#first impressions

[howifeltabouthim]

He had seen her but once, but his impression of her was definite and lasting.

Agatha Christie, from The Mysterious Mr. Quin

[multiversehangout]

Latte and Mr P playing games together is gonna be stuck in my head for a while…what a fun duo

OH WAIT! Money! Handsome!

Can I ask what was your first impression of everybody? (Or just boss and Carrot if you don’t wanna list all of them)

handsome, huh?

careful, sweetheart~

keep opening questions like that and i might start expecting it.

as for first impressions…

honestly?

weird.

not because alternate timelines surprised me.

i already knew timeline-space was complicated enough to produce stranger things than another papyrus.

what got me was realizing how different everyone could be while still having little pieces that felt familiar.

same general skeletal architecture. wildly different coping mechanisms.

anyway.

since you asked.

carrot:

lazy. annoying. smarter than he wanted anyone to notice.

figured that one out pretty quickly.

you do not find that many loopholes by accident.

he understood rules well enough to know exactly where to bend them.

unfortunately, i found that entertaining.

look where that got me.

boss:

competent. disciplined. responsible.

painfully easy to irritate.

that last part became relevant very quickly.

i also noticed early that most of the aggression was defensive.

he likes order because he genuinely wants things, and people taken care of.

he just communicates that affection like a safety regulation.

coolskeleton95:

thought he would be the easiest guy here to read.

cheerful. sincere. loud. very og.

then i realized sincere and simple are not the same thing.

he notices more than people give him credit for, learns frighteningly fast, and apparently considers destroying someone at chess while praising their effort normal sportsmanship.

lesson learned.

never underestimate the sunshine one.

latte:

quiet. polite. probably harmless.

that assessment lasted until he started describing horror games like cozy afternoon activities.

still one of the easiest skeletons here to sit with, though.

no performance. no guessing games.

if latte says something, he usually just means exactly that.

mr. p:

controlled. selective.

very obviously accustomed to people listening when he speaks.

carrot treated every word from him like a rare server event.

i mostly watched.

silence like his usually means one of two things:

uncertainty or restraint.

mr. p was never uncertain.

that made him interesting.

mr. lovely:

first thought?

performer. observer. dangerous if given material.

took me a little while to understand the colors, because his face and voice were giving me absolutely nothing.

once i figured out the system, though?

much easier.

he does not create every disaster around here.

he just notices one happening and somehow has stage lighting prepared.

respectable skill, really.

ian:

competent. secretive.

knew exactly what he wanted and was very deliberately not telling us all of it.

his explanations were usually technically complete.

emotionally?... useless.

still, he kept his agreements.

so i learned pretty quickly that i did not have to trust every answer he gave me.

...

so.

not exactly the group i expected.

would not trade them, though.

...do not tell them i said that.

- ¢

[unnursvanablog]

I am still working my way through The First Jasmine (yes yes, I know it's been a month), because again I don't mind it enough to drop it but there isn't much about it that truly pools me in or make me addicted to it, and I am watching two other kdramas (that both only air on the weekend) but I am still going to check out The Road to Splendor because the trailer looked good, it is a historical drama and it has Ding Yu Xi in it.

And looking it up it has the same screenwriter and the director as Prisoner of Beauty, which I liked a lot despite that fumble of an ending (but so far all of the cdramas I have seen with Ding Yuxi have fumbled the ending so I guess that is what is in my future, but hey one might enjoy the journey until that happens).

And it just is just as pretty to watch, to the costumes to the cinematography and sets and even just colour grating and such as Prisoner of Beauty was.

It feels very grounded, quite similarly to The First Jasmine actually (which is what I tend to enjoy about that show), and so far (I am on ep 2) we are mainly going through the motions of getting acquainted with everyone and still setting the story up so the plot doesn't feel like it has properly started yet. It is very family politic orientated at the moment, with a interesting focus on the women of the family and the importance of finding a good match and virtue and everyone is very formal to each other and talks in riddles and metaphors and it is all very complex but really interesting.

I am far more interesting in that aspect of the story than whatever Ding Yuxi's character is doing atm about swindling some salt and whatnot. It all just feels like a plot device and stuff, but I don't mind it and I do have to say that he looks good in his fight scenes and I enjoy all his little micro expressions and so on.

But so far I do get a good sense of who the characters are and why they are doing what they are doing. They all seem to be grounded and have layers to them and while I don't find everything that every single one of them is doing interesting, I can see why it is being shown to me and why it furthers the plot. It doesn't feel like any moment is wasting my time. And I like that. You have to easy into the fillers imho, because we do have to care first.

And him holding that blade up to her neck at the end of ep 2 was some good drama. But it is the mundane and grounded domesticity of the plot, that is all just family dramas, is alluring to me. I can't really explain it better than it just had good vibes. Or maybe not good good, but like interesting good vibes.

