#and that cute misguided assassin

[dragon-susceptible]

TDP Rewatch S2 E7: Fire and Fury

I realized that I hadn't continued my rewatch in too long, most of my posts are about a fic again, so I'm breaking those up with another liveblog.

Oh Soren got the recap voice this time.

I would love to know what "a game of rolly-cubes" entails. Is this just dice? Is Rayla just cracking a joke because Callum's rolling a cube? Is that an actual game?

"I don't really think about it" yk I don't doubt that she's telling the truth but it does make me laugh considering how very much she was thinking about it when she attained Moonshadow form when she was 8, seven years ago. She's a terrible teacher.

"Does that help?" "No, not at all. But I enjoyed it!" they're so fucking cute, at all times, and my heart cannot take it. I love how wholesome they are after knowing each other for like two weeks.

Wtf has Corvus' last few days been like, traveling between these two idiots? Especially since they also had to have crossed the sea, since they're so close behind the kids (even though they clearly don't know that, as Claudia says they're off the trail). The fact that he's tricked them MULTIPLE TIMES makes me die laughing every time I watch it.

can't blame them though. Look at that kitty face. I would trust him. I shouldn't, but I would. I like to think that's why Amaya likes him. He's a manipulator but not like Viren, he just looks at you with those big brown eyes and makes an innocent voice and you're like oh he's so cute, he wouldn't and then he does something insane.

I love the LOTR reference. "One does not simply walk into Xadia." I love how Callum's telling Rayla all this stuff about the path to Xadia and what it'll be like in Xadia, too, because bro. My buddy. My guy. She did this like two weeks ago. She also lives there. She's got this!

Corvus doesn't even look upset or scared when Soren announces he's a traitor and tries to put him in jail. He just looks tired of this shit. I'm betting he's counting on being stuck in a jail cell because Soren's forgotten to disarm him, so he can probably just pick his lock and get out and back on the princes' trail.

I do wonder what Pyrah was doing around this town. She really does just appear to be looking around. They explicitly say she hasn't done any harm to the village and that's why they haven't shot at her yet.

"Soren, please. Don't start a fight you can't finish." I do see why people saw Sorvus from the beginning, but to me, this hits like an older warrior trying to warn a young upstart not to do something stupid. Corvus has taken on fights he couldn't win before - I'm betting Amaya bailed him out and he learned his lesson and is desperately trying to make sure Soren doesn't learn the way he did. Because he can tell Soren's a good kid, just misguided.

Except he accidentally hits Soren in the insecurities and it completely fails.

I wonder if Pyrah was coming to investigate the human kingdoms because of the lost assassins and the message that reached Xadia? She knows Ezran is alive, as is one of the assassins? But then why stay in this village for three days? What exactly was she doing?

Rayla waking up immediately to the sound of an angry dragon is a moment and I feel like there's deeper analyzation to be had there but I don't have it.

I feel sorry for Soren here even though he's a bitch who started this fight. He realizes he's fucked up and verbally admits it, and then delegates the best he can to minimize the damage. He's only 18, and he has the lives and livelihoods lost of this entire town on his conscience now.

Claudia is also a bitch insisting on him saying she's the best before she'll actually help him "fix" it the way they've been taught to fix things though. She's dragging out the actual help for this village, potentially causing more loss of life, out of spite.

Opeli has really had it out for Viren this whole time and bless her for that, honestly.

The old fable about the lion and the mouse? Yeah that's what Pyrah and Ezran make me think of.

OOF, Callum just hit Rayla right where it hurts by asking her why she's hesitating. There's no way he could have known that word choice would sting her, but that's exactly what Runaan said in the last conversation she had with him before he died.

Oh my god I almost forgot Gren was still stuck down there. He's so aggressively cheerful, and I'm dying, because either he's just that much of a ray of sunshine or he's spiting Viren on purpose. Or both!

"I have nothing left to lose" Viren says, as if he doesn't have kids.

Claudia so cheerfully saying they'll move the dragon in pieces, and flipping through her book excitedly looking at spells using dragon parts, hits different when you think about how dragons are explicitly people in this narrative. Not only that, but she knows they are - she knows the dragons have a king and a queen and a society.

This whole story would have been so different if Rayla had been allowed to go with her parents, because being a guard is really her calling.

It says something about Soren and his soldiers that they don't move to help him fight Rayla until after he's kicked her towards the dragon.

And this is when he starts drawing Rayla instead of Claudia.

Oooh, I like how Rayla bares her teeth at Callum when she sees him threaten to do dark magic.

Pyrah starting to steam the rain off her was such a badass moment.

yeah Ez, hide and seek was a terrible idea, but I also can't roast you too hard because you're literally 10.

I like the crack we hear when Soren hits the rock. Logically, we wouldn't be able to hear bone break under the rattle of his plate armor, but the fact that we can hear it as viewers is a really good subtle moment to help punctuate the later discovery that Pyrah broke his back.

The fact that both of Viren's kids failed in the missions he assigned them. Soren didn't kill the princes, Claudia didn't sacrifice Soren for getting to Zym, and the difference in how he treated them both after.

Viren and his ear bug crack me up every goddamn time.

Once again, that theory about how the whole spell to get the bug was just a metaphor for gay sex and how that's fucking correct, this stupid worm thing becomes Sir Sparklepuff who is explicitly Viren and Aaravos' blood child, I fucking CANT with this show. I'm gonna lose my mind about that every time I see it. I have no idea who the originator of that theory was but I hope they're so vindicated, and I hope they know I think about that So Often.

[proudfreakmetarusonikku]

been thinking about how nova au would work in the movie verse bc i think her and movie!sonic would be very funny and i spent the entire time watching sonic 3 again not stimming in pure excitement thinking about it so here’s like. my au of my au. uh. sonic 3 spoilers below.

so, the idea i have with movieverse!nova is that she'd be the main metal sonic seen in the post credits scene disguising herself after she failed to simply assassinate sonic. she’s more cunning than her “sisters” and has her shapeshifting from heroes so she creates her nova form as a way to keep track of her prey without suspicion- after having feigned an attack on her by the other metals, so people trust she has nothing to do with them.

so, after finding someone like them being attacked and clinging to them terrified and alone team sonic and co immediately take nova in, bc the exact traits that make her suspicious in the main au accidentally make for a great disguise for a literal alien child. her lack of familiarity with social skills or even basic concepts like hugs, her clinginess and lack of personal space, her being very cagey about her past… it makes total sense for a lost child in an entirely new world.

and, from past experience, they’ve found their fellow “aliens” to be at worst angry and misguided, so what genuinely unambiguously concerning gets interpreted through that lens. she might be weirdly morbidly fascinated by violence and eager to fight, but knuckles is like that and he's a decent guy. she might be standoffish and rude and prone to overreacting, but so was shadow and… they don’t want to think about that. it’s confusing. and like obviously no matter the circumstances the concerning stuff that’s literally “i was horrifically abused isn’t that cool i love that” is not going to be blamed on her in any universe bc it’s. not a mark against her it’s a mark against her family.

but like the thing is! movieverse!nova hasn’t gone through her psychotic spiral like in the main au. she hasn’t been through much of anything, because she hasn’t had a prolonged rivalry with sonic yet, and she perceives herself as a tool to kill sonic. so while original nova has had years for anger and resentment to breed, movie!nova is practically a blank slate. sure, she’s been following orders for as long as she's been activated, but she's been in a miserable haze through that, only getting satisfaction out of making others suffer as much as her. she's experiencing all these things for the first time- and without the anger and delusions that developed from years of endless trauma and neglect, she's like. still developing her worldview and sense of self. and she has a positive influence now!

so she’s actually a lot less fucked up than the og nova! she's still obsessively focused on the whole killing and becoming sonic thing, she literally physically cannot help that, but she's able to flourish a lot better under actual decent parents tom and maddie (not that her dads don't care for her, they’re just awful parents who are at their best neglectful to an extreme) a healthy friendship with sonic tails and knuckles and especially with amy essentially taking her under her wing as a cute little sister (this also means her egg cracked wayyyyy earlier lol) and so she’s. still a sadistic egomaniac murder robot who thinks fundamentally differently but she's got some sense of morality and compassion for others. even if it’s just to make her friends happy. she's also a lot less paranoid and doesn’t self harm constantly! which is a massive improvement mental health wise. dw she's still a deviantart kid goth girl hatsune miku fan girl that’s just who she is deep down that has not changed one bit.

so like, in this case, instead of basically double crossing everyone, she does pretty definitively switch sides- but she's still dishonest and manipulative bc she’s terrified of the only people who’ve ever shown her kindness without expectation will abandon her if she ever reveals herself. but she still does eventually, when her new friends are in danger and she shifts back to protect them which leads to them understandably freaking out bc of the whole Designed To Murder People Thing not helped with her being terrible at explaining so they think she didn’t mean any of it and she thinks they'd never accept her because she's a fundamentally Bad Thing that shouldn’t ever exist so. yeah she does the ova thing and basically lets herself die protecting them bc there can only be one sonic and she’s inherently a blight on this world. which proves she does care but also means she’s kinda fucked.

though thankfully she's not Destroyed here- tails repairs her, albeit in an extremely weakened state bc he struggles with eggman's code on her. unfortunately this means she’s unable to keep up her transformed state (which also means she’s mute) which genuinely despite hating at first causes her a lot of distress bc she liked being nova, even though she also likes being metal sonic. and she still feels like an awful useless burden bc whoops doing the nova thing way earlier in her mental development just gave her way different self esteem issues! she feels alienated from those who care about her and unable to even pretend to be like them so she's honestly even more of a wreck than base nova bc i refuse to allow her to be a fundamentally happy person. so while the problem is defeated she feels trapped between two worlds, is expecting abandonment at any time, and also can barely walk let alone fight.

and then sonic 5 happens and she rips silvers eye out again or something idk man.

[romanoffsbish]

Renewed

Wanda Maximoff x Fem!Reader

Wanda Maximoff x Vision

Natasha x Fem!Reader x Yelena (Siblings)

Misguided Connections (Previous)

⚠️ 18+ ‼️

Smut mixed in!! | Double Strap use | Light Fingering

TW: Mind control, Violence

Natasha took a shaky breath in, while Yelena held onto her arm with an iron grip, as she pushed the doors to the lab open. Her senses were on high alert as her gaze fell on an infuriated Tony, slamming his fists into Steve's chest. Her eyes roamed around the room for your body, but her breath caught in her throat once she noticed your obvious absence.

——

Yelena insisted that she got to see you, even though Natasha knew it would do no more than to further break her heart, she reluctantly brought her to the lab. Now though, she's feeling an insatiable rage take over her body at the sight of your now empty bed.

"Where is she?" Natasha coldly barks out, successfully interrupting the men and their seemingly petty arguments.

"Yeah, Rogers, please do enlighten our resident assassins on where Y/N is." Tony angrily condescends at the super soldier.

"SHIELD took her..." Steve whispers, with his head hung low.

"Excuse me?" Yelena questions angrily, as her sorrow bubbles over into a rage to match her sisters, and she takes a step forward.

"On who's orders?" Natasha seethes, while also holding her sister back and Tony immediately replies.

"Apparently our dear old pal Fury's."

Natasha's immediately dumbfounded...

How did Fury even know you were down yet?

Why would he take you without at least consulting your sisters?

What the hell is he up to?

"Guys, we can focus on SHIELD after we've handled Vision's stone." Steve says into the shared space, while receiving a multitude of glares in return.

"Fuck Vision, and his stone!" Yelena growls, as she goes to tug on Natasha's arm, but she stands firmly in place.

"He's right." Natasha reluctantly agrees.

"How can you say that?" Yelena all but whimpers, as she drops her sisters arm as if she'd burned her by her touch.

"Y/N wouldn't have died if it wasn't for the stones safe removal Lena... We have to ensure it's destroyed properly." Natasha dejectedly replies, and Yelena sighs in reluctant agreement.

"Let's go then." Steve announces, and the entirety of the team makes their way to the quinjet, well almost everyone.

——

Once Wanda made it to Westview her eyes were brimming with a new wave of unshed tears. It was perfect, it was a quiet town, somewhat rundown, but homey nonetheless. Once she'd pulled up onto the street her heart skipped a beat, it was just as perfect.

Wanda pulled up into the driveway, and sat their in awe as she stared at the beautiful two story house. She lifted Lily's carrier out and placed her on the hood of the car, while she herself leaned against it.

"Wow, your mama sure knows the way to my heart." Wanda brokenly whispers while she surveys her surroundings, and her gaze falls to the ring on her finger.

The front yard was rather cute, as it was fenced in to Wanda's specifications. There's an already handled garden, with a multitude of crops already in bloom, bringing a brief smile to her face knowing you'd been here recently.

As she made her way up the porch steps she sat on the swing and took in the array of decorations you'd meticulously purchased. There were bird feeders, a "Welcome Home" doormat, and so much more. She chuckled as her eyes landed on the "Beware of Witch" sign you'd placed in the window. No matter how many times she'd groaned, or told you she'd hated the nickname, she now found herself pleading with the Gods just to hear you calling her 'little witch' once more.

Once she'd finally placed the key in the door, she'd found her hands were shaking, as she was completely overwhelmed by the house already. She went to push the doors open, but stilled when her phone rang, and her heart stopped at the ringtone—it was yours.

"Hello?" She shakily answers the phone, naively believing it could be you on the other end

"Wanda, I don't know why you're missing, but get your ass here now. We're leaving to destroy the godforsaken stone, and it can't be done without you." Natasha's cold voice comes through the other end, and Wanda doesn't question the angry demeanor in the slightest.

"I-I'll be there in ten." Wanda dejects, pushing the door open just enough to slip Lily's carrier inside.

She kneels down then unzips the carrier, and pets the confused cats head.

"I'll be back shortly little one, get acquainted with our new home."

She takes off into the sky, and within a matter of moments finds herself aboard the quinjet full of awaiting Avengers. Finding a seat across from the sisters, she observes them both and she sees that they look to be in the anger stage of their grief.

——

Wakanda had been a bit trickier than had been expected, as they were met with a battle almost instantly. In the end, Wanda had done exactly what she came to do—lay waste to the army of aliens that had cost her everything, and to destroy the stone that sealed your twisted fate.

Vision had attempted to talk to Wanda, but she quite literally threw him across the field and once again found herself across from the sisters on the jet. Natasha had slyly smirked at the sight, clearly finding amusement in the man's karma. Yelena found herself moving to be within the witches embrace. Wanda's heart skipped a beat at the gesture, immediately she wrapped her arm around her shoulders, and closed her eyes and relaxed against the seat.

Once they landed, Natasha went to scoop Yelena up, as she'd fallen asleep but Wanda stopped her with a gentle hand to her forearm.

"Collect your belongings, and meet me here." She mutters, slipping an address into her pocket as she takes off before Vision can even mutter her name, and Natasha finds herself doing just that.

She packed up a suitcase full of hers and Yelena's items, even swooping into your room as well and collecting pieces of you. Then she loaded the belongings into the trunk, Yelena, and Fanny into the back seat, and Liho in the front passenger as she left the compound in the dust.

