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chattegeorgiana · 10 months

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ARASHI & KUSHINA UZUMAKI!!! ♋🎂🎉🥳 (Yes, I was waiting for the full piece to be revealed before sending a message)

This birthday piece is so BEAUTIFUL! I love it so much i can't put it into words! The new ocs look amazing as well! I think the Karin look alike with purple eyes is Karin's mother when she was young. I'm looking forward to knowing who the other two are. I've already seen the guy with the oni mask on the cover for "The ties that bind" and given what I've read in that chapter, he must have played a major role in the creation of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. The lady behind those two though, I'm not sure but from the fact that she's in the front with the other Uzumaki's who are important to the legacy of the Uzumaki clan, I think she's going to be super important to the story as well.

Anyway let's talking about Arashi for right now. I'm super glad you got my message concerning his birthday commission, it ment so much to me. I was honestly somewhat surprised you responded but to be honest, I'm always surprised when someone answers my anonymous messages. Mostly because I don't expect them to answer most of the time. But anyways, Arashi just looks so cool and handsome! I think blue suits him perfectly! Is his long hair based on the old headcanon that Arashi would grow his hair out (on @kirabooksss-blog) and the old anon ask about him probably growing his hair out like Kushina when he's older on @askshinachiku? Because if it is, this is an amazing comeback. Personally, as a matter of preference, I prefer his short hair but the story of why is so sweet so I don't mind it at all.

You know? The staff Arashi has in his hand very much reminds me of a trident. Which is interesting because everytime I see something that looks like a trident, the first thing I think of is Poseidon who is the God of the sea (or water in general), storms, earthquakes, and horses. The storm part is what brought my attention because Arashi's name literally means "storm". I think it's fitting because the Uzumaki clan are associated with the ocean being that whirlpools form mainly in the ocean or wherever water is flowing which Poseidon has complete control over. I'm not sure about the shape it's supposed to be though. Fire? A seahorse? A crab? A dragon? A chair with Dolphins at it's sides representing the king of the ocean?? I don't know, I'm just guessing at this point, it could probably be just for design purposes but I like to read to much into things sometimes because it's satisfying. I feel as though my last guess could be it but I'm not to sure about it 😅.

I mentioned crabs before which brings me to something I want to say. Being that Arashi and Kushina's birthday lands on July 10th, their zodiac sign is cancer which it's animal symbol is a crab. I've read somewhere on the internet about the folklore that crabs are believed to embody the souls of fallen samurai in past battles. More specifically, the heikegani, which are a species of crab native to Japan, is representative of the samurais from costal battles whose souls were lost at sea. Legend held that the crabs were the reincarnations of samurai slain at the Battle of Dan-no-ura. This reminds me of the fact that Uzushiogakure was destroyed in times of war (which was a pretty huge battle if it destroyed a whole Hidden Village and majority of it's inhabitants), and large members of the Uzumaki clan went with it, only leaving a few survivors.

Cancer is said to be the house of Neptune (which is named after Poseidons roman counterpart, Neptune, and it's astronomical symbol represents Neptune's trident) and the exaltation of Jupiter (which is named after the Roman counterpart of Zeus, Jupiter, and is also the god of the sky, which storms usually occur, and thunder, which storms usually consist of), both astronomical bodies over those born under Cancer. Cancer also has a history of being in the sky as a crab was crushed under the foot of Heracles, and whose remains were placed in the sky by Hera, forming the Cancer constellation. In Roman variations of the story, it is Juno—Hera's counterpart in Roman mythology—who places the crab in the sky. Cancer is also a water sign which ties with Uzumaki clans connection with water.

I wanna say so much more but I just got off work, I'm tired and scatterbrained and I just got revealed to gods works so I need a nap 😭. But before I end this message, I gotta say you and Pumiih cooked. And when I mean you cooked you COOKED. Amazing work as always. Also, thank you for accepting my headcanon for Arashi's tigers name, very much appreciated. I also wonder if Arashi would ever meet Kaito at some point, I'm interested in them meeting. Anyway, awesome work, don't rush, take your time and rest, don't stress yourself, have a good day and I'm excited to see what Kaika has in store.

🌩️🌪️🌀🐯

Aaaaaaaaaaaaah, anon, whoever you are THANK YOU SO SO MUCH from the bottom of my heart! I'm certain @pumiih appreciates this as much as I do.

AND YES YES YES TO ALL THE THINGS YOU WROTE THERE. Omg you make me more excited about my own AU than I make myself. I LOVE IT the way you broke down all the things in this piece! Are you reading like MY MIND or something?? Of course, I got to admit, some of those things weren't intentional, but I knew they would match and since I love these kind of things I went ahead.

So, let's take it on turns...first... Karin's mother, because yes, that's Karin's mother, you guessed it right.

Her name is Izumo Uzumaki. Her name is very symbolic & related to a certain character attribute of Karin's. There's a lot I cannot unveil right now cuz it means I would spoil it BUT I have some great things thought about her. Some ties/connections that I can't wait to see how everyone will perceive. Nevertheless, I can't wait until I get to Izumo. Atm, she's only been hinted at in the story & there's a lot that Karin doesn't know and needs to find out.

So basically, as Karin will find out more and unravel about her Uzumaki ties/past, so will we. And like I said, I hope what I have in mind will keep people on the edge of their seats. Next... the guy is actually aaaaaaaaa girl, lol. She's the sealer lady, like I like to call her. I still haven't decided on her name though, that's why I'm keeping it low profile with her.

She, too, is a powerful type of sealer, since duuh, it's the Uzumaki descendance. Like you said, she has already been featured on chapter 11's cover in fanfic format. And not only that... if you have read chapter 11, you know there's a certain backstory involving Kaguya & the creation of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. Welp, let's just say she's at the center of it. I'm honestly thinking of naming her Kaika Uzumaki because I want to make it a word's play with her mother... which is ba-da-bim-ba-da-bum...

The other lady: Ōhirume Uzumaki, the Uzumaki clan's matriarch. That is of course before Ashina's times. She is the weilder of a VERY VERY powerful clan technique. One that matches the godly powers of the likes of Otsutsuki. That's precisely when the whole Kaguya ordeal happens and Ōhirume & her daugther interfere, it creates a certain inner conflict within the clan, and the leadership changes, leading to the times when patriarchy takes over and men like Ashina get to lead, instead of the initial matriarchy that the clan has. Now onto BABY ARASHI WHO'S NOW A MAN! Look at him precious baby boy T_T (can't believe I'm this obsessed with him lol; it's like I'm watching my baby grow). And ofc I got your message! It is honestly a pleasure to talk to you about this. I've had this idea in mind waay before you wrote to me, but when you did, I was so glad you did because somehow intuitively it was like you knew what I was going to do haha. We "vibed" really well. Like I said back then, I felt guilty I didn't have anything for his birthday in the past, so I made sure this year I DON'T forget it! I wanted to do the boy justice and here we are today.

Btw, I don't usually answer messages here because most of the times I forget about Tumblr lol since it's sadly kind of a dead platform. But I do return to it from time to time like now, and I try to take my time in talking to you guys. It's just that now adulting life ya know, takes a lot of my time so I am always searching to balance everything out as best as possible.

Anyway, back to Arashi... Let's take it on turns:

Blue was meant to represent the whirlpools/sea aspect of the Uzumaki clan so ofc I had to have blue introduced in his design

The long hair was actually not inspired from there, it was a personal preference of mine given some costume inspirations i saw and the man had long hair (+ there were some details from my own heritage that i introduced in his costume hehe). BUT IS SO COOL TO SEE that other people thought about thiiiis. We, the NaruSaku fans, are truly on the same wavelength without even talking to one another, it's AMAZING T_T & still gets to me

The staff thoo... You know, I actually chose that one because it's part of certain weaponry the Japanese deity pantheon hold in their left hand (for example like the 1000 Armed Kanon that Kishi introduced in the universe). Those three forks are meant to represent the three jewels which I connected very much with the Uzumaki's past, present and future. And not just the Uzumakis, but the whole system in place for Naruto's universe. It's just that Uzumakis will be at the center of that change in the systems since they are the balance after all. SOmething I ALWAYS believed myself and Kishimoto gladly confirmed it with the last Minato One Shot. I'm sorry I can't say more but I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL ANYTHING T_T. BUT I LOOOOVE the way you're reading into this. WHO ARE YOU CUZ IT FEELS LIKE I'M LOOKING AT MY OWN MIIIIND! Lol, anyway, moving on.

OMG I didn't know about that folk tale but WOW IT FITS so well with the Uzumakis thoo and with something I plan on doing related to souls & water, GIZAZ I can't believe it! Sometimes I swear I feel as if I was meant to write this AU lololol. Like sure, it's just a silly AU play for me but to see so many things fitting when maybe I didn't even intended it to be this way it's just out of this world. AND YES, I KNOOOW, MY DAD IS A CANCER AND MY MIDHEAVEN IN ASTROLOGY IS IN CANCER!! I am OBSESSED with astrology so that's one of the reasons I wrote the Uzumakis having a matriarch in the past, because Cancers are water-element signs and it's the archetype of the mother. Mother - matriarch, ta daaa. So duuh, I said to myself it fits PERFECTLY the Uzumakis.

Anyway, I talked AAAA LOT! But if there's anything else that flows into your mind about this piece or any other, FEEL FREE TO DROP IN MY DMS ANY TIME.

I love talking with people about these things and you're just RIGHT ON SPOT with your interpretations!

Once again on behalf of @pumiih and I, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support, for liking our work and for taking the time to write such a beautifully intrinsically introspective message. I FEEL SO BLESSED to have people like you that follow Kaika. All I ever wished is to have people like you that see what I'm doing with this story, and luckily my wish has been granted.

You guys are the MPV's! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for existing! Catch you on the next piece of art. :D

#arashi uzumaki #uzumaki clan #kushina uzumaki #narusaku family #narusaku #kaika saisei #kaika shinsei #kaika kosei #kaika au #asdhuifhsuhsus THESE MESSAGES GIVE ME YEARS EXTRA OF LIFE

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kyndaris · 3 months

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Heal the World

Despite being nominated for several categories at the 2023 The Game Awards, Spider-Man 2 did not manage to win any of the prestigious trophies. A fact that has been both lambasted and poked fun of on the internet. But when you consider the sheer quantity, as well as the quality, of games that came out, the fact Spider-Man 2 was even nominated is proof of its greatness. Especially when it was going up against heavy-weights Baldur's Gate 3, Alan Wake 2, Final Fantasy XVI, Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros: Wonder.

2023, it should be noted, was a game of big releases.

Following on from several strategy role-playing games I was stuck playing, it was only in the latter half of the year I was able to play catch-up on many of the triple-A titles. Even now, though, I have yet to tackle Final Fantasy XVI, Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3 and Alan Wake 2.

To be fair, I've bought all the titles. They are, unfortunately, just sitting around waiting for me to devote the necessary time to make the adventure worthwhile.

Once I do, of course, be sure to see posts pop up throughout the year. Even as I try to balance work, my writing hobbies, the books I read, shows I watch (at time of writing, I've gotten into Blue Eye Samurai), and whatever travel I also have planned. In fact, I should hopefully be publishing the sequel to Wild Child soon. After pounding out the chapters during a period where everything has gone back to normal, taking the time out to write a full-length novel is very time-consuming. Not to mention the editing I'm doing (which would probably be better if I had an actual editor and at least one beta reader) to polish up a few things.

In any case, the story of my journey with Spider-Man 2 began not when I popped the disc into my PlayStation 5. Nay, the story begins with the day I purchased the game at a store in the heart of Sydney CBD. I was catching up with a high school friend and had just seen a Facebook post about an exhibit in Barangaroo. After dinner, off we trotted - after much convincing on my part that a walk down to Barangaroo would be for the best - to take in the flipped truck suspended by spider webs and New York policemen milling about telling everyone within earshot that, "There was nothing to see here." The trip, capped off with a photo of the truck, was made memorable when I muttered under my breath how the hired actors were pretending to be NPCs. Only, of course, to be remonstrated by my friend for saying such a thing.

And honestly, it it is true that I shouldn't be calling the people I see only in passing as NPCs. After all, in their own mind, they're the main character and I'm the NPC lurking in the background of their story. Which only serves to drive home the disconnection we have with the people around us or who might share the daily commute with us.

Still, what a thing to say to dismiss another person.

I'm reminded of a scene in the book Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, which my workplace bookclub read, where Sam called his best friend, Max, an NPC right to his face. I know Max didn't take it to heart but what a cruel and heartless thing to say to someone who has supported you throughout your game developing journey and is then ruthlessly gunned down on the pretense he was you by angry gamers.

Anyways, back to Spider-Man 2. The game follows on from Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Ten months on from the last game, we see Peter Parker and Miles Morales working together to keep New York safe. And though the Avengers seem to exist in the world - what with Avenger Tower jutting up above the New York skyline - we never see these other superheroes once during the struggles Peter and Miles face. Nor do we see cameos from the likes of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist or Luke Cage.

Which is such a shame.

But it also highlights the problem of having so many comic-book superheroes call New York home.

Spider-Man 2 starts with Peter taking on a job as a physics teacher at Brooklyn Visions, the school Miles attends. As he's teaching them about surface tension, Sandman attacks. Torn between his responsibilities as civilian Peter and that of Spider-Man, Peter joins up with Miles to take down Flint Marko in an epic showdown that saves the city. Unfortunately, due to dereliction of duty as a teacher, Peter is fired. A side-effect of being a superhero who keeps his identity hidden (although given how often his friends have since said his name during the game, I'm surprised it's still a secret).

From there, the game introduces us to Kraven, a man who seeks his death in glorious combat with a mighty opponent. As such, he captures Mister Negative and Scorpion while the two were being transported from the Raft. He even administers a high dose of Lizard serum into Dr Curt Connors to face up against a worthwhile opponent.

It is only when Peter acquires the symbiote that excitement enters Kraven's eyes. In the latter chapters, he fights against Peter and demands that our erstwhile hero stop holding back even showing off a battered Miles. Before Peter can kill him, Miles intervenes and Peter is then freed from the symbiote's control.

Of course, Spider-Man 2 is not content to have Kraven as the big bad for this game. Oh no.

As many know, once you've introduced the symbiote, you've also introduced Venom. But instead of Eddie Brock taking on the mantle of our favourite anti-hero, it is instead Harry Osborn.

Though Harry was only mentioned briefly in the first game, in Spider-Man 2, Harry returns from a long sabbatical in Europe and supposedly cured from his terminal illness. Harry is introduced early, hiring Peter to work at his environmental technology startup called the Emily-May foundation where the pair can pursue their childhood dream of "healing the world." Unfortunately, during the events of Spider-Man 2, with Peter taking on the symbiote, Harry's health - both physical and mental - deteriorates. Desperate to return to a semblance of normality, Harry reclaims the symbiote and is then transformed into the Venom we all know and love.

He is later stopped by the combined efforts of Miles, Peter and MJ. The final battle leaves Harry comatose and our heroes shattered once again by the sacrifices they had to make in order to save the city they call home.

What I liked most about Spider-Man 2, however, as a criminology major in university, was its focus on rehabilitation. Many of the supervillains that Spider-Man fans have come to know and love have been reformed in some way or another. Be that Tombstone to Mysterio. Many of these villains have chosen to turn over a new leaf and assimilate back into society. The most tragic and most human is the story of Sandman. Threatened by Kraven's hunters, fearing for his daughter and not being heard by those in power, he resorts to the only thing he knows in order to garner attention: attacking the city.

It is a tale as old as time.

And helps support the tenets of strain theory in crime sociology.

Of course, there are a myriad reasons why people turn to crime.

But these glimpses are so important to understand the complexities of why someone might resort to doing something illegal. And it's a far better exploration of redemption than what Spider-Man: No Way Home attempted. As I've stated before, change takes time. While No Way Home plucked our villains during their final showdown with the various Spider-Man across the multiverse, Spider-Man 2 shows the results of Mysterio and Sandman having served their time and seeking to mend their ways.

This all culminates in the interactions with Mister Negative and Miles Morales. And while Miles cannot bring himself to forgive what Mister Negative did, he is able to move past the anger.

The other message in Spider-Man 2, of course, is that some burdens cannot be taken on alone. The tagline for the game is: 'Be Greater. Together.' Something I wish more people would take to heart. When a community comes together, there is so much more that can be done. Unfortunately, the Western world prefers to champion individualistic effort over those of a collective.

Capitalism seems to forget that if you don't have your workers or people who can afford to purchase your goods, then what's the whole point? And if you're curious where this odd segue came from, I'm currently playing through Octopath Traveler 2 and Partitio's story is very much of a big-hearted merchant who looks out for his town. His dream, funnily enough, is to destroy the devil known as poverty. Something our modern world still has not been able to solve (but could. If there was any profit to it. But who are we kidding? There isn't.)

From a combat perspective, Spider-Man 2 changes things up a little by introducing a parry mechanism as well as a few other new abilities for the Spider-Men to enjoy. While this kept the game lively, it annoyed me that I needed a full Focus bar in order to heal. This was especially difficult in the latter boss battles against Scream and Venom. I'm not sure if the reason why I struggled through them was because I hadn't topped up my Focus bars prior to the mission or if it was simply me not gelling with Peter's abilities.

What I do know was that I hated how the attack you couldn't dodge, but had to parry, was highlighted in red and that the unblockable attack was blue. Especially when the game had trained you early on with managing a perfect dodge when the spider sense was red. It also didn't help that in the battles with Scream and Venom, these indicators didn't last for very long and I couldn't cancel an animation if I was already mid-dodge to parry an attack.

At least the checkpointing was generous!

As for other gameplay moments, I had to say the swinging was smooth as butter and the web wings added some great diversity to travel. Especially with the wind tunnels all around the city to help one get from Point A to Point B.

And because of these quality-of-life improvements, I didn't feel like the new map, which now included Queens and Brooklyn, was that much larger than the original Spider-Man game or as time-consuming to get through like a map in the open-world Assassin's Creed titles.

So, while Spider-Man 2 didn't win at The Game Awards, it certainly won my heart as the second last game I played in the year 2023. And I'm certainly excited to see what Insomniac cooks up next, despite the hack. The studio is great at nailing story, gameplay and world while serving up side-dishes of heart. Best of all, it didn't have me chasing after pigeons!

In a year teeming with big titles, Spider-Man 2 was everything I wanted in an open-world game without overstaying its welcome.

Thank you Insomniac and here's hoping Spider-Man 3 brings on the Green Goblin in all his glory! Oh, and Silk. I'm curious to how they'll insert that comic storyline into the game.

#video games #spider-man 2 #peter parker #miles morales #mary jane watson #harry osborne #venom #kraven #rehabilitation vs deterrence

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kenrik · 3 years

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I’ve written a lot of GoUta fics,

Sharing all of them here would take forever. So, just sharing my favorites!

First and foremost, however, I want to say that I adore, absolutely adore (and find myself always re-reading!) onemoreword’s works. These fics are the pinnacle of everything I could want from GoUta. The world this author has created, the grasp they have of the characters -

onemoreword’s writing is simple and straightforward, yet so beautiful, so haunting. They’re the best for me, in a ship with so many awesome authors and stories already. UwU

PrettyKittyLuvsU also holds a special place in my heart!

Their fics are just so pure and deep. Mine’s are really just surface, just to get me through my brainrot fics. 🤣 I’m trying to write stories with deeper insight into the characters in canon, but, it’s taking me forever to build a story. The rules set by the JJK world, their dynamics, the tone I want to achieve of their relationship, are all so tedious to factor in. Most of what I’ve written are AUs and fluff because I just put in the bickering and teasing and call it a day. xD

I’m trying with Still Blue, This Black Sky, but it’s a new fic. And I’ve just come up with a plot. I’m only updating once I have a draft of the entire story. Posting without one is a pain, I lost my way a lot with 01 and Cast Away.

I also reread my fics! I write fanfics after all, so I can read my HCs. Hahahaha

So, if you happen to find my fics fun to read too, we’re in the same boat! xD

Ao3 says I’ve written 21 JJK stories. 🤣🤣

This shipper’s brainrot is too real, too potent. 🤣🤣 I can’t even with my self. 🤣🤣

Here are my favorite stories to reread -

1. Drinking Parties - Canon-Compliant, Funny

A series of oneshots following GoUta go from bar to bar.

And now, there they were. At their drinking party. The drinking party where Gojo said everyone would be going to. It would be fun, he told her. Everyone would have a such a blast, he said.

Honestly, Utahime could only blame herself for being foolish enough to believe him.

This damn idiot. She thought with a glare as she slammed her mug of beer on the table.

"You're really mad." Gojo looks at her with a curiosity. "Why?"

Why? Utahime seethed. "Where the hell is everyone?!" She threw her glass at him. And his infinity just catapulted it away and made a shattering mess on the floor.

