#he's his own man and can like it but i saw the pitfalls of that community. and i can't tell him to just stop watching lol

[spacedkey]

it is the nature of siblings to get into things you liked one year after you stopped liking it

[thegoodduckfan]

Okay, I haven't actually posted a review of Infinity Dime here. So I'm just gonna copy and paste my Inducks review that I wrote a few days ago:

This story is truly one of the worst things I've ever read. It falls into all the pitfalls I hate with Uncle Scrooge adaptations, a lot of which I think stem from Aaron mostly reading Rosa instead of Barks, thus missing the core of the character for Rosa's hero worship.

In this story Aaron turns Scrooge into a subpar superhero. Scrooge's only way of combatting his enemies throughout this story is to go in straight for the brawl, which is something I always hate. Scrooge's character can do (and usually is) so much more than what Aaron showed in this story. And when Scrooge goes for the brawl he's accompanied by enough Don Rosa references to kill an elephant. These references have absolutely no substance, they mostly reference volume 1 of The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck, and are far less interesting or impressive than Don Rosa's own references to Barks.

The Beagle Boys are also hit pretty hard in this story. Aaron presents them as nothing more than simple henchmen for the Scrooge above all, which is just lame (never mind the fact we didn't even get any multiversal variation!). Scrooge above all is a very generic villain, he is just Scrooge who wants to be the richest in the universe and doesn't care for anyone (boring). At the start of the story there could've been something in his premise that could actually play off how Barks wrote Scrooge, at the start it's shown he got every single piece of wealth there is to get on his world. This could've played nicely into the opening of The Seven Cities of Cibola where Scrooge was frustrated over monopolising Duckburg and not having any new ways to make money! But of course, because this story is extremely bare bones Aaron does nothing with that and just goes for the generic superhero bullshit.

In addition to these poor characterizations I think this story is fundamentally broken. It tries to pull off a 3 act structure, and it completely lacks the 2nd act! This story goes from the opening of Scrooge getting sucked into the multiverse, straight into the final fight with Scrooge Above All! It's just absurd! And in this final battle we get to see all the wonderful and inventive versions of Scrooge from across the multiverse... oh wait, these are just life and times references. Imagine if in Spider-Verse every single version of Spider-Man was exactally like the default version, but with an offset of 3 years, that would be boring! That would be lame! You could do the same thing with time travel! There is no need for this story to be a multiverse story because it's almost never taking advantage of it! Even with the Life and Times "multiverse" there is so much missed potential. Take for example 13 year old Scrooge from chapter 1, Aaron could've made it so he was already the richest duck at 13, therefore he didn't struggle as much. It could've been interesting, but he's still just shoeshine Scrooge.

The final battle it was also really odd, the variants of Scrooge almost lose to Scrooge above all but then at the last minute the Donalds come to save them, now this doesn't make any sense from a story level. We only ever see Donald in this story for 1 panel before that point, it was in the opening and we don't even see his face! The only way to understand why Donald is important to Scrooge is to read the comics (especially Don Rosa's in this case) and at that point this story doesn't offer anything interesting those stories haven't already done 10 times better!

And of course after Scrooge Above All is defeated all is well because he saw the value of corny and lame "family is important" DuckTales episodes, and he is just redeemed. It comes very out of nowhere, and it feels like really childish storytelling

Donald is also very mischaracterized here. He is portrayed like his cartoon self who gets incredibly mad over everything! With none of the complexity of his comic self (what do I even expect at this point?). I always viewed him more so as easy to frustrate and stubborm than having the short fused insanity of his cartoon counterpart. This comic has versions of Donald fight over their bowties, that's rediculous. And also every version of Donald looks the same. Again, like the Beagle Boys, there is practically no multiversal variaty!

This story is uniquely awful from what I experienced, not only does it change way too much about these characters, and replaces them with boring shells of themselves, but everything this story tries to accomplish depends on reading previous works that said everything it wants to say 100 times better. Dialogue is pretty lame and actually pretty bad at times "I am Scrooge! Uncle to noone!" comes to mind. And the art can look fine at times, I'm not the biggest fan of the artstyle but reading the page layout made me go dizzy. Overall a 0/10 story for me, if I could I would go lower.

[great-cats]

The Compress Analysis (1/?)

(From: This Post) Ⅰ - Ⅱ - ...

Introduction

I’ve seen quite a number of people put forth their Mr.Compress analysis, so I figured I might as well pitch in. Do note that while I will try to keep this as canon analysis-y as I can, I may very well veer into “what I wanted him to be as a character” or “this is more headcanon than canon” territory. Since he’s a character with less than satisfactory coverage in the canon (when it comes to his actual character) I’m totally allowed to do that, of course (because I said so.) So, what is it exactly that leads a man from a relatively straight path to the depths of…whoops, wrong script. So, what went into the guy? What devious mixture of character traits makes up one Atsuhiro Sako, and how has the way in which those traits were fostered or hampered in his life made him into the man he is today?

Part Ⅰ: The Personality

We all know Mister to be a fellow who has quite the way with words. He’s humorous even in the midst of battle, has a knack for complaining, and loves a good monologue. But, besides his showman like attitude (which is mostly a byproduct of Kent Williams’ playing of him in the Dub anime, and not nearly as present in the Sub/Manga…), who is he really? Below the flamboyance and keen intellect, he’s a reckless and cowardly individual who, despite his claims, is quite prone to getting attached and leaping into the fray for others. He chastised Twice for getting attached, and yet he jumped at overhaul– yes, the guy who makes people explode with one graze –without thinking for the sake of his peers. Perhaps he had only wanted to preserve the league because they were his best ticket to furthering his own goals, but its still one step (or leap?) closer to him getting more connected to those bastards.

We know he’s a coward, though. That’s pretty common knowledge after his lines throughout the various arcs in which he got into a scuffle or two. The aim of this post is to delve a bit deeper into that sort of thing. He’s a prideful, cocky man with way too much apparent confidence in himself. We can even see that in his chasing of the Harima legacy, which is objectively much larger than just him, and quite possibly out of his reach. And yet, he pursues this unfeasible goal as if it’s something he can accomplish (with the league’s aid). But more on that later. What a lot of people miss about Atsuhiro is his rudeness. On multiple occasions he asks things of others without so much as a please, ridicules even his allies, and overall acts quite rashly for a man who seems so mature. That’s not to say that he isn’t mature in comparison to the league, but he does have his fair share of faults that make him wildly imperfect. On the other hand, he borders on being mildly pacifistic in his actions. He’s not a man who relishes in violence, misery, or even petty theft. He’s a fellow who lives for the big, flashy, ideal spectacle, and not so much the more cruel villain-y traits (again, more on this particular stuff in another section)

Enough about all his flaws, though. He’s a man who, while being a crook, holds righteousness in rather high regard. It’s one of his main goals in life, after all. He’s extremely loyal to his ideals to a stubborn degree, which makes him be able to persevere through the pitfalls of society and take things into his own hands (or hand). Personally, I don’t really see him all that malicious in his actions. He maims/kills people out of self defense from what we’ve seen, and doesn’t cause harm unless warranted or otherwise necessary. And even then, he hardly seems to relish in it. He can be rude, but that doesn't prevent him from being warmer with the league on occasion. This is especially true for Toga, AKA the youngest member of the league (that saw it past their debut arc. Sorry Mustard). He's vaguely parental but again, in a reluctant manner that still tries to reject attachment. He gets along with Dabi surprisingly well and even acts as a voice of reason for the burnt up gentleman. But, he has no particular interest in clearing up his daddy issues or anything.

A big thing that comes to mind for me is "what makes Atsuhiro excel in his field? Why hasn't he been caught after all this reckless cockiness' Well, for one, he’s a deceitful fellow who keeps all his cards close to his chest even with all the boasting. He can talk a hero's ears off, but seldom does he actually reveal any personal info in doing so. As seen when he first debuted, the man has good strategizing skills and is armed with an innate ability to misdirect and distract audiences from his true intentions/actions (unfortunately, we don’t see nearly as much of this as I’d like). He can even shield his own emotions with both an expert handle on his body language and tone. But besides that, he really hones in on the concealment of his facial expressions provided by…

Whoops, you'll have to wait for Part Two for that one! Come back later for some more incessant rambling featuring the topic of "The Mask" I will post it at some point but considering the hour is getting late, it may very well take a few hours.

[icebucket66]

Learn to Love Again: Short Story

This is the introduction to a sci-fi story I'm working on, it is meant to be read while listening to music from it's soundtrack.

Part 1

"You alone can stop the clock from turning, only you have the power to truly create. And creation will breed creation anew. Now go forth and create!" I saw a glowing face say at the end of a tunnel in my dream as I escalated towards center, my body came into being at the same time as I felt a shock from my lowest sphincter through my spine to a mouth that was left mouthing the words "I will!"

My limp body fell on my knees in a pool of water that showed my reflection. A human face dark and handsome filled my vision, grown but not fully matured or formed, not completely solid. I saw the last face as the face I was designed after but in this moment I preferred my own. In this face there was room to mold, to customize to my liking. I jerked my hand into the water and took out a layer of wet black soil and smeared it across my face. Once I opened my eyes again I saw my face born anew. Different from the one in my dream. It was then that I saw a person rushing behind me, tripping slightly on my legs sticking out from behind me. I had fallen behind, we were in a race!

I sprung to my feet and joined hundreds of other people racing onto a beach that led into a dense forest. Above the tree line there was a large mountain that shined pink hues from the setting star in the sky. Me and some of the others stood in awe of the colour that reminded me of the face that had talked to me in my dream. I attempted to communicate this thought to the others. They seemed eager to continue beyond the trees and did not stop to hear my words. I was apprehensive about the forest myself and lagged behind. My desire to feel different was holding me back and I wasn't ready to go into the dark. I was afraid of it. While I worked up the courage to move forward I looked backwards and saw many people waking up in the shallow water. I saw irredescant shells that were emitting light. These were how I would make my way through the woods I thought. I waded back through the crowds of people coming on to the beach to pick up a glowing conch that caught the light much like the mountain. But there was no time to admire. I had more competition waking up every second and was already behind the lions share of the group. I held the shell up into the darkness of the woods. Lighting a path amongst the dense bushes and thorns. I saw a man impaled on a sharp branch. I got a good look at his face, pale skin red hair and purple eyes. He looked nothing like that first face I saw and nothing like my reflection. He had been too careless, I would have to be careful.

I walked forward with purpose avoiding the pitfalls of the forest. The others weren't so lucky, at every branch in the path I saw those who had fallen before me. Not able to see in the dark they left behind horrific corpses. Bruised, cut, torn to pieces by forces unknown. I grew more and more terrified by what was out there. And as I walked I found my body getting colder. I found a parting in the trees with open ground. To quell my shivering I built a blanket of sticks and loose material from around the forest. Rain had started to fall and I could hear it on my shelter. And the blanket of warmth and the blanket of sound lulled me into a deep sleep.