Once she'd arrived she couldn't fight the smile on her face as she stepped out—you'd actually done it. She remembers all the restless nights where she'd find you up in the kitchen at 2AM, with your airpods in and a mug of reheated coffee. Blueprints for Wanda's dream house would be splayed across the counter, while you listened to your silly podcasts. You'd always shoo her away, with the promise of one day allowing her to see 'her room,' because that was your only requirement for the space—that your sisters have rooms there too.

You'd always been big on holding your sisters close, after the forced years of separation, you'd vowed to never allow that to take place again. Family had always been so foreign to the three of you, but in the end here it had also become all you'd known. The bond the three of you had will hopefully live on in the love you'd had for one another.

"Natasha, where are we?" Yelena grumbles, and Natasha's pulled from her thoughts, as she wipes away at the tears on her cheek and she turns to face her sister.

"Home." She somberly replies, pulling her confused sister out of the car, and into an abrupt hug.

Yelena burrows further into her sister's hold, as she wraps her arms around her waist.

"Home." She repeats against her chest, and Nat leans down to place a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Wanda's been observing every little thing you'd done, and her shattered heart continues to fall apart with every perfect detail. You truly encompassed everything she could've ever wanted, you just stupidly underestimated how much she needed you to make it whole.

You'd always been that way, completely insecure with your place in her life, no matter the reassurances she'd offered. She just hates that she somehow proved you right, wishing desperately that she'd had the will power to override the pull she'd had to Vision.

As she enters the room she falls back on the bed, relishing in the silky sheets you'd purchased. The sounds of crinkling brought her back to a sitting position, as she felt around for the culprit, and there was a note on the bed.

"Darling,

I'm not stupid, I'm like 90% certain you intercepted Vision from his note, as whatever pull had probably faded once I'd done what I had to. Listen to me, it's okay to move on. Promise there's no ill feelings left, I just had to act as if there was, because it would've been to suspicious if I hadn't. I died knowing you loved me wholeheartedly, I don't blame you, and I need you not to blame yourself. Vision was just as much a victim as we were my sweet girl, so please, let yourself be happy with him.

Love, yours always, Y/N Y/L/N. <3"

Her chest instantly tightens, and she slips to the floor onto her knees.

"No!" She shouts in response to your letter, as she crumples it and throws it across the room.

Her mind is instantly foggy, as the only thing she can see is flashes of your smiling face, from all your best memories together. Her senses are essentially overclouded with your familiarities. The way your lips felt against hers, the scent that was uniquely yours fills her nostrils, the way you tasted is ever present on her tongue, it's as if she can somehow hear you whispering your 'I love you's.'

Natasha entered the house, feeling almost instantly that the vibe in the house was off. Yelena traipsed in behind her, and her face dropped, as she saw a red mist flowing out from underneath a door.

"Wanda?" Natasha skeptically questions into the apparently empty space, then she notices the exact thing Yelena does and she moves to run towards the door.

Within an instant, the red surges out from underneath the door, spreading like wildfire throughout the home, and out passed it as well.

Wanda wakes up in the bed, with a pounding headache, and finds herself tensing as she feels an arm draped over her side. She opens her eyes to find your peaceful face beside her, causing a gasp to tumble passed her lips, and for your face to contort in apparent annoyance.

"Wands, my love, what is it? Did 'Lena let Fanny eat your shoes again?" You lazily muttered, as you moved your arm around to pull her closer to you.

She remained still, and quiet, not entirely trusting this supposed illusion just yet. Having no actual clue on as to how it is you're lying next to her, feeling entirely too real for it to be said illusion.

"Sweetheart, what's got you so tense?" You question, fully awake now, as you lean forward to kiss her forehead.

The action causes Wanda's body to shudder, having missed your gentle touch for what was a bit over a year now. She lunges forward and knocks her head into yours in a failed attempt at capturing your lips.

"Baby, what was that?" You laugh out, then use your hands to guide her lips to yours in a sweet kiss.

She pulls back with a giggle, and you move to sit the both of you up.

"Well, I'm up now, so what's the plans for today?" You ask her with a goofy smile, and she smirks at you with a knowing gaze.

She straddles your seated body, and pulls you in by the neck for a heated kiss.

⚠️🥵.

"Baby, it's 9AM, I'm sure my sisters are wide awake..." You murmur against her lips.

"Yeah, well sex is a must, and they knew we fucked like bunnies when they moved in." Wanda replies naturally, as if the circumstances of this ordeal were somehow anything but odd.

"Good point." You reply, as you suddenly flip the script, and lay her body flat against the bed, and attach your lips to her neck.

"Detka..." She breathily gets out, and you hum against her neck, as you continue to bite into her smooth skin, and lathe your tongue over the marks in an attempt to soothe them.

"Fuck me..." She commands, as she claps her hands together.

Suddenly, you're both naked, with her favorite strap dangling from within you. You groan at the sudden fullness you feel from the double ended strap, and she gently caresses your cheeks.

"You okay sweetheart?"

You nod, and smile lovingly at her, then move your lips to hers in a sweet kiss. Your hand gingerly explores her folds, groaning at the feeling of just how wet she already was. You use that same hand to line up the strap with her entrance, then you gently push the tip in and swallow the moans that she subsequently releases as you edge in slowly.

She scratches at your back, instigating your increase in pace, and rewarding you with the melodic sounds of her moans. Her high approaches quickly, as you suck at her sweet spot, and use your thumb to stimulate her clit. Her hips move off the bed to meet your steady thrusts, and yours stutter every now and then when the strap hits your walls just right.

"Cum with me baby." She pants against your temple, as she places an open mouthed kiss there.

Your body jolts at the sensation of Wanda's magic working on your clit, causing the strap to hit her g spot just right, as her walls clench around the strap, thus throwing her over the edge of bliss. She rapidly moves her hips to ride her orgasm out, while continuing to swirl her red wisps on your clit, and causing the strap to move at a new angle inside of you. Your body is then thrown into immense bliss within moments of Wanda's and your orgasm pours out of you, and drips down onto the sheets.

"Shit...." You groan, as your sweaty body collapses atop Wanda's and she whimpers at the deepening of the strap within her.

😇.

The two of you lie there in silence, as she traces her fingers up and down your arms, and you place the occasional kiss to her collarbone as a reminder that you're still there.

"God, I missed this..." Wanda confesses, and you chuckle against her neck.

"What? The eight hours of sleep between was too long for you?" You laugh out, and her heart clenches at the lack of memory of the night before.

"No amount of time with you will ever be enough..." She sighs out, settling on going along with your memory, as it's far less painful then what her brains remembering.

"I love you Wands..."

"I love you so much more..." She replies, and you shake your finger in her face.

"Impossible.." You sleepily mumble, as you're slowly fading out atop her chest, and she grips your body closer.

She closes her eyes, and after a few moments, reopens them to find that you're no longer in her arms. She jumps up, then begins to frantically search for you. Running down the stairs, and stopping about halfway down as she sees you petting Lily, while sipping on a mug of coffee, with the newspaper crumpling beneath her paws.

"Good afternoon darling, I see you slept well." You greet, sending her a slight wink, and she blushes at your teasing tone.

Natasha, and Yelena mindlessly make their way to the kitchen, to collect bowls of cereal and settle at the table.

"Nuh-uh, you two, Wands is making her pancakes and that's far better than your bowls of artificial colorings and sugar."

Natasha is uncharacteristically quiet, as Yelena grumbles out an 'okay mom.' You chuckle, failing to see the glare Wanda casts upon the redhead.

"What? No 'mind your business Y/L/N?'?" You playfully question Natasha, and she chokes out a simple

"Sorry, not feeling well."

Your face softens, and you reach out to feel her forehead, to find she's not really burning up.

"Well, it's not a fever, but I'll make you some tea anyways, hope that'll help." You reply, then place a kiss to her forehead and move into the kitchen, missing the tears that had escaped her eyes.

——

Back at the compound, everyone had been spending the day grieving in their own ways. Tony was in the lab, trying to track down where Fury had gone, but with little to no success.

Steve was in the gym, along with Bucky, mangling the punching bags. Bruce had taken solace on the roof, reading a book you'd gifted him on managing one's emotions, while intermittently sobbing. Pepper was informed, and was already in a baking frenzy.

Vision was sitting still in his room, not entirely accustomed to the concept of a heartbreak, but definitely feeling the adverse side effects. Without the stone, he'd become far more humanized, but he was not left without powers. He found himself still feeling phantom pulses where the stone once was, and they'd seemingly progressed in intensity as the hours drug on. He'd chosen to lie down, and found himself vividly dreaming of a hex in the town of Westview.

——

Fury had just touched down at a secret base, where he'd had your body taken to in a chilled hyperbaric chamber. Agent Coulson and Hill were there, attempting to stop the maddened man from continuing with his ill advised plans of revival.

"Sir, you remember what this did to me, it drove me crazy..." Coulson pleads with the man to let this go, to let you go...

"Yes, because we lied to you, we just won't lie to Y/N..." Fury nonchalantly states, as if the solution was always that simple.

"Sir, death is a permanent in life, I should've stopped you before, but now I know for certain it shouldn't be done."

"Stop, I've made up my mind! You of all people should want Y/N back! She's your fiancé's sister for Christ sakes!"

"That's why I'm here Nick! She's family, and this is wrong! Any number of things could go wrong in there, and you'll be at fault for all of them!" Maria seethes at her superior, as tears threaten to fall as she spares a glance over at your stilled body.

"I'm willing to accept the consequences, now, get out and return to yours bases." Fury cooly states, as he shuts the highly secured doors in their faces and the doctors begin the process.

——

As the days go on in Westview, you find yourself in a consistent cycle. You wake up, you eat breakfast with your family unit, then you and Wanda spend the day doing something new.

On Tuesday, the two of you went to a rather empty salsa dancing class, with an instructor named Herb. You laughed, you cried, and damn near pissed your pants at the obvious lack of coordination Wanda had. The redroom instilled a ballet's touch in you, so any dance had become rather easy to imitate. Wanda however, danced as if she had two left feet, so you both found the floor rather comfortable.

On Wednesday, you'd gone out to watch the stars with Wanda and Yelena. Lying on the blanket, you'd educated them about the constellations, as they were squished against your sides. Natasha stayed home, apparently complaining to Wanda that she'd still felt sick, but that she'd be more than okay alone.

On Thursday, things got weird, as you'd seen a robotic creature talking to your wife. He'd placed his hands on her hips, and your stomach twisted in knots at the sight, then you chuckled when your wife's knee met his crotch, and he'd been practically blown out of the sky.

"Darling, what did we say about using our powers to work through arguments?"

She slightly jumped at the sound of your voice, but turned in your hold and nuzzled into your chest.

"That it's more than okay to do so when they touch you without permission." She sweetly replies, staring up at you with faux eyes of innocence and you laugh at her behavior.

"I think my words got lost in translation, it's fine though, I completely approved, he never should've touched what's not his...

"Oh yeah, who's am I then?" She replies in a dangerously low tone, and you grip her hips, and lower your lips to her ear and whisper,

"Why don't we go inside and find out?" She giggles, and dragged you indoors with urgency.

——

Tony had no luck in finding Fury, but was able to pick up on an insanely large heat signature on his map, and was completely flabbergasted that SHIELD and the Avengers hadn't taken notice.

"Sir! Wanda's taken a town hostage, as well as Natasha and Yelena, and I'm appalled to say, but I think she's performed a dark ritual to resurrect Y/N." Vision shrieks as he enters the lab.

Tony had honestly intended to ignore Vision, as he'd known the synthezoid had been hung up on the little witch. The story however lined up with the asinine heat signature, so he called for a meeting of sorts to try and get this situation sorted.

What was left of the team got onto a quinjet and made their way to the outskirts of Westview. Setting up a plethora of Stark machines to attempt to contradict her power surge, and free the widows, and townspeople.

Wanda had just laid you on the bed, as she headed into the closet to collect her onslaught of toys. Your screams of agony brought her out of the closet just as quickly though, as her eyes turned a scarlet red, and she could feel an attack was underway.

"Wands... What's happening?" You whimpered out through the pain, as your body seemed to be phasing, and she flew towards the outskirts of her hex, and walked out with her hands ablaze.

"Wanda! What have you done?" Steve, ever the goody two shoes, questions the woman in horror.

"Taken my family back." She steels in response, as her hardened glare leaves no room for a challenge.

"Wanda, it's sick, to bring the dead back to life." Vision speaks up, and Wanda chuckles darkly as she wraps him up in her magic.

"Wanda.." Steve tries, she squeezes Vis that much tighter, and he gasps as the super soldier takes the obvious cue to be quiet.

"We're happy, just leave us alone, and no one has to get hurt."

"The townspeople are hurting Wanda." Vision chokes out.

"No! They're all fine! Now back off, I won't say it again." She seethes as she drops Vision to the ground, short circuits all of Stark's tech, and wanders back into the hex.

With the clap of her hands, she's back in the house, snuggled into your sleeping side, as she just chooses to hold you incredibly close.

The team stood there in utter shock, having honestly never seen Wanda so cold before.

"Welp, what's the plan then?"

"Well, sir, with my former link to the stone I find I can still get through the barriers, and when I touch people I'm able to break them free from her hold. So, I'll go in once more, and try to free Natasha, and Yelena." Vision pipes up, as Tony does his best not to roll his eyes at his offer.

"It's your funeral." Tony mutters to himself, then turns to nod in agreement, as he watches the weakened Vision making his way back towards the hex.

——

As Doctor Strange caught wind of the Westview anomaly, he had decided to retire from his vacation to pay Fury a little visit. He'd found Fury in a darkened room in a remote location, sat in a factory, beside a bed. Your body lie there seemingly as good as new, with barely a scar to allude to your heroic save.

"Director Fury, I am Doctor Stephen Strange, and I'm here to collect the girl here." He announces as he walks out of the shadows.

"Like hell you are!" Fury barks out, as he raises his gun towards the unfamiliar man.

"Calm down, this is the only way to save her sisters, as well as a town of unsuspecting people." The wizard clarifies, and Fury's stance adjusts to allow him room to speak, but doesn't lower his gun.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Look, Wanda's magic took over her as the grief became too much. The link the group of them shared to the stone, somehow allowed her to manifest a hex that Y/N's seemingly alive in. The illusions spread across a whole town, the Avengers have already failed to get through to her, this will be the only way. The people are suffering, all her pent up grief is weighing them down."

Fury sighed, as he lowered the gun, then dropped into the seat beside your bed again.

"I'm not sure if seeing her will help..."

"Why's that?"

"She's had to have memories removed, and forgone to make this work. The surgeons didn't inform me on as to what exactly before moving forward, but she had to lose her memories of anything connected to the stone... So, Wanda's essentially been erased..."

"Look, it's worth a shot right?" Doctor Strange urges, as he's seen this anomaly only ending with you by his side.

——

Vision had made his way back to the house, trudging through cautiously to avoid Wanda's prying eyes. He arrived to find Yelena and Natasha outside, working in the yard, looking like mindless drones.

"You're not supposed to be here." Yelena greets the man, and he curses his reflective nature, leaving him nearly impossible to hide.

"Miss Belova, let me help you."

"No, I don't need help!"

"Wait, you're not being controlled?"

"Not anymore..."