"That wasn't nice, Utahime." He shakes his head at her. "It's that time of the month, huh?"

Utahime flushes red the next second. And with an embarrassed cry, she reached out for Gojo's very own glass and flung it at him as well.

"You're paying!" She screamed at him in finality when she's gotten tired of his stupid infinity. And she drops back to her seat and yells for the waitress to serve them a round of beer.

"Drink!" She barks at him when he was just playing with his glass. "Drinking party, my ass." She grumbles to the rim of her mug. And she downed her drink in one go.

2. The Clearing - Series of AUs, Japanese Folklore AU, Samurai AU, Pirate AU

A series of AUs covering soulmates over the course of history.

(Pirate AU)

They were cruising in the high seas when Satoru was leaning on his back against a wooden pillar, idly sharpening his knife. He was whistling to himself when a crew member walks up to him with an anxiousness about him.

"Um, captain," He didn't know what to say; how to say it. "I think I found a stowaway."

Satoru turned to him with a dangerous twitch in his eye.

"What?" He spits with a venom.

And in the next instant, a woman in menswear was thrown before him at the deck.

He took it as a personal offense that anyone dared board his ship without his express approval. Let alone a woman. He spat at her gall. He would have her head, he thinks to himself in a growing spite.

"The sharks are going to be full today." He tells his crew coldly as he looked at the woman who didn't dare face him, whose angry gaze was directed to the wooden floorboards.

"Have any final words before you die?" He asks her to make peace with her inevitable demise.

And when she doesn't speak, Satoru just waves a lazy hand, signaling to his crew to just get it over with.

But before anyone could touch the woman, she speaks in a low voice, "I'll do anything."

Satoru turns to her with a confusion, with a raised brow.

"What?"

And she suddenly looks up at faces him with a fierce glare in her eyes.

"I'll do anything! So, let me stay on board!" She cries. And her hands clench against the wooden boards; the smell of the ocean consuming her; the adventure she's yearned for her whole life was so close she could taste it. "Let me stay!"

Satoru leans back, surprised.

Then, he starts to smile a sinister smile.

"Do you even know what you're saying?"

Utahime clenches her jaw.

"Do you have any idea where we're going?" He laughs at her dryly and crouches down at her; his face patronizing.

"You won't last a day with us."

"You'll get raped."

"You'll get killed."

"You might even just stub your toe and start crying for your mom." He laughs at how ridiculous she was.

Then, he pokes her cheek with the dull end of his knife.

"Don't be stupid."

I can’t even begin to say how much I love this Pirate AU. I love all the AUs in this story. I love everything I write honestly, even if it’s just plain crack. xD

But, they’re just so cute in this AU. I love them so much. And I owe readers a sequel.... 🤣🤣

3. the most valuable relationship to a sorcerer is friendship - Canon-Compliant, Friends at a wedding, Have a serious conversation, about their life as sorcerers

Uta and Satoru find themselves attending the wedding of a mutual friend.

He finds her in a bar alone, nursing a drink. And when her gaze drifts from her beverage to him, she almost spits out her drink.

"What are you doing here?!" She cried at him in dismay. And Gojo just chuckled as he approached her.

"You don't have to be so mad about it." He tells her with a small smile. "I'm on vacation."

"You take vacations?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Occasionally." Gojo grins at her. "Rarely." He adds. And Utahime frowns at him when he eventually says, "Mostly never."

"You here for the wedding?"

And he laughs again when Utahime just turns away with a deep sigh.

"I am." She sips her drink. And, she fights back the twitch in her eye when Gojo takes the empty seat next to her.

"Shall we go together, then?"

Utahime turns to frown at him.

"You think I came here alone?" She hisses at him in disbelief.

And Gojo just smiles at her. "Didn't you?" Then, he laughs when Utahime relents.

"Fine." She sighs. "I still can't accept that out of everyone I know, I run into you, you of all people, in Hawaii." She groaned to the heavens. And Gojo just chuckles. "In Hawaii, Gojo. Why?" She cried to the heavens for an answer. Why did they have to keep torturing her?

"Must have been something you did in a past life." Gojo offers with a laugh, resting his cheek on the palm of his hand.

Beside him, Utahime's face soured.

4. Sweet - Modern AU, Barista Utahime, Cafe Shop

Uta is worried about the health of one of her regulars.

"I can't, in good conscience, serve you anymore bubble tea."

"You took an oath or something?" He smirks. "Not to over serve poor salarymen with a sweet tooth?"

Utahime raises a brow and bites back her laugh.

"So," The man leaned over the counter with his smile, looking down at the selection of drinks in the menu laid on the bar. "What would you recommend I get?"

"An americano." She simply tells him and slips cups for a previous order into the plastic melder to seal them.

"All right." The patron smiles, too wide, and too familiar for Utahime's liking.

What was wrong with this guy, she couldn't help but frown in discomfort.

"But, add three tablespoons of honey." The man adds, and laughs at the look of disbelief on Utahime's face. "What? Honey's not sugar."

"It is..." Utahime couldn't believe this guy. "Whatever." She sighs and prepares his order. But, instead of the three spoonfulls of honey, she put a single teaspoon.

And when he drinks it in front of her, she laughs out loud at the disgusted, sour look on his face. And he demanded she give him five packets of sugar.

5. Immature - Canon-Compliant, Gojo “teasing” Utahime, First Meeting, Childhood GoUta

Uta finally meets the kid with the Six Eyes.

When the family before them leaves, when they're presented as the Iori house, Utahime is fuming red. But she bites her tongue and keeps her mouth shut in respect for her parents, for her relatives around her.

And when she sees how the six year old looked at her condescendingly, slouched forward on his seat, looking at her with his calculating eyes, seemingly appraising her; she starts to shake in a growing rage.

Then, he smirks. The six year old smirks at her.

And something inside her snaps when he tells her, when he chuckles and tells her,

"Did you know?" He smirks at her with a chuckle in his lips. "Did you know you're so weak?"

Red with rage, before her mother could stop her again, Utahime cries out and angrily grabs the empty juice box in front of her; and she throws it at the six year old; hitting him square on the face.

And he flushes. In an instant, he flushes red. A very, very angry, humiliated red.

"Utahime?!" Her mother cried out in dismay.

And Utahime had to be dragged out before she could get her claws at the six year old and set him straight.

6. Red, Blue, and The Purple Moon - Canon-compliant, Post-Shibuya Incident Arc, GoUta living together, Powerless Gojo

GoUta play house.

"Wow," She mouthed, not noticing how Gojo's face paled. "I actually got to hit you for once." She unconsciously ruffled the hair on the top of his head, making the strongest sorcerer twitch in annoyance.

"I can actually hit you, now." She suddenly gripped his head with some force. And Gojo could only look in horror at the murderous glint in her eyes.

"Utahime..." He tries to laugh it off, the growing tension in the air. And he tries to take Utahime's hands in his, tries to pull her hands off him, when Utahime suddenly looks down at him with a demented glare on her face and started chuckling.

"Gojo," She smiles at him sinisterly. "Do you remember," Her hands started to trail down from his hair, from his face to his neck. "Do you remember how you've been calling me weak since we've known each other?"

Gojo tries to smile back, tries to laugh with her; "Of course," He forces a chuckle. "We have our fun, Utahime!"

"Fun?!" Gojo sees the murderous glint flash in her eyes too late. And the next thing he knew, Utahime started choking him and shaking him like there was no tomorrow.

This is my first fic. I’ve had to rewrite this a lot, since I’m learning so much more about their world and the characters. Still, I really love this. I love the fact that Gojo is powerless. HAHAHA. I will definitely find myself editing this fic again. But I love it already as is.

While I love No Love and 01, and all the other fics, I do not like angst. Just thinking about how it’ll hurt later on is just so painful. I don’t know what’s up with people and pain, but those who’ve read my stories seem to prefer angst. The heck. 🤣 Isn’t JJK canon enough pain for you guys? 🤣🤣

#gojohime #gouta #fanfic #i wrote some #just a few #🤣🤣🤣🤣

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soyouareandrewdobson · 3 years

Text

Andy on Asian Animation or SYAC: The Master Review 2

Let’s talk a bit about anime and Dobson’s work relation with it.

I think we can all agree, that starting from the late 90s and early 2000s on, anime and manga became extremely popular in the western world. Sure, Japanese animation was nothing completely new to us (Speed Racer, Nadia-Secret of Blue Water, Samurai Pizza Cats, Sailor Moon, Kimba and Akira e.g. come to my mind as properties already known in the west before 1995) but it really was around this time that thanks to “mainstream” stuff like Dragon Ball and Pokemon people became aware of how different Japanese animation was from western. Eventually resulting in the really good shit (like Cowboy Bebop, Black Lagoon, Kenshin and Heat Guy J) coming over and enriching nerd culture for more than just a few people who knew of it as an obscurity at that point. Now, if you know anything about Dobson, you likely know that his relationship with anime is rather… complicated to say the least. Or, to let him explain it with his own words…

Dobson essentially likes silly and wacky 90s anime. But later on he hated anime in general, because it got too popular and a bad experience with an anime club in college soured his enjoyment of it. Furthermore, he put the blame on his lackluster art style and storytelling capabilities as seen in the likes of Formera, Patty and Alex ze Pirate, on anime in general, while also claiming that Disney pulling the plug on 2D animation is the result of the “anime inspired” Treasure Planet, meaning anime in a sense deprived him of his chance at working at his dream job and “ruining” western animation.

Which to me has always been ignorant as fuck. For starters, I can understand not liking certain stories or genres, either for objective or subjective reasons. But to hate on an entire nation’s form of entertainment (not just individual shows or genres), depriving yourself of the chance of potentially watching a lot of good stuff while also being rather insulting to these other works and people enjoying them? Especially when the stuff you can supposedly “stomach” has been rather simplistic compared to other things?

Second, blaming Japan for “poisoning” your art style? What, did the ghost of Osamu Tezuka possess you and FORCE you to put sweatdrops on your characters forehead while also going for the rather simplistic character style of Rumiko Takahashi, as well as emulating the slapstick of the likes as Slayers and Ranma ½?

Next, if he had emulated them successfully, I say he would have actually managed to tell decent enough stories worth to read online. Not create Uncle Peggy aka “Discount Happosai” or the bland proto-Isekai known as Formera.

I mean, let’s give some context here: There have been people who successfully managed to emulate certain anime and manga aesthetics into western animation and make it work. Otherwise we wouldn’t have gotten the likes of Avatar-The last Airbender, Samurai Jack, the Animatrix, Thundercats 2011, Super Robot Monkey Hyperforce Go, Kim Possible, W.I.T.C.H, Megas XLR and Wakfu. You know, shows that are actually awesome as hell.

Heck, Dobson’s favorite animated show of the last decade, Steven Universe, is heavily inspired by anime aesthetics to the point of being embarrassing.

But Dobson… well, he emulated anime aesthetics in his work the same way as these crimes against animation did.

Combined with his general shortcomings as a storyteller it is no wonder his initial comics did not do well.

Lastly, and sorry for digressing here a bit, but if the Wikipedia entry on Treasure Planet is something to go by, there was no real inspiration by anime involved in making this movie.

Supposedly the idea of making an animated Treasure Planet in outer space movie was already pitched by Ron Clements WAY BACK in 1985 but only came to be after Michael Eisner greenlighted stuff in the late 90s. Design wise the movie was supposed to look 70% traditional and 30% sci-fi inspired and people took inspiration for the art style by illustrators associated with the Brandywine School of Illustration. A western style of illustration established in the 19th century, that had a big impact on the illustration styles for many 19th and early 20th century adventure novels and short stories.

What, is anime supposed to be the only form of animation allowed to have sci fi elements or steampunk in it? Fucks sake, The Lion King and Atlantis, which came out one year earlier to Treasure Planet, were likely more inspired by anime. Don’t believe me? Watch Atlantis and then a certain anime by Studio Gainax called “Nadia-Secret of Blue Water”. Or read up on the controversy surrounding the two.

The truth is, it is not entirely clear what caused Disney to shut down 2D feature film animation in the early 2000s. In fact, if anything, most people put the blame on Michael Eisner and a certain change in the publics taste in movies in general, combined with Disney trying to turn almost every movie they had into a franchise via cheap follow up movies on video and DVD.

And even if Disney did not shut down, are we really supposed to believe that a certain guy with fedora would have made it big at Disney to the point Alex ze Pirate would have been made into a feature film?

But Dobson could never quite understand this and instead of “reinventing” himself properly, he would rant about anime and its fans in one form or another…

And on the peak of his hissy fit create this little art piece he baptized Anime Sux. Alternatively “West vs East”. Or as I like to call it, slap a jap.

Now, the pic was done in 2008 and Dobson claimed sometimes in the last decade, that he no longer holds his old opinions. Unfortunately, by that point he would also more or less use the chance to vent in his webcomic about anime (or rather its fans), which brings us finally back to SYAC.

While Dobson never outright thematized in more detail WHY he hates anime and manga in SYAC (likely cause if his comic reasoning was even slightly like his reasoning in his blogs, people would have torn him apart like a bag of paper) he did use the format to punch down on anime fans and their preferences.

For example, for someone who has a 4chan story going around of having been rather arrogant towards others in college for not liking Ranma ½, Dobson has THIS little college related comic to show off, where he portrays an aspiring manga artist as a delusional jackass.

Then in this strip titled manga, his manga fan is essentially portrayed as a young woman dressing up like a very stereotypical high school anime girl, who is in the wrong for even just DARING to draw her comics in the direction manga are read.

On one hand, I get Dobson’s point. She could be at risk of alienating a market of readers as she is obviously drawing for a western audience. Then again, if she doesn’t draw a traditional western comic but a manga, why shouldn’t she? I mean, as long as she enjoys it, which I assume she does as she seems genuinely just happy when stating that she likes manga, why not let her? Plus, this comic was drawn in the late 2000s. I think by then most people kinda knew how to read from right to left, so Dobson’s claim she would alienate or confuse people is kinda redundant. If anything I find a) Dobson getting angry at her just very petty (just let her have fun) and b) portraying a western manga fan as someone who would be confused by the sheer idea of reading stuff from right to left is also in itself just really dumb and insulting. What is Dobson trying to imply? That anime fans are so stuck in the way they consume certain media, they can’t act according to “western standards” again?

Then there is this strip where yet another female anime fan is essentially portrayed as the embodiment of how “ignorant” manga fans are of the idea of different art styles...

Which becomes rather laughable once Dobson describes his style as a mixture of European, American and Japanese. Why? Because he is the one oversimplifying things, rather than the anime fan.

You see while anime and manga of all sorts do share certain aesthetics (like the black and white art style, emphasize on the eyes of characters, the way hair is drawn, recurring tropes within certain genres and so on) style wise (both in art and storytelling) there can be severe differences, depending on the artist alone. Akira Toriyama’s style differentiates significantly from the likes of Eichiro Oda, Rumiko Takahashi, Kentaro Miura, Tezuka, Kaori Yuki and so forth.

The same also goes for many western artists. Herge had a significantly different style from Uderzo and Goscinny. Don Rosa has a different style in which he drew Scrooge McDuck than Carl Barks did. Rob Liefeld and Jim Lee draw mainstream superheroes differently compared to how Jack Kirby, George Perez and others did. Heck, Ethan Van Sciver and Jim Lee were closely associated with Green Lantern in the 2000s and look how they differentiate.

Which btw is the kind of skill level Dobson would have needed to have, to make it in the mainstream industry

So when Dobson says “I draw in a combination of American, Western and Japanese” all I can think is the following: THAT DOESN’T NARROW IT DOWN! WHAT THE HECK HAVE YOU LEARNT IN COLLEGE ABOUT COMICS? WHICH ARTISTS, WORKS AND STORYTELLERS DO YOU TRY TO EITHER EMULATE OR HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY?

Then there is this little thing…

Where do I even begin? How about the fact that Dobson’s hand in the last panel looks like he has lost a thumb? The fact that the little boy, anime fan or not, is aware of Sae Sawanoguchi, a character from a short lived OVA and anime series from the 90s, which considering his age, I kinda doubt he would be aware off. Unlike Dobson, who got into anime in the 90s and admits in fact within the posts I loaded up earlier, that he had watched the anime in particular, known in the west as Magic User Club.

Then there is the implication by Dobson, that anime is so “corruptive” as a medium, little kids don’t even know the most basic characters in western animation because of it. I expect in a next panel, that all of sudden some 50s PSA guy comes along and lectures me that if I want this kind of thing not to happen at MY convention, I need to teach little kids more about the GOOD western animation, instead of the BAD eastern one. Then there is this rather unflattering portrayal of a shonen ai/shojou ai fangirl…

Which makes me laugh cause honestly, even some of the worst shonen ai and shojou ai can do better in portraying a “realistic” gay relationship than Patty if you ask me.

Also, as much as I think fangirls can be extremely thirsty (I have read my fair share of extremely stupid yaoi and yuri fanfics) I think that in hindsight Dobson is really not anyone to complain about shipping obsession and sex when he himself has KorraSami, the Ladybug fandom and a certain rat pirate under his floppy belt.

As you can imagine, Dobson would get heat for those comics, considering how he himself has been greatly inspired by anime and manga for his major comics. And while I don’t have any explicit deviantart posts of him reacting to criticism in that regard, I do have this comic which addresses it directly.

And yeah, if I were schoolgirl number 4, I would just sigh and walk away after telling Dobson that his mistakes and shortcomings are not related to having consumed anime, but rather by what sort of anime (and other stories) he had consumed and the amount of effort he had put in creating his stories instead of emulating just something more popular. Plus, if you really want people to draw more from life, how about drawing more from life yourself down the line? And no, tracing Star Wars movie frames does not count.

Finally, Dobson, considering how very little most people think of your work, I say mission accomplished: People have learnt from your mistakes and know not to be a Dobson.

And at last, there is this comic, which kinda wraps up Dobson’s “vendetta” with anime and manga fans within the pages of SYAC.

By trying to mock anime fans and make them look just as shallow as he is. I at least suppose. Honestly, the message of this comic is rather muddled. On one hand, I would say the strawman accusing Dobson hates anime just because it is popular is very simplified. After all, Dobson has made his reasons for not liking anime clear in a few more details. It’s just that the details in and on themselves in real life are still rather shallow and boil down to a lot of personal bias rather than an objective criticism of actual flaws. Which I think is worth pointing out.

But frankly, what is Dobson trying to say or point out here? That the strawman is not so different or even dumber than him, because he hates Justin Bieber for “shallow” and superficial reasons too?

Okay, this doesn’t quite work as well as Dobson wants. First, the argument Dobson’s strawman makes is in huge parts based on some verified statements Dobson made for not liking anime. Second, he just says a name and that triggers the guy to express his hatred for Bieber. We don’t know why the guy hates Bieber and you could make in fact the case, that he hates him not because he is popular, but because he has a genuine issue with the artist, his work or his behavior as a human being. Third, if you want to make yourself look like the better person Dobson, try to argue with the guy and make solid arguments why you don’t like anime. Instead you just deflect the criticism by changing the subject and then try to make yourself look like the “smarter” person in the room by mocking your critic in the most condescending manner.

Which as I think about it, sounds like your modus operandi on twitter and tumblr.

Weirdly enough, that more or less marks the “end” of Dobson tackling anime fans and the beef he has with them within the pages of SYAC. Despite how much Dobson’s negative reputation especially in early years was build around him hating on anime and belittling its fans, he didn’t really do more afterwards in the Dobson focused pages of SYAC. And mind you, those strips were also separated by other strips in-between, focused on Dobson just being at conventions.

Unfortunately for him, the strips didn’t really help in any way to diminish that negative reputation and instead just confirmed for many, that Dobson can’t handle criticism about his flawed opinion on anime. If anything, it just made people think even less of Dobson, as the strips just painted him as someone who would rather portray his critics as strawman he can be “rightfully” annoyed at, instead of fellow humans with slightly different tastes in entertainment, who are still worth listening to.

So, now that we have the anime fan related “annoyances” out of the way, what other sort of silly problems in making webcomics would Dobson cover in his strips and are “relatable” to everyone?

Lets see some of these examples in the next part.

#anime / manga #manga #Andrew Dobson #fuck you Tom Preston #Tom Preston #syac #so...you are a cartoonist #so you are a cartoonist #review #webcomic #comic #adobsonsartwork #adobsoncomic #adobsonartworks

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thebladeblaster · 3 years

Text

Rebirth of the Samurai (Part 1)

Summary: This fic is a what if scenario to SMT4 Apocalypse. I would go into more detail, but I don’t want to spoil too much of what this fic entails. If this fic gains traction I may continue the story on from this one-shot. Warning: This is a long one.

This may be the last I write for awhile with college right around the corner. I won’t stop completely, but it will become a lot slower.

