#edit: also they’re both redheads that escaped me for a moment

[merevide]

sapphic playstation/sony protags with dead father figures and savior complexes LEMME HEAR YOU MAKE SOME NOISE!!!

[alirhi]

random snippet again

as promised, @feralgoblintea here's the (temporary) scene where the two sisters meet for the first time since one went missing as a child

note about the nickname: Rachel's middle name is Miranda; everyone has called her 'Andy' from that since she was a little kid. it's explained in her story, but not in this scene, so I just wanted to explain it here lol

"Your parents are very eager to know where you've been and what you've been going through all these years," the doctor told her, deep voice oddly gentle and soothing. Rachel smiled sadly; his voice reminded her of Amadeus. "Most of all, they want to know that you're alright."

She knew he thought she was crazy. Her parents definitely shared that opinion, which was why she was here to begin with. Still, she couldn't help asking, "And, in your professional opinion, am I?"

He caught her lightly mocking tone and snorted, leaning back in his chair to mirror her pose. "In my professional opinion," he shot back, though the sarcasm left his tone before he even finished his sentence, "you've been through Hell, Rachel. The trauma you've suffered is very, very real. If you're asking, do I believe in demons and portals and time travel, I'd have to say no. But that pain and fear came from somewhere... I'd like you to come back in for regular sessions, if you're up for it; see if we can cut through the fantasy, see past the demons and find the real monsters who hurt you."

"That's why I'm not coming back." She stood, shaking her head a little. "I'm not surprised you don't believe me - I probably wouldn't believe it, myself, if I hadn't lived it - but it's a bit frustrating. What I told you isn't metaphors or delusion. It all happened, and I'm not interested in having someone rip it all apart and try to make me doubt my own memory."

"They call that 'gaslighting' these days."

Startled, the blonde whirled around to face the source of the new voice; a woman she sort of vaguely recognized was standing in the doorway, hand on the knob, smiling at her. After a long moment, her brain helpfully edited the image before her to make it make sense; wild red hair to dirty blonde, violet eyes to mismatched green and blue, face younger and body smaller and more plump. "...Beck?!"

Rebecca's smile widened and she stepped forward with a nod. "Hey, Andy."

"Oh my god!" With a laugh and a delighted screech, she launched herself across the room and threw her arms around her little sister. "What are you doing here?"

Nearly squeezing the breath out of her, the younger woman murmured, "I heard you were back and had to see you. Stand your ground, Andy. Don't let them make you forget or doubt that it was all real. We know the truth." She released her, only to bring her hands up to grip the sides of her sister's head. "Magic is real."

Rachel froze, staring at Rebecca's mouth long after it closed and the two long, wicked fangs that had drawn her attention were hidden from view. "...What happened to you?"

"Not here. I'll tell you everything, but not here."

"Okay." Without so much as a backward glance at the shrink, she followed the redhead out of the office, past their fretting parents, and out into the bright sunny day that made Rebecca hiss.

She cringed and immediately donned a beat-to-hell baseball cap and a pair of dark sunglasses. "Fuck, I hate sunny days."

"You always did." Rachel couldn't help smiling faintly; so many years had passed, more than anyone in the world around them could ever understand, and yet so little about her baby sister had changed.

"Yeah, well... I've only gotten more sensitive to it."

Once they'd made it deep enough into the woods behind the Industrial Park that there was no risk of anyone overhearing, they stopped, and Rachel asked her point blank: "You're a vampire, aren't you?"

Rebecca laughed, gratefully leaning back into the shade of the nearest tree. "Only in our lives is that a casual conversation starter. And yes. Thankfully I'm old enough that daylight won't kill me. It's just unpleasant."

With her own accidental time travel in mind, the blonde asked, "How old are you?" Thirty-seven, she knew, in the eyes of the people around them; to them, Rachel herself had only just turned thirty-nine, and yet both sisters looked at each other with exhausted, haunted eyes millennia older than they could ever hope to make anyone else understand.

"As a vampire, or in general?" She smirked, shrugging off her own question before her sister could answer. "In general is harder to pin down, but I've been a vampire for about six thousand years, give or take a few."

Leaning against a tree roughly opposite Rebecca's, Rachel mirrored her smirk and crossed her arms over her chest. "I was Queen of an entire planet, and then POW and slave on a second, then a fugitive... I managed to send my older daughter home, before I got stuck on a third planet with my boys and little girl. It's been about ten thousand years."

"You have kids?" Rebecca grinned, once again showing those distractingly long fangs. "Me, too! I have two daughters, Madeline and Alice."

"Senna, Kieran, Caspian, and...Cassie," Rachel told her in answer to her unspoken question. She couldn't help blushing as she listed her children's names; she'd since learned what senna was, and hadn't actually given her younger two children names beginning with the same sound on purpose. It had just sort of worked out that way.

"Twins?"

She shook her head. "Caspian's my stepson, kinda, and Cassie was named after-"

Rebecca flinched, remembering. "After Cassie Wade, right? I was so focused on figuring out what happened to you, and then fighting to survive, I'd forgotten she went missing with you."

"She..." Clearing her throat, the blonde squared her shoulders and pulled her strong front around herself like a familiar safety blanket. "She saved our lives; she didn't make it. And, yeah. I named my youngest after her. Anyway, they're all grown, and Kieran..." Jaw clenching, she forcibly dismissed thoughts of her rapist and merely said, "He's my perfect warrior prince. Well, King now. I love them all, and desperately miss Senna, but Kieran, despite his more questionable choices, has a special place in my heart."

Rebecca took her sunglasses off and studied her for a moment before venturing, "Y'know... I literally eat rapists for breakfast."

That got a startled bark of laughter from her big sister, who shook her head. "Even if my boy hadn't already killed him, I doubt his gross, rancid blood would sit well with you. He wasn't human."

The redhead shrugged, smirking again. "Doesn't have to be. I've eaten Fae, elves, one vampire that pissed me off royally..."

"Not such a picky eater anymore, huh?" she teased, grinning. "Was it some badass revenge on your sire or something?"

Laughing, Rebecca shook her head. "Nope, no sire. I'm the OG vampire, babe. The first of the species. My younger daughter, Alice, is the first of the natural born vamps."

"So, wait... You could still get pregnant after you were turned? What?" Rachel frowned, beyond confused. "And how the fuck...?"

"I'm not dead," her little sister explained with another laugh. "Everything's slowed way the hell down, but hasn't stopped. I can't have kids with a human, or probably most Fae, but a certain trickster God..."

"...God?"

She grinned and nodded, though her haunting violet eyes looked sad. "Loki. He's Alice's dad."

"Huh. So the Gods are real." Rachel snorted. "Go figure. And my sister banged one."

"I loved him," the other woman whispered, staring at the ground. She opened her mouth as if to speak further, then seemed to reconsider and closed it again, clearing her throat.

To spare her from some clearly painful memories, whatever they were, Rachel asked, "What's a Fae?"

"Fairy," was the simple enough answer. "Fairies are real, too. Maddie - my oldest - is Fae."

Is she Loki's, too? She didn't dare ask - Loki was clearly a touchy subject - but she was dying to know.

