#chapter recap

[cinamun]

Chapter 27: WRAPPED!

Well, let's get into it, shall we?

When Chapter 26 concluded, the good readers of Things Fall Apart™ decided how they wanted the next chapter to begin.

And so, off we began on a journey starting with none other than Darren Drake the Second. Join me under the cut to breakdown 27:

First things first, as DJ started down the road of reclaiming his space in Amaya's heart and going full speed ahead toward the love of his life after a fateful encounter in the train station in the chapter before, his parents offered him the guidance he very much needed as a young, early-20-something college grad with love on the brain. His mother reminded him that he shouldn't forget where he came from, and that he almost lost Amaya for good. She threw in some cooking lessons as well because a level 4 cooking skill is unacceptable when courting. As for his father, he schooled him on the court with sage advice based on the lessons he had to learn at his son's age.

DJ followed that advice, took his time, solidified his career, but he couldn't help how he felt about Amaya. It all came to a head when he slipped up and said the L word in the heat of passion.

While this did catch Amaya off guard, an A+ communication lesson after the fact settled things down and, now, it appears they are on their way to where they left off before the Incident On The Couch™.

As for Indira, things moved fast with a sexy editor-in-chief who wanted nothing more than to see a young, beautiful model succeed. The passion between these two couldn't be overstated, however it was clear that Dira should be careful. As we all know, Dira gets what Dira wants and Dira wanted her first time with a woman to be with a powerful, beautiful, editor-in-chief with a strong, sensual Cuidadian accent who would unapologetically pop her bisexual cherry. After debriefing the situation with her mother, and in turn taking on the nickname "supersoaker", Indya felt it was best that, should things continue, Dira needed to lawyer up. But before she could even research good lawyers...

One seven minute phone call between Indya and an unemployed and overstressed Amaya sealed the deal. Dira now has Maya on retainer for a hefty fee (that's just pocket change to the likes of the Drakes). With a shift now on acting, and a solid contract too, Dira needs to decide if a potential starring role opportunity is where her heart is. Speaking of heart, Charlie has remained consistent and continues to have Dira's back no matter what she decides comes next.

As for Hope and Jayce, when they moved in to their new home in Nordhaven, Hope was take aback by Sean who showed up to help. It was only then that many of her family members learned she had been visited by Elliot's spirit twice and was dying to get out of that old house in San Sequoia.

Seeing Sean sent Hope into somewhat of spiral and she lashed out. At the advice of her mother, she had lunch with Sean and it appeared they both gained some sense of closure after their lives were changed forever after the Incident On The Pier™. As Hope, Jayce, Jayde and Jackson settled into their new life in Nordhaven, Hope was drifting further and further away from her dream of being a swim instructor. She felt like she was giving up on herself, not even realizing that people grow and they change.

As is always the case, Jayce is a great giver of reassurance and reminded Hope that its always okay to change her mind. They decided they'd go for a getaway and enjoy the great outdoors in Gibbi Point. This is where Hope discovered the diving skill and fell in love with her old high school athleticism all over again. There were good times, great adventures and deep conversations during their outing

One such conversation involved expanding their family. Hope and Jayce agreed that they are ready for a little brother or sister for Jack and Jayde and haven't stopped trying for that little sibling since.

And, of course, there are the OGs: Indya and Darren. Darren has always embraced the blessing of aging. He has always known that he had a slim chance as a young man of making it out of his surroundings alive. The life expectancy for young men like him was around 30 given the environment he was raised in. Growing older with healthy children, grandchildren, wealth and an incredible life parter, Darren is the most content of everyone. Indya on the other hand has struggled off and on with aging. The potential of a second child getting married had her slowly dying her gray hair again, feeling overwhelmed with anxiety and more fine lines peeking through her foundation slowly triggered her, until her husband confronted it.

It was the first time Darren lost his temper with his wife in a long time, but it was warranted. A point had to be made and sometimes Indya needs to hear the raw truth even if it comes out in a thunderous roar. They've got so much time, they've got so much love and every fine line, deep wrinkle or new gray strand is a testament to a simulated life that is fulfilled. So much so, that now, Indya has maxed out her pottery skill and opened a small boutique, the first thing on her bucket list (a business venture made possible with the help of a certain favorite attorney kept on a retainer).

