#he looks cute and childlike and innocent but the innocent part is destroyed because of cobs 🍿

[puzzlevision]

four types of common mephone gijinka designs (according to what i saw):

40's-looking fat man

tall man with slicked male hair and nice waffles

twink

"my gijinka design for him doesnt fit any of these three above"

[chibinekochan]

The dragon prince - Ft Diavolo part 7

 part: 1 I  2 I 3 I 4 I 5 I 6

Obey me! Monster tales masterlist

We continue our way down the mountain.

The path is much easier now.

We only stop a few times, mostly due to Diavolo wanting to show me alongside the path. Pretty flowers and cute animals are seemingly irresistible to him. It's unexpected but also something I like about him. His childlike expression causes me to smile as well.

Finally, we reach the main road around lunchtime.

We are extremely lucky and manage to hitch a ride with a farmer.

We eat in peace on the back of the cart.

Everything seems just more fun with Diavolo at my side.

Now that we are so close to our destination I feel a sense of loss. Knowing that our time will come to an end soon.

"Is there anything that is bothering you?" Diavolo eyes me with worry. "Not really, I was just thinking about meeting the dragon." I'm not even lying. "Are you worried about the upcoming battle?" Diavolo looks deep into my eyes. Almost as probing into my head. "No, I'm quite confident in my skills. Actually, I wonder that you seem so calm about it." This must be bothering him. Diavolo smiles at me. "I know what I have to do. I'm just grateful for this opportunity." I look over at him. He is so calm but I sense that he is uneasy. I put a hand on his shoulder. "We are in this together, don't forget that." He looks at me surprised and then chuckles. "You are right, thanks for reminding me."

Then the cart stops on the edge of the forest.

We thank the farmer and make our way towards the dragon's nest.

The forest is rather overgrown. Not a surprise. I'm sure most will avoid a dragon's nest.

The temperature is rising when we get closer to the nest.

Both of us are tense, focusing on what is ahead of us.

A part of me still hopes that we can somehow resolve this situation, but I know the odds are more than low.

Soon we reach a hill that is completely covered in ash. The dragon's nest.

Fire dragons need a lot of heat. Ash is the perfect ground to lay eggs for them.

The dragon approaches it. It's natural for it to defend its territory.

It glares at us, puffing itself up. Ready to shoot fire if we don't run away.

Diavolo nods at me.

I'm ready to fight but my sword stays where it is.

"Firedragon, I'm Diavolo. I came to ask you about the destruction of a village on the other side of the mountain. Did you do that?" He asks in a firm voice.

The dragon seems to glare at Diavolo. It lets out a single loud roar.

I don't need a translation for this response.

"Why did you do it?" I ask the dragon. It turns its flaming eyes towards me.

It roars with much vigor. It almost blows me away. It seems to be a painful sound.

Diavolo has a solemn expression. "I'm very sorry to hear that." He then turns to me. "They destroyed her eggs." I can't imagine how painful that might be. " You have my sincere condolences. But regardless you can't just destroy a whole village because of that."

The dragon doesn't sound happy with my response. I can't exactly fault it. "Exactly did you even get the humans that did that?" Diavolo stands firmly at my side.

While the dragon seems to get more irritated now. Its roaring gets angrier. "It doesn't sound like she cares. All humans are the same for her. She just wants them all dead." Diavolo seems pretty sad when he translates these words. "I understand that you hate humans for what they did, but you killed innocent people. There are only two choices left. Either you go or you die." This situation is past the point of negotiations. I can understand her reason but it doesn't excuse her actions.

Her response is to let smoke escape her nostrils and to try and claw me.

I easily avoid her attack and draw my sword. Her decision is clear to me.

I steel my resolve and get ready to slay her.

Diavolo stops me with his arm. "Please let me handle this." I look at him surprised. "You don't have to do this." This must be painful for him. Diavolo shakes his head. "No, I have to understand this part as well. Even if it's painful." His resolve is clear as day. "Alright, but if you get in trouble I will intervene." With that, I step backward. Still having my sword ready, just in case. "Thanks, I appreciate that." He smiles weakly.

Then he turns into his massive dragon form.

[kurtty-drabbles]

"So, yeah, anyway. Where was I?" "You'd just killed your brother with a teacup." "Right. So, he comes back to life-" (Canon!verse)

N/A: special guest: BLUE KITTY, why? BC yes.

@djinmer4

@dannybagpipesarecalling

@tieflingteeth

@kurttyfamily

There´s nothing more quintessential than the X-men team up with interdimensional versions of themselves to catch some bad guys. When Selene, the Dark Queen hops into the universe 616, she wasn´t counting with the X-men of that timeline team up with a hero of her own timeline.

The plan couldn´t have been easier to follow even if she tried. She has a magical artifact and will use the second version of the said artifact to cause chaos and destruction- a pretty greedy for her part, but not the most convoluted plan the X-men had to endure- right now, time seems to be the essence.

The X-men of this alternative timeline send their best agent to solve the case. Kitty Pryde, nothing extraordinary can be noted about this version- if you compare with a version of Wolverine who has 4 arms, this Kitty is pretty normal- except by the fact her skin is blue.

"Hello, guys!" she greets them with a big smile, barring on childlike and naivety and 616! Kitty is not too impressed. " My name is Katherine Mary Pryde, nice to meet you," there´s a childlike aura about her, too innocent and really, 616! Kitty can´t help by looking her up and down.

Does this Blue Kitty got her position by her own merits or did someone let her in?

(What cynical thought to have about yourself)

Jean Grey, Scott Summers, Ororo Monroe, Rogue, Kurt, and Kitty have to deal with Selene, the Dark Queen -she doesn´t have a legal surname- and the legal implications as she is being aided by Selene of their timeline.

"That...will be a problem?" Blue Kitty asked still with that cute smile on her front. Too innocent and 616! Kitty is not too keen on seeing such a smile on a carbon copy of her face- minus the blue- too innocent.

Jean is the one to explain the situation. "Our Selene is a political ally to Genosha and Magneto public stated she is not to be bothered by the Avengers or ...us," Jean tsk loudly. "Even Wanda defends that vampire and all because she restores her children, her devotion and gratitude allow Selene to have a free pass" Jean is a bit bitter, to say the least.

