#a returner's magic should be special spoilers

[thewizardingtoad]

Me before episode 10: I'm guessing they're gonna speed through the break in and Zod in one episode to progress the plot and they're using end of episode scenes for the preview to not give away anything, otherwise it would mean they have some random not in the manhwa or novel shopping scene between two arcs but that would make no sense since they only have 3 episodes left from the season and this is only a 12 episode season and they have to put in it everything they have to make people interested in a second season they surely wouldn't make half an episode filler hahahaha

Me after episode 10: 🤡

(Guys read the manhwa or the novel it's so much better than this, yall deserve so much better then this, this story deserves so much better than this)

[thankskenpenders]

IDW's Knuckles 30th Anniversary special

I'm still working on finishing Shadow Generations and writing up a big thing about it (yes, yes, it's taken me a month to finish a four hour game, I know), but in the meantime we've got another new Classic era comic out from IDW! Let's talk about that.

The last Classic era release we got was the Fang miniseries earlier this year, which I mostly enjoyed but also found a bit underwhelming. It felt like we were getting diminishing returns with the Classic comics. Ian seemed to be struggling to make the Classic era feel fresh within Sega's current restrictions for that branch of the brand, a branch that by its very nature discourages experimentation and new ideas in a way that the ever-evolving Modern era doesn't. He was mostly just playing the hits, sticking the currently permitted Classic era characters next to each other in straightforward one-off adventures and letting the art team do their thing. We were getting the Ian who was happy to simply be able to take these toys out of the toy box. Again, these comics have been fine, and the art's always a treat, but the novelty of simply seeing a comic with the old character designs was wearing off for me when the stories didn't have as much meat as Ian's (or Evan's) excellent Modern era work.

And then along comes this Knuckles 30th Anniversary special, which is by far my favorite Classic Sonic comic Ian's written for IDW.

...I can't really talk about why it's so good without getting into spoilers, though. The short version is that it's a really nice little story about Knuckles and another character from the games, who's used as a great foil for him... except the solicit didn't even say which character it is, so I'm hesitant to say here. But if you're a fan of Knuckles, you should definitely just go read this. It's great. This one's mandatory reading to me.

And with that out of the way, let's dig deeper and get into the spoilers.

The spoiler zone

After an opening that very blatantly homages Tyson Hesse's old Knuckles comic (yes, the very same one that helped inspire the name of this blog), Knuckles realizes that Angel Island has drifted near the Northstar Islands from Sonic Superstars, and decides that the Master Emerald must be giving him a mission to train the archipelago's own resident guardian.

Yes, this isn't just a Knuckles comic. It's a Knuckles and Trip comic!

I was really delighted by this. I like Trip a lot, and it's nice to get this chance to expand upon her as a character. I think this is her first speaking role, even? I'm glad to see her stick around, and I'm glad to see her appear in the comics so soon, especially since we're still waiting for the mainline comics to incorporate Sage. She's still clumsy and fairly timid, like in the game, but without the looming thread of Eggman she gets to let loose a little. She's very exuberant and expressive and playful, especially thanks to Aaron Hammerstrom's fantastic art throughout the issue (complemented with inks by Rik Mack and colors by Valentina Pinto). It makes sense why she gets along so well with Amy. I hope we get to see those two interact more in the future!

Anyway, so Knuckles shows up on the Northstar Islands after contemplating his lot in life, and realizes that he and Trip have a lot in common. She's not as strong or confident as him, but they're both the last of their kind, these lone guardians of these ancient magical gemstones. He's showing up under the pretense of training her, but you can tell it's nice for him to have a kindred spirit, someone who might be able to really get him.

And then Trip's like... wait, you think I'm the last of my kind?

Yes, the Northstar Islands have actually been inhabited by a whole civilization of sungazers like Trip the whole time! We just didn't see them in the game because, y'know. Eggman was attacking. So Trip told everyone to find shelter and hide from the Badniks. (This actually makes a lot of sense, since you pass by this very village in Speed Jungle Zone. Somebody's gotta maintain those straw roofs and light those torches, and I can't imagine Trip managing all that upkeep herself.)

This also includes a grandfather for Trip, who's been training her as the archipelago's new guardian. Naturally, this has led to some speculation from fans about the old "mandates." In the wake of the Penders lawsuits and Archie's reboot, Sega declared that the comics could no longer create comic-original relatives for the game characters. Has that changed now?

Well, I'm hesitant to read too much into this. For one, as Ian has tried to drill into peoples' heads for years now, the so-called "mandates" aren't a set of concrete commandments from Sega, they just have some general guidelines for the brand, some of which have more wiggle room than others and some of which have changed over time. There's also the simple fact that Sega is working way more closely with the team at IDW, and that people like Ian and Evan are literally on the official Sonic lore team now. Ian can presumably work with the lore team and Sega to figure out Trip's family, and then go and work what they've decided on into a comic, so it's entirely possible Trip's grandpa isn't considered a comic-original character so much as he's a character conceptualized at Sega who just happens to have appeared in an IDW comic before anything else. The lines are a lot blurrier now with all this cross-pollination, compared to the Archie days when it was a separate creative team and a separate canon.

But, again, I don't want to speculate too heavily about what goes on behind the scenes. Regardless, Ian was able to use this comic to expand upon the world of the games and the characters that inhabit it, and I love it for that. It's the first of these Classic comics that feels like truly mandatory reading for the way it builds upon the games. These days we so rarely get to see communities like this in the Sonic world with their own cultures. It's not like we know anything about "hedgehog culture" or whatever. So this is a nice change of pace. The Northstar Islands feel totally different now that I know they've actually been inhabited the whole time, and knowing that Trip is part of an active community with their own history and customs puts a whole new spin on her as a character.

It also makes her a great foil for Knuckles here. He showed up on the island thinking he'd have a lot to teach Trip as someone who's got more life experience as a lone guardian, only to realize his assumptions about her life were completely wrong. Trip brags to her grandpa that Knuckles is gonna train her, but he quickly realizes he doesn't have much to teach her. She may be kind of cowardly, but she knows her way around the island, she can think on her feet, and she can handle herself well enough in a fight, in her own slapstick way.

He doesn't say as much, but you can tell Knuckles is embarrassed about all this. This clumsy kid is showing him up, even though she won't even really listen to his advice! He's also, perhaps, a bit jealous. It's not like he had a grandfather to train him in the ways of being a guardian. (Not in this continuity, anyway.) He doesn't get a whole village of echidnas to teach him about his heritage. He doesn't get fancy ceremonial armor. It's just him, a big green rock, and his two fists. He thought he had this whole guardian thing figured out, and he'd be able to give a kindred spirit like Trip some advice, but it turns out she's lived a whole different life, making him question if he even knows what he's doing. He quickly gets fed up with both Trip and himself, blowing up at her a little.

After reflecting a bit, Knuckles goes back to Trip and comes clean. He doesn't really know how to train her, because no one ever trained him. He figured things out on his own. If he had anyone there to raise him, they've been gone since he was too young to remember. He just knows he has to protect the Master Emerald. That's it. It's a pretty vulnerable moment for Knuckles, one where his dissatisfaction with his life comes to the surface.

Still, Trip sees things differently. He may be used to the fact that he lives on a giant floating island powered by a giant magic emerald, but she thinks that's, like, the coolest thing in the world. HER islands don't fly! And while Knuckles might wish he had someone to train him, Trip thinks that Knuckles becoming such a fearsome fighter all on his own, without even armor to protect him, makes him super awesome and admirable. With both of them feeling better, Trip takes Knuckles to Golden Capital to talk about her heritage as a guardian of the Northstar Islands a bit more, and Knuckles tells her that he thinks she'll be a great guardian before he heads home, once again feeling pretty good about himself.

While this is a pretty straightforward little story about how the grass is always greener on the other side, it's a very effective and sweet one that I enjoyed reading a ton. Aside from the fun of learning more about Trip and the Northstar Islands, it's just a great showcase for Knuckles. (It's definitely a way better showcase for him than his Paramount+ show, as much as I took sick pleasure in that show's baffling creative decisions.) There are also some fun details about his life in here, such as the fact that Sonic, Tails, and Amy have taken camping trips to hang out with him on Angel Island, and the fact that he trained Amy in using her hammer better.

It's just real good, and it feels like the most meaningful addition to The Canon out of any of these Classic era comics Ian's written. We're still gonna be getting more in the future, so hopefully this is a sign that Ian and the lore team have found that happy middle ground where they can keep the Classic comics familiar and nostalgic while also being able to branch out and expand upon things.

Speaking of future comics!

Coming attractions

The end of this issue confirms some things that are in the works for IDW Sonic. For one, we're getting a Chaotix 30th Anniversary special next year. Neat! They also mention some kind of Shadow one-shot dropping following the movie, however fans seem split on whether this is referring to a new story or just the "Best of Shadow" compilation one-shot that's coming out next month. So don't get your hopes up about that in case it's the latter, I guess.

And while we're still waiting for issue #75 of the main series, the IDW team is already thinking all the way ahead to #100, which should drop sometime during the 35th anniversary of the franchise in 2026. Clearly the team's still confident about the longevity of IDW Sonic and excited for the future. And I am, too! Bring on #75!

[princesssmars]

thinking of karlach who once her engine cools off goes fucking ballistic. nsfw, fem! reader, me being horny for karlach because who isn't. baldur's gate 3 spoilers! i've only finished act one so i start improvising shit.

now, for a woman who has not been able to have even a hint of physical contact for ten years, you have to give her her flowers with how well she seems to deal with being incredibly emotionally and sexually frustrated.

but once she joins your party that hold she had over her body and brain starts to crack. fast.

hell, it started happening before the two of you became romantically involved. while she was drawn to you from the moment you said "yes" to helping a stranger kill a building full of people, she also had eyes and constantly wondered how everyone in the party was so attractive. astarion was never not flirting with someone, wyll was incredibly kind to her, and she could tell when shadowheart was admiring her physique...

but after a few weeks of traveling, fighting, and making friends for the first time in years, eventually during those quiet nights at camp she finds you invading her mind her mind when she rests in her tent to fall asleep, kind of like the parasite, but in a good way.

she thinks of a joke you you made when the two of you were eating by the fire that made her snort like a pig, the way you explored a dungeon and when you found a magical war axe immediately turned to her and gave it to her with a smile, how you so quickly stood up for her when wyll was adamant on killing her because of her past.

your kindness, your intelligence (she's amused when you act like a dumbass and fail when trying to persuade someone), just everything about you, it was only a matter of time before she asked you to join her when everyone fell asleep one night, talking about how you thankfully return her feelings. it takes a turn when you bring up how her condition leaves her pent up, and as you're whispering the sinful things you cant wait to do to her and she do to you.

it hits her full force that oh, she does actually want to fuck your brains out.

after that night everything you do starts to turn her on. like, horrendously. eating a snack on the road? all she can focus on is the way your lips move around the fruit. dancing to a song volo is playing? she's becoming entranced by the way your hips and arms move to the music.

once when the sun was set and the moon was high she headed down to the lake, figuring the rest of the party had already cleaned themselves when she started to undress on the sand, standing still as a statue when she spots you in the middle of the lake, rinsing out your hair when you turn around to look at her.

she can see the water falling from your hair to your shoulders, dripping down over the peak of your nipples, some falling down your chest to between yours legs-

when she comes back later after running off, the ground where she stood was scorched.

but until her engine got fixed, her nights were spent inside her tent rubbing at her clit and fingering her cunt while pretending it was you. the only thing that makes it better is when she can tell you about all the naughty things she thinks about you and seeing you squirm.

once dammon gets another piece of infernal iron and gives her the final upgrade she needs to have physical contact, she at least has the courtesy to take you to a rented room in an inn before she ravages you.

shes tossing you on to the bed and wondering if she should slow down, take it slow with you for your first time together to make it all the more special, but you're staring at her while she's contemplating and youre taking off your top and then youre pants and then youre pulling her by the arm on top of you and she realizes she can save the softness for later.

there's so much kissing, pulling, biting and moaning that after both of your first two orgasms she starts to feel dizzy. she swears shes never felt a greater pleasure than when you were cumming on her fingers, or when you brought her hips up to your face and made her ride your tongue.

she reaches down to your bag that was throw haphazardly on to the floor earlier and finds the toy you bought, the tiefling smiling so brightly her fangs are on full display as she aligns the double sided dildo with your entrance, nearly going cross eyed at the way it slips inside of you before she sticks the other end into her.

she throws your legs over her shoulders, hold your hands in hers, and starts thrusting so quickly its almost like she's afraid she'll die if she stops.

and she is. she has never felt as good as she does in this moment, fucking the toy into you before feeling it do the same to her every time she pulls her hips back.

shes thinking about how much she loves you when she feels your right hand claw at her back.

shes wondering how someone can be so damn beautiful when you arch your back and nearly scream out her name.

she can barely contain herself when she thinks about how she gets to fuck you like this for the rest of her life when her hand leaves yours and grabs onto the wooden bedpost.

your moans of ecstasy reach a pitch and her eyes are taking in every detail as you come undone, to the heaving of your chest and the fluttering of your lashes. its your gentle whisper of her name and a gentle kiss to her lips that tips her over the edge, grinding her hips faster to the point it starts to hurt and she feels her hands tightening and tightening-

her high feels like it lasts forever before she comes back down to earth, breathing heavy with a dopey smile on her face when she looks at you. she's confused by the look on your face, similarly blissed out but your cheeks are bunched up in that way that means youre trying to hold in a laugh...

its only then she starts to feel it : a large chunk of the headboard is in her hand, snapped almost clean off from the rest of in im the height of her euphoria. she cant help but laugh which makes you finally laugh which just makes you laugh harder.

she drops the wood and shakes her hand of any splinters when your hands are wrapping around her neck and pulling her back into you.

she doesn't feel that bad about it.

i've resorted to getting ideas from both dreams and those thoughts you turn into stories while trying to go to sleep im like a genius. i put this in the queue posted it and it only showed up on my blog whats with that.

[musings-of-a-rose]

Marcus

Pairing: Marcus (Pike, Moreno, Acacius) x f!reader

Word Count: 6900+

Rating: Mature - 18+ ONLY!

Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story. 

Notes: I saw a post from @pimosworld innocently asking for a Marcus bachlorette style fic and, while this isn't exactly right, this is what my brain came up with. Shoutout to @mermaidxatxheart for listening to me ramble and helping me, as well as @vanemando15 for being a cheerleader!

**If you want to be added to the taglist, join here or let me know!

❤If you enjoy the fic, please consider giving me a warm beverage! (It is not required in any way!)

→Tell Tumblr this should be shared with others by reblogging! That's what the algorithm loves (it's how it works here. I don't make the rules!)

