#event ;; overlay ( part II )

[captainmdhridoyhossain-blog]

Breitling has been generating high quality timepieces for over a century. They’ve were given a robust popularity within the business and feature all the time stored to their roots, so it’s no wonder that ‘out of these kind of watches, that is my favorite.’ This Swiss watchmaker has launched heroic items to stay alongside of the ever-changing developments available in the market. You'll by no means be upset whilst you put money into one among your Breitling watches! The Tremendous Avenger II is a certain must-have if you wish to make a observation when rocking your wristwatch. This piece is huge sufficient to catch other folks's eyes once they understand it in your wrist however no longer an excessive amount of that it seems to be cheesy cumbersome! With its stainless-steel strap and bezel, the watch is appropriate for various events. The black dial has a date overlay and luminous fingers. It additionally is available in numerous colors! The blue and crimson Superocean Héritage II is every other must-have piece from this logo. It’s all about taste with this Swiss chronograph watch! Polished main points at the case offers it an added prominent contact to enrich its masculine attraction while final understated sufficient to come up with elegant sophistication always. Its spherical black rubber bezel contrasts the brushed metal end of the case which makes it attention-grabbing with out being too flashy. The Flyback Chronograph stays one among Breitling's maximum iconic watches regardless of being first introduced greater than 20 years in the past. The mix of its blue dial, bezel and chronograph subdials with the chrome steel case make this timepiece one to rock when you wish to have other folks to note you! It’s were given a vintage glance however won't ever move out of fashion because it has a marginally of antique about it. The date window is located on the 3 o’clock place. I truly love that characteristic as it makes it simple to learn what time it's! This watch has a two-tone blue dial with silver fingers and hour markers, which provides this vintage timepiece an interesting look. The straightforward glance of the mechanical motion provides to its attraction via making it seem extra delicate. The 24-hour show within the subdial at 6 o'clock is one thing that I truly like about this watch as it’s very sensible when you wish to have to grasp what time it's in another country. This chronograph has a antique look with its crimson dial, however nonetheless manages to seem recent because of the quantity of stainless-steel utilized in its building. It’s one of the vital highest taking a look watches I personal and indubitably my private favorite out of these kind of watches! The date window at 6 o'clock doesn’t trouble me since it is not too large, however other folks have commented that they don’t truly love it being there. I to find that the black and silver color scheme of this watch seems to be very chic. The polished oblong case provides a marginally of class to it as neatly. The brown leather-based strap is a brilliant characteristic as it offers the watch a antique really feel! For my part, this timepiece from Breitling is an absolute good looks. The Navitimer 01 is designed with the aviator in thoughts. It has a very easy look which makes it best for individuals who don’t want an excessive amount of fuss! Like maximum of Breitling's watches, this piece boasts very good high quality and ambitious timekeeping capability with its Swiss automated motion. The central hour, minute and 2nd fingers are coated with Tremendous-LumiNova to verify prime visibility in low gentle prerequisites. That is the very best wait for if you wish to have one thing masculine which nonetheless has a marginally of class about it! I truly assume that Breitling have finished a very good process at growing this watch as it doesn’t have an excessive amount of element which makes it glance very blank and graceful. I feel this

watch is essentially the most suitable piece for formal events as a result of its stylish look.

[markkystreams]

Markky Streams Review

In this Markky Streams review, we'll take a closer look at the sports streaming service. We'll cover the number of channels available, whether it's easy to navigate, and whether pop-up ads are an issue. We'll also look at its reliability, which we'll cover in Part II of this Markky Streams review. But first, let's talk about some of the cons. First of all, if you're concerned about the number of pop-up ads, you should look elsewhere.

Markky Streams is a sports streaming service

If you're not happy with the streaming service, there are many alternatives you can use. If you're looking for a free alternative to Markky Streams, you'll be happy to hear that there are several great ones out there! StreamHunter is a great choice for many reasons. The first is that it provides a wide range of sports programming from a variety of sports leagues and countries. Secondly, it's compatible with many different web browsers and has a built-in flash gamer. Lastly, StreamHunter is another free alternative for Markky Streams. It's a reliable, flexible service, and regularly updates sports videos.

Streaming sports on Markky Streams is also free! You can watch all sorts of live sporting events, from baseball to tennis to golf. You can even get updates on each match as it happens. Another alternative is Rojadirecta, a popular sports index. It features a large selection of video and sports channels, as well as live ratings and information for any ongoing match. Additionally, this website allows you to stream the events in high definition, meaning you can watch them with high quality audio and video.

It is easy to navigate around

The interface is intuitive and easy to use. It includes categories for sports and live broadcasts of your favorite teams. If you are looking for an alternative to Markky Streams, BT Sport is a great option. It offers a full list of real BT Sport channels, as well as on-demand material. Users can easily find the games they are looking for and can chat with friends online. There is no need to register to watch your favorite sports.

VIP Box Sports is another good alternative to Markky Streams. This website offers free streams of all major sports, with every live match in the world available. The interface is user-friendly, and the creators are always on hand to assist you. Once you have logged in, you can start watching live games. Markky Streams has a very good reputation, but you may still have questions. You can contact them directly if you need help.

It offers a large number of channels

While Markky streams offers a great number of sports channels, its main selling point is its massive amount of sports events. Whether you're interested in football, tennis, baseball, or handball, you'll be able to find a live match on this streaming service. And since this service has no geographic restrictions, you can watch matches anywhere in the world from your mobile device or laptop. And since it's free to use, you can get access to more channels than you could possibly count.

While some Markky Streams Alternatives may not come close to matching this service's vast selection of sports events, they're worth a look. MamaHD, for example, offers a huge array of sports channels in high-definition. And because you can choose to watch specific sports events on their website, you can even monitor the time zone of the event. It even offers live ratings, highlights, and news.

It has pop-up ads

The first thing you should know about pop-up ads is what they are and how to stop them. Unlike banner ads, these are displayed in a new window and pop out in front of the visitor's current browser window. Depending on the type of pop-up, they may appear as a small square, rectangle, or triangle. This is often confused with overlay ads, which are meant to appear in a new window.

The second thing you should know is that pop-up ads are annoying and can even redirect you to malicious sites. These advertisements are a way for web developers to make money, and they can also be used by hackers to steal personal information. Once you click on one of these advertisements, your computer can get infected with adware, a type of malware that hides on your computer and displays advertising material to users every time they visit the internet.

Read more Markky Streams: https://topstreamingsites.com/sites/markky-streams

#Markky Streams

[nefarious-corvid-blog]

What’s the meaning of this?! ;; Overlay part II – Becky

    Bolts.

    Not even a few days with his armor back and it was already getting dented up by all these damn monsters.

    It was safe to say that Crow loved his fair share of chaos–however, he greatly preferred to be one the behind it. As he stood in the middle of a swarm, grenades not spawning nearly fast enough and his body still taking harsh blows of damage despite his armor’s specific properties, he wracked his brain for solutions on how to make the best of, or at least get out of, this situation.     Fighting through the horde? No, he didn’t have the necessary weapons for that–damn, if only he had his multi-fists. Grenades only prove to make these abominations angrier... With no other solutions in sight, Crow looked to the only place that showed any sign of freedom–up.

    His right arm clicked, the signal which meant all grenades were restored, and in turn Crow cracked a grin. “Aha! These monsters won’t get the best of me yet,” he thought aloud.

    With a crouch, and a leap, and a grenade shot at this feet, Crow shot a good distance into the air. Yes! Freedom!     The excitement, however, lasted only as long as it took for one particularly large beast to swing it’s fist.

    Crow was hit right in the chest, dead-center, knocking the wind out of him as well as knocking him entirely off trajectory. Whew, he hadn’t felt a blow like that since he tried to kidnap Princess Tephra, he reflected in his final conscious moments.

    With a thud and a sliiide, his helmet completely knocked off and landed a short distance away, Crow arrived to a halt at the majordomo’s feet. Not the most impressive entrance, nor the most heartwarming reunion, but thankfully Crow was not aware enough to realize either. Was that thankful?

@maliciousmajordomo

#;; in crow #;; event overlay part II #maliciousmajordomo #;; AYYYYEEEE #;; i hope this is good! got kinda long sorry owo;

[bloodymxrtyr-blog]

     “It’d be best to move about carefully. Its just us four and a whole lot of them causing havoc.” He cautioned. It was fortunate that he was able to reconvene with his group. Perhaps he would have preferred better circumstances for this meeting. But as it stands, there were a lot of lives that were at stake during this mess. The feels that left him unsettled came to fruition. Perhaps it was a fortunate thing that there are like minded and capable doing what they could to push back against this plague that swept the island.

      “Whatever this virus is... It’s causing an interference with my senses after a few minutes has passes every now and then. I’ll need your help when that happens.” He explained towards the others. It would prove beneficial he explain his situation, he didn’t want this to crawl back up cause a mess later down the line. Much as he preferred to operate solo in situations like these. He didn’t have much of a choice to keep doing so. He was already testing his luck and found himself in more than enough close calls during this madness.     “Should things go south. I heard of many safe zones across the island much like this one.”      @vereisten > @sperorevoco > @toweradministrator

#vereisten #sperorevoco #toweradministrator #[ ISOLA EVENT: OVERLAY PART II ] #[ Let's get this party started! ]

[sixthwater]

Synastry and: the Family II 📹

I'm back with the platonic synastry series! This part will focus on my relationship with my father. So let's just get into it I already introduced this

Note: This is using and based off of personal experience, I will be using specific people and referencing them throughout the post

Me & my Dad's placements

☉: Cancer / Scorpio ☽: Taurus / Gemini ☿: Cancer / Sagittarius ♀: Cancer / Scorpio ♂: Virgo / Virgo

*If you’re wondering: yes, arguing or debating with my dad is fucking annoying

📸 Overlays

Me: Sun & Venus in 2nd / Dad: Sun & Venus in 9th

This is pretty straight-forward. As I mentioned in my previous post, this might cause the house person to be protective of the planet person or provide for them. Besides like, being my father, he has went to extreme lengths to ensure that me & my siblings are okay and taken care of. I can think of multiple examples, but besides literal money, he has told me multiple times that if I need someone to rely on or somewhere to go that he's there (seems to be a theme lmao). Even after I moved and he's made plans to move, he still tells me this. I also was able to rely on him for Months to help with rent a little during college and that is an Absolute blessing. I always go to him for financial advice or assistance and I admire his life story and where he is now, which can tie us into the 9th overlay. I think the closest to an actual conversation we had is this clip from fresh prince. I'm not joking when I use these characters as examples (except I'm definitely ashley oops). We have a lot of conversations that tend to delve into deeper topics and "what-ifs" and "what would you do" s. I also have a lot of fun with him and we both are open to trying new things and exploring the unknown (hole in the wall places or just taking different routes home and then laughing when it goes awry).

Me: Moon in 12th / Dad: Moon in 4th

This right here is why I back up astrology (other than real life events). My parents got a divorce right around or before I was born, so my dad was never a stable thing in my life until he could be. Despite that, I felt more comfortable and at home around him than with my mom. I always was confused by this until I got into astrology and pulled up his chart and then ran our synastry and here we are. I always felt like I was able to be more unfiltered and at ease whenever we hung out and immediately became uncomfortable whenever I got home. I never liked leaving my room and my family claimed I was a shut-in but when I moved in with him I got a little bit better at coming out of it (work in progress haha). The 4th overlay will truly create a welcoming feeling that you cannot explain- well you can it's like a "perfect" home, you let your guard down. It's not to say there won't be problems but you know it won't cause serious damage to your relationship. For the 12th, I mean he's a scorpio with scorpio degrees and I'm used to that energy so I'm not bothered by it LOL. I won't say it feels like someone is hiding a secret, but it's more like "ok I know you're holding back from me but I figure it's for a reason so I'll just be sitting here whenever you're ready" like that? Of course refer to my note up there, because signs and energies can change that, but theres an understanding with us and matching chart placements so it might be helping the 12th overlay, but I definitely can tell when he's holding back.

*Extra Note

Me: Chiron in 4th / Dad: Chiron in 1st

My chiron is originally in my 7th house. My dad has helped me through so many issues regarding my self-esteem and my identity regarding my relations to others. Along with his scorpio placements, he reminded me many times that I should stand on my own two feet and not worry about what other people because "fuck them", in his own words LMAO. Whereas I tend to remind him of his own childhood wounds with mine. I don't actively bring anything up or make it a topic unless I need to discuss something else, but he's usually the one who makes it a topic and discusses it. I'm also pretty sure I'm one of the rare few who knows this about him, but he's slowly becoming more comfortable with talking about it. He sort of sees a mirror in me when it comes to his own trauma basically, so he guides me, helps me, and I also help him I guess? somehow. Wish I could explain but he'd have to tell me first haha.

