#but compared to magic mystic monkeys
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Golden Cicada
#I love tang#He's the coolest normal old guy ever#“normal”#but compared to magic mystic monkeys#dragons#demons and mythological gods#he's the normalest one#lego monkie kid#lmk#digital art#lego monkie kid fanart#digital drawing#digital illustration#tang sanzang#lmk tang#golden cicada#lego tang#monkie kid
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They Don't Call Him the "Great Sage" for Nothing
Summary: MK isn't new to being frustrated when it comes to learning "Mystic Monkey" abilities. But of all things, he never thought shrinking would take four hours to finally learn.
...now he just has to learn how to return to sweet, tall, 5'9" MK before Macaque comes to bother Monkey King. That should be easy enough, right?
(Yeah, no. It's not.)
Warning(s): Peril, Fear of death, Cursing
Word Count: 3560
Blame finally made me write a G/t prompt for Lego Monkie Kid (And may have helped me with writing it).
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MK isn't...new to being frustrated.
"Mystic Monkey Business" is difficult, and MK understands that- he really does! It hadn't taken Monkey King centuries to master his abilities for no reason; if anything, MK should be grateful it'd only taken him a few months to understand the basic teachings of Buddhism compared to the usual year.
The slight advantage still doesn't make failing any less disappointing.
Three hours. He'd spent three hours chanting phrases and attempting to put himself "in the perspective of the little guy" and he's still the same old, 5'9" MK. If he wasn't already at his wits end with the exercise, he might've laughed over spending so much time trying to become something so small.
MK growls as his latest attempt to shrink even just one inch fails once more, flopping unceremoniously onto the ground. His hands unclench, small crescents indented within his palm from where his nails had pressed a little too hard.
There's a crunch before a familiar face of auburn fur pops into view, the crumbs of a peach chip falling from Monkey King's hand. His mentor almost looks guilty staring at MK's limp body and it takes everything for MK to stop himself from commenting that he doesn't find the expression fitting. "C'mon bud, don't give up so early."
"Early," MK echoes. His arms flail, useless. "It's been three hours!"
He should've gotten this down after the second time Monkey King excused himself to grab another bag of chips, the monkey clearly bored with the uneventful training session. MK would've rather preferred a sparring match- or hell, getting beaten into the ground by some demon terrorizing the city in comparison to this torture.
A sigh tugs from between his gritted teeth. "It's just not working!"
"I mean, it's not magic, bud."
MK's eyebrows raises because oh, totally. Monkeys and humans are just naturally able to fly and lift nine tons so they can pick up some stupid staff.
Monkey King blinks, as if coming to the same realization himself.
"Okay, okay. Maybe it is sorta kinda magic, but that's not important! Point is, you can't just shrink 'cause you want to or because you said the right stuff; it takes practice. But you've got this, I believe in you."
MK can only stare, trying his hardest to combat his mentor's puppy-dog eyes with his own ten-mile stare of exhaustion and utter despair. He doesn't even want to get the ability down anymore; he just wants to relax on the ground, surrounded by pebbles and rock. It's comfortable down here, the dirt's coldness much more forgiving than the frozen wasteland of failure.
"...we could grab lunch after this next attempt. Take our mind off everything, yeah?"
...
Okay, maybe that does sound nice.
"Fine."
MK ignores the giddy expression on his mentor's face for "winning" the conversation, forcing himself back onto his feet and into a comfortable pose. His eyes close, welcoming the calming dark green scenery once he finds his posture is to his satisfaction.
Even in such a relaxed state, it's difficult to ignore the way his lungs squeal over each deep breath he forces through his nose, as though anxiety had begun to overtake MK's initial frustration. At least the tightness in his chest was kinder than thinking about the three hours he'd wasted on this dumb exercise.
Nope. Nope. No negative thoughts.
Brand new ability. Brand new attempt.
...a giant lunch would be the coolest thing, though. If he could shrink on a whim, he wouldn't have to bother Pigsy for a second bowl of noodles, a single helping almost too much for his small body. It'd be the greatest thing ever, leftovers for weeks.
Heavens above, MK would even be able to swim in that delicious broth. Ooo, and a carrot stick would be the perfect diving board, half of an egg transformed into a flotation device. Who knew swimming in a pool you could drink would be enticing?
"I can see you drooling."
Monkey King's playful jab is enough to break through MK's daydream, the envisioned pool of noodles nothing more than a shattered wish.
"Sorry, sorry." Right, brand new attempt. Focus on shrinking.
One inch at a time.
5'8".
5'7".
5'6".
All the way until he's just as short as the other monkeys on Flower Fruit Mountain. Until he's shorter than a peach.
MK gasps when it feels as though the ground he'd once sought comfort within rises up to meet him, his arms flailing if only to keep him from face-planting. He chokes, because he's pretty sure he forgot to breathe the whole time he'd been "focusing".
"Look at you, bud!"
Y'know, MK likes to think he's not someone that's easily scared. He's faced demons far more comfortable with their own powers without blinking an eye, boldly faced scoldings from both Monkey King and Pigsy that'd have the average person digging their own grave.
MK doesn't scare easy.
But he'd be lying if he wasn't utterly terrified at the way Monkey King's voice seemed to make the air rumble. MK whirls to face his mentor before he freezes, unable to combat the recognizable bout of fear short-circuiting his brain.
Monkey King looms from where MK sits, that familiar prideful and suddenly massive face upholding an uncanny resemblance to the thousands of "Great Sage" billboards across Megapolis. Scratch that, the monkey's more like a living skyscraper- taller than any MK had bared witness to. Now capable of being Flower Fruit Mountain rather than just living on it.
He doesn't know whether to accept the unspoken praise for MK's achievement or run.
Monkey king never mentioned anything about how scary it is being so small. The pebble MK had once been able to squeeze between his fingertips is now the size of a boulder, one that could be used as camouflage against this unwinnable battle should his mentor use this moment to test MK's reflexes.
He feels crushable, vulnerable from his rapidly thumping heart to a butterfly soaring across the sky like a jet.
"So?" Monkey King grins, taking up most if not all of MK's peripheral vision just by leaning forward. "How do you feel?"
Is that a trick question? MK feels like that's a trick question because there's no way he'll admit he feels like his own mentor is about to flick him away, forgotten like a piece of dust that'd clung to Monkey King's fur.
MK shakes the thought from his head, forcing a stuttered laugh from his throat like his lungs aren't squeezing in panic. "Uh, tiny."
Monkey King physically waves aside the comment, an action that totally doesn't make the now significantly smaller flinch. "Meh, you'll get used to it. I say we snag lunch anyway; on me. I'm starving!"
Faintly MK registers a pang of disappointment hidden beneath his unbridled fear- "on me" could only mean one thing and one thing alone.
He's not getting that five-course bowl from Pigsy's Noodles as he'd originally hoped. Nope. His fate had been sealed to drown in a bowl of peaches.
"Is that alright with you, bud?"
MK's nod is mindless, his sleeve wiping a bead of sweat from his eyebrows. He can't tell if it's from the rush of adrenaline still coursing through his veins or because it'd taken so much energy to shrink in the first place.
...
"Uh, how exactly do I grow?"
Monkey King only blinks, a response that isn't what MK had been praying for.
"You can't do it yourself?"
MK stares, certain his silence is enough of an answer. No he can't just grow. It'd taken him nearly four hours to shrink, only Heaven knows how long it'll take for him to learn how to return to normal size.
"Eh, you'll figure it out eventually. In the meantime..."
MK barely has time to formulate a thought before four meteors crash beside him, the ground rumbling as one lands a little too close to MK for his liking. As much as he wants to curl in on himself- rolly-pollys are making a lot more sense nowadays -he forces his head to lift and make sense of the situation, eyes wide at the scene.
Monkey King remains knelt before the ground, rough palms calloused with millennia of fighting pressed firmly to the ground beside MK. Screw the idea of his mentor being the size of a skyscraper, this is like watching the sun hover above Earth.
His fear barely subsides enough for familiarity to scrape at MK's brain, uncertain why the pose strikes a sense of...comfort?
Oh, wait, no he's seen this play out before. Well, he's never been a participant, but he knows how this goes.
Monkey King did this whenever the little monkeys of Flower Fruit Mountain wanted to climb aboard their king, tiny hands scaling the marigold-colored sleeves with ease. It'd kept the little ones from disrupting training exercises, while also opening the door amidst moments of peace for Monkey King to bask beneath tiny hands that combed through his fur.
A far-too-warm breeze ruffles his hair and MK startles, hands grasping desperately at his bandana to keep it from flying away.
He's barely given reprieve before Monkey King taps a finger, the dirt beneath MK's shoes bouncing. Impatient much. How is this even supposed to work?
Surely MK isn't expected to climb up his arm-
Oh, who is he kidding? Of course that's what his mentor wants.
The cuffs of the sleeve hover awkwardly over MK, large enough for a single fold to encase his entire body like some odd blanket. He can see how convenient the offer of an arm is for monkeys that have claws and experience scrambling up trees. It's just a shame that it's not so useful for a three-inch tall MK.
"I don't have all day, bud."
He knows Monkey King is just teasing. Knows his mentor always makes comments like that.
But it's terrifying now that MK could be swatted like a fly, or left on his own if his mentor decided to get lunch without having to share with his shrunk successor.
Now that thought spurs him to leap up and grab onto the sleeve. It's almost uncomfortable how bulky the fabric is, almost two thick to grab onto securely enough.
But he got it! And now is...currently dangling a good two inches off the ground unable to do anything else.
"A little h-help, please?"
MK doesn't know if the amused look that's broadcasted is good or bad. He wants to say good because that means no more monkey mischief.
But nothing could've prepared him for the feeling of being yanked into the air, an action that happens so quickly he nearly loses his grip on the sleeve. His vision swims and he can only curse vertigo for making it seem as if he had lost his grasp.
And then MK nearly does let go. His arms feel like jelly as he gazes at the growing distance between him and the ground, no safety net provided in the circumstance he falls. The ground feels miles below, and as comforting the fact he's invincible is, he doesn't want to learn what falling from that height and surviving feels like.
MK clenches his eyes shut as the fabric bunched within his arms suddenly pulls taut, his fingers slipping from the thread. And then he really is falling.
The howl of wind tears aside his screams, chest heaving as he lands on something soft only a beat later. He scrambles to figure out where he is before tripping forward as the ground beneath him moves. He might've hated being so exposed on dirt, but at least that stayed still.
MK's arms flail, desperate to make contact with the nearest stable object. What he doesn't expect is said object to be a soft bundle of what suspiciously looks like Monkey King's fur.
Before the dots can connect, the sky darkens as a shadow moves over him, the sleeve MK had previously been clinging to disappearing from view.
...he's on Monkey King's head.
Okay, okay. He can do this. He's ridden Monkey King's cloud for Heaven's sake, soared hundreds of miles above the actual unaltered ground. Who's to say this won't be just like that?
With fur bundled tightly within his grasp, MK forces his eyes shut. He doesn't want to look at the fall that still awaits him.
You're invincible. You're invincible. Monkey King made you invincible-
Monkey King takes a step and MK can't do this.
"STOP!"
MK's designated mode of transportation leaps a solid foot in the air and MK screams, terrified. His strangled grasp on Monkey King's fur may offer safety from the ground, but it's useless in preventing whiplash.
"Sheesh bud," Monkey King scolds, like it's MK's fault that the giant moved too fast. "You're gonna destroy my eardrums at this rate!"
"S-Slower-!" MK pleads, voice much softer if only to appease the one person responsible for his safety. "Just go slower!"
He can practically feel his mentor's pouting about being told to go slower. Still, the giant complies. The only issue is that while his mentor might be going slower, the footsteps are certainly heavier. He's nearly thrown against a flicking ear as the giant makes his way back into the hut, but at least MK isn't thrown off.
Okay, yeah, yeah. MK can do this.
"Uh, Monkey King?"
The head below his feet bobs and MK curses his mentor's naturally exaggerated reactions.
"Hm?"
"I'm not hurting you, right?"
"Pfft," the giant shrugs and oh wow, that should not feel like an earthquake. "Just like havin' a couple fleas in your fur."
That's fun. Everyone likes being compared to a flea.
"Of course of all people, you'd know."
Monkey King's head snaps to greet the new voice, and MK's scream is very manly, thank you.
"Not you," his mentor groans. As if said moment of surprise hadn't almost just caused MK to fall.
"Uh, yes me," Macaque's grin is vicious and smug as per usual. MK nearly flinches at the fangs at least double his size being displayed, a nervous chant falling from his throat that the daggers aren't meant for him. Like a switch the demon's grin falls, eyes narrowing onto MK's best attempt at cowering behind Monkey King's tangled fur.
It didn't take a genius to understand the situation at hand. Still, Macaque dares to ask.
"Wukong." It's spoken cautiously, far too gentle in comparison to how Macaque usually speaks. It's terrifying.
"Macaque." Harsher, with a rumble in it that shakes MK's core.
Nevermind, that's more terrifying.
"Why's the kid sitting in your fur?"
"Bonding time."
A weak excuse, MK thinks miserably.
"Bonding time?"
"And uh, y'know, protection! He's the safest when he's with me!"
There are a lot of ways to describe MK's state of mind. "Safe" is not one of them. His hands have long abandoned their hold on Monkey King's fur, now clasped at his ears in the hopes to get rid of the booming voices.
Macaque makes an odd hissing noise, not unlike that of an angry cat. Or a spider. And there better be neither. "Stop yelling."
The head beneath MK's shoes jostles once before it falls unnaturally still, patches of fur not far from his position dented as large, tan fingers hold it still. "You're gonna destroy both of our eardrums."
For a moment, MK sits mesmerized by the piece of sun that'd managed to sneak into his mentor's house, a bright yellow orb lifting from Monkey King's forehead to greet him. Ah, nope, nope, nope.
That's Macaque's eye. "H-Holy shit-"
"Sorry, kiddo," the shadow murmurs, totally unapologetic with the smirk in his voice. "How'd you get yourself into this one?"
Weakly, "Mystic Monkey B-Business?"
"Shoulda known," Macaque mutters, rolling his eyes. "Classic Wukong, can't teach for the life of him."
"Hey!" Monkey King protests, albeit much quieter than before. MK can't help but sigh with relief. "I'm perfect at teaching."
"...maybe we could work on that a little bit?"
Much to MK's terror, Monkey King's head rears back.
