#but idk if we'll see the time masters again

[stackthedeck]

Me: damn I don't like how flashpoint beyond and the new golden age reintroduced the time masters, nothing about them makes sense and jeff and bonnie's characters have been minimized in a way that's really gross, i hope this doesn't stick but just re-ignites an interest in the team

also me: guess i have to read the entire new golden age event to find even a scrape of a mention of them

[lieutenantselnia]

Actually I think it's a bit unfair that I can't be an astrophysicist and a historian and a game developer and a marine biologist and an archaeologist and an author and a seamstress at the same time

[motorsportbarbie13]

Forbidden - Part 6

In which Maxie shows you just how much he missed you.

Warnings: smuttttttttty ;) minors DNI pls. Swearing. umm...that's it? idk, I'm terrible with warnings, let me know if I'm forgetting something. Quick note: Almost there love bugs! I think we'll have one more after this and then maybe an epilogue. I almost don't want this one to enddddddd wah. Pairing: Max Verstappen x LeClercSister!reader Word Count: 3k words

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Master List

“I have something for you.” Max rasps the moment you’re in his arms again behind the closed door of his hotel room. 

Nerves have his hands shaking as they fist handfuls of your black cotton t-shirt. The entire ride up to the 10th floor of the hotel, he had been having an internal battle with himself. He couldn’t believe you were here, slotted back into his life after weeks apart and he didn’t want to do something to scare you off again but…

“You do?” You give him a puzzled look. What on earth could he possibly have for you, he didn’t know you were coming. 

Max nods, releasing you for the first time since he took you into his arms in the lobby. “I got it weeks ago…I’ve been carrying it with me ever since…” He pauses, gaze darting away for just a moment, “that day, just in case you came back to me when I wasn’t expecting it. I wanted to be prepared.” He rubs at the back of his neck, eyes dropping from yours to the floor. Your insides melt at his sudden tender shyness. 

You smile over at Max, who’s begun digging in his navy and yellow Red Bull Racing backpack. “You didn’t have to get me anything, Maxie.” 

He nods, a soft sound of satisfaction playing on his lips when he finds what he’s bene looking for. “I know.” He says, turning around to face you. 

Your stomach drops to your toes when you see the baby blue bag dangling from his finger tips. “Maxie.” His name is a warning, your heart thumping against your rib cage. 

“It’s not a ring, schatje.” He says on a chuckle, taking a baby blue box tied with a white satin ribbon out of the bag when you make no moves to take it out of his hands. “Not yet anyway.” 

There goes your stomach back down to your toes again. 

When you’ve composed yourself, you reach out to take the box from Max. “I was going to give it to you the day Charles found out about us but obviously that never happened. It’s just something small, to remind you of me when we can’t be together.” 

Trembling fingers tug at the ribbon as your eyes dart up to Max’s anxious face and then back down to the box. Nestled in the box is a delicate gold chain with 2 pendants on it: a block M and a block V, both with 3 tiny diamonds inlaid on the edge of each letter. “Max.” You whisper, tears pricking at the back of your eyes once again. 

Max’s hands wring together in front of you, his face still anxious despite the smile spreading across your face. You look up at him, chest squeezing tightly. “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten. Thank you.” 

“You like it?” 

“I love it.” You coo, lifting the chain up out of the box before holding it out to him. “Will you put it on me?” 

Spinning, you capture your hair up in one hand while waiting patiently for Max to get his shaking hands under control. The cool chain sends a shiver skittering down your spine, a small sigh escaping your lips at the feeling of Max’s strong fingers brushing against your skin. 

When the necklace is secured, you turn back around to wrap your arms around his neck, lips dusting first over his jaw before working your way up to his lips. Those lips you’ve missed so much the last few weeks. You couldn’t believe how stupid you had been to push him away when he so obviously wanted to be there for you, wanted to support you. Regret has your cheeks heating, shame budding in your stomach. 

Max must sense the shift in your mood because he pulls away before looking down at you, brows knit together. “What’s wrong, schatje?” 

You shake your head, unable to get the words out. 

“Please tell me.” He begs. 

“I just…” A cry lodges in your throat and your unable to speak around it for a moment. 

Max leads you over to the love seat on the other side of the room, needing to solve this sudden problem before anything else. He sits first before pulling you into his lap, cradling you against his chest. His lips find his favorite place on you, that spot in the crook of your neck where your perfume lingers for hours. “Talk to me, baby.” 

“I’m sorry I pushed you away. I shouldn’t have. You wanted to help, you did nothing but help and I still threw you out.” For what feels like the millionth time that day, tears slip down your cheeks in a steady stream but Max’s lips are there to kiss them away. 

“No, sweet girl. No apologies.” His voice is soft, soothing. “You were doing what you thought you needed to do at the time, I could never fault you for that. I’m just glad you came back to me.” 

“I love you, Maxie.” You murmur, face buried in his hair as he continues to nibble at your neck. 

Max has never heard sweeter words, not even when Christian told him he had won the championship for the first time. “I love you too, liefje.” He pulls away from your neck then, causing you to whimper a bit in protest, but he needed to see your face for what he was about to say next. “I was planning on asking you to be my girlfriend that night too, which I kind of fucked up but I hope that’s still on the table for us. I want to go public. No more secrets, no more lies. I want you next to me in the paddock, in my garage during races, wearing my colors and my number. All in, everything. I need that with you.” 

There’s a look of unbridled desire on Max’s face, like he’s been waiting for this very moment for months now and he’s finally worked up the courage to put words to his feelings. Your hands come up to frame his face, delicate fingers scratching his scruffy face gently. “Bien sur, mon amor.” Of course, my love. “I’ve been yours since the first time we kissed.”��

Max covers your lips in a kiss then, fingers digging into your hips in a desperate attempt to bring you closer to him. He’d gone too long without being able to touch you and he wants to make up for all the time lost. With one swift movement, Max lifts you up out of his lap and carries you across the room to his bed. The way he sets you down on the crisp white hotel duvet has your heart squeezing. 

“I missed you so much, liefje.” Max’s voice drops an octave, husky and full of need. “Let me show you how much.” 

“Sil vous plait.” Please You breathe.

Shaking hands slip up underneath the hem of your cream linen dress, the rough pads of his fingers drawing out a moan from your lips as they skim over the creamy soft skin of your thighs. They find their home underneath the layer of lace that is already halfway ruined from the slick mess that’s been gathering there since Max got you alone. 

“God, you are exquisite.” He murmurs as he brings his lips to cover yours in a searing kiss that is all tender promises and whispered apologies. 

His fingers swipe past your clit, not quite giving you the pressure and friction you crave, but just enough to make you needy. There’s plenty of time for that though and Max wants to make sure this is as drawn out as possible. He has so much to say with his mouth and hands to you tonight and he wants everything to inch by in a slow, heated drip of steady pleasure. 

Needing to be closer to him and wanting out of the suddenly restricting fabric, you sit up momentarily, unbuttoning the dress as quickly as humanly possible. Max helps, starting at the bottom of the dress and you instantly miss his touch on you. Neither of you are willing to break the kiss, so it’s a little fumbled and a lot messy as you attempt to get yourself out of the clothes you flew here in. 

“Need to see you wearing nothing but my necklace.” He pants.

While you’re busy unbuttoning the dress, Max reaches behind his back to pull his team polo off. You hum in appreciation, reaching out to drag your slender fingers over the bumps and ridges of his stomach. A thrill shoots though you when he shivers at your touch, heated gaze pinning you to the bed.

Slowly guiding you down onto your back, Max drapes himself over your body, fitting his thigh between your legs. Your skin heats as you run your hands through his hair, guiding his mouth down the column of your neck. His mouth stalls, taking his time to nip and suck at the fragile skin there. Max barely resists the urge to suck a love bite onto your neck, knowing that you would murder him if he did that before tomorrow’s race. There will be time for that, he reminds himself. There will be time for him to mark you as his own in places that others will see. For now, he’ll settle for marking you in places that are only for him. 

He drags a heated, wet line with his tongue from your neck, stopping once again to lap against your collar bone and the hollow of your throat. His mouth sucks at the racing pulse point there, a thrill shooting straight to his already hard cock at how fast your heart is beating because of him. 

“Max.” You whine, grinding your hips up into his muscled thigh that sits slotted between your legs, desperate for friction and relief from the pounding pulse between your legs. “God I missed your hands on me. Your touch. Everything.” You probably should be embarrassed with how needy and breathless your plea comes out, but shame has been left at the door for tonight. All you need are Max’s hands on you and his cock in you, and you swear you’d be content for the rest of your entire existence. 

Max grips at the flesh of your hips, desperate to get any sort of purchase on your body. His mouth continues it’s perusal of your now slick skin and when he covers one already achingly hard nipple, you can’t help the cry that leaves your lips. His tongue flicks over the pebbled bit of flesh before nipping at it with the very tips of his teeth. Your hips snap up off the bed, bumping his hips with your own at the feeling that boarders somewhere between earth shattering pleasure and mind numbing pain. 

Fingers get lost in his hair as Max moves to pay attention to the other nipple, equally as hard and needy for his tongue. The sounds of near purring that rumble at the back of your throat send Max into orbit as he rocks his painfully hard cock into the soft mattress beneath him. “Taste so good.” He slurs against your body, hands raking up your legs once again finding themselves buried in your dripping pussy. 

It’s too much. Much too much. The overstimulation of his mouth and hands all over you has you puddled in a whimpering, sodden mess under this man that is supposed to be all wrong for you. 

“I love you like this.” His voice is husky, dragging itself across your skin like the fingers that are currently buried deep inside you. “All messy and needy, all for me. Only for me.” A possessive streak shoots through Max, suddenly needing you to know that this is only for him. You’re his. You will always be his. He nearly lost you once and he’ll never run the risk of losing you ever again. 

“Only for you.” You confirm, hips grinding deep against the thick fingers that are coaxing you to what you can only predict will be a syrupy sweet release. “Only for you from now on. God, Max your touch…so good.” The ability to form coherent sentences seems to have escaped you. 

Your head thrashes to the side, the vulnerability of being so open for him in so many ways is overwhelming. Being so intensely seen by this man above you is almost too much to take. 

“Are you going to come for me, schatje? Come on my fingers, pretty girl. Show me how much you missed me and how much I possess you.” 

The sound of Max’s voice is enough to send you over the edge, that familiar lick of fire building itself up at the base of your spine. You feel it start and so does Max, that familiar sign of your hands grasping for anything they can reach, this time it’s his back. He’ll gladly be marked up with red welts and scratches if it means he gets you beneath him like this every fucking night for the rest of his life. Your climax rips through you, stealing your breath for a quick moment before you come, Max’s name tumbling from your lips over and over like a reverent prayer. 

“That’s it, love. So good, you’re so good for me. Such a pretty girl giving me exactly what I want. God, how did I get so fucking lucky? Why did I wait so long?” 

Max talks you through the rest of your orgasm, shockwaves of pleasure lancing through you for so long you start to lose track of time. It could be 5 minutes or 5 hours, but eventually, you’re back down to earth, feeling so languid and soft you don’t think you could move even if your life depended on it. 

“Max.” You breath, pulling at his shoulders to get his head level with yours so you can get your mouth on him again. You lick into his mouth, teeth bumping against him in a desperate messy kiss that promises everything under the stars. 

“What do you need, schatje? Tell me what you want and it’s yours.” 

“I need you inside me. I need to be stuffed full of you so I never forget what you feel like ever again.” 

Before you’re able to even take another breath, Max’s jeans and boxers have joined the heap of clothing on the floor and the head of his dick, red and angry and dripping for you already, is notched against your waiting pussy. When he sinks into you, filling you up so deliciously, it feels like your first night together all over again. You’re overwhelmed by the size of him, the feel of him deep inside you, filling you up beyond words. 

For several moments, neither of you move. Max holds himself steady above you writhing form, already buried in you to the hilt, refusing to move until he knows you’re okay. A series of quick nods tells him you’re fine and slowly, so very slowly you almost can’t feel it, Max begins to move. It’s slow at first, as he tries to draw out the pleasure from your body like he’s playing a stringed instrument. Long, silky movements from his achingly hard cock seem to war with each other, the contrast between the rhythm and his dick send delightful shimmers of energy up and down your skin. 

Max can barely catch his breath, not fully understanding how you can be so soft and warm and breathtakingly tight all at the same time. The feeling of being buried in you might just be the best thing he’s ever experienced. He could probably spend the rest of his life worshipping your body like this and it still wouldn’t be enough to satisfy his craving of your body. He gazes down at you, the look of reverence on his face has tears pricking at the corner of your eyes, as he continues to push in and out of you. One moment he’s nearly fully out of your slick wetness and the next, he’s plunging back in, taking fully from you what he knows is his now. 

“Come inside me Max. Fill me up, please.” Your desperate words are enough to have Max’s hips snapping harshly against your body over and over. His tight hold of control he usually has over his body slowly breaking underneath your spell. 

“My pretty girl needs me to fill her, huh? Need the cum leaking out of you, down that pretty thigh of yours, to remind you who you belong to?” 

All you can do is nod, your entire consciousness consumed with him, the way he feels, the smell of his cologne that lingers on his skin that mixes with his sweat, creating a dizzyingly pleasurable mix of something you’ll never forget. 

Max feels that familiar painful warning sign deep in his stomach. He’s not going to last much longer and by the sounds you’re making beneath him, he knows you’re already there. His mouth latches to yours, stealing the cry from your lips and swallowing it whole. The vice grip those velvet walls snare him in when you come sends him hurtling towards his own release. Max isn’t usually very loud, he loves to talk you through it yes, but when it comes to his own pleasure? He���s quite reserved. But he can’t help the animalistic groan that starts deep in his gut rumbles out of him as he spills into you, white hot streams shooting deep inside you. 

Max collapses on top of you and you relish the feeling of something like a giant weighted blanked settling over your frame. Utterly spent, Max isn’t even able to form a coherent sentence for several moments, instead choosing to focus on the wild racing of your heart beneath his body. 

“Told you I missed you.” Max says, breath tickling the shell of your ear, eliciting a giggle from your swollen lips. 

You rake your hands through his hair for what feels like the fiftieth time that night, tugging gently as you comb through the blond locks. “I missed you too, mon coeur.” 

That’s what Max was too. Your entire heart. 

Tag List: @shelbyteller, @formulaal, @martygraciesversion381, @longhairkoo, @samantha-chicago, @stelena-klayley @dark-night-sky-99 @luckylampzonkland, @chlmtfilms , @inarabee @aykxz98 @forensicheart @cheer-bear-go-vroom

[mrs-kmikaelson]

MASTER LIST

Started: July 7, 2023 Last updated: Oct 14, 2024

I write for:

The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Shadowhunters, the MCU, the Hunger Games series, and Criminal Minds. I may also write for Fate: The Winx Saga, Cobra Kai, Grey's Anatomy, 13rw, Gossip Girl, and Riverdale (even tho I have no idea what's happening in that show anymore). I typically write fem!reader-insert fics, but you might see a ship once in a while. Crossovers may happen. Btw, I add angst to like everything. Straight-up fluff is rare.

a/n: just wanted to let everyone know that requests are open rn, but that might change once summer's over. i update this list every time i post.

Klaus Mikaelson

The Tribrid You're Klaus Mikaelson's long-lost daughter that he has no idea about, yet somehow you still find yourself getting entangled in the New Orleans wars, both with the city and then with your own family. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Should've Known Better After a thousand years of marriage, everything comes crumbling down, taking you with it. But you shouldn't have been so surprised; you knew that Klaus was fire, and you knew that fire burned. You should've known better. 1 2

Stefan Salvatore

Coming soon

Damon Salvatore

Coming soon

Elijah Mikaelson

Coming soon

Katherine Pierce

Coming soon

Kai Parker

Coming soon

Elena Gilbert

idk y'all but i had an idea so we'll see ab this one

Steve Rogers

Coming soon

Bucky Barnes

Coming soon

Natasha Romanoff

Coming soon

Tony Stark

Coming soon

Peter Parker (T.H.)

Coming soon

Alec Lightwood

Coming soon

Jace Herondale

Coming soon

Finnick Odair

Our Song and Dance You'd grown used to dancing the same dance over and over again, the victor's dance, but then you start dancing with Finnick Odair and you feel things you never thought you'd feel. So you let yourself enjoy the dance, even though you knew that every song inevitably came to an end. 1 2 3 4 5 6

Aaron Hotchner

What's in a Name? 5 times you and Agent Hotchner questionably cross paths over the years, just for him to watch you walk away (+1 time you don't). The Grey Area You meet Aaron Hotchner and he makes you see everything in colour; he makes you feel like you're the only girl in the room. But then, as you find out that you're not, you realize the colour he actually makes you see the most is grey. (a/n: very scandal based). Series Masterlist

Derek Morgan

Coming soon

Spencer Reid

Coming soon

Emily Prentiss

Coming soon

[omegastation]

Hi. I haven’t used Tumblr in such a long time. It's kinda weird. Last time was two years ago...

I went to Valencia in Spain a few months later. Some parts of it reminded me of the Citadel. I wanted to write about it here, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t really come back here because I couldn’t play the game. I couldn’t concentrate at all, couldn’t finish a simple mission, couldn’t just “play��. I’m still in my first Legendary playthrough if you can believe it. I was losing something that brought me joy and didn’t really know what to do.

And the long story short about my time away: I got a Master’s degree while still working (evening & weekend classes). It’s fairly recent, I learned in June that I got a "Grande Distinction" (with great distinction? idk how to translate it well in English, it's just one of the highest marks). So that was nice :)

Less nice: I got a severe pulmonary embolism in November. My lungs are okay but I have to deal with daily hyperventilation now, which means I’m quite tired and need to make an appointment soon for respiratory physiotherapy. If you’re wondering, I don’t smoke and I’m fairly active. What else? I’m about to self-publish (finally!!!) my collection of short stories in French. Mom helped me yesterday, we ordered printed books. So I'm still writing. Reading and knitting all the time. And I’m still working at the same job I was working at, and I’m happy there, though it can be demanding and I have to be careful not to overwork myself.

