#Tlk

[australet789]

TLK: Kings and Successions Gen 8

Generation 8 could have been the perfect generation.

Mohatu (who was originally named Wahabu, "god of love") was as much humble as he was as strict with his guard and the Lion Guard, led by his brother. Kudura ("might"), worked like a perfect clock.

Regardless of this, the Pridelanders were ungrateful, making the Guard and King solve every tiny problem they had without saying a single "thank you" to them. After all, it was their job to protect their subjects, specially since the hyenas stopped being allies.

So when a drought hit The Pridelands, havoc wrecked.

Zungumzo ("gossip"), was the first to die out of exhaustion, running around the land trying to hear every complain and bring it back to the King. Kudura was the second to sucumb to the lack fo water.

Without a leader and Takatifu ("clean") wanting to leave the Guard, Mohatu decided to end the madness and find a water source all by himself. Sadly, Takatifu would perish during Mohatu's absent protecting the King's daughter from the other animals. And when the herds didnt want to take responsibility for the murder, the King dismantled the rest of the Lion Guard and didn't choose another, no matter how much The Pridelanders begged Mohatu for forgiveness.

The Spirits, agreeded with the King's decision.

Hila ("cunning") and Kijitu ("huge") would survive and become the grandparents of Scar's fastest, and strongest and bravest, respectivately.

<< GEN 7 │ GEN 8 │GEN 9 >>

[kattylender]

[imtryingbuck]

Kindness for those who need it.

~ gif not mine credit to owner ~

Pairing: Finan x fem!Reader

Summary: Y/n is Uhtreds sister, and she meets Finan.

Word count: 3,031

Warnings: fluff. angst. swearing. mentions of slavery. death. mentions of hunting animals (not detailed!). Finans in love and so is Y/n. hint at sexual activity at the end.

A/N: thank you so much anon for sending me this request🤍

Masterlist

“Uhtred!” The birds scattered into the sky as she continued to call out for the man, despite being tired and hungry she refused to give up on him as she got further away from the makeshift camp - she knew that Ragnar would end up finding her when it got too dark for her to be out in the woods on her own, so she wasn’t so worried about getting lost. “Uhtred!”

The sound of a horse galloping towards her had her feet stopping, her heart pounding in her chest, turning around she saw Ragnar slowly approaching her. “It is time to come back now.”

“No.”

“No?”

“I haven’t searched the whole woods yet.”

Sighing as he hopped off his horse, he slowly approached her only for his heart to squeeze painfully as she took a step back from him. “It is getting too dark now, we will search tomorrow.”

“I can not give up on him, he is my brother.” She says wrapping her arms around her, the cold air started to hurt her bones. “Please Ragnar.”

“I promise we will continue looking for him, I give you my word.”

“He is all I have, I can not and will not give up on him.”

It was Ragnars turn to take a step back, recoiling as if she had stabbed him with the sharpest blade known to man. It wasn’t true. She had Brida even if they didn’t always see eye to eye, sometimes arguing with each other until their throats were sore - and nine out of ten times they would then team up and argue with the person that was stupid enough to try and get in the middle of them. But she had him, she was his baby sister - it didn’t matter that they weren’t related by blood, she was his sister. He remembers the day that his father brought back the two children, he had just turned twenty when the scared siblings were brought into his family home. A seven year old Y/n took to him instantly and absolutely loved running circles around him - she was the only one that could have his full attention whenever she demanded it, happily playing the games she came up with and not even caring when she changed the rules just so she could win. She had him, she always did and will do until it was his time to go to Valhalla. “You know that is not true.”

“I- I know, but-but…”

“It is not the same.” He finished, a small smile tugging at his lips as she nodded. “I am here, always.”

“Always?”

Nodding, he opened his arms for her, stumbling slightly as she collided into his chest. “Lets go back, we have a long day tomorrow.”

When morning came, Ragnar handed Y/n a pile of stones he had found, watching as she laid the stones out in a symbol as a sign for Uhtred if he somehow stumbled up on them - letting him know that she was looking for him. It had been something they had done since they were children. Following closely behind Ragnar they made their way to Wessex.

A not so subtle grin on her lips as the three of them slowled their horses down, walking through the streets of Wessex, the crowds gasping in horror at seeing three Danes walk carefree. Brida had been taken away, Y/n had to grip Ragnar’s arm to keep him from attacking the king - who had ordered one of his men, Steapa, to help the siblings look for the man. Hild happily joined too.

