#good place rewatch no survivors

[macbethz]

they sent my man to hell for having ocd

[teeny-tiny-revenge]

Today I'm thinking about Ed's reaction to the marmalade. No, not about that it's very good. (I wanted a gif of this moment and it was the only one I could find.)

I'm thinking about Ed's face after Stede's "Ship's stores are loaded with it. Had to get rid of some gunpowder, but I think it was the right decision."

Ed is surprised, shocked maybe, but you never get the idea that Ed thinks the load of marmalade is frivolous or a waste of space (as a lot of other characters would!). But Ed's eyes are wide with wonder. Ed is impressed. Ed is fucking inspired. (And a little bit in love already, but that's beside the point.)

Because Ed is a survivor. Ed has built his entire life around surviving, and he's successful at it, he's going grey in a career that tends to cut your life pretty short, he's built this entire act and persona up for the sole purpose of ensuring his safety and survival, and when challenged and threatened later in the series (before he completely loses his will to continue surviving like this) we see Ed throw away anything pleasurable in favour of holding up the sword and shield of Blackbeard and the Kraken.

Ed is a guy who has learned to prioritise survival over anything else. Ed's stores are certainly full of gunpowder, no space for even a jar of marmalade left. Ed lived a life, from young age on, that taught him that he doesn't get to have nice, pleasurable, fun and comforting things. He keeps his one nice comforting scrap hidden away inside his leather armour. He has more money than you can shake a stick at, but he doesn't have any luxuries. He doesn't even have comforts. He has knick-knacks. But he doesn't have soft robes to sleep in, he doesn't have the damn good whiskey Stede keeps in his cabin (although he could easily afford it!), and he certainly doesn't have good marmalade. Ed doesn't treat himself. Ed is a survival guy and he has survival necessities. Ed only has gunpowder. He doesn't have marmalade.

And here comes Stede, with his fancy boat full of fancy things that aren't helpful to survive on the seas. It's a ship full of joyful little pleasures. It's got a library, a nice cozy fireplace, two fucking chandeliers (overkill!), it's stocked with good brandy, and two full closets of nice clothes, and its captain prioritised tasty marmalade for breakfasts over gunpowder for survival.

Because the Revenge isn't built for survival. Stede was done surviving (he'd run away from just surviving). He was probably aware he might not have a long life out on the sea, but Stede didn't come to survive. Stede came to live. And he was going to live to the fullest. He stocked his ship with all the things that he found make life worth living. (Stede later learns that he doesn't need all the things to enjoy life, but that he needs friends and his lover, but that's not the point here.) Stede designed his ship to be fun. To be a nice place to live. The Revenge is full of creature comforts. A full bathtub! Can you imagine Ed to have a full bathtub on his old ship? I can't. Because Ed has spend his life so busy surviving that until he's almost dead he doesn't stop to consider what makes his life worth living. And then it's so simple things he comes up with. (Creature comforts!)

Ed has lived a life of denying himself nice things in favour of things he hates but that are "safe". Ed lives in a house full of gunpowder. And he's choking on it, it's killing him, but he doesn't think there's another way. And then comes a guy who goes "oh actually, I replaced a lot of my gunpowder (not all btw) with this super tasty marmalade so I can have nice breakfasts". And to Ed that's life changing. Look at his face next time you rewatch, when he turns to Stede. This is a guy who just had an epiphany, who just had someone crumble his world view in the best of ways. You don't only have to keep gunpowder. You can also have marmalade, because marmalade is nice. You should live rather than just survive.

And we see Ed try to embrace this. With Stede, and for a brief time before Izzy happens to him, even on his own, Ed lets himself have nice things. He wears comforting clothes and eats the marmalade from the stores. Because it's nice to live a little even when you're sad. And then he goes back to just surviving, and he can't do it. He's tasted marmalade, he can't deal with being stuck with nothing but gunpowder anymore.

But he does survive, and Stede comes back, and they spend the night together and the next morning Blackbeard's getup is tossed away tied to a cannonball (a companion to the gunpowder), and for Ed there's toast with marmalade in bed.

Because Ed chose life. And to live means to have things to enjoy. Like good marmalade to start the day.

[spinningwebsandtales]

Imagine Max Saving You From A Group Of War Boys

Max Rockatansky X FemReader

Rating: M

Warnings: Blood, mentions of death, rotting bodies, stealing, vehicle accident, suggestive materials (reader is worried she'll be placed in Immortan Joe's harem), injuries

Word Count: 2.1k

(A/N:) I have had a heck of a time getting this bad boy finished. But I couldn't have got it done in more perfect timing with the Furiosa movie out in theaters! I'm going very soon and hopefully there will be more Max inspiration take place cause I love Fury Road! I rewatched it here recently and my love for Max has been kindled once more! So hopefully this helps feed my fellow Mad Max fangirls! Enjoy and until next time happy reading! ~Countess

To survive in the wastelands you have to do anything and be willing to suffer any consequences. You could always lay over and just die, letting the vermin that scuttled about in the sands, take care of the remains. Or you could stand and fight, taking whatever you need no matter who it's from. That's how you've survived for so long, scavenging, taking from unlucky fellow survivors that just so happen to be in your path. Food, water, clothing, guzzolene, anything of value it was all fair game. Your biggest score, was your car. Though you didn't take it from anyone living. Raiders had come across some poor sap, killing him and taking everything of value, except for his car. It had taken some doing but you found the key buried under the sand close to the rotting body of the man who had just found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. His loss became your gain. Now you could make it across in different areas of desert in less time. Though the need for guzzolene became a problem. So far you had had good luck being able to get it whenever you needed it. Though you knew for certain that eventually your luck would run out.

And run out it did. Unfortunately you had grown cocky with your string of wins. The tires of your car spun, throwing up clouds of sand as you tried to gain traction on the loose ground. You released the pedal, quickly shifting into all wheel drive. With a roar from the engine the car finally burst forward, pinning you back. The group of war boys behind you yelling as the chase was on. You hit the steering wheel cursing yourself for screwing up so severely, you'd be lucky to make it out alive. You had seen the war boys yards away and you knew they hauled all the equipment they needed, thanks to Immortan Joe. If you could score off of them, you'd be set for a month. But it hadn't been easy and though your skills was above average you didn't get to swipe one thing until they had swarmed you. Now you were trying everything to get away. Dodging lances and hooks that would kill you in an instant, you blinked back against the sand in your eyes. You hadn't had your car long enough to become an elite driver yet and they were gaining fast. Despair crushed your lungs as one war boy pulled up beside you. You darted away only to run into another war boy rig. The two drivers started to pull towards one another, pinning you in between them.

Your hands shook as you gripped the steering wheel harder. The war boys cackled and spit, toying with you before they ended you.

"Bring her to Immortan," they crowed. "Bring her to him! He'll take care of her!"

They all agreed and the two vehicles pulled away, leaving you free. With the pressure off the sides, your car slid fishtailing and you lost control instantly. The war boys only got louder as your car went airborne and crashed down on it's hood. Your face smashing against the steering wheel as your car began to roll over repeatedly. The last roll and you were ejected from the shattered windshield. The hot sand cushioned you, but it wasn't much as you skidded to a stop. Your chest wheezing as you tried to breathe. Your car destroyed and your life forfeit, any hope of living left you. The one thing that you wished to happen was the war boys finishing you here and now, you heard what Immortan Joe did to women he liked or wished to continue his line with. You blinked at the sand as several of the war boys raced towards you.

"Immortan Joe will be pleased with us," one sneered. "Steal from Immortan and pay the consequences."

You shook your head, trying to clear your sight. Apparently you had hit your head harder than you first realized as the illusion of a man walking towards you, refused to dissipate. No he only got closer and you surely knew the Grim Reaper was now on his way to bring about your end. You'd gladly take his hand if it meant that the suffering would end and you wouldn't have to face a fate worse than death.

"Eh what's that there?"

Okay maybe you weren't so crazy as the war boys were seeing the being too. His arm raised and gunfire had the war boys scattering while two of them fell beside you. A small flicker of hope kindled, unless you were trading an end brought by Immortan Joe's battle fodder for this stranger. Though if he wanted to end you, you were pretty positive that he would have ended you already. You were an easy target unlike the war boys that were scurrying around, trying their best to fight back. Screams and thuds surrounded you as the man only kept stepping forward. Not backing down or flinching at the bullets and explosions all coming towards him. When he was close enough for your hazy vision did you finally get a good look. With short hair and a stocky build, he was quite handsome for a desert dweller. Though he looked healthy it didn't mean that he had lived an easy life. A haunted look was in his eyes and his face would twitch every now again. Something was wrong with him, but beggars couldn't be choosers as he was saving your butt.

The last war boy fell to the sand, spraying blood from his wounds and you felt well enough to sit up. You whimpered at the pain shooting through your head but when the stranger knelt before you, you quickly bit back any more noises.

"Took a tumble," he mumbled.

"Just a little one," you agreed spitting a mouthful of blood out.

He rose back up looking through all the now abandoned vehicles and even searched through the wreckage of yours. You felt a little indignant as he took several items out of yours. Sure they were stolen goods, but you had pilfered them fair and square. You attempted getting up, your shaky legs barely keeping you up. Attempting a step, you stumbled and quickly caught yourself.

"That's my stuff in my car," you glared. Though you hoped that he would listen, there was no way you could fight him, if he wanted to.

He didn't reply just kept digging before he pulled out your worn pack. You protested loudly before he threw it at your feet. He still didn't say a word as he started searching through the war boy's vehicles and even going further and searching the war boy's pockets. When he decided that he had searched and grabbed everything of value, he handed you another bag and tank of guzzolene and jerked his head towards the direction that he had come from. You knew that if you wanted to survive the night you would need to follow him. He had proven himself trustworthy so far and your injuries were becoming worse, though your legs had finally steadied enough to walk.

On unsteady feet you remained close, the stranger not saying a word but waving at the air every little bit. Surely you didn't just survive the war boys only to be taken out by some mental man seeing ghosts? His car came into view, worn and beaten up, but sturdy and reliable looking. Tossing his gear in the back seat, he looked back and waved you forward.

