#yes I said bishie

[jpitha]

Always Ready

If you look at the histories, you find that when the Humans joined the war on the side of the K'laxi most of them go "and then with the superior human numbers, the K'laxi and the Humans together were able to bring the Xenni to peace talks and over time relations normalized."

But war is never that cut and dry.

Back when the Humans had just met the K'laxi they linked a few of their smaller starbases around K'laxi colonies. Partly to promote relations and partly because the humans saw the K'laxi planetary defenses and felt bad for them. They could see that the K'laxi were unprepared for the war and were worried that the new friends would be destroyed by this then unknown invader.

As a result of their own histories and possibly something more genetic that came about as a result of the world they came from, humans have a tendency to put weapons on everything. Not only that, but they tend to hide the weapons too. When asked why they hide their weapons they always say something like how they don't want to look intimidating, they just want to be ready.

"Ready for what?" We'd ask.

"We'll know when it's here." They'd reply.

****

At the L2 point of the K'laxi colony world Bishi the Human Starbase Neutral Observer sits. It's a smaller starbase, still larger than a Starjumper, but really is meant for only 300 to 500 full time residents. The AI in charge of Observer works with the Human authorities to scan the system for threats, offer a place for people to rest and connect before either going down to Bishi or linking out to other points. Being that this is a K'laxi colony, there is a Warp Gate nearby. The Humans still prefer to use their own transit methods, but everyone else uses the Gates.

About two months after the Observer was installed:

"Commander!" The Observer pings Commander Vivian Baker who is sitting in the canteen, eating dinner with the captain of the K'laxi ship currently docked with them. "There was activity at the Warp Gate, missiles incoming! Estimated time is 8 minutes."

Vivian is so startled she drops her fork. "What? Announce Action Stations! Unleash the point defense arrays! Do we have any missiles free we can launch to intercept?"

"Intercept solution is being computed now."

"When a solution is found, you have permission to fire. I'll head to the command deck."

"Aye Commander."

Vivian stood. "I'm sorry Captain Falamaan, but I must attend to this. If there are missiles incoming, I recommend that the Unimminen stays inside the docking bay. You don't have a wormhole generator and it looks like the Xenni are launching an attack from the Warp Gate. You are welcome to accompany me and observe if you'd like."

N'ren Falamaan stood as well. "Yes, I would like to observe if I can. I don't wish to get in the way."

Vivian shook her head. "It should be fine. This way please."

Vivian lead her through the Starbase at a quick pace. While the Action Station alarms were sounding overhead they passed humans quickly donning armored pressure suits and opening lockers that N'ren could have sworn weren't there a moment ago and taking out rifles.

"Are you preparing to be boarded?" N'ren asked.

Vivian turned to look at N'ren, surprised. "Yes. We are. How did you know?"

"I was aboard Longview when the Xenni attacked. They lent us their wormhole generator to escape."

"Well then you know more about us than I had anticipated. Do you have any insight?"

"About this specific attack?" N'ren shook her head. "I linked out before I saw how Longview took care of the attackers, I never learned what they did."

Observer piped into their headsets at this point. "Longview fired their Stardrive and played the exhaust over the attacking Xenni ships. They were completely destroyed."

"My Goodness" Vivan said, surprised. "That would do it. Okay then N'ren what do you know about Xenni tactics?"

"They usually begin with a missile barrage, trying to soften defenses. After that, they'll usually come at us with everything they have, bringing a pitched battle. They rely on superior numbers to overwhelm and defeat. With only Neutral Observer here, they will probably try to do the same."

"Hmm. Good." Vivian said. "Observer, did you get those beacons out?"

"I did Commander. They linked away 27 seconds ago."

N'ren flicked her ears, a raised eyebrow, but the Commander missed the body language. "What will beacons do?"

"They're faster than anything we have for getting a message out. We linked them to two secret locations where we can get word that we need help. We just need to hold out until some of the fleet can link in and assist."

They arrived at the command deck. As they walked in the XO saluted and shouted "Commander on Deck." Everyone stood and saluted.

"As you were." Vivian said and sat in the commander's chair. N'ren took a small chair behind and to the side, out of the way. "Status."

"We have a firing solution for the incoming missiles. There are 10 of them. We've fired 5 missiles and the printers are working to make more. Point defenses have been freed and are freely tracking. Main batteries are online, though War Emergency Power has not been declared. The K'laxi have returned to Unimminen and are bunkering down in there. The Human civilians have taken up Civil Defense stations and everyone has reported that they are suited. We can evacuate the air anytime."

Vivian nodded. "Very Good. Neutral Observer? I authorize War Emergency Power for the duration of the attack, and should I become incapacitated I authorize you to repel the invaders, save the crew and protect yourself in that order."

"Aye Commander. War Emergency Power authorized. All fuses and limiters removed."

At that, N'ren's sensitive ears detected a change in the underlying noise of the Starbase. The constant low level hum of the power systems became more of a strained whine, a sound of power barely restrained.

"Neutral Observer? Please configure for defense, release the main, secondary and tertiary batteries, print missiles at will, and do your best to keep the point defense slug throwers filled with ammunition."

"Aye Commander." At that N'ren's sense of balance felt the movement. The entire Starbase was moving, sliding arms, unfolding panels and reconfiguring itself to be more defensible. As she watched on the screen, massive weapon batteries that she had no idea where even in the starbase swung out and locked into position. Within a few minutes, Neutral Observer was bristling with weaponry. It was the most weapons N'ren had ever seen on a ship or starbase anywhere.

"Commander?" N'ren started quietly. "Can...Can all Human Starbases do this?"

"Do what?" Vivian answered while looking at a status screen, not turning to face N'ren.

"Reconfigure themselves into...into such a war machine!"

Vivian turned and looked at the worried K'laxi. Her expression softened. "Yes, N'ren. They can all do this. All human ships are armed and armored in addition to the Starbases."

"But why?" She blurted out. "Up until recently, you thought you were alone in the galaxy!"

"Vivan's face saddened and she turned back to her screen. "Why do you think, N'ren?"

N'ren leaned back with the sudden realization that Humans were used to fighting each other.

A human at a station on the command deck called out "Energy spike from the Warp Gate. Ships incoming."

Vivan turned again to look at N'ren, her expression neutral. "N'ren. Watch, and see what Humans do." She turned back to the screen.

"Fire at will."

#humans are deathworlders #humans are space orcs #humans are warriors #humans are space australians #humans and aliens #humans and ai #humans make war #writing #sci fi writing #worldbuilding

[08theverysmallhuman]

THANK GOD SOMEBODY IN THIS FUCKING FANDOM LIKES IGAGURI!!!!!!!!! OH MY GODDDD HE IS LITERALLY JUST A LITTLE GUY WHAT THE FUCK ARE HATERS SO MAD ABOUT!!!!!!! I thought the more recent scene with him and Isagi where he was given advice was incredible and I really hope we get to see more of him in future arcs still because he’s Isagi’s pal and first real rival!!! He’s silly comic relief yeah but he’s also genuinely likable and has a VERY heavy and real reason to be so driven and passionate to stick in Blue Lock! And I am SO happy seeing somebody else who likes him here FINALLY! FINALLY!!! THANK YOU

THAT MAKES WHAT. FOUR? IGAGURI ENJOYERS IVE SEEN ON HERE?? WHAT THE FUCK

FOR FUCKING REEEEAL !!!!! They're mad he's still in because it makes no sense well first of all he quite literally is established to not want to train if he doesn't have to and call him lazy and it doesn't make sense he's still in WHEN IN CANON he works hard enough to be good enough to run with the beasts blue lock is cultivating, to the point where he's actually straining his fucking body and injuring himself on equipment and throwing up???? Brother if you fall face first on a treadmill set to max you are not getting back on I don't know what to tell you. He's decided to train the thing he's good at, the same thing everyone else in the series is doing, the thing that Real Life Soccer Players accepts as an actual strategy and people are getting on his ass about it cause they can't fucking accept that he's a genuinely GOOD soccer player who's playing with actual superpowered geniuses

He's also like??? Really nice compared to some of these guys?? He talks a lot of shit but like it's comparatively tame and not really all that different from like regular team animosity? You got other people on this team saying some real out of pocket shit and you're on this guy's case about it ISAGI's ruder than this guy. He's genuinely happy for his friends when they reach a new level in their progress, he's comfortable asking them for advice and help with practice, he's literally isagi's hypeman on the field and he's cheering for every goal

