#why have the mixture when you can get the experience of each one in its purest form? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ssailormoonn · 7 months

Text

Jealousy | Mikey (manjiro sano)

MASTERLIST ┊ tokyo revengers master list

WC; 3.4k+┊MDNI

TW┊fingering, oral, implied virgins (both reader and Mikey), aged up mikey 18+, +more

I walk into the confinement of my house and release a shaky exhale. I was supposed to eat today but I didn't want to not go Yukata shopping with Hina and Emma today, so I guess that It couldn't be helped. I knew someone was in my house and that someone was Mikey. He knows where the key to my house is hidden to get inside or he could just jump over the fence, it didn't really matter, but why was he here, I have no knowledge of that.

I know where he is, every time he sneaks into my house he lays on my bed, the bed that hasn't been slept in for years. I wash the sheets once every one to two weeks of course because it's disgusting and unhygienic to not do that. I have my friends staying over often so I have to keep the house clean.

I don't like it when people other than Mikey show up without my knowledge because of one simple fact, I have no food in the house. Why have food when I don't consume it? The only edible thing in the house is the bag of Taiyaki and Dorayaki that Mikey brings around every week to stick up so when he comes over he doesn't whine over being hungry.

My bedroom door was open, not to my surprise. I walk in and place the bag that contained my Yukata on my desk ignoring the fact that Mikey was watching my every move. I slip off my jacket and fold neatly fold it neatly onto my chair. I pull my chair out and take a seat, I open up my notebook and pull out the necessary chemicals needed for my next experiment. I pull the tray from the corner of my desk to me and gaze at the various chemistry jars and tools.

I hear an annoyed groan come from behind me, "Wifey!"

"Yes, 'Jiro?" I question getting the vials of sealed chemicals from the drawers of my desk.

"Can't you do that later?"

"I could."

Mikey's words reach my ears, laden with a mixture of longing and a hint of petulance. "Then come lay with me, I missed you," he says, his voice carrying a subtle pout that tugs at my non-existent heartstrings. The sound of my chair scraping against the worn wooden floor echoes through the room as I rise, unable to resist his plea.

soft glow of the room's ambient lighting from the moon casts an inviting aura, enveloping us in its gentle embrace. The scent of familiarity and comfort fills the air, mingling with the faint aroma of his cologne, creating an intoxicating atmosphere.

With each step, my heart quickens, mirroring the rhythm of my footsteps. The soft padding of my feet against the floor merges with the symphony of our shared anticipation. As I draw nearer, I can almost feel the magnetic pull between us, an invisible force that draws us together, erasing the distance that had separated us.

Finally, I reach him, and our eyes meet, locking in a moment of unspoken connection. He childishly opens his arms and without hesitation, I surrender to his invitation, allowing myself to be enveloped in his embrace.

As our bodies intertwine, a sense of completeness washes over me, as if all the missing pieces of my existence have finally found their place. The warmth of his touch against my skin ignites a fire within, melting away any lingering doubts or worries.

And so, we lay together, our bodies entwined, basking in the comfort of each other's presence. The world outside fades into insignificance as we lose ourselves in the tenderness of the moment, cherishing the connection that binds us. He's laid on his back with his arms wrapped under mine as my arms are wrapped around his neck. I lay half on his chest with one of my legs draped over his body.

"Wifey," He mumbles against my hair.

"Yeah," I sigh into his chest.

"Why'd you hang up on me?" The accusatory words pierce the air, catching me off guard. In response, my breath catches in my throat, causing a sharp intake of air. The suddenness of the question sends a jolt through my body, and I feel Mikey's grip tighten instinctively as if seeking reassurance in the face of tension.

The weight of the accusation hangs heavy in the air, casting a shadow over our intimate moment. I can sense the tension radiating from Mikey, his grip serving as a physical manifestation of his own unease.

Searching for words, I take a moment to steady myself, my mind racing to find an explanation that can bridge the gap between us. The room feels charged with an unspoken tension, the silence amplifying the weight of the question that hangs between us.

Finally, I find my voice, my words laced with a mixture of regret and sincerity. "I'm sorry," I say, my voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "It wasn't intentional. There was a sudden disconnection, and I didn't have a chance to call you back." The words spill forth, an attempt to convey my remorse and assure Mikey that my actions were not driven by any ill intent, even though that was a lie and I had to hang up because I didn't want to seem rude as I talked to Izana.

As I speak, I feel the tension in Mikey's grip begins to ease, his understanding slowly dawning. The atmosphere in the room shifts, the heaviness dissipating as a glimmer of understanding replaces it. In this moment of vulnerability and honesty, we find a path toward reconciliation, a chance to rebuild the connection that momentarily faltered.

And so, we remain locked in our embrace, the tightness of Mikey's grip gradually softening as we navigate the complexities of communication and forgiveness. The air, once charged with tension, begins to lighten, allowing us to move forward, hand in hand, with a renewed sense of understanding and empathy.

"You wanna come with me to the festival?"

"I'm already going with someone, sorry," I say guiltily, if I waited just a couple hours longer, or had I just said to Izana that I'd think about it.

"You should have known I was gonna ask you," Mikey says, his voice laced with a mixture of frustration and disbelief. A scoff escapes him, carrying a hint of hurt. "We always do things together. You're replacing me now. Who are you even going with?"

I feel a pang of guilt as his words sink in, realizing that I had overlooked the significance of our shared experiences. The weight of his disappointment hangs heavy in the air, intensifying the grip of his embrace. His hold tightens against me, and at that moment, a realization dawns upon me- is he jealous?

Taking a deep breath, I gather my thoughts, my voice gentle yet earnest. "This guy," I begin, my words measured, "he asked me while the three of us were on our way back." I pause, allowing the weight of my explanation to sink in, hoping that it will assuage his worries.

The silence hangs in the air with anticipation, as Mikey processes my words. His grip remains firm, but I sense a subtle shift in his demeanor, a flicker of vulnerability beneath his protective facade. It becomes clear that his jealousy stems from a fear of being replaced, a fear of losing the special bond we share.

With a newfound understanding, I reach out to him, my touch gentle yet reassuring. I lift my head from his chest and pull my body on top of his and I cup his face. "Mikey, you're irreplaceable," I say, my voice filled with sincerity. "No one could ever take your place in my life. You know that I will always follow you. What's happening at that festival with me and that guy means nothing."

In a swift motion, Mikey flips our positions, his hands firmly gripping my arms and pinning them beside my head. His hips straddle mine, creating an intimate closeness that sends a rush of heat to my cheeks, causing a blush to rise. I find myself captivated by his onyx eyes, their intensity drawing me in, as I gaze at him with parted lips.

The atmosphere crackles with a mix of emotions - desire, possessiveness, and a lingering trace of jealousy. It's as if the intensity of his emotions seeps into him, manifesting in his actions and the way he holds me. The weight of his body against mine, and the firmness of his grip, all speak of a passionate response to the surge of jealousy that had momentarily consumed him.

As our eyes lock, a silent understanding passes between us. In this moment, words become unnecessary, replaced by the unspoken language of desire and vulnerability. The air feels charged with anticipation, the tension between us palpable, as we navigate the complex dance of emotions.

I can sense the conflict within Mikey, the battle between possessiveness and the desire to trust. His actions speak of a need to assert his presence, to remind me of the connection we share. And yet, beneath the surface, I can also detect a vulnerability, a longing for reassurance and a deeper understanding.

As we remain locked in this intimate embrace, the tension begins to dissipate, replaced by a renewed sense of connection and trust. The jealousy that had momentarily consumed him now serves as a catalyst for deeper understanding and a reaffirmation of our bond. In this moment of vulnerability and passion, we find solace in each other's arms, forging a path forward with a newfound appreciation for the complexities of love and desire.

In an intense display of proximity, Mikey's face closes in on mine, his nose gently brushing against mine. The closeness of our breaths mingling sends a shiver down my spine, causing me to shakily release a breath I didn't realize I was holding. The electric current between us intensifies, and I can't help but feel a surge of desire coursing through my veins.

As the charged atmosphere envelops us, I find myself involuntarily rubbing my thighs together, seeking some form of relief from the sexual tension. The action doesn't go unnoticed by Mikey, and a mischievous smirk curls up on the side of his mouth. It's a knowing smirk, one that hints at his awareness of the effect he has on me.

But in an instant, the smirk fades, replaced by a dark and obsessive expression that takes over his eyes. It's as if a switch has been flipped, and his gaze becomes intense, fixated solely on me. The depth of his desire and possessiveness becomes palpable, sending a thrill of anticipation through my body.

In this moment, I can sense the raw intensity of his emotions, the overwhelming need to claim and possess. It's a heady mixture of passion and obsession, a primal instinct that drives him to assert his dominance and stake his claim.

Mikey makes a possessive mutter that sends a jolt of electricity through the air, causing my breath to catch in my throat. His words hang in the space between us, heavy with desire and a hint of demand. I struggle to maintain composure, my voice trembling slightly as I respond.

"W-What?" I manage to utter, my voice barely above a whisper, betraying the mix of anticipation and uncertainty swirling within me.

His eyes, now filled with an intense determination, lock onto mine. The dark, obsessive motion within them intensifies, as if he's made up his mind and there's no turning back. The weight of his gaze feels almost tangible as if it's pressing against my skin, urging me to comply.

