Let's Play Dead Space: Extraction (Parts 6-8)

After many moons I return to the horror.

Shipping Confessions: Sifay (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)

Among many of the fandoms that I am in, I am a Whedonite. A Whedonite is a fan of Joss Whedon. Whedon recently made The Avengers and his show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (which I will call AOS for the remainder of this post) is airing as of this blog post.

AOS takes a look at the S.H.I.E.L.D. members who don't have super powers and is a glimpse into the every day life of an agent. The cast includes Phil Coulson and Melinda May among others. As AOS is still in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), there have been cameos from characters from the films.

The cameos include: Nick Fury, Stan Lee, and Sif.

This will be a first for Shipping Confessions as this pairing has only one episode together. I am hoping that they'll have a chance to be reunited again.

The ship of today's post is between Melinda May and Lady Sif. Someone on Twitter gave me the shipping name of Sifay so thank you very much person whose name I forgot!

Melinda May is a fierce fighter and has earned the nickname of "The Calvary". She doesn't like the nickname used, however.

She's loyal to Coulson but she seems to have other motives for helping him. May does reassure him on numerous accounts and there seems to be a very deep friendship between them, whatever May's ultimate allegiance is. Not necessarily romantic, but like a long-time friendship.

May looks at everything as how useful it will be for a mission and so at one point appears to help Skye get kicked off. However, it's later revealed that May did so so that Skye could work the mission better.

In short: May is someone you would never want to fight against.

Lady Sif is an Asgardian warrior. Besides her cameo appearance in this episode, she has been in both Thor movies. She has also shown herself to be a woman who is also not to be messed with.

In the first Thor movie she, with some other Asgardians, go down to check up on Thor. Yes, she is a love interest for Thor but the guy has his eyes set on the Misgardian (aka human) Jane. So there is a little jealously.

However, she is able to overlook her jealousy and helps Thor escape with Jane in Thor: The Dark World. So it's not like emotional ties would be the end of her. She knows when to let her emotions in and when to keep them out.

In the episode she is in ("Yes Men") she has obviously been hurt by Lorelei in the past, but doesn't let her hatred of the woman make her act foolish or slip in any major way. If Lorelei had thrown some of those burns at me I might've broken.

And the episode "Yes Men" really shows why I like this pairing so much and would love to see Sif appear again so I have more moments to add to this ship.

May and Sif are very much alike and the plot of the episode seems to go out of its way to show that. Even though it might be so that Sif can give useful information, it also gives the viewers a look at how well the two could work together.

Both May and Sif are able to put emotions out of the way when on a mission. Even though their emotions effect them more than they think, both are able to get through the mission of capturing Lorelei without their emotions causing too many problems.

Both May and Sif have lovers that Lorelei has used.

Both May and Sif are loyal to their causes. They are both warriors in their own rights.

There is a scene in "Yes Men" that really highlights the similarities between the two. Sif seems to know that May isn't telling the full truth because looking at the other woman is like looking at herself. There is a sense of bonding between the two throughout the episode and I highly suggest checking out "Yes Men" to see what I'm talking about.

Before I announce the next ship I must remind you why this post isn't as indepth as others: there has only been one episode with the two. While I can start to ship something in one episode, I can't put a lot of things up about it. I am posting this now because I'm unsure if Sif will return or not. And, if she does, I might do a special Shipping Confessions where I put an update about my feelings on Sifay.

What will I talk about in the next Shipping Confessions? A tough human and a sassy wizard ship from The Dresden Files! I will admit I haven't finished Cold Days yet and I tried to do a brief search to see if it's canon now or not. From the brief search it appears not so I'm going forward with that information in mind.

Picture From HERE

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Shipping Confessions Table of Contents

New Steamwork Devonti and Torrent

Ah, the dancing is delightful and new Steamwork pets have been added! Yep, more lovable mechanical pets can be yours to own and treasure.

The Steamwork Devonti seems like it's ready for a fight. It just looks really angry to me and I don't think you should dismiss it. It's metal, it can do serious damage if it wants to.

The Steamwork Torrent has such beautiful eyes. Its blue eyes are just mesmerizing. It looks more playful than scary.

