#‘cure’ is going. then after it’s successful ahhhh )

[endawn]

pax going to tevinter so dorian can help with finding a ritual for his possession ( the blood ritual binding his soul with hunger is what makes everything a bit precarious ) but eventually swinging downwards to nevarra ? to find help there? after the ritual is done, they’d be in the area to help the dav crew.

[bladekindeyewear]

HS^2 bloggin’ mainline 2020-09-29

More Homestuck time!  Continuing on the outside-canon plot.  Livebloggin’ starts now...

> CHAPTER 14. The Best Laid Plans

Wait, who’s house is this?  Was this Roxy’s?  (When I saw a glimpse browsing my twitter feed during the debate, I saw Yiffy on the ground accosted.)

> (==>)

THEY’RE JUST HOME?!?!?????

HOW???  HOW could the heat be off so badly?

Jane’s arrogant, but one of the CHARACTERISTICS of her arrogance is that she underestimates the character and capability of her political opponents.  How would she NOT consider the possibility that these kids would return home again even while the heat was on??  How would she assume that JOHN would be too smart to come back to--

...oh right, she may not know John is involved or willing to do anything.  That’s fair.  But the kids??

I’m sure there’s going to be SOME sort of explanation of why the heat is off.  Also, I wonder who made that anti-Jane battle plan chart?  John himself, or Karkat or something?  Karkat’s usually the chart-er.

JOHN: wow, i feel like i'm barely keeping myself sitting. JOHN: if it weren't for keeping you kids safe i'd be out there right now!

Hm.  Are they counting on the fact that Crockercorp would KNOW that John and Vriska are both there to intimidate them from moving in against them?  From a sheer difference-in-firepower standpoint after Vriska’s big display?

HARRY: and some of us aren't gods and shit. JOHN: i'm detecting a hint of judgement in your voice, there, harry anderson JOHN: don't you enjoy being a part of all this? finally getting to be in the thick of it all? HARRY: i mean i was having a fine time at school, if i'm being honest. HARRY: all this tear-assing back and forth between my home and various points of interest over the past few days has me pretty beat.

Yeah, most kids don’t appreciate being involved in war.  Even Vrissy immediately showed some regrets no matter how much she liked to think of herself as wanting to get out there.

HARRY: also i wouldn't call this "the thick of it all" JOHN: oof, getting air quotes'd by my own son. JOHN: we had to hide in a forsythia bush on the way back here when that drone flew by! JOHN: that's the thick of father-son hijinks if i ever saw it! JOHN: well, modern day war hijinks, but i'll take what i can get, you know??

(Be more considerate, John!!)  Hm, so they DID sneak their way back in here?  I mean, John’s powers may have helped them get through unnoticed, but this is still a big stretch.

HARRY: i'm not knocking the old adrenaline thrill, or helping out Vrissy's moms or anything. HARRY: i'm just saying i was literally just here and you told me to leave, so i hope this is where we're gonna park it for a minute. HARRY: a boy's gotta breathe. JOHN: yeah, well, this wasn't my plan, either. JOHN: but rose sent out some false intel about us heading toward my house, so technically this is the safest place we can be right now, since they cleared the area and everything. JOHN: i guess.

Ahhhh.  Okay.  Yeah, a Seer of Light can float an attention lure and know it’ll be an effective enough distraction.

HARRY: hmm. JOHN: what? HARRY: now YOU look like you're hiding some extra commentary. JOHN: oh, i don't need to burden you with all the bureaucratic stuff, it's boring. HARRY: well now hold up, dad. HARRY: a minute ago you were all "we're in the fight together," and now you're backing out of sharing the details? JOHN: it's not really- HARRY: am i a part of this or not? JOHN: well i'd sure say you were! JOHN: but i guess maybe my thoughts on what is or isn't right for the operation aren't up to snuff. JOHN: because here i am, sitting in the dugout, same as you. HARRY: in the dugout?

Mhmm, John’s sore about Rose not counting on John as a heavy hitter.  He got back INTO this in part because he missed all the action and relevance, and now they’re telling him to stop and stand still?  That’s never been a command John’s easily agreed with.  For now, protecting the kids (Blood!) is enough to keep him sitting, but if they (and Vriska) start encouraging him...

HARRY: plus i wouldn’t have been able to get your measurements for some clothes that actually fit you if we hadn’t come back here where all my sewing stuff is.

Thank god, we might get a non-embarrassing god-pajamas John back

HARRY: you were getting pretty into everything back there with rose and them? getting to be with the old crew and everything, like the stories you told me about the game? JOHN: yeah. HARRY: that sucks. JOHN: i had a good plan, too! JOHN: it just wasn't good enough for karkat, i guess. JOHN: i'm just not "experienced enough in combat strategy"

Oh huh, so that’s John’s discarded plan he’s holding.  Karkat's faction hasn’t quite succeeded the bloody (heh) way so far, perhaps he needs John’s Breath to add some inspiration to it for the most success but they’re not giving him enough credit?  It’s hard to blame them for doubting him, though.

JOHN: that is a plus of being here, at least. JOHN: it's been really nice to get to spend so much time with you. HARRY: um. yeah, it's not so bad. HARRY: anyway, before you ruffle my hair or anything, it looks like things are getting a bit heated between the vriskas over there. HARRY: maybe we should offer them a snack to bring the mood back down? JOHN: me, mess up your hair when you’ve worked so hard on that look? i do know you at least that well, harry anderson HARRY: thank god.

Cute!

VRISKA: So you actually want to know what I’m thinking now? You want my opinion? VRISSY: Um...Yes? VRISSY: I'm not Really Sure what’s going on right Now. VRISKA: What? VRISSY: I just was wondering why you’re so pissed off at me. VRISKA: What the fuck are you talking about? VRISKA: I’m not pissed at you, you haven’t done shit 8asically at all since i’ve been here. VRISKA: I just can’t 8elieve I’m 8ack stuck in this tacky rumpusblock after all of that!

Both Vriskas are constantly assuming the other Vriska is thinking about them because they’re both Vriska, when they’re really both self-cente-- no, that’s not quite true.  Vrissy constantly assumes Vriska is thinking about her when she isn’t, and Vriska is somewhat grated because Vrissy belongs in this universe and she isn’t? Or--

Gosh they both have so many issues going on and firewalls up that I can’t actually make heads or tails of it.  Usually what’s on Vriska’s mind is painfully obvious from her dodges, but Vrissy is so oblique with her OWN weird thought processes that-- god I dunno

VRISSY: We could do Something if You Wanted. VRISKA: Huh? VRISSY: If you’re 8ored. VRISSY: This isn’t my House, but Harry has video games and Movies and shit. VRISSY: Actually, we’re pro8a8ly 8etter off not watching his movies. VRISSY: His taste is Worse than His Dad’s. VRISKA: AGGGHHH!!!!!!!!

They’re from two different worlds, yeah.

VRISKA: No, I don’t want to watch a fucking movie! How the fuck can you think a8out movies????????? VRISKA: How are you okay with any of this? VRISSY: Any of What? VRISKA: 8eing left at home like a couple of dri88ling of wigglers!

Vriska invests all of her self-worth in what she can bring to the table relevance-ways.  Her self-esteem couldn’t survive the sidelines.

VRISKA: How are you so calm right now? Your lusii were training you, right? And you’re a troll, you’re definitely five times stronger than a human! And if you’re my clone, you are way more 8adass than little miss Fussy Fangs. VRISKA: I can’t 8elieve you just stayed 8ehind?!?? VRISSY: Well...they told me to. And they’re my Moms.

COMPLETELY different lives.  Vriska has never really accepted, never really KNEW what “peaceful life” is actually supposed to be, nor how alluring and satisfying it is.

VRISKA: Clearly not a good plan, 8ecause then I would 8e part of it! VRISKA: What’s the point of me even coming to this shitty fake reality if I’m not supposed to fix it?

hahahahahahahaha

VRISSY: Yeah, they told me about That stuff, but a Lot of the Shit that Happened in the Session if just not in the History Books. VRISSY: You weren’t Really mentioned that Much. VRISKA: Excuse me? VRISSY: People know who you Are, 'cause we had to Memorize the names of Every one of the Players, Even the ones who didn’t last very Long. VRISKA: You’re trying to tell me that there’s a whole recorded history of SGRUB, and I’m not in it?  VRISSY: You’re not not in it.  VRISSY: I guess they Mostly Focused on the Creators who Ascended, you know?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

--hm, what if some of the pre-retcon timeline where Vriska WASN’T as involved DID fold its way into this one?  Explaining Jane remembering Gamzee showing up early in her session to sell her troll blood when that was (if we’re remembering right, correct me if I’m wrong) erased by the retcon in favor of Vriska time-traveling in in his place?

VRISKA: Whoever was schoolfeeding you was a complete 8ulgesucker, because I “ascended” 8efore any of the humans did!! VRISKA: Literally 8illions of years 8efore, since our session was the one that created theirs!!!!!!!! VRISKA: I was the 8ne who 8uided John’s 8uffoonish 8lue ass all the way through his first 8ew days in the Medium! VRISKA: I m8de all the plans to take down the J8cks! VRISKA: I SINGLE H8ND8DLY! VRISKA: CURED YOUR MOTHER’S FUCKING ALCH8LISM!!!!!!!! JOHN: uh, vriska, everything okay over there? VRISKA: EVERYTHING’S FINE, J8HN! JOHN: okay. JOHN: do you girls want a snack? VRISKA: AAAAGGH!

HA!

HARRY: vriska, eat whatever. HARRY: just not the zebra cakes, those are mine.

(Zebra cakes are kinda Barbasol-bomb-like, right? Doom thing, because black-and-white stripes like most of the black-and-white-striped explosives in Homestuck? --Nah that’s a stretch.)

> (==>)

--That’s not Jane’s head, that’s JOHN’S head giving a thumbs up.  Wow.

...Your plan prominently features Yiffy even though you didn’t know she existed until a couple hours ago?

JOHN: so anyway, as you can see, this would have worked just fine! HARRY: no i think karkat’s right. this looks like shit, dad. JOHN: you know, me letting your earlier use of the word "fuck" slide wasn't a blanket approval for all cursing in front of me. HARRY: sorry. HARRY: try not to make such a shit plan, and i won't call it that. JOHN: haha wow.

Harry really is his son, wow

HARRY: i mean, i still can't believe i told vrissy and them to bring a dead celebrity to school. HARRY: what was i THINKING. JOHN: you were thinking it sounded hilarious! JOHN: but yeah, in hindsight, maybe not the best call. JOHN: maybe it’s genetic? HARRY: yeah.

Harry really is his son, wow

HARRY: i kinda can’t believe we’re all still alive, actually. HARRY: and how did YOU make it this far, being so bad at this? JOHN: i had my friends with me, i guess.

Pretty much!

Plus, they haven’t really had time to talk about what happened with Dave, yet, and he doesn’t want to tank the mood by bringing him up.

Glad John’s taken some time to deal with that offscreen, so he can keep being cheery here.

He’d spent so long seeing mostly the best parts of Roxy in Harry Anderson. He forgot, he guesses, to look for himself in there, too. And if what they have in common right now is a lack of strategic foresight, hey, he’ll take it.

Hah, fair enough!

JOHN: speaking of friends, i will say the snacks were a good call, at least! JOHN: i don’t hear any more screaming, anyway. JOHN: see, that's one good plan between the two of us!

--they left, didn’t they.

> (==>)

HARRY: oh, that was definitely them leaving, wasn’t it. JOHN: ah.

--So was Vrissy peer-pressured along, or practically abducted?

> (==>)

--Oh, this was the picture I glimpsed and scrolled past on Twitter!  She’s not on the ground, she’s running-- good.

> (==>)

--ALREADY!  Fuck yes!  :D

(and those cute paws on jade’s gloves wow)

> (==>)

--Oh I thought that was an air-lift! No, they were just diving to the ground with her.

Man, the pacing of this panel-to-panel composition throws me SO much.  Stuff happens without being properly established, and we’re shown the wrong keyframes to internalize it easily.  (I hope I don’t have to keep mentioning how much I miss Andrew’s talent at it, even though the art WITHIN panels is better here.)

So Jane is confronting them with soldiers.

ROSE: Oh, is this one of those rare and marvelous beasts, the "villain speech"? ROSE: I've written one or two in my time. ROSE: I'm on the edge of my seat. I hope it's better than your political material; I've always found that rather trite. JANE: I haven't given a political speech in years, Ms. Lalonde. I don't know what you're referring to. I'm just a simple business woman. JADE: right with her own talk show JADE: and multi billion dollar merchant company and lobbying groups! JANE: That's what a business woman is, Jade, dear.

--ah, in this perspective maybe Jane DOESN’T have the resources to be “everywhere” yet.  Makes more sense that they could’ve left the home unguarded.