Making their way to Eofwic, they meet with Guthred who informs them that he sold Uhtred and Halig to a slave trader, both Ragnar and Steapa had to grab ahold of Y/n as she launched forward trying to attack the weasel - calling him every insult she could think of as Steapa carried her away on his shoulder.

“Calm down.”

“Calm down?” Her face scrunching up in disgust. “You want me to calm down, when that… that prick has sold our brother and friend?”

“He may be a prick but he is a king.”

“He is not a king, he is a toad and a weasel and-and a coward! Ragnar he has sold our brother!”

“I know! But we will get Uhtred back.”

“He could be anywhere, or worse, he could be dead.” Not interested in what her oldest brother has to say back she walks past him, knocking into him as she did so.

As spring finally arrived, they waited near the beach for the sea trader named Sverri - who had brought Uhtred and Halig - to come back, when one of Ragnar’s men told them that a ship was near by Y/n’s heart skipped a beat - or two. Whilst they waited, hidden away she couldn’t stop pacing up and down, going from biting her nails to her lip, tying her hair up only to undo it and do it again, to even practicing how she was going to greet her brother - much to Ragnar and Steapa’s enjoyment, she finally settled on nodding her head and waving at him.

When it was time, Ragnar gave them the signal, they rode in on horseback swords drawn and ready, she was right behind her brother - her eyes searching for her other sibling. Then she sees him doing a double take because he didn’t look like her brother, weak, disheveled and broken, that wasn’t the man she knew but then she saw his eyes, jumping off her horse and running straight towards him, she dropped to her knees her hands shakily going to his face whispering his name before wrapping her arms around his boney form and pulling him into her, crying as she does.

Ragnar’s heart broke at seeing his siblings clinging onto each other, like Y/n he couldn’t believe what his brother had been reduced to, a strong man beaten and broken. Slowly approaching, he fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around them - not caring at who was watching. “Sweet girl, go and free the men.” He whispered into her hair, smiling softly as she kissed Uhtred’s dirty forehead.

Making her way over to where the men who had been subjected to the most unimaginable abuse, she pulled her dagger out and began cutting the thick layers of rope that were binding their wrists tightly together. “You are free.” She told them.

Getting to one man she faltered, his watery, pained brown eyes broke her heart, as she cut the rope his eyes went from hers to the sword on her hip to a man that was being held back by Ragnar’s men then back to her, despite no words being exchanged she knew, she knew what he wanted, handing her sword - that was gifted to her by Uhtred many years before - she watched as he limped over to the man. No one moved, no one said anything as the man pulled her sword up, shivers went down her spine as the only sound was the man strongly yet heartbreakingly whispering. “Pull.” Before the blade went through the traders throat.

Her sword, now coated in blood, hit the ground with a soft thud, she approached him as his legs began to buckle before he could hit the ground she grabbed ahold of him, slowly and carefully bringing him to the floor, bringing him into her chest she held him as his body shook. “You are free, you are free.”

When Uhtred broke the news to her that Halig had died, she choked back a sob, hoping it was a lie but seeing his body finally being removed from the bow of the ship she held Uhtred’s hand, her other hand holding the other mans, she cried as her friends body was wrapped up - his sword in his hand. A grave was dug for him by the Danes, one of them even creating a cross out of two sticks. Her sweet, annoying, loyal Halig had lost his life in a brutal way, she didn’t want to imagine the pain he felt or how scared he must have been, she didn’t want to imagine how life was now different without him, she didn’t know who she was going to now trust other than herself and Ragnar with the only important thing in her life - Uhtred. “Goodbye, my friend. We will meet again one day I promise, thank you for everything.” She whispered as she laid a flower Hild had picked for her, on his grave.

That night everyone was sitting around the firepit eating the many rabbits one of the men had caught and cooked, Y/n kept handing Uhtred meat even when he insisted he was full, Hild watching with a subtle smile on her lips as her friend was oblivious to the fact that she had gained someones attention because she was too busy staring at Uhtred - too scared he would disappear again.

“You should have seen her brother, pacing up and down, practicing how she was going to great you - she settled on a wave, did you not Y/n?” Ragnar the Younger chuckled as she stuck her tongue out at him.

“I do not think she has ever hugged me that tightly before.” Uhtred laughed, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer. “However, I will not complain.”

As the brothers retold the stories of growing up with Ragnar the Fearless as a father, and stories of the havoc the youngest of the children would get up to, she noticed the man whose name she didn’t - Uhtred had told her but she wasn’t listening - get up and move away, choosing to sit closer to the sea. Hild nudged her leg and gestured to the man, understanding what her friend was silently suggesting she slowly approached him. “Hi.”