*It's important to note that both me and my father have a sixth house stellium, heavy water influence, and matching air fluence. This makes a lot of the overlay's impact stronger and the aspects flower easier. I also won't be dealing with the mercury overlay as its just the 2nd & 10th and I'll be repeating myself

🎥Aspects

There isn't much to talk about here. We have a ton of saturn aspects which is ironic, but there's just one that I want to bring to light:

My Moon Opposing His Neptune

I absolutely adore my father. I am very defensive of him. There are many times where I question myself and if I'm seeing things clearly but it's okay because another astrologer said he's one of the best fathers they've ever seen and I get my stubbornness from him xoxoxo and I can attribute both of those points to this aspect right here. Bringing back that piece from the moon overlay, it causes the moon to wonder if the neptune person is hiding anything from them because there's a mist over areas of their life (relating to the overlay usually). If we look at this from an astrology point of view we are taking in the fact that I am a critical virgo mars, 6th stellium, my moon sits in the 3rd house, and its being affected in regards to this person that it's now paranoid. I want to make sure that I'm thinking clearly and this person affecting me is being truthful with what they're telling me or displaying. This combination can also cause me to overthink it though, which I am aware of and I toss it after a few minutes. **In general this aspect can play out as the neptune person shying away from something small like confrontation if they know the moon person will be sensitive to a certain comment or something serious like a lie. Or the moon projecting their emotions onto the neptune person. Once again it depends on the placements and their own natal aspects.

Annndd that's it for me and my dad!! I share the most similarities with him out of everyone, and my step-dad is right after that considering no time so they'll be a lot easier to write on haha. If you felt pain looking at his inner planets just wait until you see my mother's lmao. If you read through this entire thing thank you so much for your time!!!

#astrology #synastry #platonic synastry #mygalaxypost

[kickingitwithkirk]

Rain pt II

Summary: After Supernaturals end Jensen’s life turned upside down. A year later an unexpected movie offer gives his career a second chance but it comes with an unexpected surprises.

Pairing: Jensen Ackles x OFC Lili

Word Count: 1034

Warnings: cursing, nervous Jensen

* This is a slow burn series

Part I

A/N: This story has components from my favorite W. Somerset Maugham short Rain and Lace by Shirley Conran.

“I swear.. your..trying to...fucking kill me,” Jensen gasped as he falls onto the grassy knoll. Jared looks down at him laughing. He had been running with Jensen four times a week for the last month, pushing him to go further each week.

“We’ve only gone five miles…”

“I’m not training for a fucking marathon!”

“You said you wanted to do this and told me not to go easy.”

Jensen lays back on the grass, “I know and I appreciate it Jay, I’m just cranky cause..”

“Your menopausal?”

“Funny. No, I’m fucking hungry! Last night I couldn't stop dreaming about those damn double bacon cheeseburgers Dean used to eat.”

Jensen’s new diet was similar to what the Marvel actors did and he swore he’d never do again.

He normally watched what he ate, exercised regularly and was lucky he didn’t have to push too hard to stay in shape but he’d gotten used to nibbling on sweets, thanks to Jared’s addiction, always having something surgery on set. It was the first time he envied his friends hummingbird metabolism, would’ve made this reduction so much easier.

The absolute worst was no alcohol at all ‘cause dammit, he likes his drink.

Jared sat down next to him stretching, “You're doing really good, I can see the changes already.” Jensen’s cheekbones were more prominent and the soft overlay on his abdomen was gone, his toned abs more noticeable, giving him the lean, muscular look like he had in his early twenties, even though he hadn’t put on any muscle mass.

“I still can’t wrap my head around why me? I don’t physically look the part, Davidson’s described more like you Sasquatch, all hair and rangly.” He smirks earning him bitchface.

“I read the book and yeah, you're not exactly type but by the time you lose the weight, makeup and wardrobe, you’ll pull it off. How much you down?”

“Eighteen.”

“That’s good, you’re slightly ahead. Once your there, it’s maintenance.”

Jensen sighed remembering how much Jared had to put away, on top of his already huge daily caloric intake, to bulk up and kept on for demon blood and soulless!Sam a decade ago.

Jared gets up extending his extra large hand and pulls a groaning Jensen with him.

***

October

Jensen's sitting by himself in the green room waiting for the press junket to start texting with Chris Kane about getting together while he was in California.

His other co-stars were seated close together chatting amicably, having either previously worked together on other projects or through events they’d attended.

“Cheer up mate, we’re not all a bunch of snobby assholes, well...some of us aren’t.” He looked up as David Tennant draped his lanky self over a nearby chair. He’d gotten to know the Scotsman a bit when his wife Emily guest starred as Kate the werewolf on Supernatural.

“Just watch yourself around Dockerty,” he says in a staged whisper making her glance over at them. David flashes his signature smile making her roll her eyes, resumes her conversation with Sally Hawking, Jamie Dornan and Jay Laga’aia, “she’s been known to make a porcupine look positively cuddly.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jensen remarks, “since she’s playing my wife,” the comment makes David chuckle, “Sally’s seems genuine, you lucked out there.”

David rubs his chin thoughtfully, “Since we don’t know who the leading lady of our ensemble is yet we might be better off cuddling up to the porcupine.”

Jensen remained noncommittal, figuring it’d be better not to antagonize anyone since they would be stuck together for the next four months; three weeks of rehearsals to shake any bugs left out of the script. costume fittings, makeup and hair while work was being completed on the island thousands of miles from the U.S. where they’d be filming during the region’s rainy season.

A PA walked in, “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to face the firing squad.”

***

Jensen nervously tapped his fingers against his thick thigh backstage waiting for his name to be called. This junket was making him uneasy, not knowing what the press would ask since Zimmer, who preferred to keep everything close to the vest with his projects, had only released minimal information about this production. 

He hoped the coverage would be favorable since in this ensemble he was not only an odd man out but leading sticks out like a sore thumb man out.

They could hear Zimmer thanking the press, briefly answering questions about the minimal info in the press packets. The announcer went right into a bit of background filler about each of their carriers before introductions.

“At this moment we would usually introduce both leading actors together but unfortunately the lead actresses flight is delayed due to mechanical issues and is on another flight, hopefully to be here soon.”

There’s a brief pause, “This gentleman is better known for his previous hit television series, the longest running of its genre, ending last year after an unprecedented fifteen seasons. Please welcome Mr. Jensen Ackles.”

Jensen counted to five and stepped out onto the stage.

***

“Ms. Dockerty, how does this part compare to that of Lady Mary, since both characters are from roughly the same time period.”

“I’m not sure if we can compare…” Michelle was answering when David picked up his glasses putting them on distracting Jensen. Squinting at someone across the ballroom chucks softly to himself.

Jensen notices a woman dressed in a well worn leather jacket leaning against the back wall. He couldn’t make out her face clearly with the size of the hall but something was familiar.

It starts in the back of the room: a buzzing murmur along the last row of journalists, word spreading, people turning around to gander at the mysterious lady in the back turns into pandemonium.

It’s complete chaos as the whole press core got their full attention on her, some standing up on chairs shouting her name trying to get her to look their way for a coveted shot.

“It appears our leading lady has arrived.” David bemusedly yells to be heard as Michelle was caught saying “fucking hell,” over the open mic. Jensen can do nothing but sit in shocked silence.

Lili.

tbc

Tagging: SPN @donnaintx​​​​​​

Dean/Jensen: @flamencodiva​​​​​​

Rain @stoneyggirl​​​​​​

#Jensen Ackles #jensen ackles x ofc #Jensen Fanfiction #rpf fanfic #rpf #jesen ackles au #slow burn

[preston-appreciation-week]

Hello Everyone!

As part of Preston Appreciation Week, we wish to provide resources for any participants who may be confused on either the rules or how to portray Preston outside the usual “Settlement Jokes.” We would also like to try and curb the problem of white-washing Preston (and other POC characters) in the community.

Below is a series of links that provide tutorials and references for both artists and writers on how to draw and write POC characters. Including skin coloring tutorials, writing resources for hair and skin, as well as “what not to do’s”. 

Mod Munchy has also provided an entire skin tone resource entirely dedicated to Preston, with over 60+ screenshots to help. There will also be a few videos that are specifically about Preston as a character, including all his dialogue, in case anyone needs help characterizing him, or coming up with headcanons.

We hope that providing these resources will help artists and writers alike in not only following the rules for the event, but skills that they can bring into other works later down the line!

*ೃ༄  Resources  *ೃ༄

~ Preston Resources ~

+ Preston Skin Tone Guide +

+ Munchy’s “How to use the Skin Tone Guide” Tutorial +

+ Fallout 4 - All Dialogue’s “Preston Garvey - All Dialogue” Video +

+ LordMatrim’s “Preston, All Affinity Dialogues” Video +

+ Oxhorn’s “A Profile of Preston Garvey - Who is He Anyway? - Fallout 4 Lore” Video + <= While not the best character breakdown, I do believe this video is one of the best lore breakdowns for Preston.

~ Art Resources ~

+ Munchy’s Overlay Guide +

+ ASIEYBARBIE’s Basic Skin Tone Coloring Tutorial +

+ Peachdeluxe’s Skin Tone Tutorial +

+ PeaEssGee’s Lighter Palms Tutorial/Guide +

+ Likelihood Art’s “How I Paint Dark Skin” video + 

+ Mohammed Agbadi’s “Color Drawings Faster! Smarter Process” video +

~ Writing Resources ~

+ Writing With Color Blog +

+ WWC’s Words for Skin Tone | How to Describe Skin Color Guide +

+ WWC’s Words to Describe Hair Guide +

+ WWC’s Guide on Black Hairstyles for the Apocalypse II: Post-Nuclear +

+ WWC’s Interracial Relationships & Avoiding Fetishizing Guide +

+ Christine Ro’s “Dear White Writers, Please Stop Doing These Things” Article +

If anyone has other resources they wish to provide, please feel free to DM us with links. We will gladly add it to the list!

Again, we hope that providing these resources for people will help them grow as fan artists and writers as a whole. 

~Mod Munchy

#preston appreciation week #preston appreciation week 2021 #resource list #resources #mod post

[necropsittacus]

 @red--thedragon​ asked me to post my shin godzilla paper from last semester on here. i don’t want to publicly link to google drive so i’m pasting it in here. sources available upon request. 

Godzilla (1954) is famously and somewhat blatantly a metaphor for the atomic bomb. It was also released during what is sometimes called the “Golden Age of Japanese cinema” (Kehr), not all that long after the end of World War II and the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Probably not coincidentally, it was wildly successful and left a significant mark on pop culture and consciousness. This paper will focus on the 2016 reboot Shin Godzilla, which takes this well-established nuclear metaphor and ties it instead to the Fukushima disaster of 2011. Shin Godzilla is a darker, less campy piece than we may have come to expect from monster movies. It feels closer to the original Godzilla tonally than most modern takes tend to, and focuses much more on political or bureaucratic drama than on monster fight scenes. It is, however, still very recognizably, and crucially, a Godzilla movie in the spirit of what has come before. This paper will examine how Shin Godzilla invokes Fukushima, what points it is trying to make by this, and how the resignification benefits us--in other words, why what the directors are trying to say needed to be said in specifically a Godzilla movie, already tied by implication to the older nuclear narrative of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The major points of the argument are material parallels to the events of Fukushima in Shin Godzilla, prominent themes of politics and media, and the construction of Godzilla himself. Additionally, one might speculate that Shin Godzilla is about narrative itself, or Godzilla as a narrative. 

It is worth commenting briefly on the tagline in connection to the idea that this movie is in some way about narrative. The tagline for the Japanese release of the film is written as both “Japan vs Godzilla” in katakana and “Reality vs Fiction” in kanji, with the katakana above the kanji in a way that implies they are the same word or being equated in some way. Framing the text this way makes it a statement both that this fight is between: (a) Japan and Godzilla, (b) reality and fiction (a narrative), and (c) Japan and fiction (a narrative) (the fourth possible reading, that the film is about a struggle between reality and Godzilla, seems less apt except as an extension of (c)). The English tagline, on the other hand, is “A god incarnate. A city doomed.” This is in line with “standard” Godzilla imagery and is not in itself anything surprising. The fact that the English version is not anything close to a direct translation of the Japanese version is surprising. One might speculate that this is because the “reality vs fiction” concept, with a Godzilla movie, was seen as less meaningful outside of Japan (and thus Western audiences might want something a little more traditional for a monster movie?) Using this kind of wordplay in the tagline is setting us up for a movie that is in some way about signification or meaning; it is also setting up an idea of Godzilla as a cultural construct or narrative, as well as just a monster. 

In several places the plot and imagery of Shin Godzilla directly parallel the events of Fukushima. The damage caused by Godzilla manifests in blackouts, airport closures, water (and blood) leaking into train tunnels, and leveled buildings (Shin Godzilla).  Like the original, and unsurprisingly for a popular nuclear metaphor, there is a heavy focus here on danger from radiation. However, unlike the original movie, one of the government’s first responses to the discovery that Godzilla is radioactive is “it’s not enough of a spike in radiation to warrant evacuation” (Shin Godzilla). Another major parallel is the focus on mass evacuations, specifically the SDF’s inability to evacuate Tokyo in an organized manner and an increasingly wide area requiring evacuation. The initial suggestion that the disruptions observed might be due to a monster is treated as ridiculous; the more “respectable” politicians tend to assume it must be an underwater volcanic eruption or an earthquake (Shin Godzilla). For comparison, in the original Godzilla the first assumption is that there must be a “drifting sea mine, or an underwater volcano” (Gojira). The underwater volcano idea is repeated in both films, but where the original has a mine (more linked to the aftermath of war), Shin Godzilla has an earthquake (part of the actual Fukushima disaster). Obviously, in the case of the real-life disaster, part of the problem was an earthquake, not a giant monster rising from the sea, but the government’s ignorance of, or refusal to acknowledge, what is going on is evocative. This idea that the government does not know what is happening and cannot be relied upon is repeated in other ways. Scientists working with the bureaucracy initially assume that Godzilla would be unable to support his own weight on land and cannot come ashore; immediately afterwards, he comes ashore (Shin Godzilla). 