In the end, I did manage to come back to the game and finish a mission. Not only that, but I played more missions, and that was a real "omg I can do it" moment. And the more I play, the more I want to talk about it. So there you have it, I hope I can come back and just try to enjoy myself in a chill way. I don't know how long, we'll see. I think time has helped me, at least, to look at things differently. I don't want to feel any type of obligation. I want to do things for fun because it's fun, and let that be enough.

It’s been so long, the fandom has probably changed a lot. Some people might be gone. I’ll reintroduce myself one way or another, but right now I’ll just find stuff I like to reblog and talk about all the ideas that come to mind. Bear with me if it has been said recently or so many times before. I just feel like starting all over again and I missed a lot of posts. My memory isn't what it's used to be either tbh...

Finally, I hope you’re all doing well. Thank you to the people who sent me messages. One person wrote that they missed me. I don’t know who they are, it was anon, but that really moved me, because I really did miss this community and all the discussions we had. I also miss, as always, Dustie who has been gone for a while now.

Anyway. Thank you.

[rei-ismyname]

UNCANNY X-MEN #5 From The Ashes

First of all, I should acknowledge that something I've been calling a missed opportunity has received an attempt on page - the X-Men killing in FotHox, specifically Kurt. It's a single line and doesn't make a lot of sense, trying to have cake and eat it too by nodding to it in issue 5 but not meaningfully engaging with the recent past. Kurt did NOT think he was a killer, ever. That's just a bad faith reading of the text. He was in a war against genocidal fascists, come on.

Cool new form for Calico, though.

Kurt putting his sword/s away doesn't quite cut it. Errol Flynn swashbuckling has been an influence on him since he was a child and he's been big on sword usage almost since the beginning of his publication history. It's his thing, and he badly needs personality in FTA. Also, he didn't kill anyone with a sword in Fall, he teleported them into space. Swords parry and block, they disarm and intimidate. They have use outside of combat. They look cool, and it's something Kurt is very good at. So yeah, the barest attempt was made, but it didn't land for me. There could have been space to set it up and sell it too, perhaps by toning down the Charles Xavier/Sarah flashbacks that were ultimately just a fakeout.

Speaking of things that were given lip service in issue 5 and could have benefited from more attention, Jubilee told us who she is - kinda. A panel or two of origin story that was established in the 90s, but nothing about why she's here or what she wants out of life. How she feels about the loss of Krakoa, where the hell her baby, Shogo, is. It fits in with Uncanny's overarching sense of unfocusedness and her role could have been performed by anyone - not a good look for the end of the flagship book's first arc.

We get the resolution to and defeat of Sarah Gaunt. 'She's crazy, always has been' is so unsatisfying. I can't think of any other description. It's nice that we don't have another sin to lay at Xavier's door, but attempted baby trap is not a frequently used trope for a reason. She acknowledges she was lying, but then blames him for the loss of her son years later in a different country - then transfers that hatred to all mutants? Comicsxf have criticised her characterisation as 'Monstrous Mother' and I agree. What was the point of giving it so much space, to the extent that we spent more time in the past than with most of our putative main characters? She beat the shit out of Logan and Rogue the last two issues, nearly killing them - only for Rogue to draw strength from deus ex dead kid and completely wipe her out. It's lovely that Rogue is able to summon empathy for her, it shows us why she's a hero, but taken as an arc she's rewarded with victory despite making bad decisions. Long time readers know Rogue can lead, but I think Gail Simone is going to have to do the work to convince new readers that she's right for this. It's well and good to have moral authority but leading your team to death isn't.

Harvey X was unexpected but felt unearned. Surprise is fun but internal and narrative consistency is better. I thought it was Charles moving people around, because it was signposted. Harvey X being the puppet master felt almost silly as he revealed previously unseen very powerful abilities. Why would he wait for Rogue and Logan to be nearly dead to act? Maybe that's the only time he can act, because he's dead? Idk, at least he didn't scream how hot Rogue is again. He speaks about a sacrifice he's making but what sacrifice is that? Is his power finite and burns him out, Proteus-style? It's not quite clear, and I guess we'll never see him again.

Precognition. Healing. Telepathy.

Gambit and the Eye of Agamotto was a Chekhov's Gun that mostly worked (and made me feel sah smart for calling it.) Remy prays (?) to it and then blows the possessed cultists away. I'm pretty sure Jubilee could make a bigger boom than that (I know she can) but rule of cool wins the day.

These are/were captured and possessed mutants. I hope we see them again, especially after Fawn's introduction in #1. They're not doing this willingly.

Rogue flies to meet Warden Ellis to give her Sarah back, further muddling Ellis' characterisation. I have no idea what she's about now. Nuance is good in antagonists, but for someone who wants to crush mutants with her government mandate she's awfully cooperative with them. No threats, no riddles, no ultimatum, just meekly accepting two threats? I want to give a fuck about the closest thing we have to an antagonist (for a crossover event right around the corner) but there's nothing there! This was an opportunity for something, anything. Gah! I don't understand this writing.

Rogue's threat is interesting, though I have to wonder what she and Scott are going to disagree about. It's implied Jubilee will get captured, and we know Beast already has been. 2/3 X-Men teams have their motivation to wreck Graymalkin I just struggle to see them coming to blows over it.

Rogue and her elocution lessons feel very out of character and came out of nowhere. If it was setup earlier and tied to insecurity or identity that would work, but being introduced and haphazardly paid off in issue 5 baffles me, frankly. Rogue's southern upbringing is never something she's been ashamed of, her angst has almost always been related to her powers. She's a confident woman. A story where she struggles with that could have legs, but that's not the story that's been told. She certainly doesn't need Gambit or Logan to tell her - I'd expect it to be the other way around.

I'm not sure what to make of the images we get from Harvey X's visions of the future. I'll write about them separately if I find an interesting hook.

So ends the first arc of Uncanny X-Men volume whatever. My main issue is that it doesn't meaningfully engage with what came before it, and it doesn't quite manage to establish its own identity either. What is its mission statement and what kind of book can we expect? I don't know, and I hope Gail Simone does. It's not the end of the world, mind you. Following Krakoa was always going to be tough, and the world was going to feel smaller, less connected. I can't help but wonder what it might have felt like without a lot of Charles Xavier flashbacks amounting to nothing. Maybe we'd know more about Kurt or Jubilee, even the Outliers. Ideally that'll be corrected. I don't do number ratings so I'll just say it was okay, higher if you are a Rogue stan.

[jemilyswhor3]

Mentee

A/N: I made this last year AND requests are open!!! (I'm begging someone to request wanda and/or nat 🙏🙏🙏)

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Female!Reader

Warning: smut, masturbation, idk what else tbh as I said this was made last year, mommy kink maybe, dom!wanda, sub!reader, this mentions aos cause I made this when I was OBSESSED with aos

Summary: Wanda caught you doing something and confronts you with her assumption

Word Count: 4k

You had a big crush on your mentor Wanda, but you don't make it look obvious. You wanted to be seen as someone professional and serious, not a bubbly girl who has this insane crush on her mentor. You only steal glimpses of the redhead from time to time whenever you can, and she smirks and looks back down whenever she caught you. You often slip off, daydreaming about the most sinful things she can possibly do to you, and it's either Kate nudging you to get off fantasy land, or long enough to realize Wanda had caught you, which makes her giggle.

You were on your way to Natasha's class, you realized that you were the only one attending it since the rest of the mentees were in Fitzsimmons' class, which you attended earlier. You opened the door, and to your shock, you saw Wanda.

''Where are the others?'' Asked your mentor, seeing you enter the room alone.

''They're in Fitzsimmons' class.'' You replied.

''And why aren't you there?'' She asked again, tilting her head.

''I attended the class earlier today.'' You replied, awkwardly heading your way towards her.

''Mhm.'' She hummed to your response.

''Where's agent Romanoff?'' You questioned, gesturing where to your right hand.

''She's on a mission. I'll be her sub for now.''

''How long will her mission be?''

''Wanna get rid of me much?"' Wanda chuckled.

''No- no, it's not like that. I- I was just wondering since she told us to master Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which we were supposed to perform with her today.'' You awkwardly replied.

''Well, we won't be doing any of that, since I don't even know what that is.'' She smiled.

''Oh. What we'll be doing then?'' You asked, confused about what she had in mind.

''Freestyle.'' She proudly stated.

''Freestyle?'' You repeated.

''Yeah, I mean, why not? I was planning on the mentees practicing with each other, to find out what they're best and good at, but it seems like we'll be practicing together.'' She raised her shoulders and headed her way to the center of the room.

''Okay, that seems... cool.'' You said, dropping your gym bag on the floor.

''Just to heads up, I will be using my powers.'' She cleared out.

''What?!'' You asked, confused.

''Don't worry, I'll just use it to throw stuff at you-'' She gets cut off.

''YOU'LL THROW STUFF AT ME?!'' You respond, frantically.

''No- no, just small harmless objects. Besides, it was gonna happen anyway. Stark updated the inquiries, and it makes sense since powered people are also on the list of bad guys. And you get first-hand experience.'' She winked at you.

She was never this... flirtatious? I mean, maybe she is? You only see her in her class, and sometimes bump into her. You've never had a one-on-one event with her before. Her actions left you in shambles and in a blushing mess.

''Okay, then.'' You nod and prepared yourself for what was about to come at you.

The first couple of times, you were able to dodge and hit the objects before they could touch you. But in time, you lose focus on the woman you're training with. You never got the chance to look so closely at her for a long period of time without it trying not to get caught by her. It was so hard to focus when all you can think about is your mentor. Your mentor Wanda, whose figure is perfect, her red locks in a ponytail, her leggings sculpting her ass, the way she moves to avoid your punches, and most captivating of all, her slender fingers with her scarlet power, swinging left and right as she tries to defend herself.

God, you can only imagine what her fingers could do to you. Inside of you.

''Ouch!'' You winced.

''Oof. Sorry. Caught you off guard there. Seemed like your thoughts are elsewhere''

Yeah, elsewhere to the deepest of your imagination.

''Are you okay?'' She asked, rubbing your back.

''Yeah, I'm fine.'' You replied shaking your head.

''Are you?'' She cupped your chin for your face to face hers. ''That doesn't look good.''

''Don't worry, it's just a scratch. Shall we continue?'' You deviated from the conversation.

''No, I don't think so.'' She replied, shaking her head whilst she moves your head to check out for other possible scratches. ''We were about to come to a close anyway.'' She took her arm off and headed towards the benches. ''You should probably go to the med-bey. Or to the kitchen, if icing is all it needs.'' Wanda suggested, opening her bottle to take a drink.

You nod in response as you rush your way to the kitchen, upset that your time with the redhead had been cut short. The only opportunity you probably had with her to have a one-on-one.

After fixing yourself up, you head to your designated room and cleaned yourself. You changed into a black camisole and some short shorts since you felt comfortable sleeping like that. You dried your hair and went to bed as you dim your lights to head off to sleep.

As you lay there, you weren't able to sleep, as your thoughts were clouded by Wanda. Nothing. But. Wanda. You couldn't stop thinking about earlier. About how gorgeous she was, how she was caring towards you, gentle towards you, how you two shared such intimacy, that you savored every second of, and yet again, her hands. Her slender, veiny hands moved around the room as if they owned it. How she controlled and moved it, and how you're so attracted to every single movement of hers.

First, it was all thoughts of admiration, then you start to immensely think of the nastiest thoughts. You didn't even notice your hand shift underneath the covers, teasing your clothed cunt. Stroking it up and down as you feel a wet patch create between your thighs. You can feel yourself close to your peak until you heard the door open. You shifted your hand off and besides you and jolted up as fast as you could. You look up, and there you see...

''Wanda?'' You said, eyes wide, shocked to the core.

''You're still up?'' She replied, awkwardly standing by the door. ''What are you doing?''

''Insomnia.'' You stated. You weren't lying though, you had been having trouble with your insomnia lately, but in this case, it's clearly not the cause.

''Nothing else?''

It intrigued you how invested she was in what you were doing before, and you believe that she didn't really see you do anything, since you had blankets covering you. ''Nothing.'' If nothing meant impulsively touching yourself to the thought of her.

''What brings you here?'' You asked, bringing your knees up to your chest, hugging them.

''Was about to drop this off. You forgot them.'' She said, dropping your gym bag on the floor.

''Thanks.'' You replied, looking at your gym bag.

''Yeah, no problem.'' She turned around and made her way to the door. Before she left, she turns right back around and asks you the same question. ''You sure you weren't doing anything?'' She asked, brows furrowed.

''No, nothing. Why?'' The question also made your brows furrow.

''It's just that, I swear I heard you hide your moans right before I entered.''

Her revelation made you a hot mess. Your eyes are wide open, unable to utter a word in response.

She walked closer to you and says, ''Oh, don't try to hide it, detka, I know you've been thinking about me. In class, in training, and just a few minutes ago when you lied about not doing anything, when in fact, you were touching yourself to the thought of me.'' She leaned closer to your face, almost not leaving a gap between the two of you. She pulled back and sits on the mini couch you have at your bedside.

She reads my mind? You thought to yourself. Beforehand of starting to work on the compound, it was mandatory to learn basic skills and techniques to barricade your mind, and Wanda respects too much of people's privacy to even invade their minds without their consent or valid reason.

''I know what you're thinking, detka. And I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself. The moment you walked in the door, I knew you had to be mine.'' She creeped out a sinister smirk.

''But- we were-''

''Please, those mandatory skills are nothing. I can easily access anyone's mind whenever, wherever. Besides, your thoughts are too loud not to read.'' She laughed mischievously. "You really think some lessons could stop my scarlet magic?"

Well, that's comforting.

"Don't stop on my account. Go on. Continue. I know you were close before I entered. I just needed to see you for myself." She made herself comfortable on the couch, opening her legs, and relaxing her hands on her thigh.

You simply went under the covers. I mean, what else could you have done? Not obey her?

''Don't hide away from me. I wanna see all of you.'' Her voice became raspy with her Sokovian accent showing.

You slowly, shamefully, took off the covers on top of you, revealing you in your black velvet short shorts.

''Aww, you look so adorable in your shorts. Real deal definitely is better than what I've imagined.'' She laughed in a raspy tone, pouting at the sight of you in your shorts. ''Now, take them off.'' She commanded.

''What?"' You whispered.

''Take your shorts off.''

You slowly slipped your shorts off your thighs, then knees, until it was already in your ankles and you tossed them around somewhere with your foot. You lay comfortably in your bed as she watches you. You close your eyes, letting go of every single thought and worry in your mind and letting it get infiltrated by thoughts of Wanda. You weren't quite sure if it was you or her putting it on your mind, but either way, you were sure you were gonna think of her anyway.

Wanda watched you as your hands roamed around your body. Your eyes closed. Teasing yourself. You played around with your nipples through the fabric, making them poke through the cloth and making you whimper for more touch.

"That's it, baby. Please yourself for mommy." Her voice came from close by... too close.

You open your eyes to look at her, yet she's nowhere to be found on the couch.

"I'm right here, draga." She said, sitting on the other side of the bed beside your legs.

You close your eyes yet again, continuing your movements around your perked-up tits.

"You look so good, detka." She praised you while she takes one of her hands under her pants. "Take your top off." She demanded.

You obliged her request. Peaking a bit through your eyes while you take your top off, you saw her touching herself, and that made you feel hot flushes on your cheeks. You tossed your top someplace else, revealing your now fully bare chest.

You comfortably settled back down as your hands traveled on top of your chest. You draw circles on your nipples, occasionally pinching and pulling them to help the tension between your thighs. You removed one hand away from your chest, moving it towards your wet center.

"Uh, uh. Don't touch that pretty pussy of yours until I say otherwise." You opened your eyes while she said her command, seeing her shake her head as she spoke.

"Bu- I-" You whimper.

"Aww, is my little draga all wet and needy down there? Do you want mommy's fingers to please you, mhm?" She said with a mocking pouting face.

You eagerly nod while biting your lip. Waiting for a response or command for her to state.

"Yes, yes you are." She said while mirroring your movements, mocking you.

"Take your panties off. I wanna see that pretty little cunt of yours." She smirked.

You shake your panties off until they were on your ankles. Wanda used her scarlet magic to bring your soaked underwear to her view.

"I'll be keeping this." She said, taking her hands off her pants, as she grabbed the pair that was previously floating in the air.

She looks back at you whilst restoring your underwear in her pockets. Seeing your legs closed with your arm in the middle, but not touching your center.

"Come on, detka. You should know this by now. Open." Wanda gestures both her hands to signal you to open them. You slowly open them, revealing your dripping pussy. "Good girl." She praised, making you feel butterflies. "So wet, and all of this for... mommy?" She stoped and looks at you, waiting for a response.

You nod in reply, but that wasn't enough. "Use your words, darling" She spoke with her Sokovian accent showing when she said "darling".

"Yes- yes, mommy. All for you." You whimpered out.

She groans at your response. "Have I been teasing you too much? Should I have knocked earlier?"

"Mhm." You replied, biting your lower lip.

"Well, I'm right here, now. And I will guide you through all of it." She said, bopping her head, signaling you to mirror her movements, and you do.

"Are you gonna touch me?" You asked, needy.

"We'll see. If you're a good girl that follows mommy's orders, then maybe I'll consider it."

Her response made you feel ecstasy following around your body. Ready to follow any and all of Wanda's rules for her touch in reward.

"Now be a good girl and get comfortable." She stated as you suit yourself in bed."Nice, nice." She whispered. "Now, close your eyes-"

"But, I wanna see you, mommy." You whimpered, pouting.

"But, that's not mommy's orders. Now, close." She said as she leans in to close your lids with her index and middle finger.

You keep your eyes close as you stayed steady, waiting for her next instructions.

"Bring your hands up to your chest, and tease your nipples." You do as you are told. Your nipples erect at the sensitivity of it.

"Aww, so sensitive, aren't you?" She teased, seeing how fast your body reacted to your touch.

You nod in response. You continue to play around with your chest, while Wanda slowly moved her hand under her pants. Touching herself to the sight of you.

You took a peak at the redhead, seeing her enjoy herself while her eyes are closed to her own imagination. You took one of your hands off your chest, to which you slowly glided to your touch-starved center.

"Don't you dare continue what you're about to do." The witch exclaimed.

You jolted your hand away from your lower abdomen, staring at a furious witch, whose orders you just disobeyed.