"Why," you sighed, suddenly becoming dizzy. You wanted to ask why he rescued you? Why was he bringing you with him? But your adrenaline infused energy finally hit E and you collapsed to the ground.

"Don't go to sleep," he muttered suddenly at your side. Tapping at your cheek. "Wake up."

"Tired..."

He shook you harder, "Wake up."

You couldn't answer, losing the battle with the darkness overtaking your vision. And then you knew nothing else.

The rumbling of tires was all you could hear as you came in and out of consciousness. The sun was still so bright and the mystery man behind the wheel muttered to himself constantly. Promises dripping from his tongue and you licked your chapped lips before succumbing once more to the darkness.

You had no idea how much time had passed in your unconscious state, until at last your eyes opened and you were able to remain awake. A small fire crackling in the background provided a little bit of illumination in a small musty cave. Your body hurt and the ache in your head had your temples pounding a horrible drumbeat. Across the way your savior leaned up against the cave wall. His body lurched forward and his chest heaved as his eyes opened. You jerked, surprised by his sudden movement. He shook his head, rubbing at his eyes before his attention was drawn to you. He took a cup that sat by his leg and moved towards you.

"Drink," he muttered holding the dented tin cup to your lips. The water was warm and gritty from dirt but you didn't care as you gulped the entire contents down, but still your throat burned for more. Wordlessly he filled it back up and brought more of the precious resource to you.

"Why," you croaked when you finally had your fill.

He shrugged.

"There has to be a reason why you helped me?"

He shrugged again.

"Stubborn fool," you retorted. After a long, quiet, and awkward pause you finally spoke again, "Thank you."

This time he grunted.

Sitting up, it took a moment for the cave to stop spinning before you were able to see only one of him again. You scrounged around in your bag, searching for the bit of dried lizard you had kept. Finding it, you ripped it in half and offered him the larger piece. Sort of an offering of peace and that you could be a friend he could trust. He took it, before devouring it quickly.

"I wasn't going to take it from you," you laughed while ripping a bite off of yours. "Now that we have broke the proverbial bread, aka dried lizard maybe we can have an actual conversation now?"

Once again he shrugged and you really were fighting the urge to throw something at him.

"Gotta name at least," you asked, unwilling to give up. If he could be stubborn so could you.

He glanced around, his fingers tapping against the metal brace on his knee. Finally he sighed and turned dark eyes onto you.

"Max."

Finally a start. You gave him your name before sticking out your hand. Reluctantly he took it but he did shake your hand. Silence filled the cave again and you were beginning to feel exhausted again. You yawned gaining his attention.

"Get some rest," Max said his boots scuffing against the ground as he stood up. "We move in the morning."

Morning came so quickly, the fire had been doused and Max had packed up everything. The cave floor bare with no signs of someone staying there. You thought that you'd look around and he'd be gone, but his silhouette filled the cave entrance blocking out the majority of the harsh sun rays. Sitting up, you gained his attention and he nodded to his car.

"Can I ask why you're saving me now," you asked once in the passenger seat.

Max sighed, "Maybe I just want to redeem myself of all the times I failed."

His gaze towards you, looked sad, tired, and lost. Your heart broke and you could understand that ache buried within him. Why he seemed distant, but kind. This world had it's way of taking anything bright and lovely and tainting it in the worst way possible. Max started the engine and started to shift it into gear when your hand covered his.

"This world is ugly," your voice wavered causing Max to cock his head. "But that doesn't mean it has to make us ugly in the process. I've done things I regret, stealing, taking from others to survive. But I always want to reach out that helping hand when I can. Like you did for me. I owe you a lot now Max, maybe this was just a chance meeting or maybe it's meant for something more."

He nodded, shifting into gear and roaring off. The wheels churning dirt into a cloud. Honestly you both didn't know what was in store ahead, and it wasn't set in stone that you would remain with Max. But right now it felt right and you wanted to see where this path would take you. Maybe this was a chance of redemption for two hurt people to find their reason and place in a world gone mad.

[lolalalateatime]

Dear gods of television,

please don't make me watch Buck and Eddie have the same argument over and over again, when you know damn well that having a conversation would have been a solution - and maybe even a more interesting option from a narrative standpoint. We don't watch the show for explosions and floods, we watch it for the characters. Comfort captains, indeed.

And in case you want a sacrifice, I can rewatch the show again, I'll take one for the team, gladly. Perhaps if viewers find inspiration in previous seasons, a spark of belief in decent writing and good times will bring the showrunners better ideas for season 9.

Do we not express our love online enough? I think we do. Read the tumblr posts alone, gods of television. (Or ao3, provided you read the tags very carefully.) Because all it takes is a cursory glance at fan communities to see that nobody wants Eddie to work in El Paso - Buddie or no Buddie, we want our repressed muppet to unrepress on screen, we don't consume the "Eddie goes to therapy" fanfics by the bucket for nothing. We don't want to give the captaincy to Chim - not that he wouldn't deserve it, at this point he'd be great at the job (and it would actually be hilarious given his family dynamic with Buck), but does the man need MORE piled on his survivors' guilt? Honestly, gods of television, sometimes it feels like you don't care to listen to our prayers. In which we keep Captain Wilson. And Chistopher's agency in choosing the right state to live in.

Gods of television, I thank you for our dose of the Wilson family life, Karen has been missed, and Henren gives this particular supplicant happy vibes, so that's appreciated.

No amount of familiar faces will patch the loss of Bobby, gods of television. Unless the showrunners created this elaborate fakeout and Bobby really is in a lab somewhere fighting to come back (please? I know I wanted to be logical about this, but I'm writing a tumblr prayer to imaginary gods about fictional characters, logic and sense have absolutely no place here), don't bother appeasing the viewers. Have a modicum of respect, please.

And please, please, for the love of streaming platforms, don't let them write off Eddie. The weewoo brainrot sufferers cannot cope with losing two characters. No amount of emergency fanfiction could possibly cure that void.

Sincerely and with devotion,

The Fannish Unhinged

[utdrmv-confession-box]

Transcript: I'd love love LOVE to see more "alternate timelines" or AUs for Underverse and Xtale instead of the same "Truce, Ink found and inspired XGaster, and things spiraled out of control leading to the XEvent" and "Cross is in the Nightmare Gang now and either finds a place to belong or is in for a hellish, awful time and runs away into Dream's arms" tales. I know those settings are good for sadboi Cross angst hours but if I wanted to read the same kind of origin stories for Cross and Xtale over and over again I'd just rewatch Underverse. It really feels like there isn't much variation done with Xtale and Cross. Why not make an AU where Dream or Core Frisk meets XGaster first and it still goes horribly wrong in a new way? Maybe Core Frisk tries to directly steer XGaster away from whatever bad path they see for him and they go to meet him before Ink could but it goes even worse for everyone even though Ink isn't involved. And Dream's positive aura is addicting, right? How would that affect XGaster, his motives, and his creations? Or how about an AU where Ink finds out what XGaster's been doing to his kids, reflects how his own dads could have mistreated/manipulated/weaponized him, and he gets the kids out of there with XGaster chasing them across the Multiverse? Maybe a No Truce AU where Error finds Xtale before Ink can and XFrisk or XChara is the sole survivor that Ink manages to save from Error. Or an AU where Xtale is at peace and Cross is restless and inspired to become a Star Sans along with Dream, Ink, and Swap so they travel and defend the Multiverse together. Or an AU where no one finds Xtale and the Multiverse is not involved at all but XChara and XFrisk somehow survive XGaster's death so they have to live in their isolated world alone for a while and, Idk, Cross is an imaginary friend of theirs that becomes real or something. Anything different than Xtale and Cross's canon backgrounds and Nightmare's Gang Cross. Dream and Nightmare have a bunch of different AU selves that go into what-if territory, why not Cross and Xtale? Be creative! (Feel free to use any of these ideas, by the way.)

[so-long-soldier-writes]

Survivors

theo raeken x reader

summary: people are being kidnapped and tested, and one day, you wake up with the startling realization that you're next. luckily, your captor releases you after something about you reminds him a little too much of himself.

tags: kidnapping, implied s3lf h4rm, implied child abuse, non-graphic

word count: 1.1k

a/n: i apologize in advance

also, i wrote this a month ago and haven't been able to title it! i've also had to rewatch parts of s5 bc i was so confused the first time around. this takes place before the chimeras start dying / when they're still being tested on and all that.

A dark cloth is pulled tightly around your head, and your hands are bound in rope. A metal pole supports your back, though it is uncomfortable between your shoulder blades. Two of your senses are rendered useless, forcing you to rely on the other three for support. Unfortunately, they aren't much help in a situation like this.

You sigh. There's no telling how long you've been here. You know you've faded in and out of consciousness three times now. This is the first time you've fully woken up and realized how endangered you actually are.

Even with the blindfold, you know you're in the dark. The hard and cold ground suggests a garage, storage building, or maybe even down in the tunnels, is where you're being kept. Who knows? A pill was forced down your throat the minute you were grabbed, your kidnapper rendering you completely unable to fight.

Speaking of which... Your kidnapper...

You wonder who they are. It's probably the doctors; they've been damning people for weeks now. Turning humans into creatures and throwing them back out into the world. Killing them if they're failures, but doing more tests if they seem to succeed.

Fear shoots down your spine as you realize you're next. You're captured, you must be their next test. You struggle against the ropes, but there's no give.

A heavy door is pushed to the side, and footsteps make their way towards you. You stop fighting immediately and prepare for the worst.

Someone crouches in front of you close enough that you can hear their breathing. They're calm in a way that horrifies you. They're not here to save you. No, no one knows you're here. No one is coming to save you.

You're startled by a gentle touch as two hands meet the sides of your head. Your blindfold is pulled down slowly, finally revealing the person on the other side. Their identity shocks you; a chill ices your body.

"You."

He sighs, glancing at the floor. "Sorry about this, Y/N. You're the one they wanted most."

"Really? And when'd you become their little errand boy, Theo? I thought you wanted Scott to trust you. Thought you wanted to be a part of his pack."