"You've been a success so far child. And for this I'm proud of you! My creation has seen the face of creation. Go forth and live fruitfully in my dream for you. And leave this dream behind. I'll see you again in another." The face seemed now an amalgam of all the corpses I had seen but still carried with it the innate knowledge and understanding as it had in the first dream. I saw God. My eyes opened up and saw the morning light peaking through the trees. I fixed my eyes on a branch falling from weight of the fruit. It was high up but I was hungrier than I was fearful of heights. I climbed up the tree and picked the fruit. Apples, green apples with sour skin to break through with my teeth. Pointed teeth to eat meat, and here I was gorging myself on fruit. Now that I had the high ground I could see a forest full of life. Birds in the air and through the trees and people slowly making their way through the bramble. I was ahead of the pack.

I made a spear out of the branch I was sat upon and left the clearing. I could hear the others behind me getting closer. As day turned to night again I saw behind me more glowing conch shells being held up into the dark. I had lost my advantage. I went as far as I could in a day and I found myself at the foot of the mountain. A sheer cliff face in front of me. I would climb it in the morning. For now I would rest again falling asleep hoping to see my creators face in my dreams.

"We are in crisis. We have no way of differentiating the ones that have the ability and those who are just following along." One face said. "And I think the leader is too close to the training data. It's not independently creating, it is simply doing what it is told." The face was made up of a chassis of metal not meat. And the colour was dark and cold.

[driftwithme]

Imagine Hermann and Newton giving classes to their K-Science recruits.

They all have to wear patches that identify them either as Gottlieb or Geiszler students, for their sanity and safety. Mainly because Newt's assistants are completely banned from most places given Newt tendency of asking them to do illegal things like they are his evil minions.

They are even flirting with the pilot cadets and trying to rope them into their hella weird experiments. Chuck, who is now responsible for the cadets, has had at least four separate screaming matches with Newton about it.

In turn, Hermann's assistants treat Mako like an older or little cousin. He's reminds them all the time to please not bother Miss Mori if it can avoided. She finds it flattering that they admire her so much, but she does have her own group of j-tech recruits to worry about, now that she's leading the design and build of new jaegers.

Herc holds one or two meetings with them each month. Since they are starting again, he needs to decide who gets which part of the founding, so it becomes an constant battle of who's research is more urgent or useful or whatever. He can't even send his assistant for those meetings. He doesn't trust the man would know the danger for what it is and not play it as exaggeration.

Tendo is temporarily in leave, spending time with his family. He works some weeks and those are full of reminding people to present Dr. Gottlieb, Dr. Geiszler and their assistances with the most accurate reports and info. The scientists won't say it but they miss Tendo!!! There was no one better at LOCCENT when it came to efficient readings and relying only the most important information. Tendo finds it unnerving lol, but cute.

Finally, there's Raleigh. Within the first three weeks, the novelty wears off. The assistants stop marvelling at him and start to notice all they could help with. After Pitfall, he needs a lot of support to do the daily stuff. Newton is trying to find something on the kaiju DNA to help him recover his health or at least slow the damage. Newton leads the project along with the new research branch of the medical division and given that Herc has assign it to top priority (meaning most money/founding), Newt has some of his assistants working on it with him. They are all bright and almost too eager to help. Prosthetics prototypes based on the neural-handshake (project they lead along some of the j-tech division on the drift study branch). Constant investigations trying to decipher how the precursors cloned their kaijus so maybe they can clone human body parts too (along with the medical division). "Natural medicine" properties of harvested parts of kaijus, based on all Newt saw on the Hannibal Chau store. And it keeps going!

Raleigh becomes a regular on the lad and on the medical bay, the same as Chuck.

Hermann makes fucking sure to orientate all the assistants over how to properly treat a person with disabilities the first day of work. He knows ('cause he saw it with Newt) that Raleigh has the patience of a saint. And he knows too that Chuck would probably swing at anyone, not matter the number of degrees or doctorates. Hermann just wants a proper work environment, okay? Professionalism.

Newt does it too some tine later. He casually threatens them and reminds that if they fuck around with either his or Dr. Gottlieb research *inserts him something he thinks Hannibal Chau would say because he thinks it sounds cool and delivers the message*. He shoots that comment with the most manic look on his face, btw. They joke about it with Raleigh and because he is a bit of an ass, he goes: "haha yeah better be careful with them haha, you never know what changed in them after they drifted with that kaiju".

I just think it'd be a great great thing to have a bunch of scientists on the Shatterdome for Hermann and Newton amusement and help. Restore the K-Science Division to his former glory lol.

[dfroza]

the parchments, the scrolls

documenting the hope on which to stand

(A sacred work)

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 4th and closing chapter of the letter of 2nd Timothy:

And now I bring you this charge before God and Jesus the Anointed, the one destined to judge the living and the dead, at His glorious appearance and His kingdom: go out and preach the word! Go whether it’s an opportune time or not! Reprove, warn, and encourage; but do so with all the patience and instruction needed to fulfill your calling because a time will come when some will no longer tolerate sound teaching. Instead, they will live by their own desires; they’ll scratch their itching ears by surrounding themselves with teachers who approve of their lifestyles and tell them what they want to hear. They will turn away from the real truth you have to offer because they prefer the sound of fables and myths. But you must stay focused and be alert at all times. Tolerate suffering. Accomplish the good work of an evangelist, and complete the ministry to which you have been called.

For I am already being poured out, and the last drops of this drink offering are all that remain; it’s almost time for me to leave. I have fought the good fight, I have stayed on course and finished the race, and through it all, I have kept believing. I look forward to what’s in store for me: a crown of righteousness that the Lord—the always right and just judge—will give me that day (but it is not only for me, but for all those who love and long for His appearing).

Come to me, Timothy, as soon as you can. You see, Demas has fallen for this world, abandoned me, and headed off to Thessalonica. Crescens took off for Galatia. Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Luke is the only one left. Bring Mark with you because he is useful in this work and will help look after me. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. On your way here, pick up the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, and bring the scrolls—especially the parchments.

Keep your eye out for Alexander the coppersmith! He came against me with all sorts of evil—may the Lord pay him back accordingly— so watch your back because he has gone overboard to oppose our message.

When it was time for my first defense, no one showed up to support me. Everyone abandoned me (may it not be held against them) except the Lord. He stood by me, strengthened me, and backed the truth I proclaimed with power so it may be heard by all the non-Jews. He rescued me, pried open the lion’s jaw, and snatched me from its teeth. And I know the Lord will continue to rescue me from every trip, trap, snare, and pitfall of evil and carry me safely to His heavenly kingdom. May He be glorified throughout eternity. Amen.

Give my regards to Prisca, Aquila, and everyone over at Onesiphorus’s house. Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus in Miletus because he was sick. Try your best to come before winter blows in. Eubulus says hello and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. May the Lord be with your spirit, and may His grace be with you. [Amen.]

The Letter of 2nd Timothy, Chapter 4 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice translation:

Paul’s message: stay focused, suffer hardships, be confident, do the work. The church has always progressed by faithfulness of her saints.

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 11th chapter of the book of Ezekiel:

Then the Spirit lifted me up and transported me to the eastern gate of the Eternal’s house. I saw 25 men standing at the entrance of the gate. I recognized 2 leaders among them—Jaazaniah (Azur’s son) and Pelatiah (Benaiah’s son).

Eternal One: Son of man, these are the ones concocting evil plans and pushing wicked schemes on the city. They say, “This is not a good time to build houses. The city of Jerusalem is like an iron pot, and we are the meat inside it.” Therefore, prophesy against them, son of man; speak My message to them.

Then the Spirit of the Eternal came over me and said to me:

Eternal One: Tell them this is what the Eternal has to say: Those may be your secret thoughts, people of Israel, but I know what’s going on in your minds. You have murdered masses of people in this city, and you have filled the streets with dead bodies. The corpses you have scattered in the streets are the meat, and this city is the pot; but I will make sure you are taken out of this city. Since you fear war, that is exactly what I will bring against you.

I, the Eternal Lord, declare that. After I drive you out of the city, I will give you over to the control of foreigners, and they will punish you! You will die in battle, and My judgment will fall on you as you flee for the border of Israel. Then you will know I am the Eternal One. This city will not be a protective pot for you, and you certainly won’t be the meat tended within it. I will execute My judgment against you all the way to the border of Israel, and you will know I am the Eternal One. You have been careless with My laws and disregarded My instructions, mindlessly conforming to the standards of the nations around you.

As I was prophesying, Pelatiah (Benaiah’s son) died. Then I fell to the ground, face down, and exclaimed in a loud voice, “Hear me, Eternal Lord! Will You do away completely with the remnant of Israel?”

At this, the word of the Eternal came to me:

Eternal One: Son of man, your people in exile—your own relatives, your countrymen, and the whole nation of Israel—are the ones the citizens of Jerusalem have disparaged, saying, “They have been taken far away from the Eternal. This land is ours now. It has been given to us to keep.” But they are mistaken. It is those in exile whom I will redeem. Give the citizens of Jerusalem My message. “Tell them that I, the Eternal Lord, drove them far away from My temple and scattered them among other countries, but I have still been a sanctuary for them during this time in those other lands where they have gone.” Then deliver My message to the exiles. “Tell them that I, the Eternal Lord, will gather you and reassemble you from the places where I scattered you, and I will return your inheritance—the land of Israel—to you because you are My true children.”

Eternal One: When they return home, they will demolish all the disgusting idols and remove all the shocking images from the land. I will give them a new will—an undivided heart—and plant a new spirit within them; I will remove their cold, stony heart and replace it with a warm heart of flesh. Then they will follow My commands and uphold My laws and actually do as I say. They will be My people, and I will be their God. As for those who remain dedicated to their disgusting idols and shocking images, the very things they have done will be brought down upon them as judgment.

So said the Eternal Lord.

Then the winged guardians stretched out their wings, the wheels moved along with them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. The glory of the Eternal arose from the center of the city and began to move east, stopping momentarily above the mountain to its east called the Mount of Olives. The Spirit snatched me up and brought me in a vision given by God’s Spirit to the exiles in the Chaldea. Then the vision left me, and I told the exiles everything the Eternal had revealed to me.

The Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 11 (The Voice)

A note from The Voice translation:

Ezekiel may seem like a prophet of doom and gloom, but like most prophets he sees beyond judgment to God’s restoration of His people. The only hope for the Judean exiles is that they be given a new heart and spirit from their Creator. The prophet receives this optimistic message again and again. Although divine punishment is severe, divine rescue will eclipse any tragedy because God will recreate His people.

