#and also the full marvel snapshots collection

[todaywasafairytaletv]

shoutout to my grandpa…I asked him to pick up a singular X-Men comic for me, and he came back with a dozen vintage Fantastic Four and Human Touch comics

#and also the full marvel snapshots collection #I literally only wanted the x-men one 😭 but thank you papa you’re a real one <3 #and tbf I do love my guy Johnny so I’m certainly not complaining about what he got #jamie talks

[anaxandria-writes]

20 questions for fic writers!

Thanks for the tag @lumosatnight [see here]!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

Technically 50 (I think) because one of them is in an anonymous collection so AO3 is telling me 49. I’m considering putting some more earlier works as anonymous so that number might change soon.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

245,593… but I haven’t written at least 100k of that because they’re collabs where I did art (such as WLW Big Bang 2022).

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling (44)

Teen Wolf (3)

Marvel (3)

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Three Days, Three Perspectives [Drarry, E, 6.5k]

An Expensive Courtship [Drarry, E, 10.9k]

Petrichor [Steter, T, 2.5k]

Snapshots of a Pregnancy [Drarry, T, 3.8k]

🙀 ➡ 😻 ➡ 😽 [Stony, T, 5.2k]

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I’m terrible about doing this, so I’m very sporadic about it, but every comment means so much to me! I just see it and if I don’t respond immediately, they just pile up and then I never get to it? 100% getting better at replying with my ongoing WIP, What Large Hands You Have (The Better to Embrace You With) [Steter, M, 14.7k so far], since I’m posting as I write and the encouragement means SO much!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Half Past One [Drarry, M, 2.5k] which was a horror fic (my one and only one) that I wrote for a Wheel of Drarry mini exchange. There’s MCD. And gore.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I almost never not write happy endings, BUT I’m going to go with Pinocchio [Neville/Harry, E, 3.9k] because it’s crack-y, fun, and Harry gets off a ton of times. (Mostly unintentionally).

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I’ve had a couple rude-ish comments? Someone said that it would be better if it were longer, which was kind of ??? It was one of my first works and the mods reached out to me about it and they were super supportive and kind. (This is also the fic that is now anonymous, for unrelated reasons.)

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I’ve written some PWPs. A little of everything, really… and a fair number of my longer works include some sex scenes. I probably read more kinky content than I write (beyond the watersports fics because apparently I have multiple?), but yeah. Pro-smut here.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Nope. I’ve read a few, but it’s mostly not my thing.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Yes! And I only found out because the person didn’t realize that it was stealing to repost on Wattpad and then apologized and asked how I felt about it…

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

My tango fic, The Cabeceo [Drarry, E, 1.9k], was translated into Spanish by @stargazing-enby last year for HD Owl Post. Which was such an amazing and wonderful gift to receive, especially because *tango*. I definitely feel like I’ve grown a lot as a writer since I first wrote it, but it’s very near and dear to me and having a translation (which I can read!) even more so. If it gives anyone any ideas… I can read Portuguese and Spanish!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Co-written? No. I’ve done art for various people before and participated in several big bangs/reverse big bangs as both an author and an artist. (ETA: 100% have co-written multiple fics no idea how I forgot those when I first answered)

14. What’s your all time favourite ship?

Flintwood. (And yes, I’ve had full on spreads in my journal dedicated to Flintwood.) Don’t ask me why, but those are my athletic rivals to lovers absolute hands down favorite. For Teen Wolf, I started in Steter (so it remains my #1) and one of my all-time top comfort reads is a Steter fic, This Time Around by Green (and someone else who no longer is associated with the work), which I received a bound copy of last year as part of the Renegade Bookbinding Exchange.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

“Green Glows and Ginger Greens” is a Flintwood WIP that I have 20k written of, edited and posted chapter one and it’s been… 2 years. I hope to get back to it (and my other unposted Flintwood hanahaki I’ve been talking about for about as long), but it’s just… not happened.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Idea generation, maybe? I think I tend to be really good at coming up with ideas and starting writing projects that have the potential to be really interesting. I love kind of crack-y ideas, and I’ve been trying to be better at actually delving into those instead of going “this is too weird, no one will read it.” (Example: I wrote a fic from a bathroom’s POV and it still makes me laugh.)

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I tend to come up with ideas that spiral out of control, but I’m terrible at finishing things so I procrastinate and then it gets rushed and not as strong as it could be. Also not using betas that often because of said procrastination. And feeling awkward about it because I never leave enough time for editing.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I love it, especially when it’s a language I speak and am like “Yes! This adds some cultural context”, etc. But also, such an important thing to get people to double check that before just throwing it in.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Back when I was a wee bb in high school? Either Protector of the Small or Harry Potter. As an adult? Also Harry Potter.

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

Completed on AO3? Herbology_Neville and DragonKeeperCW [Neville/Charlie, E, 11k] which was the fic I worked on whenever I was procrastinating on other fics. I’ve always wanted to go back to that universe and just haven’t had a chance, but… Neville and Charlie are adorable and I love them. I’m also loving the fic I’m posting now, as mentioned it’s What Large Hands You Have (The Better To Embrace You With), which was for Steter Bang because it really is reflective a lot of me as a person. Otherwise, I really loved the Green Glows/Snuggling, Smoothies, and Sons-in-Law universe (just need to finish both of those…)

Tagging (i never know who to tag!): @sugareey-makes-stuff (again, even though I know you were already tagged), @drwhoisginnyholmes, @makeitp1nk

#Tag game #asked and answered #ok I’m going to go hide out again because I feel weird talking about my own writing #I’m just an anxious and self-conscious bean

[ricardotomasz]

Such is life! Behold, a new Post published on Greater And Grander about Exclusive Insider Info: Discover the 19 Types of Comic Book Covers!

See into my soul, as a new Post has been published on http://greaterandgrander.com/exclusive-insider-info-discover-the-7-types-of-comic-book-covers-out-there/

Exclusive Insider Info: Discover the 19 Types of Comic Book Covers!

Comic book covers are often the first point of contact between readers and the stories contained within. They serve as captivating snapshots of the adventures, characters, and emotions awaiting readers within the pages of these graphic narratives. For both casual readers and dedicated collectors, comic book covers play a pivotal role in shaping perceptions, sparking intrigue, and conveying the essence of each issue. Understanding the significance of comic book covers is essential, as it not only underlines their cultural importance but also highlights the value of optimizing content related to this unique and visually rich medium. In this article, we will explore why comic book covers matter, and what the general composition formats of comic book covers are in use, and what kind of emotions each composition style stirs in a potential customer.

A quick logistical note, there are a lot of images on this page, and several of these comic images are pulled from other websites (rather than our own server) so if some images don't load correctly after a couple of years, our apologies.

Standard Covers vs. Variant Covers

Of these two types, Standard comic book covers and variant comic book covers represent two distinct approaches in the comic book industry, each with its own set of incentives and emotional impact. Standard covers are the primary design intended for the majority of issues, featuring the main storyline or key characters. They establish consistency and brand recognition for the series. On the other hand, variant covers are created to provide collectors and fans with unique and often limited-edition artwork. These variants can range from artistic interpretations of the main characters to thematic tie-ins or even special events.

The incentive for creating variant covers lies in their ability to generate excitement, drive sales, and engage collectors on a deeper level. They tap into the emotional connection readers have with their favorite characters and stories. The hunt for these special covers triggers emotions of anticipation, thrill, and exclusivity, encouraging fans to invest in multiple copies or editions of a single comic book. For publishers and retailers, this strategy can boost sales and create buzz around a particular release, enhancing the overall visibility and desirability of a comic series. In essence, variant covers provide a thrilling and emotionally charged dimension to the comic book collecting experience, making them a valuable asset in the industry.

Below is one example from Marvel's X-Men.

Splash Page Covers

Splash Page Covers are designed to mimic the style of a splash page within a comic book and hold a unique and compelling role in the world of comic cover art. These covers (often presenting a full-page image that encapsulates a pivotal moment involving multiple characters in the heat of battle) are masterpieces of visual storytelling. They evoke a wide range of emotions in the reader, from awe and excitement to curiosity and anticipation. They serve as eye-catching thumbnails that captivate potential readers browsing online platforms. Splash page covers also effectively communicate the essence and intensity of the comic's storyline, enticing both established fans and newcomers to delve into the issue. When utilized strategically, they increase the discoverability of a comic while fostering an emotional connection that compels readers to explore the narrative behind the striking imagery.

The Aftermath Cover

The Aftermath comic book cover composition is a visually intense and emotionally charged style that captures the aftermath of a bloody battle or a significant event within the story. These covers depict scenes of destruction, chaos, and the consequences of intense conflicts, evoking a range of emotions, including shock, awe, and a compelling sense of curiosity about the story's resolution. On a crowded shelf, Aftermath covers stand out due to their dramatic and often gruesome imagery, drawing the eye of readers seeking intense and impactful storytelling. This composition is well-suited for stories in genres such as war, post-apocalyptic, and epic fantasy, where significant battles and their consequences are central to the narrative. It also is a good choice for storylines dealing with intense rage and trauma, as it accentuates the effect and destruction that powerful emotions connotate. Aftermath covers serve as a powerful visual teaser, enticing readers to explore the comic's content to discover how these tumultuous events have shaped the characters and the world they inhabit.

The Minimalist Composition

Minimalist cover composition is a design approach in comic book covers that utilizes simplicity and a reduction in visual elements to create a striking and memorable image. Within this style, there are two noteworthy subsets: the virgin cover and the negative space cover. Virgin covers typically feature artwork without any trade dress, logos, or text, offering a clean, unadulterated view of the cover art. Negative space covers, on the other hand, make clever use of the blank or empty areas on the cover to emphasize the central image or theme, creating a sense of depth and intrigue through what's not shown.

There is also the Textless Cover, which is similar to the Virgin cover but might still have some logos or minor text.

The emotions evoked by minimalist covers are often a sense of mystery, anticipation, and artistic appreciation. They can make a comic stand out on a crowded shelf by drawing attention through their unique and visually striking design. Minimalist covers are particularly well-suited for stories that contain deep, thought-provoking themes, intricate character dynamics, or moments of profound significance. They allow readers to ponder the symbolism and mood of the story without being overwhelmed by excessive detail or distraction. In essence, this composition style complements narratives that are more nuanced, requiring readers to delve deeper into the story's core elements and emotions.

The Silhouette Composition

The silhouette comic book cover composition is a powerful visual technique that relies on the use of shadow and outlines to create a striking and evocative image. Unlike the minimalist composition, this creates silhouettes with little or no detail to portray the characters. By obscuring the finer details of characters or scenes and emphasizing their silhouettes, this style conveys a sense of mystery, intrigue, and dramatic tension. Silhouette covers evoke emotions of anticipation and curiosity, as they invite readers to explore the hidden narratives waiting within the pages. On a crowded shelf, these covers are eye-catching due to their distinctive and enigmatic qualities. They are particularly well-suited for stories that involve suspense, thriller, and mystery genres, as well as tales with complex character relationships or those that rely on visual metaphors. The silhouette composition excels in piquing the reader's imagination and inviting them to uncover the secrets and emotions hidden within the story.