[mayakoroz]

Unsounded First Thoughts (Continued)

I have finished Chapters 5, 6, and 7 and whew!! I think I have plenty to talk about and I wanted to make another post, so much has happened! I might take a little break for a week from reading and I think this would be a good place to leave off, but excited for more!

Warning, this is going to be a longer and more rambling than the first 😅

I've noticed that Sette has some sway over things associated with the Khert for a bit now. Examples include Boo, who takes a shine to her, Quigley's cloak (which he was surprised about), and the little small eel creatures in the Khert realm. In addition, she was able to effect the Khert world with her bare hands when the knife wasn't able to (again, to the surprise of others).

I have seen the lion creature from later chapters, but I can see through the context of Chapters 1 through 7 that there is some religious significance to the lion, specifically it seems to the Ssaelit. Duane had a lion on his robes and there were many lion statues in the background.

I add this under the bit about Sette having an effect on the Khert because she of course has a lion's tail! So it connects her to the divine. I also noticed that the color green seems to be between her and Duane; Sette's eyes, Mikaila's eyes, Duane's old robes...

This brings me to what I've gleaned about Ssael. He is said to have slain the Gefendur Gods and freed mankind from the Khert, that he was able to keep his memories. I almost wonder if Sette has a similar capability, but I haven't seen if she remembers her experience there yet! It seems like Duane didn't when he woke up but perhaps I am mistaken.

It reminds me of the Demiurge and Monad deal. With the Monad being the Khert and the Demiurge being the Gefendur Gods.

Another thing I was thinking a lot about in the Khert realm was how much it reminded me of Chaos in Paradise Lost! And the Hindu Brahman. What a vivid and striking place, I really appreciated its depiction. I have so many thoughts about the Khert and what it is but I will have to save it because it'd be too much rambling.

I wrote before in my first notes that Sette comments on how strange it was that Duane burned Cara. It seems the Gefendur bury their dead to return to Yerta while the Ssaelit burn their dead? At first I thought this could be so they avoid becoming plods but now I wonder if it is because they refuse the return to Yerta and wish to be freed from a cycle of rebirth. I wonder where they believe they go, if anywhere?

It's interesting to me how Tirna and Ssael seem to have similar associations of being rebellious or outside the norm. I'm seeing a theme of children rebelling against parents in general, as told by Timofey in his poem, Mikaila's stubborn spirit, Sette struggling with her task, Tirna, Matty, etc.

Real quick, the bit about rebirth reminds me of how much Mikaila is associated with butterflies; rebirth is the symbol that comes to mind. What form will she take in this rebirth? A part of me hopes I am reading into that too much and that she has truly moved on but something I noticed was in the last panel of Duane's murder I didn't see Mikaila... she could've just been out of frame though because her gloved hand was just before.

Another thing that I hope isn't true and I'm jumping the gun on is Lemuel possibly knowing something about the hit that was put on Duane... I did see Winalils being sus in the crowd before too.

I really love Sette's comments on Duane's memories: "I think he was only a Da all along" and also that she didn't want to know so much about him. It's easier to lie and manipulate a mindless attack zombie than Duane, the guy who died trying to protect his daughter!

Just making note that the first book was called the Corpse with No Eyes. Duane's eyes are usually shaded in the story but here we see they were poked out before he died. It's interesting to me especially since the Weeping Plague is said to be contagious through the eyes.

How unfortunately pertinent is the whole Alderode racial situation?? And the issues with borders brought up in Cresce? Just. Excellent worldbuilding. I have met people who would unironically agree with the line "Better they obliterate us entirely than insult us with minority status."

It is fascinating how idealistic Duane is to the point where he believes earnestly in the unity of the Aldish people where he says "How can we injure ourselves to heal a wound?" Which. I agree in principle with the sentiment. BUT, saying that about religious coexistence while society around him is heavily segregated by haircolor and even stratified by gender is just... wow. I adore the depth/illogical thinking because it makes him feel very human, especially when you can see how frustration is simmering under everything he does!! His pride and sense of superiority are at war with the reality around him and he just. Doesn't reconcile them!

Ok ok rapid fire things I loved:

Mikaila... 😭 omg her relationship with Duane was so special, it hurt when the inevitable happened. Hell, even Duane and Leysa's relationship was so wonderfully depicted. I really felt like I knew their little family even though I only saw a little bit of their life!

All the re-contextualization! We hear so much horrible stuff about the Black Tongues but already we're seeing there's more to it. Everything seems to have another viewpoint.

The way Duane and Quigley compliment and contrast each other is mwah, delicious. I want to pick them both apart.

