On Radio Edits

Recently I've been thinking about them.  I blame the radio station I listen to suddenly censoring "Rockstar" by Nickelback  (I'm not a fan of Nickelback, really, or this song; it's just the one that stands out most) a lot more.

Example:  they now censor "ass" in this song (but not others?) and "drug/s".

And I just have to ask myself, do they know that censoring those words makes it sound so much more vulgar than it actually is?  It's only natural to stick the worst word you can think of in where the censored one is because why else would they feel the need to censor it, right?

I also find it hilarious (sarcasm, obviously) that they bleep all references to drugs (except 'pop my pills from a Pez dispenser' ?!) but leave in something that could possibly trigger anorexia ('we'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat').


In conclusion:

Radio, what are you even doing?


And just for fun, here are the lyrics to the version that now plays on the radio.  I'd like to note that it's a lot more jarring to listen to than read.

I'm Derpy: News at 11

I seem to have disappeared for a while!  It happens.  I just don't have a lot to post about these days, I guess.

Even though there are a lot of draft posts saved.

Oops.  Why can't I words??


That's what I get for being prone to Fleeting Passionate Hobbies.  For a while, I'm just all HEY LET'S BE A BLOGGER IT'LL BE FUN and then after a couple of months I just forget about it completely and disappear off the face of the Earth.  Seriously, the only reason I'm posting anything right now is because I keep getting mail from Google with certificates for $100 worth of advertising for my blog because I'm part of AdSense and haven't even made a nickel.  (Which, really, is pretty funny.  Joining AdSense was mostly a whim.)

Why would I advertise my blog in the first place? All I ever do is talk about fandom things!  I'm not educational (not much, anyway) or all that relevant unless you like a certain pairing.  And I'm pretty sure other Firebirds would find this on their own.

Oh, whatever.  Time to go back to my nostalgia bomb by watching Mighty Morphin Power Rangers on Netflix and being excited about the revamp of Thundercats later this month.


(But really, thanks for taking the time to come here and read my word vomit.  I really do appreciate it, as jaded as I may sound at the moment. ♥)

A Small Fandom Vocabulary Lesson

I've seen this happening a couple of times lately, so I'd just like to clear it up.

This is canon:

tl;dr:  something that is in the source material.

This is cannon:

tl;dr:  something that can kill you.

Please remember that when talking about fandom, you only want one 'n' in your canon.


(Unless, of course, you are a fan of the large projectile gun.  In that case, carry on.  And please don't point it at me.)

Oh, come ON, guys.

Didn't I just get done telling you about how My Ship Isn't Yours and Ship Wars are Dumb?


Your timing is fantastic, Anon.

What changes when a fandom kid grows up?

Today, I was thinking.  (Yes, I do that sometimes.)

I was reading a thread about pet peeves at conventions.  Many of them had to do with those fans - the ones who get involved in ship wars and don't understand that people can have different opinions from them and the world won't end if they do.

And then I remembered that I used to be one of those fans, albeit way before I actually went to conventions or got very involved in fandom.

So what changed?  What made me realize that people are different and that's more than okay?

How did I get so chill about this??

I honestly don't remember.  All I know is that somewhere between middle school and high school, I changed (for the better, I like to think).

And, if I was in middle school right now, I would probably be a rabid Faithshipper who goes around bashing every other pairing under the sun involving Yuusei or Aki.

(I'm really glad I don't.  Crow/Aki fans are pretty awesome.)

Somehow, I learned to look at both sides of things.  See from both points of view to some extent.  I can at least rationalize why most pairings could be appealing to other people (except any involving Godwin or Jeager, I'm sorry.) and end it with "oh.  Okay, cool."


In September, I'll be cosplaying from Hetalia for the first time at a convention, and Hetalia fandom kind of has a bad reputation.  That's probably an understatement.  I've never been to a Hetalia shoot, but most of the Hetalians around here seem like pretty nice people who are also chill about stuff that doesn't really matter in life, like shipping.  (It actually kind of hurts to say that, but you know it's completely useless in everyday life, so it has to be said.)

But what if I, as Belgium, get approached by a crazy [insert-pairing-here-probably-Spain/Romano] shipper and they start acting hostile for absolutely no reason other than Belgium could get "in the way" of Other Pairing's ~true luv~ and buttsex?

Unless they start getting physical, I'd probably just sit there and stare at them until they're done ranting at me, ask if they were done, and proceed to say something along the lines of "I am not this character; My Ship is not Your Ship and that's Okay; and honestly?  I really couldn't give less of a fuck how much you hate a pairing, don't you have anything better to do with your time than spend it in anger?  Chill out, brosis.  It's not that big of a deal."

And then if they hit me, call con security and get their badge pulled for harassment.


Because really, guys?  Spending that much energy on negativity isn't good for you.  Calm down and let it be.

Or, you know, follow the advice of the meme.

A Dream Cosplay, and What I Need to Learn to Get it Right

A dream cosplay.  Many cosplayers have at least one:  that costume you just feel like you have to do, but don't quite have the skills yet to pull it off.  For some, it's a relatively simple one, like a favorite character of all time with a crazy wig or something.  For others, it could be classified as suicide by details.

Guess which category mine falls under.

Here's a hint:  Details are my favorite.

My dream cosplay?

Magical Android.

Just look at that thing!

This is something I've actually been planning how to make for years.  Ever since I first saw her.  I don't really remember whether it was thanks to Stardust Accelerator or if it was when Divine summoned her in-show, but that doesn't really matter now!  What matters is that holy crap she is out of my skill level.

Now, here's the stuff I can do no problem already:

• Sewing
• Wig (...unless it is lacefront, which I have never used before!)
• Makeup
• Paint things
• Glue fabric to my skin
• Pose

...In contrast, here is what I'll have to learn to make my vision become reality:

• Wonderflex
• Friendly Plastic (or something similar to smooth out the wonderflex)
• Lighting (either by LED lights or EL wire)
• Pink insulation foam or expanding foam
• Carving the foam into shape without breaking it
• Utilizing PVC pipe
• How to use Spirit Gum or something similar to glue the headdress to my face 
• How to counterbalance said headdress so it won't pull too much on my skin
• Putting in and wearing contacts (not necessarily circle lenses.  I've got light eyes already.)
• Walking around in clear plastic hooker heels to look like I'm floating
• Looking bored and/or disdainful all the time.

Why is she so pissed about being summoned?
Oh right, she has to heal this asshole every Standby.

"I'm just going to stand here as Master gets beat on by a dead chick."

"...Yep."

I've still got a lot to learn.

If you have any ideas, tell me!!  I'd love to hear them and compare them to some I already have.

Considering I'd rather not have to restrict the movement of my entire torso if I don't have to.

Wigs.

I like them.  I have eight of them, excluding the three I'm trying to sell and the three I've sold.  I have one in the mail, and another one I have my eye on.  I've dyed them, styled them, unstyled them, gotten sick from excessive amounts of hairspray; bought them off eBay, Amphigory, Cosworx/Cosplay.com Shopping, in person at-con, from the local wig shop; wigs made of eleora, kanekalon, fibers of dubious origin, natural colors, unnatural colors...