Wraparound Covers

The Wraparound cover is a visually captivating design approach in the world of comic book covers. It stands out by extending the artwork across both the front and back covers, creating a seamless, panoramic image that engulfs the entire comic. There can also be a Gatefold cover added (a fold-in going into the first page), creating three panels of artwork. This cover style evokes a sense of grandeur, immersing the reader into the world of the comic before they even open it. The continuous artwork across the entire cover creates a sense of continuity and a heightened anticipation for what lies inside. On a crowded shelf, wraparound covers grab attention through their expansive and immersive visuals, making them particularly effective for grabbing the eye of potential readers. They are a great fit for epic and sprawling narratives, often found in genres like fantasy, science fiction, and superhero comics, as they mirror the scope and scale of the stories they encase. Wraparound covers also work well with comics that have intricate, interconnected plotlines, as they offer a visual representation of the interconnectedness of the narrative elements. Below are some examples from Marvel.

https://i.imgur.com/uCURFa3.jpg

Connecting Cover Strategy

The connecting comic book cover is a creative and visually engaging approach that allows covers of consecutive issues or different titles to be placed next to each other, forming a larger, continuous image. This composition evokes emotions of anticipation, continuity, and a sense of collecting something special. It encourages readers to invest in the entire series, as they look forward to completing the larger picture and uncovering the narrative it suggests. On a crowded shelf, connecting covers stand out by virtue of their unique and interactive design, inviting readers to explore the ongoing story. This style is well-suited for long-running series, particularly in genres like superhero comics, epic fantasy, or interwoven narratives, where the overarching story benefits from a sense of cohesion and interconnectivity. From a business perspective, connecting covers fosters reader loyalty and increases sales, as collectors are more likely to commit to the entire series to complete the larger image. It's a strategic choice that enhances reader engagement and brand recognition.

Dead Center Composition

The Dead Center comic book cover composition is a striking visual style that centers the main character on the cover, often against an evocative backdrop. This design captures the reader's attention by putting the protagonist front and center, making it clear who the story revolves around. The emotions evoked by Dead Center covers include a strong connection with the central character, a sense of focus and importance, and an immediate desire to explore the character's journey. On a crowded shelf, these covers stand out by offering a clear and engaging focal point that draws readers in. This composition works exceptionally well with character-driven stories, superhero comics, coming-of-age tales, and personal dramas, as it highlights the character's journey, emotions, and development. Dead Center covers effectively convey the essence of the protagonist's role in the narrative and resonate with readers who seek a strong character connection.

Mentor Composition

The Mentor comic book cover composition, a variant of the Dead Center style, strategically centers the main character while featuring the mentor figure hovering above them in the top half of the cover. This design invokes a powerful sense of guidance, wisdom, and the passing of knowledge from one generation or character to the next. It evokes emotions of reverence, respect, and the anticipation of a significant mentor-mentee dynamic within the story. On a crowded shelf, this cover stands out through its depiction of this crucial relationship and the promise of character growth and development. The Mentor composition is particularly well-suited for stories across various genres that involve mentorship, whether in fantasy adventures, superhero narratives, sports stories, or coming-of-age tales. It effectively conveys the mentor's influence on the main character's journey and adds depth to the narrative, making it an appealing choice for readers who appreciate meaningful character connections and the transmission of wisdom and experience.

The Artful Pose Composition

The Artful Pose comic book cover composition is a subtly alluring design that places the main character just off center, depicted in a naturalistic and contemplative pose, often looking away from the viewer. Set against a nebulous, dreamlike backdrop, this style invokes emotions of introspection, mystery, and a sense of enigma. It entices readers to explore the character's inner world and the secrets they may hold. On a crowded shelf, Artful Pose covers stand out by offering a distinct and visually captivating atmosphere that piques curiosity. This composition is particularly well-suited for stories in genres like psychological thrillers, mysteries, and dramas, where the character's inner journey, emotions, and personal evolution play a central role. The Artful Pose cover effectively conveys the complexity and depth of the main character by offering a nebulous background, making it an excellent choice for readers who appreciate narratives that delve into the human psyche and the complexities of personal growth.

The Foreboding Danger

The foreboding danger cover composition is a masterful visual technique that conveys a palpable sense of impending threat and tension. With the looming threat situated at the top of the composition and the main character positioned off-center, adhering to the rule of thirds, this style creates a dramatic and unbalanced dynamic. It evokes emotions of suspense, unease, and anticipation, compelling readers to explore the comic to understand the looming danger's significance and how the main character will confront it. The cover also often uses a darker color palette to help add to the feelings of dread and unknown danger. On a crowded shelf, these covers excel at capturing attention with their powerful visual storytelling. This composition is ideal for stories within genres like horror, suspense, and thriller, where the narrative revolves around confronting ominous forces or unraveling dark mysteries. Foreboding danger covers draw readers into an atmosphere of imminent peril, igniting their curiosity and desire to uncover the secrets and confrontations that lie within the pages.

Fractured Composition

The fractured comic book cover is a visually striking and enigmatic style that focuses on a segmented body part(s) or a specific moment in time, deliberately omitting the full character or scene. This composition evokes emotions of suspense, mystery, intrigue, and a strong desire to piece together the fragmented narrative. It entices readers to explore the comic to uncover the missing elements and understand the significance of the chosen framing. On a crowded shelf, fractured covers stand out by offering a visually unique and thought-provoking aesthetic that sparks curiosity. This style is well-suited for stories in genres like psychological thrillers, mysteries, and suspense, where the element of uncertainty and the challenge of piecing together the narrative play a central role. From a business perspective, fractured covers serve as a clever marketing strategy, as they compel readers to engage with the comic on a deeper level, increasing the chances of purchasing and fostering a sense of connection with the story. It adds an element of allure, making the comic more memorable and desirable.

The Die-Cut Cover

Most early die-cut covers for comic book gimmicks were pretty awful. One of Marvel's very first die-cut covers was on "Fantastic Four" #358, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Fantastic Four, and it was just a simple circle cut into the cover showing the Fantastic Four logo. However, Marvel then followed that up with the much more impressive work later that same year with "Wolverine" #50. The comic cover was designed like it was a file folder, with Wolverine's claws cutting through the file folder. This tied directly in with the storyline going on in Wolverine's title at the time, which had him discover for the first time that he had fake memories. When you opened up the cover, it followed the file motif by showing photographs and paperwork from various pieces of Wolverine's alleged past, all in the folder.

This composition evokes a sense of curiosity, and surprise. Readers are drawn in by the promise of a unique visual experience that transcends the traditional boundaries of a comic book cover. On a crowded shelf, Die-Cut Covers immediately catch the eye due to their tactile and multidimensional appeal. This style is well-suited for stories in genres such as mysteries, thrillers, and science fiction, where the element of surprise and the unveiling of hidden layers enhance the overall storytelling experience. The primary benefit of any of these formats is immersion.

The Surrealism Cover

The surreal comic book cover composition is a visually captivating and thought-provoking style that pushes the boundaries of reality and conventional imagery. These covers often blend dreamlike, abstract, or fantastical elements to create a sense of otherworldly intrigue. The emotions they evoke range from wonder and fascination to a touch of disorientation, enticing readers to delve into the comic to make sense of the surreal visuals. On a crowded shelf, these covers immediately grab attention due to their unique and unconventional design, making them a compelling choice for readers seeking a departure from the ordinary. This composition is particularly well-suited for stories within genres like fantasy, psychological thrillers, magical realism, and other surrealist genres, where the narrative itself explores themes of the unusual, the metaphysical, or the subconscious. Surreal covers act as a portal to the imaginative and the bizarre, encouraging readers to embark on a journey that challenges their perceptions and ignites their curiosity.

Holofoil/Holographic

The Holofoil/Holographic comic book cover is a visually dynamic and attention-grabbing style featuring a shiny, reflective cover that changes appearance when viewed from different angles. This composition evokes a sense of wonder, fascination, and a feeling of owning something truly special and unique. The cover's iridescent quality captivates readers, inviting them to explore the comic with a heightened sense of excitement and movement. Holofoil covers immediately stand out due to their shimmering and ever-changing visuals, as well as their rarity, effectively drawing the eye in a sea of standard covers. This style is versatile and fits well with a variety of stories and genres, from superhero comics to science fiction and fantasy. Their perceived added value makes them attractive to both longtime fans and new readers, driving up demand and making the comic a sought-after collectible. It enhances brand recognition and emphasizes the comic's significance within a series or event, contributing to its overall success.

Unfortunately, still images do not do it justice, making social media promotion more difficult, but here are some examples you might recognize.

Embossed Cover

Embossed covers use a process that involves raising certain parts of the cover artwork, such as characters or logos, to create a three-dimensional, tactile effect. These raised elements are typically made of paper or other materials, adding texture to the cover. When you run your fingers over an embossed cover, you can feel the raised areas, enhancing the sensory experience. Embossed covers don't typically change in appearance when viewed from different angles, but they provide a tactile element that adds depth to the cover's design.

Embossed comic book covers evoke a tactile sense of fascination and appreciation. When readers run their fingers over the raised elements, they feel a connection to the cover art, creating a tangible engagement that piques curiosity and adds an extra layer of depth to the visual experience. On a crowded shelf, embossed covers immediately capture attention due to their textured and three-dimensional quality, standing out from flatter covers. This style can enhance various genres, but it's particularly effective for stories that involve a strong emphasis on character depth, rich world-building, or stories with intricate details worth exploring.

Lenticular Cover

Lenticular covers, on the other hand, use a specialized printing process that incorporates a lenticular lens sheet to create the illusion of depth or motion. These covers have a slightly plastic-like appearance and display different images or animations when viewed from different angles. As you tilt or move the comic, the images on the cover change or create a 3D effect. Lenticular covers offer an interactive visual experience, often with multiple images or frames. They are captivating and attention-grabbing due to the dynamic nature of the visuals.

Lenticular comic book covers evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue, enticing readers with their dynamic visuals and the illusion of depth or motion. As readers shift their viewing angle, the cover comes to life, creating a captivating, interactive experience that fosters excitement and curiosity. On a crowded shelf, lenticular covers immediately draw the eye due to their eye-catching, ever-changing visuals. This style is particularly well-suited for stories in genres like science fiction, fantasy, and superhero comics, where the dynamic and visually engaging nature of lenticular covers complements the extraordinary elements and action-packed narratives.

Sketch Comic Book Cover

The Sketch comic book cover composition is a unique and interactive style that allows artists to provide custom sketches directly on the cover. These covers are often mostly blank, serving as a canvas for personalized artwork. The emotions evoked by Sketch covers are excitement, appreciation for artistry, and a sense of connection with the creator. This style is particularly popular at conventions and signings, where fans can commission their favorite artists to add a one-of-a-kind touch to their comics. From a business perspective, it serves as a valuable strategy to engage fans and generate interest in a particular comic. It also enhances the collectability of the issue, as each sketch cover becomes a unique piece of art in itself. While Sketch covers can be used for a variety of genres, they are especially well-suited for stories that focus on character-driven narratives and intricate world-building, as they allow fans to express their personal connection to the characters and the comic's universe through art.

