#at some point on the way to the launchpad

[erdariel]

If you want to take this into the next level? Have different people (or different communities/groups of people), have conflicting superstitions with each other! like seriously. Have one group saying that, if we keep on OP's example of vehicle that sometimes explodes and how to avoid that, have one group saying that you should, say, start the vehicle so that the front of it is pointing downwind, to avoid it exploding. And another group saying that front-pointing-downwind is specifically the way you shouldn't start it or then it will explode, like they say that have the front pointing in literally any other direction but not downwind, downwind is bad luck. Or, like, not necessarily specifically that, but seriously, when you look at folklore and old superstitions, you sometimes really do run into cases where two communities have superstitions that say basically the exact opposite thing with each other. (Like. The amount of rowan berries as an omen of the coming winter? Some people will say that if there's a lot of berries, there'll be a lot of snow. Some say that if there's a lot of berries, there's not going to be much snow at all. Some people will say that if there's a lot of berries, it means there'll be a war in the winter. Now which one is it? I don't know, take your pick)

If you're worldbuilding and someone gives you criticism on something, remember that most of the shit that humans do isn't perfectly logical, just mostly functional. If someone points at a vehicle you've designed and says "it may be super fast, but this part would catch on fire immediately if a single particle of dust floated close enough, exploding the whole vehicle", that doesn't mean you scrap the vehicle, it means that it's common knowledge that they burst into fire sometines. But not "randomly", humans don't do well with exploding randomly.

Dying in unexpected and unpredictable ways in high risk high reward situations will always have some superstition in them, make it personal. Rituals that people do in hopes of avoiding that 1-in-10 chance they'll explode while starting the ship. Not wearing clothes of a certain colour because the last guy who exploded had a red scarf. Not eating meat the day before because someone ate a ham sandwich. One pilot who has done countless of successful flights who is convinced that the engine only combusts upon starting if you're thinking about heterosexual thoughts.

[dokidokitsuna]

“Some of us…will always be alone”

Skipping forward a bit in this re-concept, just because I can~ (loooong post ahead)

So one of the many things I found underwhelming about Return of the Mammalians is the lack of villainous impact Mr. Grizz has on his own story.

For starters, he’s straight up absent from 80% of it. =/ Just a vaguely threatening disembodied voice that does weak comedy bits with Cap’n Cuttlefish from time to time…and that’s basically it until we face him in the final battle.

The worst thing he’s responsible for in the story (as in, a successful act we have to contend with, rather than a work-in-progress that we interrupt) is dehydrating Cuttlefish…which is very temporary and played for laughs immediately afterwards. We don’t even get the opportunity to engage with this “tragedy” by actively rescuing the Cap’n in gameplay, we just suddenly find his body during a cutscene.

Compare this to Commander Tartar manipulating the player and lying directly to their face throughout the game, attempting to kill the player during the reveal of its treachery in one of the most memorable scenes of the entire series, brainwashing a former protagonist into fighting the player, and then attempting to destroy an entire city while quietly confessing that it murdered thousands of victims just to get to this point.

I’ll let you guess which one of these antagonists feels like a genuine threat, and which one just feels like a disappointment. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Now, I don’t mind Mr. Grizz being less violent and deranged than Commander Tartar…the two have different personalities and slightly different goals, and anyway a body count isn’t really necessary to be a convincing villain. But I DO mind him being so totally uninvolved, despite being a character that we already knew and interacted with beforehand. Like, at the very least…talk to the player. o_O Care about the player. Do something to interfere with the player sometime before the last minute! The fact that Grizz just doesn’t give a damn about our existence for most of the campaign is baffling from a writer’s standpoint, and heartbreaking from a Grizz-fan’s standpoint. ;_; Notice me, Kuma-san!!

…Anyway, there’s a million ways to remedy this, because it’s such a simple and obvious problem that really shouldn’t exist. ^^; And the one I chose for #re_rise (besides having Grizz haunt the game like an ever-present specter, as explained here) is one of my old tried-and-true favorites: using the villain to parallel the protagonist.

Basically, both characters are lonely at heart. Agent 3 left home for the Splatlands in search of a “fresh beginning”, after spending most of their life feeling like they never fit in anywhere. Throughout the story, we get subtle clues that what they want most is belonging and friendship…which they’re clearly discovering through their interactions with Deep Cut and Smallfry, although it’s not until the climax of the final battle that they can truly believe in it and accept it.

And of course, Mr. Grizz lost his home and entire civilization, and even in the midst of a thriving new one (that he actively engages with through his corporation…!) he’s apparently such a massive bigot that he doesn’t consider it worthy of his company. ^^; Fish-people do not count to him, thus his loneliness is self-inflicted and intensified. He believes his only recourse is to transform the world back into something he can accept.

These parallels, plus the desire-manifesting powers of Alterna’s crystals (discussed in this post) eventually brings the two characters to an understanding of sorts. Without having to exchange words, they can see and consider the similarities of their innermost feelings.

This doesn’t have much of an effect on Grizz, outside of something he might muse about while Agent 3 ascends the launchpad (and maybe quietly internalize as proof that fish-people have feelings too, just to give his last-second change of heart at least one leg to stand on). But it weighs heavily on Agent 3, especially since they’re being physically changed by their adventure in a way that makes these parallels even more relevant…yes, I’m finally gonna talk about what I actually drew. ^^

My idea was that spending too much time around Fuzzy Ooze will affect you even if you don’t touch it (i.e. through splashes/aerosols), just to a lesser degree. And since Agent 3 was the first to actually enter the underground lab spaces and spends more time fighting there than anyone else, they’ve had an unprecedented amount of secondhand exposure to it.

Through O.R.C.A.’s files, they can understand why this mild fuzzification is happening to them, and that it may not be reversible, although they press on anyway (I’d like to imply that they’re willing to ignore it to impress Deep Cut~). But Grizz’s offhand comments make them realize that they may be unintentionally setting themselves up to be cast aside again, slowly turning into a repulsive mutant monster that no one will want to be around. The only one of their kind in the world, just like a certain Ursine Anomaly…and if they succeed in stopping Grizz’s plan, that’s all they’ll ever be. 

…On the other hand, if they were to sit back and let him fuzzify the world, then…no, they couldn’t do that. They…wouldn’t…

[artbyblastweave]

I've seen your capeshit posts thinking about The Boys, Worm, Invincible, the Big Two and their media landscape, etc. and I've enjoyed them a lot. You've got a good understanding of the creative and fandom forces surrounding the superhero genre. The one burning question that has sat at the back of my mind since I read Worm back in 2018, which I think you might have an interesting answer to, is simply this: IS an adaptation of that serial possible? Like in any practical sense? And would a mass-market Worm adaptation, however compromised by the adaptation process, have a positive or even significant at all impact on the genre going forward, and the way it's perceived both by hardcore fans and the average consumer?

People (including Wildbow himself at one point) have bounced around ideas for how you'd execute a tv adaptation of Worm, so I certainly don't think it's conceptually impossible. It would definitely be hard, because you'd be kneecapped by the absurdly short runtimes of modern tv seasons and the long turnaround time between seasons. Worm also has a wealth of detail and scene staging complexity that would be really hard to reproduce in a visual medium where someone has to either dress up as or animate all those bastards. And as the third kick in the teeth, I've mentioned before that there are ways in which I think Worm is in conversation with the superhero genre and fandom as it existed in 2011- the MCU cape boom has really heavily altered the space. Reference how The Boys (comic) was really specifically swinging a bat at the post-crisis comic book fandom, but the much tighter and more critically successful and broadly appealing Tv show is swinging at the MCU and DCEU.

But something I think Worm still has going for it over basically every other cape thing is its status as a worldbuilding project. Even if you don't understand every single comics element that it's riffing on, it's a story that, despite having a single definitive protagonist, does a really good job of having the setting be a character in the world and not just a bare-bones launchpad for that single protagonist. If the adaptation could really strongly integrate the setting-specific ways in which there have been, like, procedural reactions to the existence of capes, cultural reactions- really capture the sense of accumulating entropy that characterizes the tone of the setting, the sense of everyone being caught up in dynamics too big for any individual to control, the sense that all of this is in some way adding up- it would be doing something that's really just really not currently covered by any cape adaptation that's gotten big. And tonally, this would pan out (in fact does pan out) as something unique as well, because the fact that there's this entire setting out there constantly disintegrating under its own weight juxtaposes really well with how Taylor is constantly fighting like a maniac to sandbag her own little corner of purgatory. I really can't think of another superhero work that strikes that balance! And it's a balance you can't strike unless you're able to convincingly render that disintegrating world.

[tacky-optic]

The agony of being able to go through an entire tumblr tag from start to finish.... ANYWAY. we're back with more food for the hat trick niche ft. rare JigZeni pachislot (zeni acknowledges jigen for 0.1 seconds and jigen forgot he was there even tho he's driving)

One thing I like about rarepairs is the flexibility. They're a headcanon/hypothetical breeding ground of potential without having to sacrifice too much of the character's integrity, because they rarely ever talk/barely have a relationship to launchpad off of! yaay :'D

So let's talk about how! Five how's, actually. Might've gotten a bit carried away with this one.

As with anything involving these two, somehow, some way, it always circles right back around to Lupin. It kind of has to, given their shared obsession and/or dedication with the guy. But that can split up into all sorts of scenarios, with some equally varied results (and some exceptions!)

~ Getting together in spite of Lupin

In which Lupin's basically that "I messed up so bad that I turned my girl date gay/my guy date straight" joke but everyone's still queer and it's just his partner hooking up with his rival because of how much he's been frustrating them both lately (and oops the proxy hate sex turns out to be really good) INHALES. Does that even make any sense.

I'm sorry but Lupin fumbling the ball is just so funny to me. It is a bit deeper than that, obviously, and this'd have some weird love triangle logistics because Jigen and Zenigata are still hopelessly in love with Lupin, in their own ways. But dipping into that is always complicated and messy-- JUST HOW WE LIKE IT.

This one definitely has the most jealousy on all fronts. For me, there's always this little asterisk on the JigLup/LuZeni pairings because someone's getting left out. Tell me Zenigata's chest wouldn't ache every time he watches Lupin and Jigen escape, an arm slung over the other's shoulder, cheek to cheek, laughs fading off into the cold, lonely night. Tell me Jigen wouldn't hate waiting in the Fiat for Lupin to lose his dogged hunter, mind wandering as to why he's taking so damn long. He grits his jaw when Lupin finally saunters up, victoriously spinning yet another pair of handcuffs on his pointer finger.

There's a silent rivalry for Lupin's attention that they might not even realize is going on until they blow up at each other about it.

It's difficult to tell if Lupin is being genuine or just messing around, especially for Zenigata. He asks Jigen how he deals with him, how he deals with.... everything. Just everything. The "will they won't they"s and the "does he really mean it"s. How does he stay so collected all the damn time. Jigen says he doesn't have a single friggin' clue. Maybe they make out sloppy style about it. Maybe they keep meeting up to vent, drink, exist in each other's company. During chases, Zenigata keeps dipping after Jigen instead of Lupin more and more often. Lupin's standing on a rooftop Pulp Fiction John Travolta style wondering where the fuck everyone went.

Ohhh jealous Lupin, where have you gone. Where did the tms writers hide your unchecked narcissistic ego. The other points after this support Supportive Lupin in some capacity but this one does not. The slow-burn's done slow-burning but it ain't over yet, baby. There's trouble in paradise and its name is Lupin the Third. He is Not Enjoying This. The two guys that are always looking at him aren't looking at him anymore and that just won't do. Drama ensues.