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for Tuesday, november 7 of 2023 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons about a divine “choosing” of Isaac’s bride:

Our Torah reading for last week (i.e., Vayera) told how God was faithful to Abraham and Sarah by miraculously giving them a son (Isaac) in their old age. Nonetheless, Abraham faced his greatest test of all by being asked to offer up his promised child as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah, the place of the future Temple. On account of his willingness to obey, God promised He would multiply Abraham’s offspring as the stars of heaven and that in his seed (singular) all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

This week’s Torah portion is called Chayei Sarah (חיי שרה), the "life of Sarah," though it begins (paradoxically) with the account of her death, and tells how the first great matriarch of the Jewish people was buried in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron, a burial site which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite (Gen. 23:1-20). Since the account of Sarah’s death is given just after the account of the near-sacrifice of Isaac (i.e., the Akedah), some of the sages link the events together, suggesting that the shock of the near loss of her beloved son at the hand of her husband was just too much for her to bear...

After Sarah was buried in Hebron, Abraham sought a wife for his son by commissioning his faithful servant Eliezer (whom Abraham had once thought would be his heir), to go among his relatives living in Mesopotamia to seek a bride for Isaac. Eliezer (i.e., אֱלִיעֶזֶר, lit., “My God will help”) then set out on the 550 mile journey to Haran (also called the City of Nahor and the place where Abraham’s father died), taking ten camels laden with gifts in search of a suitable woman. In answer to his prayer, as soon as Eliezer reached the city of Nahor he encountered Abraham's grand niece Rebekah drawing water at a well, where she graciously provided water for him and for his ten camels, thereby confirming that she was God's choice for Isaac.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

=======

Gen. 23:1a reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/gen23-1a-jjp.mp3

Chayei Sarah Summary page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/Summaries/Chayei_Sarah/chayei_sarah.html

11.5.23 • Facebook

from yesterday’s email by Israel 365:

When seeking signs of current events in the Bible, it’s important to do so with care and humility. History is littered with exciting yet false interpretations of scripture. Nevertheless, the Bible is not a book of history, but rather an eternal book that speaks to every generation. And so we must, despite the dangers, seek to understand the tumultuous times we are living in through the lens of the Bible.

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

November 7, 2023

The Common Salvation

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation...” (Jude 1:3)

The description of our salvation as “common” does not mean that salvation is “ordinary” or “normal” but rather that salvation is available to anyone who wants it. The term is translated “unclean” several times in passages that speak of items that are accessible to everyone rather than specialized foods or ceremonies available to just a few (Acts 11:8; Romans 14:14; etc.).

Right after Pentecost, the Jerusalem church experienced a quick growth in converts, many of whom were poor and needed practical help. The bond of the new church was so strong that “the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common” (Acts 4:32). That is the sense in which Jude speaks of a “common” salvation.

The salvation is available to all. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16). None are excluded from the possibility of salvation—except those who refuse to believe what God has provided through the substitutionary death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 2:2).

But this salvation is also necessary for all. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It has become popular today to couch the gospel message in moderate terms, making the message appear optional or a “personal” belief system. No, it is the only salvation, even if it is “common.” “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). HMM III

A story of stone by the ICR

[travisjacksonfiles]

Recent revelations of someone’s experience with Travis, also can we please speak truth to power? His speeches are mush mouth word salad bullshit, with chunks stolen from other women/women veterans in the community. It gives you a whippet headache and leaves you asking, “what??”

All of the message compiled after the jump

_________

"Hi

I just wanted to reach out to you after I saw Travis Jackson in a recent article you posted regarding and I feel I need to make you aware about him. As you know, I volunteered as a clinic escort at RHS as well as worked for the clinic for years. Travis is a loyal volunteer. I admired that in him, so early on I invited him to join but he didn't like my brand of non-political activism, so he never participated.

Travis has always had narcissistic tendencies. For example, it's been my experience that Travis will do whatever he can for a photo opportunity or an opportunity to talk with the media. He loves the spotlight, and is a good speaker, however he is tone deaf and has even gone as far as to interrupt interviews with female participants just to ask when the reporter is going to get to him. A few months ago I stopped volunteering when Travis made multiple advances towards me, and continued to pursue me after I flatly told him no, I'm married, and not interested in pursuing anything other than friendship with him. Not going to go into detail, but he was very inappropriate on multiple occasions. It got to the point where I had to start avoiding him altogether. He has also done this with other female clinic workers, patients, and volunteers and even went as far as unwanted physical sexual advances with another one of my colleagues. Once Travis got wise to the fact that many of us were comparing notes about our experiences, and our friendships with him started cooling, he launched a vaguebook character assassination campaign against me proclaiming that I'm a racist. He also uses his mental health issues as reasons to excuse his poor behavior and gain sympathy. He seems to do this with every woman who rejects him and that makes him dangerous, especially in the reproductive movement where people are just looking for any excuse to invalidate our work.

Because Travis has been so steadfast a volunteer (and knows all the trade secrets), his behavior has been largely ignored and he has had zero consequences for his actions and he has been allowed to continue to volunteer. I think they are hoping he'll move on to greener pastures on his own. In my opinion, Travis is a predator. I have staved silent about my experiences with Travis because he is so well thought of in the community and any public words against him would sadly, just be considered another white woman lying about a black man. You are the only person I have discussed this with outside the clinic. I hope this can stay between us. I'm not saying this to hurt Travis in any way, but rather just to make you aware of any possible pitfalls and protect other women."

______

I thank this brave individual for allowing this post to go public. There is strength in numbers. Highlighted are the MANY patterns of disturbing behavior we've seen ad nausea and can be referenced by his many public egotistical musings. Please continue to encourage others that it is now safe to speak up, you now have backup.

Your futile attempts at deflection are no longer working, Travis

Everyone is now watching and putting the pieces together.

If you have your own personal stories you’d like to share along with any proof, please submit them

>h e r e–> https://travisjacksonfiles.tumblr.com/submit

[lazarel-3000]

“Hey, No.”

There was so much from this Se6Ep8 to unwrap.

Laughing at the showrunners cheeky episode title Analyze Piss, because oh I’m gonna! I’m gonna analyze and comment the shit out of this!!

TW: Suicide, mental health, depression

Rick Going to Therapy

@tootiredforaname’s take on the possibility of Rick having turned himself into a fly to observe therapy before going in himself is a lot more benign and plausible than my interpretation lol. Because I thought my man Rick was doing that to eavesdrop to see how he could further manipulate the family by mining their insecurities and using them against them—which to my defense seemed like something he would do! Also I read a fic about that too!

Can I just also say how much I freaking love Dr. Wong?! She is so good, like wow – the way she didn’t play into Rick’s bs *chef’s kiss* She like straight up said No to him AND HE LISTENED!! And before that, she was so calm and non-reactive too, found a way to appeal to Rick in a way that didn’t directly connect with emotion because we all know how much he loves that! “Rick, would you be interested in proving me wrong? [...] Show me data.” She said. And of course it was reverse psychology but it worked! This character is amazing.

Rick pacing back and forth, but actually being OPEN to a session with her, I could not believe my eyes and ears. His roundabout way too of asking for her “expertise” melted my heart. Old Rick would NEVER.

And like it works, right? It works for A While.

The Pitfalls of Change

Like mentioned before I was totally expecting this not work and like can we say that yeah this whole process wasn’t the prettiest to watch but truth be told, change hardly ever is. Someone dragging decades long issues behind them is not going to change their mindset overnight. It’s a process that requires commitment and consistency; it’s awkward, uncomfortable and many times painful. Regression to old habits happens, and that’s okay - this episode did really good in demonstrating that.

Toilet Humor as an Analogy: Pissmaster persona as a vehicle of self-agency

People getting grossed out about the toilet humor is understandable I myself thought it was disgusting but going beyond that. Piss is an analogy, or I want to believe it is, because it’s like Pissmaster, Pissmaster, right? You have this guy whose personal life is so depressing that he adopted an entire persona focused on urine to prove others wrong. But then he fails by getting his ass handed to him by Jerry of all people, yet he gets to live nonetheless. Now here, Eugene Michael Piss, the person suffers an emotional break realizing his Pisspersona could not prove anyone wrong - which is all he ever wanted. So now he has nothing

I like how Rick says this to his daughter: “I can tell you for sure if anything happens to me, it’s 100% not on you, it’s my own choice.”

And it’s true, we all make choices every day. Eugene could have chosen something different for himself. He could have chosen to get help, could have re-connected with his worried family, could have not done That, but he didn’t. He looked for a way out.

So then Rick is placed in a position to do something about it, or do nothing at all. So what does Rick do?

He gets off his ass and starts saving the world, and he does it under the pretense of wanting to protect Eugene’s daughter from the crude reality of her father’s death. And finds it that he actually Likes It and Dr. Wong reservedly approves!

He is taking control in his own way and changing. Remember that recent interview with Justin? Yeah.

The additional point being made too, I like to believe, is that yeah you can be dealt the shittiest hand in life but at the end of the day you yourself choose what you do with it. And if you do good, others are bound to notice. Like the Orb Council or whatever, didn’t care Pissmaster was a literal piss lord! All that they cared about and saw was that he was moving on, he was changing:

“Everyone likes a comeback story...”

Edit: I just rewatched the episode and realized that Rick was not suicidal in the Orphan Island bit, he had planned to autopilot the bomb away before Jerry got there lol

Rick and his inability to make friends

Rick’s inability to make close connections continues to be a theme in the show. After the toilet episode with Tony, I see now how he probably does want to have friends, but is hesitant because it never ever works out. Like every time he’s empathized with someone - Birdperson, Tony and now Pissmaster – something goes terribly horribly wrong. And he’s left alone again. 

I just hope that can change one day, because Rick really needs someone outside his family he can rely on. We all do.

Morty, the secret keeper… not!

Lol I laughed when Morty immediately went to tell on Rick. 

And you know what, I saw some people being angry at Morty for this, but I’m like ‘What did you expect? He’s 14 and has had extensive character growth.’ Also, Rick’s the adult here, let’s never forget that. The reaction has me like ‘???’ 

I really hope ya’ll are super young and don’t know any better. Because if Rick really felt that he needed to tell someone, he could have told Dr. Wong or you know… a friend or even some random at the bar, not his grandkid.

But like let’s take a closer look at this bit. 

Was he self-sabotaging? Like we know he can be pretty self destructive, so I can’t help but wonder if some dark part of him wanted to ruin the good image his family had of him. Like he can’t let them have this, can’t let them be right when he’s always been the one in higher ground. Or maybe part of him feels vulnerable, after being perceived as callous man all this time to then have them suddenly realize that he might have a heart underneath, I can see how that could be a scary thing to someone. Or it could be a combination of both and it’s understandable but c’mon don’t tell your grandkid.

He really needs a friend.

On Closing.

The fact that the episode didn’t end in a happy note and instead had them all arguing in the garage was a good choice imo. Like I keep saying in my ramblings. Change is not perfect. It’s not pretty, and it takes a whole LOT of work to keep it consistent.

Other Comments

I just find it cool that therapy was used a plot point in the story—not many comedy shows can do that without making fun of the concept. I mean the showrunners themselves have also had their own struggles with mental health, so it was nice to see them incorporate it. And like considering the show’s overall tone you would expect it to not be handled well, but it somehow worked! It worked on so many levels!

