#ITS HER!! THE NOT SO NORTH CLONE?

[ask-knowledgekeepers]

[Previous]

Celeste happily hummed as they walked down the final hall.

It didn't take them long to finally reach the room, nervously Klaus pushed open the door. Behind it was an oddly familiar-looking sight of purple. Something about it was different however.

"Huh?"

"I was starting to get worried you had run off again."

→ Klaus, Ivy and Celeste have arrived to see Aurora!

[aphrodicci]

ᴛʜᴇ ᴜʟᴛɪᴍᴀᴛᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛʏ ᴅᴇɢʀᴇᴇ ❦ ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ

❦ follow for more content! ❦

join my discord :)

❦ beautiful divider by @uzmacchiato ❦

remember a number shall not define your beauty, but describe it. if you do not have this, this does not mean you are not beautiful.

❦ did you know that the 23 degree is known as the ultimate beauty degree? like how the 29th degree is known to be the ultimate fame degree. the star of god. but the 23 degree is the star of aphrodite.

❦ it's usually perceived as a degree of extreme beauty or as someone who receives extreme attention. considering that it is naturally ruled by aquarius and it's the last degree of aquarius as the first one is the 11th degree.

❦ its critical when it lands in venus, but with my own research, all the celebrities who are considered to have an extreme charm, influence and beauty to them have this degree in any placement. as with its uranian influence it gives the number the wheel of fortune [as the wheel of fortune is about a random series events good or bad, which aquarius/uranus rules].

❦ as the degree gives exageratted allure it does put off people, for example. megan fox who has this degree on her gemini venus is usually playing roles that involve her being a bombshell, someone who has the type of beauty that wonders if they're from the same plane as you. which could be considered why she is given roles where she is a "robot" "siren/succubus" characters.

❦ another example is rihanna who carries this degree on her north node, and she is known for her incredible beauty. and with it being in north node pisces, it explains why many musicians/people within a similar industry of her always wanted her, considered her to be their future wife. and with it being paired with north node/rahu which is known for its temper, it connects to why men are usually fighting over her. what else i've realised is that she has also been associated with being a siren.

❦ this aphrodite degree brings someone a distinct appearance, which makes it easier for other people to tell when someone is copying them. ariana grande has this degree on her pluto. rihanna has this degree like i've mentioned before and adriana lima holds this degree on her neptune which falls in the 1h. and the women i have listed usually have people wanting to do ANYTHING to look like them.

❦ these women who have this degree not only have extreme beauty but they share innovative style which makes people fall in even more in love with them. megan fox and the other beautiful women i have mentioned are known to have many clones on social media it's always joked about, whether it be through music style, clothing, hair, make-up. peope unintentionally treat these women to be the trend-setter of commodites they're strong in.

❦ you could be wondering how is the 23 degree associated with venus? and it's because through numerology and spirituality, the number 3 is associated with venus and the empress. and when you multiply the 2 and 3 together it adds up to 6 which is another venus essence degree [notice how i said venus essence and not mercury, that'll be a post for another day!] but the number 6 is associated with aphrodite who is sometimes deciphered to be lucifer. [lucifer who was known to be the most beautiful angel].

❦ at face value, the 23 degree adds up to 5. which is another beauty degree. on the other hand when we look strictly back to the signs being assigned to the number. the 23rd degree is a uranus degree, and uranus can give extreme and even off-putting beauty.

❦ usually neptune is considered with sirens, yet so is uranus as it governs over alien species. to us, sirens are a type of alien as they're about the unfamiliar and the unknown.

❦ the aquarius influence gives it an untouchable glamour which makes people want to replicate it even more. to attain the "unattainable". and this can also manifest in social dynamics, besides the individual having much beauty. they carry a charm and essence that make people attracted to it, almost worship it. which falls into the "uranus god complex" trait.

❦ aquarius rules over memorable beauty, for example annalynne mccord. her role as naomi in 90210 made me shocked by her beauty more. the more episodes she was in the more i was taken away.

❦ with this uranus energy, the degree becomes a beauty where someone learns how to own their beauty. owning what makes them look unique and breath-taking instead of letting current trends direct you to what you think you should do.

❦ the venusian and uranian cross over gives the person a magnetism that is easy to reach, like an icon.

❦ another example is cassie ventura, she has this degree on her mercury in leo. and it's a collective agreement that she's one of the most beautiful faces that we've ever seen.

❦ and like the previous women i have listed down. she was also a trendsetter. when she had many people shave the side of their head so they could feel like they are her? that is the 23rd degree energy. she has the type of beauty that feels too unreal, and with it also being in leo it shows how many people wanted her attention + her beauty being one of the things that gives her fame [lets ignore the who shall not be named].

❦ both the 23rd degree and leo are fame commodities in astrology, these two being alligned together shows that cassie is a powerhouse.

❦ thank you for reading! ❦

❦ join my discord :) ❦

❦

[herpsandbirds]

can we have some of your favourite weirdest creatures? weird as in physiology, behaviour, or origin/discovery story

Ok, so, ive been think about frogs that keep their babies in their mouths/throats/stomachs...

Darwin’s Frog (Rhinoderma darwinii), males with froglets, family Rhinodermatidae, found in the Valdivian Temperate Rain Forest of Chile and Argentina

ENDANGERED.

Famous for its child rearing technique. The male holds both the eggs and tadpoles in his vocal sac. The froglets emerge from the male’s mouth after metamorphosing.

Endangered due to habitat destruction.

photographs by Dante Fenolio and Michael & Patricia Fogden

illustration by W. Baker

Southern Gastric Brooding Frog (Rheobatrachus silus), family Myobtrachidae, found in the Blackall Range and Conondale Ranges in southeast Queensland, north of Brisbane, Australia

EXTINCT.

First discovered by western science in 1972 (possibly 1914), the last wild specimen was encountered in 1981, and the last captive specimen died in 1983.

The cause(s) for decline and extinction are unclear, but may include introduced species, habitat degradation, and the Chyrtrid fungus.

There is a project currently working to clone this frog. They have only been successful, so far, in cloning an embryo.

Females would swallow fertilized eggs, and brood them and tadpoles in her stomach. The metamorphosed froglets would emerge from her mouth later on.

There is considerable disagreement as to which family they should be included in (with some herpetologists putting the 2 species of Rheobatrachus into their own family).

photographs by AU Images and Michael Tyler

[dduane]

Process for the new DEEP WIZARDRY International Edition cover

(rolls up sleeves) Right. Writing work (and recurring health issues) have repeatedly pushed these pieces of work to one side for the last year and a half. Time to take a brief break from ongoing work in other universes to rectify that.

Here's the template that I'm building on: the international edition cover for So You Want To Be A Wizard. (Available only outside North America, if you're wondering what makes it international. These paperbacks use the New Millennium Edition texts—except for the international edition of Games Wizards Play [when it comes out later this year], which was written to fit into the NME timeline to begin with, and will go into its international editions with that text.)

The cover concept's straightforward. Relatively dark, desaturated backgrounds: one glowy (or somewhat glowy) thing in the foreground, in a color that pops, or in lighting that makes it stand out.

For Deep Wizardry, things get slightly complicated by the fact that so much business happens underwater. But there are some things we can work with there. A scene in which two pivotal characters square off seems like a fair bet.

So: background first. Underwater lighting...

The sea floor: sand.

Sunlight from above the water.

But naturally that's not how the bottom would look, because there are ripples on the surface...

And naturally the sea bottom isn't going to be featureless, so we need some weeds and rocks.

The distribution's not ideal on these, but that comes under "fine tuning." That can happen over the weekend.

Now for the main attractions. Nita...

...and Ed. (ETA: There are some scale issues here. Properly speaking, Ed'rashtekaresket is significantly bigger, in comparison with Nita, than he's being framed in this shot. But Nita had to be big enough to actually show on the cover... So some liberties inevitably get taken.)

Now, while this is all promising enough so far, there's a bit of a problem. Nita's not terribly visible at this point. So, time to engage in some visual jiggerypokery that will both help with that problem and do something to hint at the connection between these two.

IIRC, Nita was wearing a wizardly forcefield in this scene to provide her with air and other necessities. So let's exploit that.

In the render, I can apply to her figure what in Daz Studio parlance is called a "geoshell": a kind of skintight digital overskin to which special effects can be applied: such as light emission. (And Nita's hair will get one too.) Since everything else in the scene is cool-colored, this light is going to need to be warmer, in (at the very least) a golden range. (Or rosy. May be playing with that for a bit.)

...But obviously we can't leave her looking like that. So what I get to do now is lose the rest of the scene and render Nita separately, in the same position but with different, less blued-out lighting...

...then add her figure back into the scene, over the geoshelled version (which can be clone-brushed out later).

...So when we slot that imagery into the paperback cover template, after some tweaking, this is what we get.

...Still some things to correct or refine here. (Such as the main body of back cover text, as I haven't written the new copy yet. And the quotes may want tweaking: the NYTimes review [which the WaPo picked up] had some lines that might work better.) Colors, composition, etc etc, can all use some final touches. But I think we're most of the way there.

With any kind of luck, this edition will be available online in paperback and ebook formats for the non-North American audience this time next week. (I'm still considering whether I want to offer hardcovers on these as well.)

(sigh) Now I want some tea. And then, tomorrow maybe, on to the int'l edition of High Wizardry...

ETA 2: off @softness-and-shattering's question:

If I may ask, is it not your publishers job to do this work? Is this a continuation of the thing where authors now seem to be expected to do their own marketing too, or are you doing the new millenium editions 'on your own' or similar?

I'm doing them on my own. While there are numerous foreign-language editions of the original YW books, the only publisher to use the NME texts so far (for books 1-3) has been Lumen éditions in France, and I'm not clear whether those editions are still in print.

Whatever their status, that still leaves me with a lot of countries where I can publish. And if that job's going to get done—lacking other publishers' interest, which my agents would handle—It falls to me to take the work forward. Such are the wonders of our age that I no longer have to wait for a publisher to turn up. And should something suddenly happen for publishers to get interested (like a TV series or whatever) then i can easily withdraw my own editions and let my agents do deals with them.

Meanwhile, why (as we say) leave money on the table? There are other English-speaking countries on the planet where the YW books can be marketed (and more countries still where—when there's cash to spare to hire the necessary creative talent—translations might not do too badly). So I might as well get on with it! I've got groceries to buy and bills to pay like everybody else... :)

(And just pausing here to point at the page pinned to the top of my feed. If you want to help with those groceries, there's a good place to start: the ebook bundles are still at their pre-holiday sale prices! ...Unless you're in the UK. [I'm so sorry about Brexit, folks, but there's nothing I can do about that...])

[areyoufuckingcrazy]

Oh my gosh I love your writing! I was wondering if you could do a story with Wrecker and a f!jedireader? Where the reader saves his life and he falls in love with her.

Heart of the Wreckage

Wrecker x Female Jedi!Reader

You didn’t ask to be assigned to Clone Force 99.