I really like wigs.

 And what kind of nerd blog is this if I don't talk about the nerdiest hobby I have?

I think I'll do a series of posts about my wigs.  Reviews, if you will, for all the different brands I've gotten my hands on and played with.

Because wigs are fun.

And I like being able to help others decide on which wigs to get.


This will be fun for me.

I've been thinking. About politics.

Considering I got a ballot in the mail yesterday, why not.

I'm registered Independent.  I grew up with Democrats in a very Republican town.  I will admit that I generalize a bit, thanks to my dad always joking with me about 'those silly Republicans' or 'those crazy right-wingers' and I'll also admit that I don't understand the logic behind a lot of their ideas.  (Trickle-down economics?  Really?)  However, I do understand a few of them, and if it makes sense to other people, then that's their deal and I can accept that.  Even if I would like to debate a bit.  Maturely, of course.



George Washington didn't want political parties to form because he foresaw them essentially taking over the decisions.  (I don't know how to word that very well in that sentence, but it can be summed up as Republicans will vote for Republicans because they are Republicans and that's what Republicans do, same with Democrats.)

And it's true.  I know a lot of people who discredit what the other party is saying because it is their "opposition," if you will.

Another thing - if we spend so much time going back and forth between the Big Two (Democrat/Republican) for presidential terms, during which they spend all too much time trying to undo things they don't agree with that the last president did, we're going to go absolutely nowhere.  We won't progress.  It'll just be a tug-of-war between the red and the blue.

Why can't we just have purple and be done with it?


Anyway, having a political scientist for a father gets me into some pretty philosophical conversations about politics sometimes, even at the dinner table, where Mom always brings up her intense hatred for the Electoral College system.  But it's also helped me realize that I believe in different things than my parents in some cases, even if I was the third most liberal in my sophomore government class and I had to get that from somewhere.


This post has been brought to you by a rewatching of Liberty's Kids.  (The weird thing is, I'm absolutely serious.)  If I derped up anywhere, blame it on the sleep deprivation because I'm at that point where I can't be assed to fact-check anymore.

Ssssso...

I am not surprised that this gets quite a few hits from people Googling anything with the word "CrowAki" in it.

But it is kind of weird when the search that led someone here was "crowaki sucks."

Just saying.


Anyway, I have returned from my sewing frenzy and subsequent convention with some serious sleep deprivation and a lot of wig touchups to do!  My Aki wig is slowly killing itself.  I will probably have to break out the big guns (read: silicone caulking, glue, massive amounts of super-strength hairspray, and detangling spray).

It feels good to get stuff done, you know?  Now I just need to get them to 100% completion and get better pictures of everything and I'll be set.  Like right now I'm looking at wigs for Belgium when I cosplay her in September.

Oh, also?  I bought a wig at the convention from Epic Cosplay, and it's even nicer than the one I got at a local wig shop for $80.  (Yeah, I still cringe about that price.  Nice wig - very realistic - but oof.)

They are definitely getting a repeat customer out of me.  I wanted to check out Arda too, but they didn't really have what I was looking for.  Maybe some other time!

And now I should go get some sleep. ♥

In this Post: I have no life, apparently

So Zexal started last night!

...And as I said I would, I haven't watched it yet!!

Again, I think I'll wait a while.  Apparently I'm still not over 5D's, because even though I got Sound Duel 3 in the mail today and am really excited about it, I don't think I can handle listening to the last 5D's Sound Duel just yet.  (And it is the last, or it wouldn't have things like Yakusoku no Melody on it.  Unless they do something about those apparently unreleased tracks, but I doubt it.)

I also got Over the Nexus with it, but I'm not letting myself open that one until I get some costumes done.  Ugh, less than two weeks!  What am I doing, renewing my Netflix account like that?

...Oh right, I also renewed my Netflix account last week.  I've watched Enchanted, Tangled, the Princess and the Frog (twice), season one of Hey Arnold! (my childhood), an episode of Liberty's Kids, Adrenaline Drive, and Fashion.  What am I doing.


Also, I have little TeamSat Kiryus running around my screen and they keep multiplying.  Shimeji are adorable.  Now if I had the rest of Team Satisfaction and an Aki, I would be the happiest.  (Speaking of, I wonder how Kiryu would get along with Spain?  Or any of the other countries I have.  Or Antinomy.  Hmm.)

I had to mess around with his coding a little for him to work, though.  Which was pretty easy; I just needed to copy/paste some things.

........He sure does like crabwalking and just sitting there.

Anyway.


Things I should be working on:

1. Costumes.
2. Translating chapters 4-6 of Crow that strays off rose garden because I am ridiculously behind.  (But I'm mostly done with 4 and 5; just a few hangups.)

And thankfully, I'll be getting access to the hard drive on my dead computer any day now, so I'll have all my works in progress back!  Hopefully this means I'll be able to kick my writer's block in the teeth and actually write until something is done for once.  And have Paint Shop Pro 9, Animation Shop 3, JquickTrans, and a slew of other programs I have no idea how I ever went without but somehow did.


And that is what I've been doing in the 10 days since I last posted.

The plotbunnies are attacking again

This would be a good thing if it meant my block would disappear.

But does it ever disappear?  Nope.  Never.  Maybe for a week or so every six months if I'm lucky.  Usually it's less than a day, sometimes only hours.

Possibly the worst part of my block?  I can still come up with plots, I just can't write more than 200 words at a time.  So that pretty much only covers writing down the basic plot before inspiration goes out the window again.  I have so many ideas floating around right now that I have no idea what to do with them.

Well, actually, one of them would involve watching the quicksub for 5D's 153/154, and I'm not exactly ready to do that yet because I might cry again.  And I don't want to cry again.

It's just...ugh.  Maybe this is why I like putting the characters in miserable situations when I write; it's like therapy for all that frustration toward my block.

Seriously, I love reading fluff, but I cannot write it without making the characters involved absolutely miserable first.

I want two characters to get together, but there's a plausible love triangle?  DOUBLE UNREQUITED LOVE.  Always.  There is no other way with me.  (Which is probably also why I don't mind actually really like reading Crow → Aki → oblivious Yuusei, because everyone is being emotionally tortured.  I am a terrible person.)

That's probably also why I can't get rid of one of my biggest plotbunnies from last year, which is a 'what-if' type thing where Divine comes back from the dead again and there's a whole common enemy theme going on toward Illiaster and everyone gets mindscrewed (or has a mental breakdown Aki) from it, because isn't he technically a bad guy in this series, I mean really.  I love it to death but can't write more than a little bit of it for the life of me.


I think the weirdest part is that, when I was in school, writing was absolutely no problem.

So I'm pretty sure this means I can only write the way I want to when it means I am procrastinating on life-changing tasks.

...Crap.