Two pairs of boots solemnly clattered down the road. The young men wore brown peasant garbs with ponchos. They both had fair skin. One had a brown ponytail and brown eyes. The other...had a black ponytail with striking green eyes. No sound came from the two except their boots. The air of silence was becoming overwhelming. They had failed...in their lifelong dream of becoming samurai before it ever even started. The brown haired man seemed the most shaken of the two. The black haired man was saddened definitely, but not quite to the same extent as his fellow. They were in what seemed to be a medieval city.

“Isscharr everything will work out. We might not have become samurai but...Uhh...things will get better.”, the black haired man tried to assure his friend, patting his back.

“...I can’t believe I have to go back to that accursed place! I don’t...I don’t want to be a farmer my whole life, Flynn…This...This was supposed to be our out...”, Ishacarr replied, in a disheartened tone.

“Hoy there.”, the two men stopped as a heavier man in baker’s garb ushered them over.

“I’m afraid we probably can’t afford to buy anything.”, Flynn said in a timid tone, rubbing the back of his head looking away.

“Oh no, it’s not that. Have you two by chance ever heard of literature?”, the baker asked them.

“I don’t believe so...have you Isscharr?”, Flynn asked, looking over to his fellow.

“No…”, Isscharr responded in a quiet tone only further concerning his fellow.

“Literature is very interesting, it's very different from the stories we know. They are about people in great turmoil. It has completely opened up my mind to the problems with society. As I read it I started to realize I have lived in darkness and ignorance up until now. It is adversity that develops a man’s character. After partaking in a sabbath and reading these books, I understand more fully...You see, Luxurors truly think little but their own convenience. Everyone speaks of equality, but that is a ruse we Casualries have been subjected to...”, the baker told them, pulling out the literature and placing it into Flynn’s hand.

The books read “No Longer Human” and “The Dancing Girl”.

“Ooh...but we can’t read.”, Flynn said as he looked down at the unassuming book shuffling awkwardly.

For some odd reason he felt a sudden chill down his spine as he held the literature. Ishacarr raised his head and looked up at the book.

“That is no issue you see by attending a sabbath you can gain the ability to read.”, the baker explained, making Flynn give him a skeptical look.

Isscharr’s eyes widened at the prospect, looking very interested. Flynn clicked his tongue as he felt that chill again. He placed the literature back in the baker’s hands.

“Sorry, but we’re not interested.”, Flynn replied, much to the baker and Isscharr’s shock.

Isscharr’s mouth was agape at Flynn’s response. His fellow wasn’t normally so assertive. “H-hoy don’t speak for me Flynn!”, Isscharr said.

“The sabbaths he mentioned sound extremely shady. The very idea that you can suddenly gain a skill that takes years of education is just ridiculous. Like a deal a demon would try to make with someone in a fairy tale. We’re leaving.”, Flynn replied sternly, very insistent on the last part.

Isscharr sweated nervously.

“Who the hell are you and what have you done with Flynn?! Flynn can’t even say no to his mother!”, Isscharr thought.

Something felt different about Flynn the moment the literature was mentioned. It’s almost like he shifted into a completely different person. The change worried Isscharr. Flynn grabbed Isscharr’s hand pulling him away from the baker with surprising strength.

“W-wait! Stop Flynn! I wanna check it out! This may be a chance for us to be something more than just farmers!”, Isscharr said.

Flynn turned to Isscharr looking at him from the side. There was a strange edge that appeared in his eyes that made him jump. The feeling in Flynn continued to grow more powerful.

“Isscharr, we’re going!”, Flynn insisted.

“No! It might be easy for you to go back to Kiccigiorgi with a family that actually accepts you and doesn’t act like you're a nuisance! You can go back! But...I’m not going back there! Not to those people!”, Isscharr yelled as they started to cause a scene.

“Then where will you go?! Where will you live?! Like it or not Kiccigiorgi is our home!”, Flynn questioned.

“Anywhere else!”, Isscharr answered, making Flynn snicker at his fellow’s stubbornness.

“You can’t be serious...you’ll worry you’re parents.”, Flynn replied, rubbing his temples in annoyance.

“Why am I getting so heated like this? T-this isn’t me...what’s going on?”, Flynn thought, genuinely confused at his behavior.

He felt like he could hardly control himself. This feeling that crept inside him before felt like it was...consuming him. Something in his mind just tells him that he cannot let Isscharr attend a sabbath at any cost.

“I don’t care about those assholes!”, Issachar yelled, making their growing gasp.

Flynn visibly flinched upon hearing Issachar curse his parents.

“You may not, but I’m sure they care about you. I believe their only do hard on you because they care! I’m trying to bring you back because I care about you!”, Flynn replied which made Issachar scoff.

“So, you're taking their side? Just like everyone else! You think I’m weird too! A freak!”, Issachar accused.

“Don’t be childish! There’s no sides! You think I would stick by you for all these years if I thought you were a freak? You're just throwing a childish tantrum! Think Issachar think! Do you really believe you can just run off on your own and do who knows what? We have responsibilities!”, Flynn replied, back sounding far angrier than before at his fellow’s accusation.

Issachar snickered, pulling his arm out of Flynn’s grip and starting to walk away.

“Where are you going?!”, Flynn questioned, as the poor baker looked frantically between the two squabbling fellows not expecting such a fight to break out.

“You might be content being some obedient servant your whole life Flynn. But I’m not! Pfft! A mama’s boy like you probably wouldn’t have made it as a samurai anyway...You're better off returning alone!”, Issachar replied with venom making Flynn shake.

Flynn gripped his fist so tightly they nearly bled. They shook like crazy as Flynn looked down at them.

“Why the heck did I say all of that? What am I supposed to do now?”, Flynn thought, looking back to Issachar’s retreating form.

Flynn prepared to run after his fellow.

“Don’t bother following me! Go home like you obviously want to!”, Issachar replied harshly.

Flynn froze, putting a hand over his heart which felt pierced by his fellow’s words. That hand formed a fist which shook again.

“H-hoy!”, the baker called out nervously, but he was completely ignored by the two fellows who walked off in opposite directions.

The crowd scurried away as Flynn and Issachar walked through. Flynn's eyes were shadowed and he gritted his teeth. Issachar’s gaze briefly drifted over his fellow whose head was lowered he could tell was hurt even from far away. He jerked his gaze away from Flynn not wanting to turn back from his chance to become somebody.

After Flynn got far enough away he collapsed against a wall lowering his gaze further. Men in blue uniforms patrolling the streets looked over to him thinking he was drunk. He flinched as another strange feeling struck him, but it was different from before.

“You alright there sir? It’s a bit too early to be drinking isn’t it?”, the blue uniformed man said.

When he got closer they noticed tears dripping from Flynn’s eyes.

“...I’m not drunk…”, Flynn said, sadness evident in his voice.

Flynn picked himself off the wall and strode past the man. As if to make his situation worse his head was throbbing for some indiscernible reason. The feeling that suddenly struck him only worsened his headache. He continued walking, not knowing where he was going. It was most certainly not back home. Not without Issachar. He thinks maybe they just need space for now. When he got himself back together he would find Issachar and drag him back home. Flynn felt even more miserable when another feeling struck him again. He felt his mind getting increasingly hazy.

“Why is Issachar so stubborn?! Why won’t he let me save him!”, Flynn thought, raising his eyebrow afterward completely puzzled by his own thoughts.

“Save him? What am I talking about?”, he thought.

The pain in his head only increased, making him wince.

“Some people are just too stubborn to deter away from their own folly. You of all people should know that...but together we can save them all. We can save all of mankind.”, a voice said, causing Flynn to stumble.

Who was that? Was he imagining that voice right now or? Flynn looked around for the source of the voice he heard only to find nothing, but people going about their business.

Even as Issachar continued on and found out the location and time of the sabbath from the baker he couldn’t help but think about Flynn. How bizarrely he acted and how he left him. He had this feeling he really shouldn’t leave Flynn alone like this in the ‘condition’ he’s in. It felt like something more was happening to Flynn and he had to save him from...something? What was he saving him from? Being a doormat? But, still Issachar could not drop this intense feeling of dread. Like he may lose Flynn forever...he was just being silly! He had to be. He didn’t know why his thoughts were being so melodramatic.

The sabbath was to be held at midnight. He’d have to be careful due to the country’s curfew. Just another way the Luxurors controlled the Casualries. Issachar was determined to break that control. Perhaps this was what he was meant to do? The leash of control even controlled his best friend to the point he’d snap at him like he had before. He walked into an unassuming carpentry store.

“I’m here for the sabbath.”, Issachar said as the carpenter looked him over.

He led Issachar over to a carpet which slipped away to reveal a secret room. He steeled himself as he walked into the darkness of the room. It was much bigger than he expected. It was packed to the brim with people. Issachar looked in wonder seeing mystic relic lights all over the place. There was also strange demonic statues. Some people were engrossed in the literature, trading books or...Issachar blushed intensely as he looked away at what some others were doing especially on the statues.

“Is this your first time?”, a feminine voice asked.

Issachar turned to the source of the voice nearly jumping when he saw the source. It was a woman covered head to toe in strange black and red armor with eerie red eyes.

“Who are you?”, Issachar asked.

“I am the one people call the black samurai. I am the one who has been distributing literature all over the kingdom.”, the black samurai introduced.

“I see uh…”, Issachar said, looking over briefly before turning his gaze back to the black samurai still flustered.

“It’s not like anything you’ve seen right? That’s why you’re so shocked at what you're seeing here? Everyone is like that at first. These sabbaths are about the spreading of knowledge and breaking free from the strict norms of the kingdom.”, the black samurai said.

“Yeah, definitely...this is all just shocking. I heard that I could learn how to read here. Is that true?”, Issachar asked.

“That...and much more.”, the black samurai said in a seductive voice which made him nervous.

The strange woman led him to where a few people in luxurious clothes were tied up.

“Are those Luxurors? What are you going to do with them?”, Issachar asked.

“Their going to be sacrifices.”, the black samurai said in an abnormally casual tone which made Issachar pale.

Flynn rubbed his temples again as he tried to get to where he heard the sabbath was being held. Combined with the samurai patrolling the streets and his roaring headache getting there was proving difficult for him. But, he would persevere! This was for Issachar! He had to get him back even if it landed him in trouble with the authorities. By the time Flynn made it to the store he was breathing heavily. He looked around the store for wherever the sabbath was being held. He found it bizarre how strangely empty the store was despite the fact a sabbath was apparently being held there. Flynn left no stone unturned as he checked the store. He flinched as he could faintly hear a muffled scream. He ran over to the direction where he heard it throwing off the rug and revealing the secret door. Flynn sweated nervously as he could now better hear screams coming from down below despite that Flynn descended without hesitation.

Blood dripped from the hand now claws of that black samurai who had now revealed her true form as a black vine like demon in a feminine shape. She had a white face and chest along with horns and wings along with a long pointy tail. Her feet were little pincers.

The Luxurors laid dead at her feet while Issachar was still frozen in shock.

“It’s not a true sabbath without blood and we demons love blood. Now, it’s time for you all to become demons!”, the black samurai declared, frightening many in there and garnering confused murmurs.

“Flynn was right! It was a demon deal!”, Issachar thought as the black samurai held out a book to him.

“You can read now. Take full advantage of the knowledge you gain to tear this kingdom asunder!”, as she said that many of those attending’s bodies shifted and morphed in a horrifying manner.

The sounds of their transformations were blood curdling. Issachar trembled as he looked down at the book, briefly cracking it open to see if the words she spoke were true. They were indeed. Issachar could now read at the sacrifice of another’s life...he tried to control his shaking as this all sank into him.

“Don’t feel remorse towards your oppressors. They don’t deserve it now...you can take your destiny into your own hands.”, the black samurai said.

Issachar stil trembling nodded as he started to read the book starting from the beginning. The more he read the more sense her words and the bakers made to him! He could shape his own destiny! He could destroy their tyrannical system and create a truly free world! Bile started to rise up from within him.

“Issachar!”, Flynn called out his voice full of worry.

His friend’s voice broke him out of his thoughts. He looked over to Flynn who looked beyond worried for him especially as he saw the room was full of demons. He was about to call out his name when everything suddenly went black…Snap!

Flynn was speechless when Issachar’s neck shifted unnaturally and he heard a loud snap. With it Issachar’s body went limp...Flynn’s breathing got heavier as his vision was clouded in red. Something within Flynn snapped as well.

“Those worms are far beneath you, destroy every single one of them...kalki then we can lead them to their salvation.”, the voice said in Flynn’s mind.

The black samurai froze when she felt an aura of supreme blood lust coming off of Flynn along with magical power far exceeding master samurai. The other demons quickly turned their attention to Flynn noticing it as well. They gasped as Flynn seem to disappear only for blood to splatter on the wall and a cluster of limp demon bodies. The rest backed away from the man nervously. Flynn held a broken broom in his hand he had gotten from the wall using it as a makeshift blade. It dripped with the blood of their fellow demons.

“C-come on! He’s just one human and we’re all demons! He doesn’t stand a chance!”, a bulky demon with red skin and sharp teeth said.

However, he completely lost the will to fight when Flynn turned to him. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes. All his demon instincts yelled at him to run.

“Fall.”, Flynn said, in a much deeper and menacing tone.

He seemed to disappear again as fire suddenly completely engulfed the red demon. Others shrieked away in fear and some charged at Flynn. However they never stood a chance. He easily evaded their attacks and struck them with various elemental magics they were weak to. The black samurai was completely stunned not expecting any of this. All she knew is that she had to stop Flynn before he killed her too. By the time she broke out of her surprise most of the demons had been completely decimated leaving only a few fearfully hiding. She couldn’t help but flinch when Flynn turned to her as primal fear creeped up inside her. She shot a Maziodyne at Flynn only for her to let out a pained gasp as his hand clamped around her throat. His eyes were filled with unbridled hatred and anger. Something she’d be glad to see especially in such a powerful individual if it wasn’t leading to her own demise. She wondered if this was Gabriel’s doing. No...it had to be someone much more powerful. Before she could finish her though she paled as she felt the highest tier almighty spell charging up, Antichthon. She had no idea how he knew such a powerful spell, something no one in Mikado should know. Either this was the doing of an angel more powerful than Gabriel or that man won the lottery and shifted into a demon far stronger than even the archangels. A devilish smirk formed on Flynn’s face as he saw the fear in her eyes. She hastily tried to claw out the man’s throat before she was completely vaporized. However she couldn’t…

Issachar gasped as he looked around, suddenly regaining consciousness. He was sure he had died after all his neck snapped somehow. He looked extremely fearful as the first sight that greeted him was his best friend covered in blood and grinning like a madman. He paled when Flynn started laughing, noticing he didn’t sound like himself at all. His voice was distorted much deeper than normal. He noticed Flynn’s normal green in his eyes was now replaced with an unnatural glowing golden.

“He’s been possessed.”, was the first thought to cross Issachar’s mind.

Everything started to make sense now...Flynn’s strange behavior before...that odd feeling he had...oh no, something has taken over his best friend! He remembered how hurt Flynn looked before he left saddened and confused. Had Flynn not been in control of himself then either? It made sense considering how out of character he was. He trembled as an immense power radiated off Flynn and he was engulfed in a white light which shook the entire building. Issachar covered his eyes before desperately calling out his Flynn’s name.

When the light cleared what stood was a taller being with armor-like ebony skin. Bits of gold lined it’s body and it was adored with a fancy ebony robe on his lower half lined with gold more lavish than that of any Luxurors he knew. It had a long black cape which fluttered despite the lack of wind. It wore some sort of strange head piece unlike anything Issachar had ever seen keeping the same theme as the rest of its body. In its hand was some odd pink flower which he had never seen before either. He had an impressive physique that put any samurai he had seen to shame. The whites of its eyes were red and its eyes were gold along with the bottom part of its eyes. He recognized the hair as Flynn’s though it was now draping down his shoulders.

“Flynn?”, Issachar questioned, barely able to form words.

He could feel the presence before him was much greater than anything he’s ever felt in his life. It felt godly. It was very terrifying, but also made you want to bow before it and worship it. It felt extremely dominating...this thing wasn’t Flynn it was something else which had taken him over. He tried to calm his shaking when his attention fell unto himself. The sinister smirk on his face lessened a bit, becoming something more human.

“Issachar...We will save you all.”, he said in a deep godly voice sounding like he was in a trace.

“Hoy Flynn! Snap out of it! This isn’t you!”, Issachar called out.

The smirk didn’t leave the strange being face as he looked down at him.

“Flynn is mine.”, the being said with Flynn’s distorted voice.

Those three simple words made Issachar shake. They confirmed his fear that something truly had taken over Flynn. Despite his fear Issachar found the strength to stand before the almighty being. Even when he was upset at him and the horrible things he said to him Flynn still ran to help him without hesitation.

“L-let him go, you demon! Flynn you're the kindest person I know and your loving parents...No everyone is waiting for you to come back to Kiccigiorgi! You can’t let this monster swallow you up!”, Issachar called out to his best friend desperately.

The being fidgeted slightly as if Flynn heard him, but quickly returned to its former demeanor.

“I am no lowly demon. I am a god, one who shall save all of humanity from its vile creator. I will bring salvation even to a lowly undead being like yourself.”, the being said, making him angry.

Issachar was struck by his words and a horrible realization fell upon him. He had died and turned into a zombie.

“Salvation my ass! All you have done is made my friend kill all these people! We don’t need or asked for your salvation and Flynn doesn’t want it either!”, Issachar yelled.

He heard a low growl from the being which sounded like roaring thunder. He shook, but stood his ground as anger radiated off the being.

“I am what’s best for him. He must give in to me completely and he will be saved.”, the being replied.

That statement implied for Issachar that Flynn was still in there. He hasn’t completely given in to this thing yet. Anger bubbled up inside Issachar at the being’s arrogant words.

“It just sounds like you want to control him! You're no different from the Luxurors who have been trying to control us our whole lives thinking ‘you’ know what’s best for us! Something like you has no idea what’s best for us! Now, let go of my friend demon!”, Issachar yelled, throwing a punch at the being.

When the blow impacted the being it didn’t even flinch. Though there was a loud crack of Issachar’s bones snapping as his arm bent in an unnatural angle. Issachar saw something flicker in the being’s eyes, concern. The being fidgeted again growling lowly.

“Flynn, stubborn man!”, the being growled in annoyance as it twitched, losing control as its hand reached out for Issachar.

Strong arms wrapped around Issachar protectively. Flynn’s concerned gaze lowered down to his broken arm. Flynn lifted up the strange flower and a pink light emitted from it completely healing his wounds. Issachar rubbed his now healed arm which was good as new.

“Don’t waste your effort! He will only be saved after we create our new world, kalki!”, the being said from Flynn’s lips.

“Shut up! I will never create your world and I will never be your godslayer! Now, get out Krishna!”, Flynn growled.

They stumbled back from Issachar making him reach out to them. Flynn grabbed his head as he struggled to regain control over his body.

“Hoy Flynn, don’t lose to him! You have to beat him!”, Issachar yelled.

Light engulfed Flynn’s body again as he returned to normal and fainted. Issachar caught Flynn before he could hit the ground and held him close to him. He hurriedly ran out of the building and scurried away to the road outside of the capital leading to Kiccigiorgi. He slashed at all the samurai who jumped in to stop him with his claws and escaping. Flynn was still unconscious over his shoulder. Issachar didn’t stop running even as he felt like his legs were decomposing from all the running. The sun felt like it was trying to purify his unholy body. It burned like crazy and he panted heavily. He could see it himself but the whites of his eyes were blood red. He could no longer feel the presence from before inside Flynn; he seemed to have completely returned to his natural human self. He even smelled human. Perhaps because it was possession Flynn was able to turn back? Why he wasn’t stuck like him, who had briefly embraced the demonic and transformed? He just hoped that thing was gone from Flynn, Krishina as he called it. Morning dawned by the time they made it back to Kiccigiorgi. He had put some water from lake Mikado on their clothes to wash the blood off them.

Flynn stirred as he started to regain consciousness. He looked around to see he was now back in Kiccigiorgi draped onto Issachar’s shoulder. He blinked repeatedly and his mind felt slurry. His green eyes seemed cloudy though as he blinked the cloudiness left.

“Hoy Flynn, are you alright?”, Issachar asked.

“W-what happened? When did we get back? I remember we had a fight and I was acting strange then everything gets blurry from there…”, Flynn said in his normally timid tone, he put his hand on his temple.

“You can’t remember Flynn? You don’t remember the sabbath?”, Issachar asked.

“Sabbath? We went to the sabbath?”, Flynn questioned with confusion and concern.

Issachar was stunned that Flynn really didn’t remember anything that happened. It must have been a side effect of his possession by Krishina. His eyes had returned to normal as a fellow villager walked over to them.

