#but today I also had a revelation sorta thing about which Direction to take my life. ....

[bluefirecas]

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[rwby-necro-au-archive]

The difference between independency and isolation

Of course she had to show up. She always showed up when he was happy, just to ruin it all and make him feel like the scum of the earth. All with that fucking smile on her face. It always got to him, and she knew it.

Qrow swung the shadowy blade of his equally shadow-like scythe into another tree. Why could she just leave him alone? He couldn’t help but think about the comment the noirette said to him before she left, “How pathetic. You need someone else to save your ass because you can’t even do it yourself. You’re weak. And you’re too dependent on others.”

He wasn’t going to stay dependent, Raven had a point for once. And so he was going to change that, it’s true that he had been relying on Oz ever since they got together, and it was insulting to do that to him. Ozpin was a person too, a busy one at that, and he could always stop what he was doing to take care of Qrow. So she was right, he did need to grow up a little and get some independency.

Hence why he was out here in the forest fighting grimm and hitting trees, in order to have independency, he needed to get better at defending himself. As it stands, he was the weakest out of the 3 of them. Glynda kicked his ass on a regular basis, and Oz? Qrow was never a challenge or even a real fight against him. He was sick of being weak.

He swung the scythe into the tree one last time before it came crashing down onto the cerise forest floor in the opposite direction to his own.

“Impressive, that only took 3 hits from you.” Qrow jolted at the sudden, but familiar, accented voice.

Great.

Ozpin was here.

Qrow grimaced, back turned to the other “I thought I said I wanted to be alone.” “I guess you could say that I figured out why you’re out here.” God, sometimes he hated how Oz spoke.

He couldn’t tell if he was happy, concerned, or pissed at him. At this point he was expecting anger.

And at this point, he really didn’t want to be having this conversation.

Qrow scoffed as he looked for another tree to hit, “Oh yeah? And what would that be?” Emphasizing his words as he struck into the trunk and bark of another innocent tree. “…You want to be stronger, I understand that. But you’re irritated that I have refused to train with you.” He spoke quietly “That irritation went away when that tree fell” Qrow commented as he pointed at the former tree. “It’s for the better I don’t train with you.”

“And how’s that?” He could practically hear the eyebrow raise. Fuck he hated how well he knew Ozpin sometimes, just to know small things like that made things difficult. Qrow swallowed down a smartass comment and responded “Independency. You, are a busy man, and you don’t have time to constantly be cleaning up after my messes and mistakes. To constantly be taking care of me.”

He attempted to swing into the poor tree again but his arm was grabbed. Ow, that’s right, he’s injured, he almost forgot about the fact that the grimm had given him a new set of possible scars from the fight he had what seemed to be hours ago. Finally, for the first time throughout their conversation, he looked at Ozpin.

He didn’t look angry. He looked……sad? Concerned? Whatever the hell it was, it sure wasn’t anger. Qrow felt a pang of guilt shoot through him at Oz’s expression. He was feeling that way because of him.

Ozpin stared at him for a moment before speaking in his ever so iconic atlesian accent, “When did I ever say that? When did I ever tell you that I didn’t have time for you, that I didn’t want to take care of you? And where is this “independency” thing coming from? Qrow, you are already independent. You took care of yourself when you lived with your biological family, you looked out for yourself in prison, you did your best to make sure you got what you needed as a young adult, you fight alone, and you live alone. How much more independency do you think you need?”

Qrow thought for a moment before answered Oz’s final question, “I need the independency to not rely on those that I care about” he mumbled.

“No. You are not relying on me. Relying is what Oscar is doing, needing me to get him food, clothes, and a shelter, because he is not capable of doing that himself. You are capable of doing that yourself and you have.”

“This isn’t independency. This is isolation. And you know just as well as I do, that I know my fair share of isolation.” Ozpin spoke quietly, almost as if to not scare or anger Qrow anymore than he already was. Qrow didn’t even have the heart or nerve to respond, he always could never see the different between the two. The two were different words for the same thing in his mind. But he was too exhausted to argue, and it seemed the physical toll of what he did today was quickly catching up with him, as he couldn’t even keep the physical form of his scythe. It had faded away minutes ago.

Qrow once again avoided eye contact with Oz, which seemed to only worry the taller man even more. Ozpin very gently picked Qrow up, Qrow, being too tired to even be surprised at the action. “Let’s get you home and patched up, love.”

Qrow sat on the onyx colored velvet couch, taking note of how pricy it might’ve been due to the quality of the material. He also took note of Ozpin’s hands and the feeling of medication and bandages against his body. They had arrived about an hour ago at the Pine home, although the bubbly orange specter that was normally floating around was nowhere to be seen.

Qrow vaguely remembered his partner mentioning something about Glynda babysitting him, but had been too focused on Oz’s hands to hear the details. He always had a thing for Oz’s hands, how could you not? It was one of his most defining characteristics if you had a close relationship with him.

But it was less what they looked like, although they looked incredibly stunning, and more what they felt like. They were massive, similarly to Oz’s size, but they were gentle, rough but soft. They were well worn from years of being in undesirable situations and hard work. It always fascinated Qrow that he could hold something as fragile as a glass vase with such precision and care but also use something with such weight and force like long memory.

He could probably stare at him doing anything with his hands for hours if Oz would let him. But here he was, sitting on a velvet couch, with his back being carefully and meticulously patched up.

Luckily this was it before he could finally lay down and relax a little, he had plenty of time beforehand to admire Ozpin as his arms, legs, and face were patched up. Although his face was probably the hardest for Qrow due to how close Ozpin was to him at that point. It seemed easy for Ozpin though, he was too focused to notice Qrow’s expression or face heating up.

A voice shot through his thoughts “There we are, all finished love.” Qrow turned around and saw Ozpin smile. “Now then, I will be right back love, I am going to go change and grab us some blankets and a pillow.” He spoke before he gracefully left the room. Qrow rubbed the bridge of his nose, out of physical exhaustion, and emotional exhaustion.

God what a day. And fucking hell he was smitten with Ozpin. It’s a good thing they’re dating. Qrow carefully laid down on the velvet couch and thought about the events of the day, yeah, it had been a shitty day. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen asleep before I could even give you something comfortable to lay on.” Ozpin huffed, heh, Qrow could hear the hands on his hips in that comment. He chuckled before opening an eye, low and behold, he did have a hand on his hip.

“Nah, just waiting.” Qrow smiled tiredly, “You gonna give me a pillow and a blanket so I can sleep? Or are ya just gonna stand there?” Ozpin tapped a finger to his chin and feigned thoughtfulness, “Actually, I had a better idea. Although you’ll have to sit up little bird.”, Qrow groaned at the command, he was already sore, c’mon “Fiiiiiine.” “Oh hush, you won’t be complaining when I show you what it is I’m talking about.” Ozpin shot back as he sat cross legged on the couch.

He placed the pillow he had grabbed in his lap and guided Qrow into laying down “So?” “You already know the answer smartass.��� “I like it better when you say it.” “Fine, yes, this is better.” “Good!”

They sat there for a moment, silent. Qrow had closed his eyes and was already partially asleep when he heard Ozpin start singing a little bit. He opened his eyes and looked at Oz, who peered back at him with golden eyes.