Just. I wasn't surprised to enjoy Duane and Sette's dynamic because I knew enough about them to appreciate them before I read, but I'm excited/happy that I find I'm interested in the other characters! While I am eager to get back to the main duo, I am not disappointed at all to follow other characters for a while!

I have a lot more I could say but I don't want to make this too long 😅 I am not the most concise. BUT I did want to say that I am noticing a ton of thematic similarities/worldbuilding similarities between Unsounded and Elden Ring. Should I make a post about that? 🤔

If you read this far, appreciate <3

[unnursvanablog]

During the last week of my summer break I binge watched (well not really, I watched about two episodes per day) the first season of Flex x Cop before the second season came out for one reason and one reason only; Yoo Seung Ho is back in kdramaland being somewhat of the main villain. And I guess it's kinda annoying that they reveal it like that and not let us figure it out through the narrative but it is perhaps hard to have someone of Yoo Seung Ho's caliber in the cast and not let have people clock it immediately that he is there for some sort of significance within the story.

But then again the way they did the overarching secret villain in the first season was kinda obvious so I guess it just doesn't matter.

And while I did enjoy season 1 of Flex x Cop for the most part, as it is fairly entertaining even if it's also a tad bit silly but with a decent emotional core of the backstory and all of that, I would not really put myself through the ordeal of watching season one and now season two if I didn't have the promise of seeing Yoo Seung Ho playing a fun little villain role once again (since I do consider his Missing You character to be a villian and sure his absolute scene stealing role in Warrior Baek Dong Soo was more of an antagonist than a straight up villain) dangling over me like a carrot on a stick.

Because at the end of the day this is just a very silly, but entertainingly so, cop show where there are just a case of the week sort of format and one thing leads to another and it somehow all strings together. And that's not a genre that I am too found of. I can watch it though, unlike something like medical dramas which is the bane of my existance (may the gods help me if Yoo Seung Ho ever picks up one of those because oh how I will suffer).

I felt like there was a bit of a character regression going on here with Jin Isoo after the end of season 1 as he is back to being a social media star, brass and bold and despite going to goddamn cop school just kinda ignoring the rules and such and he has even moved from his mom's house and back into his old place(?) but I guess with Park Ji Hyun not being in this season it would be hard to have him being there and her parents being next door and all, idk.

And it's interesting that they are just kinda repeating that brass, arrogant rich kind that is kinda impulsive and often trying to hard to be cool vs the going by the book, annoyed female superior officer that is trying to rail him in but then figures out that he has a heart of gold and does give good results as a detective with Jung Eun Chae's character like they did with Park Ji Hyun's character… just in a slightly different font.

because if it aint broke why fix it. It's a common dynamic in these cop shows and it clearly worked in season 1.

And I was ready to be annoyed by that repetitive nature, and I was for a bit… like whole of ep 1 but then I kinda just figured that characters reverting a bit back to their old self and sort of repetitive story arcs and character beats and such so the humor lands and the dynamic doesn't change too much like a lot of those cop shows, especially the american ones (this is based on a Russian tv show but I think that was only the most basic premise) and once I sort of figured out that was what was happening I sort of just rolled with it.

It's not masterfully well plotted or super brilliant mystery that is always one step ahead of you or keeps you guessing to the end. It just sort of rolls with things, the story is fast paced with enough humour and action to be entertaining and also just kinda making your brain turn off so you just stroll along with the characters and are just along for the ride.

Because you can have like two whole episodes of bomb threats and everything and then the end result is just kinda… silly. And like what did I get after all of that… five seconds of Yoo Seung Ho at the end of ep 2. I will be look forward to next week for another 10 second glimpse of my boy.

He is clearly there to build up Ju Hye Ra past and some grievance she has about a case that she could not solve or whatever, sort of like the who killed Jin Isoo's mom? questioned that was lingering in the background in season 1 but for our female lead. So that is an old cold case that we are going to get sprinkles of here and there, that will then tie into the main story as evil people can't just stop being evil and so on.

standard cop show stuff.

[prole-my-tariat]

Anyone interested in letting me know their first impressions of me?

[karyasaarthi07]

Business Card Design: Make a Great First Impression

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[jessjustplay]

Currently Playing Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness - 5 Hours Update (First Impressions)

August 6, 2026

Any time I mention this game, someone tells me it's the worst game in the series or that it sucks. After 5 hours, I really don't understand why so much hate?? I'm actually having a lot of fun playing it, but... I do hate the pervy moments, and unfortunately Star Ocean: The Last Hope had this problem too. I don't know why we need to sexualize the female characters so much. It's SOOOOOO disappointing.

For example here, when we first meet the main female character, Miki, one of the main male character's buddies decides to say she looks "way more mature than I did at her age"... that's a fucking weird thing to say.