**Reader is not described

Main Masterlist

Marcus Moreno Masterlist

Marcus Pike Masterlist

Marcus Acacius Masterlist

“Thanks for coming to Level Up Comics!” I smile at the customer as I hand them their bag, a quiet grunt all I get in return before they head out the door, the little bell jingling with their exit. I stretch, walking around from behind the counter and heading back towards the display case where several boxes sit in front, unopened figurines and collectibles pouring from them. My family and friends thought I was crazy for opening a physical media store in this age of digital products. They said no one would come in let alone want to actually buy “this crap.”

But here I am, a few years after opening, and I’m doing pretty good for myself. There are still collectors out there who want their favorites in case something happens to their files. They want the figurines from the original manufacturers, rather than printing them themselves. I can’t blame them. There’s something different, something magical about reading the printed word, having a figure of your favorite character that was made decades ago by something other than a 3D printer in someone’s basement.

The bell jingles and I yell out a greeting, shoving a few more figures in the back of the case before standing and turning, a pair of dark brown eyes meeting mine. I can already feel the smile on my face. 

“Hi, Marcus!” Shit, was that too enthusiastic? If it is, he doesn’t let on, his own smile shyly spreading across his face. “How…how are you?”

He rubs the back of his neck with his large hand, his eyes darting away from mine. “I’m..I’m good. You?”

“Good. That’s good. I mean, I’m good. Good. It’s all…good.” What the fuck?

He chuckles lightly, looking anywhere but at me. “Good.”

We’re both silent for several moments. He’s so hot. Way out of my league hot. And the weird thing is, I don’t even think he realizes just how attractive he is. 

“Did my back issue of X-Men come in?”

“Oh!” I slap my forehead. “I almost forgot! Yes. Let me get that for you.” Trying desperately to hide the heat in my cheeks, I quickly walk around the counter, kneeling to sift through the special order pile. 

“You got more figures in?”

“Yeah,” I yell from my crouched position. “There’s a few bins in the back I haven’t emptied yet. Feel free to have a look!” 

“Thanks.” I hear him shuffle off towards the back of the shop just as I locate his order. The door bell dings again and I stand, smoothing down my jeans. A man stands at the counter, his bright blue eyes roaming up and down my body before her plasters on the most ingenuine smile I’ve ever seen. 

“Hi. How can I help you?” I ask him as I place Marcus’s order on the counter.

 “Hi beautiful. I’m looking for a comic.”

I internally sigh. I already know where this is going. It happens several times a week.

“Well you’ve come to the right shop. What are you looking for?”

He chuckles, intending to be endearing. It isn’t. “I’m looking for a very specific issue of Hawkeye. You know who that is?”

Seriously? “I am very familiar with Hawkeye. Are you?”

He scoffs. “Haha. You’re a funny, pretty thing. Anyway, I’m looking for a specific run of his. Do you know what that means?”

Anger surges through me and I grip the desk to ground myself. Out of the corner of my eye I see Marcus at the back of the store, standing and turning towards us but not moving. He’s even hot in my peripheral. 

“Which run are you looking for? Or are you wanting a recommendation?”

He laughs, the vile sound of it echoing off the walls. “A recommendation? From you? What would you know? You’re just a pretty little girl.”

A clunk from the back of the store and I see Marcus trip over one of the boxes. He doesn’t go down, but turns to fix the boxes that he’s kicked over. The man in front of me is unphased, his eyes still on me, an amused smile tugging at his lips.

“Well?” He spits out. 

I look at him, giving him a smile. “Well, if you’re asking me personally, my favorite run is the Matt Fraction run. Not only because of his artistic style and great story, but the fact that they weaved in Clint’s deafness, drawing him wearing his hearing aids, and even doing an entire issue completely in American Sign Language. A great story and representation of a marginalized community from, in my opinion, one of the best and most relatable Avengers. Now, would you like the individual issues, an omnibus, or the digital version?”

The smug smile slowly fades from his face, his eyes hardening. “You don’t have to be such a bitch.”

“I do when customers act like a bitch.” 

He grabs the fliers on the counter and throws them at me, turning towards the door. “Fuck you and this place!” He tries to slam the door behind him but he fumbles with the handle, flipping me off one final time before disappearing around the corner. 

I sigh, bending down to pick up the fliers. A hand reaches out, large and inviting, carefully helping me pick up the scattered papers. I look up at him, at Marcus, sweet Marcus. Who had heard all of that. 

“I’m sorry Marcus. I shouldn’t have lost my cool.”

He hands me the small stack he’s collected, meeting my gaze. “You don’t have to apologize for standing up to a sexist asshole. I should be the one who’s sorry.”

I combine our stacks, both of us standing as I tap them on the counter to even them out. “Why should you apologize?”

“I should’ve come to help,” he rubs the back of his neck, his ear turning slightly pink. 

I shake my head. “No, Marcus don’t worry about it. I get assholes like that all the time. Really, it’s ok.”

He shakes his head. “It’s really not-”

To my own surprise, I reach out and squeeze his arm. “Really, I’m ok. Thank you, Marcus.”

He smiles at me, opening his mouth to say something, but his phone rings from inside his pocket. “Sorry. Sorry.” He pulls it out, tapping on the clear screen only he can see. “Shit. I have to take this. Work. You sure you’re ok?”

I smile, trying not to show my sadness at his leaving. “I am. Hope everything’s ok at work.”

“Thanks. I’ll uh…see you around.” His eyebrows pull together as his phone rings again, his eyes moving down to the screen before he turns around and heads out the door, pausing to give me a wave through the window before he disappears into the crowd. 

I’ll never meet a man owning this shop. They’re either assholes, taken, or hopelessly out of my league. My own phone beeps and I pull it out, scanning the clear screen with my reservation confirmation. I tap the confirm button, nerves flooding my system. 

I can’t believe I signed up for a virtual version of the bachelorette.

—----

I closed the shop early and rushed home to get ready for that night. I arrive promptly at 7pm as they requested, the giant VIRTUAL LIFE logo on the side of the building bathing the sidewalk in bright blue light. I take a deep breath and walk inside, the door disappearing momentarily to let me in before reappearing behind me. The front desk assistant guides me to a row of elevators and instructs me to head to floor 28. I’m the only one in the elevator, the lights illuminating each floor as we pass it. The elevator stops and the doors open to a small waiting room, black leather couches and chairs surround a coffee table with several tablets, each loaded with some form of entertainment. While it looks like there are windows, if you look closely, you can tell they’re simulated, trying to grant us as much privacy as possible. Although, I think it may be more about guarding their own technology secrets. 

“Ivy?” a woman calls my name from the only doorway in the room aside from the elevator. I nod, standing and smoothing down my dress. 

“That’s me.”

“Right this way.” She leads me into another small office, a simple desk with a single chair for me to sit in. She sits opposite me at the desk, tapping in mid air at what I’m assuming is the computer screen in front of her. 

“Ivy it says here you signed up for the bachelorette program to meet a compatible mate. Is that correct?”

Swallowing down my embarrassment, I nod. “Y-yeah.”

She taps a few more things. “Great. Do you know how this works?”

“You guys take a picture of my brain and show me a story?”

She chuckles, the first time her professional demeanor has broken. “Almost but not quite. After we’re done here, you will be taken to the simulation room. You’ve already done your physical-”

“Yeah. They had me put on this suit and they captured the way I moved. Motion capture, I think?”

She nods. “Yes that’s it exactly. This way, your avatar inside your world will move like you. It helps with immersion.” I nod. “They also completed your brain scan to find the most viable dates and look of mate that you are searching for. You indicated you’re looking for a male mate, is that correct?”

I nod. “Yeah. Yes.”

She nods. “Alright. If you’ll go through the door, someone in scanning will take you. Good luck!” She gestures to a door on the opposite wall from where we entered. I go through the door and another woman greats me, leading me to chair where she has me sit and get comfortable. It reminds me of what the dentist chairs used to look like except way more comfortable. She turns to me, holding a helmet with different little lights on it. 

“Any questions?”

“Yeah. So what will he..I mean, how will I know who he is?”

“You will just know. Sort of like in a regular video game, where you can tell who is important to talk to.”

“Ok..but…will he look like him or?”

That’s reassuring. But then she interrupts my thoughts. “Don’t forget, he will be there too also looking for you.”

She shakes her head. “Your algorithm took in your scan and will give him the appearance of someone you find appealing or comforting. We’ve found it’s easier to accept someone if they have an outward appearance you’re already familiar with.”

“So you base connections on personality as opposed to looks?”

She nods. “Those relationships have the highest success rate, so yes.”

“And after, will you show me who he is?”

She nods. “In the simulation, you’ll go on 3 dates. They may be something as simple as communicating in an office to being a superhero or even traveling back in time. The algorithm takes both of your likes, dislikes, and desires and places you in situations. The more you play along and immerse yourself, or yourselves, into the simulation, the better the outcome, meaning a closer connection. And don’t worry - you cannot be physically harmed. And if it’s too much or you want to stop, you only need to say “End simulation”. Please be aware that time may pass differently in the simulation, but you will only be in for an hour. After, you will both meet here, in reality, and can determine whether you’d like to continue with a relationship or not. Any more questions?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. Not at the moment, anyway.”

She places the helmet on my head, the nodes all changing different colors as it comes in contact with me. She squeezes my shoulder and I look up at her. “Just relax and try to go with the theme. It’s more fun that way, ok?”

I nod, wiping my sweaty palms on my dress. “Yeah. Makes sense.”

“Good luck!” She taps a button on her clear screen and my vision fades to black so just a couple of seconds. But then I’m blinking awake, the tips of my fingers tingling and my toes feeling like they just woke up. My vision starts to clear and the room comes into focus. I’m sitting at a bar, a fancier bar, which explains the nice dress. As my hearing levels out, I realize that the blonde man to my right is talking to me, his body shifted in my direction. His grey eyes are slightly unsettling. This can’t be my mate, can it? 

“...and so I had them fired! Can you imagine? I asked for my steak to be medium and they brought it out medium well. That will teach that guy to listen to the customer at his next job.” Grey Eyes chuckles and takes a sip of the drink in front of him. He nods towards the glass in front of me. “Do you want another?”

“What? Oh, uh sure.” 

He flags the bartender down and orders a rum and coke before making a show of leaning on his beefy arm against the bar. “I’m glad you finally saw reason and agreed to come out with me tonight.”

I give him a small smile. “Yeah. Same here.” This doesn’t feel right. Maybe they got it wrong? Someone bumps into me from behind and grey eyes catches me, glaring at the person who bumped me, who had moved on. 

“Are you ok?”

“Yeah. It’ll take more than a drunk asshole to bring me down.” Grey Eyes laughs, picking up his glass and holding it up towards me. “I’ll drink to that.” I glance down to grab my drink, only to find it wasn’t there. I look back at Grey Eyes and see him frozen in place, the smirk on his face completely gone, his glass shaking as he continues to hold it in mid air. My glass appears next to his, lightly clicking against his glass. 

“Now that’s not very nice.” That voice. I would know his voice anywhere. My entire body relaxes as I turn to look into the dark brown eyes that I love so much.

“Marcus!” I exclaim, ignoring the vein in grey eye’s neck that’s threatening to pop. Marcus on the other hand, looks good. I mean, he always looks good to me but he’s dressed in nice black pants and a light blue button up shirt with matching black jacket. I’m not sure how a blue shirt makes his brown eyes pop, but it does. Marcus pushes his black frames up his nose.

“Hey, Ivy. Sorry to interrupt your date, but this not so kind gentlemen put a little something in your drink.”

“He what?” I blink rapidly a few times, trying to pry my eyes away from him. Grey Eyes vein relaxes somewhat and he sputters out.

“Fuck you man! We’re on a date! What….what are you doing to me?”

Marcus shrugs. “Well, you wanted to make it so she can’t move. Only fair if I return the favor.” 

Grey Eyes goes to say something else, but then seems to recognize the man standing next to me, his eyes going wide.

“Aren’t you the guy that can move metal?”

My eyes snap to Marcus, who is smiling. “I see I have a fan.”

Grey Eyes tries to backtrack. “Listen, man. I’m sorry. I was just trying to get her to loosen up a bit. Have some fun.”

Marcus looks at me, his brown eyes wide and smiling. “Ivy, do you wish to continue your date with this man?”

“Nope.” I pop the “p” sound at the end of the word. “Little hard to have fun when my date is trying to render me unconscious.”

Marcus waves the bartender over. “Call the police. This man is in possession of Freeze Me.”

 A handful of what felt like seconds later, several officers show up and arrest Grey Eyes, who barely puts up a struggle. I turn towards Marcus, my smile stretching my face as I grab his arm. “My hero.”

His eyes dart around the room, his arm coming up to rub at the back of his neck. “It was nothing.”

Gosh he’s so cute when he does that neck rub thing. Wait. Gotta play along. 

“Is Marcus the Metal Bender actually acting shy around me?”

He chuckles nervously and I think how perfect they coded him. Like he was picked out of my brain. Which I guess he was. 

“Just trying to be respectful.”

I wish he wouldn’t. Wait, are we even allowed to have sex in here? Wow, getting ahead of yourself there, Ivy.

“Youwannagetoutofhere?” He speaks so fast it all comes out in a jumble and I cock my head to the side. 

“What?”

He swallows hard and I can’t help but watch his Adam’s apple bob in his throat. “Do you want to get out of here?”

“Hell yeah I do.” 

—-

It’s a few weeks later, or at least it feels like some time has passed. That lady did say time passes differently here. Now I’m in an office building, a stack of files in my arms, walking down the hall. A quick glance around tells me I’m in the Heroics head quarters. Marcus appears from around the corner and looks up at me, smiling and walking towards me. But then a man in a much too tight blue suit with a glowing M on it joins him, Marcus’s shoulders sagging slightly as he gives me a sad little wave.

“When are you two going to go on a date already?” A woman with bright pink hair appears next to me. 

“I uh, me?”

She slaps my shoulder. “Yes, you Ivy.” She leans in closer to my ear. “Aren’t you the one who confessed to having a crush on our heroic leader?”

I will the heat rising in my face to not show. “Oh, I uh..I-”

“You know he likes you too.” Her jaw drops when she sees the confused look on my face. “Oh don’t tell me you can’t tell! That man can hardly look at you and he’s taken down alien forces by just staring at them.”

She feels like a close friend so I go with it. “Yeah, ok I like him. Keep your voice down, will you?” She continues walking with me to the end of the hall where I deposit the stack of files into several slots, each one making a small whoosh sound as they’re whisked away to their destinations.

When I’m done, Pink Hair gently grabs my face and turns me to her. “I love you, Ivy. You know you’re like the sister I never had. So please listen to me when I say ask that man out before something happens and you regret not ever trying.”

Well fuck. That is…really spot on to reality isn’t it? 

