#another rex banger

[i8utl3rtr0n]

so cute pls keep cooking

I am so sorry. I am a joanrriet shipper. LISTEN you have to look at it from the perspective of like a really homoromantic highschool best friend that you get together with, have a nasty break up and lose touch okay??

[lipglossanon]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Biohazard | Resident Evil (Gameverse) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Leon S. Kennedy/Reader Characters: Leon S. Kennedy, Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s) Additional Tags: Smut, Porn, Vaginal Sex, Blow Jobs, Mildly Dubious Consent, Desk Sex, Creampie, Spanking, One Night Stands, Alternate Universe Summary:

Sequel to "Twist My Words". You haven't stopped thinking about fucking Leon for a good grade at the end of last semester. One casual hook up with a frat boy ends up in some unintended consequences. When Professor Kennedy comes to the library where you work looking for a textbook. One thing leads to another...

@ao3-rex1223 posted a fic over on ao3 (since tumblrs acting up for her 😒) so go check it out!! 💜 

[biscuityskies]

I gotta know: what do you think Cody’s favourite ABBA song is (specifically Cody from your fic “what dreams may come”)?

Thank you VERY much for the ask!!! I sort of last minute ended up going into the field for over six hours today, which gave me the time to mull it over - here are my findings:

• Cody’s favourite album is ABBA Gold. All the greatest hits in one spot, all bangers no flops for REAL. This makes it very difficult for him to pick just one song. There may be a favourite, but there are close seconds… and thirds. And fourths. Maybe fifths.

• his favourite song is probably Voulez-Vous, it’s so dramatic and has a fantastic riff. Certified banger. It’s also kinda horny??? But probably he’s known this album since he was pretty young, and so it was only once he was older that he realised that the song is about more than speaking French. It was a whole revelation for him, and it did subsequently become his theme song.

• each song on ABBA Gold definitely has its own vibe, and Cody can appreciate multiple facets of life having multiple songs that apply. He is not immune to the dramatics of The Winner Takes It All, nor the bittersweetness of Chiquitita and Fernando.

• another top song for him is Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight). The irony is not lost on him after meeting Ben.

Bonus findings:

• Rex likes to pretend that he hates ABBA but it’s definitely nostalgic for him, back when Cody would squish him in a tight hug and sing Chiquitita at him. He’s also just mad that Cody’s better at the Just Dance for Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! than Rex is.

• Cody would put Mamma Mia on blast every time Rex got in his car during the tumultuous time with Rex’s off-again-on-again relationship with a certain Skywalker. Cody was never fond of the guy, but any opportunity to lovingly tease his brother was not one to pass up, so. It’s another reason Rex pretends to hate ABBA.

• Rex does still have a favourite song. And yes it is Dancing Queen.

• Ben’s favourite ABBA song (he’s been around for like a thousand years, he did NOT miss when ABBA first came around) is probably Andante, Andante, but he would tell Cody it’s Does Your Mother Know just to watch his expression.

Thank you very much again - I’ve just discovered a plot point based around ABBA discussions that would probably be HILARIOUS; there’s certainly potential for opening up a whole universe in this where it’s just fluff and some (surprisingly kinky???) smut… and one could say those are my specialities, so. <3

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (25-31 Aug 2024)

the truly unhinged chaos finale we needed

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

😊 Murder By The Book (Nero Wolfe #19) (Rex Stout, author; Michael Prichard, narrator)

😊 Where There's A Will (Nero Wolfe #8) (Rex Stout)

😊 Sink or Swim (RELIC #2) (Maz Maddox, author; Kirt Graves, narrator) - immediately adored what a grumpy asshole Baha was (we did get his cameo in the prev book and he was hilarious there too) - fun action adventure, not quite as madcap feel as the first but still extremely entertaining

💖💖 +278K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

the kiss that lingers (greenbergsays) - 9-1-1: Buddie, 10K - cute, cute, cute. More fics should focus on kisses on Buck's birthmark!

god was a dog-man (spqr) - TW: Sterek, 12K - reread, still love this fic that made an ingenious and valiant effort to basically write fix-it for the movie

Just Another Page of Kinky Doodles - Inspired Art (kurozawa46) - MCU: Stucky, art - some really great art inspired by a really great series

Ordinary Life (astolat, Speranza) - SGA: McShep, 20K - I think this might be the first SGA fic I've read? At any rate, banger fic (as you'd expect from these authors) and you really need zero canon knowledge

What's with today, today? (Cecily_v, liminalmemories) - 9-1-1: BuckTommy, 4K - cute and fluffy au (literally fluffy since it's about stuffie day at the library)

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

Taskmaster - s16, e7-10

Adventuring Academy - "Shinji and Batman (with Ify Nwadiwe)" (s5, e3)

Dirty Laundry - s4, e2

Monét's Slumber Party - s1, e4

Adventuring Academy - "The Mythological Meets the Logistical (with Matthew Mercer)" (s4, e4)

D20: Never Stop Blowing Up - "Superbomb" (s22, e10)

D20: Adventuring Party - "An Evil Guided Meditation" (s17, e10)

Handsome - Ginger Feimster (Fortune's Mom) asks about coming out

D20: A Starstruck Odyssey - "Welcome to the Spacin' Life, Buddy" (s12, e1)

D20: Adventuring Party - "Our Tail Was Not Between Our Legs" (s8, e1)

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

Re: Dracula - August 25: Another Bad Night

You're Dead to Me - Benedetta Carlini

Pop Culture Happy Hour - When Celebrities Portray Themselves

⭐ Switched on Pop - Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars bring back the duet

Today, Explained - Hackers probably stole your Social Security number

Vibe Check - Two Ladies and A Mutha featuring Elise Hu

It's Been a Minute - The rise of the Pumpkin Spice Latte

99% Invisible - Not Built For This #2: The Ripple Effect

Imaginary Worlds - 10th Anniversary Special Part 1

99% Invisible - Not Built For This #3: The Price is Wrong

Pop Culture Happy Hour - The Crow

Imaginary Worlds - Becky Chambers Goes Wayfaring

Consider This - Wrongfully imprisoned for decades, Ben Spencer is exonerated

Re: Dracula - August 30: Millions of Kisses

Dear Prudence - I Found My Happily Married Mom’s Profile on a BDSM Dating Site. Help!

Dear Prudence - Prudie Plus: My Partner’s Parents Are Homophobic and Racist. Help!

Handsome - Pretty Little Episode #2

99% Invisible - Not Built For This #4: Unbuilding the Terrace

Today, Explained - Equal-opportunity murderball

Pop Culture Happy Hour - Afraid And What's Making Us Happy

You're Dead to Me - Palaeolithic Cave Art

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

The Struts

Wig Wam

Take a Chance - a Metal Tribute to ABBA [Amberian Dawn] {2022}

The Struts

lofi hip hop radio 📚 - beats to relax/study to [Lofi Girl]

The Crow (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) {1994}

Machines Of Loving Grace

KMFDM

Jimmy Buffett

[nijigasakilove]

Yea this was on par with episode 1. Wowza, another banger episode. Who the hell needs magic in the dungeon when you got experience, instincts and vibes like Will?

First of all I love how the newspapers are magically animated like in the Harry Potter universe, first time I seen that in anime lol.

This was really a cool set up episode for Elfaria. We’ve heard so much about she and Will relationship since episode 1, and learning about all the spells she’s patented and the heights she’s reached since they last met in this one was neat. While Will may not be on that level yet, he’s made quite a name for himself and as we saw at the end of the episode, his exploits have made their way up the tower. He’s making progress.

Wouldn’t be an Oomori sensei work if we weren’t picking up gorgeous girls in a dungeon lmao. Iris is cute as hell, but you knew something was up with her. The way she reacted to being “saved” was sus. She was real af for that “How could I look down on someone who saved me” though. That Sion MF needs to hear that badly.