~ Getting together because of Lupin

Matchmaker Lupin! This is if Lupin's relationships with Jigen and/or Zenigata are more platonic-leaning (which is totally valid). The paired fics in Disreputable Company nail this dynamic perfectly imo. But as far as my own separate take goes....

They're both just so. So emotionally constipated. Intentionally or not, Jigen's been screwed over in the romantic interest department to many times that he's intentionally reduced his acquaintance list to how many fingers he's got on his right hand. Zenigata practically unloaded an entire clip into his foot as far as maintaining healthy family/friend relationships go. Spoilers for Zenigata Keibu, but he 100% knew what he was saying when he told Haruka he'd go back to her once he caught Lupin (I can never be yours), and that Zenigata's supposed to be the freest one! Bound not necessarily to Lupin specifically, but to The Chase forever.

Anyway. Jigen and Zenigata are Isolated. The fact that someone would consider them attractive is so foreign that they'd think its some kind of sick joke or ruse to screw them over instead of anything that could ever be even remotely genuine. They need someone to shove them out of their little self-made paranoia bubbles, and Lupin just loves to meddle in people's businesses. I dunno. I just think he'd think it's funny.

*dramatic finger point* "haha zenigata, you are banging my partner!!" "you... you tricked us into our first date? made the reservations?? th- the tailored suits???" "lu you friggin roller-skated out in a waiter outfit and immediately bought us the most expensive top-shelf booze they offered. not even remotely conspicuous about it" "lol yeah. good times"

He's just happy two of his favorite humans are finally getting laid for once, y'know?

~ Getting together for Lupin

Jigen and Zenigata are forced to team up. Okay, this scenario only goes down if 1) Lupin goes missing or is KO'd for a prolonged period of time or 2) the Truce demands they separate for a while. On top of seeing this play out in other fics, my good friend duke and I have been messing around with (a variant of) this idea for a while now (aka they've been letting me run around in their au Rampant and Unchecked. ty duke).

In ""canon"", if these two were to become at the very least amicable towards each other, this'd be the way to do it. In all honesty (and my personal bias for them aside), I'm genuinely shocked they haven't done this before. Not even an episode, tms? That 4-ish minute block in POTP is all you're giving me? One bar chat in the kobayashi sendoff ep. Okay. I'm not miffed i swear

Like I mentioned in this previous post, the idea of the two of them being able to function together without Lupin as a crutch is upsetting at first. They're used to following him to the Ends of the Earth and they're used to him living rent-free in their heads. They've convinced themselves that they're hopeless on their own, that if he disappeared for good they'd just go back to being two husks vaguely shaped like humans meandering around with no meaningful north star to head towards. Don't get me wrong, if the situation was Bad, Goemon and Fujiko would be devastated, too. But they could move on, albeit with a heavy heart. They're kind of known for heading out on their own should the situation call for it. But Jigen and Zenigata are in for the long-haul for better or for worse, whether they like it or not (they do not).

They're on edge the whole time. Hostile towards each other and passive-aggressive at best to any unfortunate folk they have to interact with on this stupid side quest they've been unwillingly shunted onto together.

It helps immensely that they're both "cut that out" people to anyone but themselves, because they can be that for each other. There's a lot of bickering/conflicts of interest and methodology. "You're being too harsh", "You're one to talk", "You're so goddamn stubborn", "You're such a hypocrite", etc etc. But holy shit they're so freakishly effective together, to a frankly terrifying degree-- maybe even moreso than with Lupin because they're honing the fuck in and nothing else-- no banter or bullshit-- and that's what gets them through to the end. Maybe it helps them come to terms with whatever sort of issues they've got going on, maybe it doesn't. Bare minimum, they come out of this with newfound understanding of each other. At max, uh.... see the point after this next one.

~ Lupin-adjacent

A shift in fixation. The slightest glance, the slightest exchange of eye contact for a second too long, the briefest moment of consideration, and the thoughts start spiraling. This is "in spite of Lupin" without the spite. The urge to know absolutely everything about someone, down to the marrow, just gets shifted a little bit to the right onto another guy. It's just them, in-between heists, with barely any mention of the Chase and anyone else involved therein. Their own little adventure away from the status quo. It's weird at first, sure, but it's new and exciting and real dang nice having things not revolve exclusively around him for once. It's a shot for Jigen to mess with Zenigata for once and the closest thing to a willing vacation Zenigata can get. Win-win! Well. Sorta.

The loneliness, though-- that's what makes itself most prevalent during the in-between times. They really don't have much left outside of the Usual. Forgetting the bare essentials, days blending together, moving around the masses like a ghost.... it's familiar, and it's common, not being sure whether they actually like someone or they're just desperately lonely. Zenigata wallows in it, Jigen shoves it down. They've got images to keep. but getting noticed for what they are is simultaneously the worst thing to ever happen and the highlight of their day. Real wholesome bonding material, ain't it

"I tracked you down for only you". "I dragged you into this issue because I want you here". "You get it".

~ Secret fifth thing

*points at playbohz mag* "lol wouldn't it be funny if zenigata was jigen's type??" *points at y series, miyazaki's zeni, island of assassins, that one manga where they put him in a tshirt, etc* "oh my god zenigata is jigen's type."

It's just a one-night stand lmao. I feel like I see this one a fair bit too, mostly because it's super duper simple and doesn't require a crap-ton of emotional angst setup just to get them into the same bed. It's the above point diluted into, like, an afternoon lmao. It doesn't have a lot of depth by design. Curiosity gets the better of both of them, plain and simple. They get buzzed enough at a bar, skip off to some motel to do what they gotta do one time and never speak of it again.

A part of me likes that, but another part of me in the deep deep recesses of my psyche is hollering "TACKY YOU GOTTA TURN THIS INTO THE SPITE BULLETPOINT!!!"

NO. For this one they get one nice hookup and THAT'S THAT. Sorry not sorry.

Maybe it's easier because there's actually something to decipher. There isn't some esoteric idea of "Lupin the Third, Gentleman Thief"; a mystery man(?) with a million little gadgets and masks and smiles; this unwavering, unpredictable force of chaos that likes taking shiny things from one place and hiding them somewhere else over and over again with no real rhyme or reason.

It's easier to find solace in turning to the guy next to you and going, "what do you think that is?" than in going up to "that" and poking it with a stick in hopes it'll give some sort of answer. "That" won't. "That" likes watching you guys flounder around together too much :)

[meerkatp]

Any Mallard McQuack HC’s you have?

By far not all of them (I'm too scatterbrained for my own good) but was able to compile some of them together with some basics.

These go for all mainline versions (original, 2010/16 comics (a.k.a. Prime dimension), DT17, 2023 comics) unless specified. (Some of these can be carried over to other versions of them to a extent.)

None of them are straight. Launchpad's Bi (canon), Drake's also Bi (91 def wasn't straight, but his attraction to women didn't feel like comphet (at least from a character standpoint. Writing on the other hand…)) and Gos is a Lesbian but the only one of the main ones who has that figured out is DT17. The other versions of her are 9-10 and haven't thought much about it.

Side note: Drake is Trans (but you problobly already knew that if you've been keeping up with my work. lol) 91 & 2010 Drake were shocked at S.H.U.S.H. helping him with his transition. (Should be noted that Trans healthcare is a very personal issue for one of the organization's biggest donors for some unknown reason.)

They're also all Autistic. Launchpad and Drake are canon (at the very least in DT17) but I don't think anything's really been mentioned behind the scenes for Gos (though the whole "spirit" thing gives me Autism vibes). 91 Drake's problobly the only member of the family who hasn't been formally diagnosed.

They all share one braincell. Sometimes none of them are holding it, but only one of them (usually Gos) can hold it at a time.

It's rare but whenever Drake is mad at Launchpad to the point of making him sleep on the couch, upon going to bed he almost immediately gets upset and lonely and begs Launchpad to come back. His record is about 30 minutes.

Gos does learn magic. I don't think she'd go back to that magic school, or that she'd get magic powers of her own, but she does study it with Morgana (a.k.a. "Aunt Morg"). DT17 Gos also practices with Lena and Violet.

Non-DT17 versions of Gos also gets more interested in science as she gets older. In a way it makes her feel closer to her grandpa as she fears her memories of him will eventually fade.

Launchpad also teaches Gos and Drake the basics of being a pilot. Thinks it's important that they know incase something happens to him. Also how to crash as safely as possible.

Also on that note it is impossible to get severely injured, let alone die from Launchpad's crashes. It's kindof his superpower.

They're a SEGA family. If given the option they'd go for the SEGA versions of a game. (Of course, this was easiest for the '91 versions. RIP) 91 Gos has gotten in fist fights over this.

And of course, Drakepad is endgame.

[strawberryicemoon]

Does anyone else feel like the Della that was set up and the Della we actually got were two different characters.

Primarily I think Della's just dumber than we were initially lead to believe. And I think there's something in one of the first things we knew about her was that she had pretty handwriting, where I struggle to believe the Della is patient enough to have neat handwriting. The last Crash of the Sunchaser implied she designed the Spear of Selene. Scrooge said someone who "sees the angles". Like I get that don't speak ill of the dead was in play. And I also get wanting Della's legacy to not match perfectly with her true self, but some of the literally flashbacks we saw implied she was clever (she figured out Dewey was from the future, again, she was sketching the Spear). Having the characters stretch the truth is one thing, but flashbacks is another. I mean we literally saw her Scuba-Diving in a flashback, but in show she hates fish.

Not helped by the fact I assumed she named her children, and was using that as a gauge of her personality. And like. Turbo is very funny. I get why you'd make it a surprise reveal. Recontextualize her personality. But we already were introduced to her in the episode before. Also I just didn't like it tbh. (And kinda like my beef with the whole April May and June thing, I'm not a duck fan, I have no horse in this race, and things can be different, but considering to my understanding the few glimpses of previous iterations of Della, she definitely named her sons, and changing one of the few things that previously existed about the character felt weird to me, cheap even. On one hand I get wanting to show just how disconnected from her son she is and how much the incident cost her. But on the other hand it was just salt in the wound at that point, for a few jokes about the boys names… which have generally been changed to be even more embarrassing than they were previously for more jokes).

I really did like Whatever Happened to Della Duck. The only "Weird' things to me was how technically and artistically unsavvy she seemed to be, when we had scene her sketching the spear of Selene. Like that was a whole ass plot point. And also how oblivious she seemed to what was happening with the Moonlanders when she was presumably "sharp". But y'know. I can excuse one misunderstanding, and she was probably just a bit crazy from being alone on the moon for so long (and any prior mental health issues) and when she gets back other characters will probably be unnerved by her a bit because she's changed. But this was apparently normal Della (aside from not liking her reflection). If someone had spelled out in show the ways she had changed while on the moon I think it would have made all the difference. (Though Ducktales in general has an issue for completely neglecting to state important information until its necessary but long after it was relevant, so the fact no one says that doesn't mean it can't be true tbh).

I think the core of the character, and thus why she caught my attention remained. She's a traumatized woman who did something impulsive (that should have been fine), that had disproportionately huge consequences. And now has to get to know her children. She has to learn to parent on the fly. She has to establish herself as an adult when she's otherwise been stuck in place. She has to reestablish herself with her family, and a new sense of identity in a world that's changed without her.