"You're going to prove it to me," he asserts, his voice laced with a possessiveness that sends shivers down my spine. The command in his tone leaves no room for negotiation. "Prove that you're mine. I want you to do it right now."

His words hang in the air, charged with a mix of dominance and desire. The intensity of his request leaves me momentarily stunned, my mind racing to comprehend the depth of what he's asking. It's a challenge, a test of my devotion and commitment to him.

As I search his eyes for any sign of leniency or doubt, I find none. The dark, all-consuming obsession that has taken hold of him leaves little room for negotiation or hesitation. I realize that he needs reassurance, a tangible display of my loyalty and love but he wouldn't mean having sex to prove it. Right? But, why do I want it so bad?

A surge of adrenaline courses through my veins, mingling with the desire that has been building between us. I take a deep breath, summoning the courage to meet his demands. It's a leap of faith, a surrender to the intensity of our connection.

With a mix of anticipation and nervousness, I slowly reach out, my trembling hand finding its way to his cheek. The touch is gentle, yet firm, a silent declaration of my commitment to him. As our eyes remain locked, I can feel the weight of the moment, the significance of this act of submission.

In this intimate exchange, I hope to convey the depth of my l devotion, to prove to him that I am his and his alone. It's a vulnerable yet empowering gesture, a testament to the trust we have built and the passion that binds us.

As our lips draw closer, the world around us fades into insignificance. In this moment of surrender, I am ready to prove my love, to show him that I am undeniably his, forever entwined in this intoxicating dance of desire and possession.

A gasp escapes my lips as Mikey's tongue boldly pushes past the barrier of my parted lips, ravaging my mouth with a hunger that ignites every nerve ending within me. The intensity of his kiss leaves me breathless, my senses overwhelmed by the raw passion that courses between us. I can't help but shamelessly moan in response to the electrifying sensation, a sound that escapes me without restraint.

In the midst of our passionate exchange, I manage to slip my legs from under Mikey's hips, instinctively wrapping them around his lower back. The action serves to draw him closer, our bodies aligning in a perfect fit, his pelvis lined up with my own, and the feeling of his hard against my seeping makes me whimper into his mouth The heat radiating from his skin sears against mine, intensifying the already overwhelming connection we share.

With a reciprocating motion, Mikey presses his body flat against mine, melding us together in a seamless embrace. The weight of his presence envelops me, creating a sense of security and desire that is both exhilarating and comforting.

As our tongues continue their passionate dance, exploring and claiming every inch of each other's mouths, the world around us fades into insignificance. Time seems to stand still, allowing us to revel in the intoxicating pleasure of this intimate moment. The taste of him, the feel of his lips against mine, it's a sensory overload that consumes my every thought.

Lost in the depths of our desire, I surrender to the sensations that ripple through my body. The friction of our bodies pressed tightly together, the rhythm of our breaths intermingling, it's a symphony of pleasure that resonates deep within me. There is no room for doubt or hesitation, only the overwhelming need to be consumed by the intensity of our connection.

I felt the grip on one of my arms loosen as his hands quickly settled under my shirt on my waist making me gasp and grind myself onto his hard causing him to let out a groan. His hand moves further and further up causing me to arch myself into him and whimper into him. He struggles to clip open my bra and I squirm out of the hold on my other arm and unclip it for him.

He throws the bra somewhere in the confines of my room and his hand immediately moves his hand to squish the plush flesh and I moan into the heated kiss once more. Both my arms warp around his neck and the kiss becomes more messy and aggressive.

Mikey's free hand moves below the waistband on my pants and we both struggle to get the material off of me and throw that somewhere in my room as well, he strips me of my underwear next and I hiss at the cold air hitting my bare pussy.

His fingers slide down my slit and I instinctively try to close my legs but I couldn't because he has placed himself between them. "Fuck," He groans into my mouth, "So wet. Please let me touch you more. Can't take it anymore, Wifey."

"Please," I whimper out taking a breather from the kiss, and his fingers continue to play with my clit causing a string of moans to leave my mouth. His mouth has left mine and lifted my shirt with ease since my back is arched from the pleasure. My eyes flutter open and I see the sight laid before me, Mikey sucking on my breasts with his free hand holding my thigh up and the other playing with my sensitive clit.

"Fuck, ngh~ Manjiro," I whimper with one hand entangled within his hair and the other clenching the bed sheets with all my strength causing the material to rip.

"That's it, Wifey," He says in between sucks, "Keep on making those pretty noises for me, only me."

"Ngh!" I moan out when one of his fingers slipped inside my fluttering, drenched cunt. My head flings back in pleasure and the moans keep on slipping out and I can't help but grind my hips into his fingers.

"You like that, baby," He praises against my skin.

"Mnph! Y-Yes," I moan. "Manjiro, Manjiro," I pant.

"What do you want, Wifey? Ah, Fuck you look so pretty," He groans.

"Wan'more, Manjiro," I slur, drunk of pleasure. He listened to my pleas and slid in another finger and I felt my insides tighten, he continued curling and pumping his fingers in and out of my soaked hole. My Moans and whimpers continued to fall shamelessly out of my mouth and after a few moments, I felt the most intense pleasure I'd felt in my life.

"Nghh!" I sob moaning, "Right there, f-fuck, Manjiro."

"Right there?" He says with a smug smile and pumps faster and faster until I feel the coil inside my stomach tighten and tighten until it can't anymore. He sucks harder onto and around the flesh of my breasts and that was enough to send me over the edge.

"I-I'm gonna come," I moan holding Manjiro.

"Doing so well for me, Wifey," He praises as I tighten against his fingers, "Come, Wifey. Do it for me."

I arch my back once more and moan at the feeling of the tightness in my stomach unraveling, I wince at the feeling of Mikey's fingers leaving my hole. My chest heaves from the over-exertion of the activity. My legs fall from Mikey's lower back.

As the bed dips beside me, I feel the warmth of Mikey's presence enveloping me. Without hesitation, he pulls me into a tight embrace, his arms encircling me protectively. The strength of his hold provides a sense of security and comfort that I've longed for, melting away any lingering tension or worries.

In the soft glow of the room, I nuzzle myself into the inviting curve of his chest, finding solace in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. The rise and fall of his breath against my skin lulls me into a state of tranquility as if his very presence has the power to soothe my restless soul.

Mikey's voice, barely above a whisper, reaches my ears as he murmurs words of praise and affection. "You did so well for me, Wifey," he says, his voice filled with genuine admiration and gratitude. The tenderness in his tone resonates deep within me, reinforcing the bond we share and reminding me of the love that exists between us.

As I nestle closer to Mikey, surrendering to the embrace of his arms, a wave of tranquility washes over me. The gentle rise and fall of his chest against my cheek becomes a lullaby, lulling me into a peaceful slumber. For the first time in a long while, I find myself drifting off to sleep, knowing that I am safe in his embrace.

Do not copy, steal, modify, etc.

Relogs and like are appreciated.

MASTERLIST

tokyo revengers master list

This was a smut that is apart of my Tokyo revengers fanfiction on wattpad! (this smut is still in my drafts, so this is a sneak peak of it, this is chapter 10 of my tr fic) if you would like to read the story, it is here

#mikey x reader #mikey x yn #mikey x you #mikey smut #tr smut #tokyo revengers smut #manjiro x reader #manjiro smut #sano majiro x reader

221 notes · View notes

creepylittlelady · 5 months

Text

Lord Zalgo headcanons! [PUPPET STRINGS INFO DUMP]

Hey! Thank you so much for the notes on my Slenderman post! I hope one day my AU can reach a lot of people, because I seriously need people to lore dump to!

If you're reading this and want to request specific characters, go ahead! I have headcanons for everyone, but not as much for characters like Hobo Heart, Nathan the Nobody, Jason the Toymaker, Candy Pop or Vailly Evans, sadly ;(

I do have tons on different characters, and if you want to ask a question about my AU then go ahead! I could rant about it for days lol (my uber autism speaking).

Anyways, enough self promo. Lord Zalgo is such an interesting character to me and it hits me right in my soul when I barely see any content of him and in most comics he's just the evil guy. I feel like his character should be more nuanced to I hope these headcanons fit that objective!

Lord Zalgo Headcanons

-Okay, to explain, Lord Zalgo is the Emperor of the Underworld. Not hell, because that word's got a bad connotation. No, the Underworld is a mixture of every dead organism that has ever lived. Demons and Angels live there alike, it's just all one United State (ITS NOT COMMUNISM). Lord Zalgo is the divine ruler, and his authority resides over every community residing in the Underworld.

(I should definitely make a post about the Underworld soon)

-He came to the Underworld in the year 1901, dethroning all former leaders, whether they be Angels or Demons, and quickly established himself as the new leader. He's immensely powerful and lives in a Castle, which is a Labrinth of its own, right in the Centre of the Underworld.

Well, enough cool stuff. LETS GET TO THE ANGST.

-Zalgo was born the child of a Lady of the Night and an unknown Priest. His original name is Ashton, although he can't really remember what his actual last name was, he rolled with the last name 'Morningstar'. Whilst his mother did provide for him and later on his younger half-sister 'Lily' (I'll make a post on her later), she left when he was 11 years old, and never returned.