The frost Rex fight was so fire(pun intended) just constantly in awe at how good this show longs. The love and care the staff put into it is very much appreciated 🙏🏾I love seeing how innovative Will is with his fighting technique as well since he can’t use magic he utilises his environment, tools and experience to take down foes. It’s really satisfying

Iris’ identity reveal at the end wasn’t really surprising, but it was cool seeing the Magia Vander up close and personal and they’re definitely a curious bunch of folks. Lot of personality in that room lmao. I’m interested in the whole fated day prophecy and these “seeds” they’re trying to cultivate.

Sounds like Will’s strength would be perfect for that, but of course the whole bias against non magical people thing hurts him.. on the bright side we know Elfaria is still waiting on him and he’s getting stronger and stronger.

Can’t wait for next episode

[unreadpoppy]

So I heard ya know about theater stuff 👁️

/cracks knucles

Boy do I know about theater. I'm techinically getting a degree in theater (the actual name of my course is 'scenic development' but we learn about both theater and some of filmmaking. My course is also techonological which means it's more practical and it's shorter) this semester and I have been participating in Drama Club theater productions since 2016 (it's very amateaur-ish but it did help me a lot and it led me to knowing my current singing teacher)

But, if the post Sky tagged me is anything to go by, I heard you want some recs.

I really love the theban trilogy by Sophocles, which is composed of three plays: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus in Colono and Antigone. Also, I really recommend Jean Anouilh's version of Antigone, it explores more the themes of family and duty.

The Mandrake by Machiavelli is a comedy but with a tone of social critique that I found really enjoyable.

I'll say that I am a bit lacking in Shakespeare but A Midsummer's Night Dream can be a really fun read if you want something more light hearted!

I need to read more of his plays but if you are looking for something with a heavier social political undertone, I recommend Bertold Brecht's plays, like The Good Soul in Setsuan, Mother Courage and Her Children, etc. (note: even thought I haven't read a lot of his work, I really like his Epic Theater and agree with a lot of stuff that that brings, like making stuff so that the audience never reaches catharsis and makes them think)

I haven't really read this play BUT the students whose classes I accompany in my internship are staging Endgame by Samuel Beckett, and honestly, by each rehersal, more intrigued I get.

I'll be honest, there's a lot of plays that I've yet to read but I can also give you some musical theater recs, as I also love that.

Falsettos (the 2016 revival) is funny yet heartbreaking, with a story about love, family and living in the HIV/AIDS crisis (and also judaism). The songs are great, many have very uplifiting vibes but the sad ones hit HARD.

Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd (I recommend watching the OG stage versions, i think a recording of each can be easily found on youtube) are Sondheim classics and you just can't go wrong with Sondheim

Next to Normal is a musical that handles mental health and grief, with many touching moments, and the ends always leaves me as a mess.

Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 is a musical pop rock opera adaptation of a portion of War and Peace and honestly, the music is just PHENOMENAL. Banger after banger.

I know everyone and their mother has talked about Hamilton, and despite it's problems, I still think the music itself is really good.

Book of Mormon and Avenue Q are really funny, acid comedies, with some really great numbers, that will make you laugh and might even make you reflect on life.

Waitress is another fave of mine, I love many of the songs and they just have this sweetness and heartfeltness to it that I just aaaaaaaaa

Phew, that was a lot, but I'm always happy to provide more!

[starrylothcat]

Hi! First of all, congrats on hitting 200 followers!! <3 You are such a kind and sweet person in this fandom and I always love seeing your posts come across my dash :)

I do have a few fics I would like to recommend:

Doc's Febuwhump series by @staycalmandhugaclone

I literally cannot say enough about this series. It's got slow-burn. It's got banter. It's got angst. It's got soft moments with all the bad batchers. It's literally everything. If you are interested in a beautifully written slow-burn (eventual polybatch as she has hinted), I cannot recommend this fic enough!! I have actually cried over this fic and am completely hooked on every new chapter that emerges. https://www.tumblr.com/staycalmandhugaclone/708356564132790272/febuwhump-day-1-touch-starved-echo-warnings

Nightsky by @rain-on-kamino

So I originally discovered Caro with her Shades of Dates fic (another absolute banger!) but I really want to bring a little extra love to this fic because it is so tender and involves both Rex and Echo in a wonderful situation with reader <3 https://rain-on-kamino.tumblr.com/post/669171901795598336/nightsky

In Need by @wanderer-six

This one comes from a beloved mutual of ours and I think she deserves wayyyyyy more love for this absolutely unhinged and feral hunter x reader fic. Literally caused me to self-combust, 10000/10. https://wanderer-six.tumblr.com/post/715865174415917056/in-need

And that's all for now! I think this is such a fun idea and I can't wait to see what your other followers recommend :) Congrats again on 200! <3

Thank you much for your sweet words! 🥹💕

These recs are EXCELLENT!

@staycalmandhugaclone ‘s series is so good, tender and sweet. Please check it out!

@rain-on-kamino ‘s Nightsky made me blush and kick my feet…and damn is it hot! 😚🤌

@wanderer-six YOUUUU AND THIS FIC it keeps me up at night! (In the best way possible) if you’re a Hunter slüt then please read this…….it’ll melt your brain and you might die 🥵 like cmon it’s not fair 💀

Starry’s Spread the Love Event

[legion1227]

Primal: Seasons 1-2. A Review.

I should've watched this sooner.

Primal is a TV show created by a gifted talent named Genndy Tartakovsky. The creative mind is responsible for several shows that air or aired on Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. These shows include Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Sym-Bionic Titan, and Unicorn: Warriors Eternal. Despite not having seen Unicorn: Warriors Eternal yet, the other shows I can attest to are high-quality, lovingly crafted, immensely enjoyable pieces of media. I have a soft spot for the Cartoon Network and Adult Swim as I grew up on the channel and still enjoy Adult Swim programming to this day. Not every show they've aired over decades has been a banger, but they have numerous feathers for their cap.

Tartakovsky has helped without a doubt, and Primal is another feather for their cap and his own.

Primal is an adult animated action series that aired the first 5 episodes of season 1 in October 2019, the following 5 a year later, and all 10 episodes of season 2 weekly starting July 21, 2022. Primal takes place during a version of the prehistoric age that features cavemen, extinct dinosaurs, mammals from the Ice Age, Vikings, magical creatures, and otherwise as it incorporates varying elements of fantasy, action, adventure, and sometimes even horror. Both seasons follow the adventures of a Neanderthal named Spear and Fang, a female Tyrannosaurus Rex who form a bond after both lose their families early and try to survive their world together making wild discoveries along the way. What makes Primal stand out amongst Genndy Tartakovsky's other works or other animated shows out there, besides its setting or compelling storytelling, animation, and so much else, is how the first season features no dialogue.

The show performs a stellar job of creating characters that have little to nothing to say besides grunts or screams. The second season begins incorporating more dialogue but remains minimal.

Primal deserves the acclaim it has received from critics. The animation is gritty but beautiful. Sometimes difficult to look at as brutal action sequences occur and sometimes hard to look away from as these beings try to survive. The story in season 1 shows Fang and Spear venturing from place to place with strong episodes that stand alone mostly, save for a few. The story in season 2 is even better as stakes and situations become increasingly complex and fascinating, ugh. The day-to-day struggle against hellish creatures while trying to survive or find someone or something is stellar. The second season also features some of the best episodes and arcs of the series so far.