Mean Green Shagging Machine 6

-This is a Mature Story (if in content if not plot)
-It's a The Avengers/Aliens fanfic
-It's a Bruce Banner/The Hulk fanfic

You can read it HERE

Pretty Little Liars (Season 4)

Show: Pretty Little Liars

Season: 4

Episodes: 24

Executive Producer: I. Marlene King

Released: 2013-2014

Rating: 3.5/5

Basic Plot: Four friends band together against an anonymous foe who threatens to reveal their darkest secrets, while unraveling the mystery of the murder of their best friend.
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Dark Plots
This show doesn't go dark like some shows I watch (looking at you, Hannibal) and so saying part of Pretty Little Liars is dark isn't usually saying much. But this season we got a look at Spencer's drug addiction. They did that very well and I was so hoping that Spencer would turn out to have been a murderer. Though I was disappointed by where that plot line went, but I had already guessed the show wouldn't go down that road as it's currently airing on abcFamily, I was delighted by where the Alison plot line ended up by the finale.

Ezra Fitz
I am one of those people that wanted Ezra to be A. As an English Major, it'd delight me to no end to see an English Teacher be a bad person. While you may think us English Majors just quietly read and write, we can be deadly! Anyways...a mystery of this season is if Ezra is A or not. How that mystery is resolved really hits Aria in the guts because she trusted and loved the man. It was really great for Aria to not immediately go back to him and say everything was fine.

Film Noir
There was an episode that was a film noir styled one. The reason in story to do this was that Spencer was hallucinating from taking drugs. The episode was beyond wonderful and the girls all looked great in their outfits. The episode is called "Shadow Play". Even if you're not a fan of the show, that episode is good for the style alone.

Final Thoughts
This season did go darker than previous ones, especially the Season Finale. Caleb ended up leaving the show and went to star on the spin-off show Ravenswood. No, I haven't seen an episode of that show but might in the future. Especially if any of my readers wants to know my opinions on it. There are so many questions at the end of this season that I can't wait until Season 5 starts!

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (Holding it Together)

We meet again. This time after continuing to get out of the crumbling ship. It wasn't as hard as the last part, at least there was no big jumping parts like last time. I'm not very good at balancing myself, or Starkiller, so that made the jumping sections from last time extremely difficult for me.

So let's get started!

Again there is not much in the way of plot in this section. There are some actual character interactions between Starkiller and Kota at one point. But the majority of the level is the lovely business of kicking ass and taking names.

There are the usual enemies. At one point Terror Troopers come out of nowhere. It, sadly, took me a minute or two to realize that's what was going on. But when I did, I dealt with them rather swiftly. I really like the Terror Troopers and would love for a whole level to be made up of nothing but that enemey.

During the Terror Trooper part, if you go back the way you came, expect a wise quip from PROXY.

There is a section where you have to stop some droids from overheating the ship. My way to win was to use Force Pull to get the shields away from the droids and then run around until my Force Energy Bar was full and then to attack using Force Push and Force Lighting until I could use Force Rage. I tried to line them all up and take them down with Force Rage at once but I wasn't able to pull that off.

Near the end of this part you run into Kota and the two of you fight off wave after wave of enemies. It's nice seeing Kota provide some use besides the constant nagging. I used Force Rage a few times but I really should learn to aim that power better. I would spend time filling up the bar for Force Rage and then I'd use it on one enemy.

It's a total waste if you are fighting a bunch of enemies and only use Force Rage on one. It looks cool, but it's far from a good move.

You and Kota then go to the bridge. It's there that it's decided that to take down the Planetary shield by using The Salvation to disable them. Kota first orders his men to abandon the ship and then leaves the ship via the Rogue Shadow.

Starkiller then enacts that plan. What follows is a series of quick time events. My mistake was just making the motions with my wrists and not using my arm to make big gestures. So it took two to three times to get it right. If you're not a dumbass like me, it'll take you one time.

The next part will begin with Starkiller having arrived on Kamino.
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All of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II

Animorphs Re-Read: #5 The Predator (Chapters 9-12)

 Chapter 9

The chapter begins with the gang on the house lot next to Chapman's house. The former owners had moved out. The group starts discussing why the former owners would leave and Jake decides the reason isn't unimportant since it's convenient for them.

During this sort of discussion it's brought up that you can't tell who is a Controller just by looking at them. Family and friends will still act like themselves even after they are infested. Though some changes do happen as before Jake had found out Tom was a Controller he had stopped playing basketball.

Marco feels nervous about morphing an ant and I don't blame him. My reason is different since I know the hell that will be released shortly.

Tobias reminds everyone, again, that his eyesight isn't great during nighttime but he should be able to watch over the rest of the Animorphs during part of their mission.

