#administration Jay realness guys. but also Cole realness

[portrait-of-a-moron]

Bruise, they could never make me hate you.

I’m finally getting back into art, and I’m starting to finally feel proud of the things I’m making. I know I still have a very long way to go until I can get to a point where I don’t feel dumb everytime I post, but I’m getting there.

[sepublic]

There's something just so romantic and domestic about Geode to me... Geo having to take care of his kids on his own, and then the universe literally drops the coolest, baddest husband he could ever imagine right on his doorstep one day. He's the dude who helped resolve the Geckle/Munce conflict that led to Geo being unwanted in the first place. He's the son of Lilly, whom Geo would've heard stories about.

And I love how Cole could've easily just moved on, because he needs to find his fellow ninja for like. The greater good or whatever. But he can't just leave anyone behind, especially people who are forgotten for whatever 'justifications' are offered. That's why Cole's a hero, because no innocent lives are acceptable as sacrifices. He's a bleeding heart who cares too much to look past it, he promised his mother to stand up to those who are cruel and unjust, for those who are hurt and downtrodden. He will always consider the little guy.

Just imagine Cole making that decision, announcing it to the finders that he's going to stay. Imagine Geo's reaction. Imagine Geo not letting himself get too attached at first because he'll be gone, and then he hangs around after all. Cole didn't know how long he'd be here but ninja never quit, as long as there's people in danger he owes it to them to help, even if it kills him.

The domestic vibes of them looking after the kids together, watching them, coordinating the family. The fact that the land of lost things always has this perpetual romantic sunset going on. It's just them, their kids, and this rampaging death machine that is technically the reason they got together in the first place, because without it Cole might've continued with his journey.

And you think Geo was just a little bit worried when it was 'over', when Sora and Nya helped to resolve that issue. Cole had no more reason to stay and protect them, plus he even has a new call to action from his old master! Back to being a hero, back to the times before them. At least there's no rampaging death machine anymore, and Geo chides himself for being selfish, he should be grateful his kids are safe and Cole is reunited with his REAL family...

AND THEN HE COMES BACK!!! COLE COMES BACK AND REMEMBERS!!! He knows what it's like to be lost and forgotten, or at least feel that way, so he'll never forget.

Man, out of all of the ninja who got scattered in the Merge, Cole's whereabouts feel the most satisfying and fleshed out, the way they tie back to his character arc and themes and motifs, his past, everything. Zane was in The Egg, Jay was with the Administration (which IS interesting but also a new development), Kai and Nya had their own things and Lloyd struggled to be the lone ninja, which is also fitting. But with Cole, it just feels all so right and even a way to end off his character's decade-plus arc, I love it. You can tell the writers really care about Cole.

[rainofthetwilight]

ALRIGHT. ALL MY THOUGHTS AND PREDICTIONS FOR THE NEW TEASER

HERE WE GO

BEATRIX AND MOTION!!!!! they both seem to be in lloyd's visions by the red landscape, and I'm so glad his visions didn't stop at s2p1 and are still ongoing even after the blood moon

also, can I just say that motion's design is so fucking pretty omg?????? SHE LOOKS SO COOL

worried face lloyd? yep, connected to the visions I'm guessing

I'm also calling that someone's gonna make a meme out of this lmao

AYYYY THE SCENE FROM THE IMDB PHOTOS!!! ngl since it looks like roby's welcoming them, I'm guessing that the screen was showing a recap recording of the ninja arriving

IT'S THE UH, BRECKT OR BREKT GUY OR WHATEVER HIS NAME IS I CAN'T REMEMEBER 😭

YESYEYEYSYEYSYEYE3YEGEYEGSYSBDHEBEVRVQHFHQBDHQJJSJSFHHW WE'RE GETTING KAI N BONZLE MEETING THE REST OF THE FF LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

the glowing one is sitting on a chair, unlike the rest who are standing? I'm guessing that he's the one that passed through the gate and possessed jordana, so he's basically like, living in two worlds? that's also probably why he's sitting on a chair

THEY LOOK SO HAPPY AUSDGSHGSGAGDEHEH32H1HEGQHDHHWEGG2HDHQHQ (they do NOT know the psychological torture that's coming in the next few episodes.........)

