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caguaydreams · 4 years ago

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A thorough analysis on why Vah Medoh’s dungeon theme makes me want to cry

Yep, that’s an accurate title. Hi there! do you have a moment to hear about Breath of The Wild soundtrack? posting for yet a third time in hopes that tumblr won't hide it. I'm so tired

What started as a quick and harmless post, pretending to simply point out a couple of things, rolled downhill, out of my grasp and turned into a massive snowball of a short essay. How and why did this happen? Well, I assume a lot of people know about this song, and know what I’m talking about when I say that it makes me tear up and sob uncontrollably with every change in key as the seconds tick by and I spiral down into a dwell of misery from where I struggle to find the exit and to later recover.

……No?…..At the VERY LEAST it makes you a little uncomfortable. And I state this with much certainty, because after reading hundreds of comments everywhere online where this song is present, I picked up on a vast majority of people who expressed to feel the same way I did when it came down to our current music subject. See, statistics don’t lie… normally. So, naturally, my intrigue got the best of me. I wanted to find out exactly why this soundtrack was mercilessly stirring up everyone’s emotions, so I caved in and we ended up with this.

Buckle in, fellas.

Out of all Divine Beasts’ dungeon themes, Vah Medoh’s is the one that I can’t sit through. Not without growing antsy and wanting to turn it off as soon as possible. I find it genuinely difficult to listen to, and it’s not only because Revali is my favorite character and the song is just, plainly put, depressing, mind you.

We’ll start from 0 terminals activated.

It opens up similar to the other three dungeon themes; the pace is slow but eerie, gives off the impression that it sounds broken somehow. Something is off here, and it’s easy to figure out what that is from the get go: you’re basically entering a majestic, ancient, mechanical mausoleum, where everything went terribly wrong a century ago. Someone is gone, someone you knew, someone who was probably close to you, but it’s impossible to be sure. You don’t remember a thing, and this entire ordeal is confusing at best, and terrifying at worst. It’s your duty to make things right again.

It’s the same for all four Divine Beasts upon entering, save for the obvious little differences that separates them from each other and make them unique. Ruta’s is played on a major key, adhering to a sense of hopefulness. Naboris’s begins with a startling smashing of the piano keys, much like thunder of a sudden lighting strike. And Rudania’s theme starts threatening, dangerous, like scalding lava.

But now, back to Vah Medoh. The tone here is… alienating. The dissonant chords are all over the place, and feel disconnected, cold. It’s almost as if someone doesn’t want us to be here, or just like the elusive key, our presence is unexpected. Fitting, for a Divine Beast that’s high above the land, impossible for most to reach, yet we somehow made it. Apart from the piano, we have the occasional hint to rito culture, in the shape of a short, synthetic version of the rolled chords at the very beginning of Rito Village. A quiet reminder of where we come from. There is also, of course, the morse code distress signal, but we’ll talk more about that later.

As soon as this formal introduction is over, we finally get to the more, say, intimate stuff. Oh, and wouldn’t you know, it’s just tragic.

One terminal activated.

There’s no better short way I can describe this passage, other than anxiety-inducing. Especially when the strings come into play, and there’s two reasons I can think of why I feel this is an important thing to point out:

1- Characters and Symbolism.

I tend to associate stringed instruments, all of those which compose the violin family, with rito culture. And Revali, most specifically. In Creating a Champion we can see the early concept art and designs for all or most major characters in the game, and Revali’s highlighted rough design might be the one that changed the most throughout proper development of the character, out of all champions. He looks quite different from our usual depiction of him, it’s fascinating. What truly catches my eye, however, is the design of his bow.

You thought bird puns were bad? Oh boy, how do you feel about Revali having a bow that looks like a violin/cello/viola??? And do you need a bow to play it also??? Like, is it even an instrument or it’s nothing more than a mere fashion statement?-

Anyway. I believe this was originally going to be a not-so-subtle wink to rito culture, being heavily musically inclined as we can see and conclude for ourselves. Perhaps Revali was going to be a musician as well, now how cool it that!

Needless to say, the idea was eventually scrapped. But one detail I am CERTAIN carried over to the character we know and love today(okay not all of us love him but seriously if you dislike him why are you still here lol): strings. The association between bows(weapon) and stringed instruments, aside from being a quite clever and creative one, goes beyond the concept art and remains strong as part of Revali’s character, settling for having a presence via score. After all, Revali is a master of archery, so in that way it makes sense to keep strings as symbolism to reinforce the idea and drive it home.

But can you guess what other thing Revali excels at? That’s right: flying. He’s the only rito we know of who successfully managed to take advantage of wind currents and bend them to his will. And do you know what musical instruments are often used to evoke the feeling of flight and gale? If you thought of bowed strings, you’re correct! Unfortunately, I couldn’t find much support on this topic online, so you’ll have to take my word for it. I am most certain that this is fact, although not something worth discussing on the Internet, by the looks of it.

Anyhow, violins/cellos/etc are ever-present whenever we’re close to Rito Village or dealing with a rito related mission. Attack on Vah Medoh, for example, features a sequence of strings that is meant to evoke the strong winds we’re fighting against in that particular moment(*). Another great example is The Final Trial, the song that plays at the shrine of resurrection nearing the end of the Champions’ Ballad. Preceding the activation of each terminal, you’ll notice that a new instrumental element joins the crowd: the first one corresponds to the tambourines, related to the zora and Mipha; the second one are strings, referencing the rito and Revali, etc. I tell you, the moment I heard this during the trial I almost started crying like a baby. And, although strings have a lot to do with Rito culture in general, they tie most strongly to Revali, since he was the champion of his people, and his legacy carried over throughout the years. His accomplishments became material of folk tale, a legend, a source of pride and inspiration for the village. And let’s not forget that, at the end of the day, Revali is the crucial and foremost connection Link has to this place. Other than appeasing Vah Medoh, Link’s responsibility here is to free his past fellow champion’s spirit from Ganon’s malice. The soundtrack is referencing Revali first, and by extension his devotion to his home.

With all that in mind, let’s move on to our next point:

2- Nowhere to Go.

You shoot the canons, land on top of the Divine Beast, do what you gotta do, activate the first terminal and the soundtrack goes off unannounced. Like some sort of surprise anxiety bomb. The rhythm turns fast, the melody erratic, incredibly desperate in its execution. There’s this sheer despair, fear, this feeling of suffocation almost, which are so well achieved in this particular piece.

And that is, partially, because a quite familiar resource is used here as well; one that we’ve heard before in songs such as Rito Village or Revali’s theme. You could even think of it as a motif: two notes are played in an semitone interval, repeatedly and in quick succession. For the sake of later convenience, we’ll call this the Flight Motif, now let me explain why. In Breath of The Wild, this semitone loop is often followed up by some form of resolution. In Rito Village, formerly known as Dragon Roost Island(**), that resolution consists of a graceful descent of the melody, from a high that was built up previously during the motif. On the other hand, if you listen to Revali’s theme, you’ll notice that the interval repeats itself for a couple of times as thought charging up, to then rise fast and determined into a triumphal reprise of Revali’s distinctive assigned melody. This juxtaposition supposes the difference that lays between common rito flight and Revali’s trademark ability; both musical sequences are speaking of flight, albeit in two different languages depending on the way to achieve it. While the rito traditionally use their wings to glide and let themselves get swayed by the air currents Buzz Lightyear style, Revali takes full advantage of his flying capabilities to somehow create an updraft of his own, rising meters above the ground whenever he likes or needs to.

So, now that I layed out my base of thought when focusing on the strings, this’ll be much easier to explain. We’ve settled what the instruments themselves are a symbolic representation of Revali, in this scenario specifically. He was the only one inside Vah Medoh, and the score is, in a way, a retelling of what we can vaguely assume went down here during the Great Calamity, as much as it is what sets the tone and ambience for Link’s mission. But what are we hearing exactly? What we talked about, the Flight Motif, is being repeated nonstop. And that’s the thing, remember how I mentioned that this sequence usually finds resolution at the end? Well. Inside Vah Medoh,… it never does. The melody picks up in numerous occasions, but it’s not nearly as graceful, or calculated, as we’ve grown used to by now. It gets tangled and lost, and then inevitably falls to the ground in disarray. The pattern repeats itself, reaching higher after a handful of failed attempts, but no matter how much it tries, the cycle never ends. What used to tell us about flying and freedom in the skies, has morphed into an almost sinister musical incarnation of a tornado, and there is no way out of this trap. What do you think it must feel like to mindlessly flap your wings against wind currents so strong and violent, that it is impossible to get anywhere nearby, let alone take off every time you lose your balance. Or every time you’re shot down. On top of that, trying to aim and fight back in whatever short breaks and opportunities you get, at an enemy that’s much more powerful and relentless, who’s using your own element as a weapon to destroy you… it’s a risk Revali surely had to take in order to put up a fight. Even knowing full well that the odds were not in his favour, that he was most likely going to lose this battle, that he was going to die. Let that sink in. I’ll skip the activation of the second terminal, since there’s barely any change registered in the theme in general. So-

Three terminals activated.

I know this post is supposed to be a breakdown of the song purely, but that doesn’t mean there’s no place for a little theorising, and the following scrutiny is also quite relevant for our discussion. Bear with me for a bit. I’ve read almost everywhere about people’s most common interpretations on the Divine Beasts SOS signals, and how everyone thinks that Revali’s coming in last (a few seconds later than the other champions) has to do with him holding on for longer. Or, also, overconfident as he was, it means that the idea of calling out for additional support didn’t cross his mind until it was too late, and that’s why the beeping sounds more frantic and panicked than the others’ when it does appear. After giving it some thought myself, I’m betting on the latter option holding more ground, and that’s not all. I want to touch upon a detail of the piece that I never acknowledged was there until very recently(after seeing myself obliged to listen to this song fully and a handful of times, suffering every minute of it for the sole purpose of this analysis. It’s okay I didn’t need my heart anyway). Soon after activating the third terminal, the SOS signal disappears, or grows distant and faint enough that we can’t make it out from the background anymore. In its place, we’re confronted by this… shrill, piercing and painfully slow tune. It sounds synthetic, artificial, devoid of life. And it’s funny, because you know what it reminds me of? I’ll tell you:

A heartbeat flatline sound.

And I want to highlight that this doesn’t happen in any of the other Divine Beasts themes. All their SOS signals carry on, but Medoh’s is no more. This abrupt stop, followed by this bone-chilling tune…. makes me believe that Revali was the first of the champions to fall. A few days ago I came across SuperZeldaGirl’s video on a similar topic, theorising that this could very much be the case. There is not much evidence to support this claim other than some visual cues that could be suggesting to it, but after I found this in the soundtrack, and if we’re to rely on it for anything, I believe Revali was either the first champion to be ambushed by Ganon, or well…. the first to be killed. It is plausible, because short after Calamity Ganon unleashes his power, Revali parts from the group and flies directly to Vah Medoh, and he very well could’ve been the first pilot to arrive.

On this note…. we’ll have to wait and see for ourselves, when Age of Calamity provides long-awaited answers to many of our questions.

Four terminals activated.

An interesting melody is being played on what, for me, would qualify as a glockenspiel or a celesta, which are keyboard based instruments that produce a sound similar to that of a music box(***). If you want to pay more attention to it, I suggest listening to Vetrom’s Instrumental Mix Cover of the theme, where they practically zoom in on this part of the song (keep in mind that it uses the All Terminals’ time signature so it’s being played faster). For some reason, this particular addition makes me feel profound empathy. The sound of this instrument could be described as cute or childlike, magical, even. It is more often than not used to represent innocence, but I highly doubt that’s specifically the intention here. Much like the leading strings’ melody, the melodic contour of this one is trapped in a loop of going up and down constantly, but the difference is that this time around it sounds more under control. And much more uniform too. It doesn’t lose focus or takes risky, fruitless leaps, but rather chooses to stay on a path of waves that consistently rises and falls without taking detours. Like a determined battle strategy, giving it your all. You fall, but get back up again, and try again, and again. It reminds me of Revali’s approach to training, being persistent to the point of overworking himself. He had discipline nailed down to a tee, which I also think served him well in combat. It’s not just about being hard on yourself, either, but being confident and having complete faith in your abilities; believing that you’ll make it. For this to appear now, that the SOS signal is almost completely gone, is significant because it means that by this point, being so close to success on Link’s behalf, the music is sparing genuine encouragement for once, in spite of the tragic outcome of the past and the danger of the current situation. But, in all honesty, this is probably just me reading too much into it. Perhaps the composer just thought this addition sounded pretty bitching and there’s not much else to it, which is completely fine. Although, intentional or not, sometimes coincidences do happen, and at the end of the day, interpretations like this are a form of appreciation for an artist’s work and for what they can unknowingly accomplish.

All terminals activated.

This is the moment when the song finally lightens up. Notice how the strings abandon the wave pattern for a more even contour. The beat quickens, the melody stabilizes. At first I thought, coming from our flight analogy, that this meant a cease in movement entirely, and it was partly one of the reasons why the song in general makes me anxious. But thinking about it now, …there is something different going on here. The strings are playing on a steady rhythm. It resembles a march, it’s like a pounding heart. It’s a lively, hopeful statement. And what’s interesting is that, up until this point, there was so much fear and helplessness present in the score, even going as far as to reach a dead end when we activate the third terminal. But that’s it, isn’t it? the music just keeps going further.

It’s saying: this isn’t over yet. Even after complete and utter defeat, there’s still hope and an underlying wish to overcome this predicament, and we started to hear this as soon as a fourth terminal is activated. The melody we previously talked about? it’s here as well, and its beat is much more daring and confident.

And I just want to say… this is so powerful. Because this sentiment is deeply tied to the game’s story and Revali’s character arc. You see, he is introduced as someone who resents Link for being the manifestation of his failure, in a way, because Revali has trained arduously his whole life to be where he is, to be recognised. And yet… this hylian gets chosen by a magic sword and some tale of divine destiny and, apparently, that’s all it takes for him to be deemed the hero that will save the land. In Revali’s eyes, Link has done nothing to prove his worth before him, so it is easy to see why he despises the silent knight so much; he is yet another individual that was born into their destiny. Meanwhile, Revali has had to build his reputation from the ground up, earning him a place among the greatest warriors of Hyrule, and even then he finds himself surrounded by people who grew up praised for being born gifted. We can see how Revali is the odd one out, and can map out the reason for him acting so antagonistic towards Link.

But once we’re on Medoh, things start to change. When Link enters the Divine Beast, Revali greets him with disdain, as per usual. Of course, Link has no recollection of whatever happened a hundred years ago, other than a small glimpse of the rito champion talking down to him, a memory that came and went in a flash. So as Link, we more than expect Revali to act cold and mocking, which he does. He provides us with as little help as needed in order to free Medoh, reluctantly, shielding his wounded pride over having to wait for Link, of all people, to come to their rescue. But you can hear him starting to open up bit by bit(I wish I could translate his dialogue directly from Japanese but I’ll make do with a couple of dubs and other numerous sources from translators online). With each little step Link takes towards success, activating the terminals, the perception Revali has of him shifts from one of resentment to one of genuine admiration and respect. By the end of it all, he is willing to not only cheer on Link during the boss battle, but to trust him with his life’s worth achievement. And once left alone, he admits defeat and lets go of his bitterness, realising that he was wrong to underestimate Link, and later wishes he could’ve had a chance to measured up to him. To take all of this into consideration and work with it in the soundtrack I think it’s genuinely splendid. And for once, I am grateful that it ends in somewhat of a positive note that puts my soul to rest. I still have a hard time listening to the first two thirds of the entire thing, but now I can look forward to a hopeful and earnestly heartening conclusion for all the pain that this composition puts me in. I must admit that it’s beautifully and brilliantly crafted, and that I am enamoured of it regardless.

That is why I wrote roughly 4k words about it! I hate myself!

If you’re as crazy as me about the soundtrack of this game, I recommend you read the published cd interview with the composers themselves! if you haven’t already. I just found it yesterday(unbelievable but it’s true) and… after writing all of this and checking it out, I felt validated. It sure is a one of a kind feeling.

Alright folks, we’ve made it to the end. Congratulations for sticking around and thanks being interested in my nonsensical rambling!

I also hope that you, like me, will now be unable to listen to bowed strings without being reminded of Revali. Good luck!

————– Annotations/Sidenotes/Whatever

(*)The Flight Motif(in point number 2) is also present in this track. We can hear it in the background right after the Rito leitmotif, as per usual. It starts with a clarinet, I think, before the strings take the lead. (**) Note that the Flight Motif only comes into play in the Breath of The Wild rendition of the song. (***)I strongly associate this instrument with Mipha, given that it is used in her theme, in every “response” to the initial melody. It can be heard in Attack On Vah Ruta, as well, it enters the scene when the notes Mi(E) and Fa(F) are played. The initial tune, Si and Do(B and C) are played on a clarinet or oboe, wind instruments just like the flute that leads Sidon’s respective theme. The celesta can also be heard inside Vah Ruta, activating the first terminal…. when the song really takes a turn just like Medoh’s. Mipha has nothing to do with the song of this analysis, however. We must understand that instruments, although they are attached to characters/various story elements in some cases, can always be used outside of that context, for that is the nature of an orchestral soundtrack. If you have this many tools at your disposal, you will make good use of them.

#Revali #Vah Medoh #botw #loz #aoc

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vaguely-concerned · 4 years ago

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The Mandalorian Chapter 11; the rewatch edition

I have found a bit more enthusiasm for this one on the rewatch, so here goes!

- din snapping ‘I’m trying my best here!’ in a vaguely annoyed tone as his entire ship is going up in flames around him because he mostly doesn’t get angry as much as sulky... the height of cinema

- I love frog husband’s clothes, because they’re in a very similar style and colour scheme to frog lady’s but also incorporate the knitwear we see on the people of trask, so it both underlines his belonging with her and implies that he’s been on this moon for quite a while, they may have been apart for some time

especially his scarf is a darling detail and there’s a bit of contrast in texture to it next to his wife’s, it’s nice. he’s wearing a similar kind of vest to what we see on the fishermen later, too

- I think my favourite part of this entire episode (well second after din cradling the baby against him after nearly drowning) is just the design and Vibe of the planet and especially this harbour

for one I LOVE that it’s shown that even in the middle of the day it’s dark enough that the electric lights are still on when it’s overcast (it reminds me a bit of norway during the winter, actually, when dawn just never quite breaks and then slinks off in embarrassment before it’s even noon). and there’s also the... sails? nets? hanging around looking almost like flags, which are very Aesthetic but god knows what they’re for. maybe for drying fish on in the summer?

I think the building in the distance behind frog husband’s back here is a lighthouse? or it could be one of those towers for loading you see when they scout out the empire ship too, I suppose!

and one for my strange obsession with Texture on this show: these fabric-covered crates!!! they look exactly as dingy and moldy as you’d expect them to be in this climate, I wonder what they’re for (& I vaguely want to touch them)

- from the sound of it din’s vibroknife is uh ‘on’ when he pokes the squid thing, and he also goes for the tentacle the furthest away from the baby <3

proof the calamari flan have been scratched up a bit during all that time in din’s pockets! (the attention to detail in this show sometimes istg)

- this is 100% me reading too much into things again, call the overthinking police I’ll do my time meekly lol, but the boat looks a little bit like the mudhorn signet from this angle:

again din keeps his hand on or sooo close to his blaster in this entire scene, he knows this is sketch as all hell

a) once again I want to praise the effects team for how GOOD the aliens look in this episode holy shit and b) the hell is this dude wearing on the straps of his overalls tho

- the dude mando (axe woves) uses his little... wrist launcher thing to shoot with to finish two off the fishermen, so my theory that they can be loaded with other things than the whistling birds for slightly less effective use (maybe without the level of honing we’ve seen din’s be able to do?) is looking good!

- din actually has quite good form when diving into the water, I’m guessing he can swim at least tolerably when not in full armour, being stabbed at from all directions, having just had his son eaten by a sea monster and also being trapped in with said sea monster (I’m a strong swimmer and I can tell you that there’s a reason they make you swim with clothes on from time to time to see how hard it is, it sucks. with metal plates strapped all over you as well? yeah good luck) people don’t tend to hit the water that gracefully without some kind of training in my experience lol. might be some of the training with the jet pack has carried over too, considering he throws himself off that cliff in chapter 12 with similar confidence?

it’s interesting that they’re once again showing us a threat where the armour doesn’t help and even hinders him. we’re so used to the ways it can make him near-invincible, but it can also drag him down (literally, in this case. aha ha ha. well if I’m not here for my own entertainment then what am I here for honestly)

- din’s voice sounding like he’s just on the verge of crying as he cradles the baby (and the sound he makes as he realizes the baby’s alive) is my kryptonite, turns out. fucking breaks my heart into tiny pieces every time, I would die for this man and he wouldn’t let me

- in support of din’s paranoia: so far this season we haven’t been able to go five minutes without someone talking about peeling the precious beskar off a mandalorian corpse, I can see why his mind was primed to move in one particular way there

- I think the fabric of din’s cape has been treated with something that makes it waterproof; the water seems to pearl on top of it rather than soak in! can you imagine how heavy it would get if it did absorb water tho christ

(a bit hard to see at this size but that’s what it looked like to me close up anyway! could also be that it’s wool and that’s why it looks that way but I prefer an elaborate sci-fi explanation here, because it doesn’t look particularly weighed down afterwards) might also explain why he doesn’t seem worried about it catching on fire when he uses the jetpack haha, maybe this is something the mandos do with fabric they’re going to use for a long time

I also enjoy part of the gambeson/undersuit thing poking up from under the shoulder pauldron and cape; I think this is about as disheveled as we’ve seen him since immediately post-mudhorn

- the sound mixing in this scene, where din’s breathing is layered a bit over everything else so you almost feel like you’re in the helmet with him listening to what the others are saying........ oh my GOD, it embeds you so deeply in his POV but so subtly

- not to be biased or anything... but din and the armorer’s armour design is so vastly superior to these guys it shouldn’t even be a competition lol

din looks like an honest to god knight in shining armour except also sci-fi western and the armorer looks like a fucking war goddess from a time beyond memory; the clone wars mandos look like high end cosplayers (eh maybe it’s just my dislike for the boobplates that has me so 😒 lol. also a lot of dudes were very shitty about that whole thing and I don’t say anything but the ‘vaguely-concerned will remember this’ telltale message pops up in the corner every time)

moment of saltiness over: I do like the differentiation between their individual character designs

the differences in body type and helmet design is nice! they look like a unified team, but with individuality. I suspect the ladies have those belts and their armour plates on the hips instead of the front of the thighs to emphasize the ‘female’ silhouette, which. okay fine whatever

- bo katan looks very pointedly down at the baby after saying ‘a group of religious zealots who want to return to the ancient ways’ which makes me VERY nervous for reasons I can’t quite articulate

- the mournful guitar version of the mando theme as din watches the sunset...... hmmmmngh (this might be some Symbolism happening to us folks strap in for the identity crisis he still hasn’t processed)

- I Cannot get over din being so unimpressed by and uninterested in bo katan’s ‘retake mandalore’ sales pitch from literally the first moment dfhasdkjfhsad sorry lady kryze this man just does not do main quest shit, he’s all side quests all the time and that’s why I love him

- as someone who after chapter 8 wrote a whole-ass fic that was wholly & exclusively about din telling the baby he’ll always come back for him... some of the shit he’s been saying this season does feel like it’s been written to mercilessly victimize me, personally and specifically

- guessing this structure in the background is the traffic control tower! doesn’t really matter, I just thought it was neat

- this part of the soundtrack is called ‘ship o hoj, mandalorians!’, which I found incredibly charming haha (it’s ‘ship ahoy’ except how you write it in swedish, good one herr göranson)

- bo katan is vague about who exactly the new mand’alor would be if they took back mandalore to begin with, she doesn’t specify she is planning to be the ruler until she’s already got din on the ship and in no position to refuse to help. gotta respect the grift at least lol

I do love her voice, though, it reminds me a bit of jennifer hale as shepard

- “I need to get back to my ship, with the foundling” your honor I uh love him so fucking much

- frog lady stroking the baby’s back a bit as she holds her hand behind him to make sure he doesn’t fall backwards while playing with the tadpole ;___________;

and also frog husband and frog lady reaching out to hold hands and frog smooching as din and yodito leave ;____________________________________________;

- when din says the exasperated “mon calamari. unbelievable” line, the baby makes that little blowing a raspberry sound he does as if to agree ‘uh-huh unbelu -- unbelly -- unbelievable dad smh’ and it is very very adorable

- there’s quite a bit of Stuff in the concept art that didn’t make it in this time around; I wonder if maybe they cut some stuff for pacing or whatever and that’s why this episode is so short? water leaking into the cockpit of the razor crest, something that looked a bit like whaling going on on the docks and more spaceships taking off (maybe there were originally meant to be some smaller ships defending the big empire one?), there’s quite a bit here

#star wars #the mandalorian #the mandalorian spoilers #the mandalorian meta

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herocentral · 4 years ago

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Possible Hero 6

Authors notes: I told you I’d be back folks with the next chapter to Possible Hero 6. As mentioned in the previous chapter we’re now moving into the Countdown to Catastrophe arc of the season 1 finale. As we all know, the episode in season 1 finale was originally meant to be a three part episode only to be turned into an hour long episode, so I’ve divided it into parts to the best of my abilities. Now let’s begin.

Big Hero 6 & Kim Possible (c) Disney

Chapter 8: Countdown to catastrophe part 1

A new day dawned in San Fransokyo, after a triumphant victory for the teams of Big Hero 6 and Team Possible over Dr Drakken and his army of Destructo Yama robots the heroes all enjoyed a Noodle Burger breakfast treated by Kim. They all went to the Lucky Cat Cafe to check on everything and during the crisis James and Ann (Kims parents) agreed to keep Hiro’s secret identity as a member of Big Hero 6 from his aunt.

However though Drakken is behind bars Shego escaped and hasn’t been seen since, however Kims mind was focussed on something else. Whilst the rest of the team were busy with other things Kim and Ron met Hiro and Baymax in the garage. They were looking at a certain conspiracy board about a certain villain BH6 were pursuing for some time.

“So who’s this Obake guy?” Kim asked.

“That would be the question thats been bothering us in the past few months.” Hiro said.

“Okay but how was he able to hack the Kimmunicator like that?” Ron asked.

“And why would he help us to find Baymax?” Kim then wondered.

“Again I don’t know.” Hiro said, “All we know is ever since we became Big Hero 6 again after I enrolled at SFIT, weird things have happened and Obake was at the centre of most of it, all we know so far is he’s planning something but we don’t know what.” Hiro explained then looking to his conspiracy board.