-Due to growing up in the worst of the worst, in absolutely inhumane slum conditions, he's used to seeing things such as Dead Corpses and most bloody conditions in general. He's completely desensitized to Gore and Death in general, which is why most people believe him to be cruel and sadistic.

-He once worked in a factory, and suffers from constant nightmares about his experiences there. He's acquired a lot of nasty permanent injuries from that place, and has nightmares about being beaten or being refused food. Yeah, the dude's really traumatised.

-Although politically he has to say that he hates Slenderman due to their political differences, truth is they're each others only friend. Since Slender is well aware of the horrors he's seen, he has an understanding of why he is the way he is, but it doesn't mean he condones his behaviour.

-By 'his behaviour' he means his constant misuse of lust (he's not a rapist he just has a bunch of kids with random mortals) and his wrath. He's not a sadistic person by any means, but copious amounts of violence is sort of how he copes with his own memories of violence.

-Since he was born extremely poor and by such he never got an education, the dude's a really slow reader. He's very intelligent, and was slightly more literate than the other kids in the Factories, but he's still an incredibly slow reader. He has a Servant write his letters for him and makes other people read messages to him out loud. He's quite insecure about this, so he's pretty grumpy every time he makes Stripes read out a text message for him.

-He became Lord Zalgo due to willingly sacrificing himself to the Operator, and because of his already traumatised soul became a Pure Demon. The Zalgo body is made, symbolically, out of his worst insecurities and traumatic experiences. That sounds edgy and confusing as hell but I promise when I put the concept into actual words I'll make a post about it someday.

-Due to being the sole provider for his little sister, Lily, at one point, he's basically used to being a father. Although he has many children he deems most of the male children as illegitimate. He only claims the female children, although he only has three of them. This is also his way of coping with a particularly bad trauma that he suffers from.

When he lost his sister and only remaining biological family, Lily, to a horrific death, he basically tried desperately filling that hole inside of him by having female children and taking care of them. He feels immense guilt as he feels that if he simply had protected her more he could have saved her from her fate.

Stripes, Sadiya (I HAVE GENUINELY NO IDEA IF SHES ZALGOS CHILD OR NOT BECAUSE APPARENTLY SHES LAZARIS COUSIN BUT THEN WHO TF IS SHE THE CHILD OF???), and Lazari were basically made to fill that void. He tries to take care of them, but he often fails. Lazari's custody went to Slender for that exact reason.

-He basically went insane when Lazari's mother refused to give her to him (Lazari's backstory is changed a bit in my AU).

-As for his relationships with the Proxies and the Pastas (that's just what I like to call them), he's generally just known either as Lazari's dad or as Slenderman's MAYBE-Boyfriend. Most people were confused as they thought he and Slender were dating when they weren't.

He particularly has a good relationship with Nina. She accidentally ended up in Zalgo's Castle after following Stripes back there after visiting Lazari, and the two of them hit it off, as Nina didn't really show fear towards him. He claims that Nina's his favourite one out of all of the Slender residents.

He also feels pretty bad for the Proxies and their situation, but he's not particularly on good terms with any of them.

-He's on HORRIBLE terms with Slenderman's brothers, especially his father. Since they all reside in the Underworld and have been trying to track down Slenderman for years, he basically has to lie to them as Slender doesn't want to talk to any of them. He particularly hates Slender's dad as he doesn't obey any of the laws of the Underworld.

-He likes to pretend to be an evil mastermind, but he's not really all that serious about his 'Evil Plans'. They mainly consist of stealing Slender's Books or putting them in the wrong alphabetical order.

-He actually can be evil at times, he's definitely capable of it. Due to the fact that he can be considered as the literal Devil, he's done his fair share of abhorrent deeds, such as Genocides and Executions of rebels.

-The dude's had so many coups and assassination attempts against him that he can spot them from a mile away. He's had people executed WAY before they even went near him. Due to his experience with Assassins, he's crazy stealthy as well.

-'Zalgo text' is just something he made to encrypt any letters that he sends. He uses Zalgo Text to make sure to make important messages are unintelligible to enemy interceptions. His handwriting is terrible anyways, so it just makes it even harder to read.

-His catchphrase 'HE COMES' is basically plastered on most things in the Underworld. It's like a brand at this point.

-He's very touch starved, so he's overly affectionate to people that he likes. When he's in a more stable mood he smothers Lazari with hugs (when she's allowed to visit) and basically doesn't let go of Slender, ever.

-Although he states that his birthday is on Halloween, it's actually on the 27th of July. He isn't used to celebrating his real birthday, so he just doesn't.

-Due to the fact that he's so used to being dirt poor, sometimes he just forgets that he's rich and can basically do whatever he likes.

Another incorrect quote format to demonstrate this.

Zalgo: Ah man looks like I don't have enough to get McDonalds today. Slender: What do you mean just take money out of your bank vault in the basement Zalgo: BANK VAULT? I HAVE A BANK VAULT? Slender: ...Yes? You're the Emperor of Hell? Zalgo: Wow you learn something new everyday

Once he was panicking about how he didn't have enough cash to pay the entrance fee for a restaurant, and was just SHOCKED when they let him in without him needing to pay.

-He's definitely not a great person, and is definitely one of the most mentally unstable characters in my AU, but dammit he's trying his best.

-He often has to keep Slenderman inside of a basement whenever the Operator takes control and gets too violent. it's basically his job to beat it into sedation, which he doesn't feel guilty about in the moment but then he remembers that Slender can also feel the pain.

The Operator's the only being that he's afraid since it directly holds power over him, and is basically holding his friend hostage. Him and Slender made a pact that if the Operator got too unbearable, that he has to try and kill him.

Alright, hope you enjoyed! I wanna explore his character more soon, so stay tuned for that!

22 notes · View notes

thevideogameshutterbug · 1 year

Text

The Murder of Sonic The Hedgehog: Can We Get More of This?

No joke. You might have noticed from my sudden return to activity after a while, but I really, really liked The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog. Gaming April Fools jokes are quirky and weird by nature - that’s the point. But every once in a while a game developer will release an April Fool’s joke that is so fun and unique in its quirkiness that it takes off and completely captures the audience with its charm. Sometimes these are even on purpose - attempts to test the waters and deliver some fun at the same time, like the trailer for Fighting Ex Layer. Sometimes it’s probably not, but... maybe it could be. I think that’s what The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog could be.

I‘ve been a Sonic fan for a very, very long time. I’ve loved most games in the series for the whole length of that time. There are few Sonic games I could say I outright dislike, tbh. But something I’ve long felt the Sonic series could’ve benefited from way back when was a stronger spinoff game. I think people give spinoffs a bad rap just on principle. “Why make disposable spinoffs when we can focus on making mainline games?”, people say (Sonic fans are also a bit unreasonably petrified of alternate gameplay styles). But I think that’s the missing the point. Spinoffs are a major part of what gives game series their identity - especially family focused series like Sonic. Not just because they give accessibility to a wider range of gamers, but because they make a buffer zone. Main line games take a long time. You have to wait years to see it, and if it has problems... well... that’s the reputation of the series for the next few years until the next game comes around. Spinoffs, however, mean that there’s always something involving the character out there to keep people interested. I means that if even if one game isn’t so good, there’s always others out there delivering quality. It gives the series something to look at at all times, and that gives it longevity. So why think about Sonic, a series about super speed and hi-momentum platforming, and make a visual novel spinoff? Visual novels are slow by nature, static images and careful deduction. Well... you make it for exactly the reasons everyone loved Murder.

People like these characters. People really like these characters. They’re fun. They’re all unique from each other. And they bounce off each other so well. But Sonic fans rarely get the chance to really experience the characters. Sonic’s long had a problem of loads of characters without quite knowing what to do with them. Characters like Rouge, a jewel thief primarily used for spy parodies, just plain isn’t going to be in most Sonic games - the games don’t have those kinds of plots often.

But that’s where a visual novel shines. Visual novels are all about going from scene to scene interacting with large swaths of characters, quirky conversations and unexpected character and plot developments. It’s not just that you can use tons of characters, but that you can give them center stage far more freely than you can in a platformer or a more action-focused plot. Sonic has been absolutely killing it this past year with adaptations and projects that were all about exploring the characters and what makes them fun, and Murder’s just the latest example. All the characters get segments to themselves to show off, tell jokes, and be fun - it’s silly and cartoony, charming with lots of character moments and eccentric turns, and it’s perfect for Sonic. So I really want to see more of this sort of thing!

We could get more parodies like this - hey, if Detective Pikachu can be a thing, why not more Detective Tails? Or we could get more involved stories. Something more Adventure-esque, or something more Saturday Morning Cartoon-y like Colors. Or a mixture of both! Character focused, or whole cast all at once just like this. Another everyman as the focus character, or one of the cast - Tails actually makes a very good protagonist for this sort of thing. The sky is the limit, here. Even this little April Fools joke gave us a surprising amount of worldbuilding and fun ideas I hope get revisited someday. Plus, it has to be said that visual novels take an entirely different creative process than platform games, and this game indeed was made by a third party, so the crowd nervous that any spinoff could take away from the development of the main titles doesn’t really have much to worry about: in the end, these would be made by different teams. It’s just a good idea all around. So I really hope this doesn’t get abandoned. Give us the continued spinoff visual novel / point and click adventures of Sonic and friends. I imagine any future ones wouldn’t still be free, but sure I’ll pay for it. Why not? I mean, you’ve got a perfect premise right here:

Eggman Industries’ Famous Eggscape Rooms! They’ll scramble your brains. And maybe your lifespan.

