#I think buzzcuts actually suit them! I like it! It really gives them a cool and professional vibe.

[gatorkid509]

Made Rambuta and Keylie in Xenoverse 2 for Switch, mainly because I wanted to plan out the colors for their full bio artwork, and I might as well see what changes the game makes when you choose a different race.( My main is human)

Rambuta is a Namekian, and Keylie is a Sayian, and can I just say that I love that the game gives you the option to make your custom character outrageous colors that the species clearly should not have. It definitely makes the game more fun when you can go all out with the colors.

Rambuta being a Namekian in the game was actually not planned as I initially wanted to use the Majin race since it does resemble Dodoria's race more( Dodoria even mentions in Xenoverse 2 that the the 2 look a lot a like if your character is a Majin) but sadly it didn't have the option for head spikes. I was going to just give up and move on to possibly creating Keylie into Xenoverse 2 until I stopped and started pondering if the Namekian race would have spikes for their customization. And when I went to the head option, BINGO! Head Spikes!!! Rambuta would be in Xenoverse 2 after all!!!!( Yes, I know I could have looked up if the Namekian customization hade spikes, but I wasn't thinking about that, I just wanted my Spiky Fruit Baby to be in Xenoverse!!) I'm actually glad that my items from my first character transfer over to the next because that means I get Zarbon's Circlet onto Rambuta ASAP( Kinda wish they included his earrings, too, but what can you do)

As for Keylie, since I couldn't replicate her Beast Form into Xenoverse, I'll just have to use her Elegant Form( Sucks for Keylie since she hates her Elegant Form, but at least she gets all kinds of cool Super Sayian forms!) And while I do wish their was a buzzcut hairstyle since that's Keylie's main hairstyle, the one I ultimately used does fit her pretty well. I also immediately changed her outfit because the default Sayian outfit had those short undies that some of the Frieza Force soldiers wear, and Keylie actually doesn't like wearing revealing clothes, so for now, The Latest Fashion is her go to bottoms, along with a TP Logo suit.

Now, as for the colors!

.

.

.

Yeah... their colors are pretty close to Zarbon and Dodoria's, something I was trying to avoid. But since we haven't really seen other members of their races aside from Yuzun from Super, I guess we can call this an exception... maybe...

I really want to take pictures of them with Dodoria and Zarbon for both comparisons and because it'll be fun to have them take pictures with their teachers. I do have to beat the Namek arc in order to unlock them( twice, in fact), but it'll be worth it.

[knoxyourself]

I went for it

Pairing: Wolfstar (Remus Lupin/Sirius Balck)

Words: 2,7k

Warnings: none I think

(english is not my first language so it's not perfect)

The ‘Gryffindor Pride’ party was incredibly loud, as everyone probably expected. They just won the Quidditch Cup third year in a row, it was a good reason for a party. But then again, one could always find a great reason to party with Gryffindors.

Muggle booze, brought by Mary, and Firewhiskey were flowing like waterfalls, which meant that everyone was having a great time. If not, they were few drinks away from it and soon enough it’d be just fine.

It was probably the last party of the year, right before the exams, so in all honesty everyone wanted to loosen up a little.

That’s why two sixth years were handing out bottles of butterbeer to everyone, who passed their ‘station’ at the table. Sirius and James were never ones to give up some fun, although Sirius had decided to stay sober that night. It didn’t stop him from getting James, who was currently laughing at something with Marlene, incredibly pissed.

Remus silently watched their interaction from the other sofa. He was slightly tipsy himself, but not to the point where he’d have a hangover the next morning. He watched James acting like a goofball in front of Lily – that’s when Remus heard the laugh.

His eyes involuntarily fixated on Sirius’s profile. The black-haired boy looked like he was glowing. His silvery eyes were shimmering with joy, bright smile plastered on his incredibly alluring lips. He realized, that he wanted to know what the boy tasted like, he wanted to examine every single part of Sirius’s body with his fingertips, he wanted Sirius, and he wanted Sirius to acknowledge that fact. Merlin, Remus was definitely feeling the impact of alcohol he consumed. Remus knew that he had a silly crush on the dark-haired boy, he fancied Sirius Black and he was somewhat okay with that, he just hadn’t realized, that his desire was that intense. Sirius was his best friend for fucks sake, he wasn’t keen on ruining it. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Remus slouched in his place, eyes still eagerly absorbing Sirius’s features. He only shifted his gaze when Lily plumped next to him on the couch.

“You look like you’re having fun,” she said, sarcasm present in her voice. “What’s up?”

“I am having fun.” He retorted rolling his eyes. “I think I’m drunk tho.”

Lily laughed loudly, shaking her head with amusement. She definitely drank more than the light-haired boy.

“Drunk?” she mused. “You’ve had like, what, two butterbeers?”

“I don’t do good with alcohol.”

“That’s bullshit and we both know it.” Lily had a pretty good idea why Remus’s mood suddenly changed. She wasn’t stupid, she could see the longing eyes, hidden smiles, Remus’s blushing whenever Sirius came way too close. They were both more obvious than they thought. “Okay, you don’t have to tell me what’s, or rather who’s, on your mind. I think I already know enough.”

“What d’you mean?” Remus felt his ears heating up.

“Nothing,” she smiled sympathetically, patting his back. “But I think you should talk to him. I have a feeling that you won’t regret it.”

With that said, she was gone, jumping back on to the dance floor.

The moment when Remus’s eyes shifted back to Sirius, Queen’s Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy started playing on full volume. It was Lily’s doing, but Remus would never know that part of the story. He let the girls words sink in to his brain. He knew that he’d have to talk to Sirius at some point, but until that, he’d rather avoid the topic.

When he heard the first notes of the song, Sirius felt a pair of eyes staring at him. He didn’t turn around immediately. Sirius noticed Remus’s gaze earlier and he hoped that it was also the light-haired boy this time. It was a weird feeling, being watched by Remus. It always made Sirius’s stomach twist and he felt like he was drowning. But it was a good kind of drowning, he was drowning in his own feelings. The positive ones. Finally, he gave in and locked eyes with his best friend.

Remus’s eyes were smooth, warm. Almost soothing. When Sirius stared into them, he felt like he was home.

They were gazing into each other’s eyes for quite some time. Sirius needed more. He knew that Remus didn’t feel the same, but to wish was not a crime, right? He shook his head and tapped James’s shoulder.

“Prongs, I’m gonna go to Remus, you’ll be okay?” he asked the boy.

James wasn’t anywhere near sober, quite the opposite actually. He was currently arguing with equally pissed Marlene and Mary over the latter’s sexual experiences. He turned to face Sirius when he felt the tap.

“Wha-? Oh, Re-mus, sure.” James slured, sly grin forming on his lips. “Go get ‘em tiger!” He threw fist in the air while both girls laughed their asses off.

Sirius rolled his eyes in amusement, he’s never seen James this drunk.

“Don’t let him touch any more firewhiskey Marls.” Sirius looked pleadingly at the blonde.

“You are notme mother, Black.” James stumbled trying to stand up, and fell face first on the table. That of course caused another fit of laughter from the girls and a pained groan from James.

While Sirius tried to get rid of his drunk company, Remus found himself talking to a sixth year Ravenclaw. Justin Haywood sat next to him on the couch and offered him Remus’s third butterbeer.

Justin was slightly shorter than Sirius but equally good looking. He had a define jawline, deep emerald eyes that were now glossy from all the alcohol, and a blond buzzcut. He, unlike Sirius, played Quidditch so his shoulders were much broader. It suited him well.

Remus knew Justin from his Advanced Charms study group, they got along quite well. With Justin everything was easy, there wasn’t any distracting emotions, he could just talk to him and admire his physical appearance, not like with Sirius. Sirius was complicated, Remus never really knew what the dark-haired boy thought about him.

“I don’t think I understood our last assignment correctly.” Justin sighed relying slightly on Remus’s shoulder. They were going through last Charms lesson, really interesting topic to dig into during a party. “There’s shit-load of theory.”

Justin apparently was much more full-mouthed after couple of drinks. Not that Remus minded, he wasn’t a saint himself.

“I’m sure you got it just fine,” the light-haired boy laughed gingerly. “But I can help you if you’re really that worried.”

At that point Sirius finally left James with the girls. He searched the room for Remus and that’s when he saw it. Justin’s arm around Remus’s shoulders, the Ravenclaw boy leaning slightly on Remus. He came closer so he could listen on their conversation.

“So,” Haywood started with a pleased smile. “Hogsmeade this weekend?”

Unfortunately, form his place Sirius couldn’t see Remus’s face, only his back, which tensed slightly after Justin’s question.

“Oh, I um- I thought we could go over it on the study group meeting?”

Sirius wondered what was this all about, but he didn’t want to expose himself just yet.

“Well, it’s a hell of a work, I think we can meet up one on one, y’know?” Remus nodded his head, still a little tense. “So, Hogsmeade?”

“I’m actually going with James, Sirius and Peter.” Said Remus. “Sorry.”

“Aw, c’mon man!” Justin groaned playfully. “I’m sure Potter and his bitches can manage one day without you.”

Remus laughed stiffly when Justin pulled him even closer to his chest.

That was probably when Sirius lost it. Haywood was way too close to Remus, he didn’t like it. He clenched his fists and shoved them into the pockets of his jean jacket. After little to no thinking he stepped right in front of the two sixth years.

“I’m truly moved Haywood, that you care ‘bout my well being.” He sneered. “Problem is, Hogsmeade is kind of a tradition for us.”

Justin looked up lazily.

“Bullshit, you’ve missed lots of Hogsmeade trips.” He said defiantly.

“Doesn’t change the fact that Moony made plans with us first so you can kindly fuck off.”

Now it was Remus’s turn to grow mildly annoyed. He freed himself from Justin’s embrace and stood up in front of Sirius.