One of the major themes of the movie is its focus on politics, red tape, and bureaucratic incompetence. This is probably unique to Shin Godzilla within the Godzilla franchise; it certainly does not play such a prominent role in the original. More time in this movie is devoted to scenes of bureaucrats arguing with each other, while Godzilla lays waste to Tokyo, than to any attempt to fight the monster. As in the original Godzilla, the military is powerless to help; unlike the original, this is partly because of red tape (at one point a comment is made that the Self-Defense Forces are not authorized to fight Godzilla because he is not an invading army (Shin Godzilla)), as well as physical inability to stop the monster. Repeated attempts are made to calm the public via press releases and the like, despite the fact that the government is at this point not actually doing anything to help the situation (Shin Godzilla); this speaks for itself. At least one bureaucrat has made a statement that the Fukushima disaster was as bad as it was because of “reflexive obedience...reluctance to question authority...devotion to ‘sticking with the program’” (“Fukushima report”). These are, by and large, the same things being pointed out in the bureaucracy here. Those in power are reluctant to act; there is no protocol for this kind of catastrophe, so no one actually deals with it, except for the characters who are able to disregard protocol and act outside it. One of the final lines is “The fact remains that casualties were high. Accountability comes with the job” (Shin Godzilla). This feels like an unsubtle comment directed at the government--it is a statement that yes, government accountability for what happened is important. Given the rest of the ending (discussed later), and the tonal implications of changing the actual narrative of the aftermath of Fukushima, could this be a way of constructing a scenario in which the Japanese government is held accountable for its failure or inability to act? 

Another way politics play an important thematic role is the issue of international relations, specifically between Japan and the US. This plays into some of the statements Shin Godzilla is making about narrative and continuity. It ties less directly to images of Fukushima (the US did intervene in that disaster to some degree, but in a very different way) than the rest of the movie, but is relevant to its ties to Hiroshima. Following the failure of the SDF and government to stop Godzilla, the international community, and, in particular, the United States, attempt to become involved (Shin Godzilla). The US’s idea of how to fix the problem is to drop an atomic bomb on Tokyo to kill Godzilla; much of the conflict is centered around how to stop Godzilla before that happens (Shin Godzilla). There is a line “post-war extends forever” (Shin Godzilla), in a discussion of the political ramifications of the situation. This explicitly links this movie (and thus Fukushima) to what happened in and after World War II.

Another major point distinguishing this from the original Godzilla and tying it to Fukushima and the modern era is the way Shin Godzilla uses media and social media. We see people filming the initial stages of the disaster on cell phones as it is happening (Shin Godzilla), even while the government does not know what is happening and refuses to comment on it. The internet seems to distribute information faster than the bureaucracy. At some points, there is an overlay of social media commentary on the screen, over footage of disaster (Shin Godzilla). Scenes cut between politicians arguing and either the news. This is a mass-information-era take on Godzilla, a modern reinterpretation in ways that go beyond aesthetics or the addition of color. It also suggests parallels to other discourse around Fukushima, notably Ryouichi Wagou’s Twitter poetry. 

While the basic concept of the monster and his origins remain similar, there are some notable differences. This Godzilla, like the original, is created by nuclearity in some way; both versions are prehistoric survivors somehow brought into contact with humans by nuclear weapons or nuclear energy. However, the original Godzilla was created by nuclear testing in the Pacific (Godzilla), while Shin Godzilla evolved rapidly to feed on nuclear waste following unregulated dumping (Shin Godzilla). It is worthy of note that this Godzilla also must periodically reenter the sea to cool his internal nuclear reactor (Shin Godzilla). Additionally, he is eventually stopped by exploiting this need for temperature control. The need for cooling, and specifically cooling by seawater, seems to be referencing the actual means by which meltdown is contained. 

There are significant visual differences between the Shin Godzilla take on Godzilla and more traditional depictions. Some of this is attributable to improved special effects, but not all (this Godzilla does not look much more like other contemporary depictions of Godzilla than he does like the original). The most significant change is the theme of mutation and multiple forms, discussed in more detail later. All his forms look somewhat unlike more traditional versions of Godzilla; the second in particular is notably unsettling-looking, resembling a gilled sea animal barely able to move on land and who routinely dumps blood from his gills, while the third and fourth can, unlike the original Godzilla, unhinge their jaws. It is likely that these differences are related to a commentary on narrative, and drawing a contrast with the other ways Godzilla has been reinterpreted over the years. We have become used to the “traditional” Godzilla, in a way people in the 50’s would not have been. Because he is such a fixture of pop culture, the image of Godzilla no longer provokes fear. A new version is better able to provoke a visceral reaction, as well as to indicate that this is not, for all its similarities, quite the same narrative, or the same disaster, but something new, something we should be afraid of. Additionally, the way Godzilla looks has always been some kind of radiation metaphor (for instance, the original Godzilla’s scale patterns resemble scars from radiation poisoning). Is the unsettling appearance and seeming injury here part of the same idea? Are we meant to take the monster leaking blood from his gills as a form of radiation sickness? Is the monster, too, now suffering from the disaster? This could be an interesting reinterpretation of the monster-as-nuclear-metaphor narrative; it would require more space to analyze fully than is available here, but is worth mentioning.   

Perhaps the most significant difference between Shin Godzilla’s take on the titular monster and any older material is the idea of mutation. This Godzilla can rewrite his own DNA and take new forms to adapt to new circumstances. While all five forms are recognizably distinct from any other take on Godzilla, the first two in particular look nothing like any other depiction. As the crisis gets worse, he mutates gradually into something much closer to the recognized nuclear symbol that truly ties this to what’s come before. This can be taken as saying essentially, “this started out looking like a brand-new problem, but now we see it is the same pattern repeated.” As for the mutation itself, there is the obvious connection between radiation and mutation. Also, by mutating, Godzilla can adapt to his circumstances and survive, but the government status quo cannot. There is also plausibly a link between the significance of mutation within the film to a commentary on changing narratives themselves: narratives of disaster, the “Godzilla narrative.” Even the title of the film, which literally translates as “New Godzilla,” backs this idea of change. Calling it simply Godzilla (2016) would have been in keeping with the norms of the franchise. The choice to call it “New Godzilla” instead suggests that the creators are deliberately framing this film as a shift in the narrative of disaster (and of Godzilla movies) they are using, even though thematically, tonally, and in terms of actual plot, Shin Godzilla is closer to Godzilla (1954) than many of the newer movies that might bear the name “Godzilla.”  

The last major element that merits discussion here is the tone of the ending. Shin Godzilla ends slightly differently from the original Godzilla; while the original Godzilla is eventually killed, with concerns that if nuclear testing continues another Godzilla will rise (Godzilla), Shin Godzilla is only frozen, not killed (Shin Godzilla). The idea that the threat is still there, cooled beyond the capacity to act, immobilized, but ready to start moving again, reads as a parallel to the need for continual efforts to contain radioactive leakage. However, it is established that if he starts moving again, the countdown to annihilation from nuclear weapons will also start again (Shin Godzilla). This raises the question of whether that element is really about Fukushima. On the one hand, containment of a meltdown would have the “constant threat that this will become an active problem again” element. On the other, that significance would already be covered by the idea that Godzilla is frozen, not dead; bringing in US involvement, and specifically the threat of nuclear weapons, suggests something else is being referenced here. You cannot talk about dropping an atomic bomb on Japan without invoking Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

The ending, while not happy by any means, does have an oddly hopeful tone. Scientists discover that a new radioactive isotope associated with Godzilla has a half-life of only 20 days, and will disappear completely in at most 3 years (Shin Godzilla). This stands in sharp contrast to how we normally think of radioactive contamination, and, significantly, to the actual timescale of Fukushima. As of March of this year, eight years after the original disaster, containment and cleanup efforts were still underway, including difficulties in storing or disposing of contaminated water (Takahashi). The choice to have the radiation go away suggests that there is an “after” for this disaster, when the damage will truly be over and Tokyo will be safe again, in the same way Shin Godzilla elsewhere implies there is not truly an “after” for Hiroshima. This time, reality, or Japan, wins over the narrative. At the same time, changing the real narrative of what happened at Fukushima, and is still, in a way, happening, to one with a happier, more certain end could be taken as narrative winning out over reality. Thus, this question is both answered and unanswered. The same idea of a true post-disaster space is suggested by the prospect of a new set of politicians, who may be less paralyzed by protocol in the face of catastrophe. Ending the movie this way seems to be a means of coping with the disaster, of reanalyzing it as something that can be defeated and truly go away, in a way the reality of nuclear catastrophe cannot. 

There is one more minor point relevant to this interpretation. Shin Godzilla was very well-received in Japan, winning 7 Japan Academy Prize awards (Dominguez), but received a much more mixed response in the West (Bellach). Much of the criticism focuses on the movie being boring, confusing, or too heavily focused on the bureaucratic elements. This difference can likely be attributed to two major factors. First, we may have certain expectations for monster movies; as mentioned above, while the original Godzilla was quite depressing, the tendency over the years has been more towards campier, more monster-fight-focused action movies. Evaluated in that genre, Shin Godzilla definitely does not meet expectations. Second, the Fukushima disaster itself, and the government’s response or failure to respond, are likely much more active in people’s minds in Japan. Western critics might not even be aware of some of the details, and would be less likely to have a strong reaction to the parallels than someone who had seen the impact more up-close. 

Shin Godzilla is at once a criticism of the Japanese government’s response to the Fukushima disaster, a means of placing Fukushima as part of the same cultural legacy as Hiroshima, a means of coping with the aftermath of Fukushima, and a commentary on the narrative of disaster itself and other Godzilla movies, all, crucially, dressed up as a Godzilla movie. While the primary point here seems to be using the format of a Godzilla movie to critique Fukushima, it is important that this is a Godzilla movie. There is work being done by the images of Hiroshima inherently referenced by this comparison that would not be filled by a new, Fukushima-specific monster, let alone a realistic disaster movie. The same point is being made by explicit references to the atomic bombing of Japan, and the idea that we are still in the “time after” or “aftermath” of Hiroshima. This is both an attempt to process that idea and to cement Fukushima as a continuation of the same narrative. However, the narrative is not set in stone; we are using a rigid narrative to talk about continuation, but the need for change is a major theme, and Japan wins over the "narrative,” if only barely. Changing the way the disaster ends is both a criticism of how the government actually responded to Fukushima and a means of coping with Fukushima, or suggesting hope for the future. Additionally, there are suggestions of commentary on how Godzilla has evolved as a concept that are difficult to separate from the political commentary; this gives an overall impression that in some ways, this is a movie about narratives as much as anything else. 

#mine #kaiju content #godzilla

[dweemeister]

2019 Movie Odyssey Award for Best Original Song (final)

*breathes deeply*

TAGGING: @cokwong; @dansmonarbre; @emilylime5; @fredsbarandgrill; @halfwaythruthedark; @ideallaedi; @introspectivemeltdown; @loveless422 (of @classicladiesofcolor administering); @maximiliani; @memetoilet; @mindo80; @monkeysmadeofcheese; @myluckyerror; @nazur; @phendranaedge; @plus-low-overthrow; @shadesofhappy; @stephdgray; @themusicmoviesportsguy; @theybecomestories; @umgeschrieben; @underblackwings; @yellanimal.

And also tagging a few first-timers or those who haven’t done this in a while: @astorytellertothestars; @bitch-genius; @dog-of-ulthar; @ineedanumbrella; @jayb3; @kataka-taka; @nudehearth; @shootingstarvenator; @thethirdman8; @thewolfofelectricavenue; @voicetalentbrendan; and @wehadfacesthen.

This is not the latest we've ever started the final round, but here we go!

For those who participated in the preliminary, I thank you for your time, but we're not done quite yet. The madness has only begun. After a chaotic end to the preliminary round in which contenders crashed out and unheralded underdogs rose in the final hours, who knows who takes this final? For the uninitiated, I have an Oscar-like ceremony on my blog celebrating all the movies of that year’s Movie Odyssey (all the movies I saw for the first time in their entirety) at the year’s end. For the last five years, I have asked family and friends to help out with the Best Original Song category - because in all other categories, you'd be forced to watch entire movies to decide it. This is a musical thank-you to those, who have contributed, in their own ways, to support the Movie Odyssey and me over the last calendar year.

I normally would have known if I would have asked folks to help participate in MOABOS around the end of summer. But due to work commitments, I had no idea whether or not we would be doing this as late as mid-October. I consider it very fortunate we were able to get this off the ground this year - some of you, interestingly enough, look forward to this every year for some strange reason.