5D's Finale

How I hoped I would cry:

How I ended up crying:

I told you I'd cry like a little bitch.  Half an hour straight.  I kind of looked like I had just smoked a ton of pot when I looked in the mirror after that.  Ugh, my sinuses are killing me today.  I'm fairly certain this is how hangovers feel.


5D's, I will always love you.

April 2, 2008 - March 30, 2011

Today on 'YuGiOh has Ruined Me':

I haven't watched GX in any form (yet), but without fail, this is always the first thing to come to mind when I hear "get your game on".

Same Ship, Different Names: Crow/Aki

Okay, so this has been on my mind for a couple of days now.  I've seen these two referred to as both Firebirdshipping and Brightshipping.  To me, the latter came right out of nowhere, because as long as I've known Crow/Aki, I've known it as Firebird.

It's kind of like Faithshipping, in that it was given the name Junkshipping on a completely different website before completely switching over, except there are no signs of Crow/Aki doing the same.

So why do I call it Firebird when it seems like more people know it as Bright?

Easy.  The 5D's ship list from January 2009.  And February.  And August.  I'm not exaggerating when I say I have always known this as Firebird.

The first time I've seen mention of Bright was in the Janime thread, in a post from June.

I'm not saying that calling it Brightshipping is wrong.  I'm just saying that I call it Firebirdshipping because that's what I saw it called first.

To tell the truth, I don't even know the reasoning behind the Bright.  Is it because their colors are really bright or something?  No, really, tell me.  I want to know.

I can think of a few of reasons for Firebird.  BRD's element is fire; Crow is a bird.  Firebirds could also be called Phoenixes; they've both risen from low points.  Stuff like that.  I don't know what the actual reasoning behind it was, because its origin most definitely isn't in that thread and I'm too lazy to look for the first instance of calling it Firebird.


Or I could just leave it at Crak like QOL does in her filenames, which probably makes more sense than either of them.

Considering it's still kind of a crack ship/rarepair and all.

This is weird. To me, at least.

今日は誕生日です。二十歳になりました!
"Today's my birthday.  I turned 20!"


For some reason, this is the age I never thought I'd be.  I didn't think I'd die before now or anything.  I don't know what I thought, really.  I just never thought I'd get to this point.  It's weird.  (I'm weird.)

Maybe it's because I never wanted to grow up.


I'm actually going to be a little sad when I turn 21, because I won't be able to say I'm "hatachi" anymore.

Yes.  That is my reason.  I'll be sad because I can't have a simple word for my age in something that isn't even my first language.

Well, that and people will probably try to get me to drink, which I never want to do.  Then I'll get pissed and yell at them and everything will be awkward.


I squealed when I checked SMD and saw a new chapter of Crow that strays off rose garden up.  And that there are now ten planned chapters.  And there are chapter titles for them already.  Even though I still need to finish chapter 4, I've run chapter 5 through Google translate (for that is what I do when I just want a general idea of what happens or I'm half asleep and can't brain) and I need it right now.  I don't even have words for how it makes me feel.  Possibly 'the happiest camper' will do.

(Don't you just love how this post about birthday turned into something about fanfiction?  More proof that I connect fandom to everything.)


Anyway, tonight I go out to eat with my parents, as is tradition, and then come back to have red velvet cupcakes with chocolate frosting.

And 18 remains my best birthday ever.  Don't know if anything will ever top going to Kinkakuji in Kyoto with my classmates, almost getting lost in Kyoto Train Station, and two hours of ridiculous karaoke in Hiroshima.  Even if we went to Peace Park the next day and got depressed.  I really can't believe it's been two years since then.

This is another 5D's babble. (With Spoilers)

Well, sort of spoilers.  I think.  If you don't know about the second time skip, you do now you won't know about these things.  Yep.


Am I the only person who thinks Crow as a cop fits?  I know he hasn't always had the best view of Security, but that's because it was relatively corrupt, wasn't it?  No one from Satellite liked Security because they were all discriminated against.

But I think Crow would want to fix it.  We already know he likes justice/fairness, so why not take on the job himself?

Besides, officers with criminal markings are unheard of.  He'd totally have fun screwing with people's heads like that.

This face:  totally proof

Also, his headband finally matches his clothes.

Speaking of Crow, he and Aki kept interacting like an old married couple, and that just made me giggle.  Still saying I think it would be pretty hilarious for show to troll the Faithshippers by pushing Crow/Aki instead.  Then again, I am very biased.

I also think it was adorable that Aki was putting together the food and the boys were out cooking it while the twins ate.  They're such a little family; I love it.  (Even if the roles are stereotypical.)


Yuusei not beating himself up was a huge improvement.  Him smiling more was an even bigger one.  It helped me remember why I liked him in the first place - something that was lost about halfway through because of his heaps of martyrdom.  Pretty sure I'm not the only one.

The labcoat doesn't hurt, either.

Then again, he looks like someone pasted his head on his dad's body.  And his dad's profession.
It's cute, though.
Especially when he got flustered over being called Professor Fudo.

Everyone was so pretty in 152!  Even Jack, and he's my least favorite main character!  (It's totally the eyes.)

Purple + Glorious Shading = ♥

I mean, just look at everybody! (After a jump/cut, because it gets kind of...picspam-like.)

2:50 am. This is what happens.

I'm going to be so dead later today.  You don't even know.  It's been really hard to get to sleep lately.

Today I think I napped when my headache was worse.  I say 'I think' because when I shoved my face in the pillow it was 9:15pm and the next thing I knew it was forty minutes later.  Oops.

I kind of wish I hadn't eaten the last blueberry muffin.  Now I want more and we don't have any.  And there's still another day to go before going food shopping, so I'll have to wait anyway.  Speaking of food shopping, I should probably also get ingredients for that vegan sugar cookie dough again so I can make it and stick it in the freezer.  I've found it's easier to work with after it's been frozen for a while.

I'm not vegan, but a couple years back my friend was vegan (now vegetarian) and I like baking things for my friends, so I learned how to make sugar cookies they could eat.  Since I took fandom cookies to the YGO photoshoot at last year's SakuraCon, another vegan has asked if I could make them 100% vegan this time  and I said sure.  Oh boy, I get to buy another carton of soy milk to use only two tablespoons or something out of for frosting, awesome!  I'll do it though.  That's why they weren't completely vegan last year, I used regular milk instead.


Also I am drawing something that has to do with a certain ship I obviously like combined with sunflowers and roses.  It's really cute in my head but they never turn out exactly how I want them.

...Probably doesn't help I haven't really drawn anything in months.  I wish I was lying.


I need to figure out how to scan something 3mm thick without breaking the spine.  Spine-breaking hurts.  It makes me wonder why my scanner is so fat, when it really isn't, it's just a combination printer/scanner/copier so it only looks fat.  I just probably need to displace the crap all over it so I can get a good scan in.

Or do this.  That would be okay too.


Maybe I should get rid of headaches before trying to post things.  This will probably be one of those posts I look back on and go "...what was I even doing."

