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luhloydsworld · 1 year

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Now i dont know if anyone here reads this anymore but im making the post anyways. If you dont know the Fence comic series you can keep scrolling (or not)

I wanna rant about how INCREDIBLE of a friend Nicholas is to Seiji. Seijis had a friend before, as we've all known, we'vw gotten more and more hints as to seiji giving someone a chance close to him before, even as to why he was so relucatant to let it happen again.

but this time nicholas managed to sneak his way into seijis heart and oh is it so different than last time. seiji liked how jesse pushed him, but he only pushed him physically. emotionally, mentally, jesse kind of did the opposite to seiji, and he was a very isolated individual because of it.

nicholas is different. in volume five we got the verbal comfirmation of the way nicholas as a character contrasts jesses role in seijis life; he strives to push seiji physically with his fencing, the two of them at the top as well, but nicholas has also pushed seiji to a better version of himself outside of fencing.

with jesse, it was only fencing. thats what they were. seijis feeling extended outside of fencing, he wanted it to be the two of them in more than just the fencing world, a world jesse couldnt single himself away from at all. seiji eventually did this too.

fencing is equally nicholas' whole world, but he sees seiji as apart of his whole world, not just inside fencing. nicholas manages to get seiji outside of his comfort zone completely, and feel comfortable in situations seiji wouldnt have let himself in originally.

my first example just so i look like i know what im saying, is when theyre training together. in the end of Vol. 4, seiji goes to nicholas. this already indicates a change in how seiji views nicholas.

then you get THIS SCENE in Vol. 5. seiji kept himself reserved for so long but now he lets his guard down with nicholas. maybe he doesnt think its professional to be so chatty or maybe seiji isnt used to being able to geek out on fencing talk, but by the seems of it seijis a huge nerd. in only over an hour you see seiji completely comfortable with nicholas in dicussion, something before this you dont see from seiji at all.

my other example right now (i could talk abt this for hours) is THIS RIGHT HERE.

its made a point originally that seiji likes to spend his time alone, including meals. this shifts in Vol. 5 when we see seiji eating with nicholas, bobby and dante after he spent all morning training with seiji.

its not just the fact that seiji ate with nicholas, its been established well enough thus far that nicholas is someone seijis comfortable with and is comfortable friends with. he's seen content with but also interested in the other people joining them, even engaging in what bobby was going to say after he got nervous.

later on we're given a scene where seiji is happily eating in the group during camp, which is what really stood out to me.

seiji has grown a lot since being friends with nicholas, maybe not in his fencing (yet) but hes become comfortable with people, and maybe its just when nicholas is there, theres nothing to say for sure as of right now but its important growth.

even in the bathroom scene when seiji has his breakdown and nicholas went in, he was completeply unwilling to "show weakness" and just belittled nicholas.

now when nicholas goes to comfort him, after something that bothered seiji more than anything up to this point, we seen him engage in playful banter, enjoying nicholas' company over being alone and acting as his earlier self would likely have called childish.

this growth means so much to me and i cannot stop thinking about it. anyways.

#fence #fence comic #seiji katayama #nicholas cox #i hope this makes sense #THEYRE SO SOULMATES #slowburns are so painful

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y2klostandfound · 9 months

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Game Secrets Institute - Jet Set Radio on Game Players magazine Vol.133 (Video game magazine)(Hong Kong)(12/08/2000)

Translation in English:

DC (Dreamcast)

Manufacturer: SEGA Price: 5800 Yen Capacity: GD-ROM X 1 Memory: 4 BLOCKS Release date: on sale 1P/ETC/MODEM, VMS, vibration PACK, VGA BOX correspondence

JET SET RADIO DATASET

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT I SAID IN THE GAME INTRODUCTION OF ISSUE 131 THAT THIS JET SET RADIO HAS SOMETHING CALLED THE "JET SET LOGO"? These signs allow players to change the patterns of the current character when the game, and the entire game has 90 Jet Set logos. I believe that many players have not stored all patterns. Therefore, I will send you the location of all 90 "JET SET Logo" in this issue, plus some special information.

The first level (Shibuya GG)(Shibuya-cho)(Stage 1)- Number of JET SET logos (5)

Logo No. - Place:

No.11 - Platform above convenience store No.15 - Lamp Post Top No.41 - Next to the billboard No.45 - Under the Flyover No.71 - Under the Flyover

First encounter with the red gang (Love trap)(Shibuya-cho)(Stage 2) - Number of JET SET logos (7)

Logo No. - Place:

No.13 - Residential roof No.16 - Over the road No.43 - Above the park to the broken bridge No.46 - Broken bridge and high altitude No.72 - Roof next to the broken bridge No.73 - Under the broken bridge No.75 - On the traffic sign next to the park

Strange Group (The monster of Kogane)(Kogane-cho)(Stage 3) - Number of JET SET logos (8)

Logo No. - Place:

No.18 - Near the boat behind the starting point No.20 - The steel bars movement on the way No.22 - Residential roof No.48 - Residential house No.51 - In the alley No.77 - Over the railing No.79 - Next to the oil depot No.80 - Near the starting point

Fighting the Strange Group (No.540)(Kogane-cho)(Stage 4)- Number of JET SET logos (4)

Logo No. - Place:

No.17 - Over the fence next to the starting point No.21 - The end of the upper tunnel in the workshop No.50 - Wires above the workshop No.78 - Factory roof

Dueling the Strange Group (Kogane Circus)(Kogane-cho)(Stage 5) - Number of JET SET logos (3)

Logo No. - Place:

No.19 - Inside the hidden tunnel No.47 - Sewer tunnel in the air No.76 - Sewerage tunnel

First encounter with the Mechanical Corps (Benten Boogie)(Benten-cho)(Stage 6) - Number of JET SET logos (3)

Logo No. - Place:

No.24 - Residential roof No.52 - Above the starting point No.82 - Inside the underground tunnel

Fighting the Mechanical Corps (Graffiti high)(Benten-cho)(Stage 7) - Number of JET SET logos (7)

Logo No. - Place:

No.25 - Top of the Dome Square store No.53 - Near the movie bulletin board No.54 - Over the shopping street tunnel No.55 - Over the flyover above the starting point No.83 - Dome Square on the wire No.84 - Top of a store in Shopping Street No.85 - On the container next to the starting point

The end of the Mechanical Corps (Noise Reduction)(Benten-cho)(Stage 8) - Number of JET SET logos (8)

Logo No. - Place:

No.23 - Over the road No.56 - Among the trees No.57 - The two bridges are connected in the air No.86 - Over the footbridge No.87 - Over the footbridge

The final battle with the red gang (Love attack)(Shibuya-cho)(Stage 9) - Number of JET SET logos (5)

Logo No. - Place:

No.12 - On the road No.14 - Billboard No.42 - Road No.44 - On the stairs No.74 - On the store platform

Battle of the Flying Forces(Fight or Flight)(Kogane-cho)(Stage 11)- Number of JET SET logos (2)

Logo No. - Place:

No.49 - Rooftop position No.81 - Rooftop position

The last level of the map for joint supply(Benten Burning)(Benten-cho)(Stage 12)- Number of JET SET logos (2)

Logo No. - Place:

No.26 - Inside the subway passage No.27 - Attached to the patio of the subway station

These are the locations of all 90 JET SET logos, 51 in total, and the remaining 39 are obtained after joining the character and obtaining a hidden character.