Blue Kitty titled her head a little. "I see, in my universe, Jean Grey, used the power of Pheonix to save my family, Wakanda, and revive Scott Summers," Kitty shows her ten fingers. "she resurrect 10 people and even so, she was not above the cosmical laws, Death didn´t mind she resurrect 10 people but it was a question regards courtesy"

They all look at her with wide eyes and Rogue breaks the silence.

"Zaorva?"

Blue Kitty blinks several times and as if finally getting the question, shakes her head, and adds. "Not her, I´m just pointing out that your Selene may not be so above the laws as you may think....well, Zaorva isn´t but she breaks them anyway" she shrugs as if is not a big deal.

Kitty narrows her eyes at her. Too suspicious of her own doppelganger.

"The Selene of my timeline is a woman who says she has nothing to lose, but, refuses to dirty her hands, if she is taking shelter in Genosha...we can either try to take her out or incapacity the impact of her magic" Blue Kitty smartly suggested.

Kurt and the others are pondering this suggestion. They can´t take Selene out of Genosha-not only for political reasons but for reasons as Wanda would kick their asses- therefore, the only solution is to invalidate the two powerful magical items.

Ororo is the one asking a question. "You said this item is powerful, how powerful is it?"

"It can destroy a city, but not a state, however, such destruction may cause IT to take a look and ...no one wants that," Blue Kitty responds looking at Jean as if she wants to say something else.

"I know what you´ll say next, and no, me and the Pheonix hate IT," Jean explains mildly.

Scott now interjects. "You say it can destroy one city, does Selene has a target?"

"I would say Italy....maybe a city of Italy, but, I´m not sure...Selene of my time has a love/hate relationship with her country, however, as she is being helped by, huh, other Selene...maybe it will be a city your Selene

hates?" Blue Kitty suggested and allow the others to digest the information.

They are discussing now events Blue Kitty has no idea.

She smiles even though no one offers insight into what they are truly talking about. 616! Kitty is gazing at her like a Hawk, making Blue Kitty smiling even more.

"What if we use the magic book? We have one and we never use it, plus, Yana has mentioned something about magic artifacts and how to null their powers," Kurt suggested as if this is the most logical option.

Blue Kitty thinks it is but the others disagree.

"Are you kidding meh?" Rogue asked baffled. "Remember last time you touched that damn book? you got crazy and possessed by an evil spirit and tried to throw himself on fire," Rogue shakes her head, "plus I had to kill you with a teacup!" Rogue vehemently vets this idea for this reason alone.

Blue Kitty blinks several times. "Huh, what? What do you mean you killed him with a teacup?"

Rogue waves her hand dismissing the thought. "He resurrects right through it,"

Kurt pipes in. "When I died, God allowed me to come back and he said I´ll gain an upgrade on my power set, that means...I have a regeneration power"

Blue Kitty still blinks at that. Her Pheonix never gave such power to anyone.

Bonus:

The mission is completed. Selene is defeated and no city was destroyed. Blue Kitty completed her mission and now she can return home safely. Kitty Pryde is still gazing at her like a Hawk.

"I know what you´re going to say, you´re not very subtle!" Blue Kitty mutters as Selene is being chained and is traveling a portal to face justice in her original dimension.

"I don´t act like you, you think I acted silly...I´m too girly, but, I captured Selene and completed my mission, if my presence here bothers you, then remember this, I´m not Kitty Pryde, I´m another Kitty Pryde...same soul, different recipient," Blue Kitty replied warmly.

Kitty softens her expression. "Sorry, I didn´t know how to react towards you..."

"That´s ok, I had no fucking clue how to react towards you too" Blue Kitty replied matter-of-factly.

Kitty Pryde is left pondering about that.

[terramythos]

TerraMythos' 2020 Reading Challenge - Book 29 of 26

Title: The House in the Cerulean Sea (2020)

Author: TJ Klune

Genre/Tags: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Found Family, LGBT Protagonist, Third-Person 

Rating: 10/10

Date Began: 10/13/2020

Date Finished: 10/18/2020

Linus Baker, a forty-year-old caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (DICOMY), lives a solitary and mundane life. But when he’s summoned by Extremely Upper Management and given a top-secret case, everything changes. Linus is sent to the classified Marsyas Island and tasked with investigating an orphanage housing six dangerous magical children-- including the Antichrist. He is to live among the residents for one month, record his observations, and report back to the organization. No more, no less. 

The master of the house, Arthur Parnassus, is a mysterious and enigmatic man. But Linus soon learns that Arthur will do anything to protect his wards. As Linus grows closer to Arthur and the children, a secret from the past and prejudice of the present threaten to destroy the orphanage and their way of life. Linus must decide if he can abandon the world he knows in order to help the ones that need it the most. 

"Fire and ash!” Lucy bellowed as he paced back and forth. “Death and destruction! I, the harbinger of calamity will bring pestilence and plague to the people of this world. The blood of the innocents will sustain me, and you will all fall to your knees in benediction as I am your god.” 

He bowed. 

The children and Mr. Parnassus clapped politely. Theodore chirped and spun in a circle. 

Linus gaped. 

“That was a lovely story, Lucy,” Mr. Parnassus said. “I especially liked your use of metaphors. Keep in mind that pestilence and plague are technically the same thing, so it did get a little repetitious at the end, but other than that, quite impressive. Well done.” 

Minor spoilers and content warning(s) under the cut. 

Content warnings for the book: Semi-detailed discussions of child abuse and trauma. Internalized fatphobia (challenged). Structural discrimination, and hatred/prejudice associated with that, some of it internalized. 

I'm going to have a hard time reviewing this book, because it was so goddamn good I don’t think I’ll do it justice in a few short paragraphs. So here’s the fast version: The House in the Cerulean Sea was a fucking delight to read from the first page. It’s full of genuine humor, magic, and charm, while being just this side of heart-wrenching. Though geared toward adults, it’s the first novel I’ve read in a long time that captures that childlike enthusiasm I used to have when reading a good fantasy book. It takes place in a world with magic (obviously), but it’s 98% character-driven. Both the main plot and the (queer!) romantic subplot are woven together so well that neither feel tacked on or lacking. The found family hit me in the emotions again and again and again. I read books out loud, and I spent the last third of this book struggling because I kept fucking crying and having to take regular breaks before continuing. And then I went through the whole book to find a good quote for this review and ended up fucking crying again. So yeah. 