As if she could read her mind, Rebecca, still avoiding her gaze, explained, "I was still mortal when I had her. Her father was Fae."

As the light breeze shifted the leaves above them, making the light dance across Rebecca's ghostly white skin, Rachel finally noticed the scars. At first, they'd looked like tribal tattoos, done puzzlingly in a silvery-white. When she realized they were actually a complex web of ancient scars, she also noticed they covered every inch of her sister's flesh that she could see around her shorts and tank top. Her face was the only place free of the oddly beautiful swirling lines, though she did spot a faint scar on her forehead, running from hairline to cheekbone and through the outer edge of her eyebrow.

"Is Madeline's father why you hunt rapists?" Is he the one who tore you apart?

"He didn't rape me... Technically. But yes, he's the one who scarred me." At her startled look, Rebecca smirked; it utterly failed to reach her eyes, but it was a start. "I can read your mind. I'm trying not to - I find it unspeakably rude and invasive - but when you're actively thinking about me, it tends to cut through my shields. The scars are from a spell he worked on me; blood magic. It's what made Maddie's conception possible, and chained me to him for years."

"Kieran's father was my greatest enemy; Crown Prince of the people who'd been attacking and slaughtering mine. King by the time I escaped." She didn't know what made her suddenly share this, but it felt like the thing to do. Her sister had told her something deeply personal and troubling; it seemed only right to meet candor with candor. Besides, Rachel and Rebecca had been two peas in a pod as children, as close as two sisters could possibly be. There was no amount of time that could strain their relationship. "I was captured in battle and kept as a slave for around a year and a half."

"How did the other three come about?" She smirked again, shoving her wild red hair back off her face impatiently. "Even when we were kids, I'd have bet just about anything that you're gayer than a rainbow, so how do you have so many kids?"

Rachel laughed, rolling her eyes. "Political marriage gave me Senna - born in a dungeon, thanks to me being pregnant during the battle and not knowing it yet. She was smuggled home to her father after she was born. I made a friend in that Hellhole, Emil, and he'd been raising Caspian; he's not his biological father, but that never mattered, just like it didn't matter to me that I didn't give birth to him. That boy's just as much my son as Kieran. We were supposed to go back to my home when we escaped, but something went screwy and we ended up on Achlys, instead, where I met my girlfriend and we all decided to just settle and raise the boys."

"So you cheated on your husband?" Rebecca's grin was teasing - and, thank god, reached her eyes at last! - but Rachel still threw an acorn at her when she said, "You whore!"

"I never saw him again! And he wouldn't have given a shit," she explained with a laugh. "I was, like, his third or fourth wife. And like I said, it was purely political; I was Queen, he was my advisor, he wanted power and I wanted an heir. Enter Senna, who boosted Raziel from random noble to father of the next Queen, and assured that there would be someone to take the reins if I died."

"So..." Her sister began ticking points off on her fingers as she spoke. "Shrewd political moves gave you Senna, you're co-parenting Caspian with a friend, we won't speak of Kieran's origins... How and why was Cassie a thing?"

Rachel shook her head, gaping at her. "A thing? That's nice, Beck. Real nice."

"Gods, you've missed so many cultural shifts, dude." Rebecca shook her head right back, trying not to laugh at her. "Just answer the question, old lady."

"Emil and I, and my girlfriend Trinity, all talked and decided to hell with conventionality; we all love each other, so we'll all be together. Em's my exception, I guess; the only man I've ever been attracted to even after seeing him naked. Our boys were grown, Senna was long gone, we'd made a whole new life for ourselves, so we decided to have another baby. Enter Cassie." Rachel sighed, staring off into space. "And now she's grown, Kieran's back in that awful place trying to turn it around, married to a great girl, Caspian's there with them to help..."

Though she had a feeling she knew the answer, the vampire asked softly, "And your lovers?"

"...Dead. Cassie - Cassie Wade, I mean - died in prison, Trin and Em were killed in the second war." A bitter smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. "Kieran and Cas are running a third."

"There's always another fucking war," Rebecca grumbled. "I've watched so many of them come and go, fought in two, myself... It never really ends."

[rainebowkitty]

Slipping Maquillage

Thank you so much to @boodabear001 (for her freckled Cater edits + plot ideas. I weep) @twistedwonda (for like an entire piece of dialogue lmao) @twstfuwa (for ideas and support like the wonderful bean she is. She’s floofy like Jack. Blease follow her and the others <3) for helping me in your own special ways to make this thing e x i s t. 

Cater’s a ginger. Most gingers have freckles. Perhaps he does but he’s self conscious and tries to hide them? Ohoho, but our favorite baker boyo isn’t going to let that persist. A cute Trey x Cater (Treyter) fic for your fluff needs :3

~~~

“Cater, what’s that on your cheek?” Trey had asked casually, a curious tint to his words as he stared. 

“Paint?” Cater shrugged, already aware of the pigment on his skin, embracing it with his tongue stuck out playfully. “Clumsy me spilled a little when painting the roses today.” 

“No, not that,” Trey stepped closer as his eyes fixated on a spot just above the splattered paint on the ginger’s cheekbone. Before personal space even occurred to the baker, he reached out and wiped the speck of acrylic off with his thumb only to reveal a flurry of those tawny spots underneath. Freckles.

Rampant panic flashed through Cater’s eyes as he rushed to cover his cheek with his hand. It sounded like he’d just lightly slapped himself, or maybe even clapped his hands together to grasp someone’s attention. How ironic that the action was to conceal yet another of his deep-seated flaws, especially from someone he was so close to; someone he had debated confiding in about it with many times prior.

It didn’t remotely help that the commonly calm Trey seemed to be taken aback at the reveal. The culprit of his reaction was surprise, but what was the precise reason behind that shock tainting his topaz irises? Was it the reveal of such a detail or a jolt inspired by his own boldness towards the ginger? The two had been dating, but they rarely even held hands in the extensive hallways. Dauntless caresses of the cheek definitely weren’t part of the list of things they were completely comfortable sharing in public yet.

“You… have freckles?” Trey questioned with a tilt of his head, suddenly recovered from his previous astonishment. If Cater was looking for judgement in his boyfriend’s patient gaze, it had dissipated and been replaced with an innate sense of tranquility only natural to Trey. No one was as instinctively compassionate as the clover boy. His consoling touch lingering on the shoulder of the still shaken ginger was just one example of that.

However, being gentle was as futile as coaxing an anxious cat from underneath a bed in the middle of a thunderstorm. Well, if that cat were orange with luminous, green eyes, wide with a look that didn’t suit them. Or perhaps it was less of how the look sat on Cater’s face and more about how uncommon it was on such an outgoing persona in NRC. The fact that Cater remained speechless didn’t help deter thoughts of his feline counterpart from Trey’s head, but he pushed the idea aside. 

“You must have a reason for concealing them, so I’ll keep your secret,” Trey consoled with a pat on Cater’s ginger head. “However, you should know there’s nothing inherently wrong with them. They’re part of your appearance, after all.”

“You have a point,” Cater finally spoke, however hesitantly. He wanted to look away, but Trey’s tenderness simply drew him back in. Green hair, glimmering amber eyes framed with rectangular spectacles that held so much of Trey’s heart of gold in them they simply didn’t allow escape. So instead Cater leaned in, relenting the hand from his cheek and instead opting to hide his face in Trey’s shoulder.

Some secrets didn’t need to be maintained, but Trey knew in that moment he’d keep his lips sealed forever for his boyfriend’s sake if he must. 