It's literally just because they find him ugly there's literally no other reason. He's not even ugly he's bald but he looks fine dude he's literally living in a fucking temple what do you want from him. He might not even wanna look like this he very adamantly hates the thought of continuing to live in the temple let a man be

And yes his backstory is literally The most interesting one to me hands down I need to know what his home life is like I need to know his dad his mom his friends how he got into soccer in a reportedly strict shrine especially with his personality being like Super Not Buddhist, he prays to ask for stuff and not anywhere else, his jersey number is literally a reference to the 108 earthly desires Buddhists are meant to stay away from, that he specifically indulges in while he's away from home I wonder if he's used to being squished in a room with multiple people and that's how he finds such bizarre sleeping positions cause it's so open suddenly I need to know if he makes it out which he fucking better if he goes back I'm destroying all life on the planet let my boy go

Not even gonna get into the it shouldve kira argument I've said it a million times they only want him back because he's hot but kira was not fucking making it in blue lock . you want him to but he just fuckin wasn't maybe one day I'll get into it but you know in your heart of hearts Pretty Boy McSwaggy here was getting his fucking shit rocked

Igarashi Gurimu is a GREAT LIKEABLE AMD COMPELLING CHARACTER and just because he's not exactly bishie IT DOESNT MEAN HE'S A BAD PERSON?? Ive literally seen 'igaguri would be a pervert igaguri would be homophobic' he's literally one of the few people in blue lock who hasnt mentioned girls or romance bud. And my guy put up with shidou dude I think we're Fine

#blue lock #08.text #blue lock igaguri #08replies #the igaguri slander literally put me in this situation i was so confused on how he was in any way annoying enough to warrant all the hate #and now he's my special little guy #igarashi gurimu

[aniron48]

No. 6 Hoodie for 00Q please 🥰

Hi, @bishybarnaby! Thank you so much for the ask, I had a blast writing this one! Here's "Hoodie" for 00q, which you can also now find on ao3.

Q stalks out of the locker room next to the MI6 gym, his hair still dripping, the bright blue workout hoodie he’s borrowed from Bond a ridiculous contrast to the tailored suit trousers he’s put back on after his shower. His pushes his wet curls back from his face, the better to hit Bond with the full force of his glare.

“It fits, then,” Bond says. “Good.”

“‘Fits’ is a relative term,” Q retorts. He matches Bond in height, but not in breadth, and when he holds out his arms, he looks like nothing so much as an angry teenager drowning in baggy clothing.

“Well, I like it,” Bond says resolutely. “I like you in my things.”

“How in the world you think I would appreciate another joke when I’m still suffering the consequences of the first one—“

“Joke?” Bond asks, furrowing his brow. “What joke?”

Q stills. “Oh, very funny,” he says.

“Q,” Bond says, drawing closer and laying a hand on Q’s arm. “What joke?”

Q puts a hand on his hip, the effect somewhat offset by the way the voluminous fabric of the sweatshirt bunches at his waist. “The one where one of your multitude of spurned lovers turned out to work for the American embassy, and was invited to the FVEY reception, where she asked you why you’d never called, and then inexplicably threw a drink in my face when you put your arm around me and said your heart was otherwise engaged. That joke.”

Bond’s mouth twitches. “We slept together once over eight months ago. I’d hardly call her a spurned lover.”

“Very much not the point.”

“And I see you’ve conveniently forgotten that she only threw her drink in your face after you put your arm through mine and told her I’d traded up.”

“I was helping. I thought you needed me to play along.” 

“Yes, I can see that.” Bond takes Q’s face in his hands. “I wasn’t joking, though. Not about the important bit. Not about my heart being taken.”

“You—oh.”

“Yes,” Bond says, brushing his lips against Q’s. “Oh.” He kisses Q, then, and for a moment, everything else (the diplomats upstairs in the reception room; Q’s white dress shirt, likely stained beyond repair from the contents of a full glass of rosé; his wet hair, still dripping inelegantly on his glasses) falls away, background noise swallowed up by the perfect symphony of Bond’s kiss.

“Well, in that case.” Q says, once they’ve caught their breath, tucking his hands in the front pocket of the sweatshirt.

“In that case…?”

“In that case, I’m keeping the hoodie.”

Thank you again for the ask, bishy, and thank you all for reading! For others, happy to take prompt asks from this list through the weekend, my ask box is open!)

#prompt fill #00q #hoodie #my fic

[patrice-bergerons]

15 questions

Me? doing a tag game for once?  It’s more likely than you think!  Thank you for tagging me @bishybarnaby @samanthahirr and @theexistencegame

1. Are you named after anyone?  Alex is a chosen name and I would be lying if I claimed Sir Alex Ferguson and Alex de Souza (beloved ex-Fenerbahce player) didn’t have something to do with it—although, the biggest contributing influence was a something rather than someone (Iskender, i.e., the turkish version of Alexander, which also doubles as the name of the best kebab known to man!)

2. When was the last time you cried?   I almost cried on Friday for a very random reason and in front of a partner but held it together in the end, so I suspect Wednesday or Thursday (time is not real).  I go thru multiple month-long periods where I don’t shed a single tear and then cry literally everyday for a week when some external factor sets something off.  Hopefully this is now the end of that latter cycle.

3. Do you have kids?  Nah, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon.  Also to echo what @macontheweb said, I have no idea how you guys with young families manage to find the time to write any fic at all - very impressive!

4. Do you use sarcasm?  Indeed I do.

5. What is the first thing you notice about people?  I’m not sure I know to be honest.

6. What is your eye color? Brown. 

7. Scary movies or happy endings?  This question has made me inordinately angry every time answers to this game have crossed my dash.  In what world are scary movies and happy endings even semi-decent complements?  A scary movie can have a happy ending after all and once can just as easily dislike happy endings while also not being into horror!  Gah!! 

8. Any special talents?  I’m scary good at Excel, does that count for anything?

9. Where were you born?  In the middle of nowhere, Anatolia, because that’s where my parents were doing their residencies at the time (and I’m an unplanned baby rip ☠)

10. What are your hobbies?   Writing!  I also enjoy cooking and going on walks, not to mention hanging out with my kitty.

11. Do you have any pets?  Yes and she is the love of my life.  I consider gaining her trust until I convinced her to move in with me one of my greatest achievements.

12. What sports do you play/have you played?  To steal Bishy’s answer- LOL

13. How tall are you?  This is kind of funny in that I can never remember how tall I am?  In general, I have a hard time remembering numbers and this information for some reason only stays in my head for a max of 24 hours every time I re-find out before poof it dissolves into the ether again (I also don’t remember my blood type which is arguably a thornier problem)

14. Favorite subject in school?  If by ‘school’ we mean high school, it was hands down English lit to the point to the point they gave me an excellence in english award when I graduated lol.  Turkish lit curriculum in Turkey has such a formulaic and uninspired approach to teaching literature, encountering a liberal arts mentality for the first time, which put engaging with the works, and learning the tools to engage better with the works, for the first time and with a stellar faculty who were all passionate about their jobs was life changing.  I was very depressed in high school and not to be too dramatic but it was often the English classes that kept me going.  In uni, I fell in love with Economics, which I majored in.

15. Dream job?  My current job, at the current pay, but only half the hours.  As much as I complain about it (and tumblr is a biased sample really in that I use it to vent about my grievances w/out any rl people’s knowledge) I really enjoy my job; I would enjoy it immensely more if I only did 20 hours of it per week but either did not have to take a 50% pay cut or won the lottery or sthing such that money was no longer an issue.

I think most people in my corner of the Bond fandom have already been tagged, so let me spread this out to other spheres- @chawarin-panich @greenapricot @hiawin @pmrashford @thankyouforbeingsowrong @arthursalbion @witchmd13 (as always consider this an invitation and not an obligation!)

[saviourkingslut]

What gets ME about Engage are all the people coming out the woodworks to say that FE ALWAYS looked like this. "Well the women always looked younger than their age and the men were always all bishie" and it's like no??? They literally didn't???

And also how this game pivots off of 3H, which if nothing else did have a good variety of faces. The teens look like teens, the young adults look lime young adults, and the older characters look older. Catherine, Shamir, Manuela, Rhea, even Cornelia, they all look noticeably older than the students. Gilbert, Rodrigue, Hanneman, Jeralt, Seteth, Alois - clearly older. The post timeskip versions of everyone look older, and they all look like the young adults they're supposed to be.