He can barely hear his mentor's iconic "psh" as MK scrambles to grab onto literally anything to keep himself from falling. A hand grabs at fur while the other pinches at skin, a gasp jolting through his chest when it feels like gravity will finally win and throw him to the ground.
Suddenly, the ground beneath him levels out and he lands on his stomach hard enough for his lungs to heave with how heavily he exhales. And then the mountain he stands on drops.
"Do not do that," Macaque growls, a warning that MK swears both he and his mentor will listen to. MK's limbs tremble as he looks up to see the shadow had forced Monkey King to sit down, hands on the giant's shoulders to keep him on the couch. "You will hurt him if you do something careless like that again."
"He's fine."
There's a long moment of silence until Macaque sits down as well, crossing his arms before pretending to feign interest in his claws.
Monkey King bristles, the fur around MK suddenly puffing out. "What are you doing?"
"Ensuring you don't traumatize your successor."
MK can't help but sigh in relief at the promise of someone capable of keeping Monkey King in one spot sticking around. He offers a gentle pat against his mentor's skull, one he's almost certain has barely any weight behind it. "Wh-What's one more 'mentor'?"
"...fine."
Oh thank the Heavens-
"But do you really have to hover the whole time?"
"Duh," Macaque snarks. "Least till MK's back to normal."
Monkey King’s head moves once more, presumably to glare at Macaque making himself cozy on the opposite end of the couch. “Overprotective,” his mentor mutters.
Even from atop his mentor's head MK barely picks up on the uttered comment, praying that Macaque had been far enough away to not pick up on the taunt. He really needs all the help he can get right now and two angry, giant monkeys would not be ideal.
Much to MK's panic, it seems Macaque did hear it, the demon's ears flicking toward monkey King before they flatten against his head in clear disdain. Yeah, he definitely heard that one.
But Macaque doesn't move to tear the other's throat out. A small win for a small MK.
"Well, if you're hoping to be a storm cloud raining on my day," Monkey King huffs. "How about a little bit of grooming, bud?"
It takes a moment for MK to realize that he was the implied party to start grooming. Red rushes to his face, embarrassed because why on earth did he think Monkey King would ask Macaque for help?
He glances at the dark-furred monkey, uncertainty a stone in his stomach over the curious expression that greets him. In an instant MK can already tell that Macaque understands his plight. "Wha'? Don't know how to groom, kid?"
MK quickly shakes his head. "No! I-I mean yes, of course I know how to groom!"
He just never thought a flea itself could do it. But...he can do this. It can't be that hard, right? He already had experienced grabbing onto clumped fur from today's "adventure", surely he can maneuver it enough to methodically groom.
He slowly manages to make his way through the sea of auburn, stopping only whenever he sees a knot he can untangle. The task's actually quite calming, if he's being honest. Who knew small hands would finally be helpful in something; if not climbing sleeves then in appeasing Monkey King through grooming. It only takes about five minutes to untangle the knot before he's moving onto another bundle of fur.
Okay, yeah, MK could get used to this. Piece of cake.
That is, until Monkey King growls. It's a scary thing, a loud rumble that vibrates the fur MK had been combing his hands through. If the sound weren't so paralyzing, he might've laughed over his mentor getting angry, probably over something small Macaque did.
At least until the body beneath him moves. It's not a violent jostle, like how a shake of the head had felt or how a careless shrug of shoulders could toss MK like a ragdoll. It feels more like he'd just sat down in a massage chair.
Macaque's voice acts like a balm to his panic; collected and a fraction louder than Monkey King's rumble. MK still frowns; either Macaque had gotten suspiciously good at ignoring the other's growl or he didn't feel threatened whilst a hostage was in the room.
"Relax, kiddo. What's the hold-up?"
"Why-" MK shrinks at how small his voice sounds. "Why is Monkey King growling?"
Macaque blinks, eyebrows furrowed in what MK can assume is confusion. A wave of bewilderment over something flickers in those yellow eyes before it warps into pure amusement.
"Wukong's not growling. He's purring."
Right, right. That makes total sense; no big deal or anything. Monkey King's just...purring.
"What?"
Monkeys aren't supposed to purr! Er, they aren't really supposed to talk either, but MK can't even fathom the possibility that their vocal cords are capable of producing such a sound in the first place.
Celestial primates work a touch different than normal primates, sure, but purring? Purring?
"Macaque?"
"Hm?"
"...do you also-?"
"Don't push it, bud."
#lego monkie kid#lmk fic#sunburst duo#lmk mk#lmk sun wukong#lmk macaque#angst#fluff#g/t#g/t community#Blame helped write this
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Monkie Kid: A Hero Is Born Live blog rewatch
Before I can go to S3, the season I left off and avoided for sometime until it’s available to watch, I needed to refresh my memory.
Oh wow straight to the intro
I also forgot that this has the same studio that animated ROTTMNT cuz the animation is sick!
Fun fact I only started to watch this because of a TIKTOK video of Macaque
The fight sciences scenes😍
Not SWK trapping DBK under a mountain just like Buddha did to him 🙂
Is this how the Journey to the West really ended? I really want to read but I don’t have it in me to read it. I’m just waiting for Overly Sarcastic Productions to make their video
Wow, sick translation Narrator
Ngl I forgot how Monkie Kid characters sounds like. With the fanfics I had read I genuinely written off Tang having a smooth gentle voice
Although MK’s voices caught me off guard
!!! I never noticed this!
This is a nice wallpaper
A warthog vs a pig in cooking… not sure who’s going to win this one /s
M.K. has some nice jams to listen too
M.K. is like me with phone screens. Never bother fixing them :,)
There's our impulsive Monkey!
How does M.K. do that?! How did he climbs—ah anime cartoon logic combined together is dumber than normal
You know I just realized. If this was an anime, you know they would put fan service on Iron Fan Princess
Even SWK was surprised at MK
Is that bull a robot or those arms are just prosthetics?
Oh, it is a Robot… you would think the Robots they created wouldn’t have this much emotions in them.
“Deemed worthy can hold it” what is this? Excalibur?
Just what kind of mystic did you infuse in that gauntlet?
Oh wow, Red Son you actually did it! Didn’t remember that
Can you even call that a mountain anymore? It turned into a hill!
Ooooo, didn’t remember that broken horn on DBK
“I had returned to the world of the living!” You didn’t die DBK, just sealed 😒
"No go away" *proceeds to peck* SWK you little shit
Aw, Red Son’s little face when DBK said excellent 🥹
What’s nothing more romantic than having your first meeting of your partner than landing on them… literally
I’m just giddy and amused by Red Sons antics on trying to look cool and impress his father
“Noodle boy” Oop, he said it!
Really want to put ADHD on M.K.’s character sheet cuz he just zoned out by looking at SWK staff
The two kids in the room having exaggerated expressions while the adults are just there with tired and confuse expression XD
Ah, I seem to forget that M.K. is also a little shit
With DBK’s exaggerated movements, I think I know where Red Son’s love of theatrics came from
The vehicle looks out of place
Not the noodles!
Red Son, why are you always ready to combust?… actually wait, don’t answer that
Oh that poor women’s apartment! How will she pay for it???
“Pigsy going to kill me🥹” Not if Red Son kills you first
Does the actual toy of the car really have a motorcycle inside?
Now how did Mei know M.K. was in trouble?
Ows, the property damage 😬
We all need Mei as a friend. I would know, because I am her
Something rare and expensive… go to a museum, but remembering the plot, it has to be a shoe
I'm sooo using this as a reaction
Props to the cashier to tell an intimidating person to go back in line
This feels like a fever dream but it's not
They’re immediately got to Flower Fruit Mountain?! Where’s the gag of day and night cycles going too fast?! Missed opportunity really
Technology defeated magic, oh how Rise!Donnie would be so smug
Here’s the cliche protag team thinking the MC is dead but they’re really not
Aw 🥺
You know they’re really angry when they’re smiling instead of raging
To think that staff used to be a pillar of a Sea Dragon God
Not my boy M.K. releasing the recent traumatic event he went through
Comparing Sha Wujing and Sandy… they look nothing alike… is this why people likes to write fanfics where Sandy killed Sha Wujing?
Yeah I don’t recall this magical sequence…
Aw, M.K. 🥹
Once again, I’m taken back at the voice
And here I thought it was fanon that SWK had his eye on M.K. as his successor for a while
Man, I would be mad at SWK for thrusting this kid into this situation but I remember now SWK is sooooo
“You believe in ourselves” that… does sound like a good plan
Convenient
Wow M.K. got rebirth into a stone egg
I was about to comment on how history going to repeat itself then I remember the future episodes I’m going to watch and DBK clearly not trap under something
Ow, that’s going to hurt
I’m having severe flashbacks of Krang vs Leo fight here qwq
Here’s the toy shot
I finally get it! Red Son's nickname for Mei! It's because Mei represents the dragon that turned into a horse in the Journey to the West! Wow!
And finished!
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Running a Marathon in Oz
A marathon in the Land of Oz? Sure, why not?
Let me paint a vivid picture of what it would be like to lace up your running shoes and embark on a race in the marvelous Land of Oz. Brace yourself for a whirlwind of adventure, enchantment, and surprises around every corner!
As you step onto the starting line, a sense of anticipation hangs in the air. The vibrant hues of the yellow brick road beneath your feet beckon you forward, promising a journey like no other. The sun shines bright, casting a warm glow on the emerald-green fields that stretch as far as the eye can see. The scent of wildflowers and the faint rustling of leaves accompany your every stride, creating a symphony of nature's chorus.
With a spirited "On your marks, get set, go!" from the race official, you set off, feeling the energy surge through your veins. As you pass through Munchkinland, the cheerful inhabitants, with their colorful attire and contagious laughter, line the streets to cheer you on. Their tiny hands wave enthusiastically, and their joyous voices fill the air, fueling you with an extra dose of determination.
The road winds through magical forests, where towering trees whisper secrets and cast dappled shadows on your path. You might catch glimpses of mischievous winged monkeys darting among the branches, their eyes gleaming with curiosity. But worry not, for they are merely spectators, curious to see the human runners in their mystical realm.
As you push forward, you may encounter some of the iconic characters that populate the land. A friendly scarecrow, his stitched smile widening as he sees you pass, may offer words of encouragement. The rusted tin man, oil can in hand, greets you with a nod, his metallic joints creaking in solidarity. And of course, Toto, Dorothy's loyal companion, might even join you for a few bounding strides, his tail wagging with delight.
But it's not just the scenery and characters that make the race in Oz truly magical; it's the ever-changing landscape itself. You may find yourself crossing a babbling brook on a bridge guarded by a lion—a fierce creature with a heart of gold. With a mighty roar, he steps aside, allowing you to pass, his noble gaze spurring you onward.
As the miles tick by, the Emerald City gleams in the distance, its sparkling spires drawing you closer. The streets bustle with excitement as Ozians come out in droves to witness this extraordinary event. Their cheers and applause form a symphony of support, echoing in your ears and propelling you forward with newfound strength.
And then, just when you think you've reached your limits, the marathon organizers present you with a pair of emerald running shoes—shoes that possess the power of flight! With a leap and a flutter, you take to the air, gliding effortlessly above the cobblestone streets, your feet hardly touching the ground. The rush of wind in your face, the breathtaking views of the city below—oh, it's an experience beyond compare!
Finally, as the finish line approaches, the cheers crescendo into a thunderous roar. The crowd parts, and you cross the threshold, triumph radiating through every fiber of your being. The sense of accomplishment, the camaraderie forged with fellow runners, and the memories of a land teeming with wonder will forever remain etched in your heart.
Running a race in Oz is not just a physical endeavor; it's an exploration of the fantastical, a testament to the power of imagination, and a celebration of the indomitable human spirit. So, my friend, if ever you find yourself donning your running gear and dreaming of a whimsical adventure, close your eyes, click your heels, and believe in the magic of running through the Land of Oz.
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A Father’s Love
Another piece for @winterpower98's Swap Au.
I don’t really have a time frame for this scene, but with all the horror MK has had to endure in this AU I couldn’t help myself. I just needed a bit of fluff to break up my writing. Plus, I am all for Tang showing just how much he loves MK and being a protective father figure.
The poor boy needs a break, but we all know it won’t last.
_____________________________
“Well now, aren’t you a stubborn human.” Sun Wukong mused as he took in the one who dared to separate him from his creation.
The ground was split in a dozen directions. Craters dotted the landscape. The scent of volatile magic soaked the air. Yet, in the center of all this was a small circle of undisturbed land where his boy and the human stood unharmed.
The human didn’t look particularly impressive. If he had to guess, somewhere in his early to late thirties. He was obviously healthy but still suffered from the weaknesses all humans share. No, what truly caught his attention was the strangest sensation he knew this human. Almost as if the golden fillet was readying itself by his mere presence.
The human’s talent in magic was nothing to scoff at. Admittedly, it was nothing he couldn’t brush off, but seeing a human wielding so much raw power was supposed to be nearly impossible in this modern age. However, defying the odds here one stood before him trying to keep him from one of his treasures.
He was not alone in his curiosity. The Monkey King watched as MK stared at the bespeckled man in utter surprise.
“Since when could you do that?!” The newly revealed monkie demon all but screeched.
“Not too long.” The scholar cryptically stated.
His annoyance at the lack of an answer freed Mk of his fear. Just enough to swallow his need to be supported during this horrible moment and say what needed to be said. “You’ve got to run! Forget about me and get the others to safety!”
“I’d listen to my son if I were you, human.” The tyrant stated with a cocky smirk. “Since he’s started to learn his lesson about where he belongs I can be generous. You can take all your friends back home to rest up and we can continue another day.”
With a trembling hand, MK desperately gripped Tang’s pant leg. Praying that his love would be translated behind his pathetic display. “Please. I can’t see you get hurt because of me.” They were the kindest people he ever had the pleasure of knowing. He couldn’t bear knowing they got hurt trying to save him. The only reason they were in this crisis was because of him. If he hadn’t been so weak...
If he didn’t allow himself to be used, Wukong would still be trapped.
“Mk, you know I can’t leave anyone behind to suffer this tyrant’s hospitality.” The word was hissed out with more venom than a viper pit. “Especially not after learning of Macaque’s past.” Tang adjusted his stance so his side now supported the youth. His fingers twitched randomly, his eyes remained locked onto the armored demon. “Besides, we both know Mei would gut the two of us if we even think of considering it.”