JANE: But enough of that. I'll skip straight to the point. JANE: You are on my territory, in the presence of my secret police, laying your hand on my investment.

QUIT DEHUMANIZING THE GIRL

JANE: You think I come anywhere unprepared? I haven't left the house without an armed guard in years. ROSE: Is it the libidinous power rush that comes from snapping your fingers at men with guns, or are you worried that you might accidentally do something heroic?

Rose usually has decent snapbacks I guess

I don’t think Rose’s plan was to admit themselves into custody like Jane is asking, but I’m not ruling it out.

> (==>)

(this image is so cute)

JADE: wow could you be any more full of yourself?? JADE: shut the fuck up for a minute and look up!

> (==>)

Ahwhoops.  Jane misunderstood who’s in control of the situation.

> (==>)

Ooh!  That’s threatening.  :)

(Tavros is playing along, but he doesn’t HAVE to fake that sweat.)

KANAYA: If You Make One Single Move I Will Bite Him Directly On The Exterior Shout Tunnel KANAYA:  I Will Turn Your Son Into A Rainbow Drinker KANAYA: Then You Will Have A Rainbow Drinker Son JANE: That's not how troll vampirism works, don't treat me like an imbecile! JANE: You think I don't know everything there is to know about your disgusting biology? KANAYA: KANAYA: Okay Then I Will Just Break His Fucking Neck

HAH

Yeah, mutual child-threat standoff.  Jane isn’t going to make that sacrifice, AND can’t be SEEN making that sacrifice.

> (==>)

Jane Crocker hesitates.

This is something that she used to do regularly. Hesitate. Stop and think and weigh her options. Talk out every possible scenario and the impact they might have, morally and optically and socially. What would the political apparatus think? What would her social media followers think, her friends? As the years went by and she honed her instincts, she found herself doing this less and less.

Yeah, the difference between deserving a Just death or not is whether you’re willing to check yourself and allow another’s will to override your own.  To allow someone who ISN’T you to have a say in how reality unfolds, to consider that what you want may not be right.

The impact that her words made became lessened when spread out across such a wide and thirsty audience, as public sentiment began to swing her way. She stopped thinking about how she would be received, and more about how she could play to the people she knew would receive her favorably. 

Yeesh.  Topical.

Looking up she sees Tavvy with tears in his eyes. Rage and guilt surge inside her. This situation is not her fault.

Anger is based in fear.  Jane is not just afraid for Tavros, but afraid that she’s at fault.  And the more she fears and has to deny that, the angrier she’ll get.

Is it angry enough to make a rash decision here?

> (==>)

JANE: This situation is not my fault! 

Jesus, she even said it out loud?

JANE: I'm the only one who has taken any interest in her upbringing or education! JANE: Or have you forgotten who has been paying for her schooling and taking charge of her introduction into society? JADE: i never asked you to do that! JADE: you offered! JADE: so stop calling me ungrateful for not sucking your dick over things i never asked for!

Taking something that was a clear, ostensibly-selfless gift and using it as a transactional club.  I hate that.  Nothing shows how transparently little you actually believed in the “selfless thing to do” than that.

> (==>)

She can't just stand here and let herself be humiliated, allowing two architects of the insurgency mess her around like this.

If they were to kill Tavros, the entire world would see them commit this war crime. And weighed in the balance, Lalonde and Harley would be off the playing board. Saving your daughter certainly counted as a heroic death, and with the damage they'd done to humanity, it would also probably be just.

Tavros has not called out for her once. Perhaps he knows what her choice was always going to be.

Whoa you made that choice pretty easily, psycho-Jane.  Are you actually gonna try it???

> (==>)

JAKE: Tavvy! 

Oh shit, the plan!  :D

--if Jake isn’t just.  Um.  Taking the threat to Tavvy seriously, not having realized this was a bluff.  Um.  Jake?

> (==>)

That looks like he’s taking it seriously.  Shit.

At least Jane will look like even MORE of a monster if she gives the order this way.

> (==>)

JANE: Stand down!

I don’t think Jake’s gonna listen to you when it comes to Tav’s safety anymore.

> (==>)

JANE: Get out of my sight.

Oh.

Is she letting Jade, Rose and Yiffy go?  --probably, but it’s unclear.

Damn this panel-to-panel framing not conveying what’s going on properly.

Guess that’s it for now!  Patreon Commentary....... I’ve been putting off the commentary backlog for a long time, but I think the Homestuck Commentary coverage deficit still has to wait a while longer because the World Is A Fuck and I have to devote more time to stress relief than usual.  Take care y’all

EDIT: extra bit on gamzee corpse here

[millepara]

aikatsu friends episode 76 spoilers (the end*)

me beginning to spiral as I walked home from the grocery store: what if the reason Wakaba’s the only one not in the on parade preview is bc she dies in aifriends. they already showed an onscreen death this season, it wouldnt be that much more of a stretch for them to pull a minky momo and kill her off in tonights ep. what if Wakaba dies

...anyway I’m mostly ready to say goodbye to aifriends...... for a little over a week until aiparade starts, that is.

pajamas!! is this a giant idol slumber party?? ohh it is!!!

I didn’t realize Reflect Moon were the only ones who knew about Tamaki and Hariu..... I can’t believe we’re also getting an onscreen proposal in aifriends ;;

HAHA Chiharu and Ken stalking them is so absurd.... like presumably Tamaki and Hariu were on a date or something before this, and went to the seaside afterward?? and Chiharu and Ken were tailing them the whole time? did they know he was going to propose and they wanted to see it or is it something they always do for Tamaki’s dates? god I wish we’d gotten more time with Ken/Chiharu(/Noa), they’re all disasters

HAH!! she rejected him!! oh wait no it’s the OP that means this is what this whole ep’s gonna be about isn’t it....... argh

ugh I knew it.... it’s turned into this whole false choice thing about how Tamaki can’t marry him bc she wants to do her job. which thanks to her success w managing PP and HC is now Ultimate Manager of Every Idol at Star Harmony. anyway here’s how the rest of the ep will go: they separately try to convince Tamaki that she can do her job while being married and Hariu that he needs to propose again. at some point he expresses something like “I don’t mind if you continue to work after we marry.” I suffer.

but I must be strong so I can meet Yurika-sama again,,... let’s finish the ep

wow Never Mind they are instead saying that they’ll help take on Tamaki’s workload.... so that she has more time to exist in the state of being married, presumably?? hhhhghh

was watching this all worth it to see mobsters Mirai and Hibiki burst through the door of Penguin Cafe? ...perhaps

Mirai, Hibiki: please kidnap me ,

at least we get to see HC’s Cure Power Girlies one more time.

Hibiki can drive.........

WHAAAAHAAH HIBIKI CUTE

LOOK AT THAT!!! CUTE!!!! Mirai is cute too

;; I kind of hoped they would leave the ferris wheel gondola by leaping out in midair!! or something like that. aifriends chooses this single moment to be uncharacteristically realistic

and so Tamaki and Hariu are engaged at the top of the super-romantic ferris wheel. hooray or whatever. more importantly Alicia and Karen ring those wedding bells that ring every time a Friends unit is formed, enforcing the idea that making a Friends unit is exactly the same as getting married

Hariu’s hedgehog friend is carrying Tamaki’s veil..... that’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. it was all worth it for this moment. this is the pinnacle of both aifriends and humanity

AHHHH a four-person Hitori ja nai!! I am SO much more excited about this than I was about last week’s stage!! ohh man I didn’t expect to get to see an anime performance of my fav version of this song (º̩̩́⌣º̩̩̀ʃƪ) ahhh it’s so cute!! ahhh this neon aura when the light dims is so cute!! I can’t believe this is like the 2nd? 3rd? 4p performance in all of aifriends......

and now PP is doing another song (after getting the bouquet confirming that they’re the next to get married)....... I want to say “what is it” but it’s probably in the title, right? minna minna? it’d be cool to see a new song done with all jeweling dresses.

school dresses...... (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) I Can’t Wait To See Minna Minna In The Lowest-Ranking Coords In The Show

oh, it’s Aikatsu Friends. that makes more sense. I wish I hadn’t gotten myself excited about the possibility of a new song in all jeweling dresses, but that’s my own fault.

is this it? the final montage?? oh hey I Believe released a movie ft. those coords in the ED!! finally we have a context for that critically important image!!

KAREN IN TWINTAILS!!! another amazing gift immediately before the end... thank you aikatsu......

there’s Wakaba. she’s still safe. still alive. but for how long......

if this were a normal series end, I’d have some kind of reflection about the series or some kind of emotion here, but aiparade feels like another aifriends season at this point more than anything, so... ?? maybe I’m just kind of dismayed about the actual plotline of this ep and it’s hard for me to process anything as a result. maybe I’m just excited about Raki! because I am that.

so.... that’s all!! catch me sobbing desperately about Ichigo two saturday mornings from now.

[writing-frenzy]

Wuxia/Xianxia/Xuanhuan BL story ideas for anyone who wants them.

This is basically a dumping place for the said genres, because after reading so many, I just couldn’t help but think them up, even if I will never write them. But others might like them, so I thought why not? (though if anyone ever does write something, or has seen anything similar elsewhere, please tell me so I can read them.)

Warning: ideas got long, and some themes maybe sensitive: ie: Violence, Murder, Child abandonment, fighting, torture all that good stuff you find in these genres 

First Idea: the things a Good Teacher can alter

So, basically, MC was a guy from our world, who ended up dying and being reborn into another one... centuries before a certain book he read even takes place. Needless to say, he doesn’t remember it. (after all, one can only read about so many stallion protags and their harem fun times before they all kind of bleed together into one mash up.)  

But on the other hand, being able to literally do magic and all is still very much a thing he would like, so why the hell not become a cultivator? So he joins a sect, manages to pass it’s entrance trial by the grit of his teeth and becomes an outer disciple of one of the Peak Lords, learning all he needs to from his senior brothers and sisters. Everything should be great, right? 

Well, here is the thing: it is hard as heck; Turns out, he has a constitution that makes cultivating near impossible for him. Getting out of the first stages of Qi Refining and forming his Golden Core took forever it seems, and when he finally made it to the Immortal stage, he feels as if he had been run over by a bus after he was rung out of all his energy. it’s like whatever a normal person has to do to make it, it takes him not two, not even three, but a hundred times more to accomplish. But hey, he has a thirty-ish young body for all the years he’s really been alive and he still has magic, so it could have been worst.

(though if one wants to give him a golden finger of sorts; he has an absolutely insane pain tolerance :D things that would cause even the most mighty of Martial Heros to fall would be like, ‘huh, is something poking me?’. or chronic pain is also a thing if you want to be mean :) )

Only... Now that he has time for the actual world, he notices how his Sect’s state of affairs seem to be on the decline, with less and less people there now, most of them moving on to bigger and better things, bigger and better Sects and Clans. How the politics in his own Sect seem to be going to bigger and higher stakes, and how disagreements and feuds even end up almost destroying everything, a few Peak lords even dying from it.

These reasons all combined end up making MC one of the very few Immortals Golden Core Cultivators in the sect. It is because of this, that he ends up becoming a Peak Lord.

And Irony of Ironies, he is actually pretty damn good at it. (My idea is that in a previous life, MC was a Teacher or an Office worker, or maybe even both.)

Now, MC does not have want one would usually consider a golden finger, he is not the one who gets good things in life; in fact, he usually suffers and gets little to no reward from it... The same, on the other hand, can not be said for his disciples.

Disciple 1: ends up being the long lost son of an extremely wealthy family, who dies in the original novel for tragic backstory/emotional motive/character development for a novel character, only for MC to have saved them, then kept them because oh, high constitution for cultivation + bad idea for a grieving child this pretty to go to an orphanage. (glaring at them slavers out of the corners of his eye)

MC: Hey, I know it sucks what just happened, take as long as you need to recover. and hey, if you feel up to it, after you decide what to do, you can even join my sect and learn cool things.

D1: *sees things he can learn* ... I will never be so helpless again.

*Years later*

Wandering Clan: Young Master! You are well and alive! and they have been treating you well, even letting you learn Cultivation? Truly a noble sect, worthy of our loyalty!

MC’s Sect: + 1 business division, + a bunch to treasury

Disciple 2: Sibling to one of the Harem members, had thought she had been left for dead/slavers in the original novel by their sister and had been a tough, regularly appearing villain for a while until the protag has her see the error of her ways and became a harem member as well. Only once more, does MC save her from her situation, ending up getting him her gratitude and has her actually look really close at her situation and helps her look into the mystery of it all even as he takes her as his student.

MC: yeah, I’m only hearing about this second hand, and even I can see the holes in the story couldn’t even cover a hobo’s modesty. There is obviously more to this tale then meets the eye.

D2: ... *sparkles as she learns more on how to be a detective, Cultivation style*

*Years later*

Big Name Clan head: Ah, once again you have solved such a terrible crime and even this time shown how I have been framed! Truly a noble lady such as yourself have wishes? Please let me reward you!