“What the hell Padfoot?! I can speak for myself.” He growled and then turned to face Justin. “I’m sorry Justin, but he’s right. He’s incredibly nosy, but he’s right. I can’t just cancel it, I already promised Peter I’ll go with him to Honydukes while we’re all there.”

Justin looked really disappointed for a moment, but then he just smiled brightly at Remus and also got up from the couch.

“Nah, it’s cool Remmy. We can go next time.” He caressed Remus’s cheek and disappeared in the crowd.

“Moony-“

“Don’t. Say. A. Word.” Remus cut him off sharply. “Why did you feel the need to speak on my behalf?”

Sirius didn’t answer, instead he just followed Remus through the portrait out of the common room.

“Maybe I wanted to go with him.” Remus stated sternly.

“Did you?” Sirius looked up at the boy when he finally caught up to him. “You wanted to go with him?”

Remus wouldn’t dare to say that, no, he didn’t want to go to Hogsmeade with Justin fucking Haywood. He wanted to go with Sirius. So instead of answering the question, Remus pretended not to hear.

“Great,” Sirius sighed annoyed. “Besides, I don’t really appreciate being called James’s bitch. If anything, James would definitely be my bitch.”

“Yeah sure, forgot what a princess you are.” Remus laughed despite himself. “You got any cigarettes on you?”

Sirius did a quick search through his pockets to discover that he did in fact had a pack of cigarettes. He pulled them out in triumph.

“Great. I need one.” Remus started walking up the stairs to Astronomy Tower. “You comin’?”

“You’re not mad anymore?” Sirius asked anxiously. He hated when Remus was mad at him, it always resulted in some nasty sleepless nights.,

Remus sighed heavily when they reached the top.

“I wasn’t mad in the first place.” He said after a while. “I was annoyed.”

“Well either way, I’m sorry.” Sirius handed him a cigarette. “I shouldn’t have eavesdrop or talk like I knew what you wanted.”

The light-haired boy nodded, smiling in Sirius’s direction.

“I think what annoyed me the most, was the fact that you actually knew what I wanted.” He mused. Sirius furrowed his brows questioningly, so Remus continued. “I didn’t want to go to Hogsmeade with Justin Haywood. I’d much rather hang out with my friends.”

“Good to know.” Sirius said, lighting both of their cigarettes. “You should really start going for what you really want. You deserve to be happy, you know?”

They were smoking in silence for several minutes. Sirius was admiring Remus from the corner of his eyes. Everyone knew, that Remus Lupin with a cigarette was a sight you’d want to see. It wasn’t unseen or unheard of, but it was definitely rare. And it was absolutely beautiful. It was bringing out two different, almost conflicted sides of the boy. His soft sweaters would always smell like smoke after, which changed his entire aesthetic immediately. From the soft looking-sweet-well mannered-nerdy guy that everyone knew and adored, Remus was becoming the fourth marauder, troublemaker who only a few people got to see every day. Sirius of course knew, that he was still the same guy, it was just his aura and how other people perceived him was changing, but it still was, truly, remarkable (and it was turning him on quite a bit). The way Lupin’s lips were curling around the rolled paper, almost like the cigarettes were made perfectly for his curved lips. The way smoke fell from his mouth, floating near his chin for a little longer, like it wanted to stay with him. And the smell of burning chocolate, warm and rich. In conclusion – Remus Lupin smoking cigarettes, Sirius’s cigarettes especially, was something that the dark-haired boy would willingly watch till the day he dies.

While smoking, Remus could only think about one thing. Sirius’s reaction was way out of his character. Sure, the boy was chaotic, blunt and incredibly hotheaded, impulsive, but he and Justin seemed to get along just fine before the party, even more, Sirius commented on the Ravenclaw’s Quidditch talent few times, they sometimes chatted in corridors. So what changed? Maybe, just maybe… No, he couldn’t get his hopes too high.

Remus needed answers. That’s why, when their cigarettes were almost finished, he spoke up.

“Why did you do that tho?” he asked, fully turning his body so he’d face Sirius.

“I did what?” Sirius asked visibly confused.

“Reacted that way.” Remus rolled his eyes.

“He was flirting with you, if you didn’t notice.” Sirius mumbled and Remus’s heart skipped a bit. “You were a bit tense, so I stepped in. He deserved it tho, that guy’s a git, you can do better.”

“What do you mean?” Remus asked slightly confused.

“I mean, that you don’t have to limit yourself to just okay guys. And girls. You can date people, that you really like. You just have to start taking what you want. You deserve love, Moony. Don’t settle on guys like Justin just because they show interest in you.”

Remus was so stunned by Sirius’s rant, that he didn’t really know what to say. So he said the first thing that came to his mind. Why was this boy doing it to him?

“I thought you liked Justin.”

“Haywood?” Sirius snorted, he stubbed their cigarettes with his shoe and shifted his attention back to Remus. “He’s a fucking narcissist. And he’s build like a truck.”

“Truck?” Remus laughed, putting his hand on Sirius’s shoulder. He didn’t eve realized they were that close. “I happen to think that he’s quite fit.” He said as he was quite obviously checking Sirius out, love pouring out of his eyes.

“Oh, do you, now?” Sirius’s smile dropped slightly. Remus couldn’t believe that this boy could be so dense. He decided to see, how far he could go with this.

“I do, he’s a really fit bloke.” He took another step closer to Sirius. “Objectively looking, that is.”

“You know any other fit blokes?” Sirius gulped.

That was it, Remus was either fully going for it, or he was running away from his feeling as he always did. He was really close to doing the latter, but then he remembered Lily’s words from earlier. Then there was also Sirius’s behavior. Maybe there was a chance? He had to know.

Fuck it, he thought, I’m going for it.

“Fit? Yeah, but I’d rather call him beautiful.” He tried to make his voice sound as confident as he could. Their chest’s were now only centimeters away. “But I don’t think he’s got the same opinion ‘bout me.”

“Well that’s some bullshit.” Sirius breathed shakily. The dark-haired boy never seemed that nervous, Remus noted. “Everyone thinks you’re stunning.”

“You think so?” Remus whispered, his gaze dropping to Sirius’s lips for barely a second.

“Yeah. I do.” Sirius nodded eagerly. “You should totally go for it, you never know until you try it, right?”

“Right.”

This time Remus’s eyes lingered on the other boy’s lips longer. It wasn’t like in all those tacky romantic books that Lily adored so much. There wasn’t any slow-mo moment, the world didn’t magically disappear or went completely quiet. The opposite actually. Remus was extra aware of everything, every little sound was echoing in his head, he could hear his own heart pounding. Everything was screaming do it!And Sirius looked so fucking beautiful, constellations of stars locked safely in his silver eyes. Before he could register anything else, Remus was kissing Sirius.

Remus was kissing Sirius.

After all this time of hopelessly dreaming about it, he was finally doing it. He was kissing the Sirius Black.

And Sirius was actually kissing him back.

It wasn’t perfect, there was no fireworks, no orchestra playing in the background. It was rather messy, chaotic and rushed. Just two teenage boys kissing at the top of a tower in the middle of the night. But it was the best feeling in the world.

But like everything, it had to stop at some point.

Sirius gently pushed him back. Not far tho, just so he could rest his forhead against Remus’s.

“What was that?” he asked in a weak, happy voice.

Remus didn’t even had to think twice about the answer.

“I went for it.”

[charlotteswriting]

Hello, can I request Junko, Kyoko, Kaede, and Miu giving their s/o a quarantine buzzcut? Thank you!

Gotcha, anon! 💗

Junko Enoshima

As soon as you told her about it, she wanted to try it!!

She knew it was going to look good on you and she was excited

Gives you the best haircut. Ever.

Also will give herself a haircut, too.

She lets you do it for her if you want to

Lmfao she’ll give you lots of compliments, in a teasing way

And bam! You two match.

She’s taking lots of selfies and posting them all

(Mukuro being a third wheel)

Give her a buzzcut, too!!

Also I hc that her hair grows in a short time so you might have to give her a buzzcut again.

Kyoko Kirigiri

She’s like: Ok. I can give you a buzzcut if you want to.

She doesn’t make a big fuss

But stop lying, Kyoko, we all know you like to be reliable

She’s secretly curious of your reaction. Will you like it or nah?

When you compliment her, she’ll blush lol

“It’s not a big deal, S/o,,” Then why’re you blushing

She thinks it really suits you. Like. Goddamn. She’s so lucky ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

“Quit staring, Kyoko... I can give you one if you want to,” She do be staring for so long

“Interesting... Why not?”

She doesn’t mind her appearence, but she is in love with yours. <3

Kaede Akamatsu

I think she’d be hesitant

Like, “S/o... Are you sure? Does your hair grow fast?”

After insisting like forever, she’ll help you

She doesn’t give the best buzzcut but she’ll try!! And it looks good on you, so yeah

She loves the results

Please compliment her work!! And she’ll give you more compliments

“S/o, you look pretty!!” She’s complimenting you whenever she sees you do something

She’s proud of herself

She. Takes your. Photos. When sleeping

She hasn’t changed her hairstyle in years but if you want to match, she might give a shot!!

Also your appearence inspires her

Miu Iruma

She acts like she isn’t interested

“Quit insisting like a child, S/o, I’ll give you a buzzcut.”

She sees it as a challenge

After seeing the results, she’ll be impressed and will ask you to give her a buzzcut, too!!

“Huh? I did it better!”

“Sorry, Miu...”

She won’t compliment even if you did it perfect. Gotta keep her cool

But your compliments make her blush, and if you try hard enough, she might compliment you back;;

“You are cute too, S/o, I guess...” You gUess?

She loves it a lot and is actually obsessed with your looks

Instead, she teases you non stop. That’s how she is, yeah.