Good morning!  Or night.  Whichever it is where you are.

Holy crap.

Oooookay so my pageviews have skyrocketed.

Hi people from livejournal and tumblr!!

I'm actually kind of shaking right now.  The good news is that it's not terrified shaking, it's more along the lines of "omg omg omgomgomg" but with less acronyms and more excited flailing in an attempt to stop shaking.

I'm going to see if I have a reaction image for this.

...Nope.

None are good enough.  Either that or they are too terrifying.  Why do I save so many terrible things?

Here is an adequate emoticon instead:

ヾ(≧▽≦)ノ

Anyway, I've been handling this a lot better than expected.  Somehow.  Hopefully it'll help me stop being so much of a lurker when it comes to my opinions, considering I don't even know why I do that.  Theories, yes; reasons, not really.

Thanks. ♥


Edit:  This is my chart for just today.

Huge spike is at 1:00 Pacific Time.  37 views.

I'm still not used to this

日本頑張って

I know I'm a little slow on the uptake about that earthquake.  I just couldn't think of words that made sense.

I'm worried about my old host family, from when I went to Japan for two weeks in '09.  Thankfully they live in Kawagoe (near Tokyo) rather than Sendai, but you never hear about things there.  It's always Tokyo.

Considering the earthquakes hit (and are still hitting) Tokyo, they have definitely gotten to Kawagoe.

It really sucks losing contact with people, you know?  I wish I had their email or something so I could check up on them.  The Google people finder isn't very helpful when your memory of their last name is shaky at best.  I'm such a jerk for forgetting.  They were so nice to me.  The mom even called herself my 日本ママ - Japan Mom.

日本家族大丈夫ですか??


If I were more religious, I would be praying.

I donated and keep hoping things go okay.  Hoping is the best I can do.


...It really sucks not knowing.

OKAY now for another little rant.

I have been a member of Crunchyroll long enough to know that I shouldn't look at the comments on shows I like.

So why do I do it anyway?

I just looked at the comments on Cardfight!! Vanguard, and it pissed me off.  Does no one read?  Of course it's going to seem like a YGO clone; it's about card games and created by the person behind YGO R, damn it.

If you don't like something, you don't have to comment on it.  Especially if it's written in ALLCAPS ABOUT HOW MUCH CARD GAME ANIME SUCK IN YOUR RAGE-FILLED OPINION and the like.

People like something you don't.  People hate something you like.  Holy shit, it must be the end of the world.

Big deal.  It's just a show.

About card games.

I let you have your fun, let me have mine. You don't see me bashing what you like in full-on nerdrage.

Jeez.

This must be why I'm such a lurker.

You know how I said I need to stop checking my stats page?

....Yeah.  I really do.

Apparently I just beat my previous record for amount of pageviews in a month?

I haven't had this many since December!

Why am I so paranoid, again?  Ergh.

Wwwwelp, I'm weak.

Girlyvine is a go.

Well, at least the sewing for her is.  I bought my green fabric today along with lining for the Team 5D's jacket and patterns for both Girlyvine and Crash Town Kiryu.

Now I just hope I stop procrastinating and actually get shit done before con.

Like, I really want to make Girlyvine now, considering it's a vest using a pattern I've made before (for Reiko, fancy that) and a skirt from a very simple-looking pattern.  But I really shouldn't, because Team 5D's pit crew Aki and Crash Town Kiryu are my top priorities.

I want to get at least one version of Aki done before the show ends.

And that's sad, because I've been intending to cosplay Aki since 2008, and I haven't finished any of them.

What the hell, self.  That doesn't even make any sense.



Anyway, yeah, I should probably work on everything I want to do for SakuraCon, especially since the neighbors I'm catsitting for have also expressed interest in getting me to sew them a baby quilt and maybe hem some things.

Thankfully quilts are mostly straight lines and I can power through that like a pro.

Unlike princess seams, which always take two to three tries on my part to get right.

That's one thing I don't like about being a girl:  darts and seams.  Darts and seams everywhere.

Et in Arcadia ego

I was just thinking.

I would absolutely be in trouble if Divine ever wanted to recruit me.

And this is why:

• I trust people automatically, unless they give me a creepy feeling.  For me, instead of people having to earn trust, they have to break it for me to not trust them anymore.  Divine probably wouldn't creep me out.
• I guess another way of saying it is that I believe there is good in all people and it is the default state; it takes work to be a bad person.
• That or "I just trust my intuition."
• Either way, Divine wouldn't set off my creeper alarm, so he'd be safe.  For...some reason.  I don't even know.
• I feel guilty when I say no to people, especially those that 1: I just met and 2: don't set off that aforementioned creeper alarm.  He would try to subtly guilt me into joining, and I would crack almost immediately.
• If someone wants help and it's within my ability to do so, I will try to help them.  I am a sucker for pity-parties.
• Unless it is the amount of angst pent up in a martyr.  Yuusei
•  Divine can read people extremely well.  Any tactic he'd use to recruit me would, by default, work.  Because he knows, and he would know everything I mentioned above about me.  So, he'd be able to play my mind like a violin.
• It probably helps that I also think that you should be proud of who or what you are, because that is how you should be.  Which is basically the manifesto of Arcadia.
• ...And apparently Lady Gaga, hilariously enough.

So yeah.  Basically, if Divine wanted me for his psychic army, I would be screwed.  So screwed that I wouldn't even need brainwashing to stay.

What is wrong with me.

Look at him!  He's fabulous even when he's gassing children!  (source)

 ...Oh.  Right.

That's what's wrong with me.

I've had a very one-track mind lately

Well, I'm pretty proud of myself!  That ship manifesto has gotten some traffic, and I hope that means more people know about some of my favorite fanworks.

I'll keep updating that list of fanworks (or make a new page for it?) whenever I find new stuff.

On the subject of new stuff, I saw this yesterday on pixiv and almost full-on screamed.

OH MY GOD AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH (source)

Look how cute Crow is!!

Damn it, I was going to buy Over the Nexus and Sound Duel 3 with the money from petsitting my neighbor's cats, but hnngh I want this so much right now.

This would be the best birthday present ever.  It's being made for HaruComi, which is on March 20 - four days before I turn 20.

And then 5D's ends a week after it, so this is going to be a very bittersweet year.  (I'm going to cry like a little bitch, I just know it.)

But I digress.

I do have enough money for all three things, however.  At least there's that.  But do I have enough to get things for a cosplay I'm making on a whim...?  For that I need shoes, a blouse, a tie, tights, a wig, and gloves; I'll make the rest.

I want to do that cosplay because it is both amazing and terrible at the same time.

I call her Girlyvine, and she is pretty.  (source)

Yep.  I want to cosplay the Thelemic version of the green dragon genderbent/rule63/whatever Divine.

Somebody stop me.

Also, if you have no idea what that "green dragon" stuff is, I'm going to assume you have never read this.  Go do that.  Go do that now because it is amazing, especially if you like Divine, Aki, or Arcadia OR want to be clued in on all the alchemical references 5D's has.