MC’s Sect: + 1 Big Backer, + 1 to fame + a bunch more disciples for other Peaks

Disciple 3: the actual main villain of the series, he joins his sect when, during a night hunt, one of the Sect’s Elders watches him actually manage to kill the monster due to luck and a bit of skill; unfortunately he has some sort of dark inheritance + abusive teachers and fellow students in his sect who made him disillusioned with the lighter path and chased him into darkness... only here, MC strikes again, with him finding this poor abandoned child first, saving them from getting injured and taking them home to be well cared for and properly coached through the troubles of life.

MC: Crap, damn it, oh fuck that is more blood spilling then I am comfortable with, hang on little guy I will have this treated soon.

D3:... No one has ever cared for me so much. *Childish hero worship + instant loyalty.*

*Years Later*

Fangirls and boys: AHHHH D3 is just so cool, he is so awesome, so handsome!

MC’s Sect: +1 for fame, plus a bunch of more disciples for the sect.

Disciple 4: Female Canon Fodder, originally in the novel to act parallel to the Female Lead and make her look one hundred times better in comparison in looks, personality and even morals. But here is still insecure teenage girl who, before she could be blacken and disillusioned, wants more in her life then to be an ornamental vase for a future wealthy husband, finds out that MC’s Sect not only takes women, but also actually trains them in ways of Martial arts/Cultivation/Pill Refining/Whatever? (Sign her the fuck up.)

MC: oh, you want to learn? Sure, let’s start. *is a great teacher who actually teaches equally*

D4: *is a wide-eyed sponge* I will follow.

*Years Later*

D4′s Clan: Ah, yes, that great girl is indeed a daughter of our clan, bringing glory and honor to our names, with men lining up only in hopes she will but glance at them. 

MC’s Sect: + a Big Backer, + Fame, + more followers

Disciple 5: The Hidden Boss; the illegitimate son of a family (from wife or husband, whichever you desire), was outcast from them all without ever knowing why, not even allowed to learn his family’s martial arts and abilities even though he was incredibly talented and skilled at everything else he learned. In the original novel, he at first seemed like a helpful NPC family member of Protag/Harem member who would explain or even help the Protag and his harem, them all unknowing that he was in fact causing 30% of their problems. But here, MC notices Hidden Boss’s potential, sees how these people just seem to be wasting talent and goes;

MC: Hey, I can take him in!

Those who actually care about the kid: *sees all his other ducklings and the good rumors of his teachings.* sure, better with you then here.

Those who don’t care about the kid. *Sees the funny, ‘weak’ Peak Lord of a dying sect who is pretty far away from them* sure, as long as he’s not here.

*Year’s Later:

D5: *very successful, powerful, strong, and wealthy* Hello.

D5′s Clan: *sweats*

MC’s Sect: + 1 Fame, + Money, + Honor, + a whole bunch more.

 Disciple 6: Female character who was basically created solely for the need to give the Protag character, emotional, and background development in the story, and then die in the most fan pissing off way imaginable. yeah, you know what I’m talking about, a girl giving only one dimension to her structure, who has a profound effect on the main character for how little time they were together, and then just killed off before we even get the chance to even learn more! Only here, instead of staying wherever she was before, she either gets picked up by MC early on on one of his recruitment drives or hears of the sect’s growing fame and awesome female disciples and decides she wants more (like she deserves)

MC: oh, you’re pretty good at that! I can see real talent for you here; would you like to learn more?

D6: Yes please! ^_^

*Years Later*

D6: *A Noble Empress, eyes cutting just like her sword arts, her elemental affinity working in twine with it as she delivers a finishing blow to her monsterous foe* Huh, I’m pretty sure these are some prime ingredients for Cultivation, I must be careful to preserve and dismantle effectively!

MC’s Sect: + Fame, + Fortune, + a crap ton of good things. 

Whatever order you want them to come in, it’s up to you, just have fun with it.

But yeah, these are not the only changes from the original novel; for example, MC’s sect should have been destroyed/abandoned/deserted, only a footnote because of some obscure fact that needed to be know. (example: This monster is so terrible, it destroyed three sects! or MC’s Sect is the only one who knew of a technique to cure this poison; either find a survivor/search the ruins) Only for luck, the MC, and his lucky students to have saved it all in the end.

Note: To makes things more interesting, I think it would be funny if there were more Reincarnations/Transmigrators closer to the story line, but in shock of the differences to add to the comedy value.  

Idea Two: The System messed up, like a boss!

Now, how this idea starts out is a bit different: it’s just a bit before the MC dies, showing that they have been a normal guy before they had found themselves held captive by some obsessed stalker/killer for a long time, who has made it to where if they MC ever tried to harm them in any way or form, it would just end up guaranteeing his own death.

And after enduring this literal hell for what feels like years now, here are MC’s thoughts on the matter.

MC: Okay then. *proceeds to rip his tormentor's own throat out with his teeth*

(Now, it is up to the writer if they want to hide this dark history or not, maybe hinting here and there about it.)

Cue them suddenly being connected to the system!

MC: ... what?

System: Hiiii~ I’m-

ERROR!

*Suddenly cut off, MC goes through one hell of a disorienting experience, only to wake up in some child’s body.

MC: What

Child’s Soul that still barely remains in the body: Please, I just want to see what’s beyond these walls, just once. 

*sudden mindwammy of memories of the slavery this child has gone through, the torture from their masters, the cruelty of bystanders that just stand by.*

What the child’s words in a way mean: (I want to see one good thing, just one about this world, before I die.)

MC:... Okay then. *proceeds to rip out their current body’s Master’s throat, due to surprise, his soul not be the one that is enslaved, and a strange sort of energy*

(And maybe here it could be hinted about what happened if one wants to hide the MC’s past, about how this wasn’t the first time he’s tasted blood on his teeth or ripped out a person’s throat.)

This in the end erases the remaining slave binds on him, and makes it easy to escape the mansion he is being held in. Even better, it seems the place is also being raided by some group, so it’s even easier for MC to be lost in the confusion. When he is finally far enough away, when the distance finally feels just enough, the MC lets himself fall to the ground, right next to a shrub of some sorts before he finally takes a breath and fully taking in his surroundings.

Only to lose it as he finally takes in the scenery: a pretty jade like valley of some sorts, soft hills of green turned darker and yet still shining in the moonlight from a full moon and the stars all around them. You know those pictures of places with no light pollution on islands and such? This is what he see in this moment.

And both souls are in complete awe of it.

Child Soul: so beautiful... I never knew it (the world) could be so beautiful.

MC: I forgot it could be.

Child Soul: ... Thank you! Thank you so much! *smiles and passes on to bigger and better things.

It is after this bit of peace and quiet, that finally the system comes back.

System: Ah, sorry, technical difficulties, did not expect that; Anyways, I am the System, to help you in your role for your next life!

MC: ...Role?

System: Yes! You are the “Villainous Boss’ of -insert story name here-! I am the ‘Like a Boss’ System, ensuring one will act as a truly terrifying villain!

MC: *thinking* You said the VB of that story, aren’t they -insert villian’s name-?

System: Yes!

MC: The young Master who fell from the mountains and ended up following dark paths and murky unknowns?

System: Yes.

MC: the Villain who was dark haired and eyed, who’s skin was pale as jade was said to be, and could make man and woman go mad over his charm?

System:... Yes?

MC:... I think there has been a mistake. 

1:Considering that this was a child who was sold into slavery very young, to a point they don’t even know about parents, has dealt with the hell that is slavery to cruel masters, and would have in fact died just now if MC didn’t make a way through. {2} actually does have a name, and isn’t the same at all as the Villain. {3} the Body does not in anyway have dark hair or eyes, and the skin is not pale as jade (not to mention charm, unless someone is weak for poor orphaned waifs).

Yeah, a mistake has been made.

System: ah.... oh dear; maybe you do a switch a roo?

only, turns out that they find that would be impossible as well, because not only are they way before the story line even starts, MC’s constitution is very... Strange. (Basically, because MC could be classified as a Vengeful spirit, if only for the way he died, but due to him already getting said revenge, and even helping another soul pass on to the pure lands, he has a very high, very good constitution for Cultivation... both righteous and demonic. and his body needs to maintain an about equal level between the both of them, otherwise it gets out of wack and could cause most painful death.)

So, MC has to maintain tasks from the system, acting like a boss, and do certain things (like joining certain sects, to betraying a comrade, to even slaughtering a group of people sadistically ); luckily, he doesn’t actually have to be a villain, but he does have to act like it, which gives ideas.

MC: Okay, I will be the red herring Villain! The, it’s so obvious it just can’t be them kind of guy! 

System: DX ... why not, it might work.

And hilariously enough, it does :D I imagine MC would act like a combination between Ichimaru Gin from Bleach and Murkuro from KHR, clever, twisting, manipulative, and yet surprisingly playful and cruel when one least expects it. (that he has loyal fanatical followers with yandere tendencies goes without saying, though he has no idea; He has high intelligence, can understand emotions and motives, but does at times not realize just how much people have actually bonded with him himself.)

Examples of his relationships.

Twins he found: the famous mirrored twins, one going down the path of darkness and cruelty, even as one heads for the path of good and light; maybe in the original story they had been separated, or a distance was placed between them due to misunderstandings and jealousy. MC had gotten a get one and get the other free tag a longs, finding them when they were young and hadn’t yet joined a sect, only ending up bonding with them. Though he is admittedly worried about betrayal and being put down from them in the future, he still bonds and helps them as much as he can.

Though-

Twin 1: MC! MC! I’ve gotten even better in my Demonic cultivation!

Twin 2: shhhh, not so loud! But anyways, I have gone even farther levels in my out Righteous Cultivation.

MC: ... That’s nice?

They are like his most trusted advisors/Inner circle members (of course he would have one, any good villian would :D ) completely willing to do what must be done for their brother in arms and most trusted friend. (the one who had been there for them at their lowest, the one who was able to keep them all together, sacrificing what he needed, adding so many scars to his one body just to spare them. They are the ones who best know about the man he is, for they were the ones who saw how he was forged, turning his words, his looks, and even his smiles into the terrifying weapons they are today. He is the one who showed them you can be bathed in darkness and still be ever so good, something they will help with as much as they can.   

His First Disciple: Now, MC does take his teaching duties seriously, whether he is an elder in the sect or even a peak lord (though I would think it would be awesome if he was a Librarian), so he would be very attentive with his pupil, even if he teases and gently picks on them, messing with them as they grow older. MC originally took this kid because he remembers them from the novel as the one who helps the protagonist, who was thought to be an enemy only to be the secret ally. So he is pretty sure the kid will betray him eventually, especially since he let’s them in on all his shady practices and dealings with demonic cultivatior and/or actually demon folk. And with them being a complete Kuudere, it seems that way..

Only...

1st D: I will follow my Master to the end of my days. and if my death could be of service to him, I will have died with a light heart.

MC: wtf no! No dying for me!

The kid turns completely and utterly into his proud minion, happily doing what ever his dear Master asks of him. (after all, who was it that pulled him from the darkness, who showed him such care and attention, always there with a kind word and a joke whenever he was troubled? There was no one but him who wanted him, not during these long years, only for him to be pick specifically? ha, he will follow all his days, just as long as he can remain at his side.)

Very powerful Demon Lord (not king): Someone MC met while still young and unattached to a sect thought; hey, let’s get my consorting with darkness task down! After all, this guy was a well known villain in the series, a troublemaker through and through, who betrayed and sacrificed his minions and others like pawns. Once again, MC thinks he’s going to get betrayed eventually, but hey, the guy ain’t all bad and he’s pretty friendly even! though... 

Demon Lord that is in fact in control of a very terrifying and large territory: Sir, would you like me to take your coat? maybe even a drink? *orders a very expensive and luxury wine.*

MC: *eyes him suspiciously, but nods* I am willing. 

why they insist on waiting hand and foot on him always weirds them out. (For the Half-demon, half-human, it only makes sense; this person is their benefactor, so overwhelmingly powerful, just being near them strengths them, who he has picked him up even while he was a weakling and saw promise, made a gamble on that promise and even to this day still profits. Who is honestly even more terrifying then the demon King in DL’s eyes, and desires to please him all the more, so that he too can always serve this higher life form in his eyes.)

And these are just some examples, mostly all of them would probably be the inner circle I said he had XD

But wait, you might ask; what about those tasks you mentioned, how could betraying a comrade or slaughtering a group of people sadistically be good? here we go :D

betraying a comrade:

MC: okay, so, this guy is embezzling funds, this asshole is abusing his students, and this.. one...

System: ...?

MC:... “This one is raping their own Disciples, huh?” is said ever so softly, their eyes half-lidded even as they stare at the profile picture of the filth. “When they go on their next mission, make sure I am one of their backups, hmmm? I haven’t had the chance to push anyone off a cliff yet, have I?”  