You preferred structure. Discipline. A command chain you didn’t have to second-guess every five minutes. Instead, you got five walking exceptions to Republic standard procedure—and one of them was already trying to balance a blaster rifle on his nose when you entered the hangar.

The docking bay echoed with the metallic thrum of shifting armor and quiet tension. You stood at the base of the Marauder’s ramp, arms folded, cloak stirring around your boots. Clone Force 99 loomed ahead like a puzzle you hadn’t quite solved—Hunter’s brooding intensity, Tech’s sharp tongue, Crosshair’s narrowed eyes, and then there was Wrecker, already waving enthusiastically at you as if you were old friends.

You blinked. “He’s…very expressive.”

“Get used to it,” Hunter said, deadpan. “He’s also stronger than anyone you’ve ever met, and more loyal.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

This wasn’t your first joint operation with clones, but it was the first time you were paired with them. The “defective” batch. You’d read the reports. Tactical improvisation. Non-reg protocol. Explosive results.

Wrecker bounded forward. “You’re the Jedi, huh? I like your robes—got that windblown, mysterious vibe!”

You raised an eyebrow. “Thank you, I think?”

He gave a grin so wide it made you instinctively smile back.

⸻

The jungle was alive with rot, buzzes, and heat. The Marauder was docked a klick out. You adjusted your lightsaber on your belt and took point through the underbrush, boots silent, posture confident.

“Y’know,” you said over your shoulder, “I’ve read the reports on your squad. Impressive. In a ‘dangerously unregulated’ kind of way.”

“Some of us take that as a compliment,” Tech murmured, tapping at his datapad.

Wrecker, however, just grinned. “You should see us when things blow up. That’s when we really shine.”

You smirked. “I’m not impressed by explosions. I’m impressed by control.”

The moment the words left your mouth, blaster fire rained down from a hidden perimeter.

“Ambush!” Hunter barked.

You didn’t hesitate. Lightsaber flared to life, spinning in a fluid arc as you dropped into the fray. You cut through the first turret with a lazy flourish, pivoting to take out a second.

Behind you, Wrecker charged into enemy fire with a feral roar, ripping a tree trunk out of the ground to use as cover. It was absurd. It was stupid. It worked.

And then it happened—a concussive blast erupted from underfoot.

“Wrecker!” you shouted as he disappeared in a bloom of smoke and dirt.

You dove toward him without thinking. The smoke parted to reveal him half-buried in debris, face bloodied, armor cracked.

No time for the Force. No time for hesitation.

You dropped beside him, heaving metal plating off his chest, fingers scrabbling for a pulse. “You absolute brute,” you hissed, breath tight. “Why didn’t you check for mines?”

He groaned. “Didn’t think… they were sneaky enough…”

His eyelids fluttered.

“Stay with me, big guy,” you muttered, dragging him up with far more strength than your size suggested. “You don’t get to die on my mission.”

A blaster bolt screamed toward you from above.

You whipped your saber upward behind your back, deflecting the shot cleanly. Another followed. Then five.

They were targeting him.

You positioned yourself between Wrecker and the enemy without thinking. Your saber spun in tight arcs, catching bolts from all sides. The jungle lit up in rhythmic flashes of violet and red.

Crosshair’s voice crackled over comms. “Snipers—north treeline!”

“I see them,” you snapped. “But they’re not getting past me.”

One droid tried to flank you from the left—its aim dead-set on Wrecker’s exposed chest. You lunged forward and hurled your saber like a boomerang, slicing through its head. The hilt curved back into your palm as you returned to your guard position over Wrecker.

A glint of movement—a second droideka unfolded ten meters away, shield igniting with a hum.

You narrowed your eyes.

“Alright,” you muttered. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The droideka fired. Rapid-fire bolts slammed into your defenses. You slid forward on instinct, redirecting each bolt into the tree line. You advanced one step at a time, deflecting, pushing, keeping it busy—until suddenly, a heavy explosion cracked the jungle from the opposite side.

Hunter and Crosshair emerged from the flank.

The droideka went down in fire and shrapnel.

You dropped to your knees, panting, your saber still lit in one hand. Then you turned back to Wrecker.

He groaned.

“Stars above,” you exhaled.

“Did…” His voice rasped, dazed. “Did I miss the fun?”

You gave a breathless, relieved laugh.

“You almost were the fun.”

His eyes opened sluggishly, and he blinked at you.

“You stayed?” he croaked.

You stared at him. “Of course I stayed.”

He tried to sit up, wincing immediately. You caught him by the shoulder and pressed him back down.

“Easy,” you said. “I just deflected enough blaster fire to light a city block. Don’t make me fight you too.”

⸻

Wrecker was stable—barely. The field medkit had done what it could. You sat on the ramp of the ship later that evening, arms crossed, watching as he stubbornly limped his way toward you with his torso still wrapped in gauze.

“Shouldn’t you be lying down?” you said.

He grinned, sheepish. “Wanted to say thanks.”

You glanced at him. “For getting blown up?”

“For pulling me out. You didn’t have to.”

“You’re part of the squad,” you replied coolly. “And I don’t leave people behind.”

“But you really went for it,” he said, sinking down beside you. “Didn’t think a Jedi would care that much about a guy like me.”

You snorted. “You think I risk my life for just anyone? Please.”

He looked startled.

You smirked. “You’re lucky I have a soft spot for wrecking balls with big dumb hearts.”

That earned a booming laugh from him. “Aw, c’mon—I ain’t that dumb.”

“I said big dumb heart, not brain. You fought well. Just… try not to step on anything next time.”

He tilted his head, watching you more seriously now. “You’re different from what I expected. Thought Jedi were supposed to be all calm and quiet.”

“I am calm,” you replied loftily. “I just happen to be excellent. And if I don’t remind people of that, who will?”

Wrecker blinked. Then grinned so wide it made something in your chest twist a little. “You’re funny.”

You looked away, suddenly aware of the warmth in your cheeks. “Don’t get used to it.”

“Too late.”

Silence fell. Comfortable, maybe even a little intimate.

“You really scared me back there,” you admitted finally, voice lower now.

“Scared myself too,” he said. “But it helped, havin’ you there.”

He looked at you then—not with the usual goofy enthusiasm, but something softer. Real. “I like that you don’t treat me like I’m just the muscle.”

You didn’t respond right away. Just nodded, watching a Felucian bird glide overhead.

“…I like that you let me save you,” you said eventually. “Don’t make it a habit.”

Wrecker chuckled and bumped your shoulder with his.

“No promises.”

[maythevoidnotscreamback]

My outrage given voice: The Shittenou were done so dirty!

It's very damn annoying to me and I hate it! Why the hell were the Shittenou not given a chance for a 'normal' life like Usagi wished for in the 90's anime; especially with the implication of the time of the first season repeating for the second and thus meant that they hadn't been nabbed for Beryl's/Metallia's purposes? Or even in the manga/reboot rather than kept as the stones they became after their deaths?

Like, what thoughts went into that? Why were the various relationships of the Shittenou changed so drastically, and not just between each other but their Prince and their Love Interests too? Especially when Mamo got a, technically, third chance to be with Usa after the first season's finale. The girls themselves have other love interests, I know, but you'd think that they'd at least be given the option to see if they were still compatible and part (hopefully) amicably if they weren't, rather than just have the view that they'll never have love or even a family. And, no, I don't count the "Parallel" world of the manga because it seems that they're right proper clones of their mothers rather than their own persons with thoughts, feelings and dreams like Chibi is. Yes, she's annoying and a frickin' Obnoxious Brat, but at least with that we know she's not Usa's clone just with pink hair and red eyes.

I remember watching the show growing up and never, not once, thinking they used to be love interests of the Senshi during the SilMil. Just that they were at the front of the invading army once that episode aired. Not to mention how my perceptions were fucked with beforehand because two of the four were in a relationship with each other (after one of them had been 'gender-bent'. Just...why?!) and a third was romancing a side character that disappeared after the one episode she was in during the fourth season (S4; E4). Hell, the only reason I found out Sen/Shi was a Thing was due to the internet a while after watching the 'last' (for the North America viewing audience) episode of the fourth season. That pissed me right the fuck off.

I believe that shouldn't have happened. They could've done so much foreshadowing, maybe even a bit of character development, about the tragedy that would've been the Shittenou being killed off as the season went on once the SilMil's Last Day came about.

Like, think about it.

With Jad's constant disguises and schemes, it could've been that Rei, being a trained Miko, always seemed to find and flirt with him, because he was cute no matter his disguises, and then get mad about it because why?! is it always him?! she does that with?! The fuck?! At least then she has a reason to pursue Mamo other than his money (Like, what?!) because at least she knows he's not Jad. And Jad's just like, 'How the hell does she keep doing this?!' before putting together that she must be an informer to the Senshi with the way they always show up when she does so he tries to keep her distracted in one form or another so his youma can do its job because she's too passionate and fiery to want to hurt or drain despite getting in his way so much. Beryl actually kills him off after his showdown with the Senshi, not listening when he says how he knows who they are, instead of being iced for his constant failures. (I never did get why he was singled out like that. Making a statement about 'the consequences of failure' are only reinforced if you keep it consistent. She didn't do that for whatever reason.)

With Neph's civilian identity of Sanjoin Masato, instead of Naru being the 'victim' of his 'manipulations', Makoto could've been brought in earlier and get to experience being treated like the young woman she is despite how other guys were put off by her strength and stature and just discovered she could transform just as or after he died. He still dies to Zoi's schemes but it's because, due to being around his Lady so much more than Jad was with Rei, he's starting to question what once he hadn't, especially if some dormant memories he hadn't known about break loose from their shadowy bonds, and so Beryl made out to her third General that he was defecting or losing sight of their goals so she didn't have to get her hands dirty with killing another General as she had with Jad. She is a wanna-be-Tyrant/Usurper with Metallia backing her but she doesn't want to look like one. That doesn't align with her goals.

With Zoi, 'cause I found it real annoying that only he could extract the Nijizuishou when the Moon Wand could also track them down but not get them out, Ami could've used her palmtop to scan whatever residue might've been left on the Wand, to also help look for the Carriers as Zoi did the same with his own tracking crystal. It could go that, because she does take her duties as a Senshi seriously and she's not all about school/studying despite her grades and work ethic and she's gonna prove it, she might get in trouble for 'stalking' while Zoi's just wondering what this cute but annoying brat is doing following him where she could get hurt - the Great Demon he awoke might very well kill her! - when in all reality she's trying to get close to the Carrier but this jerk-wad with the beautiful blond waves, because those are not curls as far as I'm concerned, in a ponytail keeps getting in her way! Is he a Saboteur/Recon Scout for the DK?! Shenanigans are had where they try to outsmart, trick or distract each other to get to the Nijizuishou first without outing themselves or her comrades. Zoi's killed by Beryl because when Ren's revealed and Zoi takes that hit with the Ginzuishou it purified him and left him unconscious, like Mamo is later in the season (E41; 37 for the DiC version), and so taken to be "healed". I was thinking of how she seemed to be the one most hovering over Mamo while he was being converted to their side. She heard Zoi's fevered ramblings after being purified of the DK's taint, heard him talk about how 'This is wrong. We're loyal to Dymi, not Beryl. We serve a Prince that'll become King, not a Queen already crowned. Where is he?' and made plans because she'd rather lose the General than waste the energy re-brainwashing him while Mamo is also being brainwashed while being healed of his wound. Besides, she could reason with herself, Zoi is the reason her precious Prince was in his current state, no matter what he was thinking at the time, so why try to keep him? Kunzite's not a witness, just told in the aftermath that Zoi died due to complications of whatever the newly revealed Princess had done to him to leave him weakened and "delusional". That way Kunz is kept low-key scared of what the Princess might be able to do to him if she caught him in a moment of weakness, distraction or off guard. So that he never stuck around long enough or kept far to the back so that he wasn't healed even accidentally.

