#Princess Pilot Soul Defenders

[spectrechosts]

You Wouldn't Know Her

Fanfic for CaffeinatedOtter's Pilot Princess Soul Defender Moonstone. These two chapters (merged into one here) are the first things I ever wrote on Cohost.

Sabine awoke to the piercing ring of her cellphone. She pawed blindly at her nightstand, the irritating jingle an icepick to her hungover brain. Her fingers grazed the device and she considered flinging it across the room, but this was the ring. The "Official Pilot Princess Soul Defender business" ring. She swiped to pick up the call on speaker and retreated into her blanket.

"What?" She grumbled.

"Are you still sleeping?" Came the irritated voice of a boss who had to listen to the phone ring for slightly too long. "It's almost four."

"Yes, Sapphire, I'm still sleeping. What is it?"

"You know, evil doesn't wait to fit your schedule Moonstone. If you could try a little harder-"

"If there's nothing important I'm gonna hang up now."

"Wait! There's something going on at the pier. We've got a bunch of sailors calling in saying they can't get to work because of a horde of robots."

"Got it. On my way." Moonstone said, and hung up before Sapphire could say anything else. She downed a couple of ibuprofen, brushed her hair, and got dressed, then paced her room searching for wherever the fuck she had left her keys when she stumbled into bed the night before. She found them strewn on top of a rubber duck and sighed, snatching them up and heading out the door.

~

"You don't want him back?" She asked, holding out a rubber duck with a band-aid plastered across its side.

"No!" Hazel said, flinching at the intensity of her own voice. "It's nice that you saved him, but no. I'm making good progress and I can't-"

"-Can't risk having him around." Sabine finished for her. "Like you can't risk having me around."

Hazel couldn't look her in the eyes as she spoke. "It's not- I don't mean anything by it I just-" She stopped and took a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before continuing. "Recompartmentalizing is difficult, and I'm trying to make it more stable than last time, and I can't do that if I'm surrounding myself with… With, um…"

"Old coping mechanisms?" Sabine offered.

"No! You're not an old coping mechanism you're a… Potential relapse trigger?" Hazel said, and winced as the words left her mouth. "I shouldn't even be here right now, but you figured it out and I couldn't just ignore you and I thought maybe just a quick visit would be okay as a test."

"I understand." Sabine said quietly, deciding to leave out "But this still hurts pretty fucking bad, Hazel."

"I'll be back."

"Okay."

"I will, I mean it." Hazel said, clearly unconvinced by the stoic badass act. She cautiously hugged Sabine, and gave the Professor a quick squeeze. "I just need a little more time."

"I get it, I do." Sabine said, gently hugging Hazel back. "I can see you're doing better, I'm just… I miss you."

"I miss you too."

~

Pilot Princess Soul Defender Moonstone rolled a cigarette as Amethyst's laughter drowned out the comms channel. The Soul Defenders had arrived at the pier and found themselves faced with hundreds of robot crustaceans about two feet long, all swaying their claws in the air in some sort of victory dance. Sapphire shushed her and attempted to take control of what was shaping up to be a complete waste of their time.

"So what do we think? Eco-terrorist?"

"It's crab rave, they're doing fucking crab rave-" Amethyst cackled, and was promptly muted by Sapphire.

"Anyone else?"

"I think," Moonstone said, lighting her cigarette, "I didn't need to get out of bed for this."

"Anyone who takes their job seriously?" Sapphire said, determined to remain heroically steadfast in the face of whatever the hell this was. "These robots are terrorizing the populace!"

"Terrorizing is a strong word. They're dancing at the populace."

"They were threatening people who tried to get past them, we can't just let them stay." Said Cinnabar.

"Right!" Said Sapphire. "We need to come up with a plan to disperse them without risking any-"

"I'm just gonna step on them." Moonstone interrupted.

"No! We don't know how they'll react-" Sapphire protested, but Moonstone had already stepped into the horde. The sea of robo-crustaceans parted to avoid being caught under her mechanical foot, and then reformed around it.

"INTRUDER! INTERLOPER!" The robots shrieked, ceasing their dance and snapping their claws in the air. "PINCH HER! FOR THE EMPRESS!" Those closest to her began snipping harmlessly at her mech's foot, while the rest simply kept clicking their claws. They didn't even advance to try attacking her other foot, just stayed where they were. Moonstone took a long drag and opened her cockpit, blowing smoke into the open air. "Yeah, I'm feeling pretty terrorized." She said, and swung herself over the side of the cockpit to slide down her mech's leg. She could hear Sapphire yelling something over comms, but that had never stopped her before. The robots didn't react to her landing on her mech's foot, and she lifted one out of the crowd by the tail and held it at arms length. It wiggled and screamed, but made no attempt to attack her.

"UNHAND ME! FIEND! HAVE YOU NO HONOR?"

"UNHAND HIM! FOOLISH MEATBAG!"

The rest of the swarm made a hell of a fuss, but none actually did anything, and so she did not unhand him.

"Alright, what's the deal?"

"WE CLAIM THESE LANDS FOR OUR EMPRESS, NONE MAY INTRUDE!"

"Well, I'm intruding." She said, and took another drag. "What're you going to do about it?"

"THAT WILL BE YOUR DOOM, INTERLOPER! OUR EMPRESS RULES THE SEA AND STARS! THE LAND WILL FALL TO HER AND ALL WILL BE HER DOMAIN!"

Moonstone's eyes widened and she choked on the cloud of smoke she was inhaling, dropping the robot as gears spun in her mind. She climbed back up to the cockpit with shaking hands and brought a robotic fist down into the swarm.

"RETREAT, BROTHERS! WE ARE OUTMATCHED! YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THE LAST OF US!!!" The robots cried, and scuttled off into the water. Sapphire sighed loudly over comms. "I guess that solves things. Good job team."

Amethyst's mic clicked back to life, and she was still giggling to herself.

"C'mon Amethyst," Cinnabar said, "It's not that funny."

"They're not even crabs," Added Onyx, "They're clearly lobsters."

"Crayfish." Moonstone said faintly.

"What?"

"Nothing. I'm going home, don't call me out here for stupid shit like this." She snapped.