Wait.

Golden eyes?

“Ah…..sorry love, I didn’t—“ Ozpin began to stutter out an apology before Qrow cut him off “I didn’t say stop, I just looked at you. Also, are you staring at me?” He mumbled the last part.

“….yes.” Ozpin mumbled back, “just how much do you love me?” He questioned, Ozpin raised an eyebrow “Why ask love?”. Right, Oz never really knew when his eyes changed colors. “Your eyes are gold right now…”

The revelation made Ozpin’s face heat up “O-oh… well, I love you more than enough if my eyes are doing that.” He laughed. Qrow thought for a moment as he stared at Oz, Ozpin tilted his head curiously, “What are you thinking about love?” Qrow shrugged “just about the fact that I know how much you love me, but you don’t know how much I love you. Sorta wish my eyes did the same.”

“Well, I am sure you love me just as much if not more.” Ozpin leaned down and kissed the others forehead. Ozpin proceeded to start singing gently again, to which Qrow closed his eyes at. Eventually, Qrow had been lulled to sleep and was snoring gently.

Ozpin himself was growing sleepy at the sight, but looking down at the shorter man with admiration and concern. He sighed gently to himself.

“What am I going to do with you love?”

[i-dream-of-twilight-sparkle]

Chapter 27: Starlight’s Mother, Part 3 - Where Did She Die?

Starlight: But wait… if Sunset is both my mother… AND Sunburst’s Father’s little sister…

Starlight turns towards Sunburst

Starlight: Sunburst… that makes us cousins!

Sunburst: Oh my gosh… you’re right!

Starlight and Sunburst has always been close friends, Sunburst was Starlight’s only friend before getting his cutie mark brought him to Celestia’s school leaving Starlight behind that would end up practically being the final straw for Starlight who was already dealing with a highly secretive but well-intentioned father and no true mother figure to care for her when Firelight was working. As they just discovered now, they were related the whole time through a common link with Starlight’s mother who also happened to be Sunburst’s aunt.  Sunburst looks on over to his newfound Aunt.

Sunburst: I guess I should start calling you my Aunt… but wow… my father has been looking all over the world for you… I don’t know how he’s going to take it that his search has been in vain and you’ve really been dead for so long…

Sunset: Sunspot’s been looking for me this whole time...?

Stellar Flare: *sigh* Yes… though maybe not for the whole time you’ve been gone… he was with us for a good while, up to and including when Sunburst got his Cutie Mark... 

But once he realized you haven’t shown up at all for about a decade he decided to try to look for you, and he was so dedicated in trying to find you that he pledged he’d only come back if he had found closure. He still wrote letters to us every week or so to inform where he is, give us input if we had anything to ask of him, and/or to assure us he’s safe. But he obviously still hasn’t found the closure he’s wanted.

Looks like we just found it for him…

Sunset lowers her head

Sunset: Oh…Sunspot… he didn’t have to leave his family behind to try to find me… I guess I should have told him not to look for me either before I went…

Stellar Flare: And now that I know that you were her all along… now I understand why he never gave me or Sunburst your name… cause of a similar reason Firelight didn’t tell Starlight about you...

Sunset: Do… you know where he is right now?

Stellar Flare: I think in the most recent letter he sent, he said he was going to New Haven?

Twilight: New Haven? Isn’t that the small town in between Klugetown and… Nightmare Cliffs?

Time suddenly feels like it slows down for Sunset as she hears a mention of Nightmare Cliffs

Sunset: Nightmare… Cli-…?

*THUNDER BOOM*

Most of the Thunder strikes have been generally muffled now that they were in the house, but suddenly a close one makes a huge boom that startles the whole group. And at the same time, Sunset has her hooves on the sides of her head as suddenly she remembers something. She remembers a storm, but not the one currently raging above Sire’s Hollow, but one at the edges of Nightmare Cliffs. Two shadowy pony-shaped figures in front of her, and a 3rd much smaller figure up above her.

The rest of the group just watching as Sunset suddenly froze up, eventually Sunset heaves her chest as if heavily breathing despite no longer needing to as a spirit.

Starlight: Mother! What’s wrong?!

Sunset: I… remember… a little more…

Starlight: Huh? Remember what?

Sunset: It’s… not alot of details still… but... Nightmare Cliffs was where I died… I’m now sure of it!

Everyone in the room gasps that mentioning Nightmare Cliffs has resurfaced some memory of Sunset’s death. It seems it will just take mentioning a few key details about what happened in order to unlock Sunset’s full memory of how she died.

Twilight: Is that the only thing new you remember now?

Sunset: Unfortunately, yeah… anything else is information you already know or doesn’t entirely matter. The three anarchists just appear as shadowy figures, two were facing in front of me, and another smaller one flying above me… and that it was storming at the time. But if there’s more things that can point towards what happened, and what was at least one of their names… I might be able to get my full memory awakened.

Starlight: At least we know where you died now, that’s still a pretty big jump from where we were… so Sunburst’s Father is currently in a town near there?

Stellar Flare: He’s certainly been looking everywhere if he went to a small town like New Haven…

Sunset: Well, if you listened to our conversation… dedication to one goal seems to run in the family. I don’t think my brother was an exception, you could also say he wasn’t named Sunspot for nothing. He was pretty good at spotting/finding things out, he certainly never lost a game of hide n’ seek when we were kids. Sometimes I’d even enlist his help when tracking down some threats when I was still Princess Celestia’s Protege

Starlight: In hindsight, Sunset and Sunspot certainly sound like a solid pair of names for siblings. Not to mention we have Sunburst too. All ponies who happen to be named in some way after the Sun.

Sunset: Our family’s been deeply connected to service of Princess Celestia for generations. I’m not even sure how far back exactly, though I’m willing to guess our ancestors include some of Celestia’s most loyal guards or staffers. Don’t suppose you know who it may have been, Princess?

Celestia: I’ve had many wonderful staffers or guards over many generations, it’d probably take some time to find out which ones ultimately led to you, Sunspot, and now Sunburst and Starlight.

Starlight: I’ve alway felt like being named Starlight meant I was more likely former night guard or staffer related in my ancestry, but then again… the sun itself is a star, so it may be a little more vague then I realize.

Sunset: I suppose it’s a good time as ever to go see my brother, especially if he’s been searching for me for so long. I’ll be bringing him back to Stellar Flare and Sunburst for good too. Though it’s going to be a pretty long trip from here to New Haven...

Stellar Flare: Not totally… Princess Twilight actually has a little trick for us to get there quick: Portal Gum! She and her friends have been using them since yesterday and 2 weeks ago to get to and from all around the world instantly. We can get to New Haven pretty quickly... always pretty handy to have that genie magic of hers!

Sunset: Oh yeah, genies have some impressive magic given they’re stock full of soul magic aren’t they? Though first… we should probably discuss how we’re going to do this.

Stellar Flare: Hm… how about me and Sunburst go in together to see him first, and then at some point we’ll tell him that his search is over. And that’s when you’ll walk in

Sunset: Alright, that sounds like a plan…

Stellar Flare grins and winks

Stellar Flare: If there’s one thing you should know about me my dear sister-in-law... is that I’m always chock full of plans. ehehehe!