"it's all about survival, Y/N. There is a war, and I am loyal to whom I think will come out on top."

"You're wrong. The bad guys always lose, even if not in ways you'd expect. You will lose."

"Have that much faith in Scott, now do you? I don't see him coming to save you. You're all alone here. There's no getting out." You gulp visibly before you can stop yourself. "How's that for being the loser?"

"You're sick."

"Maybe. But at least I'm a realist."

You roll your eyes, looking away from him. Right now, his face is pissing you off just to see it. Two days ago, you'd admit you thought the little fucker was hot, but now, he's just a pain in your ass.

"Whatever," you snap, "have it your way. Just make it fast if you're going to kill me."

"Baby, if you've been following along, I'm not killing anyone. And the doctors aren't yet either. They're testing you all."

"For what? And don't 'baby' me."

He smiles. "To make the perfect monster. The best one for the cause."

"Which is?"

"Can't say."

"You're insufferable."

"And you're adorable when you're mad."

"Ugh!"

Theo takes a deep breath, then unties the cloth that was once around your eyes. He reaches around the side to undo the ropes, working at them for a good thirty seconds before unraveling the strongly-made knot.

"I do mean it when I say I'm sorry. Wish they picked anyone else, but they said you were special."

"I don't care, Theo. I already know this is the end for me. You're just drawing it out."

He slouches his shoulders before taking your wrists in his hands. He sits up on his knees, prepared to pull you up with him, but stops suddenly. Even in the darkness, the chimera can see the scars. Thin, white lines decorating the skin on your wrists. Some are more faded than others, but others look more recent. He stares at them for a moment, while you remain none the wiser, avoiding his gaze.

For a second, he's transported back to his childhood - kidnapped by the doctors at an early age, forced to undergo tests and experiments, and to live under their care. Forgotten by his family and haunted by his sister. The doctors didn't know how to raise a child, but they clearly didn't care. The torment he suffered still hurts every passing day, and even now, in Beacon Hills again, the pain hasn't ceased.

Theo bears plenty of scars of his own. Some are made by the doctors, some he brought on himself. It took him years to learn to not hate his body, to see the scars as a reminder that he's a survivor, not a failure.

His are littered around his body in places not well seen. The first time one of the doctors discovered them, he was punished accordingly. It's as if they're the only ones allowed to abuse him; how dare he bring it upon himself.

Theo looks at your scars and wonders what trauma is buried beneath them. What are you hiding? What emotional pain lies under the physical? Who knows your secrets, if anyone? It's none of his business, so he doesn't ask, but he closes his hands over your wrists and gulps.

"Run."

You look back at him, then at your clasped hands. "What?"

"Run. Run far from here and don't look back. Follow the pipes on the left side of the wall, and let them take you back above ground. Don't tell Scott anything I told you, it will only get you hurt. Just run, and don't let the doctors find you."

"Wait, why? I don't understand."

Theo pushes your hands into your chest and finally releases them. Fear floods through you as realization hits. He's seen you, seen your wrists, and your scars, and he's taking pity on you. But... he's letting you go.

"Just go, Y/N!" He yells in a whisper. "Go, before they come back. Any minute now, they're expecting you."

You scramble to your feet and look towards the pipes. The pipes on the left lead out, he said.

"But what about you?" You don't know why you ask. You don't know why you care. But, something deep inside you does.

"I'll be fine, I'll make up a lie. Just go!"

And so finally, you take off in the direction he points, still a little confused, but incredibly grateful.

Maybe there is some good in him. Maybe he's just as manipulated by the doctors as the rest of the chimeras. Maybe there's hope for him after all.

[celestialgalaxyglow]

Mulan Rewrite

I recently rewatched Mulan, the 1998 animated movie not the thing Disney made in 2020, and got hit with some creativity about a few things I would change.

In my rewrite the start of the movie is basically the same till Mulan runs away: the Huns attack the Great Wall, the Emperor sends out the conscription order, we meet Mulan, Honor to Us All, matchmaker, Reflection, Chi-Fu arrives with the conscription order, Mulan and her dad argue, Mulan runs way, Ancestors awake and Mushu decides to go after Mulan himself.

The only change I would make to the beginning of the movie is give Mulan two younger siblings. I'm taking this from the original Ballad of Hua Mulan (yes in the Ballad Mulan's sister is older, but I want Mulan to be the oldest sibling.) The Ballad doesn't give the brother and sister names so I'm calling them Hua Chun (12F) and Hua Wei (10M) they serve as another reason for Mulan to war in her dad's place, because her siblings are still young and need him in their lives. Mulan is 16.

So Mulan runs away, and after a few days, she sees the army camp in the distance. This is when Mulan and Mushu meet. Mushu is still the comic relief but is also really helpful. He points out that Mulan hasn't even come up with a fake name, and Mulan, after thinking for a bit she decides on Ping. Mulan explains that Ping was a friend of her dad's who served with him in the army and died in battle after saving his life.

Anyways Ping enters the army camp and is completely out of his element. Hijinks ensue, the rice is spilled, and the general of the army shows up.

Some explain. In this version Shang is a regular soldier, he is the son of a respected general and has promise to one day be a good general himself, but right now he's serving as a the assistant to the general overseeing this band of recruits.

Back to the story, General Jiao asks who's responsible for the mess, and everyone blames Ping. He's surprised to learn that "Ping" is the son of war hero Hua Zhou and says that he has very large shoes to fill, and so far, he's failing.

Skip to the next day and I'll Make a Man Out of You. During the song through day-night cycles its going to show that several days have gone by, about a week or two. By the end Ping earns the respect of his fellow soldiers, and Shang who Ping starts becoming friends with. General Jiao is impressed with Ping and tells him that he has his father's intelligence.

Shang approaches Ping and complements him for getting on General Jiao's good side. They talk for a bit, and Ping asks why Shang is overseeing some recruits rather than leading his own army to battle. Shang explains that about a month ago, he accidently launched one of their rockets into an armory, causing the whole place to blow up, and he was sent to the camp as a sort of punishment. Ping laughs, and Shang, embarrassed, asks Ping not to tell anyone, Ping agrees on the grounds that Shang beats him in a race to a tree on top of a nearby hill. Shang accepts the challenge, and the two race, Shang wins, Ping agrees to keep their previous conversation a secret. The two start walking back towards the camp and as they do Shang looks at Ping, this cute recruit that he's started seeing in a strange new light, and he unknowingly started reaching for his hand but as soon as their hands touch Shang pulls away. Ping apologizes, but Shang tells him not to think about it.

The next day, the army gets mobilization orders, real ones not ones made up by Muchu and Cri Kee, and the army packs up and starts marching towards the front. During A Girl Worth Fighting For, Ping opts to sing along to not draw too much attention to himself. I think he'd say something along the lines of, "A girl well versed in philosophy, who always speaks her mind." This gets a chuckle out of the others, and Shang says he respects Ping's taste.

The army sees the destroyed village and the battle field, General Jiao orders everyone to search for survivors. While searching, Ping finds the girl's doll and picks it up. Ping eventually meets back up with the army as Chien Po returns with General Li's helmet and sword and gives them to Shang. Shang sticks the sword to the ground and places his dad's helmet on it, kneels down, and says a silent prayer. General Jiao gives Shang his condolences, but quickly orders the army to head out, saying they have to head towards the Tung Shao Pass to intercept the Huns before they reach the Imperial City. As the army starts to move, Ping kneels down next to Shang and hugs him, Shang hugs him back. Then Shang sees the doll, takes it, and rests it against his dad's sword. Shang and Ping get up and join the rest of the army.

As the army moves through the Tung Shao Pass, they are discovered by the Huns and a battle ensues. The Huns have larger numbers and the edge in the battle. With only one rocket left, Ping takes it, runs in front of the army, and aims it towards a high snow-covered mountain top. By the time Ping is able to launch the rocket, Shan Yu almost reaches Ping. Shan Yu taunts Ping, mocking him for missing at point-blank range, and Ping grins. Shan Yu looks back to see the rocket hit the mountain and the start of the avalanche. Furious,Shang Yu attacks Ping.

Then we have the scene where Ping saves Shang when they fall off the cliff. After reaching safe ground, Shang, thanks Ping, calling him the craziest man he's ever met. But not long after Ping passes out front the wound he got from Shan Yu.

After waking up, Mulan's identity is revealed. Chi Fu demands Mulan be executed, but General Jiao lets her live, saying she saved everyone's life but still leaves her alone in the mountain.

Mulan is ready to turn home when she discovers the Shan Fu, and a few Huns survived the avalanche. She rides towards the city and tries to warn Shang and General Jiao of an attack, but they both silently ignore her. A while later, the Huns attack and capture the Emperor. While trying to save the Emperor, General Jiao is injured by Shan Yu. Shang takes the lead of the rescue mission, and he and a few soldiers try to break down the doors of the palace using brute force.

Mulan arrives on the scene and draws their attention, saving she has an idea. Yao, Ling, and Chien Po quickly follow her, followed by Shang. They scale pillars and enter the palace, specifically the wing where the concubines live. Mulan has Yao, Ling, and Chien Po as concubines to distract the guards so she and Shang can reach Shan Fu and the Emperor.

A fight ensues, Shan Fu's remaining Huns are apprehended, Yao, Ling, and Chien Po escape with the Emperor, and Mulan cuts the rope so Shan Fu can't follow them. Shan Fu goes to kill Shang when Mulan reviles herself to be the soldier that destroyed Shang Fu's army. Shang Fu furious chases her across the palace till they get on the roof. Looking around, Mulan sees the tower with the fireworks and asks Mushu to get her the largest one.

As Mushu gets the rocket, Mulan and Shan Fu fight, and eventually, she disarms him using her hand fan, just in time for Mushu to arrive and light the rocket. The rocket sends Shan Fu flying to the firework tower and is blown up. Mulan, Muchu, and Cri-Kee safely get off the roof before the explosion and land on the steps to the Palace.