Whoa... I want to write more but I am so busy 😭😭😭 Sorry for making you guys wait for soooo long. I am trying

[ghostiewriter]

67/76 for hurt! Kiara and protective! JJ

OKAY SO😂I couldn’t decide between ansgty or goofy so I kinda mixed them, more towards the goofy side though since I have a few angsty prompts coming up! But yes, hope you enjoy! This does mention blood and injuries, just an fyi to people!

Word Count: 1.8K

Prompts: “I’m afraid.” // “I think you need stitches.”

This was supposed to be their chill day.

The day that was reserved for just them. No pogues, no adventures, no crazy ass plans. Just JJ and Kie.

Some may even call it their date day—although according to Sarah, hanging out and getting high does not count as a date. The couple were inclined to agree, these days weren’t a new occurrence. It was often how they spent their days together even before they officially became a couple, except now there was the odd make out session sprinkled throughout and far cheesier flirtation banter. But it was still their day and they cherished it.

The plan was simple enough. Kie had packed some food from the restaurant and grabbed a couple of beers, JJ was in charge of getting some decent joints from his cousin and the two of them would take the Pogue out for the day. It was probably the most romantic you’d ever see the couple get.

They had taken the boat down south along the coastline, it wasn’t very explored in terms of how often the pogues ventured down there but JJ was feeling a bit adventurous. Plus Kie had no arguments as she happily sat back and watched JJ steer, one hand resting on the metal framing in such as casual way whilst the other was on the wheel, but the brunette found herself quite happily distracted by the straining back muscles that were in her line of sight—his tank long abandoned somewhere with the sundress she had slipped on over her bikini for the ten minute drive from her house to the Chateau.

Maybe if either of them had taken a few moments to think about the area they had anchored in or even glanced at a map, the whole situation could have been avoided. So in hindsight, maybe it was slightly their fault for being so reckless. However, Kie was more inclined to blaming the bastards that dump whatever trash they wanted into the ocean, not only because of the harm it caused to the wildlife but apparently humans too.

A couple of beers in, JJ was tugging on her hand to drag her up from her seat as he terribly danced along to the music blasting from the speaker they had brought with them. “C’mon, stop being a bore!” He whined childishly as she begrudgingly got up.

“I’m not being a bore,” She laughed, letting herself sway a little to keep him happy as he continued to mouth the words to ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ that was currently playing. “I was enjoying the show.”

“Hm, it doesn’t come for free, ya know.” He murmured as he puckered his lips, making little kissy noises until she finally gave in. And Kie had assumed that would be enough for him, that she could happily indulge in some of the crabsticks she brought. But in true unpredictable JJ fashion, he was throwing her over his shoulder without a warning. Kie squealed, her nails digging slightly into his back so she didn’t flip over.

“JJ, what the hell!” She exclaimed, but the giggles escaping her lips told him that she wasn’t really mad.

“Thought you’d appreciate the view.” JJ replied as he lightly spun around, a grin etched on his face when he heard her laugh harder.

“I don’t know,” She said, staring down at his ass. “I’ve seen better.”

“Oh, you’re going to regret that, Carrera.” He warned.

“I’m afraid,” She giggled back. “Not one of JJ Maybank’s notorious empty threats!”

“Have I told you how hot you look today, Kie?” He asked suddenly in an oddly innocent and un-JJ like way.

“Like I need you to tell me, I know I look great.” She sassed back, letting out a small gasp when she felt him slap her ass. She could practically hear the smirk on his face.

“I think you need to cool down a little.” He retorted, already making his way towards the stern of the boat. Her eyes widened slightly as she tried her best to hold onto him.

“JJ, DON’T YOU DA—AHHH!”

By the time she surfaced, she could already hear JJ’s laughs. She ran her hands through her hair, pushing it out of her face as she looked up at the blond with a glare. He was grinning innocently back at her.

“You look cool in there.” He snickered.

“You’re an ass.” She called back, moving her arms in gentle circles to keep herself afloat.

“Ah, but I’m your ass.” He grinned back and she didn’t disagree. Eventually, she had managed to convince him to come in with her—of course the asshole canon-balled in—the water actually feeling great against the midday heat.

They tried not to venture too far from the boat, although that wasn’t a problem when they realised quickly that most of the surrounding area was just marshy and not great for swimming.

“God, this feels horrible.” Kiara muttered as she glanced down, as though she would actually be able to see much. Still, didn’t stop her from trying.

“I kinda like it,” JJ spoke up, seeming to enjoy himself despite Kiara’s constant requests to head back to the Pogue. “Feels like I’m walking on a marshmallow.” He added nonchalantly.

“Congratulations, your eight year old self’s dream came true,” She commented with a small chuckle, almost as if she was imagining young JJ with his horribly done buzzcut. “Now can we please head back? I’m fucking starving.”

“Geez, you get cranky when you’re hungry.” He teased, promptly avoiding the splash that she had directed his way. He only cackled, yelling that the last one to make it to the boat gets a warm beer before he got his head-start back.

Kie only laughed, calling him a cheater as she followed suit. Except getting out of the marsh was a little harder that she assumed, kicking her feet and swearing under her breath whenever she got stuck again.

She felt a nip—or maybe it was more than a nip but the adrenaline of the competition was coursing through her—and when she went to kick her leg free once again, she felt a sharp pain run up her leg. Kiara didn’t even remember screaming until JJ was on his way back, eyes wide in concern.

“Kie, what’s wrong? What happened?” His eyes glazed over her as though he was trying to see the cause of her scream.

“M-My leg.” She whimpered, feeling her eyes well up with tears as she tried to free her leg once again, only to feel another shot of pain.

“Jellyfish?” He asked but she simply shook her head. “Okay, let’s get you back to the boat.” He murmured, heart racing when he saw some red residue on his hand after he helped her tug her leg free.

It was a hassle but JJ didn’t care, his first priority was getting Kie back somewhere safe and right now, that was the boat. He helped her up before he pulled himself onboard, his eyes falling onto her leg.

His eyes widened when he saw the massive cut on her leg, the lower half of her left leg covered in blood. He could feel his throat closing up, mind racing and hands shaking. Everything around him seemed to drown out as he stared at her leg, and it wasn’t until she felt her tugging his hand and calling his name that he seemed to snap out whatever trance he was in.

“Right, sorry!” He quipped before he grabbed a towel and placed it down on the seats before gently lifting her on top of it. He then disappeared to grab the first-aid kit they kept on board, but Kie didn’t miss the way his hands were a little shaky when he placed it down beside her, fingers fiddling as he attempted to open the box.

She won’t lie, the salt water made it sting like a bitch. It hurt and she probably should’ve been more alarmed at the amount of blood dripping down her leg, but she had never seen JJ so shaken up. She didn’t peg him as the squeamish type, so she couldn’t really understand what’s got him so freaked out.

“Jay…” She whispered softly, placing her hands over his. He finally looked up at her, sniffling slightly and it was then she noticed how red his eyes looked—though she wasn’t sure if that was because he was crying (or trying his hardest not to) or if he had just gotten some salt water in his eyes—but either way, she hated the broken look on his face.

“I-I’m sorry, I should’ve listened to you when you said we should head back.” He began to ramble, not seeming to have control over his words. “I shouldn’t have even thrown you in the water in the first place!”

“JJ, it’s okay.” She whispered, turning her body to face him as much as she could without moving her leg. “This isn’t your fault.”

“I’m still sorry—”

“Nope, no more apologising.” She scolded lightly, giving him a small—and hopefully comforting—smile. “C’mon, Doc, fix me up.” She added, nudging his shoulder a little. She relaxed a little when she saw the small smile on his face.

“Dr Maybank to your rescue.” He huffed out as he opened up the first aid kit, grabbing some wipes before he gently began to clean the wound and surrounding area. She watched him carefully, lip tugged between her teeth to contain her winces. She noticed the little crease between his eyebrows as he focused at the task at hand. If she didn’t feel a shooting pain down her leg every time he even touched it, she would’ve basked in the adorable scene of focused JJ.

“I think you need stiches.” JJ spoke up, staring at her wound with a thoughtful face.

She looked down at her leg, trying not to wince. It was a clean cut, probably from some broken glass hidden in the marsh. And it was deep, but Kiara didn’t think it was stitch-level deep.

“You’re being overdramatic, just need to wrap it up and dose myself up on some paracetamol.” Kie said with a roll of her eyes.

“Hey, I watched Grey’s Anatomy with Pope,” JJ said, hands on his hips as he looked between Kie and her leg. “I think that makes me pretty qualified to say that you need stitches.”

“You watched one episode, dumbass.” She scoffed. “Just drive back, I don’t need you performing amateur surgery on my knee.”

Except it had taken at least fifteen minutes before Kie finally convinced JJ that she was comfortable and fine and that he could stop fussing over her. He only narrowed his eyes at her before pressing a kiss to her forehead and handing her a joint, saying it would help with the pain.

“You know, it’s kinda cute.” Kie called out, moving her eyes away from the passing scenery as she looked at JJ from over her shoulder.

“What is?” He asked.

“Your little protective mama bear side.” She said with a snicker. JJ rolled his eyes in response, but there was a smile on his lips.

“Well excuse me for being a caring boyfriend.” He huffed out.

“I said it was cute!”

“Yeah, yeah! Whatever!”

“Uh oh, mama’s mad.”