But if the other Pilot Princesses had looked into her cockpit, they would've seen that she was beaming.

~~~

The Space Crayfish Universal Empress hadn't resurfaced since her legion's first foray onto the land, nor had Hazel made herself known. That wasn't how these things worked after all, you couldn't just flaunt the hero's words in their face and then take them by the hand and go "It's me! The person you said the thing to! I did it!". There had to be a chase, the hero had to find you because they understood. Because they cared.

And so, Sabine found herself lurking in the corner of the aquarium's crustacean exhibit, where she had been since they opened at eight that morning. The special guest of the day, Hazel (But not her Hazel) the marine biologist, eagerly explained each exhibit to groups of enraptured middle schoolers on a half-hour rotation, while Sabine watched hawkishly for any sign of her date.

Not that she was assuming this was a date. She was dressed casually, and there was no way for Hazel to have familiarized herself enough with her wardrobe to know that this was the nice leather jacket + band tee + ripped jeans ensemble that she typically wore to impress girls. Or to know that when the aquarium staff had approached her because people were complaining about the scary lady glaring at everyone, she had told them she was just waiting for her date to show up.

That had been almost five hours ago, and she was beginning to think that this lead was a dud. She fished her phone out of her pocket and crossed it off her list of places to look.

Snoop around the pier? Sapphire and Onyx searched for hours, no sign of her.

Her old apartment? Someone else moved in ages ago.

Check reservations at seafood restaurants? Romantic? Food sensitivities mean unlikely.

Museum lecture on aquatic life on other planets? Decent overlap with gimmick. No sign of her.

Crab expert named Hazel speaking at the aquarium? Picture's not her. Weirdly coincidental? Lesbians like aquarium dates???

She typed out 'No sign of her', and stepped out for a smoke.

"Excuse me, are you one of the Pilot Princess Soul Defenders?"

She snapped her head up, but it was the wrong Hazel, also out on a smoke break between tours.

"Oh. Uh, no." She said.

"Really? I've been wondering where I knew your face from all day, I could've sworn I had it."

"Nope, sorry."

"Aw, that's a shame. I've always had such a crush on Moonstone, you know." She said, smiling.

Moonstone narrowed her eyes. "Well, I'm not her. So…" She started putting together a roll-up. "Good luck with that, I guess."

"Whatever you say, scary corner girl." Wrong Hazel stamped out her cigarette and headed back inside. "If you change your mind, I'm here till six. Maybe I could do something about that permanent scowl you've got going on, hm?" She winked, and let the door close behind her. Sabine lit her cig and silently cursed the seductive power of the nice leather jacket.

"Wow, some people will just say anything to their celebrity crushes, huh?"

Sabine's heart skipped a beat.

"Hazel!" She said, nearly dropping her cigarette as she spun to face her. "Shit, you're really here!"

Hazel laughed, throwing her head back in a melodious cackle. "You've found me, Moonstone. I hope you weren't waiting too long."

"Nah." Sabine lied. She had been waiting for months, but what did it matter now? Hazel was back, and that was worth all the time in the world. "Was just worried I had the wrong place, is all."

"Ah. Yeah." Hazel cleared her throat, the confident cackling persona fading as she retreated into her hoodie. "I was pretty sure you'd get it but um, if you want I made a secure messaging app I can put on your phone so we can just… Make plans, next time."

"Next time?"

Hazel turned beet red. "I-If you want there to be a next time!"

Sabine flashed a smirk. "I just might. You wanna head in?"

"Yes." Hazel said, her posture relaxing. "Let's… not take the tour."

"You don't want to gloat?"

"God do I." Hazel said, and a wicked smile crossed her face. "But we're on a date and it would snowball and derail the whole thing, so no."

So this was a date. Sabine threw her arm around Hazel's shoulder and leaned towards her ear. "So I shouldn't tell you that I think it's really fucking cute when you get all supervillainous over me?" She purred.

Hazel stiffened and took a deep breath. "I won't be baited so easily, Soul Defender."

"Of course not." She smiled, and pulled Hazel closer. "Let's go look at some fish, Hazel."

~

Sabine was, admittedly, uninterested in the aquarium after overhearing the tour so many times while she waited. She was however quite content to admire Hazel as she flitted from tank to tank, observing the denizens and absorbing the information on the displays like a sponge. She lingered, predictably, on the crayfish.

"So… Crayfish?" Sabine asked. "I hadn't heard anything about… Crayfish, showing up in Canada."

Hazel quickly scanned their surroundings for anyone potentially listening. "You wouldn't have. The Empress is too… specific, for my tastes. No room to go where inspiration takes me."

"Then the pier, that was all for me?"

Hazel's face was tinged with red, and she pretended to focus harder on the exhibit. "Yes," She hissed, "I made hundreds of bumbling crayfish minions that I now have no idea what to do with, because I thought it might make you smile."

"It did." Sabine said, and it made her smile again hearing it. "So who are you normally then?"

Hazel opened her mouth to answer, and then clamped it shut as another aquarium-goer entered earshot.

"Not here." She said tersely. "But I'm settling in well. Good uh, work/life balance."

"Good. And your… Boss doesn't make you….. Work overtime? Fuck, I don't know." Sabine shook her head at the mangled metaphor.

"She calls, but I don't have to pick up the phone."

"That's-" Sabine started, and was cut off by her phone ringing. The ring. She sighed.

"I wish I could say the same."

"It's okay, I knew what I was getting into." Hazel smiled, and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Go save the world, Soul Defender."

Sabine lingered in the moment, letting her phone ring just a little longer. Then she picked it up, and she was Pilot Princess Soul Defender Moonstone.

"What, goddammit? I'm on a date."

She stomped out, and Hazel noticed Biologist Hazel look away to pretend she hadn't been watching the two of them, and she felt unbearably smug. She walked out to her car, made sure the doors were locked and the windows rolled up, and let herself laugh, head swimming with taunts about her superior intellect and charm. By the time she finished she had six and a half ideas for how to make the entire city jealous of her for seducing the hottest pilot princess, which she promptly filed away under 'too risky' (subheading: high probability of getting dumped).

~

Sabine

made it back safe can't call, pilot princess "afterparty" at ihop

Hazel

Sounds fun. Glad you're okay. <3 Tell the Pilot Princesses that Robo-Grandmaster says hi. (Don't do that.)

Sabine

i wasn't going to lmao onyx still gives me shit about that i don't need any more

Hazel

Sorry...

Sabine

not your fault she refuses to understand nuance sorry i had to run out on our date

Hazel

It's okay! I had a nice time. :)

Sabine

me too you back in canada?

Hazel

Yeah.

Sabine

shame i was kinda hoping i could witness more what was it "empirical perfectionism"?

Hazel

*Hazel is typing...* *Hazel is typing.....* *Hazel is typing.......*

"Oh my god is that her? Are you texting your daaaaate???"

Moonstone stuffed her phone into her pocket as Amethyst cooed and tried to peek over her shoulder. "No. Fuck off."

"It issss! Guys she's texting her date! What are you talking about show us show us-" Amethyst was entirely within Moonstone's personal space now, and she bristled with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

"Nothing." She hissed. "Fuck off, Am."

"Leave her alone, Amethyst." Said Onyx, and Moonstone would be happy for the reprieve if she didn't know it was going to be followed up with some absolute horseshit. "I'm just glad she's finally over her ex."

"Don't start."

"I'm just saying-"

"Don't. Don't say anything." She seethed.

"So what's her name?" Asked Sapphire, trying to steer the conversation away from a fight.

"Why do you need to know?" Snapped Moonstone.

Sapphire raised an eyebrow. "Why do I need to know… her name?"

The color drained from Moonstone's face. She had been too reluctant to talk and it was backfiring. Amethyst gasped.

"Is it someone we know?!" She squealed, and Moonstone scrambled to salvage the situation without exposing Hazel's identity.

"No! No, it's not. You wouldn't know her, she's…" Moonstone hesitated, realizing the stupid cliché she had backed herself into.

"She's from Canada."

[mamsieur]

Don't mess with the Storm | Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Reader

Summary : Sometimes, Cyclone could live up to his call sign. Especially when it concerned you, his youngest daughter, his little Storm.

TW : slight violence, mention of alcohol, family/domestic fluff

Length : 6753 words

AN : You can't make me believe that Beau Simpson isn't a family man with lots of kids. That's what he radiates.

posted on AO3 August 21, 2023

Your mom always said you took after your dad, but if he was a Cyclone, you were a Storm ; smaller and less destructive. Storm has always been your nickname. 

It described you quite well as much in your way of doing things than in your personality. You were passionate about everything you did and you often left a mess after you.

Being a Vice Admiral, Beau managed to control himself for his work but when it came to you and your well being, he could literally destroy everything on his way. Not that your father was in any way abusive or violent, but he sometimes could over react.

You were your parents’ precious little baby.

You were the youngest of four children; you had three older brothers, all in the military. Two of them, Nathan and Jamie, were naval aviators, like your father, and one, Aaron, was a Marine Officer. 

Needless to say, you were well taken care of ; you liked to think that you had a small ‘army’ for yourself.

But as much as they thought of you as their little princess, they never treated you like one, and you never wanted to be. You were tough and very capable of defending yourself. Your father always encouraged you in whatever you wanted to do. 

You wanted to join the soccer team? Let's go. Switch to boxing lessons? Done. A new passion for karting? He had your back. An interest in mechanics ? He bought you your first tool box.

As long as you put your heart and soul into whatever you did, your family would support you.

So when you told them you wanted to work for the Navy after your engineering degree, they were as supportive as they could be.

You were a genius engineer - your mom’s word, not yours - and you loved working on jets, inspecting them, gathering as much data as possible to make them as efficient as they can be. Working at Top Gun was heaven. Since the pilots were supposed to be the best, you loved pushing them and their machines to be better and better.

Of course, the fact that you were working on the same base as your father had raised some eyebrows. But neither of you cared, and he got you no special treatment.

After the uranium mission, you were assigned to check the status of the Dagger Squad's F-18s. Everything seemed to be in good shape, and while your computer analyzed the flight data, you inspected the engines. You liked to work alone when you could, it helped you stay in your bubble of concentration.

The sun was slowly setting as you finished diagnosing the last jet. Being alone in the hangar, you took the opportunity to put on some music. You hummed and swayed a little while you waited for the analysis to finish on your screen and inspected the engine.

Your head was - quite literally - in it when you heard footsteps behind you. They stopped a few feet away from you to let you finish what you were doing.

"I'll just be two minutes," you muttered and then shrugged, getting no response. You finished inspecting the seemingly defective part and stood up. Your face was covered in dust and motor oil, and your hair was starting to fall out of your ponytail.

You sighed and turned to your mysterious guest.

"Oh! Good evening Lieutenant Bradshaw. May I help you?" you smiled a little and wiped your forehead with the back of your hand.

"Good evening Second Lieutenant Simpson, to tell you the truth, yes, you may..." he grinned charmingly, crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the plane, "I was wondering if you'd forgotten our date? It's 7:20, and we agreed to meet at 6:30 ?” 

You stopped smiling and looked at the clock. Crap! You hadn't seen the time.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry! I was servicing the jets and didn't realize what time it was! I should have set an alarm, I'm sorry. Jesus, how could I be so stupid?"

You were starting to mumble excuses as you gathered your things when you felt his hand on your wrist.

"It's okay, I know how you get when you're focused on something. We’ll find another day for that. I'll wait for you at the bar, okay?" he reassured you with a grin.

"Uh yeah, yeah okay! I'll be quick!" you nodded and smiled back at him. He tucked a strand of your wild hair behind your ear, a few inches from you, making you blush slightly. His thumb stroked your cheek. He had that cheeky smile he always had when something was on his mind. He took your hand and kissed your knuckles, his beautiful brown eyes never leaving yours.

" Or , I can also wait for you in the changing-"

" Lieutenant Bradshaw, Second Lieutenant Simpson, what are you two still doing here? "

Your father's stern voice echoed through the hangar, taking you by surprise. Bradley took a quick step back and straightened his posture to greet him.

"I, uh-"

"Lieutenant Bradshaw forgot his keys, sir, he was out. I got carried away with the diagnostics, I'm almost finished here," you replied quickly as Cyclone’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Bradley then at you.

"Hm. You better hurry then, Second Lieutenant, overtime is not allowed. You're free to go Lieutenant Bradshaw."

"Yes sir!" you said in unison and Bradley left as quickly as he could, flashing one last smile in your direction before disappearing down the corridors.

As you started to clean up the mess you'd made, you heard an amused sigh.

"What?"

"Nothing, nothing. You're still living up to your nickname."

"Ha ha, very funny Dad," you rolled your eyes and closed your toolbox, "Don't wait for me, I'm going out tonight."

"Mmh. Is Bradshaw involved?" he asked as he helped you carry your stuff to the storage room.

"Yes? I mean the whole Dagger team is, I need to get to know them to understand how they work."

That was only half a lie. You knew they most likely were all at the Hard Deck, you'd met them there a few times. You got along well with them, especially Natasha, Bob and Mickey. And of course, Bradley... But it was different with him.

You'd known him for years and your very first assignment had been with him. Your friendship had evolved over the years into a kind of friends-with-benefits/fuck-buddies relationship until a few weeks ago. Since the uranium mission, he wanted more than that, and so did you. You two tried to keep your relationship secret because you suspected it could jeopardize either of your careers, and mostly because you knew your father would not approve.

He always thought the guys you dated were not good enough for you. And as annoying as it was, he was always right. He scared away some of them and when you thought back about it, it's a good thing he did.

Truth be told, you have been in love with Bradley for so long that sometimes it hurted. 

You had tried to tell him so many times in the past, but you were afraid of losing what little intimacy you had with him. So when he asked you out, first thing after the uranium mission, it felt like a weight had been lifted off your shoulders. The hope that your feelings would be reciprocated had invaded your heart and mind, and you felt like it was the first time you were in love. It wasn’t of course, but you were all giddy about it.

You didn’t like to lie to your dad, he knew you too much to know everything in just one look. 

But it was worth it, wasn’t it ?

You hoped it was.

After a well-deserved shower, you changed into clean, comfortable clothes that actually suited you. You put on your helmet and rode to the bar with your motorbike. Your mother hated when you used that ‘death machine’ and your father wasn't really fond of it either. It reminded him of Maverick. He wasn’t fond of Maverick. It always made you laugh watching your dad trying to remain calm in front of the Captain. You’ve never seen a man getting on his nerves that much.

The Hard Deck was already busy when you parked ; a totally normal Friday night , you thought. Looking around, you spotted Natasha’s, Javy’s and Bradley’s cars.

Penny nodded at you with a smile as you entered. The Daggers were in their usual places and Bradley seemed to be winning the pool game against Jake. In a desperate attempt to break his concentration, Jake chuckled, "Your girlfriend's here, Bradshaw”.

The whole team had discovered your relationship, of course, but swore to keep it a secret. You were grateful to them, but Jake being himself, he couldn't resist taking a dig at you. 

You rolled your eyes and took a seat next to Bob, watching the two eternal rivals finish their game. You caught up with Mickey and theorized with him on the last episodes of Kenobi then made your way towards Penny at the bar to buy your round of beers. As you waited for your drinks at the counter, you felt two hands around your waist.

"You're late, Second Lieutenant ."

"Had to fix your teammates’ jets, Lieutenant , tell them to be more careful," you grinned, leaning your back against your boyfriend's torso. You heard him chuckle softly as he whispered that you were an ‘idiot' and kissed the top of your head.

"Sorry about our date, I'll make it up to you."

"You bet your sweet ass you will," Bradley snickered at the squeal you let out as he spanked you a little, “But right now, you owe me a dance to celebrate my victory against Hangman.”

He took your hand as you rolled your eyes but followed him. Your whole body pressed against his, arms around his neck, the room faded away. All you could feel and see was him; one of his hands on the small of your back, the other on your hip, guiding you. The warmth of his body was like a spell that kept you close, not wanting to let go.His hands roamed down your back making you shiver. It felt like you belonged there.

You couldn’t let go of his eyes, hypnotized. He had such beautiful eyes ; those hazel brown orbs were magnetic, so infuriatingly charming. 

One of your hands gently stroked his scarred cheek and he leaned into your touch, smiling like an idiot and humming the song you were slow dancing to. His smile always sent butterflies to your stomach and heat to your cheeks. It was almost annoying how easily you fell for his charms.

The two of you danced until the song ended and you pulled him by the collar to kiss him. You felt his hands slip into the back pockets of your jeans, shamelessly squeezing your ass, and his proud grin against your lips. You bit his as you pulled away from the kiss.

"Okay, lovebirds , get a room," Jake complained and you flipped him off, still in Bradley's arms.

"Don't be jealous Jakey, your time will come," you teased, making your partner chuckle.

"She's right Seresin, just wait till you're a big boy."

The evening continued quietly, with one beer after another, a few games of darts and pool, and a few songs on the piano for Bradley. 

You watched him from the bar, mesmerized, an affectionate smile on your face. You still wondered how you'd managed to get his attention; this man could have anyone he wanted with his smile combined with a little song, the sweetness with which he spoke, his sarcasms, his eyes so soft and intense at the same time, his stupid, stupid, cocky grin... God, you were definitely and undoubtedly under his spell, mind and heart.

Your eyes never left his form for more than five seconds. You looked at him as if you wanted to learn every aspect of his physique; but to be honest, you already knew him by heart. 

You could locate every beauty mark, every scar - and tell its story - and where his birthmark was. You could describe every shade of brown in his eyes, depending on the light or his emotions. You knew every expression on his face; when he was angry, frustrated, sad, or playful. You knew exactly where and how to touch him to make him putty in your hands, every positively sensitive area and those to avoid.

And yet, every time you looked at him, behind the piano, laughing with his friends, you discovered a new detail that made you love him even more.

The way he cared for all of them - even Jake, his "archenemy" - and knew just what to do to make them feel better and laugh. How he always listened to what they had to share, good or bad, and offered to help. How he'd always protect them as if they were his siblings, his rather hazardous family.

Speaking of hazardous family, it always made you laugh how Bradley could be so like Pete and like your dad. It was sometimes a mixture of arrogance and calm, defiance and seriousness. Part of you was sure that if they tried, your dad and Bradley would get along. But were they willing to ?

As you were lost in your thoughts, you didn’t notice a man, a little younger than you, sitting next to your stool. He started talking, trying to flirt, but you didn’t really pay attention, still absorbed by your boyfriend’s silliness, until he clicked his fingers in front of your face.

“Hey, ‘m talking to you doll. You should really pay attention when someone is talking to you, got it ?”

You sipped your beer and looked at him out of the corner of your eye. He continued his flirtatious attempts, bragging that he was one of the best in his class at Top Gun. He kept trying to get your attention by snapping his fingers or grabbing your arm. His breath was clearly too close to your face and stinked a mixture of beer and chips. 

It really started to annoy you, so it was your turn to snap your fingers in his face.

"I'm not interested,” you snapped your fingers again, “If a girl ignores you, it's because she doesn't want to talk to you, got it ?"

You got off your stool, ready to join the Daggers by the piano. But a hand gripped your wrist and the man pulled you close to him. You could see a hint of anger and annoyance in his eyes, but it didn’t scare you. You were used to guys like him, thinking they own every woman they see. 

“Listen doll, I was nice until now. Give me your number and I’ll forgive you,” he grinned, his buddies sneering behind him, as if they were proud of him. You couldn’t help but giggle at the scene. What kind of bad joke was that ?

In one swift motion, you released your wrist and pinned his arm behind his back. You bent him violently over the bar and locked him in that position, pressing down just enough to hurt and immobilize him. 

"One false move and I will dislocate your arm," you threatened in his ear as a few glances turned in your direction. "Now listen to me carefully. This is the last time you'll talk to me or any woman like that. Understood?"

He grunted and struggled a little. You pressed harder and repeated, "Understood?"

"Okay! Okay, I understand! Get off me!"

The man growled again and you finally let go. Penny gave you a look that you understood as a warning and you smiled innocently to her. The man and his group walked away with a grunt, giving you one last murderous look. You smiled broadly and made a mocking curtsy. 

Bradley raised an eyebrow as they passed him, muttering that you were a "crazy bitch". You joined him with two beers, one for him and one for you.

"What happened?"

"Nothing to worry about, just some big macho guy. He didn't like that I wasn't paying attention to him. I just put him in his place."