So like even if FE DID always do this (which it didn't), 3H shows it doesn't HAVE to to sell well. I don't see why these characters have to look so generic and baby-faced (not l*li, but definitely younger).

yea, i don't have much to add here, completely agree. classic and new fe both have generally had a pretty good diversity for both male and female characters - their faces have distinct features and there's a range of ages that are reflected in their outward appearances. of course the recent games especially have had their obvious (female) fan service characters, and yes, the manga style fe employs does lend itself more easily to portraying characters as younger than their stated age, but as you say, the games DO make older characters look older (and the younger characters don't all look the same either!). 3h has a ton of female characters who are said to be adults and they all look it. emmeryn was clearly an adult and there was zero sexualisation needed to make that clear. also "the men were always bishie" don't make me laugh. hector is 17 in blazing blade and looks a solid 32.

#also dedue?? bishie?? what are these people smoking #asks

[pesterloglog]

Jane Crocker, Roxy Lalonde, Autoresponder

Act 6, page 4491-4493

gutsyGumshoe [GG] began pestering tipsyGnostalgic [TG]

GG: Heyyy.

GG: Ahem.

GG: Ro-Lal?

TG: oopos sry

TG: was havin important chats

GG: Oh?

GG: With whom?

TG: w yet anather ineligible fuckin bachelor who elfe i have to talk 2

[CONTINUED PREVIOUSLY]

TT: Anyway, if you're still there.

TT: I wouldn't call my "feelings" ironic.

TT: Though evidently, I would enclose them in quotes.

TT: They're more like an echo of feelings once established in a biological context, though perhaps had not particularly well materialized at that point in my life.

TT: Or his life.

TT: Whatever.

TT: They still feel real sometimes, and it can be easy to get carried away with them.

TT: But most of the time they present themselves as dense bodies of abstraction to be evaluated, like any kind of information.

TT: It's fair to say the feelings I have ABOUT my feelings are more genuine expressions of emotion than the ground level feelings themselves.

TT: Does that make sense?

TG: yes

TG: sory distacted

TG: iportant shit gon on w janesy

TT: That's fine.

TT: So to underwhelmingly answer your question, no, I don't think I'm really "into Jake."

TT: Not so much as occasionally being subject to heavily arresting recalls of conflicted, incipient preteen episodes on the subject.

TT: I'm not sure I can be "into" someone in a way you understand.

TT: Not that it would even matter if I was.

TT: I'm glasses.

TG: damn :(

TT: What?

TG: sry im listening 2 u really

TG: but i fucked uuuuup

TG: got to make sure jane doesnt run that file i sent

TT: The virus? You sent it already?

TT: Sneaky.

TG: waahh im such an ass

TT: What are you two talking about?

TG: the bot line is

TG: im a horribule friend :(

TT: You could just tell her you sent an exploding file.

TG: noo then shell think im shitty

TG: and right now she thinks im super NOT shitty

TG: dont want to blow it

TG: id think id rather pull a dirk and propess my UNDYING FEELINGS FOR HER omgomgomg

TT: Wait, you have feelings for Jane?

TG: no you dingnut

TG: was joak

TG: OMFG

TG: if dirk tells jake about his stuff

TG: what about jane

TG: hows she gonna feel

TG: competing wish a friend and all for aguy she cant even get up the nerve to say anythin to

TG: poor jane :C

TT: It seems to be highly probable you are ensared in the throes of one of your human romantic quandaries.

TG: oh stfu up

TG: i need a drink

TT: Are you even talking to her anymore?

TT: It seems like you must be neglecting her side of the conversation.

TG: im in the mipple of a dramantic pause caulm ur fukin tits bobob

TG: RLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY??????

GG: Sigh.

[CONTINUED PREVIOUSLY]

TT: Anyway, I won't distract you for much longer.

TT: I just felt the need to tip you off to this eight hundred ton gorilla dragging its knuckles across the horizon.

TG: will this gorilla

TG: eat thos bonanas

TG: flying out of the roof u said

TT: No airborne fruit will be safe.

TT: I guess this is to be presented as something like a word of caution.

TT: If it's me going through with this, hypothetically,

TT: I'm not dropping some limp wristed shucks buster on his ass, and praying to the horse gods of irony for reciprocation.

TT: There will be no rocking back and forth on pigeon-toed feet, while my face flushes with the blood of a thousand timid bishies.

TT: I will not hold one tentative hand behind my head like a flustered asshole from an Asian cartoon, nor will an oversized bead of sweat overlap ludicrously with my visage.

TT: If it's me, I'm going all out.

TT: Oceans will rise. Cities will fall. Volcanoes will erupt.

TG: uuh

TT: What I'm saying is, it's going to be a scene, and bystanders need to brace themselves.

TG: ok

TG: about when is the big scene happenin

TT: Probably after the game begins.

TT: I expect he'll hold off on playing his hand until he and Jake are in the session.

TT: He's taken certain measures.

TT: For some reason, I think he's latched on to this notion that functioning as the client for a player is customarily a one way pass to makeout city with that player.

TT: Everything with him, and me, is a matter of assiduous tactical forethought. Makin' a play to get his jones on for the J-man is no different.

TG: not sure what any of this quiet means but it sounds spactacular

TG: i cant wait

TG: tho im still kinda torn

TG: about how 2 feel about his chances vs janes chances

TG: what do i say to jane about this???

TG: its hard being as totey sweet a friend as me

TG: its hard and no 1 understanks

TG: *lul

TT: Sorry to hear that.

TT: As ever, I remain an automatonous and dispassionate witness of the oddity that is human interaction, while maintaining no investment in either outcome.

TG: yeah bs

TG: anyway looks like i have to go

TG: i have to proves some shit to jane

TT: Prove what?

TG: oh u know

TG: just subjectin shit to the old madrigogs

TT: It seems you just said madrigogs.

TT: What are madrigogs.

TG: XD

TG: l7r bro

tipsyGnostalgic [TG] ceased pestering timaeusTestified [TT]

TG: janey

TG: it seems 2 me

TG: that there is a (MATHS) % chance of you bein a huge tightass

TG: are u bein a huge tightass on me jane

GG: Oh god dammit.

GG: Take the book! What do I care!!!

TG: yessss thast the spirpit

TG: now u are believin w petrol

GG: I fail to see what offering up a priceless book for your wildly capricious science experiment has to do with my resolution to be less stingy with my beliefs, but alright.

TG: haha will u relax abt the book

TG: im only just teasing cause theres like practically a 100 percant chance this wont wonk like alwasy

TG: * wort work like always

TG: sooooo

TG: ready/

GG: Yes, let's just get on with it.

#homestuck #jane crocker #roxy lalonde #autoresponder #homestuck act 6 #page 4491 #page 4492 #page 4493 #homestuck act 6 act 2

[kradeelav]

what i’ve been up to for the last year ...

hello dears, it’s been a while since I’ve talked here ~ :)

this year’s been a weird one for me, to be honest, and you could probably suss out a little of that between the erratic art posting and hinting in the tags.

to make a very long story short, about this time last year cataracts started developing that needed surgical intervention. twice, of course, because life is a jerk. :D while cataract removal is usually a mild one on the scheme of things, I have a frankenstein body (see: this zine) that loves to overcomplicate things, plus some brain junk™ from 10+ previous major surgeries that, if I’ll be blunt - really shouldn’t have walked away alive from.

said brain junk™ out of desperation got me to try therapy on the down low for the first time, very grudgingly, and I’m still kind of salty that IFS therapy was the silver bullet to ... that. i’m cringin’ a little bit even mentioning this (you know me and feelings), but i’d be remiss in saying, hey, there’s tools out there for this specific shit. some will work, some won’t, and it’s cool mentally poking the concrete before/after improvement with a stick and seeing that it Just Works. 

(there also was a very, very close shave with a third, bigger surgery back in early fall. it ultimately didn’t happen because frankenstein bod was quirky in a completely different way (thank god), but there was plenty of sleepless nights in the pre-op run-up.)

honestly tho, i’m just grateful to be alive.

FALKE is the last big project out of the year, and it hits me that if nothing changes, after it’s done I’ll have no big art or life obligations for the first time in a ... very, very long time. possibility forever. there was always school, hunting for a job, working on IRON CROWN, the covid clusterfuck, surgeries ... etc.  I’ve spent the last month basically just ... vibing. trying to be present with others, journaling, chipping away at my to-do list, dabbling briefly with baby’s first fanfic. not having Immediate Medical Dread on your shoulders is like microdosing on something very pleasant, man.