[veeranger]

Thoughts on Halo Reach's plot and best to worst noble team members?

you know ive actually been a lot more critical towards reach lately because i think it fails on the biggest thing it advertised: noble team. characters have never really been the strong suit of bungie’s writing (idk who destiny is so dont @ me) and while this isnt usually a major issue, it is an issue when a game wants to sell you on this squad of your teammates it wants you to care about or at least be fond of. ODST and Reach both have a cast of characters that could be really interesting but since halo is a shooter and not really a storytelling kinda game series all they really get are a few lines here and there and some cool moments, nothing really solid or anything to get a glimpse at who they are. maybe thats kinda the point though since spartans are all fucked up broken people like inherently. i dont think thats why bungie did that though

as for reach’s actual plot, i think it works well for what it is, a playable tragedy that tells you the conclusion up front. halo fans who are any level above completely casual knew that reach got completely glassed right before the start of halo ce and the advertising of this was very clear. the fact that you’ve never heard of spartan 3′s or noble team before was a pretty clear indicator of what their fates would be before you even turned on your xbox. the game literally opens with your smashed helmet embedded in the ground as a tombstone to your inevitable heroic sacrifice. reach invokes the same kind of feeling as star wars rogue one, you just know things wont end well for our main characters but you know that their deaths will pave the way for the main series protagonist to eventually win the whole damn thing 3 games/movies from now. 

so even with this in mind you go through reach and you think “wow things are going pretty well, we’re holding out own against the covies and even striking back at key targets” and maybe you forget whats going to happen or you dont and you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. and boy fucking howdy does it drop. jorge dies thinking he just saved reach and as you fall through the atmosphere you realize how hopelessly fucked you are. thats where the game enters its second phase, the “we’re fucked but still fighting” phase, as opposed to the first half of the game where things were still somewhat hopeful. noble six wakes up like a week later to half the planet burning and civilians being slaughtered as they try to evac. the first level of the second half of the game features you busting your ass hard to clear an evac point for civilians only to see them all get shot down and die. its brutal stuff, especially for halo who had never shown the conflict though that lense. 

what follows is a parade of squadmate deaths as your numbers dwindle with every level until its just you and emile, and then just you. unlike in rogue one you actually aren’t immediately told what the key item in this quest is, in this case its cortana, the equivalent to the death star plans in rogue one, the most important thing in the universe since cortana will be the one to slipspace jump to halo 04 and kick off a series of events that will lead to the survival of humanity. but once you get this item suddenly it all makes sense, carter is told this is “what his spartans died for” and to you that means a lot more than it ever would to him. 

reach ends with a profoundly impactful epilogue level where you just. are doomed. you can’t hold out forever and even if you could there’s no rescue coming for you. noble six gave their life to save the universe and never even knew it. the fact that their death isnt a cutscene but you actually yourself have to try to stave off death or just take as many elites with you as you can before they get you, it really adds so much to the impact of the final noble team death. nevermind that six isnt a real character it does work in this case because you’re seeing it from a first person perspective.

so overall my thoughts on reach is that despite the major flaw of not making you care enough about noble team (unless you do, this is my personal view) it does its job very well in portraying the desperate struggle of humanity against a threat that they cannot possibly comprehend or rightfully stand up against, but despite devastating loss the small victories they achieved still ended up mattering in the end. 

now as for noble team i wont do a best to worst but ill give my thoughts on everyone

carter: hardass commander type, not much to say imo. his death scene was his best moment and i wish his relationship with kat had been fleshed out more because it was so so funny to see her pull his strings to get what she wants. you can tell he has the respect of everyone, especially emile. 

kat: the only girl! i actually like cat, im glad they gave her a buzzcut instead of trying to make her sexy or anything even if they did give her that ass in her armor. shes the typical smartass better than you genius character but it works, especially with that accent. i wish i could be friends with her, there was that scene right before she died where she confided in six that this was also her first glassing. her death was kind of shock value to me and i wish she could have at least died with a little more dignity like the rest of noble team but alas :(

jun: probably my least favorite. i cant really remember much of this guy. he’s the only one who got to live and i kind of hate him for that because he was the least interesting of the bunch. 

emile: certainly the most iconic of all the noble spartans. he comes off as sadistic but not a maniac, he listens to carter when he speaks and is on good terms with kat even through his obvious inability to really connect to other people. this is certainly because of the fact that he’s a spartan-3, he’s probably the most “inhuman” of the bunch. i wish his relationship with jorge was given a little more, i liked how despite his pushing jorge early in the game he still mourned his death, and yet refused to carry his dogtags because he knew six was the one who was entrusted with them. his death was very iconic i think everyone remembers that. 

jorge: the big man himself, his death is what set the tone for the second half of the game and was probably pretty impactful to most people playing. i always thought it was interesting that he was a spartan-2 and not a 3 like the rest of noble, i wonder why that was. his relationship with halsey was interesting and it showed that not all spartans hated the devil woman for what she did to them. his defining characteristic was his big heart and that was especially interesting for a spartan-2, that he managed to hold onto something like that through all the shit he probably went through. 

[charmedtheselfproclaimedking]

Charmed Children

Warnings: I do not own or claim to own any rights to the television show “Charmed” or the characters created within said show, this is purely fanfiction written from a devoted fan of the series. 15+ Mild to strong language, moderate to strong violence, witchcraft, sexual innuendos, and scenes of a sexual nature. F/F, F/M, M/M, Gen, Other +

CHAPTER ONE HERE

Chapter 3 - Legacy

PJ Thorne and her newly found, long lost, half sister Peyton Price were in the main foyer of the Halliwell Manor, each of them sorting through a separate pile of unopened mail address to the likes of Phoebe Halliwell, Piper Halliwell, Leo Wyatt, Wyatt Halliwell, Chris Halliwell, Melinda Halliwell, Paige Mitchell, etc.…both of them snooping in a bid to learn more about their birth mother when suddenly the grand Victorian chandelier placed right above them both, which hang from the ceiling, began to shake viciously before omitting a strange blue light that almost blinded the two women but as soon as they had noticed it, it was gone just like that. “I am going to put that one down to some old school dodgy electrics which makes complete sense given the age of this house.” Peyton guessed, trying not to let on that she was slightly spooked. “I have never seen any kind of messed up wiring cause a chandelier to omit that kind of strange light…then again it is not like I see fancy chandelier’s every day in my line of work.” PJ replied to her sister, as the two began looking towards the stairs, wondering why Percy had been upstairs for so long. “I should check on Mr Ford in case he’s found himself electrocuted or something…” “I’ll check on Percy with you,” Peyton said happily, as the two sisters made their way for the stairs. “Nothing like a creepy old house to make strangers who happen to be siblings get to the bonding.” “Look you seem nice enough and everything, but I am not looking for a sister.” PJ told Peyton, making it clear where she stood with her, as the two of them began walking up the stairs of the Halliwell Manor. “I’m down to get answers about the woman who gave us up, but I am not looking for long lost family…” “Oh, okay!” Peyton responded, attempting to hide her disappointment. “Well lucky for you I already have a family whom I love so yep, just wanting answers too and pending on how haunted this place is I may potentially want to live here…” “This place is too big for one person I say we sell it and share the money three ways, that way you can get yourself a nice little flat, Percy can have walking around money and I can put some money aside for a rainy day.” PJ advised Peyton, as they continued walking upstairs until they walked into the upstairs hallway. “I mean some money is the least we can get out of all this!” “Well actually, I am not big on the idea of selling our family home especially since it has been in our family for generations.” Peyton disagreed with Peyton, as Percy walked down the attic stairs to meet them in the hallway. “I think we should keep it in the family.” “You are talking about strangers who threw us out of this very house who gives a damn about their traditions!” PJ argued with her half-sister, making her fury towards her birth mother abundantly clear. “Oh, calm down detective dastardly if you need the cash so badly, I’ll buy your share of this place.” Percy interrupted, attempting to stop a potential argument, before turning to Peyton. “Then I will give you both of our shares and you can live your perfect family home lifestyle…that is if you still want to live here considering it could be haunted by the ghosts of real life witches!” “Witches? Really? Did you get electrocuted by any chance?” PJ responded to Percy. “We should get you checked out at the hospital maybe a psychiatric one…” “Trust me I am no believer in hocus pocus although I did love the movie,” Percy began to explain to both PJ and Peyton. “However, it seems like our birth mother sure believed in witchcraft considering the grimoire in the attic full of spells and potions.” “Wait, so our mother was a witch?” Peyton asked her half-brother, with a sense of excitement in her voice. “That is so cool!” “Well I guess that explains you and your whole attitude,” PJ told Peyton. “Clearly our mother was somewhat unhinged…in which case she did the right thing by giving us up.” “Or maybe our mum was a witch.” Peyton continued to argue with PJ. “You cannot tell me you do not want to see this spell book?” “It is a pretty cool book to be fair…way more convincing than the kind you buy online that is for sure!” Percy chimed in, tempting to entice PJ’s curiosity at the same time. “And the spells are so well written like poetry for wiccans.” “Are you listening to yourself? You are one of this city’s most eligible bachelors and you are up in a stranger’s attic reading spells!” PJ snapped at Percy, before taking a deep sigh, trying to calm herself. “This day just keeps getting crazier!” “When you read said spell…did you read it with your head’s voice or did you read it out aloud because everyone knows when you read a spell out loud you’re casting said spell whereas when you read it in your mind it is just reading.” Peyton wondered, revealing some knowledge of witchcraft. “No, I do not think everybody knows that Peyton!” PJ told her sister. “I bet you read up all about UFO’s, ghost sightings and truly believe there are actual witches out there.” “Stevie Nicks is a witch!” Percy argued with the cynical detective. “She said so on American Horror Story…” “I love American Horror Story, what is your favorite season?” Peyton asked her brother. “Okay I am getting out of this madhouse right now!” PJ declared, as she began walking back towards the stairs. “Sell it, do not sell it, burn it to the ground for all I care!” Despite PJ’s urge to not admit it, these three newly found siblings’ lives had changed forever that day because not only were they no longer strangers but as they were yet to discover they were fully active witches now, with powers just waiting to be discovered.