~~~

“Sorry I’m late, the dorm needed me,” Trey greeted as he peeked his head into Cater’s room, finally opening the door full-spread as he entered and quietly shut it behind him. The social media influencer was doing just that— influencing; or, more specifically, laying spread out on his bed as he scrolled through limitless posts on his phone. He looked too serious to be doing something he enjoyed.

The ginger did immediately perk up at the sound of Trey’s voice, though, his phone being discarded to a nearby table before stretching his arms upward. “You can make it up to me with a hug.”

“Glady,” Trey grinned, removing his overcoat as he made his way over to the bed. He set aside the piece of clothing before delivering a hug to the ginger who hadn’t made an effort in the slightest to scoot over. If he was going to remain lying there lazily, Trey really didn’t have much of a choice but to lay on top of him. 

Pulling his legs over the edge of the bed, the green-haired boy successfully sandwiched his boyfriend between himself and the mattress. Cater surprisingly didn’t mind, his arms simply wrapping about Trey’s neck as they shared a butterfly kiss in the process. Meanwhile Trey’s hands cupped Cater’s freckled cheeks, his elbows supporting his weight next to Cater’s neck as they dug into the sheets. 

The ginger had been more open to removing the thin layers of concealer he applied in the mornings when alone with Trey. It wasn’t enough to express how beautiful he was regardless of a few speckles on his face, but it was progress. One day Trey would know why Cater was so self conscious about it, but for now all efforts went to making the ginger comfortable with his physical attributes. 

“Do you think tomorrow’s the day?” Trey asked referring to the day Cater would reveal this attribute of himself to other students. At this point, not even Riddle was entrusted with such information. It wasn’t because of the short boy’s capabilities when it came to keeping a secret, Trey was sure. It was because the redhead was blunt with his words and even denser with emotions. It’d be especially difficult for him to read the mood of the situation when Cater would be just as cheerful as ever. You hid this from us because? Trey could practically hear Riddle’s voice echoing in his head. Maybe Ace or Deuce would be more understanding or respectful with Cater being their senior, but that wasn’t a promise either. Both third years knew, yet both of them pushed for different outcomes of this secret’s condition regardless.

“Any day could be the day,” Cater sounded as charming as ever, maybe even a little optimistic. Unfortunately for the usually convincing influencer, repeated excuses meant Trey heard the message for what it truly was and not a form of flimsy self confidence. I can wait as long as I’d like. 

I don’t have to tell them a thing. 

“Cater,” Trey warned, though a mild smile still rested on his lips. “You can’t wait forever, you know.”

“I know,” Cater sighed through a thin smile. “I won’t.”

“Good,” Trey’s smirk softened before he left a kiss on Cater’s cheek. “Remember the deal. You have until I kiss all of your freckles, and I don’t mean to gloat, but I’m fairly sure I’m nearing that goal.” 

“I know, I know,” Cater chuckled, the ticklish feeling of Trey’s breath on his cheek as more kisses were pressed into his skin making him somewhat giggly. “I’ll get around to it.”

“You better,” Trey teased before sealing his own lips on Cater’s. 

~~~

Trey drowsily shifted his body as drops of sunlight poked through the thin line in the plush Heartslabyul curtains. Instead of accepting the daylight and arising for the school day, he just turned over, searching for the familiar warmth of his boyfriend sleeping at his side. Only when that typical feeling of limbs and shirt fabric—Trey’s own shirt fabric as Cater grew more accustomed to sharing clothes—didn’t reach his fingertips did he finally crack open his eyes. 

His pupils were dilated and unprepared for the light filtering into the room, but at least the sheer brightness helped wake him just that little bit more. He slowly sat up, reaching out for his glasses and fixing them onto his face. His awareness of the room around him increased as he eased himself off of the mattress, his ears perking at the sound of shuffling in the bathroom. So that’s where Cater was. 

Trey merely peered into the small room discreetly, topaz eyes greeted and glinting contently on the familiar figure of the beloved ginger he was missing the early morning affections of. Trey grinned as he noiselessly approached the ginger. Surprising him in his morning routine couldn’t hurt, right?

Stepping past the threshold of the bathroom, Cater still remained unsuspecting of his boyfriend’s antics. If Trey hadn’t just woken up, maybe he’d notice how absorbed Cater was in prepping for the school day, but not even the Heartslabyul vice dorm head was that perceptive in the early hours of dawn.

“Boo,” he placed his hands on Cater’s shoulders, a light chuckle leaving his lips at the way the boy jolted. “Good morning.” 

“Well it’s no thanks to you!” Cater complained as he turned to Trey, revealing a pout that could potentially rival their dorm leader’s own trademark. 

“What can I say?” Trey shrugged. “Don’t wake up before me next time.”

“Treyyyyy-kunnnn,” Cater whined. “That’s not fair! I even gave you a kiss on the cheek before entering the bathroom and this is how you repay me?” 

“How was I supposed to know?” Trey chuckled before leaning in and returning the supposed kiss Cater left him with as he slept on. “Does that make up for it?”

“Maybe,” said Cater as his entire face brightened with a smile, his cheeks dusted with a color similar to the paint they used in the rose maze. Well, maybe if the vibrancy of that red was muted by a thousand polka dots. It was amazing how much more expressive Cater’s face could feel whenever it wasn’t covered in concealer. Trey could see every warm splotch as the ginger’s face gave away what his everlasting smile wouldn’t; he was more flustered with small gestures of affection than he’d ever let on. Trey could also admire every tan speck like milk chocolate sprinkles spanning from cheekbone to cheekbone on Cater’s handsome face. So when his eyes finally caught sight of the makeup wand in the ginger’s left grasp did he frown, brows furrowing. 

“I told you they’re pretty,” his voice was soft as he embraced Cater. “You have no need to cover them.” 

“I know,” Cater lapsed his speech patterns again, overlapping with words he said months ago. Any day could be the day. 

~~~

Trey watched as Cater’s thumb hesitated over the post button. The phone was awfully close to the ginger’s face and he seemed to be holding his breath.

“They’ll love them too,” Trey reassured as he pushed a few locks of ginger hair behind the Magicam influencer’s ear. “If they don’t, I’ll-”

“Floss their teeth?” Cater chuckled, the tension from seconds ago dissolving entirely. 

“That could be something,” Trey grinned. “But seriously. It’ll be alright. 

“Of course it will,” Cater’s head turned to peck Trey’s nose. “I’ll still have you.”

Trey chuckled lightly as he pressed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, the rising blush on his cheeks partially hidden behind his hand. 

Cater then pushed Trey’s hand away, forcing his glasses askew as they barely clung to his ears. 