And looking some of the Della description from the pitch bible we got recently, and the Della described there is closer to the one I thought we were getting prior to her debut. It makes me wonder when that changed. I know early on, in the Moorshire episode, they realized they made Launchpad too dumb after they finished it. To me it feels like they did that with Della (and to a certain extent Donald as well), but then never made the realization about what they did. We already had launchpad as the stupid adult. We didn't need more. Also, to be honest, I struggle to name any strengths over other characters besides the pragmatic "better at flying than Launchpad". Now, don't get me wrong, I still like canon Della. She had a lot of great moments. But to be honest I think all of her best moments, would have also worked with the Della I thought we were getting. Her fears about losing the kids, so lying to them about participating in the fight. Her song. Her punishing Louie for being stupid. The bit where she talked about being unable to look at her reflection and breaking her glass. Teaching Dewey to fly. Realizing how much her kids looked up to her and to what extents they might be idiots to prove themselves to her. I don't want her not to be reckless, just more thoughtful. That said, the way the other characters treated her didn't really help. It felt like at least for a while she was being ignored. Like she wasn't being treated seriously, but also no one was trying to help or understand her. (Which we got Donald blasted off into space after being ecstatic to see her, made me feel like Donald might actually see her... but then 5 episodes in to S3 Donald gets a girlfriend and the twins rarely appear together).

Liking those elements of the pitch bible might be a bit of the classic "the grass is greener" nonsense. And the fact it's just a barebones description not a full fletched character, and to be fair I don't care for every detail in it. But even before the pitch bible, I was bothered by the fact Daisy, not Della was the person who understood Donald best. (My aromantic self does not appreciate the prioritzation of romantic relationships). And here in the pitch bible. It says Della knows Donald best. We didn't get a single glimpse of "was scared to be a mom", even though I'd solidly developed the head canon that the Spear of Selene ride was a form of post-partum fear even before reading this, and I understand that might have been difficult to work into the show, the lack of support for Della in general, or any hints of empathy for why she did what she did doesn't help. Even of dealing with trauma from the instance. I can't say the "stuff just happens" angle is objectively bad. But this is still a story. A narrative. Not reality. It feels cheap as a character, for her biggest mistake to basically boil down to "oops", rather than a huge character flaw. Like yes, being reckless is a flaw. But considering what the family is USUALLY doing, it… isn't? It really isn't any worse than what they family does normally so for her to be punished so harshly for it is a bit unfair.

In the finale the fact it's revealed that Bradford told Della about the spear, also feels kinda cheap to me. I think its an interesting reveal… but considering this is information one of our main protagonists knows it feels bizarre that it is a reveal to the audience. (Or that no one asked Della before). Also it feels a bit like it's trying to absolve Della of blame, but it doesn't address the core problem of (sure the show never states there's a problem but Scrooge makes reference to Della's "one last big adventure" and it's hard not to see this as an attempt to break out of some sort of mental funk. And it again, needlessly victimizes Della. She got stuck in space for 10 years, couldn't even name her own children, loses her leg, gets betrayed, loses her plane kinda-sorta, and is kind of treated like an idiot by many of the other adults around her. Because some guy was trying to mess with Scrooge. Della's moon trip sucks, I don't think they needed to make it worse by making it not even her fault.

I wish we had gotten a scene of Donald telling the boys what Della was like from his perspective. He's her twin. And I really don't want to welcome the comparisons between DT17 and GF. But the lack of any character drawing the parallels between Donald & Della and Huey, Dewey and Louie is absurd. But they don't utilize it. Like at all. No one ever looks at Donald and goes, oh. He lost his twin. That really sucks. The triplets never go. What would it be like if I lost one of you. Like twins are sometimes just siblings. They don't need to have "super special relationship", but in a show about family it's sure awkward that they don't. I am so mad that Huey, Dewey and Louie didn't get to see another side of their Uncle Donald brought out by Della. Or alternatively a Della struggling to connect with her brother. Even better both.

I know the "is the character acting ooc or do you not actually know the character" is well, a thing. I am aware that the post-partum depression, actually clever and observant Della is mostly made up by me. But I also know where in canon it came from to me. Della never acts out of character from once she's introduced. But that character is still a bit off from the character we had come to expect in the first season and a half. She's not completely divorced from what we were told about her. But still. Do I love Della, or the idea of Della. Honestly, I don't know.

This is definitely very OPINION, and not really anything objective.

[shootingcookielover]

Ducktales 2017 Dystopia Alternate Universe

After losing Della to space, Scrooge 180's into taking over the world to keep people safe from adventuring. (Yeah, u can imagine bradford's reaction xD)

This, surprisingly enough, doesnt necessarily change a lot for ur average, non-magical entity.

But now magically inclined people, to fully magic people r being hunted/locked up/etc.

Beakley, with Webby in tow, leaves the manor as soon as she realizes what he's doing. She tries to return to SHUSH, to warn them, do anything - but it's too late. SHUSH is already in Scrooge's hands.

While trying to evade shush/fowl/scrooge to protect her granddaughter and maybe start a resistance or something against mcduck's regime, she runs into a homeless teenager who is being hunted as well. Because she is a purely magical entity and thus entirely too dangerous.

This, of course, is Lena. (I'm assuming Lena doesn't really... Age? Considering that Magica made her when she was imprisoned and that was, presumably, a while ago lol)

They end up helping/covering for each other, to stay safe. Lena and Webby r basically siblings lol

They eventually find that there is a rebellion, a resistance, trying to fight against the grip mcduck has on the world and the discrimination against magical creatures. Who is leading this rebellion?

Glittering Goldie O'Gilt, baby! I just think she'd make a great rebel leader, especially when she realizes how utterly insane Scrooge has gotten.

She's not just doing this for the world, she's hoping she can maybe punch some sense into scrooge after taking him down.

Donald Duck, meanwhile, has no clue what's going on, not really. Being neither a magical entity nor really still in the adventuring business, Scrooge's changes haven't really affected him much - besides, he has the boys to take care of.

(aside from that weird letter from storkules; but that's probably nothing.)

The boys eventually need a babysitter. During their time at the mansion - a strangely empty mansion, mind you, with no magical artefacts, no mementos to old adventures - they end up finding that prophecy abt atlantis. (Or something like that.)

Cue Scrooge's driver, Launchpad "I'm a pilot" McQuack who has exactly zero qualms taking three boys on an adventure in a submarine.

I dont think Donald would still work with Glomgold in this instance - maybe instead he unknowingly hired on to the rebellion or smth? Either way, atlantis shenanigans happen.

The rebellion people donald works for - Beakley, probably, maybe even Webby is there - tell donald he shouldn't return to his uncle with the boys, but donald just rolls his eyes and insists they need to take accountability. Also scrooge needs to take accountability for putting them in danger in the first place.

Scrooge is not happy to find out that his nephew and his nephews went out adventuring. He fires Launchpad on the spot. (Launchpad def gets hired by the rebellion later)

But also, he wants to imprison the boys - for their own good, of course. Adventuring is dangerous and such dangerous inclinations cannot be allowed to run wild among the populace.

Donald (obviously) does not like this.

He tries to bust them all out (the boys are very surprised/impressed at Donald's fighting ability) but of course he hasnt done anything like this in years, he's rusty. And his uncle knows him well enough to counter him.

The sentence "I thought you'd know better, Donald, I really did. Especially after what happened to your sister." Falls at some point.

Lucky for the duck boys, Webby convinced Beakley to trail them, so now we get agent 22 busting them out! Yay! Except she gets taken prisoner in the process! Oh no!

The ducks find Webby who is, understandably, very upset at having her grandma taken, but also understands that the five of them have no chance of busting her out. So, she takes them back to the rebellion.

A rebellion probably consisting of like, Goldie (duh), Lena, maybe some of the Beagle Boys? There was that one magician beagle boy so i'm assuming he at least is there, and some other assorted magical/dangerous people/creatures. B.O.Y.D. probably, too, actually. I'm imagining Gyro got locked up - if only due to his, yknow, building B.O.Y.D. in the first place.

Oh, and once della comes back from the moon she's most definitely not teaming up with scrooge - something that really makes scrooge think i'd imagine. May even trigger his eventual redemption arc? Though having him as a villain through the whole thing could also be fun tbh

This is all i have so far tbh, but feel free to take the concept and run w it if u wanna, i had a blast coming up w even this much tbh xD i'd love to see other people take a crack at it (or expand it even!) so like, it's free real estate (just tell me if ur doing anything w this, i wanna see that lol)

[scottpetersen]

Honestly, I think that Launchpad McQuack from the DuckTales (2017) TV series would get along surprisingly well with Marcy Wu from the Amphibia TV series. After all, both of them are very passionate when it comes to certain works of fiction to the point that they think about it even during a heated battle. As shown in the episode ‘Let’s Get Dangerous! Part 2: A Case Of Mistaken Reality!’, Launchpad was very passionate about Darkwing Duck TV shows and comic books to the point that he was knew the Fearsome Four’s weaknesses very well and was able to help exploit them to take them down. And, as shown in the episode ‘The Hardest Thing’, Marcy was ecstatic about anime to the point that she was very excited about the way she, Anne and Sasha were using their Calamity powers since it looked like anime. Also, both of them have tried to form bonds with other people based on their passion for their favorite fantasies. As shown in the episode ‘Friendship Hates Magic!’, Launchpad did try to bond with Bentina Beakley by watching a Darkwing Duck TV show with her. And, as shown in Entry 14 of Marcy Wu’s Journal, Marcy did try to bond with Javi, Kettle and Femur by playing a role-playing game called Creatures And Caverns. And I think that Marcy would appreciate some of Launchpad’s occasional words of wisdom. After all, as also shown in the episode ‘Let’s Get Dangerous! Part 2: A Case Of Mistaken Reality!’, Launchpad is surprisingly wise when it comes to what being a hero is about to the point that he gave Gosalyn some advice by saying: “Anyone can do the right thing when it’s easy. But it’s what you do when things are hard that makes you a hero.” I think that those words might really speak to Marcy because, as shown in the episode ‘All In’, Marcy found it in herself to stand up to The Core to try to help Anne and Sasha and she rejected her fantasies of having Anne and Sasha by her side and doing what she wants despite the fact that she knew that she probably wouldn’t get what she wanted at the end of it. After all, at that moment, Marcy did the right thing despite it being hard. And I think that Marcy would design some pieces of armor to help Launchpad as well as Darkwing Duck and Gosalyn with their fight against crime since, given her aforementioned passion for works of fiction, Marcy would probably be very passionate when it comes to superheroes and, as shown in Entry 12 of Marcy Wu’s Journal, Marcy is pretty knowledgeable when it comes to armor. Another thing Launchpad and Marcy have in common is that someone they looked up to turned out to be evil. As shown in the episode ‘The Duck Knight Returns!’, Jim Starling, someone Launchpad looked up to, turned out to be evil and, as shown in the episode ‘True Colors’, King Andrias, someone who Marcy looked up to, turned out to be evil. Also, another thing about it is that Jim Starling and King Andrias at least somewhat cared about Launchpad and Marcy respectively before that part of them was ultimately eclipsed by their evil side. As shown in the episode ‘The Duck Knight Returns!’, Jim did risk his life to save Launchpad before ultimately becoming completely evil and insane and, as shown in the episode ‘All In’, Andrias did have some reservations about hurting Marcy at first before, as shown in the episode ‘True Colors’, he stabbed Marcy.