Shang runs up to Mulan and hugs her, glad she's safe. Shang tells her that using the fireworks was an insane idea. Mulan laughs, saying she got the idea from him. Shang laughs, embarrassed, and reminds Mulan she promised to keep his accident a secret, Mulan tells him his secret is safe with her. Then Yao, Ling, and Chien Po show up and congratulate Mulan. They're followed by General Jiao, who congratulates Mulan, telling her she is as great a soldier as her father.

Then Chi Fu shows up and berates Shang, Yao, Ling, Chien Po, and General Jiao telling them to stand aside. Shang stands up to defend Mulan when the Emperor shows up.

The Emperor silently tells tells them to step aside and looks at Mulan. Mulan bows to him as he goes on his speech on all the laws Mulan has broken in the last few weeks "I've heard a great deal about you Hua Mulan, you stole your father's armor, ran away from home, impersonated a soldier, deceived your commanding officer, dishonored the Chinese army, destroyed my palace, and... you have saved us all." Then the Emperor bows to Mulan as everyone else in courtyard kowtows to Mulan.

The Emperor offers Mulan a job in his council, but Mulan asks to go back home. The Emperor accepts and gives her his medallion and the sword of Shan Fu.

As she leaves, Mulan hugs Yao, Ling, and Chien Po, General Jiao shakes her hand, and then she goes to Shang, who tells her, "You fight good." Mulan sadly walks past him as she mounts Khan and rides home as the crowd cheers.

Shang looks at Mulan riding away as the Emperor walks towards him. At first, the Emperor tries to be nice and says, "The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all." Seeing that Shang is not getting the hint, the Emperor talks bluntly and tells Shang."You don't meet a girl like that every dynasty!" and walks away.

Cut to a few says later at the Hua residence. Mulan arrives home to see her dad sitting in the garden under the cheery blossom tree. Hua Zhou is shocked to see her, but before he can say kneels before him and gives him the sword of Shan Yu and the Emperor's medallion. Zhou throws them aside and hugs Mulan, telling her, "The greatest gift in honor is having you for a daughter."

Mulan's siblings run to her and hug her. They immediately start asking Mulan questions about her adventure, and Zhou tells them to give Mulan some room to breathe.

We switch to Mulan's mom and grandma looking at the other with the Grandma, saying that Mulan should have brought a man. At that moment, Shang shows up, asking if Mulan lives there, and the Hua Li and Grandma Hua point toward Mulan.

Shang walks towards Mulan and Zhou. Shang bows to Hua Zhou. After seeing Mulan, he tries to give her back her helmet but starts to panic a little. Mulan looks at her dad, who silently gives her a go-ahead. Mulan takes the helmet and invites Shang to stay for dinner. Grandma Hua in the background invites Shang to stay forever. Shang accepts, despite having Chun and Wei glaring at him from behind Mulan.

The Ancestors restore Muchus' status as a Hua family guardian.

End of movie.

Overall I didn't make that many changes mostly adding a few extra scenes here and there. But Mulan is already almost flawless, so there's not much that does need change.

During the credits, I would add in a few drawings showing what all the characters are up to after the war. Mulan is home, teaching some local kids some basic marshal arts techniques like she did at the beginning of Mulan II. Shang is now a general training soldiers. Mushu's statue is proudly displayed among the Hua family gradians. And so on for other major characters like Yao, Ling, and Chien Po.

[virginiadre]

I'm actually glad to have been proven wrong about yoshida's bad influence to be entirely blamed on, but at what costs?

For the longest (way past a decade now), I've had this suspicion that the GX creative team had some civil war fall-out of sorts. That was all that could explain the several plot inconsistencies and canon contradictions to me. Yoshida is not the only culprit I should attack, but him eschewing off from tying loose ends of s3 does raise my eyebrows.

There were plot points that looked out of place since it felt like trying to pay homage to the original ygo while still wanting to look unique. Like, parts of s3 emulate DM to an extent but the arrival of the foreign white boy who magically becomes besties with the japanese mc is an adored yet familiar trope in the whole genre. Too bad it's shoved on us way past the halfway point, along with weak foreshadowing of the final villains. Yeah, the implementation of the overused Devilman trope was obvious but you see: very few shonen have managed to execute it scrupulously.. and GX is not one of them 🤷

Rewatched this series back in April, and that transition from s3 to s4 left me infuriated. The plot atmosphere might be heavier than that of s1, but trust me the final two seasons stand juxtaposed, facing two different directions. S4 doesn't even show any conclusion to the prior arc, but instead focuses on a discarded plot point from the 1st fucking season?? And that's a bad thing since unlike the first two, both s3 and s4 are meant to cover up the gang's third year at the academy up till graduation. Everything happened in one semester yet nothing happened at all folks.

Poor Marcel is erased since Blair can't have her own friend to grow with and should instead be part of the mc's senior group as his fangirl. Poor Zane is robbed off a memorable death since Syrus is not allowed to have the grieving plotline. Poor Adrian and Jim got deported from Japan for reasons only addressed off-screen. Poor Bastion lol.

I don't mind Yoshida favouring O'Brien since that's frankly the only likeable character left. I do mind however, that he subverted 80% of s3, all because he wasn't part of making it smh. The previous directors need to be throttled too.

For me to like s4, I'd have to accept most of s3 to be forced and unnecessary. And for me to enjoy season 3, I will naturally find the last season a shit show.

Oh, Judai's battling ptsd and trauma? Just him? But why? Did something catastrophic happen involving only himself or his friends too? In another dimension where a crazy duel monster spirit from ancient times, went on a rage filled frenzy? Was a beloved bestie possessed and used against everyone for evil? What does good boi bestie have to feel about that? Oh, I see..only mc is allowed to exhibit the tragedy trope..

Shit gets me ya know. To have Jesse highlighted as not only an integral bond to Jaden, but also a comfortably adjusted friend in the main circle, all to get shafted as an afterthought in s4. Poor guy's deck/family of crystal beasts was tainted and used as weapons to kill, but yeah he gets screentime for 5 eps where he loses to Fujiwara and ultimately becomes the loser friend like the others.. wow yoshida, just wow. You had an open invitation to explore this guy's shame and guilt complex but ya blew it. Jaden suffers horrible survivors guilt over this guy, but s4 wants to gaslight us into believing Jesse is just some forgotten transfer student.

(Sharing a personal headcanon here, but Jesse's departure to North Academy could have been an important scene with actual sentimental value. Far sensible than current mc ghosting everyone at graduation to go battle mighty mc of the previous installment. I don't mind that incomplete duel but that ending wasn't fair for anyone except Judai)

"Judai is sad and mad" he's trauma bonded to the menacing spirit who is behind all that pain caused in the prior arc. Instead of divulging into that dynamic under a different lens, viewers have to accept that Yubel is redeemed and therefore only allowed to appear for the last two eps. The mc is the only one in pain despite four other existing characters experiencing worse.

"Judai is an adult now" WHERE? his growth is not organic, and his friends who could depict realistic adulthood challenges were well, neglected by the writers. DM and 5d show better wrapped up endings than whatever the hell this was. I'm being annoying here but the GX manga gave a better ending.

The tropes aren't impressive when they aren't coherently executed on appropriate situations. Why introduce something so profound and in need of exploration yet drop it the moment it demanded active participation of the other characters? You share your pain with the ones who understand you in that field and grow with them. Yoshida dropping the ball on everyone to hyperfocus on mc was nonsensical. Don't worry, fanon!GX doesn't disappoint me with the well written fanfiction.

What canon!GX became was an attempt where each screenwriter wanted to insert their own interpretation of a favoured trope onto the mc without developing the existing outline established around all the characters since the start. It's Plain Bad Writing.

5d had to respect it's late insert, crow hanger, and make him a series regular post debut. Yet Jesse (the real bestie who actually carried the plot for half a season) gets the short of the stick becuz... becuz... BECUZ..?!? nothing? Back to shitting on yoshida welp!

People insulting GX as bottom tier doesn't offend me anymore since that's exactly what it got regulated to by the end. The anime, while thoroughly enjoyable, disappoints.

[thealogie]

I realized recently that I really went from 'Good Omens ending well is central to my happiness' to actually hoping season 3 gets cancelled for real.

I toyed with 'Gaiman gets removed and everything can proceed as is' for a while, despite feeling guilty about the victims of his fuckery, knowing deep down that I prioritize my personal fictional safe place for selfish reasons and actually trying not to think about it too much. But recently I thought about it, and found out that in the meanwhile my feelings have turned to the extent that I actually really don't want season 3 to be made. There is just no way for it to still be as fun and as much of a 'safe place' for me as it used to be. Even if it's written brilliantly for a change (from season 2).

There's no way anyone can come out of it looking good, neither the actors, nor potential directors/showrunners, nor Pratchett's estate, nor fans etc. There's always going to be this elephant in the room. I prefer still enjoying the Tennant/Sheen duo in possible future roles with unblemished conscience and with that sense of pure fun that they're so good at inducing in me with their chemistry. I think I won't be able to do it with an easy heart if they do season 3 and get tainted by this shit. It just won't be the same on all accounts. I will always love these characters and I absolutely will rewatch the existing series (I see calls to forget it ever existed, or you're a Gaiman supporter), but I want it to not continue anymore.

I'm writing it as an account from a not very principled person who organically came to wanting their favorite show cancelled, for real, without putting a moral lid on my dearest wishes, somehow. My honest wish is for GO to get cancelled and everyone going on the merry ways.

I feel similarly! My feelings flipped pretty much like a switch but I appreciate the honesty and think it’s important to acknowledge the messy feelings that come when you have concern for real world harm but also deeply care/cared about something. I don’t think I can ever not care about those characters if im being honest but that feeling is so separate and outweighed by wanting justice for the real life survivors.

