justapileofrats

[justapileofrats]

Pixal and Zane are often labeled as neurodivergent by the fandom, and I get that. I think that diagnosis is 100% accurate for Zane, and it's pretty clear that Pixal also has a level of trouble implementing social cues and norms, but idk. They feel different to me. Like while Zane is genuinely struggling to think the way his peers do, Pixal is just working across a cultural divide of some kind. And I feel like the ninja kind of treat her that way, like the foreign exchange student for which English is not her first language.

In conclusion, Zane is Autistic, and Pixal is European.

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AU where basically instead of Pixal getting dismantled and has her consciousness uploaded into Zane, it's the other way around

sooo basically main role Pix till Zane somehow gets a new body

also she gets his ice powers by default

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Cole and Kai are two sides of the same coin.

Both lost one or both of their parents at a young age and had to take care of things in their absence. This led to a sense of responsibility, whether heavily implied/canon or easily speculated/more fanon, that's interesting to compare when looking at how they act with the ninja team.

Arguably, Cole starts his ninja training by abandoning his responsibility for the first time in years and choosing to be selfish- choosing a secret ninja life over the dance academy his father chose for him. Conversely, Kai joined the ninja team in the pilot episodes because of his responsibility to his sister and wanting to make sure she was safe. Both decisions even center around their only remaining family member, and choosing to be a ninja over their inherited position that they didn't enjoy/had skill in (dance and blacksmithing*). Then once they become a ninja they diverge in how they respond to having a team. Cole puts his responsibility towards being a ninja, redirecting it into being a team leader. He's not super responsible, he's still a teenager after all, but with the team, that's okay because he has others to rely on. Wu is the one most in charge, so even as the leader, Cole always has their teacher. [Ironically being able to relax and take healthy amounts of responsibility instead of too much happens once he becomes a ninja and faces more and more life-threatening situations.] Kai, on the other hand, relaxes. He's been responsible for Nya and their family's shop since they were children. He now has friends and equals he doesn't have to care for and they can care for him. He's good at being a ninja, even if he struggled at first. He can be more casual and laid back now. He can still get protective, but being a ninja lets him break down his responsibility and build it back up in a healthier environment.

*im not saying kai's bad at blacksmithing, but he did bend a sword in the pilot so he at least didn't have the skill at that age.

[justapileofrats]

Movieverse is weird because what do you mean Cole screams "non-traumatised version of himself" all over???

He is just chilling there with his music, doing his own thing, no drama, no anxiety.

His dependence on music is pretty similar to his relationship with it before Lilly died in the main universe. So I assume Lilly is still alive in the movie universe. Meaning Cole never had to lose his passion for music.

Also his bully behavior. This is a thing present in both Cole's, but the movieverse is just... something else. Everything this guy says hits the nerves of someone. He doesn't care, he has to say that. Which is a trait from both his parents but more so Lilly's. Again, makes me think she's probably alive and influenced Cole as a person more than she did in the main universe.

Where I am going for with all these? I think for Cole, this universe is the perfect au. Never lost his mother to a longlasting, painful illness, never had to watch his father lose all his spark, costantly worried for his well-being, never had to lose the magic music had for him, going as far as to pick it as a career, just like he wanted to when he was a kid in the main universe.

I love movieverse Cole :(

[justapileofrats]

Absolutely, I love the Cole and wyldfyre duo, Cole looking after wyldfyre in ToS like “yup, this one’s definitely Kai’s” was fantastic, and he and Zane have some great lessons they could teach her. But I’m also torn because I love Kai and wyldfyre chaos duo and I feel like that’s more likely to happen. I do want to see different team ups between the newer ninja and the older ninja in season 3 for sure tho, there’s so many fun relationships and teaching moments to explore there.

Also, I think the whole “the earth is screaming” this was related to the merge quakes (at least, it’s a popular headcannon and makes sense to me). But we do ABSOLUTELY need to know what his little wu side quest was all about. Like, he told geo he’d tell him later and just left it at that. I’ve been wondering about it ever since I noticed they just kind of left it like that. They had a whole thing of him leaving with wu and then returning. Part of me feels like it might have been to keep him out of the final fight or something, but also if that’s the case why not just have him stay with the finders, idk.

