed clean of the controversial and unconventional aspects. and it's those aspects that, in my opinion, played a huge part in what made aftg so good. noras a very talented writer, but i can not comprehend the decision to make tsc... all that it was, yknow? it feels almost like it was written for the 'andreil say ily' part of the fandom...

neil really saved this book for me icl. outsider pov of him is fascinating. and while andrew barely said/did anything even when he was there, i actually kinda liked that? it puts into perspective how ig off-putting andrew can appear to those who don't put in the effort with him. 'creepy little goalkeeper' is so funny and so accurate, he IS a creepy little goalkeeper and i love that for him.

idk, some things i had anticipated - the trojans being who they are were never going to match the foxes. jeremy x jean was never going to match andreil (and ive seen ppl comparing them already... the blasphemy.) but there were things i was surprised weren't there. i had expected kevin and jeans relationship to be a lot more tense ig? i had thought jean would harbor a MUCH deeper resentment towards kevin, but i suppose its just not his character? but when i was reading, i couldn't help asking what would the fan reaction had been if that had been the case? if kevin and jeans past relationship, and places in a cult hierarchy, had shown through in a much uglier and uncomfortable way? i can see why she didn't do that, i don't even necessarily want that, i think i was just desperate for this book to have some sort of deep conflict between the characters.

on the subject, kevin felt quite different from how he was in aftg. but i can't quite put my finger on why.

anyway, it is nice to see someone else have mixed feelings towards the book. i enjoyed it, but i was shocked how many people seemed to really love it. not because it was bad. but because, to me, it was so fundamentally different from aftg.

thank you for sharing your thoughts! i suspected you might have written me bc i used to be the resident notorious contrarian of the fandom lol

yeah neil is a textbook example of a protag who drives the plot forward, he has that main character energy which jean totally lacks which makes sense since jean was originally a minor side character. at the same time the differences in their characterization make complete sense in universe due to the different ways they were brought up and the different trauma they faced. so it all comes down to each reader's personal preference: for me, neil's arc is a self-indulgent power fantasy. i think i have a strong sense of self and when i can't achieve something it's due to circumstances so far out of my control it's impossible to overcome them. it's therefore very satisfying to read about neil facing impossible odds and winning thanks to the sheer force of his personality, whereas jean's way of dealing with trauma feels less fun by comparison. but other readers can relate to him more and all the power to them. i do however think tsc does a disservice to its new characters by opening with a rather lengthy recap of how cool the foxes were in the last act of tkm and closing on a chapter where neil comes along and reminds us who the real hero of this story is🤷‍♀️

i don't think tsc has been entirely scrubbed clean of controversial aspects - i saw plenty of reviews complaining about the amount of dark content (in book 4 of a series known for its dark content, le gasp) - but i do think the handling of certain things was less nuanced than in aftg. for instance, both stories have a plot bit about someone unknowingly exposing a character to their abuser which leads to them being retraumatized (jean himself comments on the similarities between drake and grayson). in aftg that someone is nicky - a person andrew knows and trusts, a person the readers grew to care about (lol not me but certainly some other readers) - so his role in the tragic sequence of events is that much more upsetting. rape and abuse is terrible but the fact that a person who means well can exacerbate the issues bc they don't have the framework to understand the other person - that hits so much harder for me personally. so in the end drake is just an evil rapist but nicky is a much more nuanced character bc through him nora questions whether being nice and having good intentions is enough, whose feelings should be centered on in such a complex situation, whose emotional needs should be prioritized etc. by contrast, in tsc that person is lucas - someone we basically just met, who is nothing more than an antagonistic stranger to jean and who we therefore don't care about. which is why when he leads grayson to jean it's like, first of all, duhh. but secondly, bc it happens against the backdrop of the other ("good") trojans' cheerfully patronizing attitude it doesn't come so much as a shocking twist that puts the ways how we deal with complex trauma into an unconventional perspective than as a culmination of everyone disrespecting jean's boundaries all the time - which is likely what nora intended but the overall constellation feels much less interesting to me.