I never get a chance to answer her as the entire building suddenly shakes, alarms and lights screeching and illuminating the halls. One of the tall filing cabinets starts to topple in my direction and I can only look on in horror, frozen in place by the rumbling building. I throw my hands up, as if that’s going to stop it, but nothing happens. The cabinet is laid gently on its side, floating to the ground. 

“Come on!” I look up into those dark eyes, Marcus extending his hand to me and helping me to my feet. “We have to get out of here!” He tightens his grip and somehow leads us out of the chaotic building out into the streets. Which is also nuts. People are running everywhere and…wait. Is that an alien spaceship coming towards us??

Marcus pulls me behind a wall, glancing around it and waving hand signals to a small group of heroes across the street behind another wall, Pink Hair amongst them. He turns back to me, his face full of worry as he starts to take his shirt off, exposing…not skin but a uniform? No. His hero costume, which is a black shirt,and arm bands. He sees me staring down and he shrugs. “I normally have a tach vest but we’re out of time.” 

“Should you not go out there without one?”

Marcus shakes his head. “I have to support my team. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. I mean, people safe.”

“You could just stay here with me? The others can handle-” my words are cut off by a giant laser beam cutting through the street, coming directly from the ship. 

He takes my hand and squeezes it. “Get yourself to safety. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I need you to be safe.” Another laser beam, the sound of some smaller buildings crumbling to the ground. “Go! Get to safety!” He releases my hand. 

I get a glimpse of the deep craters that lasers had left in their wake through the cement of the street, the piles of rubble and dust, and this spurs me on.

“Marcus?” He leans against the wall, readying himself, but he looks at me. 

“Yeah?”

Mustering up my courage, I lean towards his hunched body, softly planting a kiss on his lips. When I pull back, I see his chest heaving, his eyes moving between mine.

“Please make it back, Marcus.”

Before he can answer, the ship comes into view and his team moves out, following behind Miracle Guy, who had flown right up the ship and started punching it. Marcus’s head whips around, assessing the situation and I squeeze his arm once more before quickly moving out of the immediate area. I know I should move more, but I can’t get hurt so… 

The fight that ensues between the ship, the aliens inside, and the Heroics team is nothing short of brilliant. They may argue in the halls, but in the field, they all take direction from Marcus, who is a brilliant leader, playing all of their strengths. Marcus bends metal like it’s made of playdough, a beautiful dance of destruction and strength. Then the ship comes crashing down, everyone moving out of the way except-

“Marcus!” I emerge from my hiding place at a full run as the smoke around the alien ship that’s currently scraping along the road as it crashes and envelops Marcus. The ship stops, groaning as it falls back and lays still, no other life forms moving or detected on board. For a few moments, no one moves. Then Marcus emerges from the smoke, his face soot stained and a small gash in his shirt and along his cheek, but otherwise unharmed. 

“Marcus!” I run to him, his eyes finding mine, his entire body relaxing as he realizes I’m safe, just before I launch myself into his arms, our lips crashing together as my right hand fists in his shirt, my left tugging on his hair. Miracle Guy wolf whistles but I couldn’t care less. I feel his tongue gently lick out and I part my lips, letting him take whatever he wants. But before it can go any further, my vision starts to blacken, the last thing I see is Marcus’s eyes going out of focus as he succumbs to his own transition to the next simulation.

—----

I find myself blinking awake for the second time in what feels like weeks, but I know in reality it’s only been maybe 20 minutes that I was in there. The tips of my fingers and toes are tingling, my vision and hearing clearing and I find myself in…a breakroom. Am I back at the Heroics? The slight weight in my hand takes my focus and I realize I’m holding a cup of tea. I must be on my break. I walk towards the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking outside. I’m not back at Heroics - the cityscape is all wrong. I hear the door open behind me and I turn, the smile on my face widening as Marcus enters the room. His hair is shorter than the last simulation. And his face is clean shaven, which is a look I’ve never seen on him before. Not that it matters - he’s beautiful no matter what. I wonder what he’ll look like when he’s a little older. Probably hot as-

“Hey, Ivy.” Marcus smiles down at me, grabbing his own mug and pouring a cup of coffee from the carafe. I notice the FBI logo on the mug and figure that must be where we are.

“Hey,  Marcus.” I take a sip of my tea as we both watch the other. But then the door opens again, another agent walking into the room. He claps his hands together, looking at us.

“Hey! Congrats on finally cracking that art case, you two! 8 months is a long time to do an operation like that. Great work!” He shakes both of our hands as we thank him. Marcus catches my eye and, with a small movement, jerks his head towards the door. I nod, thanking the other agent again and follow Marcus out of the tiny breakroom and down the hall, stopping in front of an office door labeled MARCUS PIKE. I wonder if that's his name back In reality. He extends his arm towards his office and I head inside, smiling at him as I do, noting how his eyes dart around, that hand coming up to rub at the back of his neck as he closes the door behind him.

“I uh…great work, Ivy.” 

“You too.” 

He puts his hands in his pockets and finally looks me in my eyes and he nods once. 

“Listen. Do you..uh..I mean, would you like to…this is coming out all weird.”

I squeeze his arm and he looks down at my hand, taking a deep breath. 

“Would you like to get something to eat?”

My stomach erupts in butterflies. “Like on a date?”

The redness in his eyes spreads down onto his cheeks as he stammers, gesturing around vaguely. “No! No, not uh. Not a date.”

I can feel my face falling. “Oh.”

“Uh, unless you…uh…unless you want to? Make it a…a date?” His eyes are wide and bright, like a damn puppy. 

I smile, tucking some hair behind my ear. “Yeah. Yeah, I would love to go on a date with you, Marcus.” 

His smile is bright, lighting up the room. “Yeah?”

“Yes.”

He let's out a sigh of relief. “Great! I found this great pancake place.”

Pancakes? I love this man already. “It's nearly dinner time!” I can't help the small giggle that I let out. 

“Yeah, well you said your favorite food is pancakes. And they're open 24 hours.”

He remembered my favorite food? I'm so screwed. Damn this program is good. “You're right! I'd love to get pancakes with you. On a date. For a date. When will this date be, by the way?”

“Oh. I uh, would it be too weird if we went tonight? Is that too soo-”

“No! I mean, yes! No it's not too soon. I'd love to go!” If my heart could stop beating through my chest, that would be great. It's not that I'm some young girl getting asked on her first date. I just really like Marcus. Or whomever this is. My heart sinks at the thought of it not being the Marcus I know in reality. 

“Great! I'll pick you up at 7? Unless you'd rather meet me there? I don't want you to be uncomfortable.”

“Marcus, we just spent 8 months together on assignment. I think I'm comfortable around you.”

He chuckles. “Fair point.” His office phone rings and he apologizes to me, picking it up. I wave ro him and he mouths “See you at 7!”

—----

He picks me up with a flourish of flowers, all long legs and button up shirt that I'm really dying to unbutton. If that's even allowed here. 

But what's more than that is the conversation. I thought I had learned everything about him over the last 8 months. I was very wrong. 

“You were a bass player in a band?” I ask, choking on my drink.

He laughs, holding his hands up in front of him. “What can I say? I wanted to meet more people.”

“I bet you had all the girls hanging on you.”

Marcus shrugs. “Not really. They all want to date the drummer or the singer.”

“Really? Not the sexy bass player?”

Marcus takes too large of a sip of his drink and coughs, pounding his chest. “No, not the…you think I'm sexy?”

I set my fork down and meet his eyes. “If I didn't like you, I wouldn't be here.”

We spend several moments, just looking at each other and then I remember that he's not a simulation but a real person on the other end of those eyes. My heart squeezes thinking about how it won't actually be Marcus. Despite that thought, we really get along well and the conversation flows freely between us. Sooner than I’d like, we’re leaving the small diner, heading back to my place. Marcus parks in my driveway and turns to me, his eyes bright and wide like a damn puppy. We had been talking about books, one of my favorite topics.

“..and I know everyone complains that Tolkien takes 20 pages to describe a flower, but I really love that attention to detail. It makes it more immersive for me. One of these days I’ll get you to read Lord of the Rings!” I tap my fingers on his bicep to emphasize my point.

Marcus rubs his neck. “I uh…I already have.”

My jaw drops. “What? When??”

“When you told me it was your favorite book. Or books, I should say.”

I think back. “Marcus, that was…months ago!”

His eyes meet mine, the light from the street lamp outside adding a sparkle to them. “You said they were your favorite so…I read them.”

My stomach does flips, my heart beating. “You read them all for me?”

He nods. “Even the Silmarillion.”

I can’t help it. This is so fucking hot. I reach out and grip his shirt, pulling him to me, his soft lips pressing against mine, the heat between us quickly rising. His large hand cradles the back of my head, holding me to him as his other hand settles on my hip, squeezing it lightly. We make out for several minutes, Marcus kissing and nipping a path down my neck. 

“Do you want to come in?” I ask breathlessly. 

He pulls back and looks at me. “I do but-” he whispers. “Are we allowed?”

“I…I’m not sure. We could try to-” 

But then my vision starts to blacken around the edges, and before I pass out, I hear Marcus say “See you in the next one!” before we both black out.

—----

Now familiar with the way I wake in these simulations, I wiggle my fingers and toes, giving myself a moment to figure out where I am. The room looks…ok, this isn’t from my time. Roman decor and pillars line the grand bedroom, some food laying on a small table for, I’m assuming, me. A quick glance down shows me in a beautiful white garb and I marvel for a moment at how clean it is. 

BOOM!

The ground shakes and I duck down, completely caught off guard. It’s only after the boom dies down that I hear it - the distant sound of clanking swords and men yelling. I walk to the small window set into the wall and look out, my brain taking a moment to process the scene in front of me. 

I’m several floors up in a sort of round building, a castle I realize as I see the lower tiers, more square in their shape. I’m sure the grounds would have been beautiful, if it weren’t for the massive amounts of soldiers fighting in the streets. I can make out their bodies, the blood, sweat, and dirt spreading almost like a disease. Spear and swords burst from chests or stomachs, limbs separating from their bodies to be lost to the throngs of soldiers. The seem to be moving closer to the castle, which I’m not sure if I want to happen or not. Turning on my sandaled heel, I walk to the door, pressing my ear against the wood to listen. Hearing nothing, I try to open it. Nothing. The door doesn’t open or move, the handle locked into place.

Well, fuck. 

Before I can try and figure out how far down the next ledge is out the window, or if I can even fit out the window, I hear a commotion outside my door. It’s not loud, but I hear a man gurgling and sputtering, a small bit of crimson blood pooling under the door. I grab an iron rod by the fire and hold it up, preparing to defend myself. I know they said I can’t be hurt but damn this feels real. The door opens and a man walks through, wide, muscular shoulders under his Roman armor, Medusa proudly engrained on the front. I lunge, the iron rod above my head but the man turns and grabs the rod and I  would’ve fallen to the floor if he hadn’t caught me.

“Ivy! Here you are!” 

It’s him. Marcus. Only he’s older, probably closer to 50. Grey streaks in his curls and patchy facial hair only accentuate his beauty, a new scar forming across his nose, bleeding lightly down his face. He’s covered in dirt and blood and ash, but I throw my arms around him anyway.

“Marcus! Thank God, what’s going on?”

He cups my face, pushing my hair out of my face. “You are so beautiful, my love. I would bring every army from the entire world to rescue you from this horrid Emperor.” And then his lips are on mine, urgency behind them, but a desire to show me how l much I am loved. This man apparently started the battle outside, for me, and still wants to make sure that I know how important I am to him? 

“We have to flee. Come!” But before we can leave, the door flies open and 5 guards file in, grabbing Marcus and holding his arms out to his sides. I pick the iron rod up from the floor and run towards them, unsure of what I would do but I know I’ll beat the shit out of them until they let him go. But another hand shoots out and grabs my wrist, twisting it hard so I drop the rod. I look up into the eyes of a man that I’m assuming is the Emperor, his golden robes flowing around him. He looks vaguely familiar, like that one asshole from the comic shop.

“Now, now my dear. What were you planning on doing with that?”

I open my mouth to reply, but then he smacks me across the face and I slam down onto the floor. Ok, that hurt. Didn’t she say I wouldn’t get hurt? Maybe she meant I wouldn’t die. Marcus swears, cursing the Emperor for hitting me. 

“Are you alright, my love?” Marcus grunts as the men punch him in the stomach. 

“Marcus, Marcus, Marcus. You’re kind are dying out. I told you to just accept your fate and take your banishment, but instead, you stayed behind and fell in love with a woman. How…stupid.” Marcus tries to speak but he’s punched again, his body hunching over. I try to stand, but then I’m drug up by my hair, the Emperor’s fingers digging at my scalp as he pulls me to his side. 

“This one?” His eyes rake over my body. “She is attractive, I’ll give you that. Even if she is attracted to a brute like you.” I jerk my body, trying to get out of his grip but it’s too tight, my hands gripping his arms to try and get some relief from the stinging at the back of my scalp.

“Let her go. You can kill me, I don’t care, but let her go.”

The Emperor looks from me to Marcus, a sick smile spreading on his face. “I didn’t go through the trouble of kidnapping her just to have you give up. So I’ll tell you what I’ll do instead. LOOK AT ME!” The Emperor bellows from beside me, Marcus’s eyes moving from mine to his. 

He steps closer to Marcus, dragging me a little beside him. “Such a wild man. How about this: you watch as I take her. Then, I’ll drive my sword through her belly so she can slowly bleed out on the floor. Only after the light has left her eyes will I either kill you or lock you up to suffer the rest of your days. How does that sound?”

The darkness that settles over Marcus is unforgiving, his eyes hardening in resolution. He growls and screams, throwing the soldiers off him as he grabs his sword from the ground, swinging it and taking out all of the soldiers in only a handful of moves. He spins, aiming his sword at the Emperor, who has now moved me in front of him as a human shield, a knife to my throat. 

“I’ll kill her, Marcus! You are too weak to save her!”

Marcus’s gaze moves briefly to mine and I release my weak grip on the Emperor’s arms, letting them fall to my side. Marcus shifts his body ever so slightly before he throws something from behind his back. The object whizzes past my cheek, scratching it slightly as the blade buries itself in the Emperor’s neck. He drops his knife and clutches at his throat, his eyes wide with fear. He crumbles to the floor and sputters for several moments before his body stops moving. I run to Marcus, throwing my arms around him again. He grunts and I remember the soldiers hitting him.

“Are you hurt?”

He clutches his side. “I’ve had worse.”

“You are so fucking hot right now,” I speak quietly to him and he smiles. “I’m covered in dirt and blood and sweat.”

“Stop trying to turn me on more I already said you’re hot.”

He laughs but then inhales sharply at the pain. “I’ll take it, I guess.”