“All we know so far is he’s interested in Lenore Shimamoto.” Hiro explained, but the name seemed to ring something in Rons head.

“Shimamoto, hey KP didn’t we do a class report on her back in Middleton?” Ron asked.

“Yeah I remember, Shimamoto was a gifted artist.” Kim recalled. “Yeah first time we met him in person he stole her journal and put us into some pretty weird traps.” Hiro explained.

“How weird? Kim asked.

“Well some of them looked like my room and Freds too, we don’t know how he was able to pull that off” Hiro explained “and recently before we met you guys he stole a high power magnet from SFIT while we were under some kind of illusion gas he gave us on halloween.” Hiro explained. “Mine was of Tadashi.”

“What he made an illusion of your brother?” Kim asked.

“Yeah but more than that he actually talked to me.” Hiro added with a hint of despair in his voice. Rufus went up to Hiro’s shoulder and put a comforting hand on his face.

“Okay thats just low.” Ron said.

“And he did that just to keep you out of the way?” Kim asked.

“Wait I think Fred said something

“Yes, Obake’s intentions are unknown.” Baymax added.

“And he’s been recruiting villian’s to help him?” Kim then asked remembering some of Hiro’s stories.

“Yeah some of our villains like Globby, Noodle Burger boy and Momakase.” Hiro then added.

Kim took a moment to look at the conspiracy board along with considering everything Hiro said to her and realised whoever this person was he was good.

“So whoever Obake is he’s clearly smart, carefully planning every move, playing his hand with the cunning of a fox.” Kim deduced.

“Okay but what’s his endgame?” Ron then wondered.

“I don’t know but whatever it is it can’t be good.” Hiro then added. Just then the Kimmunicator sounded off and Kim answered it.

“Go Wade.” Kim said.

“Kim, I still haven’t found any trace of Shego, but I’ve been picking up some strange chatter about people seeing what looked like a pink glob monster breaking into a Krei warehouse.” Wade relayed.

“Glob monster?” Ron asked.

“That’ll be Globby.” Hiro said. “Basically a common crook turned supervillain by accident when he stole Honey Lemons purse.” Hiro explained.

“Ah.” Kim said understanding. “We best go stop him.” Hiro then said.

“Hiro, you are to attend an appointment with Professor Granville later today.” Baymax explained.

“Hiro maybe you should go to your meeting Ron and I can deal.

“No, I’ve still got time besides you guys don’t know Globby you’ll need some help.” Hiro Insisted.

“Come on how hard could this guy be?” Ron asked.

Later at Krei warehouse:

“Hard very hard!”

Ron now in his mission gear/armour was stuck to a wall next to an armoured Baymax by a pink goop compliments of Globby who’s green eyes glowed as he flung Hiro now in his armour into a crate and he tumbled into another crate below and into one on the floor.

Suddenly he looked up and quickly ran to avoid shards of metal which struck the floor with such force.

Hiro slid past the shards and hid behind a shelf only for one of the boxes in the warehouse to be yanked away by a shard attached to Globby’s hand.

“You sure it was a good idea to come without the rest of your buddies!” Globby taunted.

“Baymax ,Ron!” Hiro exclaimed but ran quick to avoid the metal shards coming towards him. He avoided more shots from Globby but one more was heading right for him but was quickly intercepted by Kim who deflected it with her armours energy shield.

“Seriously a villain who can shape shift into any element?” Kim asked Hiro.

“Yeah who knew.” Hiro said

“Okay yeah but weren’t we due for one of those?” Ron asked. Whilst Globby kept throwing metal shards at Hiro and Kim a beeping noise came from Baymax’s visor.

“Whats that?” Globby asked. “It is an alarm.” Baymax explains. “Hiro we must leave for your meeting with Professor Granville, soon.”

Globby just ignored him and continue firing shards at Hiro and Kim who moved quickly to avoid them.

“So what’s the sitch with this meeting?” Kim asked. “Oh its the meeting about my final…” Hiro suddenly came to a realisation.

“Wait my final project meeting thats today?!” Hiro exclaimed.

“Yes it is in eight minutes.” Baymax explained.

“Uh excuse me we’re fighting here.” Globby said feeling ignored.

“Oh I hear you dude Kim and I keep getting things like this all the time.” Ron said.

Globby ignored this and fired a ball of goop towards a table in the centre of the warehouse which hit a button under it which revealed a secret hidden compartment which swung round to a more high-tech table which had a metal briefcase with the Krei tech symbol stamped on it.

“There you are.” Globby said forming another hand from his chest.

“gah dude that is sick and wrong!” Ron said rather disgusted.

Globby ignored him and reached out for the brief case.

“Sorry Globby gotta wrap this up!” Hiro said jumping over the table and hitting the button underneath which caused it to swing back to the normal table but Globbys hand was attached to it and it pulled him off Baymax and Ron releasing them from his grip.

“HEY!” Globby exclaimed as he was catapulted onto the table and hit the floor face first. Kim acted quickly and pulled out her lip stick which when opened fired a goop on the floor sticking the glob monster in place.

She and Hiro then went over to Baymax who using his jets lowered him and Ron to the ground. They were okay despite having some goop on their suits.

“You guys okay?” Hiro asked. “I am sticky.” Baymax said simply.

“Aw man, well at least it’s better than loosing my pants.” Ron said.

“Well glad your trainings paid off.” Kim complimented Hiro on his move to trap Globby.

However with their backs turned Globby was ably to break himself free from the goop trap.

“Catch you later!” Globby announced and he slinked away into the notches in the floor taking his leave.

“Great he got away.” Ron said. “Well at least he didn’t get this.” Hiro said looking at the briefcase but something seemed rather odd about it.

“So what is it?” Kim asked.

Hiro looked at the case and knocked his fist on it and it gave off a metallic clanging sound indicating it was made of metal.

“Titanium shell, Biometric lock?” Hiro analysed. “This is some serious security.”

“So whatever’s inside must be pretty valuable if this Globby guy came to steal it?” Kim deduced.

“Hiro.” Baymax said getting their attention. “Your meeting is now, in seven minutes. Is your final project proposal ready?”

“Ah, not exactly.” Hiro said nervously. “As in haven’t started yet?” Kim said with a raised eyebrow.

“What we’ve been busy between stopping Drakken and everything else.” Hiro explained.

“I hear you man the price of a super hero double life being on time for school.” Ron said in comfort.

“Uh huh.” Rufus agreed.

“But I’ve still got some time.” Hiro said. “Right?” Everyone present looked unsure.

“How long until we get back to SFIT?” Hiro asked as he went over to Baymax and secured himself onto his back.

“Approximately seven point five minutes.” Baymax calculated. “See plenty of time.” Hiro said assuringly.

Baymax flung his wings out and took off with his jets only for the goop to pull on him like a rope then pulled him down to the ground again like a rubber band.

“I am still sticky.” Baymax pointed out.

“Oh boy, so the drama.” Kim said facepalming.

Later at SFIT

At the Robotics lab on the SFIT campus Honey Lemon, Gogo and Wasabi were presenting their final project proposals to Professor Granville for the SFIT Open house. Honey Lemon was discussing her final project to the Professor.

“ Thus for my final project, I propose an investigation into Lenore Shimamoto’s scientific work.” Honey Lemon explained.

Granville looked at her tablet and the students proposal and came to a decision.

“Your project is approved.” Granville decided. Gogo meanwhile was looking around for any sign of a certain genius that was absent from the room. She heard a tone on her phone and saw it was a message from Hiro, and she waved to Honey Lemon.

“Stall!” she whispered.

Honey Lemon understood and pulled Professor Granville back before she could walk away.

“I mean, she kept it all secret it’s really fascinating you have to admit.” Honey Lemon said stalling.

“Yes thats why I approved your project.” Granville said walking away only for Gogo to shake her arms telling Honey to stall her for longer.

“Why was it a secret?” Honey said putting her arm on Granvilles shoulder. “Thats the big question.”

Gogo looked around again and saw something at the side of the room and signalled for someone to come over.

“Which, I will attempt to answer.” Honey Lemon said just as Hiro, Kim and Ron now in casual attire, entered the room with Baymax, panting like mad.

“I hear you panting Mr.Hamada.” Granville said knowing Hiro was in the room and he was still holding the case he got from Krei’s warehouse. He needed to hide it quickly.

“Uh h, hey Professor Granville, is it my turn already heh heh.” Hiro said sheepishly handing the case to Baymax who turned round to hide it whilst Kim and Ron looked innocent too.

“It is Mr.Hamada.” Granville said rather strictly. “I hope you put as much thought into your proposal as your friends did.”

“Uh yeah no about that heh heh.” Hiro chuckled nervously. “You have nothing.” Granville said simply.

“Whoa she catches on fast.” Kim whispered to Gogo which she nodded.

“I have nothing.” Hiro admitted. “Sorry Professor Granville I’ve just been over scheduled.” He explained whilst Honey Lemon pulled Gogo behind Baymax.

“With?” Granville asked looking at her tablet.

“Uh..” Hiro was about to say something until. “Uh sorry it’s really our fault Professor.” Kim interrupted. “See Hiro was helping me and Ron on this school project of ours back home and I guess it took up a lot of time than we thought.” Kim explained.

“Yeah, yeah thought a super genius on the subject of, uh uh robotics would help a little heh heh.” Ron added to which Rufus nodded.

“Yeah yeah thats it!” Hiro said. “Can I maybe get an extension.” He then asked.

“I’m sorry Mr. Hamada the rules apply to everyone, even you.” Granville answered “Remember your final project counts as 60% of your first semester grade.”

“Oh that much?” Hiro winced. “If you hope to see this smiling face again next semester, I suggest you step up.” Granville then suggested rather sternly which even sent a chill down Kim and Rons spines.

“I will.” Hiro answered. “By the deadline!” Granville advised.

“Okay if that doesn’t scream Mr. Barkin I don’t know what does.” Ron whispered to Kim who just rolled her eyes.

“Right right I won’t be..” “LATE” Fred suddenly came in wearing his mascot suit with a unicycle in hand.

“Really sorry I’m late Professor Granville.” Fred apologised.

“Given that you aren’t a student, you don’t need to be here at all, nor do Miss Possible or Mr. Stoppable.” Granville pointed out. Hiro had just gotten up and Baymax turned his head round to see what was going on.

“Oh does that mean you don’t want to see my Mascot final project?” Fred said spinning the wheel on his unicycle.

“There is no mascot final project.” Granville exclaimed.

“I don’t know sounds like a cool idea to me, the Mad dog would rock at that!” Ron said only to be shot down by a stern look from the professor.

“But it involves sparklers.” Fred explains reaching into his suit head and pulling out some sparklers in his hands.

“Watch.” Fred ignights the sparklers by striking them on the wheel of his unicycle and then rode it round the room and everyone watched with some concern.

“Fred, that does not appear to be safe.” Baymax advised.

And he was right before Fred knew it he crashed into something in the lab and groaned in pain as he did. Granville left the room and Baymax went over to him all but leaving Hiro to figure out what to do for his final project.

Krei Tech:

Later Gogo, Kim, Hiro, Baymax, Ron and Fred decided to return the case that Globby tried to steal to Alister Krei to find out what was inside it. They moved the brief case to Krei himself who looked at the heroes in their suits/mission gear. Fredzilla was busy looking at a statue of Krei and poked it only for the head to crack off

“So I have Big Hero 6 and Kim Possible, to thank for the mess in my warehouse.” Alister said simply.

“Uh a simple thank you would be great.” Kim said.

“We stopped Globby from taking this.” Hiro said gesturing to the case.

“But why’d he want it?” Ron then asked. “Whats in the brief case Krei?” Gogo then asked.

“Ah nothing.” Krei said. “My scan indicates that there is not, nothing inside.” Baymax said scanning the cases contents.

“Well its nothing valuable see for yourselves.” Krei said unlocking the case’s biometric scanners. Pulling out what looked like a crushed up piece of metal.

“A few yeas ago, Krei tech and every other tech company was trying to create an energy amplifier.” Krei explained.

Hiro looked at the crushed tech as did Kim while Fredzilla handed to Gogo the Krei statue head. Which she tossed away when he and Ron looked at the piece of defective tech.

“Is it supposed to look like a burnt Noodle burger?” Fredzilla asked.

“Pretty sure no.” Hiro whispered.

“So if it worked what would this energy amplifier thingy do?” Ron asked.

“Bleeding edge technology that would exponentially multiply the output of any power source.” Krei explained. “But there were, complications.”

“Let me guess it didn’t work and burnt down some labs?” Kim asked.

Krei cringed at a flash back of one of his warehouses going up in flames after a failed test of the amplifier and being forced to call the fire department.

“What? everyone lived.” Krei said looking out the window.

“and we learned a very important lesson the energy amplifying business is not a sound investment.”

“So it was a massive failure.” Gogo said.

“It was not technically failure if the whole idea was impossible in the first place.” Krei then explained.

“Impossible.” Hiro breathed and began to wonder “you sure?”

“My people say it is.” Krei said “and as clever as you all are I hired the best and brightest in the business and they couldn’t crack it.”

Krei took the defective amplifier and just looked at it. “it was just one warehouse fire after another.”

“The warehouses always pay for our mistakes it’s not fair.” Fredzilla said sadly.

“Yeah it’s a cruel world for warehouses.” Ron added to which Rufus nodded in agreement.

“Then why did Globby try to steal it?” Gogo asked. “She’s right it doesn’t make any sense.” Kim agreed.

“Maybe he collects garbage because thats what this is.” Krei said taking it over to a bin in his office.

“Expensive garbage but still garbage.” Krei just threw it into the trash can.He then looked to his watch and noticed the time.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have meeting with R&D about something that is both possible and probable, fire proof warehouses.” He said then taking his leave.

“Hm I guess that could work.” Ron wondered. Hiro meanwhile went over to the trashcan and looked at the defective energy amplifier and he soon found an inspiring idea for his final project.

Later at the Hotel:

That night at the Hotel that Kim’s family was staying in Kim was in her room talking to Wade about what they had just learned today.

“Well Kim, Krei’s story checks out, no other tech company has been able to crack energy amplification and probably never will.” Wade relayed looking over what he found on his computer.

“Okay but that still doesn’t explain why Globby would go to the trouble of stealing it.” Kim wondered.

“Well maybe he was stealing a defect, so that whoever sent him could reverse engineer a better version that could in theory work.” Wade theorised. “But that person would have to be good at that kind of field.”

“Well Hiro did say Globby is working for this Obake guy, so maybe he has something to do with this.” Kim theorised. “By the way any luck on figuring out how he hacked our frequencies?” she then asked.

“Sorry Kim somehow when he hacked us he didn’t leave behind a trail for me to follow, but I’ll keep trying to find an exploit.” Wade replied much to Kims disappointment.

“Well please and thank you anyway.” Kim sighed as she turned off the Kimmunicator. None of this made any sense, even to her why would someone go to the trouble of stealing something that not only doesn’t work but may not even be possible to create. There was something missing from this equation but what, what could it be?

Elsewhere:

It was now nightfall and at the San Fransokyo Art museum Honey Lemon was with Wasabi, Ron and Rufus in the storage room. She decided the best way to begin her research project into Lenore Shimamoto was at the museum where her painting City Rising was on display. The group entered the store room and Wasabi was carrying Honey Lemons research material whilst Ron and Rufus were there helping her look at things.

“Thanks for helping me carry my stuff Wasabi.” Honey Lemon thanked. “And Ron thanks for coming to help me with this.”

“Ah no problem Honey Lemon, it’s what friends are for.” Ron thanked.

“I’m so excited about my final project!” Honey squeaked with excitement as she pulled back a crate for the dust to fall off it and nearly land on Wasabi who avoided it.

“Are you sure you want to spend a lot of time in here Honey Lemon?” Wasabi asked rather nervous about the amount of dust in the room.

“Yeah I mean you never know what could be crawling in an old store room.” Ron agreed and as he turned round and saw an old Japanese samurai mask which had a rather scary face. Ron yelled in fright and it moved to reveal Rufus who could only giggle in amusement.

“Ha ha very funny Rufus!” Ron said sarcastically.

Honey Lemon meanwhile pulled out an old diary that once belonged to Shimamoto, it was a dairy she had found once at an art school to then be recovered from a certain enemy of theirs.

“What do you mean?” Honey asked as she looked through the pages of the book.

“Its just so..” Wasabi shone a torch which was actually a purple UV torch and it revealed some stains all over the place.

“gah un clean un clean!” Wasabi panicked and Rufus could only hop onto the clean freaks shoulder and comfort him. “What is that even…”

Suddenly Rufus spotted something when Wasabi shone the torch over the book and immediately squeaked to get his attention.

“What what is it Rufus?” He asked and Rufus snatched the torch from him and hopped onto Honey Lemons shoulder much to her surprise and he shone the light onto the book revealing something rather strange.

“Wait was that?” “Did you just see that?” Wasabi and Honey Lemon gasped.

“What see what?” Ron asked as they gathered around the book.

Honey Lemon flipped the pages of the book under the UV light and it revealed what appeared to be advanced math equations covering the pages of the diary.

“Whoa that is some serious math test.” Ron said rather amazed.

“This ain’t no test Ron.” Wasabi observed. “This math is way ahead of Shimamoto’s time.”

“So you said she was a scientist maybe she was smarter than you guys let on.” Ron guessed.

They looked down the page and saw something written on the bottom of the page.

“Mums the word?” Honey Lemon read. “She was hiding something?” Ron wondered.

“Shimamoto had a secret.” Wasabi said as Honey Lemon took photos on her cat phone.

“Theres more here than just equations.” She said “Its gotta be a clue.” She closed the book.

“Yeah and I’m betting thats what leads us to what she was hiding.” Ron guessed

“Yes maybe.” Honey said. “Good work Rufus, you have a keen eye.” She then said petting him.

“Aw shucks” Rufus blushed.

“Now we have to go back!” Honey Lemon declared. “To a cleaner environment?” Wasabi hoped.

“To a Taco stand?” Ron asked.

“No to Shimamoto’s lab!” Honey said running out of the room.

“Lab wait what lab?” Ron asked running after her. “I’ll explain on the way.” She answered.

“It was worth a shot.” Wasabi said turning off the torch to which Rufus shrugged.

Next day at SFIT:

Hiro was working on his computer in his lab and he had with him the burnt out energy amplifier that Krei had showed him earlier. He was looking over the math and the possibility of how it could work, and Baymax just watched from behind.

“Hm this might be doable.” He said as he looked at his notes.

“Am I to believe this is your final project Mr. Hamada?” Hiro jumped and saw Professor Granville standing next to him looking at the scrap junk on his desk.

“Uh yes.” Hiro said “I mean yes, it is.”

“What is it?” Granville asked. “Expensive garbage.” Baymax explained with a knowing finger.

“Uh no Baymax.” Hiro said, “I’m making an energy amplifier.”

“An energy amplifier, this is not what I expected from you.” Granville said rather surprised.

“I know, me neither.” Hiro said amazed. “But I think if I can minimise energy losses through…”

“Impossible.” Granville answered. “Well it won’t be easy but…” “I mean that I reject this proposal! because it is impossible” Granville then interrupted Hiro in a rather loud tone.

“What? no but, I, I think I’m really onto something here.” Hiro tried. “Look at my..”

“Arrogance showing!” Granville snapped.

Meanwhile Kim had just arrived on the campus and was heading for Hiro’s lab she wanted to see him about something regarding this Obake person. Before she arrived at the lab she could overhear a very loud voice and it was Professor Granville’s she stopped outside the door and listened to what was going on.

“This is too advanced an undertaking Mr. Hamada, even for you.” Granville continued.

“But Professor Granville, this could revolutionise energy efficiency, and change..” “It is also incredibly dangerous!” Granville interrupted Hiro and Kim couldn’t help but overhear the tone in her voice.

“Try to think responsibly for once!” Granville then insisted.

“I am! But your not listening!” Hiro argued. “Because you don’t think I can do it.”

“It is not always a question of CAN! Mr. Hamada” The professor exclaimed slamming her hand on the desk surprising Hiro even Kim was a little surprised. Granville took a breath before continuing.

“Sometimes it’s whether you should.” She then said with a hint of upset in her voice.

“But I can so I should.” Hiro finally decided Granville just took a breath before speaking again.

“My decision is final, come up with another proposal and soon.” She said then walking away not even noticing that Kim was at the door, she then entered the lab.

“Hey.” Kim greeted Hiro. “Oh hey Kim, how much of that did you hear?” He then asked.

“I heard enough.” Kim said rubbing her arm. “Do I even want to know what that was about?

She then took notice of a certain piece of expensive garbage on Hiro’s lab desk.

“Wait is that the scrapped amplifier that Krei showed us?” Kim asked.

“Yeah, seeing that gave me an idea for my project, to see if I could crack the energy amplifier.” Hiro explained. “So I ran some numbers and it should be doable but Granville doesn’t want me to go through with it.”

“Well, she does have a point Hiro, I mean you heard what Krei said, about the fires he had there are risks to consider.” Kim explained.

“Yeah but I know I can do it.” Hiro said. “I mean if I can create armour and tech to protect the city I can build an energy amplifier that could revolutionise the energy race.”

“Hiro I never said you couldn’t.” Kim said. “Its just the way Granville said it, the tone in her voice showed she was concerned.”

“Hiro, you still have time to devise and alternate proposal may I help?” Baymax then suggested.

“Its okay Baymax I already have a back up plan.” Hiro said as he was arranging his papers.

“That is excellent news.” Baymax agreed. “Hold on what is this back up plan?” Kim then asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh I’m going to prove professor Granville wrong.” Hiro said simply.

“Wait what?” Kim said in shock. “I do not understand.” Baymax said.

“I’m going to work on the amplifier.” Hiro said. “Only in secret.”

“Even if Granville said no?” Kim said rather concerned.

“Her decision was final, would you like me to play it back?” Baymax said replaying the professors last recorded words.

“My decision is final.” the recording said.

“Oh yeah I heard.” Hiro said moving his papers around. “But if I pull this off, and I defiantly will. Then Granville will be just too impressed to be mad.”

“Hiro look I know you can do it.” Kim said. “But are you doing this to get your final grade? or just to prove a point?”

“Look Kim I get your concerned and all that but I’m only doing this to get a good grade.” Hiro replied “I’m gonna make her eat her words.”

“That is not physically possible.” Baymax said.

“Well I’m going to do a lot of impossible things.” Hiro said with a confident face as he left the lab leaving Kim with a look of concern on her face.

“I have some concerns.” Baymax said.

“Your not the only one.” Kim agreed then she remembered. “Baymax, any chance you could play back what Granville said please?”

“Of course.” Baymax said and played back the recording of Granville’s conversation with Hiro and she took note of the tone in her voice as she listened.

“Hmm Baymax what can you tell me about the tone in her voice.” she then asked.

“Her tone indicates concern and rather saddened emotional states.” Baymax diagnosed from the recording.

“Yeah but the way she said it, it’s almost like it was personal.” Kim wondered and knew she needed some answers.

Soon she was on her way to the Deans office and upon arriving she knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Granville said and Kim entered to see Granville on her computer looking over things.

“Professor Granville.” Kim announced.

“Ah Miss Possible, to what do I owe this visit?” Granville said.

“Well I was just heading in to talk to Hiro after everything that happened recently and well, I couldn’t help but overhear the argument about his final project.” Kim explained.

“Ah I see.” Granville said with her full attention. “If you don’t mind my asking Professor but I couldn’t help but notice the tone in your voice when you rejected his proposal, it seemed like you were generally concerned.” Kim explained,

“Very observant, yes I was concerned about what Mr.Hamada was proposing, energy amplification whilst an interesting field just isn’t possible to create, let alone the risks that come with it.” Granville explained. “Yet he insists on pursuing it regardless which is much like him dangerous shortcuts and even the lack of consideration for the risks he takes.”

“Okay no arguments there, but Hiro does know the risks and can sometimes surprise people, and if he makes mistakes he has to make them on his terms.” Kim explained to which the Professor understood “

but from the way you said it, it sounded deeply personal.” Kim then said. “Professor, did any of your students attempt Energy amplification before?”

Granville took a moment to think about what was just said to her. “No Miss Possible, but I will say this if something can be done that doesn’t mean it should, you can never know what the consequences could be.”

“Now if you’ll excuse me I have projects to approve.” she then said Kim just nodded and took her leave of the office. Once on the other side of the door Kim was still unsure of what was said to her, she could tell instantly that Granville was lying. She pulled out her Kimmunicator and called Wade.

“Wade.” Kim said on the kimmunicator. “Oh hey Kim whats up?” he asked.

“Listen I need you to do some background checks on someone.” Kim asked. “Okay who would that be?” Wade then asked.

“Professor Grace Granville.” Kim answered. “And whilst your at it look through SFITS student database and find out about the students she’s taught past and present.”

“Okay anything specific?” He asked. “Find out if anyone has looked at energy amplification for a project.” Kim answered.

“Sure I’ll look into it and see what I can find I’m guessing its about the prototype Globby tried to steal?” Wade asked.

“You know me so well, let me know what you find.” Kim said putting the Kimmunicator away. She was about to leave the campus when.

“Kim! Kim!” Called a voice and she turned to see Fred running towards her with Mini Max.

“Oh hey Fred, Mini Max.” Kim greeted. “So whats up?”

“Well I have the perfect plan to catch Obake!” Fred said rather excited.

“Okay I’m listening.” Kim said rolling her eyes smiling.

“Glad you asked he said pulling out some of his superhero action figures which had the teen hero all but confused.

“Globby has been trying to steal Krei’s energy amplifier, and Globby’s been working for Obake.” Fred explained acting out the villains with his figures.

“Okay but one problem with that, there’s no energy amplifier for him to steal.” Kim pointed out.

“Or is there…”Fred then said rather dramatically. “I get the feeling you want me to say where are you going with this?” Kim then asked.

“Well we set a trap for Globby, making him think we have an energy amplifier, we can catch Globby and make him lead us to Obake.” Fred finished. “Gogo’s already on board with it.”

“Thats…. actually a good idea.” Kim said rather impressed. “Nice huh the figures sold it right!” Fred said.

“Uh no, but it’s still a good plan.” Kim then said. “I’ll have Wade spread the rumour that Krei tech has actually made an energy amplifier and then that’ll lead Globby right to us.” she then took her leave.

“YES! PLAN FRED IS A GO!” Fred said rather excited even doing a victory dance.

Hiros Garage

Meanwhile Hiro was hard at work on his secret final project, he had a 3D render of the energy amplifier design on his computer and after a few clicks on his keyboard he rolled his chair over to the other computer on the far side of the garage then over to get a book from his work bench, read a few pages then roll back over to his main computer. Baymax had just entered with a sandwich in his hand.