ig this ties into your point about the book lacking the kind of deep conflict aftg had - but maybe that was intentional too, maybe it's supposed to be aftg light in that sense, sort of a post canon character study fic. which i am not opposed to, not everything has to be high plot and tension and grey morality, but unfortunately the emotional core the story relies on in the absence of the plot just didn't work for me. i can accept jean's "weaker" personality, i can understand him not being able to stand up for himself even tho i can't admire it, but i draw the line at how forced his friendship with jeremy and the girls ended up feeling. like, i still can't get over cat's sex toy joke right on the heels of jean being badgered into admitting he had been sexually abused - the info which jeremy promptly spilled to the girls. if something like that happened to me i would never be able to trust these people again, much less call them friends so soon. it's such a bizarre contrast between how neil joining the monsters in tfc despite their problematic initiation rituals feels valid bc the narrative earned it both plot-wise (we're now facing a bigger enemy together) and character-wise (neil pushing back, talking about why they did it, nicky apologizing) on the one hand - and how jean accepting jeremy, cat and laila as his new friends feels rushed and artificial despite them being so very nice and domestic and wholesome on the other hand. idk maybe it's bc i'm inherently skeptical about disingenuous cozy/hopepunk subgenres in modern lit bc they usually have a darker underbelly people are loath to confront but ngl the words sanitized and conventional did come to mind while reading and so did the idea that tsc will especially appeal to a certain subset of fans which found the (at times uncomfortable) complexity of the original trilogy too much to handle. well, i hope they're enjoying their fantasy of healing a survivor of cptsd by cooking and shopping and hugs - i certainly got to enjoy mine in aftg, there's plenty to go around lol

besides, tsc being so different/separate from aftg makes it really easy to just not engage with the fan content and discussions if it starts feeling like they veer into the annoying territory too much. tbh my primary concern when tsc was announced was that it could contain some retcons about andreil and aftg which i wouldn't agree with - and that didn't happen, my boys are still very much in character, so i can just retreat to my enclosure and leave tsc to jean stans who are its main target audience in any case.

#aftg ask #aftg mine #book tag #all of this makes me want to reread aftg #neil is The Best #but the absence of andrew was felt acutely #like #if you think jeremy is a better or more interesting love interest we can't be friends lol #where's the finesse where's the showmanship #anyways #i'm also wondering about people's reaction to how the trojans are a queer friend group - almost to the point of caricature?? #idk how i feel about that #if anyone wants to share their thoughts on that i'd love to read them

[maydayprkr]

since it's disbarment season, I think it's so important that it was shown that nick searched for next of kin for trucy before deciding to take her in. something he did for maya per her request before deciding to take on her case went no one else would. gonna go cry again idk

#the anime did this better imo #bc he kept searching for her a lawyer bc she was worried abt nicks abilities #something something parallels i think #ace attorney #i wish they would do an aa4 anime but alas.... #anyway i feel like everyone over looks the line where nick says that he knows how truly sad trucy is despite her showmanship.*sad cat jpeg*

[dragonomatopoeia]

okay the thing is everyone is entitled to being a bit of a hater sometimes. but. as someone with history and experience in the craft. some people are just not very good at it.

i will read a review or watch a youtube video and shake my head in annoyance as people go about hater-ing in the wrong way, getting basic facts and premises wrong, engaging in bad-faith reads of the text, or zeroing in on the least egregious aspects of something while completely ignoring the truly heinous shit. and i'm over here like listen i came over here to have fun and to listen to some high quality complaining. but you are not being fun about this.