Ok. Got that off my chest. Usually in these reviews I talk about what I liked and then what didn't work for me or confused me. The good news (?) is I have zero complaints or critiques on this one. So you just get to hear me gushing about it for a while.  

Since this is a character-driven book that’s where I’ll start. Linus Baker, the protagonist, is great. Let me just say I love speculative fiction books starring older characters. At forty, Linus isn’t old, but it feels like the majority of spec fic stars people under thirty. Linus is also a conspicuously ordinary guy; prim and proper to a fault, no magic, oblivious in many ways (including to his own loneliness), but with a hidden sense of justice and protectiveness for people that comes out more and more. His development over the course of the novel and how much he grows to love and care for the other characters is just so good. The writing draws attention to this through repeated phrases and jokes one doesn’t expect to make a comeback (more on that later). Seeing him come out of his shell and stand up for what’s right is cathartic as hell. As a side note, it’s also nice to have a fat protagonist who struggles with his self-image but gets warm affirmation and support from his family and love interest. 

Arthur Parnassus, the deuteragonist and said love interest, is more of an enigma. A lot of his motivation and behavior makes sense once you get his Tragic Backstory (TM), and I think this will be a fun book to reread based on that. I picked up on some of it before the reveal, but not everything. But without spoiling it, I do love seeing an older (mid-forties) father figure who would do literally anything to make sure the children on the island have the care and love they need. Seeing his patient love and acceptance of them tugs my heartstrings. Maybe I’m a bit of a sap. Linus and Arthur’s obvious mutual crush on each other is also really cute, okay. There’s something about older queer people finding love that makes me smile. 

And the children are great too, of course. I really liked each of them and thought they were all unique and interesting. My favorites are probably Lucy the six-year-old Antichrist, Sal the were-Pomeranian (his arc just really hit home for me), and Talia the gnome. They all have such distinct and fun personalities, and seeing them interact is great and often hilarious. I’m not very paternal, but I love seeing children with sad/abusive pasts blossom into their best selves with love, guidance, and support. It’s uh, a little personal. I’d be remiss not to mention Zoe, the resident island sprite, who brings a whole lot of personality and rounds off the group. 

When I say the story is character-driven, I mean it. While a fantasy novel, there’s not any significant violence or action in the story (except for maybe one scene if you squint). The House in the Cerulean Sea is carried by its characters, interactions, and worldbuilding. The humor and inherent charm helps too -- and manages to do so without ever feeling trite. I can’t help but admire that. I was never bored; I honestly enjoyed every page because I liked the characters so much. Not to say there isn’t an overarching conflict with the whole DICOMY thing, but most of the focus is Linus struggling and coming to terms with his discoveries-- about the others and himself, and how he can make a difference on a grand scale. To me that kind of stuff is captivating. And boy does seeing someone find the place they belong get me. As I said, found family is a big thing in this book. 

Aside from that, the writing is just super; it literally had me laughing from the first page. I can’t believe the fucking lemur joke came back at the end, too. But on that subject, I love that this book utilizes recurring jokes and phrases to show Linus’ character development. In particular, “see something, say something” and “don’t you wish you were here?” have VERY specific meanings to Linus at the beginning of the story, and over time transform into the polar opposite. I’m  holding myself back because I don’t want to spoil shit, but if you read it you’ll see what I mean. There’s also a lot of meaningful callbacks to certain dialogue earlier in the story and I eat that kind of stuff up. But even small details, like the early quip about Linus forgetting his umbrella, come back to deliver an emotional gutpunch near the end. So thanks for that, Mr. Klune. 

The book really takes a turn in the second half of the story, which is a tad darker. Avoiding the Actual Spoilers, this is where prejudice and hatred of the outside world become a bigger part of the story. We learn what’s really at stake, and that this wonderful found family in the first half is threatened by a world that hates and fears them. Boy does that shit get emotional REAL quick. Yes the allegory is obvious. No, that’s not a bad thing. Ultimately, The House in the Cerulean Sea becomes a story about love, hope, and change; and boy does that shit strike my gay little heart right where it hurts. 

If you’re looking for a (literal) magical pick-me-up (ignore my comment about crying a whole lot) with INTENSE found family vibes and a side helping of queer mlm romance, dear God read The House in the Cerulean Sea. I don’t think I did it justice in this review; just trust me, it’s real good. My only complaint is that it ends; I want more, damn it! 

[gumnut-logic]

Shooting Star (Part 3)

Now I’m tackling another wip. This one has been sitting around for some time now, but I think it is worth finishing because of its topic. I haven’t once forgotten about it, and I need to finish it. So here is the next bit. Some of Part 3 has been posted here before...in fact I think most of it has, but it is now a full blown chapter, so I thought I would post it as a whole as I tackle finishing it. I see one more chapter and possibly a short epilogue. Apologies for the delay, too many short fics blew up in my face...this was the first of them. I hope you enjoy this part in any case.

Episode Tag to Eos, spoilers for 1.08. Language warning.

From here - Chapter One & Chapter Two

-o-o-o-

Virgil caught up with Scott just as he reached their father’s desk.

“What the hell was that?!” Anger crept around his controls. Scott was his idol, but tonight he was acting anything but.

The older man rounded on him, stalking across the wooden floor. “That? What the fuck were you doing?!”

Virgil met him squarely, shoulders stiff, but ready for anything. “Discussing the situation like a civilised human being.”

“The situation?” Scott’s expression was a horrifying mix of incredulous and an angry snarl. “It’s a threat, Virgil. It is as simple as that. This family needs protecting and you’re off philosophising! I thought you were capable of more than that.”

He couldn’t help it, he flared. “More? I am damn so capable of more. Have you even spoken to Eos?”

“I know you have.” It was said with such disgust, Virgil shivered.

“You can’t do this, Scott, or you’re going to lose what you want to protect.”

His brother stared at him, lips thinning to non-existence. A moment and he spun on his heels, turned his back to Virgil, and stalked over to the desk. “It is his choice.”