Twilight pulls out a piece of gum to allow Sunburst, Sunset, and Stellar reunite with Sunspot over in New Haven. She blows and soon an image of a rather rickety tiny town shows up

Twilight: Here’s your portal to New Haven. If you can, try to bring Sunspot back here too

Sunburst: Of course, he may even just want to use the portal to his advantage by simply bringing anything he wants to keep from wherever he’s staying. Seeing Sunset’s spirit will bring the closure he’s so sorely wanted, he’ll want to move in back with me and my Mom for good.

As Sunset, Stellar Flaree, and Sunburst get ready to reunite with Sunspot. Some of Twilight’s friends get in a comment on what’s happening thus far.

Applejack: Ah lot o’ reunions happening today, ain’t there Twilight?

Twilight: Sure is, Applejack. But they were all needed, once we discovered this. We’re getting a lot of answers about some important questions, not to mention bringing closure and a chance for friends to talk with beloved relatives and/or other friends of their own that are among the deceased.

Rarity: All these bittersweet, but also happy reunions… I’m starting to fear my eyes are going to have no more tears to shed, with so many of these happening in a row!

Rainbow: Even I’m getting a little emotional about what we’ve learned so far! Sunset’s seems like such an awesome pony... and thanks to her we understand why Starlight’s magic is so amazing!

Scootaloo: We sure do!

Sweetie Belle: Now we sorta have the full context for Starlight’s cutie mark!

Starlight turns toward the 3 fillies and smiles

Starlight: Yes, I now understand my cutie mark much more then I did even just hours ago. So I’d like to thank all three of you. Once we’ve figured out everything that’s happened to my mom... the next step is deciding what I’ll do now with these revelations...

((Story continues after the break))

Stellar and Sunburst go through the portal, Sunset just says behind the portal until they’ve found where Sunspot currently is. Though she stays behind because as Stellar planned, she’s going to come in as soon as Sunburst and her inform Sunspot that his search is over. Sunburst looks around the small town, and very few amount of ponies who don’t even bat an eye as strangers come through a portal. Sunburst looks around the small town, asking what few citizens there were of a light yellow, orange maned unicorn with a cutie mark of light blue clouds.

They point to one particular house, Sunburst and Stellar thank them for the directions. Stellar heads over just outside the door… or rather lack of a door since none of the houses in New Haven really had one, while Sunburst fetches Sunset to come on over from the portal. Stellar & Sunburst head on in, while Sunset waits outside. Stellar & Sunburst then find Sunspot sitting nose deep reading a book.

Stellar: Sunspot, dear?

The voice of his wife surprises Sunspot, and with the book down his appearance in full view. He doesn’t have the mohawk he once had, instead it’s a pretty disheveled and long mane, and he’s even sporting a large beard.

Sunspot: Stellar… Sunburst… did you really come all this way on the train just to see me?

Stellar: We… actually came through a different, and much quicker way. But we hope you have been well, I get all your letters. So I know you’ve been ok this entire time, certainly doesn’t look like you’ve kept up your hygiene though...

Sunspot: Aheheheh… yeah… I’m sorry... it’s just I’ve still been on this search for so long… but…! I think I recently found a major clue when I searched around the top of the Nightmare Cliffs...

Sunburst: Um, Dad… about your search… you have no need for clues anymore…

Sunspot: Huh? What do you mean by that?

Stellar: Sunspot… dear… your search is over…

Sunspot gets out of his chair to stand and looks puzzled

Sunspot: Just what are you implyi-

Sunset’s spirit then walks into the house right in front of her older brother’s view. He’s mouth agape at first, wiping his eyes to even see if this is real. Sunset takes this as a need to speak to help convince her she’s really there

Sunset: I’m sorry, Sunspot… I’ve been dead since barely a week after I last left Sire’s Hollow… I’m afraid your search has been in vain…

Similar to Firelight earlier, he falls to his knees at the confirmation that Sunset, his sister, has been dead all along. Though unlike breaking down like Firelight did, he silently tears up and quietly says...

Sunspot: …I knew it

Sunset, Stellar, and Sunburst all gasp

Stellar Flare: What do you mean you knew it?!

Sunspot: It… relates to the clue I mentioned…

Sunspot brings out a jar, and within it… a disembodied yellow horn. Sunset takes a look and just as suddenly as when Nightmare Cliffs was mentioned, she reacts putting her hooves on the side of her head again as more memory pours in. This time remembering a large rock that was dropped on her head at a precise spot that broke off her horn and gave Sunset a nasty head injury, preceded by and followed by, the sounds… of a child’s laughter.

Sunset: Aaaaagggggghhhhhh!

Sunspot: Sunset! What’s wrong?!

Sunset: Ergh… just… I… remember more… of the moment I died… this wasn’t what killed me exactly… but a big rock dropped on the base of my horn, and it was heavy enough to break it off and I got a brief concussion…

Sunburst: Then that horn in the jar…

Sunspot: Is all that’s left of her body… of course, it being just a yellow horn couldn’t 100% confirm it was Sunset’s... But… when I found it after carefully searching all around the top of the cliffs… I think my heart sank thinking it was hers… and now I know for sure it was…

Stellar and Sunburst both being unicorns themselves reflexively shiver at the sight of Sunset’s horn. The loss of a horn is many a unicorn’s worst fear.

Stellar: Sunset… did perhaps a stalagmite from the cliffs, fall and break your horn? Perhaps then you were fell down into the water not able to swim due to your concussion... and thus drowned…? Perhaps your death may have all been an accident?

Sunset: No, I was on top of the cliffs, I wasn’t down by the ocean where cliff stalagmites could fall on me. Somepony dropped that rock on me, on purpose, and thus crippled much of my control over my magic… it most certainly had to have been a catalyst for my death then… I still don’t have names or the exact moment of death made clear… but… I’m getting there… one more push could do it… if there’s something else that triggers more memory… I feel like it’s close.

Sunspot: A lot must of happened… but… can we begin with… how are you even able to appear after death? This seems like something out of Star Mares, but it couldn’t be that but for real… otherwise you would of been able to do it the moment of death…

Sunset giggles a bit hearing Sunspot mention one of his favorite book series.

Sunset: It’s… not quite the Star Mares force ghost thing… but basically Princess Twilight’s dragon son Spike summoned my spirit via a powerful gem called a Dragon’s Tear on Spike’s necklace. that’s how I was summoned here. It’d take a while to explain everything at once about our… let’s just say afterlife I guess.

Sunspot: I’m surprised there even is an afterlife at all… it astounds me. But I guess I did hear something about Dragon Tears having incredible powers in the hands of a dragon. Spike’s Dragon Tear is what saved Twilight’s friends in a battle in Saddle Arabia. Whatever the facts about our afterlife are though, I am so happy I get to see and talk to you again, Sis. I wish I could hug you again, but I bet I’d just go through you.

Sunset smiles, and decides to try to surprise him

Sunset: Go on, try anyway.

Sunspot: Why? What’s the point?

Sunset: Just do it, bro!