Answer: In a big sect, everyone should be your comrade; that you are betraying their expectations, their values, or even ratting them out all make it up. (and cold-hearted murder always works for the scum of the earth too!)

slaughtering a group of people sadistically: 

System: so, we have a group of Demonic cultivators consorting with slave dealers, we have some criminals over here doing despicable things there, and we have traitors over here, what do you want to do?

MC: how about all of them?

Answer: what about those no one would miss :D

Notes: I would find it so funny if the MC was actually an animal magnet; like, birds will happily eat from his hand, deer will sleep right next to him, guardian beasts will want to protect him and keep him safe because god damn it, hasn’t this poor soul been through enough?! (be cool if this was one of the reasons why the sect leader actually trusts him; he has a bond with a guardian beast that can maybe read the soul or something, which MC has no clue about, so thinks nothing about how this beast keeps wanting to cuddle him.

but you want to know what? Out of everything, with all the the MC is doing? All they truly want in life is peace and rest, maybe even a shoulder to rest his weary head upon when life gets to much. (but thanks to the system and it’s tasks, he will never be able to truly have it.)

huh, this got pretty long.... eh, I had more ideas, but I think I’ll leave it here for now. If anyone wants more Wuxia/Xianxia/Xuanhuan , I might make a part two!

[50funny]

Mage- Chapter 1 A Chance Encounter

Written By 50funny

Part 1- New Arrival

Liz stared out the window of the train carriage doors as it pulled to a screeching halt in the station. The doors began to pull open filling the carriage with the sounds of hundreds of voices. Liz took her first step onto the train platform taking in all the sights and sounds of the new place she found herself in. 

“Finally,” Liz said with determination in her voice as she looked up at the cloudless sky. “Seaside here I come!”

Seaside, a large city built alongside the ocean. Also known as the paradise in the south, the city attracted millions of visitors every year due to its stunning beaches, beautiful architecture and never ending sunshine, but that wasn’t the only reason people came to seaside, with it also being famous for being one of the most magical places on earth. With hundreds  of mages retiring and thousands of magic users making the journey there every year it’s no surprise magic was Seaside’s largest industry. Liz stood hunched over in a magic shop with her hands on her knees staring into a glass cabinet with a pot siting inside.

“Woooooooow, is that an infinite pot?” Liz said with awe in her voice.

“You have quite the eye, yeah we just got that in this morning,” the store clerk replied from behind the counter.

“That so cool, I’ve never seen one before, this place is so amazing,” Liz said looking into the cabinet with wonder.

Liz looked away from the cabinet to meet the store clerk’s eyes

“Excuse me sir but do you think you could get this one out for me I’d like to buy it,” Liz asked the clerk.

“Sure thing” the clerk responded with a wide smile stretching across his face “that’ll just be 3000 rallod”

Liz grabbed the back of her head and let out an awkward giggle.

“Haha. How about 30?” Liz questioned the clerk.

The man’s smile quickly shifted into an annoyed frown as he stared Liz down. Without saying a word the man began to approach Liz his heavy steps shaking the small room. He reached Liz looming above her ominously; the clerk reached his arms out and began to push her towards the open door.  Liz screamed and punched at the man’s arms to no avail, soon enough she stood in the doorway to the street. With a hard shove the man sent Liz flying out the store and into the ally way.

“Come back when you have some money, deadbeat!” the store clerk yelled as he slammed the door as loudly as possible.

Liz sat in the ally for a few seconds as she contemplated what had happened.

“Deadbeat?” Liz questioned to herself.

Liz stood up in a split second and began banging on the door ranting to no success. In her anger Liz failed to notice the three sinister looking men approaching her from the shadows further down the ally. The men wore tattered clothing and carried knives and chains as they slowly approached Liz. The man in the middle of the group walked ahead before stopping, soon followed by the other two.

“All right boys,” the man in the middle said “looks like its business time.”  

Part 2- Alex And Bip

Alex and Bip sat on the patio of a crowded café. Alex gently placed his cup down on the table in front of him.

“Well this was a waste of time,” Alex said as he lifted his hand from the cup, “we’re never going to find anything.”

“What did you expect, it’s not like the Intel you got was all that specific,” Bip responded.

Alex looked across the table with a fed up face, on the other side of the table his eyes met the small cat like creature floating weightlessly above the chair. Its leathery wings lightly flapping as his tail dipped into his cup slurping gulps of liquid up it.

“Yeah well, don’t blame me for that. I could’ve gotten a lot more information from that guy if you hadn’t pulled me outta the building so quickly,” Alex said in a frustrated tone.

“Because it was on fire Alex. You set the house on fire!” Bip replied.

“Yeah well, whatever,” Alex said quickly changing the subject. “In any case, if I don’t see any action soon I’m going to die of boredom, no joke.”

“Well, maybe you could find a job,” Bip said.

Alex looked at Bip and laughed sarcastically as a waitress approached their table.

“Excuse me sirs, but your meals are ready” said the waitress.

She stood over the table holding a plate in each hand, food piled up on both. Alex and Bip both looked up gleefully at the mountain of food being brought to them.

“Finally, I’m so hungry” Alex said.

“Thank you Miss, this looks delicious,” Bip said with a polite smile.

The waitress placed the food down on the table in front of the Alex and Bip. The pair looked at the food longingly for a moment, before quickly grabbing their cutlery and beginning to greedily dig in.

“Hope you enjoy your food sirs. That’ll just be 300 rallod” the waitress said with a welcoming smile.

Alex and Bip stopped eating and awkwardly stared at each other as they simultaneously realised they had run out of money. Alex desperately tried to think of an excuse to get out of their situation while still getting to enjoy his feast.

“AHHHHHHHH!” a scream came from the distance

“What was that?” Bip questioned looking in the direction of the scream.

“I don’t know,  sounded like a women screaming,”  Alex replied, quickly realizing a way out of his situation “come on Bip we should probably go check it out” he continued.

Alex shoved as much food as possible into his mouth before getting out of his seat and running off grabbing Bip and pulling him away from the table on the way.

“Huh, wait Alex! Hold up,” Bip said, confused by Alex’s sudden move.

The waitress watched as the pair ran off down the street towards the scream. She looked down at the table to see the half eaten plates of food sitting soon realising what had happened.

“Hey wait a second!” the waitress yelled after them.

“What are you doing Alex?” Bip questioned frustrated. “I barely even got to enjoy my lunch.”

“Don’t complain, now come on let’s  get a move on… this could be just the thing to cure my boredom,” Alex replied.

Alex ran down the street followed shortly behind by Bip. As they continued the streets became less and less populated until they were completely alone. The pair approached the location of the scream turning into a shady looking ally.

Part 3 The Chance Encounter

Alex and Bip’s eyes widened in surprise as they saw what was down the ally. A man laid face down un-conscious on in the street sprawled knocked out. Two other men were stuck high up on the wall by a large ice crystal wrapped around their chests squirming trying to free themselves.

“What the hell happened here?” Bip exclaimed.

“I don’t know, just keep your guard up,” Alex replied.

The pair cautiously began to walk down the alley towards the man lying on the ground. A door on the side of the street swung open suddenly, causing Alex to draw a small knife and prepared for a fight. Liz walked out of the room staring down at the cardboard box covered in wrapping paper in her hand.

“Thanks mister,” Liz yelled happily into the store as she closed the door behind her with her foot.

Liz’s expression shifted to a frustrated scowl as she noticed Alex and Bip standing in the ally, watching her.

“Oh no don’t tell me you're with those guys. I really don’t want to fight anyone else today so if we can just skip this that’d be great,” Liz said.

“We just came ‘cause we heard someone screaming. We don’t want any trouble if you don’t,” Alex replied as calmly as possible, slowly lowering his knife.

Liz looked cautiously for a second at the boy and the floating creature, before changing her tone and smiling at them.

“Well, ok then. As long as you two aren’t going to start anything,” Liz replied as she approached the Alex and Bip.  I’m Liz by the way.”

“This is Bip, and I’m Alex,” said Alex looking over the downed thugs. “So if you were the one who beat up all these guys, then who was it we heard scream?” questioned Alex.

“Haha, yeah well that was me,” Liz said letting out an awkward giggle. “One of these thugs had a bunch of cash on him, enough for me to buy…” Liz continued pulling off the wrapping on the box and holding it out excitedly “… this super awesome infinite pot!!” Liz finished.

There was a brief silence as Alex and Bip looked on with confusion. Liz began to lower the box and regain her composure.

“Sorry I just get really excited about magic” Liz continued, as her eyes began to focus on Bip as he floated behind Alex’s shoulder “And speaking of magic…”

Liz ran over to Bip her eyes once again filling with excitement. She grabbed Bip by the shoulders and stared into his eyes intently. Bip shook fearfully as Liz’s terrifying eyes pierced him.

“You wouldn’t happen to be,” Liz said leaning in even closer, “a familiar?”

“Ahhhh yeah, I am I guess.” Bip replied his voice quivering fearfully.

Liz took a deep breath and closed her eyes for second before exploding in pure excitement.

“Oh my god that’s so cool I’ve heard about familiars before but I’ve never seen one before. A  magical creature bound to the soul of a human, that’s so awesome! You’re so awesome! You’re so incredible! And amazing!” Liz blurted out as quickly as possible.

“Ohhh…” Bip said taking in the complement. “Thank you very much Miss,” he continued, a smile growing across his face.

“Careful there, if you inflate his ego too much he might just float away,” Alex said sarcastically.

“Oh shhh. ‘Bout time I get some appreciation,” Bip responded.

The group continued to chat away unaware as the man on the ground slowly began to regain consciousness. The man groggily looked on as the figures in front of him slowly became clearer and clearer. As the man’s vision began to come back he started to make out Liz he began to remember what had happened to him and his friends. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small knife as slowly as possible so as to not draw attention to himself.

“Damn you,” the man muttered under his breath as he began to slowly stand up.

Alex saw the man’s movement and the glint of the sun from his knife over Liz’s shoulder.

“Look out!” Alex yelled raising his arm to point at the man.

Liz turned around with a shocked look on her face. The man lunged towards her holding out his knife.

“YOU’RE GONNA PAY!!!” the man yelled at the top of his voice.

Liz reached her arm out with an open palm shooting a blast of light blue ice towards the man. The blast hit him in the center of the chest forming an ice crystal around his torso and sending him flying further down the ally. Liz turned back to face Bip and Alex panting slightly.

“Wow, that was close! Thanks a bunch, if you weren’t here he might’ve actually gotten me,” Liz said.

“No need to thank us,” Bip said, “it’s not like we really did that much.”

“Still though, I owe you something and I pay my debts,” Liz replied.

“Miss please it’s really not neces…” Bip said before being cut off by Alex’s hand across his mouth. Bip’s words trailed off as Alex’s hand closed over his mouth. ?

“Well I suppose if you insist,” Alex said with a scheming grin across his face.

Alex walked off back down the alley way. Bip and Liz shared a confused looked before following.

Part 4- Getting To Know Each other

The sun began to set, casting an orange light and deepening shadows across the bustling city. Liz sat staring out of the cafe large window at the unfamiliar cityscape. Bip floated just above the table opposite her, taking in the view and flicking his tail aimlessly as Alex placed his order.

“Wow this place is amazing. I’ve never seen so many people in one place before,” Liz said in wonder.

“Yeah, and this place gets even busier once the sun’s down,” Bip said turning his head to look at Liz. “So, Liz, mind if I ask you a question?” Bip continued.

“Huh? Yeah of course you can,” Liz replied turning her head to look at Bip.

“What exactly brought you to Seaside? I mean you don’t really seem like a local”

“Huh? What? Haha, you don’t really want to hear that,” Liz said awkwardly, trying to avoid the topic.

“We’ve got plenty of time to kill” Alex said as the waitress walked away.

“Well ok,” Liz said doubtfully. “You see, I know I don’t really seem like the type, but.” Liz took a deep breath and let it out, “I want to join a guild and become a mage.”

“A mage?” Bip and Alex simultaneously questioned.

“Yeah, a mage. You know, government certified magic users.  It’s only the coolest and most awesome job in the entire world.” Liz said her tone growing in excitement.

Alex and Bip listened on slightly surprised by the high ambitions of the odd seeming girl. Mages were some of the most powerful magic users in the world. Many different guilds where able to grant a magic user certification with the only factor linking them was the highly selective and dangerous tests that one had to pass in order to gain the title of mage. Very few passed and even more where killed or injured trying, but those who were successful gained a wealth of perks and access to classified information to help them in the various dangers tasks and jobs they underwent on a daily basis.  There was a moment of silence as Alex and Bip continued to look surprised.

“So if you want to be a mage why are you in Seaside?” Bip questioned.