“L-Lady.”

“I am not a lady.” She laughed. “My name is Y/n.”

“Finan.”

“May I sit?” He nods, keeping his eyes on her as she sits next to him. “Will you be joining my brother?”

“If he will have me, I will be honoured to serve him.”

“He trusts you.”

“How do you know that?”

“I saw the way he looked at you when you killed that bastard, he trusts you.”

Picking up a stone, Finan looked over at the ship that was still burning thanks to them. “Your brother and Halig spoke fondly of you.” At the mention of her friend unshed tears began to burn her eyes, he noticed as a tear fell down her cheek. “I-I did not mean to upset you.”

“You have not, I miss him already.”

“Aye, I did not know him long but he was a good man.”

“That he was.” She agreed, smiling as memories flashed in front her eyes. “He could be annoying sometimes, and he would always eat my food if I was to slow.”

Finan chuckled. “He kept winding Uhtred up by telling him that he was going to marry you.”

“No he did not!” Y/n burst out giggling imagining her brothers reaction. “He would have to get the permission from both of my brothers, which he would not have gotten.”

“How come?”

“There is no man worthy of you, Y/n.” She says imitating Ragnar’s voice. “Or as Uhtred would say if he can survive me killing him, then he can marry you.”

The Irishman burst out laughing, he couldn’t remember the last time he laughed, honestly. “They are protective I see.”

“Annoyingly so.”

They fell into a comfortable silence watching as the waves went back and forth, until Finan spoke back up. “C-Can I borrow your dagger?” Without questioning why he needed it, she handed over her favorite dagger. “It is so I can shave, thank you.”

Watching with a baited breath as he attempted to blindly shave the thick bush of hair on his face, wincing as he got too close to his skin. “Do- would you like me to do it?”

“Will you?” She nods. “Thank you.”

“It is okay.” Moving to rest on her knees smiling shyly when he spread his legs open so she could rest in between them, she carefully began shedding the hair - the whole time Finan couldn’t take his eyes off of her. “There.”

“Thank you, I feel like myself again.” Handing over the stone he was fiddling with to her. “As payment, my lady.”

“I have told you, I am not a lady.” Laughing as she takes the stone, she already knew she was going to treasure it forever. Handing him her dagger, he gave her a questioning look. “For trusting me bring a blade close to your face, no one has ever do that before.”

His eyes open comically causing her to fall into a fit of giggles.

Ragnar watched the scene before him, jaw clenched tightly as he heard his sister giggling - a sound he hadn’t heard in such a long time. Uhtred sat beside him, a grin on his broken lips.

It’s now been three years since Ragnar, Y/n, Steapa and Hild rescued Uhtred and Finan.

The Irishman was currently watching as Y/n played with a young Stiorra, a lovesick look in his eyes as he does so, everyone knew how he felt towards his lords sister - everyone but her. He couldn’t help it, not that he tried to stop it, for falling in love with her, from the moment they met she treat him with nothing but kindness and respect, she defended him whenever it was needed, she held him close at night when he had nightmares either from the torture he enduered on the slave ship or the images he saw on the battlefield, she fattened him up by piling his plate with food - watching and waiting as he ate every bite only for her to then put more on, she was the one who brought the spark and fire back into his eyes, the determination to survive each battle was because of her, he truly believed she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on - he would start fights with men who stared at her far to long for his liking. For Finan falling in love with Y/n was easy as breathing. It hurt, her not knowing how he felt, but he didn’t want to lose her so he kept quiet.

Sihtric knew how his friend felt, and because he was fed up of hearing Finan moaning and complimenting Y/n, he decided to tease him. “Lord, the man Y/n will be marrying, is he a good man?”

Uhtred’s eyes went wide. Y/n marrying? Since when? Frowning as he looked at the Dane, who nodded to the Irishman to his left - who was still yet to take his eyes off of Y/n. That’s when it hit him, he too decided to tease his friend by playing along. “Yes, he is.”

“Do you think he will treat her right?”

“Of course, or she would hurt him.” The two men laughed whilst Osferth sat there really confused to what was happening. “But yes he will treat her right.”

“Wait… what?” Finan’s eyes moved away from Y/n to Uhtred. “Who will treat who right?”

“The man marrying Y/n.”

“Oh.” All three of them felt instantly bad as Finan lowered his head, shrinking into himself as he gripped his cup tightly. “I did not realise she was marrying.”