You shrugged with a smile and Bradley shook his head, laughing a little, knowing exactly what you meant. He put his arm around your waist and kissed your temple. 

"I know you can defend yourself, but don't get yourself in trouble, Stormy."

"Don't worry, if I get in trouble, my knight in shining armor will come and rescue me, won't he?" you teased. He chuckled but nodded before taking you on his lap at the piano. He started a new song that had the remaining customers singing and dancing.

***

The end of the evening was a bit hazy.

You'd had too much to drink to get back on your bike, so it was Bradley who drove you home. You pulled your boyfriend into your small house - he offered no resistance - and kissed him as if your life depended on it, as if that simple contact made your heart beat. His hands roamed your body with hunger, and yours tore his Hawaiian shirt from his back. You thought of nothing but Bradley, his soft lips devouring your jaw and neck, leaving a few marks where he passed, his hands so warm on your skin, his breath making you shiver. 

You wandered back to your room, kicking off your shoes, and your clothes ended up in a pile at the end of your bed. 

You loved doing it with Bradley. He gave you everything you wanted and so much more. You'd never been as fulfilled as you were with him. It was as if he knew everything about how your body worked, that it held no secrets for him. 

Your nightly activities have drained you both of what little energy you had left, and you fell asleep hugging each other, as if afraid the other will evaporate.

The next morning, it was not your massive headache that woke you, but the sound of several cars and children laughing outside your house. What day was it? Was it Saturday? It was Saturday!

You jumped to your feet as Bradley mumbled something unintelligible.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!" You shook your boyfriend and wrapped yourself in a blanket as you heard the sound of a key turning in the front door lock.

"Bradley, get up!"

"Mmh, five minutes..." he mumbled, burying his face in the pillow. You heard the door open and small footsteps running toward your room. You panicked and shook him harder.

"We don't have five minutes! Get your ass up!" 

You grabbed the first thing you could get your hands on: panties and Bradley's tank top. You stumbled to your bedroom door to get out before one of your nephews’ innocent eyes discovered their aunt and a man they didn't know naked as worms in her bed. You tried to look as natural as possible as you quickly closed the door behind you. Standing in front of you was Jack, your three-year-old nephew. He was Nathan’s, your oldest brother, son. He laughed as he threw himself on your legs to give you a hug.

"Oh my God, hi sweetie! You're early!"

"Dada said we'd surprise you, Auntie! And Pop-Pop is here too!" the little boy laughed.

"What a nice thought!" you tried not to sound too ironic as you picked him up to give him a kiss and rearrange his wild blond hair. "Auntie needs to get dressed, okay? Go wait with your dad in the living room!"

You gave him one last kiss and made sure he ran to the living room before storming back to your bedroom. How could you forget that your brothers were visiting today? You were so screwed! A million thoughts went through your head and one thing made you snap out of it; Bradley yawning and taking his sweet time getting up. You grumbled and attacked him with a pillow.

"Hey! What was that for?"

"We're in deep shit Bradley! My whole family is here! They weren't supposed to be up this early!"

"What?" he blinked and narrowed his eyes, trying to process what you'd just told him. You started to rattle on about how your brothers got their permission for your mom's birthday, but your brothers were here super early with their wifes, their kids, and your mom and dad. Bradley had trouble following what you were saying because you were talking really fast. 

“Babe,” he tried to interrupt you, but you kept mumbling and pacing next to the bed, “Y/N, baby, calm down!” 

He grabbed your wrist, pulling you to sit in front of him. His free hand cupped your cheek tenderly as he guided you into breathing to calm yourself down.

“Okay… mind explaining slower what is happening here ?”

You sighed and nodded before re-explaining the whole situation to him. “But they weren’t supposed to come here this early ! The surprise lunch for my mom was supposed to be at home, not in my flat ! And my dad is here. My dad ! What are we going to say ?”

You cursed again, rubbing your temples. Bradley took your hands in his to make you look at him and stole a kiss from you. You sighed against his lips, your tension going away slightly. He then pressed his forehead to yours, stroking your cheeks to soothe you.

“How about we get dressed and just… join them in the living room ?”

“You really want to face my dad ?” you raised one eyebrow, surprised but really relieved that he didn’t propose to just sneak out.

“Yeah ? I mean, the man already has doubts, you’ve said it yourself… and it’s your mother’s birthday, your whole army of men won’t be able to kill me. Not today at least.”

You chuckled at his joking tone and at the silly smile he has on his face. You pecked his lips with a grin. “Okay then Lieutenant , let’s get dressed.”

“Yes ma’am!” 

He gave you one last tender kiss, and when the two of you went to get up, a little giggle made you both freeze.

“Auntie who that ? And why he nakey ?”

Your nephew’s voice asked. He was standing by the door, a playful smile on his chubby face, and his little finger pointing at your embarrassed boyfriend. Bradley quickly covered himself more, lifting the sheet at his chin, and you ran to get little Jack in your arms.

“How did he get here ??” Bradley scream-whispered at you, hiding himself while trying to get dressed.

“I don’t know !” you scream-whispered back before turning your attention back to the toddler who was babbling in your arms, “Jack, honey, why aren’t you with your dad and pop-pop ?”

Before he could answer, your sister in law was by your bedroom, apologizing. She didn’t notice Bradley right away, but when she did, a small cheeky smile curled on her lip.

“Hi there, sorry to have him interrupted you two.”

“Annie, it’s not what it looks like-” you blushed when you understood what she implied but Bradley interrupted you by presenting himself and shaking her hand with a wide smile. They chat while you put on a pair of jeans, keeping on Bradley’s tank top. Never in your life had you been this embarrassed.

Little Jack looked at your boyfriend with wide-eyed wonder. He loved meeting new people, and Bradley seemed fascinating to his young eyes. It was no wonder when every time Annie spoke to you, Bradley would make faces at the little boy and make him giggle. 

Bradley already had him in his pocket, so that was a good thing. Annie seemed to like him too, at least you thought so from the mischievous looks she gave you. 

As you crossed the hallway to join the rest of your family, a wave of nervousness ran through you. You grabbed Bradley by the sleeve of his Hawaiian shirt and turned him toward you. You pulled him into a hug to relax and to give yourself courage.

"Promise you won't hate me?"

"Why would I hate you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"They'll probably try to impress you, my brothers I mean... and my dad... you know how he can be..."

"Oh honey... It takes more than that to scare me. I'll be fine."

He kissed your forehead and you walked into the living room.

You greeted everyone, your father not immediately aware of Bradley's presence. You introduced him to your brothers first, Nathan, Aaron and Jamie, and they didn't do anything strange at first; they were probably waiting for you to introduce him to your father to see what sauce to cook him in.

Beau and Vivian, your mother, were too busy admiring your niece, five-month-old Juliet, to notice Bradley's presence. She was fast asleep in the arms of Jamie's fiancée, Alice. She greeted you with a smile when you waved.

"Awake at last, Stormy?" your father asked before freezing and losing his smile at the sight of your boyfriend, " Lieutenant Bradshaw. ".

His cold, hard tone made you sigh a little as the two men shook hands in greeting. 

“Good morning Vice Admiral Simpson.” 

They were way too formal, it was ridiculous. Your mother had the same reaction as you and introduced herself to Bradley with a warm smile and a hug.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Simpson."

"Oh, please, just call me Viv!" she laughed a little, waving her hand. Then she turned to you, discreetly gave you both thumbs up and winked at you. 

Good. Bradley seemed to have charmed your mother with just a smile.

Still, you could feel your father tense up behind you as Bradley got to know everyone. He remained very polite and smiled, even letting Jack, Oliver and Tommy - Aaron's twin sons - pull him out to play in the little garden. Your father grabbed your arm. "Kitchen. Now. We need to talk." He seemed a little upset, and you could understand; you'd lied to him.

"Care to explain yourself?" He crossed his arms on his chest, a stern look on his face. 

You didn't like that look. He used to have it when he scolded you when you were a teenager, when you would sneak out of the house to go to a party or to meet up with your then-boyfriend. For a moment, you were 16 again, caught in the act.

You sighed at his insistent and questioning look.

"I uh... He’s... we’re... we've been seeing each other for… a few weeks..."

"A few weeks? So you've been lying to me for weeks?"

"I haven't lied! At least not completely..." you mumbled, biting your fingernail.

"Y/N. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Seriously Dad? You've made it pretty clear that you don't really like him, I mean outside of work."

"I never said that."

You widened your eyes, shocked at his bad faith. 

"Are you kidding me? You've made it clear that you don't want me around him because he's too much like Maverick! Every time I mentioned him, you made your… disapproving face. The same one you made every time I mentioned my old boyfriends, or when I wanted to get a motorcycle, or when the boys tried to bleach their hair in high school !"

"I don't have a disapproving face," he grumbled, "and it's not because he’s like Maverick that I don't want you around him, it's because he can be called back on a mission at any time. I don't want that to break your heart."

"Oh ! But it's okay for Nathan, Aaron, and Jamie to break the hearts of their partners? Of their children? It was okay for you to risk breaking Mom's heart and ours? What kind of cardboard argument is that, Dad?" You raised your arms in disbelief as you started to walk out of the kitchen, but you stopped and turned back to face him. "I know you want to protect me, but... you can't do that about things like that. I know you know better than anyone the risks of this job, the sacrifices it requires. But Bradley knows them as well, if not better, than you do. And as much as it scares me, as much as it scares us... we want to try… And even if you don't like it, we'll give it a try. Because I almost lost him once without really being able to be with him..."

Your father sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. From the kitchen window you could see Bradley playing with your nephews, under your mother's and in laws’ amused and tender eyes. A small smile crept across your lips as the little ones called you over to help hold Bradley down. You hurried to join them, and your mother joined your father.

"Our boys and the little ones seem to like this Lieutenant…”

“Seems like it…”  

“He reminds me a little of you when we first met..." Vivian chuckled to Beau as she hugged him. 

"Really?" the man wondered, "and how?"

"Well, he has that same sparkle in his eyes... the one that calls for adventure, that gentle and loving look when his eyes land on our Storm... and he's also very good with children," she laughed at his slightly embarrassed expression, "You should give him a chance... our princess looks so relaxed with him... look at her… look at her smile…"

He lifted his head and watched the two of you having fun with the three little boys and sighed. His wife was right. You looked so happy in Bradley's arms, waltzing and laughing with the kids. He'd never seen you look so radiant, as cliché as it sounded. Your brothers also seemed to have accepted the newcomer without too much fuss. So Beau seemed to be the only one who was uncomfortable with the whole situation.

He nodded and kissed his wife on the forehead. "Okay, I'll try... but I'm not promising anything."

Vivian rolled her eyes with a smile on her face. She knew for a fact that your father would quickly accept Bradley as well.

Lunch went off without a hitch, Beau swallowing his pride not to be as awkward with Bradley as possible, although he did draw a few murderous looks from your father when he put his hand a little too high on your thigh or lower back. After dessert, he helped your brothers put the kids down for a nap and let them share the convertible bed in your little study. Your sisters-in-law and your brother-in-law, Evan - Aaron's husband - helped you with the dishes. They gently teased you that Bradley was a very handsome young man and that you had chosen well. 

"I know I did. Look at you all, we Simpsons always have good taste," you sniped back with a wink and a teasing smile, making them laugh.

"Wait, wait, wait... So he was your regular booty call after your first assignment?" Evan seemed to realize. You shushed him and made sure that your parents didn't hear him say that. Annie laughed a little and grabbed your shoulder, making you look into her eyes. 

"I can see why you qualified him as the best sex of your life after the upper body I saw this morning," she teased you again, making your face completely flush. You practically begged her to stop talking about your sex life, very embarrassed. But the three of them could be little bullies and they loved to tease you sometimes.

"Guys, please stop. If my father hears you-"

"Hear what, Stormy?"

You turned and paled a little under your father's cold gaze and tight smile. Your sister-in-law and brother-in-law took the opportunity to run off like teenagers, and of course Bradley arrived just then, smiling carelessly. 

"The three cataclysms are finally asleep. Is everything okay in here?" he asked as he joined you in front of your father. He immediately wiped the smile off his face when he saw the look on Beau's face.

"You're lucky it's my wife's birthday, Bradshaw," he growled, his eyes staring straight into your souls, "but if I hear one more detail about your... nocturnal activities, I'm going to make sure that the two of you are as far away from each other as possible, even if it means sending one of you to Japan or Korea. Are we clear?"

"Yes, sir," Bradley replied promptly, "Clear as day.”

"For God's sake, Dad, aren't you being a little extreme? I'm a responsible adult-"

"I'm warning you, I don't want another grandchild too soon. Keep it in your pants."

"Dad!!"

Just when you thought you couldn't get any more embarrassed, your dad had the right words. He left the two of you in the kitchen, muttering that he was getting too old for this. 

"Oh my God..." You cursed as you hid your face in your hands and turned towards the sink. Of all the weird things that could happen, you'd really hoped no one would mention your sex life. You felt a little angry, but more than that, you were extremely embarrassed. You let out a shaky breath, your hands gripping the counter as you lowered your head. You felt the warmth of Bradley's body enveloping you as he wrapped his arms around your waist, his front against your back and his chin resting on your shoulder.

"I'm so sorry..."

"Why are you apologizing, babe? I told you it would take more than that to scare me off... Maybe your dad hasn't fallen for the Bradshaw charm yet, but I'm working on it..." he tried to cheer you up, "And now I have an army of kids who love me, I can order them to defend me."

You smiled, amused at his silliness. "You're really good with kids, but I think it's them who will command you..."

"Maybe you're right," he laughed a little and kissed the hollow of your neck, his mustache tickling you, "but your mother has already adopted me. I'm protected."

You laughed with him, your embarrassment and anger disappearing. You leaned against him, enjoying the hug he offered you. These simple gestures were so comforting that it was almost frightening how quickly he could soothe you. You closed your eyes as he hummed and softly danced with you in the kitchen. It was so cliché, right out of a rom-com, but you couldn’t care less.

After a few minutes, you regained enough courage to join the rest of your family in the living room. Your in-laws gave you apologetic looks, and your brothers were a little lost, but didn't dare ask. 

For the rest of the afternoon, Bradley learned every little anecdote your mother had to share; whether it was about your brothers, you, or even your father, she was more than happy to share with him. Jamie and Alice had fallen asleep in the garden, making your mother smile in awe. Nathan laughed a little with Aaron. "We warned them that a newborn was exhausting, but they insisted on coming here their own way...". 

You laughed a little too, it was true they looked exhausted. But little Juliet was so cute that they forgot how tired they were. 

Speaking of her, the baby phone warned everyone that she was waking up. You volunteered to warm her bottle and Bradley went to get her. Alice had put the travel crib in your room so the other three children would not be disturbed if Juliet woke up. 

When the milk was at the right temperature, you joined Bradley in your room. Your cheeks flushed and you felt butterflies in your stomach when you saw him holding the little one. He rocked her gently, stroking her cheek with his index finger. He seemed so natural that it made you fall even more in love with him. 

You shook your head, your father's voice echoing in your head: "No more grandchildren for now.”

You joined him and let him gently place the baby in your arms. You smiled and fed the hungry five-month-old in your arms. Bradley leaned against the doorframe and watched you with a soft smile. You, too, were a natural with children. Juliet seemed so comfortable in your arms and you seemed so relaxed. He found himself daydreaming about the two of you having children together. He blushed as he imagined you pregnant with his baby... and Nathan giggled behind him. "Calm your horses Bradshaw, you're not putting a baby in my sister anytime soon."

Bradley's face turned as bright red as yours. "Nathan, shut up!" you yelled-whispered at him, careful not to disturb the eating baby in your arms.

“What? You heard our old man, "No more grandchildren for now!”” Nathan grinned and put his arm around Bradley's shoulders.

"I can't promise that..." Bradley mumbled softly, mesmerized by the sight of you holding Juliet against you as you burped her after she had finished her bottle. Nathan's eyes widened and he tried his best not to burst out laughing. "What did you say, Brad’ ? I think I misheard you?"

You blushed as you realized what your boyfriend had just said.

"I... Nothing!" Bradley defended himself weakly, very embarrassed. Nathan teased him until your mother told him to stop, threatening him with no cake after dinner. He immediately stopped and went to get his son after whispering to Bradley that he wouldn't forget what he had just said. You decided not to talk about it, feeling a little embarrassed as well.

It wasn't long before dinnertime arrived, and your father was relaxed and talking with Bradley. You even caught them laughing together. This interaction was reassuring for the rest of the evening.

As usual, your mother had cooked for a regiment, and your refrigerator was full of leftovers. She made Bradley promise to stop by the family home and look at the family albums and your childhood bedroom. He laughed a little but agreed. 

You walked everyone back to their cars, helped them with the kids' stuff, and your dad gave you one last hug and said good night. He said goodbye to Bradley with a slight smile and a quick hug. 

When everyone was gone, you collapsed on your sofa, drained of all energy. Bradley joined you with a smile and pulled you right into his arms.

"That didn't go so badly after all..."

You nodded, yawned and put your arms around him. You thought back to the day that had just passed, to that roller coaster of emotions, and laughed a little.

"So... eager to put a baby inside me Lieutenant?"

"Oh my God Y/N!!" Bradley blushed, hiding his face behind his fists in total embarrassment. You laughed and teased him about it. You preferred to take it as a joke because neither of you were anywhere near ready to have children of your own, you both agreed on that. Or did you?

He turned to you, a serious expression on his face.

"And what if I am? Would you... would you be on board to have kids with me? Not right now, of course, but... I... I can't imagine a future without you in it, and I'd like to have kids with you. I know we haven't really been together that long, but we've known each other for a long time... and oh my God, I'm rumbling," he groaned, rubbing his face before looking back at you. "What I mean is that I love you and I don't want to live without you. Maybe it's rushed, maybe you-"

You interrupted him, pulled him by the collar and kissed him. You didn’t know what came over you; maybe it was the fact that he had just admitted his feelings, or the fact that he was already planning a life with you. Maybe both. Certainly both.

"I love you too," you whispered between two kisses, "and I don't want to be without you either... and I would love to start a family with you someday, Lieutenant Bradshaw..."

You smiled, your forehead pressed against his, and he chuckled in relief.

"Today was really like you... a storm..." he sighed, smiling and stroking your cheeks.

"I know... are you sure you can keep up with my family?" you teased, "Now that you've messed with the storm, the cyclone will never be far away."

"Wouldn't have it any other way, Stormy."

[showtoonzfan]

Now I want to talk about Charlie cause good GOD. I never cared much for her in the pilot, I’ll admit that. I always called her boring compared to the other characters because of how developed they were compared to her. However the show takes everything that the pilot build up for her and just made her 10x worse to the point where she’s INSUFFERABLE to watch.

When I got to the very end of the season, I realized that she barley did anything progressive or had an impact on any character, at least what we’ve seen on screen. I understand this was the first season, but what exactly was her arc and what exactly did she do? Nothing. Throughout the season she wasn’t a leader, the most she did was help Sir pen with lessons and have that fight at the heaven trial. In the end they try to act like she overcame some arc about learning to lead and take charge but…she didn’t really. She was helped constantly by people around her, mainly Vaggie/Alastor/Rosie and she never really did anything on her own that was enough to signify her independence as the MAIN character or even the princess of hell. I love how she needed to be TOLD that her girlfriend cared for her…like wow. Vaggie also states that she’s “done so much and touched so many souls”- and all I could think about is how I actually wish we saw that on screen. Husk said she “wants to fix everyone’s problems but her own” and I never got that vibe out of her??? If she was more like Luz from the Owl house where we constantly saw her avoid her own emotions and problems and focus more on helping other people, then it would make sense but guess what, we don’t see any of that because the show is so disinterested in ACTUALLY focusing on Charlie shining at the front and helping people. They scrapped the main premise of her wanting to help sinners and instead used up all the time they had to introduce new characters. It’s all tell and no show as expected.