At the end of the day I hope it encourages those who need it to give therapy a try.

With all that being said:

I loved what we could explore here but it somehow felt off in hindsight. I don’t know it was the dialogue or what, but this episode’s tone felt different. Idk, it’s just my opinion.  

Anyway, whose piss was that anyway?

[momolady]

Cielo the Magical Villain

Another tale of a magical girl and the villains in her life. This one encompasses childhood friends to lovers and now to enemies. There's lots of history to be seen here, lots and lots.

Female Reader x Male Monster (both cis)

-----------

For the past few years you’ve worked as a mentor for up-and-coming magical girls. Having been one yourself in your youth, it’s really the only job you can get. Do you like it? Not really. Does it pay well? Not exactly. But you have a daughter to think about, and Honey takes precedence over your own ego. The girls are fine, but you really wish you could warn them about the pitfalls of life. You’ve been yelled at so many times for trying that you’ve learned to hold your tongue and guide the kids in a way that can help them make the right decisions. It nearly broke you when Honey insisted on joining her friends, even more so when she was granted the destiny once held by your best friend. Honey wouldn’t relent, even knowing all the stories.

Things were going smoothly until a giant ship crashed into the facility. The vessel was large, dark blue and black in color, and resembled a work of stained glass melded together into a sort of odd bubble. Luckily, no one had gotten hurt, and already preparations were being made to evacuate the staff. You, on the other hand, didn’t feel right leaving the children alone with whatever was coming out of that ship, so you stayed inside and headed for the crash site.

The ship had landed in the main hall, coming through the intricate skylight. It sat there still, sometimes hissing steam. Whatever was inside, you weren’t risking the kids getting abducted, or a bomb going off. “Stay back,” you warned some of the kids who had followed you. “I’ll approach first.”

The kids murmured and whispered behind you. Some were ready and eager to go, but even those were grateful to have you there. You had your old transformation brooch, which you hadn’t used in ages, but you knew you still could. Approaching the vessel, you could see the radiance shimmering around it. The blue color fell across your skin, causing a slight tingling sensation. You swallowed and stood as close as you possibly could. “Quite rude of you to crash into our school,” you announced as loudly as possible. “I request you to leave!” You pointed towards the door, although you weren’t sure why.

Light flashed through the blue parts of the ship, and the kids all gasped and hurried behind you. You flinched as well, taking a tiny step back. “If you need help, we are willing to provide it.”

One of the blue slates popped out, slowly pushing forward from within. It slid down into the shape of a ramp, and someone came out of the ship, standing upon the smooth surface.

“He’s tall,” one of the kids whispered behind you.

The figure that came out was indeed remarkably tall. Its head had two long prongs jutting from the temples, and a smooth blue plate over the face. From the back of the head down onto the shoulders and back, large gemstone-like protrusions jutted out. Along the jaw these gemstones formed a sort of jagged, tooth-like beard. “School?” The figure snarled. Eyes glowed white behind the blue plate as he spoke, and his voice was like a deep echo in a cave. “This is my house!”

You swallowed again as your heart pulsed in your throat. “But the Bevilacqua family donated their estate to…”

“Oh, I see,” the gemstone man laughed. “My father saw no hope in me, so he gave up everything upon his death. How very sad. But this is still all mine!”

Piero Bevilacqua was part of a long line of magical girl benefactors, and his family had made it their legacy to support the efforts. Piero’s daughter, Alida, was the first of the name to take up the magical girl mantle, but she died quite young, leading Piero to establish the school as you knew it. Alida had been your best friend, and you had been close to all of her family, including her brother. You had been the last person to see him before he vanished.

“Bevilacqua only had two children,” you said sternly. “Who the hell might you be, and what right do you think you have to this estate?”

The gemstone man jumped from his perch, landing before you and cracking the marble floor. You stumbled, nearly falling from the shockwaves of his landing, and the kids behind you all toppled and quickly scurried further back. You stood there, trying to take in the intruder. He leaned down, his eyes glowing through the blue mask. “I’m one of those children,” he growled.

Your brow pinched. “Cielo?”

He chuckled low and began to reach out, but his hand was knocked aside by a flashing attack. “Honey, no!” You turned to your daughter, who had stood up to defend you.

“Mama, look out!” Honey rushed to defend you again, but you guarded her from the swing of the gemstone behemoth. He struck your back, and your skin began to crackle as blue light formed a shell around you. It sealed you and Honey in together, knocking you both unconscious.

You came to sometime later, your skin still feeling rigid and crackly. Blue dust fell from you as you began to move. “Mama?” Honey called out.

You forced yourself to move, getting off the table you had been laid out on. Honey sat up, reaching out to you, and you took her into your arms. “I’m glad you’re alright,” you told her.

“I didn’t want you getting hurt either,” Honey whimpered. “Where are we?”

Everything was cast in a dull shade of blue. Light shone from outside and reflected around the room in strange patterns. You seemed to be in some sort of exam room. You searched your pockets for your brooch, but all your pockets had been emptied. You didn’t even have your gum. “No need to panic. I’ve seen worse,” you assured your child.

“What was that thing?” Honey asked.

You started looking around the room for any sort of exit. “A jewelry-store nightmare, by the looks of him.”

Honey slipped down from the table and came towards you. “I don’t have my brooch anymore.”

“Neither do I, so we have to play this smart. Remember what I’ve taught you.” You turned and gave her a reassuring smile. “We’re a team, right?”

Honey brightened and smiled. “Right. I’ll go to the other side and look for a door.”

“Good girl.” You sighed heavily once her back was turned. This was really your worst case scenario. You started searching for an exit, but all the facets of the blue glass didn’t seem to have a beginning or end.

“It’s like we’re trapped inside a huge sapphire,” Honey said.

Just before you had been captured, the monster said something that made you think he was actually someone else. But who? Just as you were about to step aside, part of the wall vanished and opened into a hallway, admitting a small crowd of what you could only describe as gemstone goblins. They made screeching guttural noises at you and grabbed at you, slapping your legs and forcing you towards the door.

“Mama!” Honey yelped.

“Stay calm!” you shouted back at her. “I’ll come back for you!” The door closed again, reappearing and sealing the room shut. The gemstone goblins ushered you down the hallway, cackling and jabbing at you to make you go. Another facet opened up and they pushed you inside, making you trip over a rug and fall to the floor.

“Motherfucker,” you growled as you tried to stand back up. You pushed yourself up off the floor and looked around the room. It was round inside, and a column in the center was filled with white flickering light. Surrounding it were jagged dark blue stones sculpted into the shape of chairs. Hanging from the ceiling were screens showing footage from outside, charts, and other readouts you weren’t sure of. You stood up and saw the gemstone monster on the other side.

“Fucker,” you repeated.

The monster chuckled. “You stand against me. You place yourself in front of what is mine, and dare to say what you think is right.”

“I didn’t say anything even close to that. I just wanted to know what was happening.” You stood glaring through the flickering white light. “I knew the family who owned that estate. That’s all.”

“Past tense?” he scoffed. “So they’re all gone.”

You clenched and unclenched your first. “Piero died several years ago.”

“And he just gave everything away,” the monster scoffed. “What a joke.”

“His children were gone. The school and the magical children were all he had,” you insisted. “What was he supposed to do? Let it rot while waiting for an heir?”

The monster held up the two brooches, yours and Honey’s, and your knuckles popped with a particularly hard squeeze. “And what exactly happened to his heirs?” he sneered.

“Alida died.” The words tasted bitter in your mouth. “And Cielo vanished. No one knew what happened to him.”

The monster started laughing. “Did anyone even try to find him?”

“I did.”

The monster stood from his seat. “Obviously you didn’t try hard enough.”

Your jaw hurt from tension. You’d had enough. “Something happened that caused some problems. I don’t owe you an explanation! So unless you actually are Cielo, I’m done discussing the matter! What the fuck is going on?” you screamed.

Cielo removed the blue visor from his face. His skin was blue like the sapphires, his eyes swallowed in a white glow. The sapphires grew along his skin, around his mouth, up the sides of his cheek and temples, into the horns jutting from his forehead. “Broken hearts mend in strange ways.”

You glared at him. “If I get my brooch back, I’m going to fucking kill you for that answer alone!”

“Which is why I kept it.” He waved the two brooches in his large palm. “Now who the hell thinks they can replace my sister? Did my father do this?”

“We’re not talking about that girl. We’re talking about you, Cielo! Where have you been? Why did you run away?”

Cielo tucked the brooches into a pocket, then put on the mask again. “I figured you would have found me. Then it could have just been the two of us.”

“I couldn’t look for you anymore. I told you, something happened, and I…”

Cielo threw his head back and laughed. “Excuses! You loved the comfort my family afforded. After Alida was gone, I bet my father just lavished you with affection. He ignored me!”

“Your father became a recluse! He let Molina handle everything after that. He never left his observatory!”

Cielo scoffed and lifted his huge hand. “And yet you remained.”

“I left, too! But I came back for a job. I’m a mentor to the new generation and I…” You stopped and held up your hands. “I don’t owe you an explanation. You abandoned me.”

“I wanted you to follow.”

“How the fuck was I supposed to get that, Cielo? Some stupid ring on the nightstand?”

“It wasn’t stupid. It was an engagement ring!”

“Stupid!” you yelled back.

Gemstones came up from the floor, capturing your ankles and legs and growing up along your sides until your arms were held back. Cielo came forward to stand over you. “I’m taking back what is mine, so you’d best find that stupid ring and give it back to me. This estate, and everything in it, will all be returned to me.”

You glared up at him. “You’ve been gone for thirteen years! You forfeited it. You have no right to come back in and expect it. I’ll fight you for it. All I ask is that you let the girl go.”

Cielo shook his head. “I don’t know who that girl is, or what makes her think she can replace Alida. But she’s staying here, because what she has is mine.”

“Let her go,” you insisted.

Cielo reached out, taking your face in his hands. “You used to be mine once,” he murmured. “Remember?”

“I owned you, and you know it,” you sneered.

He brushed the hair from your face, then pressed his sharp sapphire claws into your temple. “I’m not a weak little boy anymore.”

“Yes, you are. Go ahead, pull whatever magical trigger you’ve got under that hard shell. Underneath it you’re still nougat.”

The gems holding you broke apart and you fell back onto the floor. The gemstone goblins grabbed you by your ankles and pulled you to the door. “I’m not done with you!” you screamed at Cielo. “You’ll have to face me soon!”

You were taken back to the room where Honey was, and she jumped up from the table to meet you as the goblins dragged you in. You huffed as they dropped you, and she approached to help you up. “Are you okay? What happened?”

You sat up and rubbed your face down your hands. “A thirteen-year-old mistake.”

Honey pointed at herself. “Me?”

“No, not you! You’re not a mistake,” you huffed, then pulled her in for a hug. You rubbed her back and gave a tight squeeze. “My mistake.”