“You have my blessing.” Uhtred said before his brain could catch up. Everyone knew that he didn’t want Y/n to marry, he knew how his friend felt, but he also knew how she felt for him; he honestly couldn’t hear her talking about him or how attractive the man is, or her telling him every single detail about the day she had with him one more time. But he knew in his heart that he didn’t trust any other man - aside from himself, Sihtric, Osferth and Ragnar - to protect, care and love her, and if they got married it meant he didn’t have to lose her and never see her again. He couldn’t think of a better man than Finan to marry his little sister, so giving the man his blessing he didn’t need to think about it. “I know she feels the same.”

“W-what? Ye can not be serious!” Finan stuttered. “I- she feels the- is this a joke?”

“I am not joking unless you do not wish-”

“No! No I do.” Downing the rest of his mead, he jumped up fixing his clothes - nearly tripping over his own feet as he did so, he made his way over to where Y/n was still happily playing with Stiorra. “Lady Y/n, c-can I speak with you?”

“You do not have to ask.” She chuckled, gesturing to Stiorra to go to her mother. “What is it?”

“Will- do you- erm.” As he stumbled over his words, his cheeks going even redder than they already were due to hearing the trio chuckling from their seats on the bench. Blurting out. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes.”

“What? Really?” Sihtric and Uhtred doubled over with laughter, Osferth rolled his eyes.

“Do you not want to-”

��I do! I want to marry you.” Pulling her closer by her waist, he searched her eyes for any doubted - finding none, he placed his lips on hers, both sighing in content.

The kiss comes to an end when a non subtle cough comes from the side of them.

“Go away Uhtred!” Y/n rolls her eyes as her brother stands there with his arms crossed and a disapproval look on his face, taking a hold of Finan’s hand she begins to drag him away, leading the Irishman towards her home.

“Where are you doing?”

“To celebrate with my fiance.” Finan’s eyes were practically bulging out as he registered Y/n’s words, a tent already forming uncomfortably in his trousers. Sihtric sat there choking on air. Osferth was gripping his cross and muttering a prayer. And Uhtred? Well he stood there stumbling over his words, whether in shock or horror she didn’t know nor care. Giggling as she shouts. “Do not disturb us!”

Tags: @cheesesandwichsanto

[kaythefloppa]

CHAPTER 20: THE PROBLEM WITH PIRANHAS

A shortage of piranhas plunges the rainforest ecosystem into chaos; The Lion Guard must journey upriver to find the source of the scarcity and restore the balance.

Roar Towards The Future - Masterpost:

I decided that rather than constantly posting separate update fics, that I’d turn my fanfiction based on The Lion Guard into a masterpost. I’ll make it into a huge masterpost/master-chain so that people will properly be able to have better access to the fanfic and to keep my self-promo more organized as well as their synopsis to make it presentable as an “episode list” (even though this is more or less a separate continuation fic rather than a fan-Season 4 of The Lion Guard). So here we go for the chapters that I’ve currently uploaded. The next ones will be promoted through reblogs. If you’re yet to read the fanfic then this’ll be a good start for you.

Synopsis for Roar Towards the Future. - Rated PG-13 for mature themes (involving but not limited to death, violence, blood, profanity, implied suicide, and trauma/grief).

After a long journey outside of the Pridelands, the Lion Guard continue their life-long mission to defend the Circle of Life, now at the legendary Tree of Life. Fighting alongside them are the Night Pride, led by Rani. As the team of protectors journey into adulthood, new trials and challenges arise for them in the future; faces from the past begin to appear: Eyes are opened wider than ever before. The Circle of Life changes for them, and the heroes face their biggest challenges ever that will change their lives forever:

CHAPTER 1: LONG LIVE THE KING AND QUEEN:

A new dawn arises over the Tree of Life as Kion and Rani take the throne.

CHAPTER 2: OF MANES AND MJUZIS:

Two kingdom saving couples on a race, some puberty hints, and a medicine-mastering mandrill.

CHAPTER 3: BUNGA & BINGA:

A meerkat, a warthog, a honey badger, and a sloth bear walk into a termite mound. Sounds like a set-up for a bad joke. Is actually a love-story.

CHAPTER 4: CULTURE SHOCK:

A tour through the Tree of Life leads to some revelations, recollections, and riveting info.

CHAPTER 5: DOUBTS:

Not everyone is happy about the union of the Tree of Life’s new rulers. Are these objections paranoic or prophetic?