"I-I'm sorry, mo- I ju-" You stuttered.

"You've been a bad girl. Disobeying mommy's orders, when I thought you of all people wouldn't even think about such a thing." She sinisterly laughed.

"I'm so-" You tried to apologize.

"Oh, no, detka, it's too late for that. It's time for punishment." She smirked.

Your thoughts were nothing but the idea of Wanda finally touching you. She opens your legs with her magic, and you roll your eyes at the sensation. She uses her scarlet powers to feel the wet dripping mess you are on the outside. You let out a moan at her sensation.

"Pl-please... mommy." You managed to let out.

"Do you want me inside of you, mhm? Want mommy to fill you up?" She mocked.

"Y-yes please."

"Yes, what? Come on, it seems like you're forgetting my name."

"Yes, please mommy." You let out in between moans.

"Since you've been naughty, mommy's not gonna touch you. In fact, I'll make you regret what you did, and teach you what happens to sluts that disobey their mommy." She taunted.

She inserts her scarlet magic inside of you, moving her left hand to the rhythm while the other was back under her pants.

You let out a moan at her sudden movement. Your back aching, toes curling, while your hands grip the sheets.

But, it didn't feel right. You felt something, but you also felt... nothing? It feels like something is touching you on the inside, but you couldn't really feel anything around you. This. This is the way of teaching you and making you regret disobeying her. The sensation of her touch, yet, also craving it, since she isn't really inside of you. How it aches between your legs, and how you crave her touch. For her to actually be inside of you.

You open your eyes, looking at Wanda with her mouth shaped like a small O with her eyes shut. You hesitate to disrupt her from her peak, but you couldn't help the feeling between your legs anymore.

"M-mommy..." You whispered. "Mommy..." You hesitated again.

"What is it, detka? You aren't supposed to be talking. Remember, you are being punished." She replied, breathless.

"I- I was just wondering if you could allow me to touch myself?" Your requested, head bow down while asking, ashamed of the question.

She opens her eyes. Her eyes became siren, staring back at you. She took her hand out of her pants, while she continues to do what she was doing with the powers in her mind. She crawls up to you and stops on your lower abdomen. She looks at what mess you've become between your legs, and then back up to you with a smirk. She moved her head in between your pussy and starts to talk.

"You wanna feel something inside you, mhm?" She asked, her facing your cunt. "Do you prefer mommy's fingers, mhm?" She teased.

The vibrations from her voice sent shock waves through your core and gave you goosebumps all over your body. You whimper then and there while she spoke.

"Mhm." You hum in response.

"Use your words, honey bun. I know that pretty little mouth of yours can do that, right?" Her Sokovian accent was taking control of her.

"I-I want you inside of me, please, mommy." You begged while you look down on her.

"Too bad. If you followed my rules, you would've been fucked right now to the point where you can't even stand up. This is what bad girls get when they don't follow the rules." She informed.

God, she wasn't kidding when she said you'd regret it. The fact that you would've been fucked by the Wanda Maximoff if you just kept your hands away from where it wasn't supposed to be.

She sat back up and made her way to the other end of the bed again. She continues to please you with her scarlet magic while you lay there as a moaning and whining mess.

She kept thrusting her magic in and out of you, and soon enough, you feel your peak reach.

''Mo-momm-'' You stuttered, eyes closed while you grip tightly on the sheets.

''Aww, is my baby gonna come? Hmm?'' She mocked.

You nod at her response, unable to utter words out of your mouth.

''C-can I?'' You asked politely. Hoping to get on her good side for her to allow you.

''Not just yet, you need to do something for mommy.'' She yet again took her hand off her pants and crawls up to you. ''Do you wanna come, baby?'' She cupped both your cheeks and you nod, eyes still closed. ''No. I want you to look at me and tell me.'' She demanded.

You slowly open your eyes and they gladly met hers. Her eyes, obviously filled with nothing but lust stared back at you.

''Yes, mommy. I wanna come. And I'll do anything!'' You exclaimed.

She hums at your eagerness and compliance and replied, ''Good girl, 'cause I need you to eat mommy out, okay? Can you eat mommy out?"' She cooed close to your face.

Your eyes widen at her request. You still can't process that she- Wanda Maximoff, your very very hot mentor that you've been attracted to since day one- wants you to eat. her. out. You thought that you wouldn't be able to touch her- or vice versa- since she was punishing you for being a bad girl, but turns out she might've just forgiven you.  ''Okay, mommy.'' You respond eagerly.

With the sway of her hands, her pants were thrown somewhere in the room, leaving her in her panties. She crawls up to you and situated herself in between your legs. You can see how wet she is through her panties. You teased her clothed clit, swirling your tongue around it, making her whimper.

"Enough teasing. I want you inside me." With the snap of her finger, her undergarment was nowhere to be found in front of you, leaving her bare with her glistening pussy ready to be eaten out. Your eyes widen at the view, unable to move a muscle.

"Well, come on, detka. Show mommy how much of a good girl you are." She demanded.

And with that being said, snapping you from what you should be doing, you slipped your tongue through her wet folds, getting a soft and low moan out of her. You moved your way up and down, teasing her clit, but not fully going through with it.

"Right there, right there." She repeats, almost out of breath.

You continued lapping on ber g-spot as she grinds closer to you. Her scarlet magic never leaving the presence of your own pussy, also driving you over the edge.

"'M so close, baby." She says in between moans.

You feel the knot on your stomach tighten, and you knew you were just as close as Wanda, but the leverage you had over her was: you know what'll make her come in an instant.

You swirled your way to her clit, and she was token back by your gesture. Hitting a spontaneous shock through her core, causing her to reach her peak.

"I'm gonna come, moya lyubov. Mommy's gonna come." She said, almost out of breath while she grinds herself onto your face.

"C-can I come too mommy?" You asked for permission.

"Yes, detka. Come with mommy." She allowed.

As she continues her scarlet motions into you and your gestures onto her, you both came undone with both the pleasurable look on your faces. You cleaned her up, slurping every drop of her release, as yours drip from the sides of your thighs and into your bedsheets.

"You did so well, malysh." She cooed, cupping your face from below her. Strands of hair touching your face.

"Anything for you, mommy." You replied, kissing her palm beside your face.

She smiled and gets off your shoulders. She dressed herself up while you watched her. You were still pretty groggy and unclear to what just happened, unable to utter anything.

She comes up to you and whispers in your ears, "You've been such a good girl for mommy. And this won't be the last. Next time, if you aren't gonna be too much of a needy whore again, mommy might just touch you herself." She cooed, tucking some strands of your hair back.

"Thank you, mommy. And I promise, I'll be good next time." You respond.

"Good. Because if you're still the needy whore you were earlier, I won't go easy on you. You get that?" She smirked, and you can feel it brush your ears.

"Y-yes, mommy." You giddily replied.

Wanda stood up and headed her way to the door. She pulls back up and says, "Oh, and don't forget to clean yourself up. We don't want that pretty pussy and bed of yours to be all dirty for our next time." She leaved off with a wink that left you in shambles.

You did as she told, cleaning yourself up. It was quite hard going back to sleep after such an interaction with your mentor, but after a while, you finally drifted off to sleep.

Waking up, you saw a care package placed on your chair. A dress from Wanda for you. You smile at the thought of her aftercare and what she could possibly do next as your relationship grows with her. But most importantly, how last night isn't the last and there will be next times for your mommy to treat you as her own, like you are.

____________________________________________

A/N: PLS REBLOG👹 and again I AM OPEN FOR REQUESTS!!! (primarily with wanda and/or nat)

[seaofreverie]

Sparkstember Day 5: Indiscreet (In The Future)

Unfortunately it would be a bit of a lie to say that I vibed with Indiscreet right away. Not to say that I didn't like it, but maybe my unprepared ears weren't ready for whatever this album is. It's a lot. And it's all amazing stuff!! Still, I guess it needed some getting used to before I could really GET IT too. Had to stick to the couple tracks that I gravitated towards first (and I REALLY liked those btw. A lot) before gathering up the courage to take another plunge into the whole thing. Probably a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that this was one of my very first Sparks albums: the 6th I listened to according to my notes... I know Indiscreet is a pretty big fan favourite and thankfully, for me it might just be the finest case of gradually enjoying an album more and more with each listen. And I must say I REALLY love it now. EVERY song here is amazing, no doubt about that now.

But returning to the start for a bit, I was ready to get into some more of that (glam) rock side of Sparks I already knew by then from the previous two albums, and I got a bit of that here... Not quite as much as I hoped perhaps, but that was just another fact of life to learn here: Sparks never stick to one thing for too long. And this is when I need to get into the beautiful mix of... everything that this album offers. Early 20th century big band and vaudeville next to rock and pop and even some slightly-punk-before-punk-was-even-a-thing-really, as I've seen In The Future be described as once (more or less)... And then within the tracks themselves, we'll have strings next to brass and horns next to electric guitars next to beepy synthesisers. And let's not forget the most important of them all: the whistle.

The best thing about it all though is that it does not feel jarring to have a mix of all these different things and jump from one to the other constantly. Or, at least, not TERRIBLY jarring. Jarring within reason? Jarring, but in a masterful and knowledgeable way that works in favor of the whole piece rather than against it? You name it.

I say this... quite often about Sparks and individual songs or albums of theirs but this time I mean it perhaps even moreso than ever, that this album is extremely unique and truly like nothing else I've ever heard or likely will ever hear. I'd say it poses a bit more of a challenge than some other Sparks releases but once you get through that initial bewilderment (if you DO encounter it. I'm sure many don't but many others also probably do just like I did), the reward is a really great and one of a kind musical experience.

Favourite songs (and other highlights):

Happy Hunting Ground: early fav that I don't really think about all that much anymore... (it's still a total banger though. And, not going to lie, seeing the live performance of this song from Dee Vee Dee renewed my love for it recently). I was REALLY into it in the beginning though. It aligning very well with my hopes for more energetic rock tracks must have been a big part of that

Get In The Swing: idk what to say about it but it's just SO GOOD! Type of song I hear before the album proper that convinces me that yes, this band here is truly something special, I need more of this

Pineapple: it fullfills every need! Most importantly the need for a very singable and delightful tune from the renowned songwriter Russell Mael. It's sure to lift my mood considerably every time I hear it

It Ain't 1918: I think if I had to cut down all of Indiscreet to one song that represents it best as a whole, I would go with this one (Get In The Swing would probably be my second choice)

The Lady Is Lingering

In The Future: DEFINITELY my favourite here, another candidate for one of the best Sparks songs overall, special shoutout to those short instrumental segments between parts of the verses, you know, with the synth line that slows down and then speeds up again?

Miss The Start, Miss The End

Profile: song so good and in line with the rest of Indiscreet that I find it hard to believe it's just a bonus track. Impressive falsetto moments, fun as heck piano lines, all of the songs here are very unique but this one is fun and catchy in an especially unique way, to me

[libraryofloveletters]

Movie Stars

Ibrahima ‘Ibou’ Konate x Fem!Reader

Warnings: sweet baby ibou, he's a vlogger y'all could neverrrrr, he's in your face 24/7 but in a cute way, holiday getaways, friendly teasing, lipstick marks, a suggestive ending.

Word Count: 673

Author's Note: first time writing for ibou :) idk what took me sooo long, he's the cutest ever.

--

Ibou decides it would be a good idea for you two to make a vlog over the holiday break, just so he can keep his teammates updated. 

Switzerland was the choice for this year's winter getaway. You and Ibou had decided you wanted snow instead of sun this year, as you had gone to Mexico the year before.

It's barely past 10 and you can hear your boyfriend speaking, you assumed he was on the phone with one of his teammates, probably Virgil calling to check up on the two of you - something he tended to do with all of the players.

Your face buried into your boyfriend's chest, trying to wake yourself up when you feel him poke your side. You look up, sleep still in your eyes, fully expecting to see someone on the phone; you just weren't expecting to see yourself.

"What are you doing?" You asked him, the red button blinking - he was recording.

Ibou held the phone so you were both in frame, his arm around you. "It's a vlog, babe! Say hi!"

You roll your eyes playfully, "good morning vlog, it's too early for this." You tell him, rolling the other way. You can hear Ibou speaking, "she's not a morning person, give her a few hours and some coffee, then we'll try again."

Swinging your arm behind you, you smack him in the side as you pull the covers up again.

It wasn't until 2:30 that you saw the phone make its reappearance for the vlog. Your ski goggles on your helmet as you watched your boyfriend film the scenery in front of you; mountains covered in snow, the people scattered all over the place, the sun shining down on you.

Ibou turns the camera back to you. "Say hello to ms. grumpy, she's not so grumpy now. She ate and had coffee." He laughed, causing you to roll your eyes. He goes on to say, "you look like a penguin, baby, all bundled up like that."

You were bundled up for the sweater; winter coat, snow pants, boots and your gloves, hat and helmet cause you weren't about to freeze and die or slip and die either.

Taking the phone from him, you turned the camera to face him. "You can't talk when you're bundled up ten times more than me."

Ibou was wearing about 5 layers, scarves, gloves, hat and everything in between. A blizzard didn't stand a chance against him.

He put his phone away, the two of you spent the rest of the afternoon on the slopes.

It wasn't until later, when you were getting ready for dinner that you heard your boyfriend talking to himself again.

The man showing the vlog around the cabin you were staying in. You were sitting at the vanity, fixing the front pieces of your hair when his footsteps came up the stairs and into the bedroom.

"And this is the master suite, we can find the most beautiful woman in the world getting ready for dinner." He says, flipping the camera to face you. You jokingly look around, "who are you talking to ?"

"You, of course." He smiles, his voice sincere.

You smile, going back to your routine as he shows the vlog the view from your bedroom window.

"So," he turns to you again, "what is that? What are you putting on?"

"Dior, baby." You tell him, swiping the lipstick over your lips. "Shade.." you checked the bottom of the tube. "999, velvet."

"Oh Dior? Très chic, mon amour." (very fancy, my love.)

You nod, pressing your lips together. "I thought so too, but I think I have too much on." You get up, walking over to him.

Ibou's got the phone facing the two of you, your hand on his jaw as you get on your tiptoes, kissing his cheek. There's a red kiss mark left behind on his face, the man smiles when he sees it and you check your lipstick in the camera.

"Perfect."

"I think it's time for the vlog to end." He says, pulling you to him before kissing you. The phone gets tossed somewhere as Ibou picks you up, carrying you to the bed.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure: Our War Game, Part 2 of 2

Previously on Digimon Adventure: After recovering her hat from the Digital World in a wild spinoff adventure that lasted at least 45 episodes, Mimi went on vacation to Hawaii and is living her best life. All of her friends miss her terribly to the point that Jou ended up vandalizing her family nameplate out of grief, which goes to show what a vital and important cornerstone of this team she is.

Meanwhile Tokyo's phone system is glitching out 'cause too many people are prank calling each other or something. IDK the B-plot didn't seem that important.

While Taichi is contemplating how unbelievably difficult the task of getting a hold of Mimi has become, Koushiro returns.

Yuuko: Oh, welcome back. Koushiro: Thank you. What's wrong, Taichi-san?

His answer is to once again flop helplessly over the couch.

Cut to the interior of Susumu's office, where Koushiro's once again at work with the computer while Taichi lies helplessly on the floor. I choose to believe Koushiro dragged him in here by his ankles.

Koushiro: Hawaii, huh? Taichi: We're completely screwed! Koushiro: We won't be able to assemble everyone, will we?

Unless we have a way of reaching Mimi in Hawaii, no. For the first time, the team's going to have to make do with whoever they have on-hand, rather than the whole crew coming together for the big fight.

Well, I say 'first time' but two out of four Dark Masters and MetalEtemon were fought that way.

Taichi: By the way, where'd you run off to?

Koushiro holds up an unusual looking black phone.

Koushiro: This is a satellite phone. Taichi: Satellite? Koushiro: With this, we'll be able to directly connect with foreign access points without having to go through NTT's switchboard. Taichi: So then we can call Yamato and the others-- Koushiro: That won't be possible. Local calls still go through the switchboard. Taichi: Oh, what the hell!

Sat phone is going to bring us back from the brink of Complete Annihilation, but isn't going to solve all of our problems.

In the dub:

Yuuko: Hi, Izzy! Welcome back! Izzy: Thank you. So, uh... When's everybody coming over? Tai: NYAAAAGH!!! (flop) (Cut to office) Izzy: Cheer up already! Tai: What happened to the good ol' days when we were a team? Izzy: We are a team, Tai. But we're just kinda spread out right now. Tai: By the way, where did you disappear to? (Izzy shows him the sat phone) Izzy: Well, I went to pick this up. Tai: What is it!? Izzy: A satellite uplink. We can get onto the internet by tapping into the military satellite system! Tai: Izzy, you're a genius! How does it work!? Izzy: Well, do you know what a semiconductor is? Tai: ...a guy who works part-time on a train? Izzy: Never mind.

The dub misses the kind of important detail that we can't call the others on the sat phone. The put the semiconductor quip where that should go.

Which is a pretty good quip. XD A funny joke that also plays off the relative difference in Tai and Izzy's knowledge bases, so there's some neat characterization embedded in it.

The dub adds that we'll be accessing "the military satellite system" specifically.

Well, if we can't use the sat phone to contact the others, there's one other option.

Koushiro: Why don't you call 171 and see if we have any messages? Taichi: Oh, right, I forgot about that!

Taichi calls the number, and he and Koushiro listen in.

Recording: Playing message. Yamato: (beep) Moshi moshi? This is Yamato. What was so urgent? Koushiro: We did it! Taichi: I knew we could count on him!

The boys record a message for Yamato, and we cut to grandma's villa.

Koushiro: (beep) You both have your Digivices, right? Yamato: Koushiro...? (Back to Yagami residence) Takeru: (beep) We have them. Yamato: Hey, what's going on here? (Back to Grandma's) Koushiro: (beep) Please find a computer to use. A new kind of Digimon appeared inside the internet. Taichi: We need you to help us fight! Takeru: ...this is really bad. (Back to Yagami residence) Takeru: (beep) We have our Digivices, but there's no computer here at Grandma's house. Yamato: There may not be any at all. We're in Shimane, after all.