Three Hidden Characters

The game has ten basic characters for use, in fact, there are three hidden characters, and the method of obtaining these three hidden characters is very difficult, the method is that the player has to obtain all the version of the score "ジェット(Jet)" after the completion of the game will be released to play the role of the selection of the screen on a wall will be thumbs to the three logos, as long as you select these three logos can be selected to use these three hidden characters.

#jet set radio #jsr #jet grind radio #sega

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my-favourite-zhent · 4 months

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New Tricks - Chapter 2

Ch1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5

Version: 1.01 Pairing: Rugan x AFAB!OC Rating: NC-17 (eventually, this chapter is still fairly PG-13) Current Word Count: 4173

Table of Contents

Excerpt: “Isn't this sort of thing beneath a man of your skills?” Eyes wide and innocent as she peered into his own, lower lip in a coy pout.

“Would you like to be?” He wrapped his own hand around the wrist that held his jerkin.

“Hmmm?” That honey sweet voice again, warm and inviting.

“Beneath a man of my skills?”

Read Here on AO3 or below the cut~

New Tricks - Chapter Two

The mood lightened considerably when the caravan finally made the city. Enough of the goods remained that they'd been paid a tidy some.

Hoots and hollers echoed across the warehouse as the loading got finished. The Gate crew was getting an early start on the usual payday celebrations, bottles of brandy being passed around freely.

The Waterdeep crews didn't share much in the mirth. They weren't unfriendly per se, but they kept to themselves.

“Locals are a bit sullen aren't they?” Bellar took a healthy swig of his bottle before passing it to Rugan.

“Zarys says they’ve been having trouble with the local thieves guild.” Rugan took his own sip before passing to Olly in turn.

“Trouble? Zhents should be their best customers. Who else is gonna fence their shite?”

“Well not everyone can be as congenial as we Baldurians.”

Olly, who had had a bit too much to drink at this point, uncharacteristically piped up. “Zarys says you're a bit too congenial with Keene’s crew, Rugan.”

Rugan's voice raised in mock offense. “First of all lad, I wouldn't be taking lessons in congeniality from Zarys of all people. If you ever see that black-hearted vixen smile, run the other way. Me on the other hand; why, I simply help along negotiations. If anyone's too friendly, I heard it's Vol who's shagging their accountant.”

“The one in the mask?” Olly gaped.

“The very same!”

“No, you're making that up!” Bellar couldn't help laughing even as he said it.

“Why do you think he wears that mask? Her doggies got him!”

The three burst out in a fit of drunken laughter. Only broken up when Vol herself yelled down from the catwalk.

“Oy! If you lot don't shut it down there it's you I'll sick my dogs on!��

Rugan held a finger to his lips to indicate silence but this just brought on a fresh wave of, albeit quieter, laughter from the trio.

Vol stomped off muttering something about mouthy old bastards but left it at that.

When the laughter finally died down, Bellar wiped a tear from his eye before turning to Rugan, sotto voce. “Have that conversation with Brem yet?”

“Aye. Why do you think he's been avoiding me? Idiot feels embarrassed now and rightly so.”

“Well, we’ve all been there before. He'll come ‘round”

“Sure at Olly’s age. Brem’s old enough to know better.”

“I wouldn’t pull something like that.” Olly interjected indignantly.

“Well obviously not you Olly, but the rest of us were a lot less… mature at your age.”

“We’re a lot less mature now.” Bellar snorted.

“Are you three still able to stand, or are you completely wankered?” The trio hadn’t noticed Zarys’ approach and all stiffened at her question.

“We can stand.” Olly quickly replied.

“Good, come with me. Up in the office then.” Her smile reminded Rugan of a hyena’s bared fangs. He wondered idly if she had overheard him earlier.

Zarys led them to the lone stairwell to the office, glancing back over her shoulder. “Oh, and don’t think to try and run Rugan.”

‘Oh good, she did hear me then.’

Bellar gave Rugan’s shoulder a squeeze while suppressing a laugh.

Zarys took a seat at the solitary desk and gestured for Olly to shut the door.

“We’ve another job coming up.”

“We just finished a job, Zarys.” Whined Bellar.

“Quit your whinging, it's only for one night. A duke's fancy party needs some extra security, easy work.”

“Sounds like a job for the locals.”

“Locals might get recognized as zhents.”

“We’re not going as zhents then?” Rugan blinked in surprise. Unusual, a job well done could bolster their reputation among the nobility.

“No, because that’s not the real job.”

“Go on then, what’s the real job?” Rugan suspected he wasn't going to like it.

“You three are going to lift something from the duke’s estate.”

“Oy Zarys, we’re head crackers not sneak thieves.”

“Bellar’s right, this isn't our area of expertise.”

“Then it's a good thing we’ll be the security team as well, isn’t it?” Zarys smirked. It was a smart plan, Rugan had to concede.

“And what is it we're taking then?” Bellar's eyes narrowed with suspicion. What could possibly be worth all this effort?

“Nothing magical I hope.” Added Rugan.

“Netherese tablets for a wizard back in Baldur's Gate.”

“Ah, I've gone and jinxed it.”

“They're not magic.” Zarys corrected him. “Just very old. Some sort of relic. Small enough to easily smuggle out, I've been assured.”

‘Like you were assured there wouldn't be much trouble on the road.’ Rugan thought with a sigh.

Bellar and Rugan shared a look, both doubting it would be as easy as Zarys said.

“Not a word of this to the others though, special assignment. And cheer up you lot, we're going to a party.” Zarys’ smiled viciously before waving them off. “You’re free to leave now.”

The trio turned to go.

“Oh, and leave the bottle. I do think Rugan’s had quite enough. We don't need him to do any more mouthing off.”

“Couldn’t agree more.” Rugan agreed in a tone that was all resignation.

��++++

The ‘party’, if it could rightly be called one, was about as fun as a wet mop.

‘No, worse than that.’ Thought Rugan. ‘At least you could beat someone with the handle end of a mop.’

Not a single fight had broken out, there were no card games to be had, and all discussions revolved around trade or some bit of gossip about who had planted the wrong sort of hedges this year. To top it off, the entirety of the damn wait staff had been ordered to not serve any wine to the ‘security’ team.

“You'll want to have your wits about you gentlemen.” Duke Errol had condescended.

“Would really rather be crackin’ heads right about now.” Sighed Bellar, stealing a swig from a flask he surreptitiously retrieved from his vest.

“Oy, gimme that.” Rugan chided with his hand outstretched, as if chastising a willful child. “Black hand knows what Zarys will do to you if she catches you with that.”

Begrudgingly Bellar handed over the canteen only for Rugan to bring it to his own lips.

“Hey!”

“There,” Rugan gulped as he finished the last of the wine. “now you don't have to worry about being caught.”

“You're an ass Rugan.”

“Serves you right for not sharing.” He smirked cheekily as he handed back the empty vessel. “Why don't you go see what the lad’s gotten up to. Keep yourself busy.”

Bellar grumbled but went on his way. With any luck he'd be able to pilfer some more wine when backs were turned.

Rugan inhaled deeply, the night was cool but not uncomfortably so. The chill and fresh air were a pleasant contrast to the heat of the drink warming his face.