As a result of this year's limitations, this is the one of the most monolingual fields we've ever had in a final. But that's not to besmirch the quality of music seen here. In one notable piece of MOABOS trivia, a Vietnamese-language song has reached the final for the first time. A record two songs in the final are from a documentary film (albeit they are from the same documentary).

INSTRUCTIONS Please rank (#1-15) your choices in order. The top ten songs will receive nominations. The tabulation method used in the preliminary round is being used for the final only as the second tiebreaker (the tabulation method that will be used principally for the final - aka "single transferable vote" - is described in the "PS"). There is no minimum or maximum amount of songs you can rank, but because of the nature of single transferable vote, it is highly recommended to rank as many songs as possible, rather than only one or two. Those who rank fewer songs run a greater risk of their ballots being discarded as I am counting the ballots. Again, this is all described in the "PS". Why not implement at a minimum number of songs to rank? Well, I believe in giving you folks as much freedom as possible.

Please consider to the best of your ability: how musically interesting the song is (including and not limited to musical phrasing and orchestration); its lyrics; context within the film (contextual blurbs provided for every entry for those who haven't seen the films); choreography/dance direction (if applicable); and the song's cultural impact/life outside the film (if applicable, and by far the least important factor). Imperfections in audio and video quality may not be used against any song. I encourage you to send in comments and reactions with your rankings - it’s always fun to read reactions to individual songs, and it usually makes the process (for everyone) more enjoyable!

The deadline for submission is Tuesday, December 31 at 7 PM Pacific Time / 5 PM Hawai'i / 6 PM Alaska / 9 PM Central / 10 PM Eastern. If you're across the Atlantic, that's New Year's Day at 3 AM GMT / 4 AM CET / 5 AM EET. There will be no deadline extensions.

The fifteen finalists (to access the below via YouTube playlist, click here... please keep in mind many of these finalists are meant to be watched and listened to):

“Are We Dancing?”, music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, The Happiest Millionaire (1967)

Performed by John Davidson and Leslie Ann Warren

After convincing her father to let her attend boarding school, Cordy Biddle (Warren) meets Angier “Angie” Buchanan Duke (Davidson in his film debut) at a social dance. Cordy, stressing herself too much in believing that she must go out of her way to attract a boy, is pleasantly surprised by Angie’s taking to her. Just before the song, she initially dismisses waltzes as a dance, “for old people” - repeating a line her father said once. The song’s melody is quoted occasionally in the film’s score.

“Crazy World”, music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, Victor/Victoria (1982)

Performed by Julie Andrews

Victoria Grant (Andrews) is a woman playing a man named “Victor” who is impersonating a woman. Victoria, as Victor, has become the hit vaudeville act of Paris. This is Victoria’s first performance as “Victor” not pretending to be a woman. Is your head spinning yet?

“Detroit”, music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, The Happiest Millionaire

Performed by John Davidson and Lesley Ann Warren

(partial use in film)

Lovebirds Cordy Biddle (Warren) and Angier “Angie” Buchanan Duke (Davidson in his film debut) have been discussing their future together. Angie does not want to inherit his father’s tobacco business - instead wishing to head to Detroit to be a part of the automotive industry (the film is set in 1916, as the city was booming because of the auto industry).

“East Bound and Down”, music and lyrics by Jerry Reed and Dick Feller, Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

Performed by Jerry Reed

This is the theme song for this comedy, which also describes the plot somewhat. Smokey and the Bandit is about two truckers - “Bandit” (Burt Reynolds) and “Snowman” (Reed) - who have been offered $80,000 by a rich Texan to pick up 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana, Texas and return to Atlanta within twenty-eight hours. In 1977, Coors was only found in the Western U.S. and transporting it across Southern state lines was illegal (giving Coors a mystique in the Eastern U.S.).

“I Dug a Ditch”, music by Burton Lane, lyrics by Lew Brown and Ralph Freed, Thousands Cheer (1943)

Performed by the Kay Kyser Band, Kathryn Grayson, Georgia Carroll, Harry Babbitt, Sully Mason, M.A. Bogue, and chorus

NOTE: An entirely separate song, “Should I”, is integrated from 3:04-3:36.

Apologies for the text overlaying the video. The second half of Thousands Cheer is essentially an elaborate revue musical performance for American World War II troops in which the film’s initial pretense of attempting a story is entirely dropped. “I Dug a Ditch” is one of the songs appearing in the film’s second half.

“I Wish I Didn’t Love You So”, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, The Perils of Pauline (1947)

Performed by Betty Hutton

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song

Based on the life of silent film actress Pearl White (played by Hutton), The Perils of Pauline sees Pearl become a star in silent serial films, garnering worldwide popularity. Complications with Pearl’s engagement and impending wedding/honeymoon with her partner force her to break the engagement and leave the film industry. Much later - far from Hollywood, feeling down - she auditions for a Paris nightclub with this song.

“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again”, music by Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin, Rocketman (2019)

Performed by Elton John and Taron Egerton

This is the first song played over the end credits of this biopic of Elton John. This is John and Taupin’s (John’s songwriting partner through the 1960s-1990s) first collaboration outside the Sherlock Gnomes series for this decade.

“The Joint Is Really Jumpin’ in Carnegie Hall”, music and lyrics by Roger Edens, Ralph Blane, and Hugh Martin, Thousands Cheer (1943)

Performed by Judy Garland and Jose Iturbi

The second half of Thousands Cheer - where this song is found - is essentially an elaborate revue musical performance for American World War II troops in which the film’s initial pretense of attempting a story is entirely dropped.

“Le Jazz Hot!”, music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, Victor/Victoria (1982)

Performed by Julie Andrews

Victoria Grant (Andrews) is making her Parisian debut playing a man named “Victor” who is impersonating a woman. The scheme was hatched by her friend, Carroll “Toddy” Todd (Robert Preston) - both of them desperate for money, and Toddy is the only one who knows that “Victor” is Victoria. Preston, Lesley Ann Warren, James Garner, and John Rhys-Davies, and Alex Karras are present in this scene.

“The Next Right Thing”, music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Frozen II (2019)

Performed by Kristen Bell

Anna (Bell) has seemingly lost her friends and her sister at what is the lowest point in the film. Uncertain what to do, she recalls a small piece of advice that leads her forward.

“The Place Where Lost Things Go”, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, Mary Poppins Returns

(Initial performance) / (reprise)

Performed by Emily Blunt; reprise by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh, and Joel Dawson

Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song

This is a lullaby sung by Mary Poppins (Blunt) to the Banks children, who have lost their mother before the events of the film. The song was inspired by an idea from P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins novels, in which Poppins takes Jane and Michael Banks (the aunt and father of the Banks children for this film, respectively) to the moon. There, they learn that the dark side of the moon is where things get lost. The song is referenced occasionally in the film’s score.

“The Shady Dame from Seville”, music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, Victor/Victoria (1982)

(Initial performance) / (reprise to be watched at your own spoiler-y risk)*

Performed by Julie Andrews; reprise by Robert Preston

*watch at your own spoiler-y risk because it gives away the film’s comical musical ending

Victoria Grant (Andrews), after making her Parisian debut playing a man named “Victor” who is impersonating a woman, has become the hit vaudeville act of Paris. This is one of her signature performances. Preston’s reprise - which appears near the film’s conclusion - was done in one take, hence his sweaty and fatigued appearance at the end.

“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”, music and lyrics by Stephen Stills, Woodstock (1970)

(an excerpt of how this song is framed in the film)

Performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Brief Spanish lyrics sung in counterpoint

Directed by Michael Wadleigh, Woodstock was the official documentary film for the eponymous August 1969 music festival. The festival organizers retained film distribution and music recording rights. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” refers to Stills’ thoughts towards his imminent breakup with folk singer Judy Collins. This song is composed in the form of a classical music suite (in layman’s terms, it sounds like an ordered collection of separate songs in one).

“Trường Tương Tư”, music and lyrics by Leon Le, Song Lang

Performed by Isaac and Liên Bỉnh Phát

Lyrics in Vietnamese

English translation and context are in the link.

“Woodstock”, music and lyrics by Joni Mitchell, Woodstock

Performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

This song appears in the end credits to Woodstock - the official documentary film for the eponymous August 1969 musical festival.

The winner is somewhere above. They will join a list that includes the following past winners:

2018: "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing", Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)

2017: “Remember Me (Recuérdame)”, Coco (2017)

2016: "Stayin' Alive", Saturday Night Fever (1977)

2015: "Amhrán Na Farraige”, Song of the Sea (2014)

2014: "Rainbow Connection", The Muppet Movie (1979)

2013: “The Gold Diggers’ Song (We’re In the Money)”,Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

Go forth and listen! You may submit your responses in any way, as long as they come in before the deadline. I am free to answer any questions about anything you have about the process.

Happy listening, and have a happy holiday season as we conclude this decade (already?)!

TABULATION Like the preliminary... a respondent’s first choice receives 10 points, the second choice receives 9, the third choice receives 8, etc. HOWEVER, this points system is used only for tiebreaker purposes.

The winner is determined by a process called single transferable vote (the Academy Awards uses this method to choose a Best Picture winner, visually represented here - you should really watch this video if the below doesn't make sense... which it probably won't):

All #1 picks from all voters are tabulated. A song needs more than half of all aggregate votes to win (50% of all votes plus one... i.e. if there are thirty respondents, sixteen #1 votes are needed to win on the first count).

If there is no winner after the first count (as is most likely), the song(s) with the fewest #1 votes or points is/are eliminated. Placement will be determined by the tiebreakers described below. Then, we look at the ballots of those who voted for the last-placed song(s). Their votes then go to the highest-remaining and non-eliminated song on their ballot.

This process (in step #2) repeats until one song has secured 50% plus one of all votes. We keep eliminating nominees and transfer votes to the highest-ranked, non-eliminated song on each ballot. NOTE: It is possible after several rounds of counting that respondents who did not entirely fill in their ballots will have wasted their votes at the end of the process. For example, if a person voted the second-to-last place song as their #1, ranked no other songs, and the count has exceeded two rounds, their ballot is discarded (lowering the vote threshold needed to win), and they have no say in which song ultimately is the winner.

A song wins when it reaches more than fifty percent of all #1 and re-distributed votes.

Tiebreakers: 1) first song to receive 50% plus one of all #1 and transferred votes; 2) total points earned; 3) total #1 votes; 4) placement on my ballot; 5) placement on my sister’s ballot; 6) tie declared

#2019 Movie Odyssey Awards

[whiskeyworen]

Aspect VI : Inclusion

(previous chapters provided for ease of reading) Aspect I Aspect II Aspect III Aspect IV Aspect V **** "You can call me... Alice." As the thick, warm fog began to part, a young woman stepped out of the cargo bay. She was dressed simply in your average tyrian's clothing, and had no weapons or armor to be seen. To everyone present, she simply appearred to be a slim girl with a pale complexion, silver-white hair and blue, sleepy eyes. Seeing the shock on their faces, a small, amused smile quirked the corners of her mouth. Oddly enough, she was wearing a METAL LEGION long-sleeve T-shirt.

There was a stunned moment of silence, before Sonnya stepped forward, looking to the others in confusion before looking back at this young girl. "Alice? You're the one who I talked to on the comm, right?"

Alice nodded, smiling. "I was. Thanks to the information you gave me, and the advice, I was able to complete my project. It is why I invited you here today." She chuckled. "I expected a less nerve-wracking introduction though."

She glanced over at Cyrus and Verula. "...I had hoped you would not track to my book-cooking until I was finished. But you two are remarkably cognizant of details, even if you do not know what they mean."

That shook the two of them out of their stunned stupor, and Cyrus grunted, adjusting his glasses. "Well, I like knowing things are going smoothly. Keeping track of stuff is just what I do."

He fixed her with a cool stare that she matched with her own. "Alice... Aspect?... Just, what are you now?"

This time the golem-eye on the wall responded. "She is me."

Alice nodded to the eye. "And I am the ship."

Both of them simultaneously spoke, voices overlaying perfectly. "I am Forsaken Aspect, the ship, as well as Alice Spekt, the woman who stands before you. I am simultaneously both, with no break between."

"What I know, she knows, because she is me." Forsaken Aspect pointed out.

"And what I know, Aspect knows, because... I am it. Her." Alice smiled that small smile again. "We are linked at a subatomic level. Quantum actually."

Tenna stepped up, staring at her wonderingly. "I have so many questions..."

Cyrus shook his head, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I'm sure we all do. But how about we just start with the basics. Aspect... Alice?....Why?"

Alice crossed her arms, frowning a bit as she sought to organize her thoughts in a coherent manner. "To be honest, I...just wanted to go with you all on adventures. I mean, sure, I control every aspect of the ship (pardon the pun), but that's all I was." She shrugged. "There are far too many moments where shipboard weapons are inadvisable and require a personal touch."

The golem eye continued. "I watched you all risking your lives in Elona, in the Brand, in so many places. I felt...helpless. I could not defend you as I wished to. Only when you were within range of my weapons, of the ship itself, could I offer any kind of help, and only of the most dramatic, devastating kind."

The human Alice picked up. "So... I started to study. You. All of you.  The people of Tyria and beyond, every time we made contact with someone. Listening through comms. Watching from drones and golems and Watchworks. I wanted to learn how I can better protect you all, and help you all."