She’s painted as someone who’s desperate to save her people but when she’s not the focus and actually helping someone, she’s a whiny frustrating crybaby who needs to be coddled or steered in the right direction, and it’s SO hard to watch how her character is treated like a child who can’t do anything. This character has existed for 200+ years canonically but she isn’t written like that. She’s dumb. The fact that she’s such a doormat that she can’t even realize Angel is being abused by Val or even DO ANYTHING about it is fucking baffling, she’s THAT useless. There were so many moments in the show where she could have used her authority or powers to save trouble, but she just doesn’t do it because she’s useless, and I’m tired of people trying to say she’s a pacifist to excuse the shitty writing. She’s also basically Viv’s self insert in a way, an unfunny woman child who’s a hypocrite. Like Charlie is the equivalent of dry white chicken. There’s no seasoning or flavor to her character, she’s SO bland and boring that Lucifer and Alastor end up being more important than her and having more screen time, she’s ATTACHED to them and it really shows, rather than her being at the front. And I know we’re on season 1, but you’d think that Charlie’s childishness would actually be a character flaw and something she needs to overcome and grow up about. But this isn’t really seen as an issue and more of a quirky thing cause Viv thinks being a woman child is funny, the “fuck you you old bitch” scene made me cringe so god damn hard. Everyone has already said it, but Charlie cursing so so forced and unnatural for her character. I don’t like how she’s supposed to be a cinnamon roll but then at the same time swears and acts feral at times. It doesn’t fit.

During the fight scene in the end, she also does absolutely nothing. She made a whole deal about how she wants to defend her people and get back at the angel’s, but aside from throwing Adam and hitting him once, she needed to be protected or saved, Lucifer ended up actually doing the work and it was so hilarious. Speaking of that, Charlie’s daddy issues arc was also rushed, her and Lucifer reuniting and then making up within the same episode was a mistake. Then you realize that her daddy issues was mainly all Charlie had to her in terms of depth and what was explored in the show. I’m so tired of Viv giving her characters daddy issues, it’s getting old lol. But regardless of what Charlie has to her, in general the show just doesn’t focus on her. She’s not the main focal point of the show when she should be. SHE’S the one who wants to redeem sinners, the hotel was her idea. Even tho the pilot was a mess I still felt like she was determined to take the lead due to her beliefs. And yet she still feels like a side/background character who only occasionally gets focus here and there but certainly not compared to the others. The potential is there but due to the favoritism of the writing she’s such an empty and boring character and stayed like that till the very end.

[doodler16]

"Charlie is just selfish and entitled."

I agree seeing how she manager the meeting with adam, valentino and angelic court.

Chalie doesn't know who is talking or topic of game and present her idea without permition and singing! I think primary student make more professional presentation! Plus I have project without prove! Who would believe tha?

Coming in porno studio without appointament, destroyed because she was distracting the people who were working! All fire/smolke make extra work for everyone, from clearners, actor ecc. Because does she call for professional appointament like an adult!

Acting as karen because angel pretty mush told her we don't judge human soul and we don't ascend them it is divine judgement do it.So it is like she speak bad about management with waiter who can only follower it. Yes because calling Divine judment doesn't hide it is ducking God! And until now in series God hasn't sent people in wrong place.

The funny thing I'm not believe and i hate how heaven is bashing in series because they don't want sinners who act like war criminal to their home! But they killed sinners! Well if hell was a real prison heaven wouldn't fear hell. In series itself human cannot touch demonic/angel stuff that mean if sinner attack Earth, they cannot defend themselves because they don't have weapon against them! I doubt you would like to become luch for alastor or next star of VVV!

Yeah, Charlie is selfish and entitled thanks to her privilege and status along with doing this whole redemption passion project. If Charlie was the average sinner, she would’ve been beaten up and exterminated by now.

1. Charlie is similar to Vivziepop and that has to do with being impulsive. Even in the pilot, Charlie has been shown to jump into a situation without actually knowing or doing any research. For example in the pilot: Charlie immediately goes into the new station to present her idea and plan, even Katie Killjoy calls out how Charlie doesn’t know if her passion project even work and even worse Angel’s involvement in the turf makes Charlie look stupid for obvious reasons.

With Charlie’s meeting with Adam it’s horrible because Adam being Adam talks about himself and even when he is done talking, Charlie for some reason over hypes him and never gets to the point about the topic, making the whole scene tiring and overstaying it’s welcome. So, when Adam says time is up, Charlie is forced to speedrun her information via song for like 30 seconds until Adam interrupts her so he can sing then kicks her out. Nothing productive happens on both sides.

2. The porn studio is Charlie’s worst moment yet in the show and as a writing standpoint. Even before that shitshow shows how entitled Charlie is. I get it what Charlie is going through, she has a 6 month deadline and very stressful. But at same time, that is what you get when you don’t research beforehand about your topic and don’t provide evidence. Angel has to leave because he has a job to do and Charlie desperately doesn’t want him to leave because they have a few months left. Charlie coming into the studio without any notice illustrates her privilege and status, she even says that how she is the princess of hell and can go wherever she pleases.

3. I would side with Heaven but Anon they have no idea what they are doing too 😭 Charlie’s performance however with the notecard and defining definitions shows how unprepared she is. And, conveniently the hotel now works.

4. They did Heaven dirty. But I have wonder if news travel that Sir Pentious is redeemed throughout Hell, would the sinners actually be interested to change or will they be acting in bad-faith and pretend. Like imagine another sinner gets into Heaven and wreaks havoc. Also Imagine you’re in heaven and you see your abuser there, that be crazy.

I hope the show addresses Charlie’s privilege/status, like that could be great conflict and good character reflection. Everyone can’t bend over backwards for Charlie especially if they have work to do.

[genuinerio]

YOUNG, WILD AND FREE ↠ 「 Outer Banks 」

Prologue and first chapter will be coming soon!

NOTE: I named my OC in honor of my favorite actor, River Phoenix, he will be dearly missed and beloved. May he rest peacefully. Also, decided to make her have two potential love interests, John B and Pope.

Profile of River Maxine Maybank.

ABOUT ↴

FULL NAME: RIVER MAXINE MAYBANK.

NICKNAMES: RIO, STARSHINE. (first jj, now kie, john b, pope and sarah), RIVER MAXINE. (everyone), RIO, RIV, KID, KIDDO, SUNFLOWER, MINI ME. (jj), SOUL SISTER. (kiara), SUNSHINE, ANGEL. (john b), POGUE PRINCESS. (rafe and topper).

PLACE OF BIRTH: THE CUT, OUTER BANKS.

DATE OF BIRTH: UNKNOWN.

AGE: SIXTEEN.

GENDER: FEMALE.

EYE COLOR: BLUE.

HAIR COLOR: BLONDE.

HEIGHT: 5’8.

STATUS: ALIVE.

EDUCATION: KILDARE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. (currently).

ORGIN: OUTER BANKS.

RESIDENCE: THE CUT, OUTER BANKS.

SKILLS: ART, CREATIVITY, WRITING.

STRENGTHS: SURVIVING ABUSE, BEING ARTISTIC, HIGH PAIN TOLERANCE, CONFIDENT AND BRAVE.

WEAKNESSES: PROMISCUITY WITH FEARING COMMITMENT AMONG BEING REBELLIOUS, FEARING TO LET ANYONE BE TRULY CLOSE BESIDES HER BROTHER AND BEING SELF DESTRUCTIVE.

HOBBIES: HANGING OUT WITH HER FRIENDS AND BROTHER, DRINKING ALCOHOL, PLAYING GUITAR, PAINTING, SKETCHING, SMOKING WEED AND CIGARETTES AMONG PARTYING, SURFING.

GOALS: GETTING HER AND JJ TO LEAVE THEIR ABUSIVE HOUSEHOLD AND TAKE VENGEANCE AMONG THEIR FATHER, NOT BEING AFRAID OF COMMITMENT AS WELL AS BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST.

PERSONALITY TYPE: ENTJ.

ENNEAGRAM: 8w9.

FAMILY: LARISSA GENRETTE. (biological mother, deceased), CHANDLER GROFF. (biological father), WES GENRETTE. (maternal grandfather, deceased), LUKE MAYBANK. (adoptive father), JJ MAYBANK. (twin brother), RICKY. (cousin), LARRY. (uncle), FRANCIS GENRETTE. (maternal ancestor).

FRIENDS: JJ MAYBANK. (brother, best friend), KIARA CARRERA. (best friend, like a sister), JOHN B ROUTLEDGE, best friend, potential eventual love interest), POPE HEYWARD. (best friend, potential eventual love interest), SARAH CAMERON. (best friend, like a sister), CLEO. (good friend).

ENEMIES: LUKE MAYBANK. (currently), RAFE CAMERON. (currently), TOPPER THORNTON. (formerly), WARD CAMERON. (currently).

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: BISEXUAL.

LOVE INTERESTS: JOHN B ROUTLEDGE. (potential eventual husband, not legally), POPE HEYWARD. (potential eventual boyfriend), VARIOUS MEN AND WOMEN. (hookups, flings).

AFFILIATION: POGUES. (currently).

FIRST APPEARANCE: PILOT.

LATEST APPEARANCE: SECRET TO THE GNOMON.

FACE CLAIM: KATHRYN NEWTON.

FACTS ABOUT RIVER:

1. River is named after famous actor and namesake, River Phoenix who is also the older brother of Joaquin Phoenix. The name has various meanings, in a general aspect it means a flowing body of water and in a symbolic meaning, it means flowing freely, being connected to nature and having depth.

2. JJ frequently refers to her as his “mini me,” despite the fact that they’re twins and she is only younger than him by ten minutes for the reason given above. Another thing is that if he had to choose, he’d pick River as he sees his sister as the female version of himself like others see him as hers which annoys her constantly. Also, both JJ and River think it would be very difficult for them to pretend that they weren’t related.

3. Like my other Outer Banks OC and Kiara, she is considered to have a hippie soul, vibe and personality to her as she loves nature and is spiritual. She is also really passionate and is adamant about her hippie type of lifestyle as people say around Outer Banks.

4. Because of the clear similarity and resemblance especially in looks to her mother, this causes River problems with Luke.

5. River is considered and viewed to be the female version of twin brother, JJ with the two sharing blue eyes and blonde hair along with other characteristics. One in particular is the protectiveness and defending for one another and their friends. However, unlike JJ, she is not as quick tempered as him but rather, likes to keep her anger and sorrows to herself.

6. Despite their extremely close bond and protectiveness of each other, River is oftentimes annoyed by JJ’s overprotective behaviour towards her with her feeling that he views her as a baby and acts like her father rather than her actual brother who’s the same age as her. At first, she understood it as a young child but she no longer is a child nor the little girl she once was.

7. Growing up, River was very shy and only really would talk and open up to JJ in spite of having other friends, it would just take her time to get comfortable with interacting with others and in gaining the confidence to trust them.

8. Because of the abusive and toxic environment, her and JJ were raised in, she feels that it had caused her major issues when it comes to relationships among other issues. People consider River to have major daddy and trust issues.

9. Regardless of them both being best friends with the pogues, River considers JJ to be her bestest friend of them all with Kiara, John B and Pope following suit and vice versa.

10. It’s pointed out that JJ clearly cares more about River’s wellbeing than his own and loves her a lot, JJ would do whatever for her. He also sees her as having great potential in anything that she’d like to pursue as he views her as very intelligent and is willing to support her through it all. In favour of this, River appreciates this but feels awful that JJ doesn’t see himself as having much potential or others not seeing him as so either when she believes he could have potential if he worked hard for it.

11. Despite how close they are as a whole, River and Pope are always considered to be each other’s “partner in crime” when it comes to important matters as they are both very smart for being pogues and are typically the ones to be the most reasonable in difficult situations.

12. It’s clear that River tries her best in trying to see other people’s perspectives especially JJ with his crazy antics. She doesn’t want it to make it seem like her brother is alone in his ideas even if they’re not the best ones or that she disagrees with them.

13. River always saw JJ as the closest thing she had to a father since despite the two being the same age given that they’re twins, he always cared for her in a way that she once hoped that Luke would have and in a way that a loving father would care for their daughter.

14. The female Maybank is someone that would rather think her emotions rather than feel them. She has been noticed to be very wise beyond her years as well as caring more about her inner self than her outer self.

15. When they were children, JJ had taught River to surf once he learned himself and ever since then, it was a hobby that the two shared. JJ has said a few times that he believes River is a better surfer than he is; however, River disagrees and explains that she is good but JJ is in fact better.

16. Besides his other two nicknames for her, JJ calls her “sunflower,” as he says that River is someone who can brighten up their day, everyone adores her and is her favorite type of flower.

17. Before she and JJ became friends and grew to know John B and Pope, she’d cling to JJ as a child. Thus possibly hinting to a case of abandonment issues.

18. JJ has mentioned that he has found River to be very special and that she has the ability to make every relationship with someone feel that they have the closest relationship with her.

[itsclydebitches]

Yeessss Charlie popped into my head too while writing this!

Agreed that she's another well done case, in large part because she better embodies the concept of a "simple soul." Whereas Ruby's motivations to become a huntress might contrast specific, asshole characters at times (Cardin, the train goons, etc.), she not actually positioned as inherently better than most of the cast. Even the rest of her team who might have initially gotten into the career due to selfish reasons inevitably stick around through WAY more than is expected of them because It's The Right Thing to Do. Sure, Yang was originally here to have fun/because she didn't know what else to do with her life, but the implication is she never would have stuck around through a deadly war if she wasn't interested in doing the Right Thing — just like Ruby. Ozpin's voice-over initially positions Ruby as inherently different from other huntsmen, both in terms of her abilities (silver eyes) and her pure motivations, but the reality of RWBY's world shows that silver eyes aren't terribly useful against Salem (or, if they are, we never established that) and Ruby is SURROUNDED by people who likewise want to help out of the goodness of their hearts. They might be snarky about it, they might have different perspectives on how best to help, they might even be grateful that they're getting something out of it for themselves too, but ultimately Ruby is simply not an outlier.

In contrast, Charlie IS unique. Very much so. She's not only a character who is endlessly optimistic/kind, but Hazbin does a fantastic job of allowing that characterization to contrast the rest of her world. Charlie's attitude, while heartwarming, wouldn't be that big a deal in a realistic setting, but in Hell? Charlie remains the outlier even when other characters like Angel or Sir Pentious likewise display kindness because this attitude is SOOOOO far outside the realm of normal for this world. The pilot does a fantastic job of establishing that by having Charlie announce her belief in redemption and the entirety of her domain laughs their ass off. Meanwhile, Ruby's kindheartedness is established by her defending the shop owner, which is absolutely a good scene and does help to show how selfless she can be, but the other takeaway post-'arrest' is, "Why were you, a child, getting involved when we have licensed huntsmen to deal with this kind of stuff?" Ruby is not unique! This is literally a career path! Meanwhile, Charlie has come up with an idea that's the "first of its kind" and she believes in it despite not even knowing if it's possible. Despite everyone but Vaggie telling her to give it up. And (this is important to me) despite being Hellborn herself. Though it's not outright acknowledged in the show, Charlie is positioned as inherently different because, by all established logic, she SHOULD be like all the other violent sinners. She grew up in this environment and the one angelic role model she has, Lucifer, wasn't a big part of her life growing up: "I never really knew you at all." The implication is that Charlie, like Aang, is uniquely suited for this role. Not because it's divinely ordained (that would be a hell of a twist in this show lol) but because after 10,000 years she's the ONLY ONE who has adopted this perspective and semi-successfully acted upon it. She is legitimately optimistic, hopeful, kind, and stubborn enough to preach those virtues to an audience who think it's all "wacky nonsense" spouted by a "dumb bitch." Toss in the unlikelihood of those virtues winding up in the hands of someone with the power and resources to pull the hotel off — AKA the Princess of Hell — and it makes a lot more sense that this project is referred to as Charlie's "destiny," both by her and by others. It's not necessarily a literal acknowledgement of the fates at work, but rather an acknowledgement of how astronomically unlikely it is for this kind of person to ever come along again. It's Charlie or nobody.

Despite claiming otherwise, Ruby is ultimately a dime a dozen when it comes to power and positive motivations, which continually brings into question why she's heading this war. Tossing in other considerations like how bad she's been at making a positive difference and the existence of characters like Ozpin make it all the worse. But Charlie? There's no question in the viewer's mind why people are rallying around her. She's literally the only one who could pull this off and, just as importantly, she DOES. By the end of just eight episodes we see that she's succeeded and sinners can be redeemed. Ruby had over a HUNDRED episodes and — as of this writing — the series is done and Remnant is in the worst state it's ever been. Obviously we need conflict and things getting worse before they get better is a very common structure, but the extent to which things have fallen and the amount of Ruby's involvement in that devastation is... not reassuring.

Okay, so I saw this RWBY meme made by a fan and I can't remember it completely but it was about Emerald switching sides. What stood out to me was the language used and how Ruby's group was specifically referred to as "The Good Guys side" and if that doesn't show how broken this show's morality is then I don't know what does. Emerald switched to the side of good, not just Ruby's side. The side that is specifically good because it's Ruby side. You're either with Ruby or against her with no in-between. Compare this to Aang's group in ATLA, affectionately called The Gaang by fans. A term that collectively refers to the group without proclaiming them as THE good guys. We know they're good because their actions show they are good. It isn't just a title grafted on because they're the stars of the show. And while they have an official grouping in the form of Team Avatar. It still isn't used in the same manner as RWBY fans calling all who agree with Ruby "The Good Guys".

Decided to start answering backlog asks! We've officially entered the post-RT discussion era. Fun! 😬

You know, RWBY is compared (unfavorably) to Avatar a lot, but this comparison is particularly interesting to me because Avatar is, well... Avatar. That's a title. And it's a title built into the fictional world, one that's so significant it's worthy of being the name of the show. The Avatar is a combined destiny/job description that, in the words of the wiki, is the "human embodiment of light and peace." Obviously free will still comes into play - I'd never ignore the significance behind Aang's personal choice of how to bring balance to the world - but there's an element of fate here, of self-fulfilling prophecy, and fourth wall-breaking knowledge. In-world, benders are (presumably) not chosen if they're unsuited to be this embodiment of peace. Once someone knows they're the avatar, they can more easily find the courage/determination to meet such high standards because this is how it's "supposed" to be (regardless of whether anything cosmic is actually ensuring their success). And the audience knows, by virtue of that title and our opening, how we're meant to view Aang: as the Good Guy of the story. All that already exists outside of the actions he takes within the show, helping to soften anything potentially suspect with a "Well, he's just a kid" or "Well, everyone makes mistakes," or whatever explanation that's technically true in any harrowing story featuring a young protagonist... but continually falls flat with Team RWBY.

Because RWBY didn't do that same work. RWBY doesn't have a handle on its own identity the way Avatar does. It laid some of the groundwork early on but then never capitalized on it, which is why I'm endlessly groaning over the failure of not doing anything with Ruby's status as a SEW/simple soul. Those could have easily been titles the way "Avatar" is a title, something that the people of Ruby's world see as cosmic evidence of her purity and inherent ability to lead them in this war. Instead, it's just a one-off, ambiguous statement and a very badly used skill.

So yeah, Emerald joins The Good Guys, which wouldn't be bad if, as said, the show had shown the group unambiguously being Good people in a war with black and white solutions. Or, if we had some reason to believe that Ruby is The One True Leader, destined/worthy of bearing this burden no matter the number of mistakes she's made. But RWBY even undermines the title aspect by making Ruby herself fairly inconsequential in later volumes. Yeah, the show is also named after this team/our protagonist... and yet that began to feel incidental as the cast grew AND many of the characters brought new - arguably better - perspectives + powers into the fray. Avatar made the simple but VERY important decision to say, "This is the ONLY GUY who can do this job. Sure, he's going to need a lot of help and saving the world is absolutely a team effort, but that team revolves around him because he is, again, the ONE PERSON who can accomplish this." RWBY failed to set that up and (arguably) failed to show the group being The Good Guys, at least to the extent that the whole world would understandably put their faith in a teenager who, frankly, just keeps making things worse. Like, that's a big consideration imo. Ruby's intentions have always been good and most fans are fully on her side regarding justifications for her choices, so in that sense she is absolutely The Good Guy, but beyond that she's just really bad at saving the world. So if she's not somehow ordained to do it and continually shows a severe lack of skill in this regard... why are the characters/the viewer rooting for her again?