It made no sense. They were in the presence of a being that filled the nightmares of all, from the lowliest human to celestial kings, yet young simian couldn’t help but smile. “Good point.” Compared to the Monkey Tyrant the young dragon was an insect, but she had earned the fear that accompanied her ire.
“Such a touching display. But do you really think you will be able to give him what he needs? That others will accept who he really is? You can say you love him until the sun blows up, but it will never change the fact he is me.” The Monkey King’s smile showed nothing but cruel amusement, but his tail betrayed his fraying patience.
“Do you take me for a fool? It doesn’t matter what he looks like, where he came from, or how he started out. He is my Son! And I refuse to let anyone abuse his kind heart ever again!”
Two hands slammed into the ground with unnatural force. Mystic runes and circles filled the air as the battlefield was bathed in a gentle yellow light. Golden ropes wrapped around the Tyrant as the earth formed a five-sided fortress around him. Symbols were burned into each side, somehow not concealing the burning rage from Sun Wukong’s enraged expression.
With that done, Tang grabbed MK’s hand and ran knowing full well both their lives depended on it. “Come on! That won’t distract him for long.”
Or at all. They hadn’t cleared five meters before they started to rocks crumble and mystic bindings viciously snap.
Somehow the two of them were able to reunite with Macaque and Mei in order to get some much-needed distance without any major obstacles. It was silently agreed that the Moneky Tyrant had let them leave. Why? They didn’t want to think about it. All they could do was patch themselves up and think of a new plan.
_____________________________
Pigsy treated them all to a delicious meal, after yelling at the four of them for tangling with the Monkey King. About how they could have gotten killed and berating them for thinking about leaving them behind. Tang was certain Pigsy’s volume was the only reason Macaque looked uncomfortable.
That night they all stayed with Sandy. It was agreed that they should stick together until the heat dies down. Mei stepped out to call her parents to warn them about ... everything. While Macaque had essentially taken over as her father figure it didn’t mean her birth parents were no longer a target. Macaque aided Sandy in setting up the spare rooms. Piggy was just cleaning up dinner and preparing a few things for breakfast.
Leaving Tang to begin creating wards to hang around the boat and MK to uncomfortably sit as he stared at the scholar.
“Why did you do that?”
Tang pushed up his glasses, looking more grave than the teen ever recalled seeing.
“I was preparing that spell the moment I opened my mouth. I figured after that outburst it was only a matter of time before he got bored playing nice and when for the kill. Despite what movies would make you believe, talking is not a free action.” His precious disciples learned that lesson the hard way.
“No. I mean...when you said all that stuff, did you really mean it? You view me as a son?” MK could barely get the last word out. It felt like all of this was just a wonderful dream and when he awoke he’d be back on Flower Fruit Mountain.
Tang set down his brush to fully face the demon. “Of course, I mean it. I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.” He poured his entire soul into that truth, a fact he was proud to scream to the heavens.
“Even when I look like this?” Sharing the same face of the demon who caused so much pain and suffering. He could barely stand it, but the thought of continuing to live in his human form just felt even more unbearable. He was tired of lies. Tired of being used.
“So you look like a demon monkey, big deal." Tang waved off the concern, regaining his trademark confident sass. "Last I checked, we are close with several demons one of which is a rather famous monkey. At your core, you are still the same MK we grew to know and care about. You may have started out as Wukong’s clone, but you have come a long way since then.”
Seeing that the boy was still unconvinced, Tang wrapped his arms around the child’s shoulders and brought him in for a hug. “You will always have a place with me, with any of us. You are loved and appreciated, Xiǎotiān. Never forget that.” Circles were slowly traced on his back as shaky breathing gradually evened out.
Xiǎotiān nuzzled his father’s neck. Taking in the scent of aged paper, ink, and tea. “Can I sleep with you tonight?”
“Of course.” Gentle fingers slowly combed through his hair.
The world was falling into the depths of madness, but in this moment Xiǎotiān could deceive himself into believing everything would work out.
#lego monkie kid#lmk#tang#sun wukong#qi xiaotian#monkie kid#past abuse#winterpower98#monkie kid swap au#dad tang#Tang is Tripitaka#monkey tyrant
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Random question, but what do you think a ROTTMNT and Monkie Kid crossover would be like? I've only read one drabble with Donnie and MK checking out each other's staffs and I've seen animation comparisons and now I'm very curious.
Obviously that scene of Donnie and MK comparing their staffs would be fun. Donnie is absolutely baffled by how heavy this thing is despite its size and also it’s ability to grow seemingly indefinitely both in height and width???? What??? Ugh. Mystic weapons are the worst. Mikey and MK can bond over their art and Mikey probably teaches MK about his graffiti style and MK shows Mikey his manhua comics about Monkey King. Leo and MK would get along great, I can see them having the same sense of humor but also Leo is kind of a wild card which reminds MK a lot of Mei. They probably pull pranks together and get up to all sorts of nonsense. Raph would definitely want to train with MK and his crazy powerful staff. Since Raph has to hold back against his brothers a lot, he might feel more comfortable fighting with MK who has Monkey King powers and has a staff that can easily block all his blows without hurting him.
As for how they would interact in their respective environments, if this is a case where MK goes to New York City and meets the turtles and all their enemies, I bet he would have a field day interacting with all the yokai and mutants there. The thing that really is sticking out to me though is the fact that their big powerful nemesis is a monstrous spider lady. I think MK meeting Big Mama would be freakin hilarious considering his arachnaphobia.. also I could see her trying to snatch him up and put him in her battle nexus as a big name fighter: The Monkie Kid, successor to Sun Wukong (or since the yokai are japanese, she’d probably use Son Goku but still) and the boys would have to rescue him because he’s too afraid of Big Mama to properly escape for himself haha this is kinda funny actually, I’m liking this idea!
If the turtles were to go to... I’m just realizing now that I don’t know what MK’s city is called or even if it has a name lol... but anyway, if the turtles went to MK’s city over in China there would probably be some fun misunderstandings about them being confused for demons and them confusing the demons for mutants or yokai. Also they’re totally bummed because they can nOT find a good pizza place around here! ...well, these noodles Pigsy made are pretty good at least. But it’s not pizza! I think the thing that would throw off the turtles the most is Red Son and Iron Fan. They’re completely human in appearance but have magic fire and wind powers, so they’re the first demons they’d meet that couldn’t just be dismissed as regular old mutants or yokai... they could assume they were wearing a cloaking broach like Sunita or Big Mama does, but when it’s apparent that’s not the case it’s extremely confusing!
Oh also I can say with absolute certainty is that Splinter and Tang would get along famously and take turns bumming free noodles off of Pigsy who is furious about it.
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65 song lyric prompts. (+ requests are now open!)
Happy three-month anniversary of me posting my first fic! To celebrate, I’ve decided to re-open my requests! This time, I’m opening requests for drabbles only (so I’ll be writing for pieces approximately 0.5-2k in length). As I am still in the middle of my semester, I do not want to have longer requests on the back burner to worry about (and I have far too many wips, too... remind me why I’m doing this again?).
Something else that I’m doing differently this time around is supplying some potential prompts to include with your desired member (or group if you’d like a surprise pairing; I enjoy doing that, too!). I will mention that the lyrics listed below are entirely optional to include in your request.
If you do decide to include a lyric in your request, I will either use it directly in your story or as a concept to determine the overall tone of the fic. (What I mean is, don’t be surprised if your chosen song lyric isn’t explicitly mentioned in your requested piece!)
The lyrics listed below are a blend of fluff and angst; feel free to include a specific genre in your request, too, if you’d like! And this is a friendly reminder that I won’t write anything regarding incredibly sensitive topics or NSFW. Here is my request faq page if you’d like a refresher!
(Lastly, here’s a quick shoutout to @woozisnoots for supplying me with the last three song lyrics on this list. Thanks again, Alex!)
"Those three words now are home." Broods; Four Walls.
"Come and kiss me slow." Niki; Spell.
"You'll be my best friend until we grow old." Jeremy Zucker, Chelsea Cutler; this is how you fall in love.
"So pull me tight and close your eyes." Jeremy Zucker, Chelsea Cutler; this is how you fall in love.
"I want to embrace you like I did then." Seventeen; Habit.
"I want things like they were before." 88rising, Niki, Phum Viphurit; Strange Land.
"The starlight of the day we saw together." Tomorrow x Together; Magic Island.
"The smile that you gave me." Billie Eilish; i love you.
"There's nothing stopping you from leaving." EDEN; love, death, distraction.
"Hold my breath another minute." The Japanese House; Lilo.
"Every move was just habitual." The Japanese House; Lilo.
"I keep looking for something even though I know that it's not there." The Japanese House; Maybe You're the Reason.
"We don't touch anymore." The Japanese House; We Talk all the Time.
"And all the ideas, and the hope I'd never ask him for, I'll throw them away." dodie; Cool Girl.
"And I'm kissing pillow lips, drunk off saccharine potions." Niki; Pandemonium.
"I won’t take you for granted because you loved me as I am." Seventeen; Fallin' Flower.
"I met you, and I realized that everything has a reason." Seventeen; Fallin' Flower.
"In my heart, it’s only you." Seventeen; Thanks.
"I'll disconnect and keep the heart safe; I replicate emotion." Chase Atlantic; LOVE IS (NOT) EASY.
"I remember your eyes in the moonlight, but I only get to see you in my mind." Daniel Schultz; Bad Company.
"Those little curls on the back of his head bouncing as he steps out of my life, forever." Tom Misch; Movie.
“Two lovers in this mystic dream.” Tom Misch; Movie.
“But would you realize what you meant to me, or was it mystery?” Tom Misch; Movie.
"But when I reach for you, there's just a supercut." Lorde, Supercut.
"In the starlight so blue, remember evenings so yellow." Miles Cameron; Caged Bird.
"I no longer dream of you, but your shirt's still in my dresser." Miles Cameron; Caged Bird.
"Maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new." Arctic Monkeys; Do I Wanna Know?
"Thanks for listening to me out of pity." Gallant, Panasonic.
"Say what you want, but I've seen a million faces, and not even one can compete with watching you." Gallant, Céline.
"You are the sunlight that rose again in my life." BTS; Euphoria.
"When you called me, I became your flower." BTS; Serendipity.
"You're something like an angel; you do something to my mind." Pink Sweat$ (feat. Joshua & DK of SEVENTEEN); 17.
"I find solace riding in your front seat ‘till morning." Dizzy; Joshua.
"Think about your lips and the way they kiss; there's so much I really miss about you." Sam Smith; For the Lover That I Lost.
"Guess we'll never know all the beautiful things we could be." Sam Smith; Forgive Myself.
“I love that it's not hard to be in a place where laughing's easy.” Still Woozy; Goodie Bag.
"We don't need much outside of us, do we?" Lauv, Alessia Cara; Canada.
"The way I feel and the way we kiss, swear that nothing else in the world exists." Lauv; Invisible Things.
"Close your eyes; if you're tired, lean on me for a second." TAEMIN, WENDY; Be Your Enemy.
"And I know I like to draw that line when it starts to get too real." Troye Sivan; Talk Me Down.
"Just like the tall sky, the chilly wind, the vast ocean, you’ve become a part of the scenery that I take for granted." Seventeen; Smile Flower.
"We mess around, and laugh too loud, and make the sounds we try to hide when people are around." Conan Gray; Comfort Crowd.
"Flowers bloom even in the falling rain." Hwasa; LMM.
"Will I get to you a little faster if I was the snow in the air?" BTS; Spring Day.
"Wait a little bit, just a few more nights; I’ll be there to see you." BTS; Spring Day.
"But we're the greatest they'll hang us in the Louvre." Lorde; The Louvre.
"You asked for my heart, but I didn't know where to start." The Weeknd; Nothing Compares.
"And I know you don't love me so, but please say it once before I go." Matt Maltese; Even If It's a Lie.
“I hope it’s you they put me in the ground by.” Niki; Around.
"Collecting my thoughts just to keep them on inside." Thomston; April.
"I'm surprised when you kiss me." King Princess; 1950.
“You’re beautiful, that’s what you are, and I still don’t know how we fell in love.” Jeremy Zucker; orchid.
“I ask you just to hold me, hold me tightly, hold my body.” Wet, Body.
“I will lay down by your side; I will keep an open eye while you stare into the Sun.” Jeremy Zucker; hell or flying.
“Listen carefully, winter; you made me bloom. Now I will send forth my blue aroma with my branches; I'll show you that there's another sky.” Younha, RM; WINTER FLOWER.
“Some things stay, and some things fade.” Rei Brown; Wouldn’t It Be Great.
“I find her silhouette dances in the corners of my mind.” Rei Brown; Wouldn’t It Be Great.
“And in spite of it all, you’re still my everything.” Jeremy Zucker, Chelsea Cutler; emily.
“So do your worst to me.” Bruno Major; Just The Same.
“I don't need to take your heart; you keep yours, I'll keep mine.” Niki; Lose.
“I'm brittle at the parts where I wish I were strong.” Niki; Lose.
“Inside my blue dream, I want to hold you even if you say we can't.” J-Hope; Blue Side (Outro).
“Heaven is in reach; does your heart skip a beat when I'm gone?” PARADISE RISING, Fern; Kaori.
“Sometimes is just sometimes, and you know, sometimes never stays.” khai dreams; Sandals.
“I only feel alive when I’m breathing in your air.” pretty havoc; goddess.
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What’s Happening with Legacies Season 3 and How do all the Theories Fit?
hello quick disclaimer i am very confused with tumblr and i haven’t used this in years i’m just lazy to summarize the essay so i’m putting it here
also this is a 6-page essay i just think i should warn people beforehand
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Season 3 focusing a lot on consequences and obsession
As we’ve seen through most of what season 3 has been released so far, a lot of the character arcs and plot developments that the writers are trying to pull off have something to do with consequences. Some of the observable ones are the consequences of Hope’s actions from the recent episodes, Josie trying to find a sense of normalcy at MFHS after dealing with the consequences of Dark Josie during the earlier parts of season 3, the consequences of Lizzie kinda betraying MG in 3x08 being MG leaving the school, etc. I think that the “big bad” of the season isn’t really a creature, Malivore, or the artifact, but rather the antagonist of the season considerably be the consequences that the characters deal with as a result of their actions. If we take into thought the Puck theory and how his character in the Shakespearean play mismatched the couples, the dynamics between the characters and the ship of the show (mostly Handon-Hosie) in the episodes after the 3x03 can be considered the consequences of Puck matching the wrong people together. The most noticeable of these consequences are Hope and Josie’s lack of interactions and Hope’s obsession with Landon.