“No, that’s my job.” I bring my lips to his, pushing him back towards the chaise lounge chair on the other side of the room. He sits, pulling me onto his lap as I straddle him, my dress getting dirty as I shift my hips. He groans, his large hands sliding up my bare thighs under my dress and fuck! My vision starts to blacken and I hear Marcus whine out some expletives as we both are brought out of the simulation. 

—---------------------------

Hopefully for the last time, I blink awake, wiggling my fingers and toes as I look around the room. The helmet is gently lifted from my head and the woman that had put it on me moves into my eyesight.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m here.”

“Good. Wait just a moment for your body to fully catch up. Do you have any questions?”

“Yeah why did you stop us having sex?”

She studies me for a moment. “It is not allowed in the programming.”

“I cross my arms. “Well your programming is stupid.”

She chuckles so quietly I thought I’d imagined it. “The algorithm wants you and your mate to match based on personality and emotions, not just physical.”

“I can guarantee you it wasn’t just physical.” 

She helps me stand and I shake my limbs out, full feeling returning to them. I smooth out my dress as she readjusts my hair. “Are you ready to meet him?”

Him. My reality man. “Y..yeah.” 

“Right through that door. He’s already waiting for you.” I move towards the door but she stops me. “I just have to say, I’ve been doing this for years and I’ve never seen a situation like yours and his.”

I furrow my brow. “What do you mean?”

So smiles softly. “So…rooted in reality.”

Yeah that’s not confusing. But she doesn’t explain further, turning back to the chair and helmet, starting to clean them. I take a deep breath to steady myself and open the door, walking through and closing it behind me. The man on the other side of the room, my mate, turns towards me and we both gasp.

“Marcus?”

“Ivy?”

We meet in the middle of the room and I cup his face, Marcus tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Is it really you?”

He nods. “Yeah. You? Real?”

“Real.”

He pulls my face to his, kissing me deeply, but then pulling back a moment later. 

“I’ve been dying to ask you out since forever. I never thought I’d be paired with you, here of all places.”

I cock my head to the side. “Why didn’t you ever ask me?”

“Have you seen yourself? You’re entirely out of my league.”

“I’m fairly certain it’s the other way around.”

He opens his mouth to protest, but I put my finger on his lips. “I think we went through several first dates in there. Plus, we’re already friends. Can we…that is, can you take me back to your place first? Then we can eat?”

Marcus’s eyes darken, his hands finding a place on my hips as he pulls me against his body, letting me feel how into that idea he is. 

We’re married a year later.

—----

General Taglist:

@frankie-catfish-morales @chaoticgeminate @janebby @astoryisaloveaffair @balekanemohafe @greeneyedblondie44 @hoeforthefictional @marvelousmermaid @hauntedmama @icanbeyourjedi @wretchedmo @sunnshineeexoxo @livingmydreams13 @adventures-of-a-noodle @sara-alonso @theewokingdead @punkerthanpascal @giggly-otter @f0rever15elf @phandoz @gallowsjoker @lovesbiggerthanpride @booksarekindaneat @charlispersonallyhell @xoxabs88xox @amneris21 @gooddaykate @avengers-fixation @paintballkid711 @harriedandharassed   @ladykatakuri @practicalghost @withakindheartx @batdarkladyvampir @justanotherkpopstanlol   @mermaidxatxheart @alexxavicry @justreblogginfics @kmc1989 @veryprairieberry @mysterious-moonstruck-musings @heartpascalispunk

[yuurei20]

Lilia Facts Part 72: Lilia and Silver (pt1)

Silver explains that he was an orphan that Lilia took in and raised, naming him after his hair color and not giving him a last name.

More here:

We see this moment in Book 7, with Silver himself witnessing the moment that he and Lilia met for the first time: Lilia returns to Castle Wildrose three to four hundred years after it fell to Henrick’s army, saying that a peace treaty has finally been signed with Briarland’s neighboring countries. 

It seems there was a rumor that anyone who entered the castle would become cursed but Lilia seems to suspect that it is under diurnal fae magic meant to keep people away.

Lilia hears an infant crying from the castle’s throne room and recognizes an infant Silver as the son of the man who killed Raverne and Maleanor.

He seems tempted to kill Silver in his cradle for revenge, but ultimately decides that he will not be able to face Malleus if he did so: “If I'm to lecture him about loving humans and walking alongside our neighbors, then I should live up to my own words. Besides…if the Dawn Knight hadn't let me go that day, I would've lost Malleus as well.”

Lilia questions if he is truly capable of loving a human while an incorporeal Silver declares that he is undeserving of Lilia’s love, yelling at his infant self that he has no right to cry.

In observation of Silver’s new birthday Lilia gifts him with a special gift: the blessing of a night faerie. The blessing turns Silver’s hair from blonde to its silver color, and Lilia guesses that the Knight of Dawn’s hair was blonde in the first place because of a diurnal fae blessing.

(Sebek mentions during Spectral Soiree that “In Briar Valley, there are tales about powerful fairies who bless newborn babes and watch over them…”)

Lilia then names him Silver: “The color of the moon. As its light illuminates the night, so shall it illuminate your path.”

[jonsnowunemploymentera]

I’ve been rereading AGOT and this is how I’d summarize Jon Snow’s entire arc chapter by chapter

Jon l - Local teen bastard has a big realization that he has no social status while attending a royal party. He bursts into tears and goes to sulk in a corner.

[Interlude] Arya I - Local elementary schooler has an awakening about the unfairness of feudalism. She joins her aforementioned teen brother as they sulk in a corner.

[Interlude] Bran II - Elementary-age boy worried that his moody teen brother is sulking in corners far too much. He then has a terrible accident, which is a precursor to him sulking in corners as well.

Jon II - Local moody teen realizes that one should not make rash, life altering decisions while drunk. Now realizing that he has signed up for his local JROTC, which is a lifelong commitment to a frozen penal colony, he sulks around multiple corners as he says goodbye to several family members.

[Interlude] Tyrion II - Florida man makes fun of moody teenage military recruit who has just now realized that he has fallen victim to untruthful feudalist military propaganda. He laughs as the teen proceeds to sulk in a (fiery) corner.

Jon III - A local moody teen is forced to check his privilegeᵀᴹ after behaving in an appalling manner towards his fellow army recruits. Lonely, depressed, and homesick, he proceeds to sulk in a corner for a few days, but manages to make a few friends nonetheless.

[Interlude] Tyrion III - Perpetually drunk and annoying know-it-all Florida man strikes an unlikely friendship with a moody teen who has a tendency to sulk in corners due to issues making friends.

Jon IV - Local moody teen makes a new friend during JROTC training. Said friend is bullied for his exceptionally large frame, which makes for a rather poor soldier, but the moody teen stands up for him in front of the entire army base. The bullying eventually stops due to his efforts. Later, the two boys go to sulk in a corner, bonding over their shared sense of insecurity and rejection.

Jon V - Local moody teen finds out that his new bff is flunking JROTC. He proceeds to sulk in a forest, but still thinks of a solution to save said friend. Spoiler: he is successful and his friend graduates just fine.

Jon VI - Local moody teen graduates JROTC, but as a junior officer which is not at all what he wanted. He very angrily sulks out in the open, throwing a massive fit while he’s at it, until it is pointed out to him (much to his embarrassment) that this post will directly put him in the line of command.

Jon VII - Local moody teen learns that his beloved father has been imprisoned on grounds of treason. Incensed, he attacks a senior officer who makes fun of the situation. He is placed on house arrest by the army commander, which gives him plenty of time to sulk in a corner. However, his sulking is cut short when zombies attack the army base and he has to save the commander.

Jon VIII - For his bravery while fighting a zombie, local moody teen is gifted a special magic sword. He sulks about it because it should’ve been his father’s sword he’s getting. He is also conflicted because while he has already said his vows and bound himself to the penal colony, he still wants to go aid his family which is now on the brink of war after his father’s execution. Unable to do much else, he has no other choice but to go around sulking in several corners.

Jon IX - Local moody teen makes the foolish decision to dip out of army school to join his family that has gone off to war. He broodily decides to help his brother enact revenge for his father’s murder. However, he is unable to get very far because his friends catch up to him (with the help of his equally moody pet wolf) and is ultimately convinced to go back. Once he returns, the army commander gives him a good talking to and tells him that it’s time to grow up go on a real mission. This local teen has been looking forward to this the entire time, but he wants to go aid his family. He is forced to make a heartbreaking decision. Ultimately choosing duty over love, he has no choice but to make his way towards the north and sulk in whatever corners he will come across beyond the wall.

[wildesqdreams]

YAY JULIAN SANTOS MY HUSBAND

can we have a jealousy fic pleaseeeee?? where reader is jealous of julian and idk scarlett?? (scarlett not the villain though cause we love her)

not a game

pairing - julian santos x fem!reader.

summary - caraval is a place where you get swept away and lost. even though you may think you know what's going on, the game may surprise you. or a person.

warnings - spoilers for the first book!!! tiny bit of angst? julian freaking santos, fluff, and like a make out session?

navigation | masterlist | request | taglist

a/n: my first fic for our wonderful man, julian santos!!! i also think the first on tumblr??? anyway, i hope i did well and that you enjoy this, and i will be waiting for requests, heheheh

her eyes moved to the hidden door in scarlets room, body tensing. she quickly got up from the bed, ready to do something if it was needed because in this magical game, nothing and no one could be trusted.

when she saw the body enter the room, her shoulders relaxed, but the furor in her eyebrows just deepend, "julian?"

"where's scarlet?" he asked. the question came out a little raspy and breathy, and her eyes noticed that the boy did not look well.

pushing her emotions aside that yet again, it was her that was on his mind she replied, "she went off. wanted to look for clues, get more information about if someone has seen tella," the girl's eyes went to his head that seemed to be covered in blood, "are you oka-".

her words were cut off, "what are you doing here?"

y/n's gaze stayed on him as he moved across the room towards the bed, where she was standing beside it. julian placed something on the soft covers. earings. scarlets earings.

remebering his question, her face tinted, feeling a little embarrassed. was it bad that she was here? she had her own room, while scarlet and julian were forced to share, since they put on an act of being an engaged couple. even though they didn't stay in the same room (their decision because it wasn't real), right now, it felt private. like she was invading something.

she didn't like the heat on her face.

it was julian. the sailor boy who arrived a month ago to trisdas island. the boy that donatella introduced her with. her friend. so why on earth was she feeling like a no one in front of him?

since caraval it had been like that. the coldness. maybe y/n was overthinking it. she had a gift for it, but everything seemed to be around the dragnas sisters. it wasn't like she despised them. they were her adored friends, together since childhood. but why was the game suddenly about them? what was so special?

"well, umm," she cleared her throat, "i came here to see how scarlet was doing, but she was already leaving. she said that i should stay here just in case something happens while she's gone."

there was sufocating silence after that with plenty of distance between the young people.

her eyes returned to his wound.

"it's not that bad," the boy gave a light grin.

she met his eyes that had that playful and careless glint. after some seconds, she went to the bathroom to grab a towel and a basin, not believing him. when she returned, she asked him to sit on the bed.

while y/n was treating his head, julian stated, "remember, it's only a game." but the words went past her, as she continued to carefuly help him.

after a while, she cleaned and put away the things before returning in the room. julian was on his feet now, looking out the window at the beautiful city below. the girls chest filled up with warmth as she saw the boy in the moonlight, but it was pushed aside when his previous state came to mind, "so what happened? and, please, don't lie."

he turned around, still a little uneasy, "scarlet was fussing about those things," julian looked at the bed.

y/n's gaze went to the earrings, and before she could think the words already slipped out, "you know she's engaged, right?"

her cheeks burned, as she felt his eyes on her. after some silence, she heard him reply, 'i know." but the gaze was still burning on her.

"you don't have to hurt yourself for her. she has a count that would be happy to help her and give her everything she needs."

"just thought she would appreciate it."

of course she would! and she deserved all the brightest items! and those earings were very special to her - they were her mothers.

but y/n couldn't help the heavy, stinging feeling in heart. she loved scarlet dragna. yet, she did not love how much julian was thinking about her.

"yeah," she raised her eyes and met his, "i'm sure she will," it came out more tense than she intended.

julians lips curved into a more noticible smile, "no need to be jealous. for you, i would be delighted to do more than just bring back old jewelry."

"i am not jealous."

"lying is definitely not the best look on yo-" he suddenly swayed, and the girl rushed to his side.

her arms went to his shoulders, as she tried to help him stay up, "are you okay?"

"splendid," a whisper left his lips.

the girls cheeks were burning, as his beautiful caramel, brown eyes were still on her. their faces so close.

he looked at her like she was the one. like he needed her. wanted her. and it would have been a wonderful thing to get swepped in, but the recent events and the distance spiralled in her mind again, making her put distance between them, "you should lie down," y/n stepped back.

"stop running away," his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling the girl back.

her hands went back to his shoulders, steading her. her chest to his. and his hands burning through her dress. "i'm not," she breathed out.

a small grin formed on his face, "lying seems to be our new way of communicating, huh?"

"well, isn't that the purpose of the game?"

"if you're refering to caraval then yes," he leaned closer, as his hand traveled up her back, leaving goosebumps on her clothed skin, "but this certainly isn't a game for me."

she was barely able to stand on her feet. his hand went to the back of her neck, gently stroking her soft skin with his thumb. the touch made the butterflies light up in her stomach and her head to become heavy from all the sensations.

she opened her mouth, a whisper leaving her lips, "but-"

a soft chuckle escaped him, "it amazes me how other ladies are on your mind while i'm here with you. risking everything because it's impossible to stay away."

y/n didn't notice that her knuckles had turned white from the tight grip on his shoulders. aftaid that this was a fantasy. that he will disappear.

she breathed in when his hand slowly moved to the side of her neck, and his lips ghosted her temple, "i shouldn't be here."

her head was pulsing as his thumb lightly brushed her lips. "i'm gonna get in so much trouble for this."

the soft, tense whispers were going to be the death of the girl. her mind was clouded by his touch, so she couldn't quite grasp what he was saying. she knew the boy in front of her had his secrets, but that didn't make her not want him. she couldn't help but lean more into him, desprete for something.

julians hand was still on the side of her neck, "i don't want you to do something you will regret," he whispered, stroking her cheek.

her eyes met his, "i won't."

after the final stroke on her skin, he covered her mouth with his own. she felt like her body was about to burst in flames. his hand on her waist pulled her closer, like she was about to vanish and he didn't want to let go.

warmth spread from her chest to her fingertips. time seemed to pause, the world around them fading into a soft blur. the kiss was tentative at first, a gentle exploration filled with the sweet thrill of newness. but when his lips pressed harder, y/n let out a soft sound against his lips, tangling her hand in his hair.

she knew there were a lot of mysteries and questions waiting to be solved, but in that moment, everything else fell away; all that existed was the soft brush of his lips against hers.

the kiss tasted of pleasure. of desperateness. of something, neither y/n nor julian wanted to let go. she felt both vulnerable and invincible, as if they were the only two people in the universe. so they let their personal fights and the darkness disappear, as they both let the new beginning wash over themselves.

taglist: @xoxzso

[biggie-chcese]

Why I think Yomi Hellsmile should've died in Chapter 4

(this essay isnt what you think it is. spoilers for the whole game btw)

Alright so let me preface this by saying that this is not a Yomi Hellsmile hate essay. I like Yomi. He's my favorite peacekeeper. He's funny, he's entertaining, and he makes for a very effective antagonist. So why have him die? Well, for the same reason I wouldn't have Yakou live: I think it makes for a better story.