We absolutely need more Cole focus at some point, he’s just been more of a side character and up until ToS has been pretty separate from the rest of the ninja. And I love him and wyldfyre so I’m always here for more of those two lol.

I have high hopes that wyldfire and cole will in some way be teamed up for the next season. I know that just because they weren’t in the teaser it doesn’t mean they’re not with any of the ninja at all, but still let me hope OK.

Since we still need to kinda cover whatever Cole did during that little journey floating magical ball Wu took him in and also the whole “the earth is screaming” stuff, perhaps he will be focusing more on that? And maybe Kai convinced wyldfire to go with Cole because he rather her go on a more tame mission with Cole than come look for a mentally deranged Jay.

Although I also rlly like the idea of Cole and wyldfire being with Zane. Wyldfire sticking with them for the same reasons as above. Also it would be better to not have them TOO divided because or else we’ll be flicking between way too many different storylines or whatever. I totally see it happening, for Zane Cole and wyldfire plus Pixal who’s very probably gonna join them to be a team next season. Perhaps that whole team is gonna be focusing on Cole’s whole, earth is screaming shit and whatever he saw on his trip.

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Ah, I am a fool, apologies and thanks for the correction! I need my eyes checked, not sure how I mixed that up lol (it was for sure the hat and I’m just hype to see Jay fight the ninja lol)

If I see one more mf watch the Dragons Rising season 3 teaser trailer and ask where Jay is, I’m gonna flip the FUCK out. HES FIGHTING KAI, LITERALLY FRONT AND CENTRE (to the left lol), LIKE, HES RIGHT FUCKING THERE

[justapileofrats]

Couldn’t have said it better myself! Someone needed to finally tell this to the “og fans” because it is getting fucking ridiculous. I can’t go one day online looking at ninjago content (especially on TikTok, holy shit, don’t even get me started on the ninjago “og fans” on TikTok) without comment sections being filled with homophobic and generally bigoted people.

Ninjago has always been a woke show, always, and that’s exactly why so many people are fans. We aren’t just going “ooh, ninja fights with magic powers that I remember from when I was 7,” we’re continuing to actively engage with the actual content of the show and taking the time to understand the messages of the show and appreciate the love and effort and messages of acceptance that have been the show since the beginning AND watching to cool ninja fights with magic powers.

Ninjago has never been a space for bigotry and hate, it has always been about acceptance and embracing what makes you different.

I originally wasn't going to say anything about this, but I've really had enough of people like this in the fandom so I'm just gonna spew facts because the homophobia in the Ninjago fandom is ridiculous and it pisses me off. Not only that, but them making fun of me and trying to insult me by calling me a "fanfic addict" as if fanfic writers don't make a large portion of this fandom lol.

News flash: NINJAGO HAS ALWAYS BEEN WOKE! ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH SUPERHEROES IS FUCKING WOKE! The Ninja saving the people in Ninjago City all the time? Woke. The Ninjago fighting injustices at the hands of villains? Woke as fuck!

People like this are the same people to say that "politics should be kept out of books and TV shows" while stating that "The Hunger Games" is their favorite series and the book sitting in their freaking shelves. Make it make sense. Sincerely, I hope that people like this stay out of the damn fandom in the future cuz I'm sick of it.

You are not (intellectually) superior because you prefer "OG Ninjago". In fact, true fans realize that there is no such thing as OG Ninjago and new Ninjago, there’s just Ninjago.

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a gentle “you don’t look well ..” trailing off into a “woah, hey, hey-“ as they lurch forward to steady, or perhaps catch, a most definitely sick character.

[justapileofrats]

5/5

Drix, Rox, Nokt, Kur, and Zarkt

[justapileofrats]

I may be looking to deeply into this, but hey, that’s what we’re here to do when hyperfixations lol. But anyway, after he’s learned to stop being insecure about his father’s gracefulness and embraces it, you can see him embellish more. Like when the ninja are travelling in a group, running somewhere, he’s always doing a flip or some sort of flourish over/around obstacles. I’ve just recently finished rewatching season 5 and in the episode where Jay takes he lead and they’re running across the roofs for example, when they hit the corner, everyone else moves around it as you would expect a ninja to, and Cole does this like handstand thing (I’m pretty sure, could be wrong, but he definitely adds more flourish than the other ninja.