While we’re on the topic of obsession in relation to consequences, let’s tackle how 2x11 can possibly be foreshadowing to Hope’s character arc in season 3. Hope and Alyssa Chang are essentially reflections of the same character. They’re both considerably reckless with magic and both come from tragedies in their families (parents’ deaths) that they at least partially blame themselves for. In 2x11, the audience watches as Alyssa tries to kill Kym and MG while under the influence of the Obsession arrow. What we can consider the consequences that Alyssa faces here is not only Kym leaving, but also MG (who she had a crush on) distancing himself from her. Now we can see parts of that being reflected in Hope’s arc throughout season 3, most noticeably starting by around 3x04. Hope has been obsessed with Landon and even just protecting him in general (but let’s be honest, it’s been like that partially in season 2 also) that she’s going through such lengths just to make sure that Landon’s safe. This reaches to the point that she’s already hurting the people she loves like Josie and Lizzie while her obsessive love for Landon seems to be her driving force this season. This very much reflects how Alyssa willing to hurt MG, whom she had a crush on, just to get what she wanted. I think it’s good to note also that in this episode, it was Pothos that was pulling the strings and not Cupid. In mythology, Cupid or Eros is the god of attraction, affection, and passionate desire while Pothos is the god of longing, yearning, desire. Seeing as to how obsession is quite linked to one’s desire we can see how this plays out for Hope’s arc involving her desire to keep Landon alive while balancing her relationships with the other characters. In relation to Hope and Josie or rather Hosie in general, longing and yearning can be referenced to how they’ve been slowburn for most of season 3 with their very small amount of interactions and how their ship has always been mostly about longing and yearning, even stemming from Josie’s crush on Hope when she was younger.
Even the references they make throughout 3x09 have something to do with consequences and/or obsession. Let’s start with the monster references they’ve made. In fact, the first monster Hope references, which is a cherub, is very often mixed together with imagery of Cupid. Cherubs are known for helping people deal with sin that separates them from God (Judaism) and also said to keep record of everything that happens in the universe (Christianity), but more on that will be expounded later on. On the other hand, pixies grant wishes in exchange for favors, which can fit to the kitsune!Hope theory with its similarity to how kitsune grants supernatural wishes in exchange for kindness. The Jinni reference can be related to how Lizzie was “obsessed” with trying to find the perfect reality; we’ll go back to this reference in a while. We also have a reference to an artifact similar to the Inari wishing pot which is the Monkey’s Paw. The Monkey’s Paw is said to be a story that acts also as a cautionary tale which reminds us that unintended consequences often accompany the best intentions.
Now that we’re on the topic of artifacts, let’s talk about what the artifact, which is believed to be an Inari wishing pot, is connected to the whole plotline of season 3. We see three different historical figures connected to it, namely Einstein, Rasputin, and Napoleon. In relation to consequences, these three people have all experienced some kind of consequences that may or may not be related to the artifact. But with the fact that the writers take the effort to acknowledge that they owned the artifact, it can be assumed that these consequences have something to do with the wishing pot. We’ll focus on Einstein more compared to the other two because he was seen having a direct relation to Clarke in the flashback scene in 3x09. Considering that in the scene where Einstein and Elsa were seen, it looked to be like they were leaving their house so I assume this is when they left Berlin to go to the United States. Based on what I researched on this history, before they reached the train station, Einstein and Elsa had to close up their house at Caputh. In the scene, we saw them about to leave their house right before Clarke and the guys he was with (I’m guessing Triad at the time) raided the place looking for what I assume would be the artifact. Clarke also mentioned that they had to find it before “der Fuhrer” got there. “Der Fuhrer” was actually a term used to refer to Hitler at the time, which lines up well with history given Einstein’s historic distrust of the German political body especially with Hitler’s sudden rush to prominence. This line suggests two things, either Clarke meant that Hitler and/or the military was going after Einstein or that Hitler knew about the artifact’s existence. Moving later on to history, Einstein was said to indirectly have caused the atomic bomb due to a letter he wrote to the U.S. President Roosevelt about the Germans possibly making an atomic bomb, which then led to the death of thousands with the bombing of Hiroshima. In fact, if we look at the history of these three historical figures, their “consequences” have something to do with death. Einstein with the deaths caused by the bomb, Rasputin having been said to predict that if he died because of a Russian nobility, their whole family would be assassinated (which did end up happening), and the deaths associated with Napoleon due to his persistence towards victory with the French Revolution. Given that we’re going to see a banshee in 3x10, a supernatural creature which is said to literally be the “harbinger of death”, I’m thinking that we get to see these consequences to Hope’s wish of bringing Landon back finally coming into play, seeing as to how the consequences of the past three historical figures had something to do with death. Aside from that, as observed by some people, the wishing pot can be seen in the background of the season 3 poster as some kind of window of sorts.Interestingly, windows are often associated with symbolism for opportunities, fresh starts, beginnings, protection, views or opinions or perceptions. I think the opportunities part could be attributed to “opportunities” that would come depending on what wish you made with the Inari wishing pot while the “fresh start” could not really be fresh but more in the sense of Hope starting to finally have something to her character or possibly even a fresh start as a tribrid (??). Windows can also mean that one is too quick to judge, which can be applied to how Hope’s obsession over Landon has made her too quick to judge everything around her thus affecting her relationships with the other characters in the Super Squad.
Hope’s Character Arc and How the Theories Affect It; The relation of Kitsune to Sprites in the context of the Puck and Kitsune!Hope Theories
Now that we’ve covered most of what 3x09 really adds to the theories, let’s go to the theories themselves. So for this, we’ll be covering the Puck theory, possessed!Hope or kitsune!Hope theory, and the “the Landon that came back is actually MaliLandon” theory. Let’s go over the Puck theory real quick first. So in short, a sprite named Puck Goodfellow was the MOTW in 3x03 aka the musical episode and was sort of a “good” monster in the sense that he didn’t really directly affect the plot or try to kill the students but then he was more of a psychological monster that influenced the relationships of the characters with one another (Hope and Landon in particular). Seeing as to how he was able to control or implant memories/thoughts into the students’ minds makes me assume that he has some kind of telepathy powers. In fact, in some folklore it is said that some sprites have telepathic powers, specifically to project thoughts in the sense of psychic persuasion and confusion inducement/misdirection which I think is what we see Puck actually practice a lot in that whole sequence with MG trying to figure out his identity. Although they actually did tackle three celtic supernatural creatures in season 3 alone, I think Puck is the one with the most important role. Several stories describe sprites as mystical beings that either help humankind or trick some unsuspecting human into a sad tragedy of sorts. I think we would be able to watch Puck do both of that as seen in the earlier episode and later on in season 3 if/when he does come back.
So how does the Puck theory relate to the kitsune!Hope theory? Well in Japanese folklore, sprites exist as yosei. They’re said to more or less have the same powers as yosei are simply the Japanese counterparts for sprites and the difference is mostly just in the term used to call them. Yōsei or Yousei, are small magical creatures (specifically fairies or sprites) which can regularly attract ghosts to them. What differs Yōsei from their European counterparts is that they can learn the human spoken language, and they also have mastered sign language. The one thing that actually directly links Puck (as a yosei/sprite) to the whole theme of consequences surrounding death is that many folklore actually included beliefs that yosei could bring the dead back to life. The thing is though, that there’s this thin line between yosei and yokai, the latter being where kitsune usually falls under. In fact, some kitsune are often mistaken by several folklore to yosei (depending on which story you read). One example would be Hakuzōsu, a kitsune that takes over the place of a monk it killed, who is often mistaken as a yosei in some stories. The essential difference between yosei and yokai is that yosei are shape shifting animals and water-spirits and city ghouls (if you know spirited away, those are practically yokais). Meanwhile, yokai are, yes, demons, but are the embodiment of a moment: a feeling of dread and bewilderment, or even awe and wonder of an event; OR a strange sound or peculiar scent. This doesn’t necessarily mean that yokai are automatically evil, it’s just the strong association of a specific distinction to them such as emotions or a scent. This is the reason why some kitsune are often mistaken for yosei, as they are also shape shifting animals with a strong connection to nature. Some yosei can also be mistaken for yokai, one example being tsukumogami which are spirits that haunt household objects. This is why some stories have both kitsune and yosei interacting with one another or at the very least acknowledging each other’s existence, a favorite reference yosei make about kitsune being the Tamamo No Mae. Another thing that helps connect kitsune to the whole theme of consequences involving death is that kitsune can be consumed by negative emotions easily, especially when it comes to seeking vengeance, to the point that it can lead to death.
How I think the rest of s3 will play out if these theories do end up happening, esp with artifact
Now that we’ve established the connections between the Puck theory and the kitsune!Hope theory, this is how I think these two theories would play out in season 3 alongside the Inari wishing pot (the artifact) and the possible MaliLandon theory.
First of all, let's connect the theories to the episodes of season 3 that have already aired, basically 3x01 to 3x09. In connection to what Clarke said in 2x01 about Hope being Malivore opening the gates which would most likely end up allowing other monsters including the kitsune to escape at some point during season 2. While Hope was in a coma from 2x16 to 3x01, it's assumed that the kitsune possessed her, which would be easier for the kitsune since it's easier for them to possess people who are asleep or in a comatose state. From late 3x01 to early 3x03, this is the closest we get to Hope's actual personality outside of being obsessively in love with Landon. We even get to see Hope being critical of Landon and upfront with him in the end of 3x02 and for the first three-fourths of 3x03. In fact, we can actually connect Hope starting to become more attached and we could say obsessed with Landon after her interaction with Puck. For most of 3x03, we see Puck mess with the minds of the students, making them believe that he was always a faculty at the school. This could obviously be taken as a form of psychic persuasion as part of the telepathic powers that several sprites have. Then we see Puck talk to Hope right before she goes on stage to sing Always and Tomorrow. Interestingly, their conversation hardly has anything to do with Hope and Landon's relationship entirely. In fact, it was more focused on her legacy as a Mikaelson and how opening herself to feel that heartbreak that came with the loss of her parents is what allows her to grow. It would've been the perfect chance to see Hope grow as an individual character outside being Landon's girlfriend and finally see her live out the Mikaelson legacy along with the build up of her character in The Originals. But instead we see her sing a song directed towards Landon, get back together with him, and proceed to become more and more obsessively in love with him in the future episodes. I think that Puck didn't exactly put any kind of love spell/potion on Hope, but rather he mostly used psychic persuasion. The fact that we've already seen him do it throughout the episode might as well be the writers priming us to consider the possibility of Puck telepathically messing with Hope's brain. But if you take Puck's lines about losing people and feeling that heartbreak and think of it from the kitsune's perspective. Many kitsune usually travel in packs (similar to werewolves) so imagine what it would feel to the kitsune who's been consumed by Malivore thousands of years ago, having lost the rest of her pack at this point and as alone as Hope probably does. I honestly think that the kitsune might have even possessed Hope not purely out of spite or for revenge against Malivore, but because it was still weakened from being stuck in Malivore for so long without being able to feed that it relied on a powerful body she could find. And honestly, what's more powerful than a tribrid? So I think Puck's words spoke not only to Hope, but to the kitsune as well. But along with these words, Puck did some kind of telepathic psychic persuasion that allowed the kitsune to surface more with Hope and have more control. Considering how both Puck and the kitsune know what it's like to be stuck in Malivore, it would be understandable for Puck to take the kitsune's side. This is also putting into consideration that by the time of the musical, the kitsune must have spent a few weeks to at least a month in Hope's body which would allow them to have enough strength to gain control. In the episodes after 3x03, this is when Hope begins to use her "wolf eyes" more. The noticeable difference though with her eyes is that they are more gold-toned compared to the usual yellow color of the other werewolves' eyes. This along with gold lighting from the previous season 3 episodes can be attributed to the connection kitsune has to the color gold. Aside from this, kitsune often flash their eyes as a sign that they're in control (this was also utilized in a korean show centered on kitsune/gumiho so I'm taking reference from that also). Then we reach 3x04 where it's very possible that the kitsune killed MaliLandon/Landon by having sex with him, taking his life force, and reducing him to his original goo form. The catch that the writers included here is that he took Hope's Mikaelson necklace with him, which can also possibly be the kitsune's life orb in its jewelry form. Then we move to 3x05 where the artifact is first introduced. Seeing as to how the artifact is an Inari wishing pot based on the jewels, structure, and the fact that it opens, it makes sense for Hope to be the only one able to open it considering that she's possessed by a kitsune. Here we get the wish that Hope makes which is to bring Landon back. But then we also put into consideration the kitsune's wish which is to get back their life orb. I believe that the artifact mixed these two wishes together, bringing back MaliLandon and creating a mirror version of Landon that's the more "idealized, perfect" version of him. This is in the sense that a new malivore portal appeared (which would give the kitsune a way to get the necklace back and a way for MaliLandon to come back) and hope got her idealized version of landon (which was missing the necklace because he's not really Landon or MaliLandon). By 3x08, Hope starts to work to get Landon back which ends up with her putting Lizzie and Josie in danger. Considering how the Malivore portal can be assumed to have opened somewhere around 3x07 and Hope getting Landon back the episode right after, this could be the artifact granting their wishes. But then to get her idealized version of Landon, the wishing pot can only grant wishes involving material things. This is where the dark magic in 3x08 comes in which gives the artifact something tangible to form into that idealized version of Landon that we see in 3x09 and possibly the later episodes as well.