It was this Emma-Swan-looking dude. (If you have watched Once Upon A Time, you know the red leather jacket is Emma Swan's signature look.) And the blue-haired guy is Fidel. Or Fiddly, as Miki calls him. 😂

Anyway, there are two difficulty modes. I'm playing on Galaxy/normal mode.

I'm surprised magic is called Signeturgy in this game. I like the name Symbology more.

Another over-sexualization is the character Welch, who was also heavily sexualized in Star Ocean: The Last Hope. I think Welch is a recurring character, like Cid in the Final Fantasy games, but I only remember meeting Welch in The Last Hope. Anyway, she spends most of her time with her back to us bent over with her bottom in full view as she works on her experiments. Very weird.

This cartoon art and perspective while she works would have been better because it's pretty funny.

They've also made Miki a very vocal bossy girl, who also kind of flirts with Fidel? It's giving, "Yeah, you're really annoying but kind of cute and you think I'm cute, so you're alright." I don't like it.

And OH BOYYY~ Lady Brunelli aka Fiore is like possibly one of the worst female designs I have ever seen. This doesn't even show her backside, which is just as bad. Her breasts are barely covered but accentuated with the diamonds "perfectly" placed above them. When she walks, her entire body jiggles. It's. So. Fucking. Weird. (Again, because this was done on purpose but was completely unnecessary.)

So we have Miki as the "cute youthful girl" and Fiore as the "mature woman" and it seems any women older than them are just bitter. "One you've been around long enough, you start preoccupying yourself with thoughts of gloom and doom." WHAT?! She also said something about how she couldn't believe that Miki was out on her own, that when she was her age she was not out and about. Something like that. There's just way too much focus on age.

Anyway, as far as the story, it starts off with Fidel's country being at war and needing help from a different kingdom. His town has been under attack and he ends up meeting Victor.

The blondie is Victor, who looks like Ingus from Final Fantasy III. The background of this location is so beautiful. And here you can see Fiore has a tail which is one thing I do like about her design. Star Ocean has a cat-human species so it's always fun meeting them!

This was another moment that made me uncomfortable. Why was this little girl barely dressed? Later she is covered up and looks super cute but... whyyyyy!?!?? Again, this was UNNECESSARY.

In one of the towns, I came across these two. I recognize them from the promo art. I guess they'll join our party later. The man told Fidel that he was lucky to be traveling with such a cutie (I'm assuming he's talking about Miki) and then he says the woman he's traveling with is beautiful too. OKAY AND??? Why so much focus on the girl's appearance? FUCK.

"Now I want to do the laundry."

You have got to be fucking kidding me. I turned the game off after this scene, it pissed me off so much lol

Why would the game writers/game devs think this was a good scene? Miki stops and is like "wow the day is so pretty, what a great day to do laundry!" And you know what, sure~ but it is not necessary to make this a dialogue for the FEMALE CHARACTER. Why couldn't Victor say this? Oh, because he's a "warrior"? And Fidel is the main character, so he doesn't do laundry? I just hated that they made Miki say this stupid line.

Not only are the girls sexualized, but their favorite topics are food (which Miki talks about a lot) and laundry. Fuckkkk. Such terrible character direction. I'm so disappointed. I really hope the rest of the game is not like this.

I know I'm complaining a lot after saying "I don't know why people hate this game so much", but it's just frustrating seeing how the female characters are being portrayed so far in these first five hours. Especially because the game itself (exploring and the battles) has been a lot of fun. I'm already at around level 22 which is insane?? And I recently unlocked viewing treasure on the maps (super handy) as well as fishing, harvesting, cooking, and... something else that I forgot.

The Rush gauge is similar to the one in Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, except this one is better - I actually understand it. Kinda? It's basically like an overdrive/limit break gauge.

Actually, a lot of the battles are basically just like Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, but better. Even the enemies are identical, like these trees.

While I was walking around, I kept thinking "Man this feels like Tales of Zestiria" and when I had this map opened, it hit me that the design and font style is the same as Tales of Zestiria.

A lot of the world itself looks like Tales of Zestiria (and Berseria). Basically I feel like I'm playing Star Ocean: Till the End of Time and Tales of Zestiria. This is not a bad thing.

I really liked this sunset on the beach.

I left off with Fidel trying to help Relia back to her parents. Victor is going to take us to meet Fiore because Fidel and Miki think Fiore might be able to help figure out what the signet on Relia could mean.

I actually left the town to go explore and I'm backtracking now that I have the treasure chests visable on the map and I'm able to fish and harvest which is such a fun way to find items and money.

I really am having fun playing this game because of the seamless transitions between the battles and exploring, but I really need the hypersexualization of the girls to stop.