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#Artful Pose Composition #Book #book covers #Books #Comic Books #Comic Con #comic cover #Comics #Content Dissemination #Cover Stategy #Die-Cut Cover #Ebook #Embossed Cover #exclusive #Fractured Composition #Holographic #insider #insider info #Lenticular Cover #Marvel #Mentor Composition #minimalist #Non Comic Book Superhero #Post Promotion #sketch #sketchbook #storybook

[traincat]

I know that everyone is pretty sure that the FF movie will mean that Johnny will now never be officialy let out of the closet but personally I feel like since the FF are so unpopular and ppl have been bugging Marvel and Disney for an actual canon & 'important' gay character that they may just? Use him? I'm absolutely losing it and its not going to happen (and if it does, good god, its going to be handled so badly) but imagine. Tho as long as they dont bring lyja in im ill count the movie as Ok

So I am going to go Full Conspiracy Theorist out here for a minute because when I and a couple others I personally know have been kind of saying “Johnny’s never coming out now” it refers to a very specific recent incident that we were kind of side eyeing for Possible Movie Interference even before this announcement. Saying up front that I don’t know that this is true, and even if Someone Did Change The Script it’s just as likely to be comic editorial pulling the plug than Kevin Feige coming down from on high to stuff Johnny back in the closet like he’s the Plant Man and it’s the ‘60s:

And then they never let him out of there again. (Strange Tales #121)

So here’s the deal: we know that there are several creators involved with Marvel who hold the belief that Johnny Storm is not the bastion of heterosexuality he’s very often been pushed as. Marjorie Liu (and most likely Daniel Way but we only have Marjorie Liu’s word on this last time I checked) intentionally wrote the relationship between him and Daken in Dark Wolverine as sexual. When I reviewed Marvels Snapshot: Fantastic Four for Women Write About Comics I received some very nice commentary from the creators and a retweet from Kurt Busiek, who is in charge of the Snapshot collection -- and I spend the majority of that review pretty openly talking about the subtext of Johnny’s sexuality and the history that has. So like, this is out there, it goes beyond fandom circles. People know, and you can tell, because a lot of the time multiple creators don’t spend decades making jokes about a character being gay if they don’t kind of think that character is gay. (I am looking at you, John Byrne.) But anyway, fast forward. It’s 2018 and the Fantastic Four are back on the shelves after their Film Rights Mandated Banishment (that Jonathan Hickman leaked as being a Real Thing and not another conspiracy theory). And while I have some significant problems with the 2018 run so far, I have to say, that first issue starts off strong, not in the least because it also featured the return of Wyatt Wingfoot, Johnny’s best friend and former roommate. Turned current roommate again, since apparently they were living together. They were also touching a lot.

Like a lot lot. Love a boyfriend leash. (Fantastic Four v6 #1) And like, look, longtime Johnny readers can tell you all about his long relationship with Wyatt Wingfoot and the subtext you can read into it, but a lot of casual readers noticed this too. People were talking about it. It was noticed. It was pretty obviously paralleled against Ben and Alicia, who were getting engaged at the same time.

Fast forward a couple of issues, all of which Wyatt sticks around for -- he was pretty obviously living with the Fantastic Four after their return for a couple of issues there -- to Ben’s bachelor party, where he and Johnny have this particular conversation:

“When you know -- and you’ll know -- take that leap. Don’t wait fer stronger shielding. Be brave, Johnny Storm.” (FF v6 #5) There’s a lot to unpack here in general, but the “be brave, Johnny Storm” sentiment continually sticks out to me, along with how ungendered this speech is -- not when you meet the right woman, blah blah blah. It’s not a big jump to imagine this as leading out to a coming out narrative, and that’s before we factor in this solicit for Fantastic Four #7:

“Plus a strange new development in the life of the Human Torch.” If you’ve read the issue, however, you know literally nothing of note happens to Johnny in it, let alone anything you could consider a new development, strange or not. It seems pretty clear, if you pull the clues, that there was originally some kind of plot involving Johnny -- and likely his romantic future -- in the original plans but then at some point that plot got pulled and likely replaced by the current Sky soulmate plot that has literally left Johnny shackled by heterosexuality. So it’s clear that at some point in early 2019 something shifted and this Johnny plot got pulled, for whatever reason. And I have no proof beyond all this circumstantial evidence that they were lining up anything that was actually going to concretely within the actual Fantastic Four book address his sexuality, but I think given the circumstantial evidence it is a valid theory. I don’t know if I specifically believe that the reasoning behind whatever this plot getting pulled was MCU interference, but it’s likely that the Fantastic Four project was seriously in development by that point to be able to announce it now, and if, by whatever chance, my “Johnny was going to come out” theory was true, we also know that the MCU has a serious problem with actually handling queer representation within their universe -- see Tessa Thompson’s bisexual Valkyrie scene getting cut, the entire Gay Joe Russo incident. They’re, what, 20+ movies in now and there are no actual queer main characters, right? I know Eternals is apparently changing that, but Eternals is not out yet, and also has significantly less name recognition than Fantastic Four. It’s not a great record, and while I would like to think that maybe that could change either with the Fantastic Four or by the time a Fantastic Four movie rolls out, I just don’t have that kind of faith. But if I’m wrong I’ll totally donate double the cost of the ticket and large popcorn to a charity that actually deserves it.

So there’s my conspiracy theory! Some people do this with celebrities, I do it with Johnny Storm. It’s probably equally unrewarding either way.

#johnny storm #traincat talks comics #*replies #Anonymous

[scriptaed]

his side, her side | 5:00 p.m.

genre: angst/fluff/implied smut; (bold = genre for this particular drabble)

pairing: reader x jungkook;

length: 2.5k;

synopsis: a collective snapshots in time shared between two, whose fates were undeniably intertwined and futures would never come to be.

a/n: this is not a chronological series; more so, his side her side is a collection of drabbles in which each drabble helps paint the overall picture. each drabble can be read separately without having read the others. // alternatively: his side, her side pt. 2;

her side;

Music—it’s a magical force lying somewhere between evil and good. The closest form to humanity’s long-sought time machine, it merely takes a simple sequence of three notes for the winds to blow, for the skies to set and the clock to rewind, until you find yourself warped in a fragment in time unreachable by all else means. 

Truly, it’s an otherworldly craft, one that comes and goes, not on a quest to fulfill a beckoning, but rather, on a quest of its own whimsical accord.  In forethought, you were thankful for such an uncontrollable phenomenon that could defy even the grasp of time; but it doesn’t take you more than three ephemeral months of infatuation for you to look back in horrifying awe at the way something so hauntingly beautiful could revive even the faintest of memories you had once misperceived as long buried in time. 

And the secret to such a double-edged sorcery?

Willingly or reluctantly, you would soon find out.

<<now playing: i like me better - lauv>>

It all started on that treacherous night midway somewhere between the breezy fall and the frostbitten winter, when the sun prepares for an early slumber and the skies drape a blanket of impending starry darkness, that your fickle heart embarks on a trek of no return. Temperate leaves color the brick road a spectrum between red and orange. Its crunches under your boots accompany the bass of an upbeat track you’ve been blasting throughout summer ‘til now. With a dipped head and a pair of hands buried into the depths of your pockets, the world is made aware of your one-way-ticket to hell—or, in other words, work. 

5:00 P.M. 

Whew, just on time. 

A sigh escapes your lips in a puff just as the wind’s chill on the upper half of your face barren of a scarf dissipates under the hands of your company’s heater. Eyes like darts and lips grumbling incomprehensible curses, it’s apparent to both you and your chattering colleagues that this is the last place you would like to spend a Tuesday night. You scan through the meeting room cluttered by numerous two-seat desks and make your way to the corner of the room where no one could bother your already ruined evening. 

Sure, it’s extra pay, but who holds project meetings at 2 P.M. and 5 P.M. in the evening? To make it even worse, why did your supervisor have to assign you to the latter, the worst time slot of all?

Pulling out your phone, you scan through your phone to pull up the list of participating colleagues that your supervisor had sent out last week. 

One scroll, two scroll, yup, not a single person you know—oh, well, if that isn’t a surprise. His name rings a bell, one that leans closer to good than bad: Jeon Jungkook; because even though it’s been a name you haven’t muttered since exactly one year, where you had beckoned for the reclusive boy to sit next to you and your friend and he had the audacity to refuse, you can sigh in relief because now you have someone else joining you in the aloof club. Other than the first friendly words you had spoken to him at the cafeteria and the once-in-a-blue-moon tips you had given when he sought for your help, you haven’t exactly befriended that man despite the more than coincidental bump-ins throughout the company building.

Wouldn’t it be funny if maybe, just maybe, fate pairs you with him on the basis of feigned happenstance for just one last time? 

If there’s one thing you find amusing in this life-draining room, it would be the mugshot of an ID photo displayed next to his name. Lips grim and eyes looking into the camera, his picture must have been an exact mirror of your expression if it weren’t for your chuckles at the moment. 

He just doesn’t give a damn, huh? 

“Y/N,” your supervisor points at a table in the center of the room, smack in the middle of other encircling tables, “that table’s off limits. Could you move to this table?”

Nodding, although reluctantly so, you pick up your belongings and start your trek to the middle when you lift your head only to spot the very subject of your snickering; because there he is himself, Jeon Jungkook walking into the room, fashionably late as always, and eyes scanning through the filled room. Reaching the desk, you glimpse through your peripheral vision to quickly come to the conclusion that a few chairs remain unoccupied… one of which is right next to yours. It’s unlikely that he would choose to sit next to you, out of all other seats, right? Considering he had so adamantly refused to take your offer for company last year?   

But no. 

Swiftly but unhurried in that nonchalant, indifferent mien of his, he seats himself right next to you. 

“I know there are plenty of other places you would rather spend your evening at, trust me,” your supervisor announces, “but please utilize this time to introduce yourselves to your partner and get working on the project.” 

Keep calm, Y/N, you tell yourself as you slowly turn to face your partner, don’t let him figure out that you remember—shit, does he remember rejecting your offer last year? It was supposed to be a friendly gesture and nothing else! He doesn’t think you’re into him, does he?

Jungkook stares at you. Eyes peering down at you, lips too lazy to even put on a friendly mien, and face emanating of giving no fucks, it seems like an eternity has passed as he waits for you to speak first. Or at least it seems like an eternity to you.

Is this really the same guy your friend told you she found cute?!

“...I think I already know your name,” you deadpan, trying to put on an equally apathetic front. 

Finally, he smirks—and when he does so, you think something has your heart jolting. What was that? Judging by his ongoing impression, he’s probably just another cocky bastard. Born with the looks but maybe not so much with the smarts, he must be all up in his head. He must think you’re smitten. He probably doesn’t even remember your name—

“—Y/N,” he greets you, cracking a crooked grin. 

What was that again? 

The next hour passes by in the blink of an eye. Your supervisor proceeds to explain the project albeit poorly so, but all you can remember from that day was you shrinking away at the sight of the boy beside you through the corners of your eye. Having forgotten his existence until now, you haven’t realized just how much has changed between you two. Just a year older and he’s already popped his own bubble, opting for tank tops and gym shorts instead of his conservative hoodies and slim jeans from last year… probably eager to show off those newly built muscles of his. Remarkably, he’s probably also grown taller—because now, he stands a good three or four inches taller than you. A year must do a lot, seeing how he’s changed from the reclusive boy to an equally reclusive man, and you begin to wonder if he’s noticed the changes in you, too.

Focusing on your supervisor’s wrap-up for the day, you don’t notice just how long Jungkook has been staring at you with those unreadable eyes of his; and when you finally do, turning your head and peering up at him with quizzical, wide eyes, he smirks. 

“What?” you cinch your brows. 

“Nothing,” he insists, despite how much harder he starts snickering.

“What?!” you gawk, mouth agape in full offense but lips curled into a cheeky smile for who knows what. 

Do you have something on your face? Does he think you stink? You don’t know why but your face begins burning beet red. 