ALSO???? NYA'S LOOKING HOT AS FUCK AUSGSHWG3GG2V2HSHQJWHWH1HEHEQHSYHQGSGW AND LLOYD IN HIS MASTER OUTFIT!!!!!!!!! HE'S REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

MATRIARCH IS BACK!!!!! also, is it just me or is she missing her crown? and why is she at the realm of madness? I'm guessing that this is where she and the rest of the herd went after ras' attack maybe?

and from the later shot of sora and arin below, I think this is also related to the administration

also...

yeah, this shot is definitely from ep11

WYLDFYRE WYLDFYRE WYLDFYRE MY DAUGHTER SHE LOOKS SO PRETTY AUAGSGSGSGWGEWHEHGSWHHEHWHEGSGWGDGGWQH

I can't really tell what's happening here?? but since she still has her powers, this is before her match w/ cinder

SORA W/ A WEAPON SORA W/ A WEAPON SORA W/ A WEAPON LETS FUCKING GO SHEYEU2VFB2H4HQIAIDH22J2IWI2GRI28WJDHWJSJ2U2U3SHHDDGHQ LOOK!!!!! LOOK AT MY BLORBO GO!!!!!! LOOK AT MY FAV GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think whatever she's using is made for the tightrope she's on, for balance yk

also, are those floating platforms cameras???

I NEVER THOUGHT WE'D ACTUALLY SEE ROBY W/ A SELFIE STICK BUT HERE WE ARE LMAOO

he looks so happy AGSHQHDGHW 😭 judgung by the spectators I think they're doing like, that wave thing where people cheer then go down if ykwim? I don't know what it's called lol

OKAY LIKE I SAID ABOVE THIS IS DEFINITELY THE ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERING THEY'RE AT THE REALM OF MADNESS RIGHT???? WHY DO THEY LOOK SO SHOCKED I'M . HUH

saw someone on twitter say it might be them meeting jay, but I don't think that's possible bc like, they would've told the others yknow? they wouldn't be that happy if they knew Ig, so I'm guessing this is related to the matriarch plot

CINDER'S LOOKING FLY AS FUCK HOLY SHIT??????? THE MINIFIGURE DID HIM SO DIRTY I'M SO SORRY WE BULLIED YOU MAN 😭

ALSO?????? WHY AND HOW IS HE CONTROLLING WYLDFYRE'S POWERS?????M HUH WHATWHATSVEHWJSHAHWJDJHWHEHQJSJW

my theory? since we see him battling w/ wyldfyre later on, he probably won the duel, and the one who wins gets the other opponent's powers (basically TOE, but to the players themselves instead)

A RACE?????? that is one heck of a small dragon, a baby I'm guessing?

ALSO MECH SUIT COLE IS REAL!!!!!!! he's in his wedding dress <3333333

WHO ARE YOU CLOAKED PERSON AND WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING LLOYD

this could be an entirely new person, but I tbh think it's either jordana or nokt?

but after looking at her minifigure it's not entirely possible it could be her, so it's either nokt, a new person, or even possibly beatrix

WHAT ARE THE TEMPLE GUARDS DOING TO JIRO AND ZANTH WHAT DID THEY EVER DO TO YOU 😭😭

also, the ninja in the background!! those are definitely zane, sora, cole and wyldfyre

GEO BEING THE SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND THAT HE IS AUSVSHQHWGEGWVWG1UWH3H2HDVWVRGQEHHWA WHEN I TELL YO U I SCREAMED ARGEHSHDHEHAHDAHHSHS LOOK AT HIM CHEERING ON HIS HUSBAND N HIS FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CINDER AND WYLDFYRE REMATCH CINDER AND WYLDFYRE REMATCH CINDER AND WYLDFYRE REMATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (this is Not gonna end well 😕)

ALSO, HOW IS CINDER USING SHATTERSPIN W/O HIS EYES GLOWING AND ALL THAT......

did he shatter his soul too much it became part of him or smth???

BACK TO THE TIGHTROPE!!!!!!!!! SORA WATCH OUT WGAHSHWHWHRWJJDHQHEEHWJQJDHWHDHAHSSGQHQ

WHO IS THAT DRAGON AND WHY IS IT TAKING LLOYD??????????

MOTION GLOWING.....OH MY GOD??????????????

HER SIZE COMPARED TO THE MONASTARY IS JUST???????

WHAT A WAY TO END THE TEASER HOLY SHIT

[weekend-whip]

Ninjago Fic Rec Week (2024): Day 4

Prompts: AU/Movieverse/OCs! (Catching Up! I uh skipped Day 3 oop but I've got plenty to offer for this day! Which is...also late...don't look at meeee)

Aus WITH OCs (or as I like to call this list, my own personal indulgence corner. All the AUs/Movieverse stories I've read are ones that get recc'ed a lot already + I myself have already recc'ed them at one point or another, soooo let's throw some pure spotlight onto some OC stories! Even if a lot of it is connected to me to some degree that's irrelevant):

As The Years Pass By: A fic currently in the process of being rewritten/reworked but still chock full of next-gen Dragons Rising goodness! And it stars the one, the only, Jenna and Ethan from @rainofthetwilight!!!! This fic made me fall in love with her characters and I've loved reading/seeing/drawing these two adorable kids ever since!!!!