[inthecut2003]

What's your thoughts on the finale/any final thoughts about s3 of Yellowjackets? This season was.... well. certainly something.

i thought it was mostly bad. maybe even worse than s2 but i can’t be sure bc i haven’t rewatched it but overall yeah this season was a major let down. starting with the finale itself one thing i can always hand to the showrunners is the wilderness timeline remains entertaining even when it’s not good. the hunt for mari, her reveal as pit girl, and finally giving the audience context for the flash forward we saw in the pilot was all very effective even if i don’t like most of the decisions made.

for starters shauna as antler queen. let’s actually talk about shauna this season and everything i feel they did wrong with her character. i don’t mind that she spends most of this season incredibly angry growing more sadistic and that she revels in the power of causing others pain. obviously the show has always been about this kind of contrast between the role women are expected to play in society and what happens when they’re actually asked to build one under extreme circumstances. like people do die religions are formed there are nonbelievers this is history of the world and clearly at the onset the show was about exploring the freedom that comes from the violence for these girls who are so across the board repressed and isolated from themselves. its part of why the hunt is even shown in the pilot right that’s the showrunners understanding that the way violence appeals to these young women it also appeals to us as the audience. but shauna’s extreme anger violence and eventual dictatorship over the rest of the girls doesn’t make sense bc it undercuts those themes by making most of the girls involuntary participants. it also doesn’t make sense at all for the literal text of the show where i cannot emphasize enough that shauna is considered (by everyone including nat and van) more trustworthy than misty in the adult timeline despite more or less torturing them. sloppy sloppy sloppy you can’t tell me this was the plan all along i’ll never believe it. they needed connectivity between the teen and adult timelines and decided making shauna as unhinged as possible was the most effective way to do that, probably bc she’s the character they’re most invested in in both timelines. it’s not behavior that colors the character it’s behavior that moves the plot forward and gives us striking images like shauna forcing melissa to eat a piece of her arm so we can post about them

i don’t know they went wrong in so many places i can barely gather my thoughts. lottie’s death as we all could have predicted had no impact on the plot or frankly any of the characters beyond shauna with her family deciding to leave her. which i never cared about her family to begin with and i think lottie’s arc would have been better served if her death was more tied to the remaining survivors. van was one of her most devoted acolytes (tho i guess we’re supposed to forget about this bc, like nat, van has been pushed into the role of long suffering martyr with no violent instincts of her own. her “we ate a fucking kid” line pissed me off bc last season she told travis she felt no guilt about that and seemed like she meant it) and she has zero reaction. ofc it doesn’t matter bc she’s given a meaningless death too meant to motivate tai against shauna which like. you didn’t need to kill van to do that and shauna shouldn’t be the big bad anyway!! ugh. what was the point of shauna’s relationship with melissa. weirdly inserting a character who’s given nothing to do for two seasons in the center of the plot for a whole season like that could have been literally anyone else. it tells us nothing about shauna other than she’s gay (there are subtler and more elegant ways to do that) and evil.

just in general terrible pacing and bad writing throughout the season and episode. like clearly most of these characters have no emotional core and the writers shift them completely based on what they need in any given scene. it kind of felt like bad fanfiction to me idk lots of conversations between characters in empty rooms that tell us nothing about them and go nowhere. the frog scientists should have been introduced in like episode three. if they were going to make shauna into a dictator we should have seen more of her rise to power and why anyone would have wanted to follow her anyway (everything they did with her this season could’ve been tai and it would’ve made much more sense plus connected with her ‘dark’ self so we could actually begin to understand the difference between those two personalities). everything with coach ben was a massive waste of time. i have more complaints but articulating them properly would probably require rewatching the episode and season and i won’t be doing that. ofc i’ll be there for s4 if it gets renewed bc of a little thing called the sunk cost facility but i’m not happy about it.

[qianqiancandyjar]

Ninjavember 2023!

Here's completed version with a bunch of explaining below each picture! Just scroll down if you don't want to see me blabbering. (I tried to go short as much as possible)

(I have a lot of AUs and headcanons that only exist in my head and my sketchbooks. Forgive me for wanting to spill them out.)

Day 2: Randy was listening to music with earphones so he didn't know Theresa was sitting next to him. Imagine how embarrassed he would get when he knows.

Day 8: Tech-Ninja AU. It's about machinist Randy being set up by Mcfist for murdering the town hero Ninja with his invention, the Tech-Ninja armor. Then the spirit of the destroyed Nomicon travelled to his armor and become an AI, choosing him to be the next Ninja. So Randy accepted it and was determined to make up for what he caused, when nobody except Howard, the boss of Weinerman industries, trusted him.

Day 10: Apocalypse AU. It's about Randy lost the battle at the end of season 2 and became the prisoner of the Sorcerer. The Nomicon was handed to Howard before that, and they later recruited survivors to form a resistance against the Sorcerer. Then Randy was stanked, but instead of turning into a monster, he was brainwashed and given the power of creating his own red and black stank. And- You know what will happen. (Inspired by the Darkness of Randy Cunningham)

Day 13: Elemental trial AU. You can say it's my take on what will happen in season 3. The Carp god was under the cover of a random carpfish as Norisville mascot. After a series of events it was awaken and gave Randy the power of Ice Rage.

Day 14: I think there's more than just the blood of First Ninja's brothers, since nobody knows how to destank people at the beginning...

Day 17: The Warrior might have been living or sleeping there, waiting for some ninjas to wake him up or consult him about his forbidden arts. (Ha, It's kinda like Eclipsa in Star vs. the forces of Evil)

Day 18: Or it can be called the New Generation AU. In the future, Randy took the place of Messager as well as the Ninja Guardian, while Brent became the new Sword Smith and Sorceress became their main villain. I am not really good at designing OCs so there's no next ninja yet.

However, I read a fanfic of another fandom in the form of CYOA, and it gave me new idea: just let the reader be the next ninja, it will be fun, too. (Also, this AU was inspired by an RC9GN fanfic titled from the past to the future, where future Randy became Ninja Guardian. But I couldn't find it on fanfiction.net any more. Has anyone read it? I didn't dream about it, right?)

Day 19: During that time I got even crazier after I read Enter the Nomicon. It's hard to believe I had a crazy period of shipping Randicon, even for myself. Especially weird for me since I now have a completely different view about Nomicon (peek at my Yokai Ninja AU comics). Time really can change a person, wow.

Day 21: Yes, a whole page just for this headcanon. I used the screenshots in the show because it's too hard to draw. The barrier thing is kinda like the one that held Bill's power in the range of Gravity Falls.

Day 23: Danny: the Walking Air-Conditioner. Inspired by a chapter of Secret Quartet. Danny phased his hand through the scarf. Just imagine your friend put a cold hand inside your scarf in winter. *shiver*

Day 25: Besides Ninja vine ball, there are also spike ball, gas ball, sonic ball, rainbow illusion ball, tear ball and so on. I just pick the most common one from my ninja balls headcanons to put in here.

Day 27: You may see I prefer using numbers to refer episodes, because that's how I track and rewatch them. To be more specific, I list some keywords here: NomiRandy, First Ninja, Debbie, Tengu. As fellow RC9GN Fans I'm sure you get it.

Day 30: It's a half-baked AU thing. The flowers I tried to draw are rosemary?

Wow! I actually finished all the prompts! Thank you for holding the big event! @evilspiritweek

(I don't mind sharing more details about my AUs or headcanons. *wink*)

[lookingatacupoftea]

About

My fic: Is There a Version? (complete) is my take on Good Omens season 3. It's got plot and pining and mystery and the power of community to change the world and zero “I was wrong” dances.

My meta:

Aziraphale's anger

The common element among the s2 flashbacks

They're not talking (or are they?)

Musings from a chronological rewatch

Crowley's lightning tantrum

Why do they go to the pub?

What's up with Whickber Street?

How safe is the bookshop?

Why doesn't Nina know Crowley?

"Get thee behind me/after you" as an interpretive key to A&C's relationship

Gift-giving in GO

GO3 speculation (beware spoilers)

Does Good Omens have too many layers?

This blog: This blog primarily shares Good Omens fanworks. I reblog a lot, including fics I haven't read and fics that may not suit my personal favorite tropes or headcanons, because I want to spread creativity and build community. That fic that's a "not for me" could be the fic that changes your life!

I may share a few analysis posts about the book/show thus far or the finale, but my focus is on promoting fans’ creative endeavors, not NG.* I believe tangible action like donating, volunteering, and organizing for SA survivors is much more impactful than arguing online. If you can, consider donating to the Survivors Trust, the Good Omens fan fundraiser On Our Own Side, or Friends of Calliope.

Other interests: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Slings & Arrows, Our Flag Means Death, The Good Place, Interview With the Vampire (TV), The West Wing, All Creatures Great & Small (2020 TV), Kevin Can Fuck Himself, Jeeves & Wooster, Fleabag, Anne of Green Gables.

Me: As a neurotypical cis het allo white lady, I feel like a bit of a unicorn on Tumblr. There are literally dozens of us here! I'm the American mom with a brown ponytail in athleisure wear picking up her kids at school, then going home to bang out more work for my nonprofit job, cook dinner, and write fanfiction. 

* If you're new to this topic, the most complete coverage is Lila Shapiro's January 2025 Vulture/New York Magazine article (tw/cw for sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual coercion and child abuse). Proceed with caution!

[igotsnothing]

TAG GAME

I was tagged by @chaoticpixls, a fabulous and discerning moot who I discovered shares a passion for BOOKSESSES! We like several of the same authors and books.

Last song I listened to:

Favorite place: I'm a city person. Even in game, San Myshuno is one of my favorite worlds. I love big cities.

Favorite book(s):

That's so hard because I feel there are books that will be more meaningful depending on my mood/life circumstance. I'll share here some recent faves.

The Lights of Prague-Nicole Jarvis- It's such an interesting story about an aristocratic vampiress (NO, REALLY?? ME??) and a working-class vampire hunter and this underground world in Prague. It's got magic and science and politics and secret societies and intrigue and shady pasts....So fun. I keep hoping for a sequel.

House of Hunger- Alexis Henderson- Okay, okay- so this poor girl with a guilty conscience agrees to become an indentured servant of sorts to a vampiress' household. The power dynamics in this novel are super intriguing as well as the emotional developments. It reminded me a bit of Bluebeard-type stories. Really well written.

Certain Dark Things- Silvia Moreno-Garcia- This is one of my favorite authors. I love everything she's written. And this novel is abouuuut...*drumroll* A VAMPIRE (gasp). But it's a different take from the Dracula-esque vampires of Victorian gothic. This is a vampire of Mexican roots- Aztec, more specifically. Atl is the survivor of some vampiric cartel violence and she hides out in Mexico City, where she befriends Domingo, a lonely young man. It's such a cool, original take on a genre that can be very overdone. The writing is gorgeous- the story stays with you long after reading it.