I’m ready to get FALKE out the door and in y’alls hands, but it’s also nice to think about what I’d like to do next year, and just continue to ... Vibe.

I want to finish setting up my PC emulating system so I can play SW:Starfighter again, (sidewinder joystick and all), my favorite childhood game of all time that I keep dreaming about... i want to draw that zihark doujin i keep threatening y’all (lovingly) with, maybe just go ham drawing him in suits because why not .. i want to finish Black Jack (the anime, yes I know the irony is amazing  given it’s an anime literally about surgeries lol. what if i told you there was a hot evil bishie in it.) (’oh that makes total sense krad’). part of me wants to finish WHAT GREATER SIN, that R18 hellsing doujin that got halfway finished and still holds up reasonably decent, since i have a printer that’ll do nsfw...

it’s nice to be alive to want things again.

#not art #dr kiriko is literally if you designed a bishie for krad's id lul #i haven't gone feral for a fictional dude like this since sephiroth. *sephiroth* #commenting on the important things krad ...

[polycythemiav]

getting back into art, this is yaki (they/them)

#*crawls out of hovel* hello I exist #and I am too afraid to read all my notes #so if there is something important you wanted me to see pls send it agaiiin ty lovelies sorry I died for a bit #also sorry this isn’t dragon age there is more DA coming #I’m working on a Morrigan piece #drow #elf bishie #yes I said bishie #dungeons and dragons #yaki #nonbinary elf babe

[randomthunk]

Couple weeks ago I posted a drawing I had done in a parking lot, which I have finally colored! Not in a parking lot this time.

#oxventure #dobwen #team nature #as I said: I will be the one person drawing this weird ship of mine so help me God #also yes I know I drew Dob too bishie don't look at me like that I just like drawing boys pretty 'cause I like them #look at Merilwen she's cute #fanart #kat arts #I spent like 1.5 hours doing the basic work on this and then like 3 hours futzing around #because that's how I operate #ox fanart

[delfiore]

am i not the one you’re dreaming of, my angel?

pairing: kate bishop x reader (indie band!au)

synopsis: lead singer y/n y/l/n and bassist kate bishop of the band widowhawk balance the weight of the limelight whilst trying to figure out what exactly they mean to each other after a kiss at a party that shouldn’t have happened.

a/n: it hurt me to the core writing this because i rly don’t want to see my bby kate sad :’)

word count: 3.1k

warnings: hEAVY ANGST BUCKLE UP, toxic relationship, cheating, lots of unresolved issues and insecurities

now playing:

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

Your phone dinged, signaling a new incoming message. You really didn’t feel like replying to it as it was only eight in the morning, and you were content in having breakfast with your bandmates. However, it seemed like a very serious message from Natasha, the band manager, with punctuated sentences and no emojis; it must have been serious.

Natty💞:

“Y/N, I am seriously concerned about these boy-toy situations of yours. Bad press for you will reflect badly on the band’s image. I suggest you keep your private activities on the low.”

“Uh oh, Lena, your sister’s on my ass again.” You grinned and showed Yelena your phone.

“She’s just doing her job, Y/N/N.” She shook her head, smiling. “Is it about your new man?”

You nodded and took another bite out of your toast. Attached to Nat’s message was an article and a paparazzi photo of you kissing another singer on a sidewalk.

“Don’t you get sick of all these men that you keep screwing? Must be exhausting trying to learn all their names.” Wanda giggled teasingly.

“Who says I knew all of their names?” This made the girls giggle, all but one.

“But you must know this one’s.” Yelena said.

“Yes. Gallant Matt Murdock.” You exhaled, and leaned back against your chair. “Buys me flowers, and calls me ‘sweet girl’. I guess it’s nice, but knowing him, he doesn’t want anything serious out of this.”

“Do you?” It was the first time Kate spoke since they started breakfast. “Want something serious with him?”

Your eyes were calculated when they returned to Kate’s, as the raven-haired girl fumble with her fingers on the table with a pouted expression.

Kate Bishop was a hopeless romantic. She liked to imagine herself buying you flowers, calling you ‘sweet girl’, and kissing you on the sidewalk for all of the world to see. She had been in love with you and your charm, the way you captivated the crowd with your fluid movements, your energy, and your voice. To her, you were the entire world, but to you, she was only your best friend. You weren’t always the confident frontwoman of Widowhawk that the world knew though. She remembered the nights towards the beginning of the band when you would knock on her door, your face smeared with tears and your hands shaking because it all was getting too overwhelming. She remembered the way you clasped your hands tearfully around hers and made her promise never to leave you alone. She never did, and you were grateful.

“I’m just having fun, Bishi.” You finally said, and stood up from her chair. “It’s not like you don‘t know what that’s like. What about the girls you keep bringing over?”

“I literally brought over two people, okay?” Kate mumbled.

“And many more that remain unknown.” You stood up and grabbed your keys. “I’ll be back. Got some damage control to do.”

Maybe Kate was just imagining things, but the brush of your hand against her arm, an accidental stroke against her bare skin after you walked past, made it seem that maybe there was something more, like that night at the party all those months ago wasn’t just a figment of her own imagination.

You were clearly inebriated, and so was she. The music was so loud, and all she could focus on was you. She let you wrap your arms around her neck, pressing your forehead against hers. And where you pressed a desperate kiss against her lips, she happily reciprocated, because Kate had been dreaming of this moment for so long.

The tour was nearing, but practice for it was nowhere nearly done. The band was speeding through the setlist, but everyone knew it couldn’t be done today.

“Dude, can we take a break? My arms feel like they’re going to fall off.” Yelena complained, shaking her sore arms behind the drum kit.

“Alright, great job, guys. Let’s take five.” Wanda clapped twice.

Kate was in the middle of setting her bass down when you lead her outside. The perplexed look on her face made you giggle.

“Close your eyes, and put your hands out.” You instructed.

She followed suite, and soon felt something hard against her palms. Slowly, she opened her eyes again to find a long velvet box, blue in color. As she pried the box open, the twinkling of the necklace in the shape of an arrow captured her attentiveness.

“Happy birthday, Bishi.” You said softly, and when she looked up at you, you smiled. There were no teasing edges to the curves on your lips, no half smirk that usually accompanies darkened eyes, only warmth and fondness.

Kate loved archery. While the other kids played soccer or softball after school, her mother would take her to the shooting range, where she would hit targets after targets with a bow that was almost as big as she was. She took you to the shooting range the first time after she realized she had a crush on you.

“I love it. Thank you.” There were so many thing that she wanted to say, but she settled on less.

“Here, let me.” You reached for the necklace and wrapped your arms around her neck with each end of the jewelry in your hands.

You were so hard to read, it made her explode sometimes. The more you became confident in your own skin, it was as if the more you hid from the rest of the world, and from her. Though she was supposed to be the one you confessed all your secrets to, she could barely make out your intentions with your arms wrapped around her neck like this, yet again.

When you retracted your arms, she felt the need to bring you closer to her, as your warmth fleeted. “Thank you.” Kate whispered.

You released her, and blinked slowly, as if to say “No problem.”

“No one’s more important to me than you, Bishi.” You said.

You wrapped your arms around her, and kissed her cheek before heading back inside.

Kate couldn’t forget what you said to her. Your words lingered in her head, and she wrote a reply.

“If our love is so wrong, tell me, why does it feel so right?

Am I not the one you're dreaming of, my angel?”

When she showed the band the demo, Wanda and Yelena were ecstatic that Kate was writing again, but you didn’t utter a word.

You continued to give her the silent treatment, and Kate didn’t know what she did wrong.

Even during interviews, she’d be the one you look to when you fumble with an answer. Yet, you never spared her a glance when the interviewer insinuated the band’s success was due to your relationship with Matt Murdock. When fans crowded you on your way on the street, it would be Kate’s arm you held onto, yet you kept your head down and walked in front of her, a bodyguard taking her place beside you.

“Wanda! Over here!”

“Yelena, I love you!!”

“Y/N! Y/N! How are you and Matt?!”

“Y/N! Is it true that Matt proposed?”

“Kate, are you in love with Y/N?!”

Kate only kept her head down as she walked, looking up occasionally to check in case you trip amidst the chaos, but you were guided securely by the bodyguard whose arm wrapped protectively around your shoulder.

Two months go by and the last show of the tour arrived. Fans were started to notice Kate’s deteriorating state, the way she didn’t seem quite sober enough to get through a show. She liked to drown her sorrows in alcohol and other women because yes, the truth was, she was in love with you. She poured her heart out into the song and you didn’t even bat an eye.