As I said, it is amazing.  I have read it, what, three times since finding it in my memories on LJ?  And that was just the other day.  Yeah, it's that cool.

Okay, enough with my tangents.  I need to go do things.

Crow/Aki and Why it Should be Shipped, PART THREE (FINAL)

If you haven't read my other posts on this, go do that.
Here are convenient links so you don't have that "lazy" excuse.

Part One:  Characters Involved
Part Two:  The Things I Call Evidence

Well, actually, this is the only one you really need to read if you want to know why I myself ship it, but whatever.  I wrote those too, so why not.

Okay?  All done with that?  Let's do this, then.

Black Bird / Black Rose

or, Why They Work: Crow/Aki

(part three)

My Interpretation:

Isn't it obvious?  I've said it before, and I'll say it as many times as I have to: I think they're exactly the type of people they need.  Crow sees the good in just about everything; Aki spent most of her life looking for someone who does just that.  If Crow had found her first, I think her cooldown/defrosting would have taken a fraction of the time and been more realistic - too bad Satellite wasn't united with the City yet.

When Carly is writing an article about Team 5D's in episode 130, Aki says in reference to Crow and Blackfeather Dragon:

"[BFD's effect involves] absorbing the pain and turning it into power...Crow is just like that."

That's a mighty fine compliment coming from someone who spent her early teenage yeas as a ball of pain and angst inflicting pain on others.  She obviously admires him for his ability to take a hit and pay it back while not getting down on himself - something she wasn't able to do.  (Plus, it's a really fun bonus for anyone who thinks Aki is still a closet sadist.)

Aki sees Crow as a person, not a savior, à la Divine or Yuusei.  That gives her time to build a friendship with him rather than simply wanting him to love her.  She's 16 (or 17, now?) - that's still young.  She hasn't yet realized that love (or crushes) can be blinding and make someone see hints where there are none.

They were both outcasts.  They know how it is.  But they were outcasts for different reasons, and therefore can help each other when they're down.  Possibly.  This is speculation, after all.

One of the arguments I've seen against Crow and Aki as a couple is "I don't see the point of it.  They're just friends; friends always talk to each other, right?  There's nothing going on between them but friendship."

That's true.  They are just friends.  But so are Yuusei and Aki.  There is nothing going on but friendship between them, either, but you ship them.  Isn't that a little hypocritical?  There is nothing more than Aki's one-sided crush between them.  It is not canon.  No ship in this series is canon, save for Jack/Carly if I'm remembering right.

The point is, friendship can grow.  I realize this argument could work for Yuusei/Aki, but it's the only counter I have for this.  As I said before, Aki put Yuusei on a pedestal, and that does not make for a healthy relationship because she sees him as superhuman.  Crow, to her, is just human.  Before she realizes, she could develop a little crush on him and recognize that Yuusei isn't as perfect as she seems to think he is.

She doesn't put Crow on a pedestal.  That alone makes Crow/Aki one of the healthiest possible relationships in the show.


Another fun fact, which I noticed through Poet's rambles about alchemy in 5D's, is that "Supposedly roses all began white, but when a bird so loved them that he killed himself on their thorns, they were painted red for the murder as a warning to all of the price that love demands (or so says a tale from the middle east)."
(Emphasis mine)

Just some food for thought.

Why You Should Listen to Me:

If you have read this far, you're probably intrigued by (or at least curious about) how these two match up.  That is exactly why you should listen to me:  I am one of you.

A fan of 5D's.  A fan of Crow and/or Aki.

But, I am also a fan of Crow and Aki as a pairing.

I have been with 5D's since nearly the beginning (it started in April '08 and I was hooked in June '08) and have seen characters develop, appear and disappear.  Thanks to RP, I delved deeper into their minds than I had previously - either through playing someone myself or reading someone else's inner monologue as a character.  And it helped me realize who would likely work with whom, due to similarities in mindsets.

So even if you still don't really see them as a couple, at least read a fic or look at a fanart or two before making a final judgment.  And if you still don't ship it?  That's fine.  At least you can say you gave it a try.

Thanks for reading this far, guys.  I really do appreciate it.

And I apologize if I was ever abrasive, especially in relation to Yuusei/Aki.  That was not my intention.

Fanworks:

• FIC: My Little Firebird, by AmeriCrow
• notes >> Must be a member of the LJ community to read.  RATED R.  Crow's POV; based loosely on the lyrics of -OZONE- by vistlip.  (BIAS: friend wrote it and I love it to death)
• FIC: Firebird, by olesia
• notes >> uh...obviously biased, because I requested and a friend wrote it.  What would happen if Crow sneaked out of Satellite and ran into the Witch, basically.  Rating can't be higher than T.
• FIC: Shattered Dreams, by Hakase Fudou
• notes >> Introspective Crow from around episode 97.  Crow/Aki friendship, rated T.  Not shippy at all, but it does expand on the whole situation.
• FIC: One Hundred Years too Early, by Triste
• notes >>  Subtle, but definitely Crow and Aki centric.  Set when Crow has that cast on.  Rated K+.
• FIC:  Best Day of the Week, by Triste
• notes>>  So, so cute.  Sherry/Yuusei is in there for background only.  Seriously, this is adorable.  Read it now.  Rated K+.
  
• FIC: Actually just anything Crow/Aki by Triste.
  
• FIC: Also immicolia.
• notes >>  Her AUs are really fun to read.
• FIC: C is for Cuddling, by Artemis Ignitan
• notes >> More like Yuusei/Jack/Crow/Aki (with a focus more on Yuusei/Jack and Crow/Aki), but really cute.  Rated T.
• FIC: Thorn Garden, by Vertices
• notes >> Rated T.   Summary says it better than I can: "Aki discovers something unpleasant. Crow, as always, doesn't mind. Established Crow/Aki, spoilers for episode 140, references to naughty activities."
• FIC: The Raven with the Rose, by Luka Megurine X
• notes >> NOT FOR CHILDREN, HOLY CRAP.  RATED M FOR A REASON.  Pacing is a bit fast, but with Aki in that state it actually kind of makes sense.  Set Post-series.
• FIC:   Private Memorial Service, by SamCyberCat
• notes >> "Aki needed to be alone to remember the man she could not talk about anymore." Hints of Divine/Aki and Crow/Aki.  Rated K+.  (Both of my shipping biases in one?  Oh man!)
• FIC:  fitted, by adored
• notes >>  Rated M because it is pretty much smut (or dubcon, depending on how you look at it).  But it's cute and made me laugh, so there.  Crow and Aki are in an established relationship in this, by the way.
• FIC:  love on repeat, @ glowlights
• notes >>  NC-17.  (I'm very incoherent right now because I just finished reading it so I'm sorry if this makes no sense:)  Post-series; Crow and Aki meet up for the first time since the group split up, which eventually leads to confessions and things.  "and sometimes, you really don't move on from the past."
• FIC:  Crow that strays off rose garden (and others), by various Japanese fans
• notes >> These are Japanese fanfictions translated to English.  Most are from SMD, but there will be some from apiculture in the future.  None go over PG, I don't think.  (BIAS:  ...hi I'm the translator)
• Art:  Fuck Yeah Firebird! on tumblr.
• notes >> Showcases Crow/Aki fanart and other related things.  (BIAS: I run it.)
• Artist: oguma of rapture
• notes >> One of two fanartists I've found that openly ships it enough to make a fanbook (or two).  Unfortunately, those fanbooks (WonderfulSentimental and Nectar) aren't available anymore.  [Also draws Divine/Aki and maaany others]
  