Sunspot: Well alright… but if I fall over…

Sunset: This is starting to sound like whenever I prank’d you when we were kids. But you can’t exactly tell Mom and Dad to ground a spirit *giggles*

Sunspot: That just makes me think that I will fall over *he spits his tongue out at his sister*

Sunset stretches her hooves out into a t-shape anticipating a hug with a smug look on her face

Sunset: Only one way to find ouuuuuut!

Sunspot anticipates he’ll fall over but even if he does, at least he’d be having fun with his sister again and make her laugh. So he gets in closer fully expecting to just slip through, but he is then surprised… with an actual, honest and surprisingly warm hug from his sister that he’s been searching for any trace of for just about an entire decade.

Sunspot: Wow… I didn’t expect Spirits to be so warm… can all Spirits actually hug anypony?

Sunset: Only those who were blood related, lovers, or close friends. I unfortunately wouldn’t be able to hug your wife for instance. But Sunburst probably could, he’s my nephew after all

Stellar shows that by trying to touch Sunset but her hoof simply just goes through like nothing was there. Sunburst approaches to ask for a hug

Sunburst: Mind if I give that a try?

Sunset: Of course!

Sunburst gets a warm hug of his own from his newfound spirit Aunt.

Sunspot: This is all quite interesting, I’d certainly like to know all about what’s been learned if I can

Sunburst: Princess Twilight, Princess Celestia, Spike, the rest of the Elements of Harmy, and a few other ponies are back in a portal back to Sire’s Hollow. If you have any stuff to bring back from this rather rickety home, you can move back in with us pretty much immediately. Now that we’ve found your sister at last, even if it was finding her spirit more then anything.

Sunspot: Of course, now that I know at least the conclusive part of my sister’s fate. I can finally return home for good.

Sunspot turns toward his wife

Sunspot: I’m sorry I made you wait, only for my sister to have been gone long before I even began my search…

Stellar: Oh it’s ok, dear… both me and Sunburst knew you were on a noble cause… and you at least kept us updated where you were, we missed having you at home, but we understood why this was important to you. Especially now that we know Sunset Shimmer of all ponies was who your sister was the whole time… she was a pretty important pony, not to mention she also turned out to be Starlight’s mother…

Sunspot: *gasp* Sunset, you were Starlight’s mother?! I remember Starlight from my time in Sire’s Hollow… but I never knew you married Firelight…

Stellar: I… can only recall that I saw Sunset visit Firelight from across town. But never really got any farther in knowing their relationship. it was before you moved in with me at Sire’s Hollow after our marriage in Canterlot. I didn’t even really get to know Firelight much until Sunburst became friends with Starlight. I’ve always wondered why Firelight didn’t have a mother around for Starlight, but I guess I didn’t realize that the time I saw Sunset may have been more then a random visit from Celestia’s protege at the time.

Sunset: I had a highly secretive wedding with just me, Firelight, and a trusted royal staffer in Canterlot to handle our vows and could keep a secret. They were allowed to mention it to Celestia, but only that I was married, and not who I married, but with some assurances that I wasn’t like… marrying somepony who was a threat to Equestria. I wish I could of gotten a normal wedding, but that was just too risky. I was still hot on the trail of many enemies.at the time. The next few years I managed to get most of them locked up or reformed, but who knows what the future held.

When I felt Equestria was likely to be safe in the time Celestia could find a new protege, I proceeded to start carrying a foal, step down from being Celestia’s protege within the first few months, give birth to Starlight about 6-7 months later… and unfortunately, ended up dying at Nightmare Cliffs while on one last job to save Equestria close to 3 weeks later…

Sunspot: I see now… Perhaps, I’ll have more of a reason to come back to Sire’s Hollow. I can reunite… with the niece that I didn’t even know that I had.

Sunset smiles

Sunset: I’d appreciate that very much, Sunspot. How about we get going back now?

Sunspot: Sure thing, I don’t actually have a lot of stuff to bring back, so you can probably close that portal once I’ve gotten through. I’ll certainly take back the Jar with your horn, the others will want to know the updated facts about your death, and the horn will be evidence. Anything to help you jog your memory, and figure out all that happened.

Sunset nods. Stellar gives her husband a smug look.

Stellar: Are you gonna do anything about your rather… disheveled look? *giggles*

Sunspot: Well… I’ll try to find a barber who can get me my ol’ mohawk back up, but I kinda want to keep the beard.

Stellar: I… guess that’d be ok… I do kind of like how rugged you are now~ Though can I at least ask you to trim it to a reasonable length?

Sunspot laughs

Sunspot: Sure thing, dear. I’d be alright with that

Sunspot, Sunburst, Sunset, and Stellar all walk back to the portal. Another family reunited, and a mystery closer to being solved once and for all.

UP NEXT: Chapter 28: Starlight’s Mother, Part 4 - The Tragedy of Starlight’s Past

[cellard0ors]

Fic: the beginning is the end is the beginning

Rating: Mature

Fandom: Buzzfeed Unsolved, Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Pairing: Ryan Bergara/Shane Madej

Warning: Apocalyptic!End!Of!The!World stuff, mentions of dead people, mass suicides

Summary:  The Titans have returned. The world has ended. The Ghoul Boys are still here.

Notes:   HO-KAY. This is dedicated to @theawfuledges, who has always been super sweet, super supportive, and who had a bad day a while back and deserved something then but I. Take. FOREVER.

Inspired by this sorta-not-really-prompt-post and also the fact that @theawfuledges seems to also enjoy Godzilla. This is the Shyan!Godzilla!AU NO one asked for and probably NO one will care about - but! I had fun writing it enough that I’d consider coming back to it at some point - I mean, why not, amiright?

Anyway - excuse all my philosophizing about the end of the world via Titans and enjoy…

AO3 Link

They’ve been walking through the wasteland for almost an hour now and Shane can still feel Ryan’s eyes on his back. He ignores it, as he’s been ignoring it. He’s even whistled a tuneless song on and off during their walk, just to rub it in. A sort of reminder that he’s oblivious and doesn’t know Ryan’s trying to burn a hole through him. I mean, he does know, but it’s just…it’s too funny.

Ryan is always too funny when’s worked up into a snit. No, not funny…cute. Something Shane probably shouldn’t think about, but think he does. The best way to try to not think about it? Antagonize the little guy. So antagonize he does, finally stopping in their rambles to squat down at a larger than usual rock he’s kicked at.

It didn’t make him stumble exactly, but it caught his attention enough to make him stop and bend down. He tosses the smooth white stone around in one palm, grinning, “Well, well, well…ain’t you a nifty lookin’ fella…”

He stands back up, fully aware that Ryan has stopped a few feet behind him and is still glaring. Hell, he’s probably reached seething at this point. Balled up fists shaking at his sides and the mere idea of that imagery – the utter adorableness of it – breaks Shane’s resolve, “What?”

“Really?!” Ryan finally explodes and his voice cracks over the word and Jesus, the guy is too goddamn precious for words, “A rock?! That’s what catches your attention?!”

“Sure! This baby could be a geode! Just need to crack ‘er open and see if she sparkles!” Shane returns as he waggles the stone in Ryan’s direction, lips curled in a devious smile. He finally turns to look behind him and see Ryan and oh, no.