Dad!Jay AU by @taddymason: An AU so good I'm still catching up on reading it bit by bit to savor it for longer *-*)9 All the stories in this series are worth the read alone for the accumulation of taddy's character Kaida (a girl who needs no introduction–she's that awesome guys, trust me) but also the eventual father-daughter bond with amnesiac!Jay that is gripping and engaging aaaaall the wall through!!

I Carve This Poem From the Harshest of Storms: Another I'm not caught up with YET (a running theme for this Fic Week, it seems hgfhgfdfgds i'm sorry I'm slow and have a short-attention span). It follow two fascinating peeps in The Administration following The Merge, and without giving too much away, @theartsyswissapple ‘s voices for the characters just POP and make them feel SO real and it's been intriguing to read so far so yeah others should give it a try too!!!

What it Takes for You to See Me: A Spinjitzu bros story with added FSM and Mystake goodness too!!! This is one I've just started reading myself, but you know I love some throwbacks to Wu and Garmadon's past! And the OC here, @marhan-writes-n-draws's Amka, fits into the setting like a glove!!

Honeycomb: Gotta give a shoutout to @miqotepotatoe's Lucy while I'm here too!! Some short, sweet snippets of the Ninja Team's best (and most yellow) cheerleader!! I love her dynamic with everyone, and especially Cole <3

The Space Between Us: A very deep and heart-wrenching introspective into @k1ngtok's characters Lynda and Jamie, Master(s) of Space. It's story about siblings and bonds at its core, but also be mindful of tag of you're looking to dig deeper! (it also takes place in legacyverse technically but that's neither here or there I promise)

Flowery Language Another super funny and endearing story by King following Jesse (hey it's my boy!!) and Antonia on the case to discover who's been leaving flowers in Jesse's locker (spoiler: it's not Cole lmao). It's actually a semi-sequel to this old thing *I* wrote however long ago, but thaaaat's not required reading (though it does help). If you want more of a fix for the Jesse-Antonia duo + more of Jamie, this is the story to read!

Learning to Love (Again): Yet another King fic based in legacyverse (a coincidence), this one kiiiind of takes place during Season 2/Book 3 and follows Jamie on his quest to truly show his friends (Nya, Antonia, Harumi, Jesse, and...Olivia?!) just how much he cares about them through the power of love languages over the course of a week and it is AWESOOOOOOOOME!! Soooo many touching and feel-good moments, mostly soft slice-of-life with teenagers being teenagers, and is a great pick-me up when your soul is feeling sad ;w;)/ I advocate for this one just for the warm soft friendshippy-feelings it gives me alone!!! AAAAAA—

Something About Morning Glories: Jesse (oop there he is again) takes it upon to himself to comfort Jay after the latter finds himself concerned about something following obtaining his True Potential. A duo I desperately want to write more about but can't yet, so this little bit of foundation for their relationship will have to suffice for now ;w;)/

(and if you're still clamoring for more of a certain magic pink fool, there's plenty more where that came from; perhaps there may be a Jesse-Antonia friendship origin story on deck soon, along with maybe some DR stuff~! ...listen there will never be a good chance to self-advertise like this again!! BE YOUR BIGGEST FAN!!! SELF-LOVE BABY!!!! *-*)9 )

In the Company of the Stars: A tale as old as time—a Royal!AU where the fair groundskeeper of a palace's garden (that's the OC) falls head over heels for the prince far out of his league (that's Cole)—except, the prince absolutely likes him back...albeit only as his secret, suave alter-ego. But is that really true—and, more importantly, is there bigger problems to deal with right now???? There's romance, mystery, good food, royal drama, angst, fluff, sabotage, magic, a whole bunch of flowers, Harumi causing chaos on purpose, Skylor throws Chad across a room, Jay goes on a rampage a some point, Kai can't flirt to save his life—the author just needs some fresh motivation to post the darn next chapter already because the ending's gonna be really really good ;V

[finn-m-corvex]

Okay now that I'm finally achieving coherence I am going to put all of my thoughts for Pt. 2 under this cut so HEAVY SPOILER WARNING!