The Shimane prefecture is one of the least populated regions in all of Japan. They are deeply rural right now. This realization causes Taichi to flop right back over onto the ground.

Taichi: (overdramatic) WE'RE COMPLETELY SCREEEEEEEWED!!! Koushiro: (beep) Please, try to find a computer! There has to be a computer somewhere in Shimane!

Matt and Takeru sprint out of the house, descending a long staircase from their grandmother's home.

Yamato: Hurry, Takeru!

Fingers crossed 'cause it's a ten-hour train ride back to Tokyo. We're not gonna be able to ford the Tokyo Bay on Zudomon's back with this one.

In the dub:

Tai: Is it hooked up yet? Izzy: Almost. In the meantime, check the messages to see if anyone called back. Tai: Oh! I forgot! (Tai checks messages) Matt: Hey Tai, it's Matt. So what's the big emergency? Call me back? T.K.: WAUGH!!! Matt: Oh, I gotta go. Grandma fell asleep on T.K. again. Izzy: Good ol' Matt! Tai: I knew that somebody on the team would come through! (Cut to Grandma's) Tai: (beep) Hey Matt, did you and T.K. bring your Digivices with you? Matt: Did you pack them? (Back to Kamiya residence) T.K.: (beep) This is T.K. Of course we have them! What's going on? (Back to Grandma's) Izzy: (beep) An evil Digimon has taken over the internet. Agumon and Tentomon are fighting it now but they need help! Get your Digivices to a computer as fast as you can! T.K.: ...what do we do now? Matt: (beep) Guys, the closest thing our grandmother has to a computer is an egg timer! We're going into town to find one.

The dub snips a round of phone tag, including Taichi comically flopping back over and wailing about how screwed we are. But to avoid losing the vital exposition that computers are hard to come by in Shimane, they play Matt's final message over the footage of the boys racing down the stairs.

Izzy lies to Matt and T.K. here. Agumon and Tentomon are resting, not fighting Infermon right now.

With Yamato and Takeru now on-mission, Koushiro finishes reconnecting.

On the screen, the images of Kabuterimon and Greymon ready to fight appear. Uh, having somehow re-evolved to Adult-stage without Taichi and Koushiro connected to them. But Infermon's icon is missing.

Koushiro: Alright, we're connected! Taichi: The satellite phone worked! Koushiro: Hang on, it isn't there! Did it leave NTT? Taichi: Hey....

A new email comes in from Infermon. It has a new message, all in Katakana like the others. It reads "イナイイナイバ Inai inai ba!" Pretty sure the last letter is the creature making sounds, while いない inai in Hiragana means "Not here".

The message seems to be, "Not here not here BLEH!" Infermon is taunting them. More importantly, the email address it's using is "@@@@@@djm.dot.gov.ny.us".

Koushiro: Found it! This thing... It's in America! Taichi: America?

While that's going on, Yamato and Takeru roam the long stretches of land in Shimane searching for a functioning computer they can connect to the internet with. The first house they stop at is no good, as a man out on the porch explains to them.

Man: Computer? I have one, but it's broken right now.

At the next house, the now out-of-breath brothers are again turned aside by a middle-aged woman at the door.

Woman: A computer? I don't have anything like that.

At the third house, as the brothers now gasp for air, they're met with further failure from an elderly couple.

Old Man: A com... what? Com....

Leaving there, the boys wander the street looking for new options.

Yamato: Like I thought, there's no computers anywhere in Shimane!

Well, the good news is that when Infermon collapses society, Yamato and Takeru will be well-insulated where they are.

In the dub:

Izzy: The uplink's working! We're back online! Tai: Now let's exterminate that bug! Izzy: ...he left the phone company!? Now where is he? Tai: Look! He sent another email!

As with Infermon's previous messages, the dub rewrites the email in English. This one reads "I'm close to him." Presumably referring to Willis.

Tai: "I'm close to him"!? Close to who!? Izzy: He's in America! Tai: He doesn't even have a green card!?

By pure serendipity, this time we are in fact talking about the United States. The dub didn't have to change this one. Infermon is in America.

The following scene featuring the boys' search for a computer was cut.

Yamato and Takeru's search continues until, suddenly, they strike gold.

The boys discover a small storefront called タクシタでんきTakushita Denki, or Takushita Electric. Writing on the shop window generically advertises "あなたの街のでんきやさん Anata no machi no denkiya-san" or "Your town's electric appliance shop!" Probably don't need much of a pitch in Shimane.

It's not exactly Radio Shack but it's in the right ballpark so we should be able to--

Woman: I'm sorry, but I don't have an internet connection for this computer.

At this point Takeru is straight-up crying. The boys are so fucked that it provokes an argument between the man and woman running the shop.

Man: Oh come on, just let them use it. Woman: (pointed) Sho-chan, don't you have deliveries to make? Sho: I feel bad for them! Woman: (getting heated) But it doesn't connect to the internet! Man: (pounds fist on the table) Then hook it up! Woman: SHO-CHAN-- Yamato: Hey, hey, both of you....

Yamato puts a stop to this before it gets ugly, and we cut to the boys on Sho's delivery motorcycle.

Yamato: Where are we going!? Sho: Leave this to me!

Three cheers for the random deliveryman who wouldn't hang these boys out to dry.

As with the rest of the boys' search, the dub cuts the electric shop too. All we get is the boys on Sho's motorcycle, which is quickly recontextualized to explain who he is.

Matt: UNCLE AL!!! I SAID SLOW DOWN!!! Al: STILL CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!

As with "Sora's cousin Duane", the dub's invented a new relative to transport the Chosen Children. I wonder if the kids accepting rides from strangers made the censors uncomfortable?

Meanwhile, in the United States, Infermon rampages unchecked across American systems.

Devouring everything in its path, we see multiple effects of the havoc it's unleashing.

Bus destination signs flickering into gibberish. Cab drivers' navigation systems replaced by static images superimposed by Infermon's face. The same happening to the giant screens in New York City, as well as airplane and flight control instruments at airports.

There's also one really cool metaphorical shot, gradually zooming out on an American flag while Infermon crawls up one of its stripes like an infectious parasite. Gives me the heeby-jeebies.

Finally, we end Infermon's rampage on a shot of NYC at night, as lights flicker in every building and police sirens scream through the night.

Taichi: Bastard! It's having fun! Koushiro: Despite being Perfect-stage, it's still a newborn child. There's no way to know what it's going to do. Taichi: Can't someone do something about this? Koushiro: I'm sure there's adults out there who've figured out that they aren't dealing with an ordinary computer glitch. But they have no way of realizing that it's a Digimon causing all this. Taichi: Then... What can we do!? Koushiro: All we can do is have Agumon and the others fight it. Taichi: But even then....

Taichi is pissed. He whips out この野郎 konoyarou, one of anime's favorite vulgar Fuck Off And Die insults.

The dub plays Infermon's American rampage for fun times. They set it to the song "All My Best Friends are Metalheads" by Less Than Jake.

Izzy: Well, the Digimon's in New York. He's eaten all the data at Kennedy Airport and he's headed for the subway system. Tai: Good! That will definitely slow him down, for sure! Izzy: I'd better email Willis and let him know that Infermon is heading in his direction. I do have one question, though. What do you think that Digimon would have been like if the virus never attacked him? Tai: I have a question too: WHY ARE YOU STILL DRINKING THAT JUNK!?!? Izzy: Look, just because you don't like to eat healthy, doesn't mean that I don't. Tai: Don't say I didn't warn you....

This isn't even a different take; They flat-out replaced this scene with a brand new one. Referencing Infermon's new goal of finding Willis and making jokes (and foreshadowing) about Yuuko's recipes.

Also, Izzy ponders what Infermon would be like if it wasn't infected by the virus, which is a funny question to ask when the dub added that detail in the first place. Speaking from the Japanese side? The same, Izzy. It's the same. Without a virus, Infermon is the same.

Well. Less talkative, so the virus did change some things, but not as much as you might think.

Suddenly, the boys receive a videocall. Man, it's a good thing Infermon left NTT 'cause good luck finding a satellite phone in Shimane.

Taichi: Yamato! Yamato: Sorry to keep you waiting! Takeru: We have our Digivices! Koushiro: I see. That's good. You found a computer? Yamato: Uh, well....

Cutting to their perspective, we see that the brothers are at a computer in a barber shop. The barber does not seem very thrilled about letting them use his computer.

Barber: Are you sure it's okay to let these kids touch it? Sho: (jolts upright) Stop whining and let them use it!

While I doubt it was intentionally tactical, Takeru's waterworks worked. Sho is invested in getting the boys online. They are, however, not exactly in a private space.

Elderly Man: Those are Kinu-san's grandchildren. Elderly Woman: Life in Tokyo sure is different. Taichi: Hey! What's wrong, Yamato! Hey! Yamato: N... No... It's nothing.

Returning to Odaiba, Koushiro chugs his glass of oolong tea from the tray they brought.

Taichi: Whew. You know, I was worried there for a moment. Koushiro: Taichi-san, can I have your oolong tea? Taichi: Haven't you drank too much already?

Koushiro doesn't wait for Taichi's answer. He chugs Taichi's glass too.

In the dub:

Tai: Matt! Matt: We've got the Digivices! T.K.: Now what? Tai: Awesome! We'll tell Gennai to upload Gabumon and Patamon onto the net! Matt: You can do that? Barber: That sounds like fun! Usually I just play Solitaire on that thing, but I-- Al: (jolts upright) Careful, Floyd! You almost cut my ear off! Elderly Man: Kids today are so smart, aren't they? Elderly Woman: I still can't set the time on my VCR. Tai: Hey Matt, who are all those weird people? Matt: (loudly) They're not weird! They're my best friends! (bitterly mutters) Considering this is the only computer in town! (Meanwhile, Izzy chugs his glass) Tai: Gennai's transfer of the Digimon is almost completed. Izzy: Hey, can I have yours? Tai: (despondent) Izzy, you're the bravest kid I've ever known....

The dub adds the detail of Tai "having Gennai move Gabumon and Patamon onto the net", which is a pretty detail to add. The barber is also a lot more friendly about letting random children use his computer.

It's ironic that Random Stranger Sho is a lot more gung-ho and aggressive about helping these kids than Uncle Al. Al got them to a computer too, but he's not throwing hands with everyone in Shimane over it. XD

Inside the internet, Agumon and Tentomon fly through cyberspace, ready for another round.

Tentomon: Aren't the others connected yet? Agumon: If not, we'll just have to fight it again by ourselves. Tentomon: Yeah, but-- Gabumon: Agumon! Tentomon! Both: Hm?

Gabumon and Patamon enter the circuit they're flying through from another tunnel.

Tentomon: Ah! Gabumon and Patamon! Patamon: We're coming too! Gabumon: Sorry we're late! Yamato: We're counting on you, Gabumon! Takeru: Ganbatte, Patamon! Koushiro: I'll guide all of you. Digimon: Okay! Agumon: This time, we'll definitely defeat this thing!

Reminder: Ganbaru is the Japanese cultural value of perseverance through tremendous adversity via hard work and dedication.

Arrows appear along the path, marking the route and guiding the Digimon to a new virtual space. This one is full of floating construction beams everywhere.

Perched atop one of those beams is Infermon, along with a video game compass marker helpfully pointing it out and a sign. A sight that has only gotten funnier in this modern age of gaming.

It's not Koushiro doing that part, though. The sign's origin is clear from the fact that it's simplistically written in strictly Katakana, like Infermon's earlier messages. It reads コッチダヨーン Kotchidayoun, which translates to こっちだよーん Kotchida youn which translates to "Over here".

Yamato: Is it playing with us!? Taichi: Yamato, let's go all out! Yamato: Straight to Ultimate level!

Yes. Yes, it is playing with us. Its age can be measured in hours. This is all a game to it.

In the dub:

Agumon: We're going back in! Tentomon: I assume Izzy and Tai were unsuccessful in finding anyone else. Agumon: Then you and I will just have to beat that thing by ourselves! Gabumon: Sorry we're late! Patamon: I was surfing the net and I wiped out! Agumon & Tentomon: Huh!? Tentomon: Gabumon and Patamon! Patamon: Is T.K. on this ride? Gabumon: He's not tall enough. Yamato: Hey, Gabumon! T.K.: Patamon! Izzy: Say hello later! We have work to do! Tentomon: Keep your legs and wings inside this ride at all times! Izzy: Just a little further, guys. Just remember: He's dangerous so stay focused! (The Digimon spill into the new area of the internet) Infermon: I'm looking for the programmer; Don't interfere! Matt: He's teasing us! Tai: Oh, yeah!? Then let's get him! Matt: It's time to Digivolve!

Patamon "surfing the net and wiping out" is a nice bit of wordplay for his punny quip, though I'm not sure what it's supposed to mean in a literal sense.

Izzy does not offer to guide the Digimon to their destination, the message remains untranslated in Katakana, and Infermon explicitly wants them to stay away from him rather than goading them. So. I sincerely have no idea who put the pointing arrow over Infermon in this version. It just kinda happens.

As Taichi and Yamato agreed, it's time to evolve straight to Ultimate.

While Agumon and Gabumon Warp-Evolve, we jump around the globe once again to people watching their evolution sequences. This fight, too, will be broadcast worldwide.

I'm really fond of how this is presented. Show Me Your Brave Heart begins like usual when the Digimon evolve, but we jump to a different country and different group of people with each note of the song.

The dub uses their typical Warp Digivolve reprise of their opening theme, but they aren't able to time the shots to the notes for obvious reasons. It still flows pretty well.

Also, for Digimon: The Movie synergy, there's a blond boy watching in one of the shots that you could totally assume is Willis. Maybe he is! Or he could be Michael from 02. Who knows.

WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon take turns boxing Infermon around, making hit and run swipes at it.

Taichi: Nice! Takeru: Patamon, you evolve too. Patamon: Uh-huh!

A neat detail of Patamon's attempted evolution is that the stock animation footage appears diegetically on a screen directly behind him. We see him with the screen at an angle while the startup "Digivice meter rises and overtakes the Digivice" bit plays.

(This might be why Infermon can interfere with evolution sequences. Others have fucked with evolution before but not this directly. It's never been implied that a Partner Digimon in-universe stands there frozen in place for upwards of 40 seconds when evolving.

But we're not in the Digital World right now. We're inside the internet itself, so maybe the data stream is something that can be seen and interacted with. Or something.)

Whatever the case, Infermon's not letting them get away with this one. It lunges, undergoing its own evolution into Diablomon.

Yamato: It evolved!? Taichi: How is it so fast!?

I'm not sure if Taichi means it's moving fast, it evolved fast without a fancy sequence like the Partners have, or that it evolved quickly in the sense that it's gone from Digitama to Ultimate in the span of like a few hours. Honestly, all of these are valid questions.

In its new form, Diablomon has stretchy rubber-band limbs, which it demonstrates by punching Patamon out of his evolution sequence and pinning him against a girder.

Takeru: Patamon! Tentomon: Patamon--DAUGH!!!

Also, it has two arms, so Tentomon can have one too.

In the dub:

T.K.: Patamon, you'd better Digivolve! Patamon: Right! Patamon, Digivolve To.... Infermon: Infermon, Digivolve to: Diaboromon!

"Diaboro" is an obvious r/l mistranslation of "Diablo", the Spanish word for devil. What's less obvious is whether they did that by accident or on purpose. Might be an error, might be they fudged the name on purpose to remove the Satanic reference. Both are plausible.

Matt: What's going on!? Tai: He Digivolved.... Diaboromon: CABLE CRUSHER!!! (Diaboromon punches Patamon out of his evolution) T.K.: Look out, Patamon! Tentomon: I'll save him! (gets punched)

The stretchy arm punches are called Cable Crusher in the dub.

Gotta love T.K. yelling "Look out!" like a second after Patamon already got hit. XD THANKS. HELPFUL.

Takeru and Koushiro check on their pinned down Partners.

Takeru: PATAMON!!! ARE YOU OKAY!?!? Koushiro: Tentomon! Tentomon: I'm fine... Patamon.... Takeru: (crying) Patamon, I'm coming to you! Patamon! Patamon! Patamon!

Meanwhile, at the barber shop, everyone's dropped what they're doing to stare at these strange boys getting very emotional about whatever they're doing on the internet. Even Sho and the barber have stopped midway through Sho's shave.

Yamato: How dare you... HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO PATAMON!!! Taichi: YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!!!

Resuming the fight, MetalGarurumon goes for Diablomon first. MetalGarurumon unloads his freezing missiles, Diablomon gets pummeled by MetalGarurumon's shots. At speed, it's hard to tell if the blasts are hitting it or if it's dodging, but the freeze-frame clearly shows Diablomon getting tossed around.

Recovering, Diablomon returns fire with a fireball from its chest which hits MetalGarurumon dead on.

WarGreymon pushes through the smoke and closes distance. Diablomon tries to deflect WarGreymon's attack at range, using its own stretchy claw to break WarGreymon's right Dramon Killer off. WarGreymon adapts, turning a stab into a punch and breaking Diablomon's goddamn face.

Taichi: Tentomon! Look after Patamon. WarGreymon, stay on the attack!

Koushiro, next to Taichi, begins sweating and seems to be having, let's say, trouble with something....

As WarGreymon closes distance, the process repeats. Diablomon snaps off WarGreymon's other Dramon Killer, and WarGreymon connects an unguarded left hook into Diablomon's face.

In the dub:

T.K.: Ahh! Patamon, are you alright!? Izzy: Tentomon! Tentomon: I'm fine! What about Patamon? T.K.: Patamon! Speak to me! Come on, get up! Say something! I'm coming! I'll come get you! Matt: T.K.... You can't. (to MetalGarurumon) BUT YOU CAN!!! Tai: WIPE HIM OUT!!!

The dub names MetalGarurumon's missiles Ice Wolf Spikes, despite usually calling it (and most of his other moves) Ice Wolf Claw. Diablomon's fireball is Web Wrecker. WarGreymon's punch is just a punch, though to be honest I was expecting it to be Terra Force or, like, Nova Punch or something. XD

Tai: Tentomon, circle around! WarGreymon, attack!