“So what happened?”

“That creature is Cielo Bevilacqua,” you grumbled. “He’s come back to take what he believes is his right.”

“So, the school,” Honey nodded. “Well, maybe he can have it back. Maybe if we talk to him, he’ll let us keep running the school too. I mean, he looks really big, but he doesn’t need that entire mansion, right?”

“It’s not that simple,” you huffed. “He doesn’t want to share. He’s going to take everything he believes is his. It doesn’t matter .”

Honey’s eyes widened and she nodded. “Oh, so he’s, like, really angry.”

You scratched hard at your scalp. “Yup.”

“Maybe I could talk to him then. I mean, after all, his sister and I are…”

You shook your head. “No, Honey. That’s part of the problem too. He thinks you’re a usurper or something. He’s probably more angry at you than anyone.”

“But his sister…”

The look you gave her stopped her. “I’m not sure what to do. But I do know he will not touch you. If I could just get my brooch back…”

Honey patted your back. “You knew Cielo, right? You don’t really talk much about him, but you do have lots of old pictures of him back home.”

Your brow pinched as you looked at her up and down. “Honey, how do you know about those pictures?”

“I like to snoop,” Honey said with no guilt. “But you did know him. I mean, you had to! You and Alida were best friends. You did everything together. What was Cielo like back then? Maybe you could still reach him.”

The screaming match you had moments earlier would say otherwise. “It’s been thirteen years since I last saw him. And obviously, we’ve both changed in that time. I don’t think I know him anymore.”

“You always told me that everyone has a version of the story, and their version is worth hearing just as much as the story most listened to. You should listen to his side to help you understand him. Like with Raya Vortex!”

“Raya Vortex was trying to save her people. I don’t think Cielo…: You stopped and sighed. “Maybe you’re right. If he wants the estate back, maybe there’s a reason. I just got mad.”

Honey squeezed your hand tight. “Try harder, Mama. If he left after Alida died, maybe that has something to do with it.”

You hugged her again. “You really are good at this.”

Sometime later, the goblins came and fetched you and Honey. They led you to a room with a bed and a column of that warm white light, and then you were separated from Honey and led to Cielo. He sat at the head of a long, narrow table. You took a seat near him, and a gemstone goblin served you a drink. “Have you calmed down?” he asked.

“Have you?” You took the drink and sipped. It was ice-cold water. “Because if even one of us is heated, we’re never going to be able to talk.”

Cielo shrugged. “I can keep my cool.”

“Then I will try, too.” You watched him toying with food on his plate. A plate was brought to you, but you also pushed the morsels around. “Why did you leave?”

“I was sad. Angry,” he murmured. “I didn’t know what to do. Alida was the glue that held my family together. Without her it fell apart.”

“That’s why you needed to stay. Your father needed you, and you leaving it was what broke him.”

“He had a funny way of showing it,” Cileo sneered.

You nodded. “Yeah, he did. But he was grieving too. I was grieving. We all were.” You laid your fork down. “Why not tell me though? Why make it so vague and strange?”

“What made you stop looking for me? What could be so important that you would just forget me?”

“I didn’t forget you,” you insisted. “I came down with something.”

Cielo scoffed. “A cold, really?”

You picked the fork up again to distract yourself. “Not a cold.”

Cielo snarled under his breath as he leaned back in his chair. He touched his hand to his face, slightly moving the mask aside. You could see the tight line of his mouth and the small mole that had always been in the corner. You used to plant kisses there, calling it his target. “My father should have known I was alive.”

“He did. But you were gone. What could he have done?” You frowned at Cielo, but let it fade away into a sympathetic look. “You didn’t know he was gone, did you?”

“Eat your food,” he grumbled.

“I can’t believe I didn’t get it. You reacted the same way when Alida died. You just raged and…” You reached over, touching his hand on the table, which he yanked back. “I’m so sorry, Cielo.”

Cielo pushed your hand away. “I don’t need your sympathy. There’s nothing here to mourn. Nothing to feel bad about. I worked so hard all these years and finally found a way to save her, and…”

You looked at him in consternation. “Alida?”

“But that girl…” he started to fume. “She ruined it! The brooch is bonded to another person now. It won’t work! I can’t bring Alida back! There’s not even anyone to bring her back for.” He slammed his fists down onto the table. “That girl is going to pay! I can’t bring Alida back anymore! The method won’t work if that brooch is bonded to another!”

“You will not touch that girl!” you snapped at him. “She has done nothing wrong, the brooch chose her!”

Cielo’s eyes glowed bright white under the mask. He raised his fists from the table and lifted them into the air. “If she didn’t exist, Alida could!”

“Then blame yourself!” you barked at him. “She exists because of you!”

Cielo scoffed and lowered his arms down. “What sort of hippie bullshit is that supposed to mean?”

You clenched your jaw, then swallowed hard and took a deep breath. “I couldn’t look for you because I became pregnant. The night you left was also the night you knocked me up.”

Cielo was very still and very quiet.

“I call her Honey, but her real name is Alida. You’re her father.” You looked at him, then quickly looked away. “So. If you’re looking to blame someone, blame your dick. Or the broken condom. I don’t know…” You held your face in your hands.

“That’s… weird,” Cielo muttered. “So… wait. Then why wasn’t the estate left to her, or even just you?”

“Because I turned it away. Your father gave me money, and left Honey a trust fund, but she won’t be able to access it until she’s twenty-one. But I didn’t want that house. It was too much for me.”

Cielo sank in his chair and took off the mask. “I don’t know what to do. This is a wrench. This is…” His face contorted. He set the mask upon the table, then glared at the state of his hand. “How can I face her like this?”

You stood from your chair and approached him. “Now, what the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“I turned myself into a monster so I could bring my sister back. I mean… look at me!” His eyes flashed bright white.

You placed your hand on his shoulder. “You always said you wished you could transform like me and Alida.”

“I can’t exactly turn back, though,” he grumbled.

You touched his face, remembering how he used to bemoan his facial hair and how fast it grew. Sapphires now replaced that dark hair, but his skin felt the same, if a bit colder. “What did you do, Cielo?”

Cielo refused to look at you. His eyes remained downcast, focused on his hand. He was still and lost in thought, trying to piece together the story in a way he could tell. “It doesn’t matter anymore what I did, or why I did it. The reason is gone now. My purpose is shattered. That…” His voice stuck in his throat. “That girl has taken Alida’s place. The brooch won’t work anymore. I made my trade for that power, and it’s with me forever.”

“At least you look pretty.”

His eyes moved towards you at last, and a sardonic glare set his brows and made his gaze sharp. You smirked at him. “I know there is a lot going on in your head right now. But could it be possible to move your ship out of the house?”

Cielo grumbled under his breath. “It is my home.”

“It’s home to a bunch of kids too, and you’re kind of ruining their day.” You stepped back and walked away from the table. “I’m going to go and check on Honey. I’ve been here for long enough.”

Cielo sighed. “Does she look like Alida?” he asked.

Standing in the doorway as it opened up, you shook your head at him. “No. She looks like you.” You went back down the hall, kicking at a few of the sapphire goblins who tried to grab your ankles.

/////

It had been ages since you first set foot into the Bevilacqua Mansion. You were ten and terrified, having just obtained your powers, and were provided housing at the mansion while you fulfilled your duties as a magical girl. You and Alida were best friends instantly, but her older brother was bratty, mean, and jealous. He picked on you during that first year, but after that he started working on machines and equipment that could be used to help you and Alida. Cielo was a genius, able to create weapons and robots at a young age. His skill and talent only grew, and as he used his inventions to aid you and the other magical girls, he became less jealous and more intent on doing good.

It was no surprise that you and Cielo grew close as you became older. He was your second kiss - the first one turned out to be an enemy. Cielo was there, and he comforted and took care of you. Eventually you realized your feelings for him were more than familial. He was your second kiss, but your first real love.

Honey took after him, intelligent and steadfast, with his thick dark hair and serious gaze. It was remarkable how much she turned out to be like him despite having never met him. These thoughts plagued you in the days after Cielo’s ship crashed into the Bevilacqua Mansion.

The ship remained in the great hall, as Cielo refused to move. He still wanted to claim his birthright and familial home, and you figured he would stay stubborn for a long time. Cielo had left his ship and commandeered one of the east dorms, which you could remember, had once been his bedchamber. You were the only person he would speak to at length.

“You need to see what this school does,” you pointed out to him one day. “I don’t like the idea of magical kids going out there to fight, but this school does teach them how to be safe. It’s upholding your family’s legacy.”

Cielo scoffed. He’d moved most of the contents of the room around to suit his wants. “My father would also want me to have a home.”

You rolled your eyes. “You’re a grown-ass man. I think your father would expect you to act like one and be able to take care of yourself. Chop off a few of those sapphires growing where your brain should be, and sell them to buy yourself another home!”

“These aren’t just gemstones, but my actual body! Do you know how badly that would hurt?” he snapped back.

One of the sapphire goblins came running into the room carrying a lamp. “Then sell one of those creepy things,” you scoffed.

Cielo shot you a dirty look. “How dare you?”

You shrugged. “Surely you have the capabilities to make something for yourself here. The board has already said they’d give you some of the property back, but they need the house for the school. Where else would they go?”

“Sell something and buy another house,” he said briskly.

You rubbed the side of your nose and into the corner of your eye. With a heavy sigh, you said, “Some of these kids have nowhere to go, Cielo. Honey and I will have nowhere to go.”

Cielo still hadn’t faced Honey, let alone acknowledged the tension growing around her. “Honey is a Bevilacqua. She can stay here.”

“You’ve never even talked to her about it. I keep wanting to, but you…”

“You’ve hidden it all this time,” Cielo snapped. “Why?”

You frowned. “Because I was scared. I didn’t want Honey growing up thinking she was doomed like everyone else in your family. I’m still scared, but now it’s for different reasons!”

Cielo scoffed. “So you admit you’re a coward?”

You scowled and stomped over towards him. “I raised her alone. I was nineteen when she was born and I had no one! You tell me what the right thing to do is, Cielo! Tell me, when you weren’t there!”

“You had the chance to look…”

You slapped him. “Wrong fucking answer!” Some of the gems on his face had slashed your hand, and you were bleeding. “You’re really starting to annoy me.” You left him, going down the hall to where the healing station was, and cleaned your hand and put a bandage around it. Outside the window, you could see the kids playing in the yard. They were stressed about the situation, but it wasn’t going to get them down. They’d faced obstacles bigger than this before.

That evening, you took Honey aside to talk to her. It was a conversation you had been waiting to give her once she was older, but you no longer had time on your side. Besides, the big secret was squatting in the house. “There’s something I need to tell you,” you said calmly. “Something about your lineage and your family.”

Honey pointed to the ship jutting out of the wall. “He’s my dad, right?”