I love that he has that balance of gracefulness from his dad and power from his mum, it makes watching him traverse and fight very fun. (Also, I never even made the parent connection before, but you’re so right, I love that).

I’m constantly thinking about how Cole is such a balanced mix of his parents. Obviously the first thing is that he looks like both of his parents (resembling Lou earlier in the show and then post-redesign more like Lilly, which is fun if you interpret it as him growing into his mothers features) but it goes past that right into his themes, fighting style, and morals especially.

So, his true potential episode has him lying to his dad and planning to steal the fangblade/blade cup. Everyone kinda knows this as the accidental coming out allegory but it’s VERY compelling to look at Lou’s reaction as him not even really being mad about Cole being a ninja. He seemed angry and disappointed in the fact that Cole wasn’t who he thought he was, in the sense of him not actually wanting to follow Lou’s footsteps and the fact that he was stealing the blade-cup. Lou specifically says these two lines; “I can’t be proud of any son who thinks stealing is right. And I’m not going to wait around to watch you make a mockery of our family’s legacy!” And then after their performance “more importantly I saw you fight. Those serpentine were up to no good, trying to steal the show, and I saw you stand up for what is right!”

(<- direct quotes are taken from this post by razzle-zazzle, which you should read btw, inspired me to finally write these thoughts down.)

(Also it’s worth noting Cole also denounces stealing later lmao, as seen in here.)

This is pretty direct proof that he values doing the right thing, and distinctly doing things the right way (<— also a trait cole VERY much shares). Which is something he did have to relearn and adjust upon understanding his son not doing exactly what he wants doesn’t have to be bad (self promo but this post goes into how Lou’s mindset affected Cole’s btw). The second statement is also very reminiscent of what Lilly says to Cole in MOTM, the “promise me you’ll always stand up for what is right” talk. To tie this together basically while MOTM is a very clear and thorough look at how Cole takes after Lilly, Lou is very present in his moral system too. Additionally, Lou is an incredibly passionate man, and clearly expresses and puts himself into dancing which very much mirrors how Cole treats being a ninja sometimes, and his arc about finding himself.

That segways nicely into the fact that Cole’s fighting style is ABSOLUTELY a mix of the strength and power of his mother, and the gracefulness of his father. You actually see Cole denounce his father’s grace by the way, way early before his true potential moment. He seemed insecure about it, which is certainly some kind of toxic masculinity thing because his younger self did not feel like that.

See, Way Of The Departed;

It compliments his arc about learning who he is, and becoming softer because of it really well. He doesn’t have to be insecure about his dad being elegant, because that isn’t a bad thing. He can learn to love dancing in his own way to, in a way that’s safe and his. He can incorporate it into how he fights, and this is something pointed out by @/razzle-zazzle but the tripple tiger sashay resembles an attack too.

Basically, Cole is both his parent’s child, and they equally influence the person he’s become, but he’s not just an arbitrary mix either. He takes the legacies of both and molds them into his own, for the better. He finds balance! It was always about balance with him.

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Bro I love that his VA actually said this lmfaooo

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happy ninjaposting friday your ninjapost is this joke titled I Loved Season Four And Have Drawn Like 3 Different Versions Of This Same Joke

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I really appreciate Cole and Zane’s gay little workers union + revolution subplot in Season 4. Like okay unite the working class while Jay spits out one liners and Kai acts heterosexual 🤪

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Thinking about how Zane just came up with a plan to gain the trust of the Sons of Garmadon, that involved letting Cole get captured. (Yes, in case it wasn't clear, it was part of this plan to get Cole to sing and put on the "wrong song" to get the spotlight on him.)

And the best part of that plan was... Zane had no plan for rescuing Cole. Zane, the calculating machine, didn't bother to map out an escape plan for Cole. He just fully believed that Cole would be able to escape on his own.

And you know what? Cole did escape on his own, using nothing but his own wit and strength (and terrible singing). And he never bore a grudge against Zane for using him and putting him in danger without even telling him first.

These guys just have 1000% trust in one another and I am here for it.

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They proceeded to recreate all of motm. Geo got to dress up as the munce queen and felt very smug about it.

(We are pretending it is still Halloween for me and not past midnight since an hour. Thank you.)