The Daevabad Trilogy- S.A. Chakraborty- OMG, I inhaled this. I fell in love with the world building, with the protagonists, with the magic system...It's so beautiful and touching and epic. No vampires.

Deathless- Catherynne M. Valente- A retelling of Koshei the Deathless fairytale in the backdrop of Russia during the revolution and the rise of the Soviet Union- told mostly through Marya's eyes. It is just stunning and powerful.

Currently reading:

A Marvellous Light- Freya Marske

Thunderstruck- Erik Larson

Favorite TV Show: I watch very little TV. Recently rewatched the Devil May Cry anime and some documentaries.

Favorite Food: NoOdLeS!

Who am I tagging? I am tagging some interesting folks I am betting will have good recommendations: @lynzishell, @crabbeychick, @queeniecook, @eljeebee, @sirianasims, and last and never least, @greighish (I do this in spirit- I know you are busy and on hiatus, BUT HOPE IS EVERGREEN!)

[misscinnamonroll16]

The bad guys headcanons bc I recently rewatched the movie and now I got headcanons

Wolf and Snake became friends around middle school age.

Piranha is fluent in Spanish (his second language) and every so often he gets so worked up he just starts yelling in Spanish. Only Webs and/or Wolf can understand him

Webs is nonbinary, using she/they pronouns

Webs is a lesbian

Wolf's parents abandoned(accidentally) him but he has a fuck ton of siblings he just doesn't know about

They take turns cooking every so often. Most of the time they just steal the food they want but sometimes a good home cooked meal hits the spot

Wolf sheds everywhere

Shark loses teeth sometimes and just throws them out. Piranha gets them back out to either turn into a makeshift weapon or sells them.

Snake gives the best hugs if you're looking for a tight squeeze

They stop at every taco truck they see because Piranha wants to try it.

Shark and Piranha are both really good swimmers

Piranha bites to show affection sometimes

Piranha sings in the shower. So does Shark too but his singing isn't as good

Webs actually hates Halloween. If they put up decorations, she's in charge of the spiderwebs so they "don't look cheap and tacky"

Wolf has great hearing and a sense of smell. They once got him to track someone

When Snake sheds, he leaves it lying around to scare the others.

They REFUSE to steal from family owned businesses, always tip and make sure to never forget anyone (hakuna matata or whatever).

Wolf's coat changes color with the seasons, gets lighter in the winter and fall. Made Shark and Piranha think he was getting old because it started going white ish

Shark constantly goes to costume stores and actually buys the costumes he wants. All the staff know him and know who he is. Only people who can look through his disguises.

Webs' mother left before she was born (also has a lot of siblings but they've lost contact)

Snake's clutch of eggs was attacked and he was the only survivor (finding Nemo situation). As he grew older, his parents more distant.

Piranha got separated from his family, but he's confident that he'll see them again

Shark is the only one who's close with his family. He goes and sees them every so often but it's a long trip to get to the ocean

Wolf growls and snarls but doesn't bark. Only time he does is in his sleep, that soft yippy bark that dogs do in their sleep. Freaked the others out at first

Webs is the youngest

Snake is the oldest

Webs is always in charge of the music.

Wolf kept that cat, it's still his cat. It just stays at Diana's place

Snake has no venom but claims to to scare people

Once in a blue moon, a child tries to pet Wolf.

Wolf sleeps with a crap ton of pillows to stimulate sleeping with a pack

Snake has a heat lamp but sometimes he'll just go crawl in with Wolf (who won't even notice him)

Webs spun themselves a hammock that they sleep in over her desk.

Piranha sleeps with something he can chew on bc he tends to dream he's chewing on something and he'll go and find something to bite. Once bit Wolf and Snake on two different occasions

[thegoldheartlocketandkey-blog]

911 Spoilers Season 4: You’ve been warned. 😅 Buddie Rewatch

Episode 14: Survivors (Part 2)

Construction Emergency; Buck is near Bobby as they get the summary of what happened.

As the Manager walks the 118 over to the cameras, Buck stays behind looking up at the structure.

Hen, Chimney, and Bobby are looking at the injured man, trying to come up with a game plan on how they are going to rescue this man. The officer with them mentioning, if they climb up, they’ll have no way of protecting them.

As they are discussing possibilities and having limited time, Buck is climbing the structure, with gear. Bobby calls him over the radio, telling him he didn’t have clearance and there is no way of protecting him.

Buck responds back with he needs to do this and continues to climb up. Hen and Chim aren’t necessarily surprised that he pulled this stunt.

As Buck is climbing, he’s looking at his surroundings. Hen and Chim are instructing him on what he’s going to need to do when he gets to the victim.

Buck pauses, he notices a glare from one of the windows high up in the air. He continues to climb up despite this. Bobby is looking up, worried and annoyed at Bucks actions.

Buck steps on to the ledge, maneuvering his way towards the victim.  He places the tourniquet on the victim. Once it’s placed and he received the all clear from Bobby, he cuts the wire causing the beams to fall onto a truck.

Buck finishes wrapping up the victim and brings him down by air lift. The construction workers thank the 118. Hen redirects them to thank Buck, “the crazy guy”.  Bobby looks at Buck with disappointment, Buck knows he’s in trouble.

Bobby is cooking, when Buck approaches him and asks if he’s ever going to speak to him. Bobby is angry, he asks Buck what he wants to hear.

Buck says the usual stuff, like what where you thinking, you could have gotten your self killed. Bobby says he doesn’t need to have the conversation, because Buck already knows it.

Bobby states, “You went full Buck”. Buck walks up closer to Bobby asking for clarification, because he said it as if that’s suppose to be a bad thing.

Bobby expresses that he views Buck as the guy that doesn’t think before he asks, and how he has learned to just accept that.

He also notes that his impulsiveness usually comes from a good place, but that stunt he pulled was not from a good place.

Bobby recognizes that Buck had made himself a target. Buck doesn’t deny that fact, he embraces it.

He states it’s because he wasn’t going to see anyone else take that risk. He cannot handle anyone else getting hurt right now.

Bobby tries to reassure Buck, that Eddie’s shooting wasn’t his fault. Buck tells Bobby that he knows that, but he was the person standing there as it happened and could do anything to protect him.

Buck was able to protect the rest of his team today, he saw the moment and he took it. Bobby turns back to start cutting veggies, but before he does, he tells Buck that they are a team, they are there to protect each other, and to not do it again.  Buck slowly walks away.

Taylor is at Buck’s apartment. She’s drinking wine as Buck is explaining what happened at work, and not liking Bobby’s reaction.

Taylor vocalizing that she was also not a fan of his stunt, and how there are multiple videos online about his climb up the crane.

I wonder if anyone ever told Eddie about Buck’s viral stunt. Did he ever find out about on his own or is he completely unaware of this. I want to believe Buck told him about it, but given that Buck did it as a self-sacrifice, maybe not. Something to think about.

Buck is trying to make light of the situation, giving slick remarks to concerns Taylor brings up. Buck teases that Taylor cares about him.

After Taylor mentions he could have died (well it’s implied), he responds with “But I didn’t” Taylor walk up to him, pulling him into a passionate kiss, she’s holding his face. He leans into the kiss and kisses her back.

When they pull apart from the kiss, Buck’s eyes remain closed for a few seconds, he smiles. Taylor is the one to pull away and apologize.  She puts some distance between them.

Buck is confused, looks over at her. She admits to not knowing why she did that, blaming it partially on the wine. Buck offers to talk about it. She walks straight to the door, she turns around and states she has to go.

Buck looks hurt, he hesitates slightly, Taylor takes the moment to walk out. As Buck is about to tell her to wait, his phone rings, it’s Ana. He lets Taylor walk out and answers the phone and asks if everything is okay.

Buck is in the hospital, he’s running towards Eddies room. He pauses at the door way. Ana is in front of Eddies bed, she looks back smiling at Buck, and moves out of the way to an awake Eddie laying in bed.

Eddie is looking over at Buck, does a slight nod of his head and says “Hey Buck” in a soft-spoken voice.  Buck exhales and laughs a little, and says “Hey”

Two things. The first is about a post I saw a long time ago where someone pointed out that Eddie most likely woke up when Taylor kissed Buck. Implying Eddie felt a disturbance and knew he had to wake up. And second, the first time they see each other is so timid and sweet.

Chris is video calling Eddie. Chris says he misses him, and Eddie says it back. Eddie is soft spoken, obviously tired, as he tells Chris that he’ll be home soon.

Carla cutting in to tell Eddie to focus on healing first, that he has nothing to worry about, that Buck and her are taking care of it.

Chris is giggling as they say their good byes/I love yous. Chris closes his laptop and Eddie hands Buck his phone back.

Buck is sitting next to Eddies bedside. Eddie thanks Buck for staying with Chris.

Buck explains that Carla had offered to bring him to her house, but how he wanted Chris to be comfortable in his own house. That the situation was already overwhelming and he didn’t want to add to that.

Eddie asks if Chris is doing okay. Buck answers truthfully, that Chris is doing better that he is.

Buck admits to losing it when he told Chris his dad was shot. He apologizes for breaking down in front of his son, how he should have kept it together.

Eddie responds with, “You where there for him when I couldn’t be.” (You stepped up like a parent)

Buck admitting to thinking it would have been better for Chris if he was the one to get shot. Eddie is confused by the comment and just looks over at him.

They caught the shooter, not really; The 118 show up to a burning building, no longer being followed by swat, they believe there is only one victim.

Buck and Ravi are hooking up the hoses to the hydrants, tackling the fire from the outside. As Buck grabs the hose, Ravi mentions no longer needing bullet proof vests, Buck vocalizing how he won’t miss them.

The 118 is told over the radio to evacuate, orders given by the LAPD. Bobby find what he believes is the victim, but turns out to be a trap. Bobby is shot in the leg.