Shane wants to press a hand to his heart. Ryan has moved beyond cute, beyond adorable, beyond precious. He’s reached that level where it takes all of Shane’s willpower not to dart right over and kiss the breath out of him as Ryan cries, “I’ve been shooting death daggers at you for over an hour now!”

“Have you?”

“Yes, you monumental jackass! And I know you know it!”

Shane can only chuckle and Ryan frantically waves his arms about, “It’s been weeks now and we still have yet to talk about it! We just go out for recons, talk banal shit, and you – you stop for a fucking pebble instead of doing what you should do!”

Shane merely raises his eyebrows, that question enough and Ryan comes closer, breath all huffy and puffy and the perfect representation of a temper tantrum in human form, “Which is give me the world’s biggest fucking apology!”

“…for?”

“FOR?!” Another word cracked by hysteria, “Being right! Monsters exist! Or is this-” Ryan yet again waves about, waves around at the miles and miles of baked, orange earth and uprooted, long dead trees. The rubble of buildings long since lost, the endless expanse of nothing but baseless destruction – “-not proof enough for you?!”

Shane just dips the rock in Ryan’s direction like it’s the tip of a pointer, “Never said monsters weren’t real. I said ghosts weren’t,” he draws the rock back and continues walking, voice very sage, “And that continues to be a fact." He turns away and starts walking again, "Now the Titans? Oh man, those boys are flesh and blood. Meat and bone. Just like Bigfoot and hey, do you think-?”

“…stop it…”

Shane turns to look at him again even as he continues walking backwards, “-Bigfoot is a Titan?”

Ryan only stops to pinch the bridge of his nose. His earlier anger has finally spooled out of him thanks to his outburst, leaving only his normal Shane-oriented exhaustion, “I mean, he’s no Godzilla or Gidroah-”

“Ghidorah.”

“Hmm?”

Ryan’s tone is bone weary, “You said it wrong. It’s Ghidorah.”

Shane just waves a hand like it’s no big deal and Ryan stands up a little taller, clearly offended by the gesture. Perfectionist. Shane is pretty sure his smile is never going to leave, “Whatever. But Bigfoot…he can hang with the big boys, right?”

“I don’t think Bigfoot is capable of leveling Los Angeles which, news flash, is what happened when Godzilla and the other Titans trampled through!”

“It was their world first, pal,” is his amicable response, “We just have to do our best to live with it.”

Ryan looks less than pleased at that revelation and Shane can’t blame him. Still…

Finally Shane sobers, stopping to look at Ryan with all due seriousness, “Ryan…”

He doesn’t say any more. He doesn’t have to. Ryan just gives his own subdued head bob because, well, it’s the truth. They do have to do their best to live with it. What else can they do? They have no power over creatures taller than skyscrapers. Ancient beasts on par with living gods. The human race did what it could. It wasn’t enough. But – to be fair – what could they do?

Humanity always likes to think of itself as the top tier – nothing bigger, nothing brighter, nothing stronger. And within the span of a few weeks that was proven horribly untrue. Frankly, Shane always knew it would be – humility is something every living being should possess and a lot of humanity lost that long ago – but frankly, he’d been banking on aliens.

Not big ol’ monsters.

Regardless, they are where they are. In a world where massive creatures walk the earth and humans have been knocked down several pegs. Pegs that have to scurry out shelter and he and Ryan found it. They reach it now – an underground bunker dug deep into the earth by god knows who.

The first time they’d found the little hide-ho they’d intended to merely use it for one night, sure that the original owners would appear. But they didn’t. Night after night passed and no one came to claim the bunker – so Shane decided they should claim it for themselves. Hell, they took a bridge from a Goatman and made it their own – why not a bunker?

Hence why it’s colorful name –  ‘The Goatman’s Bunker’. He’d even made a sign to that effect once they’d managed to scrounge up some paper and workable pens. Funny the things you find littered amongst the refuse. Like his cool new rock – which he now sets alongside other treasures he’s found in their travels. A kid’s beat up plastic car, a broken snow globe, a crushed cup advertising Disneyland (long since gone – a collectible now!), and other debris he found of interest.

Ryan takes off his backpack and reaches inside, digging out various goodies they scavenged today. Dented bottles of water (always a god send), band-aids, several tin cans of vegetables and meats, scraped bottles with unreadable labels and anything else he could shove in.

They’re both pretty sure they’d come across the ruins of some pharmacy today – maybe a CVS or Walgreens or something – but neither could be certain. But there had certainly been a nicer haul than usual. Some days they walked out into the wasteland and found nothing for miles but old car parts and the occasionally, questionable collection of garbage.

Sometimes…sometimes they found worse things…

Both of them tried their best not to think of those things. Awful, sad things. Dead things. Crushed things. They had a radio in the bunker and there was the occasional chatter, but mostly? Mostly the world was silent. Funny how quickly a world, its people, its governments – could fall apart in the face of something it couldn’t understand.

There was word of massive suicide sites. Places where religious fanatics scrambled, unable to comprehend a world in which something their God couldn’t have possibly made appeared. There was word of places where ground born militias formed. People bloodthirsty for revenge, willing to do whatever they have to, to fight back, to rage against the sky – against forces beyond their control. There has been a lot of different word…but nothing that really concerns the two of them.

At least not for now.

For now?

For now the Ghoul Boys have their Goatman’s Bunker and a questionable collection of cans that will provide tonight’s sustenance.

What Shane wouldn’t give for a can opener. He’s gotten pretty good at stabbing cans open with the knife he has, but sometimes tiny metal shavings still end up in their meals. Tonight is no exception. He stabs away at a few cans, digs out what he can on to broken plates they’d found. Broken, a little chipped – but surprisingly in pretty good condition.

The food, however, is mush. Shane scoops up a bit with his fingers and licks at it, wincing as the taste, “Think this is chickpeas…or maybe hominy…”

“Those two things are very different.”

“Oh, sorry Paul Prudhomme – what’s your expansive palate telling you?”

Ryan’s nose wrinkles even as he takes his own bite, “Um…peaches?”

“Pe-?” Shane can’t even finish, laughing, because this sure as shit isn’t peaches. As is his way, Ryan looks charmingly flummoxed, “I taste something sweet, you dipshit!”

“Well, you did just stick your fingers in your mouth, didn’t you?” Shane teases and he knows it’s on the edge of a flirt and dammit, bad idea, Shane, bad idea…

Again – as is his way – Ryan ignores it. Shane releases the breath he isn’t even aware he’s holding. Good. Ryan shouldn’t respond. Good. And yet…

Shane takes another bite of his ‘dinner’ and it’s as questionable as the last. Maybe even more so, given their last interaction. This is not the time. This is SO not the time. The world’s ended. Or, well, the world as they knew it. Now is not the time to put the moves on Ryan. It wasn’t before. It isn’t now. When will it ever-?

Never, his thoughts whisper, and Shane feels his face fall, feels an uncharacteristic moroseness take him. He polishes off what last few bites he can manage, even though he’s not hungry, and then he rubs his hands clean on the material of his dirty jeans. Not the most hygienic, true – but they can’t waste water.