Episode 4, The Red Mist, puts Spear and Fang to their limits as they face a fearsome and deadly warrior clan, featuring one of the best action sequences as Spear and Fang give into their basic instincts. Episode 5, The Primal Theory, is the one episode in the show that strays away from Fang and Spear and fast-forward to different characters in the year 1890. Upon initial watch, I was disinterested in straying away from the action Fang and Spear indulged in, but by the end of the episode, I was on the edge of my seat. And as I'm finished with the show, there's an argument to be made that it's the best episode of the series, even! It's not only an episode to show that Genndy can do an anthology series, but the whole episode relies on a premise relied upon by one of the characters early in, where they theorize that even if these elegant men of the 1800s are more articulate and advanced than their neanderthal ancestors if they are faced with a dire enough life or death situation, they may resort to their primal instincts, like their ancestors, to survive. Thus the name the Primal Theory. Not only is that theory put to the test, but the previous episode shows a blatant display of the hypothesis as Spear and Fang unleash bloodshed unlike ever before as the odds are stacked heavily against them. It's genius.

What's even more wild is the multi-episode run right until the end; They never hit the breaks. The episodes following the Primal Theory, pick up where Fang and Spear left off, returning after saving their friend Mira before launching into a three-episode arc taking place on a massive warship called the Colossaeus. The final episode of season 2 is bonkers as well, essentially wrapping up the story of Fang and Spear. Genndy Tartakovsky confirmed that Primal would become an anthology season going forward with season 3 as it was renewed in June earlier this year. If that is the case, I am waiting in anticipation.

Watch Primal if you haven't already. Season 1 is great, but Season 2 is even better. 4/5 for season 1, 4.5/5 for season 2.

[leonsliga]

🐶🎵💎

Thanks for asking Mon <3

🐶: I’m a dog person, and it’s not even close! I was lucky enough to grow up around 2 incredibly sweet pups in my lifetime—one we had when I was in elementary school and another we’ve had since my senior year of high school. Cats and I have a poor track record; one of my housemates has one and he and I are mortal enemies 🤣 the little spawn of satan has a history of peeing on my bed and pooping on the apartment floor when left unchecked, so he and I don’t exactly see eye-to-eye lol. And idk…I’ve just always felt like cats are more in it for themselves. Plus, my husky-lab mix Rex is a complete angel. He just wants to cuddle and ambush you with kisses. What’s not to love? 🥰🥹

As you can see, he is beauty, he is grace. He is perfect in every way. I rest my case.

(In case you’re wondering, the last pic was taken when I was giving him belly rubs…look at his little fangs!! 🥺)

🎵: the last song I listened to was Muñecas by TINI. I blame Rodrigo De Paul’s story completely 🤣 but it’s a banger and I recommend

💎: promise you won’t laugh too hard? My most prized possession is my pig stuffie Maggie. I’ve had her since I was like 7 and she’s from the first vacation/holiday I really remember (to Duck, North Carolina). She was by my side when I was growing up and she was there in the hard times, so she’ll always be special to me. She’s very worn now, so she isn’t even pink anymore, but that’s only because she was (and is) so well-loved.

[trashcanwithsprinkles]

I just spent several minutes trying to find the one specific reaction discovering the newest chapter notif in my emails caused, but I can't, so lemme just say it was a fantastic surprise for the end of a lovely day

And what a chapter it was

I love how Ajax tries to downplay literally everything he's the linchpin for and like no one will let him 😂 absolutely no one

Rex Lapis being so tired, but also seeming very relieved... I hope they whack the Order quickly and he can get some goddamn rest, even if we won't see it. He deserves it. They all do

Morax saying he won't murder Ajax's... I don't want to call him dad but I can't find a word that conveys his role in Ajax's creation and is also full of vitriol without sounding weird so dad it is, like... sir are u sure.... are u sure u won't murder him.... are u sure

Anyway, another banger of a chapter, the best end to the day a reader can ask for, and God shit is about to hit several fans when they land and I can't wait (I can in the literal sense but- you know what I mean! XD)

May your week be prosperous and your Internet stop fucking around soon

thank you;;;;;

[mrultra100]

Even with how I doubt myself, along with all of the other Pokemon that I love and can’t put into a team, this is now my own personal team of 6, all based on not only my tastes, but also things like personal experience, aesthetics that I like, some special quirk to them like a certain Ability or move, that sorta jazz.

Hisuian Samurott- It was very hard for me to decide my favorite starter. Skeledirge, Venussur, Incineroar, and Swampert were all good contenders. But, at the end of the day, the spiky-shelled otter samurai managed to win out. Part of why I loved Legends: Arceus was how it went about with the new regional forms being a good majority of new Pokémon, and that rings true for the first starter-based regional forms in the series. While I considered regular Samurott to be a alright Pokemon, it doesn’t have enough of the same charm for it to be on the same rank as favorites like the aforementioned Venusaur and Skeledirge. The Hisuian variant completely flips the script on that, by turning Samurott into a much more spikier, samurai-focused, Water/Dark bruiser. The design and pattern of its shell, along with its mustache, have made this Pokemon a lot better. If we get more Legends games with regional final evos like this, I’ll be all for it.

Pincurchin- Of course, my favorite Pokémon just HAD to be here, and I’m not complaining about a single bit of it. Pincurchin is a banger in of itself. Yes, it does look weak, but this is my team, I make the rules here. If you do it right, a Pincurchin is able to be a pint-powerhouse in its own right. I’ve had this Pokémon for both my Shield and Scarlet teams, so I know what I’m talking about. Also, it’s cute as a button. Gotta give it extra “points” for that. (Yes, I couldn’t resist making a stupid sea urchin pun, I’m not sorry)

Tyrantrum- As dinosaur-crazy as I am, Tyrantrum was actually what got me into being really into T. Rex. Long before the days of the lipped, sparely feathered, chonky swimmers that we know and love, the world’s most famous dinosaur just didn’t appeal to me as much as it does today. Who would’ve thought Pokémon would come and help with that? Not only is Rock/Dragon a cool type combination, nor does it have a banger ability (Strong Jaw), I actually had a Level 100 Tyrantrum during the X and Y days. I wish I actually brought him over to future games, as he was sadly lost to history, but he basically was my main man.

Yanmega- I have to give kudos to Legends Arceus again for making me appreciate another Pokemon that I didn’t thought up at first. Not only does Yanmega tap into my liking of bugs very well (A title rivaled by Vikavolt, Lokix, and a few other Pokémon), it certainly has that kaiju feel to it. The one that I used in Legends was named Megagarius. That name alone should be pretty obvious to anyone who knows even a LICK of Godzilla.

Mimikyu- Long before Pincurchin came onto the scene, I considered Mimikyu to be my favorite Pokémon. Since I’m a sucker for some good ol’ gothic horror, how can I even say no to the little guy? Fun typing, equally fun ability, and even more delightfully creepy backstory aside, this has to be one of the cutest of all Pocket Monsters out there. I’m so happy that everyone has decided to show the little guy with love. He rightfully deserved it, dammit!

Glimmora- I am so, SO sorry to Clodsire and Revavroom, but the funny crystal flowersponge has them both beat. Not only does it have a fun and interesting type, along with a absolutely bonkers ability that makes it a threat to face as the first Pokémon, but Glimmora’s design might actually be one of the best in the franchise in a long time, even with many others rivaling it. I’m not gonna go into full detail about its inspirations here, as I’ve got a full-on post planned for it in the future, but as a quick taste for now; Think of this Pokémon (and its pre-evolution) as a three way between a nightshade flower, a hunk of copper sulfate, and a deep-sea sponge.

Given how Tumblr doesn’t let you add in more than 10 pictures for some stupid reason, I can only afford to add in 4 additional ‘Mons that got close to being in the team. While the sheer agony of 6 slots makes it hard to come up with a team that you’d be cool to spend a lifetime with, made even more harder that there are now more than 1000 of these things now, I find it interesting to stay true to yourself when making a Pokémon team. Who knows? If you’ve struggled come up with a perfect team like me, you just need to list down which interests and aesthetics suit you the best. Maybe then, you could find the team that screams “You” the most.