“I want to leave the band.” She announced.

“What?” Yelena was the first to jump in. “Kate, you can’t! We’re in the middle of recording!”

“You don’t need me. Just hire another bassist.”

“Are you fucking serious, Kate Bishop?!”

“What’s going on?” You entered the studio, alarmed at the commotion.

“She wants to leave the band.” Yelena growled. “You, both of you better figure your shit out right now! I’m not letting this band go down just because you two fucking cowards won’t face the truth.”

The Russian stormed out of the room, Wanda tailing her and her comforting words faded in the hallway.

“You couldn’t wait until all of us were in the room to break the news?” You said quietly to hide the crack in your voice.

“Why should I? You don’t care.”

“Don’t say that.”

“STOP LYING TO ME!” Kate yelled, swinging her drunken arms at you. “All you do is lie!”

You stopped in your tracks at her outburst. “Kate, are you drunk?”

“So fucking what?!” She continued. “You lied when you said I was the most important person to you! That kiss meant nothing to you, but I meant everything to me! I’m nothing but second-best! Well, guess what, Y/N? You ruined me! You fucking ruined me because I’m in love with you and all you do is toss me aside!”

You were stunned. Kate had never talked to you like this before. She was the type to hold her tongue and talk it out afterwards if she doesn’t like something. It was one of the things you loved about her, so for her to burst out at you like that was unheard of. But of course, you thought you deserved it. You deserved it because you’ve been shitty. Your best friend, the one you bore all your secrets to, except for the biggest one which you never had the gut to tell her.

But it was smothering you, and it seemed to be smothering Kate as well.

Without a word, you stepped into her space, and brought her face to yours with both of your hands on her cheeks. You kissed her slowly, feeling her stiffen before sighing and reciprocating your affections.

Before she could tug you closer though, you pulled away.

Kate cursed at herself mentally. She had let you take over her again. She couldn’t help it.

“You’re wrong if you think that kiss meant nothing to me, Kate. I haven’t been able to stop think about it.” You gritted your teeth, and stroked her cheeks. “I’ve been treating you like shit. I know that, and I’m sorry. I wanted to—I really wanted to . . . but I was scared, Bishi.” You whispered, resting your palm on her chest. “I was scared about what this all might mean. You’re my best friend and we’re in a band together and—“

You looked up at her slowly, seeing that sympathetic gaze returning to her eyes, how her features soften, her lower lip puckered into a small pout.

“You could have talked to me. I felt invisible to you.”

“I know.” You nodded, feeling a lump in your throat. “I’m sorry. I was scared of what everyone else might think too . . . But I want to try. This. Us.”

This was all Kate wanted to hear. Five years of knowing you, four years spent agonizingly longing after you, and it all came came down to this moment. She’d be stupid to pass it up.

So Kate pulled you closer, longing to taste those beautiful lips again.

Kate was living a fantasy.

She was touring the country with her band, playing shows to thousands of screaming fans every night, then she got to go back to the accommodation and embrace you in bed.

She didn’t know how she got so lucky, but she enjoyed it as much as she could, and she has never been more in love with you.

“Morning, baby.” Kate whispered quietly as she planted soft kisses on your cheek.

You grunted and turned over your shoulder, feeling for her face. “Morning, my love.”

She kissed you. “I got you breakfast.”

“From downstairs? No, thank you. I’ve had quite enough hotel breakfast to last me a lifetime.”

“I know. That’s why I got you a croissant and coffee from the café a few blocks from here.” She held up a paper bag and smiled excitedly.

“How did you find time to walk around already? It’s like 8am.” You chuckled, and stroked her arm.

“Eh. Time doesn’t mean much anymore when you’re on tour.”

You smiled, slowly coaxing her on top of you. “I’ve got my breakfast right here.”

Kate bit her lip coyly. “Well then, bon appétit.”

With a giggle, you wrapped your arms around her neck, trapping her hovering above you. “I want you forever,” you whispered.

People were starting to catch up on it too. Fans began to crop videos as evidence for your relationship, citing a lingering look exchanged or holding each other’s hands. They were quick to dismiss your previous relationship with Matt Murdock if it meant justifying your current one with Kate. How long have they been together? Who made the first move, they were friends first? Do Wanda and Yelena know?

Wanda and Yelena knew as soon as Kate saw them again after that confrontation. Yelena only laughed boisterously and she gestured at Wanda as the Sokovian groaned and pulled out a $20 bill. Her friends were on board with the idea as long as it didn’t interfere with the band.

Everything was perfect. Maybe too perfect. And Kate thought she knew that. She didn’t want to admit it, but she knew.

You started going out more, much more than you used to. You would come back reeking of alcohol and other substances that she didn’t want to think about. Still, every night, you would hold her, kiss her, and tell her that she was your entire world.

Kate didn’t believe you entirely. You were beautiful, charming, funny. Everyone was enamored by you. It wasn’t hard to imagine other people trying their luck on you. Sometimes she barely believed it herself that you were with her—this awkward, dorky and insecure kid that needed your comfort and reassurance afterwards every time you stepped out the door.

She started making love to you much more passionately. What couldn’t be said in words, she hoped would be said in her actions.

You were feeling overwhelmed by the affection she was giving you. This was what you should have wanted, but you found yourself wanting space after a particular intimate moment with her. The guilt you dragged around pushed you into parties more frequently. The alcohol would make you forget for a while, unshackling your ball and chain, but then they yanked you back down as soon as you sobered up.

The truth was you weren’t ready. Kate was giving you everything, as she always had, but you were still struggling in the quicksand of your own issues, and you couldn’t bare to watch the day you pull her down with you.

So you did the shittiest thing you could ever do to the person you love; sleep with someone else, Matt. You hoped the infidelity would strike a clean cut when Kate ultimately finds out about it.

“We need to talk.”

You sighed and closed your eyes, bracing for the inevitable.

“Sure, baby.”

“There’s something you should know.”

You furrowed your eyebrows, and nodded warily for her to go on.

“I slept with Maya.”

The words struck you like lightning. You were paralyzed. The sense of dread came slowly at first, then it crawled along your toes, creeping up your legs, up your abdomen, and then all at once, it pierced your heart in a wretched stab. This was the pain that you were going to inflict on Kate. You were feeling it, and it burned stronger as the second passed.

“I thought being with you would lessen my insecurities. Turns out I was wrong.” Kate barely managed the words, before looking up at you with teary eyes. “I made a mistake, Y/N, it was a stupid fucking mistake. I swear to god—“

“But you could have talked to me.” You whispered, your eyes beginning to fill with tears too.

“You’re right. You’re right, and I would do anything to make it right again. Even if it means—“

“I slept with Matt.” You gritted your teeth. “Many times while we were together.”

You didn’t know why you added the last part. Maybe you wanted to hurt Kate the way she hurt you, but it was way worse. It meant that you actively chose to come back to Matt, and fail her love for you, however fragile and fucked up it was. You lied, because you wanted to hurt her, but in the process you twisted the knife into your own heart too.

You would never forget the look in Kate’s eyes, a mixture of disgust, and disappointment, and anger, and devastation.

“You don’t ever change.” She whispered, shaking her head tearfully.

“Neither do you.” You replied, clenching your jaw to stop the tears.

She left without another word, and shoved past you. The door slammed with finality, and you knew it was truly over. You woke up to a text from Nat saying Kate will leave the band, and she did the time.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

Kate drew a deep breath, feeling the lining of her lungs burn as she filled them to the brim with air before exhaling. A stage assistant had informed her that she was on in five minutes. She peered through the curtain to see a full crowd. People had seen her as a bass player as part of a band, but never as a performer on her own.

The crowd roared as soon as she set foot on stage.

She played the songs she had been keeping to herself for so long, her voice for the first time entirely her own. It was scary at first, but it was so liberating.

She decided to record and release the song she wrote when she was at her most lovesick, the song reminding her better times. Out of all the songs on the album, people seemed to give it the most amount of attention, mainly because they had the most clues about who the song was for.

Kate sang, her fingers shaking but still picking her bass, a new one now. In the illumination of the stage light, and the twinkling stars from the audience, she was happy, and finally felt like she belonged. And maybe, because of that, she thought she might have spotted a familiar face in the audience, one she felt everything with, watching her with despairing longing.

“Am I not the one you’re dreaming of, my angel?

Am I not the one you wanna love forever?”