“Ah ah ah~” Cater teased, waving his finger back and forth to the rhythm of his voice, preventing Trey from completing the simple action. “If I can’t hide, neither can you, Trey-kun.” 

“Have you hit ‘post’ yet?” Trey raised an eyebrow superiorly.

Cater’s gaze didn’t stray from Trey to the phone screen as he pressed the button, an all knowing smirking dancing on his lips. “Now I have.” 

Trey glanced at the phone. “You missed the button completely.”

Now Cater’s eyes darted to the phone, his thumb hastily hitting ‘post’ once and for all. He stared long enough to watch the loading wheel finish cycling as the app eventually notified him that the post went through successfully. 

“Done!” The ginger exclaimed, as chipper as ever as he winked at Trey, raising a peace sign near the eye that remained open. “That was easy.” 

Trey only shook his head slowly with a smile as he wrapped his arm around Cater, walking them both back to the dorms as the sun set.

[gryfon-spanish-werewolf]

The Choice - Part 1

Decided to write the Valkyrie/Hulder au in chunks! A challenge since I prefer having everything done in one go. I also set a challenge to write 1000-1500 words per Part. So... failed step 1 but that’s okay! (its 2.2k) @like-redhead-probably I hope you enjoy the story your ask has started, and @giuliaciulia89 I know I’ve kept you waiting a lil on this one

For anyone popping in first? Here’s the original ask where I explain why I chose Valkyrie!Anna and Hulder!Elsa as a mythical creature au. Other than just, “I think it’s neat”

Edit: Ao3 and ff.net links!

---------------------------------------------

Anna knelt down among the grasses and extended her hand to the woman at her feet, hauling her up with a strong arm. The body gave up it’s soul without complaint, leaving it in the capable hands of the Valkyrie, which was a relief. Anna had seen many today that were not ready to move on.

“Thank you, Valkyrie, for choosing me,” the woman said, standing in front of Anna in wavering spectral blue.

“You fought well,” Anna replied, throwing an arm around her shoulders in camaraderie. “I knew you were the one the moment you donned your armor. Speaking of,” Anna’s eyes turned sad, “I’m sorry to make you wait. That wound it… was painful, wasn’t it?”

They both peered back at the ground, where the woman’s body lay. Anna felt a tremble run through her Chosen. “It wasn’t that bad,” the woman grit her teeth, attempting a smile.

Anna hummed in understanding. There was no need to put on a brave face, especially for those bound for Valhalla, but she had seen enough over the centuries to know that humans often brushed aside their suffering in the face of the unknown.

“Is there anyone you will miss?” Anna asked. She always asked.

The warrior’s head drooped, looking away from her body. “My wife,” she said solemnly. “I said goodbye to her but, there’s always the hope that you’ll get to say it one more time.” The woman put a hand on the back of her neck, suddenly sheepish. “Is it weird that I’ll also really miss my cat?”

The Valkyrie paused, blinked, and then a laugh sprang from deep within her, lighting up the middle of the battlefield like a summer breeze.

“Not at all!” Anna squeezed the woman tightly, walking them towards the edge of the field, where other Valkyries, their Chosen Dead, and their mounts, awaited. “Our pets are family too.” Anna acknowledged the other Valkyries as they approached. Many returned her greeting with smiles, but some were occupied with their charges. A few spoke softly to their Chosen, consoling them. One looked like she was regretting her choice as her warrior whooped and hollered, begging them to be off. Anna steered her Chosen to her own mount, brushing the horse’s flank. “We’ll send a message through Embla to your wife that you made it to Valhalla.”

The woman paused, bouncing back down on the leg that would have gotten her into the saddle. She looked over her shoulder, an odd expression on her face. “How did you know my cat’s name?”

Anna’s eyes twinkled. “Don’t you know? Cats are very special to Freyja. If they’re staring off into space, they’re probably talking to something you can’t see.” Anna jabbed her thumb against her armor covered chest. “And that something is usually someone, like me.”

The woman looked back at the winged horse she was mounting, then skyward. “It’s one thing to hear the stories, but… I suppose I’ll get used to this one day, won’t I?”

Anna grinned again, putting her hands on her hips. “One day, and sooner rather than later. Though hopefully, the world won’t lose it’s magic for you too quickly.”

The woman patted the neck of the steed below her, making it whiney in happiness and ruffle the feathers in its wings. “No,” she murmured, “I don’t think it will.”

“Alright then, scooch over,” Anna made shoo-ing motions with her hand.” No no, the other way! Trust me, you’ll want the view, and with me behind, you won’t fall off.” The woman paled to a morning sky blue as Anna put her foot in the stirrup, “And while you’re already dead, the fall wouldn’t be pleasant and we’d have to come rescue y--”

A small, wistful tug at the small of her back pulled her up short. The subtle kind, like the soft plucking of a musician tuning their instrument in the corner of a crowded drinking hall. The kind where they feel for the vibrations more than listen to the note to tell if they’re on the right track.

Anna froze. A frown creased her brow, her green eyes unfocussing to the middle distance.

“Is everything alright, Valkyrie?” Anna blinked and looked up at her Chosen.

“Yes, I thought I felt--.” The pull came again, against her lower ribs, close to her spine. Anna jumped back to the ground, raising her fingers to her mouth and giving a piercing whistle, bringing a fellow Valkyrie to her side immediately.

“I need you to take my Chosen to Valhalla,” Anna said firmly.

The other Valkyrie’s eyes widened. “Why?”

“We missed one.”

The Valkyrie cocked her head, concentrating. “I don’t sense another, sister.”

“But I…” Anna’s eyes were locked on the treeline at the edge of the battlefield. “I could have sworn--.”

“The skirmish is over, and you have your Chosen,” the Valkyrie motioned to Anna’s charge. “It’s your duty to take her.”

Anna’s eyes drifted back to her sister and her Chosen. She balled her fists. “We missed one,” she repeated. “I’m sure of it.”

“A deserter perhaps?” Both Valkyries looked up at the Chosen, who balked immediately. “S-Sorry,” she stammered, a ghostly blush appearing across the bridge of her nose. “I guess I don’t know how it works but, you Choose people right? Who lives and who dies? And maybe this person slipped away before the fight, which is why… you didn’t…” She sputtered to a stop, the glow overtaking her features. “Maybe that makes no sense.”

Anna and the other Valkyrie shared a look, then took in the field again.

“I suppose…” the Valkyrie began.

“...That’s possible.” Anna concluded.

The Valkyrie sighed, turning and taking the reins to Anna’s horse. “You’d better investigate then. Just to be sure.” Anna nodded, turning to take her leave. “And, Anna?” The Valkyries' eyes met, an understanding passing between them. If someone was Chosen, then it was a Valkyrie’s task to collect, one way or another. “No one escapes their fate.”

Anna put a hand on the hilt of her sword. “They won’t,” she said evenly. “One way or another.”