[violetganache42]

Highlights from tonight's movie night celebrating some of the different teams Donald has been a part of in categorized and chronological order (I honestly like this format. I might stick with it):

"Boat Builders":

Good news: The short has subtitles! Bad news: They're not in English, so you still can't understand what the fuck Donald is saying.

Donald: "Yeah, even a child can do it!" Godfrey: "Even Della could do it!"

justaboot: "god's third choice after the 3 stooges"

Max's mother has been found

"The First Adventure!":

Bradford Hate Club

Ludwig appearance!

puffywuffy8904: "he's serving whatever the opposite of cunt is" WriteBackAtYa: "So di—"

(I love this screenshot. 😂)

The reference to Della's letter

WriteBackAtYa and I being on the same wavelength

Eat the rich uncle (Sorry, Scrooge, but I had to. XD)

"You can't mute me, old man!"

RIP Donald's guitar

The Temple of Doom parallel!

PAPYRUS

"Treasure of the Golden Suns" easter egg!

"fragile old body"

POGO CANE

Black Heron doing the smug anime girl laugh (You know what I'm talking about.)

"I'm the chosen one!" Pure Deweycore

"So long, suckers!"

Just Black Heron in general (She's a fun villain. lol)

DONALD KILL

Us ranting about Bradford using the Papyrus of Binding to escape like the COWARD THAT HE IS! WHY WE OUGHTA— COME BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE—

If I had a nickel for every time Black Heron lost her robot arm, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.

Me: "BEAKLEY YOU FOOL" Godfrey: "YOU FUCKING FOOOOOOOOL"

"The House of the Lucky Gander!":

Louie "I do hate hot dogs" Duck noticing the neon lights shaped like a hot dog

"We're all gonna die! I'VE WASTED MY LIFE!"

Launchpad deserves his own episode dedicating to his love life

Gladstone Hate Club

Scrooge looking at the camera like he's on The Office

puffywuffy8904: "gladstone you have a haircut shut up"

Huey autism moment

Just how bored and tired Dewey, Webby, and Scrooge were after seeing Aquarioon

Dewey and the jade tigers

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

27!

Webby's love for chocolate fountains

"And a distraction."

Scrooge: "I don't even get to be part of the blasted challenge?" Huey:

Real-Life-Pine-Tree: "Roasted duck anyone?" Me: "'Danny: I'll have the duck.'"

Louie's motivational speech

"Where did that come from?"

Us @ Liu Hai: RIP bozo (at least until DuckTales World Showcase Adventure)

The underwhelming Golden Cricket and how fucking bored and exhausted the family was

"Mt. Fuji Whiz":

LotTC basically being DuckTales on crack

Me: "Hell is a city. Where have I seen that before? 🤔" Godfrey: "Hazbin Hote—[gunshot]"

My idea of Clinton and Webby bonding over Clan McDuck history

Missy thirsting for Panchito

The return of the Ari the Autism Bird!

Xandra and the nieces in general (They're some of the best characters in the show. ^^)

*The Three Caballeros are stuck in the Underworld* AMJ: "We have a very simple solution." DT17!Huey: "This doesn't feel simple."

Jack Skellington moon

Donald saying the Karen phrase

Xandra and Charon clothes swap

Panchito being "that" guy

The Sheldgoose family tree taking notes from Goofy's family tree regarding the relatives' designs

IN THE PLUMS!

Clinton hugging Donald 💖

Tokyo? LIKE IN DUCKTALES!

"Potatoland":

Dreamy: "SEE HE HAS 27 FINGERS" Me: "27!"

POTATOLAND! POTATOLAND!

"Mickey, I am fed up with your bullshit devil magic."

Praising Mickey's characterization in the Paul Rudish shorts

Donald's blush

No more Idaho

Just the whole short in general. It's the best. XD

"Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers":

Black Arts Beagle's Musketeer cousins

puffywuffy8904: "they wanna be Scrooge soooo bad"

Donald being, and I quote Jamie, "a punk bitch" in this movie

The return of Pete Hate Club

"Whoa, he's bisexual, I didn't know that!"/"By the way, I'm bisexual! I forgot, I- forgot to announce it! How do you turn this shit off- wait-"

The entire opera gag

Clarabelle appearance!

Dreamy pointing out the parallels how Pete is to Minnie what Bradford is to Scrooge

In the Hall of the Mountain King

"Why did the music stop?"

"Together, we'll save the princess or die trying!"/"…Die? …Die?"

melcat33: "Minnie discovers she's into bdsm"

WriteBackAtYa and I quoting Philip CD-i Legend of Zelda

The turtle trying to be the rooster from Robin Hood at one point

"That little diddy's starting to grow on me."

Pete referencing The Lion King

Donald FINALLY unleashing his iconic temper

melcat33: "Goofy finally being Dad Material" WriteBackAtYa: "But he was daddy material"

(Look what you made me do! /lh)

Pirates of Penzance

"Not long… maybe… 40 years?"

The movie ending with the fucking Can-Can

Learning about how Tokyo Disneyland had Mickey, Donald, and Goofy as the Three Musketeers and they all looked AMAZING (Why does Japan get all the cool shit?!)

[dasturdlydangerousduck]

Top 10 reasons why you SHOULD love and simp over Drake Mallard/Darkwing Duck!!

Number 10: His Durabiity 💪

This dude literally survived a point blank explosion of TMT, a large piano dropped on his body, and a LARGE amount of electricity set at the highest level CONCURRENTLY, and can STILL throw down with Jim Sterling afterwards! If that isn't badass than I don't know what is!!

Number 9: His Revamped Costume... 🥵🔥 🦹‍♂️

Two words. Skin. Tight. For those chiseled muscles of his... Besides that, his costume is one of the coolest designs for a super duck ever! He really knows how to fight crime in style!!

Number 8: His Casual Fashion Sense

Pretty much everything I said on number 9 and then some!! THIS MAN PULLS OFF PURPLE/PINK-ISH CLOTHES VERY WELL!! AND THOSE SUNGLASSES JUST SHOWS HOW HANDSOME HE REALLY IS!!

Number 7: He's A Great and Supportive Friend

Despite his lack of awareness that Fenton is Gizmoduck, Drake is still a great friend to him, supporting him all the way through thick and thin, even calling him buddy in the Let's Get Dangerous special!!

He'll be there to help support his friends and family in any way possible, no matter the cost!!

Number 6: He's a Kid at Heart!

Drake is devoted fan through and through, and it goes to show that even the most manly of men can be kids at the end of the day!! His naivety is also a rare treat that is very rarely seen in heros and adds to his cuteness!!

Number 5: He's Great with Kids!!

Drake's dreams were all about inspiring kids everywhere by becoming Darkwing, and that clearly shows with how he acts around Gos! He does everything he can to make sure that she gets the best in life, even to the point of extreme exhaustion just to make her happy. Kids are his life, and Drake really is a great dad...

Number 4: He is STACKED... 🥵

No need to explain myself. This boi's muscle game is on point! Especially those pecs... No wonder he can survive the amount of stuff that is thrown his way!! 💪😎

Number 3: HIS SUPER PINCHABLE CHEEK FEATHERS!!!🤗

He may be a strong and built boi, but those cheek feathers must feel like heaven!! THE WAY IT FLOPS AROUND IS SOOOOOO ENTICING!!! HOW COULD YOU NOT WANT TO SQUEEZE!!!

Number 2: He's both Handsome and adorable... 🥺🥰

JUST LOOK AT HIS FACE!!! LOOK AT HIS PRECIOUS PRECIOUS FACE!!! HE'S SUCH A HANDSOME, DREAMY, ADORABLE, INNOCENT BOI!! HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO A FACE LIKE THAT?!?!

Number 1: He is literally the sweetest person in the world... 😇🥰🥰🥰🥰

You would think that an actor like Drake would be as stuck-up as his protege Jim Starling, but that couldn't be further from the truth!! Drake is literally the most caring and infectiously lovable duck ever!! He always wants to make things better for everyone and always goes above and beyond to love and protect the people he cares about whether it be Launchpad, Gosalyn, Fenton, or the entire world!! And while his ego could be fixed up a bit, his personality more than makes up for his faults. Besides, Darkwing was always egotistical. You could say he's just playing his character down to a tee!!

Those are my reasons for why Drake is my favorite DT17 character of all time and why you should love and respect him!!

[beevean]

Rewriting Castlevania

To be more specific, Castlevania post-Season 2. The first few seasons shall serve as the launchpads from which to build upon and iron out the kinks for later stories.

I don’t have an exact vision of how rewritten versions of Season 3 and 4 (or Nocturne, but that isn’t the focus here), but I know, for starters, they could’ve used a more compact cast.

First: remove Trevor and Sypha. They may have been major protagonists in Seasons 1 and 2, but their story was over. Alucard, as well. His story was also done… for now (because he’s too iconic in the franchise as a whole not to bring back in a sequel series).

Next: they could’ve easily cut out Morana and Striga (whose names escaped my memory until I just looked them up) without substantially affecting anything in Carmilla’s whole story. Lenore can stay (maybe as the show’s equivalent to Laura), but she should not get a “redemption”. Instead, develop the idea of how weak others see her and how her devious intellect helps her overcome her perceived weakness. Write the woman a Starscream arc, even (“I am Lenore of Styria, and fuq you, Carmilla! I win!”), with mistress Carmilla as her Megatron! Give her lots of ambition!

For Isaac, I would love for his chat with that Captain to be preserved (I rewatched it recently and loved the vibe of it), but a couple other events in his journey need adjustments so that he doesn’t go through the “I had an nice talk with a human, so my mind about humanity is changing, but these guys are blocking me and I can’t reason with them, therefore I’m stupid for trying to be civil and hate humans again, now they die!” bit twice. With a little streamlining, his screentime in Season 3 could be devoted to building him up as a threat, and then set up Season 4 with his role as a co-antagonist (with Carmilla) to Hector fully set up when they reunite. No sanitizing “I’m going to live!” revelations here.

Then there’s Hector. I still think we didn’t need to see the immediate aftermath of his imprisonment. In this hypothetical rewritten story, I would suggest having a 1 or 2 year timeskip, so he’s been slaving away in Carmilla’s dungeon for quite a while, forced to build her an army with his Devil Forgemaster powers, and Lenore’s been keeping watch and giving him plenty of incentives not to betray the sisters. Maybe for his first appearance in this version of Season 3, he could have this intimidating reveal where it dramatically shows the scrawny boy from Season 2 has become a buff, scarred son of a gun, clearly having worked out a lot during his year(s)-long stay.

The story following the Castlevania 3 adaptation would not have to be a Curse of Darkness adaptation, but the pieces were in place to pass the main protagonist torch over to Hector anyway. By making Season 3 all about his eventual escape, and having Season 4 follow him on the run, eventually overcoming his oppressor (Carmilla) and former partner (Isaac), we have ourselves a cohesive story that blends everything it establishes into one, airtight package, rather than feeling like a convoluted animation anthology.

Also, maybe Saint Germain’s Infinite Corridor quest can be worked into Hector’s adventure to freedom in some kind of creative way, without Saint Germain having to sacrifice his morals or gain info from a shady 3rd (or 4th) party.

Reply: I like your ideas!

Hard agree on removing Trevor and Sypha because they are effectively done, and Morana and Striga because they add absolutely nothing of importance. Ellis said that he created the council to explain who ran the kingdom while Carmilla was in Wallachia, but Lenore could do the job herself.  I’m not sure about Alucard because his story is also over, but I do see the potential of him grappling with his grief, and fearing he might become like Dracula. It’s just, the way it was done was skull-crushingly boring, and for now I have no better ideas.