Hen and Chim have evacuated the building, Bobby hasn’t responded over the radio. Athena approaches them, Buck joining, Athena reveals the victim is actually the shooter.

Athena asks if they have any idea of where Bobby could be, Buck mentions that he could it out when he found the guy. He’d be on the 3rd floor.

Athena asks Buck if he can get her in there. Buck starts to protest, but Athena cuts him off. Bobby will die in there if she doesn’t act fast.

I love how Athena knew she had to rope in Buck to help her break protocol and get her husband into safety.

Hen walks over and hears Athena pleading. Athena states, “ to get my husband”. She looks over at Buck who nods his head.

Buck tells Hen that it’s going to be easy and gives a break down about how Athena will get to Bobby. Buck and Ravi are guiding Athena up the ladder, towards the burning building. They hop on top of the roof.

On the roof, Hen also climbed up on the roof.  They dress Athena in the firefighter uniform, Buck tells her that he’s going in too. Athena immediately telling him no, because she can’t protect him.

Specifying that the shooter is targeting firefighters.

Buck points out that she is dressed like one. She points out that she has a gun.

Shooter is dead. Bobby is saved.

Buck is at his apartment. Taylor knocks on his door. He’s surprised to see her. Taylor admits to running away, but brings up that he didn’t run after her.

Buck vocalizes that he spent along time not feeling like he was enough. He doesn’t want to do that anymore. So he puts his cards on the table and basically tells Taylor, that if she wants him it is up to her.

Taylor gets closer to Buck, wrapping around her arms around his neck and pulling him down for a kiss as she says “I do. I really do.”

Eddie is sitting up on his hospital bed. His arm in a sling and he’s lost in thought. Buck walks in telling Eddie that the nurse is getting his medication and discharge paperwork ready.

Buck is obviously there to take him home.

Eddie wants to address something, Buck is concerned, asks if everything is alright. Eddie tells him everything is fine, that he’s just been meaning to tell him something.

The first time I watched this, I thought Eddie was going to confess his feelings. Ana wasn’t in the room with them, so in the few moments before Eddie started elaborating, I thought he was going to admit to breaking up with Ana and being in love with Buck.

I actually told myself that it’s going to be awkward when Buck reveals he’s dating Taylor. I wish I was joking, but this was my actual thought process when I watched the first time.

Buck sits down on the hospital bed, there is some distance between them.  Eddie starts off by awkwardly mentioning almost dying, again. Buck is looking over at Eddie confused. Eddie continues to speak.

Eddie goes on to talk about his multiple close calls, and how this wasn’t even the worse of his near death experiences. Buck tries to cut in, but Eddie asks him to let him finish. Eddie is making direct eye contact. Buck is concerned.

Eddie talks about his last near death experience when he was buried alive. Buck chiming, “ that he survived.” Eddie continues, he admits to thinking about what if he didn’t survive, what would have happened to Christopher. So, he met with his attorney and had his will changed.

Eddie reveals that if someday he doesn’t survive another tragedy, Chris would be taken care of, he would go with Buck. Buck is confused and Eddie makes it clear to him, that if he were to die, Buck would be Chris’ legal guardian.

Buck is processing this new information, asking how that would even work. Would Eddie need Buck’s permission to do something like that. Eddie mentions his attorney bringing up that Buck could always refuse guardianship.

Okay so I’m going to mention another post I read a long time ago, about how Eddie approached the topic with his attorney about making his best friend a legal guardian.

How the attorney might be thinking best friend is just code for lover. I may have read that in a fic, I just know this isn’t my original idea. But it is another fun thing to think about.

Buck vocalizing that Eddie knows him, and how he wouldn’t refuse something like that. Eddie repeating back to Buck that he knows he wouldn’t refuse.

Buck continues to analyze the situation, brining up the fact that Eddie’s parents are still alive, wondering if they would try to fight for custody.

Eddie goes on to describe how his family tried to guilt him into giving Christopher to them when Shannon died. He didn’t what that for Chris then and he doesn’t want that for him now. Eddie wants someone that will fight for his son, and he knows that person is Buck.

Buck realizes that Eddie changed his will last year, so why is he only now just finding out about it now.

“Because, Evan,” Eddie explains that after hearing Buck state that he should have been the one that was shot, that he needed to hear he mattered. Eddie wanted Buck to know he was wanted and needed.

“You act like you’re expendable. But you’re wrong.” Buck looks up at Eddie.

My pinned post is about this moment and how Eddie basically confessed to loving Buck and giving him his heart and how Buck didn’t realize it.

But now that I’ve rewatched the scene, I believe Buck knew Eddie was telling him he loves him. I just think Buck assumed it was a family kind of love. Eddie most likely believing he was only confessing a family kind of love.

Regardless of if you think there was romantic undertones to this moment or not, the one thing that can’t be denied is that this moment establishes Buck as a member of the family, specifically a parental figure in Chris’ life.  Buckley-Diaz or Diaz-Buckley family unit is basically canon.

Montage of the 118 being surrounded by family/friends and each other as Bobby narrates about survival.

Buck and Eddie are outside Eddie’s apartment. Buck opens the door to a surprise welcome back party. Taylor, Carla, Ana, his Abuela, Tia Peppa, and Chris are inside screaming surprise or clapping/cheering.

Eddie walks up towards Chris, crouches down and kisses him on the forehead. Chris is ecstatic, smiling ear to ear. Buck looking over at them from the door frame smiling.

Eddie greets each and everyone of the guests. Kissing his abuela, Ana, and Peppa on the cheek. Giving Carla a hug. We do not see him interact with Taylor individually, but we see him give a big laughing smile to the group.

Albert passes his fire fighter test. Everyone from the 118 is celebrating on the roof. Bobby in between Eddie and Buck. They are all clapping and cheering. Buck looks towards Eddies direction.

Out of all the Season finales, this one is my favorite. The story doesn’t feel rushed, each person in the 118 basically gets a decent place to end their stories if they weren’t renewed for another season.

It’s emotional and powerful and we get to see individual character progress as well as team dynamic.

 I specifically can’t stop myself from comparing it to Season 6th finale. Everything Season 4’s did right, Season 6 lacked. But I’ll discuss that when I get to Season 6th finale.

[corellianhounds]

Curious to know your thoughts on Din’s separation from Ran’s Crew… (you said you wanted a discussion topic 😉)

I meant for this to be a two paragraph response and then when I looked up three hours had passed and my back was stiff from sitting at the keyboard for so long. I wrote ninety-five percent of this in one go, then made a gyro and literally went to go rewatch the episode to double check my quotes and notes before coming back 😆

~ 3.1k words

This ended up being a LOT more context because I don’t feel like I can give a solid answer without laying the groundwork for how I come to the conclusions that I do. I’m nothing if not able to justify my reasons/interpretations, but I also try not to lock into anything unchangeable when it comes to more nebulous parts of a character’s history because I can see how things can go several different ways, all of them interesting and plausible.

One of the things I’ve always loved about Mando from a mechanical/storytelling technique perspective is that he’s one of those characters with a mysterious past we only get in relevant bits and pieces, leaving so much open to speculation and interpretation. (I think that does contribute to how many wildly different takes we see in fan spaces about his character, but I digress.) He’s like Wolverine or Snake Eyes in that, when he’s being written well, his entire past and backstory isn’t spelled out in concrete detail which frees up storytellers to add things in later as they become relevant without contradicting themselves or having to refer back to/be confined by too much rigidly established history or canon.

(Personally I think more authors should do that when it comes to how characters are used in a story (meaning, the character should serve whatever story you’re writing first and you shouldn’t get too precious about elaborate backstories and irrelevant details if they end up blocking you from making stronger narrative decisions). I like only getting bits and pieces because we as the audience fill in the gaps for ourselves and stay intrigued by the remaining sense of mystery)

Because of that, I don’t have a concrete idea in mind for how Din got involved with or left Malk’s crew, and I hope it never gets spelled out unless the writers have a specific story in mind where that comes up.

As much as I like writing Din as a genuinely good man with a strong moral compass and personal code, that does also mean that I think there were times he wasn’t a good man. People are a lot of things in life, and it’s only through genuine trial and error, making mistakes and actively bad decisions and learning hard lessons from bad experiences that people grow into being good people (keeping in mind that everybody is capable of making good and bad choices in life at every step of the way. ‘Being good’ takes active work and it takes even more work to maintain that consistently).

Characters are more compelling and dynamic when they’ve actually done things that are contrary to how they behave in the present (provided the audience is shown the meaningful progression of that change). To that end, I think Din Djarin has done some things in his life he deeply regrets. Some of those decisions may have been forced out of him by virtue of circumstance, and some of them may have been on purpose (or the lesser of two evils).

Sometimes making the right choice will end up costing you something important, up to and including your life. Survivors of any kind have done a lot of things to ensure that survival. Everybody is capable of change, but change can go in a lot of different directions.

I think erasing a character’s flaws or implications of a flawed past does those characters and stories a disservice by uncomplicating the people and world within which the story is taking place. It truncates what decisions those characters are able to get away with as a story progresses if you insist they’ve only ever been morally upstanding up to the present. It closes off opportunities and directions for writers to take regarding the character’s future. That’s not a hard and fast rule, but if you start off with Steve Rogers being a good guy, you can’t have him do a complete 180 in a story unless that’s going to be given the time and focus it would take to make that arc believable and satisfying, and sometimes you just don’t have the time to dedicate to that if that isn’t the main story.

All of that to say, Din has probably done some bad things. You don’t end up working with criminals for (it’s implied) an extended period of time without having to make moral compromises, and though I believe Din’s faith as a Mandalorian has been steadfast since childhood, there are probably aspects of the more honorable teachings that he’s lapsed in at different points of time. (He did, at one point in time, turn over the life of a child to known enemies for payment.) He probably had to not ask questions about targets they were sent sabotage or steal from because if he doesn’t know for a fact that they were innocent people, he can tell himself that he’s not at fault for senselessly hurting people or robbing them of their livelihood (even if his guilt, intuition, and conscience tell him otherwise when he tries to sleep at night).