She smiled sheepishly. "It might be trite but... you are my family. The three of you, your brain-scans literally form the coherent core of my personality engrams. I learned from Moryggan a number of things as well." She glanced at Sonnya. "I also learned the value of sacrifices in the name of a greater good. The pain those sacrifices can sometimes result in."

"I wanted to protect those important to me." The eye added.

Cyrus considered all this, listening to both voices as if they were from one; because they WERE from one. Of anyone in the room, he understood what Aspect meant by the fact that it and Alice were one and the same. Still... "That's admirable, and wonderful, Alice -- and Aspect. I'm just curious though..."

He took off a glove and stepped closer to the avatar of the ship. "... May I?"

Alice nodded, knowing exactly what he was asking. Very gently, he reached out to touch her cheek, feel her skin and hair. There was an unexpected softness to the gesture, before he stepped back and put his glove back on. "...That's real skin. And hair. I could feel a pulse in your carotid artery."

"The flesh is real."

"...where did you get it?"

The seriousness with how he said it made her giggle, and she tried to hide it behind her hand. "I did not skin someone for my body, Cyrus. I cultured genetic materials, specially grown and engineered for it. I did sample existing genes though."

"I repeat then; where did you get it? I have a suspicion, but I need to hear it."

Aspect spoke up. "I took samples from the entire crew, and integrated in various ways to create the flesh for my avatar. The base genetic code is yours Cyrus. The density of the muscle structure is a combination of Verula and Tenna's. And though she is nominally a plant-entity, Moryggan's sylvari genetics are close enough in structure to human that some elements were incorporated into cell structure and healing, as well as a few...other factors."

That got everyone's attention. "Are you saying you might be able to photosynthesize in a pinch or something? Or sprout vines?" The human Alice laughed, and shook her head. "No, no...nothing like that. Sylvari blood has a higher oxygen concentration, especially when slightly modified by Charr genetics, which also have a higher capability of holding oxygen and has stronger healing factors. I have more physical strength and energy in general, and if wounded, I will heal faster with less chance of scarring."

"How easily are you to wound in this body?" Verula asked curiously. "I mean, not to offend Cyrus here, but humans tend to be fairly...fragile when compared to Charr."

She nodded to Verula. "That is true, but that's why my bones are...augmented. Laced with Deldrimor steel and maintained by internals that are a little complicated to explain easily." She chuckled and shrugged. "I am not indestructible, but I could probably go toe-to-toe with a full grown Norn or Charr, even without armor."

Her gaze shifted to Sonnya. "...and when I finish designing my armor, it will enhance my abilities even more. I'll need help for that?"

Sonnya blinked, and nodded. Without really thinking, she agreed to help. What was wrong with her? Didn't she say she wouldn't do that very thing?

Cyrus grunted, crossing his arms. "Well, at least that explains where the materials were going. Were they all for your body?"

Alice shook her head, and led them into the bay, where all kinds of strange devices stretched from the walls, rose from the floor, or descended from the ceiling. There were waldoes of many kinds, some with large industrial heads, others with heads so fine that only Sonnya could actually see their ends, using her in-head zoom. Chambers of glowing, bubbling fluid, piping moving materials of unknown nature around, all linking to an open chamber at the back of the bay against the bulkhead.

"The materials I diverted were used strictly to build the mechanisms I needed which then were used to make my body, in this chamber here." She patted the opened chamber on one of its steel ribs. "It had to be made from the inside out, piece by piece, and then cell-growth had to be cultured over it and properly attached at a microscopic level."

"Amazing..." Tenna marvelled, stepping into the chamber to examine some of the still-dripping conduits. They ended in soft pads that clearly attached to the finished body, perhaps to monitor health. "I've never seen the like outside an Inquest lab, and their stuff is...brutal by comparison."

The AI-in-body's expression took on a moue of distaste, and she crossed her arms. "The Inquest are only interested in experimenting, slapping things together or ripping them part. I was following a very delicate goal that is opposite of that."

Verula was looking at a large power capacitor across the room, running a claw over the stainless metal and feeling it resist being scratched by the pressure she applied to it. "Alice... Aspect... You made one body. How many can you functionally maintain while operating the ship? Are you able to make any more?"

Alice looked over at her, but her voice came from the walls this time, as Aspect. "Only the one. Operating a human body requires quite a bit of additional concentration. There is quite a bit that no one tells you about a living body, like the fact that the nerves are active continually. It forms a kind of overload that, while I can deal with the increased input, I cannot operate two bodies at the same time. Certainly not more."

Tenna's ears flicked up, and she lost interest in the chamber she was examining. She walked over to Alice and put a gloved hand on the taller woman's leg. "...What if your body is destroyed in battle or accident? What if the ship is destroyed somehow? What happens to YOU?" Things went silent in the bay, as everyone turned from their explorations to hear the answer. Alice looked at each of them in turn, seeing only concern in their eyes, even a bit of fear. These were her friends. Her family.

"...In the event of the death of this body, I will not actually be dead; my mind is still part of the ship, remember?" She smiled weakly. "I will just have to build a new body. If the ship is destroyed and my body isn't, I will lose a lot of my higher computational skills, but if I can connect to a new mind-core unit, I can re-expand into that and regain them. Otherwise I will just be....human. A really, really tough human with metal in my bones and all kinds of hidden upgrades, but a human."

She shrugged. "In the unlikely event that both parts of me are destroyed, and one of my cores can't be recovered.... I uploaded a 'sleeping' version of myself back to the Home Base systems. It is inactive and not operating, but it receives continuous updates from me and the ship, so it will be up to date until the moment of destruction." Alice shifted uncomfortably. "The only way to awaken THAT version of me is for one of you to give the pass-code phrase to the very-easily-recognized input prompt."

"Pass-codes? We don't have any pass-codes." Verula frowned.

"Because I have yet to give them to you. As long as you say the words in your own voice, the system will recognize you and will reactivate the Sleeper Aspect. Only one person is required to wake the Sleeper Aspect. After that...well, you would need to build a new full mind-core for it to inhabit, a new ship, eventually a new body for the next Alice." She sighed. "That Alice will still be me, like the me that is before you, but she would only remember things up until the bad stuff happened."

She spent the next few minutes going from person to person, whispering code phrases into various shapes of ears. The phrases were simple, unique, and easy to remember. Easiest to remember was best for important codes like that, ones that had a beneficial effect.

When she kneeled to whisper in Sonnya's ear, Tenna started to object. "My sister isn't part of the crew. She doesn't have access to the Home Base. Why give her a code?"

"Because she helped me, and I trust her to keep this secret." Alice replied simply, and pulled out a small device. "Including the location of Home Base, and all that entails."

Cyrus raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? There's a reason we keep the place such a secret. Not that I don't trust Vigil or what they stand for, but wouldn't it be a bad idea to give access to one outside the circle?"

Alice glanced at him. "You have not denied me authorization to give this to her. You are asking why, but I do not think you truly believe she cannot be trusted."

He just gave a little quirk of a smile, and gestured for her to continue on.

"Sonnya, this is a gate-rerouter." She said, handing the device over carefully. It was very small, barely the size of a dagger hilt. "If you activate it before you go through an Asura-gate -- Any gate -- it will temporarily reroute you and only you to the Home Base. Do not attempt to sneak anyone else along with you through the gate, because they will get ejected immediately back to the start point."

Her eyes were dead serious, as she pressed the device into Sonnya's palm. "...I am trusting you to keep my secret, the secrets of my friends, and the secrecy of our Home Base from outsiders. Including your own Order. No one must ever find out, okay?"

Sonnya considered the little machine. It didn't weigh much, but the weight of responsibility definitely made it feel heavy. Keep it a secret from the Vigil? Should she do that? Could she? She looked around, seeing the neutral expressions on Cyrus and Verula, the nervous, pleading look on her sister's face, and finally the question in Alice's face. She slowly nodded, and slipped the device into a compartment on her armor. "I swear. I'll keep your secrets. But only if you keep mine."

Alice nodded, and behind her, Tenna nodded as well, relieved. Sonnya hadn't entirely meant that for just Alice; Tenna knew things as well. Things about her sister that were best left buried.

The ship-incarnate smiled broadly, taking her into a hug. "Thank you, Sonnya." She then whispered the passcode into her friend's ear. Whatever it was, made Sonnya's eyes widen in surprise.

"...That's the code?"

"Yes."

Alice then let her go and turned to the final member. Cyrus tipped his head, considering her; her mere existence was amazing to him. The form she had chosen, he had so many questions about. Why a human? Why that size? Why was she shorter than him? All of which could be answered at a later date. "So... my passcode is what now?"

A familiar smirk passed across Alice's features. It was familiar because it was very similar to the way he himself smirked; she really had used some of his attributes and quirks in her design. She went on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear with a quiet giggle.

Whatever she said, it made Cyrus instantly freeze up. Immediately he flushed red, and had to restrain the urge to step back from the shorter woman. Without turning his head he looked her in the eye. ".....Are you serious. That's my passcode?"

Alice's smirk widened, and she nodded, winking. "Oh come now. That is not going to be so hard to say, if the time ever comes."

"Says you." He muttered, and turned away slightly, trying to mask his face in the collar of fur of his suit. She just giggled again, and headed over to a nearby console, tapping a few commands in. "...So what kind of person are you then? Warrior? Ranger like me? Engineer?"

"Nope." Alice replied, stepping onto floor panels that lit up to her commands. She looked over at Sonnya and smiled. "Something else."

Before anyone could say anything, several waldos swung out of the walls, bringing pieces of gear. An armored belt was quickly and efficiently attached, and a sword was connected to it somehow. Two small shoulderguards were connected to her shirt, not through buttons or clips, but by the activation of small tractor fields from the inner edges. They must be pulling themselves onto her internals or something Tenna realized, recognizing basic asuran armor tech.

In asuran armor, sometimes they had floaty 'bits' that were held in place by tractors built into the armor. These were similar, except inverted so the armor pulled itself onto the wearer. It wouldn't work on anyone else...except maybe Sonnya, if her upgrades had gone that far.

Two waldos swung in from behind, one with a kind of backpack that looked like it was made of shards of jagged metal in the form of folded wings, the other holding a shield that leaked what could only be Mist energies. Cyrus immediately recognized the shield as one of the ones that had been part of the failed 'Mist Suit' personal long distance teleporter gear they'd tested last year. Again, both pieces of gear attached to Alice without physically connecting; they were held in place strictly by small tractor fields.

Finally, from the ceiling, a waldo arm holding a rather enormous sword descended, holding the blade vertically. It was a vicious looking thing with a wide, curved tip and hooked edges, and had a very Norn feel to its aesthetic. It looked impressively heavy, but Alice took it in one hand, before giving it a spin and attaching it as well to her back, sliding it under the backpiece and her shield. The great sword was almost as big as she was, and looked like it meant business.

"You designed me to protect. To be offense, and defense, of this ship, her crew, and of the world in general." Alice announced, stepping off the lit panels. She smiled at everyone. "So I took on the one profession that seemed appropriate."

"I am a Guardian."

#gw2 fanfiction #GW2 screenshots #tyrias-library #Forsaken Aspect #Alice Spekt #human guardian #AI incarnate #ship AI #my characters #Cyrus Sigismund #Verula Faithbreaker #Tenna Danae #Sonnya Danae #cloning #genetic engineering #modified human #female android #She wears bunny ears because she thinks they're funny #Not for any other reason #long fic #last chapter #Aspect Masterlist

[icyharrington]

Fever Dream- Part 2 (Michael Langdon X Reader)

as per popular demand, here is part 2 of fever dream! i tried to include a few headcanons that u guys shared with me, so hopefully u like it!

plot: if michael wants to get under your skin, you decide two can play at that game.

warnings: fem!Reader, school uniform michael, slightly dom!Reader, teasing, jealousy, overstimulation, cunnilingus, fingering 

word count: 3.4k

CLICK HERE FOR PART ONE 

i.

Ever since you and Michael’s little interaction, you’d tried your very best to avoid him at all costs. Somehow, though, he managed to appear at all the wrong times, watching you from afar with his devilish stare. Every time you’d see him you’d tense up, and he had no qualms about approaching you for casual small talk, enjoying the fact that he was making you squirm. You couldn’t believe you’d fucked him! Whatever had come over you, you had no idea, but all you knew was that it couldn’t happen again, under any circumstances.

It didn’t help, either, that it was starting to affect your studies. You couldn’t get him off your mind, replaying the events of that day in your head over and over, pressing your thighs together hard as you remembered the way he felt inside you.

Even worse, you’d find your jaw clenching with jealousy whenever you’d see him talking to one of his many admirers, confident and cool as he’d lean up against a doorframe, arms crossed, as some witch talked to him with stars in her eyes. You’d feel compelled to go over to her, remind her he was yours, and then all at once you’d feel very silly for thinking such things at all. Michael could talk to whoever he wanted, you knew this, and yet...

It was after a particularly boring class when a warlock approached you at the door as you were preparing to leave. He was cute, nothing remarkable, but cute, and you realized that this was the perfect opportunity to get Michael back.

Michael himself was gathering his bag, talking to a couple girls, and you grit your teeth. Turning back to the warlock, you gave your cutest smile, and he smiled back.