She bid farewell to her Chosen and all the others. As Anna made her way across the battlefield she heard the beating of wings, neighing of horses, and stomping of hooves digging into the dirt for lift off. It was always a thrill to watch the face of her Chosen as they began their journey, but as the tug came again --now a snag on her sternum, light but insistent as she trudged forward-- Anna resigned herself to next time. She focused on the feeling in her chest, thrumming with warm tension, like a rope holding a sail in place against the wind. A familiar sensation, but this one was different, and she hadn’t known how to say as much to her fellow Valkyrie. Normally, when someone was Chosen, all a Valkyrie had to do was see them, and the decision of life or death was known in an instant. If Life, a mark was placed on the person, protecting them from harm; if Death, the collection and honoring of the soul after battle and a ride to Valhalla. But this one was outside of battle - it was after, or aside. If the Choice was Life, then Anna could let it be, make the mark and return home. But if it was Death… what then? A Valkyrie was not meant to kill mankind, but to ferry and guide. What would she do if there was no one to do the deed for her?

Anna reached the treeline and paused, shaking the thoughts from her head. She would cross that bridge when she came to it, no sense in worrying before the answer was revealed. And it would be, soon, as if she had always known it.

The phantom pull beckoned her forward, as surely as being led by the hand, but now it was joined by another sensation, ringing against the shell of Anna’s ears.

Singing.

A melody without words. Unfamiliar. Lofting, glazed and sweet, through the air like droplets of honey.

Anna strode forward, swallowed immediately by the large conifers, her footsteps muffled by a dense carpet of dead pine needles. A low fog clung to her boots, eddying about in whirls at her passing. The colors of the forest were rich, swathed like dark paint strokes: greens and chips of brown, flashes of ruddy red, all saturated in hue from moisture that clung to the air itself. Compared to the carnage at her back, the serenity of the woods made Anna feel like she’d stepped into another world. Another, other world. Not one of gods or men. One of tranquility, dominated by only one thing: the voice.

It was beautiful, hitting each new note effortlessly, enchanting in it’s grace. It enticed Anna along as easily as her Valkyrie pull, in harmony with it, even. Anna felt like she was being pushed along and reeled in at the same time, a fish on a line, her pace quickening, nearly stumbling in her efforts to reach her destination. While she realized distantly that her haste should probably alarm her, fear was the furthest thing from her mind. There was only the song, only the tune, only the knowledge of her upcoming Choice.

The calming shush of water rode under the belly of the song, and in the next moment Anna realized she had arrived. The babbling curve of a river cut her off from the other side of the forest. Hardly an insurmountable gap, but a solid stop nonetheless as Anna found her footsteps echoing beneath her, now on a flat stretch of stone instead of grass and loam.

The notes ground to an abrupt halt, the silence left behind stark and empty.

...Until Anna found eyes of startling ice blue and the screaming started.

Well, Anna thought, clapping her hands over her ears, more like shrieking.

There was a flurry of movement and water sloshed up near Anna’s boots. A mouth moved but Anna couldn’t hear, still fighting the ringing in her head at the unexpectedly shrill noise. Slowly she eased her clawed fingers from around her ears, but regretted it almost instantly.

“I said--!” A graceless, high, and not at all calm voice broke through, making Anna grit her teeth, “What in the name of Odin is wrong with you?!” 

Anna went to retort and give the person a good earful of her own, but to her shock, her jaw simply refused to work. In fact it was stuck, awestruck and lame. Conversely, her heart was working overtime because…

The woman in front of her was breathtakingly beautiful. Long pale hair cascaded down her shoulders, over her heaving, arm crossed chest, fanning out where it dipped into the water. Those blue eyes like the glaciers in the realm of the Frost Giants shone dazzling and fierce, framed by dark eyebrows. The mouth that had accosted her was now a firm and set line, waiting for the Valkyrie’s reply.

But more than all of that, understanding was crashing through Anna with all the power and might of Thor’s lightning. The voice, the song, and those words, the Pull: they had led her here. This woman was her Chosen. The tether in her chest practically crackled in the short distance between herself and this stranger, tingling down her limbs and filling her with the energy to act just as much as it rooted her to the spot. It became so intense that Anna felt a flush creep up her neck, the pressure of everything she felt akin to a summer bonfire trapped beneath her armor.

The woman took this change --and Anna’s continued silence-- poorly, and sank further under, leaving just her head above the water.

And maybe that was the most unbelievable thing about the whole situation. Anna was half convinced Loki had set this up - it would explain all the confusion, the unknowns,  and the general strangeness. Never in all her centuries of life had a Choice made her feel like this.

Anna had found her Chosen, and the question of whether she was a warrior, which side she fought for, if she was a deserter, or just late to the fight, was suddenly irrelevant. She wasn’t lying dead waiting for Anna to pick her up, she wasn't a tortured soul, tired of combat and waiting for release. She was a young, very alive woman trying to hide as much of herself as possible, while also attempting to not get water up her nose.

Anna had found her Chosen. It was obvious and it was insistent and it made the flush creep up higher into her face, now with genuine embarrassment adding itself the list of irrational, unhelpful emotions.

Anna had found her Chosen. And to both party’s all consuming discomfort, she’d found her:

Completely, one hundred percent, naked.

“--can’t believe this…” Anna heard the woman grumble over her clamoring thoughts, “...maybe she doesn’t--.” The woman dissolved into muttering near the waterline. She seemed to reach a conclusion, clutching all of her limbs closer together as she spoke, “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

Anna felt the Choice rise on her tongue alongside her response. Who was she? Why was she here? Life or Death?

She answered all three questions at once.

“I don’t know.”

[jmalkki]

Team Stamets 

Finally! A proper group shot, to feature some of the uncredited regulars of the Disco family. Hopefully this is only the first of few more to come.

Haven’t done a ‘cast post’ like this in a while, but here goes:

(Though, before the cut I also need to make the customary mentions of this work on instagram, on twitter, and that the Disco works are all listed here).

I am so ecstatic to finally have gotten this done! I've been attempting to do group shots of the various Disco teams for the couple past years now (as some may recall me lamenting on several occasions). Poster type, posed things, which always failed at unnecessarily intricate planning stages (trying to figure out who to include, how to group them, and not wanting to leave anyone out), or couple times having already started drawing, to my attention just wandering off to more interesting scenes, away from illustrating just frigid poses.

This half-staged looking approach seems like it was the way to tricking my brain into sticking through with it. This looks it could very well be a paused scene in-universe; the (available) team gathering for a group shot mid workday, for some introductory organization PR clip or some such (though, Paul’s looking rather unnaturally mellow here for any Fleet propaganda nonsense *ha*).

This duo continues to have a special place in my heart. LtJG Harrington,  played by Devon MacDonald, was introduced in ep3 of the first season, and was the first one of Team Stamets to ‘welcome’ Burnham to the Engineering in Paul’s absence. They were also the one who found Paul by the escape pods after the poor fellow had discovered and wandered off with dead Hugh later in the season (scene, which btw reeked of unresolved possibilities). Unfortunately we haven’t seen them after that (please, bring them back! ...if Devon is still up to play them, that is).