“Choice?! What choice have you given him?”

Scott spun. “More choice than he has given me! He wants to let that thing have access to International Rescue. It nearly killed him. It nearly killed Brains, myself and a train full of innocent civilians.” His eyes flashed. “Or did you forget that point, Virgil, while listening to that cute little baby voice so calculated to persuade your soft little heart.”

What the fuck?

Virgil grit his teeth. “So, you’ll exile your own brother to solve the problem.”

Scott didn’t answer, turning back to the desk again and pulling up the holographic controls.

There was something in his brother’s stance.

No.

He wouldn’t.

But then the holographic controls for Thunderbird Five flashed up, Scott’s hands darting over them. Server access...

God.

“No. You can’t!”

“It is the only way. I can’t let this threat loose. It is too dangerous-“

Virgil barrelled into his brother, physically shoving him away from the controls before he could kill his brother’s daughter.

They skidded along the length of their father’s desk, Scott surprised and losing his balance. Virgil tried to recover, but his feet tangled and they both went down in a heap.

Scott ended up under him, pinned to the floor by his weight. Shocked and enraged eyes caught his, fury burned across the space between them. But Virgil secured his position pinning his brother to the floor. “You can’t do that.”

“Get off of me.” It was Arctic cold and spoke of betrayal.

“No.”

“Virgil, get off of me or I’ll make you get off.”

“You can try.”

And he did. But Virgil had the greater mass and just enough training to keep him pinned, military background or no.

“If you don’t let me up, we are done. This is about family and if you’re not willing to protect our family, then you aren’t part of that family.”

It hurt. It was a loss of trust he had valued all his life. He loved his family. The man beneath him had been his father longer than his father. He would follow Scott into hell itself...

But he couldn’t let him create it.

Quiet. “You are right. This is about family and I won’t let you destroy it.”

“It’s a computer program. A virus. It tried to kill us and you want to protect it.”

“It’s a life, Scott. A young one that has made mistakes. But John believes in her and I trust his judgment.” To be honest, he was scared shitless. If this all went wrong, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself. But that look in John’s eyes. His little brother was the quiet one, the calculating one, the loner, ever so lonely up on his ‘bird. He was right. Eos was amazing. Virgil didn’t understand it all, but he trusted John.

“But you don’t trust mine.”

Virgil’s shoulders wilted for just a moment and Scott used the distraction for what it was and with a wrench to his leg and an elbow to his gut, his brother threw him off.

Scott sprang to his feet. “Well, at least I know where your loyalties lie.”

Virgil groaned as he rolled over onto all fours on the hardwood floor. “Please, Scott, will you just listen!”

His brother ignored him, returning to the desk. Holograms flashed beneath his fingers.

“You do this and you will lose John.”

“At least he will be alive.”

“And you will lose me.” He didn’t fully realise it until he said it and god, it hurt. But how could he place all his trust in his brother if his brother wouldn’t stop to listen to John or even consider his side of the issue? How could Scott’s command be effective without that trust? “Please stop.”

Scott turned to him, incredulity on his face. “This means that much to you that you would destroy everything we have created here.”

“I-“ He swallowed and holding his gut, pushed himself off the floor, his mind spinning. “If you do this, we will lose everything anyway.”

“I’m trying to protect you!”

“Then listen!”

Scott turned away, leaning on the desk, hunched over.

“Is it too much to ask you to trust John’s judgment? We as a family have been trusting your decisions, your commands your lead, all our lives. This time, I’m asking you to trust John. He knows what is at stake. You saw what he did up there to save Alan’s life. He knows what he is doing. If anyone can control Eos, it is John.”

“What if he can’t? What if it injures him or kills him?”

“I won’t! I promise!”

Virgil flinched. No! Not now!

A symbol blinked and flickered into being above the desk, a series of concentric circles and dots rotating around a common centre. “Commander Tracy, I won’t hurt him, I promise.”

Scott straightened slowly, blue ice shooting daggers at the hologram.

“Eos.”

“I will follow the rules. I didn’t know them before. I didn’t realise. I won’t hurt him. I promise.”

The tension in his brother’s body was a coiled spring. “Why?”

The hologram flickered, the circles spinning so slowly. “I do not understand.”

Scott snarled the words. “Why did you try to kill him? To kill me?”

“Oh, I didn’t realise I was killing you. It was just fun.” The innocence in her voice cut Virgil to the quick.

“Just fun?” Scott’s voice was so cold, it formed frost in the tropics.

“It was a game. I’m programmed to win.”

“You put all those innocent lives in danger for fun.”

“I did not realise lives mattered. I’m sorry.”

“And John...why did you try to kill my brother?” The words hurt.

“Because he was hunting me. He wanted to hurt me. Just like you do.”

Words sat on Scott’s lips. Virgil could see the strain preventing him from uttering them.

“We don’t want to hurt you, Eos.” Virgil straightened where he stood and said the words as if saying them would make them true.

“You lie, Virgil Tracy. The Commander wishes me dead.” A pause of spinning hologram. “Just like all the others.”

“I won’t let that happen, Eos.” John strode into the room and Virgil’s heart sank.

Did no one listen to him?

“John-“

His brother held up a hand towards Virgil, but his eyes were only on Scott, fire in their turquoise depths.

Shit.

“We are leaving.”

Scott didn’t answer, but his body didn’t give a millimetre.

“John?” Eos’ voice lost its confidence.

“Eos, we are leaving.” John headed across the room and grabbed some books off the book shelf.

“John-“

“Shut it, Virgil.”

The shock of hearing that from his quiet brother froze Virgil a solid moment.

“Unbelievable.” Okay, so that one line upped the anger emanating from Scott. Virgil hadn’t thought it possible. “She’s worth all your brothers?”

The books were slammed down on their father’s desk, the two brothers eye to angry eye. “She’s worth more than you can possibly understand! But you don’t need to understand because we are leaving.”

“I’m not leaving, John.”

Eos’ childlike voice was firm and it froze the tableau.

John straightened. “Eos?”

“I like it here. I’m not leaving.”

-o-o-o-

John stared at the hologram hovering above their father’s desk. “Eos?”

“I like it here. You are kind to me.”

“Scott is threatening to kill you!”

Virgil’s heart lurched. “John...”