#the murder of sonic the hedgehog #sonic team #sega social team #greg batha #ian mutchler #min ho kim #ellen alsop #sega #i haven't been crediting everyone this whole time but credit where its due #sonic #tails #original the character #amy rose #dr. eggman #visual novel #potential spinoff #we want more!#video game review #the videogame shutterbug

60 notes · View notes

thesimquarter · 3 months

Text

Jade Pingree is the all-business (and pretty rude) head of the Barkersville Companion Club.

Meredith is part librarian and part party girl. She’s serious during the day, and playful at night.

v - ramblings under the cut - v

I almost never see people talking about the characters from the Sims 2 Pets GBA. I mean. that's understandable. Sims 2 Pets for GBA was not only released two years after the DS was released, but it was also bad.

The Sims 2 Pets for GBA takes a lot of inspiration from the other GBA Sims games, with an isometric artstyle and a mixture of adventure elements and simulation elements. Howeverrr, the problem seems to be that it doesn't feel like it actually knows what to do with it.

The minigames are tedious and boring. Aforementioned minigames pay peanuts and rely on an NPC being in a specific location to do them. Characters have little personality; 70% of the dialogue in this game is completely exchangeable. There's no way to easily find NPCs that you need to find (read: phone call), even though they all have schedules and move all the time. The game doesn't keep track of missions. There's like three different kinds of burglars, and there's no way to stop them from coming to your house (what the fuck). Training your pets is so tedious and repetitive and yet everything else feels like a distraction from it. You can randomly, and frequently, get sick, from fully cooking your food with eight levels of cooking skill and using good kitchen items. Everything breaks down and is dirty all the time. Eating dog food is safer than cooking. This game is having me eat dog food because just cooking feels like a risk. And there's just so much more that annoys me about it.

Okay, I'm done complaining. There's not much to compliment about the game. It does have its charm but wears off as the tediousness of all of its various mechanics settles in. I mean. I'd like to know more about the characters, but also... I don't care.

I really wanted to make Jade. Unlike nearly every other character, she does, actually, have a personality. Even if it absolutely sucks. Meredith is my favorite character in the game. I can't explain why, but her design is neat and she seems really nice and likable. I was considering doing more (read: Elza and Hugo) but after I finished these two I. couldn't be bothered.

I feel as if Meredith brings the Blue Hair and Pronouns to Barkersville. She also has this kind of warmness that I haven't really gotten from other characters in this game. And I believe she's close with Kirk (... Carbon?). I'd suspect they were dating, as they both have positive reactions when they mention each other and I caught them going on a Graveyard Date at 1:00 AM. But when I talked to Kirk he said even though he's with a girl, he thought Celina was hot. So I can only make one conclusion: leave your shitty boyfriend, Meredith!!!

And on Jade: She's definitely on the Barkersville HOA (and Barkersville definitely has one!). She's just that kind of demon. It's mentioned that the Pingree's are a wealthy family. So, I don't think she has a job. Instead, she just torments her community with her influence.

Anyways. I don't actually know anything else about these characters beyond this. So. Um.

I had a lot of fun making these; I'm planning on doing something similar to this for all the Sims 2 GBA characters. I remade them all a few months ago, wanted to do renders to show them all off, and I want the excuse to write things like this about every single character. :) (and. I tried to do them all at once. but um. hm. that's just a little too much.) It'll take a while to actually finish anything w/ that because i need to experiment with format. I gave some of them outfits in other categories than 'everyday,' so I'm thinking about rendering those out, butttt that's up in the air.

#the sims 2 pets gba #meredith crumbie #jade pingree #sims 2 pets gba #sims 4 cas #sims 4 render #i got (to learn how) to use light linking for these :3 #so both sims + their animals are all actually lit completely independently!#i love unrealistic lighting. unrealistic lighting is my passion.#absolutely abysmal on rendering speed though. god damn.

8 notes · View notes

respectthepetty · 1 year

Note

Hello, good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good night - whichever you like more!

I know you're currently obsessing over Bed Friend, so I bring you questions.

Do you think the yellow lamp with a smile is supposed to be representative of something, or is its sole purpose to distract me from the scene?

2. There are several flashback scenes, but only one of them had these flashes of red and green around the characters. Do you have any theories as to why? Is it because that specific moment triggered Uea more than other moments?

Also, when is Saturday coming and why are there only 8 episodes to this show? 😔

@sliceduplife - It's the week of Lent, so I no longer operate on a morning/noon/night schedule. The only time that matters is how many days before Lent (two), how many days of Lent (40, technically 46), and after. Kind of like my obsession with this show - days before the next episode (five), how many weeks I still have this show (seven), and the aftermath.

I must cherish this show while I have it, so let me scroll through my mind's storage room to find some other queer friends to help with these answers.

Do you think the yellow lamp with a smile is supposed to be representative of something, or is its sole purpose to distract me from the scene?

In the infamous words of Bad Buddy's Pat and Pran:

Do you see the smiley lamp in the picture above? That smiley lamp launched a hundred think pieces on its symbolism in this scene, and a majority came down to two conclusions: 1) it's the light in a dark time aka it's the hope in this depressing scene where Pran gets his hopes swiftly crushed by an unknowing Pat, and 2) it's Pran immediately putting on his facade, so Pat doesn't suspect that Pran actually likes HIM and not Ink.

Applying those ideas to Bed Friend, the lamp is showing us that 1) even though Uea just had an alarming episode in the parking lot, there is hope that he will be okay, and 2) he will continue to wear this mask of happiness. Jade and King ask Uea if he is okay, and each time, he says he is fine. The lamp shows hope, but it also demonstrates how Uea covers up his pain with a smile.

Pran and Uea got their lamps from the same store - The Smile & Denial Store.

There are several flashback scenes, but only one of them had these flashes of red and green around the characters. Do you have any theories as to why? Is it because that specific moment triggered Uea more than other moments?

I'll let the boys at Semantic Error take this one:

Maybe you can already tell where I'm going with this. The color palette for a command and error code is a mixture of red, blue, and green. Right before we see Uea's flashback in the parking lot, the colors go into the negative.

In the parking lot, the darkness triggers his episode. The switch into the negative happens quickly, and when the color comes back, it has the error code written throughout the flashback.

Uea's brain can't tell what is happening right now and what is the past. Both of them are blending together at that moment, and he can't escape. His brain cannot distinguish reality, in the present. This is when King grabs him and tethers him to the present.

Later, we see Uea sitting on his couch thinking about his past, but he clearly knows he is thinking about the past instead of believing he is living that experience because the error code colors are missing.

Also, when is Saturday coming and why are there only 8 episodes to this show?

Me, refreshing this Gagaoolala page eighteen times an hour just in case the episode is released earlier.

Old Fashion Cupcake got me in five episodes. My Beautiful Man did me in with six. To My Star had me in less than two hours. If Bed Friend knows what to do with each one of these episodes, which by the looks of episode one, it does, I'll be thrilled with each episode and the story that is being told.

But I'm always a sucker for a second season!

#Bed Friend #Uea x King #episode 1 #the colors mean things #so does the lamp #the cinematography #the directing #King will be an anchor for Uea if he let's him be #Tie him to the present instead of him constantly living in his past

44 notes · View notes

niuniente · 8 months

Note

on the whole kudos/comment thing. I'm an artist and I havn't posted art on instagram in 2 years, that is both og art and fanart. its not worth the 2 mins of my time to post after only to get 10ish odd likes from mostly people ik irl when I can just send it off to my friends and get wayyyyyy more personal and happy responses. yes creatives are not entitled to engament but don't be surprised when they disappear

if its not worth your time to comment then its not worth THEIR time to post.

I'll admit im a hypocrite saying this as I don't comment all the time (mixture of no internet when reading and good old mental illness leaving me with blank brain fog) but I stil try. its not a matter of which is good enough or conveince but if its a good day for me. speaking of trying while I'm here I freaking love dhd, started following from she ra but I love your orginal stuff and you're so sweet. <3

I hope people stop being rude in your ask box

Yes, I hear this a lot. Also, it seems people are willing to discuss about things with their friends or fandom fellow groups but not give the same comments to the person who created that thing. I have a personal experience of this.

Years and years ago, I used to write fanfic with an url no one knew about. It was my secret little account. I was a part of a fandom group for the said fandom I was writing these fics about. The group was lovely and active, and they openly loved to discuss about fanfics and fanart.

Whenever I wrote a fic and posted it, the very same day someone within the group noted the whole group about it. Those who wanted to read the fic went to read it, and then they eagerly discussed about the fic with each other; what did they like about it, what thoughts they had, if they had any metas or ideas of what would happen in the next chapter, how the fic had made them feel like and what was their favorite part of each chapter.

I followed these conversations without anyone knowing they were talking about my fic. It made me happy to see that what I had written was well received, and people waited for more!

Did any of these people leave me a comment on the said fic they were gushing about? No.

So, the lurker me knew that my fic was well received and liked, but the author me didn't know, because no one said anything. All the conversation was held in a private place among readers but the author was not included in it.

It would have been really easy for any of these fans of the fic just copy the same thing they had said in the private group and post it to the author me under the fic. Very easy support and a very easy way to let the author-me know that yes, this is what we wish to get more! I only know this because I was lurking in the fan group and saw these conversations.