You know what you’re getting into going into mercenary work, so you can’t get tied up into moral quandaries every time you see the person on the other side of it. The more impersonal you can make it, the more you can do the job swiftly and mitigate as much suffering and collateral damage as possible.

I say all of this because Mando doesn’t exactly refute most of the things the crew says about him during the planning and travel phase of the mission, and I don’t think he has a problem correcting people when they’re objectively wrong about him (even if he’s at a disadvantage here being outnumbered, desperate, and coming to them for work). When Ran says they did a lot of crazy stuff back in the day, Din says “That was a long time ago,” which does admit to at least some of it being true, it’s just something Din makes a point to say he’s distanced himself from. He’s saying that he’s a different person than what he was like back then, which means there had to have been things he did that he’s not proud of.

Sometimes the more you protest though, the more people will pile on the jabs and mockery, especially if said jabs come from elements of truth you as the target can’t completely deny. If you don’t give people the response they want, oftentimes they’ll get bored and move on to something else, or at least won’t linger on that particular insult.

It’s also worth pointing out that anything the other members of the crew say about him could have been false or taken out of context or were perceived entirely different than what the reality was, them not knowing what Mando’s motives were at the time because he’s not exactly forthcoming. Anything they say that implies he did some shady things could have also been things Mando did in those moments that were actually cover for something else. Him letting them think the worst of him so they don’t notice how he’s freeing hostages remotely as they work, or sabotaging their demolition-heavy escape that would have hurt bystanders, or hailing the law to show up and interfere before things go too far and people end up dead when they could be saved. The quieter you are, the more people will reveal themselves and overlook you as part of the background, leaving you free to do what you need to.

Some of the things the mercenaries say about him could also be their skewed interpretations of events. Mando could have been quick, heavy-hitting, and ruthless, but ruthlessness doesn’t always equate bloodthirsty— Ruthlessness just means the most efficient route or means from point A to point B. If he went in on a mission and had to incapacitate people quickly and cleanly, they might have interpreted that to mean Mando was a violent person who liked killing or beating people up for the fun or glory or pleasure of it if he was volunteering to be the first one going in. The reality could have been Din not wanting people to suffer or be killed at the hands of mercenaries he knew would be harsher/more careless if they went ahead of him on a job.

Maybe the mercenaries all thought he was trigger happy because he would shoot first without asking questions, but Din was, in reality, six steps ahead of everybody else and had already analyzed the situation and come to the conclusion that that was the necessary thing to do at that juncture. Maybe the fact that he was brutal and quick to fight back when people on the crew antagonized him in their downtime or tried to take his things made them think he had a short temper and was always raring for a fight, when the reality is you have a much better chance of winning if you hit hard and hit fast, and he wasn’t going to put up with anybody’s disrespect or antagonism by rolling over and letting them think they could get away with pushing him around. As soon as you give people an inch they’ll take a mile.

Even if he was doing some shady jobs, there are still things he’s not going to do even if he had the skill sets for it. Din’s not going to torture people and wouldn’t have stood for it from others of the crew. He’s not a murderer and even when he’s had to kill people in the show it’s always done quickly and efficiently. (One reason why I can’t definitively say Mando would be entirely against hurting someone for information is that he did leave Gor Koresh to be torn apart by dogs at the beginning of Season 2, so he obviously thinks there are some people who have it coming. “You won’t die by my hand, but I don’t have to save you.” He gave Koresh a clear and concise opportunity in the arena to back off and give him the info he came for without killing him though and Gor Koresh didn’t take the chance Mando gave him, so Mando’s not going to lose sleep over what he did in leaving the don hanging there in the street. It’s probable there were similar instances like that while working for Ran.)

Though there are a lot of other immoral actions that come with the kinds of jobs it’s implied that they did, Mando wasn’t killing people left and right, especially since these guys are lower level criminals and thugs, not organized crime members or assassins, and murder gets you a lot more attention than you want if your primary jobs are stealth-based. Mando retained a sense of honor while working for Ran’s crew because Qin wouldn’t have used “You need me alive to get paid; isn’t that your code? Aren’t you a man of honor?” as a guilt trip/bargaining chip at the end of the episode otherwise. Qin’s (mockingly, but probably accurately) quoting back to him what Din had said to them in the past (same as what Xi’an did in transit regarding what he says about the helmet rule). It’s both possible and likely that Din was the one reining other people in when he could, mediating or diverting the crew from killing targets, security, or civilians who ended up in the way.

The reason I think Mando only killed people back then in self defense is that he left the merc crew alive at the end of “The Prisoner” when he obviously could have killed them. To me, what we’ve seen of his sense of justice in the present shows that, had they all proven to be merciless murderers to other people, he would have dealt out equal punishment in return by the end of it has retroactive retribution. Xi’an was the only one he’d worked with before (aside from Qin) and I don’t doubt that she enjoys killing people, and she did kill Davin so she was the most deserving if he had killed her there, but Mando still gave all of them the same last chance he gave Qin years ago; left behind and captured, but alive, despite the fact they all tried to kill him.

(A possible out-of-universe explanation for why he left them alive is that the writers may have had more planned for them in Season 2; there’s concept art in the second season’s Art of The Mandalorian that has Mayfeld, Xi’an, and Burrg on Boba Fett’s ship going into “The Believer.”)

We haven’t seen any evidence of Mando taking active enjoyment in killing people. Needless murder goes against the Mandalorian code, and violence typically isn’t (or is taught that it shouldn’t be) the first resort. Mandalorians are diplomatic enough to have a conversation first, but if you instigate a fight, they’re more than ready and able to finish it. Strike fast and get it over with, don’t drag it out. If you’re going to fight, do it out in the open and be willing to consider a genuine surrender when it’s asked for.

Mando’s not a bad guy. He’s just the best at what he does, and what he does isn’t very nice.

—

So now we’ve established some plausible parameters and the atmosphere for what it was like working with Ran’s crew in the past. There’s a lot of ways Mando could have ended up on the crew, and there’s a lot of reasons why he might have stayed there. He could have been ambitious and arrogant and setting out to make a name for himself, but I’m more inclined to think it was a matter of taking whatever jobs he could that would pay a lot of money and allow him to continue forward. Poor people without resources or connections are often driven to make decisions and find crummy or unethical work that goes against their personal code or preferences, especially when there are people relying on them as a source of income.

The importance of community and family among the Mandalorians is something that’s been made abundantly clear about Din from the beginning so that was probably a driving factor in how he conducted his life and work once he became an adult, and if he was one of the few people who was able to travel to find work and bring money and resources back to the tribe, then of course he was going to do it. There are mouths to feed, children to care for, armor to be built for others. You do what you can to survive.

Now say the more jobs he does with them, the worse they get, but he makes more money that can be brought home to the tribe. Say there are circumstances with bad timing that compel him to keep working for Malk as opposed to finding somebody else (potentially just as bad) to work for; working for the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. Maybe he’s saving up for a ship. Maybe he somehow ended up indebted to Malk and was forced to work off that debt for longer than he obviously wanted.

Maybe he was desperate for any work and theirs seemed promising, especially since he had the exact skillset that would guarantee he’d succeed. Maybe the jobs they used to do were just legal enough to pass as legitimate (if difficult) work and it wasn’t until he’d been there a while that they started to become more dubiously ethical, or Ran used the fact that they had a Mandalorian with them to bargain for better paying jobs from clients (those jobs paying more because they were dirty work).

Say that he knew it would be hard to leave the merc crew because if he didn’t do it right, he knew they’d all be suspicious about what secrets and details he’d be taking with him. Who knows who he might talk to? If that were the case, they may have come after him once he departed just to make sure he couldn’t betray them and give them up.

Say Mando had other outside obligations that kept him working with Malk despite the fact he could see the red flags, and the slow, creeping decline in honest work took place over a longer length of time. It’s a lot easier to get somebody involved with criminal activity if it starts small, starts gradual, and can be reasonably justified, especially if you don’t have all the facts surrounding the circumstances under which the job is taking place. No questions asked, that’s the policy.

I think whatever job they took where Qin was left behind was close to if not the end of Mando’s time with them. I don’t get the impression they had a great relationship to begin with, and Qin also seems like he could have held his own against Mando for a good amount of time before either of them had to back down or their fights were broken up. Almost every episode involves somebody picking a fight with Din over the armor or the helmet (or just… anything really), and it’s clear he’s had a lifetime of similar treatment and he’s able to fight back every time, so it’s not a stretch to say he was probably on the receiving end of similar scuffles while working with the crew, including those instigated by Qin.

So if Mando already had reasons why he wouldn’t have risked his hide to go back for Qin, it’s possible something specific happened that was the last straw and Mando decided he would no longer go out of his way to help or protect him, meaning when whatever mission they were on went pear-shaped, Mando left him. A kind of “Those who fall behind get left behind,” mentality, considering he knew Qin could hold his own and would end up alive if he was smart enough to know what was good for him and back down when he was caught. That was Mando’s measure of grace extended Qin’s way. Mando could have killed him on the way out, but he didn’t. He considered that Qin’s last chance.

I don’t think Qin was necessarily caught by the law on that mission, but regardless of how it shook out that crew ended up back at home base with at least one less member among them and everybody having a hunch that it could have been done on purpose, even if Mando had viable justification for why he couldn’t have gone back for him without risking the rest of the mission. Mando was able to make a clean break and walk away from the encounter (because Malk wouldn’t have let him back on the crew in “The Prisoner” otherwise), but not without everybody’s suspicions cast on him as he went, and the longer time passes between people who part ways on a sour note, the more those accusatory thoughts fester and build.

Mando may have made the objectively right call in leaving Qin and had the evidence to back him up, but people’s feelings are finicky things and tend to overrule all better judgment regardless of the facts of a situation, so the fact that he’d been with that crew for a while and had a history there— one that likely included a well-known animosity between himself and Qin— meant that it didn’t matter how justified Din was. If he’d stayed and continued to take jobs with them nobody else would have trusted him to have their backs going forward, which meant there would be no way for Mando to trust that they would have his. For all he knew, their next mission would end with him being left behind, metaphorically or literally stabbed in the back for his trouble in thinking they could work together again.