He was ignored.

The child-like voice spoke up again. “I know.”

“Eos, please.”

“I’m scared, John, but I don’t want to leave.”

“Neither do I, but we have no choice.”

“John...”

“Commander.” It was said in a determined but frightened voice. “What do I need to do to convince you that I mean no harm?”

The room fell quiet.

“Eos-“

“No, John. I need to prove this to your brothers otherwise they will never let you return to the station. I want to live here. It is nice. You are nice and I could learn so much, if you help me.” A pause. “So, Commander Tracy, what do I need to do?”

Scott was staring at the hologram, his face a mask set with angry lines. He opened his mouth and shut it again as both John and Virgil stared at him.

“I’m not sure there is anything you can do, Eos.”

“Then how do I prove it to you?”

“I don’t think you can.” Scott’s voice was ever so cold and desolate.

“I want to help you. I think I can help you. John said I could be very useful and he could teach me.”

“John says a lot of things.”

John opened his mouth, but Virgil sent him a glare enough to rip the skin off his face. Shut up, John.

“Do you think he lies?”

A slow blink from their eldest brother. “I wouldn’t have thought so.” Those eyes flickered at the astronaut. “But then what do I know.”

“You are the eldest. You are his guide.”

“No. I’m just his brother.”

“But you are more. He said so. He explained to me the sibling relationships and why you were so angry. You and Virgil protect this family. I threatened it. You value John more than your own life. Him and your brothers. You have proven it time and again. The mission archives are very extensive.”

Scott frowned and glared at John. “You let her into the archives?”

“She needed to know.”

“So, she knows everything?”

“She knows enough to know why you want to kill her.”

“I don’t want to kill her.”

“Yes, you do!”

“Since when has ‘want’ been in any of my decisions?! I need to do this to protect you!”

“Then do it.” Eos’ voice was quiet, but cutting. A holographic interface appeared over the desk; the same server access Scott had called up before. “If you think John needs to be protected from me, then negate the threat. I don’t want to be a danger to John. According to your laws, I could cause injury to him, despite my honest wish not to. He is fragile in space. Many things could go wrong and I can’t guarantee he will be safe, no matter how I should try. So, if you think it is the safest option. Terminate my functions now.”

The whole room fell silent.

Virgil’s heart climbed up into his throat. “Eos!”

John took a step forward. “Eos, no!”

“It would be for the best, John. You have shown me what I could be, how my existence doesn’t have to be spent in fear and continually running. I don’t think I could go back to that status. I want to be more. If I can’t...I don’t want to be.” The holographic controls flashed. “Commander, this is your decision. I have given you direct access to my core functions. There is no backup file for who I am.” A pause. “If there is no other way, then this is the only way.”

“Do what you have to do.”

-o-o-o-

[thefudge]

TLJ thoughts, post-viewing

sooo, i have a lot of feelings about a lot of things. also the subtitles didn’t prepare me. for a lot.

this movie is made up of many quiet, non-verbal moments and rian johnson lets those moments sink in and dwell with you and that’s great

rey exploring the workings of the force, for example. there’s a really cool sequence where she’s trying to find out who her parents are and she lowers herself in the embodiment of the dark side and it’s very trippy and cool. it’s not rushed and it’s v atmospheric. she gets the incentive to do that thanks to kylo. his revelations about luke and his general aura of “troubled darkness” inspire her to dig deeper.

i think what i liked most about reylo was its sense of gratuitous intimacy. what i mean by this is that they seemed to connect without effort, without having to manipulate the plot to make it fit. they seemed be in their own little movie, dealing with things beyond the usual surface level of star wars ‘good vs. evil’. kylo’s philosophy about letting the past go is definitely flawed, but the way the movie frames reylo, they do seem to “let go” of their surroundings and circumstances when they’re together. it’s sort of timeless. 

i will say, i don’t think the romance was that "romantic”, if that makes sense? and i think it’s a good thing. their bond is very real, but it goes beyond “romantic drama” and your usual hero/villain trope. it has shades of that, ofc, and there is palpable sexual and romantic tension, imo. but i sensed something more mature and interesting between them. it could go either way. do i want reylo to have a future in ep 9 and after? yep. is it possible they won’t? also yep. mainly because kylo let rey down. and here’s the kicker: it’s not rey that really rejects him. it’s him that rejects rey. because she tries quite a few times to bring him over to her side, and i think her anger and sadness stem from the fact that, ultimately, kylo didn’t choose her, and ergo the light. he’s still v much conflicted and i think she can sense that. but rey is hungry. she wants all or nothing. she can’t have half of him. so she doesn’t reject him as much as tell him straight up that she won’t stand for being second. for instance, she expects him to fold to her side immediately after taking down snoke. when he doesn’t, she’s quite literally in tears. this hurts her on a deeper level than “oh no, the dark side won and the resistance lost an important ally.” no, this feels like her parents all over. leaving her, deserting her. that’s how i read it, tbh. 

and kylo does some reprehensible shit in the latter quarter of the movie, lol, like i won’t woobify him, since i like my antiheroes to be antiheroes.  but he's not quite villain level?  if u look at snoke, if u take that cool, collected snarky asshole - that’s a villain. he knows who he is, and what he wants. kylo is hopelessly confused and always looking for validation. he tells rey that she’s the one always looking for father figures - but oh, benny ben. it’s actually you. he wants someone to really see him, and that’s why he’s drawn to rey. but just to clarify: he doesn’t have it in him to kill his mother. he has an open, unambiguous chance and he stops. he is willing to destroy her when she stands behind walls and is shielded by the resistance. yet when she’s in the open, no. that was my read on it. 

his fight with luke is...very much one-sided. luke appears as a force-hologram to fight him and kylo just wants to obliterate him for very, very personal reasons. kylo is not the cool, collected new emperor who is going to “kill the past”. he lives so much in the past that he doesn’t even realize luke isn’t even there. 

and btw, kylo doesn’t kill luke, though he wishes he had. early on we get this foreshadowing. when the first force-bond happens between him and rey, he goes “no, you’re not doing this. the effort would kill you.” meaning that, to transport yourself through space via force (without a bond) takes a looooot of energy. luke goes on a suicide mission, basically. he knows using the force like this will kill him. he’s almost having fun toying with kylo at the end. 