• Artist: kiko of QOL 
• notes >> The second of two fanartists I've found who ships it enough to make a fanbook (or two).  If I'm remembering right, she also had the first Crow/Aki fanart on pixiv.  Collaborated with oguma on the second Crow/Aki fanbook, Nectar.  Which I own.  It's the cutest thing ever.
• Web:  CrowAki Club on deviantART
• notes >> This has a few things I've already linked to in some way, but it's on dA!  Access for everyone.  Unfortunately, there isn't a ton more.
• Web:  クロアキ同盟 (CrowAki alliance)
• notes >> In Japanese.  Obviously.  Seems to be a webring; I haven't bothered researching it yet because I'm terrible.
• Web:  CrowAki tag on pixiv
• notes >>  Must be a member to look at full-sized fanart.  There are tutorials in lots of places to become one if you don't read Japanese and need help.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.   If you want to start a little debate, go right ahead - I'd like that.

I want more converts.  I want to spread the love.  That's why I did this.  Call me crazy if you want, I already know it.  We can't be sane all the time.


Thank you for reading!  ♥

Crow/Aki and Why it Should be Shipped, PART TWO

Apologies for this post taking so long!  Other than getting distracted, I had to go through most of the episodes to remember what exactly happened.  Herpa der, I really need to rewatch the whole series.

First of all, read part one (The Characters).  Read it before going on any further, especially if you're unfamiliar with 5D's.  Okay?

Oh man, this one turned out way longer than expected too. So I guess I lied.  This is just the canon evidence/why it's evidence post.

And I'm sorry it's so very long.

Black Bird / Black Rose

or, Why They Work: Crow/Aki

(part two)

The Evidence:

 Seasons 3 & 4/WRGP arc is where it's at when it comes to these two.  It probably helps that Crow doesn't show up until s2 and they don't really talk until the very end of the Dark Signer arc.  (And even then, it's just Crow going "Oh, so you're Aki, huh?")  To be honest, I shipped it even before there was canon evidence, so maybe I'm just reading a little too far into things - the point is, they're friends and talk in canon now.  For this crazy fandom, there's no reason not to ship it!

Episode 75: Izayoi Aki, Acceleration!

The episode begins with the guys hovering around a D-Wheel.  What else is new, right?  And then, Aki comes in.  In a riding suit.  Crow's reaction (with a male gaze camera pan)?  Listen for yourself.

.....Yeah.

(Most of the rest of the episode involves Yuusei/Aki shiptease, and you already know how I feel about that one.)

[There is seriously nothing of them between these episodes.  Part of it is thanks to Crash Town, but really?]

Episode 97: After Despair and Conflict...

In episode 96, Yuusei begins dueling Andre of Team Unicorn in a practice match before the WRGP and the rest of the newly-christened Team 5D's watches from the stands.  In episode 97, after Yuusei brings out Stardust Dragon and Projectile Sparklevomits uses Shooting Sonic on Andre's Green Baboon, Aki realizes a strategy with speed counters with her new licensed knowledge.  Crow seems quite proud of her, replying with a grin, thumbs-up, and "that's why you're a D-wheeler!"  She looks flattered.

Later on, Crow fractures his shoulder and can't take part in the WRGP.  Aki offers to be his replacement until he heals.  Crow gets pissed and leaves the garage for a while.  Later, he calls Aki and apparently apologizes or something because the next time we see them, he's helping her train to be a better D-Wheeler.

Why is this special?  He has her cell phone number and actually uses it.  That has been the only time we've seen mention of actual cell phones (not just hologram pens or D-Wheel monitors), and it's between Crow and Aki.

Episode 99: Burn! Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis and

Episode 100: Dilemma - Last Wheeler, Yuusei

After Aki passes the baton in the battle against Team Unicorn to Yuusei, she cries and beats herself up for not doing better or helping more.  Then Crow brings her a drink and a pep talk to cheer her up, and sits with her until she feels better.  Aww.

This honestly is one of the better hints at this ship, considering at least half of the episode preview on 99 for 100 is of Crow comforting Aki.  Animators!!

Episode 104: Messengers of Distruction, Team Catastrophe

Aki is...unconscious.  Again.  This time, it's thanks to Team Catastrophe targeting Team 5D's and getting her while she was out practicing alone.  (There was a collective "Oh shit!" from Yuusei, Jack, and Crow when they realized she was in danger.)  Her psychic powers fail her and she cracks her head on the pavement - this is why you always wear helmets, kids.  She probably would have died otherwise.

The whole team is worried.  Jack flips out a little, Yuusei is stoic.  Crow?

Gets pissed.

Yes, they just went down a D-Wheeler.  Yes, his arm is still janked.  He doesn't give a shit, he wants revenge.  Aki getting hurt, apparently, is Crow's final straw.

Episode 114: Operation: Capture Jeager II

This.

Basically, they banter.  Crow complains about being in the Cup Ramen Man suit, and Aki replies along the lines of "you did this to yourself and dragged me into it, THANKS, MAN /party blower in face"

She...doesn't generally act like that.  Either A: she really is pissed enough to do that or B: they're good friends so she's not afraid of overstepping boundaries (and still pissed enough to do that).

Episode 118:  The New Rivals

While Yuusei, Bruno, and Rua are out helping Team Taiyou with their D-Wheel, Aki stops by Poppo Time for...some unexplained reason other than she's looking for Yuusei.  Right.

But the only people there are Crow and Jack, who is inexplicably sitting on a fold-up chair staring at the stairs to the door.  (Uh?)  Crow greets her, and next thing we know, he's pouring three cups of coffee for them and talking about Team Ragnarok.  It sounds like there's an exhibition duel, and Aki is suggesting they go watch!  And then, Crow looks to Jack and asks him if he wants to go.

This implies Jack wasn't originally invited.  Or, you know, maybe Crow was just making sure.  (But that's not as fun)

Later, during the exhibition duel, Jack gets picked to duel Dragan, and that left Crow and Aki standing next to each other and providing commentary.  Also, they can finish each others' sentences.  Just saying.

(Not a lot around here, either.)

Episode 139: The Terrifying Field Spell - École de Zone! and
Episode 140: The Soul-Binding Gate!  The Forbidden Future!