“Hiro” Baymax said. “You have been working for seven point three hours, research indicates that fatigue can lead to cognitive impairment.”

Whilst Baymax was explaining Hiro was still working on his project not taking his eyes of the multiple screens.

“I have brought you a sandwich.” Baymax said offering Hiro lunch.

Hiro then snapped out of work mode and took the sandwich from Baymax.

“Thanks Baymax your the best.” Hiro thanked punching his stomach.

“What is the status of your unsanctioned research?” Baymax then asked.

“I’m defiantly onto something.” Hiro said whilst eating his sandwich and taking notes in his note book.

Just then a buzzing noise emerged from his screen and it was Fred on a video call.

“Hiro!” Fred said. “Whats up Fred?” Hiro said still working. “Kinda busy.”

“Oh no… big deal.” Fred said “I just have a plan to capture Globby!”

“Ah ha thats great.” Hiro said still working on his computer.

“Isn’t it, we just need to convince Krei to pretend that he completed the amplifying thingamajig and lure Globby out then we catch Globby in the act and take out Obake!” Fred said and as he described his plan his call was being moved from screen to screen by Hiro who at the same time was working on his final project.

“Sounds good Fred ah, Baymax and I are in.” Hiro said not paying attention.

Fred was more than pleased and was about to bring out his action figures. “I actually got the idea from my f…” Just then Hiro canceled the call on Baymax’s screen and got back to work.

“Hiro, I have finished my risk assessment of your unsanctioned final project.” Baymax explained running the numbers before showing a graph on his chest screen.

“There is an eighty percent chance of failure.” Baymax explained.

“Oh thats not so bad.” Hiro brushed as he worked. “within that eighty percent there is a ninety six percent chance of disastrous failure.” Baymax continued to explain showing another graph. “I have concerns, I will list them now.”

“One, fiery explosion.” Baymax noted showing a house exploding on his screen of course Hiro was focused on work.

“Uh yeah thanks for the analysis Baymax, but I’ll be fine really.” Hiro brushed off and rolled his chair over to the other work bench.

“Two electrocution” Baymax continued to list.

Meanwhile:

SFAI (San Fransokyo Art Institute) a school for artists to thrive their creativity and is also the rival school of SFIT in its courtyard stood a statue of its founder Lenore Shimamoto on its left stood what used to be her house restored to mint condition however below it lay a secret that was discovered by Big Hero 6 some time ago.

Honey Lemon, Wasabi, Ron and Rufus entered what appeared to be a secret lab hidden underneath the house itself. They walked down the stairs whilst Wasabi was avoiding all the cobwebs.

“This is even worse than the museum.” Wasabi moaned.

“Okay who just hides a lab under their own house?” Ron asked.

“Someone who wanted to hide something Ron.” Honey explained. “See she was secretly a scientist and didn’t want anyone to find out about her work, thats why we’re here.”

“She hid her journal in a secret compartment.” Honey then explained. “Maybe there’s another one.”

“Don’t worry I got this.” Ron said as he went over to the nearby book case. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned from movies and missions with Kim is that compartments are always hidden behind book cases.”

So Ron began pulling out a book hoping it would trigger something, but sadly to no avail on the first try, so he tried another and another and another, but every time there was no unlocking sound.

Wasabi then noticed a small plane hanging off the ceiling and blew on it and the plane flew away into another book case that was about to fall over, but Wasabi quickly caught it.

“I’m just not gonna move from this spot anymore.” Wasabi said holding the case and Ron was still pulling out books. “Ew by which I mean this spot.” Wasabi said accidentally knocking down a plant pot which Honey Lemon quickly dived and caught in her hands.

“That was close.” She breathed in relief.

“Okay so maybe it isn’t the book case” Ron said eventually conceding defeat.

As she got up she noticed the flowers in the pot, they were a certain type of flower.

“Huh, Shimamoto liked chrysanthemum’s” Honey observed. Rufus hopped onto the table and took a sniff of them and just gagged considering how old they were, then something sparked in Honey Lemon something she remembered from the journal.

“Thats it!” She gasped. “Whats it?” Wasabi and Ron asked.

“People used to call Chrysanthemums mums, Mums the word!” Honey explained then she looked at what they were housed in. “The vase thats what the clue leads to.”

“Maybe there’s something inside.” Ron guessed picked it up and looked into it only to be hit in the face with dust which Wasabi caught as well.

“ACK!” They both coughed. “Hundred year old Pollen! AH I’M OUT!”” Wasabi exclaimed as he rubbed it off his shirt.

“ACH that is sick and wrong!” Ron gagged “First plants try to kill me now they suffocate me!”

Rufus shook the pollen off him. “Plants ptooo!” He gagged in disgust. Wasabi then passed the vase to Honey Lemon who examined it.

“Or maybe there’s something outside.” Honey observed as she rubbed the vase to see what it was made of.

“Its a wax cylinder!” She gasped. “Like an old timey record.” Wasabi guessed.

“The kind you can play in gramophones?” Ron asked.

“How’d you know that?” Wasabi asked.

“Please my dad keeps one in the attic back home said it belonged to his great grandad.” Ron explained. Honey was still looking at the cylinder.

“Hm, Lenore Shimamoto wanted us to hear whatever she recorded on this.” Honey theorised.

“Great so how do we play it?” Wasabi asked.

“Yeah unless one of you has an old gramophone we can play it on?” Ron asked.

“I have an idea, but your not going to like it.” Honey Lemon said and Wasabi Ron and Rufus looked at each other with the same look of concern not liking what could happen next.

Several hours later:

“Your right I don’t like it.” Wasabi said as he “Ditto.” Ron agreed

as they and Honey Lemon were suited up in their armour and mission gear. They entered what used to be Baron Von Steamers lair or whatever was left of it after Drakken’s self destruct getaway.

“Told you.” Honey said. “Are we going to go to every gross place in this town today?” Wasabi asked climbing through the door.

“What makes you think we’ll find anything here Drakken practically trashed the place when he moved in.” Ron wondered to which Rufus nodded in agreement.

Honey Lemon made three chemballs from her purse and threw them to the ground making three glob cushions to land on as they bounced from one to another deflating as they landed. The smallest one popped in Wasabi’s hand and he threw it away.

Just then a stray rat went into his path causing Wasabi to yelp in fright only for Ron and Honey Lemon to stop him.

“Shush, or we’ll trigger the…” Suddenly Honey Lemon was interrupted by the sound of an alert sounding all over the room.

“Trap.” Ron grimaced.

Just then steam emerged from behind them and they turned to see something rising from the ground it seemed to be some kind of seven wheeled machine with extra limbs of a hammer a steam gun and a flame thrower, it was powered by coal and steam and bolted together. The three heroes looked in fright at what they saw knowing it was one of Baron Von Steamers old traps.

“Uh, that wasn’t here the first time!” Ron squeaked.

The Hotel:

Meanwhile at the hotel the Possible twins were busy watching T.V with the rest of the Possibles minus Kim. Just then the door opened and Kim came in.

“Hey guys.” Kim greeted. “Hey Kimmy cub how’s Hiro doing on his project.” James asked.

Kim just sat down on the couch and breathed a sigh this told her parents something was wrong.

“Whats wrong sweetie?” Ann asked.

“Well its just, Hiro wants to pursue this energy amplifier project but Granville doesn’t want him to but he’s going to follow it anyway.” Kim explained.

“Well if it’s a problem why don’t you tell Hiro to pursue something else.” James asked.

“Granville tried but Hiro’s dead set on proving her wrong like he has something to prove, when he’s proved it saving the city.” Kim explained.

“Honey I don’t quite understand the situation but, maybe this is something he needs to do for himself and make his own mistakes to learn from.” Ann explained. “You should know that more than anyone, remember Rons hair cut not to mention the whole Mad dog situation.”

“Yes I remember.” Kim said with a smile and a slight chuckle. “But it’s not just that, I feel like the Professor is hiding something the way she talked about the project was like she had been through it before.”

“Well lots of people have things they’re not proud of Kimmy some even still haunt them, but from my experience it’s a reminder not to make the same mistake, like I did on more than a few rockets.” James explained as he read the news paper.

Just then Kims Kimmunicator sounded off and she excused herself from the room and answered the call.

“Go Wade.” Kim said. “Kim I did those background checks on Granville like you asked and I found something strange.” Wade relayed.

“Strange how?” Kim asked.

“Well it turns out she was a teacher at SFIT before Hiro even enrolled.” Wade brought up the professors background history and even her old look when she was first employed at SFIT.

“Hiro did mention something about Granville being a teacher before he enrolled, but what made her quit?” Kim wondered.

“Well I did some digging into the city archive and found that there was an accident at the campus involving one of the professors experiments.” Wade explained bringing up the file.

“Was anyone hurt?” Kim asked. “Well one person was but they couldn’t identify him.” Wade said.

“Okay anything on that other thing I asked you for?” Kim said changing the subject.

“Yeah after digging trough the SFIT student database it seems only one name comes up for approaching an energy amplifier project.” Wade explained.

“Does this student have a name?” Kim asked. “Yeah someone by the name of Bob Aken, but the wired thing is when I tried accessing the file the system locked me out the file was sealed.” Wade explained.

“It would need special authority for that?” Kim wondered.

“your right and I know who, it was authorised by a Grace Granville.” Wade explained.

Kim was more than surprised than before not only was the professor hiding something but it would seem she was trying to cover up her failures and who was this Bob Aken? Just as she was pondering another call came in on the Kimmunicator.

“Hey Kim!” Fred called. “Oh hey Fred whats the sitch?” Kim asked.

“Good news Krei’s agreed to go along with the plan to catch Globby took some convincing but thanks to Mini max we were able to do it.” Fred replied.

“Your gratitude is much appreciated.” Mini max said.

“How’d you convince him?” Wade asked. “Oh Mini Max reminded him that Globby stole his wallet when we first met him.” Fred said.

Kim was glad that at least one good thing has turned up from tonight the trap was set now it was tomorrow was the time to net their Globby fly.

Back at Baron Von Steamers Old lair

Honey Lemon, Wasabi, Ron and Rufus were fighting for their lives against the security system that Baron Von Steamer put in place to protect his lair from intruders.

The steam bot chases after them and their running to avoid it.

“SERIOUSLY WHO HAS A DEATH BOT POWERED BY STEAM!” Ron exclaimed.

“Yeah thats Steamer for you!” Wasabi exclaimed.

Suddenly they find themselves cornered and the bot blast fire at them.

“Run!” Honey Lemon exclaimed as they split up to avoid the fire blast, Ron and Wasabi ran to the right whilst Honey Lemon and Rufus fled to the left.

“We’ll keep it busy!” Wasabi yelled to Honey Lemon.

“I’ll cut off the power!” Honey lemon replied.

Wasabi used his left plasma blade to cut through one of the spikes in the lair and then tosses it at the bot getting its attention. Only for it to crush the spike with its hammer.

Wasabi leapt into the air and grabs onto the bots head as it tries to use its hammer to crush him. Wasabi tries to avoid it.

“Hey steam head over here!” Ron called as the bot now turned its attention onto him. Ron started running away from the bot still keeping its attention.

“Okay keeping it busy!” Ron yelled as he ran for his life.

Honey Lemon uses this opportunity to fire a red chemball at the bot only for it to use its fire cannon to melt it down whilst still trying to crush Ron and Wasabi.

Wasabi makes the mistake of latching onto the robots hammer arm and it shakes him up and down in a fast motion until he’s catapulted across the room and lands on Ron and they end up rolling through a trash pile in a ball.

They accidentally knock down a piece of scrap metal which knocks into another like a line of dominos and then a small hook pulled back a curtain revealing what looked like an old style gramophone.

“Hey.” Wasabi said amazed. “Wow thats lucky.” Ron agreed.

However their joy was short lived when the trash pile continues to fall and land on a wooden beam which accidentally flips a switch. All of a sudden Wasabi and Ron began to feel the floor open up and a bright orange light emerged from the floor.

“Oh come on!” Wasabi and Ron exclaimed. Ron fell through the hole and Wasabi was quick to catch him by the legs as Wasabi held onto the doors with his own legs.

“Hang on!” Wasabi yelled. “Thats easy for you to say your not over a furnace!” Ron yells back “HONEY HE…LLLP!”

Not only did they have to worry about falling into a furnace but the steam bot was closing in on them and the doors Wasabi had his legs on were splitting further and further apart.

However before it could strike a chem ball fell to the ground and turned into spikes of ice that penetrated the furnace in the robot rendering it useless.

“Wasabi ,Ron!” Honey Lemon called and hurried to the pit.

Ron was slipping but before Wasabi lost his grip Honey dropped a chem ball into the pit which exploded and turned into purple coloured goop which emerged as a peak then turned into a slide which Ron and Wasabi slid down.

“Whew.” Rufus said relieved. “You guys okay? Honey asked.

“Sure as long as you define okay as, in massive agony!” Ron whined.

They turned their attention to the gramophone and Honey Lemon began turning the handle to make it play.

“Well let's see if this old thing works.” Honey said and moved the speaker into the cylinder and the gramophone began playing a log.

“Barons Log. On this day I Baron Von Steamer proclaim that my latest scheme to defeat Boss Awesome cannot fail!” The recording played.

A flashback shows the proclaimed Baron setting a plate of cookies under a cage with a sign saying free cookies. The Baron then hid behind a wall waiting for his opponent.

“Victory will be mine!” The barons voice said.

“Wow Fred was right this guy is old school, not to mention obsessed.” Ron said

“Yeah you gotta admire his confidence.” Wasabi agreed.

Just then the gramophone started playing another log.

“Barons log, addendum.” The Baron sounded rather depressed, and with good reason.

“Victory, was not, mine.” He said as he started crying. In the flashback he was sat in the cage crying his eyes out in defeat.

“Okay clearly a private moment.” Honey said tilting the speaker so they couldn’t hear anymore.

“Good news the player works.” Wasabi pointed out.

“We’ll just borrow it.” Honey said then pulls out a note with a heart on it. “I’ll leave a note.” Honey said smiling.

“Well great let’s go before anything else happens.” Ron decided as Rufus landed on his shoulder.

“Yeah dude but first.” Wasabi points down and Ron see’s his pants are down, again.

“AW COME ON SERIOUSLY!” Said a rather annoyed Ron.

“You ever consider getting a belt for that?” Honey asked.

The Following Day

Baymax emerges from his charging station after a full nights recharge in Hiro’s room. He steps out and turns his attention to Hiro’s bed.

“Hiro.” Baymax said as he walked over, he shuffled over to the right side of Hiro’s bed and it seemed he was still sleeping.

“Hiro.” Baymax said again but got no reply he then pulls back the bedsheets only to find it wasn’t Hiro in the bed but rather Mochi lying on a cushion who meowed in response.

Baymax headed out to the garage and looks round the wall to see Hiro still working on his project. He was starting to build his amplifier and had it secured in a vice it was purple and black in appearance, he was making adjustments with his tools.

“Hiro, it is time to go.” Baymax then said walking into the Garage whilst Hiro worked.

“Baymax? is it morning already.” Hiro said still working.

“Yes the press conference will begin, in 20 minutes.” Baymax reminded.

“I can’t stop now I’m in the zone.” Hiro said still working on the amplifier.

Baymax just blinked. “Fred, Gogo and Kim require back up.” He said.

“I know but I’m so close to finishing.” Hiro said. “Look I had a breakthrough I just need a little time to..” Then a thought hit him.

“Baymax, could you do me a huge favour and head to Krei tech first.” He asked.

Baymax was rather surprised by his friends request. “Without you?” He asked blinking.

“Yeah without me I’m just so close on this.” Hiro answered. “Don’t worry I’ll catch up.”

He then turned back to his work and Baymax started to leave the garage to get ready.

“I will go.” he said leaving the garage, but not before he turned back to see his friend.

“Without you.” He then took his leave and if though it couldn’t be seen but it looked like Baymax was experiencing sadness.

“Goodbye” he then said leaving.

Krei Tech

Meanwhile at Krei Tech the press conference was already underway the news reporters were gathered to hear Krei’s big announcement. High above Gogo, Fredzilla and Kim now armoured up were on the look out for any sign of trouble.

“Hiros late.” Gogo said rather impatiently.

“Or maybe we’re early.” Fred wondered. “We’re not early.” Gogo then said.

“Guys chill I’m sure Hiro’s on his way.” Kim assured then right on cue Baymax flew in wearing his armour. “Ah speak of the devil.” She said.

However when Baymax landed Hiro was nowhere to be seen much to the surprise of everyone.

“Wait where’s Hiro?” Gogo asked. “Hiro said that he would catch up.” Baymax said with a thumbs up.

“That was not part of the plan.” Gogo said. “Relax Gogo, even if Hiro doesn’t make it the three of us Kim and Mini Max are more than enough to handle Globby.” Fred assured.

“He’s got a point Gogo, besides Hiro probably has his project to think about, I’m sure he’ll show up later.” Kim agreed.

Just the Krei tapped the microphone to get the press’s attention as the four heroes watched from above.

“Once again, Krei tech industries has done the impossible!” Krei announced then pressed a button on a remote he was holding.

“I present to you an energy amplifying… thing” The platform revealed a Krei tech briefcase and confetti started flying out of the bottom of the platform.

“Uh which we like to call.” Krei took a moment to think of a name for this creation. “Pat-rick. Yes Patrick.” He decided.

“Are you going to open it or what?” Bluff Dunder asked. “We’re rolling.” He gestured to the camera.

“Ye, yes I’m going to do that.” Krei said moving slowly towards the brief case. “Now, right now, right…” Before Krei could open the case.

“NOW!” A pink globe hand pushed Krei away and Globby appeared on stage.

“I think I’ll be taking this! yoink!” Globby said picking up the case.

“Lets go!” Gogo said and the Heroes jumped down to the ground to face the glob villain. Globby sees some of Big Hero 6 and Kim Possible arrive on the scene.

Gogo races towards Globby only to be cut off by a red laser blast. Gogo turned to the origin of the blast and it uncloaked to reveal floating turnip faces and behind them was a flying jet with five mechanical arms attached to it and piloting it was a burger head with eyes it was Noodle Burger boy.

“Howdy and hello burger buddies.” Noodle said spinning in his armed jet pack.

“We’re here to toast your buns!”

“Oh no.” Gogo said “Uh who’s that?” Kim asked. “That is Noodle Burger Boy.” Fredzilla answered.

“Buns I get it.” Baymax said.

“As if this couldn’t get any weirder.” Kim wondered but then right on cue a blast of green energy knocked her in the back, she fell to the ground then got up to see a certain green suited villainess among this weird group of villains.

��Surprise Kimmy.” Shego smirked.

“And it just did.” Gogo said with a deadpanned look.

Gogo engaged the flying targets trying to hit them with her mag lev disks but missed Fredzilla performed a super jump and fired from his mouth a blast of fire which Globby jumped to avoid as Fredzilla landed on the ground.

“Next!” Fredzilla said. “MINI MAX NOW!”

Just then Mini Max emerged from the display platform wearing his armour and flew towards Globby.

“MINI MAXIMIM ROCKET PUNCH!” The tiny bot exclaimed as he flew at the glob villain at top speed.

Globby screamed in terror. “Just kidding.” Globby then made a hole in his body and Mini Max flew through it and crashed into the opposite wall and was caught in some wireing.

“Well played gelatinous foe!” Mini Max said. “I’ll get him!” Fredizlla jumped up and fired a blast of fire at Globby only for him to miss it separate then reform on the ground with the case inside him.

“This is not how I saw my plan going within my head?” Fredzilla said as he saw the turnips firing lasers from their eyes.

“You don’t say!” Krei said rather annoyed. “Let me show you how I see it going.” Globby proceeded to grab Krei and fling him at Fredzilla who rolled onto the ground.

Globby started laughing evilly as he began to morph into something and he revealed himself as a giant T-Rex who let out an ear splitting roar!

“He can turn into a dinosaur!” Krei exclaimed in surprise.

“Honestly I’m surprised he hasn’t done it before.” Fredzilla said rather amazed. “But look at those tiny useless arms!” he then gloated as T-rex Globby wiggled his tiny arms.

“You think!” Globby then extended out his arm and flung Fredzilla into a wall.

Meanwhile Kim was fighting Shego who used her energy gauntlets to create blades to fight with and Kim blocked them with her armours energy shield.

“So this is where you disappeared too after Drakken lost!” Kim said with effort.

“Yeah like I was going to jail just because Dr D’s amateur plan didn’t work!” Shego said as she swung her right blade at Kim who quickly avoided it. Shego fired energy blasts at the teen hero who backflipped multiple times to avoid them and landed safely.

“Besides it’s better to be on the winning team, this guy Obake actually appreciates my potential.” Shego then said

“But seriously your working with a glob man and a robot fast food mascot.” Kim said in a confused tone.

“Hey look I’m not liking this new weird crowd either but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.” Shego admitted before firing another energy blast at Kim who blocked it with her gauntlet shield.

Gogo rode her mag lev disk skates around the wall trying to fight the laser firing turnips firing her disks at them one by one and even used her feet skates to knock them down, a group approached her but she jumped out of the way to avoid them.

“Theres too many of them!” Gogo exclaimed and saw a laser coming in from Noodle Burger boy.

“Breaking news from Krei Tech industries!” Bluff said on the news but a laser blast hit the edge of the building and the rubble nearly crushed them but luckily Baymax was on hand to smash the rubble with his fist before it hit them.

Suddenly robot tentacles grabbed Baymax by the arms and lifted him up into the air.

“Oh no!” Baymax said as Noodle flew him into the air then flung him into a wall with a massive crash.

“He he he he he!” Noodle laughed with glowing red eyes.

Kim was still defending herself from Shegos blasts as she saw Baymax knocked out and Gogo was barely standing her ground agains the flying laser firing turnips.

“Gogo!” She cried “Call the others!” and Gogo responded with a nod.

Gogo and Honey Lemons apartment

Meanwhile at Gogos apartment Honey Lemon, Wasabi, Ron and Rufus were all gathered around the kitchen table with the wax cylinder and gramophone they got from Steamers lair. Wasabi was holding his phone to record this for Honey’s project.

“This is it guys.” Honey said rather excited. “This could be the secret behind Shimamoto’s greatest discovery.”

“Well come on play it already, I want to know if it was worth nearly getting melted for!” Ron said and Rufus nodded in agreement.

“Are you ready.” Honey asked and just before Wasabi could press record the phone rang showing the caller ID to be Gogo.

“Gogo, we’re kinda busy.” Wasabi answered but then heard the sound of laser fire and they looked at the phone to see Gogo in the middle of a fight.

“Are you kidding me!” Gogo said annoyed. “Noodle Burger Boy, Globby and Shego are attacking Krei tech!” She said trying to hold up her phone. “We need back up! Hurry!”

“On our way Gogo!” Ron said.

Hiro’s Garage:

Back at the Garage Hiro was applying the finishing touches to his energy amplifier he releases it from the vice and then takes it over to his computer.

“Okay just got to test it out.” Hiro said but neglected to hear his vibrating phone.

Hiro proceeded to hook it up to an amp which was connected to his computer ready for testing.

The computer screen started showing the readouts of the device, and Hiro with a deep breath turned on his amplifier and it started surging with purple energy and the readouts showed it was amplifying the computers power tenfold. Hiro was screaming with excitement that it was working.

“I.. it’s working!” Hiro said rather excited. However the charge began to work too well it caused an electrical short on his computer screen and nearly caused his hard drive to explode. Bolts of electrical energy were surging around the room and Hiro was quick to un plug the amplifier.

“Its working!” Hiro said amazed. “Baymax did you…” However he noticed Baymax wasn’t in the garage, then saw his phone was sounding off. He went over to look and saw he had multiple missed calls from Honey, Wasabi, Kim,Fred, Ron and Gogo. Then he remembered he had something important to do.

“Oh no!” Hiro said in horror. “No!” A text from Gogo then opened to say “WHERE ARE YOU!” And another one from

Kim saying “HIRO GET OUT TO KREI TECH NOW!”

“no no no!” Hiro paniked as he activated his Skymax pod.

Back at Krei tech:

An arial dog fight was taking place between Baymax and Noodle Burger Boy. Noodle flew in front of Baymax who quickly flew away to avoid him but Noodle flew after him flying high into the sky and fired a laser blast which clipped the red robots shoulder causing him to fly out of control, but managed to recover.

“Baymax you have to fight back!” Gogo ordered on the coms.

“Say rocket fist!” Fredzilla jumped only for Globby to grab him. Noodles tentacle arm hit Baymax in the chest flinging him into a wall and he managed to recover as Noodle hovered in place.

“Baymax Rocket Fist!” Kim exclaimed.

Baymax readied his rocket fist but when he was scanning for a target Noodle was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly he was restrained by Noodles robot tentacles.

“Oh no.” Baymax said. Noodle climbed out of his jet pack and onto Baymax’s chest whilst holding his head.

“Golly mr, I’ve got a special order for you.” Noodle then started messing with something on Baymax causing him to go haywire.

“Reboot data packet invalid.” Baymax said as he was crashing down. “Reboot internal authentication error, reboot reboot protocol malfunction reboot reboot.”

Baymax flew out of control and Gogo saw he was going to crash.

“Baymax!” She exclaimed as Baymax crashed onto the ground damaging his wing in the process.

“No!” Kim exclaimed and saw the cause of it flying around. So she threw her energy shield like a frisbee and it clipped Noodles jet pack sending it flying out of control and the shield returned to Kim a move that would make even Captain America proud.

However she was then blasted in the back by Shego and flung into Gogo they got up to see they were surrounded by the flying turnips. Before they could react one was smashed by a purse, it was Honey Lemon armoured up and fired several Chem- balls at the drones freezing them and they fell to the ground.

“Thanks.” Gogo said as Honey helped her and Kim up.

“Nice timing.” Kim thanked as she jumped back into the fight against Shego.

Fredzilla then jumped up and tried a swing kick on T-rex Globby only for him to get stuck and absorbed into his nose.

The glob dino then just sneezed the costumed hero out of his nose and onto the ground.

“Give me my wallet back Globby!” Krei cried as he was hiding nearby. “It was a gift from my accountant!”

“Well I, I lost it.” Globby explained. “You are a monster!” Krei said rather annoyed.

“Guys this stuff is oozing into places!” Fred cried from inside his suit which was leaking Globby’s goop inside.

“Hang on Fred I’m coming!” Wasabi cried as he sliced apart the drones with his blades to reveal them as Buddy guard robots.

Wasabi tried to get get Fredzilla free only to get stuck in the goop too. “Uh oh!” Wasabi panicked. “I’m stuck, like really stuck!”

“Yeah man thats really in there!” Fredzilla said and Globby was about to step on them until Mini Max flew in to the rescue.