So here's the true title of my essay: A Critique of how Rain Code's Narrative Handles the Peacekeepers (and by Extension, Yomi) and their Downfall

Let's start with Yomi's downfall in canon. Yuma and Vivia find out his role in Huesca's murder and, ultimately, Yakou's death, and are angry beyond belief. But they're also helpless to do anything as they escape the labyrinth with vengeance on their minds. Of course, this gets shut down immediately, and then Makoto ex machina comes in with Martina in tow to arrest Yomi for his money laundering and bribery. And right then and there, in one fell swoop, the peacekeepers are completely eliminated as a threat in the story to be replaced by Makoto.

But okay... isn't that super underwhelming? The peacekeepers and Amaterasu corp have been the main driving force of the game's primary conflict, and yet somehow they are completely eliminated as a threat because Makoto grabbed a few files off screen. And also, this brings me to my first major issue I have with this ending:

Part 1: Why the fuck do they care?

No I'm serious. Why do the peacekeepers care? So what if Yomi bribed his way to the top? You mean to tell me that the cops who spent the entire game assaulting and antagonizing civilians give a shit? They're never shown to have any sort of problem with their corruption. They send people to be executed on whims and knowingly, regularly falsify evidence on murder cases. At best the peacekeepers are indifferent to the suffering they cause, and at worst they are gleefully complicit in it. So, again, why do they care about Yomi's money schemes? In fact, they only benefit from Yomi's rule because he gives them the power to freely instill fear in Kanai Ward's citizens. The game never, at any point, has an "are we the baddies?" moment from them nor does it ever even try to have at least one peacekeeper question Yomi's authority, even when he's throwing them under the bus. Throughout the whole game, they stand as a completely one-note, cartoonishly evil representation of police corruption.

So why the sudden heel turn? The resolution of chapter 4 feels so jarring to me because the game has zero buildup to it. This also applies to Martina's return. Actually let's also talk about her.

Part 2: So... Martina's return lowkey is kinda lame

Don't get me wrong, I was pretty hype when she came back. But also, the magic wore off pretty quickly for me because I didn't understand why she was suddenly a whole different character. I suppose her brush with death gave her some time to contemplate her actions, or perhaps she felt indebted to Makoto and asked him what she should do, or maybe Makoto held her life over her head and told her to change her act or he's letting her get cubed. Who knows? We get nothing expanding on this so it could be anything.

I feel like people kinda forget that Martina was just as corrupt as Yomi? Like, she is not his helpless victim. I'd even argue that their relationship isn't abusive. Martina is in it with her own interests in mind in addition to just being a massive sadomasochist. I cannot stress this enough: whatever tf she and Yomi had going on, she was completely into it. Even at the end of chapter 2, she was drooling over him and the idea of punishment... until Yomi crossed a line.

Y'see, Martina thought she was special. She thought that whatever punishment Yomi had for her Aetheria Academy blunder, she'd come out of it alive, because she's his beloved right hand. Yomi then showed her that she's just as disposable as the rest of his underlings by ordering her to be brutally executed. That is when she becomes a victim.

Anyway, I'm saying all this to make a point that Martina hasn't shown any interest in being an honest cop until chapter 4. It's completely out of nowhere, just like with the other peacekeepers.

"But Biggie," you may be thinking, "why would Yomi dying fix these issues?" Well I'm so glad you hypothetically asked!

Part 3: We love missed potential, baby!

Kodaka sometimes does this thing where he introduces an interesting concept that plays with the rules of the game... and then doesn't commit to it. Think like the double murder clause in Danganronpa V3 chapter 3, where they mention that if two separate murderers act in the same day then only one of those murders counts. Then they do nothing with this, and instead create a very weak chapter.

This is a similar problem I have with the tail end of chapter 4's mystery labyrinth, which is a really amazing labyrinth that introduces a really amazing concept: taking down a secret mastermind. After reaping the culprit's soul, they have this cool, brand new secret area that... does nothing. No, I'm serious. Nothing happens. All it does is piss Yuma and Vivia off and waste everyone's time. They find out Yomi's involvement in the case, but they still don't do anything with that. Sure it brings a whole new feeling of hopelessness, but doesn't that make Yomi's downfall literally five minutes later through the mundane actions of someone else off screen seem all the more underwhelming? From a gameplay and storytelling standpoint, I think this is just... a cop-out. I think it'd be cool if he was involved enough in Huesca's murder to count as an accomplice, then with Vivia and Shinigami at his side, Yuma reaps Yomi's soul. It's a decent payoff for the NDA and the player while supporting the game's message about the importance of finding the truth. And god does the game need support in that regard, because the Mystery Labyrinth almost never helps and Yuma instead gets saved by someone else (which would've been nice to expand on if we go this route bc there's something interesting about Yuma calling for the labyrinth to kill people for ultimately no reason, but they don't do anything with that and that is a WHOLE other essay lol).

But this is not my main reason that Yomi should've died here. I wouldn't feel so strongly if that was the case. No, my problem lies with a character that isn't Yomi, and what is part of the entire reason Rain Code's plot exists.

Part 4: Is Makoto fucking stupid?

"/lh" by the way. Makoto is my second favorite character in this game behind Yuma, and I adore him. His story, his motivations, his undying will to be a protector of a people that no one else will protect, by any means necessary... he is such an incredible character and antagonist and I genuinely adore him. But I have one eensy weensy, teeny weeny little issue with him:

Why did he need the detectives to oust Yomi?

Makoto claims in the ch 5 labyrinth that the reason the detectives were brought over was to oust Yomi, which leads me to believe the command for the detectives to come to Kanai Ward was his work, not Number One's, then Number One simply caught onto this and took advantage of the situation to sneak in. Though, that's just a guess on my part, mind you. So I suppose he was just desperately hoping at least one of them would take care of Yomi, but isn't that weird?

The detectives don't ever find the evidence of Yomi's money laundering and bribery. Makoto does. The detectives don't ever bring Yomi's corruption to light. Yomi... already does that without their help. Actually, why didn't he secretly team up with the Resistance for that? Too busy ignoring Dohya District's glaring issues, Makoto? Too busy turning a blind eye to your people's suffering?

Uh. Anyway, the only detective that actually does something beneficial for Makoto and kills Huesca is Yakou, who was already in Kanai Ward. And don't tell me that Makoto accounted for Fubuki and Desuhiko's fortes here because that part of the plan was all Yakou's idea. If Makoto could've predicted this, he would've just called the detectives necessary to this plan instead of luring in a bunch of them at once to get slaughtered.

Tons of detectives died coming to Kanai Ward to do... what? Distract Yomi? Could the World's Greatest Mind truly never come up with a better distraction for a guy who didn't even realize his Martina Cube™ order never came in? Yomi isn't shown to be some sort of hypervigilant supergenius nor is he nearly on Makoto's level. Could he truly not have outsmarted Yomi and led him astray long enough to grab a little binder of paper?

So, once again, you may be wondering how Yomi's death would fix this. Well, Yuma, a detective, is the one who kills Yomi.

Makoto is well aware of Yuma using the Book of Death at this point. So what better way to get rid of Yomi than to carefully manipulate the detective who has the Perfect Criminal Murder Tool™? Makoto can't just assassinate Yomi himself- that would make him the main suspect and he'd have to do a lot of PR maintenance to get the rest of Amaterasu Corp off his back. But Yomi mysteriously dying of a heart attack while Makoto isn't anywhere around... well, that's different.

"But wait," you may be thinking, "doesn't Makoto want to keep Yomi alive because he's a Kanai Ward citizen, and he loves Kanai Ward?"

Good point! But doesn't that also apply to Yakou, whom he also had a hand in manipulating into that crazy sui-homocide of Dr. Huesca? Or, what about Fink? Remember him? Makoto killed him for "knowing too much." I know that information is missable, but it's there. And don't tell me it's just because he's a hitman and has killed other Kanai Ward residents, because Yomi has sent many residents to their deaths without trial... not a huge difference. So a body count isn't really on Makoto's "should I kill them" conditions, it seems.

If Fink gets killed for "knowing too much," then Yomi shouldn't be exempt from this, especially when he was leaking homunculus information to the outside world. That goes far beyond "knowing too much." It just doesn't make sense.

But you know what does? Makoto actually using the detectives to wipe his hands clean of Yomi's mess. Yakou is used to take care of Huesca, Yuma is used to take care of Yomi, and Makoto gets to sit back, relax, and watch everything play out just as planned.

And later, in the next chapter, when Yuma learns about Makoto using him like this, he realizes that he's truly been had.

Part 5: How I think it should play out

I'm not being a hater. In fact, I deeply love this game and have a lot of respect for Kodaka and the writing team, so please don't take my little rant as some sort of effort to bash on my favorite video game because that's not what this is. I'm not gonna prop myself up as a better writer than anyone on the team because I'm not, but I'll still try my hand at rewriting this scene to fit my personal taste. So I would like for you to imagine with me, the end of chapter 4...

Yuma and Vivia find the secret area of the labyrinth and find out that Yomi has been masterminding Huesca's murder. Shinigami points out that, hey, that's why the labyrinth is falling so slowly: we haven't finished it off! Vivia stands by Yuma's side, and all of them, driven by their rage and desire to see justice be done, reap the soul of the true mastermind through one final strike of the solution blade. Labyrinth collapses, snap back to reality, oop there goes gravity, oop there goes Yomi, who collapses on the ground.

The peacekeepers are surprised and approach the body. They find that Yomi is dead. They're shocked, and as this is happening, Yuma isn't sure what to feel. Is he glad that he managed to avenge Yakou? Not quite, because Yakou is still gone, the hitman is still out there, and everything still hurts. But a part of him feels... vindicated. Vivia seems to have equally complicated feelings about this. For once, it was... kind of worth it to find the truth, even if a bit messy.

Well now the peacekeepers confirmed Yomi is dead, but now they're accusing the detectives of this. And they're honestly kinda right. Yuma and Vivia realize that they're in kind of deep shit, but the sound of Martina's voice comes from off screen asking what on earth is going on here, making everyone freeze.

Enter her, Makoto, and Seth (I'll say why he's here too in a moment). They're surprised at the sight before them, but Makoto only pretends to be. Then you see it... Martina and Seth go from visibly suprised... to relieved. And there's something oddly triumphant, yet a bit chilling about Makoto and the two people we've witnessed Yomi throw under the bus standing over his corpse. It feels thematic now, as if righteous judgement has come. And... it also solves the "what happened to Seth" question, lol.

Makoto shakes his head and sighs, stepping over the corpse and approaching Yuma and Vivia as he comes up with an excuse: "I always told him that those temper tantrums weren't good for his blood pressure. I guess his heart couldn't take it anymore."

He then nods to the others. Seth instructs the peacekeepers to clean up the body, as they rot quickly in this city. There's this foreboding feeling in the peacekeepers' obedience and efficiency, and Yuma begins to wonder if he did a good thing. Did his actions change the peacekeepers for the better, he asks himself, or did he simply shift the power over to someone worse? Shinigami tells him she doesn't know.

Makoto approaches them with good news: they found and arrested the hitman! Yuma, frightened, does not address that and instead asks him why the other high ranking peacekeepers are here. Makoto says that they... owe him a favor. Martina expresses her gratefulness for him stopping her execution order and asks if they can do anything else, to which Makoto replies telling her no, they're doing an excellent job. After some more conversation, Seth, Martina, and the peacekeepers then leave with Yomi's body to let Makoto talk privately to Yuma and Vivia. Makoto apologizes for their loss of Yakou and offers some faux sympathy. They're both... still conflicted about this conclusion, but Makoto tells them they're free to go, so they'll think about it later. Oh, but before they leave, he gives Yuma a little gift: a suspicious black box. Of course, Yuma can't open it just yet- it's a surprise!

Then the rest could play out pretty much normally (though an encounter with zombie Yomi chapter 5 seems inevitable and also awesome).

I think this alone would solve every issue I addressed before. The peacekeepers do not change out of nowhere. They simply reallocate power and there's still this feeling of them being a threat as they're now directly connected to the game's true antagonist. There's now a theme to Martina's return with Seth's presence as well. There's now a narrative purpose to that final section of the mystery labyrinth with proper payoff. And, most importantly, Makoto's motivations to use the detectives make more sense.

By the way, if any Yomi lovers think that he should stay alive for a potential return in the sequel... isn't it such a blessing that Yakou's DLC introduced this pretty neat little pill that could still make that possible? Just saying.

So yeah. Yuma, for the sake of narrative payoff and character writing consistency, please kill this clown. Thanks for reading <3

[bestfictionalplant]

Round 2 Group 6

Propaganda and spoilers under cut

Jumpkin:

It's a little guy :D More seriously, it's a monster. All monsters in Cassette Beasts can be "recorded" so you can turn into them! "A Jumpkin is a special monster created by smearing the goo from another monster, Jellyton, on a normal pumpkin. It's pretty much the only monster with this kind of capture method. Jumpkins are just funny little guys that, as their name implies, jump around! They have such zest for life. A jumpkin tape can be ""remastered"" into two other monsters, Beanstalker and Draculeaf."