Focusing now on 3x09, the lines "those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it" vs. "those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it" are very easily applicable to the situation with the artifact and with Hope's character arc. We see that Hope has already seen firsthand what obsession does to a person yet she still hasn't "learned" from it which is why she's repeating it in season 3. Aside from this, we can also take into consideration that Puck matching the two people together and being wrong could also mean that he does end up fixing it later on. The line is also a reference to Handon and how they’ve broken up and gotten back together way more than the number of k-pop albums I have. And that they also need to learn from the history of the artifact and the consequences that come with using it. The line about not remembering the past can be a direct nod to how those who are consumed by Malivore are forgotten by everyone. This could be in reference to how the kitsune was forgotten by the world because of being consumed by Malivore, and this is also considering that kitsune existed mostly in the Edo period (1603-1867) which is also near the time Puck must have existed (if we take into Shakespeare’s years of being alive which were 1564-1616). This allows us to consider the possibility of Puck and the kitsune having at least aware of the existence of the other considering the close relations between a lot of the supernatural creatures. That being said, this could have a factor in the psychic persuasion that Puck did in 3x03. To address what other people are saying that “Puck’s dead why are you still making theories you’re just desperate” whatever, remember that sprites/yosei are literally shape-shifting animals and/or spirits. Puck could’ve easily just shapeshifted when the Necromancer stabbed him, especially since the original form of sprites are usually depicted as small creatures that are often not easily noticeable by the human eye. In relation to the kitsune, the color of Hope’s wolf eyes have become more similar to the common yellow color of other werewolves as compared to the gold color earlier in the season. This is most likely because of the kitsune spending too much time away from her life orb (in the form of the Mikaelson necklace) which caused it to lose its control over Hope over the episodes.
Given that Hope/kitsune has already used the artifact, certain consequences which would most likely involve death would follow in the next episodes; explaining why we get a banshee in the 3x10. I think that there’s three possible options to how this would go: mirror version Landon would die which would cause Hope to go crazy obsessed over protecting him again, the kitsune would die because of being separated from her fox marble/life orb for too long, or Alaric would die since they’ve been hinting at it already with the sphinx which would allow for Josie to enter the storyline and back into the SBS drama. Given that the mirror version of Landon is bound to die anyways since it’s not really Landon but something that the artifact conjured from dark magic, he has to die at some point. Given how Hope feels this need to protect Landon, I think that there would be some kind of conflict with Hope’s character in that context when it comes to the two versions of Landon (mirror version Landon and MaliLandon). On the other hand, if they go through with the kitsune dying, I think it would end up being anticlimactic in the sense that they never really had to deal with the kitsune in the beforehand. Lastly, if they do kill off Alaric as part of one of the consequences from Hope’s wish would obviously cause something to come up between Josie and Hope’s relationship, especially given that Hope had guilt tripped Josie to help her in 3x08. This would also cause another rift between Hope and Lizzie given how Lizzie reacted for the most part of 3x09. This would allow the audience to see Hope finally go through the consequences of everything she’s done in 3A just to get what she wants.
On how Puck and the kitsune can come into play in 3B, I think that Puck would most likely come back after the death to sort of patch things up in a sense which works with his “putting people back together.” I also think the part of his plan to “break people apart” would be pertaining to separating Hope and the kitsune so that Hope wouldn’t be possessed by the kitsune anymore. Once the two are separated, this would allow Puck to “put them back together” by suggesting a sort of team up between Puck, the kitsune, and the Super Squad to get MaliLandon and the kitsune’s life orb back. This would serve the goals of the kitsune and Hope so it also seems likely that they’ll reach that agreement some point in time. Lastly, Lizzie saying people get hurt whenever Hope gets in the way and that she’s only there when she needs something could be some sort of foreshadowing towards Hope needing something from the artifact which was her wish, even if it is very OOC for this line to describe Hope’s character in the earlier seasons, but it also hints on the possible consequences being that someone gets hurt, possibly leading to the death of someone that majority of the characters have a direct relationship to. Oh and also, Emma being in Shanghai seems to be either intentional or coincidental considering one of the most popular kitsune figures, Tamamo no Mae, was born in China.
~ END ~
i have no idea what tags to put lmao
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Ratchet and Kim Possible Chronicles: The Polaris Epidemic-Part 16
After another long flight, they returned to Meridian City and reunited with their friends. Talwyn: "Welcome back, you guys." Qwark: "Great work with chasing away those dastardly villains." Zephyr: "Yeah, thanks to you, Calcimum should be able to go back to being the beautiful vacation planet that it once was." Cronk: "Oh, for darn sure, you have freed that planet from those horrible humans." Zephyr: "Yeah, you guys should be proud." Kim: "Um, yeah, but…not really. It's still not over." Ratchet: "Oh, no doubt about that. Also, that won't be the last that we'll see of those guys." Talwyn: "Yeah, all of that is true. Wade has been working with Pollyx in analyzing those towers. They were able to find out a few things. They wanted to speak to you guys about them."
They looked up at the holo-screen, images of Wade and Pollyx appeared on it. Wade: "Hey, guys. Sorry I haven't chatted with you for a while. I've been busy with analyzing a lot of the data that we've collected." Ratchet: "That's fine, Wade. I just can't believe you're working with Pollyx." Kim: "Yeah, same here. The guy hasn't exactly been solid with us before or at all for that matter." Pollyx: "Um…I know we've had our…difficulties in the past, but I assure you that I am working on the side of good this time." Kim: "Tch! Let's see how long that lasts." Clank: "So, have either of you found out anything about these mysterious towers?" Pollyx: "Well, let's see. I have done a thorough scan of all the towers that you guys have encountered and found that they consist of some advanced technology, perhaps some of the most advanced forms of technology that I have ever seen." Kim: "Is it even more advanced than yours?" Pollyx: "Surprisingly, yes. I have never seen anything that goes beyond what we Terachnoids are able to construct. The only other kind of technology we know that would top ours is Zoni technology." Kim: "Hm, true, the Zoni have been known to construct some pretty complex machinery. You would compare this tower to Zoni technology?" Pollyx: "I would say…yes. Ohhhh! It's so infuriating to find any type of machinery that is further along than our own! Never in my life have I ever felt so insulted! To be brought down to the same level as so many primitive creatures! Hmph!" Ratchet: "Now we know we can trust him; his pride has taken a serious beating."
Kim was heard giggling. Wade: "There's something else you guys should know, I have spent some time analyzing the data that the infobot copied from that computer and found that the readings are very similar to that which we picked up from the towers." Kim: "So, whatever that old lab was being used for had something to do with those towers?" Wade: "It's a possibility, but I would say yes. There's still very little that we know. It took me hours of analyzing the data to find just that out. I'm still looking into it but I've got to say, it is taking a really long time to process all of it. I've never looked into anything this advanced before." Ratchet: "Well, we know that Kimberly's old enemies are connected to all of this, but just what are they planning?" Wade: "Pollyx and I will continue to look into this. At the moment, we just picked up on another reading similar to human on a remote jungle planet called Ebaro." Kim: "Let me guess, the readings also consist of being part monkey, right?" Wade: "You've got it. You know what that means." Kim: "Yes. Monkey Fist." Clank: "Monkey Fist?" Wade: "I have also picked up on a few mystical readings." Kim: "No doubt they're more mystical monkey artifacts." Wade: "Correct. Earth isn't the only planet that contains such magical items." Kim: "Really? That's fascinating." Ratchet: "Uh…mystical monkey what?" Kim: "Well, looks as though our next stop is this Ebaro planet." Ratchet: "Yeah, I suppose so." Talwyn: "But before you guys leave, I just want to let you know that your friend Ron is also there."
Kim and Ratchet were both very surprised. Ratchet: "What? Really?" Talwyn: "Yes and he brought along another person; a ninja girl from some sort of secret school on that large island on your planet called...Japan?" Kim: "What? Yori is there, too?" Talwyn: "They've been on Ebaro all morning, dealing with this…Monkey Fist person from what I've heard." Ratchet: "I can't believe it! Ron's there!" Kim: "Yeah, I'm also surprised by that. Then again, he has faced off against Monkey Fist several times before, so it's understandable that he would be there, too." Ratchet: "Hold on a moment. Ron has fought against Monkey Fist? But isn't he afraid of monkeys?" Kim: "It's…a long story. Come on, let's leave for Ebaro now." Ratchet: "Alright, we actually get the chance to meet Ron's ninja friend. This should be exciting."
They rushed off back to the ship, got back into it, took off and left the planet.
They took another long flight through space on their way to Ebaro. Ratchet: "So, since it will be a while before we arrive at the next planet; let's use the time to talk about this…Monkey Fist." Clank: "Yes, we would like to know about this strange fellow since we are going to being facing off against him." Kim: "Sure, I'll tell you guys everything I know. First off, his real name was Monty Fisk. He was once a famous archaeologist. When Ron and I first met him, he asked us to retrieve a strange monkey artifact. He claimed that he was planning to send it to a museum. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary about him at the time, but Ron kept saying that he was on a "bad road", just because he was fascinated with something very much related to Ron's greatest fear." Ratchet: "Yep, that sounds a lot like Ron." Kim: "I brushed all of that off just because of how he is, but then, my cousin Larry informed me that he had a deranged motive for collecting these monkey artifacts. He was obsessed with obtaining mystical monkey powers. He's also an expert in Tai Shing Pek Kwar or monkey king fu." Clank: "Monkey kung fu?" Kim: "He even had his hands and feet genetically modified into making them monkey hands and feet to go along with the whole obsession." Ratchet: "Geez, everything seems to be about monkeys with this guy. He sounds like a really messed up human." Kim: "Tell me about it. Ron was the one who faced off against Monkey Fist several times in the past. The first time that he did, he had to go it alone because my dad dragged me into visiting my cousin Larry after I ducked out of it so many times." Clank: "So, Ron must be very well acquainted with this Monkey Fist." Ratchet: "Yeah, so it may seem. I bet you Ron will be thrilled to see us again." Kim: "Yeah, he would. He could use the extra help with facing Monkey Fist, plus, I'm sure he would be happy to receive a surprise reunion with us." Clank: "Indeed." Ratchet: "Well, then, let's get to it. We should be arriving at the next planet very soon."
#Kim Possible#Ratchet and Kim Possible#The Polaris Epidemic#Ratchet#Clank#Wade#Igliak#Aphelion#Talwyn Apogee#Cronk#Zephyr#Pollyx
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Worldbuilding June Day 16: The Arcane of Terra
Magic exists in Terra but it’s not called Magic, well not by Academics such as Wizards and Witches, the actual term still evades me currently.
Put under Readmore cause hoo boy is this long.
Magic permeates the world in a energy known as arcana (Creative I know), hence devices that make use of it are known as Arcane Powered, and there are quite a few. This energy is a form of background radiation that has existed since the days of creation, and it is responsible for quite a bit. Some see it as the leftovers that the Gods responsible for existence left over, others ponder if its the remnants of whatever universe came before. This is a question that not even the Horsemen have a answer to.
Whatever the case the energy seems heavily influenced by the belief of people, this is how gods get their power, and how certain aspects of magic based casting works.
There are two kinds of magic users on Terra, Academics and Instinctives.
Academics are Witches and Wizards, who gain access to arcane manipulation through study of theories, practices, and ideas relating to the mystic and unknown. Wizards go to schools and universities and spend anywhere from 3-5 years studying for a Career in the Arcane, applying themselves to only a few schools of Magic.
It is possible to learn more if not nearly all schools of magic, but these Wizards are either very old or if younger are highly irritable and prone to short sighted decisions due to burnout. Both have sacrificed a lot of sleep, time, and personal lives to gain this power.
A good wizard knows how to use magic, a great wizard knows how not to use it, this is not because Magic is unreliable, not unless you consider a Monkey Wrench unreliable at screwing in a Philips head screw. Due to the specialized nature of learning schools of magic, a wizard needs to know when to step back and not use magic to solve a problem.
Wizards - Theoretical Physics, Engineering, Physics, and so on
Witches - Medicine, Psychology, Pharmacy and so on.
Wizards and Witches aren’t common but can be found in a wide variety of jobs as an X-Factor, serving as an extra edge against the risks of said job.
Instinctives are also known as Sorcerers, unlike Wizards who study and train to uncover the secrets of the arcane and gain their powers through knowledge, Sorcerers have it when they are born, though it manifests when they hit puberty. Whereas a Wizard needs to study how to manipulate arcana to form a fireball, Sorcerers know how to do so instinctively.
Sorcerers gain their power from a ancestor who is one of a species innate into the Mystic and the Arcane, the most common of which being Wish Granters. Wish Granters are a unique Arcana based existence similar to gods who gain their power from, well granting wishes. Wish Granters are shaped by the local beliefs of their cultures as to what a wish granting mystic being would like, with the most commonly sighted being genies.
Sorcerers power being instinctual means they are never without the ability to cast spells, as it always comes to them what they want, but they lack the deeper knowledge that would allow them to mold spells and outcomes to their desires with greater effect than instinct alone could offer. Many don’t care and don’t want to go through the years studying, saying that they know how to get themselves out of a jam easy enough, it’s fine.
Next up is Arcatek, devices that make use of magical properties to function, with the most commonly seen being Slates and Arcaships.
Arcaships are sea vessels and airships that utilize elemental mystic properties to achieve movement.
Slates are comparable to modern tablets and computers of today, being made of specialized stone, bronze and a crystal material to form a device powered by the Arcane. Slates are used for a variety of purposes, and in the recent years have even created a form of Internet comparable to ours called the Arcaweb.
Finally are Domains, Domains are sanctums and sanctuaries made by Sorcerers and Wizards where they are free to sit and collect themselves, the mystic nature comes in locating these areas, getting to them, and of course the traps within to prevent unwanted intruders. A recent mystic invention known as a foldable door has made this easy.
A Foldable Door is exactly what it sounds like, a door you fold up and carry with you in your bag, the door is sort of a teleportation spell that opens to the area you want it to. It’s pretty weird and is considered pretty odd with how new it is.
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Sinnoh has massive flaws as an era, although it's starting to feel like the good old days compared to the present piss-poor offerings.
The major drawback is the amount of 'recurring characters', ones not good enough to be in it fully, but inflicted upon us nevertheless.
I did care about Ash. I did care about Team Rocket.
I was prepared to care about The Misty Replacement, as in the girl shipped with Ash.
I was prepared to care about The Brock Replacement, that is the older brother figure who does all the cooking, carries the medicine, and knows about Pokémon.
I don't give a toss about extras who outstay their welcome.
Hoenn only had Drew and Harley. What was wrong with that?
There are just too bloody many.
Why does Dawn require so many opponents, as if she's of the greatest importance? Why won't Jessie suffice?
I accept the necessity of Paul as The Rival, and we were at least permitted to resent him initially, before the writers fanboy'd like there was no tomorrow.
I admit I liked two of them. They therefore featured the least.
Typical.
Nando
The Blondel of Iberia
A softly-spoken, raven-locked troubadour, roaming the many pathways of life, playing his songs for those weary travellers he encounters on the road.