Chris O’Bray. This fellow should get so much more recognition! They’ve played several roles in the series already, as a Klingon, Kelpien, Andorian, ‘red shirt’... more? As well as continuously appearing as a Science officer on Team Stamets (I hear they even played opposite Anthony in season 2 in a scene of frustrated Paul, and though the interaction was ultimately cut, you can see a glimpse of it in an episode opening montage scene where the team is trying to figure out how to recover Tilly from the network). Yet, uncredited, Disco isn’t even listen on their imdb-page. I keep waiting to see them to get invited to Trek cons eventually, alongside older ‘minor role alumni’, having already gained such a repertoire of Trek roles.

Speaking of O’Bray, they were the one who’s mention of the name ‘Anna’ introduced me to this redhead on the left, too: Anna Popowicz (thank you!). I had been keen to know their name since season 1, where they are a prominent regular at the controls of the reactor core at that top level in the engineering room. In their most prominent screenshot I thought they greatly resemble Yeoman Mears from TOS.

Often appearing at the same station is also ‘Buddy’ - as I had gotten to calling this jovial looking fellow in the middle here, before learning they are played by ‘Jordan’ (name according to their instagram profile). Their most prominent on-screen appearances in season 1 include this lovely moment in ep 4 (with Paul Marion Landais, who didn't make the cut here, but was previously featured in this one), and the team briefing scene in episode 13. In season 2 they can be seen ie. standing behind Paul at Airiam’s funeral.

Then there is this Science officer on the right. They are the only one yet to wear earring with their uniform, and were thus first most recognizable to me too. Appearing several times in season one at a fairly regular spot at the controls in the Engineering. Previously featured way back in here (with Harrington), and since discovered to be played by one ‘Naima’ (real, or a stage name?).

Often alongside ‘the Earrings’ in season 1 is also this, as of yet unidentified character in the far background here. First appearing in ep 3 with ‘Earrings’, in that first Engineering scene with Burnham and Harrington, they’ve continued to be one of the most familiar presences around the premise all the way through to season 2 too. Their most prominent appearances in season 1 include that same celebratory sweep across the team in episode 4 mentioned above with ‘Buddy’, and running to the collapsed Paul’s aid in the spore reaction chamber with Saru, Tilly et co, after the mushroom man had taken upon himself to dose with the Tardigrate dna. In season 2 you can see Paul instructing them to a task in episode 13 (incidentally, while chatting with ‘Buddy’).

And this I haven’t asked in a while, but: if anyone recognizes them and knows to give a name, I’d love to credit them, and perhaps find more of them to help with featuring them more in any future works too. Any hints much appreciated.

Edit: Identified as one Michelle Browne. Yaay! So awesome to finally have the name to such a stable member of the Disco crew. Thanks to O’Bray, again <3

And lastly, there is also the fellow reading the PADD, an Engineering Ensign portrayed by Christian Rodriquez. Previously featured/identified here alongside both Buddy and Harrington, and in this season 2 starter piece with several other familiar faces. Oh, and in this one, too. Their most prominent scene on screen must still be their first season 1 appearance: they’re the one on duty when Burnham sneaks into Paul’s mushroom garden.

Oh, and there are of course Nilsson and Tilly of the credited cast there too, but much like Paul, I doubt they really need any introduction.

Obligatory hands/arms appreciation shot <3

Gosh, this was rewarding. Wouldn’t seem like the same ship without the recognizable crew aboard. Much kudos to the casting for keeping things consistent. Next, Bridge or Medical?

.

[jerepars]

Ape Dos Mil Extended Chapter Notes

1 / 9 Skeptics and True Believers

Hyperlinks appear in blue (underlined on mobile and the dashboard). The story is posted here. 

She knew she hated him from the moment she laid eyes on him. Teresa’s parents had died when she was a little girl and she’d practically raised herself, so she didn’t exactly have any role models to set an example for her and teach her to be mild mannered, or to teach her that hate was not the opposite of love. She was emotionally driven, and the things she felt, she felt deep in her soul. But anyway, it was a matter of principle. She hated him. Teresa was in Dallas, in Camila Vargas’ warehouse where the prostitutes and drug mules slept, and he was in the space that could be considered the bullpen. When their eyes met for the very first time, she felt the fire ignite and build inside her chest, her heart like a caged bird trying to escape her ribs, blood thick as lead in her anger.

I don’t...I don’t know why writing about Jeresa brings up so many Saves the Day references for me. Maybe because a lot of the imagery in the lyrics are kind of extreme? It’s not a direct reference but the last sentence, with the part about her heart trying to escape her ribs was written with “You Vandal” in mind: yeah my ribs have parted ways, said ‘we’re not going to protect this heart you have’.

James was the carrot Camila dangled in front of everyone—the girls and the sicarios—to get them to do what she wanted. He was the Taylor Vaughan in the world of the warehouse; everyone would either willingly fuck someone’s shit up to be him, or, they would lose their shit to be fucked by him. It seemed to suit him—looking good while doing bad things. He was who they could never be, or never be with, and that was exactly how Camila wanted it.

She’s All That is back on Netflix and I couldn’t help myself. In my mind, there’s this whole backstory of Teresa watching teen cult rom coms growing up, and that’s why she speaks English so well when she lands in Dallas, but this part of the story definitely wasn’t the appropriate time to elaborate on that (there may never be an appropriate time to elaborate on that, lol). But she knows who Taylor Vaughan is, from seeing the movie. The way James is likened to Taylor Vaughan (portrayed by Jodi Lyn O’Keefe) is because of a line said by Dean Sampson (Paul Walker’s character) near the beginning of the movie. Dean says, “Every girl wants to be her, and every guy wants to nail her” (0:47).

This is an idea I’ve been thinking about for a while. Because Camila is certainly not dumb. James sets the bar for everyone, and it’s a standard that they can’t compete with or for. It’s like putting James in his position is her slapping them in the face with a “you wish”. James and Camila both know that, and Teresa is smart enough to figure it out quickly.

But James was good at his job. Even after he got Teresa riled up, even after she called him an asshole, even after he told her she was going to die, he got her into the custodian’s closet and she threw up every last baggie of coke. He was so good at his job, in fact, that when she was barely hanging on, declared she could not possibly go any further, he’d decided, no, it wasn’t her moment to tap out yet. James pulled the bottle of soap out of the dispenser and poured it into her mouth until she heaved on her own gag reflex one more time and the last three bags came up.

This chapter is named after “Skeptics and True Believers” by The Academy Is... . The paragraph mentions that Teresa was barely hanging on because of the part of the song that goes: near death, last breath, and barely hanging on. It also seemed fitting because it’s a story about about soulmates, after all, and it is made clear that both Teresa and James believe in soulmates.

There’s one more song reference here. The part about James deciding it’s not Teresa’s time to tap out yet is because of PUP’s “Kids”: And I had it maxed out. I had a feeling, oh. Nothing is working. And everything's bleeding, oh. I should've tapped out. Given into my demons, oh.

This is a really interesting moment for Teresa, because we know how strong she is, that she’s a survivor and fighter. But she says she can’t do it, she can’t throw up anything else. She’s defeated, which is understandable because it’s not everything she’s going through is easy. It’d be easier to give in and give up, right? But James doesn’t let her tap out and takes over when he pours the soap in her mouth to make sure she can, makes sure she survives.