Chapter 6: Tutaonana Baadaye

The Pridelanders' visit to the Tree of Life comes to an end. The former Lion Guard of the Pridelands prepare their goodbyes as they officially begin their new chapter:

Chapter 7: Predators vs. Patrol

The Lion Guard begin their first patrol at the Tree of Life as the newest members of the Night Pride. Defending the Circle of Life had been their duty... their destiny, and despite their departure from the Pridelands, that would never change. Unfortunately, as an old enemy of theirs had once said, destiny can be full of surprises...

CHAPTER 8: PLANS AND PATIENCE:

The Night Pride, with the combined forces of half the Lion Guard launch their mission to save the injured animal in a race against time.

CHAPTER 9: RACE FOR THE MEDICINE:

Fuli and Makini rush to find plants that could serve as medicine for healing at the Tree of Life. It may take a new friend in order to save the day.

CHAPTER 10: LIFE OR DEATH:

To live or to die is the question: The Night Pride discovers the answer.

CHAPTER 11: THE FUNERAL

The three victim's of today's incident are buried, and two members of the Lion Guard have differing reactions:

CHAPTER 12: DANGERS AND DREAMS:

Whilst the Lion Guard patrols during the day, the Night Pride guards and protects animals of the night at any cost. Even if that cost is one of their own lives.

CHAPTER 13: A SCORE TO SETTLE:

The Night Pride and Lion Guard's failings are let slip to a land outside the Tree of Life, where a dangerous foe with a score to settle plans on using it for her own nefarious purposes.

Chapter 14: Speed, Sisters, and Sons

With Fuli still out of commission, a replacement is needed and one certain animal dares to step up to the plate: Meanwhile certain members of the Lion Guard and Night Pride embark on side-quests in the name of family.

[krossan]

if the movie Mufasa was 2D animated

[hoosbandewan]

EWAN MITCHELL as OSFERTH The Last Kingdom — 4.06

[oceantoyz]

[rethornall]

Kiara's new boyfriend

[despazito]

dumbest thing ive drawn in a while

[nrandomartist]

Small man and his giant angry wife

[australet789]

TLK: He Lives In Us

He is now among the stars.

Rest in Peace, James Earl Jones.

[livmondcole]

Similarities between Aemond and Osferth

[artist-issues]

Let’s talk about this Mufasa movie.

No. Let’s not. Let’s just talk about Mufasa. This is going to be long because he’s a really good character and The Lion King is a really good movie.

Mufasa’s whole point, as a character, is to foil Simba. He’ s not just the stereotypical “great dad role model” character, or the “wise mentor who is ripped away” character.

He, as a character, is in the story because he is “Who Simba Really Is.”

Simba is our young protagonist. The whole point of Simba in the story is to start out “not yet grown into who he really is,” so that the story can teach him how to “grow into who he really is.”

So the audience needs to know “who is Simba and who is Simba supposed to be?” right at the beginning. Which is great, because all kids are trying to figure out the same question about themselves. So it’s relatable. But anyway, the storytellers make Mufasa the answer.

On a simple level, you can answer the question, “who is this Simba guy?” right off the bat in the movie with “the son of the King.” There’s the setting. There’s the set-up. There’s the title of the movie. That’s why the very first lion you’re introduced to in the movie is Mufasa, and it’s not a shot of a baby lion cub. It could have been. Lots of movies open with a shot of their main character. Encanto, for one.

Not The Lion King. The Lion King starts with, “you can’t know who Simba is without Mufasa, so Mufasa gets shown first.”

So okay, Mufasa is a King. Good to know. That’s obvious from the big rock he’s standing on and the way all the animals are coming toward him. But from there, they quickly establish a few more things about Mufasa. He smiles at this little bird that bows to him. He hugs the shaman-monkey. He goes from “big solemn lion” to “good and benevolent” immediately.

And then as it goes on, you learn more about Mufasa. He’s not an idiot; he knows Scar is up to no good, and he is very direct about it. He is not a naive dupe, trusting a schemer blindly. It’s more complicated than that. He is a better leader and a better guy than that. Mufasa knows Scar is his brother, and in a snappy little interaction with Zazu, storytellers make it clear that he worries about Scar; he knows he has good reason to worry, but hasn’t decided to give up on his brother.

Additionally, he is merciful to other dark creatures too. He beats the tar out of hyenas but doesn’t kill them. He rescues Zazu from Scar’s mouth. He scolds Simba but he does that, and more, to teach him. So what Mufasa is teaching us, according to what I just showed you the story says, is that A Good King, A Good Man (Lion, whatever) Is:

Authoritative - Makes decrees and makes decisions and yes, tells others what to do. Creates the structure his people live in.

Kind/Humble - Shows the same level of casual friendship to a revered shaman-recluse as he does a little self-important majordomo. (Humble because he’s not afraid to admit when he’s afraid if it’ll help his son.)