Your heart stopped. “How did you…”

“Mom. I’m not dumb. I sort of figured out a while ago that Cielo was my father. Who else would it have been? I just wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but I knew that I saw my face in the picture of him.”

You sighed. Of course, she was a lot like him after all. She was far too smart for your well being. “Yes, Cielo Bevilacqua is your father. I thought he was long gone, but that’s turned out to not be the case.”

“Can I talk to him?” Honey asked. “I’ve wanted to for a while, I just didn’t wanna cause you any more trouble during this whole mess.”

You smiled and pulled her into a tight hug. “You’re such a wonderful child.”

“Mom, that hurts!”

You placed your hands on her shoulders. “You’re a great kid, and he needs to see that. But he’s also an obstinate brat right now. It might take time for him to get used to the idea that he has a kid.”

“I just want to talk to him,” Honey said. “He doesn’t have to act like a dad or anything. I just want to try and get the house back.”

“He’s not listening to anyone. He’s not giving this place up.”

Honey smirked. “But maybe he’ll listen to me.”

She certainly was his kid. “You’re confident, and that’s a plus. But what do you plan on telling him that could possibly change his mind?”

“Alida told me to.”

Ice jolted through your veins. “What are you talking about?”

“I see her in my dreams,” Honey replied. “Ever since I received her brooch, sometimes she visits me in my dreams. She told me not to tell you, because she didn’t want you to worry that she wasn’t resting.”

Tears came into your eyes, burning as that began to flow. “She… she what?”

Honey smiled. “She told me I should talk to Cielo after finding a certain book in the library. Unfortunately, his ship is blocking off the library and none of the windows open. Alida said if I gave it to Cielo it would help him realize he can’t take over the school.”

You sniffled and rubbed your eyes. “What’s the book?”

“She said it belonged to her and Cielo as kids, big and red and with the picture of a lion on the front.”

You sighed. “Well, that book wouldn’t be in the library. It would be in Mr. Bevilacqua’s office now.

Honey’s eyes widened. “Really?”

You nodded. “Anything that belonged to Alida and Cielo was put in there. Come on, we’ll go look.”

You went to the tower where the office was. It was locked most of the time, but when magical kids were first brought to the school they were initiated in that office. You and Honey searched through the shelves, but eventually Honey found it in the desk. “This is the one she showed me!” Honey looked so excited. “Can I go talk to him right now?”

You weren’t sure. In fact, you really did feel like a coward. “I suppose we could try. Maybe he’ll listen.”

You took Honey to Cielo’s room, finding him slouched back in a chair as the fireplace glowed. His sapphire goblins scattered and hid under the two beds that were pushed together. Honey went ahead of you to stand beside him. He turned and looked, expecting you, but when he realized it was Honey he nearly lurched from his gemstones. “It’s nice to meet you,” Honey started off. “Can we talk?”

Cielo looked back at you, then down at Honey. “I suppose.”

Honey handed him the book. “Alida said you’d need this.”

The room was silent, aside from the sapphire goblins snarling away under the bed. Cielo held the book, which was dwarfed in his big hands. He and Honey talked for a long time. You kept your distance, giving them space but wanting so badly to know.

Soon, Honey grew tired, so she said goodnight. “I’ll come to bed later,” you told her. “I want to speak to him, too.”

“He’ll be okay,” Honey said sleepily.

You went into the room and sat down where Honey had been. Cielo was looking through the book, sapphires dripping from his eyes and clattering as they hit the floor.

“So?”

Cielo closed the book and sighed. “She’s mine, alright.” He wiped at his face, scattering more sapphires along the ground. The goblins emerged and gathered them, carting them back under the bed.

“And?”

“It’s amazing,” he murmured. “I’m not exactly sure what to think.” He smoothed his palm over the book. “I just know that the world is so much bigger now.”

“You can be part of it. You can take up a big place in her world. You just need to do what’s best for her.” You touched his hand. “Because nothing else can matter except for her.”

Cielo held your hand, slowly closing his fingers around your palm. “I need help.”

“I can give it, you just have to listen to me. Got it?”

Cielo smiled, but he never agreed. The next day he moved the ship from the house and placed it further away on the property. After cleaning and assessing the damage, restorations took place. Meanwhile, the kids and staff were staying at a hotel for the time being.

Honey was spending time with Cielo, often staying on his ship. The two of them were becoming close, but so were you and Cielo. When Honey was asleep, you and Cielo often sat together and played catch-up, reminiscing about old times. You shared Honey’s baby pictures with him. He told stories about his quest to revive his sister.

A holiday weekend was approaching, and the kids were going on a trip, which would end right as the renovations were complete. You decided to stay behind to get things in order. Cielo and his goblins even helped out with preparing for the school’s reopening. “There is still one thing you haven’t told me,” Cielo said.

You looked up from sweeping and set the broom aside. “And what could that possibly be?” You pushed your hair out of your face.

Cielo’s eyes became soft. “In all this time, have you ever fallen in love again?”

“I was too busy raising Honey. I’ve flirted, maybe dated. But I’ve never fallen in love with anyone. Not like with you anyway. And you?”

Cielo shook his head. “I never gave myself the chance. I was too wrapped up in my own emotions.” He stepped towards you, taking your hair between his fingers. “But I find myself remembering what those were like, and I realize that I am feeling them all again.”

You watched his hand, a bit nervous to meet his eyes. “That’s natural, isn’t it? To feel those old flames?” You glanced up into his eyes, seeing a smile hidden there. “I don’t think you’re the only one, so…” Your voice drifted off.

“I’m not quite the man I was back then,” Cielo chuckled.

“You were barely a man then. I was barely a woman.” You touched his hand. “So much has changed.”

“I’ve wanted to kiss you since I saw you again.” He leaned in close. “Would it be too terrible if we tried again?”

Your cheeks burned like they did when you were young. “I suppose not.”

His fingers went under your chin. They were cold and hard, but they made your stomach flutter regardless. His lips were soft, and his breath warm. You deepened the kiss, standing on your toes to press closer. The gems on his jawline did hurt a little bit. You pulled back, touching your face to make sure you weren’t bleeding.

“Perhaps I should shave.” Cielo rubbed his jaw.

“That’s not exactly what I’m thinking about,” you confessed. You looked up at him with a coy smile. “Both of our bodies have changed considerably.”

His eyes widened. “Oh.”

You rub your hands down your body. “I’m not the svelte young thing I was last time you saw me.”

“And I am, well…” Cielo huffed.

You kissed him softly again then the two of you went back to his ship. There, you got comfortable and undressed for him, showing him the slight sag of your breasts, the softness of your belly and the stretch marks that Honey had left behind. “You’re still beautiful.” Cielo’s hands gently touched you, cupping and kneading into the flesh.

You kissed him, wanting to press close, but he kept you at arm’s length. He stood and took a deep breath. “I’m not what I once was. I’m not even sure it’s something you would want.” He dropped a layer of armor, revealing an expanse of flesh from his pecs down to his navel. Inside his chest was a blue glow that pulsed with his heart. Small gemstones grew where chest hair would be, creating a cluster that trailed down to his belly. You stretched out your palm, touching the flesh, which felt just as hard as the rest of him.

Cielo’s expression was soft and concerned as your hand went lower. He stopped you just before you went too far. “It’s not so bad,” you assured him.

“Wait.” Cielo took a step back, out of your reach. He removed his belt and covering. There was a mound between his legs that didn’t look strange at first, just another sapphire on his body. But as you watched it began to open up and split into four segments which folded back, opening to reveal a hole. From within the hole, a fluid oozed down between the open gems and splashed onto the floor. Something fleshy that resembled a penis began to emerge.

“That certainly is different.” You smiled up at him. “But it’s not horrible.”

Cielo huffed, looking slightly ashamed. “It’s not exactly attractive.”

“What dick is?” you chuckled.

He stepped close enough for you to touch again, and let you kiss and lick his chest and belly. He moaned softly and cupped his hand around the back of your head. You looked down at his groin to his member, which was long and pale blue like his skin, with dark veins curled all around it. Cielo pushed you away, moving you so you wouldn't stare at it. He kissed you, raising your hands and pinning them down. “Easy,” you whimpered.

“Sorry.” Cielo breathed. He released your hands, then gently stroked your face. Below him, you moved so your legs were open. You felt the shaft rub against your thigh, and then your belly. It felt warm and slick against you. “Is it too weird?”

You shook your head and put your arms around his neck. “Not really.”

“Am I too heavy?”

You pressed your fingertip to his lips and shushed him, then slowly stroked up his face, smoothing your fingers along his skin. “Go slowly,” you murmured. “Take your time. We don’t have to speed through anything.” You adjusted your hips and put a leg around his. “Touch. Feel. It’s been a long time for both of us.”

A nervous smile crossed Cielo’s face. “I remember how you felt back then. So soft, so warm. Sometimes it was the only warm thought I had.”

You kissed him softly, gently running your hand down his body. You touched the base of his shaft and he quivered. “It’s still warm.” You eased him into place, feeling him at your folds. The narrow tip went into place, but it felt like it ballooned as it went inside.

“It is,” Cielo groaned.

You moaned as he went deeper, and the slick, narrow shaft seemed to expand once in place. You bit your lip, hoping it didn’t stretch anymore. “There. We’re together again.” You smiled up at him, gently squeezing to feel him. “Cielo, I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too,” he sniffled. “All these wasted years.” His hips pulsed, pushing deeper inside you.

You whimpered, he was so deep and you were unprepared. “Easy, now.”

He pulled back, definitely feeling thicker than before. “Sorry. I’ll calm down.” He slipped back inside slowly. “I thought it’d feel strange with this body. But it all feels like back then.”

You sighed and stretched a little. “For you, maybe.”

A worried expression crossed Cielo’s face. “It’s not bad,” you reassured him. “Just different.” You ran your hands along his body and planted soft kisses on his face. “You’re so much bigger than you were. Everywhere.”

He grunted in your ear. “Don’t tease.��

“I’m not. I’m being serious.” You rested back against the pillows and raised your hips, feeling all of him inside you. “It’s different, I won’t lie. But it feels good too.”

Cielo gazed down upon you, a drop of drool glistening on his lip. He met your hips, gemstones touching flesh, and then he pulled back. You looked down, seeing his length reappear, and in one long thrust it disappeared back inside you. You grunted with the force and blushed with embarrassment.

“Did that feel good?”

You looked back up at him. “It knocked some cobwebs loose.”

Cielo smiled and leaned down to kiss you. He rolled his hips, grinding upwards as he pulled out, then pushed back in with several sharp thrusts. You were starting to feel hotter, more sensitive. The more he moved, you could feel it deeper, penetrating more than just your loins. “You’re getting so hot,” he breathed into your ear. “It’s melting me.” He gave you more of those short, fast thrusts.

You gasped and bit your lip, unable to speak when he did this. “You’re doing it.”

Cielo chuckled. “There’s something you’re doing that’s driving me crazy.” He pulled himself out and leaned down. He kissed your inner thighs and mound, his lips finding wet purchase upon the folds. His long tongue slipped inside, and he moaned against you, sounding viciously hungry.