Spiraling stone steps wound up the hill from the base of the tower where he now stood. As he glanced up towards the night sky he saw a figure descending those stairs towards him.

‘nother rich tosser.’ He thought with a twinge of annoyance. Not that there would be guests of any other sort.

He could just make out the person now, a short lithe woman in a green dress. The light cotton was draped across itself forming a v-shaped neckline and was cinched at the waist with a leather braid. From there flowed two long strips of fabric that came to her calves but left the sides of her legs on full display. Nowhere to hide a weapon really, or anything else for that matter. The woman drew closer and he lifted his gaze to take in her face. She was a pretty thing with delicate features, gently framed in a mass of wavy black hair.

Unlike the other guests who had come down this way she was staring intently at the tower, her lips twitching ever so slightly. He followed her gaze, ‘She’s counting the windows.’ the realization came with a touch of trepidation. Maybe this party did actually need security after all. Rugan straightened and held his hand up as she approached.

“This area is off limits miss.” His voice was authoritative but not overly harsh.

The woman in green’s eyes widened and she smiled at him, noticing him for the first time.

“Security I take it?” She looked at him appraisingly, in much the same way he had just done her. Her voice was light and sweet, and he found her face all the more enjoyable up close.

“Indeed, and I'm going to have to ask you to give the tower a wide berth.”

“You're not one of the duke's usual guards.” The woman was eyeing him more closely now. She took a step towards him, such that they were mere inches apart.

“Outside contractor.” He felt some of his usual charm slipping into his voice and a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. It couldn't be helped when a pretty lady was concerned.

“Hmmm.” She reached forward and pulled back the collar of his leather armor, revealing the winged snake pendant he had been wearing underneath.

“Unusual work for a zhent.” Her voice low and conspiratorial, though there was no one else around to overhear them.

“And what would you know of the black network lass?” His tone teasing, albeit with an edge of warning.

“Isn't this sort of thing beneath a man of your skills?” Eyes wide and innocent as she peered into his own, lower lip in a coy pout.

“Would you like to be?” He wrapped his own hand around the wrist that held his jerkin.

“Hmmm?” That honey sweet voice again, warm and inviting.

“Beneath a man of my skills?” The words had tumbled out him before he could stop himself. Not the sort of thing you say to a noble guest of your employer, no not in the slightest. Yet it couldn't be helped, he had always been a flirt at heart and unaccustomed to holding his tongue for civilians.

Perhaps not entirely to his surprise, the woman laughed softly before leaning forward. Her lips brushed gently against his own, feather light. Rugan thought to pull her close to get a better taste when a shout from above jolted them apart.

“Erica! Are you down there dear?”

“Hells,” She breathed. “my date.”

“Your date?” His eyebrows raised. If anything his tone was amused rather than angry. He quite enjoyed the idea of cuckolding some preening noble.

She hastily stumbled back to make some space between the two of them. Erica gestured to her lips and Rugan realized some of her rouge must have smudged on him. He swiped his mouth with the back of his hand just as her date came into view.

“There you are dear, you've just missed me educating poor young lord Adarbrent on what he's been doing wrong with his shipping routes.” The man was puffing slightly from the descent. He was dressed ostentatiously in red and white finery. It was clearly of expensive make and yet it's cut and pattern did not flatter the gaunt man in the least.

“I'm sure he greatly appreciated your acumen, Lord Cragsmere.” Her voice still sweet, but Rugan thought he heard the slightest hint of sarcasm therein. Whatever the case Lord Cragsmere did not notice.

“Please dear, as I've said before, call me Glaerus.”

“It would be unbefitting of a lady of my station sir.” Rugan noticed she seemed to be standing more stiffly than before, a certain tightness in her shoulders.

‘Station? A hired companion?’ He wondered to himself. Though not an experienced one, she had not fully mastered hiding her distaste for her date. Close, but not quite.

“Come now dear, no need for formalities, now if you'll just come with me.” Glaerus tried to direct her back up the stairs.

“Oh but I was just asking this gentleman where the garderobe might be.”

Glareus turned, as if suddenly noticing Rugan’s presence. Rugan smiled politely, but the one Glaerus returned was full of disdain. Turning back to Erica. “Nevermind dear, I’ll show you the way. Come along.” He grasped her wrist tightly and made to drag her away at a brisk pace.

The woman followed along dutifully but turned to give Rugan a coy smile before shaking her head.

“Well that’s a damned shame.” Muttered Rugan ruefully when the pair were out of earshot. He sighed softly to himself and turned to see Bellar jogging towards him. “What’s the hurry mate?”

“Guess what the little rascal managed.” Bellar grinned and held out a ring of keys, giving them a jingle for good measure. Rugan noticed Olly had come along as well, just a few paces behind.

“How’d you manage that lad?” A wry grin, he was impressed.

“Oh um, a nice bloke in the kitchen gave them to me.” Replied Olly, reaching back to fix his hair. Rugan noted a touch of red on the boy’s cheeks.

“I’ll bet he did!” Crowed Bellar, giving Olly a hearty slap on the back.

“Well then lads,” Rugan chuckled, catching the keys deftly as Bellar tossed them. “it's time to get to work.”

++++

The most useful part of being hired security was that for the most part no one questioned why you were anywhere.

Well aside from the damnable butler who had eyed the Zhents with suspicion from the start. Olly's boy had helpfully supplied them with the butler's list of duties that night however, so there was now a window of opportunity where he would be nowhere near the tower.

Olly took up a post on one end of a long corridor, Bellar on the other, their target lay in one of the rooms on the north side.

Carefully Rugan went down the doors one by one, the tablets they were searching for were said to be in an office in this section of the building. On the third door he found it and made a quick gesture to the other two to indicate as such. They nodded their heads in understanding and he slipped inside, quietly shutting the door behind him.

It was a moderate sized office, at least by noble standards, though to Rugan it was quite grand. The room was perhaps as big as his whole flat back in the Gate. A cool night breeze ruffled some papers on the desk at the far side of the room. He thought it peculiar that the staff had left a window open overnight.

Just then, he heard the creaking of a hinge. He ducked behind a bookcase instinctively and searched for the source of the sound. A hidden passageway perhaps? But no, he realized one of the windows on the northside was a transom, and a dainty foot was leveraging it open.

#rugan #bg3 rugan #zhentarim #rugan bg3 #bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 fanfic #bg3 fanfiction #new tricks #bg3 fanfic: new tricks

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fantomcomics · 9 months

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What’s Out This Week? 7/19

We’ll see y’all at our Live Zine Reading on the 22nd!

Big Game #1 (of 5) - Mark Millar & Pepe Larraz The comics event of the summer is here! Okay, this is so top secret we can't even show you the main cover because it spoils something MASSIVE. Just trust us when we say that this is going to be the comic book event of 2023-and it's NOT what you're expecting. Does the crossover really go that wide? Yes, it does. BIG GAME pulls together KICK-ASS, KINGSMAN, NEMESIS, THE MAGIC ORDER, and ALL the Millarworld franchises in one special event!