There is so much more to come in this, the saga that never ends. What has Jerri and her family been up to? Will there be wedding bells and newborn squeals in the coming chapter, will there be lead roles and an admission of love for a bestie that is never too far away? Or will the progress made be snatched away as it all falls apart. I guess you'll need to stay tuned to find out.

[journeythroughjourneytothewest]

Chapter Recap 1: The divine root conceives, its source revealed; Mind and nature nurtured, the Great Dao is born

Hello to everyone, and thank you for a good showing on this first official “meeting” for the Journey to the West reading group. Many thanks to everyone who participated! You comments, memes, art, and meta was all wonderful. To end the day, I will provide a quick chapter recap for anyone who may want or need it. I  hope you all find it useful. Here’s looking forward to next week’s session.

---

Chapter 1 covers a LOT, beginning with the primordial figure Pan Gu’s construction of the Universe, the creation of Heaven, Earth, and Man, before we then zoom into Flower-Fruit Mountain. The focus is here put on an immortal stone which, “nourished for a long period by the seed of Heaven and Earth and by the essences of the sun and the moon,” becomes “pregnant with a divine embryo” (i.e. a stone egg), which later on, being “exposed to the wind,” is “transformed into a stone monkey.” Thus is the hero of Xiyouji created!

We then follow the stone monkey as he lives a life of feasting on the fruits of the Earth that Flower-Fruit Mountain provides and becoming friends with everything from tigers to deer to gibbons. And then one fateful day, while playing with a group of monkeys, all these simians decide to follow a mountain stream to its source. Encountering a great waterfall, the monkeys declare that “‘If any of us had the ability to penetrate the curtain and find out where the water comes from without hurting himself, we would honor him as king.’” The stone monkey is the only one to take on the challenge, and, jumping through the waterfall, he discovers a sizeable cave all ready and furnished. The stone monkey, delighted with his discovery, soon convinces the rest of the simians to jump through the waterfall and join him in the cave so that they might “spare ourselves from being subject to the whims of heaven,” i.e. the weather. And so the stone monkey “ascended the throne of kingship” and “assumed the title, Handsome Monkey King.”

The Handsome Monkey King and his subjects, “a flock of gibbons and baboons,” enjoy “their independence in perfect happiness” for “three or four hundred years.” Yet one day during a feast, the king “suddenly grew sad,” soon after explaining to his alarmed subjects that his sorrow comes from fact that though “‘we are not subject to the laws of man today, nor need we be threatened by the rule of any bird or beast, old age and physical decay in the future” will bring an end to their happiness. The monkeys are left weeping, “each one troubled by his own impermanence.” Yet from “among the ranks a bareback monkey suddenly leaped forth” and informs the Monkey King that the Buddhas, the immortals, and the holy sages “can avoid the Wheel of Transmigration as well as the process of birth and destruction, and live as long as Heaven and Earth, the mountains and the streams.” The Monkey King immediately resolves to “find these three kinds of people” so that he can learn how to escape death and be young forever. The monkeys are delighted at this idea, and declare that they will “send the Great King off with a great banquet.”

After an entire day spent drinking and feasting, the Monkey King has his subjects make him a raft, and he sets off in search of the immortals. When he arrives on a distant shore, he soon afterward catches and strips a man of his clothes so that he can wear them himself, “aping the way humans wore them.” The Monkey King then made his way “though counties and prefectures, imitating human speech and human manners,” always “bent on finding the way of the Buddhas, immortals, and holy sages, on discovering the formula for eternal youth.” Yet his search seems fruitless, as “the people of the world were all seekers after profit and fame; there was not one who showed concern for his appointed end.”

The Monkey King is unsuccessful in finding the immortals on one continent, though he spent eight or nine years searching. So he builds himself another raft and drifts across another ocean to another continent. Here he comes across a magnificent mountain, and here encounters a woodcutter that he mistakes for an immortal. Yet this man is neighbors with an actual immortal, and is thus able to tell the Monkey King how he can find “‘the Cave of Slanting Moon and Three Stars. Inside the cave is an immortal by the name of the Patriarch Subodhi, who has already sent out innumerable disciples.”