With Kunz, well... we all kinda-sorta saw how many times Minako seemed to fall into his traps meant to nab Usa, not to mention their own history while she was in London. And he's killed as in canon because he would not be tricked by the images and lies the Witches from the Sky tried to force into his head, an unintended side-effect of how the SilMil's Last Day was shown, especially regarding her (Venus), into betraying his Liege; completely unaware that he, technically, already has!

[lesbosexual]

Tell me about your rots au what's going on there 👀👀👀👀

HIII tehe. so remember the snippet i sent to cowabunga dudes server about palpatine being dead? this is the same au. basically palpatine dies in the scene were he’s fighting mace and anakin shows up to stop him and things go astray from the canon events

here’s what happens next:

FOURTEEN YEARS LATER…

It was spring on Naboo. Fresh blooms, green grass, and clear skies as far as the eye could see. Theed was especially lively when spring returned and winter concluded. The capital city was closer to the North and therefore had snow, though it was hardly Hoth. Snow was sparse and always melted in the days before it fell again, barely sticking to the warm earth. More often than not the worst of it would be the frost gathered on the tips of gardens and spider-webbed across windows, much to the nuisance of the Naboo. When it was all done away with and life was breathed back into the city, the people would come alive like none else. An impromptu festival as the people would decorate their homes in bright and vibrant colors, gather in the streets with food and drink, and watch as their children ran and played in the new warm air. This is what it was to be alive.

Anakin had been away for a few weeks in the Outer Rim, the last time she’d been home snow littered the windowsills and Luke and Leia had constant red tipped noses. She always lost track of time out there while locked into her mission, but once it was done she was damn glad to come home to the new season.

The Liberator–Anakin’s prime starfighter–hissed as the cockpit unsealed and she jumped down, Artoo following close behind. Even from the hilly outskirts of Theed where there were far less people, she could still hear the noise from the city and smell the food they cooked. Her stomach rumbled thinking about it.

yes i cheated but i Love section. i LOVE describing nature settings and i LOVE naboo. and i LOVE the skywalker-naberrie family. tehehehe <3333

basically the not-so-happy-ending-happy-ever-after-au where anakin and padmé get to live on naboo with the twins but its not all sunshine and roses. despite this opening GSKHSSKHS. also anakin is a trans woman here

and the fic is kind of told (at least what im planning) in flashbacks to explain what happened when the clone war ended. like i want slowly allude to and reveal things yk?

[digitaldoeslmk]

By The Book AU Timeline

[this will be edited as things progress and the au gets more fleshed out]

less of a timeline and more the a brainstorm chart for the plotbeats i have so far

Prince > Little Sage > Pilgrim > Immortal

ACT 1, PRINCE: 2 years, S1 plus some of S2

ep0 special, MK becomes Monkie Kid

Fated Feast (tm) and dealing with it

MK learning how to use his powers

pretty much all the episodes of S1

Beijing Opera sideplot

first New Years is a Lion Dancing competition special

Macaque introduces himself

Spider Queens get exorcised, LBD reveal

Nezha and Muzha introduction

some more filler episodes of Monkie gang dealing with small easy stuff

MK gets invited to meet Guanyin

MK learning the Dao and Dharma, starts cultivation

Macaque causes trouble (basically Shadow Play ep but not), Wukong finds out

spicynoodles start becoming a thing late in the arc

S1 finale special, except it's LBD and some henchmen

Celestial Realm sightseeing moment, introduction to several immortals and gods

ACT 2, LITTLE SAGE: about half a year, part of S2 and a lot of changes

Red Son's investigation gets serious, Nezha is helping

Wukong gets more present to teach MK

most of what's left of S2, with some changes

Yingge and Longnü intro

Tang starts helping MK and Mei with magic

Mei starts training her dragon powers in FFM

Guanyin meets the Monkien gang, reveal of Tang's past reincarnations

MK gets deeper on training with his monkey form and powers

"recollections of red and blue" is set in this arc

DBK and PIF start making amends with Red Son

qpr chimera fully established, Red Son and MK get serious enough to tell their parents about it

more LBD shenanigans

S2 season finale, except not

LBD tries to trap him in a pagoda, everyone joins the fray, MK escapes because Macaque underestimates him, Wukong gets kebabed, Megapolis is lost and the gang flees for their lives

ACT 3, PILGRIM: about half a year, S3 in spirit but almost every plot gets scrapped cus its just filler anyway

they aren't on a ""journey to the west"", they are gathering allies and tools to use against LBD and Macaque

plan is, burn the motherfuckers with the Samadhi fire with the help of the four dragon king's armies to spread the fire with rain, and use some artifacts to then control the fire and put it out

drastic measure but it do be drastic times

LBD used the skeleton key to open the gates of the Diyu, so the world is slowly getting overrun by runaway spirits, as well as channeling the waters from it to freeze the land

apparently Macaque wants to consume every living thing he's trapped to fuel something, and nobody is sure what

anyway it's crisis politics time, nobody is having fun, everything sucks

time to check in with the past pilgrims for advice and some tricks they know, Monkie gang power up time

the dragon king of the north and his family are missing, time to find them

Shen Gongbao intro, he's involved but they figure it out

it's also time to draft some immortals, we love owing favors to people in this house amiright??

Mayor starts to think the henchman career isn't for him, time to dip

he fucks a plan cus he uses a pill of immortality to heal himself but oops the gang needed that

Mayor spills the beans on Macaque's plan, MK gets impulsive and runs off to face LBD

S3 special time except not

MK exchanges himself for the girl LBD got possessed, which builds the group time to wrap up lose ends

final battle time, hoards of the underworld versus whatever immortals got convinced to help despite going against the Jade Emperor's decree

MK sends a clone with his staff before he loses control back to the gang

Mei in dragon form fighting possessed MK, so that Red Son and Nezha can take a shot at MK to exorcise LBD out of him, Erlang and Muzha helping to hold Macaque back

MK gets shot with the Samadhi Fire, to explosive results

MK vs Macaque kaiju monkey battle time

Macaque gets nuked, LBD gets carbonized, Mayor dies saving people from the city before the fires get to them

everything is put back where it belongs, but there's a lot of loose ends to wrap up, ends in a bittersweet note

ACT 4, IMMORTAL: two years, S4 solely in name, basically a full overhaul lmao

oh man oh man shits gonna hit the fan lmao

the city is saved and the bad guys are gone; time for Consequences

Jade Emperor isnt very happy with the amount of unauthorized actions taken just now

MK goes to fucking trial for the crime of saving the world, it goes as well as one would think

luckily Guanyin comes in clutch and gets his sentence lightened to "community service"

there is an absurd amount of undead still walking around, which means MK has to get on that

also yknow. the devastating amount of damage in the mortal AND celestial realm

MK is given an assignment in the heavenly bureocracy, to help keep him in check and accountable to stuff. is great innit.

another part of his job is, dealing with Wukong's past sworn brotherhood cus they've been uppity since Macaque's attack and threatening to break the human-demon truce

Qi "two dads nuclear family" Xiaotian learns to deal with distant extended family relations with very specific social cues. again, goes as well as expected

under all that, Red Son still hasn't been able to get the missing memories situation fixed

also turns out even Wukong doesn't remember who MK was but he used to know. he doesn't anymore. and he doesn't know what happened. Red Son did not like learning that.

the celebration of Ulhambana in the Celestial Realm is approaching, and Red Son thinks he can get himself and MK invited to it so they can yknow, ask Buddha wtf is going on

so yknow, time to earn the trust of the Celestial Realm again, in a year. that's doable right? ahahah

and because he doesn't have enough on his plate, MK traded off a lot of his merits in exchange for LBD and Mayor speedrunning their time in hell so they can be reborn under his care

MK becomes An Uncle, what could possibly go wrong!

oh, jumpscare, Macaque is still around but Different

[425599167]

In need of allies able to coordinate strikes against the Empire on a galactic scale, Ahsoka expands the Fulcrum network by recruiting CIS veterans and holdouts into its ranks. Promises to reveal weaknesses in the Empire draw the Fulcra to a cunning Separatist engineer, imperialized droid forces, and a mysterious bunker left hidden and abandoned by Count Dooku. Pulled back to the start of the Clones Wars, back to Geonosis, Barriss recalls where all her guilt began.

Breath flowed in and out of Barriss slowly, meditatively, though she didn’t close her eyes or otherwise shut out the cockpit around her. She only stared straight ahead, taking it all in. “How are you feeling?” asked Ahsoka. Geonosis approached, and the Eclipse passed over its rings as Ahsoka avoided several of the outlying rocks. The world revealed little of its surface, but Barriss recognized a few mountain ranges rising above the dust storms, enough landmarks to remember where she’d already been. “I feel unwell.” “Anything I can do to help?” It all became more detailed as they flew closer. North of the E’Y-Akh Desert was the arena where she nearly got overrun by battle droids and fought her way alone through the underground caverns as two hundred Jedi died or got rescued by gunships. Then southeast along the neighboring mountain range was where she landed with Luminara and later witnessed Ki-Adi-Mundi burning Geonosians with flamethrowers. Then there was the now-ruined factory she’d reduced to rubble and then nearly suffocated underneath with thousands of Geonosians buried deeper below her. Then the makeshift landing area from where she finally departed the planet, flying away in a medical frigate infested with parasites which would be burrowing into her brain shortly after. “No. No, I don’t believe there is. Thank you for offering.”

Fantastic news, I discovered even more ways to make Ahsoka and Barriss narrative foils! This story formed throughout a sleepless night during which I woke up every ten minutes to write down all my ideas so I wouldn’t forget anything. It's really coming together, I think it might overtake Obsolete Products as the story I’m happiest with.