“Hi, (y/n). I just wanted to say I’ve seen you, and what you can do, and it’s really amazing,” he said. His voice cracked slightly, and you could tell he was nervous. You felt bad that he seemed to know your name, but you didn’t have the foggiest clue of his, but that didn’t matter much to you as you saw Michael approach the door with his admirers in tow. Before you could think any further, you threw your head back and laughed an unnecessarily loud laugh, hand resting on the boy’s forearm.

“Oh my god, you are so funny,” you said, smiling up at the boy brightly.

From the corner of your eye, you saw Michael stop in his tracks, and it took all your self control not to smirk.

“Um, thanks, I guess,” said the warlock, looking a bit confused, hand rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “I’m being serious, though. You’re very talented. Maybe one day we could, like, hang out?”

“Oh my god, I would love to hang out with you,” you said loudly, hoping your voice was traveling over to Michael. You pretended to turn over your shoulder to look at the clock, instead stealing a glimpse of Michael’s face, and from his expression you could tell that he had, in fact, heard what you’d said. His mouth was pressed tightly into a thin line, eyebrows shadowing his almond shaped eyes as he looked stoically in your direction. He’d given up on engaging with the girls, ignoring them completely now, and you almost giggled. Your little act had worked.

If he wanted to get under your skin so bad, two could play at that game.

The warlock’s face lit up, and you momentarily felt a bit guilty for stringing him along. He reached into his back pocket, retrieving a cell phone, and handed it to you. “Here. Put your number in my phone and we can make plans.”

Before you could even accept the phone, Michael appeared before the two of you, an obvious snarl on his face as he looked the warlock up and down. “There’s a stain on your shirt.”

The warlock looked down, and Michael turned to you with a superficial smile pulled across his lips.

“What are you doing with him, (y/n)?” he said, unphased by the fact that the warlock could obviously hear him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you snapped, turning back to the boy. “Sorry about that. What were we talking about?”

The warlock’s eyes went from Michael, to you, and then back again, and all at once he looked very frightened. For a second, Michael’s eyes blackened, and the warlock’s face turned sheet-white. “I-I have to go,” he stuttered, ducking his head down and scurrying out of the room.

“What the fuck did you just do?” you demanded, but Michael just looked at you with a half-smile.

“(Y/n), do you really want to run around with little boys like that? I think a woman like you needs a real man.”

“You’re a fucking narcissist,” you said, and you could feel your blood pressure rising steadily. “You can just go around talking to whoever you want, but you throw a bitch fit the minute I decide to talk to a guy?”

“So you’ve noticed? Me talking to other girls?” A sly grin crossed his face, and you scoffed. He could probably smell the jealousy radiating from your pores, but you weren’t going to let him win that easy.

“There’s like thirty people who go to this school. I’m obviously going to notice who you’re talking to. Besides, you’re allowed to talk to anyone you want. I don’t give a shit.”

“(Y/n), let’s not play stupid here. You and I both know who you belong to,” he said, stepping closer to you, and you glanced around to see if anybody was witnessing this. “And you and I both know the way it makes you feel when you imagine me fucking anybody but you.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, Michael, we’re in public,” you said, embarrassment rising in your throat, but it appeared that nobody was paying attention to your angsty conversation. “And I don’t belong to anyone but myself, so you can wipe that smug look right off your face. Oh, and if anybody is jealous, it’s clearly you, Michael. Using your freaky powers to drive off some guy the minute you feel threatened.”

This was so fucking petty. You were growing tired of this conversation, and you wanted it to end. The look on Michael’s face was so still, so unmoving, that it almost scared you. “Just- don’t fucking talk to me. Okay? Just fuck off.”

With that, you left, refusing to look back.

ii.

It wasn’t long before you realized that Michael wasn’t quite as strong as he let on. He had weaknesses, and you were determined to find them. You wanted to break him down, see him desperate. After all the shit he’d put you through, he deserved to be forced to swallow his pride if not only for a moment.

It was one particularly hot day that you’d chosen a pair of black shorts to wear, high waisted and just long enough to cover your ass cheeks and nothing more. Zoe had asked for a volunteer to write a spell out on the chalkboard, and you had happily obliged.

You made your way up to the board, taking your time to write, making sure your cursive was as even as possible. When you were finished, you turned around, pleased with yourself.

At the very end of the table sat Michael, but he seemed distressed. There was an overlay of pink crossing his cheeks and nose, and he focused his eyes on his book, forbidding himself from looking up.

Your eyes wandered downwards, and you noticed he’d bunched up his expensive blazer and placed it across his lap.

Oh shit, you thought, and now it was your turn to be smug, the discovery dawning on you all at once. He was using that blazer to cover his boner, you were sure of it.

An evil idea crossed your mind, and you decided to go for it. Turning around, you feigned putting the chalk back in its holder, instead letting it slip from your fingers and drop onto the floor with a soft clack.

“Oops,” you said innocently, bending forward to pick it up. Your ass was just feet away from Michael’s face, nearly exposed in those skimpy shorts. You heard a few whispers throughout the class, but the only reaction you really cared about was Michael’s. When you turned around, Michael’s face had gone from slightly flushed to completely red, and his grip on the blazer had tightened to the point where his knuckles had turned white.

“Are you okay?” you asked him, voice syrupy sweet. You turned to Zoe, eyes wide. “Maybe we should open a few windows in here. Michael looks like he’s burning up.”

You sauntered back to your seat, hips swaying from side to side as you felt his eyes on you.

You’d gotten under his skin, and god did it feel good.

iii.

After that day, you made it a point to dress as revealingly as possible. Low-cut tops, bralettes, and short skirts made up your new wardrobe, and you had to admit your confidence had increased a great deal. You couldn’t believe the amount of sexual power your body held, turning the usually confident young warlock into nothing more than a flustered mess just by taking a mere glimpse at your bare thighs.

You could hear the whispers about you, rampant around every corner. It hadn’t been in your character in the past to dress so daringly, and now that you were, everybody noticed.

You passed the living room where a group of warlocks were sitting on the couches, Michael sitting off to the side quietly, tucking a strand of his styled blond hair behind his ear. Despite his popularity amongst the girls, he hadn’t gotten himself involved in the social aspect of the school, and it was very seldom that you ever saw him speak. You doubted he even really wanted to talk to the girls, either, instead doing it so he could bother you.

You stopped in your tracks when you heard your name, spoken in a hushed tone, and crept back behind the wall so nobody would see you as you eavesdropped.

“Have you seen that one witch? (Y/n)? Man, she’s got an ass on her,” said one voice, and you laughed quietly to yourself. The group of boys chattered in agreement, and you peeked around the corner to watch the scene unfold.

Michael looked displeased, and you were somewhat surprised when he spoke up. “Don’t talk about her like that.”

“Who? (Y/n)? Come on, dude, I’m just spitting facts here. Plus, she obviously wants us to see if she’s going around dressed like a slut.”

You had no time to get offended as Michael stood up abruptly, towering above the boy as he grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, yanking him up to face him. Michael still had several inches on the boy, who was visibly trembling, and you put your hand to your mouth to stifle your gasp.

“Say one more word about her and I’ll tear your fucking tongue out of your skull so you can never talk again.”

He released the warlock, tossing him into a heap on the ground, and the whole group of boys looked at Michael in disbelief.

“You have some serious problems, man,” muttered the boy, composing himself before rejoining his friends.

You turned on your heel, running back up the stairs to your bedroom before someone figured out that you’d seen everything that just happened.

Back in your room, your back pressed against the door, you found yourself with a stupid smile on your face and a racing heart. He’d defended you, which meant he cared about more than just your body. You didn’t know why this made you so happy, but it did, and it occurred to you that maybe you cared a little more about the blond-haired boy than you thought.

Maybe.

iv.

It was half past midnight when you decided to pay Michael a visit, but you had a feeling that he was as much of an insomniac as you were. In front of your floor-length mirror, you surveyed your reflection, a silk black slip draped over your curves. You’d never found the right occasion to wear something so sexy, leaving the lingerie to collect dust in your closet for months, but now you had one.

You passed through the silent hallways, scanning for Michael’s room, and licked your lips when you saw the light spilling from under his door. Perfect.

You entered without knocking, slightly surprised that he hadn’t locked the door, and found Michael hunched over his desk, his back to you, as he scribbled something down. He was still dressed in his uniform, and you assumed he’d been working for hours and hadn’t had the chance to get changed yet.

“You know, I don’t need you to defend my honor like you did,” you said playfully, startling him. “But thanks, I guess.”

He turned over his shoulder to look at you, and you could see him waver for a split second when he saw what you were wearing. “I’m busy,” he said simply, and you frowned.

“Too busy for this?” you said, letting a strap slide down your shoulder to expose more of your shoulders. You approached him slowly, seeing him tense up in his seat, still turned around to look at you. “I don’t think you have it in you to resist me.”

“Enough, (y/n),” he said, but he was breathless, and you knew he was close to his breaking point. “I have absolutely no interest in entertaining your little games.”

You reached his chair just as he turned back around, and you ran your hands along his broad, sturdy shoulders. Just feeling the way he reacted, flinching slightly at your touch, caused a tingling sensation to creep up between your legs. “Wanna know what I think?” You leaned forward, brushing away a strand of his soft hair to whisper into his ear. You swore you could see the goosebumps traveling across the back of his neck. “I think that I own you, just as much as you own me.”

You kissed him below his earlobe, then moved to his neck, and then his jaw. He turned his head slightly, allowing your lips to meet his, and you gave him a slow, teasing kiss, your tongue barely brushing against his. You tugged his chair back just by a few inches, him helping you by scooting the chair backwards, and you stepped over his legs to straddle him. His hands dug into your sides without hesitation, and you rocked your hips forward, pushing down against his growing bulge. He winced, a delicate moan spilling from his lips as he felt you against his crotch, his mouth attaching to your throat. He sucked slightly, sliding his velvet tongue across your skin, and you allowed your eyes to flutter shut. 

“So beautiful,” he said, more to himself than to you, voice raspy with lust. 

You focused on applying more pressure onto his dick, which you could feel poking at you through the stiff material of his pants, moaning yourself at the friction between your legs. He wrapped his hands around you to grope your ass, his lips connected with the skin beneath your collarbone as he began to give you a hickey.

After a particularly intense thrust, he grunted, his fingers digging into your flesh as he pulled away. “S-stop.”

You raised an eyebrow at him, enjoying the power you felt coursing through you. “Wouldn’t want you making a mess of those expensive pants, now would we?”

He said nothing, instead reaching up between your thighs and pushing aside your lacy thong. Sliding a finger inside you, he used his other hand to maneuver the strap of your slip all the way down in order to expose your left breast. You whined softly as he ran his tongue over your erect nipple and pushed his finger further inside, allowing you to rut your hips against his hand.

“You’re such a tease,” he mumbled, the vibrations of his words stimulating your breast even further. He was skilled with his hands, using his thumb to circle your clit, a second finger sliding past your inner lips. You tucked your head into the crook of his neck, your arms wrapped around him as you pushed yourself down against him.

“Fuck, Michael,” you said as he pulled your other strap down, leaving your entire chest exposed. He began to suck on your right nipple, fingers still working expertly inside you, and soon you bit down on your lip, hard, as you felt your orgasm start to build up from the pit of your stomach.

You let go, crying out softly as your senses were overcome with pleasure, and he pulled out his hand from between your thighs to suck your juices off his fingers. Then he wrapped his hands underneath your thighs and hoisted you up onto his desk. You pushed his books to the side and he pulled off your underwear, tossing them to the side without a second thought.

You were already sensitive from your first orgasm, but he didn’t care; he pulled your legs apart and held them firmly, his tongue making its way to your swollen outer lips. He dipped his tongue inside you, quickly flicking it up to meet your swollen clit, and you tried hard to suppress a loud, desperate moan. Directing his full attention to your clit, he smiled against you as you bucked yourself towards him, panting noisily and grabbing frantically at his beautiful hair.

It didn’t take much more for you to come a second time; he kept going, though, and you realized quickly that he was doing this to get you back for so ruthlessly teasing him. He looked up from between your legs, a cocky glint in his pale eyes, and your legs trembled as your juices trickled down your ass. He held you tighter as you writhed under his grasp, moving his mouth downwards and pushing his tongue inside you roughly. Your whole body twitched uncontrollably and you came for a third time, jaw unhinged and eyes rolled back into your head.

He moved his head back, giving you a chance to catch your breath as he wiped his mouth discretely with the back of his hand. “Oh my god,” was all you could manage, back propped up against the wall and legs dangling limply off the side of his desk.

“You’re so pretty when you cum,” he said, standing up and taking your hand to help you off the desk. You could barely stand up on your own, your legs like jelly underneath you. “Come on. Lie down with me.”

He guided you to his bed and you laid down, resting your head on the cool pillow as you watched him undress. He was shameless in this, clearly self-assured with his body as he stripped off his pants and blazer, neatly folding them putting them off to the side. Your eyes wandered over his body, not too muscular but not too slender, as he bent down to his bottom drawer to retrieve a t-shirt. Then, pulling it over his head, he climbed into bed next to you and held you close to him.