The Heroes finally make it into the Ark Cradle (after a nerve-wracking Rainbow Road ride), and stop to strategize...and then they all fall down a hole that opened up beneath them.  Next scene, they're all split up into groups on platforms just far enough away where they can't get back together.  The teams?

Yuusei & Dark Glass, Jack and the twins, and...

best. day. ever.

...Crow and Aki.  And the episodes follow them!  Let's go fight Sherry, you two!!

Except Sherry has a Field Spell that makes it seem like they got separated and are fighting one of two Sherrys.  When, you know, they're actually fighting each other.  Whoops.  Thanks to a loophole in the system (Blackfeathers break things) Aki figures it out and suddenly, Black Rose Dragon!  Goodbye Field Spell; the two are reunited!

And are happy about it, I might add.

Sherry decides THIS IS TERRIBLE and tries to get Crow to side with her and ZONE instead of Aki.  Aki doesn't like this, and pretty much tells Crow "don't do it, stupid" enough times to snap him out of it.  Then they win and everything starts collapsing until...

This.  And Aki saves the day once again.

Then we see something we haven't seen before (well, unless you count Divine doing it to himself): psychic healing.  So Sherry joins the two and BlackBirdRoseLily have finished their part of the process.

Why this is special:  Aki and Crow haven't really dueled together before, but have memorized each others' decks.  Well, that was for the WRGP, so all of Team 5D's knows everyone's decks, but I digress.  They spend the entire time (when they can see each other) either smiling, strategizing through eye contact, or other things.  Hell, they even scream each others' names when they're initially separated.

These are the episodes I said "If more people don't ship it after this, I will be sorely disappointed" about.

Fandom?

I am disappointed.


Anyway, after those episodes, there hasn't really been anything significant - from 141 onward, all they were seen doing is riding their D-wheels while the others did their duels, then watching other characters duel, and that's what they're still doing now, at 150.

And yes, I know some of these shows of "evidence" are not all that special.  Remember, I'm a biased firebirdshipper who takes whatever the hell she can get her mitts on.  Besides, just about every other shipper in this fandom does the same thing:  any scene between two of the characters?  Canon subtext or no, it will usually be taken as a hint and/or shiptease.

At least you can't rightfully say I have nothing to go off of.  At least they speak to each other in canon.

Next post ⇒ My interpretation, why you should try it, and links to fanworks

Just a quick post before getting to that one post series I've been meaning to post for forever now

(post post post post do I ever use different words)

ALL RIGHT SO

I have a friend who is getting a Yuusei cosplay together.

I am making (various versions of) Aki.

Friend has a motorcycle and said something along the lines of "when it's done I want pictures of me as Yuusei on my motorcycle and oh hey we should get pictures together with you on the back or something maybe" earlier today.

FIRST THOUGHT:
o-oh god he ships it doesn't he

SECOND THOUGHT:
......WHATEVER, HELL YES WE SHOULD


I know it's really corny to say, but if it's him, I'm okay with it.
Even if I've never been that close to a motorcycle before.  It's kind of intimidating.

And maybe a little awkward.

I don't even know what the poses would be like.

Why am I so excited about this; stop it self, stop it.


Okay, now for the rest of that Firebird manifesto.  Because it's done!   Finally.

Short post: Cosplay edition

I messed around with the fonts and colors a bit.

If you've been here before, it's...pretty obvious.

Anyway, other than the Crow/Aki posts, I've been working on translating Crow/Aki fic from Japanese to English (even though I haven't taken a class in two years now - ergh, I hope I don't get too much wrong) and this:

If you think it looks like a Team 5D's jacket, I'm doing it right!!

Yeah, that's right.  I've started a costume two months before a convention.

That is actually really amazing from me, an Important Person in Procrasti Nation.

Hopefully I get some fabric swatches soon so I can get this costume done and work on Crash Town Kiryu.  Do you know how hard it is to find pink denim?  Really hard, that's how.  Especially if you don't want to have to dye it, because dyeing fabric can be a real pain in the ass.

...Ugh, I still need to buy lining.  I guess that means there's a JoAnn run in the near future.

Better figure out what I'm doing with Kiryu, then.

And if I'm going to surprise my friend with a Blackbird Delivery jacket or not.

Short post

I went to go see YGO 3D yesterday~  It was fun!  I will elaborate later.

With the ticket, we got a sample of the 5D's manga.


Dear 5D's manga/VIZ:

why do you call them turbo duels
and duel runners
and New Domino City

why

(thank you for changing 'feel' to 'sense' though)
(it's a little less creepy that way)

Call me a purist if you want; those names just don't sound right to me.  New Domino I can be okay with, but duel runners and turbo duels?  Not so much.  To me, they will always be D-wheels and riding duels.

Now VIZ, if you use the dub names for characters I'm going to throw a bitchfit.  You used the original names in the DM manga, the R manga, and I think the GX manga (I'm not sure because I haven't read it), so VIZ, if you break the chain of 'screw the dub names, let's stay true', I will be very upset.

That and I think the Japanese names are prettier.


...I have a habit of complaining about really petty things, don't I.

Oh my God you can't be serious.

We interrupt the Crow/Aki posts (partly because part two is taking much longer than expected) for another half-rant.

Young Adult romance-like things.  The same genre as Twilight, basically.

They can be done right.  I hope to God they can be done right.

I just want to take these female protagonists involved in love triangles by the neck and shake some sense into them.  Oh my God.

Yes, there are two guys you are attracted to trying to woo you.  You pick one of them.  The other one backs off a little bit as to not cause a huge dramafest with your boyfriend but still doesn't give up, exactly.  Okay?  Okay.  That's perfectly reasonable.  (If you have a love triangle situation, at least.)

But when you've only been boyfriend/girlfriend for about a month, the world is not going to end if your boyfriend goes away or dies.  Holy shit, woman, you do not need your boyfriend in order to function enough to stay alive.  LOSING YOUR BOYFRIEND IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD.  LIFE WILL GO ON.  I don't care how much you think you're ~soul mates, you're not going to die.

However (and this is a big however), I have never been in love, so I can't be certain if I would feel any different.  I can't even say this never happens to anyone (I'm sure it does!).

It just pisses me off to read.

Irrationally.

Especially if it hurts the feelings of the suitor I'm rooting for.  I MEAN...

Especially if the boyfriend is creating an unhealthy relationship and the other would create a balanced one.

You have no idea what you're doing, chiclet.  Okay, yeah, having a protector is pretty sweet (especially if you're a weakling like me), but if they're trying to control what you do under the guise of keeping you safe?  Yeah, not worth it.

Maybe that's just my bias against clingy guys showing.

Oh wow this entire post makes me sound like a raging bitch doesn't it.

ALL RIGHT HERE WE GO: Crow/Aki and Why it Should be Shipped, PART ONE

Template is from ship_manifesto, even though I have 1: never done this before and 2: have not made a claim.  Just because I'd sound like a spectacular scatterbrain without one.