For some reason, the dub has Tai tell Tentomon to "circle around" Diablomon, as if he's supposed to be moving in for a flanking strike. Um. No. His job is to go make sure Patamon didn't die a moment ago.

Unfortunately, while this is happening, Koushiro continues to have his crisis.

Koushiro: T-Taichi-san.... Taichi: Go! Keep it up! Koushiro: (straining) Taichi-san! Taichi: Right there! Get it! Koushiro: TAICHI-SAN!!! Taichi: The hell!?

Startled, Taichi finally turns his attention to Koushiro, who is visibly in a lot of pain.

As Taichi turns his attention to Koushiro, the line "Show me your brave heart" from their triumphant battle theme gets stuck. The soundtrack begins stuttering, playing that same line over and over and over like a broken record. Our first warning that things are now suddenly going awry.

Koushiro: I can't hold it anymore.... Taichi: What!? Koushiro: I have to use the bathroom, please....

Without another word, Koushiro stands up and staggers out of the office.

Taichi: (dismayed) Hey... Why now of all times...? Hey!

Meanwhile, in the fight, WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon both power up their attacks to throw at Diablomon.

Yamato: That's it! Finish it off! Taichi: Huh!?

The pair fire off attacks together that... Sort of look like Cocytus Breath and Gaia Force reimagined by a new art direction.

Taichi: Please! This has to hit!

It does not. Diablomon leaps straight up and hurdles their shots at the last second.

Taichi: FUCK!!!

Frustrated, Taichi smacks the computer monitor and causes it to Blue Screen. He freezes in horror when he realizes what he's done.

Yamato: What's happening, Taichi!? WarGreymon stopped moving!

This is karma for the Andromon episode of the Devimon arc, where Taichi kept smacking computers.

Taichi tries shaking the monitor a couple of times to try and get the connection back, but it's hopeless. Thankfully, Koushiro returns from the bathroom here to discover what Taichi's done.

Koushiro: Sorry about that. Taichi: (desperate, teary) It isn't working! Koushiro: Eh!? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?!?

Our polite little Koushiro shoves Taichi away from the computer so that he can get this fixed.

Taichi: I didn't do anything! It's your fault for using the bathroom at a time like this! Koushiro: It's useless.

Koushiro gives up on trying to get the system back on and hard reboots the computer instead.

In the dub:

Izzy: It's... no... use.... Tai: What are you talking about!? We're winning! Izzy: Owaaaaaaugh... goh... This could be it.... Tai: Yeah! Great, huh? Izzy: Not that! Tai: What's going on!? Izzy: There's something... wrong with me.... Tai: What is it!? Izzy: I think it's your mother's recipes.... (Izzy runs off for the bathroom) Tai: See!? I hate to tell you I told you so but... I told you so!

In the original, he just needs to pee. He drank too much oolong tea and now his body needs to drain the excess fluid. He leaves Taichi unsupervised with the computer for less than a minute.

Here, he's got some kind of indigestion or food poisoning going on, which will be similarly quick to handle.

Matt: Tai! Look! Something's wrong! Tai: Huh!? (The Digimon attack) Tai: Oh no! They're slowing down! (Diaboromon dodges) Tai: Huh!? COME ON!!! (Tai smacks the computer and it blue screens) Matt: Tai, where'd you go!? WarGreymon has practically stopped moving! (Tai shakes the computer a couple of times) Tai: Oh no! Oh no! Izzy: (returns) Ah, I feel a lot better. Tai: I didn't touch anything, I swear! Izzy: AH!!! (shove) TAI, WHAT DID YOU DO!?!? Tai: It wasn't my fault! Besides, who told you to go to the bathroom at such an important time!? Izzy: Like I had a choice!

In the original, Taichi and Yamato are gung-ho about landing these shots and finishing off Diablomon. The dub asserts that they're moving slower, which is a later plot point that the dub's incorporating early.

They may have brought this in early to explain why WarGreymon suddenly shuts down when Tai's connection breaks. It's never been a thing before that a Digimon suddenly goes into stasis if their Partner isn't nearby. That's a weird thing for the original to have happen, so the implied whatever-the-fuck could be an attempted story patch.

While the computer's rebooting, Koushiro vents at Taichi.

Koushiro: Why did you freeze the system!? Taichi: I didn't think that would happen! Koushiro: This is why you're bickering with Sora! Taichi: (wounded) I did nothing...!

Jesus. I don't think we've ever seen Koushiro this upset, and he once fought a guy that wanted to eat his parents. Taichi is silent for a moment, nursing the critical hit that remark struck.

Taichi: I just... (mutters) ...got her a present. Koushiro: A present?

We cut to Sora, sitting in her windowsill and watching a jet go by in the sky as Taichi finally opens up about what happened.

Taichi: Her birthday was coming up, so I got her a hairclip. But then she starts saying things like, "(sneering) Oh, you think this hat doesn't suit me!?" So we started fighting....

As Taichi finishes his story, we return to Taichi and Koushiro, with that same jet visible out the window. They're far apart, physically and emotionally, yet under the same sky all the same.

Koushiro: So that's it... Taichi: Yeah, but... I'm supposed to apologize, right?

Taichi's impression of Sora, literally the tone he uses when quoting her, is mean and uncharitable. But that's not unexpected for someone who's in the midst of a quarrel and doesn't understand what he could possibly have done wrong. So far as Taichi figures it, Sora snapped all of a sudden over the hairclip and started yelling at him for no reason.

Okay. We need to take a moment and talk about the hairclip. What did Taichi do wrong? Well. They don't give us a lot of information to go on. We never hear Sora's side of the story. This is all we get.

But from what we know of Sora, we can surmise some things. The explicit point of contention is Sora's hat. Taichi gave her a pretty hairclip and her kneejerk reaction was that he was telling her not to wear her hat.

This is what she's reacting so negatively to; The implicit statement Taichi hadn't realized he was making that Sora's hat is bad. Or, specifically, that it is 似合わない niawanai, unsuitable for her. That she is the kind of person who wears pretty hairclips and not the kind of person who wears hats like this.

Let's take a moment to think about the context Sora exists in. The longstanding personal drama of her life is her conflict with her mother's expectations. Her mother is iemoto, the grandmaster for a school of ikebana, a traditional art of flower arranging. Sora was born to step into the shoes of a very traditional and feminine discipline, which she did not take well to.

Rather than following eagerly in her mother's footsteps, Sora became more invested in sports, a traditionally masculine activity. She presents herself with long pants, short hair, and that big helmet over most of her head, which she's now swapped for a floofy winter cap. She has conversations with Mimi about how assertive and strong she is compared to the more feminine Mimi.

Sora has, for years, felt like her self-expression is under siege by expectations of traditional femininity. And then Taichi comes to her and implicitly says to her, "Hey, you should change your self-expression to be more feminine." Of course she blew up. Of course she did.

Taichi, of course, had no idea the hairclip would be taken that way. He's... just... terrible at understanding other people's feelings. This was stupidity, not malice. But even though Sora and Toshiko have reconciled, that doesn't mean all the sore spots have disappeared. Taichi stepped on an emotional landmine buried in the Demilitarized Zone that Sora and Toshiko's arguments left behind.

Not to be too charitable to Taichi since he was there when she explained all this. He's an idiot who doesn't think things through and isn't good at understanding people. But he didn't mean any harm by it and now has no idea why it created so much tension.

In the dub:

Izzy: Oh, why did you crash the computer!? Now I have to reboot! Tai: Well, it's not like I did it on purpose or anything! Izzy: Yeah, right! Just like it wasn't your fault with Sora! Tai: That wasn't... my fault... Oh, okay, maybe it was my fault. Izzy: What happened? (Cut to Sora) Tai (V.O.): It was stupid. I gave her this really great hairpin for her birthday and then she got all mad and said, "(sneer) Oh, you don't like my hairstyle!?" and I said "Who could tell? You're always wearing a hat!" and then she said "So! Now you don't like my hat, huh!?" It's very confusing. (Cut back to Tai and Izzy) Izzy: That's what you fought about? Tai: I tried to apologize to her but she won't return my phone calls!

Tai and Sora's argument in the dub is a bit longer. A subtle but critical difference here is that Sora in the original is getting mad over whether her hat is suitable to her while Sora in the dub is getting mad over whether Tai personally likes her aesthetic.

Suddenly, the computer finishes reconnecting with an audible chime.

Koushiro: Ah! We're back to normal. Taichi: WarGreymon-- Ah!

The boys reconnect to find the battlefield they left behind has become a debris field. WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon lay motionless, lifeless amid the debris.

Yamato: TAICHI!!! KOUSHIRO!!! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU GUYS DOING!?!? YOU GODDAMN MORONS!!!

Koushiro's only crime was having to pee, and his Digimon was barely even a participant anyway. He probably doesn't deserve to be called 馬鹿野郎 bakayarou, which is the anime classic 馬鹿 baka or "stupid" but in a really mean and vulgar way. It's for when you wanna call someone baka but spit it like a curse word, no playing.

For Taichi, however, the obscenity is well-warranted.

Taichi: (teary-eyed) WarGreymon! WarGreymon! WARGREYMON!!! WARGREYMOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!

While Taichi's screaming for his Partner, we take another cuts around the globe. To all the people silently watching in stunned horror as he all but begs his Partner to be alive.

WarGreymon: T... Taichi....

Finally, Taichi's voice reaches WarGreymon and he opens his eyes again.

The dub catches that an audio cue is supposed to alert the boys, and uses that old 90's dial-up tone.

Izzy: Ah! We're back online! Tai: WarGreymon! (Debris field, half-dead Digimon) Matt: Hey guys, where were you!? You two sure picked a lousy time to take a lunch break! Tai: (teary-eyed) What happened to him!? WarGreymon! (Silence as we jump around the globe, then back to WarGreymon) Tai: WarGreymon.... WarGreymon: ...ugggggh... Tai, I can't move!

The emotions are dialed back quite a bit here. Matt gives them a snarky scolding instead of yelling obscenities in Tai's face while Tai's fear and grief doesn't quite match the bloodcurdling screaming that Taichi's doing.

Good news is that WarGreymon isn't dead. But this is still pretty bad.

Taichi: If I.... If I'd been here, this wouldn't have happened. Koushiro: You lost again? Taichi: WHAT!?!?

Taichi whips around like them's fightin' words to see Koushiro reading emails from the laptop.

Koushiro: And now from Canberra: "You were so close to winning. What were you doing!?" This one's from Berlin--

Out of nowhere, Taichi shoves Koushiro. Then he grabs him by the scruff of his shirt.

Taichi: The hell!? ASSHOLE!!! Koushiro: I was just reading the emails we received! Taichi: Koushiro, you piece of-- Yamato: Cut it out! This isn't the time to fight each other! (beat) Taichi: Keh!

Taichi pushes Koushiro back to the ground and returns his attention to the computer.

Taichi: What's with these emails anyway!?

What gets me about this bit is that it's not a misunderstanding. His この野郎 konoyarou comes before he clarifies, but even after, Taichi still gives him a 手前 temae. That's the second-person pronoun you use when you want to say "you" in a way that expresses contempt.

Taichi isn't confused here; He is legit trying to punch the messenger.

In the dub:

Tai: I let him down! I should have been there! Izzy: Your Digimon's a loser. Tai: What did you say!? Izzy: How could two Mega-level Digimon get beat by one lousy bug!? WarGreymon quit like a coward--OW!!! (Tai shoves Izzy and grabs him) Tai: YOU TAKE THAT BACK OR I'LL-- Izzy: I WAS READING AN EMAIL FROM ANOTHER KID!!! Tai: You didn't have to read it so well! Matt: Hey, you two! This isn't the time to be fighting! (beat) (Tai shoves Izzy down and goes back to the computer) Tai: Stupid emails....

The dub does play this more for misunderstanding. They take out the parts where Koushiro says "This one's from Canberra" and "This one's from Berlin", so it sounds to Tai like Izzy's being mean and cruel out of nowhere.

Tai doesn't apologize after Izzy clarifies, but he also doesn't double down like Taichi does.

Additionally, the kids emailing seem to be a lot better informed than in the original. It's not too big a deal that they can namedrop WarGreymon since Tai/chi says his name multiple times while begging him to be alive. But they also name-drop Mega Digimon and seem to understand what that means.

From here, we go to Diablomon in the depths of the internet.

It's holding a cute pink clock, revealed to be the true source of its weird cackling back in the first Infermon fight.

Clock: Yahahahahahaha! Yahahahahahaha! Yahahahahahaha!

Diablomon waves its hand over the cackling clock and makes it disappear. Cut to an ominous shot of the jet flying in the sky, and then back to the boys.

Diablomon appears on the computer screens in front of Yamato, Takeru, and Taichi. It doesn't send an email this time; It simply composes one in real-time for them to see, typing out letter by letter.

Diablomon types ト���イヲモッテイルノハ ダーレダ Tokei wo motteiru noha daareda. Which translates to 時計を持っているのは誰だ Tokei wo motteiru noha daareda. Which translates to "Who has the clock?"

Incidentally, this message is sent from the FactoryMark server so it looks like Diablomon's back in Japan. It did what it needed to do in the U.S.

Takeru: Clock?

This message is then replaced by two entirely different things to freak out about. The first is a red timer counting down from ten minutes. The second is Diablomon's image in the background dividing into two, and then those two dividing into four. Then those four into eight.

Yamato: It's copying itself.... Taichi: These numbers-- Koushiro: What do we do!? Taichi: Huh!?

Koushiro isn't looking at the screen. He's still at his laptop reading emails.

Koushiro: A middle school student from Taiwan hacked into the Pentagon, and they say that a nuclear missile was launched from an American military base thirty minutes ago. Taichi: HUH!?!? Koushiro: It was fired by a computer error. (freaking out) Of course, it was actually that thing that did it! Taichi: Then this number is.... Koushiro: The estimated time until the missile reaches its target.

OH. OKAY.

THAT IS PROBABLY BAD.

In the dub, Diaboromon talks over the ticking of the clock, which is not itself cackling.

Diaboromon: Wahahahahahaha! Go back to the beginning....

His email is rewritten in English once again. This time he types out, letter by letter, "Who can count backwards from ten?"

Tai: Another email!? "Who can count backwards from ten?" Huh!? Is he giving us a math test!? (Cut to T.K. and Yamato) T.K.: What's that? (Timer appears and Diaboromon begins dividing) Matt: Hey, what's with the timer? Tai: He's making copies of himself! (Cut back to Tai and Izzy) Tai: He's multiplying! Izzy: It gets worse! The U.S.A. just launched two nuclear missiles! Tai: Huh!?

Yep, there's two missiles in this version. Also, they were recently fired, as opposed to having been fired half an hour ago.

The dub edits the footage again to remove Koushiro's Taiwanese pal and replace him with Willis.

Izzy: Willis says the government has no explanation for it, but he found out that Diaboromon's in the Pentagon's computers. I hope I didn't lead him there with my satellite uplink! (gasp) One of the missiles is headed for Colorado! THEY'RE GONNA LAND IN LESS THAN TEN MINUTES!!! Tai: That explains the timer. But what's in Colorado!? Izzy: I have no idea! In the meantime, Diaboromon keeps multiplying!

Willis, of course. One missile for the original target and a second missile for Willis.

We cut again briefly to the "jet" leaving its trail in the air. Now with an unsettling new context.

Taichi: Y-You're messing with me.... Koushiro: The nuclear missile is called One-Shot Peacekeeper. Range of 20,000 km, which is nearly the entire Earth. Top speed is 15,000 mph. Taichi: ...what's that in kmph? Koushiro: In parentheses, "Mach 23". Taichi: T... Twenty-three...?

The Earth is a little over 40,000 km in circumference so Koushiro's math checks out. Depending on which direction you shoot in, you can cover almost everything on the planet with that kind of range.

Additionally, the speed required to achieve orbital velocity is about 17,500 mph. So this missile can't reach orbit, but it's close.

As Koushiro says that, we cut to Mimi in Hawaii watching the "jet" suddenly streak by overhead. Seems to be heading westward from the continental U.S.

Mimi: Oooooo!

She has no idea what she's looking at. It's probably just a cool plane going super fast in the air.

Koushiro: But we don't know what its target is or where it is in the air right now. Only that it's going to detonate somewhere in the world... in nine minutes.

Meanwhile, in Shimane, the people in the barbershop have no idea. The elderly couple discuss dark clouds moving in over the region.

Elderly Man: It's getting cloudy. Elderly Woman: So quiet, though. I should probably go bring in the laundry right away. Elderly Man: Right away!

The old woman offers Yamato a grocery bag.

Elderly Woman: Would you bring these things to Kinu-san? Tell her they're from Yasuko. Yamato: ... Yasuko: Huh? Are you even listening?

They are not. Yamato and Takeru stare at the computer screen, paralyzed with terror by the reality in front of them.

An interesting note is that it's only one missile. Diablomon isn't going Full Skynet and trying to annihilate humankind. It only has one target it intends to utterly destroy.

In the dub:

Tai: But the military has the power to stop it, right? Izzy: Every country is trying to intercept them, including Japan. But Diaboromon has infiltrated all the computers and is rerouting them to fall harmlessly in the ocean near Hawaii! Mimi: (Hawaii) Ooooo, fireworks! Izzy: I've got the trajectory for the other missile. Let me calculate. ...carry the two, times three... TAI, IT'S AIMED RIGHT FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD!!! Tai: (frustrated) Ugh....

SPOILERS, IZZY. FUCK. I mean, I think most people already guessed that, but still.

Following Tai's incredibly understated groan, the Shimane scene is cut.

When Izzy says Diaboromon is "rerouting them to fall harmlessly in the ocean", the wording here is a little confusing. I think he means that Diaboromon's sending every country's counter-missiles to Hawaii? But the way he words it makes it sound like he's sending the two nukes to Hawaii.

It's a bit of a word salad to try and justify why Mimi's seeing a missile streak by in Hawaii. Which... is kind of a fair question, because Hawaii isn't between the continental U.S. and Japan. It's pretty far south, between Mexico and the Philippines. So I have no idea why the missile passed directly over Mimi's head.

(It heard how cool she was and wanted to swing by to see for itself. It has more than enough range for a detour.

Back at Taichi's home, more emails come in.