[cybertron-after-dark]

(tags from prev reblog)

We have officially breached containment from the greater tf fandom into the Tumblr ecosystem outside it. I feel a degree of explanation is warranted so the non robot obsessed crowd can understand the chaos happening here.

So Transformers as a franchise likes to reboot itself a lot. To the point where it's not really assumed that two different shows exist in the same continuity unless it's explicitly stated, most only tangentially related by a multiverse that we only take half-seriously. There was, however, a chunk of time from roughly 2010 to 2016 that hasbro attempted (and largely failed) to make a bunch of media that was supposed to be in the same universe, in (roughly) the same timeline. Most of the time it was pretty shaky and the only throughline was similar story beats about how the civil war that rendered Cybertron uninhabitable went down.

The exception, however, was the link between the shows Prime and Rescue Bots. The two shows ran around the same time and events in one show made tangible impacts on the other. Characters from Prime would show up in Rescue Bots for special episodes as well (though we never got the other way around, which I will never stop being mad about). Their interconnected nature is honestly unprecedented for tf shows that aren't direct sequels. The funny thing, though is the wild difference in vibes.

Prime was intended for their more mature audience. Heavily detailed 3d animation with complex, angular mech designs, a darker tone than most tf series, heavy casualties and more robo-gore than your average episode of samurai jack. (Also a lot of robot designs that both fans and Hasbro employees alike consider CRIMINALLY sexy).

And then there was Rescue Bots. With the youngest target audience of any tf show, and an animation budget of like $35 and half a turkey sandwich (but a writing team that refuses to stop being funny, characters that have me in a chokehold, an ost that does NOT need to go that hard, and an unnecessarily banger voice cast that includes tim curry for some reason. No I WONT stop shilling for this show.)

Rescue Bots, being geared towards a younger crowd, was allowed to play in a much sillier space than Prime was, emphasizing wild technology and it's fantastical applications (and, more often than not, how it can go so very wrong when safety precautions are ignored), but also occasionally delving into outright fantasy (hence the ghosts and the fairies).

So there exists a whole coherent timeline between these two shows where the Decepticons are having their Edgy and Serious political drama where everyone's trying to grab power, the Autobots are struggling just to keep their faction alive and keep the human kids they've adopted as their own safe, and then at the exact same time on Bumfuck Nowhere Island, Maine, there's a little group of four autobots Optimus is keeping very very far away from the war because Megatron would fold these goobers like lawn chairs at a barbecue, and theyre playing monopoly with the human family that adopted them before the next terrible accident at the explosion factory.

Also, just so you can see how the crossovers are handled.

Here's Optimus in Prime

And here's what's supposed to be the same version of this dude in Rescue Bots.

This guy will be in one episode of Prime, somberly contemplating the future of Earth, wondering how he could have done things differently and how less people could've gotten hurt, spend an episode of rescue bots having a wonderful little cave adventure and actually having fun for once, and then come back home in another episode of Prime only to get stabbed.

Also in one crossover episode he got a third mode as a T-Rex but his brain wasn't really meant to handle organic instincts, so he temporarily went feral and almost ate a guy alive. This was never addressed in Prime.

The vibes are insane and I would simply not have it any other way.

Things that canonically exist in the same world as transformers prime because they also exist in rescue bots:

-fairies

-ghosts

-time travel

-still-living dinosaurs

-optimus's third mode, the fucking t-rex

-a machine that cheats death and reverses the aging process

-skyrim, if blades making the arrow to the knee joke is to be taken at face value.

-mass displacement tech the way the fandom's been portraying it for ages

-the exact same altmode-locking paralytic virus from beast machines

-full-on mind control, effective on both humans and bots

-lycanthropy inducing fake meat

-a hal-9000-esque rogue AI intent on turning the world comatose to keep humanity maximally safe

-freaky Friday mind swapping

-time loops

-machine that forces you to sing in full musical numbers

-Allspark day, which is basically cybertronian new years day

We need to start subjecting the prime bots to the weirdass facets of their world.

[lonewolflupe]

aLoF ch15 | Ascension Of The Mind's Guilt

I hope you're mentally prepared for this chapter, because I'm not. This chapter's main event was actually one of the first scenes I came up with whilst creating Lupe's backstory (I know, I'm real fun at parties).

Summary: when Lupe finally finds the strength to accompany her squad on another mission, she finds herself in a new mess; one that affects the entire galaxy Rating: Teen and up (but please check the tags!) Tags: angst, hurt, dark thoughts, trauma, guilt, swearing (usage of slang); yeah this chapter's a real banger Words: 6.135 Characters: Lupe (OC), Trooper Ragnar (OC), Trooper Claw (OC), Trooper Fang (OC), Trooper Twist (OC), CT-7567 Captain Rex, CT-5597 Jesse, Anakin Skywalker, ARC-5555 Fives (sort of), unidentified clone troopers aLoF masterlist | AO3 ch14 < | ficlet < | ↓ | > ch16

19 BBY, Coruscant | GAR Barracks’ Hangar

Breathe in. Breathe out. Deeply in, slowly out. Breathe.. Don’t let it consume you..

Lupe opened her eyes as she blew her last controlled breath out. It was time for a new mission; the first one since Fives. She had prolonged this moment for as long as possible, since she hadn't trusted herself earlier. She felt like her connection with the Force had weakened since she lost Fives, since she started questioning her Jedi beliefs on a daily basis.

But there was still a roaring war going on throughout the galaxy, and if she didn't pull herself together now, well, she might not be able to ever again.

She was pulled from her thoughts when Ragnar put his hand on her shoulder. “You alright there?” he asked softly, making sure only she could hear his words whilst the boys behind them were readying their gear. Lupe shot him a quick smile. “As ready as I'll ever be.” He granted her another of his rare smiles, and she felt better instantly. “You're not alone; we’re with you,” he said comfortingly, before turning around again to finish up.

When they were all geared up and had gathered their supplies, the squad crossed the hangar towards their shuttle. Lupe let her gaze wander the premises, an old habit she had gotten used to, to see if she could spot Fives between the troops. A sharp pain in her chest erupted when she realised what she was doing. Kriff. She did notice a lot of blue though; apparently, the boys from the 501st were shipping out as well. At that moment, she laid her eyes on Captain Rex.

Without realising, she slowed down her pace, falling behind her squad. Ragnar was the only one to notice; he halted and gently touched her bare upper arm to get her attention. “It’s alright, go to them; we’ll be waiting at the ship,” he said to her, his voice low but genuine. She smiled at him, mouthing a silent ‘thank you’, before jogging off towards the Captain.

Rex was barking out orders to his troops when she reached him. She halted a few steps away, waiting patiently as she didn't want to interrupt him. “Jesse, no, not.. Not there,” he shot out, his voice becoming quieter and evolving into a deep sigh. He started rubbing his temples with his gloved fingers. A faint smile appeared on Lupe's face. “You look tired, Captain.”

“I'm always tired,” Rex mumbled under his breath, before realising who had addressed him. He snapped out of his fatigue and looked up at Lupe, a newly found enthusiasm on his face. “Lupe- General, sir,” he managed, slightly surprised at her sight. Lupe chuckled softly, folding her arms. “At ease, Captain,” she told him, trying to grant him a moment of tranquillity. “Yessir,” was his affirmatory reply, as if she had given him an order, but he managed a broad smile anyway.