(btw yes, Carmilla and Lenore could be wives at this point lmao, their personalities are strong enough that it wouldn’t come off as The Lesbians For Brownie Points. Maybe Carmilla turned Lenore so she’s her dame and superior, and this would cause frustration in Lenore who feels like Carmilla sees her more as her pet than a lover... frustration that she channels on Hector, in some sort of cycle of abuse way :) I still like the idea of her falling in love with Hector, but it’s an unhealthy, possessive love typical of a vampire, that Hector doesn’t reciprocate or grows out of.)

For Isaac, I mentioned the other day that he could use as a springboard the realization that Dracula cast him away like a broken tool, and from there, his affirmation that he’s worth more than what Dracula told him. ... yes, this is still Hector’s arc, but whatever at this point. Absolutely, S3 should avoid that stupid pattern of “oh maybe humans aren’t so bad-- nvm y’all rude, die”. Maybe he avoids people instead of barging through cities, and makes his army from the corpses he finds in abandoned towns? But he still can’t avoid everyone, hence, the scene with the captain.

Mhh. Hector’s story spanning so long would also influence Isaac’s, and it feels like too much? If Isaac had one year of time to build an army, dude would lead a small country basically. He’s already OP af, even if we nerf him by making him weak in physical combat. Same with Carmilla, she would definitely do some damage in one year.

I’m torn. Hector’s story in S3 could be tweaked a bit by making it less fetishistic and still treating Hector like a person: as in, someone with goals and principles and was not hired as General only because he’s pretty, that Lenore has to whittle down to convince him to work for him (the idea that Hector cannot be physically forced to work and his master needs to earn his trust is actually really good for a conflict). The two should butt heads and have more intriguing conversations, make the job harder for Lenore, let’s see if she keeps with the diplomacy or gets frustrated and needs to resort to the ring (which only makes sense in the scenario where Hector is deemed too dangerous to be allowed to work freely, since its only shown function is to bequeath control of the Creatures). I actually jotted some ideas down, if you’re interested :P

(oh, and no rape. obviously. she really didn’t need to do that.)

And S4 can kind of stay the same, but with the difference that Hector trapping Lenore is a form of cruel mercy, he does not crawl back to her because he too realized he does not need to cling to people to earn love, and he actually leaves the castle, ready to explore the world (with the implication that he might meet the equivalent of Rosaly, but it’s not necessary)

To clarify, what is your idea of Hector’s story in S4? Does he flee from Isaac on the chase? Will he eventually fight him and Carmilla? Will he meet Rosaly in the finale, and in this timeline they stay together without Isaac interfering? (please say yes 🥺)

But yeah. I still think the prequels could have been adapted, but if we need Carmilla as a spanner in the works tweaking the timeline, this feels much better. Trevor and Sypha alone not bogging down screentime would solve so many issues with the rushed pace.

[tksfandomhellhole]

Apparently the outer wilds fandom is somewhat popping on tumblr, so I figured I'd offer something of actual substance to you all: A Pre-Canon OWV Founders fic, with heavy inspirations from Elwensa's designs on their dynamics.

Summary: In which everything that could go wrong during a routine trip into space does, and it takes all of them to fix it.

Characters: Feldspar, Hornfels, Gossan, Slate

Tags/Warnings: POV Third Person/POV Alternating, Near Death Experiences, and of course plenty of crashes and explosions

[AO3 Version Here]

Hornfels and Gossan sat idly in the makeshift ground control room that currently doubled as Outer Wilds Ventures' Observatory.

"Observatory" was a bit of a stretch, as it was mostly just the cobbled together bits and bobs that made up the ground control room plus a telescope Hornfels had just managed to upgrade. The program was still in it's pilot phase–Gossan rolled their eyes whenever anyone said that, which is why Feldspar made it a point to bring it up whenever they could–but in due time, they knew the program would only grow.

They'd already managed to land successfully on the Attlerock and a few of the other planets even, and had planned to start work on some sort of space outpost once Slate was finished with the latest ship.

Whenever Slate was questioned on the progress of said ship however, they'd bark that "It'd help if someone didn't waste so much of my time with constant repairs on their ship."

Today was a routine space trip to Brittle Hollow, and they were waiting for Feldspar to report back that they'd made it back to their ship and they were heading back home.

"Feldspar to ground control, do you copy?"

"We copy, Feldspar!" Hornfels chirped cheerily, happy to hear back from them so soon.

"About to take this death trap Slate calls a ship off this death trap of a planet we call Brittle Hollow, I've gotten all I need from it today. ETA five minutes."

Gossan sighs, inaudible in the background, and Hornfels has to stifle a chuckle. "Sure thing, Feldspar, did you want me to pass your comments onto Slate when we tell them to clear the launchpad?"

Feldspar clears their throat nervously, "Uhh, that won't be necessary ground control, I might need to stay in their good graces today..." they trailed off, and Hornfels exchanges a knowing smirk with Gossan, the telltale sign that Feldspar had managed to break something critical again.

"Uh-huhhh," Hornfels draws out, "And you're sure you can make it back to Timber Hearth in one piece?"

Feldspar scoffs "What me? I could fly this thing in my sleep. You think I can't make it back without the nav systems?... and the lights... and the landing gear..." Their voice trails off uncertainly. "Please don't tell Slate before I get there." They whisper, as if afraid rattling off the damages done had already summoned them.

Hornfels and Gossan laugh heartily at their friend's expense, Hornfels wiping an imaginary tear from their eye before responding, "Well, just do your best not to break off anything else on your way back, and you might be able to escape Slate's wrath."

"Aye-aye ground control, liftoff has already been achieved. There won't be a single other scratch on the ship if I can h–Oh crap-!"

The sound of Feldspar's panicked shout is quickly overtaken by a horrible crashing noise, as metal, wood, and glass splinters and shatters over the line.

For a heartstopping moment Gossan and Hornfels are frozen, eyes wide in fear.

"Feldspar?! Feldspar come in!" Hornfels shrieks into the radio, already frantically trying to orient the telescope towards their last known location. They wait with bated breath for Feldspar's response, to no avail.

A sharp intake of breath from Hornfels draws Gossan's attention, "Hornfels, what do you see, where are they?!"

"Th-They're hurtling away from Brittle Hollow into space!" Hornfels says, looking up from the telescope to check the readings from the pilot monitor, "Vitals are low–Feldspar might not be conscious!"

Gossan grips their arm so tightly it'll bruise later. "How many minutes of oxygen did they have left?!"

"S-Seven I-I think, but they might've punctured their suit and could be losing oxygen at a faster rate!"

"Stars above–" Gossan is already tripping over their own feet as they run out the observatory door. "SLATE! SLAAATE!"

Slate jolts from where they're at, hitting their head on the underside of the ship they were working on. Rubbing their head, they lift the welding helmet from their face. "Gossan? What's the big–"

Gossan yanks Slate out from under the ship, shoving them unceremoniously to the side as they hop in. "I need to get to Feldspar," they shout, "They're running out of oxygen!" Gossan is already slamming the hatch closed and their helmet on, sliding into the suit faster than they've ever managed, even in a race against Feldspar.

Slate is up now, and has stumbled a few feet away from the launchpad, but there's an unmistakeable frenzy to their movements, as they wave their arms desperately for Gossan's attention, trying their hardest to yell over the din of the engines already firing up.

"Gossan, wait! That ship isn't space-ready yet! It won't last past the–"

Gossan gives a quick two-fingered salute, uncaring of Slate's panic, and launches into the sky.

Slate books it into the observatory just as Gossan clears the atmosphere, "Hornfels, what the hell just happened?!"

Hornfels doesn't look up from where they're frantically readjusting the telescope. "It's Feldspar, their ship collided with one of the meteors from Hollow's Lantern, and it looks like they just barely managed to eject, but now they're drifting out into space, completely unresponsive!"

Slate is already gripping both sides of their head, tugging painfully at their ears, "Hornfels we need visual on Gossan! That ship they took isn't going to last much longer!"

"I'm trying, I'm trying!" Hornfels responds, voice shrill.

Gossan was well aware the structural integrity of the ship was deteoriating fast. It seemed that trip through the atmosphere had already put more force than it could handle on the poor unreinforced parts, and the ship groaned and creaked as Gossan coaxed every last bit of power out of it. They were still too far away from Feldspar, their best friend still just a blip on the horizon. Just a little more!

The lights in the cockpit start flashing a headache inducing red just as several ear-piercing alarms went off in tandem, and Gossan clicks their tongue in frustration. So much for the hope that they could retrieve Feldspar in the ship.

They double check their EVA suit and oxygen, making sure everything is tightly sealed, and grab their jetpack and repair tools. They couldnt fit the medkit, so they'd have to worry about injuries after they landed safely.

...If they made it back safely.

They're just about to open the emergency hatch and go careening into space themself, before they notice the console.

Slate had added an updated graphic to the newer models it seems, to indicate what parts were broken.

Gossan hated to admit it, but Slate could be a genius sometimes, not that they had time now to really appreciate the usefulness of their pal's latest experimental feature.

Because right now they were just putting it together that the shrill piercing alarm was indicative of a reactor failure.

Gossan is pretty sure Slate said that one's bad–well they were all bad, but Slate had said that one in particular meant "start praying and be prepared to get your ass kicked when you get back"–so they could only panic as the invisible timer continued to count down.

"I have visual!" Hornfels declared, triumphantly, before they were shoved out of the way by Slate.

That was definitely the reactor alarm flashing.

Gossan wasn't going to make it out of the blast radius in time unless–

Slate flipped the frequency switch to Gossan's suit radio so fast it almost snapped off.

"GOSSAN, USE THE AUTOPILOT!"

At the sound of Slate's voice screeching in their ears, Gossan was spurred into action, just managing to find the autopilot controls.

They lock onto the furthest celestial body, and smash the button, jumping out the hatch and engaging their jetpack with a speed they hadn't known possible, watching as the autopilot took the ticking time bomb of a ship further away from them until–

The ship explodes, several pieces flying off into space in all different directions, and Gossan raises their arm instinctively to shield their face from any straggling parts. Thankfully none seem to pelt them as they reorient themself towards where they'd last saw Feldspar.

"Gossan, do you copy?!" Hornfels seemed to have wrestled control of the mic back from Slate, and had taken over again on ground control.

"I copy, Hornfels! Approaching on Feldspar's position now!"

"Good, they still haven't stirred, so you might have to do all the heavylifting on this one!" Hornfels tries to joke, nervously. They were already doing the calculations in their head, and they didn't want to admit that there was a high chance the fuel and oxygen Gossan had on hand wouldn't last the distance between them and Timber Hearth.

Gossan smiles a little despite themself, "Me picking up Feldspar's slack? What's new, Hornfels?"

They fall back into a tense silence as they approach on Feldspar's limp form, hooking an arm around them and trying to stabilize both of theirs velocity.

"I made it to Feldspar, Hornfels!" Gossan reports, giving Feldspar a visual inspection. The side of their face was bleeding sluggishly, and they looked pained even in their unconsciousness. But it looked like their ship had managed to take the brunt of the damage, as their helmet was still intact, and they could only find minor suit tears along Feldspar's frame, where glass and wood had embedded themselves.