“Nothing!” 

He only laughs harder, the corners of his eyes wrinkling and the apples of his cheeks rising along with the wide grin he slacks open—and at that moment, staring at him in a momentary awe you would recall for as far into the future as a distant year, you marvel at the sight before you.

Has he ever smiled this hard before? You’ve never seen him like this, even with the few friends he had. Or is this a sight others have yet to witness? 

Nowadays, when your playlist goes on shuffle and you stumble upon that one melancholic winter beat meant for feverish summers, the expired ache in your heart returns with vengeance. 

But in that moment, you were hoping for forever and that was your first mistake of many. If the walls of your heart  had managed to fend off many others before, then why did you not listen to the sirens in your head at that very moment? After all, you should’ve known that devilish grin of his lethal charms meant he was only on a search for something temporary. 

Embarrassed and ashamed, it’s been a year later and you still can’t listen to that particular song without recalling the moment you fell too hard, too fast.

Maybe, just maybe, you once remarked to yourself, Tuesday evenings wouldn’t be so bad after all. 

-

his side;

This is the dumbest shit I’ve ever had to attend, Jungkook mentally curses with the roll of his eyes as he strolls into the building. The sweat he had shed after hitting the gym had long been washed off after a quick shower and the forfeit of the relaxing winter chills in exchange for the company’s heater only ticked him off further. With a water bottle in his hand, he tosses the plastic wrap of his protein bar into the trash. He then draws the door wide open with utter ease in his hands and a one-way-ticket to the playground in his heart. 

Great, not only does the supervisor forget to send a list of participants, but now that he’s finally here to see for himself, he scans through the room, there isn’t a single person he recognizes—well, maybe not. 

“Y/N,” Jungkook watches as the accursed supervisor points at another desk in the middle of the room, “that table’s off limits. Could you move to this table?”

Why the fuck put a table there if it’s off limits, then?

In the corner of his eye, he notices the girl rise from her seat, although begrudgingly so, before trudging toward the other desk. Meanwhile, Jungkook had just finished his prolonged entrance into the room, skimming through the room with just one thought on his mind: get. me. out. of. here. 

Well, there’s really only a few seats left—hell, why is everyone literally an hour early? It’s either he sits at the back of the room, where he could slack off and honestly would have preferred, or he sits at the very front with someone he’s somewhat familiar with. 

Does she even remember him? 

Jungkook doesn’t really give a damn, for his feet has already begun its trek toward the empty seat beside her. Judging from the few interactions he had with her, she never really seemed to take a liking to him. She was friendly, no doubt, but maybe too friendly. She probably even realized her own unnecessary benevolence, for Jungkook recalls the multitude of times she had purposely ignored his presence ever since that one time he declined the offer to sit beside her in the cafeteria. Now, she probably saw him as the dumb guy at work who asked her too many questions. 

Maybe now he’ll finally get a chance to really know her. 

The supervisor babbles a bunch of shit, and before he knows it, people are chattering again and Jungkook mentally cursed at himself for zoning out. Turning around, he looks down at the girl beside him. Is it just him or does she not look too pleased? Well, not that he really cares. It’s not like she’s acquainted with him, nor is she obligated to smile. 

“...I think I already know your name,” the girl mutters. 

Oh, so she does remember, Jungkook can’t help the lopsided grin that escapes onto his lips.

“Y/N,” Jungkook utters simply, returning his attention to the front of the room where the supervisor continues speaking and failing to notice the look on his partner’s face. 

The next hour passes by dreadfully slowly. In fact, it takes Jungkook everything not to rest his head on the table and ask Y/N to wake up from his nap once the supervisor was done. Instead, his mind wanders elsewhere… 

Why did he sign up for this again? Oh, right, he needed the cash, and this time fits perfectly after his gym sessions. 

Why did he choose this seat then? Well, beats him. Something about his constant run-ins with Y/N has even him, the most indifferent of them all, scratching his head. It’s almost as if this is fate’s own way of begging for him to give her a chance. 

Does she actually hate him? Still, Jungkook wouldn’t mind either way, although he wouldn’t say he isn’t curious. Considering how she still remembers his name, however, something tells him she doesn’t exactly despise him, and that’s a bit of a relief. Why? Well, no, he doesn’t really care. Really.

She’s changed a bit, Jungkook remarks as he turns to take a look at his partner. He recalls her long locks from orientation as well as the beginning of the year when she had cut them short. Now that another half year has passed, her hair had somehow returned to its original length… or to whatever extent of a difference a boy like Jungkook could notice. She’s gained a bit of weight, or maybe that’s because she’s bundled underneath all her winter layers as compared to the halter romper he had first seen her in at orientation. Either way, she looks… different, perhaps a year more mature. One thing that hasn’t changed though, he observes as he watches her devote every ounce of attention on the rambling supervisor, is her undeniable work ethic…

...maybe that’s why he caught wind of a certain nerd, Taehyung, crushing hard on his infamous partner who had ghosted the poor boy. 

And yet, here he is, Jungkook muses with a half-smile, sitting next to that very infamous girl. 

Something about that thought gives him power and he can’t quite pinpoint why. 

“What?” she says a bit more offended than he would have expected.

“Nothing,” he says truthfully, because to him, there really isn’t anything to say. 

What? Is he supposed to apologize for staring? 

“What?!” she repeats. 

The confusing mix between offence and laughter that plasters across her reddening face only amuses Jungkook further; and at that moment, he figures there’s something oddly satisfying about teasing this girl. 

“Nothing!” 

The boy doesn’t notice it until he’s already burst into laughter, a full leap beyond his usual chuckles done out of social obligation, but he’s actually laughing. Mouth agape, teeth showing, eyes squinting into crescents, he really doesn’t know what he’s laughing at and he doesn’t really care that others are staring at the two of you. 

Hey, maybe gym sessions aren’t the only form of entertainment he’ll be looking forward to on Tuesday nights. 

#bts scenarios #bts x reader #bts angst #bts smut #bts fluff #bts scenario #jungkook fluff #jungkook smut #jungkook angst #jungkook x reader #jungkook x you #bts x you #bts imagines #jungkook fanfic #jungkook imagines #jungkook scenarios #jungkook scenario #bts fanfic #bts angst scenario #jungkook angst scenario #jungkook fluff scenario #bts fluff scenario #wouldn't it b funny if i tagged this as seagull #seagull scenario #HAHAH

[chierafied]

Challenge Accepted! (SKW2020D7)

For SessKag Week 2020 Day 7, I tried my luck with the SessKag Trope Generator and got "Sesshoumaru mistakes Kagome's Sass for Flirting" & "Sesshoumaru's mobile day care". This bit of silliness ensued.

Also posted on AO3, Dokuga & FFnet!

When, in the final year of high school, Kagome had needed to fill out forms for career counselling and to start seriously planning her future… This hadn’t made the list.

For one, she had not been sure back then if she ever could return back to the Feudal era. 

But even when she had been considering that unlikely (or so she had thought) scenario, she had pictured it all very differently.

She’d had daydreams of her and Inuyasha. Of a peaceful life in the village together with Miroku and Sango. Or maybe one of adventure, back on the road and roaming across the Sengoku era Japan.

Being covered in someone else’s bodily fluids and wrangling a hanyou toddler gearing himself up to a full-blown temper tantrum hadn’t featured into her expectations. 

Not even in those rosy imaginations of her and Inuyasha’s possible future children.

She really hadn’t had a clue back then, huh?

To begin with, the well had reopened, and Kagome had abandoned all the plans she had made for the future in a split-second decision to return to the past.

Secondly, she and Inuyasha, well… It turned out they were the best of friends, but any romantic notions Kagome had once harboured had died a fairly quick death when expectations and reality did not quite manage to meet.

And finally, somehow, she had ended up running an unofficial orphanage in Edo.

It had probably begun because Kagome had been giving lessons to Shippou and Rin, as well as Miroku’s and Sango’s children. 

She’d wanted to fill her days with something productive, but it turned out that growing up in the 20th century didn’t really give you all the skills and knowledge needed to fit into the life in the 16th century.

But the one thing that she did have that most people around her in the village lacked, was comprehensive education.

In hindsight, deciding to put her knowledge into a good use might have been a mistake, Kagome reflected, struggling to tie the obi around the screaming toddler. 

Another young hanyou, twin sister of the charming boy currently preoccupied with throwing his tantrum, tottered in on unsteady feet, then latched onto Kagome’s leg.

Literally.

Kagome winced.

“Momo-chan, sweetheart, please remember to be mindful of your claws,” she told the hanyou girl clinging to her leg.

The girl solemnly looked at where her tiny hands were resting on Kagome’s bare shin, and then carefully eased her hold.

Kagome let out a breath, and as little Mr Cranky Pants was all changed up, set the snarling and shrieking child down.

He kicked his tiny clawed feet against the floor in utter fury, and Kagome had a snapshot of understanding what Inuyasha might have been like as a child. 

She'd probably dodged a bullet there. Imagine her and Inuyasha's offspring, inheriting their temper from both parents!

Not a rosy picture at all, that.

In fact, it suddenly made Shinji-kun seem a veritable little angel.

Or perhaps that title should go to Momo-chan, Kagome amended, as the girl knelt down by her brother and stroked his hair.

Awwww!

Moments like these, Kagome thought, warmth swelling in her chest, were what made it all worthwhile.

But first things first, she really needed to change into a clean kosode herself and wash the baby puke out of her hair.

“Rin?” she called out, hoping the young woman would be free to look after the twins while Kagome made herself presentable again.

All right, so she might have exaggerated a little, earlier. It wasn’t really an unofficial orphanage, and Kagome wasn’t quite running it either.

They had six orphans altogether, and although Kaede, Rin and Kagome were the main caretakers for the children, the whole village pitched in to help where they could.

Even Shippou, who was always a very sought-after playmate whenever he came back to Edo.

Most of the children were human, only the young twins were hanyou. 

The three oldest children, each old enough to look after themselves, for the most part, lived with Kaede and Rin. The arrangement suited all of them, actually, because Kaede was not getting any younger, and the additional help around the house was a huge weight off of her and Rin’s shoulders.

Kagome, meanwhile, had had the dubious honour of looking after the hanyou twins.

The logic there had been that, as a miko, she was the best suited for the task, as most villagers would not be a match for a pair of half-demons, toddlers or not. And unlike Kaede, she was young enough to keep up with the pair.

Kagome, technically, was also taking care of the youngest child, hence the baby puke in her hair.

In practice, though, the infant boy spent a lot of time over at Sango’s and Miroku’s, as Sango had very kindly volunteered to be the little baby boy’s wet nurse.

Rin still had not showed up, but all of a sudden, Shinji-kun’s temper tantrum ended, and the snarling and shrieking stopped.

Ahh, blessed silence, was all that Kagome had time to think before a flare of youki from the edge of the village raised her hackles.

Oh no.

He was back.

And he only ever did that stupid flare thing when he wanted her attention.

And he only ever wanted her attention when…

“Oh god, not another one!” Kagome groaned out lout, exasperation seeping into her very bones.

It was all the miko’s fault.

Sesshoumaru did not know how, but it was the only logical conclusion he could draw.

For years, decades, well over a century, he had wandered far and wide, in perfect solitude. (Jaken didn’t count.) 

But somehow, right after his paths had first crossed with the miko, he had met Rin. 

Eventually, they’d been joined by Kohaku.