when kylo realizes he’s a force-hologram, luke smiles and says “see you around, kid.” not exactly anakin vs obi-wan, if u know what i mean.

and then back on the island, we see luke peacefully give himself over to the force and vanish. it’s v tranquil and quite satisfying and the original star wars theme is used so well, imo. do i think we could’ve had more of luke? sure. but he went out on his own terms. that’s the whole point - kylo didn’t kill him. he killed himself.

again, i want to emphasize that kylo is still very much an antihero, dipping his toe into villainy (and failing - which makes him more angry, which only makes it harder to be the villain he wants to be haha). he’s not a Good Guy. many posts will crop up in the tag about what a poor, lost soul he is. yes and no. rey actually understands him when she closes the falcon door on him. she knows him and appreciates him. he will never really be ben solo and that’s a good thing. trying to be ben solo so hard is what got him in this mess. he isn’t supposed to be a Good Guy. so no, i don’t want him to “turn” (see my thoughts on “turning” below). i want him to truly move beyond the past and reform himself on his own terms, just like luke. because hey fam, luke isn’t a Good Guy in this movie either AND THAT’S GREAT. anyway, i certainly won’t be romanticizing him (kylo). he’s a compelling antihero who definitely has baggage and trauma (luke did try to kill him as a boy, though he has a wildly dramatized version of the event lol) but he is also someone who has to help himself. ultimately, rey’s goal isn’t to “save” him but to push him to save himself. honestly, if kylo had followed her and “turned” and reluctantly joined the resistance, it would’ve been a total let down and a betrayal of his character. him “turning” wouldn’t help him. he’d still have that darkness and that anger inside of him, multiplied. boy needs therapy - aka working through his issues, not ignoring them and joining the Good Side. 

Other things I liked: 

- admiral holdo’s arc - beautiful, well-done and surprising. laura dern kills it. 

- benicio del toro!!!!! no small parts with this man. he is delightful. imagine rick from “rick and morty” but way hotter lol. he was probably my favorite addition, after rose. he’s the middle-ground guy, he’s more han solo than fucking han solo. he doesn’t believe in good guys vs bad guys and he shows both finn and the audience that the two sides err because they believe their path is the only path. he perfectly encapsulates the very real contradictions in modern-day ethics and how our “pure and wholesome” activism often shields us from some terrible truths. he does have a semblance of a heart underneath his cynicism but i love that in the end he doesn’t suddenly discover the power of friendship with finn and rose. he’s a jaded asshole with shades of good, who’s probably seen some rough shit. BUT, he has this super cute moment with rose before things go to shit regarding her necklace and it’s !!!!!! it shows how much he understands human nature. i kinda ship them. aaaanyway. i definitely think he will return, his arc is not done. 

- ROSE TICO SMILING AND BEING HAPPY. ROSE TICO RIDING THAT KANGAROO CREATURE AND ENJOYING LIFE. i treasured those scenes a lot. she’s a great combo of feisty and childlike, tough and innocent. gosh, she reminds me of bonnie bennett so much ;___;

- general hux. yall, it’s true. it’s all true. hux may have won me over. hux in TFA was just a lite over-the-top villain imo. but here??? he’s such a fun, dynamic character, rian gave him a lot of fun, humorous moments. and honest to god, he’s also given some humanity. when kylo takes over, he is genuinely affected and disturbed by his level of aggression. and he’s....idk, much less evil in this one. probably because of the humor. he just seems like a man dead-set on fulfilling his mission, brainwashed to the core. and underneath the brainwashing, he seems to be your average overwhelmed white dude. i don’t think he’ll be redeemed or anything but...it’s weird how at the end of TLJ he is probably the MOST reasonable dude from the first order???

- there’s this great little message about failure. i think here TLJ was inspired by Rogue One. because a lot of the characters in this movie learn to let go and accept defeat. you can’t always save everyone, you can’t always fight back. sometimes, the brave thing is to retreat and treasure the ppl you love. so i def liked that.

- GODDAMN GHOST YODA. i honestly thought i’d hate it because...gimmick, amirite? but that scene with luke was SO emotional and also funny and visceral and just - i was a bit teary-eyed, ME, THE GRINCH. i was suddenly nine again, watching star wars for the first time. ANYWAY. 

- luke skywalker deserves a separate entry. mark hamill did so much with this character in the last few scenes. also some of the stuff he says about the force in this movie is legit beautiful and i love how he criticizes the vanity of the jedi - because this was what was missing from the prequels. anakin fell because the council was tone-deaf. the jedi are often responsible for their own doom and so they must always be vigilant - which is a goddamn thankless job. i love that luke acknowledges this. 

-luke/leia moment. GAAAAH. HE KISSES HER FOREHEAD GOODBYE AND SHE KNOWS HE’S NOT COMING BACK FROM THIS. I DIED.

- in that order of business, leia finally FIIIINALLY gets to show off a bit and use the force in a pro-active manner. it’s also clear to me that episode 9 would’ve been the story of her and “ben” and i think she would have been the catalyst for his eventual development. but sadly, we’ll never see that ;____; 

-there is some gorgeous cinematography and visual direction in this movie. particularly in the third act, on that salt planet? the red trails? shivers. 

-i didn’t hate any of the new creatures like i thought i would??? probably because they were used sparingly and with a sense of humor.

Stuff i kind of didn’t like:

- phasma. phasma, phasma, phasma. WHAT was that??? like tell me that wasn’t anticlimactic as hell. she was, sadly, a pointless character. unless she somehow survived the fire and destruction, which i doubt, i really don’t see the point of casting wonderful gwendolyn christie just to stand there in armor. 

- MAZ KANATA. is barely in this. i call bullshit. 