He's wearing a cloak! The finest use of material to ever be invented!
All this ethereal grace considering the dub lumbered him with the most appallingly unsuitable name possible.
It could've been Raphael, or Dante, or Leonardo.
Oh no, let's name him after a restaurant chain. That adds gravitas.
His lyre pays tribute to Mew, because Nando knows she's The Rarest Of All Pokémon, thus refuses to be impressed by any deformed horse like Arceus throwing its weight around.
Damn straight.
Ursula
A pretty girl with lovely clothes and the spark of a proper personality.
You're not wanted round these parts, love.
I have no particular animosity towards Dawn, but it irritates me how the world revolves around her whims, where if she's lost in the woods, it's a major disaster, and if an attack heads in her direction, she must be protected in case she shatters.
It makes a refreshing change to find someone firmly inoculated against the lures of the temptress.
Also, alongside Ursula from Dinosaur King (the real Jessie), I'm glad of any attempt to reclaim that name, considering most of my generation, upon hearing it, think only about evil old octopus women.
As for the rest?
It's that bad I prefer the Unova bunch to these.
Reggie
Reggie is even more of a knob than Paul. As above, being Ash's enemy meant that, if only by narrative, he was intended to be somewhat disliked.
Not Reginald. No, he's the kind one.
Oh really?
When Ash and Paul have their showdown, Reg starts wittering that it's just as well Chimchar took up with Ash, since he wasn't suited to Paul's 'battle style'.
Battle style.
Is the what he calls mental and physical cruelty?
In Reg's amoral cesspit of a mind, there is no right and wrong, so do whatever you feel.
Reggie is quite aware of how his brother tortures Pokémon, and not only is he unconcerned, he excuses it with euphemism, hoping the audience will obligingly forget too.
What's more, he implies it's Chimchar's fault for not pulling his weight, and Paul abandoning him was the compassionate thing to do.
Cynthia
Suffering severe Bridge Nose Syndrome.
She may be Champion, but I don't remember Lance turning up all the time where he wasn't wanted.
She doesn't even use her influence properly. Rather than give it straight to Paul, order him to shape up and stop spanking the monkey, she fannies about with her cod mysticism, emptily preaching about how Ash and Paul are spiritually linked, with magical, beeyewteefull events taking form just because they met.
That's right, don't bother about Paul clearly being a psychopath, for 'tis ART!
It's the same as trying to convince me that Ash, Dawn and Brock were the Divine Trio because they all saw Something Nasty In The Lake District, as if they have an intrinsic bond foretold in ancient prophecy.
The writers pull this knowing two thirds of the Holy Trinity, plus Paul the Fallen Angel, will be leaving, at which point we'll be expected to stop being overawed at the great majesty they all apparently possess and transfer allegiance to their usurpers.
What's the point?
Angie
Yet another smackhead from that lunatic stare.
What shining genius decided giving all the characters contracted pupils was a good idea?
She looks like one of those kids whose parents dealt with nits the traditional way:
Shaving the entire head and painting it purple.
A barnet resembling privet hacked at by a paralytic gardener before he conked out.
I've seen her arc three or four times, and I still remember nothing about her, except for the amazing skill she possesses to make Ash sneeze on command from a distance.
Conway
One word: nonce.
A clichéd weirdo fitting into Pokémon's Four-Eyed Freaks fixation, where anyone with a slight visual impairment is a weedy, know-it-all bastard or on a register.
Oh yes, and this lad comes with hidden delights, because his glasses gleam like a giant cockroach, just in case he wasn't creepy enough.
Zoey
The human black hole. Has the incredible ability to suck all the joy out of a room just by appearing. A personage of absolute lead.
Too nice and over familiar, lacking a single detectable personality trait.
Bland, empty, and with the charisma of vomit-sodden cardboard.
Sinnoh is a prolonged saga as it is, padded with nonentities like her and Kenny.
Alright, episodes must be devoted to Dawn's Contest career, however tiresome it is, but why exactly do we need any about Zoey and Kenny? Why should we care?
Every time I sat through a competition Dawn lost, I resented that she was no further along on her quest, equating to another episode eaten away by this shallow, blackened hymn to superficiality.
Compare this indulgent treatment to the sneering disrespect shown to Jessie, an actual main character, who not only had to win her Ribbons practically off screen, but the writers delighted in hammering home how worthless she was in only scraping into the Grand Festival because Princess Salvia took pity on the deluded wretch.
They favour their own inventions over the original cast, then dump 'em as soon as the next generation arrives, so how could they ever matter if even the creators eagerly cast them aside?
After all the effort on my part to put up with the entire witless farce, Zoey beats Dawn in the finals!
Why?!
I understood the unspoken law of Ash not being allowed to win a League until the very last series, for fear whatever came after would be anticlimactic, but why should this deadening failure apply to May and Dawn?
By the culmination of the Contest rigmarole, it's obvious they'll be making their exit for the next region's Girl, so why couldn't either bid farewell to the fans with a victory?
Why must they be incompetent too?
Even if achieving their dream dampened any hunger to carry on, they're departing anyway, so what difference does it make?
At least Ash will continue, but for May and Dawn, it's the end.
How could any fan be satisfied with a smarmy vacuum of a creature like Zoey succeeding instead?
Barry
Eyes of molten evil.
The second-worst character ever created (Iris is top of the ranks), Barry is a smug, arrogant, screeching dweeb jabbering his oh-so endearing catchphrase about fining anyone who slightly irks him, so sure is he that his feelings should come above everyone else's
He truly believes he has a God-given entitlement to demand lesser lifeforms should arrange themselves to suit his pleasure, that they are morally compelled to shield him from meagre inconvenience.
Twat.
Knocking the little geck out of the League was the most noble thing Paul ever did. It practically redeems him.
This is what I cannot comprehend:
Ursula is openly conceited, rude to Dawn, and brags about her own excellence even after losing.
We're asked to dislike her.
Barry slags Ash off constantly, is convinced of his own divinity, and jeers at Team Rocket.
We're supposed to see him as a 'good guy' and welcome his arrival.
Why? Are Ash and Team Rocket fair game, but offending Saint Dawn's intolerable?
Again, it astounds me how temporary, region-specific stars seem to count for more than those who've been here since the beginning.
Whilst they're here, that is. Once gone, you wouldn't know they'd existed.
Kenny
He wears a matador outfit to compete.
It's a crying shame Tauros was never given the opportunity to gore him.
As usual, it's Piplup I blame.
Each generation likes to flaunt the starter Pokémon, presumably in the hope of flogging more games, that's why Ash usually catches all three, or they're spread out amongst his friends.
It's about time Team Rocket had one.
Can't do that, they only appear five times per series now.
Piplup is a whiny attention whore who refuses to evolve. In consequence, he can't advertise the next stages in the evolution chain, so we have to keep seeing Barry and Kenny instead, that's why Empoleon and Prinplup are always walking about.
This equates to three characters having the same Pokémon, albeit in different incarnations.
There's variety.
However, Kenny's true purpose is much more grim than that.
Fans will ship Ash with The Girl, a useless endeavour when it's destined to come to nothing when she's kicked out.
In Hoenn and Sinnoh, an effort was made to wean shippers off in preparation for the upcoming split, so alternative suitors were introduced, with the girls effectively pushed on to them.
May got Drew.
I don't mind that. He had some refinements.
Dawn got Kenny.
...
What, you want me to cheer for such a revolting couple?
Have I not suffered enough?
What unpardonable crime did Dawn do to deserve such a horrible fate?
She's not a bad-looking girl. She can do better than an ugly, portly, shrunken, pie-faced cretin!
You do this to me when Nando exists?
Sod the age gap, that never concerned anyone here.
This being the Kenny who spends four years belittling Dawn by constantly reminding her of a humiliating childhood experience, even giving her a nickname too!
Dawn is visibly distressed when he does this, but he's a fine candidate for romance?
She has to settle for a sweaty, lecherous herbert like him, who doesn't even try to atone for his unfortunate mug by being kind?
I suspect the whole Sinnoh adventure was really him wearing down her self-esteem until she believed he was the best available, wanting her to be grateful for his slobbery attentions.
It won't stop there either. He'll trap her for the rest of her life by isolating her from friends, followed by accusations of how undeserving she is of his 'love'.
Such is Dawn's lot: absent father, pushy mother, whinging penguin and abusive boyfriend.
Kenny's already a perv:
He's not looking at her face.
She knows he's not.
Ash and Pikachu have noticed an interesting feature further down.
Aipom likes it too.
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Yugioh S3 Ep 11 pt 1: Mokuba Gets Kidnapped (Again)
I miiiight have to split this one in two?
A lot happens this episode, and when I cap things it’s mostly to help summarize what’s going on so these posts won’t be so freakin long but visually--a LOT happens this episode. So...there’s a few caps.
Anyways, I’m still trying to not think too much about what it is that Tristan has turned into. Considering that apparently you can exist here without a body it makes you wonder if their own minds are here at all or if we’re just following some shadow selves but again, it’s--that’s way too deep for Yugioh.
Been joking about the team getting turned into Heartless for a whole season and it actually happened. Sort of. Being turned into a monkey isn’t exactly the same as being turned into Darkness but if Yugi, Bakura, and Marik are any indication, being turned into Darkness on this show just means your hair gets kinda big and sometimes you almost (and often do) kill people.
Tristan’s CGI body is now running around and I’m not sure how that works.
Like if Tristan’s ACTUAL body is being stored somewhere, then the CGI body should have vanished, right? Like, his CGI body got incinerated by lava? Anyway, apparently, his body is absolutely fine, and now it’s being controlled by Nezbitt.
I’m glad he found the Kaibas at their familiar territory. Yes, that’s right, they all met up again, reunited after 10 episodes at their favorite place in the whole world. Guess where? Guess where they are?
It’s like meeting at the Cinnabon at the mall. They just all know where to go.
(read more under the cut)
And then Kaiba just kind of acts like he’s been expecting this for years. I mean...there’s reasons to expect that.
TBH if Tristan nabbed Kaiba in the shoulder with that broomstick, Would Kaiba even be able to feel it with all that padding? He’s got like football gear for shoulder pads up there.
We get no explanation of how Blue Eyes Wife made it to the VR zone. Probably willed itself out of pure love or whatever. But, don’t worry, Seto will have to choose cards from a pool just like everyone else at the end of this episode so uh...that’s about all we’ll see from her. Unless she was also in the pool, but I kinda doubt Noah gave Seto a Blue Eyes.
Just so weird that in the same episode she’s clearly here, but in 10 minutes from now, she’s not.
Anyways, everyone else finally shows up and they don't seem to be confused as to how Tristan is just fine when they just saw him die like...just now. They just left the place Tristan was dead and incinerated by 600000 degrees of lava and they were like “Oh good! We found him immediately! Hallelujah!” as if this isn’t very weird.
And...in a past life, Kaiba was the head of the House of York or...something? Like he was in the War of Roses or something? I forget exactly what y’all were saying Kaiba was up to in a past life in some video game spinoff when he and Yugi were European 500 years ago. Their family bloodline really got around.
ALSO, thing I just realized now I’ve actually read the wikipedia, Kaiba is supposed to have been Christian Rosenkruez in this game, which is amazing. Because, if you thought the Kaiba timeline was effed up before, just you wait, because Christian Rosenkruez was a freakin nut. We’re talking Indiana Jones type of nut. I’m pretty sure the game never brings this up, but Christian Rosenkruez is famous because so many people thought that he was the reincarnation of Lazarus.
LAZARUS.
Sorry, I’m like...kinda cracking up as I’m typing this. For those who don’t know your Christian/Middle Ages art, Lazarus is this guy, seen on the right. He’s always wrapped up like a mummy and with this expression like “woah, Jo, I’m alive!? Nice!” as at least one guy in the foreground plugs their nose because he smells like so freakin bad.
Yeah. So now, canonically, a past self of Seto Kaiba swore that he was once Lazurus. Who is...a real freakin nice guy, actually. Which--and this is my favorite part--this means that Lazarus--a real guy from the Bible--was also soul married to a Blue Eyes White Dragon. Hot damn.
I mean, this is a mess, but aesthetically though--Lazarus was a dead guy right? Like a revived mystical dead guy? Wrapped up like a mummy? In a crypt? If you don’t know too much about Christianity, it kinda fits right in with our whole vibe.
And if art twitter is anything to go by, the original fanart was bible stuff anyway, so anime and Bible stuff are absolutely and always interchangeable.
(Sorry, I was about to derail on another art rant hoo boy, a rant within a rant. You know, I hide a LOT of art discourse in these posts. Spicy times. Thanks for bearing with me, I’ve been holding that one in for a WHILE.)
But this is mostly amazing because, completely unintentionally, that means Seto Kaiba’s bloodline met freakin Jesus, y’all.
In fact, lets go over it, so Kaiba’s bloodline was Egyptian wizards who killed Pharaoh Yami (who ends up being Yugi’s bloodline), kinda forgot they were royalty or magical, went up to Jerusalem for a spell, hung out with Jesus and got helllla Christian, then ended up in Germany, fought Yugi who was British royalty for a hot minute, buried Rosenkrueuz in a very weird and mystical spooky sarcophagus, and then both families forgot they were super special royalty and somehow ended up in Japan where Kaiba got orphaned with no knowledge of any of this and got adopted by a crazy Gozaboro Kaiba who is now trying to kill them all with a VR game.
Anyway, if a past version of himself was in the War of Roses, dueling with actual swords should come naturally to him. Or at least would have come naturally if Tristan wasn’t so good with brooms.
(Bro’s Spicy Headcanon: Tristans wooden stick was originally a sword but they edited it out in development. Sure Wtv.)
And surprisingly, Joey got to do a hit in this version of Yugioh--like actually kicked a guy. On screen. And it was Tristan. Wow. Really thought that would get edited out, and I’m glad they left it in because lol this whole sequence is a mess.
Anyway, Tea gets hella mad at Joey because they don’t want him to kill Tristan although this body was in fact incinerated at the bottom of a lava pool not ten minutes ago, and so she decides to go after Tristan herself? Because she figures that Tristan’s body will not attack her? Maybe because Tristan’s body would be too afraid to attack Tea.
And this is Tea, so she is used to people going ghost, getting cray, and then passing out ten minutes later and being like “Oi, love! I seem to have made quite a fuss, again, innut!”