He can always find some stream tomorrow – do a better job then. Say what you will about the Titans, but their returns had brought some worth while things. California was flusher with fresh streams than ever before. Glowing green plant life – plant life that, before – would have scorched – now flourishes here. It’s as if the arrival of these creatures changed the very exosphere.

He wonders how global warming looks now. Have they caused a monumental shift in it? Probably. If anything has the power to, they probably do. Fuck, they can probably grow back icebergs or something. Create new fossil fuels. God – or heh, Godzilla – knows what. Once feeling his hands are sufficiently clean, he sighs and looks over at Ryan who has started in on again on his torn, dog-eared novel.

“Thinking I’m going to hit the hay.”

Ryan blinks, “Already?”

He just shrugs, “Long day.”

“Yeah,” Ryan admits softly and Shane goes over to his sleeping bag. It’s funny, but in as much as things changed, some have stayed the same. Sleeping together in a dirty, gross shit holes? Just like old times. Except no one’s filming with plans to upload it to the internet later.

The internet. Man. Talk about something to miss. The whole world at your fingertips. Although, in a way, they now have that albeit in a much more literal sense. Shane snuggles deep into his bag and falls to sleep far quicker than he thought he would.

Ryan, for his part, continues to idly pick through his uncovered novel. It’s a pretty decent tale. Romance. Big shocker. The world is over and all he can find in the remains are old bodice rippers. But a book is a book – entertainment is pretty goddamn scarce these days. He’ll take what he can get. True, he wants to click on the radio – see if there’s any good word, any good news – but he doesn’t want to disturb Shane.

…even if the bastard won’t admit he’s wrong. And yeah, the Titans aren’t ghosts. But they are real. So, if they’re real – it’s not much of a stretch to think the same thing of ghosts.

…probably a lot more ghosts now…what with all the…

Ryan can’t even coherently string it all together. All the lives lost. Too many to even begin to contemplate. A planetwide event, a tragedy beyond bearing. And here the two of them are. Holed up in their little bunker, trying to live the best lives they can. Ryan’s a few more pages in when he hears that familiar hum.

His mouth twitches, unable to resist the smile forming.

Ha-hum. Ha-hum. Ha-Hum.

The sound Shane makes while he sleeps. The soft hum of his breathing. Ryan can’t even count how many times he’s fallen asleep to that sound. Clung to it when they were shooting in creepy locations. He never slept well in supposedly haunted locations…but he always slept a little better when they shared space. When he hears those sounds.

Ha-hum. Ha-hum. Ha-Hum.

Like the bastard laughs in his sleep. Although, the sound isn’t quite like a laugh. It just…it has that same warm sound, that rewarding quality his laughter carries. Affable, irresistible, rich and…Ryan looks down at the words on the pages of the book before him, feels his cheeks heat. He’s been reading far too much of this mushy shit. It’s messing with his thoughts. He closes the book and contemplates his options.

Sleep is probably the best among them. He looks to Shane again. Long limbs all akimbo – awkward. He fits within his cocoon and yet not. Ridiculous – those stork legs, those string bean arms…

…how would those arms feel wrapped around-?

Ryan literally tosses his book aside. All your fault, he thinks at it, even as he stands up rolls his shoulders. Okay. Calm on. Relax. Don’t be stupid. Just go to sleep.

He climbs into his own bag, which isn’t far from Shane’s. He dampens their lanterns and it’s dark, cool, quiet. He’s almost asleep when he hears it. A deep, hefty rumble. Like thunder, but worse. Far worse. Worse because no storm has this feeling behind it. This pure, volatile energy.

He sits up, his breath catching. It’s far off in the distance, but it doesn’t matter. He knows what it is. It’s one of them. His heart leaps into his throat and fear throttles him so roughly that at first he can’t move – eyes watering as the sound grows in strength.

…boom…boom…Boom…BOOM!

The last makes the ground shake and he hates the goddamn squeak that leaves him as he physical jolts. Shane (sonofabitch!) is still asleep and Jesus Christ, does this fucker sleep through everything?! Ryan rolls his bag hard to one side, closer to Shane, knocking him with enough force that Shane wakes, voice groggy with sleep, “…izzat?”

“They’re coming! They’re coming!” Ryan wishes he didn’t sound so whiny and high pitched and frantic. For fuck’s sake – he’s a grown man! But the sound of those…footsteps…

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ground beneath them shakes violently. Ryan’s experienced earthquakes before (California born and raised) but this is beyond that. This is as if the planet itself is coming apart. Shane sits up, even as Ryan shushes at him, tugs at him – as if somehow Shane’s sitting up, underground, in the dark, can signal the Titans above them.

Shane tilts his head this way and that – clearly doing his best to listen. To pinpoint. And then he slowly turns back to Ryan, “Hey, hey…shush, shush…they’re moving away…”

Ryan’s eyes hurt from being open so wide. Ryan’s chest hurts because his heart is beating so fast. Ryan’s…hurt. He hurts and hurts and suddenly he’s in Shane’s arms. Shane is cuddling him close, “Ry? Ryan, buddy, come on…come on! Calm down, calm down. Breathe…”

…he can’t…Ryan can’t…

“You can,” Shane intones firmly and Ryan realizes he’s said something to that effect aloud, “Ryan, breathe.”

Ryan drags in one loud, long shuddering breath. Then another. Then another. His mind briefly flickers over all he’s lost. All they’ve lost. All the friends, all the family, all the people…the world…

His wide eyes fill. Blink. Shed some tears, there and gone, and he’s still breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. He curls forward some, relaxes, and he’s in Shane’s arms and they’re not quite as string bean as he thought. They have strength and weight and long fingers are stroking through his sweat damp, dark hair. Soothing it back from his forehead.

Ryan lets out a jittery wheeze, “Sorry…must think I’m a dumb ass.”

“No.”

“Shane…”

“Ryan, you’re not a dumb ass because you’re afraid.”

“You’re not.”

“Shows what you know.”

“Shane…”

“Ryan,” Now it’s Shane’s turn to sound bone weary, “We played up that shit for the show. You know that. Being scared of heroin needles and avocado pits and…and you know,” he says it so firmly, with such deep assurance that – even in the darkness of the bunker – Ryan knows he’s looking directly into his eyes, “You know I’m just as human as everybody else. That I get afraid. That I am afraid.”

“Yeah?” Ryan asks and he can’t see the nod, but he knows he gets it. And Shane’s right. Of course he’s right. Ryan knows he’s right. Shane’s not any more of a dumb ass than he is. They have every right to be afraid. Everyone in the world currently is. It’s all changing. It’s all becoming new. So new that to-to be afraid of other things? Silly things? Well, that would be what would make him a dumb ass, right?

And it’s this thought that leads Ryan to ask, “Can I kiss you?”

Two little balls of heat form right on the apples of his cheeks, lighting zipping up and down his spine because – holy shit – did he just say that out loud? And he can’t really see Shane in the cool darkness of the bunker. Their lanterns are out, but he can feel him. Sense him. He’s…close.

And then Shane answers.

“I don’t know…can you?”

It takes Ryan a moment to digest this response. And when he does? He fishes out his flat pillow and hopes it hits hard as he smacks right across Shane’s face, “Fuck you! You-!”