The Bomb: The Weapon That Changed The World GN - Laurent-Frederic Bollee, Didier Alcante & Denis Rodier

On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 in the morning, an explosive charge of more than 15 kilotons fell on the city of Hiroshima. Tens of thousands of people were pulverized, and everything within four square miles was instantly destroyed. A deluge of flames and ash had just caused Japan's greatest trauma and changed the course of modern warfare and life on Earth forever. The world was horrified by the existence of the bomb-the first weapon of mass destruction. But how could such an appalling tool be invented? In The Bomb, Didier Alcante, Laurent-Frédéric Bollée, and Denis Rodier have created an exhaustive and definitive work of nonfiction that details the stories of the unsung players as well as the remarkable men and women who are at the crux of its history and the events that followed.

Doom Breaker GN Vol 1 - Blue-Deep

Zephyr is the last human fighting evil in a world abandoned by the gods. After being slain by Tartarus, the Demon Lord, all of humanity seems lost. However, much to the sinister amusement of the gods, Zephyr is reincarnated to save humanity and avenge those he loves. Can Zephyr finally have his revenge against Tartarus and save the woman he loves, or is he doomed to repeat the past?

Frontera GN - Julio Anta & Jacoby Salcedo

As long as he remembers to stay smart and keep his eyes open, Mateo knows that he can survive the trek across the Sonoran Desert that will take him from Mexico to the United States. That is until he's caught by the Border Patrol only moments after sneaking across the fence in the dead of night. Escaping their clutches comes at a price, and lost in the desert without a guide or water, Mateo is ill-prepared for the unforgiving heat that is sure to arrive come sunrise. With the odds stacked against him, his one chance at survival may be putting his trust in something, or rather someone, that he isn't even sure exists. If you'd asked him if ghosts were real before he found himself face-to-face with one, Mateo wouldn't have even considered it. But now, confronted with the nearly undeniable presence of Guillermo, he's having second thoughts. As his journey stretches on, Mateo will have to decide exactly what and who he's willing to sacrifice to find home.

The Great Snake’s Bride GN Vol 1 - Fushiashikumo

For 500 years, a giant snake god has lived in the ancient mountain. Miyo, an unlucky young woman from the nearby village, has been offered as a tribute: she is to be the snake's bride. Miyo always feared that the enormous talking snake would devour her whole, but once she's taken in by the god, he treats her like a wife rather than a meal. His flicking tongue vibrates through gentle words, his powerful slithering body wraps around hers in an embrace. This god is kinder than his monstrous form implies, and Miyo thinks she could learn to appreciate the non-human form his love takes. What does it truly mean to be the bride of a beast?

Heart Eyes Complete Series TP - Dennis Hopeless & Victor Ibáñez

Sanity-eating monsters ended humanity. The unlucky few who survived now hide in the cracks of a broken world. And yet somehow, beneath the graveyard that used to be San Antonio, Rico met Lupe, the girl of his dreams. But how did she get here? And why is she smiling? No one survives out in the street. No one smiles where the monsters lurk.

Homicide GN Part 1 - Philippe Squarzoni & David Simon

Homicide, the celebrated true crime-book from the creator of HBO's The Wire, is reenvisioned in this first volume of a gritty, cinematic graphic novel duology. In 1988, journalist David Simon was given unprecedented access to the Baltimore Police Department's homicide unit. Over the next twelve months, he shadowed detectives as they took on a slew of killings in a city where killings were common. Only the most heinous cases stood out-chief amongst them, the rape and murder of eleven-year-old Latonya Wallace. Originally published in 1991, Simon's Homicide became the basis for the acclaimed television show Homicide: Life on the Streets and inspired HBO's The Wire. Now, this true-crime classic is reimagined as a gritty two-part graphic novel series.

Imitation GN Vol 1 - Kyoung-Ran Park

As a member of the obscure idol group "Tea Party," Ma-Ha dreams of becoming a big star one day. Little did she know that she'd go viral so soon...by embarrassing herself in a popular talk show! But as the saying goes, there is no such thing as bad publicity...right?

Impact Winter: Rook One-Shot - Travis Beacham & Andrea Milana

Hundreds of years before a comet hit Earth and created a cold, dark world ruled by vampires... A wandering Roman centurion saved a woman from being sacrificed by druids. Honor bound to return Fionnuir to her homeland, Rook embarked on a journey across ancient Britain, where all manner of human and inhuman creatures dwelled...but none more dangerous than the demon he'd sworn himself to.

Lovesick TP - Luana Vecchio

"Nature has a kind of innocent cruelty, while man... Why can't man's cruelty be called innocent?" In one of the most lurid corners of the dark web, subscribers pay a high price to be maimed, tortured, and killed by ruthless and irresistible dominatrix DOMINO. This is what they call love in the LOVESICK CLUB. But as Domino faces emerging threats and mounting pressure from a needy audience, what price will she have to pay for success in this literally cutthroat world? And what will she have to become to survive? LUANA VECCHIO invites you into a digital underworld of blood and neon to explore the limits of consent, love, and idolatry in one of the most erotic and extreme stories in recent years!

Marvel Comics: A Manga Tribute GN

Experience a fresh take on the Marvel Universe with this collection of stunning illustrations from over twenty exceptional Japanese artists, including Yasuhiro Nightow, Akira Himekawa, Peach Momoko, Yusuke Murata, and Yoshitaka Amano. Marvel Comics: A Manga Tribute explores Marvel's rich and enduring legacy as a pop-culture phenomenon by paying homage to its most iconic characters and beloved stories. The book features a range of unique artwork, collected for the first time, celebrating characters from across the multiverse. A must-have for fans of Marvel Comics and Japanese art alike!

Mika & The Howler GN - Agata Loth-Igaciuk, Berenika Kolomycka & Crank!

Meet Mika! Mika is a young explorer who faces familiar-yet-not-fully known objects and obstacles around her house. Today's newest challenge? The "howler" that roams her living room and hallways sucking up dust bunnies and even her socks! But the howler isn't as dangerous as it appears, and young Mika is soon brave enough to face it. The first in the series of books for the youngest comics readers, enjoy the sweet, simple, and delightful Mika and the Howler.

Misfit Mansion GN - Kay Davault

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends meets Hilda and the Troll in this spooky and sweet middle grade graphic novel about a monster girl who sneaks out of her foster home and into a human town in search of a forever family but finds more than she bargained for. Despite her monstrous appearance, Iris has never felt like she belongs in a mansion filled with kelpies and gorgons and unicorns. She longs to find a family. Unfortunately, she and her housemates are trapped in a "foster home for horrors" run by former paranormal investigator Mr. Halloway. So, when a human boy named Mathias breaks the house's sealing spell, Iris and her companions are set free upon the town of Dead End Springs. What Iris doesn't know is that Mathias is also a paranormal hunter (the kind who seeks to capture and destroy the horrors), or that there are other dangers ahead. As Iris searches for a home, she makes human friends, explores a brand-new world... and stumbles upon a dark secret that Halloway has kept locked in the basement of the house. Will this long-slumbering mystery destroy the family Iris so desperately seeks?

Offshore Lightning GN - Saito Nazuna

Nazuna Saito began making comics late. She was in her forties when she submitted a story to a major Japanese publishing house and won an award for newcomers. Offshore Lightning collects Saito's early work as well as two recent graphic novellas "In Captivity" (2012) and "Solitary Death Building" (2015), both focused on aging and death.

Pool Boys #1 - Josh Trujillo & Josh Cornillon

Pool Boys welcomes you to the interdimensional Solitaire Resort. This steamy romance focuses on found love, fleeting connections, and the fun we have along the way. Featuring pinups by Sina Grace, Luciano Vecchio, Jacoby Saucedo, and more, with a cover by David Talaski.