At that moment, he noticed something about her attire; a new addition to the small collection of clone armour she used to wear during the war. He swallowed, as a bittersweet feeling took a hold of him. Attached around Lupe's neck, on top of her shoulder pieces, were Fives’ pauldrons. He fell silent, and she was afraid she had unintentionally put him in an uncomfortable situation. Her eyes darted around and she started fidgeting with her silver hair. “I-Is it inappropriate to wear them?” she asked him shyly.

He took a deep breath, making sure there was no tremble in his voice before he spoke. “No, no, it’s not. It’s- it’s perfect,” he eased her mind, the bittersweet feeling reflected in his smile, as she could feel the pain of loss behind it. Breathe in, breathe out, she thought to herself, trying to not break down on the spot. Without thinking, her fingers touched the ‘5’ tattoo on her upper right arm. Suddenly, as he had clearly regained himself, Rex chuckled softly.

"You've grown since Geonosis. I still remember that lost Padawan back in the corridor. It's been a while since then, kid,” Rex said as he brought back the memories, amusingly calling her the same nickname he had given her during their first encounter. But she was far from a kid now. "So much has happened since. It's been only three years, but it feels like a lifetime," Lupe sighed, her gaze sliding away from Rex’s, her mind wandering. A few seconds passed before Rex replied. "Yeah, I know. You've come a long way since.” Lupe’s gaze shot back to his instantly, and she managed a genuine smile on her face before replying: "We both have.”

Their moment was interrupted when Jesse came jogging towards them, addressing the Captain when he had nearly reached them. “Everything's prepped, ready for- General!” he interrupted himself, as soon as he noticed Lupe standing behind Rex. The brightening expression on his face lightened Lupe up immediately. “Pleasure seeing you ready for action again,” he nodded at her, after noticing the Lone Wolves waiting for her at their shuttle in the hangar beyond. She happily greeted him with a forearm shake.

“Those pauldrons look good on you,” he said to her, as he was checking out the newest addition to her attire. “Same for you, ARC trooper,” she chuckled at him, since this was the first time she talked to him since his promotion. He briefly stood at attention, proudly showing off his new outfit, especially his pauldrons and kama. “Proves they’re still promoting di’kute* into ARCs,” she said jokingly to him, remembering an earlier conversation at 79’s; a moment that seemed so far away now.

*di’kute = idiots, useless individuals

Jesse eased his pose and started laughing at her remark, a sound that mellowed her broken heart; it was good to hear a clone laugh again. With a smirk on his face, Rex shook his head. “What would that make the person promoting those di’kute?” he added to the light conversation. In a gesture of innocence, Lupe put her hands behind her back, before whispering in reply: “My lips are sealed.” It only resulted in more laughter.

The diverting moment was interrupted when the built-in comm device in Rex’s helmet started beeping. He activated the transmission, and they could all hear General Skywalker’s kind yet urgent voice: “Gotta go, Rex; Obi-Wan’s waiting for us!” After Rex shot his General a quick reply of affirmation, Lupe asked where they were headed. “Yerbana, sir. Somewhere near Christophsis,” he sighed, as he was remembering one of his first battles during the Clone Wars. Lupe shot him a comforting smile, shifting her eyes from Rex to Jesse and back. “Good luck out there. And May the Force be with you.”

Just when she started to turn around, ready to head off to start her own mission, Rex put his hand on her pauldron to stop her from leaving yet. “Sir, I, er- I’d like to talk about what happened. With Fives. And after. There have been.. developments,” he said nervously, shifting on his feet, not knowing if he had chosen the right words. Jesse tilted his head, looking at Rex wonderingly, whilst Lupe turned back around. Her eyes, being bright and alive earlier, had turned dull and hollow. “I don’t want to keep your General waiting any longer. Let’s have that talk when we’re all back; I’ll treat the both of you to a drink at 79’s,” she replied flatly, forcing a half-smile on her face, before she continued her course.

“R-right, sir,” Rex replied, nodding somewhat absently as he watched her turn around again. As soon as she had walked off and was out of hearing range, Jesse cleared his throat and positioned himself at Rex’s side. “You.. You didn't tell her about Fives or Echo yet?” Jesse asked reluctantly. Rex let out a deep sigh. “I didn’t. Seems like the timing is never right. And now.. I didn’t want to distract her from her mission,” he elaborated softly, briefly hanging his head. He took another breath before he looked Jesse in the eyes. “I'll tell her when we're back. Once we're all back. We'll find time then.” He smiled and patted the ARC trooper on his pauldron, determined to follow up on his words after their upcoming battle, before they headed to the ships to set course to Yerbana.

---

Outer Rim | Space

Lupe glanced over to the boys, as they were huddled together in the cockpit, laughing as they were enjoying some time together before they would have to focus on the mission ahead. She sat remotely in the back of their shuttle. She didn't feel like her old self, and although she felt slightly better getting back on a mission with the boys, she wasn’t sure if she was ready yet. Fives was still so fresh on her mind, and at this point, she didn't know if she would ever regain her spark of life. He was her spark, her galaxy, and now with his death, it was all gone.

Trying to shift her thoughts, she focussed on the missions she had been on with her squad. The memories they had made. But right now, everything reminded her of Fives, because every mission had a connection to him. Their turbulent first meeting when she was celebrating her Jedi knighthood, not long before her first mission with her squad to Raxus. How considerate he had been when she had found herself in the Halls of Healing after Basanos, sending her that fruit basket. The tension between her and Ragnar during Kepler, unintentionally caused by him. How he had pulled her from the darkness after Talbhin.. And now, how he could never pull her from her darkest thoughts ever again.

It didn't help that the clones shared the same faces, and her squad reminded her of Fives every time she looked at them. Without thinking, her hand touched the tattooed ‘5’ on her upper right arm again. She knew she would never forget him, but with the tattoo, she felt like she was carrying him with her. Always.

A deep sigh as she picked up the datapad, hoping informing herself on the mission's details would distract her mind. They would always just head over to the coordinates and check on their objectives on the way; it had never really been a problem, although she did start questioning some of the Jedi's motives behind their objectives.

As she read through the details, her eyes skimming through the words again and again, her breath caught in the back of her throat. This wasn't a regular mission; this was a kriffing suicide mission. She looked up from the screen to the boys, still brotherly together at the front of the shuttle, before she swallowed.

What was she supposed to tell them? As the Clone Wars had gained momentum, and odds finally seemed in the favour of the Republic, the end of all the destruction seemed near. How could the Jedi Council ask them to conduct this suicide mission at what seemed the final moments of the war? Didn't they deserve better, after all they had done for the Republic, all they had been through?

Lost in thoughts, the datapad slid out of her hands and hit the floor with a thud. Most of the squad didn't seem to notice, but Ragnar looked over towards her, immediately concerned when he laid eyes on the General. She looked so vulnerable, so small; so lost. He looked back at his brothers, making sure they continued their comradery before walking over towards Lupe. She didn't seem to notice him, which worried him even more. After all their time together, they had grown such a strong bond. She was more than their General; she was their vod.

Ragnar sat down on one knee in front of her, picking up the datapad and placing it on the seat beside her. He took her hands, holding them gently into his to warm them, as her fingertips felt cold. “Lupe, what is it?” he whispered, making sure the boys didn't notice, so Lupe would feel comfortable to speak her mind freely. She turned her gaze towards him, her eyes empty.

“I've got a bad feeling about this one,” she whispered, before looking at the datapad Ragnar had just retrieved from the ground. He swallowed, but didn't answer. They were clones; born for this life, born to follow orders, born to complete missions. What was he going to do, turn himself against the Jedi Order?

“Don't tell the boys,” she whispered even softer. “Not yet, at least.” He could swear he saw tears starting to well in her eyes, before she regained herself. He nodded at her, promising he wouldn't. There was no benefit in telling them their demise was near. She closed her eyes as she moved her forehead towards him, and he responded by doing the same. Their foreheads touched, and for a moment, they remained like that, easing both their minds.