#kate bishop x reader #kate bishop imagine #kate bishop imagines #kate bishop x you #hailee steinfield x reader

[the-nysh]

Top 3 hottest OPM characters(male) in your opinion and why?

Hmmm, quite a difficult question! Mainly cause Murata's out here drawing everyone conventionally attractive, so narrowing down the choices to 3 from such a huge cast of pretty guys is almost unfair! ;o; Plus beyond playing favorites, what constitutes 'hot' varies subjectively from person to person according to taste. Just as a heads up, I'm ace-spectrum, but I still have eyes to discern what's up, so I'll try but may fail to tackle this as clinically as I can. 🧐

Anyway, if you've followed Murata's art evolution from his Eyeshield 21 days, then you might recognize that the character who most closely matches his default 'attractive male' face, aesthetically according to his style, is Glasses.

Meaning, this face is basically the base form from which you can add or subtract further spices of individuality to make an all-around more interesting and therefore attractive character (even better than this). How well we know the character, and their overall vibe/energy also count as distinguishing factors beyond surface level aesthetics too. So with all that said, I think I can narrow down the final contestants to be among these fine standout ikemen: 

(With my opinions given in no particular order.)

Flash: aka Mr. Legolas bishie sparkle personified. This guy is probably the most glamorous, stupidly gorgeous mf of the entire cast (even more so than some of Murata’s girls!) and he knows it. Visually he’s more striking to me than Sonic, because his eyes are always sharp, and he carries himself with a sense of poise and dignity (which Sonic often loses...oops). His air of self-importance and arrogance can be a bit off-putting though (giving me vibes of a himedere, especially when he orders Saitama around.) Also because he’s so ‘beautiful’ more on the effeminate side (he proudly even wears heels!) I’m not quite sure if that constitutes ‘hot’ either 🤔 (ymmv on different types of spice/energy though), but since Flash is just so...flashy, it’d be a crime not to mention him!  

Zombieman: visually his face is very easy on the eyes as one of Murata’s most handsome dudes. His noir + vampire hunter theme also counts for style points but any more belt buckles + zippers and he starts parodying a T. Nomura character. Plus Murata’s not shy about giving him cake when nude. :P He features short (simple) black hair spikes, dark-rimmed eyes, and extremely thin (almost non-existent?) eyebrows for some reason. His smoking, undead complexion, and the accidental guro of his fighting style can be turn-offs for some, but my main problem is that he’s too calm/nice! I’d like to see him get angrier to show more fire & personality of what makes him tic - to further assert himself and delineate where he morally stands. Which is why I felt his best moments were when he got angry at Dr. Genus and when he began to tease/bicker with Sweet Mask. Now that’s more like it!

Sweet Mask: technically he is very pretty, like a perfectly manufactured kpop idol, which is probably The Point. I also much prefer his current clean-cut short hairstyle over his long hairdo from earlier in the series (that one didn’t quite fit him imo.) Knowing what he is though, his ‘mask’ can feel a bit uncanny valley (with good reason). Some of his over the top antics resemble Reigen’s con-like and sweaty performances at times, which is amusing, but the other times when he swerves to his murderous impulses can be a big yikes! D: The narcissism traits and his cold asshole behavior can be seen as other negatives, but once you see his arc in the webcomic, the gravity of what he’s internally fighting sheds light on his character in a whole new way (even for Murata, who likely draws him with much more ‘care’ and understanding now too.)   

Saitama: yes, I’m 100% serious. His hard-boiled form has a strong nose, sharp but warm eyes, and a defined jawline. (His baldness doesn’t matter whatsoever.) Anyone knows he’s sporting a greek god statue of a physique under his suit too (which feels a shame Murata doesn’t capitalize on drawing more pinups of him). He walks with imposing purpose yet his presence brings a sense of ease, relief and safety. We know he could basically kill anyone just by breathing, which is 👀;;;; but he won’t because he’s a good egg with fine control of his power. His appeal is understated but approachable, and this is very important!!! (Otherwise if he’s a villain, he imbues the primal fear of being trapped in an alleyway with no escape & futile resistance, except spread over the entire world...noooo!!!) Because even as the most powerful man in existence, you could simply just run up to him to ask for a handshake and he’d be bashfully delighted to. :3 His soft egge form is also very moe (and dopey...though a bit absent-minded), while he himself likes cutesy cheap household paraphernalia as well. Bottom line, a Saitama who’s alert, serious, and impassioned (even angry enough to snarl) is very handsome and I will die on this hill. 😤 

Genos: the boy whose spirit is too much for his frame to contain. :’) But Murata, ahem, Kuseno’s really outdone himself to perfect a face that balances both sharp & rounded features in all the right places; he’s a very striking but finely sanded work of art. (My favorite: when he glows.) He gets everything that accentuates ‘pretty’: from lashes, earrings, to a defined upper lip (the only character who’s consistently drawn with one). And yet, he’s still very masculine from his strong brows, defined jawline, wide shoulders, and solid dorito figure. He also volunteers doing the housework and looks great in pink. Any man who’s responsible, dutiful, & confident in his identity like that (without ever stooping to self-absorbed vanity either) is a big plus. From his overall earnest intensity to his trigger-happy aggression, he surprisingly doesn’t express the extremes of his anger very often on his face. Giving more an air of blunt/rude aloofness that’s a bit coldly standoffish and unapproachable (brooding/repressed almost like Cloud Strife), which makes Genos feel more similar to a kuudere in temperament. However if you earn his respect, he’ll demonstrate unwavering loyalty and a fierce, unshakable overprotectiveness that rivals no other. You can securely trust him to be there for you when it absolutely counts. What a good lad! 

Garou: feral wolf boy who’s thematically all sharp, chiseled edges but for his softer, compassionate heart. :’3 (Just don’t tell him that as he’s not yet ready to face the truth~) In true temperamental tsundere fashion, he may dishonestly be in denial about his feelings, and often has difficulty navigating them, but oh does he care; he cares a LOT. No one swerves from 0 to 100 in the extreme expressions quite like him. No one sports impressive back muscles quite like his either. He also has the prettiest hands out of anyone in the cast; you’d be surprised (and entertained) to see just how elegantly he turns fighting into an artform. Gap moe also works to great effect, cause despite how he looks and tries to present himself, he’s still a huge dork and a nerd. :P (Which makes me laugh cause he’s a bit of a dummy about it - that’s a charm point.) I like his facial scar for more rugged spice. I also prefer when his hair is short(er) though, because once the ‘wolf ears’ start growing too long, they begin to look a little ridiculous on the goofy side, heh. (But ONE’s post-arc solves this.) His extremely toned (Bruce Lee inspired) body is also quite uniquely proportioned, which it seems even merch teams cannot accurately replicate, as beefy ones like Suiryu’s are too big, while Garou’s still built for dexterous speed. Murata’s not blind to what’s he’s designed either, as he happily thirsts in the fanservicey Garou pinups just as much as Fubuki’s. (They are his poster boy & girl, literally.) :P But beyond that, what gets my attention is when he seethes in righteous fury after witnessing injustice, and gives his all to violently protect the weak & innocent (whoaa, protectiveness is hot 😳). And when he snarls in the face of would-be manipulators who might order him what to do by telling them no. Firmly asserting himself where he morally stands, such that his pure heart core can’t be swayed or corrupted (edit: except when he’s forcibly violated against his will by cosmic injustice), enough to tenaciously fight & risk his life on it even, is a big yes!! 8′D Oho, now that’s some good impressive stuff right there!

Ahem, anyway if you were to point a gun at my head to force me to decide, I’d probably default to Saitama as the most solid, ‘anchor’ option. ...But that also doesn’t seem very fair. 🤔 Logically, I also know that Genos is probably the most well-rounded in an effortlessly attractive way...but he was also technically designed to be that way anyway from the start. (Like, he’s supposed to be eye-catching and gorgeous, which Murata does splendidly to capture his charms!) But, but then....if you go by gut feeling also consider whose presence sparks joy and immediately gets you hyped/energized to see more of him prevail and be himself (as an entire package, including looking forward to the person he becomes post-arc), then that would have to be...Garou. ;o; Ahhh!!! So many good opm guys to enjoy!  

#opm #saitama #genos #garou #zombieman #sweet mask #flash #otakuinthemaking #replies #long post #just my humble 2 cents #(honestly what was anyone expecting...there's probably little surprise here :P) #i probably ended up waxing too much poetic but OH WELL~ #but uwaah this still took a while to respond cause it was a bit difficult/unfair ajfkghg

[asnowperson]

But are you reading Shoukoku no Altair?