Please look at the bottom of this cap and admire that Joey kicked Tristan so hard, that his body bent a metal door completely the other way around.
That’s right, the motorcycle license is back, and now it gets to serve a purpose!
Guys, when they revealed that Tristan could drive a motorcycle I did not think that later this ability would be yet another insane way to abduct Mokuba.
Lol what?
Moki just...hanging off the side there. Like...he’s not even strapped in. What is it with the kidnappers in this show having just no idea how to properly hold Mokuba? At least this time he isn’t being suspended from a helicopter but it’s still kind of of a lot?
And there goes Kaiba.
They reunite again for like...2 minutes after like 10 episodes and then bam, Kaiba is signing out immediately.
Unfortunately, there goes the only two people here that know how to drive motorcycles, so the rest of our team is just kinda stuck back here with Tristan in a monkey suit.
Because of perspective issues, Serenity appears to be like 2 feet taller than Yugi Muto, dang.
So I think I mentioned before that one of the reasons I was like “Yeah lets watch this show” is because someone tweeted that Yugioh had motorcycle dueling, and so when this happened I was like OMG they’re actually going to do it somehow, right now on this Sonic Adventure Highway. Finally! A motorcycle duel! I thought that was only in the spinoff I’m not going to watch!
I mean look at him go.
JK no motorcycle dueling in this series. My poor hopes. Dashed.
And he runs right into Kaiba’s coat from last season who is wearing just the thickest old timey Southern accent. Ah, I miss when his coat color was nearly his font color and it all made sense.
Bro pointed out that the best part of this scene is how small the motorcycle was compared to how big this fire is now. Like...they should just be able to walk around the fire at this point, right? Like it’s a highway with multiple lanes? What was even in this motorcycle? Nitro?
Anyway, this post will be very long if I don’t chop it in half, so get ready for next time, when we find out what this guy and his accent’s whole deal is. How many references will he make to grits and warm summer evenings? A lot, right? Like a lot?
Anyways, if you just got here, this is a link to read the recaps from Ep 1 S1
#Yugioh#Yu gi oh#recap#photo recap#S3 Ep11#Does Mokuba have a requirement to get kidnapped every 10 episodes?#Seto Kaiba#Mokuba#Yugi muto#joey wheeler#tea gardner#tristan taylor#robot monkey#Seto Kaiba's Timeline gets more and borked every episode of this arc
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A Quartet of Reviews: Missing Link, Pet Semetary, Shazam!, and Hellboy (2019)
Missing Link
As the technical accomplishments and detailed beauty of Laika’s stop-motion films are part of the reason I’ve chosen to study stop-motion animation for my current academic research, you’ll forgive me if I approach their fifth film with some bias. Plus, box office numbers suggest that a lot more people really should be seeing these, so the more voices there are singing Laika’s praises the better, frankly.
Missing Link is notably ambitious in that it strives to deliver an action adventure in the vein of Around the World in 80 Days or The Mummy (the Brendan Fraser one, not the “DARK UNIVERSE” one- yes, that did happen, and it is hard to remember), with multiple thrilling and complex action sequences, all in stop-motion. Given the labour-intensive nature of stop-motion and the limitations you’d typically expect of a medium that’s executed through real models that have a weight and substance to them that makes them less flexibly fluid than cel or digital animation, stories with an emphasis on dynamic action aren’t what you’d typically expect when it comes to stop-motion. And yet Laika demonstrate their full commitment to making Missing Link an energetic blockbuster through impressive choreography and painstakingly realised action set-pieces. While the charming characters and light-hearted tone help you stay engaged with the narrative, you’ll be constantly taken back by the seamless merging of traditional methods and modern technology in the animation which makes you sit up and take notice as you wonder how they managed to put together each scene. The best use of digital effects are the times where you’re not entirely certain it’s even there, and Laika’s approach to this modern tool definitely fits in that category.
The film never quite reaches a point of emotional intensity that leaves me completely floored, as some of Laika’s previous films have managed to do. I didn’t walk away from the film remembering a moment where a character’s vulnerabilities are laid bare or a difficult but essential lesson is imparted in the most brutally earnest way. So, when compared against ParaNorman or Kubo and the Two Strings, Missing Link left less emotional impact on me. Having said that, the film still conveys numerous themes effectively through key story beats and striking visuals, with its central thesis being the importance of learning empathy towards others, and that you shouldn’t seek validation from close-minded proponents of outdated and toxic principles. As such, through a combination of entertaining characters with likable personality, an emphasis on globetrotting action, its refreshingly positive outlook, and tremendous animation on both the large and the small-scale across the board, Missing Link is a delightful adventure that you should make a point of seeing.
Final Ranking: Silver.
Boasting charm, an infectious sense of humour, and perhaps the best action I’ve seen in a stop-motion film, Missing Link absolutely meets the standard of quality that you’d expect from a Laika production.
Pet Semetary
As many other people discussing this film have noted, Pet Semetary is a Stephen King story that’s notable for being so bleak that even Stephen King felt it was too dark. He hesitated to submit it for publishing for three years, only submitting it when he needed to meet a deadline for a contract. In the subsequent years, King has been critical of the “nothing matters” mentality of the story. With that in mind, as well as the knowledge that several people I follow whose opinions on film I trust were not fond of it, I was prepared for the possibility that I wouldn't enjoy it, but nevertheless open to the film surprising me. After all, Stephen King is a consistently entertaining storyteller, and I’m always interested to see how people adapt his work. For a while, things seemed okay enough. Then it started to drag around the middle, and then it took a hard, fast, ugly turn, descending into the most distasteful experience I’ve had in a cinema this year.
As that summary indicates, the set-up is intriguing enough. A family move into a new home, and there are little signs that things aren’t quite right around here, as well as the telltale indications of a traumatic past that have left some of the characters with residual hang-ups that they will inevitably be forced to confront, and the tantalising promise of something unnatural on the horizon that will draw our protagonists in as they descend into horror. It’s competent ground laying work, and apart from the horrifying past of one of the character’s being uncomfortably demonising of the sick, and a lack of a distinctive visual style for the film to call its own, I didn’t have many serious issues with the first third or so.
Once you approach the middle portion of the film, things start to feel protracted. Even if you haven’t seen a trailer or heard the gist of this story and have a decent idea about the trajectory of its narrative, there comes a point where you start to know exactly where things are heading. Discussions of death and what may or may not come afterwards, repeated reminders of how dangerous and unexpected high-speed vehicles on the road outside their house can be, and allusions to some unknowable force that can make impossible things happen which the father of this family absolutely must not approach are all dots that anyone familiar with the phrase “monkey’s paw” can join together with little difficulty. Without an engaging dynamic between characters (a la IT), a self-aware bizarreness that results in humour, or a notable visual style, there’s little to keep you going as you wait for pieces to very, very slowly fall into place.
And the final act is just awful. It spits course language and nihilistic vitriol with little substance or point to its depictions of pain, misery, and spitefulness other than to wallow in this negativity with nothing else to say. Actors start to abandon any semblance of understated nuance in favour of ham-fisted bluntness, cursing out characters with an intensity that doesn’t feel earned as they clumsily fight against them in a way that lacks any sense of climactic satisfaction, and, because your investment in these characters rapidly drains with each new questionable decision and unlikable action, there’s no tension to these encounters either. There are numerous instances where the actors will do their best to deliver lines of dialogue that try to be shocking or wryly dark, but the material is so poorly thought out that it awkwardly misses the mark in both categories. It’s especially galling as the film spent so much time and effort on getting to this conclusion that it was trying to amp up as this big, horrifying finale that will shake you, when instead it’s just underwhelming and unpleasant without any purpose to itself. I was wishing for it to end, and yet when the credits began to roll, I couldn’t help but ask “wait, is that it?” It’s a limp ending with little meaning that leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
Final Ranking: Cardboard.
Pet Semetary’s first act offers some potential, but that’s all it is: potential. The middle act spends so long getting to where it needs to be and where the audience knows it’s going that, by the time it gets there, it spends what little time it has left on cruel, structureless nihilism without taking any ownership for the unpleasant material it lays down at your feet.
Shazam!
The DC movies are in a great place right now. I’ve yet to see James Wan’s Aquaman, but from the abundance of positive things I hear about it, as well as the profound impact Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman had on audiences, James Gunn and a whole lot of appealing casting choices being attached to the next Suicide Squad film, and the great feelings I have about the energy that the Birds of Prey teaser indicated, I’m very optimistic about the future of DC films. Now that Shazam! has released and proved to be a positively uplifting delight, my outlook on this series is cheerier than ever!
Hm? What about that Joaquin Phoenix Joker movie? Well... my feelings towards that are… complicated. I’ll save my thoughts on it for another time, but suffice to say, I think the film has the potential to be great, but I worry about the way it will be received, and that the worst crowd will embrace it and take the wrong lessons from it.
Anyway, for the here and now, Shazam is a refreshing blend of joyous levity and unexpected intensity. The film offers endearing comedy with teens and pre-teens acting like excited kids who enjoy doing dopey things but can still come across as insightful and having an emotional heart to them that makes you happy to spend time with them. But it’s never saccharine and, through a fleshed out script and a cast of sharp young actors and actresses, there’s a clear sense of authenticity which makes these adolescent characters seem grounded and well-observed. Something I appreciated is that, whenever the film goes into background details of the history of magic in this world, grandiose prophecies of mystical destinies, or the villain going into his sinister plans, it’s usually being talked about by grown adults who are taking themselves way too seriously. The best exemplar of this is Mark Strong who plays the villain, Dr. Sivana, with an intensity that deliberately comes across as hammy, and the young characters within the film pick up on this and play off him in a way that deflates his bluster and points out how ridiculous he’s being. As a result, the tone of Shazam! feels like it’s poking good-natured fun at prior DC projects and other big budget action blockbusters where stone faced adults spout clichéd speeches without any sense of self-awareness. It’s an approach that points out how some modes of behaviour that are often associated with maturity and being an adult are actually quite childish when you take a step back. As a superhero film that focuses on the experience of being the age where you’re young enough that you still enjoy being a kid, but old enough that you want to call adults out on their bullshit, Shazam! is impressively realised and fun as hell.
But for as light-hearted as it can be, Shazam! nevertheless surprises you with the occasional brutal sequence that catches you off guard with such rapidity that I found it relatively shocking. It’s not so detailed, gory, or explicit enough that I’d say it goes too far, but it’s worth bearing in mind before you show it to a particularly young and impressionable viewer. The benefit of these sequences is that the unexpected escalation accentuates how in over his head Billy is when he eventually comes across a situation that’s genuinely dangerous, as, despite his newfound powers, he is still a kid, and he really shouldn’t be facing this kind of thing. Indeed, the film demonstrates an impressive grasp of and dedication towards themes of maturity as Billy faces difficult truths about something he thought he wanted and realises he’s been looking in the wrong place for what he actually craves, as well as develops into a more responsible version of himself that opens up to being part of a group built on mutual trust. There’s a cleverly subtle visual indication of the progress Billy has made by the end of the film where he remembers to lower his head as he walks through a door while in his superpowered adult form. One of the first things Billy does when he first transforms is hit his head on a train door to show how unused he is to this new body. The simple act of Billy seeing the doorframe and lowering his head as he steps through without any hesitation near the end of the film signifies the control Billy has developed over himself and his own actions, making his journey of maturation resonate that much more with me. The impact of shocking dark turns and the firm, confident grasp the film has on its cohesive themes of maturation and finding your place in life elevates Shazam! from a fun time to an uplifting and refreshing story that I think people are going to really enjoy for a long while.
Final Ranking: Silver.
Energetic, full of character, and with a strongly executed theme of maturation, Shazam! is highly recommended. It is perhaps a little longer than it needs to be, which results in the latter parts of the middle section feeling a little drawn out. Having said that, the finale sends a jolt of electricity through you that makes you forget any objections you might have and remember all the positive qualities that make this film so likable.
Hellboy (2019)
Oof… why did I decide to end this collection of reviews on Hellboy (2019) and write this after three other sections? Sigh… okay, let’s get this over with.
It would be insincere of me to say I'm the most impassioned proponent of the Guillermo del Toro Hellboy films. I found them memorable and atmospheric, and you could certainly feel the characteristic flair from the many people that put their artistic touch on those films to create something unique that marked them out from other comicbook movies, which is especially impressive in the mid-2000s, pre Iron Man era. But after going through the slog that is Hellboy (2019), I think I’m more appreciative than ever of what del Toro and his team managed to achieve.
For a while, it seemed like this new R-rated version of Hellboy was angling for a more faithful adaptation of the original books by Mike Mignola, given the various interviews that were had about it over the years. Sadly, the final result feels like the result of too many outside influences dictating what the film should feature, culminating in a hodgepodge of a film which regurgitates character beats from the del Toro films, and rapidly stitches together a half-hearted attempt at a King Arthur narrative to fill in the requisite new material (this is your regular reminder to check out The Kid Who Would Be King, a much better modern reinterpretation of Arthurian lore). The presentation is dour, unenthusiastic, and lacks any atmosphere or personality, and that is something you could never accuse either the Mignola books or the del Toro films of lacking. In the whole film, there are only two sequences that stand out, namely the fight with the three giants and the rampage of the hell creatures in London. Even so, the former is a relatively meaningless sequence that contributes very little to the narrative and lifts right out of the film, while the latter is so sadistic and mean spirited that it made me genuinely uncomfortable. It falls flat as both an adaptation of a beloved fictional series that’s brimming with atmosphere, and as a piece of technical filmmaking as well.
On top of that, when the tone and general philosophy of the film does emerge out from under the rest of the film’s mediocrity, it reveals itself to be genuinely unpleasant. The film opens with narration that rushes through the backstory with Nimue and the Arthurian set-up and does so with foul-mouthed irreverence. There is a bit of humour to someone casually tossing in the odd bit of shitty language as they tell you about ancient history that should be discussed with pomp and circumstance but is instead being discussed with ill-fitting coarseness. However, there needs to be some personality to go along with it, otherwise it’s implied that the swearing is the character and all that’s there to it. In the case of this opening narration, Ian McShane emphasises each fucking swearword and it becomes clear that the dialogue is using this as a crutch in an effort to make the film seem like it has an identity as this edgy superhero movie that’s different because it swears. It’s a juvenile approach that is laughable when you consider how effortless Ryan Reynolds’ delivery in each Deadpool movie has been, which demonstrates how swearing can be used to accentuate genuinely funny jokes and characters, rather acting as the joke in and of itself.