After their victory over Naraku, he had parted ways with the both of them and resumed his peaceful lone existence.

And alone he had remained (Jaken still didn’t count), for a blissful three years.

Then the miko had returned.

And once again, inexplicably, he had come across a human child who had insisted on following him.

Then there had been two others, banded together until they stumbled on Sesshoumaru.

Then a pair of young neglected hanyou.

Then he had come across a raided village and had heard the wail of a human infant from among the ruins, tucked away into a safe corner, probably by its now-deceased mother.

Since it was all miko’s fault, Sesshoumaru had decided the children should be her responsibility, not his.

It was a stroke of genius, even if he said it himself.

Like killing two birds with one claw.

From the very start, the miko had been a complete mystery to him.

Not the least because of the mixed signals she was always sending.

It had always been obvious there was some sort of… involvement between the miko and his younger half-brother. Sesshoumaru hadn’t known or hadn’t cared to know the exact nature of it.

Yet, throughout their very loose acquaintance, the miko had been challenging him.

Even upon their first meeting, when she had watched from the side lines while he and Inuyasha had battled over the mastery of Tessaiga in their father’s tomb, the miko had still managed to stand up to him, by yelling advice to Inuyasha.

Then, adding insult to injury, she had been the one to pull their father’s fang out.

At every turn, she had defied him and stood her ground, talked back to him, demanded explanations of him, called him names, never shown fear... Always ready to pitch her will against his.

The miko had shattered his armour with her arrow early on in their acquaintance, and if that hadn’t been a challenge, Sesshoumaru didn’t know what was! Especially when she had promptly fired another arrow at him afterwards! 

So now, at last – and once it had become clear whatever there was between Inuyasha and the miko did not exceed the bounds of friendship – Sesshoumaru had started to challenge her back.

Currently, his preferred method of doing so was depositing the orphans he collected at her doorstep.

And to the miko’s credit, she had risen to the challenge marvellously.

Speaking of…

Sesshoumaru slanted a glance over his shoulder, and at the human boy following after him beside Jaken.

“We are almost there,” he informed them, his voice even.

Soon enough, they could see Edo in the distance.

A small smile rose to Sesshoumaru’s lips.

He was looking forward to the next encounter, eager to see how the miko would respond this time.

Sesshoumaru gathered his youki around himself and then let it flare up, sending a signal to his miko.

He was coming to give her her next challenge.

After finally getting Rin to look after the twins, Kagome marched to the edge of the village, where she immediately assumed a confrontational pose – hands on her hips, blue eyes glaring at Sesshoumaru.

Her gaze flicked to the young boy nervously fidgeting next to Jaken. He was human and looked to be around ten years old.

Kagome swallowed a sigh and turned to the boy.

“Hello, sweetheart. Welcome to Edo, my name is Kagome. I’ll talk to you a little later; for now you’d probably like something to eat, right? Jaken, please take him to Kaede’s.”

The kappa sputtered, but despite the grumbling under his breath, obeyed, telling the boy to follow along as he tottered away.

As soon as the two had left, Kagome whirled back to Sesshoumaru.

“How does this keep happening?” she demanded to know. “Where do you find these children? Why do you keep on bringing them here? I can’t do this anymore Sesshoumaru, I swear! This has gone on long enough!” 

She was pushing into his personal space now, all but wagging her finger at his face in righteous fury.

“I agree,” Sesshoumaru intoned smoothly.

“I’m telling you,” Kagome growled. “...Wait, what?”

“You are correct, miko, that is time to bring this charade to an end. Entertaining though it has been, I suggest it is beyond time for us to formalise our relationship.”

And just like that, Kagome’s anger was gone. Vanished, together with any sense she’d previously had of this entire conversation.

What was the infuriating daiyoukai on about?

“What relationship?” Kagome asked, suddenly apprehensive.

“Do not act coy with me, miko,” Sesshoumaru said, his eyes hooded. “We have been going around these circles for years now.”

“What circles?” Kagome was growing both more alarmed and confused by the second.

“I have presented you with multiple challenges,” Sesshoumaru told her patiently, nodding towards Kaede’s hut. “You have risen to each one and proven yourself brilliantly.”

“Challenges?” Kagome glanced at Kaede’s hut, then her own, then at Sesshoumaru. “You’ve been bringing me children because you’ve wanted to challenge me? What the hell?!”

“In part. Mostly I brought them because of the inconvenience. Nevertheless, I figured you would not be averse to a challenge, now that you and Inuyasha are no longer… involved.”

Flabbergasted. That was the word. That was what Kagome was feeling. Her mind simply wasn’t keeping up with the complete lack of logic of Sesshoumaru’s conversation.

“What does Inuyasha have to do with this?” 

“You have been challenging me since the beginning of our acquaintance,” Sesshoumaru began.

I have? Kagome wondered, trying to think back to see what on Earth Sesshoumaru could be referring to.

Maybe the time she’d had an arrow ready and aimed at him and had shouted the next one would be for his heart?

She grimaced.

“But for the longest time I was not certain if I should respond in kind, especially as Inuyasha had a prior claim,” he continued.

What claim? No. Kagome shook her head. No matter how much the daiyoukai tried to explain, none of this was making any sense.

“However I have now responded to you in kind. And you have proven yourself to me, and I assume likewise my performance whenever you have challenged me has met your approval as well. Thus, I think it is time to stop playing these games and make it official.”

“Make what official, Sesshoumaru?” Kagome snapped losing patience. 

Feeling stupid also didn’t help her temper.

Sesshoumaru blinked, slowly.

“Our mating, of course.”

Kagome’s mouth fell open. No words came out.

She was pretty sure that hell had just frozen over.

Unless…! Maybe?

She pinched herself and hissed in pain.

Nope, still in the middle of this absurd conversation.

She probably should say something.

Ask Sesshoumaru if he had completely lost his damn mind, maybe.

Be firm.

“M-mating?” Kagome squeaked.

Way uncool, Kagome, she chided herself.

Her mind was furiously trying backtrack. Trying to find a previous save point from a time when the world had still made sense.

“Yes,” Sesshoumaru said, unhelpfully, plunging Kagome further into chaos.

“So what you mean by challenging is…?” Kagome asked, in a vain attempt to recover some sanity.

“A typical behaviour of a suitor. How do you know if the object of your interest is truly worthy of your affections if you do not challenge them to prove themselves to you?” Sesshoumaru said, finally sounding unsure of himself

Oh.

The light bulb finally clicked on.

Oh no.

Was Sesshoumaru telling her… That basically the entire time they had known one another… he had thought she’d been flirting with him?

Kagome stared at him in mute horror.

He’d been bringing her orphan children in some convoluted and misguided effort to flirt back?!

Oh god.

“I sense some reluctance from you.” Sesshoumaru frowned.

No shit!

Kagome tried to gather her brain from the floor and scramble it for some sort of sensible words she might offer to Sesshoumaru, but before she could find any, he continued.

“Perhaps I have not proven myself to you yet? Do you wish to issue one last challenge?”

“I… Umm…” were all that Kagome’s poor brain had left to offer.

Sesshoumaru nodded gravely. “Very well. I accept.”

With three quick steps, Sesshoumaru had closed their distance.

All of a sudden, Kagome had to crane her neck in order to meet his eyes.

There was a look there, glimmering in those golden depths, that unnerved her more than this entire disaster of an encounter had.

As he leaned forward, Kagome’s eyes widened, her heart jumped, her stomach plummeted, her breath caught.

And then he was kissing her and… wow.

Wow. 

Okay, maybe this crazy notion of his did have some merit if this was what he had to offer.

His hand had come up to cradle her head. His fingers tangled in her hair, his claws lightly scraped against her scalp.

Whoo, talk about toe-curling.

One eternity later, Sesshoumaru pulled away.

Kagome drew in a quivering breath, her heart beating a mad, giddy rhythm. 

Had he proven himself?

You bet.

Still dazed, she looked into his eyes, the slow beginning of a smile blooming on her lips.

And then Sesshoumaru spoke.

“Are you aware that someone appears to have vomited milk in your hair?”

Ahh, yes.

That.

That they would probably still need to work on.

“Yes, I am,” Kagome retorted. “That tends to happen around babies.”

“Noted,” Sesshoumaru replied, deadpan. “So, have I proven myself sufficiently?”

Kagome bit her lip and took a moment to consider.

“You have proven yourself,” she said slowly. “But I am not ready yet to make our mating official. I think it would be fair if we tried some human courting, first.”

Sesshoumaru tilted his head.

“I suppose that your customs should require equal opportunity,” he admitted, his voice considering. “I must confess, however, that I am woefully ignorant of the ways of human courting practices.”

Kagome gave him a rueful smile.

Just as ignorant as she’d been about youkai flirting, she’d bet. But still, going forward, it would be best to avoid any further confusion and miscommunication.

“Don’t worry,” Kagome told him, reaching to take his hand in hers. “I’ll tell you all about it.” 

#sesskag #sesskag fic #sesskagweek2020 #skw2020 #skw2020d7 #Pure silliness #chie writes #fic: sk

[quarterfromcanon]

Lost Control and Tumbled Overboard Gladly

Heather & Valencia - Femslash February - Day 24 - Instrumental [3,265 words]

When they arrived at her former residence, Heather felt the pit of her stomach tie itself in knots. She pulled into the old parking spot and stared at the front of the house. Valencia occupied the passenger side in tense silence. She followed Heather’s line of sight and gazed the same direction, anxious for entirely different reasons.

Heather sighed. “Here we are.” She unbuckled from the driver’s seat and pocketed the key ring. “They’re waiting for us. Guess we’d better go inside.”

She turned to Valencia. Her friend had not moved an inch. 

“Are you gonna stay with the car?” Heather teased gently.

“What should I call them? Are they handshake or hug people? Do your parents go to church? Should I have worn one of my cross necklaces? Are they good cooks? I won’t say anything either way, but what if they see a reaction on my face?” Valencia touched a hand to her lips to stop the flow of inquiries spilling from them. “I’m sorry. I should’ve asked you on the ride. I did not prep for this at all.” She took a shaky, deep breath then quieted again. Her eyes were wide as she awaited Heather’s response.

“Okay, so, let me see if I can remember all that and take it on one at a time.” Heather’s features scrunched up while she talked through the entire list of concerns. “They don’t have a preference for how you address them. Just don’t copy Rebecca and call them Mr. and Mrs. Heather. They won’t be mad if you do; my parents find it cute, but I don’t care for it, personally. Mom and Dad do have a church they go to, but they’re not ‘church people' in the way that you’re thinking. For my mom, it’s kind of a leftover obligation from her upbringing. My dad’s a little more into it. Mom would be more likely to dig your jewelry because it was pretty than because it indicated your religious background.”

Valencia nodded. A little of the tension left her limbs.

Heather continued. “They’re both decent cooks. Dad taught me. They won’t stare at you while you eat because they will also be eating, so don’t stress about monitoring your poker face. Oh, right, and they’re hug people. If they get excessive, just give me a signal and I can get them to tone it down.” She let her palms fall with a slap against her thighs. “Does that cover everything?”

“I think so.” Valencia clicked the button on the seat belt. She squared her shoulders and activated the passenger side unlock. “Let’s go.”

They exited Heather’s car in unison and walked up the path. Heather assumed the lead to knock at the door. It opened almost immediately. She was greeted with fond caresses and voices an octave higher than their natural register. 

“This is V--” Heather began the introduction but found herself guided across the threshold so both parents could fill the doorway as they met their guest. 