---

Outer Rim | Albarrio sector | Gelida Nix (Separatist Occupied Planet)

They had landed on a harrowing icy planet. Patches of mist covered the air like a shroud. As they had neared their landing spot, they had seen stretching white hills, lakes frozen shut and vast coniferous forests. They departed the shuttle, and as they walked towards some cover, Lupe looked back at the shuttle. An ominous feeling crept up to her. She tried to shake it off whilst leading the squad forwards.

They positioned themselves in an old foxhole in the midst of a trench system, remnants of the Clone Wars’ earlier days. Lupe stared through the electrobinocular that Twist had kindly provided her, as always. She could see the commando droids hiding within the trees. With a sigh, she put the binocular down. There was no cover; no way they were going to get through to their objective unharmed. They were going to get injured, and not all of them might make it out alive. An invisible grasp around her throat made it hard to breathe as she thought about what would happen as soon as they would advance.

When she turned around towards the boys, her gaze briefly locked with Ragnar’s. He gave her an encouraging nod, and at this moment, she didn't know if she would be strong enough to continue if it wasn't for him. As her sergeant, he had always stood by her side, getting her up and having her back. Now that her world seemed to shatter around her, her galaxy already taken from her, he and the squad were her only safety net. She didn't know if she could ever put into words what that meant to her. What they meant to her.

“Alright, boys,” she finally spoke, thinking about how she would word this, trying her hardest to keep her voice from trembling. But she had to be honest with them; they trusted her, and no power in the galaxy would make her break that trust. “I have to be blunt with you; I'm not liking these orders one bit. This.. This seems like a suicide mission,” she sighed, as she noticed the boys stiffening and getting serious. “I'm afraid stealth isn't going to help us this time, and there's no cover to rely on.” She swallowed as she looked from face to face. These men, her troops, her brothers. The orders came from higher up, but it felt like she was ordering them to their deaths personally.

“Promise me one thing. If anything happens, if you get hit or can't continue, let me know. I will do everything within my power to protect you, to keep you safe, to.. To keep you from harm's way,” she continued, swallowing the lump as it formed in her throat. “I owe you that.” The boys looked at each other, before nodding, shooting her a slightly confused ‘yessir’.

“Alright, ready yourselves. I will search for the best opportunity,” she said, dismissing them from the mission briefing. As they started readying their gear, Ragnar walked over to her and put his hand on her pauldron. “Whatever happens, it's been an honour, Lupe. If today is our day to die, we'd be proud to do so at your side,” he spoke, before turning around and returning to the men.

Lupe stood frozen, nailed to the ground. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away with the palm of her hand. Slowly, she turned around to gaze through the binocular again, hoping she could find a point of access less tight than what she had seen so far. But she was fully aware there wasn’t going to be a better opportunity; she was merely prolonging the inevitable moment.

“Incoming message,” she heard Ragnar saying behind her, towards his brothers. She didn't reply, as the remark wasn't meant for her. But she thought it was odd, strange even; normally, any incoming messages would come through her. As she started to dwell on it, her stomach turned. A sudden darkness took over. Although there wasn't a change in the weather, a shadow fell upon her. She felt ripped from the inside, as she heard voices in her head, shouting and crying out, before they died down. As if hundreds of souls were silenced.. A great disturbance in the Force.

No.. Her nightmare.. Fives.. Not again..

As she grasped towards her chest, trying to protect her heart from shattering even further, she started turning around to the boys, searching for solace from her brothers and hoping their incoming message would clarify anything that had just happened. But as soon as she started to face them, her heart dropped, and her breath was caught in the back of her throat.

All four clones of the Lone Wolf Squad were pointing their blasters directly at her. Her mind raced as she searched for a logical reason, but nothing could explain this. “Vode..?” she asked confused, frightened, shaken. It was Ragnar who addressed her, his voice stoic and stern; the complete opposite from how he had addressed her just moments ago. “You have been branded a traitor to the Republic and are hereby marked for immediate termination by Order 66.”

No, this couldn't be true, this couldn't be happening. A traitor to the Republic? She tried recalling what she had done wrong to brand her a traitor to the Republic, but nothing came to her. Ever since the war had started, she had been nothing more than a servant of said Republic, risking her life day in, day out to do its bidding. And the love she had for the troopers of the Republic's Grand Army..

..the same troopers who were currently pointing their blasters at her. As the tension increased, she saw their hands starting to shake, as if they were trying to fight something within, trying to define what it meant to be a good soldier.

At that moment, Twist fired the first shot. As his hands were shaking, his aim slightly diverted, the shot grazed Lupe on her upper left arm. She cried out in pain when it hit her flesh, as the laser bolt burned away her skin, deforming the Wolfpack tattoo she was proudly wearing. Her instincts made her reach for her lightsaber, igniting it to protect herself. It was the very push the clones needed, and all hell broke loose.

A barrage of fire was being shot her way, being shot from the blasters the clones were aiming at her. She deflected the shots, but she found herself totally out of balance with the Force as she was completely taken by surprise, overwhelmed by the sudden turn of her troops. Her brothers. A few of the shots hit her armour and scraped her skin, and she grunted at every hit. She flung her lightsaber around, preventing any critical hit, but she wouldn't deflect the shots back at her men. She wouldn't kill them. She couldn't.

Tears were running down her cheeks as she stood face to face against her own brothers, trying to protect herself from them. She remembered all the lightsaber training she had given them back at the barracks; teaching them how to move and where to aim if they would ever find themselves against a lightsaber-wielding opponent. She could never have imagined it would be her. Her mind raced as she tried to come up with some clever trick, some creative way out, but nothing came to mind; all her wit and creative thinking was lost on her.

But she knew she couldn't keep this up forever, and she didn't want to hurt them. They were everything she had left..

With an immense effort, as it felt like she had now completely lost her connection with the Force, she sent out a Force-push towards the men, making them stumble and fall backwards. It wouldn't eliminate them, and it wouldn't keep them down for long either, but it gave her the distraction she needed. She jolted out of the foxhole, leaving the trenches and her troops behind her, as she ran for the forest, towards the Separatists.

She heard clanking sounds as the commando droids came jumping out the trees, trying to ambush her. But evading them was surprisingly easier on her own, when she didn't have anyone around her that needed cover or protection, no accompanying team. She didn't have anyone around her..

She slashed her lightsaber around, releasing a surge of rage that resulted from her confusion, her fear, her devastation and her losses. She felt cold when a darkness crept inside her, slowly growing larger. She took down droids, trees, and everything in between. She jolted forward, hacking down everything in her path, without looking back.

Appearing in front of her was the Separatist base that had been their initial target. She stormed forward, not bothering to check on any threats, as she didn't really care anymore at this moment. She barged into the base's grounds, slicing down every droid she encountered, both battle droids, astromechs and maintenance droids, not seeing any difference at this very moment. There was a haze before her eyes she had never experienced before.

As she progressed, she noticed a small Separatist cargo freighter. Without dwelling on it, she boarded the shuttle, powered it up and launched it into the air. She had to get out of here. Some shots from down below hit the freighter’s hull, but the droids weren't able to fully attack her; she had overwhelmed them completely by her sudden and rageful appearance.

Lupe made the shuttle fly as fast as it could before punching in some random coordinates. As soon as the navicomputer had calculated a safe route, she punched the switch and the shuttle jumped into hyperspace. The stars seemed to blur even more than usual during hyperspace, as her eyes filled with tears.

---

Unknown location | Space

Time crept away as the shuttle drifted aimlessly at its destination. There was nothing around it, except for the darkness filled with faraway stars. Lupe sat in the pilot seat, her knees pulled against her chest, arms wrapped around them, as she stared into the nothingness. Dried tears stuck to her scraped cheeks.