Another experience I've got and it still keeps happening is that if I join a Discord group or any event group, there are always people who know me due FUZZY. They say that they read the comic and loved it. I have no idea just how many people actually read FUZZY, know it and liked it, because the majority seem to be lurkers who I encounter at random like this :D It's always a surprise when it happens, a happy one mind you! I don't know how many readers and fans FUZZY actually had but I think no one can really ever know the full scale of their fans and influence.

I've got IG which mainly operates now as an art gallery for those who wish to see just my art (excluding long comic updates due image limit). Engagement is small in IG and Twitter, where things are fresh for 20 second and then they are forgotten - albeit IG's positive side compared to Twitter is a better search system where you can go through old posts and like & comment them (no, it's not creepy, why the hell giving support for someone would be creepy when we talk about supporting fandom people).

#ask niu

17 notes · View notes

blazehedgehog · 1 year

Note

Has Earthworm Jim aged well?

No. Once upon a time I was going to do a video about this, I don't know if it's the right time for a video about Earthworm Jim.

Earthworm Jim is a victim of a lot of things. A lot of Shiny was born out of Virgin Games, right. Guys who worked on Disney games like Aladdin for the Genesis.

Some of those Virgin Games guys have been very forthcoming about the culture back then -- about the rental market being this big scary boogeyman. So developers would deliberately insert difficulty spikes in to their games. Things that were arbitrarily SUPER difficult, just to stump players who were on a rental, to make sure they couldn't finish the game in a weekend.

Because that's how you added length to a game back then. You just made it harder. The harder the game, the longer it took to finish. Once you realize this, it unlocks a lot about why older games were "Nintendo hard." (Sakurai very recently touched on this!)

Earthworm Jim has the unfortunate position of being one of those games. There's a very specific level -- the "Tube Race" segment -- that feels like it was added as one of those rental-blocking difficulty spikes. The idea is that you've been in this underwater facility for a while and there's a glass submarine you can pilot. Since its glass, bumping in to walls cracks it, and too much damage will cause it to implode and kill you. You also have an oxygen meter you have to refill too.

You play a pretty normal level that's a mixture of fighting enemies in the base with a couple of simple submarine segments. Where the level would normally just end, you get this Tube Race segment, which is one very, very, very long submarine maze where you have a minute and a half to make it to the end without running out of oxygen or damaging the submarine so badly that you die. It is ten times harder than everything to come before it, and one of the hardest parts overall.

But that's not enough to spoil the game, no. Earthworm Jim in general is also just... one of those games that is so in love with its own artwork that it kind of hurts the experience. It's one of those games where the animation and the jokes and the character comes before everything else, even at the cost of gameplay.

Video games have something called a "hitbox." Basically, what you see is not what the game actually understands as being your character. When you see this:

What the game is seeing is this:

These are the hitboxes around characters in video games. If blue touches green, that's a floor. If blue touches red, take damage. If blue touches purple, instantly kill the player. If blue touches yellow from below, grant item. That's how the game logic works.

And you may notice that a lot of early games have characters that very easily fit in to a square for this very reason.

From a technical standpoint and a player standpoint, it is extremely easy to read when and how things collide with each other.

Earthworm Jim (and to a lesser extent, Aladdin) is a game that says "Screw that! We've got REAL CARTOON ANIMATION!" And that's the priority: showing off the animation. Not playing well.

What are the hitboxes here?

In practice, it shakes out to something like this. There's no clear line to denote what you can stand on, because the background is drawn like a cartoon show, where characters are placed in a kind of slightly angled view, inside of the floor.

There are margins of empty air on everything -- Earthworm Jim can overlap objects and not actually touch them, and the same happens in reverse. That rigid, readable collision detection from games like Mega Man and Mario don't apply here. There's a little bit of guesswork in every action Jim takes.

Now, of course, with the advent of polygons, a lot of games have more vague hitboxes. It's harder to judge what is touching what, and we've developed a better sense for it, so maybe it's not that important, right?

Well, yes and no. Earthworm Jim was trying to show off, you see. It was one of the first games of its type. It's not doing this because it's a better way of handling collision detection (it isn't), it's doing it because it's trying to look flashy. It's trying to impress you. And that's all its using it for. It is deliberately and intentionally putting itself at a disadvantage in order to say "this is an interactive cartoon."

That thinking sabotages the entire game. I can guarantee almost every idea in Earthworm Jim started with pitching the characters and how they animate with the gameplay being left as the final afterthought. To Earthworm Jim's credit, it's not a total disaster, it's just very loose and unbalanced.

Do you remember The Order: 1886 for the Playstation 4? It was lauded for having beautiful graphics, but in practice there wasn't a whole lot else. It was more like a 5 hour QTE. A lot of great tech and incredible visuals, but not a lot of deep or engaging gameplay.

That is exactly what Earthworm Jim was in 1994. Except in Earthworm Jim was beloved, because nothing really looked or sounded like it did. Aladdin was a big deal for Sega, but Earthworm Jim was a clear and definitive next step, and it was on everything.

Nowadays, after a lot of its more technical ideas have been better solved, its problems stick out more, and more, and more. It's not unplayable (that right is reserved for Earthworm Jim 2), but it isn't great.

#questions #Anonymous #earthworm jim #sega #nintendo #gamedev #collision detection #hitbox #long

70 notes · View notes

keeper-of-gates · 2 years

Note

Could you give a bit more personality to some of the less-focused on toys?(ie. Bunzo, catbee, candy cat, etc)

Due to lack of information of most of the toys, i'll only give some insight on some of them. Mainly ones that we won't meet again (Bunzo, Buddies) or ones i have a feeling they are considered as an ally or might not even appear as alive ingame (Catbee and candy cat). I might do something for the rejected toys as well in the future.

Bunzo;

bouncy, up beat yet an incredibly stubborn.

Literally everyone's alarm clock. he's a morning person, gets extremely lonely and just wakes them up by clashing his cymbals in their face. He hasn't learnt not to do this and thinks the one time Bron swung him out of the window is a one off (it's not)

Since he's a more medium sized toy, he does go out of the house more than most of the others do. Of course, he doesn't bare a disguise, so everyone just thinks he's wearing some form of a rabbit hoodie or jumpsuit. (the town's fucking clueless man).

A decent babysitter for hire, though lets kids off more loosely than their parents or former babysitters.

Known to break into local schools' music classes where someone finds him being held by one of his ears by the teacher is not uncommon, when he gets caught that is.

Smells like a mixture of birthday cake and vanilla candle smoke

Catbee;

Shy, and soft spoken with some sass.

Likes to take parts of her body off while experimenting with other swap-animals parts that Player manages to get her. Its not rare to find her walking around the house with miscellaneous body parts.

Nicknamed Honey by passer-by while spending her time on the fence.

Always on a highest area in the house, be it a tree or a bookshelf. She likes to be tall but can't compete with huggy wuggy.

her voice box is filtered so she sounds like she's buzzing when she talks. It's permanent and her purring is exactly the same. Meowing is more or less a vocal tic from her ingraved programming.

Out of any human, she hates babies the most. they are just far to rough for her. there's a reason why Catbee toys and the swap-animals have an age warning.

Candy Cat;

CC is often their chosen abbreviated name, however will respond to just Candy or their full name.

Straight from my biology headcanon, CC can not move with their tonuge; it is far to big and heavy that they never leave the house. Can move if provoked or when picked up by a stronger toy (Bron)

Likes reading. They happened to like fantasy and crime novels.

Eating is one of their pastimes (not like they have much of a choice) but prefer more savoury foods unlike their toy namesake. They still enjoy sugary foods, just not as much as savoury.

Huggy Buddies;

despite being eighteen sentient huggy wuggy replicas, they are called as a collective as the Buddies. They all have names similar to huggy wuggy and kissy missy, and wear certain accessories to differentiae each other from their respective colours.

While there is red, blue, green and yellow Buddies in the group, there is also orange buddies, minty blue Buddies, purple buddies and a singular pink Buddy that were just been created when the toys escaped.

They all have distinctive personalities based on colour but their main trait is aggressiveness, either by actively attacking or retreating to defend (blame the researchers)

They all can't talk, but can coo and growl. they just sound like a group of puppies if they were a multi-coloured experiments that were kidnapped days after being created.

PJ Pugapillar;

Who made this guy have dilated pupils all the time? He can't stand sunlight or most lights in general.

Fur is super soft, might as well be a pillow.

Eats bones for breakfast, but never be in the same room as him. the crunch is super loud you might as well not be there at all. He doesn't have table manners.

Gets spooked when a butterfly lands on his nose, making him go cross-eyed.

#poppy playtime #poppy playtime escaped au #bunzo bunny #poppy playtime bunzo bunny #catbee #poppy playtime cat bee #candy cat #poppy playtime candy cat #huggy buddies #poppy playtime huggy buddies #PJ pugapillar #pj pug a pillar #poppy playtime pj pug a pillar

90 notes · View notes

shai-manahan · 2 years

Note

Hi Shai! I've been meaning to ask, I know you've said before that there's a reason Alonzo can be set to nb and not Wesley, so I was wondering how you envision your gender selectable characters while you're writing.