Project Arca: Into The Dark Labyrinth HC - Romain Bennasaya & Joan Urgell

In the not-too-distant future, the planet Earth has been destroyed, its orbit withering and its citizens desperate to escape to the stars. The solution? The Arca, massive vessels bound for the distant promised land of Leonis. When the passengers of Arca III awaken from their long intergalactic journey, they realize they're not in Leonis. Not only that, their journey has taken much longer than the planned two hundred years, and has landed them in a starless, seemingly endless place. Eric Rives, the ship's second-in-command, and his partner Jia Tang are sent on an exploratory mission to investigate the dark labyrinth that surrounds them... but what they find is beyond belief.

Scrapper #1 (of 6) - Cliff Bleszinksi, Alex De Campi, Sandy Jarrell & Juan Ferreyra Blade Runner-style action mixes with big emotions as stray dog Scrapper and his buddy Tank fight for justice against the totalitarian forces of a post-apocalyptic domed city. But when the fight comes to his home, Scrapper will face losing what's most important to him-and gain a terrifying truth in the process. (Don't worry, Mom. The dog doesn't die.)

Star Wars Inquisitor: Rise Of The Red Blade - Delilah S Dawson

When the Jedi Order falls, the Inquisitors rise.. From the aftermath of Order 66 comes a new group of former Jedi, each with their own reason to serve the Empire under Darth Vader. Among them is Iskat, who survived the destruction of her old Order to claim a new destiny in the Force. Iskat joins the Inquisitors in the hope of uncovering her hidden past that the Jedi refused to share with her.

Video Game Of The Year SC - Jordan Minor & Dan Ryckert

Pong. The Legend of Zelda. Final Fantasy VII. Rock Band. Fortnite. Animal Crossing: New Horizons. For each of the 40 years of video game history, there is a defining game, a game that captured the zeitgeist and left a legacy for all games that followed. Through a series of entertaining, informative, and opinionated critical essays, author and tech journalist Jordan Minor investigates, in chronological order, the innovative, genre-bending, and earth-shattering games from 1977 through 2022. Minor explores development stories, critical reception, and legacy, and also looks at how gaming intersects with and eventually influences society at large while reveling in how uniquely and delightfully bizarre even the most famous games tend to be.

Wanted 20th Anniversary Edition #1 - Mark Millar & J. G. Jones Celebrate 20 years of Millarworld this month with this special gold-logo edition of the comic that started it all, featuring the reprinted first issue of WANTED itself alongside exclusive interviews, sketches, and behind-the-scenes material! Learn how WANTED went from the page to the screen in record time and set a course for not only the Angelina Jolie movie, but the Netflix empire that came after.

Whatcha snagging this week?

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aurorawest · 9 months

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Reading update, part 1

Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall - 4/5 stars

The problem with this book was that I liked Paris and Tariq, but god, it was rough to read. I also felt—and I'm going to be honest, this is an issue I've been noticing increasingly with Hall's newer novels—a little like I was reading like, the Perfect And Unproblematic Way To Date. There's this sort of preachy, social media I-don't-know-who-needs-to-hear-this quality to a lot of the dialogue. It was also just hard to read at times. But I still rated it 4 stars, so I guess I didn't hate it.

Rattlesnake by Kim Fielding - 5/5 stars

This book is about a drifter who ends up in a town because a hitchhiker dies in his car (sounds grimmer than it is!), and the hitchhiker was trying to get to said town to see his estranged son. If you said to yourself, I bet the drifter falls in love with the estranged son, you would be exactly right. This book was so poignant and sad, so the HEA was amazing.

Gold Wings Rising by Alex London - 5/5 stars

This is the last book of The Skybound Saga and it was an excellent ending.

Heart of the Steal by Avon Gale and Roan Parrish - 3.75/5 stars

I told a friend the other day that I would die for Roan Parrish, but I should have told her not to pick up this book. It wasn't awful, but...it wasn't great, either.

Rag and Bone by KJ Charles - 4/5 stars

The Reanimator's Heart by Kara Jorgensen - 4/5 stars

The Half Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley - 5/5 stars

Look. Guys. I've raved about every Natasha Pulley book I've read, yeah? And this is no exception. I need you all to read this. Like, I'm not sure you're all taking me seriously out there. But if you read anything I've recommended, it needs to be Natasha Pulley's books. I can only rate up to 5 stars on Storygraph, so yeah, maybe it looks like I loved this book the same as I loved Rattlesnake by Kim Fielding. No. This book lives in my heart and my mind. This book is part of my soul. All of her books are. I love and hate her for A) making me feel SO MUCH and B) being a better writer than I will ever be.

I know I've said nothing about the book, but like. You just have to trust me. Read her books.

Oh yeah, this one is about a nuclear disaster in the USSR that was covered up for decades.

You & Me by Tal Bauer - 4.5/5 stars

Teddy Spenser Isn't Looking for Love by Kim Fielding - 3.25/5 stars

Man, I wanted to like this one? It felt really phoned in, though. The characters all felt very surface level.

The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew - 4/5 stars

Subtle Blood by KJ Charles - 5/5 stars

How did this series just keep getting better? I'm so bummed that this was the last in the trilogy, because I totally could keep reading about Will and Kim and their adventures.

Firestarter by Tara Sim - 5/5 stars

Also the last in a trilogy, and also a worthy wrap-up.

The Mayor and the Mystery Man by AJ Truman - 4.25/5 stars

Fence, Vol 5: Rise by CS Pacat with Johanna the Mad - 5/5 stars

Cattle Stop by Kit Oliver - 5/5 stars

AHHHHHHHHHH. God. This book! Looks like a romcom but will stab you in the heart repeatedly. Oliver has a gorgeous way with words and captures the dynamic between two people who have no idea how to talk to each other so well. There's something the dialogue in Oliver's books that just speaks to me.

Rookie Move by Riley Hart and Neve Wilder - 2.75/5 stars

Boyfriend Goals by Riley Hart - DNF

Please note here that it seems like I don't like Riley Hart's writing. Unfortunately I still have like 3 of her books in my TBR pile.

The Gentleman's Book of Vices by Jess Everlee - 4.75/5 stars

Even Though I Knew the End by CL Polk - 4.5/5 stars

I feel a little meh about this one, despite the rating I gave it. Like, the world was cool, the writing was excellent. I've seen this book hyped so much, though, and it was like...yeah it was fine. Definitely the best over-hyped Sapphic book I've read lately, so there's that.

Nothing Like Paris by Amy Jo Cousins - 4.5/5 stars

Necropolis by Jordan L Hawk - 4.25/5 stars

Roommate Arrangement by Saxon James - DNF

The Place Between by Kit Oliver - 5/5 stars

Yeah this Kit Oliver book was really good too. It's about academics instead of farmers but it will still stab you in the heart a bunch of times. Oh and it's fake dating.

A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson - DNF

I didn't love Kosoko Jackson's debut—there were waaaaay too many pop culture references, many of which I didn't understand, but even when I did, I found it obnoxious. But it was readable. This was...not. I hated the main character so much, and I barely even met the love interest, but I didn't like him, either.