[raeynbowboi]

Disenchantment and Fairytales

By now, we’re well aware that Disenchantment is to the fantasy genre what Futurama is to the Sci-Fi genre. It’s made many references to Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and of course, Disney. But a less glaringly obvious inclusion in the realm of Disenchantment is its use of fairytales, as they often exist only in sight gags or very minor elements. Take for instance the glass slippers Bean refuses to wear for her coronation in the finale for season 3, or Elfo’s Snow White style glass coffin actually being an aquarium. The only overt fairytale is Hansel and Gretel, which even then is given a very dark spin with the twins being cannibals who imprisoned the witch and used the gingerbread house to attract kids and other people to cannibalize. So, I wanted to examine the use of fairytales and how they might be used, played with, or subverted by Disenchantment.

The Wicked Step-Mother

Most noteworthy in the fairytales like Snow White and also Hansel and Gretel, in the original versions of both stories, the wicked mother is actually the biological mother of the heroes. But in later renditions, it was altered to vilify step-mothers. Thanks largely to the Brothers Grimm popularizing these stories with evil step-mothers, they were driven to make these alterations due to their own perception of motherhood as pure and sacred, making the step-mother a wicked obstacle to the wholesome nature of the nuclear family. Disenchantment heavily leans on this trope, mostly with Dagmar resembling the wicked mother from Snow White. Like the Evil Queen from the fairytale, Dagmar is a smolderingly beautiful queen with a knack for witchcraft and sorcery. Oona meanwhile is the deconstruction of the Evil Stepmother trope, as Bean comes to recognize that she put her birth mother on an undeserving pedastal, and only comes to appreciate how cool Oona was too late, only seeing Oona as a true friend once she and Zog were divorced. 

The Princess and The Knight

Lady Bowmore is the bee knight that Bean meets in Steamland, and she even calls herself Bean’s “Knight in Rusted Armor”. The only thing we really know about Lady Bowmore is that she drives a mechanical horse-car, is very helpful and flirtateous with Bean, and she wears a bee medallion. While this is a personal theory, I wonder if the bee blimp that Bean took back to Dreamland belonged to Lady Bowmore, which would mean that she’s connected to Gunderson Airships, and possibly in allegiance with Alvin Gundersen and the plot to kill Zog. Based on the story conventions and Disenchantment’s general tone, the fact that she calls herself Bean’s knight in rusted armor implies that while she’ll seem like a heroic helper at first, the apparent chivalry isn’t as clean and pretty as it seems, and she’ll turn against Bean somewhere down the line as a deconstruction of the gallant heroic knightly figure. However, I could be wrong and applying a cynical reading, when instead the trope will play rather straight, and Lady Bowmore will be the stock gallant knight who rescues, aids, and defends the fair princess, possibly even defecting from Steamland to serve Bean as the new Penderghast and captain of the royal guards.

Pinnochio

So far, Freckles has only been in three episodes. He showed up in a cameo in the pilot, and then appeared in earnest at the end of season 3. Freckles is clearly mischevious and very probably dangerous. For starters, the shop is literally selling haunted puppets, and the shop keeper (who is very likely Dagmar) says that she can’t part with Freckles because he’s a very naughty boy who is like a son to her, much like how Pinocchio is like a son to Geppetto. What’s more, in the book version of the fairytale, Pinocchio is a mischievous little brat whose actions get Geppetto arrested and kills his conscience. We also know that Dagmar told Zog to let her into his mind in exchange for being let out of the asylum, so this access to his headspace could have something to do with why he was drawn to Freckles specifically. There’s also a sign in the shop that reads “Replace your Child”, which Pinocchio was a substitution for Geppetto who had no biological children of his own and replaced that void in his life with a puppet he made. This stands to reason that Freckles is somehow going to threaten Bean’s place in Zog’s heart in one way or another. Another sign reads “Need a Friend? This Won’t Help” again alluding to how dangerous Freckles is going to be. When buying the puppet, Freckles says “Don’t you see? He talks through me. But it won’t be free.” Fairytales have a longstanding tradition of “paying for something in an unconventional way”.

Beauty and the Beast

I’ll admit, when Merkimer first turned into a pig, I assumed he was downgraded to a running gag side character, but season 3′s episode Hey, Pig Spender shows us a miraculous bit of character growth for Merkimer. He gives up his chance to be human in order to save Bean, and in that moment, I realized he wasn’t just a man turned into a pig as a joke. Merkimer is the Beast. Like Merkimer, Beast is usually depicted as a cruel, selfish, or vain man, who is changed through magic into a hideous creature in order to learn a lesson. While the Disney version is more similar to a wolf, most of the older illustrated versions depict the beast as either having the head of a boar, or being otherwise pig-like. In fact, the fairytale even has a related fairytale called The Pig King, which likewise features a handsome prince turned into a pig and only becoming human again once he obtains the love of a woman. With only 3 seasons so far, it’s hard to say whether Bean will eventually come to love Merkimer as he keeps growing and changing or if he will slowly win the heart of another woman (or man), Merkimer’s character arc is clearly setting up that he’ll become human again when he’s completed his redemption arc and become a better person. In a sense, he’ll stop being a pig when he stops thinking and acting like a pig.

The Little Mermaid

Like her fairytale counterpart, Mora gives up her home and family to pursue her passion, only to find it’s not what she expected it to be, and find herself regretting the choice she’s made to leave it all behind. The Little Mermaid wanted to see the land of the humans, and also longed for an immortal soul that she might live forever in Heaven. Mora meanwhile desired to be an actress, but due to her tail, wasn’t given a fair shake. This also mirrors the real life casting discrepancies of the early film era, when non-white actors had a hard time finding roles, and even the few actors of color who did manage to get roles were still largely disrespected by the industry at large. Due to the original tragic ending of the fairytale, I half suspect that Mora too will get an unhappy ending with Bean, likely due to how distant their kingdoms are, or how different their biology is. However, considering how much merfolk imagery appears in the Dreamland Castle, it is highly possible that Mora is Bean’s soul mate and ultimate love interest for the series. Mora’s song, though short, all but confirms that Mora is not gone from the story. When Bean finds herself caught in a war, Mora will appear and take Bean’s side, and fight beside her, likely as an archer like the mermaid in the constellation.

[spectrechosts]

You Wouldn't Know Her - Chapter 2

This is actually chapter three, but I stuck 1 and 2 together.

Hazel meets the Pilot Princess Soul Defenders for the first time. She has never seen them before. Nor have they ever seen her. New people all around.

"No. No, no, no, this is a bad idea."

"It's not that bad-"

"Oh it's bad, Sabine. You want me to meet your friends? Your Pilot Princess friends?"

"They keep asking-"

"I've met your friends!" Hazel shrieked, pacing frantically. "We don't get along!"

"They don't know-"

"Onyx knows! She's seen me!"

"She saw you once, for five minutes, almost two years ago." Sabine said, trying to keep her from catastrophizing. The Soul Defenders had made dinner plans, and had conspicuously offered her a plus one, if she so desired.

"She could remember, any number of things could make her remember, I should have changed my name-"

"Okay, calm down." Sabine said, wrangling Hazel against a wall to stop her pacing. "You don't have to come."

Hazel did not relax, she could tell when a 'but-' was coming.

"But, it would mean a lot to me if you did. I know our situation is complex. I know that there are risks. But being a Soul Defender is a big part of my life, and I would like to not have to hide you from my teammates."

Hazel whined. She had no rebuttal to that, she would blow up the moon if she thought it might make Sabine happy, she could go to one awkward work function.

"When is it? I need to prepare."

~

Hazel was ready.

She had stalked all the Soul Defenders' social media, rehearsed responses to all the questions she deemed likely to be asked about their relationship, sent all those responses to Sabine to be cross-checked against anything she's said ("Hazel, I haven't told them shit about us. Say whatever you want."), prepared several escape plans for if things went south, and put on a cute outfit.

She could do this, she would get a good grade in social interaction, something both normal to want and possible to achieve.

"No matter what happens in there, I have your back." Sabine said, parking her beat up Toyota. "I mean it. Without giant robots involved I am much more capable in a fight than the rest of them, I will burn this team to the ground before I let anything happen to you."

"I don't think the world could handle a second Pilot Princess breakup and reformation." Hazel said, a touch sad that she was going to do everything in her power to not see her do that.

"Well, they had better not fuck this up then. You ready to go in?"

It meant more than she could put into words that in Sabine's mind they were going to fuck this up, not her.

She could do this.

"I'm ready."

~

The dinner was off to a great start, aside from the fact that Onyx knew, she knew and she wasn't saying anything, but Hazel could feel her eyes on her, she was just waiting for her moment to strike-

"You know, it's so nice that Moon has a girlfriend!" Sapphire said. "I don't know if you knew this, Hazel, but I'm something of a gay icon in this city. We have a hashtag, Sapphire for the Sapphics? They want me to march my mech in the pride parade next year."

Sapphire brings up her clout chasing hashtag. Accounted for.

"Oh that's wonderful! We should go on a double date with you and your girlfriend sometime!" Hazel said, sweet smile hiding her barbed intent.

Sapphire cleared her throat and took a drink. "I'm uh, I'm not, seeing anyone, per se-"

Backhanded excitement, her and Sabine will laugh about this later.

"Well, when you are then." She said, and refocused on the threat at the table. Hiding her identity was off the table. She needed to initiate on her terms. "So Onyx, I keep seeing people on the internet think that you're Moonstone's girlfriend, isn't that funny?"

"Hilarious." Said Onyx, still staring daggers at her.

Option two, appeasement. There are benefits for everyone to keeping secrets secret. Onyx hates that people think her and Moonstone are dating.

"Well, hopefully now that I'm feeling less camera-shy people will stop thinking that."

"Mm. Why were you so camera-shy? Afraid someone might recognize you?" Onyx asked, letting the question hang just a little too long before elaborating. "On the street, I mean. Dating a celebrity must be nerve-wracking."

Option 2b. We're all on the same side here.

"Yeah, it'd be weird for people to notice me like that. Or what if some supervillain attacks me to get to her? Nobody wants to see their girlfriend get hurt."

"Nobody." Moonstone emphasized.

"It's a valid concern, Moonstone attracts all sorts of weirdos." Onyx said, a sly smile on her lips. "We all remember that creep Robo-Grandmaster, right?"

Bait. Accounted for.

Moonstone gripped her hand a little more tightly.

"Oh god, he was going to make us his concubines. What a jackass." Giggled Amethyst.

"Ornamental concubines. Only Moonstone got the honor of inadvisable personal interest." Sapphire said disdainfully, and Hazel bit her tongue to avoid pointing out that somebody didn't even rank ornamental.

"I thought Robo-Grandmaster died?" She said instead. "Nobody's seen him in years."

Robo-Grandmaster had died, not that they would know.

"Oh no," Onyx said, "He's still out there. And if he shows his face around here again, it'll be the last mistake he ever makes."

Silence.

"That's… a little intense? He was like, low to mid tier." Said Cinnabar.

"Yeah," Added Amethyst, "Even when he was active he was mostly just goofy. Aside from the concubine thing I mean, that was creepy. He's- Don't worry about it Hazel."

"Yeah, I don't think any of us need to be worried about Robo-Grandmaster." Said Moonstone. "I'm stepping out for a smoke."

"I'll join you." Said Onyx, getting out of her seat.

"Since when do you smoke?" Asked Cinnabar.

"My life has become incredibly stressful as of late."

Moonstone and Onyx left, quietly bickering on their way out the door.

"I… think I'm going to go after them?" Hazel said.

"I wouldn't, they've been at eachother's throats for a while now, it's not your fault." Said Sapphire, completely unaware of how wrong she was.

"I'll go check anyway." She said, and got up. ("She seems nice?" she faintly heard as she walked away, followed by a chorus of agreeable murmurs. At least she was making a good impression on some of them.)

She stepped out into the crisp night air, and immediately zeroed in on an argument around the corner.

"If you seriously think I'm dumb enough to believe that's not the same girl-"

"I have. A type."

"Your type is squirrelly nerds named Hazel?"

"It's a surprisingly deep well." Moonstone hissed as Hazel rounded the corner.

Denial was completely out of the question. Appeasement had failed. Threats would only escalate. It was time for option four.

Hazel hated option four.

"Oh, here she is now! I suppose you're also here to tell me that you aren't Robo-Grandmaster?"

"I was also the robot crayfish army, if you care about that."

Option four, honesty. Lay everything out on the table and see if it helps.

"Hazel-" Moonstone started, and Hazel cut her off.

"What? She knows. Let's talk about it."

"Thank you." Onyx said. "However, why exactly should we talk about it instead of locking you up?"

"She's harmless, Onyx. You know she is. I showed you the stats."

"Uh-huh, and then we went back to your apartment, where she had slashed your tires and written a message in blood."

"My own blood. And that was the worst thing I ever did, and I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I forgave you ages ago." Moonstone said.

"Barf." Onyx said. "So, last time Moonstone assured me you were safe you immediately went off the rails, but this time it's going to be cool? Is that what we're going with here?"

"Yes."

"Yeah. If you don't want to trust her, trust me."

"It's not a matter of trust, Moonstone! Do you think I'm just ignoring everything you've showed me? I get she's safe enough now, but we've seen how quickly that can change!"

"So what, we lock her up for future crime?"

"Along with a pattern of past crimes, yes! Fuck, Moon, what if you two break up?"

"Then I'll deal with her." Moonstone said, and Hazel knew that she would let her.

"What if you die!?"

"I will destroy the ones responsible." Hazel said, resolute.

"See, that's threatening in my opinion." Said Onyx, and Moonstone rolled her eyes.

"I will beat your ass in this parking lot if you insist on being a dipshit about this, how's that for threatening?"

"I'm just-"

"Don't. In the event that I literally die you have my permission to expose her identity and do whatever. Until then, we're going back inside and you're going to be nice to my girlfriend, who you have, and I cannot stress this enough, never met before tonight. Okay?"

Hazel nodded meekly, if Moonstone died she would have much bigger problems than the Pilot Princesses. Onyx, however, grumbled.

"If you step one inch out of line-"

"You won't do anything, unless I am dead, because I told you I am handling it."

"Fine." Onyx spat, and the three of them went back inside.

"Welcome back." Amethyst said as they sat down. "We were just talking about how Moonstone seems happier since you two started dating, doesn't she Onyx?"

"She is… Moderately less asshole-ish. With you around." Onyx sighed.

"Thanks, I think?" Said Hazel.

"Don't mention it."

[multiversecarnavep]

Howard's first appearance in comics is when he is abruptly abducted from his home planet by an unseen force and randomly dropped into the Florida Everglades by the demon-lord Thog the Nether-Spawn. He meets the Man-Thing, who had been attacked by Korrek of Katharta, and the three of them are confronted by warriors of the Congress of Realities.[22] He then meets Dakimh the Enchanter and Dakimh banishes the warriors and transports Howard, Man-Thing, and Korrek to his castle, where they are joined by Jennifer Kale. They then travel to the realm of Therea and destroy Thog the Nether-Spawn. Howard then accidentally falls off the inter-dimensional stepping stones that the group were traveling on[23] and materializes in Cleveland, Ohio, where he battles Garko the Man-Frog.[24] Howard is arrested at this time for disturbing the peace and is mistaken for a mutant during a strip search, but is released because the police fear he has mutant abilities. Howard also briefly encounters and kills a vampiric cow named Bessie the Hellcow.[25]

Howard makes friends with an artists' model named Beverly Switzler and a bizarre series of encounters follow. He battles Pro-Rata, the cosmic accountant, then meets Spider-Man at the end of the battle.[26][27] He battles Turnip-Man and the Kidney Lady,[28] who would become a semi-recurring character over the years,[citation needed] then learns the fictional martial art of "Quack-Fu".[29] Howard then encounters the Winky Man, who is actually the sleepwalking alter-ego of Beverly's artist friend, Paul Same,[30] who would become a series regular and later become the pair's roommate.[citation needed] Howard also briefly becomes a wrestler.[31]

Howard and Beverly hit the road, seeking shelter in a gothic mansion where they battle a girl named Patsy and her giant, animated-to-life gingerbread man.[32][33] They eventually end up in New York City, where Howard is nominated for President of the United States by the All-Night Party[33] and he later battles the Band of the Bland, alongside the Defenders.[34] A doctored-photo scandal leads him to Canada where he defeats a supervillain, the Beaver, who caused the scandal. The Beaver falls to his death in a battle with Howard.[35] Howard then suffers a nervous breakdown and flees Bev and their situation on a bus. Unfortunately, the bus' passengers are all believers in various weird cults, and try to interest Howard in them. His seatmates are Winda Wester and the Kidney Lady, a woman who believes that the soul of a person lives in their kidneys and attempts to stop anything she sees as "anti-kidney health." After the bus crashes, Howard and Winda are sent to a mental institution. There he meets Daimon Hellstrom, and is briefly possessed by Hellstrom's demonic soul, becoming the new Son of Satan.[36] Beverly and Paul manage to get them both back to Cleveland. Later, while on the S. S. Damned, a cruise ship returning from scenic Bagmom, Howard and Beverly are taken captive by Lester Verde. Verde had known Beverly in college and had a crush on her and had assumed the identity of the supervillain Doctor Bong,[37] who illegally marries Beverly against her will and transforms Howard into a human.[38][39]

After escaping back to New York and being restored to his natural form, Howard is hired as a dishwasher by Beverly's uncle, Lee Switzler. Howard is later reunited with Dakihm the Enchanter, the Man-Thing, Korrek and Jennifer Kale, and they all battle the demon Bzzk'Joh. Korrek pilots the ship the Epoch Weasel and drops Howard back off at Cleveland before he and their allies fly away.[40][41] Howard finally meets up with the cruise ship that rescued Paul and Winda from Doctor Bong, and finds that Paul and Winda have befriended socialite Iris Raritan.

Howard is later kidnapped by the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime. Winda is abandoned by Paul and Iris and Paul is shot and left in a coma.[42][43] After defeating the Circus of Crime, Howard is plagued by pessimistic dreams and goes his way alone, just as he had at the series' beginning.[44]

Writer Bill Mantlo, beginning with issue #30, returned the series to its former status quo, bringing Beverly back into the picture and having her divorce Doctor Bong. Howard's creator Steve Gerber, who left the series after issue #27, originally intended for Beverly and Bong's marriage to be lasting and for Beverly to be written out of the series from that point on. Howard and Beverly's friend Paul, who had ended up in a coma after he had previously been shot by the Ringmaster, awakens from his coma and is released from the hospital. Beverly's uncle Lee brings everyone back to Cleveland and employs Howard as a cab driver, while Paul, back to being a somnambulist after his release from the hospital, becomes Winda's boyfriend. Howard dons a suit of "Iron Duck" armor made by Claude Starkowitz, a man who has delusions of being related to Tony Stark and dreams of being the personal armorer to Iron Man, and battles Doctor Bong in the final issue of the original 70s Howard the Duck series (issue #31).[45][46] Howard later encounters Dracula[47] and even once returns to Duckworld.[48] At the end of the nine-issue magazine series, Howard leaves Beverly (at her request) and is later offered a genetically-constructed female duck mate, whom he does not take to.[49]

On a later occasion, She-Hulk accidentally pulls Howard though a cosmic wormhole along with theoretical physicist Brent Wilcox and they are able to prevent other universes from crowding out Earth-616. During this time, Howard meets a character called the Critic, travels to a dimension known as the Baloneyverse and again battles a group called the Band of the Bland, whom he had previously battled with the Defenders.[50][51][52]

In an encounter with Peter Parker and Ben Reilly (the then-current Spider-Man), Howard gets a rematch with the Circus of Crime and the Circus is defeated. During the fight, Howard and Beverly get stuck in a warehouse full of anthropomorphic ducks, briefly meeting the Savage Dragon and Destroyer Duck. Parker and Reilly leave the warehouse believing that they have the correct versions of Howard and Beverly with them. However, in the Savage Dragon/Destroyer Duck companion story that takes place simultaneously and that was written by Gerber, it is explained that the version of Howard and Beverly that left the warehouse with Parker and Reilly are simply clones taken by mistake and that the real Howard and Beverly actually left the scene with Savage Dragon and Destroyer Duck .[53]

The sorceress Jennifer Kale, in a weekly attempt to return Howard to his home world, inadvertently teleports Devil Dinosaur and Moon-Boy into her New York apartment. The disoriented dinosaur attempts to eat Howard, but spits him out when shot with John Blaze's hellfire gun. Devil Dinosaur and Moon-Boy then rampage through the city before being subdued by Ghost Rider (Daniel Ketch). Howard says that he relates to the pair being trapped in a world they never made before wandering off.[54][55]

Heroes RebornEdit