Koushiro: This email's from Indonesia: "You must defeat the enemy somehow." Over here, from Armenia: "You're the only ones who can defeat that monster." From Qatar: "Please ganbatte." Taichi: We should ganbaru...

Watching the screen, they're now up to 64 Diablomon and still dividing.

Taichi: But we can't defeat all of them! Koushiro: A nuclear missile can't detonate unless the fuse is activated. If this is supposed to be a game, then which one of those things has the clock? Defeat that one and the fuse won't activate. Taichi: But how do we find that one? Koushiro: That is... We'll have to defeat them one by one. Taichi: But that will take too long!

Koushiro slowly turns around to face Taichi, so Taichi can see how serious he is.

Koushiro: But that's the only choice we have. Taichi: (stunned) ....

Taichi is left speechless by how dire their predicament is.

In the dub... the hack and slash job continues. The scene continues, but they don't use the footage for it. Instead, remember that bit they cut out where Taichi cries "WE'RE SCREWED!" and falls over? Yeah, they past that part in for the footage of this section.

Izzy: Tai, look! Emails from all over the world! "Get that evil Digimon! You're our only hope!" Here's another one: "Be home by six o'clock!" ...oh, wait, that's from my mom. Tai: I'M TRYING TO SAVE THE WORLD AND YOU'RE READING FANMAIL!!! Izzy: WE JUST LOST OUR CONNECTION!!! Tai: (falls over comically) Greeeeeeeeat. Izzy: Don't worry, I'll get it back! Listen, I think if we defeat the original Diaboromon, the rest will disappear. Tai: (gets back up, excited) WHAT!?!? Izzy: All we have to do is destroy each one until we've found the original.

They then use a shot of the "jet" flying in the sky to reset the positions of the characters and join back up with the original footage at "But that will take too long!"

Tai: Sounds great! How many are there so far? Izzy: Oh no.... (Izzy slowly turns around) Tai: Spit it out, Izzy! How many are there! Izzy: ...there are over 75,000 and counting. Tai: (stunned) ...

In addition to the hack and slash job, we are now wildly off-script.

They keep the basic idea that there is one specific Diablomon we must defeat. But the relationship between that Diablomon, the detonation of the nuke, and the little clock Diablomon showed the camera earlier? Completely wiped off the board.

Along with it goes the characterization that Diablomon is still, even in this form, playing games.

In its place, we get the connection going out for like half a second, which adds nothing to this scene. That's clearly there because they cut out this comical footage of Taichi falling over earlier and wanted to use it somewhere.

And the dub also claims that there are now 75,000 Diaboromon. We're at like 64 or so. The Americans inflated the hell out of these numbers.

While Taichi struggles to process this situation, WarGreymon suddenly reaches out.

WarGreymon: Taichi.... Taichi: .... WarGreymon: Taichi...! Taichi: .... WarGreymon: Taichi! Taichi: (gasp)

That shakes him out of it, and he returns his attention to the screen. The Ultimate Digimon begin to move, ready to go once again despite their injuries and damaged armor.

WarGreymon: Taichi... Pull yourself together, Taichi, and let us handle this. Taichi: WarGreymon.... MetalGarurumon: Do we know where it is? Yamato: MetalGarurumon.... Koushiro: Guys.... (steeling himself) I'm sending the address now! MetalGarurumon: Please.

An exit from their current server appears, and the pair of Ultimates exit into the internet once more.

Taichi: (quietly) You're right. It's the only way. I'm sorry. Koushiro: (quietly) Yeah....

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Yuuko checks on her cake.

Yuuko: Seven minutes left!

Across Tokyo, Jou scrambles to finish his entrance exam.

Announcement: Seven minutes left! Jou: (writes frantically) OH NO!!!

Seven minutes left!

Yuuko's cake provides a curious timeframe. It's been twenty-three minutes since she put it into the microwave, and the nuke was fired thirty-three minutes ago. This means the nuke was launched ten minutes before Yuuko put the cake in the oven. Ten minutes before the fight with Infermon, ending in Infermon using the NTT system to shut Taichi and Koushiro out of the internet.

The timeframe is honestly fascinating, as it implies that the nuke was one of the numerous errors that emerged during Kuramon's hatching. Like when Jou missed his train because the doors wouldn't open. The nuke was fired then, during the opening credit sequence, and has been in the air this entire time.

In the dub:

WarGreymon: Tai.... Izzy: What's that? It didn't sound like my stomach. WarGreymon: Tai! Tai: Ah! (Tai returns his attention to the computer) WarGreymon: Have faith! I'll find... the original! Tai: WarGreymon.... MetalGarurumon: Mrrrgh... I'll help you.... Matt: MetalGarurumon! Izzy: They're so slow.... It's because of all the emails! They're slowing down our Digimon's processing speed! I've gotta write to everybody and tell them to stop emailing us until the Digimon are back to full strength! Tai: Are you crazy, Izzy!? Do you know how long that will take!? There's no time! Now we're-- (Cut to Yuuko) Yuuko: --just about-- (Cut to Joe) Announcer: --FINISHED!!! Joe: (writes frantically) IT CAN'T END LIKE THIS!!!

Love what the dub does with those Yuuko and Jou cuts. Beautiful.

So here we get the explanation for all the "WarGreymon is slowing down for some reason!" stuff. The emails coming in are screwing with his and MetalGarurumon's processing speed.

This is actually a plot point from the original. The dub went ahead and introduced it way earlier so they could build up to it. And use it to explain that weird moment when WarGreymon suddenly froze up after Taichi disconnected. Good call. A+

Seven minutes left!

As WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon fly through the internet, more and more emails come in... including a couple of fairly significant cameos.

One is a certain little girl with purple hair that we'll be getting to know better next season.

Another is a boy named Ryo Akiyama. Ryo is the main playable character for a series of Adventure-adjacent video games that take place in the margins around the anime's continuity. We'll be seeing him cross over more and more into the anime proper with not only the next season of Adventure, but also Digimon Tamers.

Despite Tamers being in a separate continuity. It's weird.

Koushiro: There's so much email flowing in.... "Ganbare WarGreymon" from Costa Rica. "Don't lose this, MetalGarurumon," from the Philippines. Takeru: (gripping Yamato's shirt) Onii-chan... Don't give in.... Yamato: I won't give up... not to the very end. Taichi: I will never give up....

As the boys steel their resolve, the clock ticks down.

The dub plays a snippet of Here We Go by Jason Gochin here for a rock interlude. They snip out Koushiro's dialogue about the email, though they still use the footage so we see his lips move silently.

T.K.: Tell me... Will they make it...? Matt: I'm not sure, T.K. But they're gonna try. Tai: Don't give up, guys. No matter what happens, don't give up!

An interesting note is that the dub treats Tai and Matt as passive observers here while the original treats them as active participants. This is because they may not be the ones throwing the punches but it's their power that WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon are wielding.

Six and a half minutes left!

WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon arrive in an area that has been completely overrun with the growing Diablomon swarm.

Yamato: They're... How many of them are there? Koushiro: 4,000... 8,000... It copied itself again! 16,000! They keep making more!

In the dub, the Diablomon are uttering a chorus of "Don't interfere!" over and over and over again. Presumably referring to his plan to drop a nuke on Willis.

Matt: How many copies of Diaboromon are there now!? Izzy: To be honest, I don't know. I stopped keeping track a while ago. It's gotta be well over a million!

It is not. No reason not to use the original numbers; Dub team's scrawling in some extra zeros for American machismo.

No time to get our bearings. At once, thousands of Diablomon open fire on our boys.

WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon are forced to try and weave through the barrage of incoming shots. They don't last long. MetalGarurumon is the first to start taking hits.

Yamato: Ah! Taichi: MetalGarurumon!

While Taichi's eyes are on MetalGarurumon, several shots catch up to WarGreymon, pummeling him as well.

Taichi: Ah! Takeru: They're moving really weird! Koushiro: It's because of all these emails flooding in from around the world! Having so many emails come in is slowing down our processing speed! Takeru: If this keeps up, we'll lose! Koushiro: (typing frantically) To everyone around the world: WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon's responsiveness is dropping! I'm begging you to stop sending emails!

Anyone who's seen a thousand-strong office "Please stop Replying All" chain knows that ain't gonna cut it.

In the dub:

(MetalGarurumon is hit) Matt: Ah! Tai: METALGARURUMON!!! (WarGreymon is hit) Tai: Ah! T.K.: WarGreymon has started to slow down again! Izzy: It's the emails! They're coming in faster than ever! They're slowing down the processing speed even more! Tai: They're sitting ducks out there! Izzy: (typing frantically) Please, guys, stop writing! I know your intentions are good but you're really hurting our cause! Your emails are putting our Digimon in danger!

The dub seems to think the emails are only affecting WarGreymon. They may have gotten confused over the -tachi suffix. WarGreymon-tachi is being affected.

The -tachi suffix is how you pluralize a group of people in Japanese. When stuck to a name, it basically means, "and others in their group" using only two syllables. In this case, MetalGarurumon is the -tachi.

Despite Koushiro's best efforts, the damage is done. WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon float unmoving in the void once the barrage of enemy fire lets up.

Taichi: WARGREYMON!!!

Letting out slow, hollow breathes, Taichi slowly reaches for the screen. Reaches for his partner. Drawing closer and closer and--

Yuuko: (opens door) Koushiro-kun, will you be eating lunch with us? Koushiro: (doesn't notice; mutters) It's useless. I can't stop these emails. There's only five minutes left... What do we do? Yuuko: (smiling) I'm sorry for disturbing you.

Yuuko quietly closes the door. Then, suddenly, she opens it again.

Yuuko: Huh? Where did Taichi go?

A shot of the room reveals that, indeed, Taichi is gone. Koushiro is alone in Susumu's office.

In the dub:

Tai: (gasp) WarGreymon...!

In the original, the music is silent here. The only sound we hear is the echoing of Taichi's hollow, ragged breaths. The dub adds this incredibly loud, eerie background music that drowns out both Tai's breathing and also the new dialogue they gave him.

Tai: WarGreymon... I've got to help... There must be a way... Somehow.... (Yuuko enters) Yuuko: More juice, Izzy? I just squeezed some onions! Izzy: No thanks! I'm rerouting incoming data from the remote server into local memory. Yuuko: (clearly did not understand that) Oh. Whoops. I'll just leave you two alone. (Yuuko departs, then comes back in) Yuuko: Wait a minute! Where did Tai go?

Koushiro is both freaking out and hyperfocused to the point that he notices neither Yuuko entering the room nor Taichi's mysterious exit from it. It's an established character trait that he sometimes doesn't notice other people when he's hyperfocused.

(It got him thrown off a cliff once. By me.)

But Izzy has the presence of mind to briefly chat with Yuuko.

So, where did Taichi go? Into the computer, of course.

That big square window that the children appear in during all these fights? Taichi passes through his to enter the internet and reach WarGreymon.

He slowly descends until he reaches WarGreymon.

Taichi: WarGreymon! WarGreymon: ...

Some distance away, Yamato does the same. He passes through his light window and enters, floating down to MetalGarurumon.

Yamato: Metal... MetalGarurumon! It's me, Yamato. Can you hear me? Open your eyes! Taichi: Yamato....

Taichi watches Yamato for a moment, then does the same thing.

Taichi: I'm here! I'm here too! I came so we can fight together! WarGreymon: ... Taichi: You... You don't have to fight alone anymore.... WarGreymon: ... Taichi: I'm right here! I'm here with you, WarGreymon!

I love how the screens are angled to create the imagery of the children descending upon the near-dead Digimon like angels from heaven. I see what you did there.

In the dub, Kari's voice-over pops back up to try and explain this.

Kari (V.O.): None of us are sure how, but Tai's bond with WarGreymon was so strong that Tai himself became digital!

"None of us are sure how." Kari, go have some more birthday cake. You weren't even here for this.

This is neither the first nor the last time a Chosen Child's holy light will open a gateway between realities.

Tai: WarGreymon... I'm here.... (Matt descends from the other screen) Matt: MetalGarurumon! Wake up! Don't quit now! Why won't he answer me, Tai? Tai: Keep trying, Matt! (Tai looks down at WarGreymon) Tai: Listen. I don't have a whistle to wake you, but I want you to know you're not alone, okay? WarGreymon: ... Tai: And the mail keeps coming! It won't stop! WarGreymon: ... Tai: Kids from all over the world are writing to you. They need your help. You're the only one who can do it! Feel their hope! Feel their strength!

"I don't have a whistle to wake you" is a reference to Kari's whistle being used to wake Greymon in the first OVA's battle with Parrotmon. Since the OVA formed the first portion of Digimon: The Movie, they reference its events here.

Taichi's speech to WarGreymon is personal and focused on their bond with one another. Tai's speech is about how much the entire world loves WarGreymon, which does segue pretty well into this next bit.

WarGreymon: ...u...urgh....

In the dub:

WarGreymon: ...I feel them!

WarGreymon's body shakes slightly. He doesn't open his eyes; Instead, the holy light glows from within the eyeholes of his helmet.

All around them, a wall of emails appears, forming a barrier between them and the Diablomon swarm. WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon don't come to, but instead seem to vibrate and jitter.

Then WarGreymon disintegrates into data, which collects and pours inside his helmet. The same happens to MetalGarurumon.

Through those email boxes, holy light from all of the kids watching gathers, entering the data space in the glowing silhouette of each child. They collect, pooling into energy between the twin helmets of WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon.

Meanwhile, at the barber shop:

Barber: (suspiciously) Hang on, where did your brother go!?

The barber looks around for Yamato. Poor Yasuko, on the other hand, just watched a preteen boy phase inside of a computer screen and looks like she's about to have a heart attack.

Takeru: He's here.....

The energy forms the shape of an egg made of pixels, which then slowly peels back to reveal a new Digimon inside.

Koushiro: WarGreymon and... Takeru: ...MetalGarurumon... Koushiro: ...combined!

The technical term is Jogress Evolution. Jogress is a mechanic from the V-Pet that hasn't yet appeared in the anime, in which two Digimon fuse together to form a Perfect or Ultimate Digimon. Many of the Digimon we've seen throughout the anime could only be achieved through Jogress in the original V-Pets, such as Piemon or WereGarurumon.

The arrival of Omegamon, or Omnimon in the dub, marks the first time this mechanic has been brought into the show. We'll be seeing more of it in Adventure 02.

(The only reason Takeru and Hikari don't have a Jogress with each other is because EnbyAngemon would be so game-wreckingly badass that no villain could ever match them.

Or, more realistically, because predominately heteronormative writers often struggle with the idea of two characters from opposite sexes doing a Fusion. Their eyes bug out and they bluescreen while muttering, "But how would that even....")

The dub crops the barbershop to cut the barber out, though his reflection remains visible in the mirror, but leave Yasuko's stunned face. This is despite the fact that they cut the setup scene for this gag, with Yasuko saying goodbye to Yamato and Takeru.

Barber: Where'd you brother go!? Hjbyhjbyhjby....

They play the barber as freaked out and melting down. In the original, like Yuuko, he didn't see the disappearance happen (but Yasuko did). He just... doesn't trust these random kids to be unsupervised in his shop, and really doesn't like the fact that one stray child is now unaccounted for.

T.K.: They combined! (Omnimon is revealed) Izzy: Part WarGreymon.... T.K.: Part MetalGarurumon.... Izzy: They Digivolved together to become-- Omnimon: OMNIMON!!!

It's nice of Omnimon to introduce himself since we don't have rundowns to tell us about him. For the record, his signature weapons on his arms made from the helmets of his component Digimon are called the Garuru Cannon and Grey Sword. "Cannon" and "Sword" being the English words themselves, as usual.

With Taichi and Yamato perched on his shoulders, Omegamon is born.

The swarm opens fire immediately. Drawing his Grey Sword, Omegamon deflects all of their shots into a line of Diablomon, annihilating a huge chunk.

Koushiro: Amazing!

Koushiro hasn't seen anything yet. With his Garuru Cannon, unloads shot after shot into the enemy ranks. Each blast wipes out a huge chunk of the Diablomon swarm.

The dub uses this as an opportunity for another musical interlude, playing Let's Kick It Up by Paul Christian Gordon over the carnage. They also have Omnimon call these attacks, naming them Transcendent Sword and Supreme Cannon.

Only one Diablomon remains standing when Omegamon's done.

Koushiro: Right there! That's the last one! That one has the clock!

Awfully inconvenient that the one with the clock just so happens to be the only one who survived Omegamon's bombardment.

Diablomon starts moving quickly around the room, making evasive maneuvers to try and run down the clock. Every time Omegamon turns around and aims at it, it darts away again.

Taichi: It's not here! Koushiro: WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE!!!

Cut to Jou desperately trying to finish his exam.

Jou: ONE MINUTE LEFT!!!

And Yuuko watching her cake cook.

Yuuko: (cheerful) One minute left!

Finally, we cut up to the "jet" in the sky... which turns out to actually just be a jet, as another much faster object enters the airspace, criss-crossing its contrail with the jet's. Closer inspection of the new object reveals it to, in fact, be the One-Shot Peacekeeper missile approaching Odaiba.

This, I should note, is the first we learn of its destination in the original. No one knew where it was in the air or where it was going to land.

In the dub:

Izzy: Tai, there's the original! Get him! We're running out of time! Tai: Omnimon, quick! Attack!

Awfully inconvenient that the original just so happens to be the only one who survived Omnimon's bombardment.

Like, they changed the plot mechanics behind this fight but this is still a glaring contrivance. XD You could have left it at "We have to destroy every last one" if you wanted to patch this.

Tai: Where is he!? (Diaboromon dodges more) Tai: One minute to go! (Cut to Joe) Joe: ONE MINUTE TO GO!!! (Cut to Yuuko) Yuuko: (cheerful) One minute to go!

Tai calls out the time remaining here rather than Izzy, even though he can't see the clock from here.

As the missile's coming in, the dub also adds some dialogue from some military guys.

Soldier: Squad leader to command: We were unable to destroy the target. The missile will impact. Repeat, the missile will impact!

This ties in with the added detail from earlier, that every nation in the world is attempting to intercept the nuke and failing.

Inside the battlefield, the last Diablomon is still moving too fast for Omegamon to get a bead on it.