"So you're just okay with all of this?"

"You wouldn't understand, but Y/N... She's everything to me, and if you'd only been able to feel the pain Wanda is in, you'd leave her be." Yelena dejectedly responds, and Vision looks on to see the emptiness in Natasha's eyes.

He approaches her, and as he goes to free her, realizing she's still under the control, he's interrupted.

"Hey! Don't touch my sister you freak! First my wife, and now my sister? What are you? Some robotic pervert?" You seethe, as you run down the stairs to shove him.

Wanda hears you from the kitchen and runs out to try and intercept the synthezoid, as she's been exhaustively fighting to keep Natasha's spirit at bay for the last few days now. Vision was able to lightly tap at Natasha's temple before Wanda had thrown him across the yard.

For the first night of the hex, Natasha had laid in her bed, as was part of her designed schedule. She'd heard your voice and internally combusted at the prospect of seeing you once more, she was excited beyond belief. The pained thoughts of Wanda's she'd been forced to experience were honestly nothing, as she'd been feeling the same grief since seeing your eyes drain of their life. It was actually almost a relief for her to feel a pain outside of her own.

Once she'd actually seen you her heart clenched, she immediately thought of the town you'd all resided in. The last thing you'd want in your death is for a town of people to be subjected to the agonizing grief the women of the house were feeling. She'd pleaded with Wanda telepathically to let it go, to set everyone free, but the protests fell on deaf ears. Natasha quickly was able to deduce that Wanda actually had no idea on what was taking place here.

Natasha stumbled at the sudden resurgence of her body and all of its functions. You immediately ran over to her, catching her and watching as her eyes filled with tears and her lip quivered slightly.

"Wanda! You have to stop this!" Natasha shouts, while clinging to your body for support.

"Natasha..." Wanda warns through gritted teeth, as her hands suddenly surround in mists of red.

Yelena's eyes survey the scene, as she see your confused face, Natasha's broken one, and Wanda's determined stance.

"What's going on here?" You mutter

"Y/N, go inside." Wanda commands.

"No, Natasha's clearly not feeling well, I'm not just leaving her. Plus, you're all clearly hiding something, what did the robot want?!"

"Y/N, all of this isn't real... You died..." Natasha whimpers out to you, and you swiftly move the both of you to avoid the red energy thrown at her.

"Wanda! Enough! What is she talking about?"

"Y/N, please, go inside..."

Yelena runs over to the both of you, as she throws her arms around you.

"No! Natasha, explain.."

"I don't know how, but Wanda's powers brought you here, but not without a heavy price."

"Stop it!" Wanda cries out, as she falls to her knees.

"What's the price?"

"Her grief, it's immense, and it's all anyone stuck in this town feels. They're trapped inside their own minds, in agonizing pain, as Wanda's pained thoughts are just looping." Natasha tiredly explains, and your face seems to contort in a sort of understanding.

It makes sense—it really does, your memories are always muddled when you try to think back on your life outside of this town.

"Wanda..."

"No! Everyone's fine! I'm going to fix this baby! We can be happy..." She pleads, and you stare down at her with saddened eyes.

Vision stupidly re-emerges and Wanda's already frazzled state leads to her raging response.

"Wanda, darling, you have to listen to them." He pleads, trying his hardest to get through to her.

"SHUT UP! You, this is all your god damn fault! I hate you! You never should've been created, your existence has served to bring me nothing but pain. So, now it's your turn to finally understand just how much!" She seethes, as her body lifts from the ground to level with him as he's also airborne.

You attempted to escort your sisters indoors, but Yelena refused to let you go and Natasha wasn't going to coward away.

"Wanda, sweetheart, please come down..." You gently shout up her way, but she doesn't pay you any mind as she throws energy balls at the synthezoid.

He dodges them, slowly inching closer to her, until finally he's got her in his grasp. He yanks her towards him, as she thrashes in his arms. He tries to place a gentle kiss to her temple for comfort, but then he shrieks out in pain as a massive energy ball is throwing him back.

"Really? You think your embrace would magically heal me? As if it's not what led to her demise in the first place?"

You hear her words, looking to your sisters for clarification but you find their glazed over eyes and decide pressing them for information would be more than they're capable of in this moment. Tasha smiles as you kiss her forehead, then Lena does the same, but then her face falls as you shoved her into the redheads arms.

"Wanda Maximoff! Get your ass down here and explain yourself." Your harsh tone causes the witch to flinch, but then she returns to face you.

"Baby.."

"No, Wanda... Explain yourself, did you cheat on me then I go on like a mission?"

"It's so much more complicated than that... I-I had no choice."

You scoff, and watch her face fall, deja vu taking over as she remembers your unofficial break up.

"Everyone has a choice Wanda, you don't just fall into someone's lap."

"It wasn't a choice! It was some twisted destiny pact, that tied all of us to that damn mind stone... I-I-I would never have done anything to hurt you, I just wanted to love you. I still do, please let me..."

"Oh Wanda... Sweet girl, you have to let me go." You coo, with a bittersweet smile, as you take in her words, and reach your hands up to cup her face.

"No..."

"Darling, whatever this is, it isn't real... We'll never be able to have the life we wanted, and no amount of pretending will make this real. I'm dead, this version of me, though magnificent—truly, your powers have truly evolved my dear—it just isn't real. I'm sorry I didn't give you a happily ever after, but I'm glad that whatever I did allowed my three favorite girls to stay alive..."

Wanda was in absolute hysterics, as her body was shaking, and your thumbs worked tirelessly to wipe her tears away. You gave up on the tears, then leaned forward to place your lips to hers in an attempt to ground her.

Her hands clung to your biceps, as she held you firmly in place, every fiber of her being willing this to be real—it all just felt so right. The kiss was sloppy, and full of tears from both ends. You pulled back to smile at her, then her face dropped as you screamed in pain and a massive hole took place where your abdomen should be. Vision stood there with a grim smile upon his face, having clearly just used one of Tony’s blasters on your illusion’s body.

“She’s not real darling, but I, I’m as real as they come…” He sickeningly mutters, and Wanda’s remaining calmness leaves her body at once.

Natasha and Yelena had bolted off the porch, and stood beside Wanda’s trembling body. The anger surged throughout all of them, as your screams brought Natasha back to the other day when she’d actually lost you. This might not actually be you, but it shares your likeness, and there’s no way in hell she’s letting the robot off for hurting you—not again!

They charged up their widow bites, that Wanda had manifested for them, and shoots them off at the man. Wanda helps to throw the photon blaster from his grasp, then leaves the sisters to handle him, whilst she drops to the ground to cradle your face.

“Darling, you have to let me go… Set everyone free, it’s going to be okay—I promise.”

“No, it’s not… I-I can’t do this alone.”

“That’s the beauty of it all Wands, look around, you’re not alone. You have my badass sisters by your side, and then there’s also the team… I’d avoid that robot though if I were you, he seems a tad bit obsessed…”

She sadly chuckled at your playful words, and leaned her forehead to yours, craving the serenity that having you close always brought to her.

“I love you, and I know that no matter what happened between us, that I died loving you.”

…

“Because, loving you—Wanda Maximoff, was the easiest choice I’d ever made.”

“I-I can’t do it.”

You smile widely at your former lover, with the most reassuring gaze you could muster, while stroking her cheek with your thumb, trying your best to ease her through the now painful goodbye you’d always wanted to avoid for her.

“Please don’t go…” Yelena cries out, as she runs over and drops besides the two of you in hysterics. Then you realize there were more hearts at stake here than just the one intimately tied to yours.

“Shh.. Moi prekrasnyye sestry, you’re going to be just fine. All of you are, I’ll go on to live on in your hearts. Just pay extra close attention to your surroundings, and know that when you see a shooting star up in the sky, that’ll be me saying hello. When you’re walking through Central Park and a butterfly passes you by, that’ll be me whispering out an I love you. If you find a hummingbird swirling around you, just know that’s me trying to embrace you. I’m certain that we’ll see each other again one day, and until then I need you all to keep living. Live on for me, and don’t be afraid of all life has to offer… It’s more than okay to move on, I’d never want you to be stuck in the past over silly old me. I am certain that I did what I did knowing that you’d all be fine, this is just the hardest part, where you have to let go. Don’t cry over the what if’s, it’ll get you nowhere my dears, just hold on to all our good times, and don’t be hesitant to have more. You all deserve a happily ever after, so go out there and make life your bitch! She owes you all some relief.” (My beautiful sisters)

“I didn’t even get to say goodbye.” She cries out, as she leans her head on your chest.

“Think back really hard for me Lena, and I’m certain you’ll see the exact moment where I said my goodbyes. I’d never have willingly left any of you behind without some sort of goodbye…” You mutter, while placing a chaste kiss to the crown of her head.

She whimpers as she remembers the kiss you’d left on her forehead, and your whispers of I love you. She’d thought you were being a tad bit dramatic at the time, but now she knows why.

Wanda’s epiphany had hit her once she saw your limp body on the metal frame, that your audible utterance of goodbye, and the hug was your bittersweet way of bidding her farewell.

Natasha’s goodbye was far less subtle, and astronomically more painful, but she also wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. To be able to see you off as death kissed your eyelids, and as you took your final shaky breath; to be able to hold you close one final time—to offer you that fleeting comfort her hugs had always brought you. You truly were the better half of her heart, and she’d send you off knowing that.

The women watch on as the town around them slowly returns back to its original state. The once bright buildings, and lively forestry began to fade into worn down ones on the brink of collapse, and dead shrubbery had started to cloud their vision. Wanda was cupping your face between her hands, as Lena’s face is to your chest, and Natasha’s hand grips yours for what will now be her final chance, as her eyes are tightly shut, unwilling to watch you disappear again.

“Poka my ne vstretimsya snova moi dorogiye” Are the last words you mutter before you fade away into nonexistence.

(Until we meet again my darlings)

“Tasha?”

Natasha whips her head to the side in absolute astonishment, having heard your small voice coming from the left of her. Your unconscious illusion based body was no longer laying on the ground before her as the hex had literally just faded. She felt as your hand disappeared from hers, so she just about faints when she sees you standing with a vaguely familiar looking man.

You were stood there besides Doctor Strange, whom you’d only just met, after he told you that a town of people were desperately depending on you to save them. You were skeptical at first, but found the will to help once you’d discovered your sisters were involved, and Fury had confirmed it for you.

You’d seen the tale end of the fight take place, and saw as the gorgeous brunette crying over what appeared to be a clone of you. Your heart hurt for her, seeing the pained look on her face as she’d stared down at you, as you willed your mind to fill you in on exactly why. Sure, Strange and Fury gave you a summarized version of recent events, clueing you in on as to why this hex had even formed in the first place. The idea that this woman had loved you so much, that your death led to others pain had actually warmed your heart in a way. You’d obviously never want something of the sort to take place, but knowing you were loved enough by her that she’d managed to lose control brought upon that twisted comfort.

Instead of approaching the mess, Strange had decided you’d be better on the outskirts of it all. He’d not told Fury this, but your re-emerging in the town was never meant to end the hex, but instead to provide hope in the hearts of your loved ones. To serve more as a preventative measure for the witch, who was obviously down bad, in a way granting you two a new intertwined destiny—one that will serve to hold off the emergence of the Scarlet Witch.

Natasha and Yelena were quick to their feet, running to embrace you, knowing deep down that this wasn’t some illusion. Something about the way your features expressed how lost you were told them that this was truly you. Wanda however stayed on her knees, with her fists clenched and eyes firmly shut. Willing for this newfound illusion of you to just fade away, not at all having it in her to lose you once more.

Your sisters were absolute disasters in your embrace, as you felt their tears trailing down your neck as they soaked up into your shirt.

“I’m here, I’m really here… I’m sorry I left you two behind…” You whisper, while rubbing comforting circles into their backs.

Wanda could hear your thoughts, they were just so loud, as you battled with your memories. Her heart shattered when she realized that whatever brought you back, had erased her. She stood on two shaky legs, prepared to fly off, hoping that if she just got far away from you, that you’d stay safe.

You however had other plans, as you’d told your sisters you needed a minute, and you’d swiftly walked over to her. Your gentle grip on her shoulder caused her body to shudder, and for a new wave of sobs to attempt to rack her body, but she held them at bay.

“Wanda…” You gently whispered her name, with an air of uncertainty, and her heart shattered at this unfamiliar tension.

“It’s okay, I understand that whatever brought you back did you the absolute pleasure of forgetting me.”

“I’m sorry, for whatever it’s worth… I could see how much my death hurt you, and I’m really trying so hard to remember you.”

“It’s probably for the best that you forget me.” She bitterly chuckles out, while trying to shake your grip, but you instead pulled her into your embrace.

“Now, I just don’t think I can agree with that… A love like ours, that would lead me to make the ultimate sacrifice, and lead you to entrap a town of people as your grief overpowered you doesn’t seem worth forgoing. We have the chance to start fresh, make our bond everlasting, and far less doomed. Why would you run from that?”

“I don’t want to hurt you again Y/N/N.”

You smiled at the nickname she’d used, and your heart swelled at the familiarity your body felt along with it.

“I might not remember you Wanda, but I can tell that you’d never hurt me intentionally. Deep down, I know the love I had for you is still in here, I can feel this immense connection to you.”

“That same connection is what got you killed.”

“Yeah, but it’s also led us to this exact moment, who’s to say we can’t rewrite our story?”

You abruptly stepped away from her, and she stared at your back with an amused gaze, immediately feeling that you were up to something.

“Hi, I’m Y/N Y/L/N, I saw you from across the way and couldn’t help but to make my way over. You’re absolutely breathtaking, is there any chance that you’d be willing to go out with me sometime? I know this diner that serves amazing pancakes in Brooklyn…” You ramble on in ‘greeting,’ turning to face her and flashing her that same goofy smile she’d fallen in love with all those years ago.

Her stomach erupts with butterflies, as her heart then skips a beat in her chest, and she knows now that there’s no way in hell she’s leaving you behind. She decides that is a blessing she won’t overlook, allowing you two a chance to fall in love again, without the pain of the past to weigh you down.

“Wanda Maximoff, and I’d love nothing more than to accompany you to get some pancakes.” She beams, as she accepts your extended hand, and chuckles as you whisper a ‘yes’ under your breath in self congratulations.

“Mind if my sisters tag along?”

“Not at all…” Wanda assures you, with a sweet smile, and you grasp her hand to pull her towards your sisters, as you guys step over the unconscious robot’s body on the ground.

Sometimes life affords you with ample opportunities to start anew, and it’s up to you to embrace the change, or to remain stagnant in your misery.

——————————————————

Tagged you if you’d commented/reblogged with comments 🥺

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7,514 Words.

[rambling-addict]

Okaaay. MFS Season 3 Episode 9, let’s go. Play by play, yeah?

Warning: Major rambling ahead. I warned you.

So as I’ve predicted… there was trial, Wade returns and exposes Silver, and temporary happy ever after happens.

I’ll start off by saying that Raelle was the perfect person to deliver that speech. She relates to both sides perfectly and that speech? So empowering. I’d go to war for her if she asks, lol.

Also. Go Wade! That was surely a badass entrance, exactly how I envisioned it.

…

And then we’re back at Fort Salem.