Teaches - Takes time out of the day to pass on what he’s learned to someone who is going to take his place—he’s not hoarding his own position or gatekeeping his life-experience-expertise. He’s not finding his identity in how he has this wealth of information that causes people to need him; he gives it away freely, purposefully.

Protects - Is willing to endanger himself and go to the trouble of defending creatures that are weaker than himself.

Shows Mercy - See Scar and the hyenas, who deserve death, but he doesn’t give it to them.

Prioritizes Family - The time he’s taking out of the day is for his son. And he follows up with his recluse of a brother instead of going, “that’s Scar, I know he don’t care about nobody but himself, his loss, not my problem.” And he extends trust to that brother, which is really just an example of gift-giving to a family member who’s done nothing to keep that trust.

Has Faith - Mufasa makes a point of not answering Simba’s question about “Will you always be there for me,” with just himself. He could’ve. Many parents do. Many parents are tempted to, to show their love. “Yes. You’ll always have me. I’ll always be there to answer your questions; I’ll always protect you, I’ll always be what you can count on, you’ll always find a need fulfilled in me.” But Mufasa doesn’t take that bait. He gives Simba an answer that is not “himself-based.” Not selfish. “Look at the stars.” I don’t care what ya’ll say. Mufasa has faith in something outside of himself. He says “and so will I,” but that’s after contextualizing himself within “something bigger than us.” (And oh my gosh, he doesn’t even answer with, “let me give you a lesson you’ll need for your whole life.” He doesn’t even take credit for this faith, for himself. He gives his own father the credit.)

And really, all of those traits can be summarized with the phrase: Lives His Life Sacrificially For Others.

That’s what a leader, a good father, a king, a good man, does. And pay attention: That is what Simba is supposed to be. Simba is supposed to be Mufasa. That’s who Simba really is, that’s where he’s supposed to go. There is a “real you.” But you have to agree with it and accept it, even though your natural bent is to give in to the illusion that you “don’t have to be that, you can choose who you are.”

Yeah, sure, in a sense you can reject Who You Really Are. You can spend your whole life playing pretend, like you’re not That. But you’ll be doing just that: playing pretend. Unfulfilled. Dissatisfied. Running from the misery that is the natural response to your silly game of pretend. Insisting that “there is no misery, this is what I want.”

Okay. Sure it is.

I’ll save Simba for another post.

The point is, Mufasa is a template for who Simba Really Is. Look at those traits. When it’s Simba’s turn to exemplify those traits, does he?

Act I: Is he authoritative? He tells characters what to. And he makes his own decisions—sometimes for good, sometimes bad. For example, he won’t let Zazu deter him from going to the elephant graveyard, so that’s a bad decision, but he does choose to go back and help Nala instead of running to save himself. Authoritative and protective. But it’s all misplaced because he doesn’t “Live His Life Sacrificially For Others.”

Act 2: He’s not. Timon and Pumbaa tell him to do something and he goes along with it. Timon and Pumbaa claim an ancient tradition and his father’s lesson is stupid and Simba goes along with that. He’s no longer making decisions of his own accord, for anything but his own comfort.

The idea is, in Act 1, you see Simba has the same traits as Mufasa, budding inside of him. But they’re all misdirected, and they’re all twisted, because they’re missing one key ingredient: he’s supposed to use those traits in the context of “Live His Life Sacrificially For Others.” Simba doesn’t want to do that. Simba wants to do whatever he wants.

Sure, there’s a part of him that combines that motive with “I want to be like my dad.” But that part dies on the vine and turns sour when his father dies saving him.

So then in Act 2, not only is Simba clinging to “I’m going to live life all my way,” but he’s changed what that means by pushing the nugget of “I want to be like my dad/I WANT TO BE WHO I REALLY AM” completely away. Because it’s too hard, and he’s got shame tangled up in it.

And worse—he starts doing basically the opposite of all of Mufasa’s traits, all of the traits that make him Who He Really Is. He’s not prioritizing family—he’s abandoning them. He’s not protecting others—he runs from the idea of going back to help Nala. (tiny glimmer of it still being inside him because he does try to protect Pumbaa from her.) Kind and humble? No. It’s unkind to tell your best friend you won’t help her because you’re afraid. Humble, no, because humility is thinking of yourself less, not thinking less of yourself.

Ask the question. When Simba’s living in the jungle with Timon and Pumbaa, is he exemplifying any of the traits of Who He Really Is? Or is he doing his best to bury that?