“Yeah, I thought the guild tryouts where happening in Capital City pretty soon?” Alex quizzed.

Liz’s enthusiasm seemed to evaporate as she looked down towards the ground as her body began to sink down into the booth.

“Yeah well in truth… I’m not really all that good with my magic, I mean I can hold my own but I’m nowhere near good enough to become a mage.” Liz said “So that’s why I came here. I’m trying to hunt down an ex-mage who just retired here. I heard he was a real big shot so I wanted to become his apprentice and finish my training.”

Liz continued to sink in her chair and her expression darkened.

“In truth even if I complete my training I’ll probably still be nowhere near good enough to become a mage. But I’ve got to try, even if it kills me,” Liz said. “I can’t stay trapped forever” she muttered under her breath.

Alex looked into Liz’s sunken eyes, to anyone else she looked completely defeated but Alex, saw fire behind them.

“Yeah well I don’t know why you would even want to be a mage,” Alex said, trying to lighten the mood.

“Huh what are you talking about?” Liz asks looking up at Alex.

“Well, from what I hear, mages are just overrated mercenaries. Plus the guild tests are so dangerous and all you get out of them is some meaningless title… I’ll pass,” Alex continued.

Liz stood up from her seat slamming the table as she leaned in closely towards Alex.

“Huh… what would you know! Being a mage is the dream of all magic users and since you’re not one you have no right to judge. What brings you to Seaside then that’s soooo much cooler then my life dream?” Liz said angrily.  

Alex’s mood shifted in an instant. Liz felt a sudden ominous presence as his eyes filled with a dark intent. Noticing the shift in Alex’s mood, Liz regretted her question. Bip looked over to Alex knowing what his friend was thinking.

“Ahhh, we're looking for something” Bip said as vaguely as possible, trying to defuse the situation.

Alex snapped out of his state inhaling deeply “What? Oh yeah, we're looking for something” he said going along with Bip.

Liz looked confused and concerned at what had just happened.  A waitress walked over to the table carrying with her two plates piled up with a mountain of food.

“Excuse me, but your foods here,” the waitress said.

“Thank god, I’m starving” Alex grinned wolfishly.

“Thanks miss,” Bip said.

The waitress placed down the plates in front of Bip and Alex blocking out Liz’s view of the pair. Almost as soon as the food was placed down Bip and Alex grabbed their cutlery and began shoving food into their mouths as quickly as possible.

“Wow those two can really eat,” thought Liz amazed.

“Hope you enjoy your meals, and that’ll be 600 rallod,” the waitress said in a pleasant tone.

Alex looked up from his plate and gestured towards Liz with a happy smile.

“Ahhh yes, I believe that my friend here will be taking care of the bill thank you very much,” Alex said before returning to his feast.

“Huh? Wait? What? I can’t afford that?” Liz said confused.

“Hang on, you said that you owed us one” Alex said, once again raising his head from his meal.

“Yeah, I meant like, do your chores, or ruff someone up a bit for you. I don’t have that kind of money” Liz replied anxiously

The waitress cleared her throat loudly, drawing the group’s attention to her. She looked frustrated at the group for a moment before raising her hand and gesturing towards the large chef working in the kitchen. The chef took notice and began stomping out of the kitchen over to the table looming over the group. He reached out, massive bearish hands grabbing the group by the back of their necks, pulling them from the booth and chucking them out of the restaurant and onto the street at full force.

“Come back when you have some money” the chef growled as the group landed on the street with a loud thud.

“Ow that hurt,” Bip said lightly rubbing his back where he had landed.

Alex stood up and stared Liz down with a ferocity

“You lied to us you deadbeat!” Alex hissed at Liz.

“Deadbeat?” Liz demanded “Who you calling a deadbeat? You’re the deadbeat! At least I don’t trick other people into buying my dinner for me,” Liz yelled back at Alex.

Alex began to boil with anger. He reached over to Bip who was still sitting on the ground and grabbed him by the tail before storming off down the street away from Liz.

“Hey! Ow quit it, that hurts!” Bip whined as Alex dragged him off.

“Have fun sleeping on the street tonight, deadbeat!” Alex yelled over his shoulder as he stormed off.

“Yeah well… you to!” Liz shouted back unthinkingly as she stormed off down the unfamiliar streets in the opposite direction.

The night closed in as the pair stormed off expecting to never see each other again.As the pair stormed off prepared to never see one another again neither realised just how important this encounter was nor did they realise the impact that they would end up having have on each other destiny.

________________________________________________________________thank you for reading the first chapter of mage, i hope you enjoyed. this first chapter didn't come out exactly as i wanted but after several re-writes and life events getting in the way i’m just happy its finally out at all.if you enjoyed please consider following me on tumbler. i intend to release a new chapter every week so be sure to be on the look out for chapter 2 next week, until then please remember to have a spectacular day.

[pickyperkypenguin]

So. You finished NiF. Who is your favorite character? Favorite 'arc'?

Ihave liked Nirvana in Fire a little bit differently than I usually dowhen I fall for a book/movie/show. I tend to focus on characters andthey are what makes me like something and stick with it. Here itwas the storytelling that has grabbed me by the ankle and chained metomy laptop for several days, as I’ve binge-watched the whole thing.I have been immensely satisfied with the outcomes and theconsequences of the initial setup, and with the fact that it was allso cleanly done – the goals and the circumstances set, executionconsequent and the actions actually having a follow up. I’m notsaying it was devoid of loose ends or always completely believablesometimes – videXiao Jingyan’s complete inability to see through all the slip upsmade not only by Lin Shu – but those disbelieves were a consequenceof creating an additional tension between characters, so I didn’tmind at all.

What I think Ienjoyed most was the machinations coming true and seeing theorchestration of them. It was full of suspense, but not for theviewer, which I think is a great choice to make by the creators,because the viewer is often credited with less comprehension skillsthey have, and we end up with big reveals that we’ve seen throughdecades ago. I didn’t feel like it was the case here – we couldinstead watch the reactions of the characters, which was much moreinteresting for me.

Sayingall this, I wasn’t as deeply connected emotionally with thecharacters as I usually am, when liking a thing (book, show, etc.)this much. The uniqueness of liking NiF for me was this: I’vestayed engaged throughout fifty four episodes despite not zeroing onthe characters. The plot was actuallyinteresting enoughfor me, for once. That’s like, my private major kudos for NiF.

It wasn’tabout any plot twists, and not even about rooting for any particularoption to win – I could have easily watch with equal interest andsatisfaction the demise of prince Jingyan and Mei Changsu’s plans.Which doesn’t mean I didn’t have personal faves and dislikes.Ugh, consort Yue. Ugh, the first Crown Prince. I found them a bit toocaricatural, and was relieved when their arc has ended and they wereremoved from action. Though, I must admit, Jingxuan was a very goodcontrast for Jinghuan, and consort Yue for consort Jing. So, as I’vesaid, even when I didn’t like someone, their presence have madesense as they accentuated well all the others around. Oh, and Xie Yu?Nightmare, a complete nightmare – but what a wonderful villain!

Oh, andanother thing that was very interesting for me – this was a Chinesedrama made with the Chinese audience in mind, and therefore used sometropes, visual shortcuts that for a European were not always clear, Isuspect also sometimes not even visible. It was very interesting forme to try and understand things I were presented – like the factthat nobody had ever kissed on screen. When Mu Nihuang and Lin Shuhugged, were they actually hugging? Were they kissing passionately?Were they kissing reverently? Or when the Emperor was holding a handof one of his consorts – was that the equivalent of a kiss on thecheek or was he actually drawing moral support from hand holding? Isimply don’t know, because I don’t have enough required knowledge– a state very in line with my education, and I found that alsostrangely satisfying. It was a lot of fun for me to try and piecethose things and try to find an explanation for them.

Followingthe trope of the satisfaction and touch – the lack of touching! Iswear, it was so interesting to observe all the ways emotionalcloseness could be expressed either by reverence when following theetiquette protocol or verbally, without ever being overt with it.Coming from the perspective of creating and sustainingtension? Awesome.

Diving intothe characters more deeply – my favourite thing about Mei Changsuwas that he was actually the Left Hand, not just some stand-in withgood morals. He was committing morally questionable choices for thegreater cause, and he was not always apologetic about it. I felt likeperhaps the storytelling was trying to suggest to me as a viewer atthose points that because he had good morals (or Xiao Jingyan as amoral compass that he believed in) and was working for the prosperityof the Empire and its moral rejuvenation, then he should be absolved– but I read it as  mere suggestion, and so I didn’t feel it asobnoxious attempts of the narrative to convince me. I could make myown observations about his choices and morality, and in the end tojudge if he was a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ character. He was neitherand it was the best thing about it.

Mei Changsuwas also an excellent counterpart and a parallel to the princeJinghuan. Ah, Xiao Jinghuan – his was my favourite arc of them all.His and Changsu’s choices were actually quite the same – theywere trying to scheme mercilessly to get what they wanted: power. Thefact that they had different principles and goals (Changsu: devoidthe court of corruption, make the rule of the Empire just and goodfor people; Jinghuan: gain the prestigious title of the Emperor andall that follows it) doesn’t change much, when you look at it fromthe perspective of what they have sacrificed to get it (and aside ofthe results and whether they succeeded). Also my favourite part ofJinghuan is that he is actually not a villain. He is a product of hisupbringing, provenience, life circumstances and environment he livedin. Not once he does something that would have a root in this. Hiswant of power? Coming from his ambition, of course. But his ambition?Where does that come from? Oh, here it is, look, expectances ofothers (especially his mother and father the Emperor) and the role ofprince he had, and there were not many variants of it he could choosefrom, if he wanted to have respect and prestige.

The morebeautiful and delightfully satisfying to watch is his fall. My mostfavourite scene of all the show was that one, from the episode 41:

“Ban Ruo,were I not a Noble Prince, would you still come to see me today?”

“Iwould.”

“What ifI was exiled and made a commoner. Would you still come see me?”

“YourHighness, those are all imaginary scenarios, why worry about them?”

“Youwon’t come, right? That’s logical, you are a strategist and alsoa descendant of the Hua people. You have an unfinished mission. So,naturally, you need to find someone worth supporting. Now, that Ihave fallen, you will obviously not come to see me again.”

“It isn’tlike that, your Highness.”

“I’mtired. I really don’t want to fight any more.”

Inthis very moment we see Jinghuan completely and irrevocably crushed.Here also manifests a second extremely important thing – theacting. Victor Huang has delivered,is what I’m saying. I feel like a lot of this show could fall flatand the narrative choices could just not make sense (not thisparticular one, but others), if not for amazing acting skills of mostof the cast. Victor Huang or Hu Ge made like 60% of their characterswith just a frown, a smirk, a tip of a head. And they made thembelievable. Lin Shu still deeply in love with Mu Nihuang afterthirteen years? Absolutely obvious. Jinghuan at the end of his ropein this scene? Guys, I have honestly believed for a second that thisperhaps is how they are going to deal with him. Of course, Ban Ruomade that obvious later that it won’t be the case, but if itdepended solely on Jinghuan, I was convinced he would just stop andlive out his days as a melancholic version of prince Ji. Which, Ithink, would be not such a bad thing for him.

Thatscene though, ah – Jinghuan stripped completely bare, finallyrealising he doesn’t have anythingin his life. No power, no respect, no love of his people. Everythinghe has is superficial and coming from his lifestyle, the faithfulnessof his subordinates coming from their own ethos rather than fromgenuine feeling of being treated well. And that is what I thinkreally defeats him, his failure and the awareness of not havinganything sincerely meaningful in his life. Ban Ruo he still trusts,because he knows her (even better now, when he’s aware what sheactually wants from him) and doesn’t care as much as he did for theconsequences. His goals, I think, shift from gaining the status toavenging the fact that he can’t have it. I think at this point hedoesn’t believe in possible success, maybe leaves like 10% ofstupid hope, but most of all he wants to sing his swan song, to showthat he still can execute things, even if they won’t have all thedesigned results.

I wasn’tvery satisfied with that swan song, to be honest, from the emotionalpoint of view. I thought it could have such a great outcome if theywould let him live defeated as he was – but the emotional tormentswould be a good material for a different type of show, not asplot-reliant as this one. I would love a fix-it fic where this wouldbe explored, ahhhh. He could be depressed and trying to improvehimself, so he could finally gain something emotionally meaningful inhis life and also perhaps he would be using all the perks of hisnoble-and-rich life as he liked them very much, he could be an artpatron or something like that. Oh yes, gimme that goodness.