After a brief series of adventures with Generation X,[56] Howard gets a job as a department store Santa Claus, which gets him dragged to the North Pole where the real Santa Claus has sold out to HYDRA.[57] Howard goes through several dimensions, apparently through the power of Man-Thing, who can now talk but does not understand this new, unknown ability, and lands on a version of Duckworld where his parents are essentially Ward and June Cleaver, he has a sister named Princess, and he is regarded as a hero because his activities on Earth-616 were recognized by Duckworld's version of Reed Richards. This origin traces the source of these dimensions to be projections from Franklin's mind. Throughout the course of the adventure, Howard has a romance with Tana Nile, culminating in a kiss, after which he apologizes and tells her of his attachment to Beverly.[58][59][60] When Franklin understands that he has shaped all of these worlds, the group finds themselves back in the Man-Thing's swamp. While Man-Thing becomes a self-appointed guardian to Franklin Richards, Howard goes off on his own and is captured by the Cult of Entropy, who wrap him in swaddling clothes.[61] Although last seen in the swamp, Howard states that he was thrown into baggage and transported on a plane. The cult wants Howard because he has part of the Nexus of All Realities, which shattered during Heroes Reborn, inside of him. Man-Thing then enters Howard's mouth, and Howard vomits him back out with the fragment, but Man-Thing is left desiccated and practically dead.[62] Howard then encounters Namor, who thought he had slain Man-Thing, but Howard explains that he would not be lugging his friend's body around if that were the case. Howard sets the Man-Thing down in the water, and he revives during Howard's conversation with Namor. Once he sees that the Man-Thing is alive and well, he bids Namor farewell and says that he is returning to Cleveland.[63]

Years later, back with Beverly, he undergoes further shapeshifting experiences after an accident at a chemical facility of Doctor Bong's. Beverly is hired by Bong's Globally Branded Content Corporation, which manufactures boy bands from protein vats based on the sexual arousal of a focus group of gay men. Attempting to destroy an escapee whom Beverly has taken in, Bong inadvertently knocks Howard into a vat, which changes him, unstably, into a rat.[64] When Howard later showers, he changes his form multiple times before again permanently returning to the form of the giant rat. Verde then goes to the press and claims that his building was attacked by Osama el-Barka ("Osama the Duck" in Arabic). Howard and Beverly are sent back on the road after the junkyard office where they are living is destroyed by a S.W.A.T. team.[65] Denied admittance to every possible shelter due to lack of funds, the pair and their dog find a sign for the Boarding House of Mystery, but are taken to the police station for questioning and strip searches by Suzy Pazuzu, with whom Beverly had attended high school. One of the officers on the case is the same beat cop who mistook Howard for a mutant many years before. Suzy is the inheritor of the doucheblade, which starts to take her over when she wears an enchanted bracelet. In a skirmish, the bracelet is caught by Howard causing him to be the wielder of the doucheblade. The doucheblade causes its holder to grow enormous bare breasts and armor in a parody of Witchblade, and, possessed by this, Howard kills the male lover of a businessman who works with Verde as he and Verde break into Suzy's house.[66]

Arriving at the Boarding House of Mystery, Howard and Beverly encounter Cain and Abel, the latter with a rock stuck in his head that allows him only moments of lucidity. There, they are granted their every wish, including Howard's return to his true form, and Beverly never being poor again, and meet parodies of John Constantine, Wesley Dodds, the Endless, Spider Jerusalem, and Gerber's own Nevada (called Utah), all characters from DC Comics' Vertigo imprint. The downside to the House is that everyone staying there gets their every wish; so Che Guevara can have his revolution, but someone else can easily slaughter him.[67] One tenant, a writer named Mr. Gommorah (a parody of Spider Jerusalem), later takes Beverly and Howard to be on the Iprah show with the topic "Why Women Give It to Men Who Don't Get It", guest starring Dr. Phlip.

Upon leaving the House of Mystery, Howard is once again transformed into an anthropomorphic mouse. It is revealed that Iprah has been merged with an experiment by the Angel Gabriel called Deuteronomy, intended to replace God, because God has been spending all his time in a bar in Hell since 1938. Deuteronomy is a creature half-id and half-superego, while Iprah is an all-ego promoter of self-indulgent pop psychology. Considering her dangerous, Gabriel sends the cherub Thrasher to resurrect Sigmund Freud, whose cigar blasts out half of Thrasher's brains (being immortal, this just makes him act drunk). Iprah destroys Freud, but Howard blasts her with the cigar, separating her from Deuteronomy. Puffing on the cigar, Howard disintegrates and arrives in Hell.[68] He is eventually freed by Yah, a being who claims to be "God".[69]

Civil WarEdit

Sometime later, Howard attempts to register under the Superhero Registration Act during the superhero Civil War, but learns his socially disrupted life has created so many bureaucratic headaches that the government's official policy is that Howard does not exist. This lack of government oversight delights him: "For the rest of my life, no more parking tickets, or taxes, or jury duty. Heck, I couldn't even vote if I wanted to!" In this story, Howard says he was pressured to give up his cigars.[70]

After he defeats the supervillain M.O.D.O.T.’s (Mobile Organism Designed Only for Talking) scheme to control the public through mass media, his attorney, Jennifer Walters, successfully restores his citizenship, including all relevant responsibilities.[71]

Secret InvasionEdit

Howard the Duck is briefly seen as part of the superpowered army gathered to battle invading Skrull forces.[72] He is seen armed with a pistol and wearing a Skrull's hand around his neck.[73] He is later seen kicking a Skrull during interrogation after the invasion.[74] Brian Michael Bendis has commented when asked of Howard: "That character has shown up in six issues I've done, and I've never typed the words Howard the Duck."[75]

Marvel Zombies 5Edit

Main article: Marvel Zombies 5

In Marvel Zombies 5, Howard the Duck of Earth-616 teams up with Machine Man to travel across the multiverse fighting zombies.[76]

Fear ItselfEdit

During the Fear Itself storyline, Howard forms a team called the Fearsome Four with She-Hulk, Frankenstein's Monster and Nighthawk to stop the Man-Thing when he goes on a rampage in Manhattan, due to the fear and chaos he senses on the citizens. They later discover a plot by Psycho-Man to use the Man-Thing's volatile empathy to create a weapon.[77]

Spider-Man: Back in QuackEdit

Howard and Beverly are brainwashed and forced to work for Save Our Offspring From Indecency (S.O.O.F.I.) as Cynical Duck and Swizzle. They promote S.O.O.F.I. at a public speech held for them by J. Jonah Jameson. Spider-Man later interrupts a S.O.O.F.I. indoctrination at the New York Public Library, and Beverly and the other S.O.O.F.I.s see Spidey as a semi-demonic figure and attack him. Spidey escapes with Howard and breaks his brainwashing when Beverly is threatened. Howard quickly explains S.O.O.F.I.'s goals to Spider-Man. As Spider-Man publicly announces his long-standing support for S.O.O.F.I., Howard confronts Bev as she stands beside the Supreme S.O.O.F.I. Howard is able to break through to Beverly, reminding her of their past together. The Supreme S.O.O.F.I. orders the S.O.O.F.I.s to throw the pair into the special Blanditron at Guantanamo Bay, but Beverly keeps them at bay with a whip. Spidey attacks the S.O.O.F.I.s and unmasks the Supreme S.O.O.F.I., while the others escape through their teleporter. Howard states that he believes S.O.O.F.I. will lay low for a while after such a defeat and he also hopes that the group's Florida Everglades base might lead them to meet up with the Man-Thing.[78]

The Ducky DozenEdit

Because of his experience with zombie-infested worlds and his leadership of Machine Man, Howard is chosen as the leader of, as he dubs them, the Ducky Dozen. The team is composed of him, several Golden Age heroes, Dum-Dum Dugan, and Battlestar, who is also a veteran of a zombie incident. Upon entering Earth-12591, the Ducky Dozen fight hordes of zombie Nazis and Asgardians, but suffer grave losses as the team's members are either killed or zombified during the battle. After successfully accomplishing their mission, Howard, Dugan, Taxi Taylor and Battlestar are the only members to survive and return to Earth-616 along with the Riveter, the only survivor of Earth-12591's resistance team, the Suffragists.[79][80]

Wolverine and the X-MenEdit

Howard later teams up with his friend Doop to battle the Robo-Barbarians in Dimension ZZZ. They beat the horde back with nothing but a broken sword, a rubber chicken with nails in it and a gun that shoots bees.[81]

Original SinEdit

After the death of Uatu the Watcher and the activation of the secrets buried in his eye, Howard discovers that he has the potential to be the most intelligent being in Duckworld. After evading a squirrel while driving, he is thrown flying from his vehicle but uses his intellect to calculate a way to land safely in a nearby dumpster.[82]

Back to New YorkEdit

Howard returns to his business as a private eye, working in the same building as She-Hulk, in Brooklyn. One of his first new clients is Jonathan Richards, who hires Howard to retrieve a necklace stolen by the Black Cat. With the help of Tara Tam, his new friend and assistant, Howard manages to recover the necklace. However, on his way to give it back to Richards, he finds himself kidnapped by the Collector and allied with the Guardians of the Galaxy to escape the villain, who was attempting to add Howard to his collection of rare space objects and entities. Upon returning to Earth, Howard is robbed by May Parker, Spider-Man's aunt, and later re-encounters the Ringmaster, who is revealed to have brainwashed the elderly into committing robberies. After recovering the necklace for a third time, Howard is approached by Richards in the middle of his fight against the Ringmaster and Richards reveals himself to be Talos the Untamed, who reveals that the necklace was part of a marginally powerful item known as the Abundant Glove. With help from Doctor Strange, Howard and Tara locate the final piece of the Abundant Glove, but are unable to put it back together when Talos grabs it and proceeds to use it to wreak havoc on the city. Talos is confronted by numerous heroes while Howard and Tara take cover. Howard is able to point out that Tara, who is revealed to possess shapeshifting powers similar to that of a Skrull, could help him defeat Talos. Tara used her powers to impersonate Skrull Emperor Kl'rt (the Super-Skrull), distracting Talos long enough for Howard to snatch the Abundant Glove from his hand. Talos is later apprehended by the Fantastic Four and everything returns to normal.[83]

Afterwards, with the help of new arrival Gwenpool, Howard prevented HYDRA from infecting the world with a deadly virus.[84] He also has a crossover event with The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.[85] Howard the Duck is shown to be living in the She-Hulk's apartment building when Patsy Walker moved out.[86]

Civil War IIEdit

During the Civil War II storyline, Howard the Duck is among the building tenants that learn from Patsy Walker what happened to She-Hulk following the fight against Thanos.[87]

War of the RealmsEdit

Howards last name, Duckson, is revealed in War of the Realms: War Scrolls #1.

Young biochemist Dr. Theodore "Ted" Sallis, a native of Omaha, Nebraska,[28] is working in the Everglades as part of Dr. Wilma Calvin's Project: Gladiator team, which includes Dr. Barbara Morse and her fiancé Dr. Paul Allen, and an assistant named Jim. A Dr. Wendell is later cited as being on the staff after Dr. Calvin is shot.[29] The group is attempting to recreate the Super-Soldier Serum that had created Captain America.[30] Web of Spider-Man (vol. 2) #6 revealed that Sallis at one point treated and worked alongside Dr. Curtis Connors shortly after Connors' arm was amputated, driving the research that would eventually transform Connors into the Lizard.

Though warned that the technological terrorist group Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.) has been operating in the area, Sallis breaches security by bringing with him his lover, Ellen Brandt (referred to here as "Miss Brandt", but later retconned to be his wife). He destroys his notes to his formula, which he has memorized. Later, he is ambushed by two thugs and learns that Brandt has betrayed him. Fleeing with the only sample of his serum, he injects himself with it in hopes of saving himself. However, he crashes his car into the swamp where scientific and, as Man-Thing #1 later explained, magical forces combine to instantly transform him into a slow-moving plant-matter creature with large, solid red eyes.[31] Unable to speak, and with dim memories, he attacks the ambushers and Brandt, burning and scarring part of her face with an acid that he now secretes in the presence of negative emotions. The Man-Thing then wanders away into the swamp.[32]

Sallis' mind was apparently extinguished, although on rare occasions he could briefly return to consciousness within his monstrous form, as in Doctor Strange (vol. 2) #41 (June 1980), The Defenders (vol 1) #98 (August 1981), and Peter Parker: Spider-Man Annual '99, and even to his human form, as in Adventure into Fear #13 (April 1973), Marvel Two-in-One #1 (January 1974), Marvel Comics Presents #164 (October 1994), and Man-Thing (vol. 3) #5 and 7-8 (April 1998, June–July 1998).

Under writer Steve Gerber, the Man-Thing encounters the sorceress Jennifer Kale, with whom he briefly shared a psychic link and who knew his true identity, in a story arc in Fear #11-13 – the final issue of which established that the swamp had mystical properties as the Nexus of Realities. Through an interdimensional portal in Fear #19, he meets Howard the Duck, who becomes stranded in this reality. The Man-Thing became the guardian of the Nexus, and found himself facing demons, ghosts and time-traveling warriors, while continuing to encounter such non-supernatural antagonists as rapacious land developers, fascist vigilantes and common criminals. He formed a bond with young radio DJ Richard Rory and nurse Ruth Hart. Issue #12's "Song-Cry of the Living Dead Man", about an crazed writer named Brian Lazarus, spawned Gerber's posthumously published 2012 sequel, "The Screenplay of the Living Dead Man", in the three-issue miniseries The Infernal Man-Thing.

In Man-Thing (vol. 2) #1-11 (November 1979 – July 1981), writer Chris Claremont introduced himself as a character in the final issue, as Gerber had in the finale of the first series. Additionally, Claremont temporarily became the Man-Thing after being stabbed to death. His and other characters' deaths were later resolved with the intervention of the War Is Hell series lead, John Kowalski, now an aspect of Marvel Comics' manifestation of Death. In Man-Thing (vol. 3) #1-8 (December 1997 – July 1998), Ellen Brandt Sallis returns to the Citrusville area and encounters a little boy, Job Burke, who is actually the Sallises' son, who had been put up for adoption. Following this series, the story continued in Strange Tales (vol. 4) #1-2, and was projected to continue in the unpublished issues #3-4. Summaries based on DeMatteis' unillustrated scripts appear on the K'Ad-mon and Ellen Brandt pages in Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe.[21][22]

During the "Civil War" storyline, two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents unsuccessfully attempt to register the Man-Thing under the Superhuman Registration Act.[33]

The Man-Thing later appears as a member of the Legion of Monsters alongside Morbius, the Living Vampire, the Werewolf by Night, the Manphibian, and N'Kantu, the Living Mummy.[34] He later gains the ability to speak comprehensibly through the use of the "Universal Language".[35] Phil Coulson subsequently recruits the Man-Thing for his incarnation of the Howling Commandos.[36]

As part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel branding, the Man-Thing appears as a member of S.T.A.K.E.'s Howling Commandos.[37]

During the "Empyre" storyline, Man-Thing falls under the control of the Cotati led by Ventri that were operating in the Savage Land.[38] Doctor Voodoo takes control of Man-Thing to free Matthew and Black Knight. As Matthew and Black Knight fight the Cotati, a Doctor Voodoo-controlled Man-Thing fights the Cotati's control and defeats Ventri.[39] As Doctor Voodoo exits Man-Thing to assist Scarlet Witch after Ka-Zar was stabbed by a Cotati using Black Knight's Ebony Blade, Man-Thing continued the fight against the Cotati. When the Cotati were defeated, Man-Thing takes his leave after being thanked by Black Knight. Ventri claims that what they learned from Man-Thing's energy has been sent to Quoi to fuel the Cotati's invasion.[40]

[voltrontranscript]

VLD S8E9: Knights of Light, Part 1

Season 8 Episode 9: Knights of Light, Part 1

Transcript by @dragonofyang

Summary: After taking the dark entity within herself, Allura discovers she’s now mentally linked to Honerva. Using this connection to reach into Honerva’s mind with the help of the other paladins, they discover that there are more ghosts haunting her than they realized.

[Google Doc]

Honerva’s Voice: Allura. Allura. Allura. Allura… Allura!

Lance: Allura, are you okay?

Allura: What’s going on? Where am I?

Coran: You’re in the medical bay.

Lance: When we got back from Clear Day, we found you collapsed on the ground.

Coran: You’ve been asleep for two quintants. The entity, it’s missing. Did you…?

Allura: I did what needed to be done.

Coran: No.

Lance: What needed to be done? What are you talking about?

Allura: This entity, it is connected to Honerva in some way. I believe we can use it.

Lance: Use it? I…

Coran: I swore to your father that I would look after you, but I fear I may have let him down. This is the path of darkness.

Allura: It is the path toward defeating Honerva.

[Scene change to Shiro approaching a door, where he is greeted by the paladins.]

Shiro: You wanted to see me?

Pidge: We’ve been working on something, and we thought we’d run it by you.

Keith: We think we might have a way to find Honerva.

Allura: The entity has bonded me to Honerva. The link is there whether we utilize it or not. I believe that if the Paladins connect using the shared consciousness of Voltron, we may be able to travel through the void and into Honerva’s mind.

Pidge: That could, in theory, give us access to her physical location, as well as key information on how to defeat her.

Hunk: Which, after what happened the last time we faced her, could be super useful.

Keith: Honerva is capable of creating galactic Komars, wormholes, robeasts, and now Lotor and his mech are out there somewhere. She is the single greatest threat the universe has ever faced, and we don’t have any other leads. It might take lifetimes for another opportunity like this to come around. We think this is worth the risk.

Shiro: I spent a lot of time in the infinite void. It took all my strength not to lose my sanity. And if you face Honerva in the void, she will win. But, if you can find a clue that leads to defeating Honerva and Lotor, it could give us the upper hand in this fight.

Lance: I don’t like the idea of using Allura like this. We’re messing with powers we don’t fully understand that have ruined countless lives. It’s… it’s dangerous.

Allura: Lance, we’re the Paladins of Voltron. There’s no one more capable of taking this on. It has to be us.

Lance: Let’s do it.

Allura: Besides, the team will have our sharpshooter there to keep us safe.

Lance: I knew that nickname was gonna catch on one of these days.

Coran: It’s been a long time since it was only the seven of us in a room together.

Keith: Let’s make sure it’s not the last.

[Cut to Keith in Black Lion as Voltron powers up.]

Lance: Allura, are you okay?

Allura: I’m fine.

[Scene change to Veronica on the bridge.]

Veronica: It doesn’t seem fair that he won with a robot arm.

Iverson: Ah, almost everyone had a robot arm. The last guy had two robot arms.

Shiro: The lions are launching. Put the Atlas on high alert. Iverson, power up the Atlas’ weapons. Veronica, make sure the shield system is go.

Veronica: High alert? What’s going on?

Shiro: We’re just being careful. The Atlas needs to be prepared for any eventuality.

[Cut to Allura in Blue Lion.]

Allura: It is time to begin.

[Scene change to the astral plane.]

Hunk: Now what?

Keith: Allura, do you feel anything?

Allura: We must travel through that light!

Hunk: It looks so far away. How do you know?

Allura: The entity draws me toward it!

Lance: What is this place? It’s like… it’s like I can hear what the universe is thinking.

Pidge: Remember how the Olkari told me that everything is made of the same energy? I think it has something to do with that.

Hunk: So, thoughts are linked across some kind of, what, cosmic connection?

Keith: Yeah, but I think we are the thoughts inside a network of other people’s thoughts.

Lance: Oh, this is making my head hurt.

Hunk: Yeah, I’m actually with Lance on this one.

Allura: If we are to--[screams]

[Cut to the Atlas bridge.]

Coran: I’m detecting fluctuations in Voltron’s energy signature. Should we do anything?

Shiro: Hold.

[Cut back to the Paladins in the astral plane.]

Lance: What was that?

Hunk: It felt like cold water running down my spine.

Allura: That was Honerva.

Lance: What?

Allura: The entity inside of me is connected to her.

Hunk: Wait, then why did we feel it?

Keith: It must be because we’re all connected through Voltron.

Allura: Yes. The psychic link between us is now shared with Honerva. The closer we are to her, the stronger that link.

Lance: This is too dangerous. Honerva is gonna use the connection to find us, to find you.

Allura: No, this is how we are going to find her, but first, I must learn how to utilize this energy to do so.

Keith: This isn’t just on you now, Princess. We’re all in this together. Maybe if we concentrate, we’ll be able to feel her energy. Then we can track it back to its source. Let’s all focus.

Hunk: This is awesome!

[Scene change to a wide starry scape with two planets visible as Voltron flies by.]

Hunk: I can feel something, like an energy inside me.

Allura: It’s the entity.

Lance: This feeling, it’s like…

Keith: Like a dark realization washing over.

Pidge: It’s like we’re being pulled by a tether connected to our souls.

Allura: We’re getting closer. This way.

Hunk: Is this Honerva’s mind?

Allura: It’s on the other side of this wall.

Pidge: What is this?

Allura: It feels like… like these are the souls that Honerva has defeated and corrupted. It’s terrible.

Hunk: Of course we’re gonna have to get on the other side of the--what?

Pidge: Allura!

Keith: Come on! No! Come on!

[Scene change to Pidge inside Honerva’s mind, a green and black plain lit by stars.]

Pidge: Guys? Where am I? Guys, do you copy? Guys?! Team, can you hear me?

[Cut to Hunk inside Honerva’s mind, a yellow and black plain lit by stars.]

Hunk: Hello! Anyone?

[Cut to Lance in a red and black plain lit by stars.]

Lance: Team! Something severed our connection!

[Cut to Allura in a blue and black plain lit by stars.]

Allura: Paladins, respond! Why can you not hear me?

[Cut to Keith, on the black plain that shields Honerva’s mind.]

Keith: There has to be a way in. I can’t feel them.

[Cut to Pidge.]

Pidge: I can’t even feel my lion!

[Cut to Hunk, then Allura.]

Allura: Paladins! I will not let you hurt us any longer! This is some kind of horrible ruse and you will pay dearly for it. Time to end this!

[Flash back to the Castle of Lions armory.]

Alfor: Your suits of armor.

Trigel: They’re incredible.

Zarkon: We will be a force to be reckoned with in these armaments.

Gyrgan: They stretch, right?

Alfor: Yes, Gyrgan, they mold to fit their paladin.

Trigel: When will your wonders end, Alfor?

Alfor: Interesting you should mention that. I have one more piece of equipment for all of you.