Cute Raylla as expected.

They’re perfect, your honour. I want the braids back, please!!

…

It’s all good…

And… Gregorio appears.

And I swear… I have nothing against the actor (he’s cute and all, his character is average at best) BUT Tally seems to have chemistry with everyone, except him. Some people even shipped Gloria and Tally, for crying out loud. But Gregorio? There’s just no spark there.

I understand that they had no time for a fully fleshed out story, but they could have left it out, tbh. It won’t change the story. I mean, Gregorio was in prison—not off to the sides fighting or doing espionage work that added to the storyline. Nothing. Nada.

Again, I’m ranting too much here, but this is just so unfair for Tally.

First off, Abigail, the playgirl who only cared about rising to glory and living up to her family legacy—now a true leader, a soldier who now understands the responsibility of wearing a uniform. In romance, she’s a one-man girl, fully committed.

Then, we have Raelle, Cession girl who was a rebel and hated the army and what it stood for—now, she had a full change of heart. She does what she does now, because it’s what’s right, and not because of spite. From a lone wolf who tries not to show her feelings, now she’s found her unit and found love and romance in Scylla… Raelle found purpose to keep living and fighting.

Then to add, Scylla our necro baby… former Spree agent—now working alongside her former “enemy”. She saw the bigger picture and saw error in her previously misguided ways. Another lone wolf who now found family and friends. Again, she found Raelle, the home she’d been longing for.

And then we have Tally… Now, don’t get me wrong. She is definitely the most developed character. From a naive girl, she blossomed to a woman who stands her ground for what’s right. She literally saw the world for what it is and still fights for it.

She was from a matrifocal compound, a virgin—and now, it’s like she swapped personalities with young Abigail. I don’t shame her for it (get it Tally), but it’s just hard for me to see Tally just suddenly sucking faces with someone that I haven’t seen her interact with and actually build a relationship with. It’s just so out of the blue. They didn’t even have a scene where they’re conversing and talking about something deeper. It’s all physical, no emotion. I hate that for Tally. She deserves more than that. This is like discrete character assassination.

…

Anyway, moving on…

My happy pills, Raylla… at the lighthouse. They’re so happy. They deserve this and so much more, my babies!!

…

The pre-wedding scene with Raylla and Nicte is also adorable. Nicte is still a hardass trying to act like she doesn’t care, but she does. She cares for the unit like they’re her own. MamaNicte?

And the lobster comment. Hilarious.

…

Edwin and Raelle reunion, yes! I wished it was more emotional though. They haven’t seen each other, c’mon. I expected more.

…

But then… Anacostia and Alder. Omigod, now this made me cry. When Alder “died” the first time, it was Anacostia’s cries of grief that killed me… and now, their reunion scene is just, wow. That hug was everything.

…

Then, that Adil and Gregorio scene… they have more chemistry than Tally and Gregorio does. My brotp, for sure, lol.

Also that Khalida and Adil reunion…so cute. I wonder what Khalida told Adil. Hmmm.

…

And the unit huddle—with Scylla! I am such a simp for these moments.

…

Abigail and that scene with her grandmother is adorable, too. She deserves this.

…

Then…of course, Alder and Tally scene. Alder’s words are so ominous. Celebrate loved ones while they can? All might change soon?? Why so grim on a wedding day??

…

Anyway,, the wedding!

What can I say.. it definitely shows that they’re rushing. I hoped we could’ve heard the vows or even the I do’s, but the whole thing’s like a music video, lol. It kinda took away a bit of the emotion that I expected to feel. It’s still cute though.

…

Then Nicte… I can’t believe I’m seeing her look so rattled. Wade is a great negotiator, no-nonsense woman.

…

Edwin and Raelle moment—always sweet. They deserve the world after the rollercoaster of emotions they’ve been through regarding Willa.

Then, Abigail and Jem Bellweather… there’s definitely something to unfold there.

…

Then of course, after happiness comes bitterness. Silver got out, surprise surprise. And Hearst is still a freakin’ psycho.

…

Btw, necro teacher is a badass! She doesn’t get much credit and appreciation but I see you, Izadora. You fought well. The only consolation now is that you’ll finally be with the Mother.

…

And I’m worried for Penelope. I hope she’d learn that it was Hearst who poisoned her and then she’d go apeshit on him. Hang on.. if he’s like a “witch” because of the stolen vocal cords, does that mean he can be affected by the witch plague?? I hope it’s his own creation that ends up killing him. That’ll be so satisfying.

…

Meanwhile, our beloved unit are enjoying a campfire. And yes, mamaCostia… I definitely didn’t predict “this”.

And Raelle singing to Scylla (and everyone)… gosh, you can see Raelle/Taylor’s nerves as Scylla/Amalia stared at her singing… and when Scylla looks, she really gazes at Raelle… her feelings are palpable.

…

It’s all so happy… then it’s gone again, as predicted.

…

But Raelle! Why does she suddenly look possessed and why is she bleeding?? Did Hearst do something to the Mother? And who’s back??

…

I swear, if something happens to any of them, I will have more and more words for you, Eliot.

Gosh, I’m so anxious for what happens next. There’s still so many to wrap up.

This episode already felt so rushed, I hope the last episode is at least not as much. I feel like they could’ve made better cuts to showcase the story, add some more to other scenes and leave out other that’s unnecessary *ahem*Gregorio*ahem*.

But I still have faith in this show. I hope this season ends with a bang.

And I think that’s all I’ve got. Haha.

[silentauroriamthereal]

Let me know if you're sick of this topic by now, but I saw a post about Sherlock and Irene and it reminded me how confused I still am about ASIB. What was the point of making Irene a lesbian if they were going to make her fall in some way for Sherlock? It seems like the whole point is to showcase John's feelings for Sherlock, which is insane considering what we know about the writers. And I'm not sure what to make of Sherlock's reaction, both to her and to her supposed death.

Hey! Sorry this took me a second (lol) to answer! I'm not at all sick of discussing any of this, ha!

So first, we have to consider that Steven Moffat, who wrote this episode, is a misogynist. I could write you a whole entire essay about that, but to summarize, he writes women *very* differently from the way he writes men. Every "strong woman" character he's written (to the extent that I've experienced, at least) tends to exert her strength through violence. Irene literally hurts men to extort them for information for her terrorist boss. Being on the "side of the angels" doesn't matter if you're sexy or cute or female in general. Irene was fully down to sell out her entire country to save her own skin and was working directly for the man Sherlock and John spend several series actively opposing. But Irene is a woman, so it doesn't count. There are dozens of other examples - Molly slapping Sherlock in a moment of "strength", in some misguided sense of entitlement that told her she had the right to demand an explanation for Sherlock's drug usage, and while I don't even want to wade into the steaming heap which is Moffat's writing on Doctor Who, I'll just point out that their darlings, River Song and Mary Moffat, are both assassins. I never did understand the complicated reasoning behind River Song's "need" to kill the Doctor, and Mary never once even offers a reason for choosing a career path in murder for personal gain. She also never exhibits any sort of remorse for any of it, including all the parts that affected her "beloved" John, like lying to him endlessly, abandoning their infant to protect herself, comparing him to a dog, denying him permission to go somewhere without her, and also trying to murder his best friend. It only makes sense that a canonical lesbian would be powerless to retain her sexuality in the face of an attractive, intelligent man. Because that's how sexuality works!

So that's reason #1. Reason #2 is that Sherlock shows his "humanity" in weakness: by making mistakes. His "mistake" in this one was, apparently, slightly falling for Irene, despite knowing that she worked for Moriarty, despite knowing that she was a lesbian, despite knowing that she absolutely betrayed him, and despite not actually being interested in her in a sexual way at all. John literally left the house (in a jealous snit) to let them be alone together, and Irene was all over the notion of them having sex, yet Sherlock spent the entire time lost in case reflections, and only snapped out of it when he realized that John had left. I don't know if they were trying to underscore his eccentricity or something, but that's partly where the weakness (or laziness, but same difference) in their writing comes in, that it's not abundantly clear to us after all this time. Series 2 aired in 2014, and here we are, eight years later and still going, "so yeah, wtf??" They use Sherlock's "weakness" again in failing to deduce Mary's past, along with his miscalculation about Magnussen, etc. Every time something bad happens from series 3 onward, it's definitely Sherlock's fault, and everyone else in the world is smarter than he is, all of a sudden.

Better writers would have made it much clearer that Sherlock was intrigued by the intellectual puzzle that Irene posed, that he'd kept her phone as a bit of a trophy for having outwitted her (which again is misogyny; Irene Adler outwitted Sherlock in the original ACD), and not had him "mourning" after her supposed death. I mean, Sherlock was visibly upset when the woman in TGG was killed as he listened over the phone. There's reason to think he might have been upset to learn of another person's death, someone he had met and sparred with. But it was always ONLY Irene who made things sexual or implied intent, never Sherlock. It's bad writing, honestly. I think they really like the idea of making Sherlock some sort of Bond who can woo every woman within 900 meters, but also that he's a dork with no social skills, and the mix sometimes works well and sometimes really doesn't.

I don't know if that was coherent at all, but that's the five cents my brain rummaged around and found. :P What do you think?

[birgittesilverbae]

wheel of time

blorbo (favorite character, character I think about the most)

Moiraine. she’s just so driven and fully aware of her limitations and willing to sacrifice anything to save the world. she’s one of the few people in the series who don’t let their preconceptions steer their perceptions of the world. the willpower to keep struggling, to keep fighting, to fulfil her duty even as she begins to lose Rand? outstanding. her sense of humour? fantastic. woman made an awful pun about the Ways and smiled at her own joke and I was hooked

scrunkly (my “baby”, character that gives me cuteness aggression, character that is So Shaped)

Egeanin. the woman recognizes something doesn’t add up and straight-up radicalizes herself. then trips over these two clowns and instead of going ‘what the fuck’, forcibly becomes their new best friend. she’s just so eager to do what’s right. she also calls Gawyn a fucking moron, so we stan.

scrimblo bimblo (underrated/underappreciated fave)

*looks pointedly at username* (less so on tumblr than elsewhere probably tho) do I have a Thing about warriors forced into situations out of their control and trying to cope with memory loss? definitely I do. she has every right to nope the fuck out, but instead she picks herself up and does what she can with the cards she’s been dealt. and the reluctant captain-general engineering that rescue bid? talented. brilliant. incredible. amazing.

glup shitto (obscure fave, character that can appear in the background for 0.2 seconds and I won’t shut up about it for a week)

Bera & Kiruna (a.k.a. Moiraine & Siuan v1.0). oh, to be equally strong pillowfriends from different social classes entering the Tower around the same time, advancing in lockstep at an unprecedented pace, and then choosing the same Ajah when raised to the shawl, only to get sent on a fool’s errand and spend months trekking back and forth across the continent on the world’s worst honeymoon with your seven warders in tow.  

poor little meow meow (“problematic”/unpopular/controversial/otherwise pathetic fave)

Mesaana. I mean, after reading the comments on my last rejected paper, I too considered brainwashing a strike force of child soldiers and assassinating Reviewer 2. that’s normal behaviour, right?

horse plinko (character I would torment for fun, for whatever reason)

Gawyn. let’s see what other terribly horribly misguided choices he can make because of his main character syndrome. oOoOoOo here’s a shepherd, your worst nightmare you classist oOoOoOo

eeby deeby (character I would send to superhell)

Gareth Bryne can meet me in the goddamn parking lot.

[londonfoginacup]

Hi!! H17 please :)

This is, of course, entirely subjective lolll

you got me shakin' | writtensoul Harry/Louis | 4k

louis and harry live next door to each other and harry is a phone-sex operator and louis is jealous. “I suppose I was. Do you like my dress? You’re a phone-sex operator.” And, well, that wasn’t supposed to come out, but it did.

Mange de la Merde et Meurs (a love story) | tomlinsunshine Harry/Louis | 3k

”High five me, Liam.” Liam does not high five him. He just stands there, hands shaking by his sides, and whispers, “You sent Harry Styles an envelope full of anthrax because you think he’s cute?”

Tell Me Where You're Hiding Out | halolove Harry/Louis | 9k

The OT5 roadtrip gone wrong.

The Flatmates | Centa0592 Harry/Louis | 48k

Harry is a cheeky Alpha who vows never to settle down. Louis is a hurt omega whose Alpha died just before they could bond officially. Zayn is an artistic Alpha who doesn’t understand privacy, or personal space. Liam is a curious Beta who is convinced the world is going to end. And Niall is a drunk Beta who keeps falling asleep randomly without finishing his sentences….he might also suffer from narcolepsy. None of the lads know for sure.

Shot Me Out Of The Sky | foxandbee Harry/Louis Zayn/Liam | 26k

Harry means well, he honestly does, but he also has a disproportionately large pie-hole which can sometimes get him into trouble. Take right now for instance, when someone’s out to get him, shots are being fired, Paul-the-human-bullet-vest is squishing him into the concrete and Harry really just wishes he knew when to keep his mouth shut. He blames it all on his underpants. Alternatively, the story where Harry’s a passionate-if-slightly-misguided popstar who may or may not have multiple assassins out to kill him.

Battle Cry | Velvetoscar Harry/Louis | 21k

Harry's got a heart, a soul, and a band. And with that, obviously, comes a future paved in great success, right? So all he has to do is win the Battle of the Bands, right? Simple. What's not so simple is the fact that Louis Tomlinson is his biggest competition. And also happens to be made of everything that Harry's ever wanted. No... That's not simple at all.

Just Me, You, And This Box of Matches | tomlinsunshine Harry/Louis Zayn/Liam Zayn/Perrie | 87k

Louis is fairly sure that his new neighbour is going to destroy him. And also their apartment building, and the dumpsters outside, and all the forests within a thirty mile radius. But. Mostly him.

Have You Coming Back Again | whoknows Harry/Louis | 31k

It’s five o’clock in the morning. Louis has a lecture at half eight. He could be using this time to study or to do his readings or to go to the gym, but - well. He doesn’t have any exams coming up, he’s not going to his seminar today anyway and he hates the gym. Instead he’s using this time to fuck with Harry Styles’ poor little brain. Louis jogs across the street and jabs the key into the car door. It opens easily, not that he was expecting anything else. He copied the key for a reason, after all. He’s got Harry’s schedule memorized, more because the guy keeps following him around than anything, so he doesn’t bother looking around before climbing behind the wheel and setting his bag on the passenger seat. It’s a Monday, which means that Harry doesn’t even get out of bed before noon unless he’s planning on harassing Louis.

Mystery Fic Rec Game

[imakeficrequestsandthendisappear]

The post where I try to fix Klaus’ arc in TUA season 2

(((I guess I just am an umbrella academy blogger now)))

OKAY, so we all can agree that Klaus’s arc in season 2 (mostly with dave) was....not great. the intentions i think were good, but misguided. It started pretty good, the acting was great, but it didn’t have the lasting power. Here’s 10 things the writers should have done differently, or should do in the future (as told by me, a nobody). Yes most of this is a long Klaus x Dave shitpost 

1. Learn Basic Math:   Idk why this is so hard to fucking grasp, but Dave’s baby-faced teenager age doesn’t make any fucking sense. according to the wiki, he was born in 1939, so in 1963 he is 24 years old. the actor who played young Dave is currently 20, so was probably 19 when they filmed. 