[keeper-of-sparkly-things]

More SWR WoF AU

because i am going insane

Part One- https://www.tumblr.com/keeper-of-sparkly-things/774307778317762561/swr-wof-crossover-au

and under the cut because i get the feeling that this is going to be long

I’m going to just go in order of the ghost crew again but more in depth with the actual world around each of them

Kanan

I’m gonna talk a bit about the jedi order first. Obviously in this au they do not have the force, all the notably force sensitive people will be an animus instead. This does not actually change the structure of the order all that much

They still generally worked with the Republic before their downfalls, and therefore in the war they did fight with the clones and all that. They have a school, and very similar to canon they do take in all animus children from willing parents. People are generally willing because even disregarding things like bounty hunter s and slavers, having an animus without a working brain around is dangerous, and sending them to a place with people both like them and capable or repairing collateral damage was deemed smart (because in canon i think it was Albatross? Who as a dragon toddler and before his power was recognized got his sister claws bitten off by a shell and then she went insane because of it. Its because of that). Marriage is not banned but is heavily regulated, to keep track of all possible animus’s. It is important to note that animus magic has been nerfed and one of palpatines goals is to “fix” that

Now back to the character in question, Kanan. Leafwing, animus, jedi until order 66, formerly apprenticed to leaf/night hybrid master Depa Billaba, finds himself wandering around pyrrhia trying to avoid detection, and ultimately ends up north of the sky kingdom in a town called Gorse and working in the muddy mines for explosive crystals. Just like canon, hera happens, they cause problems for the empire, he joins her crew. He is like 8 years old, manages to keep his animus magic a secret for a while, though he does use his leafspeak liberally

2. Hera

her father Cham was a sandwing war hero, supported by Eleni, a silkwing whose family had actually been in the sand kingdom for a couple generations. When the empire rose, they started fighting quickly, staying only in the sand kingdom though, and occasionally beating up the silkwing slave trade (since the continental bridge connects to the end of it in some places). Hera got in a fight with Cham when Eleni died in a mission, feeling that they could have been doing more widespread work with their resources. Cham doesn’t actually care that much and wants his kingdom taken care of fully first, so when Hera grew her wings (not long after her mother died and their fight) she left, getting contact with the wider rebellion and becoming a traveling rebel (though her home base is still in the desert, but far away from her father). She meets kanan about a year after this

3. Chopper

it was very common for the jedi for create thing using their magic, think Blob from the darkstalker novel. It was especially popular in the war to have magic pets to do some more menial things, or depending on the type, to help them fight. Chopper was technically a fighting octopus, though small and having not been in too many battles before his creator died. Hera found and cleaned him up, partially because of the novelty of having an octopus of any sort, but also because she just wanted to help him. He kinda sorta imprinted on her after his creator died but he still has violent tendencies, though if Hera is the one asking, he’ll do chores too. He cannot change colors, and doesn’t like sitting still to get painted but he eventually tolerates it

4. Zeb

He was captain of the guard of one of the major cities in the Ice kingdom. The nobles in charge were rumored to have been sympathetic to the rebellion. Usually that doesn’t lead to drastic action on the Empires part, usually they would just imprison and replace them, but since those specific icewings were neutral in the clonewar, and or generational rivalry between ice and nightwings, they decided to just do away with the entire city plus some of the surrounding ones. Due to budget cuts (downsizing hundreds of star wars species into ten types of dragons) it wasn’t all the icewings that got genocided, just like, a very large chunk. Zeb, being the only survivor of the targeted areas, fled to the sand kingdom, where he got kidnapped into the ghost crew due to magic comforts bribery. This is about a year after kanan joins Heras crew.

5. Sabine

Darkstalker at some point mention that the rainwings used to generally be renowned assassins. Queen Glory did not want to go back to that, but did want to have the rainwings capable of self defense. Except in the many following generations more rainwings heard of the warrior stories and thought it would be cool. So now theres about half of the rainwing tribe that are fearsome warriors. Sabine is part of one other these groups. She doesn’t live in the rainforest though. The tribes, before the war and the empire at least, were more spread out than in the books. The Wren clan actually lives in the weird border between the sky and ice kingdom. Its still fairly sunny (in summer at least) but it is also cold and by sabines visual standards, she much prefers the rainforest from her visits. They did also invent insulated armor, though that doesn’t stop her complaining about how cold the ice kingdom gets, and she doesn’t have a full set anyway by the time of rebels because she couldn’t get more beskar after she left and had to reforge it to still fit at all. She fights with parents, goes to an imperial academy, leaves imperial academy and becomes a bounty hunter with her friend Ketsu the Skywing, get betrayed and nearly dies, and then is saved by the ghost crew, and healed specifically by kanans magic. She is wary of them but decides to stay with them when kanan gives her like a eternally replenishing paint or something. Thats about a little under a year after Zeb joined. She think the sand kingdom is also visually boring most if the time

6. Ezra!

i already rambled a lot about him in my original post, but heres round two! He is born to Ephraim (Hivewing) and Mira (high status Silkwing). They worked closely with the silkwing government before and during the clone wars, and were legally married. Once the empire took over and outlawed cross tribe marriage (guilty), (hybrid dragons (guilty because of Ezra), unregulated flamesilks (guilty), and animus descendants reproducing freely (guilty), they faked paperwork to get divorced (didn’t act divorced very well) and backed off from the government to keep themselves and they son safe. This worked for a couple years, but while traveling over the cross continental bridge to get to pyrrhia to get to some contacts, they were stopped and then arrested by a patrol. Ezra, like 2 years old and goofing off, was safe ish and not arrested, but still 2 and alone for the first time and also on a bridge in the middle of the ocean. He slowly crosses it by hiding in the luggage of other passing groups, but ends up in pyrrhia instead of pantala, and deciding it was too dangerous to try to go back, consigns himself to just wandering until he finds a safe place. Unintentionally using the help of animus magic that he does know he has, he slowly crosses the sand kingdom until he hits the scorpion den, where he stays in a small cave just a little out of town (old animus tunnel but filled in and he does nothing to change that) and hangs out there for a while, until his shenanigans and the ghost crews shenanigans collide and Spark of the Rebellion happens. Kanan first notices something might be off for he see a four year old dragonet jump really high without wings of any kind, and it’s basically immediately confirmed when zeb and ezra start fighting once they are out of danger and Ezra spits out something about Zeb being ugly and purple and his scales immediately change to the most ugly, eye-scorching shade of purple in existence, he quite literally looks like he became a rainwing. Ezra, doing complex reasonings in his head, understands how dangerous that kind of thing is, and runs away. And basically immediately ruins their mission and gets captured. Canon happens, he gets back safely, kanan offers to teach him and Voila! Dragon family acquired!

[theaddictedwatcher]

Hello everyone!

The series I'm going to introduce to you today is very close to my heart, and I'm delighted to have the opportunity to tell you all about it. A science fiction series produced by Graeme Manson and John Fawcett for BBC America, its first season was released in 2013. It consists of five seasons of 10 episodes each, and last year saw the birth of its spin-off. Today, I'm going to talk to you about the Orphan Black series!

As always, let's start with a synopsis that's a little longer than usual: Sarah Manning, a young thief in her twenties, orphaned and penniless, witnesses the suicide of Detective Beth Childs, who looks exactly like her. She decides to assume her identity while erasing her own existence by pretending to have taken her own life. Sarah is also the mother of a little girl, Kira, who is being looked after by Sarah's adoptive mother, Mrs. S. The latter agrees to give her back to her on condition that Sarah can prove that she can be a worthy mother, by bringing in a sum of money to support them. Through Beth's investigations, Sarah learns that they are not just twins and that there are a number of them in North America and Europe. She meets Cosima Niehaus, a scientist specializing in genetics, and Alison Hendrix, a stay-at-home mom living in a comfortable suburb, whom she assists in learning more about their origins. In the course of her investigation, Sarah finds herself in the crossfire between two entities: the Dyad Institute, a powerful biotech consortium; and the Proletians, a sectarian movement convinced that they are abominations and which is behind the hunt for them. The two entities step up their hunt when they learn that Sarah, who has escaped their supervision, has a baby daughter - theoretically impossible since they are supposed to be sterile. Sarah, and those she now considers her sisters, are sometimes on the run from these organisms, sometimes fooled by their manipulations, all the while searching for their origins. And now, a short technical presentation: - Created by: Graeme Mason and John Fawcett - Music by: Trevor Yuile - Main cast: Tatiana Maslany, Jordan Gavaris, Dylan Bruce, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Kevin Hanchard, Michael Mando, Evelyne Brochu, Kristian Bruun, Ari Millen, Josh Vokey.

PRESENTATION

It's going to be pretty difficult to talk about the series without spoiling anything, so I apologize in advance for the slight spoilers present in this article. I'll try as far as possible to limit them or point them out if they're unavoidable, but the main spoiler I can't avoid is the main subject of the series.

As you'll have gathered from the summary, one of the main subjects of the series is human cloning. Indeed, Sarah, Beth, Cosima, Alison, and all the others - all played by Tatiana Maslany (She-Hulk, Chronicle of the Living Dead, The Listener)- are not mere twins, but clones. That's why the Dyad Institute and the Proletians are looking for them, although they don't have the same intentions for them if they find them.

SPOILER + In the final episode of season 1, Cosima discovers that each clone has a different DNA tag based on ASCII-coded base pairs. In addition to the identification code, there is the text "This organism and its derived genetic material are restricted intellectual property." followed by a series of patent numbers. Sarah receives a photograph whose caption suggests that the cloning project that produced it was called "Project Leda". SPOILER END

But that's enough spoilers for now, we can finally start the analysis!

CASTING

At the end of the first season, ten clones of different nationalities and social backgrounds are revealed. Other clones gradually emerge in subsequent seasons. In episode 8 of season 2, Tony, a transgender clone, is introduced. All are played by Tatiana Maslany, who alone plays a good third of the show's characters. Often praised by the press for her acting and the complexity of her roles, it was several years before she received any awards for the series, much to the dismay of fans and the press who couldn't understand why.

In Tatiana Maslany's portrayal of the eight main clones, she was aided by Kathryn Alexandre (Darknet, Saving Hope, Designated Survivor), who acted as her understudy and acted in scenes where several clones interacted. Although she was not credited in the first season's episodes, she was present throughout the series. She doesn't appear on screen as the clones in any of the broadcast episodes, but motion capture and post-production compositing were used to replace her on-screen with Tatiana Maslany's performance. I'll come back a little later in the SPECIAL EFFECTS AND SHOOTING ANECDOTES section to explain how the footage was prepared to facilitate the work of the actresses and the editors. Tatiana Maslany said of Kathryn Alexandre's performance: "She's so incredible. She memorizes all the lines, all my blocks, all her blocks, my mannerisms, my impulses; she somehow memorizes it all and gives it back to me in a performance that I can build on." Kathryn Alexandre had worked as an actor's reader during the casting auditions for the initial production of Orphan Black. She then auditioned for the role of Tatiana Maslany's understudy and won the spot because the producers were looking for, in Kathryn Alexandre's words, "an actor rather than just an understudy".

KNOWN CLONES (SPOILER)

Throughout the series, each Project Leda clone has its own existence and therefore its own relationships. Early on in the series, we meet Alison Hendrix, mother of two and housewife, and her husband Donnie, as well as Cosima Niehaus, a scientist specializing in genetics. Both of them - played by Tatiana Maslany - and the relationships they develop over the series are key elements of the story.