She had tried contacting fellow Jedi, but none responded. A static noise came from her comm device before she shut it off. Her mind drifted off, dwelling on the hundreds or thousands of voices she had heard screaming out. What did it mean? Had all the clone troopers turned against their Jedi Generals? Did this mean.. All those voices, had they been Jedi killed at that exact moment? That couldn’t be true, right? … Right? Was Master Plo Koon one of them..? She pulled her knees tighter as she sunk her face between them, trying to search for a logical, less painful explanation.

But she couldn’t find one. As the dark thoughts piled up into her already overflowing mind, and since her earlier rush of adrenaline had worn off, she found herself starting to panic. Every breath she took seemed to tighten her throat, making her gasp for air, as her heart was beating uncomfortably heavy inside her chest. She tried searching her pockets for a nervestick, but she wasn’t carrying any. The boys had been right, of course; she never carried her own gear. Twist had always been around to provide her with whatever she needed.

Twist.. Her hand slid to the burnmark on her upper left arm, a throbbing pain on the spot of impact. After everything they had been through, after everything that they had shared, how was it possible that her brothers had turned against her? What did she do wrong? Was it retaliation for all the clones she couldn’t save during the war? But surely, out of all the clones, the Lone Wolves knew how much she cared for them? How much guilt she felt for every loss?

Her hand slid further, until she reached the unimpaired skin, remnants of her Wolfpack tattoo still visible. Master Plo.. Had he been with the 104th, with Wolffe, during whatever had happened? Surely the Commander would have protected Master Plo against any threat, giving him a fair trial? Yes, they had such great respect for each other; Wolffe would never hurt Master Plo. He was like a buir* to him. It eased her mind, and she started to breathe more evenly again.

*buir = parent/father

She had to find out what had happened to the Jedi, but she knew she couldn’t just return to Coruscant to walk in the Jedi Temple, as she had the feeling she wouldn’t receive a warm welcome there. No, she had to find a different way. If something had happened to the Jedi, to the whole Jedi Order, it must be on the HoloNews. It must be known on the inhabited planets throughout the galaxy. She didn’t dare showing up on either a Republic or Separatist occupied planet, but she knew a few neutral ones. She let them cross her mind, as she decided which one would be least logical for a Jedi to show up.

Ah, Oba Diah. That one would do. The planet, home to the Pyke Syndicate, was surrounded by dark, dishonest beings. They wouldn’t come searching for a Jedi there, and as long as she didn’t stand out as one, she was sure she wouldn’t attract too much attention. She looked around in the freighter’s cargo hold, cursing herself for not wearing a cloak back on the icy planet she had just fled, when she noticed a dark cloth laying around. That had to do.

When she returned to the shuttle’s cockpit, she entered Oba Diah’s coordinates in the navicomputer. As the shuttle calculated its journey and eventually shot forward into hyperspace, Lupe sat back in the pilot seat again, contemplating on what she would find out on Oba Diah.

---

Outer Rim | Kessel Sector | Oba Diah

She didn’t like Oba Diah one bit when she walked through its capital’s alleyways. The place was filthy from the scum and villainy that resided there, dealing with their unclean businesses. The hair on the back of her neck was standing upright as she pulled the cloth around her face more tightly. Her lightsaber's hilt was hidden beneath the rags, but she made sure she could reach it if she needed it here.

When she rounded a corner, she noticed a cantina up ahead; she walked straight for it. Inside, she sat down at the cantina's bar, ordered a beverage and looked up at the screen behind the counter. No HoloNews, but flashy advertisements for best arm dealers, pleadings about the most popular spice consistencies, and the current top bounty hunters. This place was something else. With a subtle gesture, without anyone noticing, she changed stations to the HoloNews. At least the Force still granted her this trivial action.

“Today, in breaking HoloNews: the fall of the Jedi Order. It has come to the Senate's attention that the Jedi have committed treason against the Republic. With swift acting, the Galactic’s Grand Army was able to terminate the Jedi threat, resulting in the fall of the Confederacy of Independent Systems and thus the ending of the war. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, personally affected by the Jedi's treachery, has now declared the first Galactic Empire. We are entering a new age.”

As the irritated bartender switched the channel back, Lupe's breathing stopped as the words echoed through her mind. The GAR terminated the Jedi threat.. Her worst fears became reality as it confirmed what those voices had meant, crying out in her head. The Jedi had been killed, slaughtered, because they had been branded traitors to the Republic. And they had been killed by those who had been fighting loyally at their sides during the war; the clones. No Jedi would have seen this coming.

She staggered away from the bar, leaving her beverage untouched. She made for the exit, her head spinning. When she finally found herself back inside the shuttle she had confiscated from the Separatists, she had no recollection of her way back to it. She sat down in the pilot's seat, her chest heaving, her breathing heavy, as she gasped for air.

“No no no,” she cried out loud in disbelief, as her body started to panic again. How could this be possible? How in the known galaxy did the Jedi commit treason against the Republic, and how in the vast Wild Space beyond it did the clones turn on them? What sick turn of faiths was responsible for this? This couldn't be true. This couldn't be happening. She knew the clones; they wouldn't do this. They were loyal, good soldiers; they were the best brothers. They were.. They were everything to her.

Her body started shaking and she gasped for air, the lack of oxygen causing black spots before her eyes, her vision already blurred from tears.

It's okay, I’m here.

Fives’ voice echoed through her mind and pulled her back together. She focussed on her breathing, returning it from shallow gasps into deep, even breaths, clearing her head instantly. She closed her eyes and tried to picture him. Not like the last time she had laid eyes on him; his head shaven and his body on a pyrohover, engulfed by blue flames. But him during life, being honest and righteous, but also silly and mischievous, but mostly loving and caring. Oh, what she wouldn't give to have one last moment with him, just them together..

“Fives, I need you.. I- Everything's so kriffed up. I'm.. I'm losing my kark over here,” she said out loud, grasping her hands to her head out of despair. Her heartbeat was rising again, her body tensing and her throat tightening. Her eyes twitched vigorously behind her closed eyelids.

We didn't do anything wrong this time, right?

She huffed out of irony. “Well, it looks like we kriffed up big time,” she replied, putting her arms around her before she started cradling herself, rocking back and forth, trying to keep calm as her mind started overflowing again.

Then tell me about it.

His voice was so calming, so comforting, so soothing. She stopped her motions, her heartbeat dropping again, being able to breathe evenly. A tear rolled down her cheek. “I'm not sure what happened, Fives. The clones.. They turned on the Jedi. On all of us. Apparently, we committed treason against the Republic, but I don't know what we did wrong. What I did wrong.”

That sure sounds like a nightmare.

“Yeah, but it's kriffing real! And you know what? It's just like my nightmare, I even told you about it. Everything came true! And you.. You kriffing left me! You left me behind, just like that!” The tears were flowing from her eyes by now. She knew it wasn't fair to blame him for leaving her, to blame him for his own death, but she was so mad at the galaxy right now. She was just bawling her eyes out - and her sorrows along with it.

I didn't ask for any leave.

“You didn't just leave. You kriffing died, Fives! You.. You left me- You left me behind. I'm.. I'm so alone,” she started shouting, but as she progressed venting her feelings, her voice became softer, finally drowning in sobbing. It took a while before she heard his voice again.

That's the neat part when you're stuck together; you're there to support each other.

She sniffled before wiping away some tears. “But we're not; we're not stuck together anymore. You're not here anymore. Wait, are you still with me?”

Always.

Kriff. There seemed to be no ending to the tears after that; she would rather get hit by blaster fire again than continuing to succumb to this devastating heartache. But then it dawned on her: if she had the choice, she would do it all again. Even if she knew it would end with Fives’ death, she would gladly start over. Every moment with him had been an absolute pleasure, as he had painted the stars in her galaxy, warming her heart and had strengthened her life's energy. And now, she needed to be strong. She had to carry on for him.