Finding the cave exactly as the woodcutter told him he could, the Handsome Monkey King nevertheless doesn’t dare to knock. And, being a monkey, he instead “jumped onto the branch of a pine tree, picked a few pine seeds and ate them, and began to play.” Yet doing so works out in his favor; an immortal youth, coming out both because his shifu told him to and to see who was making a disturbance, soon afterwards brings the Monkey King inside to meet Patriarch Subodhi.

As soon as he sees Patriarch Subodhi, the Handsome Monkey King “prostrated himself and kowtowed times without number, saying ‘Master! Master! I, your pupil, pay you my sincere homage.’” And indeed, after being questioned on where he came from, how he got to the immortal’s cave, and even on how he looks and moves, the Patriarch gives the Monkey King the religious name “Sun Wukong,” or “monkey awakened to the void,” accepting the simian as his pupil.

And so we leave the stone monkey, the Handsome Monkey King, the newly named Sun Wukong, at the beginning of his Daoist cultivation. We’ll see how successful he is at it next week.

[graymatterggfancomic]

Next time on Gray Matter!

“Kiyoo was telling me about Halloween, and about a sad pumpkin, looking for friends. I thought we were having a good time, but when I asked about his arm, he was being really mean and won’t tell me! Even when I told him I’d tell him where I got my bandanna so he can tell me! But yeah, everyone had these cool costumes, like Hiro, who was doing work for everyone that was taken away by the pumpkins. Kiyoo didn’t like that so we went to looking for them. But not only were they gone, but one of Kiyoo’s new friends with the kitty mask. Things got really bad, we fought, but I finally got my time in the spotlight with the help of my brother! And that’s how I saved Halloween!“

[combine-calhoun]

Chapter Recap

This will touch on important bits from each chapter and each thing will have a link to the chapter art. Will update as the blog goes on.

Chapter 0:  - It is noted a good bit of this chapter is a flashback - Gordon steps off of the train into City 17 and is pulled off into a side room by Barney - It is established they had a relationship - Once Gordon is sent off to Kleiner’s the flash back ends and we are met with Combine Barney (now known as Calhoun) - Calhoun says Gordon caused his combine-ification while Gordon denies this fact - It is stated something happened to Calhoun in Nova Prospekt but Calhoun refuses to talk about it - Calhoun is currently in the Citadel with Breen - Calhoun has a squad of 3 other operatives he works with (Lysen, Ash, and Carl) - Calhoun was harassed with a Snickers bar

Chapter 1:  - We meet Calhoun’s team of operatives. Ash, Lysen, and Carl - We take a trip back in time to when Calhoun was found out and dragged into Nova Prospekt for a reevaluation of sorts. (How he came to be evil fucked up momence.mp4) - Calhoun is said to be a very lowkey secret simp for Gordon - It is revealed that classic good ol Barney is still there in Calhoun’s brain. Though he can’t really talk much with Calhoun in the way - Calhoun called Breen a “moldy shower loofa” while pantless and drunk once - Ash is the queen of gossip over here

Chapter 2: Coming soon

[detective-redstar]

JOURNAL ENTRY N.03 || CHAPTER 4

|| This journal will act as a recap for everything that has happened during Chapter 4. This means there will be information that Airi would not realistically know. This is only for the sake of the recap. If you’re confused on who’s who, here’s a link to the roster page. ||

@despot-despair​

It’s been a while. I’m still struggling to pick up this pencil to write about what’s happened in this hell hole. I have to persevere though. If I die, this will be what I leave behind, after all.

I went to the library for the first time since it opened not long ago. I’ve been looking for something ever since Kotori died, and I thought that the library would be the perfect place to find what I was searching for. Even if it took me hours of reading, skimming through every book in that goddamn place, I would do it. Because I needed to know Kotori’s last words. I needed to know what they meant. 

Before she died - before she knocked me out, she whispered something to me. She gave me a code word. Myosotis. This one word has plagued me ever since I woke up to find the woman I loved dead. I was determined to figure out the meaning behind it. And I did.

Myosotis. A Forget-Me-Not.

I couldn’t stop crying when I found out. Sadness, frustration, and happiness all pooled together inside me. Kotori, I will never forget you for the rest of my life, however long that may be.