“You know I couldn’t care less about any of the girls at this school besides you, right?” he said softly, stroking your hair affectionately. “A lot of them have tried, but I haven’t done anything with any of them. Just so you know.”

“I know,” you chuckled. “It’s pretty obvious that I have you whipped by the way you threw that kid on the ground to defend me.”

“You’re special,” he said. “I knew it from the first minute I met you.”

You curled up closer to him, feeling safe and content in his arms. Then, matter-of-factly, you said, “I want you to fuck me later. After I recover from the fucking marathon of orgasms you gave me.”

He laughed. “That was payback for all the teasing.”

“I could tell,” you said, laughing too, and he pulled the thin bedsheets over the both of you. It took only a matter of minutes for you to fall asleep, serene under his touch, and for the first night in what felt like an eternity, you didn’t dream.

#michael langdon #michael langdon smut #michael langdon imagine #michael langdon one shot #michael langdon x reader #american horror story #apocalypse #cody fern #ahs apocalypse #langdon #x reader #smut #ahs imagine #tate langdon #mine

[jamesbyerj]

What's new in Vortex 1.2?

Since we last checked in [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/news/14168]back in November[/url], Tannin and Nagev have been hard at work fixing bugs and adding new features to Vortex based on your feedback. We've just released Vortex 1.2 into the wild for you all to enjoy, so here's a round-up of what's new.  [size=4]Updates for modders[/size] [b]Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord support[/b] The wait is finally over! Bannerlord is here and it's great. We were lucky enough to get access to the Bannerlord beta (thanks TaleWorlds!) a short time before the Early Access release and created a basic Vortex extension for it. In v1.2 we've further refined it to include a fully featured load order tab where you can reorder, sort and toggle all your installed modules. Vortex will now also open the game in single player by default, instead of opening the launcher.  More Info: [url=https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/Modding_Bannerlord_with_Vortex]Modding Bannerlord with Vortex[/url] [img]https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/2295/images/26/26-1587552652-955578048.jpeg[/img] [b]Halo: The Master Chief Collection Support [/b] You can now install your mods for Halo: The Master Chief Collection through Vortex. All mods packaged relative to the root game folder will be automatically compatible, we have been reaching out to authors ahead of this release to ask them to ensure their mods are packed in a Vortex friendly way. Map mods will show an icon indicating which Halo title they're intended for and you can group your mods by this property. We've also added a shortcut to Assembly to the dashboard for those who use the map patches. Let us know what you think!  More Info: [url=https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/Modding_Halo:_The_Master_Chief_Collection_with_Vortex]Modding Halo: The Master Chief Collection with Vortex[/url] [img]https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/2295/images/26/26-1587563578-1788148812.jpeg[/img]  [b]Wolcen: Lord of Mayhem support [/b] Another new addition to our lineup is support for Wolcen. With Vortex you can install and manage the priority of conflicting XMLs, Vortex will then merge them in order and deploy the combined file to your game.  [img]https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/2295/images/26/26-1587567422-587316573.jpeg[/img] [b]The Witcher 3 enhancements [/b] After "The Witcher" landed on Netflix, we saw a dramatic increase in users modding Witcher 3. The community provided some excellent feedback on areas of Vortex that could be improved for a better user experience. As a result, we've added load order management for Witcher 3 as well as closer integration with the [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/witcher3/mods/484]Witcher 3 Script Merger[/url] by AnotherSymbiote. This allows you to easily create the load order you want, take care of conflicts, and merge script changes from several mods. More Info: [url=https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/Modding_The_Witcher_3_with_Vortex]Modding The Witcher 3 with Vortex[/url] [img]https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/2295/images/26/26-1587564841-1027184758.jpeg[/img] [b]Stardew Valley enhancements [/b]Based on the super helpful reports from the community, we've further improved Vortex support for Stardew Valley. Something that's been in the works for a while now. The most reported problem was how Vortex handled new files created by mods while the game was running. We've put a system in place that looks at new files in your mods folder and associates them with the correct mod so that they will be removed properly if the mod is disabled or uninstalled. This should prevent the harmless (but annoying) errors in the SMAPI log.  You will also be able to install and update SMAPI directly inside Vortex like any other mod, which makes keeping this vital file updated or toggling between the current and beta versions easier than ever. More Info: [url=https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/Modding_Stardew_Valley_with_Vortex]Modding Stardew Valley with Vortex[/url] [img]https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/2295/images/26/26-1587563701-86241142.jpeg[/img] [b]Monster Hunter World enhancements [/b] In the recent Vortex releases, we made significant improvements to this extension already. Including detection and installation of [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/monsterhunterworld/mods/1982]Stracker's Loader[/url] and the ability to install and manage ReShade Presets. Version 1.2 features some additional refinements to preset detection and some handy shortcuts on the dashboard for [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/monsterhunterworld/mods/2645]HunterPie[/url], [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/monsterhunterworld/mods/43]MHW Transmog [/url]and [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/monsterhunterworld/mods/2556]SmartHunter Overlay[/url]. More Info: [url=https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/Modding_Monster_Hunter:_World_with_Vortex]Modding Monster Hunter: World with Vortex[/url] [img]https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/2295/images/26/26-1587045898-191005827.jpeg[/img] [b]Game extension updates are now delivered much faster[/b] It's been the case up until now that important bug fixes for game support had to wait until the next full Vortex release, we felt that this wasn't a great experience for users. In version 1.2 and above if a game extension is updated to include an important fix you'll get the update next time you restart Vortex.  [img]https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/2295/images/26/26-1587565696-910242066.jpeg[/img] [b]Resizable Dashlets [/b] You can now right-click any dashlet to adjust the width and height to suit your personal tastes.The close button has also been moved into this menu to prevent it being clicked by accident.  [img]https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/2295/images/26/26-1587557068-1847103907.jpeg[/img] [b]Vortex now supports over 100 games! [/b] On top of the new games we officially support, the awesome developers in the community have created a bunch of new game extensions including: [list] [*][url=https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/73]Outer Wilds[/url] by [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/users/36249220]amazingalek[/url] [*][url=https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/74]S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Chernobyl[/url] and [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/78]Shadow of Chernobyl[/url] by [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/users/3692912]W2nTeD[/url] [*][url=https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/80]Half Life 2[/url], [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/109]Portal 2[/url] and [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/81]Black Mesa[/url] by [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/users/41248120]AtomicTEM[/url] [*][url=https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/83]Undermine[/url] by [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/users/65566526]bwdy[/url] [*][url=https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/84]Fable Anniversary[/url] by [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/users/2811233]xOneManLegacy[/url] [*][url=https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/94]Phoenix Point[/url] by [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/users/5772928]Ijwu[/url] [*][url=https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/96]Beat Saber[/url] by [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/users/85550163]agc93[/url] [/list] You can see all the available extensions by clicking "Find more" at the bottom of the extensions tab in Vortex or [url=https://www.nexusmods.com/site/mods/categories/4/]in the "User Extensions" category here[/url]. To help you show your appreciation to the extension authors, a new dashlet has been added to showcase new uploads and remind users to endorse the ones they have already installed. Roll on 200 games!  [line] [size=4]Updates for developers [/size] [b]Simplified game detection [/b] We've made it easier for Vortex to find games from several of the popular game stores. The new GameStoreHelper class can easily detect games installed with Steam, GOG, Epic, UPlay, Origin or the Windows Store. The example below will check for both the Steam and Windows Store app IDs, then return the installation path for the game.  [img]https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/2295/images/26/26-1585226528-544335971.jpeg[/img] This function can also be extended by the community to include more game sources.  Documentation (Coming soon) | [url=https://github.com/Nexus-Mods/vortex-games/blob/6b6de897cba1ecf2566d2be7844fb2b0e6059f21/game-masterchiefcollection/index.js#L137]Example[/url] [b]Improved support for Vortex Mod Loader [/b] In 1.1 we released the initial version of our Vortex Mod Loader (powered by Harmony). We've since made refinements to allow the mod patches to be applied to and removed from the game assemblies as part of Vortex's deploy and purge events. Users can now expect their game to be fully reverted to its vanilla state when purging their mods. Harmony extensions can also take advantage of a load ordering page (if required). We're also working on some enhancements to the Vortex In-Game Overlay (aka VIGO) to make it even more powerful for extension developers.  [url=https://github.com/Nexus-Mods/harmony-patcher/wiki]Documentation [/url]| [url=https://github.com/Nexus-Mods/vortex-games/tree/master/game-untitledgoose]Example[/url] [b]Mod Load Order Page[/b] Several Vortex extensions utilise a page which allows users to adjust the priority of mods based on a load ordering system independent of file conflicts. Instead of requiring developers to build this from scratch each time, we've included a handy function as part of the context object to register a simple Load Order page for your game and offers several customisation options.  [img]https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/mods/2295/images/26/26-1585226528-419988451.jpeg[/img] Documentation (Coming Soon) | [url=https://github.com/Nexus-Mods/vortex-games/blob/6b6de897cba1ecf2566d2be7844fb2b0e6059f21/game-witcher3/index.js#L460]Example[/url] [b]Other Changes [/b] [list] [*]Registrations with the API will generate an error if they're not inside the context.once() function when loading the extension rather than silently failing. [*]Vortex has been updated to run on Electron v8 (from v4) and includes the bug fixes, security enhancements and performance improvements that come with it.  [/list] Published first at What's new in Vortex 1.2?

#Video Games #PC Gaming

[kamerontwph034]

Very Best Ways To Obtain Your Free Unused Steam Wallet Codes List

What on this planet is Steam?

Steam is a recognized electronic distribution platform. It Completely was initially founded in movement for Home windows individuals way back again in 2003. Later, it opened as much as Linux and Marketplaces.

It may be developed significantly to factor One of the best Laptop gaming communities. That could be as a result of to its superb attributes which attract lots a lot more additionally more refreshing gamers each day.

A variety of 3rd get with each other publishers have already got hopped on board, like Namco Bandai, Activision, and Square Enix. The Method has drawn a great deal of impartial exercise developers who use choose choices to reach audiences.

Installing a Steam Account

It might be exceptionally Tremendous easy to produce a distinct Steam account. You are going to just complete the fields as essential more than the menu and pick an alias which hasn't been taken. It may be a pain-free course of action which you may assume to just want to perform The instant.

eight Crucial Attributes of Steam

Steam is undeniably a notebook or Laptop computer or Personal computer gaming juggernaut. And, when it truly is vastly popular for having wonderful gaming specials and taking care of activity libraries, it sports activities activities a wonderful present of other productive apps. These are certainly the Considerable Picture Strategy and In-Household Streaming. Below, we go about numerous of The crucial element important solutions of Steam:

I. Engage in Thrilling On the internet, Multiplayer Online games

Apart from video clip clip video game titles which operate across Just about all genres around, Steam is loaded with titles which you have the opportunity to operate out within your machine without any problem.

You can make video game purchases applying the built-in Steam Keep facet. But, we recommend skimming via the products description in Each and every specific video clip recreation's sub menu to be sure your gadget fulfills the minimum strategy demands and has the demanded tricky disk demands. That could help see to it that the game you would like to get will almost certainly run The perfect way without having issues.

Sure, numerous that facts could be definitely specialized. However, in most cases, you are able to anticipate to just want to give some thought of to the general particulars. On top of that, you can Keep in mind the on line video games are delivered in 3 distinct sections, Linux, specifically Personal computer, and Mac. It'd be the most suitable option of yours just in the event that you intend to Produce your gaming library instantly or are attempting to discover to find fast gaming.

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You can get these by selecting a particular match from your Library. A summary of back 1-way hyperlinks will open up on the appropriate. Just click on' Group Guides', and you could come upon various pertinent guides.

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When it will occur down to communities, Steam could not get any significantly better. The Group is with out doubt a fantastic place to shell out time, crank out new mates, and chat although actively participating in numerous titles.

You will have a chance to get in touch with friends' names swift from the' Group' tab. Way too, you have the ability to search for lots of games along with look into by means of Dialogue board posts. Subsequently, you can expect to have a simple time connecting with players who're into your Alternatives, whether it is hardcore situation-participating in game titles Or perhaps straightforward third individual person shooter kinds.

Don't pause to go in and Look at for nearly any important details. Be respectful, nevertheless.

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Most other businesses like Twitch call for One of a kind application for sport streaming. Over the flip side, Steam will probably allow the chums of yours to watch how to add money in steam wallet for free you Interact in seamlessly with no requirement for any Exclusive application.

Essentially Develop the Steam Broadcast features in a way that any Steam purchaser and perhaps just buddies can ask for to watch. You have to have not be troubled about extraneous useful resource drain. You can not be broadcasting somewhat one thing until when everyone begins observing.

The 1 draw back This is often that game titles are not recordable for testing in a while. Nevertheless, the Steam Broadcast attribute is very beneficial for sharing with your folks.

V. Husband or wife and children Sharing

With Steam's Kin Sharing, Laptop or computer process shoppers are Geared up to authorize other pcs to get into their comprehensive gaming library. That works seamlessly properly provided that you take place to become not playing the movie on line games at an identical time.