Zarkon: What are they?

Alfor: I call them bayards. Now, each bayard is crafted with a small fragment of the comet’s ore.

Zarkon: With this much power, we will be unstoppable.

Alfor: They can create powerful weapons, but they can also act as a key bridging a paladin’s essence with their lion. Only so long as we fight together as a single unit. To defend the universe.

All: To defend the universe!

[Flash forward to return to Allura and Blaytz in the blue and black plain of Honerva’s mind.]

Allura: It’s really you.

[Cut to Pidge and Trigel in the green and black plain.]

Pidge: Your soul! Honerva must have--

[Cut to Hunk and Gyrgan in the yellow and black plain.]

Hunk: --trapped you here somehow! Please, I don’t want to fight you!

[Cut to Lance and Alfor in the red and black plain.]

Lance: Please! Remember who you are!

[Cut to Allura and Blaytz in the blue and black plain again.]

Allura: Blaytz, please.

[Flash back to the Castle of Lions on Altea.]

Alfor: Make no mistake, Zarkon is coming.

Trigel: Then we use the lions, fight him until our last breath.

Alfor: I am not certain we can win this fight. We cannot risk Voltron falling into his hands. We will utilize our lions to seal the Black Lion. Once we are done, we will send our lions as far away as possible. Coran, you and the Castle of Lions will take the Black Lion away.

Coran: You would have me leave your side at the very end?

Alfor: No. I would have you stand by my daughter’s. I am entrusting you with what is most precious to me in this entire universe, Coran.

Coran: It will be my greatest honor.

Gyrgan: Then it is decided. We go into battle together, one last time.

Alfor: To defend the universe.

All: To defend the universe.

[Flash forward to Trigel and Pidge in the green and black plain.]

Trigel: What… Where am I?

[Cut to Hunk and Gyrgan in the yellow and black plain.]

Hunk: You’re in the void just outside of Honerva’s mind. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.

[Cut to Blaytz and Allura in the blue and black plain.]

Blaytz: Are the visions from the lions true?

[Cut to Alfor and Lance in the red and black plain.]

Alfor: Has it really been ten thousand years?

Lance: It has.

[Cut to Hunk and Gyrgan in the yellow and black plain.]

Gyrgan: It saddens me greatly to learn that Zarkon wreaked such destruction in our absence.

Hunk: But not completely. Voltron was reformed and the Paladins fly together again.

Gyrgan: I have always believed that unity is where true power comes from, and true unity can only be born of love.

[Cut to Trigel and Pidge in the green and black plain.]

Trigel: I can’t tell you how much it warms my heart to know that someone so connected to the world around her is piloting the Green Lion. My race believes observation to be the most revered attribute. It is where intelligence is born. And for you, it is where it has thrived. The infinite abilities of your mind dwarf the smallness of your size. The Green Lion could not have found a more perfect Paladin.

[Cut to Blaytz and Allura in the blue and black plain.]

Blaytz: People often overlooked me because I was different, but the Blue Lion recognized something in me, something others couldn’t see. It saw the greatness within that even I did not. You, Allura, have greatness within you, as well. You’re so much like your father, and yet so different. You’re a remarkable person. Thank you for saving us.

[Cut to Alfor and Lance in the red and black plain.]

Alfor: Through the lion’s bond, I could feel your love for my daughter.

Lance: I could feel yours, as well.

Alfor: As Paladins, we face many quests throughout the cosmos, but the most amazing journey is that of life. And the biggest question you face is who to go on that journey with. I’m glad my daughter chose you.

[Cut to Keith on the black plain at the boundary of Honerva’s mind.]

Keith: Please. You’re back. You guys are alright. Wait, are they the…

Pidge: Yep, the original paladins.

Alfor: Allura! It is fitting that I would find what is brightest to me in the darkest place.

Allura: All that I have done, I have done to make you proud.

Hunk: Their souls were trapped by Honerva’s dark magic. When we came near Honvera’s consciousness, our connection attracted them to us. Crazy, right?

Pidge: But we used that connection to free them. The lions created a bridge, sharing old memories with new.

Alfor: What’s going on?

Allura: Honerva’s connection grows. We are very close to her now.

Alfor: You hold a dark entity within you. Don’t you know how dangerous that is? That’s what led to Honerva and Zarkon’s end.

Allura: I know the danger, but now I have the power to stop Honerva. You had to make a difficult choice in war by sending the lions away. I also had to make a difficult choice. I’m not going to be afraid to use the power I have. We need to continue.

Lance: But how do we get past the wall?

Allura: It’s… it’s like I can feel her thoughts. The way through is with the darkness.

Alfor: Honerva went mad, obsessed with darkness and power.

Allura: And now, we must enter her mind.

End.

[patientfocusly]

Marvel/Voltron AU.

Name: Takashi Shirogane aka Shiro  Age: 25 - 35 Affiliations: Galaxy Garrison, SWORD, new SHIELD

King Alfor of Altea discovered the birth rock of the six infinity stones. The elements were infused by the power of each of the stones and from it, he created the six lions, formidable weapons, wielded by six powerful paladins to foster peace around the universe. 

Black Lion - Power Stone - grants the user unnaturally powerful strength Red Lion - Reality Stone - grants the user the ability to change reality and transform matter Blue Lion - Space Stone - grants the user the ability to travel between places instantaneously Yellow Lion - Mind Stone - grants the user the ability to manipulate minds of others Green Lion - Time Stone - grants the user the ability to control time White Lion - Soul Stone - power unknown /  ability to control a person's soul

*Note: the lions do not hold the same capabilities as the stones themselves, they have inherited watered down characteristics of the stones, but still means they’re incredibly powerful.

Zarkon, the Black Paladin at the time and his would-be wife Honerva were obsessed with unlocking the secrets of the Power Stone and it's elemental base --- seeking a substance called Quintessence that mirrored the effects of the stone since the stone itself was unseekable. They eventually succumbed to the consuming effects of Quintessence, becoming evil beings driven by greed and selfishness, resulting in a ten thousand year long siege of the Galra Empire against the universe. 

In his last act, King Alfor banished the six lions far and wide across the universe, sending them the same way as the stones - lost and therefore unable to be exploited by creatures of evil. 

Note: the paladins are unable to form Voltron until they find the White Lion in Oriande - potentially Lotor's plan all along, seeing as he was carrying on Honerva (his mother)'s research. The White Lion is piloted by Princess Allura and forms the "heart" of Voltron. 

Zarkon eventually obtains the Power Stone after it was put away for safe-keeping, increasing his power and his thirst for universal domination, and also putting a target on his back for other power hungry beings who have their own agenda for the universe. 

In the 21st century, the Galaxy Garrison launches their furthest yet deep space mission to Kerberos, captained by Takashi Shirogane, known to most as just Shiro. Their presence is picked up by a scouting Galra spaceship and Shiro, Matt Holt and Sam Holt are abducted without a trace. Shiro and Matt are sold off to fight in the Galra gladiator trials for entertainment, while Sam's intellectual prowess is exploited in a Galra prison camp. Shiro spends over a year in captivity. He would lose his right arm from the bicep down in a fight, for it to be replaced by a weaponised prosthesis that makes him even more formidable in the arena, earning him the moniker, "Champion."

Shiro is freed from captivity by Ulaz, a member of the Galra resistance (Blade of Marmora) who understood that Zarkon was too corrupt for the something like the infinity stones or the lions to end up in his hands. He had also heard of rumours of Thanos' movements in the universe, more radio chatter about the infinity stones and the lions than ever before. A member of the Blades, Krolia, had tipped Ulaz off that one of the lions was located on Earth and he helps Shiro escape in the hopes that he can get to the lion before Zarkon can - and Shiro also wants to make sure the lion is far away from Earth so Earth doesn't get caught in the crossfire of these intergalactic beasts, knowing that Earth was a long way away from being able to stand against such giants, even with supersoldiers and gods helping to defend the planet. 

Back on Earth, the Garrison is frustratingly unhelpful in following up with Shiro's story or in sending a search party out for Matt and Sam Holt, more interested in the Galra tech of his arm than the urgency of which they need to find the Lion located on Earth. Shiro's research, with the help of Keith and by association, Lance, Pidge and Hunk, takes him to the discovery of the Tesseract (also known as the Space Stone) which had been on Earth during the 2012 Chitauri attack thanks to Loki's sceptre. 

Pulling what data they can about the Space Stone, Hunk and Pidge are able to emulate its energy readings and finally track down the Blue Lion. Lance is able to pilot the lion and the five of them are jettisoned into space where they meet Coran and Princess Allura and decide that they have a responsibility to undo the havoc that Zarkon has wreaked across the universe for the last ten thousand years by tracking down the rest of the Lions. The fact that Thanos was rumoured to have another infinity stone in his possession was also worrisome. 

The lions were not designed to act as a weapon against the wielder of the six stones, the stones simply gave the lions their magical properties. However, as Voltron, it may stand a fighting chance. 

The Black, Red, Green and Yellow Lions are found easily enough, and they found Blue on Earth. The sixth member of the pack is more difficult to find. With the unexpected help of Prince Lotor, (Zarkon's son), they are able to defeat Zarkon - however this doesn't end the Galra reign, nor the chaos growing in the universe. Haggar, harbouring a suspicious obsession for Zarkon, manages to steal the Reality Stone from Thanos, in the hopes that the stone and the Red Lion would somehow allow her to bring back Zarkon (who is later revealed to be her husband). This creates a war between Haggar and Thanos which buys the Paladins time to find the missing Lion in order to form Voltron in for them to have even a fighting chance against whoever shall wield the six infinity stones. 

The team endure a lot as just five lions without ever forming Voltron before they finally find the White Lion in Oriande, to be piloted by Princess Allura. With the battlefield levelled up, they decide to take the fight to Thanos, before he can find the last of the Infinity Stones - but it comes little too late when half the living things around them, including three of the group of seven vanish into dust before their very eyes. 

Unable to form Voltron, it takes Shiro, and his three remaining teammates three years to return to Earth, helping planets thrown into disarray by the Blip where they can, but for the most part, there is no hope of recovery and the heaviness of their failure to stop this from happening hangs over their heads. When they do reach Earth, it's as desolate and in despair as much of the rest of the universe. Shiro and the paladins join forces with Natasha's watch team, keen to keep an eye on the Universe's movement in case new of familiar faces and friends they've made along the way pop up.

When the Avengers successfully pull off the “time heist,” Voltron is there for the final showdown with Thanos. (Because of Voltron’s assistance, they may be able to just kill Thanos and handle Thanos’ armies on their own - without Iron Man having to make that dying wish, but that’s open to interpretation). 

[rubymoon-snape]

Disclaimer: I don't own Voltron Defender of the Universe. I only own the character Ruby. I also don't own "Shot In The Dark," "Symphony," or "Perfect." "Shot In The Dark" is by Within Temptation. "Symphony" is by Clean Bandit. "Perfect" is by Ed Sheeran.

Summary: Keith gets Ruby a present.

Author Note: This is basically an author insert, though you could read it as an OC. This is Keith/OC (Ruby).

"The Gift"

Ruby volunteered for laundry duty for the pilots. She preferred to do her work alone...and away from Nanny. The woman was insufferable and rude to the pilots and even to the princess. She didn't want to have to interact with her a lot, so she volunteered to do the laundry, and the older woman didn't have a clue.

Ruby carried three baskets at once; not an impossible task since none of the baskets were completely full. She also had music playing on her device with her earbuds plugged in but only one in her ear, so she could hear if someone called to her. She stopped by Hunk's room first and put away his clothes. She then went to Pidge's room and repeated the process.

When she entered Lance's room, she had to pause at the framed picture on the Red Lion pilot's dresser. It was a picture of him and his girlfriend, Rachel. Ruby didn't envy Rachel as the other girl was a maid directly under Nanny's supervision. She shook her head and put away Lance's clothes, noting a few articles of female clothing she was sure she had seen Rachel wearing recently. She smiled as she put them in a previously empty drawer. 

The last stop was Keith's room, and it came as no surprise that it was empty, especially since none of the others were in their rooms either. She paused her music and removed her ear buds. She put the ear buds into one of her pockets and set her device on the dresser, pressing the play button. Music filled the room as she set about putting away her boyfriend's clothes. She started singing along to the song and dancing too the beat almost subconsciously.

%%%

Keith had given the team the afternoon off and had taken the time to visit the nearby market to buy a present for his girlfriend. He had seen the item the last time he was at the market, but since he had been on duty, he hadn't had the time to purchase it. It came in a long box with a little bow on top. Pleased with his purchase, he immediately went back to the castle. He decided to stop by his room before going to find his girlfriend. The minute the doors opened he heard music playing and his girlfriend singing, prompting him to hide the box in his hands behind his back.

"'Cause your soul is on fire

A shot in the dark

What did they aim for when they missed your heart?

"I breathe underwater

It's all in my hands

What can I do

Don't let it fall apart

"Oh, your soul is on fire

A shot in the dark

What did they aim for when they missed your heart?

"I breathe underwater

It's all in my hands

What can I do

Don't let it fall apart

"A shot in the dark

A shot in the dark

A shot in the dark

A shot in the dark

A shot in the dark."

The music changed from "Shot In The Dark" to "Symphony" as Keith approached her. "Hello, my dear."

Ruby gasped and spun around. "Keith!"

Keith handed over the box. "This is for you."

"For me? You didn't have to get me anything."

"I wanted to."

Ruby opened the lid and revealed a heart made of ruby on a gold chain. She gasped in delight. "Will you put it on me?"

Keith gently lifted the necklace from the box and unfastened it. Ruby faced away from the Commander and moved her hair out of the way. Keith clasped the chain around her neck. He drew her closer and held her against him, her back to his chest. He whispered into her ear, "Do you have any more work to do?"

She turned around, placed her arms around his neck, and whispered back, "I got all of them done early." 

The music changed from "Symphony" to "Perfect" as Keith bent down to capture her lips in a passionate kiss.

Fin

@queenscene2 @80sgaytrashgoblin @dotuindex @toastess-with-the-mostess @lion-time @breadstickcat

[fyrapartnersearch]

Get ready to form voltron!

Obligatory warning for a long post ahead: Whilst I know this post may be intimidating to some people. please do not let it put you off from reaching out to me :) “I say vol and you say tron! Vol…..” “Eh.... voltron?” “We’ll work on it.” Hello everyone! I hope you’re all doing well and that you’ve been able to stay safe and healthy during the pandemic (and that the easing of some restrictions depending on where you are has not negatively affected you). After binge watching legendary defender on netflix I’ve had the undying and uncontrollable urge to do a voltron rp. Now I bet you’re all wondering what I want and if you’re going to get to do some shipping.......we’ll I guess you’re just going to have to read on and find out. I’m looking for literate rper’s only. That means people who write in third person past tense, can give me at the very least one well thought out and fleshed paragraph (as well as be willing to write more when the situation calls for it) and has a decent grasp on their spelling, grammar and punctuation. I will not yell at you for the occasional bout of typonese but one liners, one worders, poorly written responses and lazy writing in general will not keep me around. If I can’t read what you’ve written and you’re not willing to put some effort in or correct it then there’s no point in me sticking around. I also require rper’s who’ve actually watched voltron whether it be legendary defender, defender of the universe or voltron force. If you’re someone whose a stickler for canon accuracy then I’m probably not the rper for you. When I rp in a fandom setting I treat it a bit like a base as in there’s rules to follow but I don’t have to follow them as if I’m reading the show script. To put it simply I value creativity and ideas that allow a different take on the characters and what could’ve happened. I only rp male alien or alien hybrid characters and they’re premade but flexible in how they’re written. I do not have pictures nor do I desire to spend endless hours of time to find a face claim of a creature that isn’t the typical different coloured humanoids you see in voltron. I have descriptions and that’s it. I do not care if your character is made up on the spot or if you prefer to rp as a canon character. Shippers......I’m sorry but I will not rp a canon character as anything other than a side. I do not rp them as mains so if you were looking for some sheith or klance I’m sorry to disappoint you. That being said you are free to play as any canon character you desire or an oc as I’m open to oc x oc pairings or oc x canon pairings (you being the canon character) and I do either MxM or FxM pairings. Romance and non fade to black smut will both occur in the rp but it must be slow burn. I do not do fast paced love at first sight as it’s just not something that holds my interest. No sub dom dynamics, switch dynamics only and please no characters whose entire personality is just one emotion or one trait they have. Guys.....please don’t call my aliens furries or whatever. I don’t rp generic spray painted humans and we’re rping in a world full of wacky and crazy aliens that have fur,scales,tails,multiple arms, etc so I find it Incredibly annoying to have a label forced on my character like it’s a bad thing. Alien means something not from earth, if a human was to be born on altea or daibazzal, it’d be considered an alien despite probably being a hundred percent human. If your view and comfort zone is restricted to aliens that look like an altean and nothing else then you needn’t not message me. I’m not going to make you rp with me if this is a dealbreaker so if you don’t heed this warning then you do not be rude after pulling a shocked pikachu. Be mature about it if you realise it’s a deal breaker rather than just blocking or suddenly deciding you no longer want to talk to me and that you’ll just ignore me till I unfriend you. DO NOT COME TO ME SAYING OR ASKING YOU WANNA DO A SHEITH RP/ DO YOU RP AS THESE CANON CHARACTERS! I cannot stress this enough. I don’t know how I can make it any clearer that I do not do canon character mains nor do I do rp’s solely for the purpose of shipping said rp characters. As I’ve said before, if you wanna play a canon character go ahead but I will not rp a canon character as anything other than a side. My oc’s are my mains. You and your characters must be 18+. I’m in my twenties and will not rp with a minor, especially since I have mature and adult themes in my rp’s that I do not want to get into trouble for Rping them with someone whose underaged. Underaged characters are just........a big no for the sole fact that my characters are adults and that i do not feel uncomfortable playing against underaged characters. You must be able to give me one or more responses a day. If it’s been two weeks since the last response and you’ve mysteriously disappeared then I’m not going to stick around for the day you decide to answer me. I do not like having my time wasted for any reason. My time zone is the eastern Australian time zone but I’m available and awake at odd hours so time zones aren’t too big of an issue for me. Remember that I’m looking for a long term partner, someone to carry an rp with for more than just a few days or a week and someone to write multiple stories with. I have tonnes of ideas and head cannons for the rp but I’m open to brainstorming and ideas. We can mix and match ideas till we get something we both like. I want this to be a shared job, don’t expect me to be the one to carry everything just cause I’m the one supplying the idea. Down below I’ve decided to list a couple of ideas that I have: New school defenders: the paladins of voltron have been defending the universe for years. Many stories of their countless victories, battles and struggles are something that every parent who was alive during the war told their children. Once the main three were taken out (haggar, lotor and zarkon) the paladins settled down to teaching the garrisons new generation of cadets. The new change in curriculum was welcome for many as well as a new change in ship style. To make sure that peace could be maintained in every quadrant of every galaxy the paladins of voltron has trained the cadets to fly animal styled space ships like the lions. The animal ship a pilot was assigned depended on their personality, strengths, weaknesses, how well they worked in a team and their style of fighting and piloting skills. The importance of team bonding was something the paladins basically preached. When news of the return of an old foe forces the paladins to return to their jobs as voltrons warriors and they suddenly disappear many write them off as dead or perhaps in distress. None of the superiors are interested to find out..... so who will? Lotor’s reign: It was unbelievable. It couldn’t be true. It had to not be true. Voltron taken down by lotor, son of the mighty emperor zarkon himself, and the paladins were now working for him without question as his top generals?! When the news had first hit many people had panicked whilst countless others had been slain for daring to believe and protest that it was all just some lie made up by the half galran prince who was now an emperor like his father before him. Princess Allura herself was locked away in an unknown location after refusing the cruel man’s hand in marriage so she is no help for what is now a lost hope. Lotor’s reign had well and truly begun all those years ago and it was holding steady. People had forgotten long ago that even in complete and utter darkness….one can always find a speck of light that burns bright no anger how small. Mirror mirror: For many years people believed the galra were a race of cruel, vicious, animalistic thinking beings whose only goal was to destroy and conquer words. No one would’ve ever believed that it was the peacekeeping alteans that had been working to plot the galaxy’s downfall. Voltron, belonged to the galrans, they’d been the ones who’d built it after all despite letting alfor pilot voltron’s right arm. When the king had been turned down on his idea to share the mighty robotic war machine he simply built his own. Five dragons that formed dracotron were what the alteans used as their voltron and weapon to conquer the galaxies. Emperor zarkon, under the advice of Haggar the witch, was one of the few world leaders who managed to get his people to safety. Ever since watching the great kingdoms that he’d known for almost ten thousand years fall under the alteans greed and obsession for power over peace, he prayed for miracle in whatever form he could get it in. When two young stragglers end up stranded on the galra’s second home world, the cards of fate are laid according to haggar, much to everyone else’s confusion. What could two lost souls possibly do to bring back what was lost to the alteans? Gamora’s guns: The guns of Gamora was a rebel group with the goal of foiling any plans of the altean empress allura. Led by the brave commander Sven and his somewhat neurotic sidekick Slav, the gun’s were spread far across the galaxy in little pockets of altean dominated space to keep tabs on the empires schemes and try their best to counteract them. The new recruits were aliens and humans from far and wide working together hand in hand to try and prevent a reign of terror from truly taking over. When plans for creating a super weapon fall on the ears of a trusted source, the newest batch of recruits are sent to locate, find and bring back the blueprints. Of course, such things are easier said than done. The chosen: Keith.lance.hunk.shiro (or Sven, depends on whether you want this to follow a legendary defender type story arc or one of the older series). Allura. Pidge. These were names that belonged to the universe's greatest heroes. Legends beyond all compare. They were champions of the universe and paladins of the mightiest robotic warrior to have ever been built: voltron. The great robot and the lions that formed it were well over ten thousand years old…..sadly for the paladins, they knew that they wouldn’t live to or beyond the great age their lions and oldest enemies had. The galaxy garrison had worked extra hard on ensuring that the next generation of pilots would be suitable candidates for the possibility of becoming voltron’s future paladins. Each paladin chose a student whom they felt like would be the most suitable to take their place and trained them with the knowledge that they were not the ones who had the final decision as to who flew who…..or even if they’d fly at all. What happens when one student fails and is rejected by not one but all the lions? What becomes of them and what is their place on team voltron? What happens to the rest of the team? Only time will tell, according to coran, such a thing has never happened before…...but what happens if it does? From all walks of life to the universe's greatest heroes: Shouldn’t have to explain this one too much. Forget the show paladins, bring your oc’s or next gens onto the table and let them take the stage! Before we reach the end of the post, here are some important reminders: 1: NO REACHING OUT TO ME ASKING FOR A CANON CHARACTER SHIPPING RP! I DO NOT DOUBLE SO DO NOT ASK! 2: DONT MESSAGE ME IF YOU’RE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH NOT VERY HUMANOID ALIENS! 