Shortly after the execution, Raiouji decided to cook up another scheme. This time, however, it wasn’t a motive for murder. Perhaps it was just more torment for his own pleasure. In any case, half of were deprived of our sight and the other half their hearing. No matter what we tried, the devices wouldn’t come off and we were forced to clumsily try to communicate with one another. It was hell. I still have bruises from all the shit I bumped into and tripped over. Any communication with those deprived of their hearing was done through blindly writing on paper, hoping it was legible. God... I don’t even want to imagine how terrible my writing must’ve looked. I already have horrid handwriting as is.

Soon, temporary respite came. Though it wasn’t any more pleasant than the sensory deprivation. Raiouji decided he wanted to play a little trivia game. So many secrets came out... some of my own, too. 

Caballero’s family seems to be trafficking drugs behind the scenes. Perhaps that’s why they’re so rich. And Caballero didn’t even know how deeply his dying mommy betrayed him.

Not only that, but his new pet was apparently bullied by his siblings and nearly drowned. They should’ve killed him and spared the world the agony of bearing his useless existence. After that, Yuu ran out of the room in a panic. Caballero went after him once the game ended and comforted him like a good owner should. They left to the infirmary.

Something happened between Caballero and Cai, it seems. I don’t know how or why, but Cai seems to have feelings for the rat. That came to light when Cai caught Caballero and Yuu kissing in there. A fight broke out and Cai started beating on Caballero. Good on him! It’s too bad he was stopped. It was also around this time that Ivy revealed she had feelings for Cai.

What is this soap opera!?

Anyway... back to the trivia game. There’s also a serial killer amongst us. How original! They weren’t named, but the knowledge alone was enough to shake everyone. I have my suspicions but that’ll be saved for another time.

And my own... on how Ritsuko, my mother, killed Kouta. I froze. I didn’t know what to think or what to do. As soon as the game ended, I left and stumbled around until I found the winery. I hate wine. I hate alcohol of any kind. It was during my flurry of horrible memories of abuse and trauma that I had an epiphany. Everyone around me believed me a monster. Who was I to deny them? I decided. I would become the vicious monster they wished me to be.

I threw away the Akahoshi name. I can’t ruin Akahoshi-san’s reputation more than I already have. I became a Seta once again; Kouta’s horrible last name that made me gag with disgust. It’s fine, though. I am a monster.

Another event happened, this time a ball, prepared by Caballero I think. People danced and socialized until Raiouji showed his face once again. He and Yunime decided there would be a talent show. 

The show progressed normally. Momo-chan seemed to crumble a little after her performance. I don’t know what that’s about. I decided to show off my amazing talent of insulting people! I must be a pro, ‘cause I pissed a lot of them off. Sorry, not sorry.

That Caballero though... That vile, disgusting, wench poured wine on me. I was repulsed. And furious. Seta was released as I threw away my own moral code of never inflicting physical pain on someone else. I choked Caballero, in front of everyone. It didn’t take long for them to spring into action to stop me. 

Unfortunately for me, they stopped me from killing the bastard. But seeing the pure terror in his eyes was enough for me to be satisfied.

A motive was finally given. This one ended up being the cruelest (besides the execution of loved ones). Sleep deprivation until someone committed murder. These motives. They’re getting out of control. 

I thought I was losing my mind after a few days. 

The next meeting would be during a new game, where we were all forced to present Yunime with the best bouquet of flowers. I gave her a bouquet of wilting flowers to show just how much I don’t care for her. I didn’t win, obviously. 

Then something... happened. Mukuro was back. She outed Yunime as a traitor. Raiouji freaked out and executed Yunime for her crimes. I didn’t know what to think of it. I was almost tempted to pretend to be a traitor just to rile everyone up, if I’m being honest. It seems that Cai and Caballero were the ones behind Mukuro’s repair. Do they know something? Did she know something?

With Yunime dead, there was no winner for our flower game. The reward was given to everyone. It was an envelope, with photos inside of four people.

I still don’t understand. None of this makes sense.

One thing was for sure: these people are behind something, watching us.

There wasn’t much time for rest, however, as someone was found dead. Kliment was dead in the ballroom. He was bleeding from his chest. Thankfully, everyone was given time to sleep before starting the investigation.

But the nightmare was only just starting.