Takeru: Onii-chan! You have to find it quick! There's no time left! ONII-CHAN!!! HURRY!!!

45 seconds left on the clock. Koushiro works the problem in his head.

Koushiro: Its speed is too high. At this rate, even with tremendous power, we're going to lose due to the difference in reaction time. What can we do?

Thirty seconds left. Cutting over to the barber shop for a moment, we see that Yasuko's husband has popped over to watch the screen too. No explanation is offered.

(I guess he wants to find out what all the commotion is about? Yamato fucked off all of a sudden and Takeru is shrieking at the computer like it's the end of the world. I'd be curious too.)

Takeru: THIRTY SECONDS LEFT!!! Koushiro: (gasp) That's it....

Koushiro looks at all the incoming emails on his laptop.

Koushiro: A transfer! I can forward all of this email to that thing's address!

Koushiro quickly types in the current address that Diablomon is at, presumably the FactoryMark server we last saw it at.

Koushiro: GO!!! (click)

Koushiro dramatically presses the Enter key. Inside the battleground, Diablomon lands on the wall and prepares to make its next move, but then stalls all of a sudden. It struggles, shaking in place, but can't move. A little Windows hourglass appears over it; the loading symbol for computers from that time.

In the dub:

Tai: He keeps moving! Every time we get him in our sights, he jumps somewhere else! He's too fast for us! (45 seconds remain) Izzy: We have the power to destroy him now, but we don't have the time. Willis was right; We have to find some way to slow down Diaboromon.

...Willis said that after the first fight with Infermon. That he foresaw this exact predicament that far in advance is fucking wild.

T.K.: THIRTY SECONDS LEFT!!! Izzy: (gasp) The emails! If I forward him all the emails, it will slow him down just like it did us! Keep sending them, kids! (Izzy prepares to forward) Izzy: YOU!!! GOT!!! MAIL!!! (click)

Using "You got mail" as a battle cry here is pretty fucking sweet. For those too young to remember, an early form of internet was AOL which had a robot voice chime "You got mail" whenever you received an email.

With ten seconds remaining on the clock, Omegamon moves in for the kill.

Koushiro: Ten seconds left!

Koushiro counts down the seconds while Omegamon moves in. A brief cut of the barbershop shows that now everybody's paying attention to what's happening on the computer screen. Even the barber.

At one second, the attack lands. Omegamon drives his Grey Sword through Diablomon's skull.

At the same time, Yuuko's cake is finished! She takes it out of the microwave to find it grotesquely burnt.

Yuuko: Ah!? It's ruined! That's so weird. It should be controlled by the microcomputer....

COMPUTER YOU SAY

One last bug for the road. Diablomon ruined Yuuko's cake.

Outside, time's up. The nuclear missile crashes into the Tokyo Bay. We briefly see Sora in her room. With Diablomon dead, Taichi's email finally makes it through to her.

In the dub:

Tai: TEN SECONDS LEFT!!!

Again, despite not being able to see the clock, Tai is the one who counts down the seconds in the dub rather than Izzy.

(Omnimon stabs Diaboromon in the head) Diaboromon: Connection... Terminated....

The dub not only gives Diaboromon a line upon being stabbed, but rearranges scenes. Two upcoming shots get moved up to here. The first is of Diaboromon's face melting away to reveal the stabbed clock. The second is the timer stalling out and flickering between 00:01 and 00:02.

This serves to assure the audience that we got it, we stopped the detonation, earlier than in the original. The original keeps the tension ratcheted up as the missile lands, with it not yet clear if we killed Diablomon fast enough.

Yuuko: (ruined cake) Ugh, lousy microwave. How come every electronic appliance has to have a bug in it!? (Missile crashes into the bay) Sora: (email arrives) Huh? It's about time!

I mean. By Dub Yuuko's own admission, this was the first time she ever used flour to make a cake. It's just as likely that she's the culprit here as it is the microwave. :P

As the missile lands, Koushiro sprints out onto the balcony, distraught.

Koushiro: We didn't make it in time!

Cut to the internet battlefield. Diablomon's face melts away, revealing the clock pierced by Omegamon's blade. The timer stalls out, flickering between 00:01 and 00:02.

Meanwhile, Sora reads Taichi's message and notices the little heart he accidentally added when Hikari startled him. She's touched.

Sora: Ehehe... (affectionately) Stupid Taichi....

Success! Taichi accidentally fluked his way into forgiveness!

Out by the bay, people gather to look at the undetonated nuclear missile. It tips over due to its weight and falls flat into the water.

Up on the balcony, Koushiro breathes a sigh of relief.

Koushiro: (exhausted) We... We... We.... Taichi: (exhausted, also on balcony now) We made it in time!

Which is where the OVA ends! Abruptly! On Taichi quite reasonably looking like he's about to cry and then pass out. What did you do for your spring break, kids? Oh, I thwarted nuclear motherfucking Armageddon.

There is an epilogue of sorts in the form of ending slides in the credits. We'll address that in another post.

In the dub, this final sequence plays out with The Impression That I Get from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones playing in the background. Sora reads Tai's English email.

Sora: (reading aloud) Dear Sora, I'm sorry I threw up, hat, so what's a few raindrops between friends, love Tai. ...aww... (affectionately) Stupid Tai.... (Missile tips over into the water) Izzy: (exhausted) I'm... about... to barf.... Tai: (exhausted) Wait 'til you try the cake....

The dub closes on one last Yuuko cooking joke. To be fair, the cake legitimately did come out horribly. :P

There will be no epilogue slides for the dub, because it segues into the third part of Digimon: The Movie from here. We'll talk about that when we get to Hurricane Touchdown.

[dotster001]

Elder God; Part Two

Summary: gn!reader The Sea God, Azul, has claimed you as per your "contract". But while he is planning to destroy your realm, someone else is trying to save you...

A/N: this is how I imagine your new tail. Not that it matters....but.... Also there will at least be a part three of this...idk how many more

Part One Part Three Lore Part Four

The first sensation you were aware of was water filling your lungs. Your body's instant reaction was to choke it up. You opened your eyes as you simultaneously tried to stop yourself from breathing in more water, and cough up the water you already had consumed.

"Shrimpy, you can breathe, you know."

A voice emerged from above you, and you became aware of one of the twins from earlier. But that couldn't be right. He didn't have teal skin before.

"Just breathe. It's not that hard," he said, sounding very annoyed. Like your choking was an inconvenience to him.

He groaned, and grabbed you by the shoulders, shaking you aggressively.

"Breathe, God damnit!"

You were so startled, that you stopped choking. And once you stopped, you realized he was right. You could breathe. But how could you breathe?

You moved to stand, and the panic started again when you couldn't move your legs. You looked down and screamed.

Instead of legs, you had a long, shimmering, black tail that ended with fine asymmetrical fins.

Floyd laughed. 

"Aw, you didn't know? It's okay, you'll get used to it. Speaking of," he grinned, before wrapping a finned arm around your waist, and pulling you upright. "Jade and I are going to help you get from place to place until you learn how to use your new fins. It'll take some time, but we'll take real good care of you!"

"Wah-"

"Shh!" He pressed a finger, of what you were now realizing was a webbed hand, to your lips. "Azul will tell you all about it. C'mon!"

He dragged you along with him, your new tail feeling heavy and useless as he maneuvered you through dimly lit halls, only illuminated by a stray torch here and there, that had no business staying illuminated under the water.

At length, Floyd had guided you in front of two large golden doors, and was about to knock, when Jade quickly emerged from the other side. He was also a shade of teal now. Damn, you really wished Idia was here right now to tell you what the fuck was happening.

"Azul's busy. We'll have to meet with him later," Jade said hastily.

"Aw, but I'm bored!" Floyd whined.

The two of them snapped back and forth at each other, and you took the opportunity to peer through the open door behind him.

The room was shrouded in darkness, except for a beacon of blue light, that turned to look at you. You made eye contact with…whatever it was, and for a moment you could have sworn it was…

Jade slammed the door shut, and wrapped an arm around your waist, quickly directing you away.

"While we wait, let's practice using that new tail, shall we?"

"Yay! We'll have so much fun!" Floyd giggled, hurriedly swimming ahead of the two of you.

"Floyd is the best possible teacher. When we were turned, he mastered swimming first," Jade whispered to you.

Your head was spinning. Too much was happening all at once, and your brain was doing it's best to keep up.

….

"This is a delightful surprise. It's not often I am visited by the angel of death," Azul's voice emerged from the darkness he was lurking in.

Not that the darkness mattered to him. His eyes were calibrated to be able to see in the inkiest of blackness.

"I must say, your brother has gotten even better at blending in since last we met. I almost didn't recognize you two."

"My brother's abilities only grow stronger as his domain expands. And it's always expanding," he said with pride.

"True," there was a bitter tint to Azul's voice.

"My brother has sent me to collect what's his," he said, keeping his voice light to hide his anger.

"There is nothing here that belongs to him."

"Neither does it belong to you. Is it so hard for you to collect willing sacrifices these days that you're taking unwilling ones?"

"As I recall, the Lord of the Dead didn't used to be picky about where his sacrifices came from."

"It's a different era. If a cult of people, who have no idea what they're even worshiping, kidnapped the first person they found on the street, my brother would not accept them."

"Let's make one thing clear," Azul snarled, leaning forward in his throne. "They initiated the deal with me. I was prepared to let them go. And another thing. Why isn't your brother here himself? Despite his realm expanding, he grows weaker by the day-"

"Shut up!" He snapped. "My brother is too busy for a scummy second rate God, like you!"

At that moment, Jade opened the door at his back. He turned to look and saw you. He doubted you'd recognize him. And even if you would have, Jade slammed the door too fast for you to have processed what you saw.

"Listen here, little angel," Azul hissed, bringing him back to the conversation at hand. "Tell your brother if he truly wants Y/N, he should come claim them himself. This conversation is over."

Sometimes Ortho hated how smart his brother had crafted his new body. Because it meant he knew that arguing further would accomplish nothing, and all he could do was return home empty handed.

….

"It's too hard," you groaned, your fin muscles sore from attempting to use them.

"It takes time," Jade hummed.

"No it doesn't!" Floyd said with a laugh, flapping his tail in what would have been a playful way if he hadn't been the one who helped kidnap you and flip your life upside down.

"Why do I even have a tail anyway? Why haven't you just killed me yet?" You cried, the stress of the last four days catching up to you.

"Because you have been chosen to be an attendant to the Lord over all the seas. You should feel honored. My brother and I-"

"That was so long ago, I don't want to talk about that," Floyd whined, resting his head on your shoulder and wrapping his tail around yours.

You stiffened, which must have excited him because he giggled and tightened his grip.

Before you could try to wiggle away, you heard a beautiful voice. The three of you turned in the direction of it. Floyd and Jade wrapped their arms around you, and started leading you back towards the doors Floyd had taken you to earlier. Not that you cared. You needed whoever was making that voice. Desperately. There was a hole in your chest and you knew he could fill it.

At least that's how you felt until the voice stopped and you were made aware of the thing hiding in the shadows edge of the throne room.

"Come closer," the sea god ordered. Floyd escorted you closer, and you could faintly see a massive shape in the shadows.

"What a lovely little thing you've turned out to be," the sea god hummed, a single tentacle reaching out of the darkness and tilting your chin up. You could make out his glowing eyes searching your soul.

He swam out into the light, and you were temporarily woken from his "spell" by the realization of just how massive this octopus mer god was. You'd thought the room was huge, but now seeing him, it felt dwarfed and claustrophobic. You couldn't have been any bigger than the palm of his hand.

But it didn't take long into him continuing to speak for you to be lulled back under.

"You have been chosen to help me destroy your world."

Jade and Floyd grinned and snickered next to you.

"Do not take this position lightly, many have sacrificed a great deal to be granted even a portion of the power you've been gifted." A tentacle came up to caress your cheek, and you found yourself leaning into it. 

"How is their training?" Azul asked the twins.

"Slow," Floyd groaned, sending you a sideways glare.

"They are doing well given the circumstances," Jade hummed. "Floyd seems to forget how long it took for us to adapt."

Floyd pouted, but said nothing. Azul looked you up and down once more.

"Hmm, yes it seems you need more time. It's not a big deal, we're in no rush," he hummed, moving to sit back down on his massive throne.

Jade and Floyd both bowed, one less excitedly than the other, and Jade said, "We will keep you updated on how things are going," before wrapping an arm around your waist and escorting you back out.

It wasn't until the door slammed behind you that you came back to reality.

….

He hated this realm. It was so…alive.

Everywhere one looked, there were rose bushes, crimson red and flourishing. The air was filled with birds chirping. The grass was such a bright shade of green it hurt his eyes, and if that wasn't bad enough, fluorescent pink flamingos and neon hedgehogs ran rampant. Everywhere you looked was life.

This was no place for the God of the Dead.

Idia tightened his grip on the cat carrier strap that was resting on his shoulder, and marched onwards. Years of experience had taught him that the place where the life was most overwhelming was where he would be. Which was why he never visited the Lord of Life. That and his strict rules, and unpredictable servants. Except for a short period of time, eons ago, where he and the God of Life and harvest had been…intimate…he had only willingly put up with his dimension a handful of times.

Where the air was thickest with the overwhelming stench of roses, there he was. Sipping tea with his servants. When he noticed Idia, he raised an eyebrow.

The god of life had taken many forms and names over the years, but this form, Riddle Rosehearts, was by far the one that scared Idia the most. And he had thought Persephone was a terrifying form.

"It's not often you come to visit me," he eyed him suspiciously as he sipped his tea. "There must be something you want that your own capabilities are inadequate for."

He clutched the strap even tighter and took a steadying breath.

"Azul has made a contract to destroy the earth dimension."

Riddle sighed, and set down his teacup.

"And I worked so hard on that one. It was probably my favorite, even if they didn't always take care of it."

He looked at Idia, suspicion clear.

"But why are you telling me? You have everything to gain from the destruction and death that will occur. Your realm will expand exponentially, instantly."

"It's because of his special friend," one of the servants said with a laugh. That was his least favorite one. Cater always knew far too much.

"Special friend?"

"Idia found a human he took a liking to-"

"How could you possibly know anything about me?"

"Because it's my job to know," he said with a Nonchalant shrug. "Just like how I know that the cat you're carrying with you belongs to them."

Riddle eyed the cat carrier, and bit his lip, before saying, "Special friend huh? That's not like you."

"Aw, he's jealous," the newest servant, a red head with an attitude decided to pitch in, a maniacal giggle escaping his lips.

Both Idia and Riddle's cheeks turned a bright red, and with a snap of his fingers, Riddle had placed a collar on the new guy. He pouted, but gave no argument.

"So why are you here, Idia? What do you want me to do about it? If Azul has settled on destroying that dimension, there's nothing to be done," Riddle said patronizingly.

"I…," Idia froze up. Even before you, this was his favorite dimension. A lot of the people were too mean and too loud, but the things, and art, and society they had managed to create was so vibrant and worth dealing with the noise for.

But what he really wanted wasn't to save earth.

He just wanted you back.

"Azul stole my "special friend". I need help getting them back."

The servants at the table all exchanged glances. Riddle sighed, and waved his hand, allowing the table to clear out quickly.

Riddle plucked a rose from a nearby bush.

"I can create life," he said, calmly waving his hand over the bus, his fingertips beginning to glitter. "I can do my best to maintain it, and continue to create more life that provides for it, but eventually," the rose pedals shifted and change, until the flower was no longer a flower, but a bird. "Eventually, death comes for it. Even I am powerless to its strength."

The bird flew away, and his fingers glowed again, a new flower bud growing and replacing the old one. He stood up and walked over to Idia, before stepping on his tiptoes, and placing the flower behind his ear. He gently clasped Idia's hands in his, his gloved fingers massaging his hands in an oddly comforting way.

"You've told yourself a lot of lies about yourself. But for the sake of your special friend, it's time to embrace your truth," he squeezed his hands one more time, before following his servants out. Idia carefully lifted his finger to the rose in his hair, and gently pulled it out. He stared at it for a moment, and its veins filled with black and it shriveled in his palm.

....

[nilusanimationworld]

Since we’re close on getting our first kfp4 updates soon. Here’s a list I'd love to see (or hoping to see) in the fourth movie

Firstly let's start with the villain. Idk why but I really want the new villain to be reptile? A lizard maybe? Komodo dragon would be great! Plus a Komodo DRAGON vs Po the DRAGON Warrior (PLUS 2024 WILL BE THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON) would actually make sense too! Also they're terrifying!

Fingers crossed we get Mads Mikkelsen back on board! We were suppose to get him as Kai but he had to last moment drop out so yeah would be great to see him join the crew!

If its a female villain I'd love Tilda Swinton on board! She would make a great evil female villain

Since we all got Tai Lung representing (Strength) Shen (Weapon) & Kai (Spirit) as their abilities I'd love to see the new villain to use some manipulation powers (Mind)

As much as I love big goof sweetheart Po I'd actually love to see the villain to USE Po as their manipulation victim making him go absolute berserk or something.

Idk if its just me but Po has shown clear signs of irritations & frustrations. When Po snaps HE SNAPS HARD! So It would be pretty interesting to see Po has to overcome this. Plus having more pressure on not just as a Dragon Warrior but also as a master I'm sure the pressure level on Po is gonna overload

Plus would make a great challenge for the Five & Shifu too wondering how to fight Po & get him back to senses. And since us audience we've all grown up seeing Po this sweet goofball it would be pretty interesting to watch him being in completely different avatar.

Speaking of Furious Five & Shifu PLEASE GIVE US MORE OF THEM PLEASE!! As much as I love Po's relationship with his dads I'd also love to see his relationship with the Five & Shifu again on screen! They're like his second family!

I MEAN JUST LOOK AT THEM!!

Speaking of family. Since we got kfp3 movie fully focused on Po & his relationship with his dads WE. NEED. SHIFU. TIGRESS. FATHER. DAUGHTER MOMENT!! AT LEAST ONE HEART WARMING ONE! I IT TOO MUCH TO ASK DREAMWORKS?!?! IS IT TOO MUCH?!?!?

Like we got Shifu apologizing Tai Lung about what he made him but we still haven't got Shifu apologizing or having one sweet father-daughter moment with Tigress! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GIVE US SOMETHING!! And no! The "I'm very proud of you" scene from Secrets of the Scroll isn't enough!!