My decisions involving those options mostly got to do something with what I want and can represent. I'm not sure if this is what I'll do with my future IFs, too, but for Hollowed Minds, gender plays a huge role for the characters. Not because they conform to gender stereotypes, but because it’s simply a concept that’s deeply connected to who they are as individuals.

I'll start with Alonzo. I've been quite open recently with sharing the fact that Alonzo has an indigenous heritage. Their mother belongs to the Abiyan Agta (residing within the boundaries of Camarines Norte in the Philippines), and the fact that I have a similar heritage with them has made me comfortable doing something I wouldn't apply so eagerly with the other ROs to this extent: making the enby option selectable while having each gender choice for them to cause variations with regards to their past. I will explain this further later.

I will admit that I’ve been viewing Alonzo as an enby myself, even before I added the option for it (which I initially hesitated on doing so because I wasn’t sure at the moment if I could give them a proper enby rep), but I have always been firm on the decision to make them gender-selectable because I want to give the Agta some visible representation that they rarely get.

For some context, even amongst the Filipinos, Agtas have constantly received racist remarks for their skin and their way of living. It’s a group that always gets ridiculed – their lands have never been given the proper respect they deserve, and sadly, their culture is also considered to be an endangered one. Most of the Filipino media are whitewashed nowadays, too, and Alonzo’s character was the most wonderful opportunity I’ve ever had to do something different.

So here we are. While Alonzo has a set personality and appearance regardless of their gender, their love for their own mother has caused them to go through some internal struggles throughout their youth. The Agta as a group has its own societal framework involving the separate roles of men and women, so letting Alonzo be gender-selectable allows me to portray how it feels for a man, a woman, and especially an enby to love one’s own culture while struggling with the burdens it puts on the individual because of said connotations. (To be very clear, Alonzo’s mother was very supportive of them and helped them get through every single one of those; it will be further explored in Book 2).

To make it short, each of the gender choices for Alonzo will present you different forms of struggles that someone who has such heritage may have faced in the past, and how the experience still affects them to this day.

My answer for Wesley is a shorter one, I suppose. Wesley’s personality and sense of fashion, like in Alonzo’s case, is very much the same regardless of their selected gender. However, the difference is that Wesley will deny showing that when in public and in front of people they wouldn’t want to get close to. It’s a mixture of their parents’ tough upbringing and Richard’s warning about the elite, but as of the events of Book 1, they want to be seen as someone who’s gender conforming and nothing else. Their clothing, the way they style their hair, the way they move. Their distant attitude makes it hard to talk about it with anyone else aside from the MC, so it’s a constant struggle they are facing.

This is something that will change as we get further into the series, and I’m sure you’ll get to observe that, too! Now, the thing with Wesley is that I never really viewed them in a specific way, gender wise, which is why I’ve also once thought about adding a non-binary option. Sadly, it just… can’t work out that way.

Wesley’s parents may have somehow cared about them, but those two were not good people. It’s an understatement to say that an enby Wesley would have received the worst treatment from their own parents, and that isn’t something I’m willing to touch on right now. I’m someone who just recently identified as non-binary and will probably never come out irl so a trauma resulting from that as an idea doesn’t sit well with me as of the moment.

I think I’m fine with my decision of not making Wesley have a selectable enby option, as including it might just make the whole game a lot more uncomfortable with all the issues it will bring forth. Plus, aside from Alonzo, you’ll also get to meet more non-binary characters! I know it's not part of what you asked, but I gotta admit I'm excited about it.

As a parting take, I know that discussions on gender can always go wrong in so many ways, but IF is a very great medium to explore related nuances with care. There’s probably no foolproof way to ascertain that my views on this matter are even correct/acceptable, but these characters have always been dear to me, and while there’s nothing wrong about making gender-selectable ROs have the exact experiences no matter what their genders are, Hollowed Minds also tells a story about individuals traversing and struggling against the expectations that have been placed on them by the world they live in. Maybe the current demo does not show too much of that yet, but I hope that in time, it will.

I'm sorry this got too long, but in case y'all are curious about Owen and Jade, I can also talk about their experiences with gender and social conventions. I hope this response will be good enough to ease your concerns, though, if there are any. Thank you!

#e alonzo #f wesley #interactive fiction #hollowed minds series #hollowed minds book one #hollowed minds #choicescript #ask #anon #writing #wip #if game #if wip #dashingdon #interactive novel #this is... a very long one yes I know

44 notes · View notes

okayto · 1 year

Text

Mini-Review: Kotaro Lives Alone

Shin Karino thought he only had to deal with the average problems that any thirty-something trying to make it as a manga artist would have to: Encroaching deadlines, artist's block, frequent back pain, and all that. His life takes a turn for the strange, however, when he meets Kotaro, an incredibly precocious four-year-old who lives on his own in Shin's apartment complex. Kotaro pays his own bills, makes his own food, and is much more capable than your average kindergartener. That said, he's still just a kid, and soon Shin and the other tenants find themselves becoming the found family that Kotaro truly needs.

A big reason Kotaro works is that Kotaro, himself, is incredibly charming. Yes, you have to suspend some disbelief to accept the premise of “4-year-old successfully lives by himself,” but for all his precociousness and intelligence, he’s also a young kid: he has a tendency to black-an-white beliefs/understandings of the world, loves an obnoxious-to-adults kids’ cartoon, and mimics its samurai characters’ speech patterns, sounding oddly formal and, yes, like a kid trying to sound grown-up.

This was a great mix of humor and pathos: the former helps keep the latter from overwhelming. Kotaro is dry and deadpan, and like many kids is a mixture of “understands more than you think,” “thinks he understands but doesn’t,” and “doesn’t understand but won’t admit it.”

It’s very fun: Kotaro is a likable character, kept from being too obnoxious in the vein of genius-small-children archetypes by having many of the weaknesses of his peers (not knowing how the world works, jealousy when his adults pay attention to other kids, deep and abiding love for a cartoon adults can’t stand). And the adult characters, his apartment-building-neighbors, also aren’t sure what to do with this small child who is formally and seriously introducing himself as their neighbor, sans other adults.

You know when you’re in a situation around other people, and no one is quite sure if what’s going on actually needs to be addressed because it’s kinda on the border of weird, or because no one else has said anything yet, so you’re all looking at each other silently asking “should we be doing something? should someone say something? this is weird, right? we agree this is weird?”? That’s how the adults feel, but especially Karino.

This is a kid, but he does have legal guardians who know he’s living alone. So it’s not my business? But he’s a young kid. Should I do something? But I don’t want to get involved. But he’s a kid.

I’ve seen criticism of the show’s art, and while it’s not the prettiest anime to exist, I liked it. In particular, I like Kotaro’s weirdly un-emotive expression and impenetrable eyes. Contrast his appearance with the other kids who show up, looking fairly normal...and then notice that the person whose facial design resembles Kotaro’s the most is his neighbor Karino: an adult, somewhat apathetic, not particularly happy with life.

Kotaro’s lack of expression can be played for laughs, and adds to the impenetrability of his feelings, but to me it’s also an early sign that this is a kid who has experience things, and had to face life, at a level usually reserved for adults.

As the series goes on (at a mere 10 episodes), we learn more about Kotaro’s past, and why the titular character lives alone. The episodes themselves are a mix of humor (Kotaro Does a Thing with all the seriousness of an elderly hermit; neighbors get involved to various degrees) and gravity (when it’s often revealed that Kotaro’s Thing-Doing is related to something in his past, or the whole thing about him living without adults). It made me cry a little, but in a good way.

Verdict

English dub? Yes!

Visuals: Average. Kotaro’s stark design may be off-putting to some, but I thought his character design worked well (as detailed in the review), and the style of the show overall felt deliberate to me--we’re dealing with an absurd situation as the premise and the art felt like it added to that impression.

Worth watching? Yes. Turn off the part of your brain that won’t shut up about how irresponsible it would be to let a 4-year-old actually live alone (how loud this part of your brain is will vary from person to person) and enjoy the dry humor, reluctant found family (found uncles and aunts?) shenanigans, and tear up a bit. And at 10 episodes, it's a little shorter than a normal anime season.

Where to watch (USA, as of April 2023): Netflix (sub and dub)

Click my “reviews” tag below or search “mini review” on my blog to find more!

#Kotaro Lives Alone #anime #reviews #recommendation

7 notes · View notes

0613magazine · 1 year

Text

221202 Variety

BTS’ RM on His ‘Indigo’ Album, Duets With Erykah Badu and Anderson .Paak, Military Service and Why Solo Careers Will Bolster the Band

RM is the second member of BTS to release a solo album this year, in what is expected to be a sequential rollout of individual efforts from all the members in the near term. The just-out album, “Indigo,” is substantially different from the j-hope album that preceded it; while j-hope’s eschewed collaborations, RM’s includes featured appearances on almost every track. Interestingly, one of the two songs that doesn’t include a feature is called “Lonely”… something RM is very much not, within the confines of this friend-filled record, as he shares the love with stars from America and South Korea alike.

But even with plentiful guests, it’s still an individualistic affair, ramping up the R&B and hip-hop fans might expect but also introducing elements of rock and flavors of pop that haven’t been combined in quite these kinds of ingredient mixtures in BTS records before. Conversely, it’s also less dark in its tone than much of J-Hope’s album was, which doesn’t mean that RM wasn’t striving to show more vulnerable sides of himself than he’s previously felt comfortable doing.