We're definitely going back to the Land of Lost Things at some point, probably S2; they left WAY too much stuff open in that particular area. I'm starting to get a picture of how it might work and if I'm right I'm going to be thrilled.

Geo and Fritz and Spitz must still be there, and we know Cole isn't going to leave them behind, so at some point after grabbing Jay from the Administration (bc let's be so real that is what Wu is telling him to do) they're going to come back and try to figure out what's going on there. The fact that Imperium knows about it implies that either they were in the same realm OR Imperium had inter-realm travel via dragons, which could mean that:

Imperium -> The Wyldness -> The Land of Lost Things were all the SAME.

So why would Cole of all people end up there?

But wait.

If Jay ended up in the Administration, and Nya also ended up in the Realm of Madness, was Jay trying to go after Nya?

So I have a bit of a crackpot theory, but it's going to try and explain what happened to Zane, Jay and Cole AND why Cole and Zane already had the DR suits, because it's already been well-established that the DR suits mean that they have come into contact with someone before.

Let me paint you a picture:

Zane, Jay and Cole wake up either all together or they find each other, but they also end up in the tunnels underground after trying to find the source of the earth screaming that Cole described. Traveling through the tunnels, they come across the Monastery underground and attempt to activate it with Jay’s powers, but the Adminstration show up and everything goes to hell.

Jay is captured and taken back to the Administration, Zane is deactivated with his memory wiped and locked in the pod underneath Imperium because the agents don't feel like dealing with the "nindroid interfering with our plans paperwork" and Cole is the only one to escape. He picks a random tunnel and runs without looking back, he already knows that his brothers are gone and he needs to find help, but it's too late; he exits the tunnel in the Land of Lost Things, and he can't leave.

He doesn't know where Jay is and his powers can't locate Zane, and Cole knows that he's failed. He can't fail these kids and Geo too.

Until Nya finds out that the Administration was right there; if she had just chosen a different way to go, looked harder, done something then Jay would've been saved. She wouldn't have been alone.

Cole’s guilt when he realizes that he is the one being sent to find Jay when he knows it should be Nya, or anyone else really, because why would Wu pick the one who wasn't strong enough to keep Jay safe to save him?

I have so many thoughts guys.

[agenericplaceholdername]

Dragons Rising E16-20 Thoughts

Here’s some thoughts on the final episodes of Dragons Rising, Season 1:

Land of Lost Things:

So how’d the Dragon Core end up in the Land of Lost Things? Nya says, “Someone lost it” but who?

The Land of Lost Things in this ep is permanently at sunset/rise and looks beautiful

The land itself is screaming? Seems kinda important

Couldn’t Geo just fuse the Hoarder to the ground

Bonzle! Never expected how much they’d do with her after this ep

Sora ngl powering a machine off of another person’s energy does sound like Imperium

Who built this machine anyway

Poor Geo :( 

Cole is just so lost lol. “What Empress?!”

Okay but he’s also super cool

“Bones. Extremely useful.”

“Broken things can be repaired, and made stronger!” Thanks Geo - not only is your relationship w/ Cole super cute but you’ve helped Sora

Dr. LaRow is exactly the type of person who would “erm actually” an insult

IT FORMED A HEART

Wow it’s a cute blue blob

Wyldfyre growth

Very good episode - Cole is characterized great, Geo is fun, we get both Sora and Wyldfyre growth, the Land of Lost Things is beautiful. Certainly could go into more detail but these bullets are just what I think as I watch, not in depth analysis

The Administration:

Arin nearly hits Lloyd in the face with his grappling hook

I wish I had a line to wait in

The Kai and Wyldfyre stuff this episode is great for both characters

The Administration as an agency is so fascinating. Reminds me of the TVA from Loki

“We have to fill out ‘Tricked by fake forms’ forms first”

Blue Frohicky

Is that a new species? The guys who look like Munce? Or are they Munce?

Zane says that the Administration has no real authority, which is true, but it’s also the case that their teleportation technology is very powerful

The Administrator… hmmm

“The lands formerly known as the Cursed Realm” so the body of the Preeminent in Hollow’s Trench? The soul of the Preeminent in the Departed Realm? Something else?

JAY!

Of course the Administration had a car specifically designed around Zane (I choose to believe this was Zane’s car at one point and the Administration confiscated it)

So what else qualifies as a Class B artifact? Is there a hierarchy — would Class A be something like the Golden Armor?

And of course the Administration has a mech designed for Arin and Lloyd

Love the Zane death note scene. “You’re a form genius.”