“Valencia!” Heather’s mom greeted. “Welcome to the funhouse!”

She pulled her into a warm embrace, which Valencia returned with a genuinely touched expression. Her eyes met Heather’s over her mother’s shoulder. 

"Told you,” Heather murmured.

“You have a lovely home, Mr. and Mrs. Davis,” Valencia praised as soon as they were far enough inside for her to view the space at large. “Thank you for letting me tag along with Heather today.”

“We’re happy to have you!” Mr. Davis replied. “Hot dogs and burgers are out by the grill, all set for me to throw ’em on. We’ve got the makings for veggie alternatives, too. Heather e-mailed us the recipes.”

Valencia beamed, taken aback but pleased. “Sounds perfect.”

“Enough of our hovering! Lawrence and I will get back to food prep. We’ll let Heather give you the tour.” Mrs. Davis looped her forearm around her husband’s and departed with a cheery wave. “Please, make yourself at home. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Valencia returned the wave vaguely. She appeared dazed by the entire whirlwind encounter. 

Heather drew nearer to nudge Valencia’s ribs. “They’re a lot,” she acknowledged once her dad went to the patio and her mom was in the kitchen listening to the portable radio.

“But in a good way.” Valencia elbowed Heather in return. “So, how about that tour?”

Heather cast a look around with both hands in the pockets of her ripped jeans. “Um, this is the living room. And also the dining room. One big space. Kitchen’s on the other side of those shutters in the wall. Downstairs bathroom is over there.”

“Are those yours?” Valencia pointed to shelves near the entryway that were covered in ribbons, trophies, and photographs.

Heather’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “Yeah, sorta. They’re basically all participation.”

Valencia crossed the floor in several long strides to investigate the commemorative display. “Wow, you were involved in a lot.”

“Here and there.”

“More than I ever did when I was in school. I took dance for a while, was part of a couple of pageants and church plays. That’s about it.” Valencia traced her fingertip over embossed gold letters. “There’s no pattern. You defied labels and stereotypes even then.”

“You’ve really managed to put a positive spin on ‘flighty’ and ‘indecisive.’”

Valencia gave Heather a light, reprimanding shove. “A positive spin to balance out your negative outlook. Why don’t you like these?”

Heather twitched her shoulders. “Seems kinda weird to build a shrine to nothing. It’s colorful and sweet, I guess, but all these dead ends don’t represent anything significant.”

Valencia grabbed a photo of a very young Heather off the bottom shelf. “Look at that cute little face. She’s not insignificant.” Her fingernail tapped the image. “There’s a bundle of sunshine full of potential.”

Heather laughed. “Okay, see, now I know you’re full of shit. No one has described me as ‘sunny’ in my entire life.”

“Well, they weren’t holding a picture of you at age five.”

Heather rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You are laying it on so thick. Oh my god.”

“Hey, I’m honing my skills, learning how to hype up my girls,” Valencia protested. She restored the snapshot to its place with care. “It still counts even if it lacks finesse. That’s what Rebecca says.” 

Heather held her hands aloft in surrender. “I agree. I mean, you’re doing a good job. I’m just only able to take sincere compliments in small doses.”

“We’ll see if we can build up your tolerance.” Valencia poked Heather’s side with her index finger. Heather shied away from the touch but smiled.

“Good luck with that.”

Valencia’s gaze lifted to the painted handprints displayed on the wall. “Aww! How long ago did you make these?” 

“Close to twenty years ago for one? Going on fifteen years for the other? The little prints are a Christmas gift from first grade. The bigger ones were something Mom asked me to do after our move to California the year I turned twelve. They’re dated on the back.” 

Valencia elevated on tiptoe and angled both away from the wall to peek. “Sure enough. How close are they to your hands now?”

“I’d say almost three yards.”

Valencia blinked several times before she realized Heather was referring to the literal distance between where she stood and the paintings. She lowered her voice in an unamused monotone. “Haha. So funny. Put a hand up there for comparison, smartypants. I’m curious.”

Heather obliged with an even more exaggerated eye roll, but she had to actively suppress a grin.

“The width across is almost the same as in middle school,” Valencia determined. “Your fingers have definitely gotten longer.”

“Do you wanna check my height against the notches on the door frame, too?” Heather joked.

Valencia tilted her head to the side and playfully feigned earnest deliberation. “Maybe later.”

She let her companion continue the tour to the staircase. Heather slid her palm along the railing and left the ground floor with Valencia in tow. “There’s a laundry room and a couple of closets too, but you won’t really need those. The second bathroom’s up here.”

They passed the aforementioned lavatory and beelined into Heather’s bedroom. Valencia gave a low whistle. “No wonder you didn’t try to move these things with you. It all looks heavy as hell.”

A spacious bed and massive headboard with multiple storage compartments dominated the left wall. An equally cabinet-covered entertainment center took up most of the space on the right. There was a desk by the window and old textbooks were stacked high on several flat surfaces. Heather crossed the familiar space and folded herself into a seated position atop the padded desk chair, one leg tucked under her thigh while the other dangled to the floor.

The only leftover spot to sit was the mattress, so Valencia perched at the foot of it with her back straight and her hands clasped in her lap. “Did you actually use all of these cabinets?” she marveled.

“Oh yeah. There’s a lot of old crap in here that I need to sort through at some point. I only took what I saw myself using right away when I moved. Most of the rest is still where I left it. Here, I’ll show you.” Heather climbed onto the bed behind Valencia and crawled toward the angled cabinets behind the pillows. Her guest followed suit. Heather popped open the doors to reveal a crowded collection of well-worn paperbacks. “These were just for my favorites,” she explained. “Salinger, Palahniuk, all of that. I usually felt like rereading before I went to sleep. I put them someplace nearby so I wouldn’t have to get back out of bed.”

“What are they about?” Valencia trailed her fingers down one of the broken spines.

Heather puffed out a breath as she deliberated where to begin. “A lot of things. Chuck’s stuff gets pretty dark and gross but I like that they usually have a twist. J.D.’s are interconnected and really make you think.”

“So it’s one long story?” Valencia’s arm brushed Heather’s when she continued to examine the tightly packed books.

Heather made a so-so gesture with her hand. “There are shared characters that get their own turns. He wrote about this family whose last name was Glass. The kids are kind of a mess, but when you read about their childhood, it helps you start to understand why they ended up the way they are. They deal with a lot of stuff as adults, too: mental health problems, antisemitism, questioning faith, death in the family. More than one death, actually.”

“The Catcher in the Rye,” Valencia read the title underneath her fingertips. “Okay, this one I’ve heard of somewhere. Which sibling is this about?”

“It’s not about any of them,” Heather replied, “but they do basically say in a different one that the second-oldest brother, Buddy, is supposed to have written it. A lot of people think Buddy’s Salinger’s stand-in, so…” She shrugged.

“A story-within-a-story, written by a character, that you can read for yourself,” Valencia said slowly. “So it’s sort of like those Harry Potter textbooks Rebecca has?”

Heather considered the comparison. “Eh, yeah, I guess. But I don’t think Quidditch Through the Ages is gonna end up on a freshman’s required reading list. It’s more like bonus information than a novel in its own right.”

She closed the cabinet once more and settled on the mattress. Valencia reclined beside her. They both stared at ceiling. “The bed’s comfortable,” Valencia remarked while tapping her shoes together.

“You’re on my side, so it’s a little more broken in.” Heather folded both hands atop her stomach. “What about your old house with your parents? Did you leave things there when you got an apartment?”

“Loads, but none of it would’ve gone with the decor.” Valencia wrinkled her nose. “I kept my DVD player, though. It was the first purchase I ever made with my own cash from babysitting my sisters. Technically still my parents’ money, but it felt like a big deal at the time. There’s a butterfly sticker on it, so you can tell that thing’s been in use for ages.”

Heather rolled onto her hip. She propped herself up with her elbow. “You had a butterfly phase, huh?”

“Mm-hmm. It was almost going to be part of my first tattoo. I might still get one at some point.” Valencia touched the large robot design on Heather’s right arm. “What about this guy? Why did you want to get him?”

“His name’s Wilbur.” Heather affectionately regarded her favorite body art. “I have to be in the mood for sci-fi, but I’ve always sorta dug robots. Some of my classmates growing up spent years swearing I was one.”

Valencia’s brow furrowed. 

Heather patted her own neck in explanation. “The voice. Not a lot of rise and fall.”

Valencia turned onto her side. “They made fun of you?”

“Kids come up with random stuff and it just sticks.” Heather lifted her eyebrows with indifference. “It’s not a very solid insult when you think about it. Robots are basically programmed to be smarter than humans. They process things quicker. They’re helpful. A lot of times, they’re made out of durable materials so they won’t break down. Leave it to an eight-year-old to think they’re roasting you by saying you’re a virtually indestructible genius.” She flexed to make Wilbur stand out in sharp relief. “Plus, look how nice he is. Who wouldn’t wanna be like this dude?”

Valencia studied the robot. Her eyes traveled up to Heather’s profile. “No one worth talking to.”

Heather met her stare and smiled. Valencia sat up and checked the corners of the room. “So where are all your instruments?”

“... My what now?”

“The display downstairs made it seem like you might’ve played a few,” Valencia elaborated. “Do you keep them in here?”

“Oh, right.” Heather nodded. “Those are scattered. A lot are in closets, but the upright piano is still in that nook by the top of the stairs between some potted plants. Mom sorts the mail on top of it.”

“Can I see it?”

“Sure.”

The exterior required some minor dusting but all-in-all the piano remained in good shape. Valencia sat on the left half of the bench and ghosted her palm across the keys. She turned to look up at Heather, who remained standing. 

“Do you remember how to play anything?”

Heather settled on the other end of the cushion. Valencia scooted to give her adequate room, although the limited space meant they were thigh-to-thigh. “Honestly, I quit my lessons so early that I was still on scales. Then I went through a period when my friends started a band where I kinda got interested again. Performing with the group didn’t work out, but I did at least pick up one of those old-timey standards they teach beginners.”

Valencia bit her lip and wriggled with excitement. “Can you try it now?”

Heather chuckled. “Dude, it’s seriously nothing impressive. I Googled the lyrics once and it turns out the non-instrumental version is sentimental as fuck.”

“I like sentiment sometimes. Besides, it’s not like you’re going to sing, too. Unless you are. Which would be fine.” She offered Heather a persuasive grin. “Entertain me.”

Heather groaned. All it took was a single whispered plea from Valencia and she caved. “All right. But no singing. Also, you’re gonna have to help me. It’s supposed to be played by two people.”

Valencia clapped. “A performance and a class. You should be charging me. I’m totally screwing you out of multiple paychecks.”

“Psh, tell you what: if it doesn’t make your ears bleed, I’ll take a five out of your Chan Ban savings. Then we’ll call it square.”

Valencia giggled. “Deal.”

Heather took Valencia’s hands in hers and placed them on the keys. She overlapped their fingers to demonstrate the correct placement. Valencia’s chest pressed into Heather’s arm as she observed the lesson. Heather cleared her throat. 

“Your portion is simpler, but there is some back and forth. So, it’s basically gonna go buh-ba-duh-duh four times before I come in, okay? It starts here for the first.” She pushed the pads of her fingers against Valencia’s nails. “Then here.” A shift and further contact. “Here.” A third demonstration. “And then here.” Heather helped Valencia test the fourth and final. “And you’ll just keep doing those four over and over while I’m taking care of the things at the higher end.”