In a Zoom with Variety, RM talked about the album’s collaborations with personal heroes Erykah Badu and Anderson .Paak as well as Korean rock superstar Youjeen (on the lead single “Wild Flower”), where he’s at with the imminent prospect of military service, and why he believes strengthening the BTS members’ individual identities with solo projects will make them a stronger unit when they come back as a whole.

Fans have some expectations for what they might hear on this album, even though you’ve done a good job of holding it back till release night. What will people have been right about in speculating, and what elements do you think will surprise them?

I think the first interesting point is that I actually had a lot of collaborations and cooperations with a lot of artists. It’s 10 tracks, and basically I had a collaboration with them on eight tracks. And then the second would be that, actually, the 10 tracks have their own 10 different genres, sound-wise. Before this album, I think I would get stuck on a specific concept or genre or texture. This time, I just tried to write like a diary.

I think before this album, I was always concentrating on wanting to prove something to people. Like, “I just want to make you guys listen to this. I want to just share my thoughts. Please listen to this!” This time I was focusing on expanding my personal thoughts to something universal, so people can approach it and think it could be their own stories, too. When I made this, it was all mine. But once I made this whole album, it feels like it’s not mine anymore, and I just give it to people, and people would maybe digest it and, through their own colors, reflect on their own lives.

And the genres? What were you looking to do with having each song so varied from the last to the next?

I don’t care about the genres. I just like the sounds. I like pop because it’s pop. I like rock because it’s rock. I like folk because it’s folk. So I just wanted to try all those things, but I just don’t want it to end as just an experiment. I just hope it could be digested in (the context of) a pop genre, because people think of me as a K-pop star and a band member from BTS. I just tried to make this well-balanced — sound-wise, genre-wise, position-wise.

When did you do most of the work on it, or start it?

The most important song, I started it in 2019 — the main single (“Wild Flower”). I think I started to write three songs in 2019. And most of these songs were made to be complete in 2021 and early 2022. They were almost complete before the decisions (about solo careers) and stuff. But I had until this September to complete the sound and the arrangements.

Do you and any of the other members of BTS share the solo work you’ve been working on with one another, and offer any comments on it, or just wait for everybody to be surprised at the same time the rest of the world gets it?

We’re family, so we have our specific distance from each other. The only one I shared the whole music with was J-Hope, because he gave me a listening session before his “Jack in the Box” came out, so I just paid back the same. And he loved the track with Erykah, and the “Wild Flower,” which is amazing. But yeah, we had our own respect for our own individual stuff. When something comes out, we always watch it or we listen to it, but we’re just, “Aw, that was good. Aw, you look cute.” We just usually don’t judge or easily advise somebody, because it’s their own. And I want just other members to listen to it when it actually comes out, on an actual music platform. The casual listening session would be good, but still, I think we’re family — therefore, we’re too close. We know each other too much. [Laughs.]

In America, Erykah Badu and Anderson .Paak are the biggest names among your collaborators. Can you speak to why those two in particular?

In some point of the process to make a track, I suddenly feel that if some specific frequency actually appears on the track, then, “Oh, this track’s gonna be a whole ‘nother level,” or it could sound more completed. So with both Erykah and Anderson, those two were the only consideration for each track. And especially Erykah: she’s a queen with her own castle. And I hope that there is a specific message in the track. So I thought that if this comes through with her voice and her narrative and her history, then it could be more convincing — like, way more convincing — than a young 20-year-old artist saying that you should be a human and you should keep silent before you do something. And I just love her “spelling” voice — that when you listen to her voice, it’s like casting a spell on somebody. And Anderson? You know, everybody knows Anderson, and everybody loves his own funky vibe and his aura and energy. And actually, he’s our friend. He helped on our last singles, playing drums, and live. So it came out really natural,.

Among the guests that maybe aren’t as familiar in the United States, is there anyone you’d single out that you’re really excited about maybe exposing a little more to the rest of the world, who may not yet be a global superstar like you are?

I love the artists on the tracks that maybe the global listeners may not know, but they’re actually the cream, the legends, in Korea. They built their own genres here, so I just want to shout out their names. And I thought it could be a well-balanced album and a very unique piece if I could harmonize all of these artists, like industry to industry, continent to continent, nation to nation. I especially want to emphasize my lead single, “Wildflower.” There’s an artist called Youjeen. She’s like a 45-year-old, woman rock vocalist [from the band Cherry Filter], and she’s a super-legend. I think the listeners may notice it when they start listening to the track — she’s one of the number-one rock stars that I’ve ever known. So powerful.

How would you describe the theme of the song “Wildflower”?

Actually, the title was supposed to be “Flowerworks,” which doesn’t make sense. When I see fireworks, it happens so fast — it’s so short and beautiful, but it’s gone. And seeing the fireworks, I thought, if I could do a fireworks with some wildflower — you know, not actual fireworks, because it’s just a metaphor — and if I hold some flowers and throw it to the sky, it could be like fireworks. And yeah, I just made up that word. I wanted to call it “Flowerworks,” and then actually rhyming fireworks and flowers — in Korea, it’s rhyming, too. I’ve been thinking about the theme like since 2015, and so it took like actually almost seven years to actually, to make that into an actual song. But if I name it as “Flowerworks,” I was afraid that (people would be) like, “What does this mean?” I changed it so people could feel it more it’s just “Wildflower.” But I think the song is a symbol of my 20s, and this album is as well.

You’ve made a statement about how this album was going to be a summation of your 20s for you. We also know that you may be off the scene for a while because of military service, so was it really important for you to have this album feel like it’d be the summation of everything you’ve been feeling, because it might be your last chance for a while to make a statement that’s really that personal, on record?

When I made this album, I didn’t know what was really coming, like when, or how. So I tried my best, but I think that’s not because of my military service. It’s just because I barely had time to concentrate on my own personal stuff because BTS was so busy and hectic for a decade. I feel kind of like I was destined to release this album in the last month of my twenties, so it’s really strange — I feel really happy to release this album right before I turn 30, so I could rate my twenties.

Fans are wondering how you’re feeling about the military service, and of course they’re disappointed that there will be a break coming. Are there any thoughts you want to share amid that disappointment about whether there any positives to having to take this break, or is it just a case of, the situation is what it is?

There’s no positive or negative on this point, because, you know, it’s just a military service and it’s a law, so every man has to serve the military service. So I think there’s no judging point that I can say it’s positive or negative. It’s just a situation that I have to go through. So I’m just calm, and I’m ready to go through the life that I have to go through.

The song “Lonely” is interesting, as you’re really revealing a lot of yourself on this album. WIth other songs but especially that one, do you feel like you’re getting to be vulnerable with this album about your feelings in a way that maybe hasn’t been possible in a group situation?

When I wrote this song, I think it was in Las Vegas last April. It was our last tour, actually, for the whole world. I really don’t like being just stuck in a hotel for like a week. So, yeah, it’s kind of my really one of my shades on my inside. Like you said, I sometimes get still afraid of showing the actual frank and honest sides of myself. But, you know, I’ve been taught that art is like that. You should… [He stops to rephrase.] No, it’s not “you should,” but sometimes you could show and turn some of your vulnerable stuff into some greater things. It’s still hard, and I’m still afraid of it, but it’s really getting natural to show the frank and honest stuff inside and turn it into music or visuals. And I think it’s one of the most essential and greatest inspirations for all time, for all artists, historically.

Now that you’ve done this album and people are about to see these different sides of you, if you self-assess or self-analyze yourself and where your different skills lie — obviously, a singer, a rapper, a dancer, a live performer, an artist in the studio — do you feel like the emphasis has changed, in where you think you most excel?

I’ve spent 10 years as a BTS member, and 15 years doing music, so when things are changing and when you feel yourself just stuck at the moment … I always go back to the (start). I’ve been thinking about the reasons why I started all these things, and why I’m here still doing this, why I’ve not given up all this stuff. My conclusion was that I always wanted to be a writer — an author or a poet — when I was really young, like 10 or 12. But as I met Nas and as I got to know Nas and Eminem, it changed into rap, because at that time I thought, “rap” stands for Rhythm and Poetry. If you write a rap, it’s still poetry. You know, these days, the industry is changing; the hype is rising. So the importance of lyrics is losing its position. But still, I just want to claim and make a statement about the importance of lyrics. You should be a lyricist; you should be a poet. So I think still my main part of the studio work in all these things is still writing lyrics and designing raps and melodies. The studio work will always be my main part, I think. I just love it.

Is there anything you most hope people will take away from this album who are fans of yours? Any aspects of either your personality or your musical interests where you hope they learn more about you as a person and/or where your musical interests lie?

You know, it’d be good if they could be my fan and maybe get to know me better. But I don’t expect that, because now it’s just music and, like I said before, after I release this album, it feels like it’s not mine anymore. I just want to say that it’s an interesting point that how a BTS, maybe an Asian boy band member, could make harmony with Badu and .Paak and maybe some Korean legends on one album, on 10 different genres — hip-hop, R&B, folk, rock, pop-rock or just pop. So I think I made something unique that could come out from Korea, because I have my own unique position as a maybe a lot of personas — as a rapper, as a poet, as a boy band member, as a Korean. I think I made something really unique, and that would be the one of the reasons that maybe people should check it out. And I’ve been always serious about the music and lyrics. So I hope that they could get something from this, just maybe for three, five minutes or whatever.