Gossan breathes a sigh of relief, "Somehow their visor stayed intact, but they're definitely out cold and I think I'll need to repair some suit punctures!" They inform, grabbing the suit repair tape from their pockets.

"Thank stars, Gossan that's great! Could you get a look at the oxygen tank on their back when you're done, what's it say?"

Gossan finishes removing some glass and wrapping the tape around some punctures along Feldspar's leg, and orbits around their friend, making one last inspection, before turning to the tank on their friend's back. They frown at the display. "Only four minutes, Hornfels..."

There's an audible intake of air on the otherside. Four minutes of air between there and Timber Hearth would run an incredible risk of running out before they even made it into its orbit.

Gossan looks at Feldspar's face, pained and lifeless, and makes an executive decision they know Feldspar is never going to let them hear the end of.

"Hornfels, I'm gonna swap our oxygen supplies, I can't risk Feldspar running out of oxygen before we make it back!"

"But, Gossan...!" Hornfels swallows the rest of their protest, knowing exactly why Gossan is making that choice.

Feldspar was a foolhardy explorer, an incredible astronaut–and just about the sickest hatchling as a child. Their lungs were weaker than everyone else's, and they'd spent so much time in their youth bedridden from their lungs' refusal to work properly.

But that same sick little hatchling had always dreamed of going to the stars, and well, who were they to stop them?

"...Okay. Be careful, Gossan!"

There's a breathless moment as Gossan detaches the hose from their suit and oxygen supply first, swapping it out for the one connected to Feldspar's suit, before scrambling to take Feldspar's oxygen tank off their back and attaching their hose to it instead.

There's a gasp as air fills their lungs again, and Gossan gives a shaky, "I'm g-good," in response to Hornfels query of "Is everything alright?"

Hornfels and Gossan let out twin sighs of relief as Gossan hooks an arm under Feldspar's shoulder and around their waist.

"Alright I'm heading towards the Attlerock, I'm going to try to re-enter Timber Hearth's orbit from there!"

"Ok, but hurry back, Gossan. I think even Slate was holding their breath back there for a moment."

There's an indignant "Hey!" in the background, and Gossan smiles a little once more, "Things must look pretty dire if even Slate's worried, huh?" They remark.

"As if! The only thing I'm worried about is that I won't be able to properly chew the two of you out for this when you get back if Feldspar's not awake!"

Gossan smirks, as the body of the Attlerock slowly approaches, "Well, maybe if you made the jetpacks easier to maneuver with only one free hand you'd have a better chance, Slate."

"Hey, you were the one who wanted 8 axes of movement rather than four! How do you think I managed to implement the other four? But... your suggestion is noted." And Gossan can almost see the abashed look on Slate's face, as they realize they're basically admitting they're worried.

Hornfels continues to track the pair's flight with worry, the timer in their head ticking down far too fast in comparison to their slowed speed. Feldspar was slowing Gossan down too much...!

"Slate, I don't think they're going to make it in time, they're not moving fast enough!" Hornfels whispered urgently, and if Gossan heard it they didn't comment.

Slate's eyes widen at this, voice caught in their throat as they search for a response. What could they even say? What could they even do? The two of them weren't pilots and Slate didn't have any other tech to help them, not after Gossan flew off in their only remaining protot–

Wait, maybe not their only remaining prototype...

Sure they could go get it from their workshop but-!

Slate is NOT a pilot. Their domain was rocket science-ing, not rocket piloting.

"Gossan only has two minutes of oxygen left, they're not gonna make it to the Attlerock before that runs out, Slate!" Hornfels' grip on the telescope was so tight the metal was beginning to creak.

Ohh, Slate was so killing those two when they got back!

"Keep talking to them! We need to keep Gossan focused!" Slate directs, startling Hornfels when they grab a helmet off the table.

"Slate, where are you–?!" What did Slate need with the improved pilot helmet they had both been working on?

"Keep talking!" Slate reiterates as they run out, putting the helmet on their head.

Gossan heard the one minute warning on their oxygen go off, and swallowed anxiously. The Attlerock was still a ways away, and no matter how they shifted Feldspar they couldn't seem to make this thing go any faster.

The air was already starting to feel thinner, their vision starting to darken around the edges.

"Gossan, stay focused! You're almost there!" Hornfels pleaded, but it was beginning to sound so distant.

They had been moving with such urgency, but now they floated gently as they approached the Attlerock, getting too lightheaded to keep their facts straight.

They finally manage to enter the orbit of the Attlerock, and land none too gracefully on the barren surface.

They need to stand up, need to drag their friend to- to...

Where were they going?

They couldn't remember, but they needed to. They needed to keep moving, needed to remember what they were doing before they...

Before what?

And actually why did they need to keep moving? They'd already made it to solid ground. That had been the goal, hadn't it?

They could relax now, surely, they think, sitting down heavily, pulling their friend onto their lap.

A nap couldn't hurt.

Their eyes slip closed, arm locked around their companion and they start to drift off.

But there's this annoying buzzing sound, like a fly zipping around their ears, and they blearily blink them back open in annoyance. Why were there flies in space?

Well if they focused, it sounded more like a crackling, like a fire or a radio maybe.

They get the vague sense that that might be important, so they try to make out the sounds better. It's slow going, but they can definitely recognize someone shouting now. Kinda strange though, it almost sounded like–

"–GOSSAN, SO HELP ME STARS, IF YOU TOOK MY LATEST PROTOTYPE AND BLEW IT UP IN SPACE JUST TO DIE ON THE ATTLEROCK I'LL KILL YOU MYSELF!"

With no small amount of effort, Gossan stands, dragging Feldspar up with them, barely managing to loop an arm around their waist. The world is spinning, and they can hardly keep their eyes open.

With one final jump they press down on the accelerator just managing to clear the Attlerock's orbit, Feldspar in tow.

They feel more than they see that they're floating inbetween the Attlerock and Timber Hearth's orbits, and using their last moments of lucidity, they angle themself and Feldspar towards Timber Hearth, before pressing on the control stick one last time, curling Feldspar closer into them.

They don't even see if they made it into orbit before the world fades away below them.

With a burst of water, Slate's feet leave the ground just as Hornfels screams that they're both going to crash and die on impact.

Slate isn't a pilot–and they pray their feet never have to leave the ground again after this–but with nothing but a helmet and their prototype jetpack on they use the initial burst from the geyser to launch towards the rapidly descending streak across the sky.

They jerk and veer all over the place, as the handling is much much looser on their prototype, and Slate thinks that they're either going to be flattened into a fishcake by the end of this or save their friends, and quite possibly both, as they bear down on them, but there's no time to think about it only do–!

Slate spreads their arms wide and braces for impact, intercepting the pair just moments before they'd have connected with the ground.

All three of them go sailing another 40 feet as they crash, eventually tumbling to a halt just at the edge of a patch of forest.

It takes a few minutes for Slate to open their eyes against the ringing in their ears, and everything hurts, but they're intact and back on solid ground in one piece, which hopefully means–

They stand up so fast they get dizzy, stumbling to where Gossan and Feldspar lay a few feet away.

"...SSAN, FELDSPAR, SLATE DOES ANYONE COPY?! ARE YOU GUYS STILL ALIVE?!" Slate winces at the sound of Hornfels shouting over the comms in utter hysteria, rubbing at their head before they respond.

"Hornfels, it's me, I'm with Gossan and Feldspar, we crash landed some...some direction I can't really tell right now from the village... I haven't checked on them yet, they might need medical attention!"

"Slate?! Ohh... Oh.. Thank stars...THANK YOU STARS!" And Slate thinks they hear sobbing on the other end before Hornfels finishes, "I-I'll start heading your way with assistance!"

With that sorted, Slate switches the helmet off, dropping onto their knees next to Feldspar and Gossan's prone forms.

Slate snatches their helmets off, listening as the suits depressurize, shaking them both vigorously by the shoulders. "Feldspar, Gossan, wake up!"

Surprisingly, it's Feldspar who stirs first, groaning loudly, eyes blinking opening slowly one pair at a time. Pupils are different sizes, Slate notes, so yep that's definitely a concussion, but–

"Feldspar, you're alive!" Slate launches into a hug just as they sit up, before Feldspar can even make sense of what's what or who's who.

"Whu...haah?" Feldspar mumbles incoherently, but Slate just hugs them tighter, like they might disappear if they let go.

Eventually Slate thinks better of it, removing themself from Feldspar and clearing their throat, just as the sounds of Gossan stirring reaches their ears.

"Gossan!" Slate turns back to them now, shaking them a little, "Y-you did it! Wake up!"

Gossan makes a noise of protest against the movements, but eventually they blink their eyes open, sitting up straight, rubbing at their face. "Slate?" Gossan asks, confused, before they remember–

"FELDSPAR?!" they shout, and upon seeing their friend sitting up, launches into a hug of their own.

Feldspar grunts at the impact, but manages to brace themself this time, looking a little more alert now even as they fumble their words. "'M sorry, Gossan..."

Gossan doesn't respond, sniffling loudly into their shoulder, and Feldspar knows they're going to be in worse trouble than they thought after this.

"Oh gee, we're so sorry, Slate for getting your only remaining ships wrecked, including your super cool new experimental ship, and also thank you for saving us from our own stupid deaths, can you ever find it in your heart to forgive us?" Slate snarks, when they've decided the pair has had enough time together.

"Slate?" Feldspar asks, as if only noticing them for the first time now, "What's with the get-up?"

Feldspar and Gossan both seem to notice it at the same time, gasping in shock.

Slate removes the helmet, striding over to them and bending down to angrily push an accusatory finger in their chest, "Well after you wrecked your ship again, Gossan went and took MY, as in I-haven't-even-finished-building-this-one-yet-so-it-was-still-mine, ship into space to save you from becoming a floating corpse! But oh wait, that's kind of hard to do when YOU BOTH NO LONGER HAVE A SHIP, so of course I had to do the one thing I never EVER want to have to do again, to keep you guys from becoming fish paste!"

"Slate, did you–"

"YOU FLEW?!"

Slate slips the prototype jetpack off their shoulders, legs trembling as the adrenaline leaks out, before their legs drop out from under them entirely, Gossan just barely managing to catch them by the shoulders. Slate leans heavily into the touch now, too tired to put up a facade. "And if you ever make me do it again, I'm grounding you for life." They mumble into Gossan's shoulder.

Gossan yelps as Slate suddenly goes limp against them, exchanging an incredulous glance with Feldspar.

"Poor guy must've crashed," Feldspar says, "You know how much they hate space flight."

There's a beat of silence, before Feldspar and Gossan burst out into laughter at the absurdity of it all.

They'd actually survived...

Feldspar's laughter tapers off with a sharp inhale, "Stars, I'm actually getting lightheaded again." They say, hand rising to clutch the side of their head that wasn't sticky with blood with a grimace.

"Let's just wait for Hornfels to show up." Gossan agrees, patting the grass next to them as they shift Slate to be draped more comfortably across their lap.

Feldspar slots into place at their side, laying down in the grass.

Seems no one would be flying for awhile... they'd really have to make it up to Slate for this one. Hell, Gossan and Hornfels too.

But as Gossan's hand wraps around theirs, giving it a comforting squeeze, Feldspar thinks maybe it's okay they'll all be grounded for a little while.

[uncaaj]

Fanfic: Turnabout Union (DuckTales 2017 x Ace Attorney)

Inspired by THIS post by @ravenconspiracy and @georgiarose

READ NOW ON AO3!