A few hours had passed since PJ’s abrupt exit from the Halliwell Manor and yet for some reason neither Peyton or Percy could bring themselves to leave their biological family’s home, as Peyton had migrated upstairs to the attic, eager to examine the book of shadows and all its contents, Percy decided to give the home a second look over, as he stripped the kitchen cupboards to find all kinds of ingredients which he believed was used to make potions, although most of it was just store bought food he did not recognize. Percy’s strip search of the family kitchen was cut short when he heard the doorbell ringing and decided to walk out of the kitchen, through the dining room and towards the front door eager to find out who would be knocking, as he wondered if they could be a friend or neighbor of the mother who gave him up for adoption. “Holy moly this neighborhood just got a whole lot better.” Percy mumbled in shock after opening the front door to find Luke Star stood on the front porch, a tall dark haired man with a Californian tan and a smart buzzcut wearing a suit that looked almost as expensive as Percy’s. “I live next door and I could not help but notice people coming in and out, so I thought I’d introduce myself to the new neighbors…you are my new neighbor, right?” Luke stated to Percy, as the socialite found himself lost in Luke’s mesmerizing smile. “Well me and my…sisters just inherited the place and we’re not quite sure what we are going to do with it yet…” Percy attempted to explain the situation, before holding his hand out. “Hi, I am Percy Ford.” “Of the Ford dynasty?” Luke asked as he shook Percy’s hand. “Your family is very well known in this city…I am Luke Star, I’m a senior partner at Murphy and Star Law.” “A lawyer,” Percy responded as he broke off their handshake. “I am actually looking for some new representation, mostly because my parents’ lawyers are as old as dirt and I am looking to expand the family empire in new directions.” “Well I’d truly be honored to represent you anytime!” Luke confessed, as he pulled out his business card and handed it to Percy. “I’d also be truly honored to have you as a neighbor.” “I guess I’ll have to give this place a seriously contemplation then.” Percy flirted with Luke, before hearing a loud screaming noise coming from within the house, a scream that sounded like Peyton’s. “I should probably go check on my…sister!” “I am more than willing to come with you, it sounded pretty serious.” Luke suggested. “It is probably just a spider or something knowing her,” Percy lied, trying to get rid of the lawyer in case Peyton had found something even more peculiar about their biological family. “I’ll give you a call some time…” “If your sure,” Luke replied. “Feel free to call me anytime.”

Peyton was stood behind the bookstand within the attic of the Halliwell Manor, flicking through the pages of the book of shadows taking it the entirety of what the book had inside its pages: name of ancestors who were also witches, family trees, names of demons with information about them and how to defeat them, spells, potions, information on other magical beings like elves, fairies, nymphs and most importantly the charmed ones. As Peyton continued reading from the pages of the book of shadows she quickly learned that her birth mother Phoebe Halliwell was one of the charmed ones, an all powerful power of three which somehow consisted of four not three sisters and as she continued to read about the charmed legacy she quickly learned just how important they were, believing every word to be true and relieved to finally understand the world in which her birth mother lived, knowing that she was not given up over not being wanted. “That thing has not been touched by a Halliwell’s hands in far too long!” Gareth revealed, after orbing into the attic, leaving Peyton horrified, as she let out a scream of shock. “Do not worry I mean you no harm Peyton…” “Yeah I bet you say that to all your victim’s demon.” Peyton replied as she quickly picked up a nearby antique vase from a cabinet not far from her and threw it in Gareth’s direction, only for him to orb out of dodge, to then reappear in front of Gareth, to which a further shocked Peyton responded to him by punching him across the face, causing Gareth to fall to the floor in pain. “Not today, Satan, not today!” “What the bloody hell are you doing assaulting my butler?” Percy asked, as he walked into the attic, stunned by what he saw. “You have a butler, just how rich are you…wait never mind your butler is a demon!” Peyton replied to Percy, only to be met by a laugh from her half-brother. “I think someone has been reading too much from the family grimoire and not remember the reality in which we live in.” Percy dismissed his sister, as he walked over to Gareth and helped him back to his feet. “The only thing magical about my butler is the fact he manages to put up with me all the time.” “Yeah well your butler who is also my neighbor just appeared here from out of nowhere like some teleportative magic was used.” Peyton explained herself. “Do not be ridiculous.” Percy laughed once again. “How can he be your neighbor when he lives in the Ford Manor?” “Peyton’s not being ridiculous Mr. Ford,” Gareth confessed to Percy, before turning to Peyton. “But I am not a demon…I am a white lighter…specifically yours, your brother’s, and your sister’s.” “Okay now I am completely and utterly confused.” Percy admitted to them both. “A white lighter is a guardian to witches, their bodyguard so to speak as well as being their mediator to the elders.” Peyton revealed to Percy. “I kind of got carried away with the reading a little bit.” “I was all for the possibility of witches, heck even ghosts but this is just too much!” Percy confessed, struggling to take it all in. “I mean I just came here to look at an old house and now I am just supposed to take this all in…” “I know that it is a lot to get your head around but the sooner the do the safer you will be.” Gareth tried to explain to the wealthy socialite. “Everything in the book of shadows is real especially the demons and now that you’ve unbound yours and your sisters’ powers, they are going to start coming for you all.”

[sparxwrites]

(written to bon iver’s “22 (OVER S∞∞N)”. set after a hypothetical visit by the mighty nein to kamordah and beau’s parents, featuring tenderness, mutual pining, and a haircut that’s not actually about hair.)

[ao3]

Beau comes to Jester the evening after they leave the Lionett estate, shears in hand. “Cut my hair?” she asks, holding them out in front of her like an offering. She doesn’t meet Jester’s eyes.

Insects call in the fading light, keeping the scene from silence, and Jester wishes briefly she had the power to quiet them. There’s an odd note to Beau’s voice – set, determined, a sharp edge of don’t ask don’t fucking ask – that she can’t quite decipher over the buzzing hum.

“I’ve never cut hair before,” she says, instead, reaching out to touch the cold iron. Hesitant, in a way she never is, because this feels– big, somehow. “Maybe you should ask Y–” The name dies on her lips, bitten back before it can escape and make them both flinch from the gaping absence that still haunts their family. “–one of the others.”

“I’m asking you.” Beau flips their hands, presses the shears into Jester’s palm, and curls Jester’s fingers shut around them. Then she flops to the ground, graceful even in her gracelessness, splay-legged and head tipped back to stare at the sun kissing the horizon through the trees. “Doesn’t matter, anyways. I wanna cut it all off. That’s easy enough, right? Pretty hard to fuck up.”

Jester blinks in surprise. “You mean bald?” she asks, sinking down after Beau, settling behind her, skirt fanning out across the damp grass. “Like Dairon’s? I think you need a knife for that, and some soap, and… things. Maybe Caleb has some, for shaving– but, oh no, what if I cut your head–?”

It smells like rain, down here in the grass, though the storm has long since passed – like gathering clouds, and compost, and the slowly-fading sweat-stress stink that’s clung to Beau like a second skin ever since they arrived at her parents’.

“Nah.” Beau waves a hand, reaching up with the other to tug the leather thong around her topknot loose. Her hair spills down her neck, her shoulders, a wave of warm, sun-streaked brown. “Not like that. Just–” She rubs a hand just above her nape, scraping nails across the short stubble of her undercut. It’s cropped a quarter-inch close to her skull, done fresh before they reached the Estate. Like polishing plate armour, Jester had thought at the time. Like hammering the dents out, in preparation for battle. “All the same length, y’know?”

For a second, Jester wars with the urge to reach out and touch, bury her hands in the softness, lean in and press her face–

She gives in, just a little, reaching out to card fingers through Beau’s hair. They’re all in want of a bath, and it shows, but the hair is soft and fine against her palms nonetheless. She smells sandalwood and smoke, and just the faintest hint of lavender – the ghost of Mollymauk haunting them even now, in the tiniest of the ways he touched their lives.

Her heart clenches, her fingers too, and the edges of the shears dig lines into her palms.

She doesn’t ask questions, though – and, though she doesn’t know it, Beau loves her for it, momentarily and fiercely. Instead, she says,, “So just… cut it all off, like, snip snip snip! Right?” as she slips her fingers free of Beau’s hair and uncurls her hand from around the shears, eases the blunt pain of them against tender skin.

Beau hears but cannot see them, the shears, the faint shhk of metal against metal as Jester closes and opens them experimentally.

“Yeah. Yeah,” she says, and closes her eyes.

The first cut is the worst. It nearly makes her flinch – the tug on her hair, the close of the shears, the sudden lightness. For a moment, her chest tightens, and something enormous and black and terrified rises in her chest, thorny vines curling around her throat and choking–

“It’s like shearing a sheep!” says Jester, delightedly, as the first long coils of hair fall into her petticoats. “Hey, do you wonder if Caduceus ever has to do this, but like… everywhere? Like, even on his butt and stuff?”

The moment passes. The darkness subsides, beaten back by the glow of Jester’s unconscious light. Beau falls, just a little bit, further in love.

She doesn’t say that, though. “Gods, I don’t– I don’t wanna think about Caduceus shaving his butt right now, Jester,” she says, instead, eyes still closed, throat tight. Behind her, Jester falls into peals of cackling laughter, and the shears shhk shhk shhk their way through the remaining longness of her hair.

They sit like that, for a while, as Beau’s hair parts from her scalp, clip by steady clip of the shears. It’s surprisingly cold, without it, with the early evening chill creeping through to her suddenly-unprotected scalp.

It makes her feel naked, though there’s still a layer of fuzz there, thick and stubbly. Makes her feel vulnerable, in a nauseous sort of way that claws up her throat and hammers at her teeth, demanding to get out.

“My mom used to love my hair,” she says, abruptly. She doesn’t open her eyes. “When I was younger, I mean. She used to plait it, or pin it up in these elaborate, like, curls, or twists…”

Behind her, the steady rhythm of the clippers falters, pauses. The wind catches on her newly-shorn fuzz, and she shudders, trembling like a lamb newly-born until it passes.