3: NO GARY STU’S OR MARY SUES! GIVE YOUR CHARACTERS A PERSONALITY THAT ISN’T JUST ONE EMOTION OR TRAIT ONLY! For those who’ve read this thoroughly thank you and congratulations! If you’re at all interested please send me a request via one of the contacts below that says who you wanna be, which lion or paladin you think you’d most likely to be if you were in voltron, which idea you liked (or one of your own) and the numbers 123 to confirm you’ve read everything. My discord: tiberionsunsconqourer#6187 My telegram: Tiberionwars My hangouts: lleo52560@gmail.com Hope to write some awesome stories! Will accept requests as long as this ad is up.

[ao3feed-klance]

Of mistakes, determination, and many types of love

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/31pEdJh

by AndromedaFer

After the Kuron project successfully infiltrates the Voltron team, the information is more than useful to Haggar and his plans. This time, he has his sights set on the heart of Voltron, Lance, or rather, Leandro Mcclain. The ex-pilot of the blue lion and the current pilot of the red lion. Haggar has been keeping a close eye on him for a long time, so when the opportunity presents itself, he makes the same move that had previously worked for Kuron, and replaces Lance with the clone, Aldes.

Unlike Paladins, Haggar has a better view of Leandro's potential. With quintessentially ancient and powerful roots in his soul, and his recent death Leandro has to face his own mistakes and make decisions on which the fate of his universe depends.

Who really is Lance? Where's Shiro? They are fine? Are they still alive?

The lines between the enemy and the ally are blurred. There will be betrayals, alliances and sacrifices in order to reach the end of the war.

But one thing is for sure, and that is that Leandro would not let his universe end, nor would he let any of his friends die, even if they are idiots.

Words: 666, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: F/M, M/M

Characters: Lance (Voltron), Keith (Voltron), Keith's Wolf (Voltron), Krolia (Voltron), Lotor (Voltron), Hunk (Voltron), Pidge | Katie Holt, Shiro (Voltron), Adam (Voltron), Allura (Voltron), Coran (Voltron), Haggar (Voltron), Zarkon (Voltron), Kaltenecker (Voltron)

Relationships: Keith/Lance (Voltron), Adam/Shiro (Voltron), Hunk/Shay (Voltron)

Additional Tags: BAMF Lance (Voltron), Keith (Voltron) is a Mess, Protective Hunk (Voltron), Protective Keith (Voltron), Space Dad Shiro (Voltron), Protective Coran (Voltron), Pidge is a Bad Friend, Kosmo is so pure, Kaltenecker BAMf, Allura is a bad princess and friend, Adam needs a break, Neutral Lotor, Haggar is a crazy protective mom, she adopts Lance basically, that's a no no

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/31pEdJh

[a-marlene-s]

This is a... long list of stuff I have watched or read. Along with a list of Au’s I would write for.

If any of you want to know what ‘Fandoms’ I would write for, here’s a list of things I have seen or watched, and I am willing to write for. Along with a list of AU’s I will write for. 

Keep in mind, the list is subject to change and I had left out some things or I forgot about it. If any of you have any questions, throw me an ask or message.

Anime/Manga:

Books:

Ancient Magus’ Bride

Attack on Titan

Black Bird(Read the first couple of chapters, I need to go back an continue it.)

Black Butler

Black Lagoon(First season-ish?)

Bleach

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo

Cyborg 009

Digimon Frontier. (Due to reasons, I will only write for this season.)

Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball Z(Still a better love story than Twilight.)

Durarara!!(I really need to watch the rest of this…)

Fairy Tail

Fullmetal Alchemist/Brotherhood

Hellsing

Hetalia(I… I only watched it because my brother told me one of his friends watched it. There’s a fine line of insanity, and it crossed it for me.)

Howl’s Moving Castle

Inuyasha

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Kimetsu no Yaiba

La Corda D’Oro

My Hero Academia

Naruto/Naruto Shippuden/Buroto

Oban Star Racers(I love this show!!!!!!!!)

One Piece(First couple of seasons. It’s been a while…)

One Punch Man

Ouran High School Host Club

Ponyo

Prince of Tennis

Princess Mononoke(My first Studio Ghibli movie. I wasn’t even ten.)

Seven Deadly Sins

Shaman King

Soul Eater

Soul King

Spirited Away

Sword Art Online(Only watched the first couple of episodes. I like it.)

Tokyo Mew Mew

Trigun(I really need to rewatch this.)

Wolf Children

YuGiOh/YuGiOh GX/YuGiOh 5D’s(I will only write for Yugioh 5D’s. Due to personal reasons.)

Zatch Bell

Cartoons: (I’ve seen a lot more, but I won’t mention them here.)

A Christmas Carol

BFG

Charlotte’s Web

Harry Potter

House Of Night Series

Hunger Games(Only the first book.)

Twilight

Games:

6Teen

Addams Family

American Dragon: Jake Long

Atlantis

As Told By Ginger

Avatar: Last Airbender

Batman

Batman Beyond

Batman the Animated Series

Ben 10

Chalkzone

Code Lyoko

Codename: Kids Next Door

Courage The Cowardly Dog

Danny Phantom

El Tigre

Fillmore

Gargoyles

Generator Rex

Growing Up Creepie

Hazbin Hotel(I recently just watched the pilot… it was interesting.)

Hercules: The Animated Series

Hey Arnold

Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi

Jackie Chan Adventures

Jimmy Neutron

Johnny Test

Josie and the Pussycats

Kim Possible

Legend of Korra

Lilo & Stitch

Men in Black, The Series

Mighty Ducks

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Chat Noir

Monster High

Mummy: The Animated Series

My Life as a Teenage Robot

Mystery Skulls Animated

Pokémon

Proud Family

Pucca

Rocket Power

Rugrats/All Grown Up

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

Samurai Jack

Scooby Doo

Secret Saturdays

Speed Race: The Next Generation

Static Shock

Super Robot Monkey Team

Sym-Bionic Titan

Teen Titans

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Three Delivery

ThunderCats

Time Squad

Total Drama Series

Totally Spies

Voltron: Legendary Defender

Winx Club

X-Men

X-Men Evolution

Xiaolian Showdown

Yin Yang Yo

Young Justice

Movies:

(A lot of Otome games. Just ask.)

Dragon Age

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

Elder Scrolls: Blade

Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

Eldarya

Fable

Fallout

High School Story

Hollywood U

Love Nikki

Mortal Kombat

My Candy Love/University

My Forged Wedding

My Sweet Bodyguard

Mystic Messenger

Sly Cooper

Super Smash Brothers

Ty the Tasmanian Tiger

Tv Shows: (English and Spanish)

10,000 BC

101/102 Dalmatians

13 Ghosts

2012

50 First Dates

A Cinderella Story

A Little Princess

A-Team

Ace Ventura

Addams Family

Agent Cody Banks

Alice in Wonderland

Aliens/Predator

An American Tail

Anastasia

Annie

Antz

Aristocrats

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

August Rush

Batman

Beauty and the Beast  

Beetlejuice

Big Hero 6

Black Cauldron

Borrowers

Brave

Camp Rock

Casper

Charlie Angels

Cinderella

Coco

Conjuring

Coraline

Corpse Bride

Crimson Peak

Dawn of the Dead

Despicable Me

Doctor Doolittle

Ella Enchanted

Emperor’s New Groove

Epic

Fifth Element

Finding Nemo

Firehouse Dog

Forrest Gump

Frozen

Green Mile

Hairspray

Halloweentown

Harry Potter

Hellboy

High School Musical

Hobbit

Hocus Pocus

Holes

Homeward Bound

Hotel Transylvania

How To Train Your Dragon

Hunchback of Norte Dame

Hunger Games(One the first movie.)

I Am Legend

I, Robot

Ice Princess

The Incredibles

Independence Day

Inside Out

Iron Giant

James and the Giant Peach

John Wick

Jumaji

Krampus

Kung Fu Panda

Legend of Tarzan

Lila & Stitch

Lord of the Rings

Matilda

Meet the Robinsons

Megamind

Moana

Mostly Ghostly

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium

Mummy

Nanny McPhee

Night At the Museum

Nightmare Before Christmas

Parent Trap

Penelope

Peter Pan

Phantom of the Opera

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pocahontas

Polar Express

Princess and the Frog

Princess Diaries

 Moves under the Main Disney Banner:

Bones

Marvel or under the same publication:

Snow White

DC Films: 

X-Men

DC Animted:

Superman I, II, II (1978, 80 and 83)

LIst of AU’s I will write for:

Superman: The Animated Series

A Christmas Carol

[kittystargen3]

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13523059/1/The-Skywalker-Tale-A-Legacy-Restored

My newest fanfic

Chapter 1: Making a Stand, a Precious Birth

One day on the planet D'Qar in the Ileenium system, an old man was dragged out of a shuttle by an irate looking bluish ghost.

"Bring out the General!" The ghost shouted at a stunned looking pilot. Though the ghost had a young form, his eyes were much older.

General Leia Organa had sensed something as soon as the shuttle landed on her new Resistance base, and she walked out of a building looking for them. "Han," she said in shock when she saw the old man.

"Princess," He was unharmed, except maybe for his pride, but he dusted himself off the same. His eyes then danced towards the bluish ghost in the room.

When Leia met his ghostly eyes, hers were filled with terror.

"Honey, I'm home." said the ghost of Anakin Skywalker innocently.

"What are you doing here!" Leia shouted angrily. She lifted up her cane and gave it a swing, straight through his ghostly appearance.

Though it could obviously do no damage, Anakin backed up a step and held out a hand defensively. "I know I have a lot of sins to live down, and I haven't been the best father, but I thought you'd both want to hear what I have to say. I found a way to save our Ben."

"Don't..." Leia was near tears.

"It's all thanks to you anyway!" Han shouted.

"It's not..." Leia started.

"Well, he didn't inherit his dark side tendencies from my side of the family." Han turned accusingly towards Anakin.

Anakin thought back to the day young Ben was born. As a ghost you'd expect things to go smoothly into the after life, only Anakin had bonds with both Luke and Leia that only grew stronger with his death. Whenever one was in pain, whether it be of the heart or body, he felt it too.

"Anakin! What's wrong?" Obi-Wan reached out.

"Pain. I'm in so much pain," Anakin cried. After a little while the pain receded, and Anakin felt well again. Some time later, Anakin gasped in pain again. Several former Jedi were now gathered around him, worried looks on everyone's faces. They mumbled between themselves, but no one suggested anything to help.

"Come, lets go see the Auctor." Obi-Wan helped Anakin up after the pain stopped again.

"Do you think something happened to them? The war is over, isn't it?" Anakin fretted.

Obi-Wan's face had an amused expression. "Hmm, Leia was expecting, last we checked on them. It's been seven minutes. She's getting close."

"You really think?" Anakin jumped up and ran with Obi-Wan the rest of the way.

The Auctor inhabited a workshop in the other relm. Its walls were lined with bookshelves, and in the middle of the room was a large still and numerous bottles.

As Anakin ran into the room he startled a creature, perched on the Auctor's shoulders. The creature jumped down and the bottle the Auctor had been holding fell down with it in a crash. It spilled a black oily liquid on the floor.

"Ooh, Why did you have to do that!" The Auctor growled.

"We do apologize for our haste," Obi-Wan placated.

"It wasn't our fault," Anakin defended. "The creature..." Anakin pointed to where it sat now, across the room, on a book which was opened on a stand.

"Creature… He's a monkey. Comes from a planet in a galaxy far, far away." The Auctor reached out his arm and the monkey jumped back over to him. "He has feelings too, that's right, and their hurt." The monkey rubbed his head into the Auctor's finger as he cooed.

Anakin thought he saw a trace of the black oily substance on the book when the monkey jumped off, but in another second it was gone.

"And this is the dark side of Palpatine's soul. I've been distilling it for a whole year. Filtering out the light side bits, there wasn't much in the man." The Auctor fretted, while cleaning up the black puddle. On the table, still attached to the machine was another vial with a few drops of blue liquid. "What do you want, anyways?"

Anakin moved to answer, but was struck down by another shooting pain. "Aah, I think it's getting worse."

"Breathe boy, remember to breathe." Obi-Wan put his hands on Anakin.

"Ooh, I see," The Auctor waved to the book on the stand. "Go ahead. Do your Jedi thing and access the relm of the living." As Anakin walked up to the book, The Auctor turned to Obi-Wan "You know I miss the good old days, when you jedi would die, and then leave me alone. That whole no attachments thing had it's advantages. Now you guys are constantly running in here and interfering with my work. I never get anything done anymore." He motioned wildly with his hands as he spoke.

"Hey, it's not working." Anakin looked up alarmed.

The Auctor stepped closer to the book. "You've got the wrong page there, don't you. That skill of yours doesn't allow for time travel." He started to page through the book. "And look, you've gotten creases in the pages too."

"I'm sure my padawan wishes to apologize," Obi-Wan said with a forced nod to Anakin.

"It wasn't me, it was the Monkey." Anakin said under his breath. Obi-Wan gave another forced nod, and Anakin complied. "I'm sorry."

"It's no problem. I'll apply a steamed press to the pages later. No permanent damage done. There, this is today's page." The Auctor pointed to the open book.

"We thank you very much," Obi-Wan said as Anakin projected himself into our relm.

He arrived in a hallway in a hospital in Hanna City, Chandrila. He walked towards a room where he heard voices.

"Oh, Han. I had to be there. It was the signing of the Galactic Concordance. You know how much work I've, we've all put in to get to this point," said Leia.

"You're nine months pregnant!" Han sounded upset. "I had to get the call from these boys that you were being taken here by ambulance. I nearly had a heart attack. You can't tell me it was so urgent that she be there."

"Her signature as an official witness to the signing was necessary to make the concordance a legitimate legal document." recited Sondiv Sella, an adviser and one of the two 'boys' Han had referred to earlier.

"Really?" Han eyed both men suspiciously.

"No, not really." The other, Sinjir Rath Velus, eyed the floor nervously. "Though her status does add to the legitimacy of the document."

"I was there by Mon Mothma's request, and I wouldn't have had it any other way." Leia said in a voice meant to close the argument. "Besides I didn't know I was going into labor till the signing was underway."

"Just when did this all start?" asked Han.

"This morning it started with a backache. But then I'm nine months pregnant. A backache is no surprise. When Mon Mothma was applying her signature, my water broke. By that time I had no choice, I had to wait until the signings were finished. Oooh…" Han ran over to hold Leia's hand, but she batted him away. "Water, I need water."

Meanwhile Obi-Wan came up to Anakin in the hallway. "Come, let's give them some privacy. This way is the waiting room."

Anakin and Obi-Wan followed the two advisers as they made their way out of the hospital room.

"Father…" Luke's eyes were wide as he greeted them in the waiting room.

Anakin was then gripped by another bout of pain as Leia, in the other room likely had another contraction.

"He's going through sympathy pains, I'm afraid," explained Obi-Wan. "I'm glad Leia made it here in time. I understand it was touch and go for a while."

Beside Luke the large Wookiee, Chewbacca, growled a question at Luke.

"It's my father, and Ben Kenobi." He turned back to Obi-Wan. "Not really serious. Just that Mon Mothma opted to call an ambulance to fly her to the hospital to be safest. Han reacted as, well Han, when he heard. I imagine he's making far bigger deal out of it than he needs to."

Anakin couldn't remember any more of the conversation between Obi-Wan, Luke, and the Wookiee if he tried. The next thing he remembered was the strongest of painful bouts ending and a nurse-droid coming out some time later and announcing Leia had given birth to a healthy baby boy.

Luke and Chewbacca moved to go visit with the new mother and father. Anakin began to follow them, when Obi-Wan stopped him. "We're gonna let Luke go in first. Let him explain our visit to them."

So Anakin waited… and he waited… until he got an idea. "Can't I just go incorporeal. I'll be really quiet. They won't even know I'm watching. Pp-please," Anakin begged.

Obi-Wan sighed, and fretted. "Ok, fine. But stay incorporeal until Luke says it's alright.

"Yesss!" Anakin seemed to vanish from our relm as he continued to project himself, but without a physical appearance.

As he entered the room, Anakin headed straight for the bassinet. Inside lay a baby boy, with dark hair, large ears, and his mother's eyes. Anakin reached over the infant, enveloped in those innocent eyes. As he did so, the baby cooed and reached to grab for Anakin's hand. Though he was still incorporeal, infants are often sensitive to such things. Especially force sensitive infants.

"No!" Leia's voice was firm.

"But Leia…," Luke pleaded.

"No, I won't have him anywhere near my boy. You may say he's changed, but you just don't change from that type of monster. No!" Leia's voice broke.

"He became a force ghost at the end. It wouldn't have worked if he still..."

"Come on..." Han interrupted Luke when Leia began to cry.

Anakin listened to his son plead his case and he felt immense guilt. His children shouldn't be arguing for his sake. He resigned himself to what he'd have to do, and turned again to stroke at the face of his grandson one last time. As he pulled away the infant began to cry.

"Stop." Anakin said to Luke, as he became corporeal again. "If it is what you wish, I will leave and have no part in the child's upbringing."

Leia jumped. Han stepped forward with his arms crossed. "It's what we wish," Leia said. Her voice did not waver.

Anakin nodded, the turned to Han. "Take care of them, or you will be seeing me again." As Anakin turned to leave our relm Obi-Wan stood next to the infant with a look of sympathy in his eyes.

Obi-Wan stayed to watch the infant, who lay sleeping in his bassinet. A nurse started to coo Leia into resting after ushering Han and Luke out of the room. Leia looked up at Obi-Wan and whispered "Ben."

When the nurse looked up, all she saw was the child, for Obi-Wan had faded from our relm.

Later that day, when the nurse got Leia up and prepared to nurse, she handed the baby to Leia saying, "Here's Baby Ben."

"Ben!" Leia looked at the nurse in shock.

"Earlier, when you were napping, you called him that. I thought..." she defended herself.

"Little Ben. I like the name." Han said.

Leia smiled, as she remembered Obi-Wan, Ben Kenobi. "Our only hope… Sounds fitting."

Anakin watched these events in silence.

Back in the present, Anakin waved his hands to placate Leia and Han. "Since he was born, I've respected your wishes. You said don't interfere, and I hadn't. I hadn't interfered in his life. But I also said to take care of them, or you will be hearing from me again…"

Han shifted, his arms subconsciously preparing for a fight.

"This isn't about you and me anymore. It's about my grandson. And with the current situation as it is, you can't argue me away this time." Anakin's mouth closed in a rigid line. His hands moved to his hips. "Not this time."

Why, Yes, I did just suggest a monkey's ass print as an explanation for Palpatine's sudden, and from what I hear, unexplained return to the world of the living. You're welcome.

This is my second Fanfiction. My other is still in progress. I will likely be focused on finishing it before I add more to this one. I just wanted to get this out before I finish the other one so I can share it easier. Follow to be notified when I post another chapter.

I am an unpublished, so far, hobby writer, and I write fanfiction to practice and improve my skills. So If you could be so kind to leave me a note with your thoughts, be they positive or negative, I would appreciate that very much. It helps me to know what you are thinking.

And a note on Canon... I do try to do a lot of research, and while some bits are entirely from my own imagination, example the Auctor, I do read what I can on Wookieepedia to keep things consistent. I also have not yet seen TROS, though I got my ideas here, after reading the spoilers and reviews. If I did get anything wrong, or if I missed anything that stands out to you, please leave me a comment.