We also encounter other cloning projects with Project Castor. It's revealed that the original samples from the Castor and Leda projects were brother and sister, making all clones genetic siblings. But there's an even stronger link between the two genomes: a single woman, Kendall Malone - played by Alison Steadman (The King's Man: First Mission)-, is in fact the original of both clone lines, as she is a human chimera. We later learn that, in addition to being the donor of the genomes' DNA, she is also the biological mother of Siobhan Sadler - played by Maria Doyle Kennedy (Conjuring 2: The Enfield Case, Outlander, The Tudors)- Sarah and Felix's adoptive mother and Kira's guardian.

Unlike the Project Leda clones, all Project Castor clones are aware of their cloned nature and have been raised together by Dr. Virginia Coady -played by Kyra Harper (Warehouse 13, The Dresden Files)- in a military setting.

As with Tatiana Maslany, Ari Millen (My Life with John F. Donovan, The Expanse), who plays the Project Castor clones, was supported by Nick Abraham as his understudy when necessary.

Other key clones in the story are also introduced in the course of the series, whether allied or not, but I've already told you a lot and wouldn't want to spoil the whole story for those of you who want to watch the series. I'll just end this part by pointing out that the final episode of the series gives us a glimpse of a worldwide count of 274 Leda clones…

OVERVIEW

I'd like to pay tribute to the titanic efforts of the production team, Tatiana Maslany, Ari Millen, and their understudies to achieve such fluidity in the transitions between the various shots and the many (very many!) roles played by the actors. On a personal note, I have to admit that, over and above the story and the investigative aspect, it was Tatiana Maslany's acting that won me over so quickly to the series. What a performance, to know how to nuance her acting to interpret seventeen characters and make them all different and identifiable. Of course, she didn't do it alone: the writing of the story, the artistic team, and the technical team all contributed to this success.

I'd also like to salute the work of Evelyne Brochu (Tom à la ferme, Café de Flore, Paris Police 1900), Jordan Gavaris (Degrassi: Nouvelle Génération, Take Two), and Kevin Hanchard (Suicide Squad, The Expanse, Hudson & Rex), who were great discoveries or rediscoveries for me, giving this series a warm, familiar feel.

The role played by Matt Frewer (Watchmen, Supernatural, Hercules) is also very important, bringing an extra shade of toxicity to this morally dubious universe.

THEMATICS

While we're on the subject of this series' morals, and in particular those of its characters, I'd like to take a moment to focus on certain themes that I feel the series highlights, to open up a dialogue in the viewer's mind about these subjects.

One of the first themes to emerge in the first few episodes is the questioning of patriarchy. Between Sarah's toxic relationship with her drug-dealing ex-partner Victor, and Beth's relationship with Paul, who not only is her partner but also spies on her for the Dyad Institute, the depictions of couple relationships in the very first episodes of the series are very much in favor of patriarchy. These are situations in which the man in the relationship tries to control his partner's every move, but also to control her mentally by exerting moral pressure. What's interesting for me, beyond this faithful depiction of toxic relationships, is that not only did they not stop at showing this pattern in couple relationships, they extended this possibility to professional and family relationships as well, and, throughout the series, deconstructed these patterns by allowing the female characters to free themselves from these holdings, albeit sometimes with very heavy blows, to regain their independence and find themselves again and not the version altered by the male figures in their environment.

What's more, the very existence of clones means that the series tackles the subject of the exploitation of the body, particularly the female body. SPOILER Between the fact that the stem DNA used to create the two clone families comes from one and the same woman, Kendall Malone, and the fact that they're looking for Sarah and Helena because they're the only two clones with the ability to give life (ndlr. Alison and Donnie's children are adopted), something that until now was not possible in experiments, the female body is used as a tool to satisfy unhealthy research carried out by scientists who have no respect for human existence as we know it. END SPOILER

The series is full of strong female characters, from the clones played by Tatiana Maslany to Mrs. S -Sarah and Felix's adoptive mother and Kira's caretaker played by Maria Doyle Kennedy - and Dr. Delphine Cormier - played by Evelyne Brochu - and it's a great way, in my opinion, of popularizing in viewers' minds that deconstructing patriarchy isn't a bad thing and won't lead to the end of the world, as some people seem to think… An evolution, be it moral, sociological, scientific, or other, is not necessarily a bad thing, but we must welcome it and try to understand it before directly considering it as a danger to be eradicated.

But beyond this aspect, for me, there's a real questioning of the capitalist world, which is ready to tolerate or even encourage any experiment as long as it's profitable. Long before Elon Musk and his Neuralink launched in 2016, the series had already understood and set out to denounce the potential excesses of technological developments in the medical field. I'm not saying that there aren't advantages to such advances, particularly if they help to improve or save lives, as long as they are governed by strict rules, particularly concerning experimentation, whether animal or human, as was the case with Project Dolly in Scotland in the late 90s, to which the very theme of the series refers.

For those of you who don't know, Project Dolly is a sheep famous for being the first mammal clone in history, obtained from the nucleus of the mammary gland of an adult sheep. The nucleus of this cell, containing the entire genetic make-up, is injected into the egg cell of another ewe, from which the original nucleus has been removed. In this way, the nuclear DNA of the first ewe replaces that of the second in the latter's egg cell. 277 egg cells are created, giving rise to around 30 embryos. Only one of these develops into an adult. For the first time, a viable being resulting from this cloning technique survives. Scottish scientists named the sheep "Dolly" after the American singer Dolly Parton, renowned for the generosity of her breasts because the cloning was carried out using mammary gland cells.

The media hype surrounding this project has given rise to the misconception that a clone is a carbon copy of another individual. The identity is that of the nuclear DNA, which implies that the clone is neither genetically identical to another individual, since the genetic heritage is made up of the nuclear DNA contained in the nucleus of the organism's cells and the mitochondrial DNA contained in the cytoplasm of the ovum (and therefore also in the enucleated ovum); nor an identical physiognomy as a result of the role of the environment in which the DNA is expressed, and even if a great resemblance exists, it is ultimately less than that which exists between homozygous twins.

Cloning from differentiated cells of an adult organism represents a major breakthrough in the scientific world. It proves that the regulation of gene expression is reversible, and opens the door to the production of transgenic animals (with extra genes, such as those encoding human proteins used for medical purposes) or animals with special qualities. This could be an interesting technique for safeguarding endangered species.

The same Scottish team cloned 13 ewes, including 4 in 2007 (Debbie, Denise, Diana and Daisy) from the mammary gland cell line that gave birth to Dolly 10 years earlier. Unlike Dolly, these ewes show no signs of accelerated aging. While less than 3% of cloned embryos were born healthy in 1996, this proportion has risen to over 20% for the cohort of ewes in 2016.

To my mind, the potential scientific aberrations of such discoveries are one of the things the series wants to warn us against, and it's all to its credit when we see in the media today all the madness that laboratories are capable of producing under cover of private funding… All progress is good to take as long as it's useful for improving the comfort of life for everyone, but also as long as it's accessible to all and not reserved for a privileged class who has the financial means to afford it. Here's a link to an article that goes into more depth about the biomedical criminality present in Orphan Black.

Finally, I'd also like to talk about representation in this series. With a predominantly female cast thanks to the various clones played by Tatiana Maslany, the series offers a very diverse range of female characters, but not only. It also offers a fine representation of LGBT characters that I won't name to keep you surprised. Whether it's several lesbian couples, gay encounters, or even a transgender character, the series gives pride of place to this community which, for once in a time, is represented outside the clichés. Indeed, they are portrayed as any heterosexual or cisgender person (cisgender: a person in agreement with his or her birth gender, the opposite of transgender) and it's refreshing not to find the scenarist facilities too often used or to have characters portrayed as excessive, "freaks". Whatever your sexual orientation or gender identity, everyone is entitled to self-respect, and it was a real balm for me at the time to see such characters on my screen.

PRODUCTION

Casting for the lead role was announced on September 17, 2012. Although Canadian actor Elliot Page was considered for the lead role, Susan and Sharon Forrest, in charge of casting the series, chose to give the role to another Canadian, Tatiana Maslany. The rest of the main cast was announced at the end of October 2012 as filming for the first season began in Toronto.

In March 2014, BBC Worldwide North America signed an agreement with Amazon for exclusive broadcast rights to the series on Amazon Prime Instant Video. The quality of the series, which is worth watching in one sitting, was cited as one of the main reasons for Amazon's interest. In April 2014, the airing of the first episode of the series' second season recorded a 91% audience increase in the 18-49 age group in cumulative TV broadcast audiences plus Amazon Prime Instant Video. In fact, this increase can be explained by the possibility of viewing the episode after it has been broadcast, which makes it easier for viewers to watch. This is the biggest increase for any first-run drama series on cable this season.

In April 2014, writer Stephen Hendricks sued the BBC and Temple Street for $5 million, alleging that they had stolen the idea for Orphan Black from him. He had submitted a script written in the late 1990s, entitled Double Double to Temple Street in 2004, who then considered and ultimately rejected it.

SPECIAL EFFECTS AND FILMING ANECDOTES

Scenes in which Tatiana Maslany has several simultaneous roles were filmed several times using carriage-mounted motion control cameras that reproduce the movement between each take. This device, the Technodolly, is referred to as the "Time Vampire" on the Orphan Black set because of the length of time several clone scenes take in the production schedule. In these scenes, Tatiana Maslany first plays the scene with her understudy Kathryn Alexandre in the alternate clone role, then alone in the same clone role, then alone in the alternate clone, then a fourth time with the scene filmed with just the camera movement for a background plate. Suspended tennis balls help the actress maintain appropriate sight lines. In post-production, Kathryn Alexandre and the tennis balls are replaced by Tatiana Maslany's footage from alternative shots, allowing for more action in the scenes where she interacts with herself. In the season 2 finale, when one scene required the presence of four different clones, two days of shooting and several additional body doubles were used to create the effect, and the post-production work of Geoff Scott and his team at Intelligent Creatures VFX would have taken hundreds of hours to complete.

Tatiana Maslany created different music playlists to help her distinguish the many clone personalities she embodies. She also used dance to develop the physicality of the characters, including their postures, gestures, and movements and drew on her experience in improvisation to develop the characters more fully.

The character of Cosima is named after science historian Cosima Herter, a friend of showrunner Graeme Manson, and a scientific consultant on the series. Cosima Herter works with the writers to ensure the plausibility of cloning and other scientific aspects of the series, as well as the complexity of the philosophical and ethical concerns it raises.

Make-up artist Stephen Lynch, hairstylist Sandy Sokolowski, and wardrobe supervisor Debra Hanson are instrumental in creating the visual differences needed to distinguish each clone. Indeed, their work is often used to develop the characters' personalities before lines of dialogue are even written. The screenwriters use the character of each personality as reflected in their physical appearances and clothing to refine the moods and nuances of the characters.

The drawings of Sarah's daughter Kira in the series are created by Sash Kosovic, a member of the art department.