She inhales. Exhales. “That was the only time she’d touch me, really. For like– months at a time, sometimes. Just… doing my hair.” Inhale, exhale, spine straight, shoulders down, don’t hunch don’t hide don’t fucking cry. “I used to fuck it up, sometimes. My hair, I mean. On purpose. Not ‘cos I hated it– or, I did, I fuckin’ hated those stupid pins she used, but, just… just so she’d…”

The words stick in her throat, vulnerable and naked in a way she’s not sure she can put a voice to yet. In a way she’s not sure she needs to voice, for Jester to hear.

The shears snick open again, closed. Open again. Beau breathes in time with them, meditational.

“Well,” says Jester, quiet, but with feeling. With venom. “I think your parents can go fuck themselves.”

Beau isn’t sure she’s ever she’s ever heard Jester sound venomous before. It loosens a knot around her heart, a binding she hadn’t even realised was there, and she breathes a little easier with it gone. Breathes in a way she hasn’t for weeks, with the shadow of her parents and their house looming over her no matter where in Kamordah she tried to hide from it.

The shears close. Open again. Don’t close again.

Beau exhales. Inhales. Opens her eyes, reborn, naked and new under the rhythmic slice of metal against metal.

“It’s a little patchy, I think,” says Jester, apologetically, as Beau reaches up to feel her new hair. “You’ve got a little– oh! You’ve got a tuft! It’s very cute, but probably– move your fingers–” She chivvies Beau’s hand away, snips at the particularly unruly patch until it meets her satisfaction. “There. Now it’s done.”

“How does it look?” asks Beau, letting her fingers creep back up – run from her nape to her forehead, ear to ear, rubbing curiously at the line of stubbly fuzz just above her forehead. Her scalp’s colder, like this, the texture and shape of her head alien under her fingers.

She grins. Reborn.

Jester hums, thoughtfully, wiping the last few hairs off the shears and onto her skirt. She’s got a lapful of Beau’s hair, anyway, long inches of chestnut-brown fallen in shorn curls across the dark green and blue. “You look… like you,” she says, truthfully, and feels the rightness of it even as she speaks it. “It– it suits you.”

“Yeah,” says Beau, still grinning, scrubbing at her scalp with both palms. There’s a fine fuzz of cut hair tickling the back of her neck, fallen down her shirt to prickle her spine, itching at her head. “Yeah, I fuckin’ do.” She turns, still grinning, teeth bared. “Thanks, Jes’. I owe you one.”

Backlit by the sunset, the fine chestnut of her buzzcut set aflame by the dying light, Beau looks like something fierce, radiant. Something holy, haloed in sun and bright with the wild kind of joy that only comes from finding freedom.

Jester’s breath catches. Her heart stutters, for a beat, skipping out of time. “No problem!” She grins, forced, because all she wants to do is stare, and she doesn’t know why. “It’s cool. No problem. Any time,” she says, and means it. “Any time.”

[owlmylove]

big ask, how do you make friends?(not you as in you but as in the general all of us you does that make sense?)

aight strap in kiddo. heres how to win friends and influence smiles

first: find people that seem cool, or interesting to you. this is nowhere near as high stakes as it may seem because, though you may not know it yet, you don’t have to commit to being friends with someone just because you get to know them. we all make brunch and coffee date promises that will eventually go unfulfilled, not because we’re terrible people but rather we realize we’re better suited to hanging out with others. so, tldr: find cool people and don’t worry overmuch about it

now, find a way to talk to them. this depends on A. how often you see this person annnnd B. your own confidence level.  

if you see a cool person and don’t immediately know how to approach them, the easiest way in the world to make friends is to open with a compliment and go from there. this sounds ridiculous, but I’m currently at a large university and I literally make friends every day. most of the time, that’s prompted by complimenting them. I once told a girl outside starbucks I loved how she was working that croptop, and she almost yelled with joy, complimented my hair, and demanded to ask for my instagram. if someone is in a rush I naturally don’t interrupt them, but I have stopped by other people’s tables or seats in cafés before to inform them how much I like their outfit/hair/earrings/messenger bag. after they fawn over the compliment, proceed to small talk. 

small talk takes practice. 

and thats okay! most things in life do! you’ll get better the more you do it - I swear to god I’m the proof. 

bounce off whatever response they give to your initial compliment and, most importantly (and easiest for you!) keep the focus on them. try to end most - but not every one! - of your thoughts with an open question for them to keep the conversation rolling. complimented their jewelry? (usually a v. good pick, people take pride in their jewelry. sidenote, try to compliment things people choose: clothes, books, shoes, accessories. although “you have incredible eyes!” is a great compliment, it’s awkward as an opener because it A. requires you to have looked them in the eyes for a long period of time before talking to them and B. sounds like a pick up line. [I wait until I’ve been talking to them for a while before I acknowledge how wow, I’m sorry, the light just hit your eyes and they’re gorgeous! I’m sure you get that all the time, but wow.]) 

ask them where they got their bracelet. if someone got it for them, ask about the gift-giver. if they don’t remember where they got it, laugh and say that all the best pieces in a wardrobe are the ones you forget where they came from. give an example of your own, if applicable. try bouncing from complimenting their hair to asking where they get it done and maybe make a joke about how you wish you could bring a professional negotiator to your appointments, because otherwise you’ll ask for a trim, the stylist will give you a buzzcut, and you’ll say “oh thats perfect, thanks :))” almost everyone has had that experience, I promise.

I should also acknowledge: I’m writing this as a cis female. I can (and do) compliment a lot of people, mostly women. But I’ve been told that if you’re male-presenting, then giving such compliments to people of any gender might be seen as flirting? As such, for those who don’t present as girls: give compliments in a way that feels right for you. One of the best drive-by compliments I recently got from a guy was while I was late for a performance, striding across campus, and a guy passing by just said “Hey, I love your style,” without breaking stride or trying to force a conversation. No matter what you identify as, if you’re worried someone will think you’re hitting on them be sure to keep that air of, “I don’t mind if this conversation comes to a natural conclusion.” Even if you desperately want to be their friend, desperation is easily detected and can be as uncomfortable in platonic contexts as it is in romantic ones. 

so don’t lean in too close, don’t force extended eye contact or stare, and don’t compliment any body parts unless you think you can do so without being suggestive. casually mirror their body language when possible (if they’re leaning their cheek on one arm, wait a beat or two before propping your chin up similarly) to make them feel like you’re attentive and similarly minded.

if you can immediately tell you have a common factor with a person, go for it. if someone’s reading a book you’ve read, or a book you want to read, or a book you wrote, sit sorta near them, glance their way and, acting as if you’ve just now recognized the book, ask them how they’re enjoying it. if they’re a deep reader and go “huh?” as your voice drags them up from the literary depths, give a self-effacing smile and say “Oh, I’m sorry to interrupt. That’s just one of my favorite books. How are you liking it so far?” this leads to any other question about a book you can imagine. 

ditto any t-shirt about a form of media you’re familiar with, or patch or sticker or pin. all of those are just nerd flags flying high in pursuit of like-minded people to talk to. trust me.

once you’ve made enough small talk and, if it’s working well, try finding a “to be continued” thread. could be “oh, you come to this coffee shop every morning to? well maybe I’ll see you next Wednesday then! it was nice meeting you, have a good day c:” orrrr maybe it’s “awww your dogs adorable!! here’s pictures of my pet/any other vaguely related to the conversation thing on instagram. [insert photo sharing, wait until you both stop actively looking at the photo] oh here, what’s your instagram? I’ll follow you!” open the search tab and hand it to them so you don’t have to worry about mistyping. 

also a very, very good method is to find something you can relate to the present conversation that you might not be able to immediately show. so an article, video, a picture you can’t-find-right-now, friend’s name, movie review, the name of this really cool bookstore you found in Annapolis because they mentioned they’re going there soon (if you really don’t mind bullshitting, find out where they’re traveling in the future, claim to remember a bookstore/museum/etc. you went to once, years ago and say oh shoot, what was the name? it was a pretty cool place - I’ll think of it tonight at like 2am. I can send you the name whenever I think of it if you like? [pause for answer] okay great! here, whats your number? and then go home, google some cool places, and text them a few hours later.) anything that gives you A. a way to continue this conversation and B. an excuse for not doing so immediately and, therefore, C. the chance to get their name & contact info.

now, if this isn’t just some cool-looking person you’re meeting for the first time, but someone you see regularly in a residential, academic or professional setting, start laying the groundwork for friendly vibes before you make a move. smile when you see them. if they’re a classmate, try sitting a lil closer (but not crazy close.) pay attention if they speak up in a group. if they drop something, and you don’t have to take extreme steps to do so, pick it up. if someone drops something across a lecture hall, don’t go running for it. but just close-lipped small smile + eyebrow flash when you see them and, after a few of these, try for a nod and/or a grin. if you’ve spoken to them at least once, if only to pick something up for them, you can try a “hey!/hello!” with a smile if they seem receptive to it. if you haven’t spoken to them yet, you’re welcome to try it if they seem receptive, but I usually wait.

if you don’t see this persona regularly, but semi-regularly, you need to evaluate whether the times you encountered them is significant enough for them to remember. please know this has waaay less to do with whether or not you’re memorable, and more to do with how much data our brains sort through every single day. think honestly about this, and decide this: when you eventually introduce yourself to them, would it be stranger to admit you remember the first time you both occupied the same space, or stranger to pretend to have forgotten?

I have a classmate who I vividly remember meeting for the first time, but we never really spoke until on instagram recently, 2 years later. So I never made a point of mentioning our meeting, until he actually referenced it! Then I went ahead and mentioned the highly-specific detail which made him so memorable as a question I was unsure of - “Ahaha yeah, his class was great! Weren’t you the one who _____?” 