Karzahni:

in the time before time, when the evil mayor impersonator makuta was planning his plan to get the little robot meat guys in their little memory-erasing containers and before he'd impersonated the mayor (i think; don't quote me; i am Not Good at the timeline) he was like "hey i should make a plant that will force these four-foot fuckers towards the big sports and politics stadium under threat of murder so i can easily get my bastard robot cops to force them into the amnesia balls" and then he made karzahni. who was too smart and cool and powerful. so he did not get deployed. he is named after the legendary Lego Hell and Lego Satan where Bad And Naughty Disabled Robots Go For "Repairs" And Never Return. it's expensive to copyright names. they had to double up on occasion. or triple up. or quadruple up. anyway so evil mayor impersonator who is also ANOTHER Lego Satan but that's besides the point, creates this plant. but the plant is too smart. so he puts it somewhere and forgets about it and makes the morbuzakh NEW PARAGRAPH anyway so basically most creatures in this universe are immortal bar murder and fucked-up circumstances. no old age, basically. but this plant has one, because Bionicle Satan (Not Karzahni) makes his shit with limited lifespans so they can't wait for ten thousand years gathering their power and then kill-murder him to death. six big robot meat superheroes fight a fucking big monster in a tunnel. the cool smart one who used to be a teacher gets poisoned. but because karzahni (plant) is so fucking cool it can make an antidote. and it holds the antidote hostage in exchange for Cool Oil, which is oil from the apocalypse planet where the robot meat guys' creators are from, but they fracked too hard and split the planet into three pieces so that's a bit fucked-up and yet besides the point. anyway they get the magic juice and give it to karzahni (plant). previously in the story (but later in the timeline; this is a TWO-YEAR FLASHBACK EPISODE BABY) some other robot meat superheroes took a dunk in this cool fucking water and got mega-boosted powers. super-superheroes. but that's because god exists and has predetermined what can happen in each individual's life. those guys got Good Results From Applied Goo. karzahni (plant) does not. it just fucking. dies. it is then chopped up to make some lorries float so they can take the amnesiac sphere guys up to a cool new island they found, because their old island got FUCKING WRECKED NEW PARAGRAPH anyway a cutting of karzahni survived (known as karzahni ii) with all the memories and shit of the real one and just sort of goes. FINE. i will join you, Lego Satan (not karzahni but the evil mayor impersonator) in gaslighting this mentally ill man into thinking he's short and his life is a lie in order to get the time travel device he made out of some magic fucking frisbees. karzahni took on the role of the morbuzakh. then the guy's like "this is bullshit" and gets thrown off a cliff but Karzahni II catches him and goes "hey. everything's alright. i tortured and killed a guy and he said you're doing good and everything is gonna be okay" and then the evil mayor impersonator (who by this point has not been impersonating the mayor for like. at least a week?) kills it. again. for real this time

[nothingenoughao3]

The mundane horror of "I Saw The TV Glow" [spoilers]

But life without meaning is the torture Of restlessness and vague desire-- It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid. -"George Gray", by Edgar Lee Masters

There is a genre of horror film, one of my favorites, called transcendental horror.

In transcendental horror works, the protagonist "enters a state of communion" with the monstrosity that has tormented them for the entire tale. In some of the most famous examples, the protagonist becomes united with the source of horror: either coming to share the monstrosity or cult or aliens or gods' point of view, or literally becoming one with/possessed by/joining their ranks.

The moment of communion is most often visually communicated by a scene in which the protagonist stares into the camera with an expression that is most often joyous and always iconic. The joyfulness is what haunts the audience afterwards, and why these reaction moments so often become memes: they stick in the folds of your brain, making you wonder how the hell someone could be that happy about what they have surrendered themselves to.

(Or you didn't pay attention and you think that, because someone is happy, what happened must be good. Whichever.)

Anyhow, I have been thinking about how "I Saw The TV Glow" takes some of the tropes of transcendental horror and reverses them into something else.

The world of The Pink Opaque is a scary world I wouldn't want to be in. Despite the cool effects and the thought of having psychic powers--of being special, a protagonist, a Chosen One--I, and most people, don't actually want to be a part of that universe. Most people prefer to interact with monsters through the safety of fiction. Jokes about monsterfucking aside, most of us humans are generally glad that there are no monsters, and given the choice to be in a world where there are monsters--real ones--we prefer the one in which there are none.

But, like, the assumption in (say) isekai tales is that our Mundane World is the Real World, and the new world the protagonists visits is always framed as being a fantasy. There is always the assertion that the Cool World with monsters and danger and psychic bonds is, to a degree, false; it is governed by trope rules the protagonist can exploit, or the protagonist has a magical item that permits them to return to the Mundane World within some limitations. Foundationally, characters who begin the tale in the Mundane World are of the Mundane World, and hence, nearly always want to return there, if possible.

The horror of "TV Glow" is that the Mundane World is the artifice, a fantasy concocted by Mr. Melancholy to dupe his dying enemies into thinking they are two teenagers in the Mundane World. One of them realizes it, and in a moment of almost-dying ecstasy, is transported to the real world of The Pink Opaque. She tries to return to rescue Owen, our protagonist.

Only Owen doesn't leave. Confronted with the transcendent, he chooses the mundane. Because it's safe. And boring. And that means it must be real.

So in transcendental horror, the protagonist usually has that moment of gazing into the camera, where the camera/audience is a substitute for The Horrors And The Ecstasies. And one might notice that Owen does this with some frequency. Often, but not always, when he is narrating. Almost as though he is a character in a horror TV show trying to find the invisible-to-him camera to which he should speak, as though he is almost naturally aware of the audience, of us.

Consider that the first shot up there is the second time we see Owen at all--him gazing into the camera, having been changed from a heroine into a teenaged boy moved to wordless wonder by a television advertisement.

Most of the other moments captured above are of him watching The Pink Opaque, narrating, or realizing the fourth wall does not exist. Moments which are, for him, transcendent: which ought to lift him out of the realm of the mundane and transport him to something bigger, better, and in his case, realer.

But no. Instead of the grinning joy of other transcendental moments in other films, his reaction is bland to horrified. And he doesn't choose to commune with what frightens and thrills him.

He chooses the mundane.

Note here that even though he should be looking at the camera, and--especially in the final, devastating shot, should be looking at it constantly--he doesn't. We feel disconnected from Owen because we're so used to him making casual eye contact with us, the audience, at this point. Despite actual proof, his rejection of the transcendent, of who he could become, of how he could truly live instead of existing, is complete. He no longer narrates. He no longer acts like a character aware of the camera. Even his moment of terrible joy when he should be looking at us--he's looking in the mirror instead.

And then he crams himself back into his work uniform and, gasping for air, apologizes to everyone for making a scene because he's got this new medication, because that's the sort of thing all of us (disabled or queer or queer and disabled) have said when we had a breakdown at work, maybe because we realized at work that we were trapped and couldn't get out and won't somebody help us we can't breathe.

Owen chooses the mundane--the closet, the expected costume of his assigned gender, the normality of the family he loves which we never see--and it kills him because it's not real.

It's something I have thought about every day since I saw the film. Normally, horror films make you frightened that The Monster Is Real or The Killer Is Hunting You. This one did something even worse; it made me doing my chores, doing mundane stuff, inherently scary.

I don't have a real ending for this, so happy New Year.

[thewizardingtoad]

Noone:

Returner's Magic manhwa: I can kill this one old man soooo many times

[liminal-station]

MODCAT’S HALLOWEEN SPECIL

Happy Halloween, people of Earth! Today is a day of costumes, candy, and booping, apparently. And for the last few days, I’ve been working on a treat to give to all of you!

I deal with the multiverse a lot on this blog, so I’ve seen my fair share of differences and oddities. For instance, did you know there’s a world where the Subway Bosses aren’t Pokemon characters, but are actually characters from a Tim Burton film? In the film, Ingo dies and enters the afterlife, where he is selected by the ferryman Charon to take his place. He uses his power to travel back to the world of the living and reunite with Emmet, setting the stage for a macabre adventure between worlds.

Eeeeexcept that’s not actually a universe I or the Liminal Twins have been to. It’s an AU I’ve had in the works for around a year now, titled Psychopomp and Circumstance. I’m excited to release the first chapter once it’s completed, but for now, I’ve got a tasting portion for you to sink your teeth into, with a special guest appearance by the ghost with the most, if you know what I mean~

Word count: 3663

Content warnings: frequent death mentions, detached body parts (cartoony), mild swearing, kicking a horse, insects inside someone

Spoilers for Beetlejuice 1 and 2

Enjoy! And remember… don’t say his name three times.

Amongst the dead, only two men have the power to travel to the world of the living whenever they please and be seen by living humans. One is the psychopomp, appointed by Charon himself and given the sacred task of escorting the dead to their resting place. The other, the afterworld’s most wanted criminal. The man was easy to find, but hard to catch; simply saying his name aloud thrice was all it took to invoke him, but he obeyed no law but his own. In his hundreds of years of undeath, he had become a master of dark magic, with the power to warp reality itself in the blink of an eye. Not even the living were immune to his cruel and unusual machinations. The dead all knew him by name, but few dared to speak it.

It had been a few weeks since Ingo Vanderbilt’s tragic death. After being chosen to take over as the official psychopomp, he returned to Earth to reunite with his brother, Emmet, and show him the truth of life and death. Since that day, Emmet made a habit of visiting the afterworld as his brother's official plus-one. He was nowhere near used to the macabre and unsettling nature of the place, but he found that death wasn’t all that different from life, and he was, of course, grateful to have his twin brother back.

The two of them were headed to meet up with one of Ingo’s new acquaintances, a woman named Irida who was a great warlord in ancient Japan. Emmet was still quite a bit bewildered that his brother held such a high rank in the afterlife, but proud of him nonetheless. As they walked through the winding cobblestone streets, Emmet following the light of his brother’s lantern, Ingo spotted a wall of posters illuminated by a skull-shaped street lamp. Emmet didn’t even notice Ingo had stopped until he heard the sound of paper ripping.

“Uh… Ingo? Why exactly are you taking down that poster?”

Ingo ripped the poster into unreadable scraps with his skeletal hands, and tossed them to the howling wind.

“We cannot have that fiend advertising his “services”. Not on my watch.” Ingo began to tear off a few more of the posters, letting them fall to the ground. Curious, Emmet picked up one of the posters��

TROUBLED BY THE LIVING? Exor-cise YOUR right to rest in peace! Call the afterlife’s leading bio-exorcist TODAY toll-free!

Commercial - Residential - Industrial

BETELGEUSE BETELGEUSE BETELGEUSE

“Ingo, you have to be overreacting. Sure, this could be a scam, but you should really deal with that through the proper channels!”

“You don’t understand”, Ingo said as his half-rotten head turned a perfect 180 degrees to look at his brother. “That man is a danger to both the dead AND the living. That “bio-exorcism” gig is just his way to open the door… and once that door is open, he is uncontrollable. He can even bring direct harm to the living…”

Emmet’s eyebrows shot up. “H-he can hurt the living? I thought that was forbidden!”

“It is. But he knows the laws from front to back, and he knows exactly how to bend them. If some poor soul happened to summon him, the entire afterworld could be in danger.”

Emmet looked down at the flier again. It even had a section detailing this man’s “romantic” services… ew. But Emmet simply couldn’t see how something like this could be the work of an immortal dark mage…

“If he really is a danger to ghost-anity, I’m sure the authorities are already looking for him. Besides, how is anyone supposed to get a hold of him, anyway? There’s no phone number to be seen anywhere in this entire advertisement! Just the word “Betelgeuse” over and over…”

“Emmet, I am warning you from the bottom of my cold, unbeating heart to NOT say that name. If you say it three times in a row…”

“Okay, okay! I will conduct my safety checks, you can trust me…”

As the twins continued to walk through the twisted streets, paved with chunks of gravestone and dead grass, Emmet couldn’t shake the thought of that name. Every time Ingo would take down one of the advertisements, he would glance down at the scraps and repeat that accursed name in his head. He was used to Ingo haunting the station, but for his mind to be haunted was a totally different experience.

“Quite a few beetles out today…” Ingo remarked offhandedly as he felt the crunch of a beetle under his boot. Beetle… could it be? Was this some sort of sign? Emmet tried his best to keep his composure, but he began to wonder… What would happen? What would truly happen if he gave in and summoned the bio-exorcist? He was not even sure what services he would need, or what he would be paying in, but the thought was almost demonically tantalizing, and the sensation only grew with every second. He began mouthing the word silently… Betelgeuse. Beetle-Juice. It felt… right, somehow. It was as if he was born to say that name.

“Emmet? Earth to Emmet!”

Emmet quickly snapped out of his own thought spiral.

“Uh- yeah. I-I’m okay.”

Ingo looked incredibly worried. “You froze in the middle of the sidewalk… are you getting tired? Do you not want to meet Irida? Both are quite okay, I promise.”

Emmet shook his head, his mind still filled with thoughts. “N-no, it’s just… I-I’ll be alright, brother.”

Ingo placed his cold hands on his brother's shoulders. “You are clearly not. Is it the temperature? Us dead folk can withstand the cold, but you’re still alive. Do you want to wear my coat?”

A beetle fluttered past and landed on Ingo’s arm. That small event, a single insect, was all it took for Emmet to finally break.

“B-Buh… Buh…”

“Emmet?!? Don’t worry, I’ll get you back to the world of the living. Just remain calm!”

“Buh… Beetlejuice…”

Ingo took a step back. “E-Emmet? You’ll be okay, we-“

“Beetlejuice.” Emmet was set in his ways. He didn’t even look at his brother. Ingo tried desperately to make his brother reconsider, but he feared it was already too late.

“Brother! Please, you must change your track! You don’t understand what this could do! You could be putting us both in danger!

But Emmet did not hesitate. He couldn’t live without knowing. The curiosity gnawed at his very soul, pushing him forward, forcing that last word out of his mouth. He tossed aside his fears, and proclaimed:

“BEETLEJUICE!”

The ground began to shake as the sky clouded over, flashing with green lightning and booming thunder. The twins held on tight to their hats as the wind quickly sped up, on the verge of becoming a hurricane. To Emmet, it felt as though the world had started spinning, spinning, spinning…

And then, it stopped. Emmet steadied himself, allowing his racing heart to slow down. The twins found themselves standing in what appeared to be a small call center, staffed entirely by men with shrunken heads who answered call after call despite all their mouths being sewn shut.

“Ingo? Uh… where are we?”

“I don’t care where we are. We have to get out.” He hoisted up the Stygian Lantern, the ancient artifact bestowed upon him by Charon that granted him the ability to travel anywhere in seconds…

“Huh? Where did the lantern go?!”

The lantern, the source of Ingos power, was nowhere to be found. He began to panic, knowing he was utterly powerless without it and had no means of escape or self-defense.

“Looking for this?”, said a voice that sounded like it had been smoking a pack a day for the past hundred years. The twins turned to face a man sitting at the desk who definitely hadn’t been there moments before. His legs were crossed with his feet resting on the desk, and he dangled the lantern above his head, his sunken eyes going over every detail.

“Been meaning to get my hands on this puppy. Thanks for dropping it off, boys!”

“You will give that back this instant!” Ingo proclaimed, standing his ground even in this unfamiliar place. “That lantern is mine and mine alone! Only I can wield it!”

“Hm… nah.” Instead of standing up, Beetlejuice simply floated out of his seat casually. “With this little doohickey, I’ll finally be able to get around that “saying my name three times” rule. And then I can visit Lydia whenever I want.”

Emmet finally chimed in, nervously asking “Uh… who’s Lydia?”

“Who’s Lydia?! Only the most beautiful, kind-hearted, angelic woman I’ve met in 500 years! I simply can’t imagine after-living without her…” Sad music began to play from everywhere at once, as if the air itself turned into pure song. “But she rejected me BOTH times I tried to force her to marry me!”