Why? why. *instert why vine*

like yeah he’s younger, but he doesn’t need to look like a infant. The baby-est gay that ever did baby gay. it puts a weird dynamic into the whole season with Klaus. and it’s not like there isn’t someone else who can play dave....

2. Hire Cody Ray Thompson again:  ....like, I’m baffled. they’ve baffled me. This guy had one(1) job, fall in love with Klaus, and he did it with so much charm and chemistry that the whole fanbase is still quaking. he had like 2 lines. like less 3 total minutes of screen time. And we all fell in love with him cause he did so good. ((he’s also a klave stan check out his twitter))

Whyyyy couldn’t they just get him in for season? “hE’d LoOk ToO OlD” well the other kid looked too damn young. do his hair different, have him lose some bulk in the arms and shoulders, get him a k-pop skin care routine, I don’t care.

Imagine if he got to have multiple scenes with Robert Sheehan, when they had so much chemistry in just a short montage in season 1.

3. Knock it off with the homophobia: i’m not gonna talk about when Dave punches klaus it’s literally the worst part of the season. it’s not what i came here for. I want a refund. (see point 7 for notes)

4. Actually make the cult a useful part of the season: like we have hundreds of adoring klaus fans ready to do anything he tells them… could that have served a plot purpose at any point? Could that have been useful in a conflict, or some character development? No?

5. Establish the Ben possessions much earlier: probably one of the most interesting plot points from season 2 is that ben had more agency. And then 5 minutes later he didn’t. I know we have 7 main characters but did we need this many scenes with the Handler while Ben got diddly fuck until the last 2 episodes? 

6: Why Doesn’t Klaus see ghosts anymore?: like, he sees Ben. but, what about all the other ones? He got sober, does he just ignore them now? ((guys what if he conjured the spirit of JFK)) 

7: (this one’s long) Make Klaus’s arc about internal conflict, not an external conflict between him and Dave:  

Klaus is established in season 1 to be selfish, but in like a fun way. he thinks of self satisfaction before literally anything else. this comes to a head when he comes back from Vietnam and says “He was the only person I’ve ever loved more than myself” 

After this Klaus’ growth is kind of put on the back-burner for the apocalypse stuff. We never really get to see him put someone else first after that. Even when he gets sober to see Dave, it’s to fulfill his own desires. 

By season 2 his world view has shifted, he gets sober, but we need more actions toward change. he gets bored of the cult and ditches them, and he barely does anything for Ben.

(selfish but lovable)

Enter tall hunky texas boy Dave, (((who is an adult man))) who is in the closet from his homophobic family, but it’s not spelled out for us. It could be as subtle as a look, or saying a coded phrase. The audience isn’t interested in the macro-drama of 1960’s homophobia, we are interested in the micro-drama between these two characters.

Anyway, Klaus is excited to see Dave, and they like meet and have a normal conversation, where it is eventually revealed that Dave is already planning on joining the marines soon. Klaus wants to stop him but then he realizes (or Ben tells him) that if Klaus says the wrong thing (like telling Dave not to go to war) it would change the timeline and they would never meet in 1968. And for the next couple EPISODES i want Klaus to have to think about this, like it’s an actual hard decision to make. He’s a creature of habit, his instincts are selfish because he’s always been selfish, but he loves this guy so much. 

Maybe he tries bargaining, like maybe he can subtly tell Dave just enough to keep him alive, but not stop him from going to Vietnam. And Dave is rightfully confused that this person knows a lot about him, but also like… he’s kinda cute. I want weird coffee shop dates and long walks through the texas fields in the setting sun.  

But right at the deadline of “we gotta stop the apocalypse again” Klaus realizes that he can’t let Dave go to Vietnam, even if it means they never meet. Cause he loves dave like way too much to even risk it, even if it means putting his own happiness second. It’s the first truly selfless act of love Klaus does for someone. So he tells him everything, but it sounds fucking bat-shit insane and Klaus has to leave right then and there. Leaving Dave standing there like “Wtf”

Later on after the Kennedy assassination, klaus and all the hargreeves’ are named as suspects, so Dave wonders if he’s just been duped by a cult leader this whole time (but also is kinda sad about it). He enlists in the marines anyway, and this is where we stay on the season one timeline.

But speaking of time-lines…….

8. Use season 3 to retcon timeline issues: like obviously they are going to fuck around with the timeline, because of the fucking bird school and emo ben. So take this opportunity, dear writers, to figure out how Klaus’s (and everyone else’s) lives make any sense, and cut some stuff from the season 1 and season 2 timelines. (and no, Klaus and Dave never falling in love in Vietnam is not a valid choice. It’s a garbage way to make me cry.)

9: Set a whole (or most of an) episode in 1968 Vietnam: maybe this is when they are trying to fix the timeline. Idk it’s just for fanservice. They have a whole 10 episodes and they can’t give just one to klaus? bullshit.

10. (Fan Theory) Reveal that Dave was killed by the commission: the true tragedy of this romance is that if Dave lived Klaus probably wouldn’t have gone back to 2019. They might have actually lived a happy life together. But the timeline needs Klaus in 2019, to be part of and die in the apocalypse, so the commission sends someone (.....maybe not Five) out to kill his boyfriend. 

Anyway it took me so many braincells to write this post and i do not accept criticism for free, so dm for my paypal if you want to tell me this was stupid.

[palettepainter]

What about Robos and Kowais real parents? And do they get adopted?

Warning: Mentions of abuse and suicide

Robo’s (his actual name is Haiya) parents where both small sidekicks working under a big time hero, and Robo was born in hopes to bring the family name to glory - his parents where okay at first, but after his quirks kicked in and it was revealed he inherited both of his parents quirks his mum and dad started to view him more as an extension to their work. If you want an idea of how his parents began to change in behavior then just look up Nagisa’s mum from assassination classroom on YT (if you’re going to search that up on YT warnings for abuse and manipulative/controlling behavior). 

After Robo lost the movement in his arms and his parents had his arms surgically removed, Robo by extent also lost his second quirk which he inherited from his father.His father’s quirk allowed him to either slow down or speed up the movement of an object or person with either his right or left hand, once Robo lost his arms his parents lost faith in him, seeing him more as a failure of what could have been. They hand him over to a family in Tokyo, they planned to take Robo back in if they found any kind of operation that could in some way restore his quirk, but Robo runs away at the age of 13 from his new family.

(one of the rare times I answer an ask with a drawing in it)

Now Haiya is happily adopted by Ectoplasm and Power loader, the fanart I saw for this rarepair won me over on it don’t judge me they’re cute. Ectoplasm was the first to adopt Haiya: Ectoplasm was called into the therapy centre/orphanage home for kids to help Haiya in the start of his therapy, Haiya has a fear of doctors and hospitals thanks to when he had his arms removed by his parents, he sees his lack of arms as a failure as that’s how his parents saw it. Ectoplasm offers solid, and very thoughtful advice (Ectoplasm lost his legs to a villian so I headcannon that Ecto has a lot of great advice for people when it comes to encouraging them to get back up after a rough day,), they begin to bond over time, and since both share a similar fighting stlye (both being stronger with the use of their legs rather then their arms), Ectoplasm made a pledge when Eri (Eri runs the therapy centre) made a placement request for Haiya in UA in general studies. Haiya no longer desires to be a hero, but may now have the goal of becoming a teacher thanks to his new dad. Haiya meets Power loader pretty early on in his time at UA, Ectoplasm goes to Power Loader for adjustments for his prosthetics’, since his are a special light weight model to help him fight, Power loader becomes a figure Haiya is comfortable around and begins to enjoy his company. Haiya begins to view him as a second parent, and with Haiya spending more time with Power loader it was inevitable that Ectoplasm and Haiya would begin to grow closer. It’s another personal headcannon of mine that the two where school friends back in their UA days, so the two where already close from the get go, but it wasn’t until Haiya came along did their friendship develop into something more.

Haiya is a very happy, energetic and bubbly child and loves his two new dads very much 

Kowai’s parents weren’t heroes. Her father worked in management to a furniture company and her mother was an ex doctor who lost her job and fell into drinking. Her father took her mother in when he found her out on the streets one morning, and nursed her back to health. She ends up sticking around and although their relationship is a bit rocky at the start, they soon become friends and start to enjoy the others company. In the beginning their love was actually very sweet and genuine, and then Kowai’s mother became pregnant with her. Kowai was unplanned but happily welcomed by her two parents. It was confirmed after a doctors visit that Kowai had a quirk - or would have one - but they’d obviously have to wait until Kowai was older for it to manifest. When Kowai hit five and she showed no signs of a quirk, her parents began to ponder what could be wrong. Kowai’s mother, having been a doctor in the past, suggested that perhaps Kowai had developed a quirk relating in some way to alcohol (Kowai’s mum’s body due to her past drinking habits led to her body suffering, she wasn’t in the greatest of health, so that gene passed on to Kowai). The marriage from their falls apart, her parents begin to fight and her mother turns back to her old ways of drinking to cope when her husband begins to barely talk to her. After one particularly nasty argument Kowai’s dad storms out of the house, leaving Kowai who was 6 at the time and her mother alone. Kowai’s mother takes her life, leaving Kowai alone in the apartment. A day goes by, and her dad hasn’t returned home, Kowai begins to grow hungry, and being a clueless child she reaches for the wine glass - she thought it was juice - and drank it,. Her quirk sloshed took affect, and being little she panicked which ultimately made it worse - her father finally returned to find Kowai’s mum dead and Kowai huddled by the end of the sofa. He takes Kowai to an orphanage the next day and leaves the country, things don’t get any better for Kowai as the orphanage didn’t want to deal with a child with a complicated quirk, and so the drive her to the slums and leave her there to fend for herself

(I know Nemoto’s legs look a bit weird here, I’ll fix up the sketch later when I decided to line art and colour this)

Kowai is eventually adopted by Deidoro and Nemoto (discussed the idea of Kowai being adopted by these two with @hazbinextgeneration and threw around a few ideas, and after reading some parent headcannons by @kayokos-villain-imagines I decided to make it cannon) - I’m still figuring out how Deidoro and Nemoto come to adopt Kowai, since Nemoto is already busy enough taking care of his dumb husband, but an idea I had was maybe Eri reached out to Deidoro years later when Kowai comes to the centre in hopes Deidoro would have any ideas on how to help her handle her quirk. If you guys have any ideas feel free to send them to me! Nemoto is the rule following parent, also a bit strict on cleanliness (kind of a habit that stuck after working with Overhaul). Deidoro is the laid back dad who’s a slob, probably treats him and Kowai to greasy take out food becasue he knows Nemoto hates grease, and also because Deidoro likes greasy foods - thankfully Nemoto is there to make sure he actually eats healthy stuff too. Deidoro is the stay at home dad and Nemoto is probably a lawyer or banker, some high paying job that requires brains 

Also to confirm Nemoto and Deidoro go through a reformation programe once they are sent to prison - though they are villians are where working under Overhaul, yes - without a doubt - they’re bad guys, but I don’t think they’re necessarily bad people, if that makes sense. Nemoto joined Overhaul because Overhaul was the first person to ever tell Nemoto the truth, his true feelings and opinions, Nemoto joined him because no one else was giving him that and so that made Nemoto view him as trustworthy. I don’t know if Deidoro’s backstory has been revealed as of yet, but my headcannon is that Deidoro, after his quirk manifested, was treated differently by his peers, friends and family due to its nature and how it worked, Overhaul then found him and offered him a base to live in, a warm shower, proper food, and Deidoro accepted becasue Overhaul was the first person to actually treat him as an equal in a long time.

I don’t see Nemoto or Deidoro as truly evil, more rather just misguided, so in my NGAU they are reformed villians and are living a (mostly-) peaceful life

DO NOT REPOST/EDIT/COPY/TRACE MY ART OR OC’S!!

Kowai/Robo - me

Ectoplasm/Power loader/Deidoro/Nemoto - MHA

[wonderfulworldofmichaelford]

Psycho Analysis: Yzma

I feel like there’s no sense in introducing this one. You know her. I’ve seen all the gif sets, the quotes, the images, the memes… it’s safe to say most every person on the internet is intimately acquainted with The Emperor’s New Groove’s geriatric villainess, Yzma. So, let’s just cut to the chase and talk about why Yzma is a fantastic villain, shall we?

Motivation/Goals: Yzma’s goal is pretty simple and yet also infinitely understandable. She wants to take over the kingdom from Kuzco because, after years of being treated like garbage by the snotty little emperor she likely helped raise, he’s just firing her because she’s old and ugly. Like, it is TRUE, but it’s still incredibly tacky and rude. It’s not hard to empathize with her at least a little bit as she goes to poison the snotty, miserable emperor, though it really does become harder to side with her as the movie goes on and she continues to berate her poor manservant Kronk.

Performance: The legendary Eartha Kitt of Adam West’s Batman and My Life as a Teenage Robot fame gave Yzma exactly the voice she needed to instantly ingrain herself in your memory forever. Kitt was absolutely not afraid to ham it up, and combined with the character design and animation, it makes Yzma a delightfully over-the-top figure that is easy to love to hate. Even better, she has insanely good chemistry with Patrick Warburton as Kronk, and the two play off each other extremely well, leading to Yzma being part of a good 95% of the movie’s funniest scenes. It helps that, while she is definitely very funny, she is more often the straight man reacting to the insanity her compatriot brings to the table, a dark mirror to Kuzco and Pacha’s relationship… well, comparatively dark. These two are a couple of goobers after all. What I think really helps is that, despite being the straight man in a general sense, Yzma is still probably one of the most insane villains in Disney’s filmography, as in literally unhinged, so she is as able to generate laughs as anyone else.

Final Fate: Yzma’s attempts to kill Kuzco backfire spectacularly, and instead of succeeding in any way, shape, or form, she ends up turning herself into a cute little kitty. It’s a marked improvement, honestly. How she changed back to normal for the TV series, who can say? By all accounts it doesn’t make sense. Just don’t think too hard about it, it’s a comedy after all.

Best Scene: Considering how the entire climax of the film is an absolute cavalcade of comedy, we could go with that. Or we could go with her attempts to poison Kuzco at dinner. Or we could go with her interactions with Pacha’s family. The “problem” with Yzma that every scene with her is so great that it’s hard to single out any single one moment as outstanding, because all of them are pretty much on the same level. She’s remarkably consistent with how great she is.

Best Quote: It’s really hard for me to pick just one line (which is something I tend to say a lot, but I mostly talk about good villains on here, so cut me some slack), but I think the combination of the delivery and just how great Kitt’s voice was really helps make her brainstorming ways to kill Kuzco a legendary moment:

“Ah, how should I do it? Oh, I know. I'll turn him into a flea. A harmless little flea. And then I'll put that flea in a box, and then I'll put that box inside of another box, and then I'll mail that box to myself! And when it arrives, AH HA HA HA! I'LL SMASH IT WITH A HAMMER!!! It's brilliant, brilliant, BRILLIANT, I tell you! Genius, I say!”

The laugh is really what sells it, honestly.