“Fear not friends brave!” Mini Max said as he flew into Globby’s T-Rex leg which suddenly morphed into a hammer.

“Take this you pint-sized pest!” Globby said as he smashed the hammer down causing an explosion. The smoke cleared to reveal globby wings. Globby had now turned into a pterosaur which flew into the sky holding Wasabi, Fredzilla and Krei in its claws.

Kim was still dealing blows with Shego’s energy blasts blocking them with her shield until the green villainess had turned her blasts into a set of plasma claws and sliced at Kims gauntlet destroying the shield leaving Kim venerable to another energy blast which knocked her to the ground.

She looked up to see Shego about to deliver the final blow but before she could.

“The cavalry’s arrived!” A voice called and Ron flew in with his jetpack knocking Shego down with his fist. He then helped Kim up from the ground.

“Thanks Ron.” Kim thanked. “Hey assist its what the sidekicks for.” Ron said.

Shego got up and was about to blast the two until something kicked her across the face it was an armoured Rufus with his jetpack. This angered the green villainess as she tried swatting the naked molerat.

Pterosaur Globby still held his prisoners in his claws until he flung them away only to crash into Gogo and Honey Lemon. Who soon found themselves surrounded by the three villains Kim and Ron soon joined them as they went into a defensive pose.

“Looks like it’s the end of the line for Big Loser 6! and Kim Possible” Shego said with a sadistic smile.

However before they could attack an engine revved up and out of nowhere Hiro sped in armoured up and on his scooter as he jumped from some rubble and flung his scooter into Noodle as he crashed to the ground.

Noodle was flung into Globby and his eyes glowed red.

“Oh not good!” Globby said as Noodle fired his laser eyes causing him to explode all over the place and Noodle Burger Boy just crashed to the ground.

Shego looked rather irritated by this development.

“Don’t count us out yet Shego!” Hiro said “Now where’s Obake and whats he up too!?”

“Oh please as if I understand what his plan is!” Shego said rolling her eyes. “Okay boys time to go!”

She said as she got Noodle and Globby reformed himself and grabbed the case with the energy amplifier and Hiro watched the three villains escaped with what was left of the Buddy guards.

“Sorry I’m late.” Hiro apologised turning to his rather unhappy teammates.

“Where were you!” Gogo demanded. “I kinda lost track of time.” Hiro admitted.

“Doing what dude, you look like you’ve barely slept?” Ron asked and Rufus nodded in agreement.

“My final project.” Hiro answered. “Wait till you guys see..” “Thats great Hiro but someone could have really gotten hurt today.” Honey pointed out.

“Hiro I know how much it is that you pass your grade but you need to consider your priorities, we needed you and you blew us off!” Kim then scolded.

“She’s right, we needed you, Baymax needed you.” Gogo then agreed gesturing to the downed robot.

Hiro gasped in horror as he saw his friend down on the ground. “Oh no!” Hiro said rushing over to his injured friend.

“Baymax!” He said as he looked at the damage. “Baymax?”

Just then Baymax rose up as he rebooted his systems from whatever Noodle Burger Boy did.

“Reboot complete.” Baymax said with his eyes blinking. “Hello I am Baymax.” He greeted

“Baymax are you okay? talk to me buddy where’s the damage?” Hiro asked as he looked him over.

“I briefly malfunctioned.” Baymax explained. “I am fine.” He then assured and Hiro responded to that with a hug. The others came over and Hiro looked to them apologetically.

“Guys, I I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean let you down like that.” Hiro apologised.

“We know, but don’t do it again.” Gogo said.

“Hey man it happens to the best of us you want to know how many times I messed up cause I had other things to do.” Ron admitted.

“I forgive you Hiro, I mean my super awesome perfect plan didn’t work cause Globby got away, probably a little your fault.” Fred said.

“Guys come on we couldn’t have known Globby would have company this time.” Kim pointed out. “But that aside we now know where Shego went after we stopped the Destructo Yamas.”

“Yeah and who she got those energy gauntlets from, Obake.” Wasabi added.

“Yeah but there are two positive take aways from all this.” Fred then said. “One I got to fight a dinosaur, which was awesome! and two all they stole was an empty briefcase.”

“My lawyer gave me that briefcase.” Krei said rather upset.

“As a Christmas gift?” Ron asked to which Krei just looked with a raised eyebrow.

“I offer my consolation wealthy citizen.” Mini Max comforted by patting his head.

Elsewhere:

Deep in Obake’s lair Momakase used her blade to slice open the case only to reveal a poorly drawn picture of Fredzill signed by himself.

“Obake will not like this.” Momakase said to Globby, Noodle and Shego.

“Oh great, so this was a fools errand!” Shego said rather annoyed.

“Well you should be used to that working with an amateur like that mommas boy you called your partner.” Momakase teased.

“Hey watch it sushi girl! I may have to work with you and these two idiots doesn’t mean I have to put up with it!” Shego threatened with an energised hand.

“Actually ladies I’m thrilled.” The group looked to See Obake standing behind them.

“Everything went exactly as planned.” He explained.

“I don’t get it?” Said a confused Globby.

“Yeah it was a bust? What was the point of trying to stealing something that doesn’t even exist?” Shego then questioned.

“Oh of course you don’t.” Obake said going over to his monitor. “Krei’s pack of simpletons couldn’t finish the job, I needed the services of someone, truly gifted.” The left side of his face began to glow neon purple.

Hiros Garage:

Hiro was holding his energy amplifier and twisted it to turn it on and it surged with power. It glowed neon purple which reflected its light onto the one who made it. But little did Hiro know of the significance his creation would actually play.

Authors notes:

Uh oh what could Obake possibly have in mind for the young genius and Kim is suspecting that Granville maybe hiding something about why she didn't want Hiro approaching the energy amplifier. Well answers to come in the next chapter.

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thanksjro · 5 years ago

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More Than Meets the Eye #8- I’m Sorry, the Domain Name thebomb.com is Already in Use

It’s been a hot minute since we last got to focus on the Scavengers- ah, the chaotic nature of comic print schedules! Luckily, we’ve got a Story So Far to remind us where we left off.

Our issue starts 10,000 years in the past, where Fulcrum is riding in a plane and preparing to drop with his fellow K-Cons. It’s crowded, there’s a guy crying in the corner, everyone’s wearing the same outfit, and no one’s got time to go home and change. How embarrassing!

Torque’s never heard of personal space, as is made apparent by his power-stance pelvic thrusting here. Fulcrum is less than impressed by this show of bravado, but there’s no time to dwell on it because it’s time to jump the glory of Megatron.

At least one of them is having a good time.

In the present day, the Scavengers are freaking the hell out, because as it turns out, it’s THEM who’re afraid of the DJD.

Krok keeps trying to reach his old squad, as if anything short of Megatron himself would be able to save them from the horrible death coming their way, while Flywheels grapples with his faith and inferiority complex at the same time.

Spinister brings up a decent point, despite Misfire’s earlier claim that he’s the stupidest creature in the universe- Misfire is kind of an asshole, so anything he says involving just about anything should be taken with a grain of salt- but the problem is, nobody in their right mind would incriminate themselves to the DJD if they could help it. Also, everyone knows that Tarn’s got his head way too far up his own ass to have any sort of rhyme or reason for anything he does beyond the 𝕒𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕔.

Krok leans on his career as a military strategist to come up with a few ideas, and the boys decide to fight the DJD, after so much bitching and moaning.

But the DJD… the Decepticon Justice Division… are also Decepticons. Crankcase, are you gatekeeping here, my dude? Because I don’t think this is an internet debate you’re going to win.

The fellas decide that they’ll do what they do best, and use what’s been laying around in the dust and blood for thousands of years to fight off some of the scariest folks in the galaxy. What could possibly go wrong?

Over on the Lost Light, Chromedome and Skids are having a secret rendezvous at the oil reservoir, in secret and behind Rewind’s back, as Chromedome proceeds to call Skids handsome. No, they aren’t having a secret love affair, but are instead going to mnemosurgery the shit out of Skids. Rewind doesn’t like that Chromedome is still doing this, but what Rewind doesn’t know won’t hurt him, surely. We’ll find out just why exactly Rewind isn’t a fan of Chromedome’s line of work later on, but for now it’s time to dig around in a hot guy’s brain.

Just kidding, it’s Scavenger time.

The Scavengers have set up a trap for the DJD, and that trap is Grimlock; still locked in his stasis pod, they’re pulling a “rigged box and stick with a piece of cheese inside” maneuver. Let’s see how this plays out.

Hmm. That’s not a great start.

The Peaceful Tyranny lands, Tarn transforms, comes down the gangplank, transforms, waxes poetic about the brilliance of the Decepticon copy writers, transforms, drives 15 feet, transforms, then, after clearly stating that the big stasis pod in the middle of nowhere is a trap, opens it anyway.

Never has a nut-punch been more deserved than in this exact moment.

Grimlock has a strong start, but almost immediately begins to flag, as he’s put down by Tesaurus. This is why we do warmups prior to rigorous exercise, people!

Misfire tries to sneak off while Tarn’s distracted whispering into Grimlock’s ear like one would a lover, but that doesn’t really work out.

Back over on the Lost Light, Chromedome’s having a time and a half trying to parse just what the hell’s going on with Skid’s head. All his memories from the last year aren’t lost, but rather destroyed, which is concerning to say the least, only leaving a need to escape. There’s also some nasty beast in Skid’s more distant past that Chromedome can see. However, it would seem that Skid’s brain took the out when it saw one and buried that nightmare so deep it’ll take multiple sticks of dynamite to wiggle it loose, so Chromedome’s leaving it where it is.

What this tells me is that Rung has no business referring patients to Chromedome for treatment, if this is how we’re meant to handle repressed memories. Remember back in issue #6, when Fort Max claimed he didn’t remember what happened in Garrus 9, and Rung was all “oh let me just call my guy Chromedome and have him stir your brain around like a martini”? Turns out, either that’s a terrible idea and Rung hasn’t paid attention to the work that half his coworkers on Kimia were involved with, or he was making an empty threat, which doesn’t seem like great practice for a therapist.

Pretty fucked up of you, Rung.

Anyways, Skids is less than thrilled by this, and demands Chromedome do it anyway, which Chromedome promptly refuses. He’ll play around with his own life, but not his friends’. Skids walks off in a huff, because I guess no one’s ever refused his pretty ass anything before, but asks a question before he leaves.

Well, I’m sure that won’t be a major plot point later on.

Let’s check back in with the Scavengers.

Between Tesaurus’ line here, Tarn harassing Grimlock, and Skids’ asking Chromedome why he pulled out during their secret meeting, this is probably the most sexually-charged issue of MTMTE so far.

Flywheels’ only purpose as a character was so that Roberts had a stand-in for the word “fuck” last issue. Sorry, dude, you’ve done your job. Off to the shredder with you!

No time to worry about him, Krok, because it’s time for your face mask treatment at the universe’s shittiest spa.

The worst part about this is the fact that he’s being held a full nelson by the DJD’s record-keeper, who turns into a fucking chair and doesn’t even have eyes. Oh, the indignity of it all.

Misfire tries to save Krok, but all he manages to do is prove that his nickname isn’t ironic in the slightest. Then he’s attacked by a dog.

That shadow being tossed towards the horizon in the background is Crankcase, who lands right about where Fulcrum’s been hiding this entire time, like the giant coward he is, as he watches these guys who tried to steal his organs get murdered to death. He runs off, and Crankcase plays to stereotype and gripes about the whole situation, until he notices something above him.

Then he immediately drops dead, because as it turns out Misfire wasn’t exaggerating when he said Crankcase would die if he ever even thought about smiling.

Over in Tarn’s soliloquy corner, he’s managed to stab his thumb so hard into Grimlock’s throat it’s literally bleeding, as he trash talks the Scavengers, calling them the “six biggest failures of all”. Harsh. Grimlock’s not contributing to the diatribe, probably because there’s a hole in his throat that’s about where a trach would go.

Then Tarn has a bit of a problem, as he’s stepped on by a robot that’s roughly twenty times bigger than him.

I guess Crankcase must be the sixth worst Decepticon, because he’s gotten himself hooked up with this massive Jaeger Cybernought, one of the many that are strapped to the back of the Worldsweeper they found last issue. It’s a big friggin’ ship, we can forgive the oversight.

The DJD aren’t impressed by this new toy, and almost immediately take it down. Tarn, really starting to get peeved off about not getting to what they actually came here to do, yells for Fulcrum to show himself. Fulcrum, as it turns out, has managed to climb on top of the Worldsweeper, and is at least a few hundred feet above them. Because none of the DJD can fly, they have no choice but to listen to Fulcrum’s little speech.

Fulcrum was forged at the height of the Decepticon Empire, when the rhetoric was more “space eugenics sucks” and less “murder everything while Megatron has weird sexual tension with Optimus in the background”. Of course, they were still hunting organic species to flex, so maybe things weren’t perfect… though it isn’t like Fulcrum minded that aspect. Dude’s a little space racist.

Spacist.

The way Fulcrum sees it, folks like Tarn went and fucked up a good thing by being all murderous and violent just because they could, unlike his good pals the Scavengers, who are only murderous and violent when it’s necessary. “Necessary” is a word that’s played with kind of fast and loose with them, mind you, but they seem like pretty swell guys to Fulcrum. They’re definitely better than the DJD.

With one last “fuck you” to Tarn, Fulcrum takes a running leap off the top of this astonishingly huge ship and finally reveals just why exactly K-Cons aren’t known for doing fear.

Because who the fuck has ever asked a bomb how it’s feeling?

Everyone clears the area, as he hits the ground… and nothing happens. Fulcrum is marked off the List, the Scavengers are added, and the DJD fuck off without checking that their target is actually dead so they can go find Overlord and kick his ass.

Fulcrum’s fine, by the way.

This is why we check our work, Tarn.

Fulcrum, who is, again, a bomb, is a bit curious as to what’s happened here. Turns out, prior to the boys riffling through his torso for spare parts, Spinister- master surgeon Spinister- removed the explosive charge tucked up against his robot liver. Fulcrum is amazed by this news, because it’s apparently a super hard thing to do.

Are we sure that Spinister isn’t just super nearsighted? The world’s been described as a series of vaguely hostile shapes, is he playing it safe and attacking the things he can’t figure out within a few seconds? Maybe all that hand-staring he does is to gauge how shitty his vision is on a day to day basis, and everyone just assigned him Stupid At Birth because trying to understand our friends is for losers.

Then again, we should also remember that everyone in the Scavengers is so incredibly stupid, they couldn’t figure out between the five of them that Fulcrum had been alive while it was happening. Spinister probably wasn’t gentle with that procedure since he thought he was working with a corpse; for all we know, Fulcrum’s got his sparkcase inside-out now.

Crankcase carries poor, faceless Krok over, and Fulcrum laments on the fact that Krok’s squad never turned up. Crankcase implies something ominous about Krok’s method of communication with his old squadron, then we get the skinny on Fulcrum’s whole deal.

Yes, yes, I know B’lahr 39 is a reference to Wizard of Oz actor Bert Lahr, who played the Cowardly Lion. I caught that one before I’d even checked TFWiki for interesting notes on this issue. I was a film major in college, I’m legally required to know every single bit of trivia about the Wizard of Oz. It’s the second thing they beat into you, right after watching Citizen Kane for the 87th time.

Also, how many nerds are going to be in this series? Fulcrum’s a technician, Krok’s a strategist, Spinister and 3/4 of the Lost Light are doctors in some form or fashion, Tarn’s a friggin drama kid, the list goes on.

When Fulcrum was caught, the original plan was to have him tortured and killed at Styx, a Decepticon penal colony, when plans changed and he got reformatted along with everyone else in the joint to be a suicide bomber.

If Fulcrum seems like a bit of a generic name for a giant space robot, it’s probably because it is. Fulcrum’s original alt-mode wasn’t a bomb- in fact, I have no idea what it’s meant to be. Word of God makes the claim that he turned into a leg prior to getting K-classed, but since Combiner teams have to be made in this continuity, that’s not what he came into being as. He’s got a tiddy window like Rung- something that will be more apparent when Josh Burcham is replaced by Joana Lafluente as the primary colorist for the comic run- but that seems more indicative of having minimal armor than any sort of alt.

Anyway, there’s something in the reformat to K-Con that compels one to switch to bomb mode when you jump ship- but it didn’t happen for Fulcrum, because he was so unbelievably terrified that he might have actually defied biology.

The others have stopped listening by this point, and have joined Spinister in poking the still-prone Grimlock with a stick. Misfire, in the first show of something like empathy we’ve really gotten from him, asks the fellas to help the poor guy up.

Sure, make the guy who’s a stiff breeze away from cracking in half lift the biggest motherfucker on this planet. Sounds like a plan.

Misfire does his damnedest to communicate to Grimlock that they come in peace.

Behold, the price of nostalgia!

This isn’t exactly where we left Grimlock last time he was in an IDW publishing. The last guy to have his hands on everyone’s favorite dinobot was Simon Furman, and he was a lot more well-spoken there. It would seem that no one got out of Garrus 9 unscathed.

This development is a bit of a problem for the Scavengers, who now aren’t quite sure what to do with a infamous warrior-bastard who’s mentally regressed to the point that he’s got to think about what his own name is. To be fair, most people wouldn’t know what to do in that sort of situation. Doesn’t help that the guy who usually has the braincell is currently passed out from face-based puncture trauma.

Misfire decides that they’ll take Grimlock along with them for collateral, and everyone is so impressed by him actually planning something out, they forget to think about the logistics of housing a whole entire T-Rex.

The guys, I guess just leaving Grimlock and the unconscious Krok in the dirt, go to find what’s left of Flywheels- basically the hips down is still intact. After a few kind words, the final rites are performed.

You will be missed, Flywheels, clearly.

You never see the Autobots resorting to cannibalism like this. Maybe they’re just better at making it not look like a vulture swarm.

Many, many months later, long after the Scavengers have left the planet of Clemency, a lone figure visits what’s left of dear Flywheels- it’s the Necrobot. That’s right, the Robo-Reaper is real, and it looks like he’s been busy.

…Spoilers, Necrobot! Come on!

After the story proper, we get a Meet the ‘Cons page. Let’s take a gander, shall we?

No.

NO.

NO!

I draw the line at this motherfucking sniper rifle having a college degree. What possible scientific field of study could he possibly-

It’s ballistics. He studied ballistics, didn’t he?

You know what? Fuck this, actually. See y’all later.

…Fuck you, Vos.

#transformers #jro #mtmte #issue 8 #maccadam #Hannzreads #text post #long post #comic script writing

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bellatrixobsessed1 · 4 years ago

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Kissing Dead Pearls (Final Part)

There are places where lives unfold and places where lives come to an end, more often than not these places are one and the same. Sometimes these places are quaint harbor towns where buildings are centuries older than any of the citizens currently hustling in and out of them. Sometimes these places are have cliffsides that are older than even the buildings, worked at and eroded by waves significantly more timeless than them. Often these cliffsides see thunderous clouds and tempestuous waves, lit by forks of lightning and filled by curtains of rain. And more often than folks like to admit, these towns have their ghosts; sails on the horizon during a storm, ladies in billowing white dresses that stand at the edge of cliffs, and speters that travel through arches of limestone. It might be that the towns folk get bored and invent legends, or perhaps it is a tourist thrill, still it could be that some of the inhabitants need a good ghost to keep them secure in the realm of the living.

In such a town, the rain could be pouring and lightning could be bursting in the sky. People might be rushing to pack in their picnic food and snatch up their umbrellas. Some of them are too late, like a boy named Jet and a girl named Jin. Their umbrella has lifted out of the sand and is riding the gales out towards the sea. It wasn’t his idea of what a date should look like, but at least it was a thrilling one.

Others have more luck on their side; more or less. A married couple could be safely tucked into their restaurant had they decided to take down their patio umbrellas and move their chairs inside sooner.

Inside of a restaurant called La-bsters there is a rather interesting cluster of people. Mostly there are tourists and people who have hustled into the building for shelter from the rain. But there are also two teens interviewing for their first jobs. A girl will venture out of the town for the first time to study marine biology and her friend, Toph will take her place waitressing for the restaurant. There is also a bald boy and his dog, the three are an inseparable duo and Aang swears that he will teach the dog to be a good employee too.

The restaurant is cozy. It is home. In a quaint harbor town that seems caught within a bygone era, anywhere is home really. It is no wonder that some people are hesitant to leave. When home is so warm and inviting, so safe and unchanging, why would a person ask to leave?

For some it is a need for change, a yearning for something new. A desire to see the world with a knowing that they can come back to their harbor town and see it nearly as it was when they had left. Nearly, but not quite. For everything evolves. Everything changes. And if you know a place well, then the most subtle of changes are extraordinarily profound.

The rain pummels the roof of La-bsters as Toph high fives Aang, “Congrats on your first summer job, Twinkle Toes!”

“Yeah, you too.” He smiles meekly.

“When do we start?” She asks.

“How about on the first day that we have some sunny weather?” Hakoda offers.

A table away sits a group of four, they split a platter of fries, onion rings, and hot wings. Azula douses the wings in an extremely generous amount of spicy dipping sauce. “Seriously, I can’t eat this!” Sokka exclaims, eyes watering. “My mouth is burning!”

Azula smirks. “Yes, that’s the point. Either you’re going to build up your spice tolerance or I am going to have all of the wings to myself.”

“Not if I can help it.” Zuko plucks one of the wings. He takes his first bite. After swallowing he clears his throat. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something, Katara.”

“Go ahead.”

“We’re still having a hard time building the lighthouse back up after how far behind we’ve fallen. I was planning on opening up a restaurant of my own. It’s going to be more like a bakery and I’ll run it from the lighthouse.”

“My idea.” Azula cuts in.

“I thought that it would be smart to…” He backtracks. “Azula thought that it would be smart to partner up with La-bsters. It’s going to be folklore and ghost story themed and stuff. Do you think that your parents would want that.”

“Ask them, Zuko.” Katara laughs. “They’ve never said no before!”

“Speaking of parents, how has your dad been?” Sokka asks, nostrils still flared from his second attempt to eat one of the wings. He fans his face.

“He’s a year sober now.” Azula replies.

“He and uncle are planning some kind of road trip to relive the glory days.”

“Why are you cringing?” Katara laughs.

“Do you know what their glory days looked like?” Zuko asks.

“Father just wants to make up for wasting so much of his time on drinks and grief.” Azula shrugs. Silently, she thinks that he just wants to enjoy one more summer before life moves on. Or maybe she is just projecting; for as much as she had fought Sokka on it, it would be nice to have one last summer where everything is as it was, simple and thrilling. Now that she has eliminated his hesitancy, she will indulge him in one more summer of old habits and nostalgia.

She will begin it with one final surf competition and end it with the annual beachview music festival. That will be nice, considering that they’d missed last year’s. She peers at her surfboard, which she has propped up against the corner. She is going to miss it, how could she not when she had spent so much time riding waves on it? But it is time to put it aside, the sea calls her in a different direction and she has already made the necessary arrangements to answer it. And besides, she thinks it would be kind to allow Chan and Ruon their time to shine. They have more passion for the sport than she. They have worked their whole lives for that competition.

They will be performing Port TuiLa’s first partner routine. ‘Brave and risky! Daring and fun!’ So the townspeople declare. She will do her own routine, but it will be more lax and mundane. Her father and uncle will be there with bouquets of hibiscus, lais, and smoothies, weather she wins it or not. There will be a party in their backyard, a BBQ that doubles as her birthday party and her victory celebration. She will slip an invite to Jet; if he makes an appearance it will be just like old times. If he steers clear...she supposes that, that is just the nature of things. People get hurt and people grow apart.

“Go and ask them, Zuzu.” She nudges as Hakoda enters the building completely drenched.

Zuko takes a deep breath, stands, and rolls his shoulders. Azula rolls her eyes. “So dramatic. How long have we known them?”

Katara laughs and gently pushes him forward.

“Have you decided what you are going to do yet?” Azula asks.

Sokka bites down gently on his cheek. “Khozen has been teaching me to sail again. I know that you wanted me to leave Port TuiLa but I don’t think I’m ready for a change that big and I don’t really like the idea of college anyways.” He rubs the back of his head. “I was thinking of learning to fish, that way I can help bring in some seafood for La-bsters and be around for mom and dad after Katara leaves.”

Azula blinks. “That actually sounds like a good plan.”

He chuckles, albeit, a little nervously. “Yeah. I figured that, that way I could start something new but also stick to the place that makes me happy.” He pauses. “It’s just gonna be weird not having you guys around.” He gestures to she and Katara.

“You’ll have Zuko.” Katara points out.

“We’re trying to make him feel better, Katara.”

“I can still hear you guys!” Zuko calls.

Sokka gives a snorting laugh. The kind that works its way around the table and reaches the door. From its frame a sopping wet Mai remarks, “well that’s my one laugh for today.”

“What are we talking about?” TyLee asks.

“Plans for the future.” Azula pulls up a chair. “Suki and I are going to beauty school! She wants to learn to do special effects makeup. I’m going to make everyone in Port TuiLa beautiful!”

“Good luck with Long Feng.” Mai mumbles and helps herself to a french fry. “I’m going to study mortuary science. It’ll give me something to talk about at dinner.”

“What about you, Azula?” TyLee asks. “You still going to pro-surf?”

It hadn’t really taken much thought to decide, not when the path had made itself so clear. She shakes her head, “no, I have something different in mind.”

“Does father know?” Zuko asks, taking his seat.

“He will.” Azula replies. That is her only hang up, the prospect of disappointing him. But she thinks that her desired career is admirable enough. Surely it is indisputably well suited to her. “I’m going to be a coast guard. I already have experience, more than I should.”

The sea has taken a lot from her but she has taken a lot back. And she will take more back, more and more until it doesn’t hurt. More and more until she knows that she can see her mother again with the ability to inform her that her death didn’t amount to nothing. The waves may have stolen her life but they haven’t stolen the energy she put forth.

The sea will take more lives, likely it will take them right out of Azula’s hands. But it will take less than it would have if she gets her way.

“Thanks to you,” she looks at Sokka, “and all the attention that your story got, I think that my chances are very good.”

“Hey, can we stop talking about the future now and start living in the moment!?” Toph calls. “I’ve got five dollars for the jukebox and twenty for the arcade.”

“How about we spend twenty on the jukebox and five on the arcade?” Sokka asks.

Azula elbows him. “Do you even know twenty dollars worth of good songs?”

“I know plenty of amazing tracks!”

She slings her arm around him. “Your music taste is still stuck on hits from ten years ago.”