Liya, who was alive during the investigation, was found dead in the winery. They died right as we found them. I couldn’t feel sympathy for those who were upset for their deaths. This time I took it too far and said too much, I guess. Even Hanae-chan got mad at me! The rest of the investigation was pretty awkward after that.

I didn’t have time to deal with it. Not when there was a mystery to solve. And so, everyone went to work as usual. It’s almost disturbing how normal it’s become for everyone. If I wasn’t already used to this, would I find it normal by now too?

The trial started as always. Although, this time everyone started saying all kinds of nonsense. I guess the sleep deprivation seriously messed with our heads, as people testified to seeing things that never happened. I had my own plan, though. I tried to frame Caballero by stealing one of the knives from the kitchen and claiming I saw Caballero stab Klim. I was found out pretty fast though. I’m kinda mad about that >3> All my hard work went to waste.

After some time, the truth finally came to light. Kliment and Liya killed each other. Liya stabbed Klim and Klim poisoned some tea for Liya. But... now what? There was no killer, at least not one that was alive.

Raiouji wouldn’t let it go. There had to be an execution, he said. Even if it were an innocent person.

Ivy sacrificed herself for us. Before her death, she was revealed to be the SHSL Lucky Charm. She was one of the few people I could possibly call a friend. And she’s gone. Just like Kotori. 

This is growing so tiring. I don’t know how much longer I can do this, honestly.

Signed, Airi Seta

[endlessnevrakis]

The Junior — Chapter 3 Recap

ok, so, first of all.

1. the beginning had me a lil shook, tbh, when mc didn't make a scene for the notes. i was so surprised that i actually had a tiny ounce of sympathy for pb.

2. but guess what. ZIG USED MC'S LOTION AND SHE SUDDENLY TURNED INTO MOTHER EFFING REDFIELD. BETCH, IT'S LOTION. GET OVER IT.

3. i was so over this fight and at that point i actually kinda regretted that they didn't fight over the notes, because the lotion thing was even more stupid. and that says a lot.

4. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE. WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE FREAKING LOTION? FLOWERS OF LA HUERTA. FLOWERS OF LA HUERTA. MY HEART BROKE AGAIN AND THAT'S THAT.

5. i bought a rug that i don't even like.

6. WE FINALLY GOT SOME ONE ON ONE TIME WITH OUR LI. F-I-N-A-L-L-Y. this is the biggest accomplishment of this chapter, i stg.

7. ABBIE GAVE ME RELATIONSHIP ADVICE AND COMPARED HER AND TYLER TO ME AND ZIG? LIKE, EXCUSE YOU?? WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?? now if she thinks she and tyler will EVER come close to mc & zig, she's higher than raj has ever been.

8. the house tour was actually pretty nice? like, the lil stories about vasquez were cute.

9. i LOVED the fact that there was no fratority bullshit in this chapter 💛

10. i have this feeling that mc and zig's relationship kinda became a lil more... static now that they moved in together? when i actually expected it to be the exact opposite? i hope, REALLY HOPE that pb won't mess with them, cause if they do, this app is over for me.

11. mc is dumb and doesn't deserve zig period

all in all, the chapter was still kinda boring, but it was way better than ch. 2. the only things i liked were hooking up with zig against a wall and the fact that, even though he and mc fought over a stupid thing, pb didn't drag it for too long.

[sarahdrewthat]

this was a good moment yep

[skiddomaster]

Chapter 226: "Wild" Review

We got some good stuff in Chapter 226! This chapter set up a buttload of problems for our sins to overcome.

We’ve got Meliodas trapped in one of Melascula’s dark cocoons. We have a force field around Camelot. The sins are fighting skeleton zombies that have the strength of Meliodas’s wrath. Plus with Melascula in the picture so early, we know that Ban is going to have to make a big choice pretty soon.

In addition to all of these exciting things that have been set up, we had some funny and cute moments with Escanor and Hawk. And who doesn’t love a good Hawk moment?

Not to mention, Melascula looked pretty damn creepy, but like in a cool way.

I liked this chapter a lot. It set up things and got our hearts racing and our mind craving for more. Overall, it was a pretty good chapter.

In the end, Chapter 226: Wild gets a 7/10 from me.