“Um… that doesn’t exactly seem consensual, Mister Juice, sir…” Emmet stammered.

“You’re doing all this… because of a CRUSH?! An UNREQUITED one at that?!? Ugh… you will hand the Stygian Lantern back NOW.”

Beetlejuice simply cackled, filling the air with the disgusting stench of his breath. “Last time I checked, the guy with the lantern makes the rules… and the guy with the lantern is ME. Sayonara, fuckers.”

With a raise of his hairy eyebrow, a trapdoor in the floor opened up, or rather, manifested on the spot. The brothers Vanderbilt held onto each other's hands as they fell, eventually landing on a sand dune. Emmet coughed up sand, meanwhile Ingo didn’t need to as it passed right through his exposed, organless ribcage.

“Where are we now?” Emmet asked. Ingo tried to speak, but was interrupted by a booming roar. Something big was rustling underneath the surface, encircling them…

Suddenly, it burst up from underground in a cloud of desert sand. The twins were face to face with a sandworm, the apex predator of Saturn’s moon. It opened its massive, fanged mouth full of stalactite-sized teeth, revealing a second head within, both salivating at the sight of their next meal.

“INGO?! WHAT DO WE DO?!?”

“It should be obvious… WE RUN!!!”

The two bolted away, rushing through the sandy canyon of the alien planet. Ingo held Emmet’s hand as they ran, dragging him along since Ingo didn’t have lungs to run out of breath with. The beast swam in and out of the sand as it hunted them down, snaking in a zig-zag pattern to gain speed. Its jaws were so close, Emmet could nearly feel its breath on the back of his neck.

The twins spotted a strangely-shaped rock and immediately crouched down behind it, keeping as quiet as they possibly could. Ingo’s heart would be pounding out of his chest, if he had a heart or a chest. The sandworm continued to scan the area, using its heat-sensitive vision to hunt down ghosts, its favorite prey. Emmet held his breath, trying to make himself as small as possible, while Ingo contemplated how the hell they were going to get out of this. He knew he would simply be digested and pop back up in the afterworld, but that wasn’t an option since Emmet was still alive. Suddenly, the trapdoor opened up again, and a hand reached down from the hole in the sky.

“Grab my hand!”

It was Irida! Ingo and Emmet knew they had no time to question how she had found them. They waited until the worm dove back under the sand, and when it did they ran as fast as they could back to the trapdoor. Unfortunately, the worm could sense something hot and cold nearby, and went right back to the chase.

“Emmet, it’s too high up! How are we going to reach?!”

Emmet tried to think, although his mind was mainly focused on survival.

“I’ve got it! You can detach your limbs, right? Take off your arm! I’ll hold onto your leg, don’t worry!”

“On it!” Ingo grabbed onto his right shoulder with his left hand, and ripped it out at the base. Emmet was still amazed that he felt no pain whatsoever from doing that. Holding his detached arm in his other hand, he was able to reach up to take Irida’s hand. She pulled them up with all her strength, luckily avoiding the sandworm’s jaws just in time. The trapdoor shut behind them and fused back into the floorboards as Beetlejuice’s magic wore off. Emmet collapsed on the ground, huffing shallow breaths and trying to come out of survival mode.

“Thank you kindly, Lady Irida…”, Ingo said as he dusted sand off his uniform. “How is it that you found us, anyway?”

“You’re never late to ANYTHING. I knew something had to be up. And, of course, I could hear your brother screaming from a mile away.”

Emmet nervously scratched the back of his neck. “Must have been loud, then…”

With a moment to think clearly finally, he realized this whole situation wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t said those three little words. Both the world of the living and the world of the dead were in danger now because of him. Ingo knew his brother well, and he could tell when Emmet was receding into his own head. He sat down next to his brother, reattached his arm, and put it around his brother.

“Emmet, this isn’t your fault.”

“It is.” Emmet couldn’t even bring himself to look at his brother. “Your lantern… it’s gone. And it’s my fault. I-I don’t even know what I was thinking, I… I felt like I had to. I was so stupid… I should just go home.”

“Emmet… wait, I hear something. Would you… would you sit still for a moment?”

That snapped Emmet out of it just a little bit. “Uh… sure? What are you-“

He froze when he felt Ingo’s bony fingers digging inside his ear. He reached deep inside Emmet’s ear canal and pulled out a small, chittering beetle. “Here it is. I had a feeling.”

“Would you look at that…” Irida chimed in.

“See, it’s not your fault at all, Emmet. You just didn’t notice a bug in your ear. It was probably compelling you to summon Beetlejuice. I didn’t know he got into the mind control business…”

Emmet was utterly stunned, and decently traumatized as well. He had a bug in him… a BUG in his EAR. An entire BEETLE. He would never be clean again, no matter how much he bathed… The beetle fluttered up into the air, neon green wings shimmering as it left a trail of clearly magical residue behind it.

“Hold on a moment… you said the lantern is gone? It’s tied to your very soul, is it not? Why can’t you simply… call it back to you?” Irida questioned.

“Believe me, Lady Irida, I’ve tried. But this is Beetlejuice we’re talking about. His power even rivals Charon’s, dare I say…”

“Oh, him? Back in my time, he was known as quite the fearsome yokai, known for granting wishes in exchange for releasing chaos into people’s houses. It seems like he hasn’t changed much in the 200 years since… and if there’s anything I know about him, it’s that he can’t be allowed to keep your lantern!”

“W-well, technically it’s Charon’s lantern, I’m simply-“

Emmet suddenly had another idea. “I am Emmet. I suspect that if we follow the bug, it could lead us back to Beetlejuice!”

Ingo didn’t seem to mind that his brother interrupted him. “Emmet, once again, you are a genius! And if he’s piloting my ghost train…” He shudders, imagining that horrid scene. “…we could hijack it before he crosses the Styx!”

Irida stepped forward. “If it’s a train you’re after, you’ll need my horse. Not to worry, spirit horses always find their way back to their pastures!”

She put two fingers in her mouth and let out a whistle at a frequency only spirit horses could hear. That kind of summoning technique took many years to master, but Irida made it look easy. The galloping of its hooves could be heard from far in the distance, and it phased through the wall and into the room at the command of its master.

“Hop on. We’re losing moonlight, as Adaman would say. I hate it when he says that…” Ingo and Emmet sat behind Irida on the ethereal steed, and together they set off to take the lantern back once and for all.

A ghostly mist billowed from the smokestack of the Ghost Train as it rapidly approached the River Styx. Beetlejuice, dressed in a black-and-white striped conductors uniform, drove the train straight through the city streets, cackling all the way as it phased in and out of houses. Irida, Ingo and Emmet followed the smoke on horseback, Irida frequently commanding the horse to go faster with a kick to the ribcage. Ingo knew they were fast approaching the Styx, and while he trusted Irida and her 200 years of experience, he feared there may be no hope. They began to catch up just as the train left the city, and the three could see the river drawing closer. Beetlejuice hit the gas while a clone of him shoveled bones into the fire.

“Ingo! Emmet! You’re going to have to jump!”

“JUMP?!?” Emmet yelped. “If we miss, I’ll drown in the Styx!”

“Brother, I’m afraid we have no better option…”

Emmet’s done much more daring things than this. At least, that’s what he kept repeating in his head to calm his nerves. Just as the Ghost Train began to cross the river, the twins leapt off the horse. Ingo grabbed hold of the back of the train, and managed to catch Emmet’s hand. He hoisted Emmet across just before his arm came out of its socket. Again, Emmet had to catch his breath. This was certainly a night he wouldn’t forget for a long time…

Ingo turned to his brother. “You sneak in and get this train to stop before it reaches the threshold. Don't worry, I’ve designed the controls to be pretty intuitive. I’ll keep him distracted and try to get the lantern out of his hands.”

“Y-you’re sure about this? …okay. Trains are what I know best, after all!” Emmet broke into the train and made his way to the front, while Ingo used the attached ladder to climb up to the roof. The rumbling and shaking of the train was like second nature to him, even in death.

“Beetlejuice! I know you can hear me, you foul thing. We’re going to settle this like men, not creatures of the night.”

Beetlejuice peeked up from a hatch at the front of the train. “Damn hobos, trying to dodge fares again- huh? It’s YOU?! I sent you all the way to Titan, how did- you know what? Nevermind.” He hopped up to join Ingo on the roof, brandishing the stolen lantern with a toothy, yellow grin. “You want your toy back so bad? Hahaha…”

His laugh grew from a gentle chuckle to a maniacal cackle, and his stature began to grow as well. The bones in his arms cracked and snapped as they began to curl into spirals. His conductor's hat transformed before Ingo’s eyes into a carousel of sorts, with all manner of beasts spinning around his head, and the lantern spinning along with them, dangling from a hook.

“COME AND GET IT!!”

Ingo couldn't do much in the way of damage without his lantern, which could turn into a scythe in a burst of otherworldly flame. All he could do was dodge Beetlejuice’s hammer-hands and hope Emmet could stop the train in time. Ingo tried to scale his attacker’s massive arms and reach for the lantern himself, but a single sweeping strike reduced him to a pile of flesh and bones. All the while, Beetlejuice couldn’t contain his sadistic laughter.

Suddenly, the wheels started to spark. Just as the light of the threshold between worlds was drawing closer, the train ground to a halt!

“WHAT’S THE HOLD UP?! KEEP SHOVELING! PULL EVERY LEVER YOU CAN!!”

“No can do, Mister Juice. None of this was in our arrangement. In fact, did we even discuss an arrangement in the first place? As far as I can tell, this is fraud.”

“HEY, NO WAY! YOU DON’T KNOW THE RULES OF THE AFTERLIFE, FLESHY!”

“But I know the rules of the subway. And criminals aren’t allowed on the train. Beetlejuice…”

“DON’T DO WHAT I THINK YOU’RE GONNA DO, KID.”

“Beetlejuice…”

“WHAT IS IT YOU WANT? MONEY, FAME, LOVE? COME ON, I’M DOUBLE-DYIN’ HERE!! PLEASE, DON’T-“

“Beetlejuice.”

And with that, the summoning spell was broken. Beetlejuice exploded into a cloud of confetti and Halloween candy like some sort of undead piñata, and the lantern fell right into Ingo’s armless hand. Emmet climbed up to help put his brother back together.

“Thank you, Emmet. Thank you very much. I should have never said anything about those advertisements in the first place…”

“Come on, don’t thank me. I had to fix my mistake. And nothing was going to stop me from helping my brother… even if he’s dead. ESPECIALLY when he’s dead.”

“…I suppose you’re right. We’ll have to make plans with Irida another night, then… if she forgives us for all the trouble.”

“Heh, you can say that again…” He looked towards the light streaming from the other side of the veil between worlds. “That's pretty bright. Must be close to morning, right?”

“Well, we’re already here.” Ingo stood up straight and tall, donning the professionalism of a conductor. “I suppose I should be taking you back now and beginning the day’s work. You deserve a nice, long shower, anyway.”

Emmet shivered. “I doubt I’ll ever feel clean again…”

The twins shared a heart laugh as the train slowly started up again. Emmet took his seat inside, but a feeling crept up his spine that he couldn’t shake. A feeling that he hadn’t seen the last of Beetlejuice…

[vicky82gargoylesfan]

My Thoughts on Gargoyles Quest issue 5 Queen of All She Surveys

Great final issue of Quest but the ending was heart breaking.

I loved that Angela had a lot to do here, she was brilliant.

Spoilers

Demona's plan is in full swing.

Angela hears the music and Broadway has to leave the turkey. I assume deep frying a turkey is pretty normal for Thanksgiving.

Turns out Robbins is effected by the spell, I assume it's because this spell focuses more on hearing than sight, so a deaf person would probably be immune to Demona's spell.

We see that Shari and Sevarius are also under Demona's spell

Goliath tries to get Elisa out of Demona's spell trick that was used in Temptation but it doesn't work.

I absolutely love Demona's reaction when Angela confronts her.

Demona leaves and orders Xanatos to cover her by bringing out the steel clan robots. But then Angela uses her quick thinking and orders Xanatos to dismiss the robots.

It was pretty weird that Angela called him David and not Xanatos, maybe she was being polite.

Then Coldstone tells Goliath that maybe leaving the humans under Demona's spell is a good thing for the clan, and that's when Coldfire suspects her mate has betrayed the clan by siding with Demona. I just love Coldfire's reaction.

Coldfire uses her spiritualism again to track Demona to the airport. So Demona wants to use a airplane to spread her evil.

The clan arrive and Demona tells the humans to protect her, So Brooklyn tells Katana, Gnash, Lex, Broadway and Angela to hold back the humans.

Coldstone, Coldfire, Turquesa and Jade help Goliath stop Demona but due to there human influence, they end up under Demona's spell too.

Love the dialogue between Goliath and Demona, Demona said some pretty dark things like wanting to torture Elisa.

Angela has to leave Brooklyn's team to go help her Father. She tells Broadway that she needs but doesn't finish her sentence as he knew what she's going to do but Brooklyn didn't and Broadway tells him, 'family time'. and i'm like YES!!!!

Angela has to take out Coldfire and uses Demona's magic to obey to her instead.

Demona tells her Daughter not to interfere but Angela says she will always stand against her evil plans but will embrace her if she decides to change her path to good and she helps take down Demona.

Coldfire uses her gifts to change the humans back to normal and the 3 keys are destroyed but there will be 3 new keys.

Brentwood said "nice while it lasted" when Shari and Sevarius changed back to normal. Hmmm interesting!!!!!

Demona escapes, sadly there is a mistake, the speech bubble should be on Angela not Turquesa.

Jade and Turquesa finally back home, Zafiro and Obsidiana are there too and not very happy, but they will understand once they tell them their journey.

Sadly, Broadways turkey didn't make it but then we see him hugging Angela who is upset which is understandable, she wanted her Mother to know or even attend her commitment ceremony but it looks certainly she's off the guest list now and :-

Coldstone too now, as Coldfire knows he's a traitor and he should be banished, he accepts it, he could only return when he's deemed worthy, yeah no chance

I expect Coldsteel will be happy once he hears they've split up. LOL

Owen gets his broken flute back but he's smirking, so he knows something.

Then the heart breaking moment, Goliath, Elisa and Coldfire hear Katana scream and she, Brooklyn and Gnash are sitting there staring at an empty space where Egwardo should be. It turns out that Elisa under Demona spell stole the egg and gave it to Demona.

Egwardo won't be having the perfect hatching.

Then the last page we see Demona with the Egg (she wants to raise it herself) with Antoinette and Coldstone!!!! who's still sticking by Demona, so he's not interested in redeeming himself right now. Should of switched him off and put him in storage somewhere.

So Demona has won this round.

The Winter Special is next so I expect there won't be any spoilers as it only focuses on Bronx, so we won't know that if they get egg back or not.