And so they listen to twenty dollars worth of songs that she hasn’t heard since they were kids. Their summer starts with the past and plays out as it always has, right until when the leaves would start to change. And just as they always have, they close the summer with an all night music festival on the beach. Sparklers, smoke bombs, and melting ice cream cones. Fireworks and kisses and the same gaggle of friends. The same group plus one, not that Jin hadn’t been an amusing addition.

.oOo.

It only makes sense that she departs on a stormy night. Her car is loaded and the remaining tents and banners of her goodbye party flap in the wind. Sokka presses his head to her forehead and gives her a rather lengthy kiss. Long enough to have her father retreating back into the house to fetch her a parting gift. She won’t open it until she reaches boot camp. It is a simple photo album that her mother had made.

She pulls out of the kiss and Ozai hands her the giftbox. “Your mother would be proud.”

“And you?”

Ozai sighs. “I think that you already know the answer to that.” He ruffles her hair. He hasn’t done that in ages. “I best see you in a uniform when you visit for the holidays.”

“You will, father.” She smiles.

“Take care of father?” Azula requests quietly to Zuko. “Keep him on track, okay?”

“I’ll keep him busy.” Zuko promise with a gesture to the lighthouse and his brand new business. “Trust me, I will.”

She doesn’t doubt it in the slightest. “Alright, well I’m getting soaked so…”

“I’ll see you later, Azula.”

She nods and gives a little wave.

Sokka puts his arm around her and leads her to her car. She buckles herself in and turns her head for one final kiss. “Call me when you get there.” It isn’t a question. “Of course I will, Sokka.” She answers anyhow. He waves again and she rolls up her window. Windshield wipers throw drops off of the window as she steers her way down the winding lighthouse driveway.

The Sea Candle rests on the cliff shining her way as it always has. And it will be there to guide her home when the day comes. She casts one final look at the town in her rearview mirror. She can swear that, in the beam of the lighthouse she can see faint sails, bobbing haphazardly in the waves.

#Avatar The Last Airbender #Azula #Sokka #Sokkla #Zuko #Katara #Zutara #Toph #Aang #Suki #Mai #TyLee #Ozai #Iroh #Jet #Fanfiction

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doof-doofblog · 4 years ago

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"Small Price To Pay For Your Freedom!"

Tuesday 15th December 2020

Hello again folks! So even more news has been revealed on what we can expect in the episodes taking place around New Year. Mick has been battling with the knowledge that he was sexually abused in his childhood years by his so-called childhood friend, Katy. Since Katy's arrival on the Square, Mick has behaviour towards his family and friends has been ruined, he's pushed everyone he loves away. Mainly I think because he can't bring him himself to accept the facts, and if he can't accept it - how can he possibly tell his family? He doesn't seem to think they'd understand, so instead of talking he's pushed everyone away, his Mum, his sister and now his wife. Devastatingly things are only going to get worse for Mick as the New Year comes, he contemplates taking his own life as his mental health and emotional feelings get worse and he feels there's no one he can turn to. I feel that this New Year is going to be an upsetting one for the Carter family.

Wow! So there's quite a bit to cover from this episode, the main two things I'll leave till the end. I'll start this blog by talking about Denise and Kim. Of course having her son with her for his first Christmas on Walford would mean a lot to Denise, however she seems to be wary of what his traditions with his adoptive family was like. She comes up with the decision to make this year a traditional Christmas for Raymond, which could might mean that they'd have to go to church. Now as the episode continued, Denise is seen chatting with the pastor from Raymond's church and he voices that he's expecting to see Raymond on Christmas Day. Only Denise isn't too sure as herself and her family are not religious, but maybe to give Raymond some familiarity, she may consider going to the church. However, something is telling me that she may come to regret her decision. We know her ex-husband, Lucas, is returning to the Square on Christmas Day, what if he just so happens to appear at the church that she takes Raymond to?!

From the recent Christmas trailer that has dropped, we see Denise look in absolute fear as she comes face-to-face with Lucas, however he doesn't seem as happy to see her, as I'm sure we see him clench his fist! What brings him back to Walford?! Could he end up ruining Denise and Raymond's Christmas?! Although, before she can start her plans for a traditional Christmas, she needs to bring her family round to the idea. At first, Kim announces that she's not a church person (maybe it'll take something more to bring Kim around to the idea)? but Patrick! Ahhhhh Patrick! How good is it to see him back on the Square?! For those of you who weren't aware, during the lockdown, Patrick had caught Covid-19 and was in intensive care, he has not been seen since the soap come back on air. This is the first time we've seen him in months! Clearly both Denise and Kim are thrilled to see him looking so healthy. Before their family reunion, Kim does as she was asks and attends the Prince Albert, for what she thinks, is her first day on the job. However, there appears to be another young girl waiting for Kathy also, named Mila. It looks as if Kim has got the wrong end of the stick and comes to realise that she'll have to fight for her position at the Prince Albert. They find that Kathy has left them a list of cocktails to make, they both appear to be making the cocktails with ease, only when they both reach for the vodka bottle, Kim yanks it from her and sends the bottle flying across the room and smashing all over the floor, just as Kathy walks in. I love how Kim is playing the sympathy card in an attempt to win Kathy over. Mila however tells the truth and admits fighting with Kim for the bottle and how she got a little competitive, interestingly, Kathy decides to give Mila the job, leaving Kim in absolute shock! I don't know whether anyone else was questioning who Mila is, or was it just me?! Could she have simply been an extra? Or will she have some unknown connection to the Fox family? Will she have anything to do with Lucas's return? Who knows, I am simply guessing and I certainly could be wrong - but it's nice to guess, right?!

Another minor thing which happened in the episode involved Tina, Gray and Shirley. Earlier in the episode, we can see Gray's frustration at the mess Tina continues to leave around his house. He informs Shirley that he's wanting his children back and if Tina can't keep things tidy then it's going to cause problems for the household, maybe Gray won't get his children back?! Shirley pleads to him to give her another chance as everything is up in the air at the moment, everyone seems to be walking on eggshells around Mick and after Tina being arrested for being a suspect in the case against Ian, it's clear that Tina's head is all over the place, she tries to fight her sister's corner, even stating that if Tina leaves, then so will she, and it's clear that Gray wouldn't want Shirley to leave as she's been the support he's needed in recent weeks. He softly agrees to let Tina stay, however later on in the episode, Tina questions her sister as to why Gray is so on edge when it comes to the mess. Tina can see that her sister is hiding something and she questions whether Gray has anything on his sister which is making her stay. But Shirley reassures her sister and warns her that if she tells her the truth, it goes no further! It's then she takes the brave decision in informing Tina about the night she found Gray threatening to blaze the house with him and the children inside. Tina can't believe what she's hearing, she fears that she could be living with a potential killer (She's not wrong there - Oooh if only she knew!) Oh!!! That could be the big question now couldn't it?! - We know that Luisa Bradshaw-White will be leaving her role as Tina, what if she comes to realise that Gray is incredibly dangerous? What if she confronts him about what Shirley told her and she becomes the target of his anger? Could Tina be Gray's second victim?!

Now focusing on one of the main aspects of the episode, involving Rainie and Stuart. Earlier on in the episode, Stuart approaches his wife with the news that he's made an appointment for them to go a surrogacy clinic, however Rainie seems pretty unsettling when he delivers the news. She questions what they'd have to do during their appointment, only when he mentions they'd have to take a blood test, Rainie freaks out and lashes out at her husband, claiming that it was a stupid idea and stating that neither of them are destined to be parents, this leaves Stuart looking really confused - together, they want a child more than anything. So why would she lash out in this way? Honestly, it becomes very obvious to the viewer before anyone has to mention anything - the only reason why Rainie would lash out after having being told she'd need a blood test, is because she's been taking drugs and she'd fear that what they'd find in her blood would ruin their chance of becoming parents. Eventually she does come clean to husband - it's then we see the flashback of her night, during the time Ian was attack - after being insulted by Ian, Rainie was clearly feeling devastated - especially after Tiffany and Keegan changing their minds on being their surrogates earlier in the day - Ian just topped everything off for he, didn't he? She went down an alleyway and scored some drugs. Which explains her disappearing for a number of days, maybe she feared what people would say if they found out?! The moment she reveals everything to her husband is so touching, she feels as if she's become a failure again - but no matter her flaws, Stuart informs her that he still loves her, regardless of her knockback. But suddenly, with Rainie giving her version of events of her night, she questions what her husband was doing on the night Ian was attack. Now this, I didn't see coming! Stuart had gotten himself worked up for losing their surrogate, plus having to cope with the fact that his brother is struggling. We then see a flashback of Stuart's night - he was in fact stood in an alleyway, waiting to confront DI Thompson! Initially he only wanted to scare him, trying to defend his younger brother - but things got a little out of hand as Stuart punched Thompson and he ended up knocking him to the floor. It's then we come to realise that Stuart had (accidentally) killed DI Thompson, however when Rainie questions where the man is now, Stuart confesses that he's in the fridges in their undertakers. Honestly, I'm glad DI Thompson is now out of the way but I do worry if the police start searching for their colleague? His disappearance is going to be talk amongst the police, and with Callum being at the forefront of his threats, what will it mean for Callum? Does this mean that the police will stop looking for Phil and Ben? Or something much more darker?! Who knows, either way I think that revelation is the most mind-blowing of all!!

Finally, coming to Ben, Ian and Suki! At the very beginning of the episode, Ben confronts his brother after being released from the police. Ian is visibly shaken to his brother out on the Square, after he reported him to the police. Ben toys with his brother, teasing him, making him quiver in a sense by informing him that even though the police tried their best to find evidence, the only thing they found were a few of Ben's prints from a tyre iron, but to Ian's surprise, the prints didn't match to Ian's scene of attack. It's then that Ben informs his brother that after everything he's done to his family - stealing from their Mum, grassing up his own brother, Ian is now dead to Ben! The only thing I've noticed through out this scene is that Suki has been stood behind Ian, listening to their conversation the whole time. Is that just a ploy maybe?! Trying to get more information possibly to stop the attention being drawn to herself? As Ben walks away, Suki points out to Ian a letter which is hanging beside the Vic addressed to him. As Ian opens it, all that's inside is a small simple bullet. Is this some kind of warning? Will his attacker come back to finish the job? Funnily enough, Ben and Suki come into contact again at the very end of the episode, she just happens to mention to Ben that her shop has had graffiti sprayed all across it in recent weeks and she's been trying to find the culprit, Ben is polite as they share this brief conversation, but suddenly Suki takes the story on another direction, by informing that her shop has CCTV, but even though she hasn't found the culprit who keeps spray painting her shop, what she has found is footage of Ben leaving the Queen Vic on the night Ian was attacked. Ben instantly realises that he needs to find a way to keep her quiet, instantly he simply just asks her out straight how much it would cost for her to keep quiet and not show the CCTV to the police. She demands £10,000 for her silence!!!

Now what will Ben do? Will he give her the money? Do we actually think he's the guilty one who attacked Ian? I, personally, am not so sure. I'd like to say it wasn't him. I feel the ones we can rule out now are Bobby, Tina, Rainie and Stuart. I still think there could be a chance it was Max, Peter, Sharon or Kheerat. I'd like to think it's not Ben, I hope it's not him! What do you guys think? Do you have a theory of who Ian's attacker could be?! Please feel free to leave me and thoughts, comments or theories you may have, I'd love to hear them! Thank you all again for reading, I really do appreciate it! Love you all xXx

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simmeredsalmon · 5 years ago

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idk if requests are /officially/ open, but could i request sanemi blurb w some fluff. i love this babe so much istg-

they’re definitely open, thanks so much for the req!! i went hard on this one but that’s only because sanemi loves you so much…

As the Star Pillar, there’s no dismissing your strength—or the imposing presence you give off. Affable and charming, you’re adored by your peers (but perhaps the lower rankings more so).

But everyone easily agrees that Sanemi is attached to you the most. Even if he doesn’t always outwardly display his affections, it’s lucid he’s fond of you; especially when he shares portions of ohagi with a neutral expression or chases after you when you’re injured to confirm for himself that you’re alright.

Yet Sanemi never could pinpoint whether these ‘secret’ feelings he harbored were reciprocated or not, but a twinge of hope flourished in his chest when you asked, “Sanemi-san, if you’re willing… would you like to accompany me to a festival in my hometown? I already got permission from Oyakata-sama for my absence, as well as yours!”

Sanemi could clearly see the wishful hues swimming in your eyes, and he only truly accepted after reaffirming his prefecture was well taken care of and that you’d both be alerted immediately of trouble. When Sanemi told you he’d be coming along, he swore he never seen your face lit up as much as then.

It was thrilling to visit your roots; also exulting as you didn’t ask anyone but him to take part with you.

On the way there, Sanemi questioned you about your hometown and the traditions of the festival. Of course he was only met with aloof remarks about ‘waiting until you got there’.

When you arrived, your family ecstatically welcomed you, proclaiming they were worried you weren’t going to make it!

“Oh, is this Shinazugawa-sama? We’ve heard so much about you in her letters!” your mother gushed, giving him a bow. “We’re [first name]’s parents.“

“Letters?” Sanemi iterates, turning his head towards you for clarification.

Your complexion flushes and you’re visibly flustered, having assumed he’d have of skipped over that tidbit of information. “N-Never mind that! Where’s my sister?”

And that’s also how he learned you had a little sister, around Genya’s age, too. You had kept that aspect similarly hidden, but for differing reasons.

Your hometown was lavished with history of night-related worship; believing in the primordial god of darkness—which, at first glance, seemed out-of-place.

“After my childhood friend died, I realized that I wanted to take the night back from demons. Nighttime is my origin, my family’s; I don’t want anyone wrongfully stealing that anymore,” you explained softly, scrutinizing how Sanemi soaked in your words. “But I didn’t bring you along to only talk about that. I’m also this town’s priestess, so I wanted you to see me in action… a different way than normally.”

Traditionally, your town held a festival that started at sunset and climaxed at midnight. The activities continued until sunrise, but the main event of a dance began at exactly midnight. Usually, the priestess would be the one to dance… but you wanted to give that gift to your little sister who loved dancing. Rather, you’d participate in the musical aspect on the flute.

Sanemi couldn’t disprove the appreciation he felt at your sacrifice of customs (which were, clearly, important to you) for your younger sister.

“Come, Sanemi-san, I’ll show you to my home. We’ve prepared an outfit befitting the festivities for you.” And Sanemi went along, gazing at the ornate decorations beginning to adorn your quaint town until he reached your abode.

After he got changed, Sanemi simply waited for you to be finished as well. And, well, when you ambled out… he was immediately enraptured. Bewitching was surely an understatement, with how your hair was done-up and how the equally resplendent kimono tautly fitted your form.

With a pensive note in his voice, Sanemi praised you, “You look beautiful, [last name].”

“Oh my, should you be saying that about a priestess?” you teased lightly, before adding on, “Thank you, Sanemi-san. I don’t want to be treated like one by you, really.”

Your vague words left room for interpretation, but before Sanemi could press further, your parents came inside to beckon you both out onto the streets to enjoy the festival.

As you left your home, the skeins of sunset illuminated every crevice in gorgeous color; evoking a nostalgic and captivating feeling.

When you twined your arm around Sanemi’s, he almost froze. He wasn’t expecting you, someone who just joked about their status in the town, to unabashedly link arms. He wasn’t complaining, mind you.

You blithely guided him around, the gentle and pale lights from lanterns growing more and more prominent as time passed.

The two of you often got questionable remarks on marriage, the folks who watched you grow up surprised at your authority with a man, and whenever you found yourself overheating from it all, you’d suddenly suggest a trip to gather shaved ice.

“Again? Are you sure you’re not getting a fever?” Sanemi naively (or so you thought) asked, although he was somehow still willing to eat his third helping of strawberry-flavored ice.

Delicately situating yourself on a bench, while patting the seat beside you, you helplessly shovelled a spoonful into your mouth. Your one inelegant habit was your pleasure for anything sweet, and you could become greedy with it.

But that was also something Sanemi found endearing. If there’s anything he made note of tonight, it was that you were comfortable with him—you didn’t feel judged, hence why you were able to shamelessly eat.

“Is a priestess suppose to get married before a certain age?” He nonchalantly brought the topic up, having grown weary of the incessant comments from everyone.

You shook your head. “Not necessarily. The title is more relaxed than that since I’m mostly in-charge of looking after the well-being of dreams, I suppose. Repelling bad energy so that everyone can achieve what they want… or sleep peacefully during the day. It’s truly a system that originates purely from my ancestors.”

“What about you? Who helps you with your dreams?” Sanemi’s question almost sounded silly, but it wasn’t. He knew you alone were in charge of that… yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that you were also subtly hinting at him.

There was a short moment of silence, before you pursed your lips together and shyly said, “You?”

“Answering a question with a question is unbecoming of a priestess,” Sanemi smoothly declared, his heartrate bursting. “And that’s why everyone’s bugging you? Because you want to marry me?”

“E-Eh? Where did you get marriage from what I said, may I ask?!” you stammered out, flummox and embarrassment melding together within your chest.

“I originally asked about marriage, dummy.” Sanemi tricked you, didn’t he?

Bringing a hand to your cheek, praying the frigidity of holding a cold cup would cling to your fingertips and alleviate the warmth, you confessed, “I have talked about you in my letters back home, but never did I mention marrying you.”

You thought you weren’t being obvious, but you were. In how your overall posture exuded yearning and bashfulness, it was pretty clear to him that you didn’t view him as only a fellow Pillar. That’s what his instincts were telling him, and he wasn’t wrong more times than right.

“Would you marry me?”

The question made your heart palpitate, the white-hot sensation following your leaping heart suffused through you so quickly it almost made your head spin. “In a hypothetical situation where you would have me, I would,” you admitted as boldly as you could.

Sanemi made you so comfortable that the grace embedded so deeply in you felt fleeting.

With red dotting the outlines of his cheeks, Sanemi brought his hand forward and placed it over your own. “I’ll help you with all your dreams than. None of this hypothetical bullshit, I will.”

Incapable of suppressing your smile, you coyly locked your fingers between his; adoring the scars and callouses rubbing against your skin in the process. “It’s a promise. If you break it, I’ll use my priestess powers to curse you!”

“Oh, shut up! You said it yourself you didn’t want to be treated that way by me,” Sanemi retorted, his lips kissing the corner of your mouth. The hot breaths emitted from his parted lips fanned across your lips shortly, but he pulled away—still as serious as he was before. “But I’ll accept any curse. As long as you don’t leave my side.”

#shinazugawa sanemi #kny x reader #kny headcanons #kny scenarios #long post #(bc tumblr formatting hates me LOL)#i hope you like it!#my headcanons #my scenarios

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yogaposesfortwo · 4 years ago

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The Yamas Explained - 8 Limb Path

The Foundation of Yoga When we mention yoga as asana (postures), we are only pertaining to one among 8 Limbs of Yoga. There are 7 other foundational pillars that structure the 8-fold-path and if we only specialise in the postures, we are ignoring 90% of the practice. within the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali states that every of the 8 limbs is adequate to the others and necessary. Yoga philosophy can sometimes feel very daunting and heavy, it’s tons to digest. thereupon being said, i would like to present this during a way that you’ll be ready to absorb and apply this to your life, so we'll take this step by step, one limb at a time. This will be first during a series of 8. Today we'll discuss the primary of 8 limbs: Yama. What are the YAMAS? The word yama translates to “restraints”. they're what Patanjali calls, the good Vows, a system of living. “The great vows are universal, not limited by class, place, time, or circumstance.” they're essentially guidelines asking us to be reasonable and decent to others. They are ethical disciplines that teach us the way to show up within the world and not be an asshole. Non-violenceTruthNon-stealingNon-excessNon-possessiveness AHIMSA – Non-violence II.35 “In the presence of 1 firmly established in non-violence, all hostilities cease.” There are obvious sorts of violence which will be easily understood like killing or physically harming another person or living being. We are taught from a young age to not harm others, but Ahimsa goes beyond just physical violence. It means “to do no harm”, which applies to others, ourselves, and therefore the world around us. It applies physically, mentally, and emotionally. Non-violence stands at the very core and foundation of yoga philosophy and practice. Non-violence shows up in some ways . one among the most important ways it shows up on behalf of me is that the way I ask myself. The negative self-talk that shows up once I look within the mirror and feel bloated, once I don’t like what my hair is doing, once I desire I’m not ok . this is often once I need to practice Ahimsa. If we would like to march through this life pityingly and act from an area of affection towards others, it's to start out with ourselves. Learning the way to move through lifestyle , and therefore the challenges we all face, is how we grow our capacity to be non-violent. When we practice Ahimsa continuously in our thoughts, words, and actions, our entire personality brings out those vibrations and from our core, we will act from an area of affection . SATYA – Truthfulness II.36 “To one established in truthfulness, actions and their results become subservient.” What Patanjali says about Satya is essentially that whatever you speak is your truth. This sutra doesn’t necessarily always ask telling the reality , it’s deeper than that. He says “ If a curse is spoken, it'll happen. If a blessing is spoken, it'll happen.” It’s an encouragement to steer an open life, to be more honest with ourselves so we will live a life that aligns truthfully to our values. This means standing in our truth and not telling little white lies, albeit it it makes us uncomfortable. It doesn’t mean be so truthful that you simply will hurt another person. We are to talk the reality when true, as long as it’s kind and necessary. If it’s not kind or necessary, then just don’t say it. We’re not meant to cover behind our niceness, we also are not meant to harm another with our words (ahimsa). There’s that quote from the bible “The truth will set you free”, and consistent with the yoga bible (The Yoga Sutras), John was right! Truth has the facility to free us from sorrow and fears. If we all know our truth and follow our integrity we will be more confident in deciding , and in our relationships with ourselves and with others. For me, finding my truth means really digging deep into Hell of my soul and excavating my core values. It’s not a simple task, but once we do that quite work, it’s extremely rewarding. Lately I’ve been practicing Satya by being more conscious of the lies I tell myself. My lies range from “you’re not good enough” all the thanks to “you’re better than them”. I also mislead myself about about time and money, creating an inner dialogue that creates me think there’s never enough. this is often a lie. When I’m ready to distinguish the difference between what are my truths and what are my lies, my life is far more peaceful. I’m a nicer person to myself and to others (again Ahimsa), and overall I feel more grounded. Trusting myself is one among the foremost valuable tools yoga has taught me. ASTEYA – Non-stealing II.37 “To one established in non-stealing, all wealth comes.” Patanjali says, “the richest person within the world is that the one with a cool mind, free from tension and anxiety.” He’s not just simply talking about stealing material possessions from others. We steal in numerous ways in which won't be obvious. Stealing can are available the shape of stealing other people’s ideas, or other people’s time. We steal from the world , we steal from ourselves, we steal from our own opportunity to grow. Let’s use the instance of stealing someone else’s excitement or sadness. I even have a lover who we’ll just call Susan. Any time I’m with Susan and I’m telling her about something exciting that’s happening in my life, or something that I’m sad about, Susan always finds how to show the conversation back on herself. this is often an enormous sort of stealing. once we compare ourselves to others or pipe in with our own stories when someone is else telling us their story, we are, albeit it’s subconscious, boosting our own ego’s and not being present for them. For all you yoga teachers out there, the thought of stealing time may be a big one. It’s important to honor time in order that you’re not stealing it from your students. People have places to be. We must consider it as our practice of Asteya. It’s not fair for you to consistently run 5 or 10 minutes over, that's not some time to require . If you’re getting to borrow ideas from other teachers, give credit where credit is due. Did any folks “make up” yoga? No! can we get inspired by other teacher’s sequencing? Of course! albeit they didn’t structure the pose, if you learned something from somebody else and you’re applying it to your class, honor your teachers and acknowledge them. This is true for timeliness generally . Practice non-stealing by exposure on time to a coffee date or dinner with the women . Honor each other’s time and your own, and remember of once you are taking over an excessive amount of of somebody else’s. BRAHMACHARYA – Non-excess II.38 “By one established in continence, vigor is gained.” All things carefully . The fourth yama asks us to use moderation in our lifestyle, and with our energy. this suggests that when our bodies are tired, we rest. And when we’ve been sitting on the couch for two days watching Netflix, we move. Essentially, Brahmacharya is about maintaining balance altogether senses by practicing moderation and consistency. Think for a flash about what’s sitting in boxes in your attic or within the basement or a storage unit. does one actually need these things? If you’re being honest, does one even know the contents of these boxes? once we have an excess amount of “stuff”, this is often described within the Sutras as overindulgence. It’s the things that you simply want, but you don’t actually need . In my experience, these things weighs us down and blocks us from reaching our greatest potential. Getting obviate the unnecessary possessions frees up space in our minds and in our lives. It creates a way of liberation and vitality. This also applies to an asana practice. once you do a pose because simply because you'll or simply because you see others around you doing it, but you don’t really need to try to to it, this is often practicing in excess. simply because you'll doesn’t always mean you ought to . It’s important that we concentrate to our bodies once we are on our mats so we will listen and concentrate to what we really need vs. what we would like . this stuff feel similar but if we take a better look, they're very different. And if we will lookout of our basic needs, the requirements subsided and fewer valuable. APARIGRAHA – Non-possessiveness II.39 “When non-greed is confirmed, a radical illumination of the how and why of one’s birth comes.” The 5th and final Yama, Aparigraha, means non-greed, non-possessiveness, or non-hoarding. It also can mean non-clinging, non-grasping, and non-coveting. Another to thanks to check out this, is having the ability to “let go”. Whatever we possess, possesses us. We can abandoning in some ways , like letting go of our attachments to identities, or to our favourite clothes. Without realizing it, we walk around in life, attaching ourselves to identities or roles (mom, doctor, yogi, vegan, etc) and that we allow them to define us. this is often where we get in trouble. What happens if we allow our external environments to impact our belief about who we are? for instance , let’s say you let your job title define you, otherwise you deeply identify together with your romantic relationship, then you get fired or your spouse dumps you. You then also lose your sense of self. you're then liable for your own pain and sadness. This Yama is about releasing attachment to people , to substances, to the will to realize success as sort of validation from others. As we cultivate a way of simplicity in our lives, we start to honor ourselves on a way deeper level. Taking It beat The Yamas are our basic restraints. Read them, and skim them again. Soak it up and let it sink in. These points are something to review and live by throughout a whole lifetime. Revisit them however often you would like to and begin applying these principles to your life, and the way you show up within the world. Allow them to require form, and witness the evolution of your own being. Author: Nicole Gheorghe Source: https://dopeyogi.com/the-yamas/ Discover more info about Yoga Poses for Two People here: Yoga Poses for Two Read the full article

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littlemisssquiggles · 5 years ago

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You know this has been bothering me for a while now... How do you feel about people dropping the show? I mean, I'm currently not that close anymore and I am willing to give Volume 7 another chance (but I keep my expectations veeeery low since I am so tired of being disappointed like I was with Volume 6 - it started out good and I really much liked the two Apathy episodes, even though they had narrative weaknesses in my opinion), also thanks to you. I just want to know what you think about it.