Really fun episode on the Administration side, and heartfelt one on the Kai & Wyldfyre side

Absolute Power:

I wonder if Ras got revenge on those guards later

Ras has seen a Source Dragon with his own eyes…hmmm

Interesting choice to make Levo a jerk. It makes sense why Beatrix would be so resentful

Beatrix using adults in green suits to represent children I can’t even

This fake dragon core thing is slightly confusing but pretty understandable once explained

“Sora’s Armor for Geo” is a great soundtrack

“[Time] is running out everywhere” because the ground is screaming. Cole what are you talking about? Your journey here is still unaddressed, at least a year in universe later

This Nya Cole exchange is really nice

Was Beatrix just waiting under the Throne Room for them to arrive?

“Obviously they have different energies, they’re different Cores” it’s funny that the sets color the cores differently, but in show they’re all identical lol

Bye Rapton

Excellent manipulation by Ras, but the following scene in prison shows Ras’ fatal flaw: he thinks he’s smarter than everyone else, so he can’t see that Beatrix has (or at least thinks she has) grown beyond him

Love the Imperium coup scene

The hoverboard one take is also great

One of the Imperium Teen Protection/Resistance Force members has changed

LaRow finally grows a spine— only for Jordana to fill in!

We Are All Dragons:

So Percival didn’t know Arin’s name— but did he still think he was a doctor?

“I forgot there’s two of them now” Kai and Wyldfyre work so well together

“There’s no talking to [my parents]” we’ll see about that Sora

Genuinely curious what Arin thinks about the fact that Wyldfyre thinks her powers make her superior 

Nya that joke was “Mediocre-at-best”

Hey it’s the dumpster Arin hid Riyu in

Why did Beatrix film herself admitting her lies

“I’ve always got your back, Sora” thanks Arin, good to know for reference

NO JIRO!!!! (yeah he’s fine but the implication)

The return of Melvin, the greatest Imperium guard

Yet another perfect Kai and Wyldfyre scene. Not the shoulder pad storage!

Get him Riyu, he deserves it

The Beatrix dramatic entrance and then immediately Dorama

Another great one take

LaRow loves nothing but taunting people she doesn’t like - both Sora and Jordana. If they ever end up reconciling, they already have a mutual enemy

They show a clip of Beatrix admitting the dragons didn’t escape, but it’s a different one from when she does the same thing with LaRow in E11

Sora’s dad shakes his head as Sora speaks

Excellent speech from Sora, following in her Master’s footsteps

Kai and Wyldfyre are so cool

Why would you throw one of your own loyalists?

We are all dragons!

Oh shoot

The Power Within:

Finally, Dorama sees the bigger picture

Extremely cool shot (the MergeQuake over the entire city of Imperium)

I agree, the Empress *has* lost it

Excellent shot of the Ninja

Wyldfyre!

Kai gets sliced with a giant mech sword and is basically fine— what sort of armor is under those Ninja outfits

Percival!

Riyu!

Arin can only do Object Spinjitzu when Sora’s in danger (or when he thinks about Sora being in danger)

Oh no not Rapton ah well

LET’S GO SORA WOOOO

See ya Beatrix

Oh no not the Bounty (again)

Zanth randomly grows in size and then never does again lol

I would never forget you Lobbo

I think Arin’s parents are proud of him

Sora’s parents were swallowed by a MergeQuake

Is the Sora scene a culmination of a whole season of character development executed really well? Yes. That being said, I had an even bigger smile when Frohicky appeared driving Zane’s car with the dragon core

Yet another awesome Lloyd vision scene

Dragon hugs :)

The Source Dragon scenes are always cool

“Who was right?” Good question

What’s special about Riyu, Mr. Energy?

“This cycle” what do you mean?

Good advice Lloyd, suppressing your emotions is bad

So we now know that Wyldfyre has Heat, not Fire, but how does that differ besides burning vs melting aluminum cans? (there are plenty of ways but I’m interested to see what they go with)

Kai how’d you drop your pie immediately

Ras stop manipulating teenagers challenge level: impossible

So Ras has a “true” Master, wants to unlock forbidden secrets, and is now working with Jordana. Great setup for Season 2

Closing (brief) thoughts on Dragons Rising Season 1: It’s really good. Good blend of the more episodic stuff and serialized content. Arin and Sora are a blast, Lloyd is great, and I forgot just how good the Wyldfyre stuff is this season. There’s a lot of hanging threads, but Season 1 also does feel like a complete story. It’s not perfect by any means, but certainly at the higher end of Ninjago seasons.

Next up, the start of Dragons Rising Season 2!