“Okay.” Valencia stared at the piano for a second then twisted back to Heather with a wince. “Show me again?”

Heather smiled patiently. “No problem. I’ll keep practicing with you until you’re comfortable on your own.”

They ran through Valencia’s half of the song at least a dozen times, laughing and leaning into each other all the while. Eventually, Valencia made it through a repetition unaided. 

“That was it! I actually sounded right.” Valencia bounced in her seat. “You’re really good at this.”

“If only my instructor could see me now,” Heather drawled. “Now, my part goes like this.”

She played her entire half. The movements were slower than they would be once familiarity returned, but it gave her a chance to let the music resurface after so long away from the effort. Valencia watched with rapt attention.

“Whoa. Glad I didn’t sit on the right. I picked the correct side of the piano for my skill level.” 

Heather snorted. “I would never throw you into the deep end before you were ready.” 

“I appreciate that.”

Heather rubbed her palms across the denim over her kneecaps. “So, are you ready try this thing together?”

Valencia gave a nod with almost comical gravity. “Let’s do it.”

She sat a little straighter and began. Heather waited for the introduction and then accompanied her seamlessly.

“Aah!” Valencia shrieked without breaking the flow. “This is happening!”

“You’ve got it,” Heather encouraged.

“What is the song called? I’ve heard it so often, but they don’t usually say the name before or after when it’s in movies.”

“Heart and Soul,” Heather answered. She grimaced. “I told you it was corny.”

Valencia made a dismissive sound. “It’s happy.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Heather continued to participate on autopilot. Her gaze drifted to her partner. She lingered over everything -- the bend in Valencia’s knuckles with each note, the way the sleeves of her blouse clung above the crook of her arms, the gold heart pendant nestled against her clavicle, the smile on her lips and the light in her eyes.

“Dinner’s ready.” 

Heather jumped and her hands fell away from the keys. “Mom! We didn’t hear you come up.”

“Oh, that’s all right, honey. You were playing together so beautifully.” Mrs. Davis squeezed Valencia’s shoulder. “You must have the magic touch, sweetheart. She hasn’t visited this part of herself in years.”

Mrs. Davis rubbed her daughter’s back in passing and then disappeared down the stairs again. Valencia and Heather stood, leaving the piano behind to go enjoy their meal.

“You know what?” Valencia prefaced while they made their way to the landing. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you get accidentally startled before.”

Heather felt a blush creep up the back of her neck and fan across her shoulder blades. “You saw that?”

"Yep.” Valencia laughed, though not unkindly. “You must’ve lost yourself in the music, huh?”

Heather focused her attention on the descent and the banister, but she couldn’t resist a quick glance at Valencia once they left the enclosed stairwell. “Yeah, I guess I was really feeling it.”

#H+V FF #CEG Writing by Me #Helencia #Heather x Valencia #Two words: Labor. Day. #I HAVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR THIS ONE. :D

[letterboxd]

Anticipation.

Happy New Year! Did y’all enjoy your 2018 stats? We wanted to check in and let you know what we’re looking forward to in 2019, film-wise and otherwise.

First off, we are very close to launching push notifications for iOS and Android. All the dopamine hits can be yours! This will roll out as soon as we have completed the necessary safety checks. Stand by for an imminent launch.

Secondly, films. Films, films and more films. Get your 2019 “most anticipated” lists in order with the help of this 2019 tag and our official most anticipated in 2019 page, based mostly on what you all have in your collective watchlists. Predictably the top end is crammed full of superheroes and mutants, plus Tarantino and Scorsese. For something a little different, check out our own Crew Picks for 2019. Honestly, we could have chosen 50 but stopped at ten for sanity’s sake. And yes, we’re aware The Modern Ocean probably won’t be a reality this year but we can dreeeeeaaaaam.

We’ve also put together a list of 25 anticipated films by women directors in 2019, using a combination of what you’re most looking forward to, what our crew are waiting for, and what wider critics and film festivals have pegged as ones to watch.

We’ll know soon enough how some of these anticipated films will land: Sundance is in session, with the Berlinale and SXSW not far behind. Follow along with some of the Letterboxd folk who are at Sundance this year, or check in on the sundance-2019 tag. (Our West Coast editor Dom Corry will be firing through some reports this week.)

Planning to watch the 91st Academy Awards despite feeling personally attacked by all the snubs? We’ll be there with you, tweeting along during the ceremony. You should also bookmark the comments thread on this list of all nominated films, as that’s where we’ll invite community discussion on the day. (Hot damn, those push notifications are gonna come in handy!)

Finally, as our 2018 Year in Review disappears in the rear-view mirror, a few highlights as noted by the Letterboxd team:  

The mix of films in the overall Top 50 Highest Rated is a useful snapshot of where filmmaking is at in 2018: from the variety of genres to the slowly growing number of non-white protagonists, to the 11 women-directed films (up from last year’s three—and a much better statistic than this year’s zero female director Oscar nominees). It seems Hollywood is incrementally starting to resemble the rest of the world. We point this out because, as the Letterboxd community writes, time and again in your reviews, we are suckers for representation—and frankly, it doesn’t seem to affect box office negatively.

On that note, the non-English languages represented hard in the top films of 2018: Roma’s characters speaking in Spanish and Mixtec, Shoplifters in Japanese, and the people of Wakanda in isiXhosa, not to mention the non-verbal language of “Spidey-sense”.

2018 was a huge year for studios and superheroes: from the celebration of Black Joy and the afrofuturist art of Black Panther to the absolute explosion of the comic book style in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Letterboxd member reviews suggest what’s working is the attention to storytelling within the blockbuster form, whether it’s the brilliant reimagining of what makes a ‘bad guy’ tick in Black Panther or the subtle examination of the Brooklyn middle school system in Spider-Verse.

Some things never change: Scarlett Johansson was our most watched actress again (with the great Danai Gurira—Black Panther’s Okoye—close behind), and Samuel L. Jackson was our most watched actor, again.

This last fact made us curious about 2019 for Johansson and Jackson. Looking at Jackson’s slate, which has already kicked off with M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass, he is undoubtedly on the fast-track to most watched again. He’ll be back as Nick Fury in Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far from Home, and he stars as John Shaft II in the new Shaft sequel/reboot, sandwiched between Richard Roundtree’s John Shaft and Jesse T. Usher’s John Shaft Jr. Then there’s Todd Robinson’s The Last Full Measure, and The Banker, a drama about 1950s entrepreneur Joe Morris, one of the first African American real estate scions.

Scarlett Johansson, meanwhile, is keeping 2019 slightly more chill with just three anticipated releases while she preps her Black Widow feature film: Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit, Avengers: Endgame, and an untitled Noah Baumbach project.

Onward, film lovers!

Roman Griffin Davis, Taika Waititi and Scarlett Johansson in a scene from ‘Jojo Rabbit’. Header: Nicole Kidman in ‘The Goldfinch’, Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker’, Brie Larsen in ‘Captain Marvel’, Linda Hamilton in the untitled Terminator sequel, Lupita Nyong’o in ‘Us’.

#2019 #films #letterboxd #anticipation #anticipated #sundance #sxsw2019 #berlinale #year in review #year in preview

[sneek-m]

Retro Future: A Year in Perfume

Rather than write a blurb about Future Pop, I decided to write about Perfume’s entire 2018 because I can never stick to something short when it comes to my favorite pop group. This post is also available on Medium.

Perfume observed quite a few anniversaries between its fourth and fifth albums, LEVEL 3 and Cosmic Explorer, respectively, so I assumed the group would do the same this year and commemorate a decade since the release of its debut full-length, GAME. But not a peep came from Kashiyuka, Nocchi or A-chan about the album when the release date came around in 2018. The three seemed to be interested instead more in what lies ahead, revealing the title of the new album as Future Pop.

The promotions for music leading up to what would become Cosmic Explorer really worked the anniversary angle. The year before the album, the trio premiered its world-tour documentary We Are Perfume in conjunction with Perfume’s 15th year together as a group. Kashiyuka, Nocchi and A-chan talked up the retrospective qualities behind the movie’s tie-up single “Star Train” during TV interviews, and they made sure to point out how the lyrics speaks as though Yasutaka Nakata is congratulating them after working as their producer for more than a decade.

The Future Pop period, however, had Perfume explore its next potential directions. Last summer’s single “If You Wanna” attempted to introduce future bass not only to the group’s own music but also the Japanese mainstream. This spring’s “Mugen Mirai” refined those experiments, and the members continued to act as a spokesperson to explain the subgenre to the masses. But while Perfume tried its best to stay ahead of the curve, the group also spent much of 2018 revisiting its past successes as inspiration for its current work.

Perfume’s 2018 started with a live tour for its fan club, P.T.A., which coincidentally turned 10 this year. The group has been more than generous when it comes to fan service: for its 15-year anniversary tour, the three incorporated a dice-rolling system to decide its set list with possible choices full of deep cuts. For this year’s fan-club show, the trio built its set based on fan votes. And which track won the number-one spot on that 10-song set? “The Best Thing,” a non-single from its second album, Triangle.

From GAME album track “Take Me Take Me” to “Perfect Star, Perfect Style” included in the 2005 best-of collection, the P.T.A. show featured even deeper cuts released before “The Best Thing.” But more than acknowledgment of long-forgotten favorites, seeing Perfume bring back choreography that hasn’t been performed in almost 10 years seemed like one rare experience. I have yet to see clips other than “The Best Thing” from the show, but reading about the group revisiting old dances has been exciting material in itself.

Watching Kashiyuka, Nocchi and A-chan interact with old material was also the highlight of this spring’s Reframe concert in collaboration with NHK. As the title suggests, Perfume brought back past tracks from various parts of its catalogs in new, reconsidered contexts. Initially a throwaway B-side tied in with a Panasonic ad, “Display” was rebooted as the opening track introducing the show’s mission statement. “With a new, fresh experience,” began the EDM track, fitting this new environment far better than the original.

Reframe also included “Secret Secret,” one of the singles from GAME. After witnessing grand, sweeping choreography in Perfume’s dances for its recent singles such as “Flash” or “Mugen Mirai,” it was intriguing to watch the three revisit more meticulous movements favored during its earlier years. As Kashiyuka, Nocchi and A-chan packed in so many micro gestures throughout the chorus of “Secret Secret,” it showed how far they’ve come as performers. They no longer need to establish themselves so much on stage nor do they have to constantly entertain to make the music more palatable to new ears.

As much as Reframe gave a spotlight on how much has changed, it also dedicated space to show what remains the same. While Perfume’s electro-pop production has been a huge draw of the group since the very beginning, the concert spent a part of its set connecting recurring lyrics and themes in the music. The extended outro section of “Secret Secret” (remixed by producer Seiho) stitched together fragments of Kashiyuka, Nocchi and A-chan’s voices reciting words like “anata,” (you) “boku,” (me) “omoi,” (feelings) and “hikari” (light) culled from a few dozen songs from its catalog.

Out of all of the highlighted lyrics, “Koi” (love) is perhaps the most central topic that carries on in the music to this day. For all that Perfume talked up about its future-bass-inspired production, “Mugen Mirai” lyrically concerns a classic theme of newfound emotions which also inspires the group’s breakout single “Polyrhythm.” The title track to Future Pop further works in a similar vein, capturing the spark of discovery and a first-time encounter. The three marvel at the magic of technology, and their fascination speaks to the song’s inspired EDM production as well.