“Looks like you two didn’t get to become samurai. Hoy Flynn are you alright over there?”, the woman asked, noticing him leaning on Issachar.

“I-I’m fine. My head just feels so loopy I can just sleep it off later.”, Flynn replied.

“You don’t seriously intend to work in your condition do you?”, Issachar questioned.

#smt4 #smt4 apocalypse #shin megami tensei #flynn smt #issachar #the black samurai #lillith #my crappy writing #what if

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draconivn · 4 years

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MP | Fanfics By Minju

Date Updated: November 16, 2020

Fandoms:

Samurai Love Ballad: PARTY (SLBP) - Date Masamune

Ikemén Sengoku (IkeSen) - Masamune Date

Ayakashi: Romance Reborn (ARR) - Koga Kitamikado

Court of Darkness (CoD) - Guy Avari

Will also occasionally write for:

SLBP Katakura Kojuro

IkeSen Toyotomi Hideyoshi

IkeSen Ishida Mitsunari

Read more under the cut [!]

THE STORIES

Samurai Love Ballad: PARTY (SLBP)

[ ONE-SHOT ]

002. Wife Duties: Masamune x Reader – He’s stressed, and sometimes he has a hard time in expressing himself. Now that you’re his wife, it makes you wonder what you could do to help, since the things that stress him out can’t be put on your shoulders. // FLUFF

003. A Happy Family: Masamune x Reader – It was one milestone of happiness after another. First your wedding, then the announcement that you were pregnant with the Date heir. Everyone’s trying to figure out if it’s a boy or a girl, but your dilemma is trying to keep yourself busy until the big moment. // FAMILY

SLBP. 01. Blue Confidence: Masamune x Reader – His eye may not be as damaged as his confidence after Lady Yoshihime is done with you and him. Part of the One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu birthday series. // ANGST, COMFORT, IMPLICATIONS OF VIOLENCE

SLBP. 02. Merciless Sin: Masamune x Reader – Just because Lord Masamune is merciful on the battlefield, doesn’t always mean he’s merciful after coming home from a campaign. Part of the One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu birthday series. // NSFW, SMUT

SLBP. 03. A Letter of Love: Masamune x Reader – Lord Masamune is a man of few words, only best in expressing himself in writing. Knowing that you’re currently busy with preparations that Lord Kojuro has decided to spearhead for tonight’s birthday festivities, taking a moment to speak to Lord Masamune won’t be easy. Instead, he finds a letter by his cup of tea you left for him when you stopped to check on him. Part of the One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu birthday series. // FLUFF, LETTER

[ SHORT STORY ]

001. Daughter of the Takeda: Saizo x OC – You wanted to do more than just be in the kitchen like any woman would’ve known how to do. You want to explore. You want to become so much more. But when you live in a world of war, what you decide to do in your past ends up following you to your future, even though the battlefield is no place for a woman. Will you find love or will you only find blood? // ADVENTURE, ACTION, ANGST, ROMANCE – 7/?

Ikémen Sengoku:

[ ONE-SHOT ]

004. Aphrodisiac: Hideyoshi x Reader – Hideyoshi’s loyalty to Nobunaga and his love for you is on the line when Nobunaga gifts you chocolate. Chocolate is known to be sugary, but it also has aphrodisiac properties. But of course, Hideyoshi is back to his mother-ing habits, trying to make sure neither of you consume too much of a good thing. // SMUT

008. In His Arms: Masamune x Reader – I wondered what Masamune would be like in comforting me while my mind was not in the best headspace. Feel free to insert your name if this applies to you. // ANGST, FLUFF, LOW SELF-ESTEEM

009. His Little Writer: Masamune x Reader – Forget being a seamstress, you’re a writer! You’re in the middle of your work and there’s that particular scene that frustrates you to no end. Masamune comes to check in on you and review your work, then he has an idea to try and inspire you. // SMUT, NSFW

011. Surrender To Love: Masamune x Reader – Reader request! You’ve had a long day, and Masamune decides to take care of you, but one thing leads to another. // SMUT, NSFW, FLUFF

012. What Love Gave Us: Hideyoshi x OC – Request for thatsmolart! It’s a date! Hatsuko tries to figure out what to give to Hideyoshi who always tries to give her everything.

IS. 01. Scarred Love: Masamune x Reader – His scars are also a part of him. Will you love a man who pursues your heart to give you love, even if he is covered in scars? Part of the One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu birthday series. // ANGST, COMFORT, SLIGHT NSFW

IS. 02. Purr for Me: Masamune x Reader – Because why stop at one orgasm when you can have more? Part of the One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu birthday series. // NSFW

IS. 03. Honest Words: Masamune x Reader – When Masamune writes letters, he always says what he means, and they’re very heartfelt, even if it’s a letter just to catch up with someone. So you decide to write him a letter of your honest feelings for his birthday. Part of the One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu birthday series. // FLUFF, LETTER

IS. 04. Never Enough: Masamune x Reader – Normally you both manage to sleep through the night after some time between the sheets with Masamune. But somehow you both wake up in the middle of the night after an odd twist of limbs to encourage a little something more. Part of the One-Eyed Dragon of Oshu birthday series. // NSFW, HIS POV

[ SHORT STORY ]

005 - 006 - 007. The Lonely Kitten Trilogy: Masamune x Reader – Masamune discovers his kitten’s been very lonely when he’s away for work. SMUT, NSFW. – COMPLETED 3/3

010. Imperfectly Perfect: Masamune x OC – Masamune always held to his beliefs to be the ideal leader. His goal in allying with Nobunaga was to learn how to govern his people better, all the sacrifices he would have to obtain just to make sure he could create a world where people wouldn’t go hungry. Then one day, he meets a woman, and she unknowingly turns his world upside down. // ROMANCE, ACTION, ADVENTURE, HISTORICAL – ONGOING 6/?

Ayakashi: Romance Reborn

[ ONE-SHOT ]

014. A Mid-Day Snack: Koga x Reader – Koga’s usually buried in paperwork. Today, he’s training. So... shirtless Koga and... kabedon? // FLUFF

[ SHORT STORY ]

TBA

Court of Darkness:

[ ONE-SHOT ]

016. Take My Hand: Guy x Reader – You go to lunch with Guy one day, and wondered what it would be like to hold his hand. // FLUFF, GUY’S PG TEASING

[ SHORT STORY ]

015. For My Paramour: Guy x Reader – Guy’s birthday is coming and you’re wondering what to give someone who has everything that he could obtain. So you decide to make him something, and well... your mind starts wondering about your abilities and being able to be by his side. // FLUFF, COMFORT – COMPLETED 4/4

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3smuth · 5 years

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To the Champions of Kamigawa

Not too long ago, Blogatog slipped back into a familiar discussion about Kamigawa and its popularity – more specifically, the lack thereof. In the process, a lot of old arguments arose about the set’s power level, about its proximity to Mirrodin, and the state of Standard at the time it was released. And as true as all of those things are, MaRo has made clear that when he refers to the popularity of Kamigawa as a setting, there are several axes on which they grade a set, and that Kamigawa was unpopular in all of them. And yet, people continue to claim that the creative, the setting, the world of Kamigawa just wasn’t given a fair shake. The fact is, that’s just not true.

Now to be completely clear, I personally liked Kamigawa block. At the time I was no good at evaluating the power level of cards so that hardly mattered to me, and many of the elements of the block seemed cool, different, and just ~weird~ enough to catch my attention. But the thing that’s important to understand is that “weird” is – almost by definition – not popular. There is a certain amount of weirdness, of newness, of difference that players expect and even demand from every set, but every degree of just weirdness you put into your work beyond that actually just makes the finished product more inaccessible to a general audience. When you play up weird for weird’s sake, you just make it hard for people to connect with it.

Kamigawa turned ~weird~ up to 11. I think a lot of the champions of Kamigawa underestimate just how off-putting the setting really was for an average consumer. So I thought it might be useful to go through piece-by-piece and try to evaluate how much weirdness there really was in the set, and how much of that weirdness was going needlessly beyond what the average player demanded.

Kami - We might as well start with the elephant in the room – or perhaps the unrecognisably surreal mass of tusks and trunks that would be the Kami of the Elephant in the Room. The Kami introduced more weirdness into the set than every other element combined, and this was actually by design: they were fully intended to seem otherworldly, that was how they were selling the premise of the plane. The problem here is not with that intent, but with the execution: the Kami were not only very, very weird, they took up so much of the set that they would have pushed the set over its weirdness quota entirely on their own. Nearly half of all the creature cards on Kamigawa were Spirits, and the art for nearly every one of them looks like it was contrived by Salvador Dali – while this is a cool effect individually, forcing players to try and wrap their brains around this several times in every pack they open is just way too taxing. Again, even with none of the other things on this list, the Kami (as they were executed the first time around) likely would’ve turned off enough players to make Kamigawa a middling set. But, of course, they didn’t stop there.

Characteristic Races - While the Kami were designed to feel alien and otherworldly, the other side of the conflict was intended to feel material, corporeal - to feel familiar. Additionally, it had the responsibility of communicating the theme of the set, delivering on tropes that would allow players to recognise the setting as inspired by Japan. This overloading of responsibilities - serving as both the familiar contrast to the surreal Kami, but also as the unfamiliar contrast to a normal Magic setting - would've been a difficult task for any setting, but let's consider how well it was delivered upon here.

Kitsune - I’d consider the Kitsune a 'success', insofar as foxes are something the average person might actually be able to see a connection to Japan in. The problem with the execution here is that while the typeline clearly claimed these creatures were foxes, the creatures themselves were designed around a stylised representation of foxes used in traditional masks – a very specific element of the culture that the average person wouldn’t be able to connect. Red elements on actual anthropomorphized foxes would’ve been cool; having some of the Kitsune wear actual masks would’ve been cool; but taking away nearly all the identifiable features of foxes for the sake of a reference most players were never going to get? Needlessly - and unsuccessfully - weird.

Soratami - Whereas the Kitsune were something some portion of the audience would find resonant with Japan that was simply executed in a way that made them inaccessible, the Soratami were inaccessible from the ground up. The association of rabbits with the moon is much less well-known, and the Soratami are even more ambiguously rabbits than the Kitsune are foxes – the typeline isn’t even used to inform it. That said, the idea of Moonfolk is actually cool enough that I think this would have been a successful application of weirdness in isolation, but in practice it just became one more inaccessible reference that most players couldn’t follow.

Nezumi - An outlier on the plane, the Nezumi actually succeed – amazingly enough – in looking like what they are. The biggest issue here is that there’s no particular resonance between rats and Japan for most of the audience, but offbeat anthro races are something they still do from time to time, and I can’t lodge a specific complaint about it here. Probably not coincidentally, the Nezumi were my favourite characteristic race on Kamigawa.

Akki - Many planes have Goblins, and apparently Kamigawa is no exception. The goblins of Kamigawa look relatively little like traditional Goblins, instead drawing on folk stories of the kappa and adopting shells. This is doubly weird: most players aren’t going to know anything about the kappa, and those that do are going to know them as amphibious, river-dwelling monsters, not analogs to Magic’s Goblins. Now personally, I quite like when they change up the look of familiar characteristic races to show the differences between planes – Tarkir and Ixalan did so pretty successfully – so I’m not highly inclined to complain about the Akki, but I can’t help but feel it’s a little forced when the change doesn’t even make sense to those familiar with the source.

Ogres - These aren’t technically a characteristic race, but they show up in enough numbers that they’re worth mentioning. Interestingly, the oni tropes that Kamigawa’s ogres play into actually line up reasonably well with traditional ogres, so they don’t actually seem particularly weird. I actually think the Ogre/Demon execution on oni was pretty successful, with most of those cards being understandable even to those who aren’t familiar with the source material, yet still unfamiliar enough to communicate that we aren't in Kansas anymore. Again, one of my favourite aspects of the original block.

Orochi - The Orochi, however, somehow manage to do everything wrong at once. They fail to look like the snakes they claim to be, trading in snakes’ single most identifiable feature (all tail with no limbs) for the literal opposite of that (six (!!) limbs with no tail), but even if they did look like snakes, nobody particularly associates Japan with snakes anyway. I honestly can’t even figure out what they were trying to do with these, but whatever it was I can't say that they succeeded at it.

Humans: Given the strangeness of the other races, the bulk of the responsibility for familiarity fell upon the humans of Kamigawa - and in a sense, they achieved that: the Samurai felt like Samurai, and the Ninjas felt like Ninjas. But bear in mind that these things would themselves be the ~weird~ elements of any other set. These things on their own would have met much of the demand for new and different that most players had, but instead of serving that role they were forced to provide comfort and familiarity – a role they weren’t particularly well-suited for, and actively prevented them from capitalising on how cool and different they were. When the most familiar part of the set isn’t actually fundamentally familiar, it makes the entire set feel inaccessible, which is exactly the effect that Kamigawa had on so many players.

Other denizens: In the entire block, there are exactly three creature cards that are not one of the types listed above: one hound, one insect, and one beast. What this meant, more than anything, is that there was no real refuge for players who weren’t into what the block was doing. If a player who loves Green creatures found the Kami too surreal, and the Orochi too confusing, and just didn’t particularly resonate with the monks of Jukai, there was next to nothing for them in the entire block. One card in the last set, and even that is more than Red, Blue, or Black got. Modern Magic sets make sure to have individual cards that are individually appealing, so that when players don’t buy into the set as a whole, there is at least something there to catch them. And this was probably Kamigawa’s biggest failing overall: not only did it force players to ante up to a lot of weirdness, but when they weren’t willing to buy in it sent a clear message that they weren't welcome. If you really want to understand why so many players felt like Kamigawa wasn’t for them, it’s because the set told them it wasn’t. They just listened.

Now, there are lots of things they could have done better. A lower density of Spirits, and toning down some of the more surreal aspects, especially in the common ones: a tangled mass of human limbs with multiple faces and floating, disembodied eyes can certainly be a thing that exists in the world, but does it need to exist in every pack? More resonant and relatable characteristic races would help: make foxfolk enjoyable for people who just think foxes are cute, or introduce a characteristic Green race that doesn’t make you wonder how someone forgot the name for a snake with legs is “lizard”. They could have thrown in more random Japanese tropes, rather than tying every element of the set so tightly together that nothing else fit: it looks like they came accidentally close to including a Boar-Deer-Butterfly trio in Saviors, but loosening up the themes could have allowed for much more of that. There are lots of things they could have done, but didn’t – and the world they would’ve ended up with if they had would be different enough from the Kamigawa we got as to be largely unrecognisable.

And that becomes the fundamental question going forward: is there a way to completely rework the 90% of the setting that didn’t go over well without it feeling like something fundamentally different? And if 90% of the setting needs reworked anyway, should we really bother constricting ourselves to the 10% that was decent? I won't pretend Kamigawa didn't have successes (the Spirit Dragons, for example, are still quite popular to this day) but whether revisiting those successes warrants the limitations that a return would demand is a question that has to be approached very critically. And it's a question that many of Kamigawa's champions may not like the answer to.

[NOTE: I actually wrote up this post about a week ago, and I resolved that I'd simply post it whenever the topic cropped up again. Mark answered a question about Snakes that led to a small discussion about the Orochi in the comments, and I figured that was cause enough for me. Enjoy!]

#magic #mtg #kamigawa #blogatog

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robininthelabyrinth · 5 years

Text

@kitsunesongs

Natural.

Fic summary: There's nothing more annoying that being "invited" to stay an extra few weeks at the daimyo's palace, purportedly as a guest but actually as a hostage, except maybe being kept hostage and roommates with your traditional enemy.

"Wow," Izuna says. "They really -? Wow."

"I think the goal is for us to kill each other," Tobirama says. "Which, you know, I'm suddenly disinclined to do for the first time in my life."

"Fuck the bastards," Izuna agrees wholeheartedly. "What's your plan on surviving this?‎ Staying in our corners and not talking?" That would only work for so long.

"...I have alcohol."

"You really are the genius people sometimes say you are," Izuna says, and he's joking, of course, but it turns out Tobirama brought an entire scroll with enough sake for them to get and remain drunk for the next two weeks so maybe he really is.

"My brother has a very good metabolism," Tobirama explains when Izuna looks at him questioningly. "Very good. And it's rude to drink your host dry just because my brother wants to get blazing drunk and needs a few barrels to do so. I've taken to carting around this scroll everywhere I go."

"Have you considered that he might be an alcoholic?" Izuna asks. "Mine certainly shows signs of it."

"We must never let them drink together," Tobirama says at once. "Last time they came up with peace: who knows what it'll be this time? World domination?"

Izuna sniggers. "I love that you think those are the only two options here. ‎You're not wrong, it's just funny. Are these demarcated differently?"

"Different types of liquor. No, don't take the one with the yellow top; that's Hashirama's preferred blend. Regular humans can't consume it and live."

Izuna wonders if that's a challenge.

"It's wood vodka," Tobirama clarifies.

Izuna very quickly puts the bottle down. "Doesn't that make you turn blue? And die?"

"Like I said - a very good metabolism. Here, take this one - a very nice plum."

"Don't mind if I do."

There's absolutely no way this is going to go badly.

Demons.

Fic summary: Tobirama abandoned the Edo Tensei when he realized it didn't work right. But that doesn't mean he abandoned his goals. He wants his brothers back, no matter what, and if he can't get them back as they were, he'll get them back another way.

Reincarnation.

He sets up the entire Academy system as an excuse to take them as his students - it's not quite the same as being a brother, but it's close, and he'll take what he can get.

He wonders sometimes if he should tell Madara that his brother lives again - but ‎if the Uchiha can't see Izuna's merits just because he wasn't born the son of the clan leader this time, they don't deserve Kagami.

Believer.

Fic summary: Tobirama believes in his brother: wildly, passionately, blindly. He does not always understand what it is his brother so desperately seeks to do, but he trusts him, he loves him, he will do anything for him.

"Kill yourself, or your brother!" Madara cries, maddened.

"Anija, will you kill me?" Tobirama asks. He is not afraid. His hand is at his sword: he is eager to give this, too, if it means his brother's dreams will be fulfilled. Far better, he thinks, that he die than watch his brother kill himself. ‎"Or would you like‎ me to do it? I don't mind."

Madara is staring at Tobirama, incredulous; before, he hadn't had eyes for anyone but Hashirama.

"Do you have a preference?" Tobirama asks him directly. "I'd rather slit my throat, if you don't mind me choosing, but the stomach is acceptable as well if you prefer a samurai's death.‎ Or do you prefer the chest, to make it equal to Izuna?"

"You're insane," Madara says.

"I think the saying goes: it takes one to know one," Tobirama says dryly. "I don't believe in your peace, Madara, not any more than Izuna did, but my brother believes. If the only price you’ll accept to wipe out the hatred of Izuna's blood is my own, it’s only just to let me pay it as the one that shed it. What’s it going to be?"

#senju tobirama #senju hashirama #uchiha madara #uchiha izuna #uchiha kagami #fake fic summaries

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ikesenhell · 6 years

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Messenger

ALL SHADES OF BLUE, Chapter 6. You can find all other IkeSen works of mine here or become a Patron of mine! NOTES: Nothing today my dudes.

The leaves crunched thick underfoot, silver moonlight streaking through the trees in thick bands.

It turned her pale hair white and the shimmering bits of her jewelry into starlight. Not for the first time, Kennyo wondered if it was a sin to admire her like this. It wasn’t forbidden for him to fall in love or wed or even have relations, such as it was, but this? Oh, something about it felt like a crime.

He couldn’t believe he was Amida Buddha. Amida Buddha would look a little something like her.

“What are you doing out here?” She asked at last. He stopped only when they reached the bank of a small stream, the rippling water almost white in the darkness. “You’re not going to get involved in the battle, are you?”

Kennyo tamed his expression immediately. She was too perceptive. Apparently he wasn’t quick enough.

“Don’t,” she warned. “Please.”

“I didn't call you out here for an argument.”

“Jesus help me. You’re gonna get one anyway.”

He tried to turn away, but it was in vain. She wedged herself back into his line of sight, her eyes boring straight into his. How could he escape that gaze? “All those people out there are already putting their lives on the line for insanity. You’d make it worse.”

His patience flagged. “Nobunaga thought nothing of the innocents in Hongan-ji before razing it to the ground.”

“You’re not Nobunaga!”

“No?” Bitter, exhausting, all-consuming anger and fear and confusion boiled over. “Am I not? Will you tell me that the only course to moving beyond the lives of hundreds of my closest friends and brethren is to forget about it? Would you counsel me to lie on my hands and let Nobunaga tear the whole island apart? Would you tell me to pass on my countless opportunities to have him taken down and call it wisdom, call it mercy, when his living may cost thousands more than I would take to stop him?”

“You don’t know that.” Her voice was so soft that it angered him.