And this isn’t even the most egregious part of the film either, it’s simply a bad first impression. The worst aspect of the film’s outlook is how virtually every character espouses the notion that you should stop complaining, stop letting things get to or affect you, and stop taking time to process things. This is especially saddening when Hellboy’s father, a character that was played with wonderful vulnerability and heart-aching humanity by the late great John Hurt, tells Hellboy to “grow some balls” and get on with things, making the emotional culmination of their time together on screen essentially boil down to ‘quit your bitching’. Characters in Hellboy (2019) show next to no empathy towards one another, and they continually reinforce the story’s outlook which, whether inadvertently or not, nevertheless encourages a state of being where you never have time to be open or vulnerable with the people around you. It’s profoundly disheartening to watch, and gives little to no thematic or visual sustenance to get you through a runtime that feels far too long.
Final Ranking: Manure.
David Harbour does an admirable job in the lead role and I was happy to at least have a protagonist in this film that captures the gruff sadness and down-to-earth affability of the character of Hellboy. But he’s drowning in limiting makeup and an even more stifling movie that has no visual flair and a boring, miserable narrative. The experience of watching this movie is draining and deflating, and I hope to never revisit it.
#The Inquisitive J#film#movies#film review#movie reviews#critic#film critic#movie critic#film criticism#independent film journalism#missing link#laika#missing link review#pet semetary#pet semetary review#shazam!#shazam! review#hellboy 2019#hellboy 2019 review#the inquisitive j reviews
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#6 Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Osa. For us, the word itself conjures up a sense of mysticism. Not many people call it home, making this enchanted peninsula a rare jewell for wildlife. And while stats tend to differ between various sources, all of them baffle. Take this one for example: it’s estimated that this tiny plot of land, amounting to only 0.0001% of the earth’s surface area, contains a staggering 2.5% of the planet’s bio diversity. The ratio is somewhat explainable when you consider the tropical rain forest in this part of the world embraces a mind-bending thirteen different ecosystems, from freshwater and marine systems, to dense elevated primary forests, sandy beaches, encompassing mangroves, and more. There’s all sorts of magic happening here. We’ll get back to some of the numbers in a short while.
As for the drive down to this Southwestern tip, it was unsurprisingly spectacular. Engulfed by the supercharged flora, we whizzed around the perimeter in a green blur, catching glimmers of the crystal blue Pacific from time to time. Before heading to our base for the upcoming few days, we first needed to pick up some reserves in the largest town in the region, Puerto Jimenez. With the stop off complete, and three days worth of food packed in the boot, we hurried on to a town call Dos Brazos, waving goodbye to phone connection, WiFi, and convenience stores. Dos Brazos was once a bustling gold mining village, however, it now embraces a more ecologically responsible and sustainable vision. As a gateway to Corcovado National Park, growing eco-tourism opportunities have shown this sleepy village how conservation efforts can benefit the community, providing jobs and a healthier environment. It was like stepping back in time on entry. The pace of life is slow and there’s a feeling of balance and harmony that’s clearly been orchestrated by the abundant natural beauty in the area. The rough road through the town didn’t last long, and under instructions from our host we continued off road at what appeared to be a dead end, pushing our car to its limits.
Within five minutes we’d landed at the idyllic home and gardens of Casa Aire Libre. Perched above Rio Tigre and surrounded by breathtaking greenery, this open aired home would prove to be a once in a lifetime abode for us both. We were finishing Costa Rica in style.
The home came equipped with an enormous kitchen suitable for any top chef, multiple hammocks and air chairs, a private garden with jungle paths, and a master bedroom up on a third floor up at tree level. We happily pottered about our new surroundings until the sunlight died on us, celebrating our first evening with a glass of vino and huge spread of various different tropical foods.
A booming chorus of bird calls coupled with a deep red backdrop from the sun rise was something to behold the next morning. Alarm clocks are now redundant to us, as we’ve become attune to nature’s cues and wake up calls. Our first full day in Osa was all about acclimatising and taking things slow. The expansive grounds and many amenities of our temporary home meant we had ample amounts of paths to explore, wildlife to admire, and foods to feast on. Maybe it was just the novelty of it, but the removal of walls in an environment like this felt like we could unconsciously absorb even more of Mother Nature while simply sat relaxing in our new home. Sometimes, however, there are more obvious physical encounters that come from having no barriers. As the power of the sun waned we went to grab a layer to put on. Lifting a t-shirt, a sizeable and startled wolf spider (we think) jumped off and perched itself on a nearby shelf. After much commotion, we let the spider be, and observed a plethora of other passers-by that evening, from tree frogs, to oversized clumsy flying beetles and the odd giant moth. We were truly in the thick of it.
Our location in the foothills of the extremely important Corcovado National, which protects over 50% of the forest in the area, meant we were walking distance to a network of incredible jungle trails. However, the park itself is only accessible with a guide, and that was a little out of our price range. Fortunately for us, the nearby Bolita Rainforest Hostel has created some its own alternative self-guided options on the fringes of the park.
Bolita has to be one of the hardest hostels in the country to get to. It required a 30 min strenuous hike from our home through dense, shady forest, and it wasn’t like we were staying in a connected place! The owner, an American naturist and nudist enthusiast, set up the hostel seventeen years ago. During this time span the hostel has forged out approximately fifteen kilometers worth of trails through sixty plus hectares of rainforest. On entry to the hostel we paid a small fee for path maintenance and examined the rough map of routes. We were told to keep our eyes peeled for snakes, of which there are many in this part of the world. The simple rule to abide by; keep your eyes fixed on the ground when moving. Be stationary when looking up.
Briefing complete, we marched on to start the first of many trails. Clothes optional was the message on the entry sign, but we kept our bits covered (mostly). We zigzagged along the various trails for hours, treading carefully along the way. The humidity was heavy, but cloud cover meant we enjoyed cooler temperatures compared to average. We encountered three fleeing snakes during the day. All our serpent friends were small and apparently non venomous. With such abundance of snake life, we also had the fortune of spotting one of their hunters, a laughing falcon. We watched from afar until the beautiful bird silently flew away.
We followed routes to two separate waterfalls, which we’ve become so accustomed to. Eventually, we worked our way upwards to a remarkable viewpoint above the canopy outlooking the national park and spanning out towards the sea.
Within a moment of sitting down, we were greeted by two yellow throated toucans, who flew in to rest up on the tree directly opposite us. Such timely encounters couldn’t have been better created in our imaginations and the gifts kept occurring as we returned to the shade of the jungle. This time we stumbled across a gang of juvenile spider monkeys playing high up above our heads. One poor fella was missing a tail, but this didn’t seem to be holding him back. They swung between branches with such poise, until forming a small huddle where they proceeded to prune one another. We waved to the smallest in the group who sat alone still playing, and maybe it was a coincidence as it moved a nearby branch at the same time, but it felt like he or she gestured back to us. Their curious gaze in our direction filled our hearts with joy. Our tally for monkeys was now at three out of the four species in the country. Seeing this group of spider monkeys out in their natural environment was by far the most awe inspiring yet. What a day. One that left us wishing we had more time in the region.
We parted ways the next day, fitting in one final nature activity before leaving. Rising at 5 am, we met our bird guide for the morning, Rolando. After a quick cup of coffee we ventured out as light started to fill the sky. The starting point was conveniently on our doorstep. We wandered along our garden paths, the nearby banks of Rio Tigre, and outskirts of the town for three hours. In that time we spotted just short of fifty different bird species. For anyone that cares, we did our best to list those that we jotted down. You can find it at the bottom of the post. A few call outs are required. Ranking number one in our sightings was undoubtedly a pair of Spectacled Owls. Having never seen an owl of any sort in the wild, seeing these two hyper-tuned broad faced characters up close during daylight hours was rare. High fives were in order! Second on the list would have to be a fleeting sighting of the Turquoise Continga. The insane bright colours of this bird are hard to fathom. Third spot goes to go to a group of Scarlet Macaw that flew overhead while letting out their lung busting squawk. It was quite the conclusion to our stay in Osa. The energy of this living, breathing landscape left us gobsmacked. It’s home to between 4,000-5,000 species of vascular plants, more than 700 species of tree, nearly 400 species of birds, 124 different mammals, thousands of insects, and 115 species of reptiles. The list could go on. We knew we’d barely scratched the surface of the place, and departed ways knowing there were many reasons to one day return.
With only a two days left in Costa Rica, we decided to break up the drive back to San Jose with a stopover in the beach town of Uvita. That evening we strolled down Playa Uvita and entered Costa Rica’s youngest national park, Marino Ballena. The park is most coveted for its whale tail feature. This giant rock and sand formation reveals itself at low tide and from overhead looks just like the tail of a whale. It also happens to be a haven for humpbacks at specific times of the year. On the other side of the tail you find Playa Hermosa (where we’d enjoyed a siesta some days before). Sun down from the whales tail will long stick in our memory. The curtains were drawing in our Costa Rica adventure and the final scene was picture perfect. The journey, spanning over 1,800 kilometres, through four of the seven provinces, across volcanic highlands, rainforests, and sublime beaches, was everything we wanted and more.
Common Flycatcher
Clay Coloured Thrush
Blue Crowned Motmot
Costa Rican Swift
Red Crowned Woodpecker
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Buff-throated Saltator
Turquoise Cotinga
Green Honeycreeper (male and female)
Streaked Flycatcher
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Palm Tanger
Slaty-tail Trogen
Blue black Grosbeak
Eastern Wood Peewee
Spectacled Owl
Scarlet Tanager
Orange-chined Parakeet
Scarlet Macaws
Swallow-tailed Kite
Scaly-breast Hummingbird
Golden-hooded Tanager
Burial-seed Eater
Purple-crowned fairy
Northern Bentbill
Slate-headed Tody-flycatcher
White-tipped Dove
Great Currassow
Black-cheeked Ant-tanager
Tawny-winged Woodcreeper
Black-hooded Antshrike
River Siren
Swansons Thrush
Rose-eye Hawk
Black-striped Sparrow
Turkey Vultures
Gartered Trogen
Piratic Flycatcher
Chachalaka
Green Kingfisher
Blue-ground Dove
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A Fey Encounter
It was midday, but the forest was darkened by the thick canopy of leaves and lush vegetation. He was to find an old relic among the ancient ruins in the seclusive and dangerous Shuriman jungles. The object in question was a chalice said to contain mystical powers, including gifts of foresight given to those who drink from it. Typical mystical bullshit that may or may not even be real. For Ezreal, the relic was paltry compared to the journey and the sights and experiences gained. The money was also good. The affluent politician was paying him well for this one, and he took the job despite the abysmal lack of information on its location and appearance.
He supposed he’d had less to work with in the past, recalling old memories as he packed his gear and making sure nothing would spoil in his apartment before setting out on the multi-month long journey. He dropped by his uncle’s on the way out and parted with a few lumps on his skull from the cranky old professor. Ezreal tried to apologize for leaving on such short notice, breaking his promise to help his aging uncle move some furniture and delicate projects. He dashed around the angry cane, not dodging all of the swift attacks and only escaped with the help of his trusty gauntlet.
Ezreal pat the golden gauntlet, outside of his uncle’s house and made his way to the nearest dock to find a ship headed in the general direction of his destination. It couldn’t hurt to hit some local towns and cities in the area before blindly searching the vast jungle on foot. More often than not, his sleuthing garnered helpful results and gave him insights that he might not have found out about on his own.
This time around, he asked about local legends that included mention of a magical chalice, but there were barely any who knew of such an object. Deterred, Ezreal needed to figure out a different approach. He knew somewhat of the location and began asking if anyone knew the area he pointed at on his map. Some old wizened members of one town knew about it and told him not to go there, even in the most dire circumstances. It was cursed, and no one who ventured into that part of the jungle ever returned.
Intrigued, and undeterred, Ezreal thanked them and assured them he would be alright. Many gasped and gave him reproachful expressions when he revealed his trusty gauntlet to them, and one warned him that his trust in ancient technology would one day be his downfall.
Naturally, Ezreal blew off the ominous remark, but somewhere deep in his gut, he was unsettled.
The ruins were easy enough to find, buried deep in the thickest part of the jungle. Large pieces of stone buildings remained, supporting lush vegetation and housed local wildlife. An archway covered in vines and brightly colored parrots revealed the misty waterfall he had been hearing. It was a beautiful sight to behold and Ezreal found himself glad to find a fresh source of water.
He paused and thought he heard something while filling his canteen, though it was hard to hear anything over the squawks of parrots, hooting of monkeys and the roar of the waterfall itself.
@allocating-space
#rp starter#ezreal#zoe#a fey encounter#allocating-space#feel free to plop her in where ever you like#and do let me know if you'd like anything altered
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Billy blade and the temple of time game download full version
Billy blade and the temple of time game download full version full#
But it's still fun to play and finish in one seat the whole adventure. Keep in mind that this is a pretty short title, it's not something that will last days. Nice enemies and a simple yet fun story follow you through your adventure.
Billy blade and the temple of time game download full version full#
The cartoon adventure is full of humorous situations and exotic settings. Surely it is more intended for a younger audience, but even with that, it tells a nice story. Reviewīilly Blade and The Temple of Time is a nice, comfy adventure game for all ages. Also, Billy Blade is clearly intended for younger audiences, different from Prince of Persia's. Still, In Billy Blade, they travel much farther in time. Especially when you compare it with The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, another game with a pretty similar style, and even the same time traveling theme.
This sounds pretty similar to Prince of Persia, and the game even feels similar to that.īilly Blade and the Temple of Time borrows a lot from his older cousin Prince of Persia. We already know that Billy Blade is adventurous, has a sword, travels through many places looking for treasure and adventure. Billy has to fight off the bad guys while trying to find out just where and when is his friend. This will take him on an adventure through the Ice Age, the Caribbean Beach, and the sandy ancient Persia. Billy, as fearless as ever, jumps in to save his friend without giving it much thought. A strange accident and mystic accident ends up throwing Kong into one of those time portals. This magic Crystal grants the holder the power to create portals and control the amazing power of time.Īs usual in these adventures, something goes terribly wrong. Together they embark on an adventure to the mythical Temple of Time, home of the Crystal of Ages. Billy's wild nature and ability to go constantly shirtless made him perfect for his companion, a monkey called Kong.
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