In season 4, a reference to the scientific cloning of Dolly the sheep is made through a sheep's head mask worn by a character to keep his identity secret.

SHOOTING LOCATIONS

Orphan Black was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, but it's not specified whether the series was set in Canada. Graeme Manson said in 2014 that the setting was deliberately ambiguous: "It's supposed to be Generica. It's part of the price you pay for this kind of co-production.". John Fawcett agreed, saying "to be honest, we don't want to say we're American and alienate Canadians, or say we're Canadian and alienate Americans. The fact is, we're one big happy family. We're just a little further north than you are. Grantland's Tara Ariano argued that this ambiguity is "a bold new way for a producer to work within the restrictions of CanadaCon: place your show in Canada (technically), employ a Canadian crew, air it on a Canadian channel… and make room for recurring guest stars like Maria Doyle Kennedy… by casting a Canadian in nearly a dozen roles.".

But beyond that, the Canadian location was apparent through details such as Ontario license plates, Beth and Mrs. S.'s Ontario driver's licenses, the currency used, scripted references to the Ontario suburb of Scarborough and Toronto's Parkdale, and a plane ticket in the pilot episode identifying Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Bridgepoint Health and Toronto's Don Jail are stand-ins for the exterior of the Dyad Institute. Scenes set in the Scarborough suburb where Alison lives are actually shot in Markham, Ontario, a suburb immediately north of Scarborough. However, details are often deliberately obscured; American pronunciations of words like "lieutenant" are used.

The co-production also influenced another important aspect of the series: Sarah's British accent and origins. John Fawcett explained that BBC America had asked them to make the main character British, which she wasn't originally, to better match the BBC brand. John Fawcett, however, saw this directive as an advantage, as it made it easy to differentiate Sarah from the other clones and broaden the geographical scope of the series' plot.

OTHER MEDIA

COMICS

In July 2014, a comic book series published by IDW Publishing was announced. The series, whose first issue was released in February 2015, is co-written by series creators John Fawcett and Graeme Manson. A new issue was published monthly until July 2015, when the last of the five contracted issues was published. The issues in order feature Sarah, Helena, Alison, Cosima, and Rachel.

The comic book miniseries was conceived as a way of conveying information about the clones' past and childhood without interrupting the fast-paced TV series. It is presented as an extended universe featuring off-screen events not shown in the episodes. The comics are directly linked to the events of the first season of the series, to anchor the comics in the already established universe. The mini-series offers audiences the opportunity to better understand the emotions, thoughts, and feelings underlying the characters in the TV series.

In August 2015, the comic's conclusion revealed another self-aware clone: Veera Suominen. She was thought to be one of the clones executed in Helsinki, but she survived. The next comic, Orphan Black: Helsinki, published in November 2015, expanded on her character.

AUDIO SERIES

In June 2019, a 10-episode audio series entitled Orphan Black: The Next Chapter was announced, with Tatiana Maslany reprising her role. Serving as an official continuation of the series, it takes place eight years after the series finale. Malka Older is the showrunner with Mishell Baker, Lindsay Smith, Heli Kennedy, Madeline Ashby, and E.C. Myers as writers.

The series is broadcast via the Serial Box platform and the first episode was made available on September 12, 2019. Since then it can be found on YouTube via the link above, or on Spotify and Audible.

A second season aired in October 2021, co-produced by Realm and AMC Networks, adding original cast members Jordan Gavaris, Kristian Bruun, and Evelyne Brochu to the cast.

MUSIC

In May 2015, two compilations of the series' soundtrack were released by Varèse Sarabande Records. These two compilations include music from seasons 1 and 2 with compositions made by Trevor Yuile for the series but also music made by other artists such as Tears For Fears and featured in Orphan Black.

The series' main theme, Theme From Orphan Black, is composed and performed by Two Fingers, a Brazilian musician-composer and producer of electronic music, and features on both compilations.

As usual, I'm also attaching the link to listen to the entire series soundtrack. Just as Tatiana Maslany has done to immerse herself in her characters, I find that the soundtrack not only perfectly reflects the different personalities of the clones, but also underlines every aspect of the plot's stakes.

SPIN-OFF

In March 2019, it was announced that a new series set in the Orphan Black universe was in development at AMC, to be produced by Temple Street Productions just as Orphan Black had been. In February 2022, it was announced that Anna Fishko would be the writer of this new story set thirty-seven years after the end of the original series.

Entitled Orphan Black: Echoes, the series follows Kira Manning -played by Keeley Hawes-, now an adult turned doctor, and her wife Eleanor -played by Rya Kihlstedt, as they try to help a woman named Lucy -played by Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones, Don't Trust the B*tch in Apartment 23)- who has become amnesiac following a surgery she underwent.

A ten-episode first season began its run in June 2024 and, so far, we don't know if the series will be renewed for a second season as Season 1 airs until the end of August in the US. Series creator Anna Fishko has revealed, however, that she has the entire storyline already planned and is ready to continue the project if the series' ratings allow. Only time will tell, then, whether we'll get the rest of this adventure... 

Returning from the original series are Jordan Gavaris who played Felix, Sarah's adoptive brother and therefore Kira's uncle, and Evelyne Brochu who played Dr. Delphine Cormier, Cosima's partner and genetic researcher. The original series theme composed by Two Fingers is also used as the closing credits for the spin-off.

CONCLUSION

And that's it for this series! Sorry again for the delay, it was a big piece for me to write. I hope you've enjoyed reading it all, and that I've succeeded in making you want to watch the series.

I'm aware that some of the scenes in the series may be difficult for some people to watch, because the subjects it tackles are very real, and I find it easy as a viewer to identify with some of the characters, or at least to sympathize with the ordeals they go through.

I really enjoyed discovering it when it first came out, and I hope I'll have the opportunity to watch it again with more experienced eyes, given the themes it tackles.

As for the comics, the spin-off, and the audio series, I haven't yet had the chance to delve into them, and although I'd like to, I'm afraid it would spoil my fond memories of the series. But never say never, so why not maybe one day...

On that note, I'll leave you after this far-too-long article!

As always, I wish you a wonderful week and good viewing, and I'll see you next time!

Eli

[smithvirusmedical]

WELCOME

This is a little info thing on the Smith Virus Medical Center AU. It's a massive directory with characters, backstories, etc. Maybe even some snazzy pictures one day.

BACKSTORY

Remember this commercial? In this AU, something went horribly wrong recording it, and now the Smith virus is in OUR world. A hospital in Kissimmee, FL has responded to the outbreak by converting into a research facility populated by a bunch of odd "nurses" (for now, nurse is a very wide term as they act like doctors but look like nurses) and other workers, who've signed a contract that makes it so they live at the hospital indefinitely to investigate the outbreak and risk their life for...wait, this seems like a trap...And the doctors are slowly startng to lose their sanity too

CHARACTERS

there will be more.

Sophia Amburgey

Her first gig as a nurse

A miserable Midwesterner who was "forcefully" relocated to Florida. She's lived in Ocala for nearly a year, but still hates it and wants to go home, although she knows she can never return home. She's being driven to insanity from her desires. She's rarely happy, but when she is, she's bound to show it off in the craziest ways.

Amburgey likes to study the neurological parts of the virus, and seems to show quite a bit of sympathy for the infected; after all they were once like her, and it's almost as if she can feel the pain they can not. After all, her studies point to them having some sort of trace of their humanity within them

(also she is very autistic)

Maria Koch

Westside Hospital - Plantation, FL

A witness to the Aventura Hospital incident. She's a bit of a luddite, and tries to avoid using the computer whenever possible. She also has very odd dreams, and she claims that a dream she had weeks prior to the incident where she was transformed into a familiar-looking man was a prediction of the outbreak.

More than anything, Koch wants to find a cure despite all evidence pointing that no cure will ever be good enough, and this is generating so much stress its like she's competing with Amburgey

(i accidentally gave her heterochromia :D)

Hernando Ramirez

Palms of Pasadena Hospital - South Pasadena, FL

- It may not show, but this guy's been killing it at his game for years. He even treated Dr. Amburgey for norovirus when she was little during a Florida vacation gone sour, before she became the jaded, insecure woman we know her as now.

Granted, the hospital was mainly self-serve, but he promises to "lock the fuck in" as Dr. Amburgey says. He just acts like a general nurse, checking in on the clones similarly to Dr. Amburgey and "Jennie". Sometimes this even extends to other nurses -- Koch seems to particularly concern her, as she frequently forgets to eat or sleep in the name of research

Ethan Hunter

North Florida Regional Medical Center - Gainesville, FL

Dr. Amburgey's cousin-in-law, this former paramedic is now taking care of incidents all around the hospital and metropolitan area, from St. Cloud to Orlando, (the ones at the amusement parks are the most horrific usually)

Sometimes he brings other nurses along, especially his cousin Sophia.

{REDACTED] Smith

Aventura Hospital and Medical Center - Aventura, FL

WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT HIM.

He manages the software for the project and nobody knows how the fuck he got in. We're too scared to fire him

JENNIE BARRETT

Mercy Hospital - Miami, FL

Although Jennie dons the nurse uniform, you're more likely to find her working the gift shop.

Inspired by the "deirty girls" of Hugo Weaving's fandom, Jennie is fucking insane. I mean, she sacrificed her brother just to work as a GIFT SHOP CLERK. She also seems to be be living off of pot brownies because there's no way she acts like that regularly. She also has an affinity for things like Strawberry Shortcake and Sanrio; she's a Hello Kitty girl to her very core! She also has a pretty sweet Build-A-Bear collection, and Dr. Amburgey seems to get along with her wonderfully

Jennie also seems to have something wrong with her as well, as she's getting herself into dangerous situations just to spend time with the infected.

Damian Madison

There's something suspicious about him too?

This shaggy emo-looking boy is Dr. Amburgey's best friend and partner in crime. He's stuck cleaning rooms most of the time

Sarah Edmonton

Central Florida Regional Hospital - Sanford, FL

Sarah can't catch a break, can she? A highly desirable target for the infected, she tries to work as a receptionist in the lobby, as far away from the clones as possible. They assimilated her family, and she's very likely the next up.

Ayrton Ivanov

Barista

Ayrton is a very curious young man, and the only human employee at the coffee shop. He loves to nerd out over cars, and he's got some decent art skills too, drawing mint kitties, characters to cheer you up while you cope with the fact that your Smith-infected daughter forgot who you were and lashed out. Some nurses have very ermmm...impressive collections.

[anawkwardgalnamedtarazan]

👼All praise the Four Archangels!👼

🗡📯⚕💫

A little headcanoning...

(left to right)

Gabriel Goldenrod📯🐦🎶

Messenger Angel of Heaven.

Big Mike's closest friend (or at least tries to be o_O)

Assigned to deliver messages of revelation through mortals' dreams, bringing them important news of their plane or encouraging them to use their gifts for good.

Has power over air and music, forming clones of himself to confuse enemies and turning tunes into weapons.

He's also one of the fastest flyers in all of Heaven.

One of Heaven's most clever military tacticians, as well as a massive trickster up for a good laugh.