“No. And neither do you.” He thrust his staff hard into the ground as if to drive it deep into his soul. “I didn't ask you out here for a lecture. I do what I do, and if you think me monstrous by the end of it, then so be it.”

“I would.”

Somehow he hadn’t resolved himself to that answer. For one fragmented moment he wondered if he’d even heard her right. Then… regret. Cold, steely, awful regret flooded his stomach. Why was it this way?

“Fine,” he snapped. “So be it. Your encampment awaits. Follow the stream back. It’ll take you safely there. This is where we part.”

“...Okay.”

He almost didn't bother asking the question he’d intended all along, anger still frothing in his chest. Even so he halted for a moment, dipping his head low to the ground and growling, “You weren’t forced here, were you?”

“Forced?” She repeated distantly. “I didn't want to be here for the war, but if it goes on long enough, then this is closer to where the wormhole back to my time is going to open. I have to be here.”

His heart clenched tight.

“Very well then.”

---

Masamune passed by her tent to check on her and overheard sobs.

For a long moment he parsed his options. She didn't want to get too attached and he frankly couldn’t blame her--being from the future was a difficult situation to be certain. But on the other hand--

She choked back another bitter cry and his heart nearly snapped in two.

“Kitten, I’m coming in.”

He brushed back the tent flap just in time to see her scramble, pushing her tears aside and smoothing back her hair. Of course she didn't want him to see her like this. Tender, swollen fondness thrummed in his chest. “What’s going on?”

“Going on?” She repeated, her voice strained. “Nothing.”

“Cute, Kitten. Something I should know about?”

“No, I--” Her throat caught and betrayed her. “I’m just dumb is all.”

He narrowed his eye at her. There were a thousand things to do, no doubt about it--he had the last of the provisions to manage and some charts to review and the topography of the land to assess and his scout reports to receive, but all he could see was their composed kitten brought so low. Resolved, Masamune scooped back his swords and took a seat on the earth beside her.

“C’mere.” Reaching out, he brushed his thumb over the tearpaths on her cheeks. “You’re not dumb. Who said that?”

“I--”

The jig was up. She collapsed into heaving sobs again, confessing the whole sordid conversation between gasps. Of course. Of course Kennyo was here. Of course it was him. Of course the dynamic was all the cause of her distress. And--worse still--he couldn’t decide whose side he was on. She was right. Kennyo was right. Nobunaga was right. And even worse, everyone was wrong.

Maybe it wasn’t even his place to really know what he might have said in her place.

“Hush, Kitten,” he murmured, and kissed her forehead. “You’re not dumb. You didn't say anything wrong. Hell, it’s all a matter of perspective at this point.”

She sniffed hard and his heart melted. “You promise?”

“Yeah. I mean, it’s all pretty shit, and I can’t be on his side, exactly, given that he’s trying to kill Nobunaga--which is really awkward, by the way, since he is the Holy Kennyo--” She laughed and he continued on, encouraged. “But no. Even giving him a fair shake, you weren’t dumb. You’re both working off conjecture.”

“I know,” she answered miserably. “I just can’t believe he’d want to actually do this.”

“What makes you say that?”

He’d expected something insubstantial--an ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I just can’t’. But she set her jaw and stared him square in the face, her expression so certain he never doubted her for a second.

“When I look him in the eyes, I see a good man,” she answered. “I don’t see a killer.”

“I dunno, Kitten,” he answered skeptically. “You see the same thing when you look at me? Cause I don’t like to think I’m a killer, but the facts are different.”

“No, it’s not the same with you.”

Curious, Masamune shot her a smile. “Can’t leave me hanging like that, then.”

She flushed. He almost thought it was the light, but then she averted her eyes and he knew he had her. “No, it’s not the same. When I look you in the eyes--”

“Gotta look me in the eye to tell me what you see, Kitten.”

He’d meant it playfully, but she did it anyway. And oh--if he could have bottled up her expression and kept it forever, he would have.

“You’re not a killer either,” she told him firmly. “You’re determined and you do what you have to. You’re solid and strong, even if you’re not always certain.”

Had he ever felt so naked under a stare? Masamune chuckled to ease himself. “Good thing I only have one eye for you to read me in, otherwise I’d be really in trouble.”

“Only then?” She teased, and his heart told him the joke hit closer than he liked.

“I dunno, Kitten. I might already be.”

---

Kennyo’s adherents weren’t as subtle as perhaps they thought they were. Masamune knew exactly who to target; he beelined straight for a section of the camp and found his desired man gathered around a campfire with a few other minor daimyo.

“You there.” He stepped up and grinned. “Would you mind doing me a favor?”

The samurai blinked up at him. “Of course not. What do you need?”

Masamune held out a small letter to him. “Kennyo. I need you to take this to him.”

---

Of all the ridiculous things.

Kennyo met him the next morning at the appointed spot. Dappled sunlight peeked through the leaves, its patchwork pattern swaying in the breeze. In the shadows a few appointed men lurked with bows at the ready, awaiting his signal. A summons on good intentions or no, he had a responsibility to his fallen men, and Date Masamune was playing straight into his hands. She would not save him this time.

True to his word, Date Masamune emerged in the clearing alone. He wore his armor and a sword, but nothing else. Kennyo half wondered if this were some kind of trap in reverse.

“I’m here,” he snapped. “What did you need so desperately?”

“Sorry.” Masamune laughed. “Didn't realize who you were last time. Now I’m kind of wondering if I need to bow or something.”

Kennyo struggled to grasp that sentence before settling on a simple, “No. No. That is not necessary.”

“Ah, ok. Good. I just wasn’t sure of the protocol, given…” He motioned between the two of them.

“Is this what you wanted to talk about? Manners?”

“Hell no.” But Masamune laughed anyway. “No, I came out to make something pretty clear. This isn’t about Nobunaga or anything about that, by the way. We’ll settle that the way we have to.”

“Of course.”

But then Masamune drew a spare sword and offered it, hilt-side forward. “If you’re gonna make her cry again, I’ve at least got to ask you to a duel.”

“What?” Kennyo staggered through his shock.

“See, I’ve got a lot to do.” He kept holding out that sword, serious as the grave. “And I’m awful fond of the kitten. So when I’ve got to take time out from my men because someone has made her cry, then we’ve got a problem.”

“I--” A thousand thoughts swirled through his mind. He’d washed his hands of her. Hadn’t he? What was it to him if she cried? He’d only told her the truth. They were on opposite sides. He couldn’t abandon revenge or let her rise in the way of his feelings. He almost wanted to scream at the cacophony in his mind. “What import is it to you what discussion she and I have? I said nothing to her that should be too truly upsetting.”

Masamune shrugged. “Doesn’t matter what you said. Point being and all reason aside, the lass is fond of you.”

Kennyo’s throat dried out. “Fond of me.”

“Yeah, fond of you. That so hard to really think about? Plenty of people have worshipped you. Is it so unbelievable to think that one woman might be really fond of you?”

Put that way it made sense, but connecting those dots together was a Herculean task that Kennyo couldn’t quite handle. “What is your point?”

“Point is this: either you can apologize to her or we can just have a fight and call it good. Either way, I’m not just gonna let you make her cry and traipse off into the woods like nothing happened. She beat herself up real bad about it, too.”

Hells. That made it so much worse. All the sharp, terrible, blunt, final things he could say to end this discussion simmered in his head. Even the option of taking Date Masamune’s head lingered so, so temptingly…

And he couldn’t do it. He just couldn’t do it, and Kennyo wasn’t certain if it was Amida Buddha’s boundless karma that stayed his hand, or some demon’s foul work in protecting Nobunaga.

“Do you have paper?” He snapped at last.

“On me? No.”

“Fine.” Kennyo inhaled deeply. “Please ask her to meet me in the same place that I might speak with her once more.”

Masamune cocked his brow. “So no duel?”

“No duel.”

Finally that sword lowered. “Figured you might take that choice.”

“And why is that? Do you not take this demon seriously?”

Masamune chuckled. “No. I just figure you get the same weird look on your face I do. I’ll send the message along.”

#Ikesen #Ikemen Sengoku #Ikesen Masamune #Ikesen Kennyo #Masamune Date #My writing #All Shades Of Blue #Messenger #angst

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transformers-art-showcase · 6 years

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P.A.T.C.H. #7: "Starscream: The Movie"

Most often in comics, continuity is a problem for newbies. If you don’t know what the characters are talking about and what in-jokes they make, is there really a point in recommending the book? Yes, I hear you; this here feature is supposed to help with sorting those messes out, after all. But what if something has such a killer concept you can’t help but blabber on about it? Even to people not into the comic series?

Case in point: a Cybertronian tries to make a movie about Starscream for humans. My mom was sold. Be as cool as my mom!

“Thundercracker in: Starscream: The Movie”

“Optimus Prime” Annual (2018)/“Transformers: Optimus Prime” Volume 5 (upcoming as of this writing) Written by John Barber, pencils by Priscilla Tramontano and Andrew Griffith, colors by John-Paul Bove and Josh Burcham, letters by Shawn Lee

SO WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Starscream, Lord of Cybertron, fed up with his notoriety amongst his subjects, decides on a solution: good old-fashioned propaganda! Having learned of his old wing-mate’s passion for writing, he tasks ex-Seeker Thundercracker with scripting, casting and directing a movie about his life. Who cares if said ex-comrade has only written human soap opera fan fiction and unpublished screenplays so stilted, they would make “Birdemic” green with envy? He’s really into it! Surely, nothing can go wrong!

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW? Given that this issue came out in the last year of the IDW Generation One continuity, there are various bits and pieces to consider before diving in, but probably the most important has to do with the evolution of Thundercracker, from Seeker repaint to real boy fleshed-out character. While his goofy and hopelessly optimistic personality is well-established in the series and this here issue completes his origin story, it can’t harm to go over it and pick some highlights.

The fate of Thundercracker –or TC to his friends- has long been intertwined with that of two more famous Decepticon fliers: OG bad boy Starscream and official stair-pusher Skywarp. The first years’ worth of stories weren’t different: the three met Megatron together for the first time in the mini-series “Megatron: Origins”, written by Eric Holmes, penciled by Alex Milne and colored by Josh Perez. His most interesting beat in that story was expressing doubt over burning the city of Kaon, only to be pacified by Skywarp –“Don’t think. Just do it.”, he said. After that, and for the longest time, from the “Autocracy Trilogy” to the “–ations”, the blue jet remained a constant if discreet presence in the Decepticon forces. He was always there, often under Starscream, never in a major role, sometimes uncomfortable with his place.

Still, there were a couple exceptions to this. In “Spotlight: Orion Pax”, written by James Roberts, he was a reluctant underling to mad scientist Bludgeon. He crossed paths with the creepy samurai again much later, in “Spotlight: Thundercracker”, written by John Barber with art by Chee Yang Ong, this time while searching for the original Titans. In that story, he had a change of heart when he found Metroplex, and lied so the ancient Transformer wouldn’t fall into Decepticon hands. In both cases, the further away he stayed from bad influences, the more functional his moral compass became.

The great break from all the above –ironically, inspired by his original toy bio– came with his rejection of the Decepticon cause. In “All Hail Megatron” (written by Shane McCarthy and with art by Guido Guidi), after witnessing the brutalities and monstrosities his side was capable of –namely, razing human cities and creating the Insecticons-, he prevented the detonation of a nuclear bomb and briefly worked with the Autobots. (His reward? Getting shot in the face by Skywarp. Some comradery.) In the next ongoing (look for the stand-alone issue #4, written by Mike Costa, penciled by Don Figueroa, with colors by James Brown and letters by Robbie Robbins), it was revealed that thankfully, he survived, kept barely online on Earth and scavenging for fuel. He also picked up a new best friend: human television! Laugh all you want, but it gave him a new appreciation for humans and their adaptability –couldn’t his own species be like this? While he turned into a reluctant ally to the Autobots, he stayed out of intense battles...

... until he got to work with his new best friends in Season 2 of “Robots in Disguise”: Earth people! Between the regeneration of the planet and Starscream’s rise to power, TC stayed back on the blue marble and got in touch with human anti-Transformer forces, who provided him with fuel and a home. (A gift puppy named Buster sealed the deal and immediately became fealty.) In return, they wanted his services against Autobot invaders, but his love of Earth got in the way of that. What also got in the way was his new calling: writing! Inspired by the years he spent watching TV, he then went on to create totally original and very high quality screenplays, hoping they would lead to a career in film. (They haven’t so far. There’s a reason the Wiki has quotes from “The Room” in his personal page.) Still, eventually things turned out well enough: he helped untangle the mess of allegiances between the Earth Defense Command and Cybertronians and formed an enduring friendship with female Earth human Marissa Faireborn. Not bad for someone whose biggest claim to fame was being the answer to a trivia question –“Who was the first Decepticon shown in active combat in IDW continuity?”

Finally, some minor bits of backstory to make a few character beats land easier. An institute protecting Transformers with “abnormal” powers was first introduced in “More Than Meets the Eye” #11, by James Roberts and Alex Milne. The re-discovery of the Cybertronian Colonies started with the people of Caminus –Windblade, Chromia and Nautica- in “Dark Cybertron”, and they were all immediately integrated into the books –we’ve talked about the first “Windblade” mini here. The dead colony of Prion, shown in “The Transformers” #57 (by Barber and Livio Ramondelli) wasn’t nearly so lucky. The creation of the Council of Worlds for the governance of the surviving ones was detailed in the “Windblade: Distant Stars” mini-series, written by Maighread Scott, with art by Corin Howell and colors by Thomas Deer. After that, colonists such as Aileron (“The Transformers” #44, by Barber, Griffith, Perez on colors and Tom B. Long on letters) joined the action on Cybertron, though not without problems. Oh, and that huge dinosaur was brought online in the “Salvation” one-shot and has been used as an embassy since “Optimus Prime” #13-14 (by Barber, Ramondelli and Long). As it happens.

WHERE DO I GO FROM THERE? Why’d you think I listed all those previous stories above? So that you can go and get ‘em!

Okay, to be less abrasive and more specific, there isn’t that much to get into after this story, but there’s plenty to jump back to. Almost all these minor characters have had memorable stories told about them, so I’m only going to single out some personal favorites and let you decide what you might be into. Fat Fast Tankor’s most memorable outings have been at the hands of Maighread Scott, and it was in the first “Windblade” mini that he and his bestie, Tall Tankor, started getting some attention. For another visit to Alpha Trion, Adorable Old Man (And More), see “Optimus Prime” #10, by Barber, Zama and Burcham. For the amazing life of Richard Ruby, film producer and ex-superhero (no, really), check out “Revolutionaries” #3 by Barber, pencils by Ron Joseph, Sebastian Cheng on colors and Long lettering. Finally, for a story that demonstrates Marissa’s own issues (and just how much of a sweetspark TC is), “New Cybertron” (“Optimus Prime” #1-6) by Barber, Zama, Milne and Burcham has you covered.

But clearly this isn’t why you’re here. You want more of The Artist’s work. For that, head over to the “Transformers Holiday Special” (which we’ve visited before here), for the ten-page story by Barber, Burcham and Long. It is a Christmas story that is children’s storybook by way of Frank Miller, and it might be the best thing in the whole line. In the same trade you’ll find the “Revolution” tie-in issue for the “Robots in Disguise” series, written by Barber, with pencils by Griffith and colors by Thomas Deer. While it’s connected to a much larger event, it’s valuable for seeing how TC evaluates his own work and how he works with Marissa. It is a Hollywood action movie pastiche with a failed screenplay layered on top, and it’s a sweet little tribute to the character. Both of these stories work with similar themes to this one, but expand them in different directions.

IS IT ANY GOOD? It was the culmination of a few years’ worth of stories with an endearing secondary character taking center stage. It offered a sideways look into a fascinating time in “Transformers” comics, through its less important players. It was a funny and poignant look into what can go wrong with any piece of art we create, consume, curate and love (or, more importantly, ignore). It had some exceptional so-bad-it’s-good writing and art. It had a cute puppy in it.

PUPPY! WHO’S A GOOD PUPPY, WHO’S THE BEST PUPPY?! BUSTER IS! YES, SHE IS! Stop baby-talking one of the main characters and concentrate! Here, this should keep you busy!

LIKE A MOVIE STAR WITHOUT MOVIES | THEME AND CHARACTER Strip away all the superficialities, and what is this story about? An artist attempts to create a work of art, and Poe’s Law comes into full effect. His source material is controversial –few people have kind things to say about Starscream. His sources lack credibility –the subject of the movie himself is a liar with a ton of guilt on his shoulders. His production value is low -seriously, I’m having “Pop Quiz Hotshot” flashbacks here. He himself lacks training and discipline, and he and his crew aren’t on the same page –oh, and one of them isn’t paid. He gets preoccupied with details -Megatron had a different frame in “Robots in Disguise”! There goes the suspension of disbelief! He has so little faith in himself that he blindly follows whatever advice he’s offered –is it a commercial or personal work, then? And in the end, no matter his passion and drive for the project, he fails for reasons beyond his control, not even his own mistakes. This kind of story can work only if we’re invested in the mad ambition of its main creator, and TC’s unlucky, stubborn and likeable enough to pull it off. The annual, then, becomes a love letter to art creation in general: a whole lot of people with conflicting ideas try to create something meaningful against all odds. Even if the end product isn’t great, you have to feel for all the effort, the time and energy spent (or wasted) on it, right?

There’s also an extra layer to all this, and it’s specifically about Cracker’s relation to his work. At this point in the series, TC has officially renounced the Decepticons and wants to leave a peaceful life on Earth. This project about one of his former associates makes him ask all sorts of questions: what drove Starscream to do the things he did? How does he handle the unstable political climate after the Autobot victory? Did the War ever mean anything to anyone? And what is there to do after the War? These aren’t easy questions, and the ex-Seeker’s own stance on these issues is complicated by his personal feelings and involvement. This might be a movie about Starscream, but deep down, this is a story about Thundercracker. (This becomes even more apparent when one remembers the two share the same mold.) While the theme of failed or doubtful artists is universal, the specificity of this million-year-long War informs it with extra nuances that enrich an already interesting character portrait.

“Oh man, I just can't figure Starscream out. Sometimes he’s just too smart. Sometimes he’s just flat-out stupid. Other times he’s just evil.”

ENHANCED BY BRAND NEW SPECIAL EFFECTS| ART This whole examination could have ended up dry and boring, but in the hands of penciler Priscilla Tramontano, it gets a life and energy it would otherwise lack. Her greatest strength is the expressiveness she lends to the characters, and so she’s the perfect fit for a story with lots of quick, fully dialogue. Little casual touches and details, like reading glasses or cups of coffee, make the world of alien robots a little more approachable and help ease us into its confused protagonist’s mind. John-Paul Bove’s colors are bright and poppy, but moody in the more serious parts (like TC’s meeting with Dirge and relaxing at the beach near the end). Andrew Griffith and Josh Burcham contribute pencils and colors respectively in two key scenes, one flashback to just before the War and the trailer for a rival production. Their more detailed, somber yet action-oriented style helps draw attention to them, but the overall tone doesn’t shift from the fast-paced comedy and introspection of the whole issue. In any case, the story never loses its sense of wonder: this is a charming, strange little world, and in the increasingly serious main title, this can sometimes fall through the cracks.

However, this is the rare case of a comic whose artistic failings are also interesting in their own way. The scenes shown from “Starscream: The Movie” itself are bad on purpose, and so multiple movie mistakes are recreated in comics form. The lighting is almost always off in most scenes, and in some cases, it’s easy to make a green highlight around the actors –the result of cheap color correction. In another scene, the focus is all wrong, and so “Megatron” and “Starscream” are blurry or stick like sore thumbs from the background. When Thundercracker cannot stage the Decepticon uprising from the first storyline of “Robots in Disguise”, he ends up using archival footage for it –and so the same panels that Andrew Griffith drew for issue #13 are re-used wholesale! While it can be distracting at first, these mistakes become doubly fun when spotted and only add to the joke. (They can also make all amateur filmmakers out there check their equipment twice before starting filming. Never go with auto-focus, people!)

“Hey, everybody! I have an announcement to make!”

AN AWKWARD PAUSE, THEN “WHAT'S MY LINE?”| PLOT AND DIALOGUE But forget pretty much everything I’ve written so far, because the number one reason to read this story is how damn funny it is. And that’s not just for the guilty pleasure of mocking Thundercracker’s work. Sure, the tone-deaf, repetitive dialogue, the hammy acting and the flubs of the final film (poor Waspinator, always a victim) are extremely enjoyable, but that ignores the real back-and-forth of the characters. Even better is how the movie scenes are staged alongside the rest of TC’s discussions and efforts. The issue is expertly paced, each page functioning as a scene into its own, with set-ups and payoffs. When read all together, it’s like a very well-edited movie: it remains fast and doesn’t sag, and the connections between the disparate scenes become apparent on a second read-through. The cyclical flow of the story –it begins and ends with a very similar scene- can be seen as bittersweet and uplifting at the same time, and it made this here reader want to re-read the issue the moment it was over.