Try never to be presumptuously confident in social settings until your conversational partner indicates it’s appropriate. It is almost always more polite to allow yourself uncertainty.

case in point: my default when friends are introducing me to people who I’ve seen around a few times is “Oh! Hello, I’m ___, haven’t we met before?” Assuming you have met before (even and perhaps especially when you know for a fact you haven’t) is SO MUCH SAFER than asking “have we met?” When they respond in the negative, we haven’t, you get to say “Oh, really? I guess I’ve just seen you around so much, I could’ve sworn we were introduced. Well, it’s so nice to officially meet you!” and then proceed with small talk, ideally including whoever your third party member is or, in the event of being one-on-one with this prospective friend, try asking them some questions about wherever you’ve been seeing them (so what do you think of our biology lecture?) OR compliments (Oh, I just noticed how awesome your watch is! where did you find that?) OR any other question you like. proceed with the small talk until one or both of you seems ready to leave, there’s a decent enough lull in the conversation, OR you’ve found a “to be continued thread” which you can string up before making your goodbyes. 

(Sorry if I’m exhausting this post with too many conversational examples, I just know how much younger, more-anxious me liked the idea of having a script to fall back upon)

don’t worry if you don’t get a contact method after the first conversation! you have spoken to the person, laid the ground work for a follow-up conversation, and that’s awesome. keep interacting with them when you see them, but be mindful of how interested they seem in interacting with you. the worst thing is to always stop and wait for a conversation when someone just wants to get on with their day. if they seem impatient, or busy, just say “hey! good to see you c:/have a good day c:/your hair looks great [insert name]!” and carry on. 

Friendships aren’t formed by constantly forcing conversations with a person. They’re formed by being mindful of those around you, considering people’s perspectives & emotions, and having a positive presence people want to be around.

you can shoot them periodic texts or DM’s, depending upon the contact method. best to start off is to send or discuss things relevant to your IRL conversation. if that starts a whole new text convo: awesome!!! if it fizzles out; let it fizzle. wait a few days/week/etc. try asking them for a book or music or coffeeshop recc, because people fucking love an invitation to offer their opinion (what do you think this novella of an answer is?) and then springboard into your own tastes, things you like and dislike, and see how well your views and tastes align. remember, talking to a potential friend is just like an interview! you may feel like you’re under examination, and need to win their attentions, but you’re interviewing them for the position too. 

finally, go ahead and invite them to hang out. you can do this waaaay earlier if you have sufficient reason/confidence to do so: if you compliment someone’s superhero shirt, and they say they can’t wait for the new movie next week, and you can’t either, say this! say you’re planning on going [insert date] if they wanna come get their mind blown with you and/or go halfsies on the pricey popcorn. 

also, naturally: if you’re in a coffeeshop and both clearly plan to be there again sometime soon, establish when you’ll see them next. when you do: don’t seat yourself at their table unless A. they invite you to or B. they’ve been clearly invested in talking with you for more than a few minutes, at which point you can say “Do you mind if I sit?” and then boom! coffee friendship!!! which is also the best way to deal with the natural, awkward pauses that come between topics - you can both reach for your cups as you think of ways to continue

But: if you don’t have the excuse of “here, wanna study for the next exam together?” or “carpool to work together?” or any of the above, go ahead and find something you think they might like too. If you have other friends who’d be down, and who aren’t super abrasive or wild or super super shy personality types, go ahead and try to make it a group hang. “Hey! Some of my friends & I are going to the movies on Friday night if you’d care to join!” orrrrrr invite them to grab coffee if that’s not where you usually meet them, or invite them to an outdoor market or some cool event (ideally with free admission!) like a live concert or gallery showing, etc. etc. 

If you only have their instagram when you first hang out with them, take a picture of them over the course of the night (not a selfie unless they ask for it.) I know how people feel about getting photographed, so I always take a bunch, tell them to try different poses, and then let them swipe through and pick their favorites for me to send them. offer the same, and tell them instagram/social media messagers kill the image quality if they don’t already know. Boom! now you have their phone number, and now they feel good about themselves bc of you. Woooo, positive correlations! if they want to take pictures of you, even if you’re squeamish around cameras, go ahead, laugh and let them go for it. otherwise, refusing the picture skews the friendship towards their ego, and suggest, if only subconsciously, that you like them more than you like yourself. 

from then on, it should be pretty smooth! see how the hang out goes, decide whether you want to keep hanging with them (as I said, you have that right!) and then text them when you want to. and as you spend more time interacting with them, and grow more comfortable, you might have some of Friendship Bonding Moments™ I’ve encountered. such as: being told I played a minor role in someone’s weirdly vivid dream, anytime someone sent me a post/song/video/article of clothing/picture of a dog and said it reminded them of me, sending me a new song they love and demanding I listen to it, asking for my opinion on what they’re going to wear tonight, and/or whether they should post a picture to instagram, someone randomly calling me up to say they’re headed to my favorite diner at 2am, do I want to come? (~Just College Things~), telling me they made extra dinner/food/baked goods and do I want some?

and then, congrats! you have made friends! if you really like them, and enjoy this sincerely and/or ironically, feel free to make them a friendship bracelet to immortalize the event once you feel comfortable enough with them

(although I have also promised to make friendship bracelets for people I have just met + had very positive conversations with, preceded by “Okay, that’s it, we’re friends now. You can expect your friendship bracelet in 3-5 business days.” and they all, without fail, freak out over the mere thought of a friendship bracelet and the implication that we are now officially friends. this works on people I met like, less than 5 minutes ago. it’s also really easy to say “you can expect your friendship bracelet in 3-5 business days. Here, what’s your instagram/phone number? I’ll text you!” bear in mind: don’t be presumptuously confident. gauge their level of enthusiasm before you ask for their contact details, or take the joke too far. but know that most will almost immediately say yes, because even adults who may laugh at the thought are still just little kids deep down, and everyone wants a friend to like them enough to make them a friendship bracelet)

if you’re looking for more than just casual friends: time, conversations and empathy all help to turn casual acquaintances into friends you can trust & rely upon. asking how they’re doing if it seems they’re having a rough day and actively listening, offering advice (only if they want it) or food or an indulgent stress relief hang out, or asking (one of the rare times presumptuousness is okay!!) if they wouldn’t mind letting you vent about a coworker or something frustrating - any time you encourage them to emotionally share with you, or you offer to share your emotions with them, will help solidify your friendship. as much as I hate admitting when I’m sad to my close friends, those that I do admit it to are the ones I trust & rely upon the most.

finally, most importantly and, yes, most clichédly: be yourself. The more a friend learns about you, the deeper the friendship. Never lie about yourself for the sake of impressing a friend, or all that effort you’ve put into making a friendship will be built on false grounds. you’ll never be comfortable or relaxed around someone you have to act around, so don’t! if someone doesn’t like you for you, they’re not worth your friendship in the first place. I may sound like Dr. Seuss or Hallmark, but I’m serious. 

Okay cool, so it’s 4:33 am and I should be studying for me french final in 6 hours, but hey, here’s like 3,000 words of rambly social advice and scripts. should I write a book about this? I feel like I could write a book about this. Hmm. Maybe thats just the espresso & caffeinated chocolate talking. please weigh in on book or nah in the comment section below

Anways, I hope with every fiber of my sleep-deprived soul that some small part of this goliath answer could help you! And if, in my stupor, I outlined every possible scenario except the ones you actually needed to know about, don’t hesitate to let me know and I’ll try my best to assist. Now go forth, make friends, and be you! ♥

[tgunn64]

Favorite Villains - The Honorable Mentions

A lot of you following this blog have probably caught wind of my passion for counting down my favorite villains in anything I’ve ever seen or played, and counting them down in an extensive list right here. But narrowing down all of those villains was hard, and sometimes, I make new discoveries that drop folks off the Top 50.

Which is why this master post is devoted to the honorable mentions. Those with essays that were once in the 50 but gracefully were removed or maybe didn’t quite make the cut to my 50 in the first place.

Those that were retired over time and their essays;

Littlefinger

Kefka Palazzo

Valmont

Cyrus Henstridge

Toyman

Green Goblin

Reverse Flash

Broly

President Snow

Ramses

Doctor Doom

Lusamine

Lady Tremaine

Jafar

Shang Tsung

Balthazar Bratt

And the rest that didn’t quite make the cut!

Abis Mal (Aladdin franchise)

For someone that really should not have been more than a cheeky comic relief villain, Jason Alexander’s performance and some brilliant writing utilizing him in a myriad of creative and fun plots, Abis Mal wound up a million times more memorable than he ever had the right to be. From attaining his own genie to CHASES THROUGH TIME, Abis Mal is always up to something fun, alongside his equally charming sidekick, Haroud.

Tywin Lannister (Game of Thrones)

The smartest man in all of Westeros--Tywin is wise, intuitive, and strategic. Essentially an ideal leader, the main reason Tywin is a villain is because of his questionable methods and morals. He's one of the most nuanced and complex characters in the saga, which is saying a lot, and every conversation he has ends with you siding with him. He's not a good father or man, but oddly the kind you can trust, and just about every thing he does, no matter how awful, is for a distinct and reasonable motive. 

The Four Heavenly Kings (Sailor Moon)

While they were technically henchmen, working under Queen Beryl, the Four Heavenly Kings, Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite, and Kunzite were easily the first season’s most active villains, feeling very strongly like uniform 80s villains in the best way possible. They have inner faction quarrels and power struggles, that in a way mirror the occasional fights between the Sailor Guardians. Jadeitie is a great starter villain, and is memorable as the first recurring villain in the entire franchise. Second is Nephrite, quite possibly my favorite of the whole crew, who snuck into the human society and was efficient as a spy, but finds himself torn when he finds love on earth, in the form of one of Usagi’s close school friends no less, whom he even ends up giving his life for. Zoisite and Kunzite were the two ‘leaders’, not only representation of a gay relationship, but a VERY loving one at that. Sometimes I think Usagi and Mamarou could get relationship notes from them, because no matter how tense things got, Kunzite and Zoisite were always very loving and I never felt they were abusive like some villain ships can be. Zoisite had his fingers in every pie he could, and Kunzite was simply a powerhouse that gave the Sailors a shake up unlike any other. They were also some of the best performed characters on the show, especially Liam O’Brien as Nephrite and Patrick Seitz as Kunzite. As a collective, the Four Heavenly Kings were unforgettable.