The wide-eyed wonder of Kashiyuka, Nocchi and A-chan towards their environment in “Future Pop” recalls the tone of GAME, where they, too, were being introduced to a new sound, setting, and series of experiences. Echoes of their past glories can be heard elsewhere in Future Pop. “Fusion” stands tall as the updated version of past mostly-instrumental anthems such as “Edge” or “Story.” The infinitely ascending “Tenkuu” works a chorus with an elongated cadence that resembles the chorus of “GAME.” The titular hook of “Chorairin” revives Nakata’s knack for writing in made-up phrases — think creations for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu but also tsundere-ation in “Puppy Love” — favoring purely its sound over meaning.

However, Perfume doesn’t pretend as though it can recapture its youth so easily in Future Pop. The members’ voices sings more in a worn-out sigh in “Let Me Know,” tapping into a prevailing uncertainty in settling down in a new environment — a recurring worry for Perfume since at least “Computer City” in 2005. In a self-referential album such as Future Pop, Kashiyuka, Nocchi and A-chan’s words sound as though they’re asking their former selves for advice. As they hand down a key to what looks like kid versions of the members in the music video, they provide enough materials in this single alone to signal their transition into an older guard.

Made up of a thump, a snap and a loop of a guitar pluck as its base, “Let Me Know” is one the most contemporary-sounding songs in Future Pop. The other singles, too, depart from the idea of classic Perfume as heard in a song like “Chorairin.” “Tokyo Girl” bridges American EDM to the works of Perfume, and “Everyday” responds to a post-Chainsmokers pop landscape. But if Perfume sounding like other producers is the future Nakata hopes to present in Future Pop, it’s a rather bizarre conclusion to reach after holding on to the pop wonders of GAME 10 years ago.

That said, it’s a realistic snapshot of the present, where electronic pop music has finally caught up with Nakata to the point he is now essentially referencing versions of himself. Future Pop, then, is an echo of what he has always done, and same could be said about the rest of Perfume’s ventures this year as the group reworked, fine-tuned and re-introduced a once-forward-thinking vision of its now-storied past. Rather than predict the future, that album title announces the arrival of it. Everyone involved can say with confidence, after 10 years from the debut album, that a time where this type of pop is accepted as the present might be finally here.

#Perfume

[attract-mode-collective]

Nothing Sez “Student Game” More Than The Dinosaur Evening News (that’s a good thing, btw)

The above is Mediazoic, which takes place in an alternate reality in which dinosaurs have come back to rule the earth and they've hired you, puny human, to make sure their televised broadcasts are dino family safe.

You moderate comments left on message boards, censor full frontal dino nudity, and so on. It's a student game alright, and one of my top picks from the NYU Game Center Student Showcase2018!

I was also fond of Dreams For Your Computer because CRTs, magnets, and cats...

... Here's what it looks like in action, btw.

Though the one game that I liked the most, and which would actually fare well on the marketplace, would have to be Static...

And honorable mention goes to an updated take on Flight Simulator, which recreates a 6 hour long commercial flight as a passenger...

... The best part was the look on Stephen Totilo's face, who kinda didn't get it.

When was the NYU thing btw? Over two weeks ago, and it’s been even longer since the last update. Sorry about that. You know the deal: a million, billion things going on. As usual.

Hence why it’ll take not just one, but two bursting at the seams posts, to cover the second half of May! So onto part one…  

Please, please, PLEASE let these Game Center CX Blu-rays have an English language option (via miki800.com)...

Not a day goes by in which I don’t wonder how that guy who appears in the instruction manual for Bomberman B-Daman is doing these days (via videogameartarchive & videogameartarchive)...

I really love the “are you for real?” vibe that Samus gives off in the instructions for the original Famicom Disk System release of Metroid (via nintendometro)...

If you’ve ever wondered what a pair of bosses from Mega Man 9 & 10 would look like with 8’s 32-bit sheen, well here ya go (via mendelpalace)...

A print ad for the Famicom adaptation of Akira that wasn't all that hot (via videogameads)...

Though whenever anyone hears the words “Akira video game”, this is basically what immediately comes to mind. Anything else is a disappointment, no matter what (via aaronkraten)...

Welcome to the rabbit hole that is the Memorex VIS (via @ColinWilliamson)...

Is the soundtrack to some ultra-obscure home banking software for the Mega Drive worth a listen? You goddamn right it is (via mendelpalace)...

… The accompanying article is also totally worth a read.

It’s the Battletoads X Blue Swede mashup that you can’t believe hasn’t been done yet (via SiIvaGunner)...

Replace Link with myself & Navi with my iPhone, which I use as an alarm clock, and you have earlier this morning in a nutshell (via nintendometro)...

“So where you going?”

“Down a road. A low poly road…”

“Where you headed towards?”

“Whatever’s at the end of this street. This low poly street...”

“If you look up, what do you see?”

“Low poly buildings, under a low poly sky. Who knows, maybe there’s some low poly birds up there, behind those low poly clouds…” (via pmpkn)

From looking at low poly skies to soaring high above them, but what a difference an arcade board makes huh (via kazucrash)...

This is what Metal Max 2: ReLoaded on the DS looks like, at its normal resolution...

And this is what it looks with the resolution bumped up (via gaucheartist)...

Is this sprite of a BMX biker animated unusually well or am I just out of touch when it comes to 2600 software? Granted, it does come from a game made in 1989 (via segagenesisevangelion)…

According to the law: “NO JUMPING” (via vgadvisor)

“Hi guys.” (via beowulf-ultra)

Such a heartwarming scene (via @PicturesFoIder)...

This is what VR looked like many years ago, which is basically how it still looks today as well (via peazy86)...

It’s Yuji Horii, from way back in the day, presumably before he had created Dragon Quest (via videogamesdensetsu)...

Why yes, I have heard of the Ocelot Arcade System, by virtue of it being Quality Simon Carless content...

... BTW, “Quality content” is in reference to this. Moving on: yes, I've also heard of VecFever. It plays games that you might be familiar with, since it emulates old vector MAME titles...

Meanwhile, am only just learning that Tiger released their handhelds in Japan under the Game Vision label (via segacity)...

The Sega Dreamcast: it's thinking... about you, cuz it cares about you (via posthumanwanderings)...

"Wait… was he always there?" asks the official Sonic the Hedgehog Tumblr (via sonicthehedgehog)...

And the final nail in the coffin for this gag came courtesy of the official Sonic Tumblr as well (via sonicthehedgehog)...

"Good news everyone skyrim has been ported to the Bethesda offices carpet" 

"Who the fuck designed support pillars to obstruct a quarter of the hallway?" 

"Bethesda" (via mysteriouslypeculiar)

Yet another "it's funny cuz it's true" (via highlandvalley)...

So annoyed that I only find out about this Games Glorious shirt on the very last day of kylefewell‘s Japanese extrusion (via miki800.com)...

Not a fan of the game (don’t hate, I just don’t find it very enthralling), yet for whatever reason, I REALLY want this vintage Mappy sweatshirt (via namcomuseum)...

When video game attire looks plausible IRL (via @cvxfreak)...

Much like with regular attire, with cosplay, sometimes it’s all about the accessories (via frankiebalboa)...

Don’t think I’ve ever seen this piece of Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter art before (via segacity)...

For those who dig POC, as well those who dig VF, and also those who dig FV... that last one's Fighting Vipers, BTW (via fightersmegamix)...

It’s a crying shame that Fighting Vipers is such an unknown commodity these days (via kazucrash)...

Virtua Fighter vs Virtua Fighter… Kid (via segacity)...

It’s a crying shame that Fighters Megamix is such an unknown commodity these days (via segacity)...

So hyped for RPG Time, based solely upon the headline image used for this 10 ten list of BitSummit games (via @indiegameweb)...

Please enjoy yet another thing that I originally posted on a Saturday late at night, whatever time it might on your end right this second (via contac)...

Been a while since I’ve seen the handiwork of Joe Bleeps, largely since it’s been a while since I’ve been collecting Game Culture Snapshots; the man has certainly stepped up his game (boy mods) since way back when (via kotaku.com)...

Am also very much impressed by the Game Boy Macro, though once again, am super irritated that GBA games do not rest flush with the DS Lite’s body...

An example of function over form I guess (@gamesyouloved)...

Familiar with Line Wobbler? Ever wished you could play it on the go? Are you into demakes? For the Game Boy Advance? (via @diskmem)

Today’s corrupted GBA boot up sequence is (via corruptionasart)...

Can anyone tell what Famicom game we’re seeing that’s all glitched out? (via mendelpalace)...

My fave part of this NES 2 print ad is how, in order to truly drive the message of “EVOLVE OR BECOME EXTINCT” home, whomever felt it necessary to include a little picture of a dinosaur (via nintendometro)...

Was this an ad for the SNES? I ask because it’s considerably more sophisticated when compared to what you usually encountered in gaming rags at the time (via nintendometro)...

This ad for the GoldStar version of the 3DO, hailing from Korea, makes me so proud to be (half) Korean, you have no idea (via notablegamebox)...

This Space Invaders tribute piece is like the cover art to some 80s heavy metal record (via shmups)...

Meanwhile, the album art for the Metal Black soundtrack feels more Pink Floyd-ish than anything else (via reportal)...

As amazing as it would have been to attend a ZUNTATA concert 20 years ago, I desperately wanted to see them perform various Darius cuts live just the other week (via miki800.com)...

This cover art for a tribute album celebrating 25 years of Mega Man is still quite good, 31 years after the fact (via rnn-draws)...

My recommended reading this time is a comparison of all the various Mega Man sprites that have been, including a few that you may not be familiar with (via retrovania-vgjunk.blogspot.com)...

Apparently there was a Mega Man boss that was part arcade machine, but he only appeared in some mobile game, for f's sake Capcom (via mendelpalace)...

Guess now’s a good time to share another random game canter pic (via gogopri)...

Pathos at the game center, even among Sailor Scouts (via funnysailorm00n)...

A pride & joy of my personal collection is both the original retail Japanese release of Jet Set Radio & the available via Sega Direct only edition: De La Jet Set Radio (via videogameartarchive & videogameartarchive)...

Here's an alternate take on it’s alternate cover star (via @Drooling_Demon)…

Putting together the necessary gear to properly grind the streets of Tokyo-to (via kiroziki-cosplay)...

JSR tales place in a fictionalized, idealized interpretation of Japan, whereas this gif is a very realistic take, yup (via dehtyar)...

Meanwhile and elsewhere, somewhere in the United States of America it would seem (via behexagusthegreat)...

There's still dinner time in the future (via kirokazepixel)...

My contribution to #WorldGothDay (via it8bit)…

From dark & dreary, to warm & fuzzy, yet still black & white (via this old post from a few years back)...

Old photos of a Japanese school kid obsessing over the Famicom are somewhat dime a dozen, but the PC Engine? A very rare treat (via gamingremembrance)...

From black & white photographs of Japanese 80s kids playing consoles, to a full color animated gif of US 80s kids at the arcade (via tvneon)...

Time to wrap things up by touching upon something that kept me awfully busy over the past few: Death By Audio Arcade X Dreamhouse II. Here's a rather mysterious image that appeared on the FB event page, and which was utilized in my promotional push...

... Did it work? You’ll have to find out in my part 2 of my Attract Mode X Tumblr: May 2018 recap! Due tomorrow. Maybe.