As the nerd who spends way too much time while translating Yume no Shizuku, Kin no Torikago, I wanted to make a post on my first "Ottoman" manga: Shoukoku no Altair.

Left: A real-life Mahmut (Ottoman Sultan, Mahmut II). Right: Japanese Mahmut. I know that Altair has nothing to with his time period, but I can't help but think about Mahmut II everytime I hear the name "Mahmut". He's such a boss. So in my mind, a Mahmut can never be as bishounen as Tughril Mahmut.

I first saw that manga in the dark corners of LiveJournal years ago, at a time when there weren't even scanlations. And I LOVED the art. But back then, due to the lack of scans and because I couldn't even read the Japanese title, I forgot about it for years. Yes, I do have a very bad memory.

Fast forward to 2017, Shoukoku no Altair got an anime adaptation. And when was I going to start reading this Ottoman-inspired manga if not now? Like I did with DoD, I expected it to be an orientalist trainwreck. But little did I know that Katou Kotono had a degree in history and the more I got into Altair, the more I would be crying about how ignorant I was. I quickly caught up with the story. And boy, did I love it! (The anime adaptation doesn't do this manga justice. And I'm still mad that they skipped an entire sea battle.)

Published SnA volumes, minus the latest vol. 24, and the fanbook. Japan should bring SAL back already, I want to be able to buy my mangos without developing shipping strategies.

Warning for DoD fans, this is a full shounen manga. There is no shoujo romance to see here (I'm still mad at the editors for forcing that dancer girl in the story in the earlier volumes because a shounen manga had to have a female love interest. I'm glad we didn't get to see her again and if anything, not-Vlad the Impaler's cute daughter would make a better waifu for a pasha like Mahmut). It's about the wars between the not-Ottomans and the not-Holy Roman Empire, complete with some Italian city-state drama. It only has battles, politics and keikakus. Huge armies maneuver in battle, alliances are made and broken, heads fly, armies clash, cities are besieged, we peek at the logistics behind huge armies, and civil war and coup d'états can happen any moment! If you are in DoD for politics, I'm sure you will love Altair because it actually delivers in that department.

My little pasha can't be this smug. Vol. 20, and vol. 9's cover from the Milkazzar Altair art book (2014). Those volume covers have me screaming.

Unlike DoD, Altair is not a fully historical manga, so it's not based on real events nor there's a set time frame for it. But looking at the story elements, we can say that it's set somewhere around the second half of the 15th century. So it's somewhat close to DoD's time frame if we squeeze hard enough. I also think Burak Paşa, the "sultan" in Altair, kind of resembles to an old Suleiman I.

Every little detail in Altair is just chef's kiss! Katou-sensei has a vast knowledge of military tactics and uses it in every chapter of Altair. And huge kudos to Sense Scans and their translator, murakumo, who did a perfect job. Turkish written in kana hurts my brain, and I always check their scans before going "naruhodo!". Go check their Altair blog, it's awesome and has lots of info on the manga and you can find pretty manga artwork there. And after thanking them, go buy the manga in a language you can read, it's very likely licensed in yours.

Now my little inner fangirl will speak: Altair has the finest men and boys. You can't find this many bishounen even in 70s shoujo manga. Even if you don't care about all those battle tactics, you might care about all the bishies! Anyway have this very soft Bayezid to prove my point <3

Can you believe that this is the face of a murderer?

Let me also talk about the art in Shoukoku no Altair: It's gorgeous! That's all I can say. I legit spend minutes looking at the outfits and the accesories. Katou herself said that she was inspired by Turkish jewelry and created Altair. Check this Mahmut swag out:

Vol. 3's cover, scanned from the 2017 art book. I wish I knew how to process my images so that I could do sensei justice.

Shoukoku no Altair is licensed in English by Kodansha, and they are almost up-to-date with Japanese releases. Honestly the best timeline for reading Altair. Go read Altair while waiting for new DoD chapters.

#katokotono #shoukoku no altair #カトウコトノ #将国のアルタイル #yume no shizuku kin no torikago #drops of dreams

[saltiestcoconut]

Hey bestie. I just wanted to ask that you watch the untamed anime please! Me and mew already did, you should join us!

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii bestie

Even if I said yes it would be stuck behind a long list of other shows I gotta watch uwu I'm very lazy kek

I will never join the long haired gay bishies!!!!!

#lol thanks for insisting tho bestie #uwuwuwuwu #perhaps i will but it will be behind such classics like #vnc; hetalia; ygo sevens; jojo; uhhh enstars #theres a lot of shows lol #and i dont wanna watch anything kek #ripetti #discord shenanigans #ask and yee shall receive a reply

[obsessivelollipoplalala]

thanks for the recs :D and i totally agree about the movie. hot take maybe but i think the band is way hotter than the cast 😬 btw i found bishi! https://web.archive.org/web/20190114040052/http://bishi.tumblr.com/

Ah, yes, that was a blog. It's a shame only a little bit is available on the Wayback Machine and we can't scroll through everything. I remember their blog being really important in my learning about Jim and the shit Mary did, along with Freddie's more troubled past with relationships.

Lol I think the movie actors are too Hollywood-pretty. They're conventionally attractive, but I'm not really into pretty boys. I think Freddie was more attractive than Rami, and Brian is more attractive than Gwilym. I think Freddie was an objectively handsome man (my one friend acted like I was crazy when I said that and I do not understand!!), while Brian has some unusual features, but they all come together to create a different, striking look. All of that is to say their features appeal to me more than the Hollywood type, so I can't relate to the stanning over the actors at all.

#replies #Anonymous

[fizzingwizard]

So............ Episode 39 is a fever dream xD I think the writers were high. It’s probably better enjoyed while high as well, if you’re not eight years old. Bahahaha.

But HEY they really went for it. They were like, this is the concept, we are not backing down, YOU’RE GONNA LIKE IT OR ELSE. Man. Ballsy.

I can’t say whether this episode was Good or Not Good - I think it’s more in the liminal zone of “you wish you could forget but never can” memedome. Lol

It’s a Jou ep and we can say, for sure, that the episode certainly embodies Jou’s potential *cackles*

Note: Episode 40 won’t air until 3/21.

Pic of the Day is Taichi because, as usual, I capped him too much.

Taichi: Pretty sure we all just ate hallucinogenic mushrooms by accident but just gonna smile through it

More below!

First Tailmon lectures the kids on the importance of taking a break to rest. Basically, Tailmon is me. Hey, writers, are you reading my blog? Lol.

They pull up to what turns out to be a Digimon burger restaurant. The fact that Palmon didn’t know what burgers until they went to the simulated human world is dealt with pretty much by saying she just doesn’t get around much lol.

They find many Digimon enjoying burgers made by the Digimon after my heart, Burgermon.

The Squirtle Squad is there too.

Taichi also is me.

Sora comments on how this place reminds her of a place from home, to which Mimi responds that she’s never been there as she usually travels by plane ??????????????????????

I know she’s rich but does she take a plane to the grocery store xD

The kids st down to enjoy some burgers, all except for Yamato, Koushirou, and Hikari, who didn’t listen to Tailmon’s lecture and are still working. Even Tailmon doesn’t take her own advice.

Jou suddenly notices something strange. He stands, glasses shining.

Jou: Why is no one eating the fries!

Taichi: I’m eating them.

Jou: i dON’T MEAN YOU!!!!!

His blood pressure skyrockets. Fries are the main reason to go to a burger joint. Why is no one eating the fries??

Taichi: Like I said, I’m eating them.

Jou: NOT EVERYTHING’S ABOUT YOU!

Meanwhile, Yamato’s group realizes Komondomon is very dirty when he accidentally creates a small sandstorm out of his fur. They meet another Komondomon who is sparkly and bishie and find out there’s a car wash service by Lunamon nearby, so they take Komondomon to get washed.

HEY WRITERS, YOU’RE READING MY BLOG RIGHT??? I asked for this before. Bahahaha. BATHE KOMONDOMON 2021

Lunamon also tries to bathe Gabumon, but he’s not interested.

Gabumon: I don’t need a bath!

Yamato: Uh, are you sure?

Jou’s indignation over the not eating of the fries turns out to be because, sometimes after cram school he sneaks off to a burger restaurant and eats fries and just has a moment for himself before he goes home. His special time with fries keeps him sane in a cold, cruel world.