The curse is said without any real heat, but it can’t be helped, because, well – goddammit! So Ryan plans to keep on pummeling Shane until he somehow dies from pillow pummeling only for Shane to stop him. He manages to catch his pillow and stall his movements as he grunts out, “No! Hey! S-sorry, look-! I just-! I just couldn’t help myself, y’know?”

“Oh, do I?!”

“Yeah, man I mean – it was right there!” Shane damn near pleads with him, clearly feeling the opportunity was too good to pass up, “Besides, it was…it was too damned much. You asking like that…all hat in hand…”

Ryan’s struggles with the pillow cease as Shane comes…closer. He can feel him closer. The heat of him, the rush of air on his lips in the dark as Shane talks that his breathe caresses Ryan’s mouth, “But you can, Ryan.”

The last is said with such intensity that Ryan’s whole body shakes harder than when the Titans walked near them. His heart booms louder than their steps. He feels Shane hovering so close, “…I’ve wanted you to.”

A thick, noisy swallow and a very cracking, very insecure, “Yeah?”

“Mmm. Been waiting for you to.”

“R-really?”

A soft scoff, “No, actually – never thought you were interested. Never thought I’d be so lucky. But goddamn Ryan, if you are? You can kiss me and then some.”

That’s all the incentive Ryan needs. He charges forward and yes – kissing in the dark when you’re not quite sure where the other person is? Awkward. WEIRD. Ryan’s lips sort of miss Shane’s and there’s a laugh and a snort and a lot of fumbling in the pitch black dark.

But then?

Oh, then.

Then there’s lips meeting and Ryan’s thoughts splinter, his veins ignite and he’s kissing Shane. Their tongues are tangling, lips playing along one another and suddenly the world isn’t over. It’s just beginning.

[renaroo]

Wednesday Roundup

Today I’m going to be experiencing a full spectrum of what comics have to offer be it reading level, genre, story type, and values. Which is infinitely weird because it both promotes the fact that I have exceptionally bizarre tastes and that I’m nothing if not critical the most of the things I love the most. So let’s just jump right into it.

lso I’m not going to go fully into this in the actual reviews but it bears mentioning here: none of these covers are fair examples of the actual content of their issues. Like this is some 90s/early 2000s sorta marketing lies at this point. GIVE US COOL COVERS THAT ACTUALLY REFER TO THE COMICS, GUYS. So Diana has no fight with an army, Cass and Bruce have all of four pages together, Terry never is in contact with Curare, Pigeon Pete isn’t really doing more than he ever has in Turtles (which is, he says his name), Riri still hasn’t met any other superheroes yet other than Pepper, and the Spider-Fam DOES go against Sandman but he does not look that way nor are they in more danger from him than, say, Peter’s sanity is in danger of losing it when they go to a Chuck-E-Cheese with an annoying band song on repeat.

So these covers are from the LYING FAKE MEDIA is what I’m saying.

Marvel’s Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows, DC’s Batman Beyond, DC’s Detective Comics, Marvel’s Invincible Iron Man, IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, DC’s Wonder Woman

Marvel’s Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows (2016- ) #5 Gerry Conway, Nate Stockman, Ryan Stegman

Okay, I feel like I keep adding comics to my pull and I promise you it’s not because I like destroying my already depleted wallet, there’s just a huge variety of comics out right now and there are a lot of things that I want to support! I have maintained, for years now, that the ticket to success in comics is not to unleash a hundred comics every week that all feel the same, provide the same storylines and reactions and even art style. Why would I buy multiple comics if they all gave me the exact same reaction? What a waste of money!

It’s not a waste of my money to support a variety of stories, creative teams, and characters, though. And I firmly believe that.

So why that long introduction?

Well, to put things plainly, outside of when I supported Ultimate Spider-Man prior to Bendis pulling a Bendis and killing Rio Morales for... annoying me, basically, I have sworn off Spider comics and specifically Peter Parker Spider comics (i.e. 95% of them still) since... at least 2007, I believe. Like I got annoyed and quit cold turkey after having followed Spidey for my entire childhood. 

And maybe people can call me thickheaded and closed minded, but honestly I read Peter’s stories for Mary Jane Watson. And for family. And while this is no Spider-Girl and there’s a bit of annoyance on my part for having to lose the very character that made me a superhero fan, Annie May Parker and her family adventures of Spider-Man, Spinerret, and Spiderling have been an absolute blast and a nostalgia trip for me hardcore.

And the best part? It’s written SO WELL. I’ve always been partial to Gerry Conway’s characterizations for Peter and Mary Jane, and seeing him tackle an older couple dynamic with them as well as how they face raising a tireless child -- with Peter’s amazing sarcasm and general humor being as intact as ever -- is just beyond amazing. He’s been one of my favorite comic writers for good reason.

I love how Annie rides that line of believably annoying as a young kid and genuinely compelling with her enthusiasm for being a superhero and the child of superheroes. But right now one of the most fascinating components of this story is just where the young Osborn kid is going to take us going forward, and if his obsession with Annie is going to turn out to be the heel turn I suspect it is.

A lot exciting going on and I love it. This is just a breath of fresh air and the sort of family dynamic with superhero shenanigans fun that’s standing out in the main comics lineup at the moment. I love it. 

DC’s Batman Beyond (2016- ) #6 Dan Jurgens, Bernard Chang, Marcelo Maiolo

Not going to lie, Curare is a favorite Batman Beyond villain of mine, and as tired as I am of the League of Assassins in seemingly every Bat book that I’m picking up right now, having her unique position with them come up is at least a very interesting angle to take us on. After all, she was a top assassin who failed (due to Terry) and became the top priority for the League to kill. So seeing that play out again almost distracts me from a very real, very serious problem with DC books overall.

We already erased Barbara Gordon’s disability in every canon possible. We already deaged her to be Batgirl again in all the major, main universe comics. 

Did we have to deage her in Batman Beyond to make her still “sexy” and red-headed? Really? 

I don’t consider this a problem unique to Batman Beyond, but one to DC overall and I’m really really sick of it.

I like that we’re seeing progress with Terry and Dana’s relationship, and the very real ramifications it’s going to have on his values as Batman even if partially that was due to the mandated need for everything to end with a cliffhanger. 

I really love the Terry-Bruce hug except... Bruce is weirdly unreceptive to it? I mean that’s in character but it’s also like... at least give us half a second panel where after the hug he has a little smile. LET HIM LOVE TERRY TOO C’MON. Terry and Matt are basically the only family Bruce has left in this universe so far as we know. and more importantly so far as BRUCE knows.

I enjoyed the moment with Matt and Bruce that we never got in the old canon it was really interesting to see. I’m curious about how that’s going to develop. And I love that Max is an important and accepted presence to Team Batman. I love Terry’s monologue about how he used to try his hardest to do Batman the “Bruce Way” but now he’s going to do things the “Terry Way”, that was great and really gets at the heart of what makes Batman Beyond so great.