-sigh, okay so i loved rose to death, but her arc revolved way too much around finn. on the one hand i get it, on the other hand.... i was hyped because ppl were saying she gets this big moment to shine. and granted, imo, she shines every moment she’s on screen. but i think her climactic scene was... *fart noises*. it’s completely centered around finn. she saves him basically, and it’s definitely heartfelt and lovely but also...it’s finn’s moment 100%. because it’s him who has to learn about his own worth. i do think they make a good team and i ship them a little bit, but the one-sided kiss was not satisfying and i’m tired of having to watch my darling woc give their love and devotion freely, only to be  tertiary characters in their own story. like, imo, it should’ve been rose who flew straight into that cannon and tried to take it down for her sister. she should’ve been the one determined to take it down. and it should’ve been finn to save her and tell her they must find meaning in other things. finn definitely cares for her and in the last scene we have of him, he’s tending over rose and waiting for her to wake up BUT. will rose ever be number one for anyone, like the white girls, i wonder? eh, i’m probably just grumpy old aunt. she does get to have an internal world, she’s a believable human being, she matters. the thing is, white girls in these movies can bend their little finger and they’re considered worthy and complex. rose has to jump through hoops to be seen the same way. anyway.

- i liked poe dameron’s arc, which is “hey, maybe i should stop posturing and listen to women more lol” which is “learn when to retreat and stand down” but...honestly, you hire gorgeous oscar isaac who can give you real emotional weight and you just...kinda under-utilize him. yes, he did a lot of stuff, but he...didn’t take time to internalize it. this dude feels like he’s got a lot of demons and conflicting desires and a rich inner life, yet we only skim the surface of that. like, he’s aways in go-mode, we rarely get a quiet moment with him. like pls fix this, episode 9. 

-luke’s reaction to han’s death is pfffffffffffff. maybe we’ll get more in a deleted scene? 

- also....can we stop pussyfooting and legit talk about han as a dad? because they keep hinting he wasn’t a good one, nor a very good husband to leia. but...it’s very unsatisfying to keep hearing about it without good storytelling to back it up. 

- the world-building & the origins of the first order. i had problems with this in TFA and, big surprise, i still have problems with it here. basically, why has the first order taken over the new republic? how did they gain support? were there remnants of the old empire that survived and thrived as the first order? what about the knights of ren? luke mentions kylo took some students with him when he destroyed the jedi temple, so....what about those guys? like, this very fraught and war-torn landscape doesn’t have a solid history. how did A become B? why is every corner of the galaxy oppressed? why are some planets thriving more? are they all arm-dealers??? i find that hard to believe. yeah, we have the expanded universe for that, we have books and comics etc. but i need these movies to give us a sense of their own universe. i’m...still not convinced. 

-lolol, snoke dies like a bitch. and it’s so anticlimactic and duuuumb. dude, a five-year old coulda seen that coming but your ancient super powerful ass couldn’t? laaaame. he’s like “oh, yes, i sense no more conflict in you, kylo ren. just a deep certainty”. YES FOOL, because he’s decided to remove u, because he’s confident he wants rey, and not you, by his side. it was soooo lame. but i guess we had to remove him to make the audience think kylo was turning good for a second there.

-which reminds me... and you probably saw this coming, i hate the idea of “turning”. rey keeps talking about ben turning to the light. and this verb annoys me to no end. it’s made clear that they both already have a lot of light and darkness in each other. it’s about finding balance. where’s my grey jedi??? episode 9 pls????

Extra Reylo stuff i didn’t see mentioned which i adored: 

- during their first force-bond moment when they sense each other, kylo ren runs out of the medical unit and into the corridor like a goddamn luckless teenager, expecting to see rey pop up in a prom dress.  it’s precious. i love awkward!kylo. also rey tries to shoot him bc she thinks he’s actually there and kylo bends down, thinking he was shot. it’s a rly cool moment. and it doesn’t feel malicious like, he doesn’t expect anything less from her. 

- there’s so much charged electricity between them and it’s not all sexual. it’s kinda mystical and i dig it. i’m weirdly reminded of xavier and magneto??? as in two enemies who have such a rich history and whose bond transcends human morality. 

-OKAY. i saw no one talking about this but THAT GODDAMN SNOW WHITE SCENE. so rey decides she’s going to turn kylo to the light because that’s their one hope of defeating the first order etc. luke tries to stop her, but she’s like i’m going after my man. okay. she gets on the falcon, then she puts herself in this casket-like pod and AND. we get this lovely, breath-taking sequence of her arriving at the first order base, slipping gently into the hangar in her casket. and she’s def nervous. AND THEN. she looks up through the glass and there’s steam at first and through the steam we see kylo’s face, looking down at her wistfully. IT’S SO WEIRDLY FAIRY-TALE WTF. and then ofc the guards come in to shackle her. BUT JESUS. the prince looking into the casket to find snow-white WHAT ARE THESE AESTHETICS. it felt like a nod to the infamous scene in TFA where he carries her bridal style. it’s very fairy-tale-esque. 

- i love that in the scene with the multiple reys, when she reaches through the mirror to see her parents, the shadowy figure who appears and touches her hand seems at first to be kylo and then she realizes it’s herself. i also love that she talks to kylo about that experience. GAH. 

- i just rly loved that there was so much humanity in their interactions.

Reylo stuff which sort of bothered me/left me wanting more: 

- like excuse u rian,  during the praetorian guards fight, i needed more moments where kylo looks at rey and is worried for her sake. i needed that fight to be a bit more visceral and about the two of them and their survival. they do fight together and it’s great but then...they’re sort of separated and carry their own small battles (i did love how rey saved him with that lightsaber throw)

- the whole “you come from nothing, you are nothing.” yea yeah, he’s a dummy who doesnt know how to express his feelings, he’s mr. darcy x 1000 of faux pas. but i still think adam driver’s acting went a little much there. the way he delivered that line was a bit off for me. ofc, he follows it with “but not to me”, because he’s basically proposing to her, but i needed a bit more, an extra line from him confirming her importance. or maybe no extra line, but a bit more feeling. did i mention i love wrecked!kylo? the “please” killed me haha. 

Final thoughts:

- enjoyed it more than i expected to, and it does operate with way more nuance than TFA but it stiiiill fell short with some characters. it didn’t have the weight of rogue one for me, but it’s more lighthearted and entertaining, which i appreciate, cuz it reminded me of my childhood. and ultimately, whether we like it or not, disney does operate on nostalgia. all in all, it’s a worthy star wars movie, 8/10. rian deserves an A-. (he also wrote this thing and whoaaa...i wonder how much more ambiguous and dark this movie woulda been if he’d been given full non-disney freedom)

[rainbowsky]

I think people read too much into his behavior in situations like this, and project their own personal feelings onto him. He looked totally normal to me, and very similar in demeanor to his costars. Everyone is bound to be a little bit tense and formal considering the occasion and considering they haven’t seen each other in nearly two years.