[sonkitty]

Certain Theories

If you want to minimize game spoilers, you should actually start here: Trickery.

With the season 3 finale situation being what it is, here is a post detailing the things I'm most sure of in my theories. With the finale, these things could be cancelled, nullified, undone, or whatever, but I'm still as sure I can be these things are what they are. They were there in season 2, whether season 3 admits it or not.

...

This cut is Gabriel pretending to be Crowley:

This cut is Aziraphale pretending to be Crowley:

...

Some significant event involving the real Crowley was hidden and replaced with these cuts. I won't go into what that event was because that is not something I was as sure of. It could even be among the more easily changed elements to condense the story further. If you read my posts, you know what I vaguely think happened.

I will say I think this event is the cause of Crowley's more saturated red streak in his hair.

The sequence is part of a puzzle titled Storming Out.

Crowley's sideburns change length on purpose and react based on human and supernatural elements in a given space with different contexts of the story. The spaces read Crowley. There is a game in play for the audience to figure out how the sideburns work. Crowley uses this magic with the space readings to manage his own personal space.

Crowley and Aziraphale connected their homes through borrowing each other's homes during the season 2 storyline.

Crowley can shift a space into a supernatural zone with the right circumstances. This zone is shown to exist for the scenes of him at his car when talking to other demons in an isolated street. He activates such a zone with Aziraphale's assistance for the ball. This zone is confirmed as mostly de-activating only after Crowley returns from Heaven in episode 6.

Crowley is the one who summoned the elevator at the end of episode 6, not Aziraphale and not the Metatron, though Crowley used the connection he had with Aziraphale to do it.

There is a hidden game in season 2 called Earthly Objects with 6 special puzzles called Threshold Tricks.

The 6 Threshold Tricks are The Perfect Entrance Trick, The Bigger Thresholds Trick, The Pocket Trick, The Sunglasses Trick, The Door Trick, and The Window Trick.

From those 6, The Sunglasses Trick, The Door Trick, and The Window Trick finish in the Final Fifteen.

Episode 3 is loaded with clues for The Window Trick.

The Pocket Trick has a lot of complex mechanics, and one of those is the revelation of the Tied Hands.

The Tied Hands existing has a hidden message of, "The tie strands are connected to the hands because they are Crowley's Tied Hands."

Crowley's belt is his Belt Head.

Overhead Lights exist.

Aziraphale performs The Door Catch in the Final Fifteen, a special Magic Trick that is connected to The Door Trick.

The Door Catch has a special Ground Zero cut with a hidden message of, "Here goes nothing."

The Pocket Trick has a Pocket Chain and Rainbow Connection that is linked to The Door Trick. The Rainbow Connection ends at Green thanks to a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. More precisely, I am referring to how the Metatron presses the button in the Heaven elevator. That button has a gold "H" on it.

The Bigger Thresholds Trick has a simple explanation to be found for how each of the bigger thresholds was tricked.

They are:

How did Crowley trick the pub threshold?

He switched lanes.

...

How did Crowley trick the music shop threshold?

He never let go of the door.

...

How did Crowley trick the Heaven threshold?

He pretended to be arrested by an angel.

...

That's the end of those.

Crowley and Muriel have a special bookend connection with their scenes, especially with the Threshold Tricks.

Every Threshold Trick has a link to a ball invitation.

...

Okay, if you know this stuff further, great. If you don't, you're missing a lot, and it sucks, but I always admitted that I didn't know what season 3 was going to do with these Threshold Tricks, such as actually admitting they exist.

Like, I wasn't sure season 3 would name them. It should because season 2 stuffed half of them into the Final Fifteen, but things don't always happen as they should or we want them to, as we know.

After enough play, I have generally assumed season 3 was never going to explain everything. Some of it has to stay hidden so it can be found by audience players to begin with on the finer mechanics. The idea was probably to drop the bigger clues so that curious fans could find the more deep play. If the Tied Hands were going to be revealed—and I very much hoped that would be the case, it's really amazing because of how you then see them everywhere once you know to look for them at all. Go back and see the pockets all over the place. Go back and see the Overhead Lights and the Belt Head. See what was in front of you the whole time, even though you didn't know that's what you were looking at.

A lot of the answers were always going to be, "Figure it out for yourself."

The puzzle that, to me, seems most likely to be kept and revealed in season 3 is The Door Catch, given its tremendously pivotal context within the ending and Aziraphale's special Ground Zero cut. Plus, there are so many clues about it in the Final Fifteen.

You don't need the Rainbow Connection for The Door Catch. I solved The Door Catch existing before that. The Rainbow Connection just adds some extra finesse to confirming a connection is there, the same connection I just called a plain connection before I ever even named the game, Earthly Objects because of what I found through studying Crowley's sideburns.

I needed Earthly Objects to find The Door Catch, but really, when you get right down to it, the ideas are all there on screen without necessarily requiring the mechanics I went through. Crowley's at a door. Aziraphale's at a door. They are connected through their history and love together. The green leaves are by Crowley. The green leaves are by Aziraphale. They both care about Earth. There was a whole minisode involving a magic trick called The Bullet Catch. Lots of fans associate or speculate about The Bullet Catch and its relevance to the Final Fifteen.

Add all of the ideas up, and it's possible that somebody out there somewhere could have come up with the phrase, The Door Catch, while not having to go through the utter Hell of never fully solving The Pocket Trick that I did.

The puzzles I want most acknowledged are Storming Out, the six Threshold Tricks actually named, the Tied Hands, and...whatever was going to happen with Crowley and Muriel.

Oh, and I'm always going to want to know why Crowley wanted to be first for using the Heaven elevator. It seemed really important when I first noticed it, but I just plain can't solve it. Crowley is a former First-Order Archangel and possibly even an Acting First-Order Archangel during S2, especially while he is in Heaven; he is literally "acting" with his disguise. The furthest I got is that it is almost certainly related to Muriel being last in the ranks. That helps the pair "pocket" or "bookend" the full angel ranks. But then what would that further mean or do? It might not be that important after all or any more. Edit 01/04/2025: While I am not satisfied with my answer, I do have something of an answer finally here: First, Last, and Nothing.

Anyway, that's it for this post. I wanted these things in a post because I hate that this finale means that even more of what these games are will be lost into whatever happens.

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Kaiju Week in Review (October 15-21, 2023)

Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong #1 is metahuman-heavy, establishing how the Titans of the Monsterverse found themselves on the same Earth as DC's finest and ending with Superman flying off to face Godzilla. It's early days, but the conveniently deserted Skull Island base the Legion of Doom storms into makes me pessimistic that any of the Monsterverse's human characters will show up. Rodan is also absent from the Titan line-up, despite appearing via flashback in the short Godzilla: Fight or Flight comic included in the Monsterverse Omnibus earlier this year. (Toho must be overcharging for Godzilla's supporting cast again.) It should be fun watching D-listers like Behemoth, Scylla, and Camazotz tangle with some of the world's most famous superheroes though.

Sales data for DC comics is effectively unavailable now, but anecdotally this one is doing gangbusters. The downside of snagging it now over waiting for the trade paperback is that DC disperses ads throughout the comic, instead of just at the end like IDW.

Toho announced a ton of U.S. Godzilla merch launching in the U.S. on November 3. Your mileage will vary, but the most interesting baubles to me are the Godzilla Minus One promo cards from UVS Games (to be sold on TCGplayer.com) and the trading cards from Surreal Entertainment (to be sold at Five Below). Very few Godzilla trading cards have been produced in either Japan or the U.S. since 2006, and most of those have been cross-promotions with Magic: The Gathering and Battle Spirits. I have a small collection of random cards from older sets (a couple of them signed), and it'll be cool to expand it a little.

Toho's Godzilla Day announcement also included some news on Godzilla Minus One's U.S. release, which I thought deserved its own section. Tickets go on sale November 3rd—including for "special Early Access Fan Event Screenings on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, in IMAX and large format theaters across the country." So Toho International has outmaneuvered Beyoncé in the competition for IMAX screens, if only for one night.

In other Minus One news, a couple new TV spots are out (and translated by the GODZILLA OFFICIAL by TOHO YouTube channel). One shows off a new Godzilla ability, if you're wary of spoilers. Its world premiere was held beneath the Godzilla Head in Shinjuku on October 18, where the incredible Godzilla Attack Truck also debuted.

IDW's Godzilla Valentine's Day Special, due January 31, dares to ask, "What if the old 'kill the monster or study the monster' argument was foreplay?" Zoe Tunnell, who I suspect is a Godzilla 2000 fan, writes, and Dani Pendergast illustrates. I'd like to thank them both for making a comic specifically for me. The logline:

Is there anything as romantic as seeing the world together? Hopping from country to country to take in the sights and splendor in the fleeting seconds before Godzilla smashes the skyline? Truly, there's nothing like the thrill of an international game of cat and mouse between an intrepid amateur kaiju researcher and a global kaiju-response lieutenant. But when you're up against Godzilla, it's hard to have a bigger "CRUSH."

SRS Cinema has picked up War of the Ninja Monsters: Jaron vs. Goura, the latest no-budget spectacular from Shinpei Hayashiya. The two monsters are basically Godzilla and Gamera, one-upping Giant Monsters Appear in Tokyo, which never showed its Godzilla and Gamera expies outside of the poster. Hopefully it'll be less headache-inducing than God Raiga vs. King Ohga: War of the Monsters. SRS is aiming to release it on Blu-ray and VHS in early 2024, with a DVD to follow later in the year.

Hoshi 35, Megumi Odaka's return to live-action film, opened in Japan on October 21. A new trailer is out too. SRS Cinemas has an existing relationship with production company 3Y, which previously made The Great Buddha Arrival and Nezura 1964, so I'd expect them to license this one too.

This Netflix ad for an online convention of sorts includes the first snippets of footage from Ultraman Rising, the Tsuburaya/ILM animated film it's distributing next year. The animation is miles above the Netflix Ultraman anime, that's for sure.

[importantdestinydefendor]

The Runes of Maar

Since @innerchorus had asked about more details of the rune system in Maar and I wanted to do a post about it, I have decided to, well, make a post about it lol.

Warning: long post

First, let me give you a general, alphabetic list of all the runes that are used in Maar.

Algiz - shielding

Ansuz - divinity, mental stability, communication and speech

Berkana - birch

Dagaz - new beginnings and transformation

Ehwaz - horse, transport

Eihwaz - death

Fehu - wealth, abundance, livestock and positivity

Gebo - gift, exchange and generosity

Haglaz - hailstorm, cleansing and destruction

Isa - ice, delay, self-control and frigidity

Inguz - home, news and fertility

Jera - harvest

Kenaz - torch, passion, inspiration and creativity

Lagaz - water, river, lake or renewal 

Mannaz - man

Naudit - need or distress

Othala - inheritance

Pertho - luck or fate

Raido - ride, wheel or journey

Sowilo - sun

Tiwaz - sacrifice, fairness, balance

Thurisaz - masculinity, courage and empowerment

Ur - valor, fortitude, strength and stability

Wunjo - joy, satisfaction, goodness and fellowship

All of them are used in the general day-to-day prayers and special rituals. Everyone of these runes represent a deity in the Maaren pantheon (I will probably do a seperate post about that as well). All citizens of Maar have a rune as a necklace around their neck that represents their tutelary god/goddess (for example: Azar's tutelary god is the god of war “Tiw” and her rune is tiwaz). At a certain age (probably around 11-15, sometimes earlier), children have to go through a ritual that lets them meet the gods of the pantheon and the gods decide which of them will be their protector and the one that should be represented by this child. They then get their rune-necklace and are allowed to choose if they want a permanent tattoo of their rune (or something else) or just the necklace. Some do as it is believed to amplify the effect/power of their rune. If you want to give somebody else the powers of your rune or the protection of your own tutelary god to somebody else, you hand them your necklace to wear and say a prayer to your god (no ritual needed, the prayer is enough). The necklace has to be worn at all times normally and if the original rune is not returned, a new ritual has to be made so the effect can be transferred to another rune stone. 

And these are the runes that actually have confirmed magical force (since Maar is a young country not everything is explored and/or researched to the fullest).

Ansuz - communication

Raido - teleportation

Kenaz - produces light

Haglaz - conjures up a Hailstorm

Isa - produces ice 

Ur - makes you physically or mentally stronger for a short time

Thurisaz - generates strong outbursts of power

Algiz - conjures up a shield/barrier for a short time

Ehwaz - summons a horse

Mannaz (or Eihwaz, have yet to decide) - summons the dead and gives them the ability to come back alive for a short time (only works if the dead person feels as if they still have something left unresolved in their life)

Lagaz - conjures up water/rain

healing rune pending

Everyone in the army and navy need to be able to use at least the basic runes to a certain extant aka. communication, teleportation, producing light (not complitelly sure about this one) and healing. They train from a very young age but everyone of all ages can be accepted (if your health is fine in older age you will also be accepted) into the army/navy.

On how the runes work:

I will not say too much here on how they generally work since in chapter 3 the soldier with the scar (Pavle) will explain it for me (could this be considered a spoiler?). 

But what I will talk about is how to multiply the effect or the strength of the effect. (I already made a comment about it under this post but I will just copy-paste it here again.) So if you want the effect to be stronger, you need more of the same rune stone. But one person can only use two to three stones at the same time so if you want to, for example, heal more than one wound in one go or conjure up an actual storm and not a cough of wind you need at least two to three or more people to do so. It depends on skill levels though (so squires and students are not allowed to do that without strict supervision) and only the priests/druids (name pending, suggestions welcome) are actually allowed to use that many or more at the same time since it takes a huge chunk of stamina and energy. Very dangerous in the midst of war and very easy to misuse and abuse for power (only in emergencies allowed for everyone). So Maar is very strict with who and how to use the runes with magic force. That's why they are mainly used for battles and only the teleportation rune is allowed to be used by a tiny selection of merchants (for example, merchants who sell merchandise lthat needs to be kept fresh, for example). That system is the only way so far to keep the abuse of the runes under control and is obviously not really fair. It currently is being researched more by a specific team directly monitored by the King and the highest priest/druid/whatever and new laws are being created, but not passed, left and right. 

Again, Maar is a young country and has to figure shit out on the go - it is probably in its early/mid teenage years, if you will. This issue will probably be resolved in a few thousand years, so my AU doesn’t really touch that much on it (probably will integrate the problem when we are in Gilan). But I love little tid-bits from outside the story that might never come up - it just makes the world feel even more alive and a little bit more real! 

Also: every rune has a small side effect, so that they are not that op, lol. One will be explained in chapter 4 by, again, Pavle.

So, I think that is what I generally wanted to tell about the runes without being too spoilery (if there even was anything to be spoiled lol). If there are any more questions: my inbox is looking very empty so feel free to spam me!