But then after Mufasa reminds him of who he Really Is, and Rafiki shows him how to get his past out of the way so he can accept it, Simba goes back. Into Act 3 we go

Now. Does Simba exemplify Mufasa’s traits? Does Simba start becoming Who He Really Is? There’s not a lot of time left in the movie. Look at the traits, see if he does.

Authoritative? Yep, comes up with the plan to break in and get to Scar, doesn’t back down from the confrontation.

Kind and Humble? Yeah, he willingly admits the truth (he thought it was true) that makes him look bad to give his mom closure. He’s kind to Nala and to Timon and Pumbaa, admits his mistakes, when they come to help him. Hugs the old shaman who cracked him in the skull with a stick—just like Mufasa hugged Rafiki to show us kindness and humility at the beginning of the movie.

Teaches? We don’t really see an opportunity for him to do that yet at this point in the story and his life, give me a break.

But protects? You bet. That’s why he’s there for the confrontation in the first place. Shows mercy?

Yep.

Because he’s not like Scar. He knows who he is. THE POINT.

And when he runs in for the big confrontation, he doesn’t immediately leap on Scar and rip him to pieces. Even though the storytellers make sure to show us he clearly wants to.

Instead, he runs up to his mother to see if she’s all right and show her that he is. And again, he tells her the truth because that’s what she needs even if it’s not what she wants, and he’s learned not to run from what he’s “done.” And faith in something bigger than himself?

Yeah. His father’s voice comes through the clouds just before he decides to roar and claim his title. Through the clouds. Because that whole “we’re a part of something bigger, something more important than ourselves,” was always what he was missing. He was just thinking about himself.

And all of this is because Mufasa is the example of Who Simba Really Is: Lives His Life Sacrificially For Others. That’s Mufasa.

That’s Mufasa, in the story of The Lion King. That’s his purpose as a character, that’s who he is.

So now if you make a movie that’s just about him, what you should be doing is showing how he got there. How he accepted who he Really Is instead of choosing who he wants to be, on his own. And you should make his father, and learning humility, an enormous part of that. Because self-sacrifice is such a pillar of his character. It’s the whole thing.

What you should certainly not be doing is telling a story that ends with finding self-worth or a kid who makes a name for himself. I repeat: if the Mufasa live action movie ends with Mufasa doing anything that revolves around self, they got him wrong and they set him up nonsensically for the next movie.

He should have to decide whether or not he wants to believe his own father, because of that one line, “let me tell you something my father told me.” That shows that he accepted his father’s lesson. And what was his father’s lesson about? Faith. In something BIGGER THAN YOURSELF. So then Mufasa grows up to be a character who lives his life sacrificially for others, and you can trace the roots back to that: “I learned a lesson about something bigger than myself from someone who was not myself, and I humbly believed and accepted that lesson.”

I mean jeez, the line is: “LOOK AT THE STARS.” Whenever you feel alone. Whenever you’re wrapped up in who you are and who you’re not and failure and the idea of what you want to be, knock it off. Quit looking at yourself and look at something bigger than you. And then you’ll get “Understanding of Who You Really Are”—no matter what mistakes you’ve made, no matter how you’ve failed, no matter what your circumstances are—thrown in.

…Of course, the Lion King remake ruined him anyway by having the point be “I’m not worthless.” And that was never the point. But whatever. I’m rambling now. You get the idea.

Mufasa is exactly what he needs to be for the original The Lion King. He’s exactly what he needs to be for Simba’s story. Mufasa is awesome.

[pyschosoda]

Caught Staring

feat - Osferth, Finan, Uhtred, Sihtric

In which Uhtred and his pretty boys are caught staring at the woman their heart desires

a/n: my first post finally!!! I decided to start small in order to get the feel of writing for these characters! likes and reblogs are appreciated!!

“I can feel you staring at me…”

You watch the timid monk stiffen and look away from your peripheral. You often noticed Osferth’s eyes were drawn towards you when in the same room. You didn’t mind, of course; it was quite cute, so you never felt the need to call him out on it, but the poor boy looked as if he was about to explode if you didn’t speak up soon. 

“Ah…apologies… I don’t mean to stare." His eyes involuntarily straying back towards you for a moment before he forced his gaze to the wooden floorboards beneath his feet. 

 

“Have I got something on my face?” You tear your gaze from the arrow you had been crafting, now trailing over the anxious-looking monk. “Or perhaps my hair is askew?” A smile curls its way onto your lips as you watch Osferth shake his head at your teasing, his eyes flickering up to your face before dropping back down as if he couldn’t decide if he wanted to meet your gaze. 