This one's for the TiPo Shippers! More of Po & Tigress please.

I'm not just saying this as TiPo shipper I'm saying this in general I miss these two chemistry & their teamwork which kfp3 din't have much which is understandable since it was more focused on Po catching up with his bio dad & rest of the pandas. Although despite not having more screen time together we still get very small hints about their relationship & how much its developed.

The scene Po voicing his Tigress's action figure saying "He's so handsome" is by far the MOST OBVIOUS HINT Po still having his fanboy crush on Tigress. Boi is so desperate for her attention lol

But yeah more of these two please. Not necessary it has to be cheesy romantic it can also be casual. They can keep it low profile but make it very obvious. AND CONFIRM IT ALREADY!!

Lastly. Cameos. I'm sure we'll get some old villain's flashback scenes. Although not sure we'll get Oogway again since there's no confirmation about Randall Duk Kim's return. But I strangely want Soothsayer back! I feel like she can STILL play an important role in the franchise since we got to see Master Croc's return in kfp3 would be great to see her back too.

So yeah....I guess that's it from my side? Let's see what we get.

[lettingtimepass]

I WAS AT THE NERDY PRUDES SHOW WHERE THEY LOST POWER!!!

Here is my spoiler-free recounting!

After over a decade of being a Starkid fan, I traveled 3,000 miles to see Nerdy Prudes!! (The date just happened to align with a trip I was planning.) It was so surreal being in the theater! I saw Producer!Dylan and Corey L. running around with their headsets. Then right before the show started I saw Joe Moses and Tessa walk in. Also two rows ahead of me was someone in a Spiderman hat... I was like... Is that Nick Lang? No... why would he be in the middle of the audience? Later I found out I was right 😂

For context, it was raining really hard in LA and the streets were flooding. LA is not used to rain so they're not well equipped to deal with it.

Act 1 went great and then shortly after Act 2 started, BAM, the lights went off. Everyone froze. The person in the light booth said "We've just lost power." Then, Nick Lang stood up and said, "It's going to be okay everyone, we'll figure this out." And he left to help the staff. But for a good minute or so the entire audience thought it was a bit and couldn't tell if this was part of the show or not! But after a few minutes we were like holy shit this is actually happening. It took maybe half an hour or so but we were back up and running and everyone was so hype cheering on the actors when they came back on stage.

Then, during the final song, on what sounded like the final NOTE, the lights went off again. You could hear a reaction from the actors-- I can't imagine how upset they must have been in that moment! But the entire audience erupted in cheers and instantly gave a standing ovation. After the crowd calmed down a bit Nick came back out and was like "Yeah...... That actually wasn't the ending. There are two minutes left." And we freaked out 😂 They had us wait for a few minutes, but then they decided to call it. In the words of Nick, "You're the lucky audience who gets to see this show with a happy ending!" 😳😳 So yeah - I still don't know the ending. I'm going to have to buy the digital ticket so I can see the ending and also get the full experience uninterrupted. I can't wait for the YouTube version!

SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT - Updated!

I think everyone's favorite part was the LORDS IN FREAKING BLACK!!! AHHHHH!!! JON AS HUMAN!WIGGLY was perfect! Also was he giving Onceler/TumblrSexyMan energy? 🤔 Can't wait to see how it looks on the YouTube version!

I loved Jon's anime nerd character. It was so damn good. The collective "Nooooooo" when the audience realized his death was imminent 😭😂

The parallels between Abstinace Camp and NPMD are very fun to me. "IT WAS GIRL JERI THAT DIRTY GIRL!"

DIRTY DIRTY GIRL WON'T YOU PRAY FOR MEEE?

Max's pronunciation of "skel-a-in" 😭 I need the story of how he decided on that or if it was written into the script?!

The Barbeque Monologues?! And that song? Jeff Blim pls. Lauren is a master through.

Someone pointed out that all the Hatchetfield shows have in-world productions: Working Boys, Santa Clause is Going to High School, and The Barbeque Monologues. Idk what this means, but it is a nice touch for worldbuilding.

The little musical reference to Nightmare time!!

I keep thinking about how Rob M fumbled the Starkid bag 😬 But Joey did such a great job as Pete! For some reason it feels like a full-circle moment between MAMD and "Joey Richter" with him playing the nerdy character 😊

Anglea was freaking fantastic as Grace. I just love her voice and how she makes it go so high it cracks! And Curt and Kim playing her parents was so good.

There's something so funny about Angela's characters being so different - Lex vs Grace - and the fact that they would hate each other 😂 Can Angela please play both of them interacting?!

Kim freaking Whalen!!!! I love her so much.

I LOVE seeing Corey and Mariah playing father and daughter again (but it's a very different dynamic than TGWDLM).

LOVE LOVE LOVE evil/slimly dirtbag Corey. HE'S SO FINE!!

I missed seeing Jeff and James on stage - I wonder if Jeff's chaotic energy would have been too much with the horny teenagers hahaha. But James would have fit right in! Oh well, we can't have them all in every show, unfortunately.

Gotta say I didn't expect them to say "Nerdy Prudes Must Die" so many times in the show 😂

The last song having pop-punk vibes?!

Anddd...... the last scene...... (yes I finally got to see it!) GRACE KEPT THE BOOK!!! Did she say "every perv must die"? Yeah, that's gonna be a lot of people on her list... Also very similar to the end of Abstinence Camp! This isn't going to go well.......

[daughterofthemuse]

My Riordanverse Playlist

Master List - 'EPIC the Musical' Master List

Read on AO3

'EPIC: the Wisdom Saga'

Listen on YouTube

I took notes while listening to the album on the livestream for the first time, so my (very extensive) thoughts are below the cut

'Legendary'

Τηλέμαχος (Telemachus) is such a sweet little boy!

Ἄργος (Argos) was in the title animatic! Who's the best boy? He is! He is!

The pain of absent parents, not knowing whether they'd be there if they could... AGH!

I've seen Campers who are like Τηλέμαχος, wanting adventure, and it hurts every time I see it - because adventure hurts

And in the second animatic! Ἄργος is amazing, but oh, that poor old dog

Now we've got some 'Man of the House' references!

Those suitors need to go Τάρταρος (Tartarus)!

I didn't know the reference for "what you gonna do about it champ?" when Jay was saying it earlier and I hate it now.

'Little Wolf'

Boss battle!

Ἀντίνοος (Antinous) absolutely sucks!

Gods, Άθηνά (Athena) better show up quickly!

FUCK!

YES! ΆΘΗΝΆ! Quick thought!

YES ΆΘΗΝΆ! 

YES ΆΘΗΝΆ!

Άθηνά, you need to learn mortals, legacies & demigods aren't as durable as gods

'We'll Be Fine'

Yay, Τηλέμαχος (Telemachus) & Άθηνά (Athena) bonding!

Yes, she's learning the value of friendship!

Oh, Άθηνά can't sleep from guilt? That's surprising

"Gotten in a fight & didn't die!" Τηλέμαχος! You silly boy. That's such a demigod perspective tho, I must say.

Falling over at the end, someone needs to get my boy to the Infirmary

'Love In Paradise'

Άθηνά (Athena) starting? That's surprising

Oh, she's diving through his memories? Huh

Thumbs up... Oh gods, that's... Roman. Idk whether to be proud or offended

Oh, Καλυψώ (Calypso) now! Yk, I used to like her, but since reading her in 'Η Ὀδύσσεια' ('The Odyssey'), she's just... ick

Yay, Gigi animatic!

Yeah, she's ick. But why did someone report the livestream?

Άθηνά-narrated timeskip? ok

OH FUCK! Ody! Mr D, go help him, PLEASE!

Oh no

FUCK, DID HE JUMP?!?!?

'God Games'

Beginning

"Father, god king"? Interesting, good on her for using flattering epithets!

And good luck with persuading that one

Άπόλλων (Apollo) - played by Brandon McInnis

Yeah, that's Άπόλλων

You want the Σειρῆνες (Sirens) back? Lester, seriously?

"If that's true" - my dude, you are the god of truth.

Well, that was easy

Ήφαιστος (Hephaestus)

Played by Jay's dad? That's really cool that both Jay's parents get roles! And it seems like a really good choice, I mean, he did help with the booth

And his look is similar too!

Jumping around the gears & stuff, cool!

Άφροδίτη (Aphrodite) - played by Janani K. Jha

Love the Mesopotamian influence in her outfit, recognizing Ishtar and Astarte!

Άφροδίτη & Άθηνά (Athena) don't go head to head often, but it's interesting when they do.

Άφροδίτη Άρεία (Aphrodite Areia, aka Warlike Aphrodite) & Άθηνά against each other summons Άρης (Ares), makes sense

Άρης (Ares) - played by Earle Gresham Jr.

Άθηνά really knows what to say to convince Άρης (Ares)

Ήρα (Hera) - played by Poesy

I'm gonna get Yelaina to show Ανασσα Ήρα (Queen Hera) this one

Love the dance battle

Ζεύς (Zeus)

OATHBREAKER!!! 

Frick, this going to go badly. If you call the Thunder Bringer out, he'll smite you. I know

Ofc he backed out.

Memories? okay... (oooh, 'Warrior of the Mind' callback)

Yes, she's up again!

Oh, she's not gonna be getting up again for a while. And the last thing she does is supplicate on her friend's behalf? I admire her for that.

But WHAT THE ΆΙΔΗΣ (HADES) HAPPENED, ΆΘΗΝΆ (ATHENA), WHAT CHANGED? She's not like that anymore!

Return to Master List - 'EPIC the Musical' Master List

[meowjaa]

cute little thing I wrote <333

a/n: idk what this is I thought it was cute and a perfect example of y/n and levi's "friendship" as he would most definietly say they arent friends but this is their way of communicating with each other by just insults <33

Y/N: Hey, Levi. Still as short as ever, huh?

Levi: And you're still as dense as a rock, I see.

Hange: (chuckles) Oh boy, here we go again.

Erwin: Let them have their unique way of communication, Hange.

Y/N: Levi, ever considered a growth spurt or are you content with being a human grasshopper?

Levi: Funny, coming from the giant who can't even reach the top shelf without a ladder.

Hange: (grinning) This is always entertaining. Keep it up, guys!

Y/N: Levi, you should sign up for a modeling agency because you've certainly mastered the Grumpy Dwarf look.

Levi: At least I'm not a walking fashion disaster like you. Who wears socks with sandals? Seriously?

Erwin: (suppressing a chuckle) I swear, their insults get more creative each time.

Hange: It's an art form, Erwin! Now, let's appreciate it.

Y/N: Levi, are you always this cranky, or do you save your smiles for cats?

Levi: I reserve my smiles for things actually worth smiling about, something you clearly wouldn't understand.

Hange: Oh, come on, Levi. You know deep down you love these sparring sessions with Y/N.

Erwin: They've become a staple of our daily routine, that's for sure.

Y/N: Levi, if brains were money, you'd be bankrupt.

Levi: And if stupidity were a sport, you'd be an Olympic gold medalist.

Hange: (clapping) Yes! That one deserves a standing ovation!

Erwin: Alright, everyone, let's not encourage them too much.

Y/N: Levi, I honestly can't decide what's colder: your heart or your sense of humor.

Levi: I guess you'll never know since you lack both.

Hange: (laughing) Shots fired!

Erwin: You two stop before someone gets injured, and I'm not talking about someone physically.

Y/N: Fine, Erwin. Let's call a truce. Just know that you'll always be Captain Shortstack in my heart, Levi.

Levi: And you'll always be Captain Airhead to me, Y/N. Just remember that.

Hange: Well, that's a wrap, folks. We'll see them again tomorrow for another round, I'm sure!

[kendrixtermina]

Giving Doctor Who a New Chance, Part 3: The Giggle

It's nice that they're bringing back some classic villain, but I really wish they had the Toymaker butcher some other language. The gag is just not funny at all when you actually speak German

Ok, that's an illustrative montage of a mightyfine chaos

IDK what I think of this - set it up in a way that it can be reset again.

oooh, Mel is back! As a 6th Doctor fan, I appreciate this. Did not expect that. She still got that perky way of talking.

Having seen the eps he was in, slipping over a bottle of Vodka is exactly like Sabalon Glitz would die, but hey, at least he lived to a ripe old age.

Donna just landed herself a new job. I guess there's that duality in human's fluctuating confidence levels again cause she glibly asks for double but looks ecstatic that it worked

so, Donna doesn't remember in detail, but she got a rough glimpse

the guy playing the Toymaker IS pulling off the creepy clown act pretty well tho

I really liked that scene between Donna & the Doctor in the infinite cabinet with the Doctor re-evaluating his life choices.

That's another thing that's been missing, that fucking Chibnall didn't get - that the point of him, at the end of the day, is that he's just some guy. Somewhat wiser & tougher than a human, maybe, but still fundamentally just dude with wits & confidence. A trickster, a flawed person trying to do the right thing that through trickery ended up with this fearsome reputation. I used to think of RTD not getting it as much as Moffat did cause he did like overly savior-archetype-like plots sometimes whereas moffat emphasized the 'just a madman with a box' angle, but RTD gets it in this scene where we see the Doctor cringing at his past self for things he couldn't have foreseen & now he doesn't know what to do in a world that doesn't follow predictable rules

Because that's what they don't tell you about getting smarter, wiser or even just older - the price you pay for knowing better today is cringing at the awareness you used to lack. thats very real. you end up thinking you should somehow have known or done better even if you couldnt have.

there's certainly some thematic rhyming with the 'narrowmindedness-plague' afflicting the earth

Donna's dad is actually right. Good for him to be wary of the Hot Hand fallacy and its ilk. Missed a chance for an epic nerd reference

I dunno what to think about the concept of 'shift to fantasy', i wouldnt have done that & really turned more to harder & concept fanfiction, but i suppose it keeps thinks fresh without being repetitive (they cant keep destroying and un-destroying gallifrey all the time...) & the show has always been the very softest of sci-fi anyway - at leasts its set up in a way that it can be reset again or let future writers pick whatever they want. though i suppose it depends on how its done like, if possible without wholly throwing out humanist values. You can absolutely be a trickster in a fantasy story or fight crazy things with logic; Infinity train did it to great effect. I mean, the classics had far wonkier stuff like actual Vampires & whatnot.

i appreciate Donna rhyming while defeating the puppet

"jingsaw out of your history" thing imply that the timeless child thing was an in-universe retcon of sorts? Oh please. I mean I could kinda sorta accept 13 is she literally wasn't really the same character.

between this & the last episode it's pretty close anyway to the "every single backstory is true because of timey wimey ball" thing from the expanded universe fixed, on-screen canon. That I could live with. It's potentially deeply interesting that by virtue of getting tangled up in all the timelines the Doctor has in some ways been to many possible futures & possible versions of reality.

Former companions werent affected by the giggle thing cause it was a retroactive change made by the toymaker upon getting free

It's kinda sad that we'll never get to see the battle between the Master and the Toymaker because that must really have been something. Like two Jokers or Phantoms of the Opera fighting.

this is like when Q showed up on the bridge of the enterprise. Only much deadlier. I appreciate that the scene never stops feeling actually menacing.

I like how Mel also comes in to hold his hand, too, she's for realsies. (I guess this is how she makes up for making him drink all that carrot juice)

The "Alons-y" is a niftly little contrast/ bookend with 10s exit

My headcanon is that bi-generation absolutely WAS a myth, but that this is an extension of the whole breach in the logic/edge of reality storyarc being set up here, or really just the Toymaker thinking it would be fun to double them infinitely

I like how the Doctor mocks the Toymaker's fake accent with 'the ball' thing

The advantage with the ball game is, of course, that Fifteen has already seen it. He's fabulous alright.

I appreciate how they climb on each other at some point

I don't envy Kate, watching this absurd thing... humanity already got somewhat good at taking Sci-Fi threats on their own, but this they don't have context for. Maybe UNIT is gonna need a vault of magical artifacts now. I suppose you can play with that for a few seasons. Like how a contrast of fantasy & sci-fi elements worked in Madoka.

I like how Donna is casually putting her arm around 15

I guess 15 has reached that point where rather than cringe at your younger self you're able to have compassion. That's a good arc, actually.

aaand of course there's the obligatory sequel hook for the Master's return, to the surprise of no one

I like how the years with the lost memory weren't completely lost but Donna still learned something from them that allows her to send this message now

Soo Fifteen is basically taking advantage of the cartoon logic still being in effect until the end of the episode to duplicate the TARDIS. I bet it only worked because he picked the silliest possible hammer.

I appreciate how 15 makes sure to get one last Donna hug.

I do like that it kinda came down to self-love, self-compassion & knowing when to take a restorative break & all that. That's an important message these days.

So, the Nobles just deadass adopted the Doctor & Mel. Makes all the sense.

I always thought of Mel & the Doctor's dynamic as sibling-like (as opposed to Peri & the Doctor having a 'tsundere couple' energy & Ace who of course had a teacher/student thing), so I feel vindicated.

Also I appreciate how an older woman who didn't have kids but spent her life traveling & adventuring & doing what she wanted, & then ended up feeling a bit lonely because of it here simply ends up not lonely by finding friends / found family. Cause that's the fucking annoying gotcha they always hurl at you "Oh if you don't have kids & live the life you want you'll be lonely!" As if you can't have friends. Also, plenty of ppl who do have kids wind up lonely because the kids end up hating them.

I'm all for the Doctor catching a break. Very touching, honestly. & he's like actually a point where he wouldn't just run off & get side-tracked or brood on the inevitability of its end. (like he would have when spent those years with River)

Also sets an interesting background for 15 of course, as he'll be coming out of it 'fully rested', in a sense.

So, yeah, I do think I'm looking forward to what 15 will get up to. It was sort of a great way to introduce him in such a way that ppl will instantly like him for how he comforts his past self here.

It's also probably the ideal ending for Donna, cause, much like Rose & Clara she wanted to stay forever, & maybe now that she has a daughter & other responsibilities she won't want the big danger all the time, but the Unit Job & living with the Doctor in a house? That's prolly what she would have wanted.

(I wonder if they'll end up running into Martha & Mickey at her job, since Donna & Martha were buds that time they met. )