Probably the closest to the Mortal Plane, often acting as a guide and helping them craft ideas during the earliest years of the Earth. He also acts as a guide to the magic world for specially chosen people or groups of interest, like the Calix Animi.

Can talk to any animal in the Mortal Plane.

The most free-spirited of the four, wanting to explore more of the Mortal Plane and its culture.

Feels all angels deserve a chance to prove themselves, fallen or not. During missions involving demons, he tends to be civil with them before fighting them, much to Michael's dismay.

Headcanon Voice: Paul F. Thompkins

Michael Morningstar⚔️☀️🛡️

Captain of the Angelic Army of Heaven

Older brother of Uriel and Lucifer

The first and most "perfect" of the second generation of angels.

He and his siblings were created to guide worthy mortals to Heaven when they pass on, acting as their guiding lights in life and death.

Like his siblings, Mike too has power over light. He can forge weapons, clones, structures, projectiles (like the Spreader from the Cuphead game) and all other kinds of stuff from surrounding light. He's even capable of using his aura to cross the Astral Plane, forming a "Seraphim mode" of sorts, and get the jump on any demonic foes.

Responsible for protecting human souls and instilling them with bravery and fortification during battle, along with guiding them to the afterlife upon death.

A pretty strict fella, wanting to ensure his followers remain on the straight and narrow path set by the North Wind and the other higher-ups of Heaven, getting frustrated when people question his position. But underneath the aloof exterior, Mikey is genuinely caring for his peers, just wanting them to be okay. His desire to lead made it all the more difficult to cope with Lucifer's unpredictability, as his brother and the Devil.

Despite wanting to help protect mortals, he sees them as a rather simple and ignorant species who wouldn't be around if it weren't for Heaven's efforts. And often helps out or cares for them only if the North Wind and/or Heavenly higher-ups command it.

As Lucifer's older brother, he did his best to take care of him and keep him out of trouble. But things only got harder as Louie's magic grew more unstable and harder to control. Eventually, he was forced to cut his losses when Lou got involved with a small rebellion made of all kinds of angels that were cast aside for their "abnormalities." After the Fall, Michael has made it top priority to protect the mortals from the "demon threat," which meant going after the Devil. To him, the Devil was NOT his brother. That boy died because he joined some worthless and vile defects.

Whatever you do, do NOT ask him about his arm. He's very iffy on how he lost it...

Headcanon voice: William Houston

Raphael Chamolilé⚕️🧭💚

Archangel of healing and medicine.

Probably the most stable angel in the group.

Her duties are to dispense her healing methoxs unto mortals that need them, whether physically or mentally. She's also in charge of guarding any celestial remedies that could possibly cure all mortal diseases, only using them in truly dire situations. But Raph is rather particular about who she heals. She doesn't just want to prance around giving her cures to random strangers. So, she examines their history and what led them to obtain their injuries or ailments.

She also helps run Heaven's medicinal facilities, such as infirmaries, spas, and gyms (for the Angel Academy or for departed souls still wanting to stay in shape)

Despite being a healer, Raph is not exactly a ball of sunshine. She is one of the more apathetic archangels, only seeing everything as they are and thinking using the cold hard facts. So, she tends to say brutal truths when both her peers and her assignments try to have a conversation with her. She doesn't mean to hurt people's feelings, she really just thinks there's no other way to say how she feels.

Keeps a healing spring in a temple on the Mortal Plane from the days of the Calix Animi, once guarded by flasks from their kingdom. Now it's hidden and has a lock only Raph knows how to open.

Has the power to create healing elixirs and bending water along with other liquids.

Headcanon Voice: Natasha Kline

Uriel Morningstar ✨📖🔮

Archangel of truth and light.

Patroness of sciences, both magic and Earth-based.

Sister of Mike and Louie Morningstar.

Can create weapons of light or fire like Mike. But Uri can also rearrange the stars to help guide mortal travelers and trick her enemies. Most importantly, she can send flares, through fireworks or starlight to alert her fellow angels or send messages to mortals during dire supernatural situations.

One of the angels helping guard the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were banished.

Uri's one of the most intellectual angels of Heaven, always finding creative ways to solve her problems. She's a massive nerd when it comes to complex spells, like those found in the fabled Book of Life. Ironically, she was a massive rebel growing up, goofing off with her magic and getting into all kinds of shenanigans with her little bro.

Personality wise? Think of Miss Frizzle and Mary Poppins thrown into a blender with a heaping scoop of self-pity and a sprinkle of social anxieties.

Spends much of her free time studying her spells and astrology. Hardly has much time to socialize. And when she does? Hoo boy...

After all that happened with Lucifer, Uri had grown a bit more empathetic to the rest of the demons on Earth. She feels sorry about how they are forced to hide due to Heaven's desire for "goodness". This newfound empathy made her an object of both sympathy and ire in the eyes of her peers, especially her brother Mike, who just wants to forget it all and destroy the Devil's threat before he hurt anyone else.

Headcanon Voice: either Reshma Shetty or Melanie Zanetti

[fregion-bond-breaker]

Fregions bones ached, his muscles sore. It had come for him slowly, so slowly he hadnt even noticed it. He was already long in the tooth by a large mark compared to most charr. He thought, maybe that meant he'd just keep on going like this forever. But one morning in a borrowed bed visiting Kas and jory, he felt it. This ache, this weakness. He was so tired… Kas had been the first to find him. He'd tried to get out of bed but he just couldnt muster the strength.

The heavy thump of his body hitting the floor must have drawn her attention up there. She had gasped, and he had laughed, weak and raspy, as she tried to help him up without looking at his naked form. Even now as he drew closer to the end…he was still embarrassing her. He was glad that never changed…she was fun to tease. She had asked if he was ill, running a fever. But no, he had shook his head and smiled sadly at her.

"Im dying…" He had said in a low voice. "I think my times up." She had panicked. Clones jumping every which way as they ran to likely contact a doctor, send letters to their friends and who knows what else. He remembered her shaky hands on his forehead as she scolded him for joking like that. But she knew he was telling the truth…

As the days drew on and his strength failed him. He cursed the world. What an ignoble end for the legendary Charr Commander. Hero of Tyria. To die peacfuly in bed. Not on the field of battle, not with a sword in his hand. But in bed, with his friends worrying over him.

Braham and Rox were surprisingly the first to come see him on his death bed. They walked in, hand in hand and he had to stop himself from laughing himself in to a coughing fit. Leave it to the young to wait till your dying to figure themselves out. Rox spoke about Olmican spirituality, about not needing to be afraid. He corrected her of course. It wasnt fear he felt after all, just disappointment it wasn't fighting. Braham joked that he could grab his mace, and send him to the mists, but before he could take the norn up on the offer Rox punched him in the shoulder with a disapproving look. He thanked them, for their visit, and wished them well in their new life. Peace lets one think on these sorts of things he supposed.

The next to visit him was Anise and Livia of all people.

"Even if we forced your hand…you were still a blade member. And an invaluable ally to Kryta, Commander." Anise said.

"Could always reanimate you if you want. Maybe let you touch the scepter of orr so you can keep on going?" She had a sad look on her face. "This is the second time I've watched you go, big guy. Wonder what you'll come back as next time?" She chuckled. "Maybe one of those bears in the north?"

Anise chuckled behind her hand. "Or a Tengu? You were always oddly beautiful for a charr." Fregion smiled. He was glad they could joke with him like that.

Crecia, Logan and Rytlock came next.

"Commander…" Logan spoke first. "It has been, an honor working with you. I also took your advice with Rytlock, and Crecias." He wrapped his hand around the charrs waist and pulled him in close. Rytlock blushed but did not fight, simply nuzzled the human affectionately.

"Its a shame we aren't out fighting something Commander…no charr wants to go so sweetly." He nodded. "Though I suppose, after killing Gods, Dragons, Demons and a slew of other horrors, I think that more then makes up for it."

Crecia stepped forward, hesitant. "I know we… and the legions…have had a rocky relationship. But I speak for all charr, thank you commander. Without you, the charr may just be icy thralls under Jormag, or worse. There may not have been any charr left at all." She placed a blood legion flag, folded neatly, on his bed. "For the legions…soldier." She and Rytlock both saluted.

Zojja came down from her large tower with a letter in hand from the Astral ward as well. Though she wasnt alone he was sure. He felt the familiar whispers and carssing of Peitha in his mind.

"Wayfi- I mean…Commander." After a moment looking forlornly at the ground she whispered. "…Fregion." She placed the letter on the bed side stand. "Considering what uh, what we know about me…and our previous history. I thought I should come see you off. I- I didnt think I'd feel this awful though." She sniffled and sent a watery smile his way. "I'm going to live a long time, ya know. The Astral ward wanted to ascend you but, given how volitile and poorly your relationship with them was, i figured id tell them no in your stead." He couldnt help but laugh at that, though it took him some time to stop coughing after.

"Mortal…you have been most amusing, I could bring you in to my fold. It would be a shame to lose someone like you…" She knew the answer, and her voice, normally low and composed, had a hint of desperation to it. "But I know the answer. Maybe we'll stumble in to each other in the mists. May your journey be gentle and easy." Zojja choked out a sob. He reached a trembling claw to her face, wiping a way the tears. He smiled. He was glad his friend was on the road to being better now too. She gripped his hand tightly, soft whimpers and sobs escaping her as she clung to him. He pretended to not hear the whispers of 'dont go' and 'please dont leave me alone again…'

On his final day…he knew it was time. He told Marjory and Kasmeer as much. They sat with him through out the day. Helped him out to the plaza of Kormir. The moon was high and the stars were shining. As if the universe itself was winking sadly at him. Or maybe his eyesight was starting to get blurry. He had asked them, told them and no one else of his secret devotion to Kormir, about his past connection to her. Kas had been extatic the first time he had told them, so many years ago. So in secret, with only the priests of Kormir to read him his last rights. They sat beside him as he lay, Caladbolg in hand, on a small cot prepared for him.

"Commander…?" Kasmeers soft voice broke the silence. Marjory gave her a quick comforting squeeze. "Fregion…" She corrects sadly. "Im only now realizing myself how little we…we used your name. And it- it hurts knowing the whys, and that only now does your name come easy."

Marjory presses her forehead against the side of Kasmeers head before turning to him and saying. "You lived a long, hard life commander. What are ya, 100 years old? You got to be a miser of a charr." she laughed. "Its a shame none of your cubs are here to see you off…charr cultures been changing, its a shame you…you wont get to see it." Fregion smiles up at the stars. He understands.

He only breaths deeply in response. His eyes are growing heavy. The comfort of Caladbolg on his chest, Tybalts lucky cog at his side. His warbands old pin, a pen that Demmi had given him that hed treasured after her death. He closed his eyes, and for a moment. He felt surrounded. Warmth and love filled him.

"Good to see you again, agent."

"The three of us are back together huh lightbringer?"

"Fregion, you've carried Caladbolg with honor. Im grateful we get to meet again."