I enjoyed this issue, even with the glaring problems with DC overall. But one thing I’d like to suggest? Please work on the coloring because it’s so dull and ... weirdly ugly looking. Part of the aesthetic appeal of Batman Beyond was how bright and vibrant everything was to contrast with the dark shadows and kind of Sci-Fi Noir that was happening with the cityscape. 

DC’s Detective Comics (2016- ) #953 James Tynion IV, Fernando Blanco, Christian Duce, Alex Sinclair

Sigh a million times over as I continue my usual chorus of PACING PACING PACING, TYNION. There’s a lot to love about the current Detective Comics in my opinion, for all that it’s worth. And I love those things dearly. I love the characters, I love the focus on relationships and I like the consistent deconstruction of the very criticisms I and many other fans have held of Gotham comics for years now. I like that we’re not simply replaying the same broad strokes and going in the exact same directions with these characters as the early 2000s. These are all good things.

But you know what would be better about these things? If, 19 issues into this run, we weren’t STILL given directions and revelations with exactly zero setup. Flashbacks ca be a great and fantastic storytelling device but honestly over the years as a matter of criticism I’ve come to the advice of barring people from using them, because too often (especially in comics) we get them as lazy storytelling devices to suffice for setup that the writer refused to give us initially.

It makes following any character’s motivation from storyline to storyline -- hell, from issue to issue -- feel like a thankless task. And brushing up on character histories as I’ve recently done having reread Batwoman (2011-2015) and Batman and Robin Eternal just proves to irritate more. 

There’s still good things and my frustration should not overshadow that. I honestly enjoy the new direction which Tynion is taking Cass’ character even if I think the origin and setup has been botched. I like the relationships of the Team in general and the fact that as they’ve been whittled down over the last few arcs, those gaps feel more and more felt, honestly. I like the potential of Shiva and Ra’s setup here. And I like that Kate and Bruce are treated with equal importance and prominence in meeting with Jim and Renee.

All those things are probably stuff I should focus for and save my bigger criticisms for the completion of this arc. But man, MAN am I tired of the sloppy pacing and Tynion trying to make up for it with cheap flashbacks when he has had nineteen issues to set up, even in the background, that Cass was dreaming and fantaising about a mother before now. 

At the very least, we can hope for Cass to be adopted at the end of this storyline or to at least change her codename. If neither happens I am going to scream foul because otherwise what was the point of those flashbacks and of the conversation with Bruce?

Marvel’s Invincible Iron Man (2016- ) #5 Brian Michael Bendis, Stefano Caselli, Marte Garcia

How inspired that I mentioned off handedly about my strained relationship with Bendis only to get to a comic currently by him that I’m REALLY enjoying with a FULL amount of apprehension. 

The current cast of Invincible outside of Tony’s AI itself is a full roster of powerful women with varied backgrounds, motivations, and characterizations that are fascinating and fitting together so well already. There’s great art, I adore Riri with everything in me and root for her success fully -- even when it’s in the face of familiar female heroes of Marvel Universe who have a built-in empathy. Her taking down Sharon and SHIELD’s dubious reputation in one go is a fantastic and powerful moment, honestly.

But as with Bendis, there’s always going to be like... this need to undo good will. I’m not sure how else to describe it. He brings up good and valid criticisms that socially aware fans have of SHIELD and its operations in the universe through Riri, who is a character built to speak to the demographic of this generation. Then he has Sharon -- a character that in-built empathy I mentioned -- make a comment that if you’re not with SHIELD then you’re a HYDRA SYMPATHIZER. And if you’re a comic fan that somehow lives under a rock, let me clarify: for all intents and purposes HYDRA ARE NAZIS. And this is being said to a young, female, black superhero in a day and age where we literally had a gathering of Nazis in Washington, D.C. hailing President Trump who is a proven racist and appoints racists and Nazi sympathizers. 

People are going to complain to me, like they always do when I make these points, that “obviously that’s not the intent” and “he meant for this to speak to anti-Nazi readers” by putting Riri in this position. But therein is the problem of Bendis. If this is a message he intends, he does it sloppily enough  or insincere enough that it’s not even a major point in the conversation he wrote. 

So I’m going to do what I always end up doing. Supporting a character and concept I love, waiting for someone other than Bendis to take on the book, as unlikely as that probably is at this point. Gaaahhhhhhh. But I waited years for Miles so I’ll probably do the same for Riri because she has quickly been adopted as one of my Marvel daughters. 

IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2011- ) #68 Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Mateus Santioiouco, Ronda Pattison

Ninja Turtles continues to be so good it defies explanation for those who are not reading it for themselves. And I can say that in an issue that opens up with a poop joke and reminding us all that Raphael’s heart may belong to Alopex but he is bonded forever to a cute, seemingly never aging pink dinosaur that acts as the family dog and is named Pepperoni. 

Ninja Turtles is fantastic. And there’s just so many ways a person can say that before wearing out the specialness that this feat really touches on which is that it never fails -- in over 68 issues now -- to make a near perfect balancing act of action, humor, character arcs, and a continuously building yet self-contained world building that now includes not only the Mutanimals but everyone’s favorite hatable government agent, Agent Bishop. 

Teaming up with Old Hobb now, the Turtles are going to save the Mutanimals while the Mutanimals do what they can in their impossible situation to save themselves. There’s so much horror in what’s happening to Slash and the gang, and it’s pulled off without being either heavy handed or utterly offset by the consistent humor the series manages. 

And oh my gosh the art. I adore this art so much, I love how distinctive all the characters look while also managing so many details.

It’s a great read, and an ongoing that knows how to never stop providing the hits. 

DC’s Wonder Woman (2016- ) #19 Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp, Laura Martin

I have not been a big fan of the “B” story for Greg Rucka’s Wonder Woman run, but I’m sort of appreciative of the dichotomy between the “A” and “B” stories. There’s a youthful innocence and brightness to Diana’s younger adventures as they are being retold by Rucka that just makes them that much more enjoyable compared to the present timeline -- a darker, grittier world where lies and misconceptions of characters, friends, histories, and so on have won. 

There’s a spectrum to comics that people don’t seem to appreciate nearly enough -- a medium where Princeless and Scooby-Doo Team Up can welcome youthful readers and graduate them to Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur before they’re ready for the more complicated nuances of multiarc’d dark and gritty “realism” -- there’ room for all of this, and each piece of that spectrum can reflect on, graduate to, or full on subvert the other. Co-existance is possible because the spectrum of potential readers and their tastes is just as possible. 

Rucka’s A story is a hopeful and loving look at the superhero genre through a youthful, more truthful look at Diana and her history. In comparison, the B story is a dark subversion of what Wonder Woman is continuously pushed to be in various media and by writers who openly dislike her origins or significance. It’s a takedown, an intentional comparison. One where, starting with today’s issue, we’re finally getting a peak at where the stories will align and how “Lies” will be overcome by the “Truth” soon enough. 

I just wish it was. Y’know. A little sooner, because I have a whole new appreciation for the B story in context but man I’m still not won over by its text. 

This was a super variable week and pretty much every issue I read is filling a niche of mine when it comes to what I enjoy reading, but I once more have to really give it up to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles because it’s simply one of the best comics around, has a perfect balance of all these wildly different elements, and it’s super locked down into a quickly developing and engaging story arc.