Carnage (Spider-Man/Marvel)

As such a huge fan of Venom and his severely 90s, hard metal rock aesthetic, it should come as no surprise that I also really love Carnage, Venom’s much more psychotic, dangerous, and in some cases, powerful offspring. While Venom can sometimes be veered in the direction of putting his own goals aside, there is no coaxing Carnage, who cares only to fulfill his own desires of, well, carnage. Being a very realistic psychopath, he can be genuinely scary at times, and is always a foe that can make Spider-Man sweat. 

The Joker (Batman/DC)

The Joker is a classic, and there’s a LOT to talk about with him, but I wanna use this to discuss my all time favorite work the Joker has been a part of; Bayman Beyond: Return of the Joker, where the villain’s role as more of an idea than a person is proved to be even more dangerous than ever once thought. We see the Joker discover Batman’s secret identity, die, and then have his consciousness transferred into Tim Drake, all in one incredible film, and in my opinion, it’s the best we’ve seen the Joker. He’s gritty and terrifying, but never loses his classic charm. I also must admit I love his more subdued design in this movie--a simple suit and buzzcut. It somehow makes him seem more threatening, and fits his new physique that lets him get his hands dirty, one on one with Batman. It isn’t until a data chip containing his ideals is stomped to pieces that the Joker is dead and gone forever, and something about that just runs a chill down my spine.

Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange (Harry Potter series)

The Death Eaters are one of the most immaculate and varied villain factions out there, lead by the ever infamous he-who-shall-not-be-named, Lord Voldemort. The fear of death is one any feel, making Voldemort pretty relatable, which is surprising for such a ghastly and scary fantasy villain. Voldemort has moments of bizarre affection for those that surround him (his awkward hug for Draco comes to mind), undercutting how frightening he can be at his nastiest. At his side is Bellatrix Lestrange, a delightful psycho with one of the coolest wardrobes/designs ever. While not the only Death Eater that deserves mention, you could always rely on her to make things a little more interesting and dance on the remains of your house afterwards.

Mojo Jojo (The Powerpuff Girls)

Another BIG TIME nostalgia villain for me, Mojo’s striking design, incredible voice work, and always inventive schemes earned him the dwarfing number of episodes he had among the PPG rogues gallery. What REALLY cemented him as a huge villain, though, was seeing the beginnings of his evil in the PPG movie. His takeover of Townsville is impressive and dark, and seeing him have a hand in the creation of the Girls is just so cool to see in full motion, followed up by his manipulation of the Girls that left a wound on the heart of any of the show’s fans.

Palpatine (Star Wars)

The sort of villain you see from every angle and in every role, Palpatine is a whole load of fun, setting the very cogs of Star Wars into motion while being a delight to watch on either end of the spectrum, capable of being just as subtly enthralling as he could be absurdly bombastic. His monologue on his master, Darth Plagieus, is one of the best villain monologues out there. He’s an incredible baddie, and I love how he can be quotable in a way that’s fun and a bit memetic, but is incredibly difficult to discredit as a huge threat

General Blue (Dragon Ball)

General Blue left a huge impact on me as a kid; quite possibly the first canonly gay villain I ever encountered, he just really stood out because of that. He's a ruthless war strategist, but was also a neat freak, the kind of guy that would have a soldier executed for picking his nose. His telepathic powers made him a really fun villain to fight, and his climax allows a cameo from ARALE WEEEE! I just love the juxtaposition of someone willing to kill children to carry out his mission next to someone that will freak out if he's touched by unclean hands. While not the leader of the Red Ribbon Army, he's definitely side by side with Tao as the faction's stand out villain.

Lord Business (The Lego Movie)

The Lego Movie I think was one of the biggest surprises of animation, ever. What many thought would just be a quick cash grab turned out to be one of the most hilarious, heart filled, and thought provoking animated movies ever, and Lord Business was a big part of that. We're placed in the shoes of the hero just as much as we are the villain as far as the moral of the film goes, going to show that he and Emmett aren't very different at all. While Will Ferrell plays him hysterically, we see he's actually a bit terrifying. But what REALLY ties him together is...the plot twist in the end. The one I will never ever spoil (most of the time) because everyone deserves to experience that incredible reveal at least once blind.  

Mechagodzilla (Godzilla franchise)

Another hugely nostalgia stand out in a massive rogues' gallery; Gozilla had defended the earth from a multitude of monsters, which is when the aliens that detest him so for defending the insignificant planet over and over decide that the best thing to kill Godzilla, is a MECHAGodzilla! He's one of those game changer villains, similar to Bane or Shishio that raise the bar and the stakes so far above and beyond previous villains, and give a whole new challenge to the once thought unstoppable hero. With an incredibly memorable design and even an entire film dedicated to him, Mechagodzilla is undeniably Godzilla's biggest rival. Even if stronger monsters would come along, Mechagodzilla and how revolutionary he was cannot be shaken, remaining the ultimate yang to the King of Monsters' yin.

Maximillian Pegasus (Yu-Gi-Oh!)

One of the most endearing and interesting figures in a show full of colorful characters, Pegasus is easily the anime Xanatos--not truly evil but entirely willing to do what he must for his own ends, no matter how many innocent grandpa souls he has to steal. Pegasus was a spontaneous and enigmatic fellow, every time he was on screen you were never quite sure what he was up to. Even as he became more of an Enemy Mine helper of the heroes, you get the idea that he places himself before all others. His persona as a millionaire mogul that never quite grew out of his love for cartoons is equally endearing, and his Toon themed deck made him one of the most interesting foes the heroes had to face. Yu-Gi-Oh has a surprising slew of neat villains, but the show was never quite the same after Pegasus' time as the big bad was up.

King Louie (The Jungle Book)

While I always loved King Louie in the old movies as sort of a neutral force, the new JB remake took him up to eleven and beyond. Sort of a gangster of the jungle, Louiewas intimidating and, while not important to much outside exposition, he's portrayed with so much gravitas and presence that it's hard not to remember him, and Christopher Walken makes him all the more endearing. Despite his charms, he's a scary foe too, his transformation into a gigantopithecus over an orangutan allowed the animators to make him GIGANTIC and intimidating. You know he could easily crush Mowgli in his grasp and every offer Mowgli turns down, you fear he's closer to the straw that'll break the camel's back and make Louie turn on him. His status as something of a mogul with 'eyes and ears' all over the jungle in the form of his followers really tied together the vibrant world of the jungle, a cherry atop an already stellar ensemble. 

Meruem (Hunter x Hunter)

The threat of the carnivorous, cross breed insect monsters called the Chimera Ants were the deadliest monsters Gon and Killua had ever faced--but at the head of these savage monsters was their surprisingly nuanced and intelligent king, Meruem. As animalistic and terrifying as Meruem could be, he was equally proud and refined. Something of an intellectual, Meruem is the kind that spends his time learning various strategy games when he isn't feasting on the flesh of the innocent. Although he starts off as an elitist with a mentality of self superiority, his meeting with the world champion of the game of Gungi teaches him about different kinds of strength and how even if you are a superpowerful chimera, sometimes you just can't beat a sickly blind girl at a strategy game. Lessons and complexity aside, he's a super powerful foe--challenging the strongest established hero in the show to what may be the most epic battle in the entire series. He's a villain who grows and learns as much, if not more than most heroes do, and even if I found the Chimera Ant arc a bit long and tedious, he stole every scene he appeared in and filled the gap left by Hisoka's temporary absence.

Bill Cipher (Gravity Falls)

Don't let anyone let you believe Gravity Falls is overhyped. Even if it does stand out among it's family of other Disney cartoons, it's one of the finest animated series ever, and thanks in no small part to Bill Cipher. A villain that despite looking diminutive is as sinister and terrifying as he is cutting and sardonic. Seeming like a spiritual successor to the likes of Hades, Bill is a deal maker and a sheer devil that takes nothing short of the most dismissive pleasure in the suffering of the innocent. The Weirdmageddon is one of the scariest and most intense climaxes to any cartoon, and the lore surrounding him lent itself incredibly well to GF's mystery/cryptid motif. Bill Cipher was a mystery the fandom spent years trying to solve, and seeing his endgame was exceptionally satisfying.

Ego (Marvel)

Probably one of the most charismatic and interesting villains the MCU has made, and in my opinion, the only one-movie villain who gives Red Skull a run for his money--Ego was an awesome character. Kurt Russell did an amazing job making him seem likable and making you want him and Peter to truly reunite--but his godly aspirations won't allow it to be. He goes from warm dad to complete monster as his true colors show, leading to one of the most incredible climaxes in this vast franchise. It's no epiphany to realize that Marvel struggles a bit with it's villains, but Ego was terrifying and had a HELL of a daunting plan, making him a great character from beginning to end.

Jagi (Fist of the North Star)

Fist of the North Star, one of the eearliest trendsetters among Shonen Anime, presents a large gallery of villains, but no one you spend a terribly long time with outside the big bad, Raoh. That being said, just about everyone that challenges Kenshiro is awesome--the power drunk Shin, the flamboyant Juda--but the one that has stuck with me with most so far is Jagi, the first of Kenshiro's 'brothers' to resurface after the end of the world. Sporting an incredibly memorable aesthetic with a biker helmet and spiked shoulder pads, Jagi intends to drag Kenshiro's good name through the mud, going as far as to emulate the seven scars on his chest to imitate him. The difference is; Jagi hardly knows the first thing about fighting, and would much rather rely on dirty tricks such as spitting nails, pulling guns, and lighting gas fires. Exceptionally petty and cruel--it's strange to think that FotNS's mangka calls Jagi his favorite character in the whole series, since he's precisely who I wish had more screen time before his demise.