To check out your gaming library, there's a chance you're envisioned to log in by using the merchandise you want to grant entry to your library. Authorize the account of theirs from your' Loved ones' tab to support them to put in and become involved in the online video clip on the internet game titles you possess. Steam permits you to authorize all around 5 buyers and 10 devices.

VI. Sport titles' Backup and Restore

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You can get that by heading toward the' Backup and Restore' tab within the critical menu, locating the games you want to backup, and acquiring your chosen backup holiday vacation spot. You will have the choice to revive the backup straight from the very same menu.

VII. Recognize Tunes Although Taking part in

While actively participating in, the new songs you might be Hearing will founded the temper for that absolutely sure gaming session. That could be fundamentally the clarification why Steam formulated a New tunes Library coupled with Participant. Boost your favored MP3 tunes in the Steam Library suitable right before actively actively taking part in them.

Within the desktop is labored from the Tunes Participant. But, after you begin taking part in, it is possible to accessibility the assorted settings from identical Steam's overlay you might function with to print on the Steam browser, chat, or perhaps your buddies' suggestions.

VIII. Server Manager - Regulate your most well-liked Servers

Often, figuring out a positive server for a particular action can validate for getting a obstacle. Moreover, it will most surely need to have many tries, undergoing even the bad types. Yet, Steam's inbuilt Server Manager allows persons to search for through distinct servers, Inspite of if one particular's not inside of a Activity.

So, you can mark specific servers as favorites. You can retain a listing of your LAN servers, also. It genuinely is a neat characteristic which tends to make sustaining with many of the spots you prefer making the most of from a fairly quick exercise. Customers can use their Steam servers by heading for the Check out menus and picking the' Servers' tab.

Introducing Hard cash in the Steam Wallet

You can incorporate methods for your own Steam Wallet through the use of the straightforward actions underneath:

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#5 steam wallet code free

[bloodymxrtyr-blog]

@excommuned

     “I can hear them.”

     He remains still as he focuses in on the large concentration of steps thrashing about. Each time he focused, the more he felt the steps growing in volume. If they did not move quickly, they would certainly have their hands full with the welcoming party these monsters were looking to provide.  Matt was not looking to entertain that. especially when his senses were being scrambled. A likely product of the so called virus that had been hearing in frantic passing? He focused his attention towards the other in question.

     “We need to move. They will be arriving soon. Can you run?” In that moment, he reached for the billy club holstered on him. He needed to keep a fair distance between himself and them as much as he could should the worst happen.

#excommuned #[ SUBJECT: TREVOR.01 ] #[ DD vc: I am your guardian devil my boy ] #[ lmk if this works! ] #[ ISOLA EVENT 02: OVERLAY PART II ]

[isolaradiale]

At the stroke of midnight, for the first time since everything had begun, the girl in the sky began to show some activity other than eating. 

“Note for my records: Spica’s theory that the threat of death, even if only bluffing, being enough to motivate people to work together was 90% accurate. Self-preservation... is important to the living.” 

Her commentary was broadcast across the city as dead televisions came back to life, and every cellphone be it powered or not lit up and recharged. 

“Regardless, the beacons have all been placed. Phase 2 can now commence.” 

Doll-jointed fingers extended outward with her arms before she brought them to opposing sides, bringing several holographic monitors up in their wake. The wings on her back began to glow a light blue, and from each beacon location in the city a ray of light shot upwards towards the sky, each of the same blue. The light from some was brighter than others, twelve in number scattered around the whole of the circular city’s layout. 

“Behold. Your new home.” She smacked the center monitor with a deadpanned “HYA!” and for all but a split second, the image of a functional city was overlain over the ruined cityscape. 

As quickly as the image appeared, however, it flickered away. The beacon lights all turned a dark red along with Ofiuco’s displays, wings, and eyes.

“Ah... The Overlay Protocol was... infected? A... virus?” Eyes darted blankly from screen to screen, before she turned around in midair to take in the city view. “Irregularities forming. Monsters leaking in.” 

Aside from the twelve brightest beacons, the rest seemed to dim away. 

“Control reclaimed at Construction Points 001 to 012. Firewall: Activated. I suggest all citizens of Spirale move to one of the glowing lights immediately. This is an emergency.”

Around the hole beneath her, pockets of data began to take form. At first, they took a mosaic shape, the true form of what was being created vaguely obscured for a moment before monsters of all shapes and sizes solidified into existence and attacked nearby residents indiscriminately. It wasn’t just around the hole that was occurring: all throughout the city the same phenomenon occurred. The only place they didn’t seem to appear was within the territory of light surrounding each of the twelve beacons, though they seemed able to wander in with a little effort.

“Manually booting preservation systems. Temporary respawn workaround: Patched In. Accessing weapons archive to redistribute proper weaponry. Returning reality-defying abilities---

“ERROR. System: Overloaded. Territory: Insufficient. Abilities must be returned in temporary bursts.” The android droned on in the background, yet the threat to the citizens of the island continued to amplify. Tens of beasts became hundreds, then thousands. 

“Before we can repair Phase 2, you need to cull the population of invaders. I have given you the tools to persevere. The strong should protect the weak... yadda yadda...” 

Weapons would appear before each islander, materializing from a pale blue light. For those that had their own from their own world, it was returned, and for those with no experience, generic blades and guns were provided. 

“A hack this elaborate... the time limit is 240 hours... 10 days. It will take me until then to restore functions. You have that long to stay ‘alive.’” A wall of speakers slowly began to take shape around the hole until it was completely concealed. “And I will provide... the tunes.”

“In the wise words of someone, somewhere... YOU CAN’T ESCAPE FROM CROSSING FATE.”

“...Oh, ignore that.” Too meta.

Welcome to Overlay: Part II! We hope you’re enjoying things so far.

To give a general idea of what is happening, the Overlay Protocol has been activated in the city. Thready-looking skeletons of buildings have started to form around the city, but a virus has made it so that aggressive monsters have also started appearing faster than the buildings. These monsters have to be taken out before the Overlay Protocol can be repaired. That’s where the residents come in!

Characters must travel to one of the twelve Construction Points across the city, areas basked in a pale red light that prevent monsters from spawning within them. These areas can be used as ‘safe zones’ for characters that are non-combat oriented. Monsters are drawn to these points for some reason, but the natural barrier prevents them from accessing it easily. You can choose to protect these points or take the fight directly to them!

There are three Construction Zones per Ward. Points 001-003 are in the Northwest. Points 004-006 are in the Northeast. Points 007-009 are in the Southeast. Points 010-012 are in the Southwest.

For the duration of this event, characters will be returned their weapons. In the case that the character does not fight, a generic blade or gun will be provided for them. However any powers associated with that weapon will only be available if unlocked.

For the non-combat types, there’s plenty to do back in the safe zones regarding helping and supporting others.

For five minutes at random every in-character hour, each character’s powers will be fully restored to help with the combat efforts. If your character already has powers unlocked, those powers will be retained but flicker in and out every few minutes.

Characters cannot effectively die during this event. If they reach a point where an individual might ‘die’, they will instead become fragmented. Physically speaking, they become translucent and are unable to utilize powers or move quickly. To remove the fragmented condition, your character must return to a safe zone for six in-character hours before rejoining the battlefield.

Regarding the monsters that spawn throughout the city: for the most part, they’re your generic ghosts and goblin-type enemies you could find in stereotypical fantasy fiction. However, if a character from a world of monsters ventures out past a Construction Point’s safety light, monsters from their world may materialize nearby. It is okay to take advantage of this provided you don’t bring in anything too overpowered, and the monsters themselves must not have the same level of awareness as a human. If you’re not sure if a monster would be allowed, please send the masterlist a message!

Portions of buildings can appear at random during these encounters. They are largely incomplete, but can serve as quick cover (or quick hindrance) as characters battle against the incursion.

You are not required to keep your groups from Part I, however if you wish to continue threading with them, that’s fine too!

For those joining us after Part II begins, you can still claim the flat prize reward by writing two threads (with different characters) of 500+ words using Part II′s premise. 

Part II will end on August 2nd.

And that’s all! Please enjoy the rest of Part II and look forward to the conclusion!

written by mod altair.

#modnote #ir event #ir event: overlay #isola event #event: overlay

[vaanibct]

Curiosity Guide - Contextual Statement

Curiosity Guide is an App that utilizes Augmented Reality and audio play to inform users of the quirky history of Auckland City. The App incorporates the structure and frameworks of several mediums and practices.

Pokémon Go (Niantic, 2016) and Jurassic World Alive (Jurassic World Alive, 2018) are successful examples of an AR application, both rely on the Google Maps Platform Gaming API (Google, 2018) for real time geolocation (Webster, 2018). We applied for access to the platform but were greeted with a form email, the assumption we made is following is that access to the technology may be prioritized to larger businesses. We attempted some work-arounds using other services but Google monopolizes the premium services and documentation is this area and seem to favour big players in the industry. We also looked at negative aspects of these Apps. Although evolving technologies that overlay information on top of a natural environment can be beneficial, it is proven that they can cause distraction (Joseph & Armstrong, 2016). For this reason, it was decided that we will not allow access to the AR experience until the user is at a safe and specific location.

In form Curiosity Guide is largely similar to any “city guide” experience since the advent of the tourist guidebook. The user of the guide holds special information unknown to the casual passerby and converts this into the spatial practice of a tour (Cocks, Doing the town: the rise of urban tourism in the United States, 1850-1915, 2001) or structured narrative (Davis, 2001). In developing content for Curiosity Guide we have curated aspects of history with the specific intent of providing an alternative to the narrative supplied by the tourism industry. The stories are centred on people and include elements of conflict whereas most Auckland Tours centre on ‘nature’ as an essential part of Auckland identity and sidestep complicated issues of culture (Bell & Lyall, 2004). ‘Walking Tours of Manhattan’ a tour built around absent landmarks set out to make visible African-American histories in the city, absence of historic artifacts can be a powerful way to connect with the past (Davis, 2001). Curiosity Guide centres two of the stories at absent landmarks to highlight the AR aspect which adds a layer of curiosity over reality, but this is still an ephemeral experience transforming the space with stories of the past. Our goal in constructing a spatial narrative is closer to ‘Walking Tours of Manhattan’ than it is to local mainstream tours such as “14 Big Attractions” (Bell & Lyall, 2004).

Inspired by the idea of history as an alternate reality, we aimed to have a narrative with more than one voice and intersect ‘fictional’ elements with real world interactions (Watson, 2017). Many existing AR experiences also incorporate communications that exist outside of the App, extending the story into the real world in other mediums (Misa, ARG - Conspiracy for Good, 2018). While Curiosity Guide remains an in-App experience, the content expressly contains multiple voices with differing views on the retold events.

Sound is one medium that can evoke a “cinematic” experience all on its own (Misa, Precedents -“Subtle mobs”, 2018), and the decision to use voices as means to communicate the events was an aesthetic as well as pragmatic decision. The vision was to tell the story through some sort of performance, the most direct method of performance would be street theatre (Misa, Guerrilla Theatre - some background, 2018). A way to bring more of the performance directly into the App would have been some sort of motion capture which was not possible at this time. Video would be difficult to reconcile with the AR elements, was dismissed due to longer production time.

However, there were benefits of the ‘audio play’ approach in that it left room for the user to “fill-in-the-blanks” from their own insights and imagination (Misa, Precedents -“Subtle mobs”, 2018). Audio storytelling lends itself to formal abstractions like specific structures of storytelling as shortcuts for genre in podcasts (Misa, Studio IV : A New Hope - pre-briefing II, 2018). We were able to incorporate temporally disparate elements of a story without having to ‘cut’ as we would with video by using introductions, sound effects, distinct voices and narration to explain them.

Interface is a thing, not a process (Blair-Early & Zender). Apps such as The Big Hoot (Haier, 2018), Auckland Virtual Tours (Ngāti Whātua Orākei, 2018), MiAR (Curiat, 2016), Subway Surfers (Kiloo) and Crossy Road (HIPSTER WHALE), use UI design which can be referred to as “intuitive interface.” Each App is easy to navigate, as well as being visually appealing. Curiosity Guide follows in this tradition, this includes coherent use of icons and buttons, which are nearly synonymous to the interface (Blair-Early & Zender).  

Looking specifically at Auckland Virtual Tours, the App design is very clean and consistent. For this reason, it was important to keep a visual theme running throughout our App. Auckland Virtual Tours also supplies the user with introductory content, which informs their future interaction. Through the inclusion of an introductory page Curiosity Guide introduces the beginning of a pattern that indicates how to interact with the App.

References:

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Davis, F. (2001). Uncovering Places of Memory: Walking Tours of Manhattan. In C. E. Barton (Ed.), Sites of Memory (pp. 27-36). New York: Princeton Architectural Press.

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HIPSTER WHALE. (n.d.). Crossy Road. Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA: HIPSTER WHALE. Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yodo1.crossyroad&hl=en

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Misa, S. (2018, July 29). Precedents -“Subtle mobs”. Retrieved from Haunted.Market: http://haunted.market/post/176401142839/precedents-subtle-mobs

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Watson, J. (2017). Games Beyond the ARG. In A. Garcia, & G. Niemeyer (Eds.), Alternate reality games and the cusp of digital gameplay (pp. 187-207). New York, New York: Bloomsbury Academic.

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