“Ah, Mr. Crackwright,” said the secretary, tapping away at her dated computer. “They have you in Courtroom No. 4 today. I’ll call a bailiff to escort you.”

The lawyer in the blue suit nodded. “Thank you.” It suddenly dawned on ace attorney Fenton Crackwright how much this felt like the first time, despite it being the hundredth time.

Opening the door to Defendant Lobby No. 4, he saw the first defendant he ever saved, a poor unlucky sap by the name of Drake Butz.

Fenton straightened his magenta tie and waved, “Good morning, Drake,” he said in a warming voice.

His client was slumped over the firm leather sofa, head in his lap, hands gripping his shaggy hair. “What good is it, really? She isn’t here, and once again, I’m the guy they pin it on.”

Fenton shook his head and walked over to his lifelong friend. “It doesn’t help when you have a history of breaking and entering, however noble it is.” He held his hand out.

“You know he’s gonna bring that up, first chance he gets!” Drake whined, taking Fenton’s hand and letting the attorney hoist him to his feet.

“I’ve handled Donald Payne before,” said Fenton, brushing down the wrinkles in Drake’s purple jacket. “There’s not a claim he can make that the Court Record can’t refute.”

“Or that you can’t bluff your way out of,” Drake pointed out.

Fenton brushed his long hair back with a nervous chuckle. “Or that.”

He never intended saving his case at the last second and bluffing on everything to be his signature strategy, but Fenton Crackwright’s cases required the kind of tenacity and perseverance that only he was capable of.

Fenton set a hand on Drake’s shoulder. “You know I believe in you to the end.”

Drake straightened up and smiled. “Thanks, Fen.”

Fenton backed away from Drake as his attention wandered around the room. The mahogany furniture, plain walls decorated with stuffy landscapes, and two bailiffs standing at attention carried an aura of importance. This place could make or break a person, entirely at the hands of two lawyers passionately presenting their facts to sway the judge. 

“You know,” Fenton remarked, “I can’t help feeling some semblance of deja vu. It’s been such a long road to get here, with hurdles and detours, and grueling battles. Every murder is horrific, but somehow a murder case involving you almost feels normal.” Fenton turned around and flashed a nervous smile. “I hope you don’t think I’m minimizing your case.”

Drake shrugged. “I know my reputation precedes me. ‘When something smells’ and all that.”

“If you feel this is normal, Crackwright, I would suggest rising from your laurels.”

Fenton startled, sensing a ghost in the courthouse with a voice he hadn’t heard in months. He turned toward the lobby entrance and took a step back, eyes widening at the sight of what might as well have been a ghost. A tall lanky rooster in a magenta suit with a frilly cravat hanging from his neck walked gingerly inside, hands behind his back. His cold, tired face carried years its owner had not earned in the tradition of time, but had been burdened with through unfortunate circumstances.

“Fenton,” greeted Gyro Edgeloose.

Fenton cleared his throat, words sputtering in his bill. “Gyro! Y-you’re back!”

Drake’s bill dropped open. “Edgey?! Well, whaddaya know, the gang’s back together!”

“Wh-when did you get back into town?” said Fenton to his long-time rival.

The demon attorney looked away. “Last week.”

Fenton was knocked off his feet from shock. “And you never thought to tell me? Tell any of us?”

“I’m surprised Detective Launchpad didn’t shout it from the precinct steps,” Gyro remarked.

Fenton jumped up. “…you told Detective Launchpad first?!” His feet pulled him closer to Gyro as the words poured out of him. “Y-you disappeared for months! I could barely sleep most nights wondering if Edgeloose might turn up tomorrow!”

Drake shook his head and sat back at the bench. “I feel like I’m watching one of your mamá’s soap operas, Fentonino.”

 Gyro crossed his arms and looked away, embarrassed. “I’m sorry, but you had no need to worry so rashly. I was merely undertaking some self-discovery.”

“That’s not what someone says after they disappeared without a trace,” said Fenton, slipping into his pressing voice.

Gyro rolled his eyes. “You’re being ridiculous. Have you learned nothing since I’ve been gone?”

Fenton was tiring of this. “I would sooner ask you the same question! What self-discovery journey leaves you just as closed off as before?”

“And you are still as emotional and distracted as before!” Gyro exclaimed, “We’re on opposite sides of the law, Crackwright! We have to face each other in five minutes time!”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t still care about you!” yelled Fenton, pointer finger outstretched. “Why can’t you open up to me?!”

The world flashed negative for a split second then all Fenton saw was the rooster, his enemy turned fellow truth seeker that abandoned him. Fenton knew what was coming next. The warmth of the jewel around his neck told him so. It just never failed to catch him off guard, at his most vulnerable. The chains only he could see whipped past him and wrapped around Gyro. Fenton steeled himself as the last piece of the puzzle slammed into place.

The Psyche-Lock he had yet to crack. That was why.

Fenton rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You frustrate me, Gyro. We’ve known each other forever…we put the people behind both our demons behind bars…and yet you still remain closed off to me.”

Gyro rubbed his arm, looking away. “Then why don’t you? Get it over with and break me down like I know you want to?”

Fenton paused. He had never been more sure of what he needed to say than this moment. “Because I don’t have the evidence I need right now. In court and in life, it’s all we have to change minds. But I swear to you that whether you want it or not, I’ll be there for you. We’ll meet in these walls and outside until I have what I need to truly understand you. However long it takes.”

The air between the two lawyers hung there for a moment. Fenton much preferred this over flying by his seat in the courtroom. He didn’t need to grasp at straws, didn’t need to flounder above water to maintain his case. Here, with Gyro, the pressure was off and they could just be.

“You helped me find the truth,” Fenton said, “You can’t go through life alone anymore.”

Gyro adjusted his stance with a long, wet sigh. “Once again, you’ve saddled me with unnecessary feelings…feelings that I can’t deny or admit I dislike. Feelings that are against all I’ve been taught to believe. The truth isn’t human like we are.”

Fenton smiled and closed the gap dividing them. “That’s what’s beautiful about it, about us. Truth changes us.”

“You may be right, Fenton,” said Gyro, “How did you grow so much unlike me?”

“You rubbed off on me, Gyro,” said Fenton. “You changed me. Maybe I can return the favor someday.”

“Defendant!” 

The wood of the defendant lobby returned to view. Both lawyers blinked and turn to the source of the voice. 

“Court is about to begin,” barked the bailiff. “Please make your way inside the courtroom.”

Returning their gaze to each other, they realized how close their beaks were from meeting with a start. Fenton stepped backward with a nervous chuckle.

“Think about it, Gyro. It can start as simple as you’d like. With burgers, even.”

Gyro chuckled despite himself and returned the smile that continually served to humanize him. “I will consider your offer.” With that, the prosecutor took his leave.

“Good luck, Gyro!” Fenton called. “But not too much.”

Gyro chuckled as he opened the door. “Same to you.”

+++

“All rise!” echoed the bailiff’s voice. All voices quieted down and each member in attendance rose to their feet. “The Honorable Judge Scrooge McDuck presiding!”

A duck with sideburns emerged from a door placed high above the courtroom floor. The only sound bouncing around the hallowed walls was his footsteps, hidden by his flowing black robe. He took his seat and took hold of his gavel.

“Thank ye,” he said, “Be seated, everyone.” With the crack of his gavel, all in attendance returned to their seat, except for the two lawyers placed at either side of the foot of the judge’s pedestal

“Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Drake Butz,” said the judge. “Mr. Edgeloose, I understand you were brought in at the last minute to replace Mr. Payne. Are you ready for what’s to come?”

Gyro cleared his throat and addressed the judge. “Nonetheless, I am happy to be back, and you can rest assured…” He looked toward Fenton, features hardened with determination. “The prosecution is ready, Your Honor.”

That look told Fenton everything he wanted and needed to know. His new adventure with his former rival was now under way, and he was prepared to face whatever it would bring. As long as Gyro Edgeloose was by his side, the path to truth was always clear.

“Very well,” said the judge. “Are you prepared, Mr. Crackwright?”

Fenton nodded. “The defense is ready, Your Honor.”

[one-strugling-bean]

Update on my TMA binge: 1st season has been finished.

Below are my main sticking points:

The voice acting is so gooooooood!! Im loving everyone's voices - they all portray their characters emotions and personalities so well!

Jon kinda has the golden medal tho, since hes by far the most prominent voice

Abt the side characters - Martin took me by surprise so hard when he first spoke. I was expecting like..... A big, chill himbo. Kinda like Kronk or Launchpad but less loud, with a grave voice. (Ig part of me had imagined the Martin from Adventure Time?) I was def not expecting the voice of a prepubescent teen.

Anyway, he's baby. Precious to no end but also surprisingly useful and smart? He's an absolute 10/10 I mean. Would buy him sweets and listen to his rambles abt spiders (jon how can you call him a useless ass, he's so un-insultable??? q~q)

Sashaaaaaaa what happened to my favorite gurl???? And also the only one... She was literally the only reason everyone else escaped the worms, Sasha saved everyone's butts. By far the most competent and brave of the squad - a true Gryffindor u-u

But im afraid she died from whatever got her in the storage unit... I've been skimming through the comment section on each episode's youtube video, and some of them seem to imply she's dead for good... I reaaaaally don't want that to be true, she was so cool!! and the single holder of the Archives braincell!! I dont want her to die ;-;

And Tim!! Tim had the least amount of recorded time, but he's already a fave too. Him pretending to be Jon right before Sasha tackled him was so so funny. Also, ig he's kinda what I thought Martin would be. So no losses there!

Elias is.... Weird. Weird in the sense that he seems so obviously suspicious, i hesitate to pin the blame of anything on him. Like it's too easy to be true you know??? Like they're making him look shady on purpose to distract us from the actual shadiness going on. Idk though. He's shown up so little until now he might just have nothing to do with nothing, or be the big final boss. He's got me very confused (also his voice is sooooo cool, i love it. He gives me stern professor vibes)

How much the statements creep me out highly depends on what they're abt. Like, so far, the scariest have been Piecemeal 14#, Lost John's Cave 15#, and Infestation 39# purely because of all the screaming.

And abt the bigger story..... Idk about anything yet, but I'm very curious indeed.

The Dreamer #11 keeps coming back to me when i try to piece it together. Wth was supposed to happen to Gertrude?? Did it come to pass, and it was somehow how she ended up shot, or... did she find a way to kill herself so as not to have to face that fate?? And now Jon has to because he's in her place???

I rly dunno abt anything yet. Im just vibin and listening to all these spooks and having fun. I shall continue doing so rn actually.

End statement or whatever :p

(part 3 has been posted)

[shewhowantsmouseears]

magic mafia morgana scene

As promised, here's some silliness with the above idea inspired by this concept!

Ever since Drake Mallard had decided to take up the cape and become a real crime-fighter, every day had come with new surprises and challenges – and somehow, someway, he’d overcome each one of them. Sometimes he’d lose a few feathers or suffer a major concussion along the way, but now he wore these bruises as medals of honor knowing his beloved city was safe. Tonight was no exception – several of his feathers had been singed from flames because of literally blowing up this week’s villainous plan, but he couldn’t help but grin proudly as he watched the smoke rise into the sky, twirling his gas gun around his fingers.