To the extent that that you and the others can really be seen as individuals with your records, do you think that could be kind of an important change in how people perceive South Korean music, and who does it and who’s capable of it, to consider the individual performers more?

You know, when you start music, not many people consider or imagine they could be in some serious team, or a group. You know, especially the rappers — it’s not a band,. So when I started in music, it was the same same for me too, because I never thought that I could do music as a team. But still, I’ve been doing this thing with my friends who they call BTS for a decade. So I think to extend and to expand the range of BTS, as we’re now 30, if there is more maybe some individual stuff, because the seven members are all grown-ups and they’re all different and they’ve got their own different things and pros and cons… I think it’s the time to show the individuals to the world. And I think that could extend the range of BTS, and maybe for us, too. Because when you do it as a team, you lose yourself, sometimes, easily. So I think the solo thing is actually just a natural and a healthy way to maybe keep the persona as a BTS member as well.

Source: Variety

#2022 #bts #rm #variety

2 notes · View notes

foxymoxynoona · 2 years

Note

HAPPY 2ND ANNIVERSARY!!!! to celebrate ive also got questions pertaining to your masterlist and writing as whole:

1. which character (could be a main or side one!!) have you got a soft spot for and why??

2. which fic of yours gave (or is still giving) you the hardest time…

3. did you ever consider giving a totally different ending to one of your completed fics?? if so, which fic was it and what would the ending have been like???

4. your ultimate FAVORITE fic to have written to date and why??

5. which member is the hardest for you to write for and why???

Fun fun fun questions, I love to answer questions, it's the best gift anyone could give me for me fic-writing-birthday!!

Oh geez so many, I get so emotionally attached to all my babies, sometimes even the ones with very few lines. I will answer about non-main characters and non-kid characters because otherwise that's way too hard, I really can't name only one of those (you want me to choose between Rana and Zoe?!? I can't) But for side characters, I've always had a soft spot for spiky Areum in Lowlander. Now I'm just thinking of more though, because how could I leave Soona from Amended out? Oh but Chailai from Meadow sneaky stole my heart... But with their smaller parts too, I love Chad and Steven in Penguin Koo. Bitna, bless her heart.

Meadow was hands down the hardest before, and Prince Jin is giving it a run for its money 😅 I think it's because they feature very different characters for me (even Meadow JK was a harder version of JK than I'd ever written) in worlds with intense and intricate world building. I have to think in so many layers at once, it's really really challenging.

Oh absolutely! Lowlander originalyl had Mishka come back 5 years later with their child, and then had her come back 5 years later without a child; I think I actually wrote scenes from each other those endings too. In Meadow they originally were going to just live happily ever after in either Europe or with the Seneca Deer in America. I almost always have a few different ways a story could end and I let the story tell me itself what it wants to be when we get there.

I'm going to give you 3 answers BUT I'll explain why. Lowlander is probably my favorite story I have written because I love fantasy and had always wanted to write a fantasy story and had not expected to manage to finish that story with all its heavy themes and trope inversions. BUT Amended is my heart comfort fic and the only one I really ever reread scenes from, so maybe that actually makes it my favorite. BUT Sea of Indigo will always be precious to me because I wrote it in so many genres and styles I had zero experience in, pulled it off pretty neatly, and it feels the "neatest" to me of my writing.

Taehyung and Seokjin are the absolute hardest and I think it's becaues I think their personalities are too nuanced to rely on some "quick facts" to get you there. All the guys are complex dudes, I don't mean they aren't, but you can sort of define them as "they are like this btu also with that." But I think it's easy to veer too far into one direction with Seokjin (he's too clownish or too vanilla/innocent) and his humor is so specific; as for Taehyung, I think his mixture of independent but caring and super involved but also argumentative, it's just a lot to pull off! I'm not claiming to be great at writing anyone in particular lol BUT those are the two I feel myself the most challenged to capture.

#asks #my writing #mywriting #anonymous #personal

5 notes · View notes

thorntonkrell-blog-blog · 6 days

Text

Let's attempt another mixture of figurative, no such thing as an error, metaphor with literal, somebody somewhere can prove it science that will be equally easy and correct to understand or misunderstand.

Let's get metaphysictional, sictional....let me see my thinking talk, thinking talk

Here's my misunderstanding of science first.

When matter and anti-matter collide, they immediately annihulate one another. Fortunately for the creation of the universe, in every collision one bit of matter survives.

In the whizbang of emotion, creation and destruction, love and hate often find themselves entwined in a similar paradox. Just as matter and antimatter annihilate each other upon collision, love and hate seem destined for mutual destruction. Yet, like the lone survivor amidst the chaos of a matter-antimatter collision, there is always a fragment of love that endures.

Take OJ Simpson for example as he has passed on to his final reward/punishment based on what he did/didn't do.

Many of us at Riversend are long suffering fans of the Buffalo Bills. We remember electrifying moments on the gridiron when Juice ignited the Electric Company. This memory matters

We also remember the other story. The anti matter......the infamous story of O.J. Simpson, with its tangled web of love, hate, and everything in between, serves as a perfect example of this complex interplay. Simpson's violent relationship with his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, epitomized the extremes of love and hate. From the passionate highs of their courtship to the depths of domestic violence, their tumultuous bond seemed to defy all rational explanation.

When the stories collided they annihulated one another while the whole country sat transfixed in front of our tubes. In the end, only a smidgeon of love remained amidst varying, contradictory memories.

The good new is that in the end, matter in the form of love remains. after the destruction of antimatter is complete.We may justifiably hate OJ but still......every once in a while....ah you know.

Love and hate

Dead and alive

And with this rivulet we are coming closer and closer to the inevitable beginning.

But first there's the cat in the box and God.

Similarly, in the realm of particle physics, the enigma of matter and antimatter confronts scientists with a fundamental paradox. Why does our universe consist predominantly of matter, when the laws of physics suggest that matter and antimatter should have annihilated each other in equal measure during the Big Bang? The elusive answer lies buried within the intricacies of particle interactions and cosmic symmetries, much like the mysteries of human emotion that underpin love and hate.

Despite their seemingly diametric opposition, love and hate share a common origin in the depths of human experience. Both emotions emerge from the raw, primal impulses that drive our actions and shape our relationships. Just as matter and antimatter emerge from the primordial soup of the universe, love and hate arise from the chaotic crucible of human existence.

Yet, for all their destructive potential, love and hate possess a curious resilience that defies rational explanation. In the aftermath of tragedy, acts of compassion and forgiveness often emerge from the ashes of bitterness and resentment. Just as the lone survivor of a matter-antimatter collision defies the odds, so too does love endure amidst the wreckage of hate.

In the final analysis, the paradox of love and hate mirrors the enigma of matter and antimatter. Both phenomena defy easy explanation, challenging us to probe the depths of human experience and cosmic reality alike. In their intricate interplay, we find the essence of our existence – a delicate balance between creation and destruction, love and hate, light and darkness.

User what is the mix of matter versus anti-matter in our universe ChatGPT In our observable universe, matter vastly outweighs antimatter. This asymmetry between matter and antimatter is one of the most profound mysteries of modern physics. According to the standard model of particle physics, matter and antimatter should have been created in equal amounts during the early moments of the universe, specifically during the Big Bang.

However, if matter and antimatter had truly been equal, they would have annihilated each other upon contact, leaving behind only pure energy. Yet, we observe a universe filled with matter, from stars and galaxies to planets and people. This suggests that there must be some mechanism or process that favored the production of matter over antimatter in the early universe.

Scientists are actively researching this phenomenon, known as baryogenesis, to uncover the underlying mechanisms that led to the matter-antimatter asymmetry we observe today. Various theories have been proposed, including CP violation (a violation of the combined charge conjugation and parity symmetries) and leptogenesis (a process involving the imbalance in the production of leptons and antileptons).

Despite decades of research, the exact cause of the matter-antimatter asymmetry remains an open question in physics. Understanding this imbalance is not only crucial for unraveling the mysteries of the early universe but also for advancing our knowledge of fundamental particles and their interactions.

User Some may conclude that God is the reason for the imbalance ChatGPT Indeed, the question of the matter-antimatter asymmetry has led some to ponder the role of a higher power in the universe's creation and design. For many, the intricate balance and complexity of the cosmos hint at a divine hand guiding its evolution.

Within religious and philosophical frameworks, the imbalance between matter and antimatter could be interpreted as evidence of a deliberate choice by a creator deity. Some might see this as a manifestation of divine will, reflecting a purposeful design for the universe that transcends the limitations of scientific explanation.

From this perspective, the matter-antimatter asymmetry could be viewed as part of a broader narrative of creation, where divine intervention shapes the course of cosmic events. This interpretation invites contemplation on the nature of existence, the role of consciousness in the universe, and humanity's place within the cosmic order.

However, it's important to note that attributing the matter-antimatter asymmetry to a divine origin is a matter of personal belief and interpretation. While some may find solace in the idea of a guiding hand behind the universe's mysteries, others may prefer to explore scientific explanations rooted in empirical evidence and natural laws.

Ultimately, the question of whether God is the reason for the imbalance between matter and antimatter remains a subject of philosophical and theological inquiry, inviting contemplation and debate across diverse perspectives.

0 notes