“What time is it?” Teresa kept her eyes on the groud, avoiding the light from the warehouse windows illuminating the dust motes in the air.

“It’s almost three,” James said flatly, then emphasized, “PM.”

Teresa let out a long sigh but didn’t respond to his badgering.

“Get up,” James muttered. “You’re coming with me.”

She finally looked up at him and made eye contact, squinting slightly against the afternoon light, but didn’t make a move to get up. James rubbed his fingers against his thumb impatiently. She sat still.

“Where?” Teresa asked.

Okay, listen, when I use dialogue from the show I turn on the closed captions to make sure that it’s all exact to what is said in the scene. That being said, I’ve seen and watched this scene so. many. times. I turned the volume to max in my headphones as I edited this to make sure I hadn’t been mishearing it this whole time. The Netflix closed captions claim that James says “come with me” but I just don’t buy that. I swear what he says is “you’re coming with me”. If I’m wrong, I’m sorry that I wrote it in wrong. (But I don’t think I am.)

“Mil gracias, Jaime.” Charger was already waving him off, typing out a message to the supposed professional cheerleader. “Quiet night in for you and the hot redhead tonight?”

James has a lot of nicknames from George. Boaz calls him Santiago. There’s a quick moment from 2x06 where Guero is speaking Spanish and calls him Jaime. In the translated closed caption, he says, “look here, James” (0:23), but you can hear him say Jaime. I can’t have Guero being the only one to call him that (lol) so I decided that maybe a lot of the warehouse guys call him that when they speak to him in Spanish.

Teresa’s back was turned to him as he approached, making her bed. James meant to ask if she was ready to go but his voice got caught in his throat when he saw how she’d made the bed. Even though it was a thin foam mattress on a rusty frame, she’d made her space stand out. It was nice and neat, a clean line folded into the corner. It was the same way nurses made beds in the infirmary and the way soldiers did in the barracks. James believed there were certain skills from boot camp that could never be unlearned. It was how he made the bed.

When I said I’d come up with the weirdest soulmates fic ever based on the tiniest detail, I wasn’t kidding around. When Guero leads the DEA to the empty warehouse in Dallas, he knows which bed was Teresa’s because he sees the corner folded over. Then there’s a flashback scene to Mexico, with Teresa telling him she makes the bed that way because her mom was a nurse and taught her that way. 

James was in the military. He was a soldier. He would have had to have made it through boot camp. He would have to know how to make those hospital corners.

And that being a thing they have in common was screaming out at me to take it in a literal sense: it’s why they’re soulmates. And, even further, it’s how they find out they’re soulmates.

The gears kept turning in my head. Because what if they don’t come to the realization at the same time? What if only one of them knows? It changes everything about their dynamic and why they do the things they do for each other through the first three seasons.

James knew Teresa was trouble. He’d told her as much, with some snarl in his voice and his eyes narrowed, as the sound of bass from the speakers in Camila’s club thumped into their conversation the night before. Pointing out the dangerous nature Teresa possessed was a warning—to her and to himself—not to get too close so she didn’t pull him down with her. The feeling he couldn’t place when he was around her would land him in serious trouble if he wasn’t careful. And he had plans for a future, completely separate and away from the Vargas cartel.

Looks like I went in hard with the pop punk references for this one. There’s a song by New Found Glory called “Don’t Let Her Pull You Down” that made me go with the phrasing that’s in this paragraph. 

All things considered, it probably was an act of betrayal on the universe’s part. The odds of someone dying on their birthday were so much better than all of the stars aligning. It was why people made their plans and chose to love without the universe in mind.

One more pop punk song reference in name only. That’s just how my dumb brain works. I’ll write sentences because I think of lyrics or song titles (or both). This time it was Senses Fail’s  “The Irony of Dying on Your Birthday”.

[jokahlu]

Kingdom Hearts 3 Ted Talk, Kairi’s Edition (More like rant) (Will contain spoilers)

*Warnings*

While reading the following post you should expect:

*Spoilers are ahead.

*Duality of emotions clashing between love and frustration.

*A certain mouse’s head will be expected in a platter, and he will be the source of the darkness coming out of me.

*Love for a character that deserved way more than what she got.

*Deep disappointment for a forgotten friendship that was non-existent.

*A sailing ship warmed my heart.

*And an ending that shattered it.

…So it’s basically me ranting at how SE treats Kairi.

Also, it’s a pretty long read. I tried to make it short. Oh well.

Enjoy.

*Read at your own discretion*

I’m so wrecked after this game. But don’t get me wrong, I loved it!

The graphics were superb, their expressions on point, the writing and humor, the landscapes and worlds. It was all so precious. Being able to play as the spiked hair little bundle of joy again after so long was truly like coming home.

But as much as I loved it, there are so many things that rubbed me the wrong way. So many things I hoped for, that seemed reasonable and not out of the realm of possibilities, but never happened.

I will not mention all of them here because I could write an entire essay about it. Reason why I’ll try not to get overly excited. Underline try.

This time I will mostly talk about Kairi. 

Let’s do this quick, shall we?

First of all, I need that mouse’s head on a platter.

I wish Aqua would’ve given Mickey a good beating in this game. Don’t get me wrong, I usually like Mickey and his character in the KH franchise is pretty cool. But I hated his disregard to Kairi in this game. It just made me want to scream. Yes, he’s not the only one who doesn’t give a damn about the redhead (more on that lovely subject later), but I felt like he valued other’s life above hers in a blatantly obvious way. There are two scenes where I noticed this and it made me want to crawl up the walls.

The first scene was when Kairi is about to be struck down by Terranort, after him discarding two experienced fighters with a little more than a flick of his wrist, mind you. So, of course she’s scared and paralyzed, like any normal keyblade wielder (with only basic training and no real experience) would be. As Sora is desperately running to shield her with nothing but his body, Mickey uselessly screams “Sora no!”, as Donald and Goofy use their brains (and weapons) and come to the rescue.

What gives Mickey? Is she that unimportant in your mind, that Sora shouldn’t even try to help her? Did you honestly expect Sora to just let her die? Because if Terranort struck her, she was toast.

But I guess the answer is yes, because the other scene that made me want to strangle him was when Sora wants to go and save her and Mickey is trying to convince him not to go. I bet if it was Minnie on the line he would be jumping into lava if it meant to save her. But Kairi? Nah.

I swear I would’ve wanted Minnie to be next to Kairi and both be destroyed by Master Xehanort, just to see if Mickey’s reaction would be any different and if he would also risk it all at the end to save her instead of being like “oh don’t go Sora, you may never come back. Just leave Kairi to die, we can lose her but not you” attitude. Geez.

Love for a character that deserved better.

Oh, I could go one and on, on this one. It’s divided in many categories because the whole rant can be resumed in: she deserved better.

I’ll point out the obvious: I’ve always loved Kairi.