Hello again Mizu! Firstly, let me apologize for taking so long to respond. I’mbacklogged on questions to answer in my inbox so I’m slowly working my waythrough them. Secondly pleased to hear you’ve decided to give the new season achance.

To be honest with you fam, I honestly have nothing against folks who wish to drop RWBY. As I’vebeen telling you before, folks are entitled to feel the way they feel---be itgood, bad or indifferent.

Basically what I’m saying is, I understand that everyone’s viewson RWBY aren’t the same and I respect that. I respect the fact that there arefolks who are genuinely loyal to the series and will continue to support it tothe very end, just as much as I acknowledge and respect the views of the folkswho are genuinely disappointed with the series or rather, they’re disappointedwith the direction in which the series has changed since V3---the last seasonits original creator---Monty worked on, I believe, before he sadly passed away.

When it comes to indulging in media, myideology stands as this: if you’ve come to a point where you’re watching apiece of media that you used to indulge in but the overall positivefeelings--- love, joy and entertainment--- you once felt for it when you firststarted is no longer there, then you’re more than welcome to drop it if you sodesire.

Or you can take a break from it and come back later. Heck you can evendrop it but still remain a part of its FNDM, not necessarily following the showanymore but still enjoying other things like fanart and fanfic. No one is atfault for wishing to stop watching a series they once loved nor are they atfault for wanting to leave it/ take break from it only to come back later. Youdo you, dude.

In terms of RWBY, I’m half and half. Iunderstand why folks would wish to continue to watch the series; but at thesame time, I understand why folks would wish to drop it. The series, whilestill entertaining and enjoyable in some parts (at least to me) has admittedly madesome rather questionable choices in regards to certain aspects of the writing within therecent last arc.

Questionable choices which unfortunately left a lot of fansdisappointed. As a matter of fact, I think disappointed is an understatement.But like I said before, folks are entitled to feel the way they feel andthey’re allowed to express their feelings, thoughts and opinion if they feelthe need.

Where I may take issue with folks whodrop RWBY, however, is if they turn into one of those kindred spirits over inthe RWBY Hatedom. RWBY is the one series I know where it has a community of people who dislike the show as much as the ones who love it. And they’ve very vocal about it too.

It’s perfectly cool if you feeldissatisfied with the way things are being done with RWBY but where that becomes problematic, in my opinion, is when it turns to bitterness which then leadsto you attacking people and downright disrespecting them. This is inclusive of notjust the fans who still support RWBY but also the members of theCRWBY.

I get that people didn’t like the waythings were done with the show but that still doesn’t give you the right todisrespect the people working on it. One habit that I’m tired of seeing from theHatedom is their incessant use of throwing Monty’s name around as a means toridicule the current state of the show.

Regardless of whether or not you don’tlike the way the showrunners have written the show, you still have to show themsome level of respect. And continuing to use the name of the show’s deceasedcreator to scrutinize the efforts of the same people---some of which wereMonty’s friends and original colleagues---is just beyond disrespectful.

If I may talk about Monty here for abit, it honestly disgusts me whenever I go into forums discussing fan reviewsof RWBY and still see people leaving comments such as “Monty wouldn’t have liked this” or “You’veruined Monty’s vision” and all that jazz.

Seriously, how entitled of a fan must you be to act as if you knew Monty personally enough toimply that he wouldn’t have liked the way RWBY is now?

Who do you think will have the moral high ground in this predicament of deciding how RWBY should continue? The people whopersonally knew and worked with Monty when RWBY first started and are doing thebest they can to keep the show running? Or the so-called fans who continue towatch the series just to mock the efforts of Monty’s former friends and colleagueswhile constantly throwing his name in their faces as an insult.

You tell me.

What happened to Monty was sad and I’mmostly saying that as a longstanding fan of his. Like many RWBY fans, I didn’tknow Monty personally. I knew him mostly through his work. Monty was a creatorwho got an opportunity that most of us creatives with our our stories to tell couldonly dream of. He got a chance to bring his story to life only to unfortunatelypassed away while working on it.

It’s one thing to be disappointed withsomething you used to love but it’s another thing when your anger andresentment makes you disrespectful. It’s not cool when former fans of RWBY become people whoconstantly look for ways to talk down the show. I can sympathize with the FNDMfam members who were upset with the development of the show but where Ican’t take your side is if that dissatification leads to contempt.

I’ve said this before and I’m going torepeat it again. RWBY isNOT a flawless show. It never has been and quite frankly,it’ll probably never be as perfect as fans want it to be. But what I havelearnt is that RWBY is a show that’s much like the man who created it. It keepsmoving forward. Each season it tries to do better than the last and it shows.

I know certain parts have not been sogreat but I have to acknowledge the ones that were. I know some of usweren’t 100% pleased with how V6 turned. However, I will say this. Prior tothat season, the Writers promised that they were looking into some of the criticismsleft behind from past seasons and were working to fix him. Did they live up tothat? To quote Ozpin, in some ways yes and in other ways, no.

V6 still unfortunately suffered fromthe same issues with the writing that fans disliked back in V5. But what I willpoint out that it didn’t start off that way. I think we can all admit that thefirst half of V6 (C1 to C7) was done well. The other half….....er....not so much. Butit’s still worth noting that there is good within the bad.

This is why I personally will keepgiving the series a chance. Speaking for myself here, I’ve been on the RWBY train since thevery beginning and sink or swim, soar or crash, I’m staying on-board till thisseries reaches its final destination. Because outside of that fact that thereare still things about the show that I enjoy and love, I’m also very, verycurious to see where exactly the CRWBY Writers are taking this story of theirs.

Monty may not have been able to joinMiles and Kerry in progressing the show he made; however Miles and Kerry arecontinuing it. They are telling theirstory now in direct correlation to the onethey kicked off with Monty.

What that story is overall? How is it gonna go for future seasons and arcs andmore importantly, how is it all gonna end? Those are questions with answers I’mstill interested to know. And until the day comes when I no longer care aboutthese things with RWBY, I’m gonna stick around and try my best to enjoy the ride alongthe way---whether it cruises calmly or runs over a couple of rough patches andbumps. It’s fine. I’ve got plenty of tolerance.

I see a lot of potential for betterwriting in RWBY. I’m just patiently waiting for the season where the Writersfinally find their groove since I think they were struggling during the MistralTrilogy. RWBY isn’t perfect but it’s a show with folks who admittedly do theirbest to improve on it as the seasons go.

They may not land every time but theeffort is still worth appreciating in some sense-- well at least I know appreciate it especially when they get things right cause, contrary to what othersmight believe, not everything about RWBY is completely bad. As a matter offact, some of it is arguably not as bad as folks let it out to be. But I understand that’s amatter of opinion. Can’t honestly speak for other FNDM members. Only my squiggly self here.

Now mind you, none of the stuff I’vementioned about the RWBY Hatedom applies to you Mizu. I know we’ve only chatted once or twice between Q&A but forthe most part, you’ve been quite humble and a pleasant person to talk to.

Despite your voiced issues with the current run of RWBY, you’vemaintained a cool, respectable air about yourself and that’s great. Please keep that up. Regardless of what happens during V7. Regardless of whether youchoose to stay or go with RWBY during or after V7, do your best to remain as humble as you as much as possible. That’s basically the bottom line point I’m trying to say here.That goes for you and anyone else who’ve been feeling the same way you haveabout the show.

Just stay humble guys. Opinions can be different but still maintain that R-E-S-P-E-C-T and that goes for both sides.

And, yeah, that’s pretty all I gottasay. I hope I actually answered your question. I feel like I did. As always,feel free to let me know. In the meantime, take care.

~LittleMissSquiggles(2019)

#squiggles answers: rwby #oscar pine #rwby #mizuike #squiggles answers

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bluesfm · 5 years ago

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( park chaeyoung , twenty two , & cisfemale ) who ? these days , it’s all about blue hyong, who comes from los angeles & ca and is making headlines as a singer . she currently has a fan count of 42k , no thanks to the rumors of them being inflexible ! but , on the other hand , their most devout fans say they’re actually imaginative . last i heard , they caused quite a buzz when she publicly dissed her new record label and the misogynistic treatment she was receiving from their reps ! it’s no wonder they remind me of long rants in the notes app being posted to her twitter account , empty bottles of wine laying at recording studios’ floors & notebooks upon notebooks filled with lyrics she might never use but refuses to let go of .

well hello human friends !! n also hello to the non human friends too , wassup . i’m angie a dumb noodle from the middle of the south american jungle , and i’m here to introduce yall to this mess i call blue who’s a muse i have had for yrs now n carry w/ me wherever i go , with some minimal changes but she’s still the same messy bitch on the inside don’t worry folks ! so i will provide u w/ some background info on her n some possible connections under the cut . issa lil messy but we’ve been away for a while pls bear w me

blue is the only daughter to a couple of south korean immigrants that came to america when they were in their very early 20s n already expecting blue in order to chase the american dream n create a better life for themselves n their family . their life was pretty hard for a big part of blue’s childhood , while they were both studying n working odd jobs to pay for their education all the while taking care of a child . so blue didnt have the best childhood , not that her parents were bad or anything they just didnt have time for her . nowadays , they are a lot more comfortable in life , since her dad became a lawyer n her mom is a nurse , but they definitely didnt have an easy beginning .

ok so maybe bc they werent present durant most of her childhood they didnt notice a lol of signs that might have made things a lot easier for them , bc by the time they were available to emotionally be there , during her early teenage years , blue was already kinda a mess . she had grown up w very lil structure n refused the rules they tried to instill on her n was already used to doing things her own way . that lead to a lot of conflict between them , since they expected her to study hard n do well for herself in a nine to fiver when she was already sure art was the only way to go n while she did ok , she definitely wasn’t as good as her parents expected her to be .

so ... u know her teenage yrs were basic girl angsty she fought a lot w her parents n rebelled frequently n ran away from home like ... weekly , but she never rly had any real hardships . life was reasonably good but she always had something to complain abt ... just as she liked

[ MENTAL ILLNESS TW ]

but then she reached her late teens they all realized there was something going on other than the usual teenage angst she displayed all the time when she had her first manic episode . her parents thought it was a “ blue thing “ at first bc she was usually a very impulsive person n she rly didn’t have a habit of thinking before acting on her impulses , but her mom quickly noticed the signs of a manic episode when she realized how aggitated n restless she was , specially when blue described an hallucination she seemed to be having . they took her to a psychiatrist , she was admitted to a hospital n diagnosed w type 1 bipolar disorder n very quickly medicated . while the medication brought her out of her episode , n she was allowed to go home after her mood seemed to stabilize , blue also noticed it stunted her severely emotionally n decided ( against medical n parental advice [ pls dont do it fam !! take ur meds ] ) to quit her medication , falling into her first major depressive episode a few weeks afterwards . n for abt four years she’s been living w her disorder , n she doesn’t medicate at all . she’s super open abt her struggles n she has a Lot of them , specially w how much drugs n alcohol she consumes . i never said she was smart yall .

[ END OF TW ]

ok so as u probably assume , blue is an emotional mess . she has a very chaotic personality , n most of it isnt even from her illness or anything she just is a very chaotic person in general ? she is one of those artsy ppl who forgets to wash her own clothes so she ends up wearing the same dress for like , 3 days . she’s super outspoken n outgoing n rly easy at making friends if u can get past the dumbass energy she exudes 24/7 ? but yes just a very outgoing person n a outright mess most of the time . she is also soooo stubborn u will never get her to change her mind abt smth she believes to be right about in any way . u just cant . she loves a good time n loves partying n is the lack of impulse Queen soo if u got any bad ideas she is the one u should go for if u need any company . also .... so dramatic . she makes a big deal of everything n has 0 apologies abt that . just catch her crying over high school musical 3 or smth like that .

but yea on the bad side tho , blue takes up n gives up on projects so easily n she can be super fickle abt things in general . like , she will defend an idea for 7 hours but 2 days later she’s already onto smth else n doesnt even remember being so obsessive abt that other thing ? a mess . is also Quite abrasive ? if she thinks ur acting dumb shes not gonna be scared to call u out on it . can also have a Reaally explosive temper . not usually but specially during manic episodes she can be quite easy to annoy ngl . is very unreliable , especially if ur not too close .. tbh that is something connected to her disorder . when she’s on a manic episode , she will be too busy planning things she will never get around to doing or painting her entire house or spending 3 days awake n drunk writing 17 songs by herself . n during her depression is very hard to get her to do anything n even if she feels terrible , she rly cant be an available friend .

in regards to her sexuality , she’s an open bisexual and also is a crazy romantic n falls so hard for literally no reason . but like ... doesnt have the healthiest mentality for relationships ? not like in a toxic way but she will usually give 145% of herself at all times n honestly believes all of the ppl she falls for are the one (1) just wants to make things work no matter what . she’s v impulsive�� w/ meeting n falling for ppl tho so things dont rly end up working n she always ends up heartbroken over it . Well . At least she’s trying right ?

in regards to her career n art , she’s posted youtube covers n original songs for a couple years and gathered a decent following ? she wasnt huge or anything but she did get a record deal w an actual big label out of it a few months ago . blue was pretty happy abt it but then when the recording process started she realized they werent treating her as she thought she deserved at all ? which resulted on her taking her thoughts to some reps of the label n when she didn’t feel any difference in the way she was being treated she took it to the public ? which definitely caused quite a sitr bc she wasn’t a huge name but she was big enough ? so now she’s in some considerable trouble w her label but Also more famous than ever so they are choosing not to bury her for now ? she’s in some definite trouble though so it’ll be fun to see what happens next n what her moves will be ? spoiler alert : it’ll prob be smth dumb.

i still have so much to say but i’m so lazy wow . dont start ur intros so close to opening time folks thats my tip as an old internet auntie . OK SO ONTO SOME CONNECTIONS NOW

some label mates who she may or may not get along with ?

hookups !! she prob has a few she regrets too bc who doesnt am i right

best friends !! ppl who actually support her n she loves w no restrictions just love all around friends

exes </3 not gonna lie i have some sad ideas abt this one

good influence bc blue is a mess she needs one of those pls someone slap her head n make her drink some water

a fling she has feelings for but may not be requited ... i like my romantic connections to be angsty did yall notice

artistic soulmate !! someone her artistic bitch side just vibes with ? could be a songwriter or singer or anything tbh

some indecisive romantic shit where blue rly knows sh’s too messy n this person is too amazing ? but they still have feels so ... now what ?

this is p mcuh it ?? it has taken so long to finish this i hate myself but HEY if u like blue or dislike her u should hit me up so we can come up w some plot ideas ? i wish i had a quirky goodbye idea but my brain has just quit working guys so u get nothing from me other than a good old fashioned goodbye thanks for ur attention i love u

#cala.intro #sometimes i surprise even myself w how unorganized i can be #i am sorry this is so messy im trying to keep it on brand tm #also i cant believe i actually finished this

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medea10 · 5 years ago

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My Review of Fushigi Yugi

#fushigi yuugi #fushigi yugi #miaka yuuki #yui hongo #tamahome #hotohori #nuriko #mitsukake #chichiri #chiriko #taisuke #nakago #mayo sakaki

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writingonjorvik · 5 years ago

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Can We Discuss A New Housing System?

Ok, so if you remember playing SSO around the launch of Jorvik City, you know we’ve been teased for a proper housing system for a while now. Some of you may still have some furniture (arguable) in your inventories and closets like myself. It’s also one of the most popular feature requests right now from players, as least in my polls. But what would an SSO housing system even look like? And how could it be blended into the existing story.

So, obviously, I have some ideas on that, and I going to try blending it into the story, because I think having a “home instance” house kinda situation could be a good way to deliver background story information (like retcons to characters and just passive character building). However, there are a lot of mechanics involved too, so I’ll strive to write about all parts of this equally. And also, this is a HUGE suggestion, but I figure I’d write it out in its fullest so I can get more feedback on the idea too.

I have, however, had some thoughts on the actual questline for this, so I’m going to dabble with writing those as well. They’ll be indented quotes to keep it clear. But I want to have the story itself lead, so I’ll start with quotes and expand after into the individual ideas as they show up. So here we go.

I imagine you’d get a general quest notification for this to start, just on your map. I’m going to put it at level 18 unlock, or after the service at Doyle’s Abbey. I think this makes a good late game initiative, and a project to work on while waiting on quests, since you do also have your current home stable as a temporary housing space.

Baroness: Player, I have a task for you of the utmost importance.

Quest Accept

Good! I expected nothing less from you. Now, to the matter at hand. I own a small piece of land that recently has...seen less use. Have you heard of Horse Island? It’s a lovely place. Originally it had been opened to help local stables in Jorvik keep their horses active during the off-seasons when many of our campers go home.

However, when talented craftsmen John started to move to Jorvik, many stableowners hired him to update their own barns. You may have as well. While I certainly appreciate his work with my stables here, I have to admit that his arrival was effectively the closure of Horse Island.

And that’s the problem. I can’t leave the island alone as is. There are a number of structures there and I would like to reopen it as a park. Or I have another offer for you.

Quest End.

Baroness: Would you like to hear my offer, Player?

Quest Accept

My family and I owe a great deal to you. You’ve been beyond helpful here at my vineyard and with my son’s stables, you’ve been...discrete about my ex-husband, and you brought my grandson home. Some might even consider these deeds exemplary. My title as a Baroness may be more formal than my ancestors, but I can recognize a hero of Jorvik when I see one.

It’s not an easy gift, but I would like to gift Horse Island to you. However, if you accept this gift, then there are some requirements you’ll have to meet to live there, much less your horses. Like I said, the island has been all but abandoned and will need some serious repairs before anyone can live there safely.

Quest End.

Baroness: Are you interested?

Quest Accept

Wonderful. Then the deed is yours. I have a ferry chartered for you and an associate to head to Horse Island to begin repairs. You’ll find them in New Hillcrest.

Quest End.

(Item Get: Island Deed)

Now, this doesn’t mean you’ve unlocked Horse Island as a home stable yet, but you do own it. This would unlock a first stage of the housing process, where it’s pretty much unusable outside of building it. Your current home stable would still be your home stable until it reaches “Stage Two” so to speak, but you have access to to Horse Island moving forward as a visitable and intractable map.

I’ve made up an NPC for this for fun, but they’re basically going to become your bookkeeper for the island, and the hub for updates, info boards, and quests on expanding it. Their name is Aiden (more or less a nod to Aideen and there’s good reason once we get into later stages), a fem-butch presenting young person who kinda doubles as an Isabelle for your island and a construction worker until you bring on John (if you want to). They have a Clydesdale (I like the dapple rose grey for them) named Amber.

Upon arriving in New Hillcrest:

Aiden: Oh, you must be Player. The Baroness told me you were coming. Me? I’m Aiden. I’ll be helping you get Horse Island back on its hooves.

Player 1: Nice to meet you. What do you know about Horse Island?

Player 2: Huh, you’re a little young for contractor.

Aiden: You won’t meet anyone who knows Horse Island better than me. It’s why the Baroness asked me to help. My parents used to work there, taking care of horses. Grew up on the island myself. I learned everything I know from them, plus a double major in college. If anyone can help you get this island back to a living condition, it’s me.

You ready to get going?

Quest Accept

Aiden: Good, let’s get a move on.

Quest End.

At this point, you actually reach the island. It’ll start with the original island design, a tropical/Hawaii style island (can we discuss Jorvik’s biodiversity later, actually), though this is ideally something that you’ll be able to change. If it doesn’t start with this design, I think it should be an optional biome as a reference for long term players from when Horse Island was around before.

At release of it, I’d think Horse Island should just be one island, but eventually I think adding additional smaller islands would be a good way to continue expanding the island and adding options to its development, while still keeping the theme of the overall island.

The main island has three parts: a small village kinda area with a broken down barn and buildings, three big paddocks, and a trail area. If this carries over functionality from the current home stable system, then this would be a great way to have private trail rides/races you could make, with each biome having a slightly different layout of the three main areas, but we haven’t gotten to that yet.

After you arrive, there’s a ferry point you can unlock that will rotate to South Hoof and New Hillcrest (really like the ferry system and I think it should be expanded), as well as a trailer/boat to transport back to Jorvik. On arrival, there’s not a lot you can do outside of explore, though it should be incredibly difficult since the island is incredibly damaged and hasn’t been maintained.

After arrival, Aiden will wait for you by the ferry to continue the quests.

Aiden: Aideen, the place has seen better days. Sad to see it like this. But, no time like the present. We’d better get to work. Well, Player, you’re in charge here. Want to scout out the damage?

Quest Accept

Aiden: Alright, follow me.

Aiden leads on a loop around the island to the major points. Following dialogue should be overlayed as you reach each location to keep the ride going.

Aiden: The beaches used to pretty open. There are other islands around here too. Maybe once we get things set up, I can look into some boats to visit other islands. Long ways off though.

Ah, this forest used to be so fun to ride through. I remember having friends over and building races through the woods together. Maybe we can get it cleaned up and open it again for you and your friends.

These paddocks need a lot of work. Don’t worry though. Once we can get them patched back up, they can hold, ten, twenty horses at a time. We can start small and build them out.

This place used to be filled with life. My parents and I used to live over there. Might be a good idea to get some cabins set up first. I’m fine camping until we do though. Supposing you’re fine headed back to mainland for some food.

With just you here, I don’t think we’d need a lot of shops. Same time, I’d like to see folks living here again. Maybe a few shops, open the place for tourists. That is, if you don’t mind people in your backyard.

That’s the biggest building on the island. I know it’s not mansion, but it should be a comfortable lodge once we finish with it. Nice place to hang your hat at least.

Last stop. This barn is going to need a lot of work. Come on, let’s clear out a stall for Amber and Player’s Horse.”

Quest End.

At this point, the farm opens up a lot of quests Rescue Ranch style, where you can pick up to-do’s from Aiden and then go do them like dailies. Some should be limited to make it feel like you’re making progress over a few days, but until you get to Stage Two of the island, I definitely think you should be able to grind through some smaller quests to make the island livable relatively easily.

I do also really like the idea of adding a Harvest Moon-esque gifting system for foods. I think this could be a good way to test a potential trading system while also delivering on more character development and a use for food. It’ll work on the same kind of system as Harvest Moon, where NPCs have favorite foods and hated foods, but it’ll mark in your journal as you go which is which. Giving Aiden food they like will reset daily tasks for the island as well as build your relationship with them. Eventually once the island is in a later stage, other NPCs can come visit and you can gift them foods too to get bonus dialogue and quests.

The first to-do you get is to go into the stable and clear out two stalls. Aiden will idle around the stable, but each time you interact with something in the stable, they’ll move to the next location and work on hammering walls or sweeping as you go until the to-do is done. Finishing this will also open a caring location on the island.

Aiden: That’s already better. Don’t have to sleep in the rain anymore. Now, there’s a lot to do, so let’s talk about a few of the more important projects.

Quest Accept

Well, to start we need to get some houses built. One for you, one for me. I don’t mind camping, but this is Jorvik. Weather can be all over the place. Next, we need to make a space for any other horses you want to have on the island. The barn should be our next goal. I think those are two good projects to start. Come talk to me and I’ll let you know what you can do to help.

Quest End.

This is Stage One of the island. It’s about building the most basic of necessities; your house, Aiden’s house, and the barn. I think dailies should add big chunks to the progress bars, but there should also be smaller to-dos to speed up the process if you want to grind through it. There’s already going to be a lot of money sink into this island, so Stage One to-dos are either clearing spaces, repairing walls, or gathering wood from the forest (this won’t clear it). There’s no shillings or SC required, though once you’re halfway through this stage, Aiden will let you know that they’ve gotten in touch with a suppler that you can order supplies from, much like the shop for building the bridge to the Harvest Counties, to speed up construction.

At the end of Stage One, you’ll get another quest from Aiden.

Aiden: Now this is starting to feel a little more settled. It’s definitely not the island I remember. Don’t think Horse Island fits it anymore. How about giving it a new name?

Quest Accept

Prompt: Name the island using a naming thing like club naming system. If you don’t want to name it, it’ll either stay as Horse Island or as your Player’s name’s Island (i.e. Amelie Eveningstorm’s Island).

Aiden: Hm? Island Name? Yeah, I think that’ll do. Alright Player, Island Name it is. I think it’s time you can call this place home.

Quest End.

After this, you’ll get a prompt offering for you to set your home stable at your island. Once you do, it becomes your home stable permanently and all other home stables become closed (this would be cool if the stables got a small redesign after for you, but that’s minute). This ends Stage One. The island is a functional home stable. You can go in your barn, which will reflect whatever home stable upgrades you had before hand and work like the home stable does now, though the invite a friend will temporarily disabled. On your island, Aiden will offer to upgrade your stable instead of John unless you hire him later.

So, by the end of Stage One, these are the features you have unlocked:

Caring station

New home stable

Supplies shop

Ferry to South Hoof and New Hill Crest

Trailer point

Ability to rename the island

Inn/hotel (Aiden’s house)

Your house (single room)

Barn customization

House customization

Like I said, this release would mean a lot of new features. I think at least with releasing it in stages, the first/second stages can be released, and then later stages can be released to continue expanding the island. However, no small part of those features should be customization. Stage One unlocks basic customization. We’re not to biome changing yet. Right now you can update the appearance of your barn on the outside, maybe some things on the inside, the exterior of your and Aiden’s house, and the inside of your house with basic furniture. I don’t think your house should ever be that big, maybe like three rooms total, or like start with the size of Herman’s interior, then Dr. Hayden’s interior, and then move up to a two story cabin with a big first floor and a smaller room upstairs. But we’re not there yet either, just the first basic house.

Starting Stage Two:

Aiden: Alright, we’ve got the basics all here, Player. Now we need to start on getting the rest of the island open. This is going to be a lot more work, and there are some permits that we’ll need to pick up, so you may want to pick up a day job while we’re at it. And dinner too. Ready to hear the damage?

Quest Accept

There are three big areas on the island. The village here needs to be restored. I’ll let you decide what buildings you want to put up, but I think opening a few shops and having some private classes eventually might be a good start from going in the black on running this place. Yeah, you’re going to need to pay me eventually to keep working you know. I’m kidding. I’ve got room and board. But why don’t we start with some shops here. Could get some tack sold for your horses, clothes with your name all over it, and food for the horses.

Next is the forest area. There are plenty of good trails in the area, we just need to get them opened up again. After that, I can build some jumps for you and we can set up courses to train the horses. Good idea to keep them active. I’m no professional like yourself, but I could probably lend a hand there. Or you can use the trails we make to ride with rides. Your call, after we finish.