Final Thoughts & Score: Yzma is probably the single greatest Disney villain who doesn’t totally follow the Renaissance villain format post-Renaissance, with only Turbo really being a contender for the crown. What I mean is this: the Renaissance set a serious precedent for animated movie villains going forward. They had to be hammy, have huge personalities, and get their own song. Ratigan was something of a prototype, and then Ursula went and set the standard. Sure, there were exceptions in the Renaissance – Hades is great but got no song, and Ratcliffe is… Ratcliffe, and he has a song – but for the most part the best Disney villains had a clear style. Ursula, Gaston, Frollo, Scar, all of them are some of Disney’s best and all of them stick to these rules.

Yzma came early in the post-Renaissance era so it would make sense for her to fit the bill entirely while they were still experimenting with new styles, but because of the tumultuous production of The Emperor’s New Groove, she ended up keeping the ham while having her villain song cut. And yes, this is a damn shame, since Eartha Kitt was a fantastic singer and the song’s not half bad, but I think the movie as a whole and Yzma herself work better without music. She’s just so funny with how she reacts to and interacts with things throughout the movie, I just don’t think she really NEEDS music to really push her over the top in terms of quality. Like, let me put it this way: I think, without “Be Prepared,” Scar would probably not be quite as impressive. I think with a villain song, Jafar would have been even cooler. Yzma? She’s pretty much perfect the way she is.

I debated a long time on what score to give her, but I frankly think she does deserve a 10/10. I almost gave her a 9 on the basis that she didn’t have a song, but her overall performance combined with my realization she didn’t need her song to be great made me decide to reward her with the highest marks. However, there is one criticism I have that I think stands: she would not nearly be s funny if not for the presence of her faithful lackey. So let’s talk about him, shall we?

Psycho Analysis: Kronk

I put this one to a vote, and it turns out that a lot of people consider Kronk a villain. I guess if we’re being technical he is an antagonist, but a villain? Kronk is pretty much the least evil villain out there. Still, it’s pretty impossible to deny that he’s not exactly a good guy when he’s complicit in an assassination attempt. Kronk’s a bit of a morally gray figure for much of the film.

He’s also, without a doubt, the funniest character in the film.

Motivation/Goals: See Yzma above. He’s just her lackey, so he doesn’t have much in terms of goals of his own. He does, however, have a conscience, as well as numerous skills including some serious culinary skills, including knowledge of fry cook lingo.

Performance: This is one of the roles that really put Patrick Warburton on the map, alongside Joe Swanson in Family Guy. And if I’m being honest, this is the definitive Patrick Warburton role in animation. Kronk is just an absolute delight to watch, since he’s basically the lovable idiot character perfected. He’s a ditz, but he does have a lot of skill in some interesting niche areas, he’s not truly good or evil and has a moral code, he’s very quotable and funny in a pretty natural way… Kronk has got it all! And it’s all thanks to Warburton injecting that Patrick Warbuton-ness we’ve all come to love from his performances. 

Final Fate: Of course Kronk gets redeemed in the end. The dude is the biggest softie on the planet. Maybe Yzma should have thought twice before insulting his spinach puffs.

Best Scene: Kronk has a similar problem to Yzma, where every single scene he’s in is incredibly perfect, but unlike Yzma, there is one scene that really narrows things down and gives you the perfect summation of Kronk as a character: the scene where he is attempting to dispose of Kuzco’s body, does his own theme music, argues with his shoulder angel and shoulder devil, and then ends up saving Kuzco, thus allowing the rest of the plot to happen.

Best Quote: Unlike Yzma, there is no way I could possibly narrow down Kronk’s best quote. Whichever one is your favorite, you’re right. That’s the best one. Everything out of his mouth is gold.

Final Thoughts & Score: Kronk is a very interesting lesson when it comes to Psycho Analysis because, while he is certainly antagonistic, and certainly is a great character, he’s not a great villain, which is what these reviews are for. Like, he is easily the best part of the movie, he is hilarious, his chemistry with Yzma is undeniable, and this is Warburton’s definitive vocal performance in animation… but it doesn’t make Kronk a good villain so much as it makes him a good character. Like there’s no way I can give him below an 8/10, because again, still an antagonistic role, but he can’t score much higher because his personality is just so legitimately NICE that calling him a villain seems really weird (which is why I put it to a vote in the first place).

I really can’t stress enough how much I love Kronk; he’s like in my top 10 favorite Disney characters. But when it comes to villains, I really don’t think he’d make the cut, because even when he is doing something bad it comes off more as misguided loyalty to Yzma than an actual desire to do bad. It’s really telling that it’s the most petty of things that makes him drop Yzma like a hot potato: Kronk was never really a villain, he was a good guy who made poor life choices and had a toxic friend influence. He didn’t really have a character arc where he became a better person like Kuzco did, although Kronk’s ultimate turn to the side of good does somewhat mirror Kuzco’s; he simply realized that the friend in his life he devoted his time to was an awful person and decided to leave her behind, and when all is said and done, that just leaves a big, buff nice guy who likes to cook. And that makes Kronk a truly great, funny, and lovable character.

It just doesn’t make him a great villain.

[selfignitingimagines]

Theo- Forgiven

Request- I’m not sure if I already requested this but can I get a Theo x reader where (kind of like the scene with Derek and stiles escaping Kanima in pool) where reader is paralyzed from kanima and Theo is like holding her up and they have to jump in the pool to escape and Theo has to like get out of the water to grab something so reader sinks and then Theo pulls her back up. Theo and reader aren’t dating yet but they confess feeling during this situation. LOTS OF FLUFF. Sorry if this don’t make sense!

A/N: It makes sense to me! Hope you like it!

“This way!” Theo hissed, grabbing you by the arm and jerking you to the right.

He shoved through the wooden doors that led to the school pool, and you took the opportunity to yank your arm from his grasp.

“I thought you killed Tracy,” you said breathlessly.

“I thought that too,” he snapped. “But apparently not.”

You suppressed the urge to reach out and smack him. Theo coming back from the dead had been a surprise, but it was nothing like finding out Tracy was alive. Especially because that had only happened fifteen minutes ago when she popped out from behind a library shelf while you were studying.

“You know this is your fault right?” you demanded.

“You’re the one who wanted to stay late to study in this hellhole.”

“You’re the one who insisted on staying with me!”

“I wasn’t going to let you be here alone at night. I might be an asshole, but I’m not stupid.”

“Cute.”

You stopped short as Tracy appeared in front of you, materializing from behind the bleachers. She was in a half kanima state, with scales speckling her skin and her tail slithering behind her. She was sort of glowing in the lights of the pool, and you thought to yourself that if there was such a thing as an avenging angel, it would look like Tracy. If she wasn’t there to kill Theo, you might have even thought she was beautiful.

Theo darted into front of you and let out a growl.

“Dying once wasn’t enough for you?”

“If I remember correctly, you never killed me,” she hissed.

“No, but I will this time.”

Theo stalked forward and swiped at Tracy with a clawed hand. She ducked, her tail whipping around in the process as she smacked him in the back with it. He fell forward and clawed at her, causing her to shriek.

She lashed out at him, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him into the cold floor. He hit the tile with a thud, and you watched with horrific fascination as her eyes became slitted and yellow.

Theo let out a snarl, but his eyes flickered to you for a split second. He mouthed “Run.”.

You nodded and took off toward the doors, but Tracy whipped her head around. She growled, and by the sickening snap and Theo’s scream, you knew she had broken something.

You heard a crash, and you glanced behind you just in time to see Theo lying in a pile of kickboards and flippers, groaning. Tracy quickly caught up to you with supernatural speed, and she yanked you back by your shirt. It tore as she shoved you to the cold floor, and you hit the ground on your back.

She leaned over you and placed a hand on your chest, pinning you into the floor.

“No offense,” she began. “But you’ve got terrible taste in guys.”

“Can you just spare me the boy talk and kill me?” you snapped.

She rolled her eyes. “Fine.”

She grabbed you by your torn shirt and yanked you to your feet, pressing her claws against your throat.

“Oh, Theo!” she sing-songed.

He lifted his head up from the ground, looking slightly dazed. When his eyes landed on the two of you, he jerked forward, only to scream out in pain. That was when you noticed that his left leg was bent at an unnatural angle, and there was a bone sticking out of it.

You felt the urge to bend over and vomit, but Tracy was holding you too tightly.

“No,” he snarled, crawling forward. “Tracy this isn’t about her. This is about us.”

“I know that,” she spat. “But you were the one who told us, Theo, remember? You told us that if you want to hurt someone, you need to hurt someone they love.”

Before you could unpack all of what she was saying, she suddenly dug her claws into your throat. You braced for the sharp pain, for the gush of blood, but it never came. She was only poking you, but the venom from her claws was enough to paralyze every muscle in your body.

You fell to your knees as the rest of you slowly became numb. Tracy grinned down at you and dragged your limp body toward the pool. You could hear Theo grunting, maybe trying to pull himself up, or put his leg back into place. You never had time to figure it out, because Tracy shoved you into the water.

Panic flood your senses, but all you could do was try to hold your breath. You had been paralyzed by kanima venom before, that night you had gone to get Stiles’ jeep fixed your sophomore year. He had begged you to come along, and you remembered that the douchebag mechanic had been hitting on you half the time you were there.

It only go weirder from there, and you and Stiles had both been paralyzed by the sticky goo on the door handle. From the floor of the waiting area, you were able to hear the mechanic get crushed by his own lift. You would later learn that his name had been Tucker.

That wasn’t exactly an experience you wanted to replicate, but you would rather go through that again than drown in the school pool. Just as your vision started to go black, you felt a hand grasp your forearm, yanking you up and above the water.

You gasped for air, but as Theo pulled you back against his chest, you could see he was struggling too.

“What happened?” you gasped. “Where’s Tracy?”

“She left,” he croaked. “She figured I wouldn’t be able to get to you.”

“Well thank god she was wrong.”

“We have another problem,” Theo said grimly.

You could see that his face was bright red with the strain of holding you, and you could feel that his muscles were straining.

“Your leg,” you remembered suddenly. “You can’t swim either.”

“The bone is still sticking out. I can’t get you out while it’s like this.”

“Well you can’t let me go,” you snapped.

“I might have to.”

“Where’s your phone?”

“In my pocket, which is soaked through right now.”

“So you’re going to do what? Just let me drown?”

Theo rolled his eyes. “No. I’m going to let you go, hop out, put my leg back into place and come get you.”

“If I don’t drown at the bottom of the pool first!”

Your yell echoed through the huge space of the room, and you knew how scared you must have sounded, but you weren’t going to back down.

“You seriously can’t just trust me?” Theo asked.

“Trust you?” you demanded. “You lied to me and tried to kill my friends.”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” Theo informed you. “But I’m the one keeping you alive right now.”

“That must be a weird feeling for you, huh?”

“Y/n, I swear to god! I’m trying to save your life.”

“Find another way!”

Theo thought for a minute, and then shook his head angrily. “Hold your breath.”

“What?!”

“Hold your breath!”

“No, are you-!”

Before you could protest anymore, he was letting you slide back into the water. You sucked in a deep breath at the last minute, closing your eyes as you slipped back under.

As you tried to fight the panic building in your mind, you thought back to what Tracy had said earlier. She mentioned hurting something Theo loved, but she couldn’t possibly think he cared about you.

What you and Theo had wasn’t exactly what you would call a relationship. Making out in the janitor’s closet and sneaking behind Stiles’ back was less than ideal, even though it had been fun. At least it had been fun until he tried to kill everyone else.

You had been guilty about that for months, and you were still working on letting go of that guilt when Liam and Hayden pulled Theo out of the ground. Once everything had blown over with the Ghost Riders, you were left wondering how you were supposed to avoid him.

You were under the impression that Theo never really cared, but judging by the way he had started following you around, you could have been wrong. It was a little hard to stay away from him when he started showing up wherever you were, but, god, you had tried. He wasn’t even supposed to be there in the school with you in the first place. He had only followed you in an effort to make sure you weren’t alone. As misguided as the whole situation was, maybe Tracy was on to something.

These were the thoughts flitting through your mind as you sank down into the water, your head pounding. Air bubbled up through your mouth against your will, and suddenly all you could think about was the explosive pain in your temples.

After the assassins made their way through Beacon Hills, you had stopped counting the amount of near-death experiences. You had imagined the way you would die over and over, yet the thought of drowning never cross your mind. You figured there would be pain, but this? This was agony.

Your body was starved for air. It was screaming for it.  If you could have twisted and writhed, you would have, but Tracy’s venom had left you paralyzed and helpless. The only thing you could do as the water rushed in was pray that Scott wouldn’t blame Theo for your death.

If you could have scoffed at yourself, you would have. There you were, drowning in the school pool, and still worrying about Theo. But you didn’t have time to think of the irony, because the pain was suddenly gone, and you were fading away.

-----

All Theo could hear as he dragged himself out of the pool was the sound of his own ragged breathing. He pulled himself up onto the edge, straightened out his leg the best he could, and pushed on his misshapen bone.

His hands were slippery with blood and chlorinated water as he frantically tried to put the bone back into place. He didn’t get it on the first few tries, and he looked back toward the pool, but you had already disappeared under the surface.

He sucked in a deep breath, clenched his teeth, and shoved the bone back in. His agonizing scream echoed through the room, but he wasted no time on his own pain. He could feel his leg healing already, the fibers of bone and skin knitting themselves back together under the surface. If he had time, he would have waited and made sure. Now he couldn’t afford to.

He dove into the water and surged toward the bottom of the pool. You were floating there, eyes closed, and Theo could tell you weren’t breathing.

He wrapped an arm around your waist and pulled you against him, kicking desperately to boost the two of you up to the surface. After he broke through and made it to the edge, he hoisted you onto the side of the pool.

Theo dragged himself up onto the ledge, which was already soaked with water. He brushed sopping wet strands of hair from your face, and tilted your chin up in an attempt to open your airway.

“Come on,” he begged as he leaned over you, dripping water across your already soaked body. “Wake up, Y/n.”

He was surprised at how frantic his voice sounded, but he was terrified.

Before Liam brought him back to the surface, Theo had been living a nightmare. In what he could only guess was purgatory, he would wake up in the hospital morgue, only to come face to face with his dead sister. She would reach into his chest with an icy hand and rip out his heart, bloody and still, holding it up for him to see. Then he would wake up in that cold drawer, and she would find him all over again.

During those moments, Theo’s one escape was thinking of you. Maybe you hated him, but at one point you hadn’t, and that was what he chose to remember. Now that he was back, he had been determined to make up for his mistakes.

He had sworn to himself that he would protect you, but there you were, lying on the floor, cold, wet, and not breathing.

With shaking hands, he leaned in and pinched off your nose, blowing one breath into your mouth. Almost immediately, you jerked forward and coughed up water right into Theo’s face. He was so relieved he didn’t even care.

His hands were immediately on your back, guiding you onto your side so you could cough up the rest of the water in your lungs. You were gasping and shaking, but Theo kept his arms around you as you trembled.

“Oh god,” he kept murmuring. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Once you stopped spitting up pool water, you leaned back against Theo. He was just as wet as you were, but at least he was warm.

“Okay,” you whispered weakly, glancing up at him through half-lidded eyes. “I trust you.”