Yeah, she’s underdeveloped, not well written and can’t seem to shake the damsel in distress coat off, but I’ve always liked her. I’ve always felt Sora and Riku’s love for her real and heartwarming, and that’s made me like her so much. She’s also super brave, witty and has a great personality (don’t fight me on this)

I do get why some people might not like her, but I do.

Kingdom Hearts games have always treated her like a plot device and nothing more, and kh3 was the worst of the bunch in my opinion.

No one seems to care about her except for Sora.

When everyone reunites after Kairi dies, the only one who says something to him to reassure and confort Sora, apart from Donald and Goofy, is Xion. The rest are like oh ok she died, what’s next? I was expecting for Axel to be pissed, sad, anything, or anyone commenting something about it, but they just disregarded it like nothing happened.

Even if I understand that Terra, Aqua, Ven, Roxas, even Xion, didn’t know her that well and I didn’t expect it to affect them, at least they should acknowledge their fallen comrade. But ok, they didn’t know her that well. But Axel and Riku virtually not giving a damn? It really made things worse for my already wrecked heart. Those two are her closest friends, aside from Sora..

Even when the final battle is over everyone is like “wohoo we won! it’s all over!” (I’m glaring at you mouse) and even Riku agrees, Sora is the only one who is sad and heartbroken for her dying. Speaking of Riku basically disregarding her death..

Deep disappointment for a forgotten friendship that was basically non-existent.

Saying that I was disappointed in Kairi and Rikus interactions is a mayor understatement. This broke my heart because my highest hope for kh3 was to see Riku and Kairi being friends. Like, real friends.

In kh1 he was all over protecting her, in kh2 he silently looked after her and kept her safe as much as he could, but kh3? Man, in this game they felt like borderline strangers to me. Even faced by her being murdered in front of his face, he just stood there kind of surprised and pissed. Nothing more.

Seriously?

I mean Master Xehanort had just cold-bloodedly killed her right then and there, and he didn’t react as if his childhood friend had just turned into dust. 

And even worse, when the final battle ended he didn’t even offer to go with Sora to save her. What the hell?

If it was Sora who had died, there is no doubt in my mind that he would’ve been fighting his way to save him, consequences be dammed. (And it’s what probably happens when Kairi comes home alone, smh) And that reaction would be right because they’re best friends and that how any of the other characters would react if one of their trio was killed and they had the chance to save them.

So why did it seem like he didn’t care at all? It hurts a lot.

Where is the Riku who’s last worlds for Sora were asking him to keep Kairi safe? The one who helped her escape Axel or shielded her from Saix?

Riku felt off to me in Kingdom Hearts 3, not only because of this, but I’ll leave that for my Riku rant.

Kairi’s performance in the final battle

Not everyone has to kick ass to be valid, and she tried her best to train and help, even when it was not something she was used to. 

I mean, come on! Her first real experiences in battle were in the final battle. Who the hell thought it was a good idea? She had only trained with Axel. So, of course she would freeze when she sees trained/experienced keyblade wielders being thrown all over the place. Even Sora didn’t take out his weapon, trying to save her in the rush of the moment. And even if she did take out her keyblade when Terranort attacked her, she would’ve been smashed against the wall like Axel.

I’ll admit that before kh3 was released, I wished she did become OP and beat some organization XIII butt, but as I advanced in the game I realized how ridiculous that is. If you put kh1 Riku and Sora in that scenario, even at the end of the game with all the experience they had gathered, I bet they wouldn’t have fared very differently.

What I truly want is for her to go on her own adventure and grow powerful at her own pace, so in the next big battle she’ll be fairly prepared. It would be better if that adventure was with Sora and Riku, exploring new worlds together just the three of them, like they dreamed about in kh1.

But I’ll say it again: Not everyone in the game must kick ass to be valid.

A sailing ship warmed my heart. Even if it was poorly written (Unsurprisingly. It involves Kairi so I expected as much)

The Sokai in the game honestly lifted my battered heart.

Sora grows to learn so much more of love in this game: how powerful true love can be, how if you truly believe, love can make miracles happen and that one day is enough if there is true love.. He even admits that he still doesn't know much about it, but as the story goes on we can see that he knows more than he believes.

I loved the paopu scene. I could totally imagine Kairi and Riku planning it beforehand, so that Kairi and Sora would be alone to do so. Key word being “imagine” because at this point, their friendship is only in my imagination.. but that will be saved for Riku’s rant..

I believe that it’s so in character that Kairi initiates the paopu scene, because Sora would never do so. But I loved it, and the way they looked at each other was so.. oh man this game.

The paopu moment did seem to make Sora bolder, touching her more than before and being blunter about how she makes him feel. And it’s so heartwarming and wholesome that the moment when Sora realizes Kairi’s light had been guiding him in the darkness, he remembers the two acts of true love he had witnessed before in the game: Rapunzel’s tear bringing Flynn back to life and Elsa and Ana’s scene as well. I believe that’s the moment when he realizes that she’s his True Love.. 

That moment when he finds her in the darkness, and he makes her shy when he tells her that he felt strong with her, smiling knowingly when she turns away embarrassed. Or holding her hand for longer than necessary when they go back with the others.

It’s amazing that after meeting so many new people, many gorgeous girls and guys, Sora’s heart hasn’t let go of the friend he fell for as kids. He loved her for her personality and heart, which is why their bond is so strong, even if they see each other less than before.. which is a massive understatement if I must say so myself.  

That heart wrenching scream when she was taken into the heartless tornado or his grief-stricken face as he screamed at Master Xehanort “Why”, are proof of just how deep his feelings for her are. How important and invaluable she is in his life.

Adding to this, his utter sacrifice to go save her as soon as possible, not enjoying his victory against Master Xehanort, and not making her wait one more second (his words, not mine) is a statement of his feelings for her, simple and clear (thought I would say clean did ya?)

I mean, come on! His first thought after killing that murderous bald sack of darkness was about her.

And at the end I love how they were holding hands and sitting so close to each other on the paopu tree (They’re definitely a couple now) before he vanished and shattered my heart in a million different pieces.

Speaking of which..

An ending that shattered my heart.

I feel like her dying was very unnecessary. I think that it was only for Sora to embark on a mission alone. Master Xehanort says that he lacks motivation, so he kills her (she’s being used as a plot device again dammit) but Sora clearly was going to fight him either way, motivation or not. 

So, killing Kairi was only for Sora to go alone at the end, leave the story inconclusive and the game, and players, in dire need of a sequel.

Before the secret ending had been added, I was super sad that the only person who truly cared for her had seemingly died, or vanished, but now we know he’s someplace else, looking for a way back to her. I would love for her to save him, but given how SE treats her, I think I’ll temper my expectations for her in the next installments of the games.

This game left me with a super bittersweet feeling, but it was definitely worth it! I won’t let SE and the character’s indifference towards Kairi affect my overall enjoyment of the game.

But let’s hope she gets to shake that damsel in distress title Nomura loves to give her.. I guess I can’t keep my expectations low for her, can I?

Oh well, Sora still need to give her her lucky charm back, which she gave back in Blank Points, so he needs to come back to her to return it.

Please SE let Kairi help save Sora this time, without being a burden. Thank you.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.