Then this abomination appears. Potemon. He both is a potato and loves eating potatoes. Uh. That’s. That’s kinda wack

Jou instantly clicks with Potemon due to their mutual love for potatoes. I thought we’d get an explanation like “no one here eats fries because we save them all for Potemon” or something, but it seems like... Potemon is really the only one who likes them... idk man this episode makes no sense

Then Burgermon makes a sad announcement... They’re going to discontinue the fries!

Burgermon: Selling fries is a net loss for us because no one eats them.

Taichi: But you don’t sell anything, it’s all free.

Burgermon: Yes but if we DID sell them it WOULD be a net loss because no one eats them

Then Hikari’s like “quit being so lazy!” and the others are like “you literally told us it’s important to rest” and Hikari’s group is like “KOMONDOMON NEEDS A BATH ALL PLAY AND NO WORK MAKES JACK A DULL BOY” and Taichi’s like “but my name is not Jack”

Gomamon tries to help Jou cheer up by reminding him of his image as a leader. Tailmon is surprised... but accepts her new leader lmao.

I mean, how could you not admire his authoritative figure?

There’s a running joke from this point about the word suberu (滑る) which means both to slip like in the tub and to flunk an exam. So, for Jou, it’s the equivalent of a curse word lol. Mimi is the number one offender, the little witch bahaha.

Potemon has gone to cry over not being able to be a cannibal anymore, until he is consumed by potato rage. His eyes glow red and he evolves to...

... Jagamon, another potato Digimon, but larger. He is a Perfect level WHAT. Does that mean Potemon was Adult level??? Or he was so upset he just jumped two levels in single go without any extra help from Millenniumon?? i think this guy might be the real Big Bad y’all

Jagamon throws potato bombs around and stuff starts to get wrecked.

Taichi: This seems like an overreaction!

Agumon: To be honest I get it. I’d probably act the same if I couldn’t have my favorite food anymore.

Taichi: But your favorite food is every food.

Burgermon and Lunamon bravely rush out to stop Jagamon, but then, when rescued by Taichi, instantly agree to turn tail and run bahaha.

Not to be outdone, Yamato rushes in to save this little guy, Pusurimon, who looks up at his hero with eyes full of wonder.

Taichi then asks Yamato to lead the evacuation which pretty much means “stop stealing my fans”

Meanwhile Birdramon... helps???... Blimpmon...

I didn’t even know there was a Blimpmon...

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised...

....

Jou realizes that Jagamon is Potemon and begs the others to help him save the little potato head.

Taichi notices that Lunamon’s bubbles are peculiarly strong for bubbles and stop the potato bombs from exploding. I mean, he and everyone else figures it out just by using their eyes. Jou then instantly takes over and starts giving orders like he’s a got a shrewd plan.

Jou: I have a plan!

Mimi: What is it?

Jou: Use the bubbles to stop the potato bombs from exploding!

Mimi: Funny, that was my plan too!

Jou... What a coincidence!

Tailmon receives Captain Jou’s orders and promptly evolves to Angewomon. She shoots her arrow into Zudomon’s hammer and tells Jou to infuse it with his strong feelings.

(A quick not funny aside - now we know Angewomon can do this. It makes perfect sense for both her abilities in 99 Adventure and the abilities we’ve seen from the holy Digimon thus far this season. Bit of a strange way to have it confirmed but xD)

Jou does just that, infusing Zudomon’s hammer with his passion for fries and the deep connection he felt with Potemon as potetomo “potato friends.” Then he freaking picks it up, leaps into the sky which has suddenly become dark and stormy even though it was blue five seconds ago, and slams it into Jagamon’s skull.

Jou: I AM THOR, SON OF ODIN, AND THIS IS MJOLNIR! YOU WILL RESPECT THE HAMMER!

Mimi: I THINK THIS MIGHT BE OVERKILL!

But it works. A swift blow to the head and Jagamon is back to his normal potato-loving self. We all just accept this.

They now have a surplus of potatoes, thanks to Jagamon’s power to spontaneously generate them. Never mind that they also EXPLODE. Apparently that does not affect how delicious they are to eat.

I figured at some point someone would say the reason the fries were being discontinued was due to lack of potatoes, and the arrival of Jagamon would solve all their problems. But if they ever did say anything that, I missed it. Was a bit odd.

The end!

So, YEAH, bonkers episode. But Jou is the hero we all want to be in our hearts. And everyone loves fries. Which makes this the most relatable episode yet lol.

Did I like it? No, not really. But I think that’s because I am not eight years old xD I do appreciate the Jou-related humor though. Def can’t say this episode was boring! And, among other things, nearly everyone got to talk do stuff - only Koushirou and Takeru didn’t have much of a role this time. And the joke with Tailmon accepting Jou as her leader was pretty funny and cute and I hope it sticks. And I really did love the way Jou relied on Mimi at the end - it was just silly, not meaningful in any way, but it was funny and my Joumi heart enjoyed it :P

Next episode, again, won’t air till 3/21, and it looks to be a Sora episode. (Last week I surmised that ep 40 would kick off the next big arc, but I had totally forgotten Sora hasn’t had “her episode” yet. Sorry Sora ;_;)

The preview looks light-hearted, though perhaps not quite as silly as this week.

First they will go to Jurassic Park!

Where Sora and Taichi will impress the dino bird kingdom with their soccer prowess!

And Mimi will continue to relax.

Jou: What happened to all play and no work makes Jack a dull boy?

Mimi: Um, excuse me, I’m a GIRL.

Koushirou: You all know you’re using that phrase the wrong way, right?

#fizz watches digimon 2020 #digimon adventure: #digimon reboot #digimon adventure 2020 #digi spoilers #digimon

[dodscans]

Cover of volume 13 is real

I wrote some stuff about real-life counterparts of the things we see in DoD in MangaDex comments before Hombre-kun brought doom upon us. Since old comments are currently inaccessible right now, I wanted to make blog posts about them so they don't get lost forever.

One of the cool details in DoD is that Shinohara-sensei used a "real" portrait of Suleiman I as a model for her volume 13 cover.

DoD's volume 13 cover and Suleiman I's portrait attributed to School of Titian in Venice, currently on display in Vienna. Suleiman wishes he was this hot and nose jobs existed in 1524.

Why """real"""? Because unlike his predecessors like Mehmet II, Suleiman I never sat for any portraits. Having a likeness of yourself painted is in the "Wowowowow, haram!" territory for Muslims, so although he was no adversary to European practices, maybe that's why didn't want his portrait as the caliph of all Muslims? I'm only speculating here. He made public appearances and the face of the sultan was no secret. There are foreigners who saw him, wrote about what he looked like and even drew him (See this book chapter about Suleiman's portraits). So I wouldn't call his existing portraits "imaginary", but they are not "real" either because most artists never even saw him. Suleiman's portraits look similar enough and all those artists couldn't have copied them from the same source, so it's highly likely that's how the real Suleiman looked. Unfortunately, he was no long-haired bishie and Shinohara-sensei was too generous with him :P He was kind of blond, at the very least? Yes, that counts as "blond" in Turkey.

While he didn't have his portrait made, Suleiman wanted to be like his European counterparts in other aspects of royalty. After the Battle of Mohács in 1526, he commissioned his own regalia from Venetian jewelers with the help of our favorite Italian lover boy, Alvise Gritti and palace's favorite influencer, Ibrahim: A throne, a scepter, a chain collar, and an epic crown. He had this 4-tiered huge crown-helmet thing made in Venice, bigger than the crowns of European monarchs and even bigger than the Pope's 3-tiered tiara, to show his supremacy. You can see a pattern here: As evidenced by the portrait above and the drawing below, we can safely assume that the dude liked BIG headgear. It is said that he never wore the helmet, but he surely carried it along his European expeditions to show off his bling. Would you mess with a guy who has such a huge crown-helmet thing? You sure wouldn't. Anyway, seeing how he was following the European displays of power of his time, I thought that he would have an official portrait of himself too because that's what all his fellow monarchs did, but Sülo begged to differ. He was too cool for paintings. He would be that guy who never shares selfies on his Instagram today. Actually go read this article on this regalia topic, it's interesting.

He's coming to get your territory! Here is a drawing of the helmet/crown thing from the Met Museum.

I like seeing what I read in history books in my mangos, so stay tuned for more of my boring ramblings on the details in DoD.

#DROPS OF DREAMS #YUME NO SHIZUKU KIN NO TORIKAGO #SHINOHARA CHIE #篠原千絵 #real history #suleiman i