"Hey there he is! Took him long enough! Look how OLD he is!" The cheers of roudy charr rung out.

"…Goodbye. I love you all…and hello again." He exhaled for the last time. Carried away by loving hands.

[heroofshield]

Whumptober Day 11: Seeing double (ME3, Shenko)

Kaidan looked between the two Shepard's, not knowing who to aim his weapon at. The Normandy was slowly shifting away from its dry dock and towards the blackness of space. They only had so much time to figure out who was the real Shepard and who was the Cerberus clone.

"Kaidan it's me." Rose said, a bruise starting to form underneath her eye where the clone had gotten in a rather good punch. But she'd just clocked the clone back just as hard that her knuckles had split open.

"Don't listen to her, she's lying." the clone said, matching Rose in tone, while wiping away the blood that was slowly dripping down her nose.

"Where were you born?" James asked, hoping they could figure out who the real Shepard was by questioning them.

"Arcturus." they both answered at the same time, the voices echoing through the shuttle bay.

"Where did you spend summers?" Traynor piped up from the back of the group.

"North Carolina." the clone answered with a smug look on her face.

"Not true, I only went there for a few summers." Rose countered, placing her hands on her hips. Letting out a frustrated noise, she continued, "This isn't working. Kaidan you know me, you know who the real Shepard is. We're running out of time, Ask us something only the real one knows the answer to."

Rose tensed as Kaidan shifted and fix the gun on her, that he seemed to be pointing it more at her than at the clone. "Something only I know the answer to. Please."

[roverjamball]

11.11.24 Al meel - Liking/interest Al shagaf - Infatuation

Grayson has long asked me to give Drake a chance. To join the Teen Titans. Dick pointed to his time with the Titans. Heroes around my age will understand be better, make me better at what we do, he reasoned. I said no. I thought I knew everything about the human condition. And Drake, by coming to my assistance with the evil cloned deranged Robin, proved me wrong.

I hope to make amends. If and when an opportunity arises….

Tonight, Damian stalked the worst of the worst. His quarry deserved to be put down. No two ways about it.

According to Oracle’s sources, the person who ran the books for the cabal that operated globally, supplying everything an enterprising criminal would need, from poor imitation to high end. A one stop shop supplier of equipment, contraband, banal to lethal.

The Bookkeeper is supposed to be here tonight, hence Damien hooked into the CCTV cameras of the warehouse that passed for a club out in nowhere rural North America. While deafening music tried its best to burst his eardrums, Damien hooked up a router, connecting Oracle to monitor the club and access its devices.

For example, if a certain someone used a card to pay for drinks, and also happened to run the books for weapons supplier to the psychopaths, then Oracle would know.

And if the buyer paid for drinks, using any electric means, then we’d know about the users of, what have you, illegal arms, drugs, bio weapons, alien tech.

Damien, at 22, barely legal for drinking establishments, was somehow too old for this. At least when it came to frequenting, what passed for night clubs and bars. When it came to tracking, following leads, Damien's 15 years experience had him at an advantage. The same did not hold true to the ridiculous pursuit of drinking and debauchery by his peers.

For instance, while Damien sat at the bar, the best vantage for watching the entrance, the seating area of booths and the doors to the kitchen and restrooms off to either side of the wet bar, behind him louder then the infernal racket the club called music, five fraternity Bros crammed in a booth with cracked vinyl seats. They looked harmless enough, if he ignored the heavy drinking, the scent of alcohol that overpowered. Drunk, he could handle, but most chemical sniffing, judging by their dilated eyes, lead to unpredictable behaviour and paranoia.

And this is why a night club was a nightmare for any operation. Flashing lights. Loud music, so you are unable to overhear any conversation. Drunk people acting erratically with everyone behaving so out of character, it was difficult to pinpoint the most nervous, fidgety person.

On top of all the distractions and unreliable body language, Damien, nor the Oracle sources were able get a description of their target – the book man for the criminal elements’ most prolific suppliers.

Damien may enjoy alcohol as much as the next guy. Hanging out with his siblings might be his favourite pastime, but Damian would have cheerfully drugged the lot of these College going loud mouths. The group while messing with his hearing, what little he could hear, besides the bombardment of Music, also drew attention to themselves.

The bookman might enter, conclude his business and leave, and Damien wouldn't even know it. Normally, he’d join the group, buy round after round of the strongest alcohol, until roaring drunk. Then have them on their way in cabs before a burp was out. But today, Damian was at a disadvantage. He didn't know what the bookman or woman looked like. All, he knew about the bookkeeper for sure was that they frequented this club. And was set to be present today to conclude a side deal.

If I can't hear them, and because of the poor lighting, see them, then, well then I need help, Damien thought as he studied the occupants of the club.

What Damian needed, and Oracle was in agreement, if her messages were any indication, was a second pair of eyes. On the ground, like him doing leg work.

“Red Robin has sent “ the message said, before auto delete.

Damian had just bribed the server to double the alcohol content of the frat boy group’s drinks, as a college prank, when a glimpse of golden skin rendered his mind blank.

Goddess, Damian thought, as he studied the woman entering the club. Her hair, a jet black of the night sky reflected the clubs overhead lights. Her bare arms were to him, while the bouncer gaped at her face, then her ID. She must be young. Or a bad picture, but somehow he doubted that.

The bouncer let her through, his eyes glued to her as she passed from the entry to the floor of the club. Damian caught glimpse of her as the threaded her way through the drunk frat boys, as they staggered out. Damian was too distracted to even feel satisfaction for a plan well executed. The booth behind he was silent, save for the clearing up of glasses and pitchers. Not that Damian paid much attention to anyone but her.

The dark haired woman wore a calf-length navy full bodied skirt, with a deep neck red and latin style off shoulder crop top. Her shoulders were covered by a, well, a sheik cape of the softest cream. Cashmere? The hood of the cape fell midway down her back. Even without the hood up, her hair, wavy and thick hid her face, Damian caught a hint of gold earrings as she looked around. Searching for someone?

Turn, thought Damian. Let me see your face.

Would her face be as glimmering bronze of her long graceful neck and shoulders? Would her eyes be the dark of her hair or coloured?

For the first time tonight Damian wished he was here to party. Then he could approach her, maybe buy her a drink, see where the evening took them.

Wait! Damian came to himself. What did it matter if her skin luminesced prettier than the lights, if she was or was not a goddess? Yes, she glided gracefully, moving with stunning purpose, but she had too much life in her to be of the dos imortalis.

Probably a demigod of some kind, nothing more. Damian thanked the server for helping prank her frat buddies and left another tip, assuring her of their safely finding the taxies she called for them.

Damian watched her get seated at the bar. No one joined her for a hot minute and then they swarmed her. Unable to curb his irritation, Damian did a physical sweep of the club while he waited for Gordon’s ping. The amount of data the Oracle was shifting through was bound to bear fruit. And soon Tim or one of his Titans would show up. The bookkeeper could have slipped in while Damian gawked at the graceful brunette. Hopefully he’d spot the bookkeeper or the buyer, over hear anything useful.

The club was broken up into the elevated bar area with surrounding booths, then a dance floor with led to slim tables raised on platforms for small groups. The entrance was off the dance floor, closer to the bar, but the raised platforms coupled with his hight provided a good vantage.

As this was a rural area, the club would most probably stay open for only few more hours at most. In Gotham he’d just be starting his patrol so he was at peak performance. But there was no sign of anything but the most normal club behaviour. Singles mingled. Groups toasted, people in casual well cared for clothes spent their paycheques. Could Oracle’s source be wrong? Barbara may not have said it in so many words, but it seems to Damien that the information had come at knife point. Informants could say things to make the pain stop. But Oracle was good as sifting all that…

Damian hesitated, checked his Fone one last time - no update from Gordon, and then finally he let his eyes scan the area for Her. It was as if he was bewitched, and Damian hadn’t even seen her face!

Think black hair swayed into view. Damian was so glad! His heart tried to burst from his chest and prostrate before her. She smelled of flowers, spicy and dark. A garden of roses, night Jasmin and cinnamon came to mind. She leaned on the table between them, to be heard over the pounding beat.

“Hello,” she said. Listing in the drunk way.

Damian’s heart dropped.

He couldn’t engage with HER if she was inebriated. She came in alone, and didn’t seem to know anyone, Damian was at a loss. How to leave to see her safely home? Not until he was sure the night was a bust. Lives were at stake!

Looking at the stunning woman, about his age, with deep blue eyes darken lined with khol, jet black eyebrows, glowing bronze skin, her lips a full luscious painted red lit up in a flirtatious smile.

She spoke, but the pounding Music swallowed her words. Her neck tilted, battering eyelashes, distracted me from hearing anything she might’ve said. Her movements, on closer inspection, seemingly flirtatious were clearly trying to tell him something.

In his mind Damian spoke to her of the feeling she invoked in him - “I desire to be with you. I miss you. I feel lonely when I can't see you. I am obsessed with you, fascinated by you, infatuated with you. I hunger for your taste, your smell, the feel of your soul, touching mine.”

Damien shook his head, clear the haze of his deepest desires. She was indicating towards the bar? If she wanted a drink he’d get her one. Probably non-alcoholic though. No, at a closer look he noticed her eyes were clear. She was indicating to an area behind the bar?

This must be Tim’s Titan.

Oh god, he was staring, like an idiot at a Titan. Bronze glowing skin, a cape, dark and mysterious brunette. She had to be Raven. His back up, the boots on the ground to help identify the ‘bookkeeper’. Damien was absolutely modified.

Here he was staring-at her, like she hung the moon, like a 12-year-old with a crush and here she was trying to impart crucial information about their mission.

His smile wouldn’t go away, but he did stop staring. He looked at his hands and pondered the consequences of forgetting everything and losing himself in her.

“Lives are at stake,” Damian thought.

He must have said it out loud coz Raven gave him a quizical look. She was probably too polite, but I'm sure she wondered at my competence.

Damien thought back to the rudimentary blueprint. Working through the preoccupation that made his mind, slow like waiting through waves as they battered you.

What was behind the bar? The kitchen or the toilets? The kitchen was a better bet. If a toilet was occupied for too long as they sometimes were for a hook up, people weren’t as tolerant.

Besides, the kitchen with its back entrance for loading supplies made perfect sense.

Raven must have seen him make the connection, her smile, broad, inviting. I felt an answering smile take over my face. I could only just hope I didn't look like an idiot to her.

Next Raven and him would together come up with a plan on how to best take the bookkeeper down. Damien found himself alight with anticipation. He felt the need to show her something. Dazzle her with his intelligence and experience.

I found a deserted booth, not far from the kitchen. The night was winding down, but each club had a few drunken patrons that refuse to leave until the management insisted. Therefore, as I managed to snag a booth, order sandwiches and drinks - more for cover than anything else. I helped Raven get situated and followed her in. Her skirt toughed my thigh, her cape my shoulder. Her scent filled the booth with night Jasmin, heady and mysterious. She was distracting to the point of clearing my mind of all thought.

@damiraeweek-damiraeevents