Level Hands by Amy Jo Cousins - 4.25/5 stars

The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by KJ Charles - 4.25/5 stars

How to Bite Your Neighbor and Win a Wager by DN Bryn - 5/5 stars

I looooooved this book, omg. I'm not really a vampire person, but this was so cute. I guess it was kind of cozy fantasy? Sort of? With a backdrop of homelessness, medical experimentation, and bereavement.

Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo - 1/5 stars

Catch me never reading a Leigh Bardugo novel again. Oof. This woman wrote Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom? I wasn't too impressed by King of Scars but that was better than this, even though the Crows actually appear in this book.

The Barkeep and the Bro by AJ Truman - 3/5 stars

Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green - 4.5/5 stars

I don't usually laugh out loud when I read, but this book made me cackle. Obnoxious self-referential bit aside (yeah Simon James Green, I did catch you slipping a reference to your previous book into this one), this was very cute and very funny. I even got my wife to read this, despite her dislike of romance and YA, and she liked it!

Part 2 (because tumblr cut me off at 30 images)

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thestarminstrel · 2 years

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TL;DR: rivals to lovers doesn't happen quickly, and i feel that nick and seiji's progression into the friends stage is going too fast considering their characters and history together.

i think one of the biggest reasons folks say that fence lost its rivals to lovers nichoji is just the fact that, rn, it looks so different from what the trope entails. whenever i read the trope (and it's done well), there's so many ways it could go, so many ways it could explode in our faces at any point, but there is still that slow and gradual shift from "wow i hate your face" to "i actually...don't mind your face" to "wow...i think i want to kiss your face". it's subtle and agonizingly slow as the characters are forced to confront the fact that their rival is actually this incredible person that they could get along with extremely well as a friend and a partner. it's not meant to be a short process because there are dozens of things that need to happen first. people can be incredible stubborn -- especially if they're holding onto feelings of animosity -- and it's not believable if they're able to get over themselves so quickly.

perhaps i just have really, really slow tastes, but nichoji just...doesn't have that in canon rn. there has been too little screentime for nick and seiji to go from beating each other up in a closet to seiji sharing really heavy emotions re: jesse (regardless of whether you think they dated or not). seiji is such a closed-off individual, and it just doesn't make sense in the overall timeline of the comics for him to open up so fast. if anything, i would have much preferred nick following seiji out to challenge him (vol 3 led me to believe he's fiercly devoted to being seiji's rival and ergo a lil bit jealous of jesse) only to end up listening and awkwardly comforting seiji. because it brings us back to one of those little moments i mentioned earlier: it forces nick to confront the fact that his rival has hidden hurt. from then on, perhaps, nick starts seeing the same things about seiji in a different light and now we start getting some development as nick starts reaching to seiji to connect rather than to frustrate and annoy.

i fully recognize the limitations of the comic format and the fact that fence is in such a place publishing wise where it really can't plan its plot too far ahead, but it is sad that the sacrifice involves well-developed nichoji. their relationship just doesn't feel authentic to me as a rivals to lovers one because it just feels like we tumbled into the friend stage of it instead of working for it. for nick to be so friendly with the boy who halted the progression of his first competitive fencing season on the first match over so little time and development? it doesn't make sense. nick is someone who feels things deeply and strongly in both vol 1-3 as well as vol 4-5 (despite the jump in character). seiji helping him out a few times and having a soft moment or two is not enough for nick to let go of his animosity so easily. i'm not saying that they should still be at each other's throats all the time, dragging each other into closets for fights, but they definitely should still be sniping at each other, annoying the hell out of each other about bathroom water usage, and nick's terrible fencing (that's improving with seiji's grudging advice). following the characterizations of vol 1-3, nick's too stubborn and seiji's too much of a jerk for them to have such an easy transition into friendship and eventually romance.

#fence comic #nichoji #nicholas cox #seiji katayama #this is also not meant @ anyone ive just seen this question pop up a lot in discussions haha #just giving my two cents

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applesandbannas747 · 10 months

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hello!!

i just finished the fence series and absolutely LOVED it. i thought it was over and felt sad however i see that there are still comics for it (redemption) and novels (striking distance / disarmed). i’m very confused about these. do these stories occur after vol 5? which should i read first, the novels or the comics? i’m not understanding the chronological order…

thanks <3

Hi friend!! Welcome to Fence, I'm so glad you loved it too!! You can read through my long explanations or scroll down to the actual list of reading order XD

The order of everything is unnecessarily confusing and I'm forever annoyed at BOOM (the publishers) for that. First thing to know is that Fence was a single-issue release comic for 12 months, which produced Issues 1-12. After finishing its original run, the 12 issues were bound into 3 volumes of 4 issues each. This wouldn't be too confusing except that Volumes 1-5 use the same covers as Issues 1-5 did, so it can be hard to navigate.

The novels are another interesting aspect of the franchise in that they're more like published fanfiction Pacat (one of the creators of Fence) loves and endorses, but they're not strictly canon despite him insisting that they are at least "80% canon". The novels are a duology by Sarah Rees Brennan that take place between Rise and Rivals (the 4th and 5th volume of the comic). They are not required reading at all, and rather muddy things up because of their strange relationship to canon, so I always tell people not to read them. Granted, I am infamous for hating the novels with every fiber of my being, but genuinely, they don't add anything to the story and the 'is it or isn't it canon' aspect can get frustrating because while Pacat likes to pretend the novels are canon, they literally are not happening in the same timeline as the comics because some MAJOR events took place in the novels that were just retconned in the comics, which picked right back up after Rivals (volume 4) as if nothing had happened. If you love Sarah Rees Brennan more than you love Fence, then read the books, otherwise skip them because they will leave you more confused than anything lmfao

And of course, Redemption is strange simply for the way it's been marketed. When Fence Redemption was announced, it was pitched as an all-new original fence mini-series with a 4-issue run, which left it unclear as to what the fuck it actually was. As it turns out, Redemption seems to just be the continuation of the comic. Whether it's switching back from being categorized as a graphic novel that releases in bundles of 4 chapters to a comic with single-issue releases over a set period of time, it's unclear, but that could be one explanation for the wording that's been used around it. It's also possible it's 'filler' content (imagine beach episodes in animes), which was my assumption when reading the announcement for it, BUT having read the first 2 issues, I think that's unlikely because we're covering some moments that are huge payoff from the things building earlier in the series. It remains to be seen where Redemption falls in terms of the volumes (ie will it be bound as volume 6, or will it remain a 'side' story in the franchise and volume 6 will be the next fully released graphic novel?) I mostly mention this because if you start looking up info on Redemption, it can get confusing about whether it's part of the main story or not, so just know that it certainly is part of the main story and it's fully canon, but it either marks a change in the format of Fence's releases or was a fun detour from the planned volumes.

And finally, for the question you actually asked--the reading order:

Fence Volume 1 (contains issues 1,2,3,4 of the original issues)

Fence Volume 2 (contains issues 5,6,7,8 of the original issues)

Fence Volume 3 (contains issues 9,10,11,12 of the original issues)

Fence Volume 4 "Rivals" (originally released as the full volume)

Striking Distance (the first Fence novel; I recommend not bothering with it)

Disarmed (the second Fence novel; I recommend not bothering with it)

Fence Volume 5 "Rise" (originally released as the full volume; picks up after Rivals without reference to the novels)

Fence Redemption Issue #1

Fence Redemption Issue #2

Fence Redemption Issue #3 (not out yet)

Fence Redemption Issue #4 (not out yet)

note that 1 issue = 1 chapter, the terminology just changes whether the 22 pages of content we're talking about was released in a volume of 4 (chapters) or released on its own (issues).