#where is your SHOWMANSHIP #have unlocked a new tier of haterisms where i am being a hater about people being haters wrong

[noplaceinhell]

being on tumblr these days sure is an experience because suddenly people know who mika is, but unfortunately eurovision doesnt let him be very mika

#where's the FLAMBOYANCY the SHOWMANSHIP #the FIVE WATCHES #mika #amalie.txt #esc

[jrueships]

the mayor of turkey trying to get people to vote alpey for Allstar 😭😭

#alpey (who has realized his power) trying to get jabari into allstar too by making use of his turkey influence: @ turkey mayor #jabari my boyfran #now all of turkey is deadset on getting the prince and prince of turkey into the allstar game bcs jabari is alpey boyfran #jabari is unaware of the tweet bcs hes trying to grow a moustache #alpey awkwardly having to slide an arm over jabari while they sit two seats apart (jabari thinks a brainworm is trying to enter him again) #turkish interviewers after another jabari yelling at alpey crimescene: what were u two arguing about 😦!! u guys are our otp ☹️!!! #alpey: nono me & my girl dont argue #alpey: she bash my head in with a rock & i walk it off like a man #reporters shocked & genuinely curious: JABARI!JABARI!! IS IT TRUE YOU BASH IN ALPEYS HEAD WITH A ROCK!!!?!?! #jabari who doesnt know whats going on but craves violence: sometimes. #how will this affect the Gunsmith legacy?!?!?? #⁉️⁉️ #when jabari eventually finds out theyre supposedly dating by jalen joking abt gup designing their outfits for marriage #and tari wanting to be the best man while forcing tyty to be the flowergirl bcs ppl would believe it #alpey expects him to be upset abt the whole fake dating thing but instead jabaris embarrassed and pissed #that alpey thinks jabari needs his help when it comes to popularity bcs DAMMIT!! HES SUPPOSED TO BE HIGH PICK! N OT ALPEY!! wheres HIS fans #why isnt ATLANTA showing out !?!??? <- theyre crazy #and alpeys semi relieved bcs he just thought of the fake dating plan to help his teammate out #who he thought rlly deserved it due to his hard work and underappreciated lack of showmanship #but then he hears how much of a 'my best friend jabari <3 the loser <3' it sounds and feels bad #they dont make up #jabari bashes alpeys head in with a rock and alpey walks it off like a man

[daz4i]

you ever think abt how nikolai has a cane for exactly one scene and that’s it. what’s up with that

#i did read a fic where he actually needed it and it was so cool #alas i think it's more of a showmanship thing. his whole circus ring leader act #it's cool tho. i love the flair

[italofobia]

#like. i have read carry on in its entirety and read the heartstopper comic up till the paris arc or whatever. might as well check this one #out. also i need something new to hate since miraculous is over and twst isnt publishing new content #for the record i hate sanitized mlm storytelling where are all the freaks. where is the pathos the drama the showmanship the camp!!!!! #but i am a hater at heart and love watching bad movies....dw i will not make content of it ill just info dump (dark version) to anyone #who wants to listen lol. i am not 🏴‍☠️ing the book too though i doubt it's any better considering the extracts ive seen...ugh

[mangomaking]

katana -vs- halberd sparring match! the winner is clear...

#date: 2022 August 10 #TJIS WAS SO EMBARRASSING TO DRAW #halberd training arc lives in my heart and in my brain eternally. #traditional art #pencil #dnd #overlord #friend ocs #tsumaki #theodore #theomaki #weapons #Theo's literally like 😳 #god god god god I tried to justify it (in roleplay) with the physical exertion and all that #but it's funnier in Pigeon's interpretation as him being flustered and deeply impressed by Tsumaki's ........ showmanship #I LOVE THEOMAKI GUYSSSSSSS I LOVE THEM I love my silly ass comfort couple my heart returns to them no matter where it strays #drawn on the back of crumpled receipt paper so sorry for rhe quality btw #*

[dxsole]

@throwxawayxthexkey | Cont. from X

Lawrence snorts. “I’m gorgeous.” He insists, eyes narrowed as he assesses Charles choice in wardrobe. Now, Charles dressed very much like any other normal person with money...and perhaps that was exactly what Lawrence had issues with. In comparison, his suit was currently a deep crimson with a shirt tucked in underneath that had a dizzying pattern of eyes, because of course it was eyes. “I’m a peacock. I need to be seen.”