His chest heaved with relief, and before he could stop himself, he pulled you tightly against him. Your head was tucked under his chin, and his arms rested tightly around your back as he held you.

“Does this mean you forgive me?” he whispered softly.

You pulled away slightly to glance up at him. His green eyes were watering and desperate, and it occurred to you that you had never seen Theo look so pitiful, not even as his sister had dragged him into that pit. This time, he actually looked sorry. Still, you couldn’t help but fire back.

“Does this mean you care?”

Theo looked down in shame.

You let out a tired sighed, and wrapped your arms around him, burying your face into his chest.

“You were already forgiven.”

“Y/n, I’m in love with you.”

You looked up in shock. Theo must have seen the skepticism on your face, because he looked down in shame.

“I know what I’ve done,” his whispered hoarsely. “I know I was a monster. But I never wanted to hurt you. And I know that doesn’t mean much. What I went through when I was down there...I deserved everything. I deserved all of it.”

He took a deep breath, then looked into your eyes. “Someone gave me a second chance. And the whole time I was down there, the one thing I kept thinking about was you. And how if I could make it up you, I would. I would have my sister rip my heart out a thousand times if I could just...If I could just fix things.”

Your breath caught in your throat, making it nearly impossible to get your words out. They were thick and stuck in your throat, but you needed to say them.

“I’ve tried so hard to not care about you,” you told him. “I grieved for you, even when I probably shouldn’t have. And I wondered, maybe, if you had the chance, if you would have changed.”

Theo closed his eyes briefly. “I wouldn’t have. Scott was right to let me fall. I didn’t realize before, what they had turned me into. Now I know I was a monster. Maybe I still am, I don’t know.”

You reached up, placing a wet hand on his cheek. “I don’t think so.”

He placed his hand over yours. “How do you know?”

“I don’t,” you admitted. “But I’m willing to stick around and find out.”

Theo brushed a wet strand of hair out of your face and pulled you closer. He kissed you fiercely, as if he was trying to make up for all the time he had lost. He still had a long way to go, but for you, he was willing to change.

[peterparkers7evilexes]

I read that Peter can catch bullets if hes careful enough so imagine Peter is out with Tony as Spider-Man and an assassin tries to kill Tony but Peter catches the bullet right in front of Tony's face or for crack Natasha is doing target practice and Peter keeps grabbing her bullets so she can't hit her targets or Peter grabbing bullets as a romantic gesture for Bucky

this is......... so cute 😭 peter going to bucky and just fucking. dumping a small pile of bullets he’s collected in front of him like some misguided magpie, “I got these for you 😇”

[ginnyzero]

Retelling Old Stories

I've written a book based on old fairy tales and legends and am currently reviewing the Shrek movies in Action Movie Friday. (Shrek 2 post coming next, I hope.) I thought I'd talk about retelling fairy tales, myths and legends.

Myths, fairytales, legends, these are the stories that are near and dear to our hearts. And let's face it, they're familiar, comforting and popular. Fairy tales such as The Sleeping Princess, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast have been told over and over to young children for generations. These stories are oral traditions passed down from generation to generation and have strayed quite a bit from their horrific and sexist roots. So much, that outside of a few key points their original creators may not recognize them anymore.

These oral traditions form the basis of the hero's journey which can be found in high fantasy stories such as Lord of the Rings and Science Fiction stories, such as Star Wars. They've been satirized (Ella Enchanted, the movie), parodied (Shrek) and outright made fun of (Mirror, Mirror) and also taken far too seriously (Snow White & The Huntsman.) Just as much as they've been played straight (see the Elemental Master Series of Mercedes Lackey.) And they've been mixed together until almost unrecognizable. (The Princess & The Frog, Frozen, Once Upon a Time, the 500 Kingdoms also by Mercedes Lackey.)

The great thing about fairy tales and myths and legends is that they have a very low risk level. People are far more likely to pick up something to read of watch that is relatively familiar to them and that they know they already enjoy rather than a brand new concept they don't understand and aren't sure they'll like. Fairy tales are comfort food. People know they like them. And given a choice between a concept they aren't sure of and a fairy tale based media, they're more than likely to choose a fairy tale based media.

So, how do you go about retelling these fairy tales and making them fresh and new for your audience? This was a question I (sort of) asked myself when I started to write the Dawn Warrior. (Available in Ebook & Paperback.) How do I take Sleeping Beauty and make her different without relying on, say, what we know of her through Disney or from Grimm, not the TV Show. (Which honestly, isn't much in either case.) And make them partly relevant without losing making a good story?

Change the Roles:

What if the Princess really isn't the Princess? What if she's the bodyguard in disguise that's protecting the real princess from assassins? (The Decoy Princess, Dawn Cook) What if the Princess is also a spy? (The Princess Series Jim C. Hines) Maybe Prince Charming is actually an actor!

I mean, come on, in real life unless your Prince William and Harry and work for the British Royal Navy, royals don't really have adventures. (I wouldn't want to get on the bad side of Queen Elizabeth either.)

Or, maybe the Princess and Prince aren't really the good guys after all. Maybe it's the Big Bad Wolf or the evil stepmother or even the sea witch. (Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister, Gregory Maguire) Or, to borrow from Hoodwinked, the Big Bad Wolf is really an investigative reporter trying to do an expose on Red Riding Hood. (I mean, she can't be all that sweet and innocent.)

A good example of this was a recent Sleeping Beauty movie that was in the horror genre. (Unfortunately I heard it was a really bad horror movie.) The Sleeping Beauty in the movie was supposed to be the damsel in distress and ended up being both the trap and the villain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdEo_t-iVbM

(I'll just leave this here.)

Change the Setting:

Fairy tales in SPACE!!! (Lunar Chronicles, Marissa Meyer) Okay, there aren't a lot of fairy tales in space. I think I saw another example on instafreebie the other day. In fact, there aren't many romances in space either. (I was listening to a podcast about an indie author who was doing this and she was the first writing romances set in the backdrops of aliens?) But, this is like Star Wars. Greek Myths in SPACE!!!! (Seriously, Star Wars is built around the classical hero's journey. The franchise even freely admits it in their authorized literature. I've got a book by Bantam called Star Wars: The Magic of Myth that goes through it step by step.)

This is one of the easier ways to make fairy tales seem more relevant and seems to be currently the most popular. Grimm the TV Show, Once Upon a Time (in Wonderland), The Harry Dresden Files, and Fables, all take fairy tales and legends and drop them into the middle of the modern world. I include Harry Dresden, not because he's playing out a fairy tale so to speak, but he's some sort of misguided Prince Charming type on his own hero's journey. The book Charming by James  Eliot, takes the character of "Prince Charming" plays it straight, and makes it a bloodline that is involved in some sort of knighthood charged with keeping the mundane world safe from the evil things that go bump in the night set in modern times.

Mercedes Lackey took a slightly different approach with her Elemental Masters series. She took fairy tales, played them straight, but set them in Edwardian times right up through the First World War. By doing so, she was able to show how the beginnings of the modern world like industrialization and rail roads and wars fought with machine guns instead of swords were effecting the world of magic and the magical creatures. (For instance, all the pollution made it easier for evil or nasty type elementals and creatures to thrive and good elementals and creatures that couldn't abide cold iron were dying off or going into hiding.)

Change the Genders:

Let's face it. Fairy tales are pretty sexist, no matter what your gender is. I had in the first draft of the Dawn Princess an entire rant by Roxana, who is a 'Beauty Asleep' about the differences between how a female Princess who is cursed to sleep and a male Prince is cursed to sleep and how neither tale does royalty any justice whatsoever.(Seriously, in the male version, when the Princess who had been sitting by his bedside took a nap, the clock should have reset, the Prince shouldn't still have sneezed and been woken by the maid.)

Maybe it's really Prince Charming asleep in the Castle and well, Beauty has to belt on her sword and gird her courage to get through the hedge and kill the dragon. Or, the tower bound male Rapunzel is intruded upon by a Pirate Princess who is looking for gold, not love. Maybe it isn't a brave little tailor but a brave seamstress! Or it is a male who is captured by a bunch of cannibalistic female bandits.

...

Okay, there is taking some things too far. (That story is terrible no matter what.)

Apply some Common Sense:

In fairy tales, things don't always make sense. I read them and go "why? why would they do that?" A lot of times Princes don't get punished for their ill deeds. Another Prince comes along, "saves" them and they go about their adventures without showing any sort of remorse for what they did in the first place. Princes don't become goose boys or shepherds or kitchen tweenies.(Or at least, not very often, I think Faithful John/Hans is about the only one I can think of.)

No, those punishments are reserved for Princesses who have been tricked into changing places with their maids and end up being goose girls or in the kitchen. (I can think of half a dozen variations of that tale.) And the Princess, instead of finding a nice baker or farmer to settle down with who appreciates her, instead figures out how to reveal her plight to the Prince who actually married her uppity maid/sister and seems happy with the maid/sister and once the maid/sister is out of the way, marries the Prince. (The Prince was tricked, happy to be tricked and the Princess took him anyways? That makes no sense.)

A really good example of this is the original and horrific Beauty Asleep tale. In the original tale, the King comes upon Beauty Asleep in her tower and rapes her, while she's asleep, repeatedly. In fact, he gets her pregnant with twins. The babes are born and he doesn't even take them with him! No. He leaves them with their sleeping mother. One of the babes gets hungry, as babies do! And sucks the thorn out of her finger that was keeping her asleep. Beauty wakes up. The Queen finds out about her existence. Tries to kill her. The King kills the Queen in turn and ends up marrying Beauty and bringing her and his twins to the castle.

Just what the ever loving hell?

It's good to be king?

No, really, the Queen should have taken Beauty's side. They could have killed the King for being an adulterer and ruled the kingdom together setting up the twins as the heirs. Female solidarity. Because the story as written is insane.

There's a post wandering about tumblr about swan maidens and selkies. And how awful the stories are about the men who take the swan maiden's cloaks and the selkies' skins to force these women to be their brides. One of the reblogs adds the caveat that it feels like these stories don't take into account the actual nature of swans and seals. Swans are pretty. They look graceful.

Swans are mean, they hiss, they bite, they're incredibly aggressive and they can break bones. Approach with caution. Don't try to steal from them. Don't try to pet them. Aggressive swan is aggressive. Okay. Anyone who steals a swan maiden's cloak deserves the punch in the face!

And seals, seals aren't all that nice either! Zefrank1 hasn't done a true facts about seals, but maybe he should. Male seals are called bulls for a reason! Elephant Seal bulls charge at each other when they fight. Leopard Seals are considered one of the ocean's more dangerous predators and take on whales and sharks. Seals train well to do tricks. Look,  just, don't mess with them because not only are they cute and have sharp teeth and claws, they're smart. Do you really want to mess with the woman who can steal all your nets and drive the fish away and beat you to a bloody pulp? Seal fights involve mud wrestling.

Add some reality to the stories. Give the actions of those involved real consequences. Change the personalities to actually reflect the animals they are sharing their bodies with.

Mash things together:

This is another popular tactic and TV Tropes calls it the "Fractured" Fairy Tale. Think how in Once Upon a Time, (spoiler alert) Rumpelstiltskin is also the Beast of Beauty and the  Beast and his father is Peter Pan. And he's the grandfather of the Truest Believer and thus the "father in law" of Emma Swan the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. And that barely dips a toe into the confusing of Once Upon a Time Family relationships.

Mercedes Lackey also did a version of mixing up of fairy tales in her 500 Kingdoms. In the 500 Kingdoms, The Tradition is a form of magic that ties to make fairy tales happen no matter what type of tale they are and no matter if all the pieces are actually 100% correct. Fairy Godmothers are there to steer the tradition so that disaster doesn't strike constantly. (Because what if the Prince of the Cinderella tale was actually a Princess or well, a Prince who was too young, too old, or just liked other Princes.)

Fables does this as well. Prince Charming is the same Prince across Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Sleeping Beauty ends up marrying the Beast in her second marriage. (Prince Charming is good at wooing, not staying.) The Gingerbread witch of Hansel and Gretel ends up being the witch who puts most of the tales in action across the Enchanted Forest. The last arc I read, Rose Red was making her own version of Camelot (and there was much trepidation about how that was going to turn out, probably badly.)

Grab a bunch of different stories that seem to work well together, stitch them together in a way that makes sense or seems fun. It's okay not to always tell the exact same tale.

Add Real People's stories:

Look, if you're going for a more empowered woman in your stories. There are plenty of women in history that were actually pretty awesome. And I'm not just talking about Esther from the Bible or Rahab. (Both pretty awesome ladies.) There were female pirates and female queens who outwitted and beat their male counterparts to be on the throne and to keep themselves out of jail. There are female scientists, female snipers and well, I'm sure if you look hard enough you can find something a woman did in real life that men get praised for more often.

In fact, one person go so fed up with the way fairy tale princesses are praised at places such as Disney, they created a site/book for girls about such heroines at Rejectedprincesses.com.

Youtube has videos labelled things like Top Ten Badass women from History you probably don't know about. (But if you'd read Rejected Princesses you actually might!)

So, don't be afraid to use some real world inspiration to give you ideas about how awesome your female characters can be.

And these are just a few ideas on how to take something old and make it something "new."

In the Dawn Warrior, I took a bunch of these. I applied some common sense. Changed the Princess' role. And really mashed some things together. But, I kept a medieval fairy tale like setting because I wanted to keep this series different from my other series, Heaven's Heathens MC, which is a light science fantasy that could read urban fantasy if you squint at it. (Or maybe it's the other way around.) Two series set in the modern/future world seemed a bit silly to me.

Mostly, my advice is if you want to retell a fairy tale or myth or legend, have fun with it. Take your ingredients, mix them up as needed and don't sacrifice your story for message. (Because really, that gets old very quickly.)

Whelp, now if you like fairy tales there are plenty of pieces of media in this post to check out. Happy reading/watching/researching!

[bookybookington]

TIMELESS RANT!!

I need to get all my feels out! Memes aren't cutting it! Sorry if there's poor grammar. I wrote this in a rush.

Anyone else out here who just doesn't get the deal with Lyatt. Ok I have to admit at the start of season 1 Wyatt and Lucy together was...fine I could tell where the writers were going with this ship. I found it cute, if not a little predictable and well...boring. Their scenes didn’t make me go “oh wow. Their chemistry you guys! They’re clearly MEANT to be.” I knew that Jessica would be back at some point. And I could see that when she’d return it would be at the most inconvenient time for Lucy and Wyatt, immediately after they sleep with each other. OFC! You know, just to add the extra soap opera dramatics to the second season. Jessica never had a hope in hell being anything other than an obstacle to Lyatt. Predictable enough, it’s a tv trope that has been in nearly all of the shows i’ve watched. To think that Jessica will get a happy ending in the finale is a little naive. I feel bad for her. There’s so much potential for character growth and development. I’d love to see her extract herself from the clutches of Rittenhouse. Especially now that she’s pregnant. I mean Timeless wouldn’t kill off a pregnant woman would they so Lyatt could be endgame???