Thanks for dropping in and letting me talk way to much!

#jackshit #fence comic #thanks for the ask!!💜

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ashereadsstuff · 4 months

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My Books of 2023 Part 1

My goal for the year was 50 books, and I have read 60-ish. I'm not really sure, to be honest. The storygraph considers manga as books, while Goodreads does not. Goodreads considers fanfictions to be actual books, while The Storygraph does not. I, however, consider both to be books, even if they are somewhat not traditional. Here's all of them:

The Delve | By: Dan Fitzgerald

Assorted Wildness | By: Gyeja

Semantic Error | By: Soori Jeo

KinnPorsche Vol 1 | By: Daemi

An Innocent Puppy Meets a Two-Faced Cat | By: Niyama

BL Motel | By: Uhrin

Scared to Live (But I'm Scared to Die) | By: Major_816

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love | By: Lex Croucher

Fence Comics Vol 1 - 5 | By: C.S. Pacat

Striking Distance (Fence Vol 1) | By: Sarah Rees Brennan

Disarmed (Fence Vol 2) | By: Sarah Rees Brennan

Superior | By: Jessica Lack

How to Tame Your Vampire Vol 1 | By: Anni Lee

Fangirl, Vol 1: The Manga | By: Rainbow Rowell

The Vegetarian | By: Han Kang

Every Heart a Doorway (Vol 2) | By: Seanan McGuire

The Leather Boys | By: Gillian Freeman

The Love Hypothesis | By: Ali Hazelwood

All for the Game | By: Nora Sakavic

I think Our Son Is Gay Vol 1-4 | By: Okura

Unexpecting | By: Jen Bailey

Little Distractions | By: K.G. Brightwell

The Hunger Games | By: Suzanne Collins

Ander & Santi Were Here | By: Jonny Garza Villa

Tell Me What Really Happened | By: Chelsea Sedoti

TharnType | By: Khun Mame

Help Me, Uncle! | By: 4E

I Caught Him Getting Off Online! | By: Fujita

Anti - Alpha Series | By: Waka Okuda

Anti Platonic | By: Yupopo Orishima

The Untimely Undeath of Imogen Madrigal | By: Grayson Daly

Epic of Helinthia | By: MJ Pankey

Gender is Really Strange | By: Teddy goetz

Puzzle for Two | By: Josh Lanyon

The Covenant Sacrifice | By: Lee Allen Howard

Yours for the Taking | By: Gabrielle Korn

Her Dark Wings | By: Melinda Salisbury

Cursebreakers | By: Madeleine Nakamura

Kiss Me Liar | By: Zing

My Bias Is Showing?! | By: Nabit

Day Off | By: Dailygreens

Dress Him Up | By: Cheese Carp Bread

Burns | By: Ra-yuan

Aesthetics of Unpleasantness | By: SS

A Trace of You | By: AG

The Proper Way to Write Love | By: Ogeretsu Tanaka

Hands Up Me! | By: Chwesong

Leash Me Up | By: Yp

Why Is it You? | Nansae

Lookism | Taejun Park

Baby Sugar Succubus | Sakana Tojou

When the Glow Lights the Woods | By: Eule Grey

My Younger Childhood Friend is Just My Type | By: Hagi Fukuhara

#Dude I didn't know I read so many BLs #Manhwa #Manga #book reviews #ashe reads stuff #2023 Books Read

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stranger-awakening · 2 years

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happy to say that enemies to roommates to friends to crushes has been secured :’)

#the boys are well on their way <3 #next stop Mutual crushes god willing #this is about fence btw because i got vol 5 for my birthday and i reread the series and read that for the first time last night #and im still thinking about it #worth the wait it must be said thank fuck it didn't acknowledge the god awful ya novels im so so happy to pretend they don't exist <3 #jess rants about life

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literary-ink · 2 years

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@applesandbannas747 already pointed out this but I just wanted to comment it too. Also this was highly inspired by a GoodReads review I saw which pointed these things too.

I have to admit that I wasn't very concious about this at first, but it's true that all the FENCE characters look so different in terms of attitude and personality from the issue 1 to the 12 in comparison to the FENCE novels and the 4 and 5 volume. Even though the novels are not canon and more like aus, I think the characters personalities should aso be taken into account since the novel, even if it wasn't written by C.S. Pacat, had to be supervised by him. Those things may not have happened in the canon story, but we know how the cacharacters would have reacted to them, so we know their personalities better.

The character in which this change is more noticeable in my opinion is Eugene. He went from being a teaser with a good heart to being a social inept who can barely ask someone to fence with him (from vol 5: Rise). This change is noticeable since the FENCE novels, but it's more obvious in this new volume (probably since C.S. Pacat wrote this one, so maybe it was a change he was planning since long time ago). He doesn't seem the same character.

Second, let me talk abt Nicholas and Seiji. I'm mixing them together since their changes are tied up to their dynamic. Let me break it up to you (and to me when I realised it): We've lost the "Rivals to Lovers" trope, probably forever. Yes, it's sad, overall bc the main thing that attracted me to these two was that dynamic of "I hate and despise you but at the same time I admire you and you're kinda hot lol". That's gone, it was gone since the novels came out. Again, even if we can't take into account the things that happened in them, Seiji and Nick's attitude changes lightly. They start to care a lot for each other and they end up being very close and good friends in their particular way. They're a lot more friends now than rivals.

In this new volume, their rivalry is almost gone completely. Nicholas is no longer having that possessive attitude of "Seiji is MY rival" "I want you to look at ME". Now it looks more like Nicholas became a happy and cute dork, which I like but it makes me sad that we lost the most intense part of him. I'm gonna be completely honest, I adored the moments in which Nicholas could be even a bit bitter and mean if so desired. I don't think we'll be seeing him being like that anytime soon. Maybe never again 😭

And then we have Seiji. I think he, as a singular character, hasn't changed that much, but since Nicholas is no longer teasing him endlessly, we've also lost the bitter part of him. Now their dynamic is Nicholas giving ground for Seiji to take. And Seiji is taking it. So now their relationship is more wholesome and less like a rivalry thing. There's no longer a pull-and-push.

Ok, I reread this and I'm not sure if I'm being reasonable or if I'm just talking nonsense. Anyways I'm just going to post this. Feel free to comment your thoughts on this, I want to know your opinion!!

#fence comic #fence rise #seiji katayama #nicholas cox #nichoji #eugene labao

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ionlydrinkhotwater · 1 year

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So I've been thinking about FENCE and the Nichoji and Jesse stuff is interesting yes but I am interested in the narrative threads that have been left to be picked up in the next volume and have been present since the first volume:

SPOILERS FOR VOL 5

1. What is going to become of that offer made to Seiji by Halverton? As sweet as things were with Seiji and his teammates in the last volume, it's not as if Seijis frustration with his team's lack of skill compared to the other schools aren't bothering him and that clip of his bout with Jesse will only remind him that hes on a deadline and based on the rankings all of the Kings Row team (with the exception of Seiji who is ranked 1st) are 5th and lower with Aiden being 5th and Nich at the very bottom. Nich asks Seiji to wait for him to get better BUT they are interrupted before Seiji can respond or make any sort of promise. How much drama will come from Nich learning that Seiji may be considering Halverton? What seems to be hinted at is that Jesse chose winning over friends(or more) and Seiji in his desire to beat Jesse might be confronted with the same choice. Which choice he makes is a complicated one. In choosing KR over Exton was his choice to defy and challenge Jesse but ultimately his goal is to BEAT Jesse at Fencing and he may not even get an opportunity with his current team. Perhaps for Seiji he may need to reevaluate whether beating Jesse by NOT making the same sacrifices Jesse made is more of a victory even if it's harder.