Just as a warning, this post was only going to be one part, but it ended up ridiculously long (like, so long it made the preview scrollbar look like this and that is just insane for one post), so.  You have been warned.  This is only the beginning.

So, without further ado, here it is:

Black Bird / Black Rose

or, Why They Work: Crow/Aki

Now first, a disclaimer:  I do not think these two are canon.  I am not saying they are canon.  That's just silly.  However, I am saying they're plausible thanks to hints from canon.  Okay?  Okay.

Also if you have corrections for me, TELL ME SO I CAN FIX IT thank you.

The Characters:

Crow Hogan: Black Bird

Age: 18

Nickname:  鉄砲玉のクロウ (Crow the Bullet)

Deck:  Blackfeather [TCG: Black Wing]

D-Wheel:  Black Bird

Crow grew up as a Satellite kid with Yuusei and Jack at Martha's place.  He learned to read from Duel Monsters cards, and didn't have friends until he started playing.  Also, his parents died in Zero Reverse.  (Poor kid)

Later on, he took in other Satellite orphans and decided "hey, I'm going to raise them!" and joined Yuusei, Jack, and Kiryu in Team Satisfaction: a duelist gang with the goal of being the kings of Satellite in order to make it at least a marginally better place.  Crow was the first to leave TeamSat after Kiryu went bonkers.  I assume this is when he went to stay with Pearson, but I haven't watched that subbed and apparently it makes very little sense anyway.

Oh also, those marks on his face?  Each one stands for a time he's been arrested.

Personality:  Crow is very boisterous (read: something of a Large Ham) and excitable with a strong set of morals.  When it comes down to it, he's very skilled in the role of caretaker, what with stealing cards from Security to give to his pet orphans - like Robin Hood.  He likes fairness, even though he runs Blackfeathers.  Also, he has a bigger sense of responsibility than he lets on.

Ah, the one I could babble about forever.  Blame the RP.

Aki Izayoi: Black Rose

Age: 16 17 whoops

Nickname: 黒薔薇の魔女 (Black Rose Witch)

Deck:  Plant-type (rose theme)

D-Wheel: Bloody Kiss (what the hell were they smoking)

Aki grew up with her stay-at-home mom Setsuko and senator father Hideo in a suburb of Neo Domino City.  She wanted to duel so badly and finally got a deck for her 5th birthday.  However, her dad was barely ever around (thanks to being a senator and all) and she kind of resented him for it.  So when Hideo paused a duel to go back to work, she flipped out and slammed him against a wall with her new psychic powers and her signer mark appeared.  Her parents were then terrified of her, and Hideo called her a monster to her face.  AWESOME.

They eventually sent her to Duel Academia, where she remained an outcast because of her powers and she started hating everything.  She ran away at least twice, burned her schoolbooks at least once, then saw her parents laughing and happy at home and came to the conclusion that they were happier without her.  DOUBLE AWESOME.  So she started dueling people in the Daimon Area as the Black Rose Witch and became an urban legend just to scare the shit out of people.  After a while, she was taken in by Divine of the Arcadia Movement and lived there through the Arcadia Arc (~episode 66) and after a few go-throughs of battle therapy and the Dark Signer mess, was tamed and joined the Good Guys and made up with her parents.

Personality:  There are two sides to Aki: Early Series and Later Series.
Early:  Pushes everyone away because she is convinced nobody would be able to love her and didn't want to deal with the pain of losing those she cared about.  She hurts, and hurts other people to deal with it.  At first glance, she seems very together, but as soon as the surface is cracked, she goes berserk.  But in reality, she just wants friends who see beyond her psychic powers and can accept her for who she is, no matter what.  Even if she doesn't see herself as human.
Later:  VERY protective of her friends.  Still seemingly mature and actually not really underneath, but not anywhere near as cold as she used to be.  She takes on a playful attitude and reaches out to help others (mostly her friends).  Aki still remembers her past and uses it to her advantage.
One thing that stays the same?  Her soft spot for children.  Hurt them, and she hurts you.


And...that's all for Part One.

Next Post ⇒ That Stuff I Call Evidence

Cardfight!! Vanguard: A review of sorts

...First episode's out.

I don't really like judging a series off of one episode because there isn't enough there to judge on.  I mean, really, it's the first episode, they have to world-build and character-build and whatnot, you can't get a good feel for it yet.  That's just how first episodes are.

That's probably one reason why I waited seven episodes to try out 5D's.  Anyway.

First impression:  Pretty okay, actually.

It seems to have a lot of throwbacks to YGO DM, but that's pretty much to be expected from a card game anime created by one of Takahashi's cohorts (I don't even know the right word, okay.  I just know Vanguard was created by the person who did YGO R [which I also love] with Takahashi's supervision)

Throwbacks like:  really shy kid gets something important stolen, they seem to become friends later on judging by the OP/ED.  And, you know, the card games.

Except Main Character has never played said Card Game.

And it really seems like Main Character and Anti-Hero are in love or something.  Okay?  Just watch it and you'll see what I mean.  I don't even ship boylove and I picked up on it.

Anyway, the plot is as follows:

The protagonist of this story, Sendo Aichi, is a timid boy in his third year of middle school. He had been living his life looking backward rather than forward, trying not to stand out. However, he had one thing that kept him going - the "Blaster Blade," a card from a card game that was given to him when he was little. That card is the reason why he begins to engage in Card Fights, something that changes his life drastically.
The name of the card game is "Vanguard." The game takes place in a different planet called "Klay," and due to a never before seen play system, it becomes popular throughout the world.

Aichi, immediately attracted by Vanguard, meets friends such as Togura Misaki and Katsuragi Kamui, along with other rivals. Through friendly rivalry with them, Aichi begins to enjoy a fulfilling life. Aichi, however, has a goal: to once again battle with a Vanguard Fighter by the name of Kai Toshiki. Kai Toshiki is an aloof and cold-hearted high schooler who has outstanding abilities in the world of Vanguard. He is also the reason why Aichi started playing the game. For him, Toshiki is the person who saved him from his boring life and introduced him to Vanguard. In order to get better at Vanguard, Aichi puts his soul into it every day. He wishes that someday, he'll be able to battle Toshiki and have him recognize his worth.

(From Crunchyroll)

To be completely honest, I was way more accepting of this than the announcement for the fourth Yu-Gi-Oh series, zeXal.  Probably because Vanguard doesn't mean my beloved 5D's is ending.  (oh god too emotionally attached)

But I'll be giving ZX a try too, just because that's how I roll.  Probably after a few episodes air, like I did with 5D's.  Yeah.

Anyway, if you like YGO and aren't that kind of fan (i.e. purist who HATES EVERYTHING other than DM), this seems like it could shape up to a good parallel.  A good, modern/newly-airing parallel.

And the card game's rules are different.  So different that I'll probably have to watch a ton of junk to even have an inkling at the rules, because I'm by default terrible at card games unless it's a hands-on learning experience.  Seriously, I didn't understand Duel Monsters until I played a video game or two.  Or three.