Lawrence smirks derisively. “You look like you stepped out of a department store sale rack.”

#throwxawayxthexkey #ch: lawrence #charles: [in completely normal clothing] #lawrence gagging in disgust: where's the SHOWMANSHIP

[wholesomexloner]

Watching Mika concerts on YouTube and watching Mika sensually writhe around on stage bathed in red light while crooning something to the crowd in French is a vibe, a moment, art in motion.

A living Icon, Legend in the making.

#What makes it more impressive is that the minute he is done speaking he is jumping up off the floor and running around on stage #And not one moment is he off pitch the true mark of an artist #To be able translate his recorded songs into a live performance where he sounds just as good in perfect pitch while literally jumping... #And running all around the stage and doing it all with incredible charisma and showmanship. Legends and icons only #Also if you feel down or sad watch a Mika concert and you will instantly feel better. #Mika #Michael Holbrook #💙🥰❤️

[seaquestions]

also. on premise, across the obelisk seems like a game i should maybe check out & see how i feel about it but. i just Really dont like the art direction....

#incoherent turtle noises #it's like. maybe the gameplay is good i wouldn't know but. it's just got a dated look to it that im very not into #god the character animations look so limp and flaccid.... #im assuming theyre using spine but. you can make it look good yknow. #DD made it look good... it's an obvious point of comparison but come on. where's the pizzazz.. the showmanship.

[fluffypotatey]

What's your favorite type of soulmate au? Mine is the Soulmate Goose of Enforcement just because I almost die from laughter everytime. I also read a really good soulmate au once where a person's arm had images that symbolized important events/interests of your soulmate and that changed as your soulmate changed too

ok so i do kinda like the soulmate AUs that mix every type of soulmate gimmick together bc it just adds to the world building and the diversity of stories you can get and shows how diverse love is itself with other people and— ugh, so good 😍

but if i had to choose…….

i’m going with the red string theory 🥰 (who’s surprised, raise your hands) just because 1) the art is *CHEF’S KISS SO FUCKING GOOD* just delish, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ALWRAP THE THREAD AROUND THE SHIP’S THROAT THAT IS THE GOOD SHIT RIGHT THERE—

2) i also really like how it’s a subtle kind of thing. you feel it’s tugging but the string isn’t pulling you to your soulmate.

also, there was this one fic i read (years ago in high school) where it applied the red string of fate, and while nobody in the fic could see their string, they could see the rings around their fingers like a tattoo! however, they wouldn’t know who their soulmates were (in the fic people have many soulmates and even have their rings color coded like dam) until making it physical contact with them.

ngl it was that fic that got me hooked to the concept of the red string of fate. I always enjoyed the trope of soulmates and this love has evolved to more than just the romantic kind of concept and it’s just nice have some kind of assurance that the people you meet and somehow click with we’re always meant to happen. like, in a cosmic “Destiny” kind of way, ya know?

#asks #imma include this in the ask game lol #Soulmate AUs get an A from me #i grade tropes #tbh the soulmate timers are a hit or miss #so are the 1st words #i do like the ones that have tattoos of some kind of special symbol that hints to your soulmate #(A- tho bc sometimes the marks resemble cutie marks and feel too obvious to me) #i DO like the ones where you have a tattoo of your soulmates thoughts (either thoughts in general or thoughts about you or goals) #the one where they play music in your head is super funny #and the bruises one is delicious for angsty reasons (comedy also works too) #tbh the only way you can make me not enjoy a soulmate au is by making the ship immediately be in love after the realization #where is the awkwardness???? the shock or annoyance at ‘this guy’ being your fated???? #where’s the showmanship???? the slow burn pizzazz??? the angst at not feeling good enough or never feeling like a soulmate is for you???? #gimme!!!!! #gimme the drama!!!! #gimme the tension!!!!! #make me throw my phone at the wall and scream!!!!