“Wait… That’s too-” you moaned. You threw your head back as his fingers began rubbing your clit. He pressed and squeezed, causing you to lose all vocal function outside of grunting and gasping. His tongue swirled inside, coaxing a lava-like rush.

As your orgasm subsided, he pulled back, holding you open with his fingers to look at you. He licked and kissed the opening, then sat back up. His lips were glossy and there was a drip hanging on his sapphire ‘beard’. “I can’t hold back anymore,” Cielo rasped. “I’m going to give you everything.” He grabbed you by the waist and held you up off the bed, both hands big enough to support you comfortably. Cielo lowered you until he was snugly back inside you, then leaned in, kissing you hungrily as you took more. He thrust his hips, going deep before lifting you up. Then brought you back down and kissed you again.

You cried out, clutching his hands around you. You placed your feet on his hips for balance, coaxing him to go at a pace that felt good. Your body trembled, aching the closer it came to the final bang. You tried to remind yourself to breathe, but it was so hard. His pleasure rippled through your body, causing shocks. You could feel it quickening, coming closer and closer.

When the second orgasm broke, he kept moving. It didn’t matter how much you moaned or shivered, he wasn’t done. He lay you back down upon the bed, kissing you and thrusting deep within. He groaned, and his fingers fisted into the bed so hard the sheets ripped. He breathed harshly, grunting as he pulled from you leaving glossy streaks of semen across your belly and thighs. His jaw unlocked, opening up as he panted

“Yes,” you whispered. “Come.”

He dropped slightly, bracing himself just above you with his elbows. He looked down at your body, seeing the slick mess he made. His tongue darted over your nipple, your belly. He breathed and curled up there. “Cielo,” you beckoned. “Look at me.”

He raised his eyes to you, looking much like he did in his youth. You smiled and coaxed him closer, kissing him tenderly. You lay together for a long time, somewhere between sleep and consciousness. It was quiet, both of you unsure what to say and to go about saying it.

“You okay?” you asked.

“Oh, I'm fine,” Cielo chuckled. “I should ask you the same thing.”

You smiled. “Well, I’m fine too .I just wanted to make sure.” You sat up, stretched and touched your body, the shimmering patches of his fluids. “Why’d you pull out?”

“I’m not about to make a mistake again,” he huffed. “I was careless last time.”

“Honey isn’t a mistake. It happened. That’s all.” You touched his face, smoothing your fingers along his cheek. “I’m grateful for her, and I can’t do anything but thank you for that. But thank you for playing it safe this time.”

“I miss her. It’s only been a day, and I miss her,” he whispered. “Is that normal? Is that supposed to happen?”

You leaned down to kiss him, and sat on his hips as you looked down at him. “You’re stuck now, that’s all I can tell you. I can’t wait for you to experience the rest.”

Cielo chuckled and sat up, moving you into his lap. He placed his hands around your hips, then pressed his forehead against yours. “Thank you for bringing her into the world. I’m so sorry I just wasn’t in it.”

“You’ll make up for it,” you said gently. “I know you will.”

[extasiswings]

Something compulsory heterosexuality/hetero-romamticism something about how the most genuine bit of intimacy between ana and eddie in the whole episode was the 😉🤫 reference to her undressing him (one might assume for sex) and how much of his relationship with Shannon when she returned started with the physical relationship even as the emotional relationship struggled.

((maybe that's nothing BUT it feels like something ??))

It’s funny because I caught the reference but like…the man never touches her of his own free will and the exactly one time he’s kissed her it was the same way he kissed his abuela so you will convince me they’re having sex…never. Also frankly the way she was touching him in that suit (mere feet away from his child in a dressing room) gave me big “I’m shooting my shot now because I never get to” vibes.

Frankly, I do think Eddie struggles with intimacy and vulnerability and absolutely he and Shannon defaulted to falling into bed a lot because sex was easier than trying to fix the emotional shitstorm between them. But where I think there’s a difference is that the writers were pretty clear that Eddie and Shannon did love each other and once upon a time their relationship was closer and deeper and better than it was by the time we met her in canon after they had been separated for over two years. Like, Eddie and Shannon, even if I think their relationship was irreparably broken and that they weren’t good together, had a foundation that they were, in their own way, trying to get back to or repair through physical intimacy. They had broken trust, hurt feelings, guilt, shame, and yes, love, even if it was messy and complicated and painful. They weren’t trying to manufacture feelings through sex, they were (badly, misguidedly) trying to reconnect in a way that might avoid the pitfalls of the cracks in their relationship. And when he introduced her to Christopher again I think he still wasn’t ready to really trust her but slowly built up to a place of forgiveness and healing and was ready to commit 100% right up until she threw that commitment back in his face by asking for a divorce (“I forgave her for everything and it wasn’t enough, I wasn’t enough”).

Eddie and Ana never built a foundation, at least not one we saw. Maybe I’m wrong and they are having sex because he’s trying to manufacture intimacy in that way instead of opening up to her, but I think I have a hard time seeing him being willing to trust her with his body, especially after the shooting. With her it’s always felt like the house of cards he built was faking intimacy by involving her with Christopher while keeping himself relatively separate but unlike with Shannon there’s no background, there’s no “I love you but I need time to trust you again,” there’s nothing he can do to have a real relationship with her until he fully commits himself and is willing to be vulnerable and actually trust her and I don’t see that ever happening.

Basically…this is one of the things I mean when I say that comphet can be complicated, especially for bisexuals, because I think both of Eddie’s relationships have shown elements of comphet but I don’t think they’re the same. IMO the writers were clear that he genuinely loved and was sexually attracted to Shannon despite the ways they had hurt each other and the comphet pressure came in with, essentially, the implication that he had an obligation to try and fix things with her because she was his wife and Christopher’s mother even if, at the start, he knew he still loved her but didn’t know if they would ever be able to forgive each other or if he wanted to try and forgive her. Again, I repeat, up to the point that the writers decide to retcon their relationship, he genuinely loved and was sexually attracted to Shannon. With Ana it’s much more straightforward and stereotypical comphet in that, okay, she’s pretty, Christopher seems to like her, she ticks all the boxes on the checklist for what he should want and should be looking for in a partner so he’s trying to be with her even if the most passionate thing he can say about her or them is that she’s “nice” and it’s “easy.” They never established what he liked about her that made him want to ask her out, so it came off as very “I need to move on from Shannon, here’s someone who is pretty and nice and not necessarily a total stranger, and she already knows my son, might as well.” That’s it. There’s nothing else. And he has clearly finally reached a point where he’s realizing that the perfect, nice, easy checklist isn’t actually what he wants.

[thewolfisawake]

{The Strings that Bind Us}

Part 1/???

Alright, time to do as I do whenever I go into any series...Make an AU. Because it really be like that. Starting in with my favorite group, just cause this particular series has an org that can work like the game’s. So yeah, Scarlet Nexus AU baby. This ended up taking more time than expected so I’m splitting stuff up again. Mentions for @arcxnumvitae​

An OSF Major. His ability is Disruption. His weapon are a pair of handguns. Head of the aptly named Crowe platoon, Crowe doesn’t really care about ranking with himself or anyone he works with. It can be both freeing and nuisance but Crowe takes the peace where he can get it. He is known as a very thorough commander, thinking of patrols and missions with the utmost care. He has a great survival rate because of this and, unfortunate to him, this stat makes it where he is guaranteed to receive cadets every class. While he may groan about it, Crowe does have a care for those under his command and keeps his stat for a reason. As for his ability, it is properly Nerve Disruption, where his ability affects the nerve signaling. But plainly, he confuses enemies to where they attack themselves or their allies. within the SAS, a comrade uses his ability to inflict DoT and leave enemies more vulnerable to attacks. His ability can bypass most gimmick enemies.

Crowe graduated in the 542nd class along with Emil and they are rather good friends but do not see each other as often because of their duties. He was  scouted at around 14 and wasn’t happy to hear of the same eventually happening to his sister. While he keeps his head down, he perceives much and collects it all. He originally was under the Chares platoon when he first started but both because of the man’s ambition and Crowe’s lack thereof, the platoon was removed and Crowe transferred elsewhere. He is aware there is a storm brewing within the OSF and he keeps his finger on the pulse. He has discovered all the ‘potential players and pieces’ but can only wait until they fall where they may.

An OSF Lientenant Colonel. His ability is cryokinesis. His weapon is a sword. While Emil personally didn’t have any interest climbing the ranks in OSF, he did come from a family where a lot of them have served. So it seemed inevitable...when he got to that point. But that will come. In his present, he is a rather well-loved member and does hold that awe due to being a Septentrion, a collection of the strongest of the OSF. But he finds it all rather embarrassing and doesn’t really bring it up with those under his command. He knows about the seediness of the OSF and rather keep those he knows from their pitfalls.

It started that Emil didn’t have any ability. He was considered a dud, which is not common. Initially, this didn’t bother Emil since a) he was a child and b) he grew up in a small area outside the likes of New Himuka and Seiran, where there wasn’t an emphasis on powers at all. He was happy to live with his parents in his little town.

Of course all this changed with an Other infestation. There was always the chance but the shelters were supposed to be enough. However there was a Major Other within these ranks and managed to push through. This prompted the action of his mother, a former OSF operative, to take up arms in defense of the people. She was successful but died in the process, which was very traumatizing for Emil since he does not have Vision and thus saw it uncensored. The funeral of his mother was a changing point in his life since it was when he learned of his mother’s past life and met his grandparents for the first time. 

They knew of Emil but hadn’t gotten to know that he was a dud because his parents--smartly--moved away beforehand. Henrik wasn’t keen on Emil getting close to them, especially knowing their treatment of their own daughter, but he really couldn’t say no to Emil who was curious. Looking back he would consider himself naive and not accustomed to the ‘mind games’ people like his grandparents would play. They preyed on his curiosity about the side he never knew and his guilt and grief over his mother as to convince him to come with them to New Himuka. And it was clear when he got there, he had no powers. 

And boy did that start the problems. He couldn’t join the OSF without powers and they wouldn’t dare to tout him as their grandkid either. But having connections isn’t without perks...as dubious as they were. Emil was put into an experimental program to essentially force a psionic ability, or die trying. By luck, Emil did develop an ability and such a strong one that he was scouted out of this program. Of course this entire ordeal both left him scars and complex feelings about family. He learned how to play the game, even if he hates that he did. 

His cryokinesis is pretty straight forward. He can manifest ice using the moisture in the atmosphere. Well, technically from anywhere but it’s just the most common for him. When his ability is used in the SAS, it infuses the user’s attacks with ice, which freezes enemies. With further connection with Emil, this can lead to even being able to make ice spikes within attacks.