I really likedMei Changsu’s arc, even though it felt a bit artificial, buildingthat tension between him and prince Jingyan. When they were togetheron screen, though, it worked so well, because the actors had a greatchemistry between them. I mean, Hu Ge has excellent chemistry withjust about everyone, is what I’m saying. To be honest, I liked toothat his story with Mu Nihuang was tragic in the end. It feltappropriate, having all those ends cut abruptly – it was aphenomenal choice to actually let him die instead of finding somemagic cure in the last minute, as it often is and as I have expectedsubconsciously. Him dying was what tied this story as it should betied, leaving people grieving but remembering his impact on the fatesof the Empire, exactly the way he wanted.

A great touchwas also this moment when Lin Chen says that he doesn’t know thiswhole Lin Shu, that Changsu is his friend. It is him, not some shadowfrom the past he is helping. He saw something worthy in Changsu andhe isn’t founding his opinions about him on the past – and that’sso different from most of the people that surround Mei Changsu (ofthose that he can confide in).

Theemotional distance between the characters I found a thing of marvel.The loneliness of those who wield power was very well executed –and not the obvious one, as in case of prince Jingyan (can you noticehe was not my favourite? Like, you know, lovely but in a mashedpotatoes way) – but the less obvious, with those who had a supportsystem at first glance. Lin Shu is willingly depriving himself fromthe people who would love to co-carry his burden and is trying tofind a balance when they try to hero-worship him. Prince Jinghuan hasvery obedient subordinates that he half doesn’t pay attention, halfconvinces himself they love him as they should because of his naturalbirthright and innate nobleness (a beautiful example of the effectsof classism in praxis)and in fact has no one to lean on except his mother (which comes withits own set of expectations). The Emperor has a court full of peoplehe has to keep carefully divided and even those who are technicallysupposed to fulfil the role of emotional support (his consorts) areexploiting him, because he exploits them. Yum, yum, yum.

On the otherhand there are friendships – the other strongest point of thisshow. I haven’t been shipping any pair here, because thefriendships were so engaging. Like Yan Yujin and Xiao Jingrui forexample? Another arc I loved, including the cruelty of Mei Changsu’schoice to go through with his plan that would affect his friend. Alsowhat amused me endlessly was the fact that the general atmosphere ofNirvana in Fire was so loaded and serious, that whenever one of thesetwo precious boys, Yujin or Jingrui, appeared on the screen, it waslike an automatic comic/tension relieve. Their dynamics was adorable,light-hearted and young, and their choice to stay friends despite thefallout and the distance, and to treat each other exactly the same asthey were before, with kindness and care, was what warmed my heart.

So, ahem,finishing this dramatically long answer to your question – this waswhat I liked about Nirvana in Fire :>. And probably many more things, but I feel like I have already said too much for one post :D.

[siren-dragon]

A Maiden’s Kiss (Ardyn Izunia x Reader) oneshot

Hey Everybody!

So recently, @poisonous-panda had an anon request about Ardyn’s S/O turning into a 3-year-old. And the more I thought of it, a story soon began to take shape. So thank you Panda, for the mention! ^_^

Also, whoever the anon was that sent that request, I hope you like this story too. Anyway, let’s get this show started!

It was an accident.

Well, to be honest, it was an avoidable accident that held an interesting outcome; but an accident nonetheless. It was common knowledge that, when one was faced with a daemon, to be on high alert. Not only were said monsters incredibly strong and difficult to kill, but they possessed a numerable amount of offensive abilities that left….interesting effects upon their victims. An effect you had the displeasure of experiencing first-hand.

It had occurred during a standard assignment you and Aranea both received from your current employer: Ardyn Izunia; the Chancellor of Niflheim. And while your fellow mercenary found the eccentric and flamboyant man to be tad bit over-bearing (to put it kindly), you found his personality to be quite charming. He was not the standard “uptight, wealthy, know-it-all snob” that you had dealt with many a time, and the change was quite refreshing. So, when you entered his current “office” at Fort Vaullery, the magenta-haired politician gave a cheerful smile at your arrival.

“Ah, Commodore Highwind and Captain (l/n); a pleasure to see you both once more ladies.”

“What is it that you want this time, Izunia?” Aranea spoke, never one for ideal chit-chat.

“I’m afraid it is a less than favorable task this time, and involves harvesting more delightful specimens for our dear researchers back in Gralea. And fear not ladies, the nearest daemon will be more than adequate.”

“Of course, Chancellor,” you answered politely.

Ardyn’s eyes lingered upon you for a split second, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I eagerly await your success. Enjoy the hunt ladies.~”

“Ugh, that man is unbearable,” Aranea tsked as soon as the two of you were out of earshot of his office.

“Come on Aranea, we’ve had worst clients. Remember that Altissian who paid you to be his bodyguard 24/7 because he said the Mob was after him. And then he ended up using that time to simply introduce you as his girlfriend to his family and friends.”

The ivory-haired dragoon shuddered in disgust. “At least I got extra paid for that.”

“Right after you broke his nose.”

Arriving to the main gate, Aranea readied the soldiers while you prepared the vehicles and supplies you would be needing in the convey. Biggs and Wedge had already geared up and ready for the drive to your new harvest location: Fociaugh Hollow. By the time you arrived at the entrance of the large cavern, twilight was fast approaching as the sun set behind the tree line. Immediately the soldiers began setting up light fixtures to beat back the roaming daemons, transport containers, camping equipment, and so on. At 20:00 PM, you readied your bow and double-checked your armor before following your friends and fellow soldiers-for-hire down into the darkness of the cavern.

The job was a rather simple one, lure daemons out and incapacitate them before readying their transport back to an Imperial Base and from there; to Gralea. It was a task you performed constantly, and got good money for due to it’s more hazardous nature. Yet you couldn’t help the bad feeling that unsettled your stomach like a pre-meditated warning….You should have listened to your gut.

“Did you ‘ear that?” Biggs spoke, glancing around the cave.

“Hear what?” Aranea asked, raising her lance. 

“It sounded like…crying, or something.”

Wedge frowned, “I hear it too. It’s coming from over there….”

You held still and listened, hearing what sounded like a person groaning within the shadows. Wedge lifted his torch higher to see further into the darkness to find the noise’s source. The soft groaning soon turned to hissing, causing your eyes to widen in fear.

“Wedge, get down!” You shouted, knocking your friend and colleague to the floor just as a large, serpentine tail appeared from the darkness. It immediately grabbed hold of your ankle and dragged you backwards, causing you to yell in anger and panic as you tried to pry yourself free. Raising your torch upon the creature that currently held you captive, you gazed upon a massive Naga daemon that glared down upon you.

”Where….My baby….” The daemon groaned.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help you….” You replied nervously, reaching for the dagger you kept strapped to your thigh.

The daemon hissed angrily at you, saliva dripping from it’s gapping maw. ”Oh, but you can….by BECOMING THEM!”

Quickly you stabbed the Naga’s tail, causing it to wail in pain as you scrambled to your feet and sprinting away. The Naga screamed in rage at you, a green cloud of mist enveloping you. Slowly you felt your eyes become heavy before you fell to the ground; the world fading the black.

When next you awoke, you found yourself within what appeared to be a bed within the Medical Wing of what you assumed was an Imperial base. Slowly you sat up, trying to remember the events of the previous evening before cursing loudly. That damn Naga appeared out of nowhere and you only hoped that Aranea and the others were alright.

“Now, now; there is no need for such language, my dear.”

You looked toward your left to see Ardyn standing within the doorway, his lips twisted into a smirk that appeared as if he was trying to prevent himself from laughing. It was a curious expression to see on your employer’s face, seeing how you only saw him wear a smirk so often it seemed apart of his face. He sauntered over to you, sitting within the chair that resided at your bedside. “I trust you are feeling well, Captain (l/n).”

“I suppose, though my memories of last night are rather hazy,” you replied, looking up at him. Strange…has he always been so tall?

”Is there anything that you can recall? The Commodore could only explain so much.”

You frowned, trying to recall the events of the previous evening. “….We encountered a Naga within Fociaugh Hollow and it tried to capture Wedge, though I pushed him out of the way and it grabbed me instead. And then…it spoke, asking for its child. Afterward I tried to flee but then…it attacked me and then I passed out.”

Ardyn nodded, listening intently to your story; though his smirk seemed to grow larger and larger. As if he was holding out a punch line on a joke only he was privy to. “You had the misfortune of having a Toad Curse placed upon you. However,” he spoke, taking hold of a small hand mirror that rested on the bedside table; “it seems to have left an interesting effect upon you.”

Taking hold of the offered mirror, you flipped it over to look at your reflection only to scream in horror at the sight that awaited you. A young girl, who looked no older than a 3-year-old, stared back at you with the same expression while Ardyn laughed.

“I hate this.” You grumbled, seething with barely repressed anger.

“I’m sorry Captain, it should have been me.” Wedge spoke, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

Aranea shook her head, “what’s done is done, and there’s no use blaming yourself Wedge.”

You sighed, giving Wedge a wry smile. “It’s alright Wedge, I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“And I’m sorry to say this (f/n), but you won’t be able to leave the fort in your, err…condition. The effect should wear off, but until then you’ll be stuck here.” Aranea said, kneeling next to you with a smirk. “Besides, who would have thought you were such a cute kid.”

“Thanks,” you groaned, swatting away her hand as she tried to ruffle your hair. “I’ll see you all later.”

You watched your friends (though Aranea refuses to use that term) leave for another daemon harvest near Leide by Formouth Garrison, knowing it would be a while before they returned.

Due to your curious ailment, you were unable to leave the fort for your own safety. Several standby researchers have been trying to cure your ridiculous predicament, though the Maiden’s Kiss potion did nothing the change your physical appearance. So, you were placed under house-arrest until a cure could be created, or the curse eventually wore off. And you prayed to ever Astral there was, that it wouldn’t be for too long.

“Good morning, Captain (l/n), came the cheerful voice of Niflheim’s Chancellor. “I assume our dear Commodore has left already.”

“Unfortunately,” you sighed. “Meanwhile I am restrained to this damn compound because I lost over 2 feet of my height.”

“Oh? I did not see any difference.”

You tried to glare up at the magenta-haired man, your now childish face making the expression more of a pout. Ardyn laughed, “you are quite the adorable child, Captain.”

“I’ll just take that as a compliment. Now if you will excuse me Chancellor, I am returning to my room.”

“Oh, my dear (f/n), I am amazed at your reaction to this intriguing predicament of yours. Most people would be praising the Astrals on bended knee for a second-chance at childhood.” Ardyn spoke, easily keeping pace with you.

“I am not most peop- AHHHH! Wh-what are you doing?!” you exclaimed, feeling your feet leave the ground as you were lifted into the air.

“I have a few errands to attend to in Lestallum, and I wish for you to join me. Though you don’t truly have a choice, seeing how I am your employer.”

“And what if I refuse?….” you asked.

He grinned deviously down at you, “than you will leave me know choice but to use some unsavory methods….”

You swallowed nervously, held tightly within Ardyn’s arms before his left hand came forward and begun tickling you mercilessly. He watched in amusement as you laughed loudly while his fingers danced across your small body. You felt tears begin to stream down your face while your face flushed red. “Ahahahaha! O-Okay, I agree! Ahahaha! I’ll g-go with you!”

“Excellent, my dear!” Ardyn replied cheerfully. “Shall we be off?”

You walked beside Ardyn down the Main Street of Lestallum, watching children play hide and seek as music floated through the air from some nearby musicians. Running to keep pace with Ardyn’s long stride, you followed him to what appeared to be a restaurant. He pulled out your chair for you, causing you to blink in surprise before muttering a soft “thank you,” and sitting down.

“Your welcome, my dear,” he spoke.

“May I ask why we’re at a restaurant?” you asked, glancing around.

Ardyn shrugged, “I thought you’d enjoy a change in scenery. You were most likely losing all trace of your sanity locked within that metal prison.”

“So, you decided to take a girl who appears to be your daughter to lunch instead?”

He narrowed his eyes at you, causing a sly smile to pull across your face. Just as a waitress arrived at your table Ardyn gave the worker a charming grin. “I am sorry to disturb you, but can you please fetch a Children’s Menu.”

“Of course, sir.” The waitress nodded before rushing off.

You raised an eyebrow, “seriously?”

“What is the matter?” Ardyn asked, “the Children’s Menu is for myself.”

He couldn’t help but smile as you laughed aloud, disturbing every other customer.

After lunch, in which you had a simple soup with toasted bread and Ardyn had a Lestallum Curry Trio (complete with a swirly straw drink), the two of you continued walking through the city. You did ask Ardyn about his supposed “errand”, however he kept dodging the question, saying it can wait. It made you increasingly curious to see the Chancellor so…normal, and it made you a bit nervous.

As the sun progressed through the sky, Ardyn treated you to an entire day of activities. And despite the odd pairing you made, with him being a full-grown man and you being a full-grown woman within a toddler version of your body, the day was rather pleasant. Granted you couldn’t help but blush in embarrassment as he knelt before you to bequeath a single sylleblossom from a flower stand. However, you could make the infamous Chancellor chuckle as you danced with him to the melodies of Lestallum’s street musicians. It was one of the most enjoyable days you had, regardless of being mistaken of as a child or not.