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I’ve always seen Jay as the skill monkey, especially after he is kind of removed from the inventing and mechanics role. If they need someone to be good at a certain skill, Jay’s a great option, especially with how resourceful he’s proven to be in his focus seasons when he is forced to work alone, but often in other seasons too (like his rollerskating in season 4).

I absolutely agree that he has some of the most creative and adaptable ideas, and is the most creative and adaptable of the ninja. He works really well to drive the team when hope and morale is low, and at getting them out of a tight spot.

Thinking about Jay’s role in the team, and I know I’ve mentioned before that Jay’s main themes are family, and that if given the choice between his close circle of loved ones and the greater good he’ll choose the former, but also another thing that sets him apart from everyone else is the reason why he’s a ninja. With characters like Zane and Cole it’s mentioned multiple times that their purpose is to take care of others, those who can’t protect themselves. Nya and Kai also have this duty/responsibility theme that makes a lot of sense considering the circumstances they both grew up in, and that they both have in common that they want to prove themselves at first and then focus on the role that “they’re supposed to” play (aka; Kai accepting that his role isn’t to be the green ninja and that his duty is to protect Lloyd, and Nya accepting to stop being the samurai X which was her way of proving herself even without being a ninja and in the end becoming the water ninja). Lloyd has a mix of all of this because he's constantly the chosen one in every situation since he was 10, and it's all he knows as a way of life, but back to the topic:

Jay has nothing to do with this.

And I'm not saying that Jay doesn't care about helping people, or anything like that. It's just that it's very interesting that he's the furthest away from having this motivation to be a ninja. Even Wu, in one of the books, confirms that Jay in the pilots saw the opportunity to be a ninja as an excuse to have exciting adventures after a rather humble life in which Jay was going from one hobby to another.

And while the other roles in the team always come back to the theme of protecting others and all that, the reason why Jay is chosen instead is because he's a dreamer. In the flashback and the Ninja of Lightning book Wu explains that the reason he chose Jay was precisely because he had this ability to think outside the box and motivate others with his sense of humor. In almost every first season there is an instance where Jay quickly adapts to a situation just by seeing the other side of things that others don't see, and having this amount of skills: He's the one who discovers how to do spinjitzu, who finds the temple of light, who adapts first to space/digiverse, who does best in the Ninja Roll episode, etc. It's not that Jay is the smartest or strongest, but give him anything and the guy, in some unconventional way, will try to take advantage of it and build a spaceship out of literal scrap metal.

There aren't really many examples of this in the later seasons, BUT, it's worth noting that Wu also chose him because Jay knows how to motivate others with his sense of humor. And what does he do in S12 when he's separated from the others and trapped in a video game? He makes a resistence to oppose Unagami and inspire people who were also trapped in that game.

With all that being said, I just wanted to point out how distinct Jay's role on the team is and his motivation for being a ninja in the first place. It's not like he has this heroic duty, or necessarily wants to do justice, he's just a guy with a normal life who wanted to have exciting adventures and tap into this creativity of his and do some good in the process if it ended up working out. Which is sad with how things are right now but whatever…

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I may have to use some of this for my oc, not for any nefarious reasons of course..

Although it could be considered relative, Test Subject has decided not all days here are created equal.

There are the days they are left alone in their cell, like a book forgotten on the shelf of a library. Those are the dullest of their life but there is solace that they aren’t actively being cut open.

Then there are days of trials. Sometimes injections, sometimes infusions, sometimes inhalants, sometimes surgeries where the Test Subject doesn’t even know what occurred because they were unconscious for it. Then they only see the aftermath.

And then there are the measuring days. At least that’s what they call them. TS probably shouldn’t like them, going poked, moved around, blood lost by the bag that leaves them struggling to lift their arms. But at the same time, the X-rays, the MRI’s, the swabs, although they are all capturing and removing things piece by piece from TS, it feels like the least is being done to them.

They know. They know the logic didn’t make sense- lull days they were left completely alone. But on those days they became afraid that maybe they were no longer useful. Maybe their final test had been run, maybe they were slated for expiration next. They couldn’t know and that was made those days just as invasive as the days that unknown vials made them tremble, vomit, and stopping breathing.

At least on “measuring days” the techs didn’t talk as much. They just picked up limbs and manipulated, just like a doll. One liked to hum. TS could relax here. These days they didn’t usually even notice when canulas went in.

And to think they used to be so afraid of needles.