One of Barber’s greatest gifts as a writer –owing to his experience as an editor- is his mastery of continuity, but here he also demonstrates a firm understanding of Transformers and pop culture. His cheeky world-building –giant robots make movies, too!- combines satire and Trans-fan practices -repaints are totally a thing!- into one whole. Humans get a lot to do in this world, too, being both friends and potential business partners, in a co-existence that might even bring to mind the days of the original cartoon. My favorite example might be TC’s interactions with a former superhero, prospective film producer and distributor. The practicality of creating and curating a movie clashes wonderfully with the insanity of a sci-fi world and some obscure pop and high culture references. It’s this level of detail and care for all those losers that gives the story a beating heart that is often forgotten when talking about this specific writer’s work.

“You know what they say, ‘Love is blind’!”

THE CREDITS ROLL, THE CAMERA PANS | FINAL THOUGHTS Going over all the things I’ve written so far about this annual, I see that I could still go on. This here read focused on the story from a newbie perspective, because with continuity in mind, there’s a whole other essay’s worth of stuff to unpack! (One could re-interpret it as a Starscream and not a Thundercracker story, in fact!) But even with all that aside, this is a really fun, sweet diversion from the political drama of “Optimus Prime”, a great tribute to the bit players of the franchise and a love letter to the creative process as a whole. Oh, and there’s new jokes to find in, like, every new read! I literally just today remembered Fake!Ironhide’s Southern accent! That stuff’s amazing!

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charliedoyleloves · 5 years

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Chances

Summary: After Alabasta, Charlie has to find a way to deal with all the death.

Under the read more because it is long. This is the first draft, but I wanted to post something today for Zoro’s Birthday. So take the unedited version of this. I’ll post an update when I can.

TW: Mention of Past Slavery and Implication of Attempted Rape (One Sentance), Scars, Nudity (Non-Explicit)

Charlie sat by the edge of the fire, the light casting shadows upon all the other mourners in the city square. Chopper and the Alabastian Doctor would yell at them for being out and about. But this was something that needed to be done. Something that needed to be observed.

The air smelt of the unfortunately familiar smell of burning flesh, as the fallen were cremated. Mourners from both the Royal Guard and the Rebels stood side by side. It did not matter which side they were from, everyone lost someone in the short-lived war. It had been simmering for years, and when that spark ignited, there was no way that anyone could have stopped it before there was blood.

While Vivi might not have been able to prevent it, she was able to stop it. While she and Charlie had their differences but that didn’t stop them from following the princess until their feet could not carry them further. Unlike the last noble they knew, Vivi actually wanted good.

Looking up at the castle windows past the flames, they swore that they could see her. Mourning for her fallen people as much as anyone else mourned their fallen friends. Staying by their crew’s sides as they rested from their injuries.

The wind blew, shifting the smoke into their face. Tears pricked at their eyes as everyone else moved out of the way. But they settled, legs crossed and head bowing back down. They were not a religious person. They were not sure if Alabasta had a regional religion that they could pray to instead. So, they silently pled with anyone who was going to listen that the fallen found their peace in death. That they knew their remaining families were going to be alright. That those who remained would be able to find their own peace.

A moment of silence was observed around them. It was a reminder of the days of remembrance at their home, and the new wind to the area seemed much too cold for the desert country. More kin to the early winter winds that bit at them during those ceremonies.

As their weight shifted forward, the tears were becoming ones of equal mourning and pain. The damned mole-woman and batter did a number on them. Staring back into the fire, they willed it to not dissuade them from the reason they’re there. Pain only meant they were alive.

“I thought you would be hiding, Monkey D Charlie.” Even if the voice did not tell them that it was Marine Tashigi, the phrasing would have. No one else called them by their supposed full name. Except maybe Smoker. “Or at least nursing your wounds.”

They did not look at her and could almost feel her not looking at them.

“I didn’t nurse my wounds when I got shot.” The words were bitter, far more so than they wanted. But since when on this adventure had they not been? It was becoming harder to remember. “I won’t do the same when someone who should have lived is being mourned.”

The sound of a scabbard on cobblestone, and Tashigi was sitting beside them. Looking over, they saw how focused on the fire she was, kneeling on the ground. It was like something out of a movie that they would have watched before getting taken to the East Blue. The noble samurai mourning for innocent lives.

“Why are you here?”

The words were softer as people moved back to them; the smoke finally cleared from the area. But it seemed that there was an understanding that the two of them were the closest someone could get to the pyre. The heat on their faces almost enough to hurt.

“Someone has to keep watch. Everyone else will go to bed, then wake up to rebuild their country.” Charlie turned back to the fire to watch another large puff of smoke rise to the sky. A poetic part of them wanted it to be the fallen’s souls freeing themselves of their physical bodies. Heaven has long since lost its appeal to them, but the idea of eternal freedom was something they could believe. As the wind swept the smoke away, perhaps it did the same to souls. “They will need their rest. Their privacy to mourn. So. I will keep watch, ensure the pyre does not consume everything in the city.”

Because this was not their home. These were not their people. Not their friends, nor their family.

Because Luffy laid injured and unconscious on a bed in the castle, not having awoken during the care process. He had told them that they lost a brother, when he was young. A brother that Charlie would now never know.

They had been taken from one brother. Another had to walk away. A third they will never know. It would not be fair to take their final brother now.

“And the others?”

Tashigi’s voice broke them out of their thought process. It was for the best. Though they did not answer her question. It would merely be evidence of Vivi’s involvement with them. Something that would only hurt her in the long run. From the corner of their eye, they could see her nod. Firelight glaring from her glasses.

“You’ve all earned your rest. I just wanted to make sure that none of you were going to die.” As she turned to look to them, they turned to meet her eyes. “Not when you’ve done something good.”

“We’ll live.”

What else could people do? They will live. Or else they will no longer be a part of the crew. The gunshot wound ached at the thought. From the corner of their eye, they swore they could see the bastard leveling his gun at them again. While their jaw clenched, they did not look there. It would only be a phantom of the smoke. Nothing more.

“Are you certain?” A hand raised to their forehead and for a moment Charlie was going to question it. When she pulled it back, there was blood on her fingertips. “This does not look like ‘we’ll live’, Monkey. This looks quite serious.”

“I’ll live.” Rolling their eyes, they turned back to the fire. The heat was at least becoming comfortable. Like they have been too cold for too long and forgot that being warm was an option. Their hands ran along the bandages on their stomach, to confirm that they were not bleeding out from those wounds. But it was dry as when they left the castle. Good. The words were not a lie. “But for tonight, I can pay my respects.”

“And what does a pirate care about respects?”

The single chuckle that Tashigi earned hurt. Their stitches pulled at the skin and stomach yelled against the movement.

“A pirate? Nothing. Or perhaps everything.” They shifted an arm behind them, leaning to keep the strain off their core. Better safe than sorry. “An ex-slave though? Everything. Or perhaps nothing.”

As their brow furrowed at the memories of their first weeks in the East Blue, they felt blood drip further down their face. It took a deep breath to relax it again, but if they’ve ripped a stitch the damage would already be done.

At least the awkward silence that Tashigi was appropriate.

“Can one really respect someone who only holds power because of blood in their veins or holds a knife to their neck?” There was bite in their words, but they and no care about going further into detail. No Marine has ever cared to know the full story. They only cared about the ending of it. A World Noble’s blood on their hands. “These men and women believed that the Crown was screwing them out of their lives. The royal guard believed they were protecting a caring king who was trying to solve things for his people. Each are things worth fighting for. Each are worth respecting.”

They did not look to watch her face, but she saw her hand move. From what they’ve seen of Tashigi, it was probably to adjust her glasses.

“It doesn’t make what you’ve done right, Monkey.” So this is what they were doing? Having a philosophical debate on life or death. It felt like a set up for a bad joke. A Marine and a Pirate talk at a funeral pyre. “You have a bounty for a reason.”

“I will only ever argue against that first bounty, ma’am.” But, if this was going to be a bad joke, then what does it matter what they say? Who would ever believe them, or Tashigi for that matter? This was possibly the only time they would ever have a chance to talk honestly to one another. “I’ve earned the rest of it, but could you fault me for killing a man who thought he owned me?”

She was silent again, which she remained for the most part of the night. Both strangers to the people of Alabasta, the other mourners did not interact with them. Or perhaps that was how they came across. Not ones who were here for others to cry upon, nor someone that needed someone elses shoulder. Silent watchers and guardians.

Some time, Charlie would guess around midnight, she left. A few of her underlings approached them, telling her that she needed to get some rest. That she had paperwork to do. As she left, they nodded. At the very least, they understood one another a bit better.

Others had left by that point; the pyre having been lit hours ago. It was beginning to smolder, the flames no longer warming them as they had before. It was becoming more familiar to them. A cold breeze occasionally pushing at their hair.

With fewer people around and their shoulders bare they might have gotten cold.

An hour after that thought, they were shivering. The desert’s inability to retain heat was evident. While the hairs on their arms raised and their jaw was quivering in its effort to stop their teeth from clacking. Their legs were sore from staying in the same position for over five hours, the cold was not helping. But something in their gut told them that they should not leave yet.

For the first time in their life, they were focused solely on something. The pyre only glowed when the wind rushed past, but the stars above provided enough light for them to see it still. And it had them captivated.

It felt like the only way that they could honor those who died in the battle. Who died because of Crocodile’s machinations. All who died for fighting a cause that was constructed by a third party specifically to kill them all. They needed honoring. To know that each day of everyone else’s lives are in dedication to them. So that they could have a story to tell, if their souls ever met again.

Perhaps that was what they were trying to do. To let a piece of all the souls there in. Give them a second chance that they all deserve and an adventure to tell. Maybe that was their goal in life. To have a story to tell. Inspire others to do the same.

A blanket was placed on their shoulders.

“You should be in bed.” Zoro leaned on one of his swords, keeping his eyes around the area. It seemed to them that he only ever had two modes. Asleep, or trying to get in a fight. Or maybe, in this case, stop one. “Chopper’s been freaking out once he realized that you were gone.”

They wrapped the blanket around their shoulders, trying to stop the shivering. “We were a part of this, Zoro.” After hours of not using their voice, it dropped a bit. But as they looked up to him, they knew their point was coming across. “One of us should be here. If we could have gotten here sooner, it might have been different. We might have been able to save them.”

“They were going to fight anyway. The only thing that could have stopped them was the rain because it would be the only thing they would believe.” It seemed that he was in a good enough mood to talk with them about such topics. He always seemed to prefer to talk about death with blades rather than words. “Vivi wouldn’t have been able to stop them without it.”

“While correct, what brought the rain? Could it have been Luffy kicking Crocodile’s ass? How about Nami using her Climatact to mess with a part of the weather system?” For the first time in hours, they stood up. It was awkward at first, legs humming asleep and they stomped at the ground to wake them back up. He was going to force her to bed anyway, so they might as well go with dignity. “The timing and stories are too convenient. If we got here sooner, if we defeated Crocodile sooner, it would have rained. They would have been spared.”

When they fumbled on the cobblestone, Zoro caught them. He tried to hide the wince at the strain on him, but they could feel it beneath their fingers. A sudden stiffening of muscles in his arms as they focused not to fall as their legs somehow got worse and their vision went black.

“But they weren’t, Charlie. What do you want to do?” They tried to struggle as Zoro carefully lifted them. It seemed to be more for his benefit than theirs as he tried to hide a grunt behind a cough. “To bring them back?”

“No. I just want to pay my respects tonight, then continue on our way tomorrow.” To humour his cough, they wrapped the blanket he brought around them both as he tried to find a comfortable way to hold them and walk. “Everyone deserves at least a night Zoro. A night were the people of Alabasta can not worry about something and just mourn. I was guarding. A pyre could spread it’s flames, potentially dama-“

“Charlie, the buildings are stone.” He began to walk, and they turned their head to watch the Pyre. What little was left of the smoldering stack of wood and bodies. Even the air seemed cleared of the smell, taking with it memories that they wanted to forget. “Your post is over, you need rest.”

“In a room beside my brother who might not wake up?” Tears came again, and they buried their face in his neck. The pile getting smaller as he walked away. “I need to be doing something for someone, Zoro. I just-“

“Can you get some sleep for me then?” His arms wrapped a bit tighter, though they brushed it off as just because of the stairs. But they could not deny that he was trying to comfort them as a thumb rubbed against their arm. “Or for Chopper and Usopp? Nami and Vivi? They need the big sister to the crew, and you need sleep and to keep your strength up.”

“What about Sanji then?’ They smiled as he laughed a bit and adjusted so they could squeeze his shoulder in apology when he winced. “Do you think he needs me around too, or just someone to keep Nami happy?”

“Someone to keep him in line.” Their voices and footsteps changed as they entered the palace. They bounced off the walls as the remaining guards watched as they walked through. “Hell, someone needs to keep all of us in line. Even Nami… especially Nami, when it comes to the money.”

They laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls and back at them. It made everything sound so empty. It was not some place they could imagine growing up in. A place where you were alone on a pedestal. The lonely life of a princess. But, unfortunately, it was best for Vivi and Alabasta for this to be the rest of her life.

They were jostled as Zoro moved them that he could look them in the eyes. The blush was something they could not help, him being so close to them. A young man who has saved them, their brother, and people they did not know so many times.

But without the smell of the pyre, there was another issue to deal with.

“Zoro, I need a bath.” It came out as an annoyed groan as they walked past doors they were certain lead to bathing rooms. Sounds of running water and a smell of flowers and spices all but wafting from it. It only made them more aware that they smelled like hell. “Put me down, I’m having a fucking bath.”

He nearly yelped when they squirmed enough he dropped them, which only prompted more laughter from them. While they were nearly limping towards the door, he was slow after them because of his own injuries. And they were right.

Behind the doors was a split they assumed was for the different sexes, and they just chose one. Zoro’s complaints bounced off the tiled walls better as they walked through an area that reminded them of a locker room. Little cubbies to put clothing and belongings, as a rack of towels that looked softer than their blankets on the Going Merry.

“Charlie, we should get ouuuuaaaHHHHH!”

They watched as Zoro quickly spun around as they worked at the pieces of the outfit Sanji bought. Rolling their eyes, they were able to quickly undo the bra like top.

“It’s not that big a deal Zoro. You’ve basically seen my tits before.” For added effect, they tossed the weighted fabric towards him. They only felt bad for a moment when they heard the jewel that laid between their breasts hit the ground. If it hit his head, it might have hurt. “And if you would like, you could ask that one of the guards look after me instead. I’m sure they have women in their ranks.”

Before working at their pants, they were fumbling with their earrings. It would be great if they could just feel light for once in their fucking life. While it was good that they were developing muscles, it didn’t help with that idea. And the pounds of jewelry in their ears did not help.

“It’s fine.” He sounded a bit tense, but they gave him an out. Shuffling of fabric told them that he was following their suit. “Just took me by surprise. It’s different to see you in a bra and to watch you take it off.”

While moving onto their pants, a towel hit the back of their head and stayed there as they bent enough to keep it there. It was only going to be convenient. When the damned hidden buckle was undone, they quickly dropped the towel to around them from chest to legs. Well…

It was a snug fit around them, it not being long enough to stop a bit of their legs to pop out as they moved towards an area that was warmer than the rest.

Walking past the opening, they could only stop and take a deep breath.

The steam was comforting, reminding them of their baths and showers before the being at sea. But everything else was so grand and alien to them. Fountains and manmade waterfalls carved and created to look like men and animals. While probably profound in the Alabastan mythos, it was just impressive craftsmanship to them.

Zoro shuffled past them, and it finally occurred to them what they just joked their way into. Before they were able to look away from his back, they had enough mind to note that he had impressive craftsmanship himself. Like something they could find on one of these sculptures. Or one from the Classical Masters.

While he seemed content to just marvel at the pools and fountains, they desperately needed to get the smell and feel of the smoke off them. Wrapping the towel tighter around them, they walked past him. Taking a single deep breath, they dropped the towel and walked into the deeper end of the pool.

For a moment, they enjoyed the feeling of being in water again. Every place they’ve been with their crew, recently dubbed the Straw Hats by their second favorite marine, did not have safe enough waters. But it reminded them of swimming with their family. Their mother not getting in because she was scared. Splash fights with their brother and father.

They quickly resurfaced. In the water, they were lighter than they can remember. Perhaps it was forgetting how it felt to swim. Or perhaps it was because of blood loss. Either way, they just wanted to float for a moment.

Across the pool, they could hear Zoro enter from the other side. The small waves hit them, pushing them slightly. But out of respect for his privacy, they waitied for him to make the first move. Nothing good could come of a careless mistake.

Well, anymore than it was already. A careless mistake brought on by not controlling their whims. Was this what was going to tear their place from the Straw hats? Or make things awkward around Zoro?

If the latter, they could just hide in Usopp’s workshop. Always stay far enough away from a fight to not be in his line of sight. Just spray and prey with their bow, or what ever guns they can find. There were worse things in the world.

“Charlie?” They took this as a que that it was safe to look. Turning over so they could wade in the water, he was already sitting in chest deep water. There were likely ledges around the shallower end. “If you wanted to bathe, why are you swimming?”

They were silent for a moment as they thought of it. Water beneath their arms as they kept themselves afloat. It was relaxing.

“It’s nice too. My Mom and Dad put a lot of time into making sure that my brother and I could swim.” They started to swim over to the shallow end, beginning to walk as soon as their feet could touch the bottom. “We used to go to pools and compete to see who could touch the bottom of the deep end. Dad always won, but my brother and I kept at it until we could hold our breath long enough to get there. I think the deepest I ever got was twenty feet.”

They laughed a bit when they found an edge opposite Zoro.

“Well, at least that was the deepest pool I ever found.” They shrugged, sitting with their legs crossed. The top foot played along the top of the water, though it went up to their chin. “I used to try to spend so long in there that I got sunburnt.”

“Wait.” Zoro lifted a hand, a serious look upon their face. For a moment they worried that they said something bad. Maybe his parents drowned in a pool? Was that why he never spoke of them? “You’re telling me that there was a time that you didn’t freckle so hard that it’s basically a tan?”

They looked back at him, realizing it was nothing serious. It took a moment to process what he actually said, and they started laughing.

“You have no idea. I used to tan a bunch. Then I burnt for a bit.” They motioned at a triangle on their chest that was becoming redder in the warm water. “Now I have a winter and a summer coat. And I’m genuinely scared of what I’ll look like in the summer.”

They laughed a bit, and he laughed along. But something about it was wrong. Raising an eyebrow, they settled onto their seat. His laughter trailed off and he avoided looking at them. For a minute, it was just the sound of the water running in the background.

He was tense, hand rubbing the back of his neck. Judging by the wince he gave; it only agitated his injuries. Not that he ever cared. This was the man who fought the Fish-man pirates while injured in a way that should have killed him. “The scar on your back.”

Charlie tried to laugh at the statement. A grin came at it, but a joke died on their tongue. Laughter caught in their throat.

“I’m not a swordsman, Zoro.” The joke came back, but it cracked. The grin became tenser. Half a fake grin and half a bearing of teeth. “Scars on the back is not a shame to me.”

But as he finally looked at them, they knew it didn’t convince him. Not when he was looking at them with such pity. As his eyes looked at them more, their jaw tightened, and the grin disappeared.

“Not tonight Zoro.” They splashed water at him, to try lightening the mood. He didn’t even flinch. Try to attack back. Not looking to play their game. “I’m not talking about it tonight. Not tonight. It will be about the Alabastan people. Or about good things. Plans for the future. Not about past tragedies.”

“Good things?” The rubbing at his neck stopped, and he leaned back against the wall of the pool. Arms stretching out from him. Chest looking larger and they sunk a bit further into the water. “Like what? Jokes? How about how hard Sanji was flirting with that Robin woman?”

They could almost feel him file his question away. But they joined along with him.

“You do realize that I was too?” They laughed at his shock. Closing their eyes, they tried to remember how Robin looked. Instead it was just the dark. “I’ll admit, I was a bit obvious about it too. But you have to admit that she was pretty.”

“So… So my crush on you is useless, huh?” His laugh was sad. Already mourning something that he didn’t know was truly dead. Really, he hasn’t even been paying attention to their actions around them. “Should have figured.”

“Now now.” They continued to try to make light of it, splashing at him some more. Their laughter was slightly forced. Anything to lighten the mood here. That was how you honored the people around you. “I never said that. In fact, you have quite the shot if you’re interested.”

It was something they didn’t think about often. Much of their time dedicated towards keeping their brother alive. Or helping Usopp with what needs to be done on the Going Merry. Or Chopper, Sanji, and Nami with their respective jobs, while also keeping track of what treasures they had gathered.