“May I ask you a question?” you spoke, sitting on the Pegglar Outlook as you two watched the flames of the Meteor drift into the evening sky.

“I believe you just did,” Ardyn teased, “but you may ask another.”

“…you didn’t have an errand to run, did you?”

“On the contrary, my dear, I did. I simply chose to ignore it in favor of more enjoyable company.”

“Well, despite how strange our day was; or the fact that you tortured me with cruel and unusual punishments….I did enjoy myself.” You leaned forward a placed a gentle kiss upon his lips, “thank you Ardyn.”

Immediately a pale, green mist shrouded your body and you glanced down to see yourself returned to your original age and body. Ardyn blinked in surprise before a smirk came to his lips. “It seems the Frog Princess simply needed a kiss to cure her curse.”

“You know…I’m feeling a little green still. Perhaps I need another.” You spoke, smiling shyly.

“Well, we can’t have that, now can we?” He grinned before your lips met his.

[penomecodeserveslove]

Introduction/Appreciation for SVT

~Hello Gorgeous Beings~

This is going to be an appreciation/introduction try blog into Seventeen.

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Seventeen is a 13 member group that debuted in May of 2015, under Pledis Entertainment. Their group name is representative of an equation, 13 members + 3 units +1 team = Seventeen. Their fandom name is ‘Carat’ and their fandoms colours are Rose Quartz and Serenity.

In this blog I will be giving a short description of each of the members just to give a brief overview of these amazing men. I’ve also included a video that I edited to try to help with identifying faces

Here is a link to the introduction video, I apologise, it could not be uploaded to YouTube due to copyright claims from Loen Entertainment. If you’re struggling with matching faces I would say it’s a good video to watch but I may be bias since I made the video.

Thank you in advance in viewing for this blog and if you’re still struggling learning Seventeen, then feel free to message me and I am more than happy to help!

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The dynamic of this group never ceases to amaze me. They are seriously one big family, like many group's. Even though there are so many of them, they are all still amazing friends. Now I will do a little introduction for each of the members! (Please keep in mind that most of the stuff I say like, “He is one of the best blahblah” that is my opinion, I realise that there are many incredible idols out there) Starting with the leader;  

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»» S.Coups

Stage name: S.Coups (에스.쿱스)

Birth name: Choi Sung Cheol (최승철)

Position: Leader, Hip Hop Team Leader, Main Rapper

Birthday: 08 August 1995

»» S.Coups is known as SVT’s father, he is possibly one of the most caring leaders I know. 

»» He is a scaredy cat but at the same time you wouldn’t want to make him mad due to his seven years of learning Taekwondo. 

»» In the One Fine Day series, during any games that are being played or any decisions that need to be made, S.Coups get very passionate and competitive. 

»» To explain his stage name, the “S” stands for Sungcheol and Seventeen and Coups means “big success”. 

»» Despite his outward appearance he is quite affectionate and sentimental, he truly cares for his members, a recent example of this is when someone threw their phone onto stage, as S.Coups picked it up to give it to security you could clearly see he was upset.

»» All in all he is an incredible leader, who has a manly exterior and a squishy personality.

»»-------------¤-------------««

»» Jeonghan

Stage Name: Jeonghan (정한)

Birth Name: Yoon Jung Han (윤정한)

Position:  Vocalist

Birthday: 04 October 1995

»» This man’s singing is absurdly incredible. One of his nicknames is Angel, which backed up by his angelic voice (<-okay, sorry that was a bit much, but you get my point), but seriously the nickname comes from his birthday, Oct 4th, 1004, which in Korean is “Cheonsa” which means “Angel”. 

»» Jeonghan will literally nap anywhere he can, he has called himself the weakest member simply because he tires easily. 

»» He may seem quiet but he is not always like that, he can get sassy at times. 

»» Jeonghan is also known as the mother of the group sometimes, he can always be seen helping the Chinese members if they are stuck and do not understand something. 

»» He is a truly valuable member of Seventeen.

»»-------------¤-------------««

»» Joshua

Stage Name: Joshua (조슈아)

Birth Name: Hong Jisoo (홍지수)

Position: Vocalist

Birthday: 30 December 1995

»» Gentleman Josh. He is one of the American members and him, along with Vernon, are mostly in charge of any English translations that are needed. 

»» This man is so dreamy, he can play guitar and sing like there is no limit, I would say that I think his vocals are one of the most under appreciated in the vocal team. 

»» He is extremely caring and can be seen looking after the younger members. He is known as the gentleman because he does not anger easily and he has a soft, gentle voice. 

»» Joshua is a Christian, he used to attend church often when he lived in America and was part of the chaplaincy team, playing guitar for them.

»»-------------¤-------------««

»» Jun

Stage Name: Jun (준)

Birth  Name: Wen Junhui (文俊辉)

Korean Name: Moon Jun Hwi (문준회)

Position: Lead Dancer, Sub Vocalist

Birthday: 10 June 1996

»» One of the gorgeous Chinese members. He has a quiet and mysterious charm about him that is very hard to resist, when in reality he is very extra and can get quite weird. 

»» Jun has quite a bit of confidence in his looks and, from what I remember, ranks himself third best looking. He was/is an actor in China. 

»» Jun is an affectionate member, he can be seen hugging the other members quite often. He isn’t the greatest at Korean but is still a very hardworker. 

»» Jun can be extremely soft and adorable, his smile is so contagious that you can’t help but smile. 

»» Did I mention that he is an awesome singer? Here is a little clip of him shyly singing a Chinese lullaby

»»-------------¤-------------««

»» Hoshi

Stage Name: Hoshi (호시)

Birth Name: Kwon Soonyoung (권순영)

Position: Performance Team Leader, Main Dancer, Sub Vocalist

Birthday: 15 June 1996

»» Where do I even start with Prince Kwon. Well, first off, he is my UB if you haven’t noticed from my profile. I may begin rambling so I apologise in advance. 

»» His stage name Hoshi means ‘star’ in Japanese. 

»» He is one of the most hard working members in the group, he is the performance team leader and he also choreographs many of the group's dances. 

»» You would not want to meet him in a dark alley though, he is a black belt in Taekwondo and he says that many poses in Taekwondo are similar to dancing and that’s how he became interested in dancing. 

»» The passion he has while participating in his art whether it be through his singing or dancing is breathtakingly gorgeous, he could make even the coldest person feel warm. 

»» He has the most aegyo I swear, he is so squishy and adorable, watch him at fansigns melts my heart. 

»» One of his nicknames is 10:10 because of the shape of his eyes. 

»» Hoshi is incredibly adorable off stage, looking out for younger members and incredibly rude on stage, but hey, I’m not complaining.

»» He will forever be my favourite SHINee fanboy. His fanboy side is absolutely adorable.

»» The way his hands move is incredible, I could watch a compilation of his [jellyfish|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkfJCvPQ6cw] for hours on end and not get bored.

»» His passion for his art makes me cry. Honestly, you can see how much he loves what he does and how much he loves thee group he is in.

»»-------------¤-------------««

»» Wonwoo

Stage Name: Wonwoo (원우)

Birth Name: Jeon Wonwoo (전원우)

Position: Lead Rapper

Birthday: 17 July 1996

»» Our deep voiced rapper, omg. He may come off as harsh in the beginning due to his sharp features and cold outside but he is honestly a really kind hearted person. 

»» He doesn’t like doing aegyo, but even though he doesn’t like it he will do it on the rare occasion. 

»» In the words of one of my friends “Not only is he cute but he is gorgeous, tall, and has a voice deeper than the pacific ocean”. 

»» I am not a rapper myself but I know a decent rapper when I hear one, and damn Wonwoo is an awesome rapper (<- his rap starts after 1:35). 

»» Wonwoo is truly a massive dork at heart. He also loves to read in his spare time.

»»-------------¤-------------««

»» Woozi

Stage Name: Woozi (우지)

Birth Name: Lee Jihun (이지훈)

Position: Vocal Team Leader, Lead Vocalist

Birthday: 22 November 1996

»» Woozi singing is seriously one of the most unimaginably incredible sounds ever, his falsetto gives me life. His solo song simple literally caused me to cry.

»» He is in charge of composing and writing lyrics are some of their songs. Even his dance is absolutely incredible. I love watching his focused cams.

»» He may be small but he is very feisty, but still adorable. When it comes down to it though he is very kind.

»» He refuses to believe that he is adorable when honestly he is probably one of the most adorable members in SVT. On the Yang and Nam show he finally admitted that he is cute.

»»-------------¤-------------««

»» DK

Stage Name: DK (도겸)

Birth Name: Lee Seokmin (이석민)

Position: Main Vocalist

Birthday: 18 February 1997

»» Extra, that’s all I can really say about Dokkyeomie, he can be very extra and random. He can be very lively but he is adorable and sensitive as well.

»» His high notes can cure cancer I swear, whenever I hear his voice I shed a tear.

»» He works very hard to bring his positive energy to the other members and to Carats. Dk, Seungkwan and Hoshi make the gag trio, known as comedy relief, they aim to bring smiles and happiness into others.

»» His laugh and smile are very distinctive, his eyebrows either go up or down with his laugh. I can never help but smile or giggle with him. His aegyo is extremely cringey but still extremely adorable.

»»-------------¤-------------««

»» Mingyu

Stage Name: Mingyu (민규)

Birth Name: Kim Mingyu (김민규)

Position: Lead Rapper, Face of the Group

Birthday: 06 April 1997

»» Ahhhh Housewife Ming, he is so  adorable. Mingyu is known for being the visual of the group, as is evident by his amazingly good looks.

»» He is the member who eats the most, he can be seen eating in the background of pretty much any videos of SVT.

»» He is both the tallest and the loudest members out of the group. Many of the members have said that he is a lot different from their original thoughts of him. As one of my other friends said, his looks is contrasted by his personality, he looks like a chic and cool guy but honestly he is a giant adorable puppy.

»» Mingyu is known as Housewife Ming because he is good with his hands, he cooks and cleans, he is also able to repair things.

»» His rapping is absolutely amazing and could make the angels weep, I love his voice so much.

»»-------------¤-------------««

»» The8

Stage Name: The8 (디에잇)

Birth Name: Xu Minghao (徐明浩)

Korean Name: Seo Myung Ho (서명호)

Position: Lead Dancer, Sub Vocalist

Birthday: 07 November 1997

»» Gorgeous, gorgeous Minghao, this human being is absolutely adorable. He is so fluffy and gorgeously shy, this is due to his inability to understand Korean at times.

»» His singing and dancing are both amazing, being hypnotized by him is extremely easy while watching him dance. He is in charge of ‘b-boying’ in the group and will often be seen doing a fancy flip, like in Don’t Wanna Cry.

»» He has been practising the art of Wushu (chinese martial arts) since he was five years old. On their most recent Weekly Idol appearance he exhibits his skills. He also won a prize at the National Children’s martial arts competition.

»» Minghao is exceedingly hardworking, he is not great at Korean, yet he still perseveres in learning and growing.

»» If you ever have spare time you should definitely have a look at some of his fancams, he is an incredible dancer.

»»-------------¤-------------««

»» Seungkwan

Stage Name: Seungkwan (승관)

Birth Name: Boo Seung Kwan (부승관)

Position: Main Vocalist

Birthday: 16 January 1998

»» This guy I swear, he is amazingly funny and an incredible singer. He has such an amazing personality that it is hard to resist smiling whenever he is talking.

»» His attempts at speaking English are always adorable and funny to hear, especially if you are a native English speaker.

»» Boo is absolutely gorgeously amazing. He has the most adorable visuals and he can dance and sing, just asdfghjkl;. Here is a compilation of his singing, his notes in Pretty U never cease to amaze me.

»» He is extremely extra, he is always very entertaining to watch.

»» And of course how can we talk about Boo Seungkwan without talking about DivaBoo. Here is a Divaboo vs Seungkwan video which will show that difference between Diva and Seungkwan.

»»-------------¤-------------««

»» Vernon

Stage Name: Vernon (버논)

Birth Name: Hansol Vernon Choi

Position: Main Rapper

Birthday: 18 February 1998

»» Baby DiCaprio. Vernon is well known for looking quite similar to Leonardo DiCaprio.

»» His rapping is simply jaw-dropping. The iconic lines that he has in them middle of his raps are unforgettable. My favourite is “You’re so ice ice baby”, not sure why, I just always get excited to hear it.

»» Memesol, of course, is another  adorable aspect of Vernon. I can never get enough of the random screenshots I’ve found of him pulling the weirdest faces.

»» His dancing should be illegal, and he needs to learn how to keep his tongue in his mouth. I’m signing a petition to make Vernon’s dancing illegal.