This.. It's bigger than any of us, than anything I could have imagined. I never meant to.. I only wanted to do my duty.

The words hit her like an elevated speeder train. She realised she didn't know what exactly had happened to Fives. She knew Rex had been there, and she sure as hell knew Fox was the one who had shot him. But what had made the Commander do it? What had driven Fives to his actions? Why did Rex never tell her about it? She had wanted to ask him, but.. She always thought they had more time.

She cleared her throat and wiped away her tears. “Kriffin’ hell, Fives. Where am I going to start? What do I do now?” she asked him, trying to pull herself together. “We need to come up with a plan.”

Already got one.

She managed a smile on her face; she would never tire from that sing-song tone to his voice. “Alright my cyare, what's your plan?”

When in doubt, always use the Hutts.

She frowned her eyebrows in confusion. “You want me to go to the Hutts? What help can they possibly provide me with? I don't want to end up a kriffing wall decoration.” She swore she could hear him chuckle.

There's even toast.

“What? Fives, what the kriff are you talking about?”

Rex might be using it as a caf stand.

“Why would Rex use toast as a caf st- Wait, you want me to find Rex? I-I'm not so sure if meeting up with a clone is my best option right now.”

He'll live.

“I have no intentions of changing that, but since he's a clone and I'm a Jedi, I'm currently not too confident about my own chances of survival.”

Wait for my signal.

“What signal? Fives? Fives?!?” She finally opened her eyes, almost expecting to see him standing next to her or sitting opposite to her, but he wasn't there. With a sigh, she leaned back into the pilot's chair. “I don't want to be alone tonight..,” she whispered, hoping he would reply with something along the lines of ‘I can arrange that’, but there was nothing. His voice didn't return that night.

Everyone she knew was either a clone or a Jedi; and currently, the former were ordered to kill the latter. She had nowhere to go, no one to turn to. She felt terrified, shattered, and most of all, utterly alone. She had absolutely no clue if her ‘conversation’ with Fives had been anything substantial or if it had just been a fantasy, made up by her brain to comfort her from her sorrows. But since she had nothing to lose anymore, she didn't see any harm in following up on the trail.

So she entered a new set of coordinates into the navicomputer and set course for Tatooine.

…

Epilogue

The galaxy was changing rapidly. And although there had been signs and hints, Lupe could never have imagined anything would have led to this point. To this mess she had found herself in.

It seemed like her recent nightmares had been visions after all, and she blamed herself for not recognising the difference. She blamed herself for not being there when Fives had needed her the most. She blamed herself for not seeing any of this coming to prevent it. She blamed herself for every clone's death.

She blamed herself for all the misery in the entire galaxy as a dark cloak shrouded it. Her mind darkened, and at this moment, she could feel only one thing: guilt.

For the attentive reader: all Fives' lines during their 'conversation' are actually lines Lupe heard him speak in the previous chapters.

Next week's chapter (which will be published a bit later since I will be away for most part of next Monday) will be the last in a chain of angsty chapters; I'll try to be kinder to Lupe after that! I'll take a little break after chapter 16 tho (just label it as a mid season stop/break), but I'll try to get new chapters out as soon as possible!

Thanks for sticking with me and getting this far with reading my fic, I really appreciate it <3

[thetoxicgamer]

Top five VALORANT teams in 2023, ranked

A new year and a new franchised league have changed the VALORANT ecosystem wildly, introducing some new brands and new teams into the top tier of the esport. The off-season entering 2023 provided some unique storylines, some super-teams, and a new champion to start off the year at LOCK//IN. Here are the top five VALORANT teams of 2023, starting from the debut tournament LOCK//IN and stretching into the regular season. As major tournaments come to an end, this post will be updated to match, but as of writing, this list applies as of April 30, 2023. The league has not only concluded its opening LAN tournament, but teams across the world are already well underway for qualifying for Masters Tokyo. In descending order, here are the best five starting rosters for VCT 2023 so far. The best VALORANT teams in 2023, from five to one 5. Cloud9 Despite roster changes in-between LOCK//IN and the regular season, Cloud9 has surprised everyone and has risen to the top as one of the favorites in the Americas League. Their LOCK//IN run had moments, specifically with Erick “Xeppaa” Bach’s Pearl performance against Paper Rex, but ultimately fell to another team on this list, DRX. It was a close 2-1 loss, and even with the departure of both star player Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker and former captain Anthony “vanity” Malaspina, they looked to be on the downturn for the regular season. Yet, with the pickups of Jake “jakee” Anderson and Dylan “runi” Cade, Cloud9 had little to no rebuilding phase, instantly finding success. Cloud9 have the best record of all North American organizations and their only loss is to the LOCK//IN finalists in LOUD. The two new pickups, scouted by Matthew “mCe” Elmore, have fit in near-perfectly—especially since runi has taken over the in-game leader role. While the changes came out of seemingly nowhere, they are still proving they are one of the favorites in the region. 4. NAVI The former FunPlus Phoenix team is back, now in yellow and black at Ukranian organization NAVI. The team is four-fifths of their whole from FPX, with big free agent pickup Mehmet “cNed” İpek joining in Nov. 2022. For a single-elimination tournament, NAVI looked like one of the strongest teams that Fnatic eliminated. They swept every opponent they faced until they lost to the eventual champions. Regionally, they’ve started well in the regular season despite the fact that the team is clearly experimenting with their compositions, using agents like Gekko frequently. They’re only sitting beneath Fnatic in the standings at this stage, and considering their understanding of the game and how they step up internationally, NAVI is certainly a top-four VALORANT team. 3. LOUD A bit of a drop from the LOCK//IN finalists, though not due to anything they’ve done. LOUD surprised everyone in the off-season, making some roster moves after winning a championship and sending two of their players to regional rivals Sentinels. Even after bringing in some fresh Brazilian talent, the team looked like the LOUD of 2022, going on a great run to the LOCK//IN finals. They almost won too, losing a banger of a five-map series 3-2. They’ve also been great regionally, undefeated but losing some surprising maps along the way. So why the drop to third place? Because the team that almost beat them in the semi-finals at LOCK//IN seems to be only getting better. 2. DRX DRX in 2021 and 2022 were known as a dominant regional team who crumbled when faced with international competition. Yet, towards the end of 2022, the curse was broken and DRX finished in third at Champions. They continued to improve into 2023, stepping up to the challenge in a big way with their semi-final finish at LOCK//IN. https://twitter.com/vctpacific/status/1647202632266825729 But what makes DRX the second-best team of 2023 so far has been their regional play. The team hasn’t lost a map in four matches against powerful foes in the Pacific region like Paper Rex and ZETA DIVISION. Now, they’re 10-1 in total maps, and It seems the team is keeping its moniker of an amazing regional team, even after a move to the tougher Pacific competitive region. It remains to be seen whether DRX can hold their spot, but right now, they’re a well-deserved second. 1. Fnatic This is no surprise; a team that managed one of the best single-map comebacks of all time to win their first international title in VALORANT remains the best team in 2023 so far. From a near-perfect tournament where they finally got their trophy, the team has kept the form into the EMEA region regular season. Despite the fact that one of their key players Emir “Alfajer” Beder wasn’t able to play to start the season, their sixth man Maks “kamyk” Rychlewski has exceeded all expectations. Fnatic is also near-perfect in their region, currently at 5-0 in series wins with only one map lost so far. They have the crown as the best team in VALORANT for the start of the year—it’s up to them to keep it up. Read the full article

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GENSHIN IMPACT - Favorite Tracks from The Stellar Moments, Vol. 1 & 2