Though, Zoro hadn’t asked for any help. Instead, he seemed quite intent on protecting them. Which now made sense.

The water shifted again, and they looked back to him. Despite this being a potentially relieving moment, he seemed more agitated than before. Jaw clenched, eyes staring directly anywhere except them.

“Was that the wrong answer?”

The joke had faded from their voice but left him with the space to talk. If this was the time that he felt willing to talk about his emotions, they would let him.

Heavens knew it happened rarely. They would rather not mess this up.

“Do you remember what you did in Whiskey Peak?” The words seemed strained. Like he was hurt just remembering. But they knew what he was referring to. When Luffy and he was fighting, getting between the two of them. A dangerous position for someone with a devil fruit. Let alone someone without. “You’re a distraction. And it’s easier to try to ignore it when I didn’t think I had a chance. What am I supposed to do now that you tell me that there is a chance? You’ll be the biggest distraction I’ve ever had.”

They couldn’t speak for a moment. All words catching in their throat as they tried to process what he said. That they were a distraction?

But it made sense in a way. If he had to prioritize them in a fight, like he might feel necessary, then not only could he get hurt, so could someone else. He might feel that he has to give up his dream if he was with them. A weight dragging him down.

Because they were not strong enough to defend themselves.

Their fingers brushed against the bandages still around their stomach. It was only proof that they were not strong enough to defend themselves. They could never have his back like he had theirs. It would never be a balanced relationship.

“Then, you have a chance tonight.” Charlie willed tears to stay in their eyes. They might never be strong enough to protect even themselves. Let alone to keep up with Zoro. “But you won’t tomorrow. You’ll only ever have a chance when you want it Zoro.”

He could only have a chance when he can make them feel like not a burden. A truth for anyone. But if he could so effortlessly make him them feel useful, then they knew he could with effort.

They aren’t sure when they adverted their eyes. But looking back at him, they could see the understanding. This was for both to grow. To have the chance to be enough for the other. They couldn’t take back what they said, and honestly Charlie wouldn’t want to.

With nothing else to really be said, they both just leaned back and enjoyed the heat. It might be months before they got another chance at a bath like this. And even Zoro would have to appretiate it. Warm water to sooth muscles, and a seemingly unlimited supply of it. Unlike the few minutes of warmth you could pull from the taps on the Merry.

Staring at the ceiling, Charlie was not shocked to see it decorated. Lights were installed above them, to simulate stars upon the night sky. But so much brighter. Their light reflecting off the so smooth they looked polished tiles in the ceiling and back down upon them. The entire bath seeming to invoke the feeling of being in a heaven.

While perhaps for the normal users it allowed them an escape, it only served to pull them back to the present. One where they were not the one in whatever lie in the afterlife. Nor was anyone who would use this bath. No bodies left. Instead ashes scattered to the stars. While the ones above them were fake, they prayed to them anyway. That the dead find their contentment. That the living find peace. Again and again they would pray this. Perhaps it was the only thing they could do in the face of death.

Maybe it was all anyone could ever do.

“Are you starting to prune?” Zoro's voice cut through the melodic lull of the water, bringing them back to the then and there. The warm water lapping at them. Steam on their face and bandages around their stomach. “Because we've been in here for a while.”

“Oh, uh-" they brought up a hand, to see that the fingertips were wrinkled and puckered, “yeah. I- we should probably head back to bed.”

They turned in their spot, allowing Zoro the chance to get out and grab his towel. While hearing him move, they lightly chewed on a finger. Smoothing the skin with their teeth as they thought. A mental checklist of what they needed to do before settling for bed.

At the very least, they would need to replace their bandages. Wet ones would only impede the healing process, something that Chopper would be upset about. Perhaps, in the morning, they could find some fresh clothes. Ones not soaked with their blood. But it would be uncomfortable to sleep in the ones they had, the metal likely going to dig into them.

It was different when they were sleeping in the sand, but they were going to sleep on a proper bed. One given to them by a princess. It was likely to be the best sleep they'll have in a while, and they didn’t want to ruin it with the metal. Zoros feet entered their view, them wincing at the scars around his ankles. Looking up, they saw his towel wrapped around his waist and a second one held out as he looked away. Across the pool, theirs was gone.

“Thanks-"

The word was cut into a hiss as their wounds protested their way out of the pool. But when they were standing up, it was easy to step out and quickly wrap themself with the towel. Starting to move away, they moved their hair to cover as much of the scar as they could. It only covered about half the length, but it was better than nothing.

He followed behind them, not commenting as they brought another finger to their mouth. Nor when they stopped to look around the cubby area. Their clothes were gone, and in their place were what looked like a fresh nightgown and bandages. Moving the bandages, they found a pair of shorts. With a hesitant touch, they knew that it might have been from Vivis personal wardrobe, given how soft and smooth they were.

It was awkward to wiggle the shorts on without dropping the towel or causing more pain. But they were on quickly. Dropping the towel, they moved onto the second stage.

The bandages were hard to peel, sticking to their body. Half dried blood and half water keeping them in place. Focusing on the task helped it though, as it allowed them to ignore most of the pain as they moved around to do it. It was an impressive amount of bandages, leaving a pile on the floor halfway to their knee. The fresh ones were harder to get on. Each time they moved, it slipped and they had to start over. Again and again, they swore they had it down earlier. When it wasn’t easily one in the morning. And they weren’t exhausted and starting to bleed again.

“Think you could help?” They turned to look back at Zoro, in a different pair of pants and struggling with his own bandages. His cuts and scrapes were more numerous than theirs and seemed just as deep. A wonder that he was still standing. Perhaps it would be best if he never had a distraction again. “A hand for a hand?”

He stilled, looking back up at them. Giving a slow nod, he lured them in. Let them think that they were going to do his more serious bandages first. As they were about to set theirs down on a bench, he grabbed them from their hand and turned them around. So fast that the world spun a bit after he steadied them.

His hands kept them upright, callouses skimming against them as they felt the room get warmer. Or maybe it was just them. A hand planted against their back to hold the bandage in place, and they knew it was just them.

He moved around them, hardly making a noise, to get in a better position to wrap it around them. Then in front of them as he moved to make the first loop. The one to keep the end in place and allow him to stay where he wanted while finishing the job. Their eyes reached his nose, but they tried desperately to be anywhere else.

On the plus side, he smelled cleaner this close than he had from a few feet away back on the ship.

They cursed that thought as he continued his work. He kept in front of them, where most of their damage was. Running into explosions did that to a person. But while his hands were rough against their still prickling warm skin, his movements were gentle. They did say that he had a chance for tonight, but they were almost certain he wouldn’t do anything with it. They weren’t complaining then, but it might complicate matters when they woke up.

Focusing on breathing, they allowed him to move them as he needed. Arms lifted so he can get to their sides better. On their toes so he can get at their lower torso better. Spinning, thankfully, when he was looking to finish off the bandage. They swore that their body buzzed by the time he tucked the loose end in, securing it in place.

But after what felt like an both an eternity and a mere second, it was time to repay the favor. Picking up his bandage, they motioned for him to sit down. Given that he had injuries up to his shoulders, it would be easier to reach them all this way.

They also started at his back; hands soft against him. This was meant to be something that healed, not hurt. A soft moment. Each movement was careful, them focused on making sure to apply the right amount of pressure against each wound. Enough to keep it there but no more.

Every time he winced; they adjusted their approach. But memories of Cocoayashi Village came back. How close to death had he been then? A battle against Mihawk should have killed him. Even they knew that. Was that before he felt anything for them? Or had he cared the moment they joined on? If they weren’t there, would things have been different t then as well?

The first loop around his shoulder had their own body protesting. Their knees were a little too weak to carry the bend they needed, either from the hot water or the blood loss from the day. Their torso screaming whenever they tried to bend it instead.

Zoro softly grabbed their hips and guided them to sit on his lap. Legs on either side of him. While normally the wood beneath their bare skin, it was a comfortable contrast to softer fabric of his new pants. For a moment Charlie thought they had reached peak blushing. It was all the way down to their fingertips as they fumbled with the bandage.

Then he rested his head against their neck, buried so far that they could feel his eyelashes close. For a moment, they just stayed still. His breathing was steady. Arms wrapped loosely around them. They waited for any indication as to what was happening. Movements slowly starting up again as they regained control of their hands.

They were finishing up the bandaging, awkwardly as his grip tightened. For a moment, they were expecting a joke. Or a flirty line. Any indication that it was conscious. Or he was still alive, apart from his steady breathing.

A snore ripped through the stillness of the locker room.

Before they could stop it, they were laughing. The movements pulled at their wounds, and still hurt. But for some reason they couldn’t stop it. The idea that Zoro fell asleep on them after all that. It was more evidence that they needed sleep. A giggly tired.

They did not want to wake him up harshly. Settling their weight a bit, they hoped it would wake him up. Wrapping their legs around him. Resting their head onto his neck. Arms on his shoulders. None of it woke him up. So they tried something far softer instead.

And they couldn’t say they weren’t curious.

Wrapping an arm around his shoulders, the other went up to his hair. Fingers gently brushing through his hair. He leaned into the motion, earrings leaving their face. Likely leaving little Mark’s where they were.

“Wakey Wakey.” There was still some laughter in their voice. They were intentionally mirroring what their mother would say to them when they were younger. Something soft and kind, but said with just enough sarcasm that he might realize that sleeping there was not a great idea. “Why sleep here when we have beds just a little ways away?”

He made a soft noise, moving his arms from around their waist. As they got off of him, they realized how quickly he had warmed them up. And how nice it was. Something nice for tonight. Possibly for never again.

They tried to pull the shirt over their head. It was going to be a bit long on them, being a few inches shorter than Vivi. But there was a far more worrying problem. As they raised their arms, their wounds ached. And they tried and tried to pull if over their head.

But the fabric got caught on their arms. The hole to the sleeves not making it past their upper arms. Their head sandwiched by their arms as the shirt did not allow enough room for their shoulders. The fabric was undeniably soft, but it felt suffocating as their body protested the position. So much so that a low whine escaped their throat.

A Snort from behind them and there were hands on their arms. Trying to slide the fabric back over their arms. But as fingers pushed beneath the fabric and against their arms, it did not slide up. Instead, there was a ripping sound as they started to yell nonsense at him.

“Shit, you're really in there.”

They wanted to turn to him and roll their eyes at him. But given that it would be them trying to look out the head hole that was still a few inches above their head.

“Well, no fucking duh.” They tried wiggling a bit, but to no avail. It just flopped the parts of the sleeves not jammed on their arms around. Hopefully a bit of it lightly hit him. “But this is Vivis shirt. I don’t want to ruin it.”

“She probably has a dozen of these things.” Some of the sleeves were pulled up off their arms. “It was probably left here for you because they could throw it out afterwards without any guilt.”

“It’s the principle of the matter Zoro.” Out of habit, they stuck their tongue, getting an unfortunate taste of the fabric. It was likely a linen, and didn’t taste to great. They sputtered for a moment before continuing. “You shouldn’t ruin other peoples things if you can help it.”

“Well, you can't.” Zoro ignored their protests as he grabbed the bottom of the shirt, and ripped it from there to the neck hole. Grabbing the sleeves, he yanked them off. “So, now we can deal with getting you a shirt that fits.”

They looked around the locker room, but the only other shirt in there was his own.

While they were not so bold, Zoro had already made up his mind. It was tossed into their face. While the first shirt was soft because of the fabric, this one was soft from use. Stretched out a bit, it was almost assured to fit.

He hovered around them. But the shirt went on easily, but was not as loose as they both thought. Between their own shoulders and bust, it just fit. While loose around their stomach, it rode up because it was unable to handle their hips. There was a cough behind them as they left. It seemed that he was finally settling down, not bothering to try pick them up again, but he did try to lead. But already being turned around, he immediately tried to go the wrong way.

Grabbing his hand, Charlie lead the way back to the room . Trying desperately to ignore the way his calloused hand squeezed their own. The way that he didn’t complain about them taking the lead.

As they entered the room, both of them let out a soft sigh to hear everyone else snoring. Explaining what was happening was not something that they wanted to do. Not so early in the morning, with them both being so ready for sleep.

There were only two beds left empty, one with his swords tossed beside then the other beside. Completely untouched. Given that it acted as the barrier between the guys and the girls, it was easy to understand it was theirs.

They did let go of Zoros hand to crawl into bed. They weren’t sure what else could or should be said. If anything at all. But when he didn’t shift onto his back, but instead on his side to face them, they turned over to him.

He seemed to not know what would happen in the morning either. No words that he could think of either. But he extended his hand over the gap between the beds. Placing their own back in it, they settled for sleep.

They could deal with everything when they woke up. For now though, they had a chance.

#otp: functional dumbasses #charlie writes #self ship #self ship community #self shipping

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onlinemarketinghelp · 5 years

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The Best Investing Blogs Of 2019 (and more great reads) https://ift.tt/2G4j8J6

Being a good investor is all about education. There are so many facets to investing, that one person or blog just doesn't have everything. In fact, you can spend years and years researching investing topics, and there will still be things to learn or stones left to turn. That's why it's important to turn to the best investing blogs.

This is the sixth edition of the best investing blogs to follow. We started this list to put together a single resource of amazing investors and their blogs - and over time that list has changed and evolved.

So, if you want to continue to learn and read about interesting investment ideas, follow the investing blogs on this list. While they might not all be professional investors (although some are and make a living from it), they all write about their experiences and share their knowledge.

Get your bookmarks ready, here are the best investing blogs of 2019. At the end of the post, we also include a round-up of all the investing blogs we could find.

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The Best Investing Blogs of 2019

This list of the best investing blogs of 2019 is in alphabetical order by last name (so please don't think this is force-ranked in any way).

Quick Navigation

Josh Brown, The Reformed Broker

Ben Carlson, A Wealth of Common Sense

Jim Collins, The Simple Path To Wealth

Blaire duQuesnay The Belle Curve

Jim Dahle, The White Coat Investor

Sam Dogen, Financial Samurai

Eddy Elfenbein, Crossing Wall Street

Michael Kitces, Nerd's Eye View

Michael Piper, Oblivious Investor

Ben Reynolds, Sure Dividend

Barry Ritholtz, The Big Picture

Jeff Rose, Good Financial Cents

David Stein, Money For The Rest Of Us

Todd Tresidder, Financial Mentor

Tadas Viskanta, Abnormal Returns

Jim Wang, Wallet Hacks

Roger Wohlner, The Chicago Financial Planner

The Dividend Guy Blog

Don’t Quit Your Day Job

The Mad FIentist

Minafi

Josh Brown, The Reformed Broker

Josh has a fun blog (and Twitter account), where he shares his market insights, and insights on pretty much everything that crosses his mind. That's what makes following Josh Brown so interesting - the guy is a pro-investor and is on every major financial news network at least once a week. Yet he blogs, and is interesting - just check out my favorite post from this year below!

Josh's Blog: The Reformed Broker

Follow him on Twitter: @reformedbroker

A recent favorite post: How Economic Data Works

Ben Carlson, A Wealth of Common Sense

Ben does a great job explaining really complex investment stuff in a simple way. He doesn't get too caught up in this hot trend or that, but he uses real life examples to highlight bigger, more important concepts. Be blogs almost everyday, and the articles are pretty good length. Check it out if you want some macro level insights.

Ben's Blog: A Wealth of Common Sense

Follow him on Twitter: @awealthofcs

A favorite post: My Evolution Of Asset Management

Jim Collins, The Simple Path To Wealth

Jim Collins is a mix of half investment blogger, half financial independence blogger, with a good mix of everything else thrown into the middle. He's very much "simple" in terms of keeping your investment strategy simple, but I think that's an important reminder for most people these days.

You might also enjoy Jim Collins' recent talk at Google.

Jim's Blog: The Simple Path To Wealth

A favorite post: Why Your House Is A Terrible Investment

Blaire duQuesnay The Belle Curve

Blaire's blog is one of the newer ones on this list, and we love it because it's also one of the few in-depth investing blogs written by a woman. And we need more women investment bloggers (they outperform the market).

Blaire's Blog: The Belle Curve

Follow her on Twitter: @BlairHduQuesnay

A favorite post: Tax Refunds - The Ultimate Behavioral Finance Lesson

Jim Dahle, The White Coat Investor

Jim Dahle has a blog focused on investing and issues facing doctors and other high net worth individuals. While that seems pretty niche, the topics he covers really apply to most investors and anybody who invests and has student loan debt (another big area facing doctors). What I love about Jim's site is that he isn't afraid to cover topics in detail - and some of his articles are very in-depth.

Jim's Blog: The White Coat Investor

Follow him on Twitter: @WCInvestor

A favorite post: How To Be A Do-It-Yourself Investor

Sam Dogen, Financial Samurai

Sam from the Financial Samurai is another ex-Wall Street guy that writes about personal finance and investing. Sam has some of the most unique articles on the web - all incredibly thoughtful and well written. Everything he publishes not only informs, but creates a conversation on what is likely one of the most engaged investing blogs online as well. Not all of his articles are investing related, but many are. His articles also tend to go deeper and more complex than most.

Sam's Blog: Financial Samurai

Follow him on Twitter: @financialsamura

A favorite post: The Average Net Worth For The Above Average Person

Eddy Elfenbein, Crossing Wall Street

Eddy is the founder of Crossing Wall Street, a very market and stock centric blog where he shares his insights on the market and individual companies. He is traditionally a buy and hold investor, which seems to be getting rarer and rarer these days. He has also beaten the S&P500 by 47% in the last 13 years. Check out his stuff!

Eddy's Blog: Crossing Wall Street

Follow him on Twitter: @EddyElfenbein

A recent favorite post: The Growing Divergence

Michael Kitces, Nerd's Eye View

Michael's site is self described as commentary on financial planning, but as a consumer and investor, I find a ton of knowledge from his insights on how the system works (and doesn't work) to your advantage. He doesn't just cover investing, but his insights into the latest on government regulations concerning your investment vehicles (like IRAs) has been incredibly helpful over time.

He also only wears blue shirts!

Michael's Blog: Nerd's Eye View

Follow him on Twitter: @MichaelKitces

A favorite post: How To Do A Backdoor Roth IRA (Safely)

Michael Piper, Oblivious Investor

Mike is one of the more well-known investing bloggers, who is now a published author several times over. He writes a lot of practical investing-focused personal finance articles, with a focus around diversification, reducing expenses and fees, and ignoring the media…funny coming from a blogger, but very valid none-the-less. Mike is also a CPA, and continually highlights that investing doesn’t have to be complicated.

Mike’s Blog: Oblivious Investor

Follow him on Twitter: @michaelrpiper

A favorite post: Why Invest in Index Funds

Ben Reynolds, Sure Dividend

Ben's site is one of the newest blogs to make the list (even though it's several years old). He's done a great job of providing excellent content with a focus on dividend stocks. He provides in-depth analysis, and his site is easy to read, with charts and graphs to back up most topics. He writes new content multiple times a week, so stop by and see if it's in your wheelhouse.

Ben's Blog: Sure Dividend

Follow him on Twitter: @SureDividend

A favorite post: Challenging Buffett's 10 Year Bet

Barry Ritholtz, The Big Picture

I discovered Barry's blog three years ago, and I have been reading it weekly ever since. He posts multiple times a day, so there is always something to read. I love his combination of investing insight and general commentary. Barry is a professional money manager who has been blogging since 2003 and writing for even longer than that. He basically shares his thoughts on the market and the economy, and anything else that’s on his mind. I find it very easy to read, yet very interesting at the same time. Plus, his articles are on the shorter side (on average), which is reader-friendly.

Barry’s Blog: The Big Picture

Follow him on Twitter: @ritholtz

A favorite post: Market Forces - Not Regulation - Are Driving Adoption Of Fiduciary Standard

Jeff Rose, Good Financial Cents

Jeff is an amazing blogger (and YouTuber) and business person. He doesn't always blog about investing, but when it does, it's typically practical advice that anyone can follow. Outside of his blog, Jeff is a Certified Financial Planner and often posts about struggles he sees on his Facebook page or Twitter. Besides that, his blog is probably the best designed finance blog out there.

Jeff's Blog: Good Financial Cents

Follow him on Twitter: @jjeffrose

A favorite post: 11 Ways To Invest $100,000 With Confidence

David Stein, Money For The Rest Of Us

David Stein isn't just a "blogger", but an incredible podcaster as well - with a top rated money podcast - Money For The Rest Of Us. He's managed billions of dollars in assets, and now is sharing his tips and advice "for the rest of us".

On his show, he talks about some very interesting topics, and has a highly engaged member community.