It would have felt slightly better if said villain wasn’t howling in anger and agony, falling to her knees, and clutching her hair as she watched her plans go up in actual smoke.  Dang, she was even pretty when she was upset! Morgana MaCawber, head of the MaCawber family that had been threatening local businesses if they didn’t enter her magical protection racket, was unable to do anything but watch as the fire ate away at the magical supplies her gang had been about to unleash on the city. Gosalyn and Launchpad were in the sky, using the Thunderquack to douse the fire before it became uncontrollable.

“Well, Miss Macawber,” Darkwing said after trying to come up with a fire-based pun, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, when you’re committing crimes in St. Canard, always expect them to be bust…ed. Hm. That didn’t quite work out.” Okay, he was still new at quips, give him time. He shook his head and began to walk towards Morgana. They were alone on the rooftop, with a perfect view of the city, and in his opinion, a perfect view of her lovely face, illuminated by the flames. It was a shame such a knock-out had been trying to knock him out all night. Boy, her eyes were really green… FOCUS. “I hope you’ve learned your lesson, and are ready to peacefully surrender. I’m sure the good folks in the police bureau will ease your sentence if you-”

“YOU.”

Morgana’s normally sultry voice had changed into something demonic and dark – it almost made Darkwing drop his gas gun, and he emitted a tiny squeak. “Me?”

“YOU…” Her entire body began to tremble with fury, her hands curling up and allowing Darwking to focus on how her fingernails started to resemble claws. “YOU… RUINED… EVERYTHING!”

“W-well, that was the idea, yes…” His confidence began to falter. This hadn’t been part of the plan – she was supposed to cry into his masculine chest, ask for forgiveness, and he’d run a hand through that silky looking hair and assure her he’d wait for her prison sentence to end, and then romantic music would swell in the background, credits roll.

Instead of becoming a dainty wounded princess, she began to rise to her feet (boy, she was SUPER tall too, homina homina homina) her breathing become harder and harder. “Do you have any idea… how LONG this took to plan?! How many years have I sunk into this? All this time, this money, this effort, and it’s all... GONE! EVERYTHING I WORKED FOR IS GONE! AND IT’S ALL… IT’S ALL…” She tilted her head back toward him, vaguely reminding him of a horror movie he’d seen as a kid. “BECAUSE… OF… YOU.”

“So we agree, I stopped you.” He let out a nervous little laugh. Funny, he’d wanted those emerald eyes gazing into his own earlier, but not quite like this. He tried to swallow down his fear and rationalize the situation – he had the gas gun, and while her body was (very) nice to look at, she was no threat to him physically. She was slim, slinky, and had the figure of a runway model, and HOO BOY he was going to lose his train of thought at this rate. The point was, she was defenseless, so he had no reason to be afraid of her. He aimed the gun at her, his resolve strengthened. “Now it’s time to come along quietly, Miss Morgana, and I’ll hand you over to the police. There’s nothing more you can do!”

The second he finished that sentence, the gas gun was blown out of his hands. He blinked three times in rapid succession as he tried to understand what had just happened. Morgana had been pointing at his hand – no, it was more accurate to say it was using finger guns at him… to be even MORE accurate, there were several glowing orbs of light around her hands, and she’d just fired one of them off at his hand, like a magical bullet. No, like nothing – that HAD been a magical bullet.

He clicked his tongue. “Spoke a bit too early, didn’t I?” His knowledge about magic and the arcane was extremely limited, given how he hadn’t believed in it until he met the McDuck family and their merry band of insanity. But maybe he should have guessed that anyone who dabbled in magical products was probably some kind of magical being themselves. “I knew you were enchanting, but I didn’t think you’d fit another description for it.” He made an attempt to grab the gas gun but she fired off another shot, and with a not-as-heroic whelp, he began to run.

“YOU THINK I’LL GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT?!” She screamed at him, firing off several rounds from her smoking fingertips.

“I WAS KIND OF HOPING?” Darkwing shouted right back, trying to run through his vast tv trivia to find any ideas of how to save his skin and stop this sorceress. The only thing keeping him from being blasted from mullets was that her anger was making her aim off-kilter. He’d need to back off and rethink, which was why he took a valiant leap off of the rooftop to land on the next one… but she had the same idea, and the chase wasn’t stopped.

Gosalyn had been recording on her phone, hoping to use Darkwing’s victories as viral videos to boost his popularity (and her own, let’s be real) when the light of the magical bullets caught her eye. She glanced over and gasped at the scene unfolding, tugging on Launchpad’s arm. “Launchpad! Darkwing’s in trouble!”

“So are we!” Down below on the surface, the rest of Morgana’s mafia had finally caught up to the chaos and were firing their own “shots” toward the plane. The plane would survive, but its speed was vastly hampered, even as he tried pulling away as hard as he could. “I don’t know if we’ll make to him in time!”

“We have to try! She’s got him cornered!” Abandoning the phone, she placed herself up against the glass of the plane, watching in fright as Darkwing was backing away from Morgana, with no other safe places to jump to. Launchpad yanked on the throttle, steering the plane towards his friend, but…

Morgana was no longer running like a madwoman. Now that he had no place left to run, her steps were slow and meticulous, her hands spread out and glowing in a sickly yellow fashion. “No matter I do… you keep besting me.” She growled, sharp fangs bared. “No matter how hard I kick you down, you keep getting back up. No matter what corner I turn, you’re always there. You insufferable… pompous…arrogant…”

With each step she took towards him, Darkwing tried to lean an inch back, but when he nearly lost his hat, he knew escape was impossible. Sweat trickled down his face as she came closer and closer – funny, he thought, he’d worried about sweaty palms when he first met her.

“You’re relentless! You’re aggravating! You’re… you’re…” The glow from her hands vanished, and she grabbed him by the lapels of his costume -

“Darkwing!” Gosalyn and Launchpad cried out in horrified unison –

And then she kissed him.

Perhaps that was too gentle a word, because there was nothing soft and sweet about that smooch. It was a deep, all-consuming embrace that would have been the dictionary definition of passion, mashing her beak right into Darkwing – who, for the record, had gone frozen solid. It was a long one, too, which allowed the audience of Gosalyn and Launchpad to stare for several long seconds in stunned silence.

Launchpad broke the ice first with a well-meaning “Awww.”

Gosalyn wasn’t so cheerful. “What.”

It went on, and on, and on, and on, and just as Gosalyn was going to ask when they were coming up for air, Morgana pulled back and pulled Darkwing into her chest, holding so tightly that she nearly choked him. The furor in her voice had been abruptly switched out for gooey, giddy glee as she began to ramble in Italian. “Amore! Tesoro! Cara mia!”

“Those are Italian pet names.” Launchpad helpfully explained. “I learned them from my ex-boyfriend Tony in Venice! I should call him, see how he’s doing-”

“THANK YOU, LAUNCHPAD.” Gosalyn loudly smacked the glass with her fingers, trying to get him on the task at hand. “But that doesn’t exactly explain what we’re looking at! I think several steps were skipped!”

Darkwing was having similar thoughts buzzing in whatever part of his brain that hadn’t been fully knocked around by that massive kiss. Even then, that part was fighting for his life since he was being held by the beautiful woman he had a no-way-subtle crush on. The best he could muster up in response was “Huh?”

“You are my one true love!” Morgana cupped Darkwing’s cheeks in her hands, eyes aglitter with devotion. “All my life, I’ve been looking for a man worthy enough to stand by my side, but none have ever measured up to my standards! I thought I’d never meet someone who could be my equal, but you!” She peppered his face with kisses, his cheeks, his forehead, and his lips several times for good measure. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a man!”

Whatever was left of Darkwing’s sense managed to control his body for a very brief moment as he leaned his head back. “Hang on a minute. If I’m understanding this correctly… you, um, like me?”

“Darkwing Duck, I adore you!” Her hands clasped his own, and after a second of hesitation, he returned the gentle touch. “You’re the only one for me!”

Wow, this was way better than that fantasy he’d been envisioning earlier! A shy smile spread across his beak, and his tail did a tiny wag. “I… I feel the same way about you, Morgana! I’ve liked you ever since I laid eyes on you!” There we go, there’s the romantic music swelling up! Sure, it was inside his head – though he wouldn’t have put it past Launchpad to start blasting it on the Thunderquack’s speakers, he did make the ultimate wingman – but things were going his way! He actually had a shot with this gorgeous woman! Could life get any better?

With a pleased purr, Morgana affectionally nuzzled her beak to his cheek. “We were meant to be together! You simply must join mi familia at once!”

A blush began to grow on Darkwing’s cheeks. “You want me to meet your parents already? Before the first date?”

She giggled sweetly, lightly booping Darkwing’s bill. “Not that, silly! I want you to join my enterprise – my criminal empire, as my right-hand-man!”

There went the romantic music, and here came the record needle scratch. “What’s that now?”

“You and will rule over St. Canard together!” She threw an arm around his neck, holding him close again and accidentally choking him. “We’ll conquer this city and become the king and queen of crime! With your bravado and my magic, we’ll be unstoppable! Together, our love will destroy everyone who dares cross our path! Say, for the wedding, you mind if I forgo traditional white and go with red?”

“First off,” Darkwing managed to choke out as he pushed Morgana’s arm off his neck. “Obviously you look good in any color! Second, I’M NOT BECOMING A CRIMINAL!” Once he was free from her hold, he smoothed down his outfit. “I won’t say I’m not flattered by the offer, but I’m the city’s guardian! I’m not going to become it’s enemy because you’re hourglass shaped and I’m going to be thinking about that kiss for the rest of my life.” Maybe honesty wasn’t the best policy for this situation. “Sorry, Morgana, but if that’s how you see things, the only lady I’m going to work with is Lady Justice!” And that was too corny. Maybe he should have followed Jim Starling’s routine and gotten actual writers for his quips.

Strangely, Morgana didn’t look heartbroken or defeated, which should have been the first red flag. Instead, she tilted her head ever so slightly, and then let out another giggle, but this one was a bit more… witchy in nature. “Oh, how wonderful! You have a sense of humor too.” She then grinned, showing off every single one of her pearly white fangs.

A hard chill went Darkwing’s spine. “What’s the joke?”

“That you think you have a choice about this.”

Clink! Darkwing turned his head toward the new noise, and now found his right hand handcuffed to Morgana’s. “Wh-where did you even KEEP these?!”

Morgana was still smiling, but it was no longer full of adorable tenderness. It was the sort of look Darkwing recognized when he’d gone to toy conventions and a horde of rabid fans had tried to seize the last collector’s edition. There was no arguing logic with that kind. “Dark, darling.” Her sultry voice had returned but now it had deadly hints of infatuation. “You think I’m going to let a little thing like your own morals stand in the way of true love?”

He suspected that just like those rabid fans over that last collectible, she too wanted to steal him away and lock him up so no one else could ever put their fingers on him.  “Any way we can discuss this over dinner and a movie? And minus any chains?”

As Morgana did a classic evil laugh, Gosalyn couldn’t help but wince. “Wow. His childhood idol tried to kill him, and now his first girlfriend is legit crazy about him. He really can pick ‘em.”

“In Japan, they call that a yandere! Learned that from my ex-girlfriend Kimiko in Tokyo.”

“Thank you, Launchpad.”

[meerkatp]

So it just hit me that both Launchpad and Jim were both suppost to be F.O.W.L. at some point so like, was that suppost to be the same time? Would Launchpad of just known Jim was alive cause like, them both being revealed as F.O.W.L. would of been the S2 finale?

Also like, there's no way he'd keep that from Drake cause Drake feels guilty about his "death". Not on purpose!