🌶️ I've started appreciating vegetable-based dishes as I get older, which the parents find endlessly amusing. Tangentially related to this, I randomly remembered the giant container of homemade laing Mom's friend sent over a while back. I usually avoid spicy food but this was so good. If you're interested in a spicy veg dish, here's a recipe. (Grain of salt: I can't vouch for how good the recipe itself is, as a non-cook.)

📚 I've started a re-read of Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer before jumping into the sequel books which I still haven't read but now finally own. Still very engaging! I wonder what details I'll pick up during this second read.

✒️ Settled on which Saiyuki WIP I want to try and finish before the end of the year. I started out planning it to be mostly from Goku's POV but realized halfway down the first page that it'd be funnier from the POV of the rest of the group. I'm just winging it, as usual, so I've got no idea how long this is going to be, if the lighthearted vibe is going to stay throughout, etc. 😆 We'll see where I end up when I get there.

⚠️ Mild spoilers

The Fantastic 4: First Steps (7/10)

I saw the 2005 and 2007 Fantastic 4 movies in theaters when they first came out but wasn't particularly interested in seeing the 2015 remake when it was released. Wasn't particularly interested in seeing this one either, though I also wasn't against seeing it with the family when someone floated the idea.

I found this much more interesting than the early 2000s versions, mostly because of the retro-futuristic aesthetic. (Though to be fair, I don't really remember much about the earlier versions.) I hadn't seen any trailers beforehand so it took me a moment to process what I was seeing. Very cool! The sisters and I were also all so enamored with Sue's maternity uniform. So, so cute!!

Two things I felt strongly about in this movie:

( Cut for mild spoilers. )

Random stuff:

• I was hoping for more Ben/Rachel. I thought they were very cute!
• Very much enjoyed the banter between Ben and Johnny.
• Cackled that Sue would rather have a dude with literal rocks for skin catch her delicate newborn baby rather than her own brother. Is that supposed to imply that Johnny's super clumsy?
• No strong feelings about Johnny/Shalla-Bal but wouldn't be opposed to seeing their relationship explored in a sequel (if we get one).

Yve's my first mage in Mobile Legends so she's got a soft spot in my heart even though I don't really use her that often these days. (It's a combination of me usually ending up as Roamer under the new lane picking system and other players apparently not being familiar with her skillset so I get frustrated at the missed opportunities for combos when I solo queue.)

I was surprised when Yve got buffed in a recent patch because I'd always gotten the vibe that she was kind of ignored by developers and players. And! Not only did she get buffed, they gave her a gorgeous new skin!

It is, unfortunately, not a free skin. I've managed to avoid shelling out any money for Mobile Legends even though there are a handful of skins I really, really want. Flame Lotus almost got me to pull out my wallet, though 😆 It's just so pretty!