Jake says it's time for the mission to begin as Chapman should be at a meeting of The Sharing. Another recap happens that explains both The Sharing and that Tom is a Controller.

Marco makes mention of the fact that you can't go from one morph directly to another. He uses Cassie as an example. Er...not going to mention that Jake tried that trick in The Visitor and it didn't work. No? Okay.

There is a buildup of tension and now I am really nervous. I'm not saying that for dramatic effect, I am seriously nervous here.

The group begins to morph ants.

Even before the main event I'm getting nightmare fuel. Marco is watching Cassie morph and oh dear lord!

Marco finishes his ant morph and then the ant mind rises up. And how Marco describes the ant mind is just creepy.

He says that the ant mind doesn't feel hunger or fear. That's very good. But he also has lost a sense of self. Of identity. How the hell did I survive childhood when I read this?

Marco's ant mind realizes it's in a different territory. He knows that enemies will be coming soon and there will be a fight. He also searches for food to bring back to the imaginary colony. Meanwhile Tobias is trying to talk to the others...which is unsuccessful.

As Marco walks to a dead beetle, Tobias continues to yell for them to get control of the morph. I really don't envy Tobias as not only can't he go on certain missions, if shit goes wrong he can only watch.

It slowly starts to dawn on Marco who he really is. He screams so loudly that Tobias probably nearly dies of a heart attack. Marco and Ax both comment on how it was like they didn't exist for a little bit. As this is going on Tobias is begging them to demorph.

As the group debates demorphing or continuing on the mission Tobias says he spots another group of ants. Oh, god! It's going to happen!

Jake asks if everyone is in control now, but Marco comments that you can't really be in control of an ant. There is really nothing to control and so the non-existence of the ant mind makes it hard to control.

Cassie gives a suggestion on how to use the ant eyes. After that bit of info the gang is able to start to head in the correct direction.

Tobias has to fly away from them as it would look suspicious if Chapman saw him. I really do pity that he isn't able to help his friends as much as he'd like.

Suddenly Marco is aware of enemies, aka ants, that are coming towards him. But his ant brain doesn't feel fear and it just knows that there will be a battle to the death soon.

Well...I guess the real terror is next chapter.

Chapter 10

As the gang starts to enter the Chapman house they sense an enemy. They don't have any idea of who or what the enemy is and so Jake says to just continue and hope the enemy isn't around.

Rachel is briefly startled when an ant goes by her. They decide not to pay the smaller ant. Oh, yes, I'm sure that small ant won't tell the others in its colony that there are ants from another colony in its colony. Oh, yes, I don't see anything bad happening from this.

Ax senses a breeze so the others follow him.

The descriptions Marco has of what the ant mind sees are...hard to describe but awesome nonetheless. You can just imagine being an ant and walking around.

As the group decides they're in the right spot, Marco is there to remind them of how the ant mind perceives things. He reminds them that they can't properly tell if they're on the ceiling, wall, or floor. Marco is the reluctant Animorph right now, but he does care for the group.

Since he wants to get out of the ant morph so badly, he offers to be the one to go first and check.

Once Marco is demorphed he realizes he could accidentally crush one of his friends and so moves extra carefully. Marco turns the light on.

After Marco gives a signal with the lights the rest of the group demorphs.

Cassie talks a little about how she doesn't want to go back to ant morph again. Marco doesn't say much as he's too freaked out at the moment and if he talks about it he might lose it. I remember the ant morph being terrifying, but holy fucking shit am I about to piss my pants. And we're not even to the main event!

Rachel confirms they are in the right room.

Ax starts looking for the transponder. There is one sentence that I am going to take out of context from now on in case I ever start shipping Ax and Marco.

Ax is surprised that Marco can used an advanced computer they found. Ax tells him to go back to a document that is announcing the arrival of Visser One. Of course Marco is surprised that Ax, an alien, can read the alien language that the documents are in.

Ax talks about the Yeerk hierarchy and says that Visser Three is the only Yeerk with an Andalite host. He also mentions that Visser One has a human host. I wonder which human Visser One's host is...

Once Ax has found the device they morph back into ants. Cassie tells them that ants are extremely strong for their small size. Good bit of info. Too bad there's a bit of info she forgot.

Cassie, Rachel, and Ax go to carry the device. Marco's reaction is best described as, "Holy shit! That's unbelievable!"

Marco and Jake clears the way for the other three.