When Jessica did come back from the dead, Wyatt had a choice. He could either go back to his dead wife whom he loved or he could continue his developing relationship with Lucy. He chose Jessica. And basically dumped Lucy over the phone. Not cool dude. At least have the decency to do it to her face. He then brought his wife to live with them at the bunker. Where Lucy literally can’t avoid her. Awkward as fuck guys. Well next thing you know Jessica’s pregnant so it’s clear they've been sleeping with each other...with Lucy right down the hall. All the while it seems like Wyatt’s flip flopping between Jessica and Lucy. Which isn't fair on either of them. 

Enter Flynn whose pretty much been there for Lucy for the entire season. He practically becomes part of the team. He see’s Lucy’s hurt and he’s there for her in whatever capacity she needs him to be, to be her protector if needs be. Because in this situation Flynn, still being a little bit of an outsider to the group, and Lucy, recently left heartbroken by Wyatt, are both isolated. And it’s through their initial loneliness that they start to come together. Whether it's just to sit and watch old movies, or drink Vodka together in Flynn's room so neither of them have to be alone. Their scenes are golden! and yes the chemistry is so bloody obvious that even Wyatt warns Flynn about spending time with Lucy. Apparently if he can’t have Lucy then no one can. Flynn tells him Lucy can make her own decisions and proceeds to help Lucy get back into the swing of things. Encouraging her to “defend” her historical territory, to help her focus on what she's brillaint at. HELPING HER HEAL. And you can’t convince me otherwise that even if Jessica wasn’t a RH agent Wyatt still would’ve chosen her over everything. He was happy with her before he found out. Wyatt even tells Jessica they're family in Chinatown...then minutes later tells Lucy he loves her with the worst timing ever. *facepalm*

It confuses me to no end why the writers made Wyatt a complete dick in season 2 if they always intended for Lyatt to be endgame.🤔

And if they do end up killing off my main man, the most complex and fascinating character, the one, the only Mr Garcia Flynn so Lyatt can be endgame I'll be miffed. 😄

If a guy did to me what Wyatt did to Lucy he'd be out in his ass so fast.🤣

Not to mention the character assassination of Lucy if Lyatt becomes endgame. She spent most of season 2 sad, isolated and heartbroken at what transpired between her and Wyatt. His actions were a pretty big source of her misery in Season 2. She was angry with him too and rightly so. If after ALL that pain she's been through, to then suddenly get back together with the very person who made her miserable for the majority of the season is just astounding. It's just so out of character I can't even! 🤣

How people label Lyatt as romantic...*confused face*

I'm sincerely hoping that ships don't take centre stage at all in the movie. A little nod here and there would be fine. The journal has to be addressed and Flynn's feelings towards Lucy too. Otherwise it would go completely against what the writers have built up throughout show (concerning the journal) and ignoring the Garcy development we got in season 2. If Flynn does snuff it and Lucy does absolutely nothing to try and save him in some way. Then I'm calling bullshit. 😁 It's just poor writing.

As a redeemed bad guy (who wasn't bad at all. Just misguided) to end his story with a heroic sacrifice is like a punch in the face. The writer would almost be saying that to be considered a hero he HAS to sacrifice himself. That because he was a "bad guy" *rolls eyes* to begin with he doesn't deserve to have a happy ending. His story isn't allowed to continue to grow into becoming a fully fledged hero (which btw to me he totally is. Well...anti-hero😉)

Screw that!

Irregardless of ships you have to agree that Garcia Flynn deserves better.

I've never felt this concerned over a characters fate in a tv show before.🤣

and in no way am I saying that Flynn deserves Lucy what I'm saying is that Lucy deserves a whole lot better than Wyatt

Phew. Anyway. I feel so much lighter now. 🤣🤣 These are just my opinions.

Rant over. I need a drink!!

[skyfireflight]

The Dragon Prince Tag Game

This has been in my drafts for a while. Finally finishing it! XD

Tagged by: @true-neutral-earth-elf and @beautifulterriblequeen

#1. Which Primal Source do you identify most with? Why? 

I’d say earth, because I love exploring and learning new things.

#2. Elves or Humans?

Humans, ‘cause I am one. 

#3. If you had to choose, would you rather free Runaan from the coin or Aaravos from the mirror?

I’d free Runaan from the coin; he needs to be reunited with Rayla and get that arm of his taken care of. Plus, he must be traumatized. Aaravos has been in the mirror for centuries; he’ll be fine staying in there longer. 

#4. Best animal companion?

Bait. 

#5. Best humanoid companion?

Hmm...this is a tough one....

I’ll go with Rayla. She’s protective and so compassionate. 

#6. You can revive one character, who is it and why them?

Either Harrow or Sarai. Harrow because he deserved better, and Callum needs to get to call him “Dad” to his face. Sarai because she also deserved better, and Ezran should’ve gotten to know his mom. 

#7. Otp?

Harrow x Sarai

#8. Unpopular opinion?

The Dragon King had it coming, and kidnapping Zym, though objectively wrong, actually helped in the long run because now he’s friends with two human princes (well, a human prince and a human king) and can promote peace after a thousand years of hostility. 

#9. Favorite headcanon?

My favorite headcanon is that the Earthblood elves and the ocean elves were against the humans’ exile from Xadia, and did not participate. (I also like to think that they hid some humans away in Xadia and protected them from being exiled. Most likely not canon, but a fun idea for fanfics.)

#10. Best siblings pair?

Callum and Ezran, followed closely by Claudia and Soren.

#11. Who’s your queen?

Aanya. She’s a girl after my own heart. 

#12. Lujanne offers you ice cream, how do you respond?

No, thanks. Sorry, Lujanne. I can’t eat lies.

#13. Be honest, do you have the guts to use dark magic?

As a last resort, if I had to, yes.

#14. Who’s best elf? Why?

Rayla. “Say the word, and I’ll go back into that tower with you.”

#15. Hot brown morning potion or leaf flavored water?

Leaf flavored water. Hot brown morning potion is too bitter for me.

#16. Best use for magic? 

Healing, building, and exploration/discovery. 

#17. Who wins best hair award?

It’s a three-way tie between Runaan, the older girl assassin, and Aaravos.

#18. Viren; misguided, evil, or actually the good guy?

I think he’s misguided. He thinks he’s the good guy, and his heart and his motives are in the right place, but he’s going about it all wrong with his methods.

#19. Would you rather fly with Phoe-Phoe, hike with Corvus, sail with Villads, or stay home with Opeli?

Staying home with Opeli would be my first choice, but hiking with Corvus sounds fun, too. 

#20. Who’s your crush?

Gren. He’s so sweet and loyal, and cute. 

#21. You’re being chased by a cotton candy hippo; reaction?

I’d be frozen in shock for a moment. Then I’d try to run around behind it and try to eat it. 

#22. Choose a champion.

Aaravos. He’s so powerful. Plus his magic would give a pretty light show. 

#23. Favorite scene? Why?

I have so many, but I’d have to pick when Callum is reading Harrow’s letter. I absolutely love the line, “in my eyes, and in my heart, you are my son. I see myself in you. I’m proud of you. And I love you unconditionally.” My heart. 

#24. Should Soren be a poet?

Sure! He’s gonna need some practice, though.

#25. Soggy socks. (No more context)

No thanks. The feeling of wet socks is awful. 

I think everyone I know in this fandom has been tagged already. So, that’s it!

[scarbladed-archive]

rurouni. ken.shin edition interview / ( minus the whole truth )

TAGGED BY: @fujxn ( thank you so much!! ) TAGGING: @godkilller @vantagx @dokuhai @endsviolent @unwaken @seraphblessed @cxrsedsilence @firstsavior @lunafaeris @futainokiwami @fukenzena @halved @cosmicworn @yunhuntress @sabitaxken @bladesandpottery @woerended @wrathlock @wcnderingwitch @exfujin + everyone please consider yourself tagged i lost brain of everyone so kindly think it’s everyone because it is for everyone !

1. WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

“ Himura Kenshin, that it is. ”

2. WHAT IS YOUR REAL NAME?  

“ Oro! Was that not satisfactory? So cold..you are.” Himura SHINTA.

3. DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU’RE CALLED THAT?

“ .... you’d have to ask a rather narcissistic person he knows.” Of course, ‘heart of sword’ easily denoted his legendary skills as a warrior and swordsman - and had taken the place of something more ‘soft’ or so his shishou said. He ponders it without revealing anything but an easy smile.

4. ARE YOU SINGLE OR TAKEN?

“ ......Oro? “ Widower more likely, slow-burn love at present, definitely.

5. WHAT ARE YOUR POWERS AND ABILITIES?

“ -- ah, this one is merely a humble rurouni, that he is. His existing or non-existing skills are irrelevant in mere conversation .

 If we were in a time of crisis, this one would mention them, if he felt it relevant, he would. Quite frankly he means no harm, nor feels it fitting for power to flaunt power - if it must be shown, it will be shown, yes?’ 

6. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES?

“ Hm....? A...shade of purple, he supposes! He doesn’t tend to think about it!”A light laugh.

7. HAVE YOU EVER DYED YOUR HAIR?

“...Is it that odd? No, this one has not. Though it warrants many stares at times - red is not common in this one’s country of birth.”

8. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS?

“ This one has many reliable friends in his life. He feels he has been more than fortunate to have even one of them, much less a place so familiar now.” Best not go into wherever his brother-in-law was, much less that he was a widower by his own hands.

9. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?

“ …No he does not, but he is fond of animals.” ( they made good companions in ten years of solitude and gravitating from place to place to observe the country’s condition. )

10. TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING YOU DON’T LIKE.

“ The act of murder and the taking of life along with the oppression of the weak and those not able to completely defend themselves - especially those who do it for the sake of no reason at all - it cannot be allowed. ” 

11. DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES OR ACTIVITIES YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

“ Hm, Kaoru-dono has many chores for this one - between making the meals he can’t say he has many!  Does perhaps meditation count? He does very much like to clean - laundry, ah, yes, who doesn’t like clean clothes when one is finished?  ” ( does giving the misguided and wicked an overpowered beat down to protect the innocent and suffering count is that valid enough reporter-dono.. )

12. HAVE YOU EVER HURT ANYONE BEFORE?

“ ...Does it look like I could hurt someone with a blade like this? ” ( the less you know the better! )

13. HAVE YOU EVER… KILLED ANYONE?

“Could I kill with a blade that again, is facing this one on its edge, not your body? ” ( ....More like the hundred count as a shadow assassin in his first four months - after that, he counted, he remembered, and it was high enough as a front-line swordsman of the Bakumatsu. 

The Battle of Toba Fushimi’s end he’d long before felt he had been walking in skulls wide-awake. But of course, he’s trained himself enough to be unassuming that not even his hand twitches, but his heart stabs itself inwardly with that constant pain and his eyes feel too frayed to continue masking it seamlessly. )

14. WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL ARE YOU?

“ …He should like to be something like a bird, perhaps? A rabbit? Those are cute, are they not?  ” ( he took after his sword-style, the might and terror of a DRAGON, the protectiveness of its heart, the raw power with which none withstood it. he was more suited to be something which was feared or reviled. )

15. NAME YOUR WORST HABITS.

“ Oro... perhaps not being able to fully withstand Kaoru-dono’s food. ” Self-hatred, negligence of his life, his temper losing its control, his penchant for distancing himself subconsciously - thinking the real answers while giving light-hearted half-truths was exhausting, he thought.

16. DO YOU LOOK UP TO ANYONE?

“ Of course. Those who seek for peace and have strong wills to protect and help others in any field of work are given my highest respects, that they are. Merely living in this world and enduring tomorrow would garner enough respect if one had a positive viewpoint.

 Even then survival is brave, to live even in great straits is to have courage in some form is it not?  Having goals is admirable as well in life. He thinks there is much to admire and care for in the human heart, that he certainly does. ”

17. GAY, STRAIGHT, OR BISEXUAL?

“ ........ Oro?! “ ( The heart attracts him, not the body. But he heavily leans towards woman, very likely to be demisexual with a strong female lean / preference, but Kenshin has never mulled on it.  He’s never really thought about it, but the loves of his life have both been women. )

18. DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL?

“ No he does not but he lives at one! The instructor is a fiery spirit she is!” ( he went to school as a child then became an unstoppable killing machine/legend/nightmare in the war that shook the foundation of his country into a new era while the people who were his commanding authorities in that war didn’t seem to mind much that he was just a boy as long as he could do thrice what a grown man could do in seconds. )

19. DO YOU EVER WANT TO MARRY AND HAVE KIDS SOMEDAY?

“ …He wonders!” ( .... to think he’d be worthy of such a thing again. when he was already so unworthy the first time. it’s painful to smile without showing anything. he adored children - and love, well....how long could he keep that up? )

20. DO YOU HAVE ANY FANS?

“ …He doubts it, and if so he’d politely ask them to not. That sounds rather strange. ”

21. WHAT ARE YOU MOST AFRAID OF?

“ Haven’t you heard if you voice your biggest fears all the more do they become larger in your head and more likely to you in your mind to happen? ” ( failing to protect what he loves most again. failing to protect a life. succumbing to his hitokiri nature again. traveling atonement’s path and never finding the full ‘answer’ for his sins. a woman coming to their door telling him to his face once again, like the brave, very few that he has orphaned her of a son, a husband, a relative by a hitokiri’s hands - his past hurting the ones he loved and putting them in in danger far worse than it already had. )

22. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY WEAR?

“ What this one is wearing...?” (sometimes he wears a blue gi. but it’s always this, and he’s fine with it. he isn’t very materialistic even in practicality.)

23. DO YOU LOVE SOMEONE?

“ … That’s a broad question!” (a fiery-eyed kenjustu inheritor and master of the life-giving style of  kamiya-kasshin, horrible cook, vibrantly emotional, as warm as the softest morning -- and not his to have. )

24. WHAT CLASS ARE YOU?

“ Pardon? ” ( he’s confused. )

25. HOW MANY FRIENDS DO YOU HAVE?

“ Many! He’s very fortunate that he can’t even count them on both hands! ” ( and they all knew of his past. it astounded him. )

26. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PIE?

“ Isn’t that a western sweet treat? ” ( …who can even afford that??? )

27. FAVORITE DRINK?

“ Tea.”

29. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE?

“ Wherever this one’s friends are. ”

30. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SOMEONE?

“ Are you interested in someone?” He smiles brightly, a polite but concrete dismissal.

31. WOULD YOU RATHER SWIM IN THE LAKE OR THE OCEAN?

“ …Either is fine. The ocean seems more likely. ”

32. WHAT’S YOUR ‘TYPE’?

“ Hasn’t this one told you he isn’t interested?” ( female swordswomen with hearts of gold and light and goodness and tempers that could send grown men quaking or into walls (like him), who make him stand up on the brink of death just to go to where she is and see her again. types like that.)

33. ANY FETISHES?

“ You’re a little young for this, that you are.... orororo....”

34. TOP OR BOTTOM? DOMINANT OR SUBMISSIVE?

ORO!?

35. CAMPING, OR INDOORS?

“ Both is fine, he’s more familiar with ‘camping’ as you say.  ”

36. ARE YOU WAITING FOR THIS INTERVIEW TO BE OVER?

“ Well, frankly he isn’t sure why he was interviewed to begin with - but perhaps! Apologies his answers were so simple.” A smile, but of course, that was the intent all along.