David's Blog: Money For The Rest Of Us

Follow him on Twitter: @jdstein

A favorite post: Stop Maximizing Your Returns With Modern Portfolio Theory

Todd Tresidder, Financial Mentor

Todd is the founder of Financial Mentor, where he is a financial coach that helps people figure out their financial lives and invest for the future. Todd is a very no-nonsense guy, and from the few times I've met him and reading his articles, I enjoy his style. His goal is to help people almost from a behavior finance perspective, with some common sense reality thrown in. Check it out - he covers 80% investing and 20% personal finance.

Todd's Blog: Financial Mentor

Follow him on Twitter: @FinancialMentor

A favorite post: A Ridiculously Simple Way To Build Wealth

Tadas Viskanta, Abnormal Returns

Tadas Viskanta is the founder and editor of Abnormal Returns since it was launched in 2005. He is a really smart guy, and shares a lot of great content every day on his site. If you want something to read in the financial world, stop by and check out his daily round up posts. The gold, though, is when he actually shares his thoughts - typically by aggregating some other peoples thoughts together and adding to it, or lambasting them. Either way, it's good stuff.

Tadas' Blog: Abnormal Returns

Follow him on Twitter: @AbnormalReturns

A favorite post: Why Diversification Works In Life And Markets

Jim Wang, Wallet Hacks

Jim Wang is the founder of Wallet Hacks, and before that he ran Bargaineering, which he sold for $3,000,000. Today, he runs Wallet Hacks and shares what he's learned about personal finance, business, investing, and wealth. While some of his content isn't investing focused, his investing articles are top-notch. Check it out.

Jim's Blog: Wallet Hacks

Follow him on Twitter: @wallethacks

A favorite post: How I Built A Dividend Growth Investment Portfolio

Roger Wohlner, The Chicago Financial Planner

I stumbled upon Rogers blog last year and have been impressed by the content. Roger is a financial writer and fee-only financial advisor who started the blog to share his industry knowledge and experience. While I don’t always completely agree with everything Roger writes, that’s okay – because as I mentioned above, you just can’t learn everything in one place, and seeing different perpectives from these best investment blogs is a great start.

Roger’s Blog: The Chicago Financial Planner

Follow him on Twitter: @rwohlner

A favorite post: 5 Reasons To Consider A Solo 401k

The Dividend Guy Blog

The Dividend Guy Blog was another early read of mine, and I appreciate their continued research and insight over time. What I enjoy about the Dividend Guy Blog is that not only do they continually put their opinion out there for others, but they back it up with concrete facts or other underlying rationale. While they’re not always right, they aren’t afraid to put it out there. They also track their favorite dividend stocks, and aren’t afraid of losers (which is rare in the investment blog space).

The Blog: The Dividend Guy Blog

Follow on Twitter: @TheDividendGuy

A favorite post: My Investing Pains and How I’ve Solved Them

Don’t Quit Your Day Job

Don’t Quit Your Day Job (DQYDJ) is another site that I started follow last year, specifically because of the awesome macro-economic insight. DQYDJ is much more technical than any other site on this best investment blog list, and it’s much more macro-economic focused, but it provides a ton of great insights that are relevant to investors everywhere. Furthermore, they put together their own economic calculators and showcase how they made them and what data they used. Amazing!

The Blog: Don’t Quit Your Day Job

Follow on Twitter: @dqydjHQ

A favorite post: S&P 500 Return Calculator

The Mad FIentist

The Mad FIentist is a play on words - it's a site about a scientist achieving financial independence (get the FI part now)? The goal of the site is to show you strategies that can help you retire even sooner. There are a variety of articles that focus on tax avoidance strategies, and ways to invest to get the most out of your money if you plan to retire early.

The Blog: The Mad FIentist

Follow him on Twitter: @madfientist

A favorite post: Lessons From Business School

Minafi

Minafi is a blog all about minimalism and financial independence, and investing? Yes! Investing too - and it has some of the best investment articles we've seen this year. Given this site is about minimalism, you can safely assume that his investing content focuses on reducing fees and expenses, keeping a simple portfolio, and investing passively for the long term. Check out the great content here:

The Blog: Minafi

Follow him on Twitter: @minafiblog

A favorite post: The Minimal Investor

Other Investing Blogs Of Interest

A lot of readers have asked for a full list of investing blogs out there. There aren't a lot of good lists out there that share all of the investing blogs. Here's the list we've been working from to highlight "the best". Last year, we saw about 10 blogs drop off the list, and only added in 3 blogs.

If you know of a site that's not listed, please share it below.

Alain Guillot

Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance

Bitches Get Riches

Broke Investor

Buy Hold Long

Chris Reining

DivHut

Dividend Diplomats

Dividend Growth Investors

Dividend Pig

Dividend Portfolio

Dividend Quest

Engineering Dividends

Glenn Chan's Random Notes on Investing

Investing To Thrive

Jason Zweig

KINFO

Lyn Allen

Marc to Market

Meb Faber

Mindfully Investing

Modest Money

Monevator

My Stock Market Basics

Novel Investor

Optimize Your Retirement

Passive Income Pursuit

ReisUP

Retire Before Dad

Retire By 40

Safe Investing

Simply Investing

Small Investor

Stable Investor

Tela Holcomb

The Big Law Investor

The Brown Report

The Expat Investor

Time In The Market

Value Stock Geek

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of great investing blogs coming out all of the time. And some of these may fade away. If you know or run a great investing blog, please share it with us for potential inclusion in net year's list.

The post The Best Investing Blogs Of 2019 (and more great reads) appeared first on The College Investor.

from The College Investor

Get your bookmarks ready, here are the best investing blogs of 2019. At the end of the post, we also include a round-up of all the investing blogs we could find.

Open A New Brokerage Account

Broker

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Get Started

Up to

$600

+ Free Trades

Trade free for 60 days

No Monthly Fees

Open Account

Up to

$3,500

+ Free Trades

$100 Cash Bonus for Deposits of $25,000

Commission Free Trades for Deposits of $25,000

Open Account

Commission

FREE

Investing

$100 Minimum Deposit

Free Investing

Open Account

The Best Investing Blogs of 2019

This list of the best investing blogs of 2019 is in alphabetical order by last name (so please don't think this is force-ranked in any way).

Quick Navigation

Josh Brown, The Reformed Broker

Ben Carlson, A Wealth of Common Sense

Jim Collins, The Simple Path To Wealth

Blaire duQuesnay The Belle Curve

Jim Dahle, The White Coat Investor

Sam Dogen, Financial Samurai

Eddy Elfenbein, Crossing Wall Street

Michael Kitces, Nerd's Eye View

Michael Piper, Oblivious Investor

Ben Reynolds, Sure Dividend

Barry Ritholtz, The Big Picture

Jeff Rose, Good Financial Cents

David Stein, Money For The Rest Of Us

Todd Tresidder, Financial Mentor

Tadas Viskanta, Abnormal Returns

Jim Wang, Wallet Hacks

Roger Wohlner, The Chicago Financial Planner

The Dividend Guy Blog

Don’t Quit Your Day Job

The Mad FIentist

Minafi

Josh Brown, The Reformed Broker

Josh's Blog: The Reformed Broker

Follow him on Twitter: @reformedbroker

A recent favorite post: How Economic Data Works

Ben Carlson, A Wealth of Common Sense

Ben's Blog: A Wealth of Common Sense

Follow him on Twitter: @awealthofcs

A favorite post: My Evolution Of Asset Management

Jim Collins, The Simple Path To Wealth

You might also enjoy Jim Collins' recent talk at Google.

Jim's Blog: The Simple Path To Wealth

A favorite post: Why Your House Is A Terrible Investment

Blaire duQuesnay The Belle Curve

Blaire's Blog: The Belle Curve

Follow her on Twitter: @BlairHduQuesnay

A favorite post: Tax Refunds - The Ultimate Behavioral Finance Lesson

Jim Dahle, The White Coat Investor

Jim's Blog: The White Coat Investor

Follow him on Twitter: @WCInvestor

A favorite post: How To Be A Do-It-Yourself Investor

Sam Dogen, Financial Samurai

Sam's Blog: Financial Samurai

Follow him on Twitter: @financialsamura

A favorite post: The Average Net Worth For The Above Average Person

Eddy Elfenbein, Crossing Wall Street

Eddy's Blog: Crossing Wall Street

Follow him on Twitter: @EddyElfenbein

A recent favorite post: The Growing Divergence

Michael Kitces, Nerd's Eye View

He also only wears blue shirts!

Michael's Blog: Nerd's Eye View

Follow him on Twitter: @MichaelKitces

A favorite post: How To Do A Backdoor Roth IRA (Safely)

Michael Piper, Oblivious Investor

Mike’s Blog: Oblivious Investor

Follow him on Twitter: @michaelrpiper

A favorite post: Why Invest in Index Funds

Ben Reynolds, Sure Dividend

Ben's Blog: Sure Dividend

Follow him on Twitter: @SureDividend

A favorite post: Challenging Buffett's 10 Year Bet

Barry Ritholtz, The Big Picture

Barry’s Blog: The Big Picture

Follow him on Twitter: @ritholtz

A favorite post: Market Forces - Not Regulation - Are Driving Adoption Of Fiduciary Standard

Jeff Rose, Good Financial Cents

Jeff's Blog: Good Financial Cents

Follow him on Twitter: @jjeffrose

A favorite post: 11 Ways To Invest $100,000 With Confidence

David Stein, Money For The Rest Of Us

On his show, he talks about some very interesting topics, and has a highly engaged member community.

David's Blog: Money For The Rest Of Us

Follow him on Twitter: @jdstein

A favorite post: Stop Maximizing Your Returns With Modern Portfolio Theory

Todd Tresidder, Financial Mentor

Todd's Blog: Financial Mentor

Follow him on Twitter: @FinancialMentor

A favorite post: A Ridiculously Simple Way To Build Wealth

Tadas Viskanta, Abnormal Returns

Tadas' Blog: Abnormal Returns

Follow him on Twitter: @AbnormalReturns

A favorite post: Why Diversification Works In Life And Markets

Jim Wang, Wallet Hacks

Jim's Blog: Wallet Hacks

Follow him on Twitter: @wallethacks

A favorite post: How I Built A Dividend Growth Investment Portfolio

Roger Wohlner, The Chicago Financial Planner

Roger’s Blog: The Chicago Financial Planner

Follow him on Twitter: @rwohlner

A favorite post: 5 Reasons To Consider A Solo 401k

The Dividend Guy Blog

The Blog: The Dividend Guy Blog

Follow on Twitter: @TheDividendGuy

A favorite post: My Investing Pains and How I’ve Solved Them

Don’t Quit Your Day Job

The Blog: Don’t Quit Your Day Job

Follow on Twitter: @dqydjHQ

A favorite post: S&P 500 Return Calculator

The Mad FIentist

The Blog: The Mad FIentist

Follow him on Twitter: @madfientist

A favorite post: Lessons From Business School

Minafi

The Blog: Minafi

Follow him on Twitter: @minafiblog

A favorite post: The Minimal Investor

Other Investing Blogs Of Interest

If you know of a site that's not listed, please share it below.

Alain Guillot

Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance

Bitches Get Riches

Broke Investor

Buy Hold Long

Chris Reining

DivHut

Dividend Diplomats

Dividend Growth Investors

Dividend Pig

Dividend Portfolio

Dividend Quest

Engineering Dividends

Glenn Chan's Random Notes on Investing

Investing To Thrive

Jason Zweig

KINFO

Lyn Allen

Marc to Market

Meb Faber

Mindfully Investing

Modest Money

Monevator

My Stock Market Basics

Novel Investor

Optimize Your Retirement

Passive Income Pursuit

ReisUP

Retire Before Dad

Retire By 40

Safe Investing

Simply Investing

Small Investor

Stable Investor

Tela Holcomb

The Big Law Investor

The Brown Report

The Expat Investor

Time In The Market

Value Stock Geek

Final Thoughts

The post The Best Investing Blogs Of 2019 (and more great reads) appeared first on The College Investor.

https://ift.tt/2xGOFfr July 10, 2019 at 10:15AM https://ift.tt/2uYbvAb

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agemintherough · 7 years

Note

When the next chapter should arrive? -S3rp3nt3

Ah...I was waiting for someone to ask that. This past week has been quite hard, so very little writing ended up being done. Between two jobs (including preparing for Senior graduation and three semester final exams to administer to my classes), my small family, extended family and affairs, and working on my Instructional Technology Master's Degree, it's been fun trying to balance things out. When I was writing A Gem In The Rough, I would often just write it on my phone on the go, but that led to so many typos. As such, I write the majority of the chapter on my laptop. That being said, I've got quite a bit of free time on Monday that I am dedicating to working on this, so I could theoretically finish it then...But who cares for that? Why don't I give you a preview of what's in store by catching up with my favorite character who, like everyone else in this story right now, is not in a good place:The dream always begins the same:You are standing in a desert street, surrounded by abandoned buildings. You begin to run, but soon realize that you need to be strong. Finally, you find the courage to turn around and move through the buildings. You walk and walk until finally you see her in your path:The blue-haired woman.Your hand feels heavy and you try to lighten it. As you do so, you throw the weight in the air. It materializes into a gem that starts out looking like a clear crystal but slowly materializes into the familiar pink gem that is found in your son's stomach.The gem strikes the woman. It explodes. You look on in horror as the blue-haired woman screams in pain and clutches the charred remains of what was once her hand. The guilt you feel starts to consume you...But this time the dream shifts. The pink gem is now shattered on the floor. You scramble to collect the pieces, desperate to save it. But as you do so, a voice cries from the shards:"I JUST NEED TO BE ALONE!"As you desperately work harder to put the pieces back together, the cries of anguish coming from the woman get louder and louder until they explode into a crescendo of pain. You close your eyes, unable to stop the tears. You feel more useless than you have ever felt in your life. Everything that you have tried to build has fallen apart and you are unable to fix it... Suddenly, the combined yelling of the shards and the woman turn into a loud bang. With that, Greg Universe found himself back in the land of the living.Greg was typically an optimistic, laid-back man. He lived day by day and was not concerned about much besides the necessities of life. In his mind, a perfect day was waking up to his friends and neighbors in a great mood, having a song in his heart, and seeing his son be himself. Washing cars while whistling a song on a hot summer's day was a luxury Greg looked forward to just as much as he did staring up at the stars while propped up next to his beloved van. The small things were enough and he was happy with that.Lately, however, things had been changing for Greg. While the consumption of his Devil Fruit did cause Greg to stare longingly at the ocean he could never again swim in, that did not concern him. Music was always a part of his life and his newfound abilities just solidified that for him. What was truly eating away at Greg was guilt and remorse.While Greg knew a little about some of the darker things Rose had done in the war, he made it a point to have the pair not discuss it and to focus on the beauty of the life they were living in that moment. He had nothing to truly compare her trauma and guilt to until last month, where Greg had gotten into his first true fight since his days wrestling around with his cousin Andy. It was easy to dismiss confronting the likes of General Grevious and those robots attacking that samurai, since those were conflicts that were really happening around him. Miss Doublefinger was different.Upon entering the Grand Line, Greg immediately felt useless compared to the likes of his companions and the pirates Steven called friends. He wanted to help bring him home and do his part to help save the kingdom of Alabasta. He felt useless and was afraid to be the weak link in the Straw Hat crew. After his pep talk with Nami, Greg finally took steps to do his part for the crew he would soon become affiliated with. The Baroque Works assassin was the first human he had engaged in combat (he discounted trying to stop Lapis Lazuli when she had tried to choke Steven and Connie to death) and, as such, was the first person he had ever injured. While he was not directly responsible for beating her (that honor went to the combined forces of Nami and Petrea), he had ruined the Officer Agent's hand in ways that seemed beyond repair. She might have tried to kill him and topple a country, but she did not deserve that. Greg knew that every day she would look down at that hand and blame him...that is if she was not drowning in the ocean due to Malachite or whatever Garnet and Pearl were talking about a few hours prior.After settling back into Beach City and allowing his mind the opportunity to reflect on the events of his odyssey through the Multiverse and his newfound abilities the Rhythm-Rhythm Fruit granted him, Greg found himself having uncharacteristic nightmares about the incident. It bothered him quite a bit and he beat himself up for it. He attributed it to the added stress of Steven going out to the barn to try to save the world, but deep down he knew that it was his own guilt. At first, he debated talking about it to Vidalia or Barb, but he decided against it. He knew from watching Rose that it would take time to heal and, as such, he put it out of his mind. He refused to allow his actions in a war zone dictate his actions at home. By the time of Steven's birthday, he had managed to put it all behind him and had truly embraced the relaxed lifestyle that he had once called his own. He had found solace in playing music again and getting to know the two other Officer Agents who were staying in the house he helped build. Even returning to the Grand Line did nothing to trigger his lingering guilt. However, watching his son storm away into this unfamiliar city brought it back. Not only did the guilt of his fight against Miss Doublefinger consume his thoughts, but now it was compounded by the added fear of losing his son again. Although he knew that bad things happened all the time in the world and that the right thing to do was accept it, it was getting harder and harder for him to do so. Greg always claimed that if every pork chop were perfect, the world would not have the glory that was hot dogs. Sadly, this was one of those times Greg wished he lived in a world of pork chops grilled consistently to perfection. He wanted everything to work itself out. This wish was not just for him, but for his son. Steven already had so much on his plate to deal with. The stress was not healthy for a boy of his age. Regardless, Greg appreciated Pearl's apology to him earlier in the morning. It might not be enough to bring Steven back to the group, but he knew how Pearl truly felt about him. It took a lot for her to be the bigger humanoid sentient being and talk to him. That small action was enough to get him to finally sleep...until the loud noise woke him up from his guilt-filled slumber."Huh? What's happening?" Greg asked, rubbing his eyes as he surveyed the room.His eyes fell upon Zoro and Connie, who were both holding back the door. From the other side, Greg could hear intense shouting and pounding, no doubt the loud banging noise that caused him to awaken from his sleep. The noise and shouting only grew more and more intense, causing the musician to become concerned."We don't know! There was a large...ugh...explosion outside and, before we knew...gah...it, a large mob formed outside the hotel!" Connie panted as she used all of her energy to help Zoro keep the door shut. "I think they think we might be involved with the shooting of the mayor!""That makes no damn sense but explains why we are getting targeted..." Zoro frowned and scanned the room, seemingly looking past the sleep-deprived Greg. "If that's the case, we need to get the hell out of here...and fast. These guys are not in the mood to hear us out. We can't hold them back forever.""Wait...WHAT is happening?!" Greg tried to process everything in his head. "Why the hay would they think we did anything remotely like that?!""Don't know. Don't care. When I count to three, run to that window and jump. We can make the landing and hide in the streets until we can find the others and make a better plan," Zoro shut him down and nodded toward the window in the corner. "WHAT?!" Connie and Greg said at once."We can't just jump out a window! We are up high...she's a kid! I'm overweight and out of shape! How do you expect us to...?!""For the love of...Greg, do you trust me?" Zoro growled.Before the musician could respond, the shouting from the other side of the door intensified and the pounding began to increase. Not having time to argue it out, Greg found himself getting grabbed by Zoro with Connie holding onto his back with everything she had. The only personal belonging beside the swords at his side that he had the ability to carry was the sword that formerly belonged to Rose Quartz. As Zoro jumped out of the window, Greg did everything he could not to faint or panic.Upon landing outside, however, he was unable to stop himself from doing the latter option."WE JUST JUMPED OUT OF A WINDOW! THOSE PEOPLE WERE REALLY GOING TO TRY TO KILL US OR SOMETHING, WEREN'T THEY?! WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?!" Greg panicked, collapsing by a wall in the alley where they landed. "WAIT, WHAT ABOUT STEVEN?! IS HE HURT?! WHAT ABOUT...?!""GREG!" Zoro snapped and grabbed the musician's shirt. "You need to get it through your head that we are in trouble! Staying here and yelling is doing but giving our position away! Be a part of the solution and stop adding to the problem! You have Devil Fruit powers...use them! You wanted to be a pirate? Start acting like a pirate!"As Greg struggled to articulate the dozens of thoughts going through his head, Connie put one of her hands on his back and patted it. "As harsh as he put it, he's right, Mr. Universe. We won't be able to find Steven or do anything if we stay here. We'll protect you, but we need to run!"Understanding that he had no choice in the matter, Greg nodded and let the two of them lead the way, doing their part to hide from the citizens of Water Seven. As they did so, Greg thought back once more to his fight with Miss Doublefinger and how his actions hurt that woman. Regardless of what he did to her, doing what he did saved Petra's (and potentially Amethyst's) lives and overall helped the people of this world. If he had to step up and do it again, Greg knew that he would do it. If push came to shove, Greg would do what needed to done. He would find his son and bring him back to safety. He was Steven's father and it was his responsibility to do so. It was also his responsibility to watch of Connie. If she was protecting him, he would be failing Priyanka and Doug......the thought of which scared him far more than anything Water Seven could throw at him.

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