»» When he imitates the others singing, I can’t help but smile, especially when he tries to do Seungkwan’s parts. But in reality he has quite a lovely singing voice.

»» His friendship with Seungkwan never fails to make me smile.

»» And I also love his love for his family, he cares so much for his parents and his sister, you can tell he misses them a lot.

»» Last but not least, a random one, [Bubble Hansol|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzeJSBVHYZE]. Do I need to say anything else, plus I love the dramaticness of his fall.

»»-------------¤-------------««

»» Dino

Stage Name: Dino (디노)

Birth Name: Lee Chan (이찬)

Position: Main Dancer, Lead Rapper, Maknae

Birthday: 11 February 1999

»» Our adorable Maknae. Dino is so adorable and always gets teased for being the youngest.

»» He admires Michael Jackson so much, his covers of Apink’s nonono and EXID’s up and down with a Michael Jackson twist is absolutely endearing.

»» His stage name is an abbreviation of Dinosaur because he wishes to dominate the stage.

»» As he is part of the performance team, he is an incredible dancer. Despite his age he is advanced in his art form and it is simply amazing to watch his dance.

»» His laugh and smile are both amazingly contagious, can never help but smile with him.

»» He is always reluctant to agree that his is Jeonghan’s baby but we all know that he will always be the baby.

»» Dino’s rapping is also an extraordinary aspect to our little maknae.

»»-------------¤-------------««

All in all you can see how much I love these men! I think that their dynamic is incredible and I hope that through this blog I may have encouraged some more people to become Carats! Please give our men some love and support.

Well this bring us to the end of my blog. I hope that through this post you may have learnt about SVT for the first time or may even have been a Carat before this and have learnt more!

Thank you so much for reading~

[thebootybitchdragon]

So, first of all, I am super excited to have found somebody as excited about the clone as I am. I've been thinking about it a lot since Butch posted his video. But, I'm confused, because I thought this was ten years into the future? Wouldn't original Danny be older? Like 24 I think? Aside from that, you guys got some really good ideas about this character, and I've been laughing at some of the comments for a good few minutes.

AHHHH someone else who likes the clone!Welcome friend!!! 8) lmao, I was browsing the Phantom tag yesterday waswas so disheartened by how many people were irritable at all of thedesigns or downright kicking them to the curb. Which, isunderstandable, everyone has their tastes, and I agree that most ofthem are just…..Put Them Back embodiments, but it was still sad tosee so little interest in the Clone.

Because its such a good idea ripe withpotential, both for TUE levels of darkness and for hilariousscenarios. For once (ONCE) Butch has done okay by me.

And now to actually answer yourquestion, lmao: Yes, you are correct, the original concept was Vladfor ten years into the future, with a teenage Danny clone (I do admitthat’s super squick, like Vlad do you have no other hobbies besidesbeing fucking creepy? Go outside and play some tennis my dude.) sincethe video was a part 2 to the original Phantom concepts for the tenyear anniversary. However, at least in the ideas and concepts I’vebeen talking about and personally throwing around, I’ve gotten rid ofthe ten year span.

Because it literally doesn’t makesense.

I have contempt for the officialPhantom timeline bc its so inconsistent, but a majority of peoplehave it taking place over a two year time span, based on the twosummer episodes. (This is something I personally don’t agree with,but I have no evidence to argue it so I’m stuck like a petulantchild grumbling in the corner) and Vlad gives Valerie her gear in S1Ep10, Shades of Grey. I cannot recall if it was specifically statedin canon Vlad was using her to get Danny’s DNA, but I’m trustingthe wiki bc I really don’t want to endure re-watching Kindred Spiritsand D-Stabalized. If we assume that this had been Vlad’s goal fromthe start (something I disagree with and will touch more aboutbelow), that means that he’s been gathering Danny’s DNA for about ayear to two years if we estimate heavily with the nonsense timebetween the episodes.

In that time span, he figured out howto do the cloning, built the equipment, went through countlessprototypes to figure out all the bumps and snags, made severaldecently “functional” clones (Dani and the one he fucking murdersas a display), made the “perfect” one, and figured out exactlywhat he needed to stabilize an artificial hybrid of ghost and humanorigin.

In two years max.

It would not take him ten fuckin yearsto recreate a successful perfect clone. Even if everything wasdestroyed twice and he lost Valerie’s “assistance”. And thereason for that is because he already knows how. The hard part isdone. Once you know how to do something through so much trial anderror, you know what not to do and what you should do the nexttime around. Vlad doesn’t need to re-figure out how to make astable, perfect clone again, he can just get the equipment, the DNA,whatever and just do it.

Which he was most likely attemptingto already do in D-stabilized.

[Edit: I neglected to look on thewiki before writing this entire thing bc I was confident I know thematerial and apparently I need to get a reality check on my ego bc Iwas completely misremembering D-Stabalized. The fallowing should betaken with gratuitous lumps of salt bc I’m salty at this discoveryand also I haven’t changed anything in it.]

Why do you think hewas going after Dani? Why would he want that information of “Whyare you so stable?” if he wasn’t trying again? If he wasn’t at thepoint that he NEEDED to stabilize something? For future knowledge?Please. If Vlad was truly going to make another perfect clone, hewould not wait several months after loosing the first doing literallynothing but tormenting Danny and being an ass, nor until after he’sfigured out Dani. He was working on the Clone project for a long timeunder everyone’s noses in the first place, so who’s to say he wasn’tagain?

I’m saying Vlad wasliterally within inches of succeeding in D-stabalized. That healready had a second Clone ready to stabilize.

[Edit: I was incorrect in thinkingVlad only wanted Dani to learn why she’s stable, he wanted to use herto make another perfect clone. I was close, but not close enough. Iam still standing by my theory, however, canon can suck it. It’sstill at least feasible.]

Hartman suggestedin the video, as I’m sure you know, that the Clone (I call himDaniel bc there’s literally no way he’s not namedDaniel.) has some of Vlad in him. And this, my friend, melds so well with where canon dropped off.

Vlad wanted andattempted to stabilize the clones with Danny’s full DNA, probably soit would be 100% Danny, enough to the point he was willing to murderDani to figure her out/use her. However, after failing to get themid-morph from Danny (failure 1) and failing to get anything fromDani (failure 2), Vlad would be unlikely to try the same thingsagain. I would also like to think he’d also be unlikely to continuing to announce “OI I’M CLONEING YOU” to Danny, but it’sVlad so you never know.

He would be forcedto think of something else.

There is nothing incanon suggesting that Vlad couldn’t use his own mid-morph tostabalize a clone. He never brings it up, never explains why themid-morph is the critical link aside from the fact that it just is.There’s very little info about just how these clones are made, sothere’s no known rules to what could work and what wouldn’t. A possible reason this might not work is that it could function likebody parts or blood types, where you need a match in order for it tobe properly accepted. In that case, however, its just figuring outwhat you need to tweak in order to force an acceptance, somethingprobably made easier to do when you’re in control of the entiregenetic sequence you’re fiddling with.

This would not taketen years to do. None of it would. It would take at most, I think ayear. Maybe two, but that’s pushing it. I also have a theorythat Vlad was being so obtuse in Season 3 was to purposefullydistract Danny, but take that as you will.

This is all of myfancy way of explaining why my personal ideas are set so close to theactual canon and kicking that gross ten years to the curb.

As for my forgotten notion about why Idon’t think Vlad started cloning from Valerie’s beginning was becauseVlad was still mostly focused on Maddie up until Maternal Instincts,which occurs 6 episodes after Shades of Grey. Shades of Greyis only three episodes from Bitter Reunions as well.That’s a pretty small amount of time for someone still (reasonably)sane to go “I liked that kid, I want him to be my son. I shouldclone him.”

I’d also like to state that in the fourepisodes Vlad appears in before Kindred Spirits (not including TUE)but after Maternal Instincts, not once is his main goal Danny.Nor is it ever Maddie, either. Danny becomes a factor in MillionDollar Ghost, however his main goal is still stealing the portal. InReign Storm, he’s more inclined to use Danny than to try to make himhis son, bc again: his goal is the artifacts. In Secret Weapons, Vladisn’t even interested in Danny when he’s dropped in the middleof his lab. Tbh, I can’t for the life of me figure out what Vlad’sgoal was in the whole sibling battle thing, he really just fucked hisplans up himself in that one. In Masters of All Time, his goal wasthe cure, and again, had no problems using Danny as a pawn.

Kindred Spirits is the first place inthe entire series where we see the extent of how far he’s willing togo to get Danny to be his son. The first episode where it’s his maingoal.

I just realized how close MaoT andKinSpirits are, I wonder if Vlad triggered the Ectoacne flare workingwith the ectoplasm for the clones? Hmmm, interesting.

Anyway, the point is: Vlad kept hiscloning stuff a secret, but for how long remains a mystery. Mostlybecause there’s no point in time where it becomes obvious just howdesperate he is to have Danny. Is it when he saw an opportunity withValerie? Or is it after Danny ruins his attempts to get the Ring ofRage back from Pariah by blowing up the ectosuit so he was just like“Well fuck, now what do I do to keep myself busy?”

Getting back onto the topic of Cloneand Original Danny, there’s a second, lesser reason I’ve personallybumped the time skip, and that’s because there would be literallyZero conflict between a 14 year old and a 24 year old.

OlderDanny would kick his ass, trainingfrom Vlad be damned.

OlderDanny would also not be fazed asmuch as a younger Danny as his identity being perverted by a clone.This is because the age gap would automatically render them as beingtwo different people. OlderDanny would not see the clone as himself,at least not fully, because he’s already a mature adult. The clonecould not torment Danny with the fact that he’s him, that he’sstealing anything, that he’s threatening his notion of being andsense of self. Because OlderDanny has nothing to fear about a youngerversion of himself; he’s stronger, wiser, and different enough. Thedynamic simply doesn’t work. This is why Danny could be okay withDani: he doesn’t see himself in her. He doesn’t think of her as aclone, as the doppelganger. Because she’s a girl, she’s younger,she’s different. She isn’t him in his eyes.

With an identical copy, that’s notsomething you can avoid or ignore. Can’t deny that its not your facetwisting into that evil smirk that looks so wrong because itsfamiliar but not. Its you, but its not, and its uncomfortable,its an invasion of privacy, the ultimate identity theft. Its a personthat wears your face, sees with your eyes, speaks with your voice,thinks with your brain, and bleeds with your blood. And yet its notyou.

The closest thing Danny had to this wasDan. But Dan could be defeated. Dan could be made so that he neverexisted in the first place, completely avoided.

Daniel could not.

Daniel’s creation is out of Danny’scontrol, his existence never takes into account what Danny wants orcares, because its done at Vlad’s whims. And that’s the worstpart: the lack of control. To know that an identical yet completelywrong version of yourself exists against your will and you haveabsolutely no control over it is torture, especially for someone whoalready had cause to fear himself once before. Sure, Danny can fightDaniel, suck him up into a thermos, and maybe kick it into the ghostzone to try to be rid of him forever, but he would still existand he could always come back. Unlike Dan.  And there’snothing Danny could do about it.

What even could be do? Try todestabilize him? Ask clockwork to erase him from existence? Lock himin a thermos and bury him deep in the ice caps? Kill him?

Would Danny truly be the person to tryany of those?

In other words, the closer Daniel is tobeing like Danny, the worse effect it would have. So its all aboutmaximizing that to get the full potential of the conflict. Dannyneeds a reason to see Daniel’s creation as the ultimate line crossed,the “This has gone too far” moment. Danny needs a reasonto not only despise, but fear his clone.

There are some….problems, with this,and I’ve already used them in my argument: the fact that it another you is too different, you stop seeing it as yourself. AndDaniel is not an identical copy. He has aspects of Vlad in him.There’s a very fine line to be walked, between Daniel being similarenough that it hurts Danny while being different enough to count as adifferent character. The design alone might already doom it. But fuckit, you people can pry my inverted skunk haired baby from my colddead hands.

I realize that this is a very longresponse, and very little of it pertains to what you asked. However,I hope you enjoyed my analysis and my explanation of my personalreasoning. This was a lot of fun to talk about (I can’t remember if Igot into some of the things in other asks or if I’m recalling themfrom a thing I was gonna post but hasn’t gotten to yet. If thereare repeat things, I’m sorry! My memory is v bad.) and I thank youfor the ask!

I also realize that a majority of thisask talks about making Daniel Danny’s worst enemy, which goes againstthe “They slowly become bed buds” ask I got earlier. I receivedthat ask before I really had any ideas of what to do with Daniel, andsince I’m loving this worst enemy idea, the conflict isunderstandable. The friend idea is still on the table tho! All itneeds now is a climax, a trigger, a turning point. Something thatchanges the dynamic to start that “I hate you, but not as much as Idid, and I kinda sorta enjoy your company a little bit.” ball a’rollin.

Fuck if I know what that is tho lmao