Then there are the paddocks. We have a small one here in the village, but I’d like to have that for training. No, I want to fix up the bigger ones down the path a bit. Good place to let the horses have some time outside. Like I said, let’s start small and get all of the paddocks fixed up enough to have ten or so horses in there first, then we can talk about expanding them for more.

There are a few other odds and ends that could use some work. The beach could use some cleaning up. If you do, we can expand the docks for more tourists to come visit, or to come practice their riding here if you still want to do lessons. Need to hire someone for that. You’ll also be able to visit some of our island neighbors if you like. Might be a good change of pace, or you’ll get some inspirations.

Oh, and I have some ideas on how to expand your house. Let me know if you want to make it bigger.

Quest End.

At which point, Stage Two starts and all of these dailies and to-dos become options to start working on. Now, it should be important to say that I think the shilling limit should be removed because any projects moving forward need a “permit” to start. It’s basically a shilling sink to give more purpose to collecting them in game (still with Star Coin options, but definitely with shilling options too), though they would start low (1,000 shillings for the food stall as an example) and build up to higher prices based on the benefits. So things like the food stall and expanding the docks to make your island visitable will be relatively cheap, but things where you can make money, like from the training options and stores, will be a little more because you get a return on them. After you buy a permit, you’ll get dailies and to-dos to actually build it, ranging from a day to a week to build without buying extra supplies.

Now, let’s dive into some of these features. Shops I think should sell very basic tack and clothing, but I do think a basic icon system would be great where you can generate an icon (pick a background, foreground, and a symbol with your island name beneath it from a list of presets). Other players should be able to come to your island and buy these too, which is one of the ways you can make money back, as any part of the shillings, and even Star Coins, you make from people buying on your stores should come back to you. I think this balances out with how many players there are playing SSO, but it could always use fine-tuning to decide what that ratio is.

The island would also have some basic customization, like preset locations where you could slot in different styles of buildings, benches, plants, so on. I don’t think a full drag and drop system would work with SSO on a large scale, maybe just in your house, but I do think there should be some options you can put in places to make it feel customized, or on a basic grid system.

Aiden will train your horses (a max of five a day, randomly selected from non-maxed horses) for about a 1000 exp a day once you restore the forest area. Additionally, you’ll unlock a race that you can build. I think this should be pretty simple, with preset slots where you can put in jumps and turns along an existing course and set of pathways. The more jumps you buy, either in quantity or quality, and put in, the more exp you get from the race. Additionally, other players visiting your island can pay shillings to get that exp themselves for their horses. Another way to make money. The race would also be open for free to just go on the leaderboards, where you could optionally put in a sum of money every day for the winner for people who pay to enter.

Additionally, once you get the forest restored, Aiden will also offer to restore the paddock in town to make dressage, jumping, or western events which can be set up much the same way. You can buy extra course boards to swap out all three tracks and make them available like the cross-country tracks as well, or maybe build another paddock for it.

The horse paddocks are really just for a fan-favorite request, having open paddocks to see all your horses. There are three paddocks on the island to start, and once they’re repaired you can have ten horses in each, and then twenty once you expand them. I imagine that there could be a number of pathing loops you could set your horses on, and they’ll just walk around or stand in the paddocks on those preset tracks to make it look a little more active. It would be cool too if any horses not in your stables would be rotated into the paddocks at random every day.

Beach repair is small and should be pretty quick. It opens up letting people visit you and you to visit other islands with another dock. That’s about it. I’m debating whether you should be able to see other people on your island if it’s a random person visiting you, but eh. Guess that’s up in the air. It may have to be mandatory because of systems.

And making the house bigger I already covered, so I’ll skip it for now.

So, by the end of Stage Two, you should have these features:

Caring station

New home stable

Supplies shop

Ferry to South Hoof and New Hill Crest

Trailer point

Ability to rename the island

Inn/hotel (Aiden’s house)

Your house (double room)

Barn customization

House customization

Village customization

Race maker

Horse food stand

Cafe

Tack shop

Clothing shop

Training paddock

Expanded docks

Horse paddocks

Horse trainer (Aiden)

It’s also at this point that some NPCs will start to come visit you and that gifting system will open up further.

Now, Stage Three:

Aiden: This place has really come back to life. Can’t believe how much it’s changed. Thanks, Player, for letting me be a part of it. Means a lot.

From here on out, the projects I got for you are just to make Island Name better. Add some ease of access for you and our guests. Let me know when you want to discuss the details.

Quest Accept.

Great! Well, we could use a vet for starters. No one’s hurt, but hate to see something happen and not be able to handle it. Also, with you working all day, it would be nice to have another hand taking care of the horses. I know Maya’s offered to help. Maybe make it more permanent than what she does now. Oh, and someone to train the horses better. I don’t mind working a few every day, but I’m not a professional. Might be able to run things faster if we had someone here.

If you don’t mind, I’d like to build a space for myself. I know it’s not my island, but I’d appreciate a space. I can’t be here running the place all the time, so a garden or something to unwind would be nice. What do you mean that’s still work?

Oh, I saw this spot on the back end of the island. Might be a good training spot for your druid business. Yeah, I know about that. Don’t worry, stays on the island.

I got another blueprint for your house too, so let me know if you want to add anything else.

Let me know when you’re ready to get started.

Quest End.

Stage Three is about building convenient functionality on the island. Most of these are straight forward. You get a vet, an upgraded version of Stable Care (either cheaper, bigger blocks of time, or you can buy with shillings, if not just permanently hire Maya), and there’s a secret area only you and people in your party can enter, more or less to be used for a training area with druid magic, supposing something like a mastery system was added, but it could also just be used to expand existing druid training. There could be some other easy additions like a notary for changing horse names, access to the Lifetime store, and a riding club point.

There was some discussion in the WOJ Discord about changing the daily care system so that instead of constantly having to care for your horses, you build bond with your horse while leveling them, and it’s permanently at max after that as a meter of how close you are instead of health. If that’s the case, I think Maya could still be there to increase bond for you, supposing you could hire a trainer separately to skip levels, maybe bond is related to caring for the horse, which Maya would handle? I dunno. This system is designed around the system as is.

The build for Aiden is just to be nice. There’s no bonus for it, it just builds an area of Aiden.

At the end of Stage Three, you’ll have:

Caring station

New home stable

Supplies shop

Ferry to South Hoof and New Hill Crest

Trailer point

Ability to rename the island

Inn/hotel (Aiden’s house)

Your house (second story)

Barn customization

House customization

Village customization

Race maker

Horse food stand

Cafe

Tack shop

Clothing shop

Training paddock

Expanded docks

Horse paddocks

Horse trainer (Aiden & regular trainer)

Vet

Updated Stable Care

New area for Aiden

Secret druid space

Notary

Access to Lifetime store

Riding Club Master

Stage Four is kinda my last full stage idea and it focused on opening the island up to future expansions easily by adding magic options. I think crafting would go hand in hand with SSO, and particularly this entire system. Further stages could be able adding functionality to that kind of system, like opening gardens to farming supplies for crafting, but for now, I’ll leave that up in the air and focus on just this last stage with what we have in game right now.

Aiden: This is turning into a real destination, isn’t it, Player? Almost magic to see how much this place has changed since we started on it. Hey, speaking of magic, I have an idea.

Quest Accept

Aiden: Listen, I know you and your friends are, uh, magical. I mean, this whole island gives you away, if you ask me, but I’ve also seen your friends around. And I know about the druids. Not going to tell or anything, but I want to help if I can with that business. Seems important.

Now, what if we brought some of that here to Island Name. Might help set us apart. I can cover up any of it that matters to our guests, like that secret space we have already, but maybe we could expand it a little for your friends. Use it to change up the island, add some more space. Up to you. Let me know if you want to get started.

Quest End.

Stage Four adds a lot of magic to the island, and it also is the ground work for future updates. It’s finally at Stage Four we get that biome changer I talked about, as well as the option to form more islands, which you can add more functions to later. I think a lot of druid things can be added at this point, like portals to the Secret Stonering and Pandoria, as well as a magic race mode to the cross-country race like what we have in the Cloud Kingdom.

It also would be cool at this point if you could have a library you could build to reference lore material we’ve collected, which would probably be pretty useful for quests moving forward.

It feels like Evergray, Avalon, or Rhiannon should step in for this stage, if not all of them for different features to help with the magic parts. Personally, and if it’s not obvious by the podcast, I really like these three characters for building the druids out as an order, and I think this would be a good way to develop some of the druids’ recovery stage, as well as our powers as the PC.

In total, the features Stage Four would end with are:

Caring station

New home stable

Supplies shop

Ferry to South Hoof and New Hill Crest

Trailer point

Ability to rename the island

Inn/hotel (Aiden’s house)

Your house (second story)

Barn customization

House customization

Village customization

Race maker

Horse food stand

Cafe

Tack shop

Clothing shop

Training paddock

Expanded docks

Horse paddocks

Horse trainer (Aiden & regular trainer)

Vet

Updated Stable Care

New area for Aiden

Secret druid space

Notary

Access to Lifetime store

Riding Club Master

Portals

Library

Biome changer

Island additions

Magic race mode

Connections to main story (optional)

And that’s...everything for now, I think? That’s a lot, but this feature would be massive and I wanted to go really in depth with it even if I couldn’t make graphics this time around like with the masteries. I think it’s still really important that SSO is combating price bloat in the game, and this might be a good way to change that up by giving shillings more of a use. Generally, I wanted to design it around the ideas of end game content for players looking for a reason to get on SSO more, and also to create more player made content to continue that idea.

So, yeah. What are y’all’s thoughts on a system like this?

#sso #star stable #starstable #star stable online #starstableonline #woj analysis

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journal-of-an-outlaw · 5 years ago

Text

Price to be Paid - Chapter 8

Friends in Low Places

Words: 3,826

The next day was the livestock con that John had been planning for weeks. He and Arthur rode off into the hills to steal the flock and bring it back into town to sell as their own.

Dutch watched his boys ride off while he smoked a cigar, and Hosea walked up to join him. “What a time we’ve had, eh Dutch?” Dutch claspsed Hosea on the shoulder, hanging on and reminiscing on their past adventures. “What a wild ride we have been through.”

“Hopefully, my friend, our running days will soon be over. Just one more big one with good money and we are free. Then we can get our people to a safe home, like they deserve.”

Lenny called you over to Pearson’s workstation. “YN! Teach me how to skin this rabbit, I know Arthur taught you so you oughta be good.” You laughed and rolled your sleeves up, “Thanks, Lenny. Alright. Let’s get to work. You want to know the first thing Arthur asked me when I wanted to learn how to do this?”

“What’s that?”

Acting grumpy with hunched shoulders you replied, “You sure you wanna get blood all over your dress?” Lenny bust up laughing while you impersonated the rugged man. “Damn fool didn’t see I was holding a knife five feet from him but still had the nerve to say it! Right after I shot a deer clean through the heart, too."

Lenny laughed again while you began to teach him the Arthur Morgan way of skinning a rabbit. Every once in awhile he would ask you a question by impersonating Arthur and the two of you fell apart on the wooden table. He was a bright kid, and really nineteen was a kid, with a good heart and an infectious laugh.

Jack came up just as the two of you were finishing and asked to pet your horse. Lenny ruffled the kids hair and left you to babysit, heading over to his tent to organize a few things. Jack grabbed your hand and dragged you to your mare.

“She’s pretty, YN! And tall. Not as tall as Uncle Arthur’s horsie, though. I wish I could have one, too.” His mind was everywhere, bouncing from place to place with no time to take a breath in between. Poor kid, four years old and stuck living the outlaw life. No wonder Abigail was so hellbent on getting out before something happened.

He bent down and grabbed a flower to pick, his sights on dainty yellow petals with a white center when Eclipse moved too close. You swung down and grabbed Jack before she could get spooked, and you saw Dutch and Strauss walking up.

They were deep in conversation and almost didn’t notice you.

“Now, Herr Strauss, we are to meet Arthur and John at the saloon after. There’s talk of some big man in town and I intent to get on his good side before we show him a reason to be on his bad, so maybe you just stay quiet then?”

“But Dutch, I still have three loans that need to be collected! That money -”

Dutch interrupted him, yelling in his face, “That money is the only thing keeping us alive! Now why in the hell have you not gone to collect it?”

Her Strauss replied meekly, “I asked Arthur but he never had the time.”

Dutch ran his hand down his face and noticed you there. “YN, it’s time to learn another skill, my dear. When Arthur gets back from town, go with him to collect those debts so generously given by Herr Strauss. The two of you should get on just fine.”

You nodded and moved Jack closer to your hip, afraid the loud voices would frighten the child. Herr Strauss handed you three loan sheets which you tucked away in your satchel for later. Jack simply continued to play with the colorful flower in his hands until he held it out to the approaching Abigail as a present for simply being there.

The tent you called home had built up a small collection of outfits, guns, and various other objects during your months at Horseshoe Creek. It was small but cozy. You even had a proper blanket now made from the skin of a cougar you hunted not too long ago.

After you flopped down to the small bedroll, you grabbed the book you had been devouring most recently after swapping with Hosea. He had gotten you invested in a crime series and had given you the latest last night after finishing it himself, of course, and was bursting to discuss it so you promised to be quick. The sunlight was still filtering in warmly and you left the flaps of the tent open for fresh air to accompany you on your journey to another life. Precious few things brought you the pleasure like reading did.

Later in the day, Hosea himself stuck his head in your tent. “How are you getting on, YN? Hiding from Grimshaw so you can get through more of that book?”

You jumped as the voice ripped you from the pages, but quickly laughed at how eager Hosea was for you to read. “I’m trying! Doesn’t help I can hear her scream every few minutes. But this book, Hosea...it’s so -”

The end of that sentence was never finished as Grimshaw had finally found you. “I should have known you would have something to do with this, Hosea! YN! Get that lazy Blackwater ass out here to help with the laundry."

Hosea looked sheepish at having given you away but you smiled and promised to read again later, then followed Grimshaw while she continued to chew you out.

Sadie Adler was finally cleaned up and dressed with the other girls who were doing the laundry in the middle of camp. Buckets of sudsy water sloshed around as item after item were dunked, scrubbed, and passed to the next. You joined in after Mary-Beth and before Sadie.

“Nice to see you out and about, Mrs. Adler! Feelin’ better?” She smiled back and her eyes were clear for the first time since you’d met her. “A bit, miss. Working to see what livin’ is about now. You fine people took me in, time to do my share. Although I ain’t choppin’ no vegetables no more with that man, about ready to chop him up too.”

The girls chattered as the laundry eventually finished up, and everything was hung up to dry. You grabbed the last few pieces to hang on the line when a hand snaked out to grab yours.

“You got anything special in there to show me, YN?"

Michah had found you again and hid behind the colorful array so no one could see him.

“Jesus, Michah. You got nothin’ better to do than stalk me doin’ laundry? Leave me alone, I ain’t got nothing to entertain with you.”

He smirked and moved closer, “Oh girly, I got some entertaining you could do. Just give me a few hours.” His hand rubbed the back of yours, mocking the memory you had of Arthur comforting you and you shook him off violently. Irritation and rage began to pump from your heart and spread across your chest.

“I don’t want anymore time with you than necessary, thank you.” He didn’t seem to mind the constant rejection, and in fact it seemed to make him pursue you more.

“‘Thank you?’ Always so kind,” he sneered at you. “YN. One of these days you’re gonna have to learn how to be a real outlaw and toughen up.”

“Only a damn fool mistakes kindness for weakness, Mr. Bell. Strength don’t come from the lack of love or compassion in a heart,” you snapped back.

He was unimpressed with your outburst. You were just hoping he had lost interest when he said, “You book folk are so boring. Always full of words. I prefer action. You know where to find me once you wisen up. And girl, I sure hope you do.” The clothing on the drying line parted as Michah smacked them out of his path. You rolled your eyes and picked up the empty basket to bring back to Grimshaw and prove your chores were done.

That afternoon was when true chaos began. The sound of horses thundering into camp made everyone stand to attention as Dutch, Arthur, John, and Strauss rode in looking extremely shaken from Valentine. All of them were dishevelled and covered in dirt. Abigail rushed over as John jumped from his horse and said something to her. She nodded and left for their shared tent to begin throwing things in their tent. Dutch grabbed Hosea and moved to his tent, retelling everyone what happened.

“Our time in Valentine has come to an untimely end! Leviticus Cornwall and his band of thugs met us outside the saloon and things did not end well for them. It’s time for us to pack up and leave this area, what with Pinkerton’s breathing down our necks and Cornwall comin’ to find us. Ms. Grimshaw, Mr. Pearson, if you please! Get this place packed up while we look for a new spot.” Everyone began to move, you rushed to your tent and began throwing everything into the few bags you had bought and rolled the bedding up to make it easier to carry.

Hosea sat with Dutch as Arthur approached, and was none too happy about the current situation. “So, we keep heading east. Is that the plan?”

“For now.”

“And when do we stop? When we reach Paris?” Hosea exclaimed sarcastically.

“Oh that’d be nice, and join the Commune? We stop when we find someplace sensible, shake them that’s following us and lie low.” Dutch countered. It felt like an age old argument, with Hosea thinking legit scams were the way to go, and Dutch wanting one last big score to blow the others out of the water.

Hosea put his face into his hands, “And this is lying low? We’ve turned into a bunch of killers, I mean it.”

Dutch sat up straighter. “Sometimes, survival means having only one choice. We have to take it, or lose everything we’ve worked towards.”

Hosea threw his hands up, fed up with not feeling safe in his own home and stormed out of Dutch’s tend. Arthur moved closer to the older man to get a better look at the map he was studying.

“Michah told me of a place we can lie low. Dewberry Creek, he said. Maybe you and Charles can go take a look, clear off anyone you find before the whole lot of us move in.” Dutch pointed at the spot and Arthur nodded.

“Looks like I’ve turned into the Goddamned errand boy,” while walking away.

Dutch stood as tall as you’ve seen him, chest puffed with pride. “You have turned into my son, you worry because I worry. We are just the same!” Before Arthur got too far, Dutch yelled again, “Arthur! And when you return you and Miss Moore have some debts to collect on behalf of Herr Strauss. We’ll see how things are when you’re back from scouting.”

Arthur and Charles left shortly after that, not expecting to be gone more than a few hours. While they were out riding free, Ms. Grimshaw saw that every single one of the girls was sweating away, cleaning and packing and washing and sorting. All these damn men and not a single one could pack the knives away correctly.

Abigail and John were struggling to get everything done with Jack running around, so you offered after your tent was packed to take care of him. The fighting didn’t stop, but at least the kid was out of the way and not there to see it.

Jack took your hand and wanted to go see the river one last time. You wondered if he really understood why you were moving so constantly, and the past few months you had two camps. To a four year old that’s a lot of life changes.

He found a blue flower and tried to braid it into your hair, making you both giggle. It matched the shirt that Mary-Beth finally got around to make for you. A light blue that played with your dark features beautifully, and she even made some lace designs to fancy it up. You loved that shirt and were ecstatic when she gave it to you a week ago.

“I want a flower too, YN,” Jack whined when you sat down for a moment. “Of course, Jack, what color you reckon?” He contemplated it, then decided on yellow. The two of you set off to wander the small field for a yellow flower.

“Here! Help me put it in my hair.” Jack loved flowers in hair and his own was no exception. This fascination with flowers was interesting to you, but when you asked he only shrugged and said something about Abigail loving them too.

A few hours later, Charles came riding down the slope. “YN! Arthur is waiting for you back at camp, or what’s left of it. Want me to give you two a ride up?”

Jack shook his head, so the two of you walked next to Tamia while Charles chatted about the new campsite he had found.

“The site Michah told us about already had people there, a dried up old creek bed. Would have been fine, but it’s hard to settle so many folks on uneven ground. Poor German lady and her two kids were there, hiding out under a wagon. While we went out riding to find her missing husband we found this perfect spot by a lake. Huge, even field hidden by trees. I can see us hiding there a long while.”

He looked calm about the whole ordeal and happy about the new site.

“What happened to him?” You asked suddenly.

“Who? Oh, the husband. Arthur took him back to his wife and we met up as we was coming back near Valentine. The family is alright,” he smiled down at you, the worry leaving your face.

“Just like to know they were safe is all!” You said a bit too defensively, but laughed at yourself.

Arthur was leaning against the last wagon as it was being packed up. Charles waved to you and carried Jack up to meet Abigail and John leading the wagon, then left to lead the caravan off to the new campsite.

“Guess it’s just you and me then, huh?” He took the last puff of a cigarette, then threw it out into the grass. “Guess so, Mr. Morgan.”

“How many damn times you gonna keep calling me that?” he growled.

“Sorry. Arthur,” he waved his hand, signalling his indifference. “Now, Her Strauss gave us three people to collect from, are we gonna be able to do that all in one afternoon?”

“Hope so. All locals, just need to get them talking quickly. Need be we can camp and head to the new site tomorrow.”

“With what? Most of my supplies just left,” you motioned to your things now rolling away in the last caravan and out of sight. The few supplies attached to Eclipse were nothing compared to what had just left you. Arthur swore and moved to get on his horse, “Then we best get this done fast. It’s already late and the first one’s an hour ride.”

Eclipse kept up with Zeus, Arthur’s dark bay stallion, well during the journey. She was a little headstrong and sometimes didn’t respond to you right away, causing Arthur to take the lead in case she decided to jump off a bridge or something like that.

Talking was infrequent. Arthur turned out to be more of a focused and quiet rider. You found out he also liked to read, though not like Hosea. He shared many qualities with the older man but was still inexplicably drawn more to Dutch. They were both hot headed with a sense of leadership, and Hosea was more about playing things safe. Arthur had a healthy dose of each and the influence was easy to see in just about everything he did.

The first stop was a man named Chick Matthews. As you rode up, one of the hands told you Chick was out around the barn tending to his horse. The moment he spotted the two of you riding up he jumped on and galloped away, which was a shocking sight.

“Arthur! I’ll head up over the ridge to his right, I think I see a bridge up ahead. You go right after him and let’s see who can get there first. Heya!” Without waiting for him to respond you kicked Eclipse into a full gallop after the little man. She ran fast and strong, but Chick had a good head start and it took a bit of corralling to catch up. In the distance you could hear him taunting Arthur for being too slow and old, and you can only imagine the rage boiling on his face. They came up to a train that you had bypassed by going up above when Arthur managed to lasso that fool straight to the ground.

Once knocked down he coughed and sputtered like an idiot.

“Look, look, I got the money...but it’s hidden. Untie me and I’ll tell you where it’s at.”

You rode up just as Arthur finished hog tying the man, throwing a punch or two for making you both chase him so far. This may be your fist debt collecting but you wouldn’t let him abuse the man. As he pulled back to hit him again you grabbed his arm.

“Arthur! Let the man talk, for heaven’s sake. He’s got the money.” Arthur looked at your concerned face incredulously. “Miss Moore, this country round here is full of idiots. Look at this one here,” he kicked his boot against Chicks lightly. “Now see, he doesn’t think we know about what’s in his pockets so why don’t you empty them out for me?”

Pick pocketing was better than beating, so you leaned down to see what he was hiding. An old carrot, a cigarette card, and a map leading you right to the money were all you found.

The map was incredibly simple. One bridge and a tree were all that were on it, and you looked down at Chick. “I may now want to hit you sir, for this is surely the dumbest map I have ever seen. Where the hell does it even start?”

He smiled a gap toothed grin up at you. “See Miss! That’s the best part. No one knows it but me.” At that Arthur delivered another kick to his stomach, hard and fast. “Tell me where the damn money is!”

“Fine! Okay, Jesus. Head north and turn left at the Old Creek Bridge, it’s the tree closest there.”

Arthur nodded and moved towards Zeus. “YN, you take that sack of shit back to the ranch and I’ll meet you once I have collected Mr. Matthews’ debt. You try any funny business with her, and you’ll wish all I’d done was break some ribs of yours,” and took off.

Chick starred up at Eclipse. “Gee, Miss, I ain’t never ridden behind on a horse before. And never with a woman!” You rolled your eyes and loaded him up behind you.

True to his word Chick Matthews put up no fuss heading back. He pointed out some of his favorite land features and asked you to walk into town more than once. You politely declined, but you knew he didn’t mean any harm. Arthur finally rode up with a bag, showing you the cash then tucking it safely away in his satchel. The two of you were off to victim number two, Mr. Wrobel.

The Polish man lived at a farm called Painted Sky, and didn’t speak a lick of English. You tried to be soft and comforting but that didn’t seem to go anywhere, so Arthur lumbered in and demanded the return of cash. Wrobel seemed to have nothing, but sadly motioned around his home and let the two of you take enough possessions to equal the amount of the debt. It broke your heart to watch his face, and leaving you could see it troubled Arthur too.

“Why do you do jobs like this if they don’t feel right?” You asked quietly as the two of you mounted your horses for the third and final destination.

Arthur scratched the back of his neck, thinking. “I honestly prefer when they try to run or put up a fight. Don’t feel so bad robbin’ folks who make a point to take advantage of the loan. But those like him? Who need it? Makes me think I’m only out here to grease the wheel so it keeps turning. Folks need money, we lend it, then take it back with interest.”

Finally arriving past dark at Emerald Ridge, the third debtor gave Arthur no hesitation in his approach of getting the money back. Lilly Millet’s boyfriend jumped up and attacked him with a swift uppercut to his jaw and the man drew no pity from you after you heard the way he was berating Lilly.

Lilly grabbed your arm while the two men brawled and made a fuss of it all. Truth be told, it was quite the sight. Both me tall and muscular in build it was an evenly matched fight. After a few quick hits the other man went down, and Arthur stood huffing above him. You definitely understood why he liked the ones who fought him, he looked damn fine doing it.

“Alright, alright! That’s enough. He has everything I gave him, please, just take what he has and go,” Lilly called out to Arthur. To you, she whispered, “You’re a lucky girl to be running with a man like that. Makes mine look like an old rag.” You both looked down to where her man lay unconscious, in the mud. She rolled her eyes and made her way over to get him cleaned up.

Chuckling, you walked over to Arthur. “What’s so funny now?” he asked while stuffing the last of the cash in his satchel.

“Lilly had more on her mind that just debts, I think,” you looked at him suggestively but were met with a blank stare. “Oh, come on Arthur don’t be dense. I think she likes you!” After a beat it clicked and he looked away embarrassed. “Want me to ask if she’s free Friday?” you moved slowly backwards but he grabbed your upper arm lightly. “No! Come on, woman. We best be moving. Probably have to camp halfway back now.” He started Zeus into a slow walk as you jumped up to Eclipse.

“Besides, she ain’t my type anyways. I like brunettes,” and with that he took off galloping, leaving you to watch and race after him.