2. Why Nichs old neighborhood? That's where the Fence camp is taking place, specifically the nice part of town but why even have the setting take place there at all if it won't be used for any narrative purpose? Will someone from Nichs past show up? Or Will Nich be inclined in some way to visit his old Town? Maybe he will visit his old Fencing ground the San Remo Ballroom?

3. Also we can't discount the mirroring that is happening from the first volume where Jesse's idiot cousin Kyle showed up and Nich being way out of his league. In that first volume Kyle is talking to members of Lowther Hall, and they mention his cousin who competed in world's (Jesse) so Kyle and his teammates were established characters right from the start. He provides insight into the relationship between Jesse and Seiji though his version paints Seiji as the bad guy so his editorials should be taken with a grain of salt however his reappearance might be more significant than just being the info guy, he seems like a Jesse fanboy but what could make him change his tune on that? Is he meant to always be at odds with Nich or will he be the first family member Nich might beat friendship into sports Manga style?

4. The significance of Nich learning the flick is interesting it's more about guile than training. In some ways if Nich can utilize the flick with his speed while getting used to the rules and restrictions he may be able to compensate for his lack of formal training and climb the ranks, this might help him finally beat Emmet and maybe prove a challenge to Kyle. Also it parallels Seijis issue, he is fencing with all his might, Aiden correctly points out that showing all your cards during practice will only make your opponents more prepared to destroy you when it counts. Seiji says "I don't need tricks to win I do it with skill" the meta fencing if you will is between tricks vs skill, literally the next page after Seiji says this is Nich using the flick. That's not to say that tricks and skill are mutually exclusive but it's a neat narrative thread and it may be something Seiji can learn from his underdog team.

#fence #fence comic #nicholas x seiji #nichoji #nicholas cox #seiji katayama #sarah rees brennan #johanna the mad #cs pacat #meta #fence meta #jesse coste #aiden kane #fencecomic

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nakanotamu · 10 months

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OH I got tagged in a thing by @run2thesky and almost forgot about it thank you I love these I just forget to actually do them. Okay music on shuffle list the first 10 songs:

1. Pom’s Paradise - Falcom Sound Team JDK (Hajimari no Kiseki OST)

2. World of Sin Ran Hati - .Hack//GU OST

3. Downtown - Tegan and Sara (Still Jealous ver.)

4. Ravus Aeterna - Yoko Shimomura (Final Fantasy XV OST)

5. Ikuze! Kaito Shoujo - Happy Around! (D4DJ Cover Tracks Vol. 2)

6. The Henney Buggy Band - Sufjan Stevens

7. Don’t Let Him Go! - Falcom Sound Team JDK (Trails in the Sky FC OST)

8. Take It or Leave It - Cage The Elephant

9. O・S - BiSH

10. Sitting on the Old Fence - Kazuki Yanagawa (Nelke and the Legendary Alchemists OST)

aaaand I’ll tag @magiawitch @phoradendron @postmodernismruinedme @vincentvangodot @awakenmyinnerkotoni if you feel like doing it or idk just whoever wants to!

#honestly surprisingly representative 10 songs. Videogame OSTs and homosexuality #I've been thinking of getting rid of the FFXV OST bc I only really like a handful of songs but mostly this is pretty good

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wisdomssdaughterr · 2 years

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the way “I know the end” - phoebe bridgers progresses and matches up with each season & the entire plot / story of stranger things is something that can be so personal.

season 1 - verse 1

the idea of “home.” joyce (and everyone) is trying to bring will back home, and will his desperately trying to survive for his “home” to find him. el escapes a place that was set up as her “home” but it wasn’t. she finds mike and the party and starts to understand that a home can be the people not the place. it also emphasizes this quiet insanity that small towns, like hawkins, hold, and how it’s supposed to be this ideal way of life (something something nancy wheeler’s speech of not wanting to end up like her parents, will being “different,” the party using fantasy games as a way to escape the mundane.)

chorus 1 - season 2

“you had to go” el had to go, just for a little while but of course mike nor anyone but hopper knew of such things. and the slip of will through all of their fingers as he “goes” into the upside down via his true sight. and going meaning changing. relationships changed, they burned out because things had shifted so drastically (the steve, nancy, jonathan mess of 1984). the wave of something bigger hitting the shore (hawkins) opening up an ocean of things to come.

verse 2 - season 3

mike and will becoming friends on the playground in kindergarten. need I say more? “he’s quiet today.” “he’s always quiet.” the growing pains in the summer between middle school and the end of the world. lashing out and pulling away, but the inevitable falling back together because it’s not only just what you know but what you love. it’s byler, okay?

chours 2 - season 4

who had to go? mike to california to keep playing a game with himself between his girlfriend and his best friend and the mess of feels that come with them (open closet, one way sign). el to become a superhero again (conditional love). max to somewhere that she wouldn’t be a burden to her friends / family anymore (I’d get him to swap our places). and do you know who knows all of this? vecna.

the pieces start to fall together (apart) and hawkins descends from a place of tragedy cursed by the devil himself. holes are ripped and mobs formed as their hometown starts to “go down” and the hawkins team dives headfirst into hell in hopes of stopping something inevitable. the upside down is festering (do you remember what that word means, eleven?)

bridge !! season 5 ( and 4 vol. 2)

thinking of the california gang post el recuse flying down highways to reach hawkins. the radio is up, per will’s request because he knows something the rest of them don’t (should I stay or should I go, will singing this and surviving in the upside down for a week, coincidence? nah). they reach the midwestern country side and it looks exactly how this bridge feels. idk how to explain it. the strip malls, the muddled spring browns and greens, the farmland and animals roaming behind fences. the fear of god lingering in the air when you pass the million and one billboards of bible versus on poster board.

back in hawkins the end reaches the surface, people start to take notice. the government invades the town and there is no more containing the leak of the upside down into hawkins. it’s on display, it’s coming. they can’t stop it.

el’s search for a new home - new people outside the lab. she finds herself trapped in a loop of starting new and being dragged back to the past.

the wheelers house slow-motion crumble, destroyed, falling into the pits of the upside down. illuminated in red, the place it began and the place it ends.

“if people can disappear…can an entire town?” the answer? yes.

the wiping of hawkins, indiana from the map. it’s gone. nothing but the welcome to hawkins sign remains, spray painted with the word ‘hell’ over top. it’s like it never existed at all. maybe it comes back, maybe it doesn’t. a folktale of a town that once sat there, cursed.

the vanishing of will byers -> the vanishing of hawkins

#long post!#pls let me be unhinged on my own blog #stranger things #stranger things 4 #stranger things 5 #will byers #el hopper #mike wheeler #hawkins indiana #stranger things theory #phoebe bridgers #st4 #byler #elmike

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