Without warning a huge army of ants comes towards them. Oh my god! It's finally going to happen!

Chapter 11

The attack from the ants occurs suddenly and viciously.

What makes this extra scary is that they're afraid of dying in an animal's body. Not just any animal's: but one of the most unnerving morphs so far.

Just imagine dying but as something else. Something that is so far removed from human it's almost alien in nature.

Rachel, the warrior, is scared shitless at this point.

And...oh my fucking god! Is this for kids? How the fuck did I not die of fright when I was younger. HOLY FUCKING SHIT!

Marco describes the ants as machines. They are ripping the Animorphs' legs off, biting at their necks, and generally just trying to tear the Animorphs apart. Holy fucking shit!

Marco yells at the others to demorph since they can't win the battle as ants.

As he demorphs, Jake seconds the motion and some ants continue to try and rip Marco in half.

Marco is underground and explodes out of the ground and Jake is on top of him. And here is yet another line I'll take out of context in the future: Jake was on top of me, pushing against me as he grew.

Tobias starts off the rounds to making sure everyone is okay. Jake asks Cassie if she's okay and there's another cute Cake moment for all us shippers!

Rachel won't stop stomping the ground and Marco says to not do that again anytime soon. Yeah, I wouldn't like to experience that ever again. And yet I've re-read this book so many times that I'll probably experience it again in the future.

Marco makes a joke to help lighten the mood. And I think the Animorphs laugh for the same reason you laugh at jokes in math class. It's not that the joke is funny, it's just everything is so boring (in the Animorphs' case: scary as shit) that you will laugh at the lamest of jokes.

When Marco gets home and showers he finds the head of an ant still locked onto him. That is...arg! You go home after a battle and there is your enemy still on you.

Marco then goes on to philosophize about how deadly ants are. That humans can't even begin to imagine the level of violence an ant is capable of. He ends the chapter by saying that it wouldn't even take ants a week after getting nuclear weapons to end the world.


Chapter 12

Marco, as well as the others, can't easily forget the memory of the previous night. Of nearly being torn apart and dying as ants. Marco says that it's not easy to forget terror and I agree with him. Even after years of not picking up this book I could still recall the terror of the ant morph.

But the Animorphs aren't the only ones having problems. Marco's Dad is getting worse as the anniversary of his wife's death gets closer.

Marco says he thinks one day one of the Animorphs is going to snap. He points out that his Dad snapped.

His Dad used to be an engineer/scientist, but when his wife died he lost it. He ended up having to quit his job and ended up taking up jobs that paid a lot less. So Marco started living poorer than he was used to. But Marco says that it didn't bother him about the lack of money, what bothered him was that he lost his Dad.

Here is yet another example of Marco showing that he's a three dimensional character. He doesn't exist solely to make wisecracks, he is an actual person too.

Marco sits at a table during lunch with Rachel. Xena Warrior Princess is obviously disturbed by the ant thing. So when Jessica, seeming to be a person that thinks she's tough, bumps into Rachel it sets the Animorph off.

All the bottled worry, anxiety, and fear from last night drive her to shove Jessica.

Marco sees that it's up to him to stop Rachel and so he tries to intervene. He ends up getting hit, whether accidentally or not is never said, by Jessica for his troubles.

I admit it is a little funny to me having Marco get hit when he was trying to help. Sort of like the beginning of this book.

It is a short time later that the three find them in Chapman's office. This must be extremely creepy for the two Animorphs as they know what Chapman is. They know he isn't the one that's in control of Chapman's body.

So when Chapman asks if Rachel is stressed out about something I have to laugh. Not because it's funny in a happy way, but funny in a scary way. Rachel could reply that she's stressed out about fighting the Yeerks and nearly getting ripped apart as an ant the previous night. She could add that she had morphed an ant to steal something from Chapman.

Marco has the same thought process, except that he really thinks Rachel may say that. So he intervenes.

He does so in classic Marco fashion by implying that both Jessica and Rachel were fighting over him. This is because they are both madly in love with him. Jessica is shocked and angry, but Rachel says nothing since she knows the guy is helping them out.

After they are dismissed from Chapman's office, Rachel tells Marco to keep his sense of humor. She admits that it annoys her a majority of the time, but that the group needs it to keep it together. I also likes how she says that Marco seems to be in control.

The chapter ends with Marco making a joke of truly believing Rachel and Jessica were in love with him.
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Animorphs Re-Read Table of Contents