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kimabutch · 5 years ago

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JLCR: kimabutch edition

To celebrate somehow reaching 1000 songs on Jam Like Critical Role, the giant fan-created playlist that I’ve been curating since February, I’ve decided to put together a mini-playlist of own, featuring two of my favourite songs for each member of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein! Each song has a YouTube link, but you can find the whole mini-playlist on Spotify here.

By mini-playlist I meant that there are “only” 36 songs, and also that I’ve pulled out my favourite lines and explained why I associate the song with them, so that this whole thing is approximately 5400 words long. I tried to restrain myself, but, well, Jam Like Critical Role is a testament to my lack of self-restraint. If it helps, I’ve tried to incorporate a diversity of artists, eras, and genres, from folk-punk to techno, country, dream-pop, classical, and beyond. I hope you find something you enjoy.

Grog

We’re Going To Be Friends, Jack Johnson (cover of White Stripes), for Grog and Pike’s incredibly wholesome childhood friendship. While many of the lyrics describe friends at school, which is not totally accurate for them, I can just imagine the two weirdos playing among the bugs:

“Walk with me, Suzy Lee/ Through the park and by the tree/ We can rest upon the ground/ And look at all the bugs we’ve found”

Not to mention Pike teaching Grog his ABCs:

“Tonight I’ll dream while in my bed/ While silly thoughts run through my head/ Of the bugs and alphabet”

I just love these two silly monstahs.

Giant, Juno Reactor: to balance out that last song, have some techno that makes me want to yell “Vox Machina, Fuck. Shit. UP!” and split Kevdak in half with a nat 20 from the sky. Appropriately named for our goliath friend, this song always temporarily convinces me that I, too, am a seven foot tall barbarian (which is not recommended while you are trying to do anything that requires brainpower.)

Keyleth

I Lost Myself, Lauren Mann and The Fairly Odd Folk, for Keyleth’s self-doubt about whether she can do her Aramente (or whether she even wants to) and fear that she’s hurting everyone:

“I’ve got voices in my head Making me think that this is where I end Hey, what do you see, if anything What do you see in me”

This specifically reminds me of her Aramente, and how it taught her so much more than she was expecting:

“You and me we made a plan To travel from here to there and back again Somewhere on that weathered road I found the dreams that I’d been looking for”

And “Hey, we’ve got the world to see/ So let’s forget our anxieties and get on our way” makes me think of Keyleth and Percy’s friendship, and how both of their stories are about trying to figure out what to do once you’ve achieved your goals. I want to think that after the story ended, they were still occasionally able to leave behind their responsibilities and travel the world together.

Take Us Back, Alela Diane, for a post-canon Keyleth, reminiscing on the old days and eventually outliving the rest of Vox Machina. I get a strong image of Kiki coming down from Zephra to see her friends:

“Atop the crags and cliffs the air is thin/ So we’ll find a mountain path on down the hill/ Meet me where the snowmelt flows/ It is there, my dear, where we’ll begin again”

And of her listening to Scanlan’s music, centuries later; they’d be the last two alive: “I’ve a friend who lives out by the river’s mouth/ He knows the fiddle’s cry is an old sound”

And then Keyleth, alone, listening to a river’s gurgle or the wind’s howling, and almost thinking she hears her friends: “Muted voices, just beyond/ The silent surface of what has gone.”

Percival

The Devil Spoke Here, Chicken Little, which I think is actually about the aftermath of a protest, but which I feel works eerily well for Percy’s development following the Briarwood arc. The beginning reminds me of his guilt, feelings of brokenness, and anger issues after he’s cast out Orthax — right down to his guilt about guns:

“There’s bullets in the streets/ and broken dishes on the floor/ enough anger in my heart/ to take the blame for it all/ I could take every bullet back/ if I could never feel like that”

It also covers Percy’s realization, after his conversation with the Raven Queen, that he’s free from the judgment of the gods, and acceptance that he’s the one who has bad thoughts for the greater good:

“I have no god for guidance/ still I’m praying all the same/ may everything I do/ be done for everybody’s gain”

And then this, for a reason that I can’t quite explain, feels so much like Percy’s forgiveness of Ripley at Glintshore, and his death at her hand:

“May we always fail/ with the best of intentions/ with our hearts always pure/ and our souls only human”

Wandering Star, Portishead: the weird trip hop vibe to this song somehow feels appropriate to Percy, and in particular to his darkest thoughts. The song addresses the possible punishments for these thoughts: “Wandering stars, for whom it is reserved/ The blackness, the darkness, forever.” It helps that this is an allusion to a Bible passage about atheists.

The second verse makes me think both of Percy’s relationship to the concept of eternity (because of the “needle’s eye” — a parable about the entrance of heaven for the rich) and his raven mask:

“Those who have seen the needle’s eye, now tread Like a husk, from which all that was, now has fled And the masks that the monsters wear To feed, upon their prey”

Additionally, “Doubled up inside/ Take a while to shed my grief” is reminiscent of Percy’s revelation, in the last episode, that he just really fucking misses his family. This whole time, something inside of him has been curled up into a little ball like the teenager he was five years ago, grieving his family.

Pike

Holy, Jamily Woods: a song about self-love and self-assurance, underscored by Christian imagery:

“Though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no love/ Oh my smile my mind reassure me I don’t need no one […] Woke up this morning with my mind set on loving me”

Many of the lyrics can be interpreted either as the singer being self-sufficient because her god is there — or being sufficient even beyond her god: “I’m not lonely, I’m alone/ And I’m holy by my own.”

I think both interpretations work for Pike: that she has found (or is attempting to find) peace when she’s not with her friends, or that although she worships Sarenrae, the Everlight doesn’t necessarily interfere in her day-to-day life and she makes her own happiness. Either way, the song makes me feel at peace in the same way that Pike does.

The Otherside, Ohbijou, for Pike’s feelings about Scanlan during the year gap. Particularly, I’m reminded of Pike’s attempts to talk to Scanlan on the earring: “With things left unsaid so unsatisfied/ And a burning to hear your voice just one more time.”

And in these lyrics:

“And it’s so silly for me to worry/ About situations that don’t exist/ We create these problems and try to solve them/ Why waste each passing moment?”

I hear Pike trying to figure out her feelings for Scanlan, but shooting herself down because he’s gone, why even try?

Scanlan

The Pilgrim - Chapter 33, Willie Nelson (cover of Kris Kristofferson), which really encapsulates, for me, Scanlan’s complex relationship with religion: the fact that a guy who regularly produces lightning from his dick, messes with people’s memories, and actively attempts to cultivate a drug habit finds himself praying to the Everlight at night and eventually becomes Ioun’s chosen:

“He’s a poet, he’s a picker/ He’s a prophet, he’s a pusher/ He’s a pilgrim and a preacher/ And a problem when he’s stoned”

The lines “He’s a walking contradiction/ Partly truth and partly fiction” reminds me of all the identities he’s taken on, both for fun and to shield his emotions from his friends, whereas “Taking every wrong direction on his lonely way back home” makes me think of Scanlan’s long road back to Vox Machina after leaving them.

Handle With Care, Traveling Wilburys: almost every single song on this album works for Scanlan, so choosing just one was a real challenge. But this song is so good for all the shit that Scanlan’s been through (and all the shit that he’s been), and his relationship with Pike through all of that:

“Been beat up and battered around/ Been sent up, and I’ve been shot down/ You’re the best thing that I’ve ever found/ Handle me with care […]”

“Everybody’s got somebody to lean on” reminds me of Scanlan’s feeling, in episode 85, that he’s the odd one out in Vox Machina.

The last verse encapsulates Scanlan acknowledging his own fuck ups, working to make them right, and eventually, having a healthy relationship with Pike:

“I’ve been uptight and made a mess/ But I’ll clean it up myself, I guess/ Oh, the sweet smell of success”

Taryon

Father and Son, Cat Stevens, for Tary’s relationship with his father and his decision to leave home; the song is a duet of sorts. I think the father’s part of the song is a little generous for Howaardt Darrington, but retains the message of (somewhat condescendingly) trying to keep his son at home and have him reconsider his far-reaching plans: “I know that it’s not easy to be calm/ When you’ve found something going on.”

The son’s part, though, captures Tary’s frustration with his father’s strictness and inability to actually understand his passions:

“How can I try to explain?/ ‘Cause when I do he turns away again/ It’s always been the same, same old story/ From the moment I could talk/ I was ordered to listen/ Now there’s a way and I know/ That I have to go away”

And the last verse is some real closeted gay feelings that always make me tear up:

“All the times that I cried/ Keeping all the things I knew inside/ It’s hard, but it’s harder to ignore it”

What’s It Gonna Be, Shura, not so much for the song’s lyrics, but for its music video, which is all about falling for a different gender than you expected, and which is incredibly sweet and beautiful.

That being said, you could definitely take the lyrics to be about his crush on Percy and his obliviousness about who in Vox Machina is sleeping with whom:

“Do I tell you I love you or not?/ 'Cause I can’t really guess what you want/ If you let me down, let me down slow”

Vax’ildan

Glorious, Muse, for Vax’s early relationship with faith. He can’t help but feel drawn towards Sarenrae’s light, even as he has doubts and perhaps even anger towards the gods:

Faith: It drives me away/ But it turns me on/ Like a stranger’s love It rockets through the universe It fuels the lies and feeds the curse And we, too, could be glorious”

He wants that glory that he sees in Pike, but he doesn’t know how to approach it or reconcile it with his life experiences. And then he finds his whole world shattered as he’s chosen by the Raven Queen, and he once again has to find faith, though in a way that he never expected:

“I need to believe But I still want more With the cuts and the bruises”

Fields of Gold, Sting: a song from Vax to Keyleth. I can imagine them so perfectly in this scene, perhaps during their year of downtime, with the winds of Zephra blowing through the fields and their hope beyond hope that they’ll be able to stay together:

“Will you stay with me? Will you be my love?/ Upon the fields of barley/ We’ll forget the sun in his jealous sky/ As we lie in fields of gold”

“See the west wind move like a lover so/ Upon the fields of barley/ Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth/ Among the fields of gold”

Years later, Vax knows that Keyleth will see those fields again and think of him: “You’ll remember me when the west wind moves/ Upon the fields of barley.”

Vex’ahlia

Half Jack, The Dresden Dolls: a truly haunting song about the pain and unavoidability of being her father’s daughter — she’s always half Jill (her mother) and half Jack (her father.) The whole song is incredibly painful for Vex, and the lines:

“It might destroy me But I’d sacrifice my body If it meant I’d get the Jack part out”

always makes me think of “If I could pull the blood of you from my veins and give it back, I would.” Also,

“But if you listen/ You’ll learn to hear the difference/ Between the halfs and the half nots”

reminds me of her asking Percy if she looks like she comes from money — or a younger Vex, in Syngorn, gradually realizing why everyone looked down on her and Vax. Lastly, isn’t “I see my mother in my face/ But only when I travel” absolutely heartbreaking for her?

Fall Down or Fly, Lindi Ortega, only partly because Lindi Ortega strongly resembles my headcanon for Vex. The other part is because of my abiding love for how Vex learned to fly, and how that worked with her character arc: from the first time, in the Briarwoods arc, that she discovered her love for flying, to her flaunting convention and stealing the broom, to Percy modifying it for her, to her friends cheering her on with chicken target practice, and finally to her soaring through the skies with confidence. And the song captures that so well for me, as well as her decision to keep going even when her father, Saundor’s words, and her own self-doubt bring her down:

“This is your life/ You can fall down or fly/ You can burn out a shot if you want/ This is your life/ You can live it or die/ You can quit now or try if you want/ But don’t you give up, don’t you give up”

This also reminds me of how much all of Vox Machina adores and supports Vex (and I will join them in crying about how awesome she is):

“You said what is there to lose?/ Do it if you choose/ I got faith in you/ Everything you do/ I know you are gonna make it to the top”

(I also maintain that a modern Vex would be really into country music, particularly the genre of country song in which women tell people to fuck off.)

Vox Machina

Call Them Brothers, Regina Spektor feat. Only Son, for Scanlan’s departure from Vox Machina and the whole team’s attempts to deal with it. I first heard this song in an absolutely heartbreaking TAZ animatic, and my pain increased exponentially when I realized how much it also worked for Critical Role. It’s perfect, in my opinion, for the sense that their family, which has seen them through so much, is irreparably broken — “That’s it, it’s split, it won’t recover/ Just frame the halves and call them brothers.”

But then you also get “Over and over, they call us their friends/ Can’t we find something else to pretend?” for Scanlan’s insistence that Vox Machina doesn’t really care about him, and “Find your fathers and your mothers/ If you remember who they are” for “what’s my mother’s name?”

Maybe this should go on Scanlan’s playlist, but I think “The hunt is on, everyone’s chasing a shot” also works for the way that the rest of Vox Machina independently searched for Scanlan during their year of downtime… and the feelings of defeat in the song just feel appropriate to the whole group.

(I actually have a playlist full of songs for episode 85, because I enjoy making myself sad; it took a lot of effort not to put them all here.)

Freaks, The Hawk in Paris: I can never decide whether this is a Mighty Nein or Vox Machina song, but I’m putting it here mostly because “If you come along with us, the doors are never ending” is absolutely hilarious in for Vox Machina’s single greatest enemy.

That, and there are a lot of lines that work for individual members of the group: “We have a flair for the shade and the inbetween” (Vax); “We like to run with the wolves from the darker scene” (Keyleth); “When we turn the safety off, the shots are automatic” (Percy); “All our friends tell their friends we’re so dramatic” (Scanlan); and “We’ll make you swoon, make it hurt just a little” (Vex).

Additionally, “We have a plan, we’ve got the means for your liberation/ You’ll only have to blur the lines on a few occasions” makes me think of the Briarwood arc, and I makes me think of Percy dramatically revealing his identity to the priest — and cut to Grog pulling out a guy’s tongue.

Anyways, if I learn to make AMVs by the time that the animated series is released, this will be the first that I’ll make.

Beauregard

Saint Simon, The Shins, for Beau’s escape from the Cobalt Soul. The song expresses frustration at weighty intellectualism and how much it doesn’t teach you — which i think is something Beau felt strongly with her monk teachers:

“After all these implements and texts designed by intellects/ So vexed to find, evidently there’s still so much that hides […] Since I don’t have time nor mind to figure out the nursery rhymes/ That helped us out in making sense of our lives”

So she tries not to care about anything because it’s safer that way (“The cruel, uneventful state of apathy releases me”), and she runs away:

“I’ll try hard not to give in, batten down to fare the wind/ Rid my head of this pretence, allow myself no mock defence/ Step into the night”

I think the last part of the song could also work for her meeting the Mighty Nein and starts understanding friendship and love: “Mercy’s eyes are blue when she places them in front of you/ Nothing really holds a candle to the solemn warmth you feel inside you.”

Jonas and Ezekiel, Indigo Girls, because what kind of lesbian would I be if I didn’t put at least one gay-written song on Beau’s playlist? This one is about road trips, wandering, and looking for a purpose:

“I left my anger in a river running Highway 5 New Hampshire, Vermont, bordered by College farms, hubcaps, and falling rocks Voices in the woods and the mountaintops”

But also contains one verse that I think fits her strict family, her new family in the Mighty Nein, and the “devils” — or tieflings — of which her family would certainly not approve:

“Now when I was young my people taught me well/ Give back what you take or you’ll go to hell/ It’s not the devil’s land, you know it’s not that kind/ Every devil I meet becomes a friend of mine/ Every devil I meet is an angel in disguise”

And something about this reminds me of her journey into Xhorhas and attempts to uncover conspiracies and work out the truth: “In the war over land where the world began/ Prophecies say it’s where the world will end.”

Caduceus

Born at the Right Time, Paul Simon, for Caduceus’s belief in destiny and his place therein. The chorus describes his occasional naïveté, and the happiness of his life in the Blooming Grove, with his family:

“Never been lonely Never been lied to Never had to scuffle in fear Nothing denied to”

And then gets into his conviction that his goddess and the world itself put him where he is:

“Born at the instant/ The church bells chime/ And the whole world whispering/ Born at the right time”

The very chill vibe of the song is also very Clay, to me.

Happy All the Time, Danny Schmidt: the singer himself has said that he doesn’t know whether or not this song is ironic and/or melancholic, so I’m going to go with a sincere and cheerful interpretation for Caduceus, with maybe a hint of nostalgia for more peaceful days among his family. It’s got some incredibly lush and occasionally strange nature imagery that I think is perfect for him:

“I took the time to breathe cause I was happy all the time/ Among the rootbuds and the weeds cause I was happy all the time/ But the peat moss and the leaves took turns with both my feet/ Until my toes took root and I was happy, I was happy all the time”

I think Caduceus is still happy, but he was definitely at peace as a hermit.

Caleb

I Miss That Feeling, Tennis: a song about panic attacks and how the physical effects, when described, almost seem like falling in love. It works not only for Caleb’s panic attacks, but also, relatedly, his relationship with fire, which scares him, even as he likes the way it feels — “Something like pleasure, you’d never believe it.”

The fiery way that the singer describes panic attacks is also very Caleb:

“I miss that feeling/ Flicker hot and hovering/ Like my own discovering/ Eagerly, tenderly/ I miss that feeling/ Flicker spread into an itch/ Into a burn, into a twitch/ Slow and even”

It brings me back to the first time we saw it, in the gnoll mines. Also, “Every little thing starts trembling/ Recorded by the needle of an EKG” feels very reminiscent of his hospitalization, though from a modern perspective.

Putting the Dog to Sleep, The Antlers, for Caleb’s very tentative trust in the Mighty Nein, and in particular his friendship with Beau. I think this song really encapsulates Caleb’s pain and skittishness, especially near the beginning of their campaign, as well as his desperation (unknown even to himself) to love again:

“Well, prove to me I’m not gonna die alone/ Unstitch that shit I’ve sewn/ To close up the hole that tore through my skin/ Well my trust in you is a dog with a broken leg/ Tendons too torn to beg for you to let me back in”

And this feels like something that Beau would say to Caleb — upfront and caring all at the same time, reminding him that his actions affect everyone else and asking him not to run:

“You said, ‘I can’t prove to you you’re not gonna die alone/ But trust me to take you home/ To clean up that blood all over your paws/ You can’t keep running out […] Kicking yourself in the head/ Because you’re kicking me too.’”

By the end of the song, Caleb is starting to believe her, and even asking her to trust him: “Put your trust in me/ I’m not gonna die alone… I don’t think so…”

Fjord

Release the Kraken, The Daysleepers: I added this to Fjord’s playlist back when everyone was speculating that his patron was something kraken-like, and even now that this is clearly not the case, I think it still works for Uk’otoa (Uk’otoa) and his attempts at freedom: “It pulled the ships down/ It’s rising from the deep below.”

But also for Fjord’s relationship with Avantika — for his attempts to get close to her in order to save himself and his friends:

“Turn the lights down Careful as a serpent’s tongue Move without a sound Gentle as the cold wind moans”

I think “When you sold love/ Your heart becomes a monster” is some of what Fjord felt after those encounters: like he gave part of himself away.

21st Century Child, Daggy Man, for Fjord’s self-hatred and the masks he puts on. Many of the lyrics could fit several characters (particularly Beau, Caleb, and Scanlan), but

“I hate the sound of myself/ When I’m being honest/ Sounds like somebody else/ And I don’t wanna listen/ To the whinings of a 21st century child”

just perfectly captures his feelings about his voice and his past self — weak and whiny, and not who he wants to be. And then we get these lines, which feel like a good summary of his issues with identity and deception:

“And I’ve struggled with how/ Others perceive me/ And I can’t tell if I’m better/ Or just better at deceiving And I’ll keep going until I’m called out”

Jester

The Sweetest Sounds, Ella Fitzgerald (cover of Richard Rodgers), for pre-stream Jester barely waiting for her exciting life to begin. I first heard this song in Rodger & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and while there is something fairy-tale-like about Jester, I think this upbeat, jazzy cover fits her well:

“The most entrancing sight of all Is yet for me to see And the dearest love in all the world Is waiting somewhere for me”

I can just imagine a 10-year-old Jester listening to the band at the Lavish Chateau play this song, dressing up in Marion’s clothes, and pretending she’s in a storybook romance.

One Hand in my Pocket, Alanis Morissette, which really captures her beautiful complexity:

“I’m free, but I’m focused/ I’m green, but I’m wise/ I’m hard, but I’m friendly/ I’m sad, but I’m laughing”

because Jester is so many things all at once, and none of them negate each other. It’s so hopeful (“What it all comes down to/ Is that everything’s gonna be quite alright”) and comforting (“What it all boils down to/ Is that no one’s really got it figured out just yet”) in a way that really reminds me of my favourite blue cleric.

The whole song has such a fun, free, summer vibe that always makes me smile — just like Jester.

Mollymauk

Carnival Overture, Antonín Dvořák (Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic Orchestra): one of my favourite pieces of classical music ever — when I hear it, an entire music video about a carnival plays in my head. The exuberant theme that bowls you over from the start reminds me of Molly’s effervescent, ostentatious personality.

The slower and quieter part in the middle with the violin and woodwind solos gives me a picture of Molly and Yasha sitting alone in the evenings just outside the carnival encampment, cuddled together — Yasha talking about her wife, Molly telling jokes, and the both of them making up names for constellations and flowers. Then the quick-paced minor section makes me think of the bloodhunter tiefling in combat, deadly with his swords and vicious mockery — before the return to the joyful, triumphant original theme.

Wonderful Everyday, Chance the Rapper & The Social Experiment**: this is sort of a cover of the Arthur theme song, but in the absolute best way possible. The meandering, loose, and extraordinarily happy vocals always remind me of Molly’s way of living.

Although some of the lyrics are more optimistic than Molly (I think he’d laugh at “Everybody that you meet/ Has an original point of view” and say that their points of view are usually bullshit), the message of appreciating every single day is just wonderful for him.

And the last bit hits me like a ton of bricks:

“And when I go down/ I'ma go down swinging/ My eyes still smiling/ And my heart still singing”

“Eyes never shut,” indeed.

**not on Spotify, sorry!

Nott

The Sore Feet Song, Ally Kerr: at first it appears to be a simple song about traveling long distances to find your love, which certainly describes Nott’s search for Yeza: “I walked ten thousand miles, ten thousand miles to see you/ And every gasp of breath I grabbed at just to find you.”

But the second verse is where it really gets into Nott’s thieving, rat-eating, badass ways:

“I stole ten thousand pounds, ten thousand pounds to see you I robbed convenient stores cause I thought they’d make it easier I lived off rats and toads, and I starved for you I fought off giants bears and I killed them too”

I love this strange little goblin.

Fox in the Snow, Belle & Sebastian: this song has always been a bit of a mystery to me, but the lyrics remind me of Nott’s intense vulnerability after she was transformed into a goblin — and in particular her self-image as something animalistic:

“Fox in the snow, where do you go/ To find something you could eat?/ Because the word out on the street is you are starving/ Don’t let yourself grow hungry now/ Don’t let yourself grow cold”

The second verse, which switches to describing a human girl, reminds me of pre-transformation Veth, more acceptable in body but no less socially ostracized than Nott:

“Girl in the snow, where do you go/ To find someone that will do?/ To tell someone all the truth before it kills you/ Listen to your crazy laugh/ Before you hang a right/ And disappear from sight/ What do they know anyway?”

I can just see that exact scene play out with a young Veth, right down to the “crazy laugh.” I’m glad she found Yeza, but she must still have been pretty lonely without any other friends.

Yasha

Into the Barrens, Grizfolk, for Yasha’s years of blank wandering after Zuala’s death. This song fits Yasha so well that for months, I somehow tricked myself into believing that Ashley had put it on her playlist. But I feel like this encapsulates her hopeless feelings, away from all society, not living for anything or anyone:

“Cast me away, my shadow’s cold/ Into the barrens where I will grow old/ Well, I’m not looking for answers/ And I’m not looking for gold”

And I can see this verse for the beginning of her relationship with the Stormlord, following voices she can’t understand as she wanders, barely alive:

“The voices in my head/ They echo in the wind and I begin to sway/ I follow what they say/ I can’t see their eyes, but I hear howling through the haze”

Dreams, Fleetwood Mac: technically a break-up song, but I can’t help but think of Yasha’s ever-present guilt and her memories of Zuala when I hear:

“Listen carefully to the sound of your loneliness/ Like a heartbeat drives you mad/ In the stillness of remembering what you had/ And what you lost”

The storm imagery also works for Yasha — “When the rain washes you clean, you’ll know” makes me think of her fight with the Stormlord on the boat, which allowed her to open up to her friends. And it touches on Yasha’s opaque dreams (“Now here I go again, I see the crystal visions/ I keep my visions to myself”).

(Ally and Stevie also have a lesbian mash-up of Dreams and Rhiannon, two of the gayest Fleetwood Mac songs, that I associate strongly with Beauyasha.)

Mighty Nein

Old Black Train, The Blasting Company (from Over the Garden Wall): trains don’t exist in Exandria (yet! — Percy or Taryon should get on that) but this is more of a metaphor for life. It reminds me of the Mighty Nein setting out from Alfield, not knowing the twists and turns they were going to face, the places they’d go, nor the family they’d become:

“This journey is a long one/ It will take you all around/ Life rushing by your window/ Before it lays you down”

Then there’s this verse:

“Oh come on now young stranger/ Weren’t you someone’s son? How’d you find this depot 'Cause it ain’t where you belong”

which feels very appropriate for many members of the Mighty Nein, separated as they are from their families and wandering in lands that aren’t welcoming to them. There’s also a verse that’s reminiscent of the graveyard they passed on the way to Zadash, which more and more feels like a portent of things to come:

“You will pass a graveyard/ Stones worn by the years/ The train’ll stop a minute but don’t let it leave you here”

Sailing, Leisure Cruise: another song about transportation, although this one is a little less metaphorical. As you can probably guess, I associate it with their adventures on the Mystake and the Ball Eater, which begun by total accident but which, in my opinion, was a turning point for the group, and ultimately helped them grow closer together:

“And to our surprise we’re sailing The high seas in the middle of the ocean […] We’re sailing the wildest mystery And to our surprise we’re happy and free”

Okay, so maybe “happy and free” is a bit of an exaggeration for that arc (particularly for poor Nott) but I think there were a lot of moments in which the Mighty Nein learned unexpected lessons about themselves.

And I think this is a good summary of the Mighty Nein’s modus operandi: seize every passing opportunity, because you don’t know what tomorrow will bring:

“Maybe it’s today Maybe it’s tomorrow But we have to make a play Or the chance will fade away”

And that’s a wrap! Thanks for listening and reading. Love you all <3

#critical role #Cr music #my stuff

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