 

"N…n-no, my lady, you-“

 

"I’m teasing you, Osferth,” you cut him off, not wanting him to embarrass himself further, his own lips curling into a smile as his eyes finally decided that he did want to meet your gaze. 

 

“Oh…” His voice is barely above a whisper. “Right…”

 

The two of you fall into a comfortable silence as your attention is drawn back to what you were doing before. 

 

and again, Osferth is staring. 

 

He watches as your hands craft arrow after arrow as if it were nothing more than muscle memory. 

 

From the corner of your eye, you notice Osferth fidgeting again, unsure if he should leave or try to start another conversation with you. 

 

“Come, sit,” you break the silence, making the decision for him as you offer him the seat across from you. “I’ll show you how to make an arrow.”

“I can feel you staring at me.”

 

Your voice cuts through the loud ale house, but Finan seemed to hear you just fine from where he was standing, slumped against the wall next to where you sat. 

 

“What? Now I’m not allowed to look at ya?" He scoffs, bringing the mug to his lips. 

 

“First ya take my seat, and now ya won’t even let me look at ya?" He jests, shaking his head as he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. 

 

Your eyes roll at his words, unable to hide the smile Finan seemed to always bring to your lips. 

 

“I’m going to get us some more ale,” you state with a laugh, plucking the mug from his hands as you stand up and make your way to the barmaid behind the counter. 

 

Of course, once you left, Finan reclaimed his stolen seat. You opened your mouth to protest, but before you’re able to get a word out, he’s pulling you into his lap, the ale in the mugs sloshing around, coating your hands in the sticky liquid. 

 

“Finan!” you scold. “I’m covered in ale now, you bastard!”

 

He shushes you as he takes one of the filled mugs from your hands. “I’ll help you clean it off later; just sit still and let me enjoy a nice cup of ale with a pretty girl on my lap.”

“I can feel you staring at me,”

 

A grin stretches it’s way onto Uhtred’s face as he tore another piece of chicken from the bone, his eyes flickering down to the meat as he slips it into his mouth before his gaze moves back to yours. 

 

“Am I not allowed to look at my woman anymore?” He said in his usual smug tone that only added to his charm. 

 

“There’s a difference between looking and staring,” you say with false annoyance lacing between your words. 

 

This, of course, only makes him more smug, causing laughter to bubble up past his lips as he continues to enjoy his meal. 

 

“I can’t help that you look so beautiful tonight." Uhtred shrugs, looking back down at his plate as he finishes his food. 

 

“I look the same as I always do,” you argue, standing up to put away the plates.

 

As you walk by, Uhtred catches your waist with his hand. He leans back in his chair, his thumb gently moving back and forth, tracing the skin beneath your clothes. 

 

“That doesn’t make you any less beautiful to me." His voice was softer than before; the smugness was gone as he gazed up at you. 

 

“Sit, I would like to enjoy this moment with you a little longer." He releases your waist at the request, and you obliged, of course. Who are you to deny Lord Uhtred such a simple request? A request that ended up leading you right into his bed. 

“I can feel you staring at me.”

 

You pull your hands from the cold water of the river, giving Sihtric your full attention. It was hard to believe he was the warrior that people said he was because every time you got a look at him, he looked more like a puppy than a man to you, much like he did now, staring at you with wide eyes, shifting in the place he stood as he worked up the courage to speak more than his usual two words to you. 

 

“I wasn’t staring." His voice was light, almost light enough to be carried away in the wind, but you heard him. You always did. 

 

“No?” you hummed, turning your attention back to the wet dress in your hand. “Just happened to be strolling by the river, looking in my direction then?” 

 

There was a pause; for a moment, the only sound you heard was the sound of the river as you used it to wash your clothes. 

 

“You shouldn’t be out here alone." Sihtric spoke up, changing the subject. It seemed he’d rather focus on you in this moment. 

 

“I’m not alone,” you replied, squeezing the water from the dress you were cleaning. “You’re here.” You look back at him from over your shoulder, smiling at the sight of him moving his gaze down to his feet. 

 

“Will you come and make yourself useful, or are you just going to stand there and stare at me?” Your invitation seems to break the barrier between you two, the leaves crunching beneath his feet getting louder as he gets closer. 

 

“I was not staring,” he mumbles, taking one of the dirty pieces of clothing from her basket and dipping it into the river. 

- dividers by @dollywons and @thecutestgrotto -

a/n: again, this is my first post!! feedback in the comments would be appreciated! ^-^

[hoosbandewan]

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