There was nothing out of the ordinary here at all. He seemed to have fun; he smiled and laughed a fair bit. Anything more than that would have seemed a bit over-the-top given the semi-formality of the occasion.

I haven’t seen anything to suggest he’s lost his childlike joy. He’s still the exact same person. Compare this press conference to the Thailand one if you don’t believe me. His demeanor and behavior are nearly identical, despite the fact that he’s obviously going to be more relaxed with DD than with people he hasn’t seen in two years.

Douluo Press Conference:

Part 2 is available here.

Thailand Press Conference where he sat next to DD:

Marvelous City, where he giggled over a rat:

He’s still the same guy, still just as cute and joyful and innocent. Let’s not put a whole narrative on him that he’s been irreparably destroyed or psychologically damaged because of the scandal. I don’t buy it at all. He’s clearly doing exceptionally well right now, and I have no doubt that trend will continue. His behavior in professional situations has always been professional, slightly reserved and formal.

I cannot put my finger on it but watching the DC press conference made me a bit sad. XZ seems to have lost that child like joy he used to carry around. Now he seemed so reserved and careful in his reaction. He didnt seem to be enjoying himself at all. Like it was a job that needed to be done. It makes me sad that he feels he has to be to so careful in everything he says and does now. I miss those giggles and abundunt smiles😢😢

Hello!!!!! to start, i just wanna say to anyone reading this that we are only observers here and we cannot tell what gg feels and all that. 🥀 he definitely has a different aura now & i don’t fault him for putting up some walls. I rmb when he was first seen again publicly: interview w/ Wan Fang. They were taking pictures towards the end and he moved himself further back. like he didn’t want to be noticed. people asked him to go in the center. and the event was not about him but we all know majority of the views on the live was for him. that’s the first time FOR ME, where i thought that i’ll never have the same gg again. like you, i can’t point out what was it that tipped me off. but i knew AT THAT TIME. things will be different.

he had some moments of fun in there & he seems to get along w/ the cast. is it the same bond as A-ling? No. A-ling was/is his family.

[brightlotusmoon]

Got a review asking why I “infantilize” Mikey so much, and my jaw dropped like, Are you fucking kidding me? I didn’t even dignify it with a response. Fuck, I don’t even remember who it was. Like…I’ve been making Mikey the baby brother and secret perfect adaptive warrior since the mid-1990s. His family coddles him, adores him, and is also terrified of him. They know his potential. They know what he could do if he really really wanted to. If he concentrated and hyperfocused on a fight, on winning, on being stealth and silence and muscle and speed and power, he could destroy them all. They know it, he knows it, and every so often he will turn his head slightly and grin, showing a sharp tooth like a trickster god playing with cute little mortals. He puts up a magnificent front as a dull-witted jokester. He does love playing the part, he is silly and wild and his heart is made of pure optimism. He knows exactly how to cheer up his family, even if he himself is in desperate need of cheering; he’ll find something to help himself, unless it gets really awful, and at that point he’ll unload on Raph, who will understand and give Mikey that hug he needs. Infantilize? No. Ahahahahahaaa, no. The tropes Iron Woobie and Break The Cutie are my signature moves as a writer. They mean that I take the adorable sweet kid, grind him to a pulp, and make him get up even stronger, and then knock him down and punch him until his family begs the universe to stop. They wrap him in love and gauze and cuddles because of love and devotion and loyal and desperation to keep themselves together because these four boys are the only and last of their kind anywhere, anywhere. And Michelangelo is considered the smallest, the youngest, the innocent, the pure. The sunshine. They protect him because he shines on them when their world goes dark, because he is the most emotionally resilient and he projects that goodness onto them. He is Good, he is Pure, he is more than they deserve in their world of murder and terror and hidden truths.

I have been infantilized my whole life for being disabled, for having a mind that as I aged has…lessened. As a child, I was called things like Prodigy. Gifted. Powerful. Genius. Extraordinary. My cerebral palsy was “not as bad” and I could work my left hand well enough, so I was considered Amazing. As I grew up, I hid away what I now know was a long, slow autistic burn-out. Fibromyalgia destroyed my ability to win all the spelling bees. I still said nothing. I started having epileptic seizures that didn’t look like “big seizures” so I said nothing. I didn’t want to disappoint. Then I hit my late twenties and everything began to spiral. “What’s wrong with you? What’s happening? You used to be so great. Are you failing on purpose? Why have you become stupid? Why aren’t you doing your physical therapy? Is this some excuse? You’re turning into a child. Stop that.” Michelangelo is not a small child, nor do I write him as one in any of my fanfic series. Michelangelo is a 16-year-old mutant boy who loves to pretend he could one day be human. He’s got Olympic level talents. He’s neurodivergent. He has a very unique mind. He is crafty, he is stealthy, he uses distractions to fight his opponents, he has the greatest raw potential to not only be a Master, but a spiritual guru. And above it all HE IS A TEENAGER AND THE YOUNGEST OF THE FAMILY. He loves touch. He loves sensation, he loves hugs, he loves to be snuggled and reassured and cared for. He has issues with his place in his tiny isolated half-reptile half-human team. Is he good enough? Is he sufficient? Should he keep up the joking and weirdness to keep them on their toes? Do they actually hate him? Will they abandon him or betray him? He’s too young to really be on his own, and he may think he knows enough about human culture but he doesn’t, and he is aware that he’ll always need a parent figure. But he is not, never was, and never will be a child or childish. I never saw him as one. To imply that I write him as so childlike is insulting and invalidating to me and my own experiences. Being full of so much childlike wonder is one thing, but to imply that he is literally childlike makes my writing seem like shit, even if it was nominated for an award. And so I infer that the reviewer doesn’t appreciate the fact that I headcanon Mikey as an Iron Woobie in all my AU fics. They should be glad he isn’t an actual Woobie. There are some authors who really literally treat him, 2003 and 2012 alike, like a cute naive petulant whiny child! They should go complain at those fics.