[f1]

BEYOND THE GRID: Jan Magnussen on breaking Sennas records reaching F1 and what hed do differently

Jan Magnussen’s short-lived stint in F1 was something of an puzzle at the time. But now, almost 25 years on from his final race in the sport – which yielded his only points finish – the Dane tells the Beyond The Grid podcastwhy things didn’t click for him in Grand Prix racing, and how he’s using the lessons he learned to help son Kevin succeed today... Jan’s single-seater career started like a dream with victory in the prestigious Formula Ford Festival in 1992, a taster of British F3 the following year that yielded a podium in only his second race, then a full-time assault for 1993 that saw him rack up 14 wins from 18 races – eclipsing Ayrton Senna’s record of 12 in the process. Surely, the next step would be F1 stardom? Not quite, as it transpired, with Jan telling podcast host Tom Clarkson that something was missing from his apprenticeship: “I won a lot, but it didn’t really teach me how to fight for it. All the success in F3 went against me in the following years”. READ MORE: Kevin Magnussen and father Jan to compete in Gulf 12 Hours endurance race After a solid stand-in performance for unwell McLaren driver Mika Hakkinen at the 1995 Pacific Grand Prix, Jan secured his first full-time shot at F1 for the 1997 season, joining Jackie Stewart’s newly-launched operation a few years on from that dominant campaign with son Paul’s F3 outfit. What came next was a run of 23 races in midfield machinery that featured no fewer than 15 retirements, with Jan’s P6 finish at the 1998 Canadian Grand Prix marking his only point in his final F1 outing – Stewart opting to bring in Jos Verstappen as a replacement midway through the campaign. Candidly admitting that he did not fully understand the “enormity of the task” that faced him in F1, reaching the grid is nonetheless something Jan still feels “super proud of”, along with the successful career he has forged in endurance racing – which includes four class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now, Jan is watching his son, Kevin, plot his own path to success in F1 via an impressive return with Haas for 2022. While Kevin has “done it his way”, Jan says he is more than happy to “watch from the side, giving him the advice I can give him” to avoid the pitfalls he once experienced. READ MORE: Magnussen says it’s been a ‘massive privilege’ to make F1 comeback as sitting on the sidelines ‘hurt’ Listen to a wide-ranging and fascinating Beyond The Grid interview with Jan Magnussen in the player above or head here to catch it on your preferred platform. And to listen to the stories of other F1 personalities, click here to explore the full back catalogue of Beyond The Grid, featuring a host of the sport’s stars from past and present. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

[morgana-ren]

if you'd be so inclined my dear, what are your thoughts on how Tomura's character has developed over the series' timeline? -☼

So, I think Horikoshi did an excellent job at character development- especially considering that he's a villain (not the focal point of the series) and he really didn't have to do that. He easily could have kept Tomura an impudent little man-child, but he didn't, and I truly appreciate that.

So, in season one, we get his debut as USJ, and it became quickly apparent that he was... disorganized. Intelligent and dangerous, clearly, but not quite there yet. He essentially threw money at a pack of sell-sword villains, had a basic plan for how he wanted things to go, and relied on his Nomu to do the majority of his work for him. He didn't even consider variables and other things he couldn't have foreseen- he took Master at his word and just went for it.

He makes a multitude of mistakes during this attack, and it's part of why he fails so hard. Underestimates the kids simply because they're young, not factoring in that these are to be the nations top heroes. Even young, each one is sporting a power that puts them at the top of the class and above the rest of the nation. He basically goes "Fuck it, just scatter them and have these no-name villains kill them. No way that could go wrong." not considering that these children have been learning from the best of the best and are clearly already intelligent of their own accord.

He doesn't take into account that these heroes actually care for these kids and that feeling responsible for them works in their favor as opposed to being a detriment. They fight harder and take more abuse to keep them protected (Aizawa getting absolutely demolished but still persisting to defend the children even as he bleeds to death with a broken body.)

The intel wasn't wrong, per se, but he took it at face value, not even bothering to consider that All Might would push far past his limit to keep these kids safe. For someone as obsessed with felling All Might, he certainly didn't really know a thing about him. His genuine goodness and character would not allow him to fail when their lives were on the line. And then there's the matter of Midoriya, and while Tomura had no way of knowing that he's inherited All Might's power, he should have been able to account for wild cards like that from valiant children dedicated to heroism.

More under the cut because I’m just rambling.

I think this defeat humbles him. For most of his life, things have gone his way because of who is backing him and because he is extremely dangerous with a powerful quirk- this teaches him that raw strength and basic strategy won't be enough.

He watches Stain take the country by storm, and he can't understand it. Doesn't get what the big deal is- he believes he and Stain are mostly cut from the same cloth because of their penchant for violence and murdering heroes, totally blind to the convictions behind Stain's actions. He's incapable of thinking outside of his own view points, and it cripples him. These are his first few steps outside of his own comfort zone and where he begins to grow.

He's forced to consider not what he wants, but why. He resists this every step of the way, but ultimately realizes that paying off little bastard villains to work in his name isn't enough. He needs players under his command that will fight for more than money- and sell swords are loyal to nothing but that. He needs to find a conviction (even as he ends up stealing the mask of one and using it as a facade at first) that others can relate to and be passionate about.

So he does.

He steals Stain's ideology for his own and uses it to recruit some of his top members- even if he is a right little bastard about it at first. While he throws a tizzy fit because they aren't "perfect" (his standards are very high despite the fact that he's arguably not a very effective leader) but eventually ends up utilizing them regardless.

It's around here that he starts sharpening his instincts and learns what it is to be a true leader. He learns he cannot casually throw around his pawns because ultimately, he cannot win this war by himself. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' and while he isn't as enchanted with Stain's entire gimmick as his comrades are, he still wields it effectively.

He's still learning, however, as we learn when he takes Bakugo. Had he gone to the effort to get to know a single thing about him, he would have learned very quickly that trying to recruit him would come up completely pointless. He just saw untamed anger and unrestrained violence bordering on unhinged and thought "Ah yes, he's powerful and very much like me- he'll do nicely" and put together a whole plan to kidnap him. I think the vanguard's success in capturing him shows Tomura just how useful it is to have clever little birds under your command, and that sticks with him.

Losing his Master, like AFO says, forces him to become his own man. He loses the cushy abode he'd had for most of his life, loses many of the benefits afforded to him by being AFO's protege. He and his ragtag team of villains live in squalor, almost entirely destitute, and are forced to survive- but they stay loyal, and that means something to him. I think it’s around here where he actually begins to care about them. 

We see how he reacts to Magne’s death. I don’t think for one second he aided in destroying Overhaul simply because he was a threat. If that was the case, he would have stopped once he was arrested. He risks everything to get vengeance. Cuts his limbs off and renders him completely helpless as payment for what he did to Compress and to avenge Magne’s wrongful death. 

Over the course of everything, he’s become more patient, more cunning, more dangerous. He’s learning quickly from his mistakes, how to command his ranks in a respectful, effective way, and how to keep them safe. He learns their strengths and weaknesses, and while he’s still a bit thorny, it’s very apparent he does care for them. He’s on his own now, and knows he needs greater power, greater numbers to achieve his goals. He is ruthlessly ambitious, willing to endure ungodly amounts of pain to meet his ends. 

So now we have this season (which I haven’t actually watched, as I’m just waiting for disappointment because I fucking know Bones won’t do him justice) and he’s seeking out both Gigantomachia, a former ally, and the PLF. Both things that could be of great value to him. His leadership skills and ability to command will be put to the test, but so will his endurance, his willpower, and everything else. This is the beginning of him as a truly devastating threat. 

He’s growing into the villain I think he deserves to be. He’s facing down the very bones that comprise him and learning why he is the way he is. What his convictions really are and how far he’s willing to go to achieve his goals. HIs past, his life as he knows it, what needs to be done to put a pretty little ribbon on everything. He is, in a way, shedding like a snake- ridding himself of weaknesses, growing into his strengths, and evolving into a more capable predator. 

If you ask me, realistically, I think Shigaraki would actually win. When it’s all said and done, I think his arc is far more compelling than any of the heroes or their children. I think he has more drive, more wit, more raw power and more reasons to keep fighting. A lot of the kids, while cute and the main characters, are quite hollow. But over the course of all these seasons, we get to watch Tomura’s metamorphosis and his evolution into a purer, undiluted evil. He transforms into something truly sinister- a literal manifestation of all of the flaws and pitfalls of society and hero culture as it exists. He is undeniable proof of the toxicity and that the way things are cannot be allowed to stand, and the fact that so many people resonate with him and follow him loyally should be the ultimate clue-in. 

I think if the heroes weren’t blinded, they would look at Shigaraki and his league and consider it. Wonder if, just for a moment, there was something there that they should pay attention to. A cry that they should hear rather than be willing deaf to. But they don’t. 

Gran Torino is a prime example of this. So are all the other so called ‘heroes’. Calling him evil. Underestimating him. Considering him someone who just woke up one day and decided ‘I don’t like this so I’m going to kill a lot of people’. You’d think that they’d recognize that a drive like his does not come from nothing. If they sat down, shut the fuck up and listened for ten seconds, maybe they wouldn’t be dying by the dozens. 

I’m not saying that they should allow him to continue to trample the world and kill at will. But what I am saying is that part of how they’re fighting him and how they’re viewing this in terms of black and white and good versus evil is exactly the fucking problem, and it’s that kind of bullshit that birthed the villain we know as Tomura Shigaraki to begin with. 

[doortotomorrow]

Mirrors and Cautionary Tales : John Murphy’s Journey to Redemption

When it comes to John Murphy, plenty of people have wondered why he spent a significant portion of his screen time interacting with the seasonal villains, and I think I’ve come up with a reason why this feels like such a steady trend in his overall story arc. It all comes down to how these villains represented Murphy’s internal struggles with himself as he grew and matured into the man we now know him as today. 

Let’s take this back to the very first season of The 100 where we first encounter Murphy as he touches down onto Earth and the kind of person he was back then. As beloved a character as he is now, I can’t mince words or sugarcoat things. He was the villain for the delinquents in the first season. So, what kind of villain was he?

He wanted power and authority by any means necessary - ( “Well, I think the princess is dead... but I know the king's about to die, so who's really gonna lead these people, huh? Me, that's who, and, yeah, maybe I'll have to kill your grounder-pounding little sister.” - We are Grounders I )

He was downright wrathful - ( his willingness to kill Jasper, holding someone over a fire, ganging up on Wells to remove his bracelet, almost killing Raven )

He was selfish and all about his own self preservation- ( making everyone else do the work around the delinquent camp while Bellamy is gone, wasting resources to blow a hole in the drop ship to make his getaway )

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With those things out of the way, let’s jot down all the villains Murphy interacted with.

Charles Pike

Ontari kom Azgeda

Paxton McCreary

Josephine Lightbourne 

Sheidheda

We’ll start with John Murphy’s origin point and his experience under his abusive Earth skills teacher, Charles Pike. While Murphy was largely absent from witnessing much of what Pike did to become Chancellor of Arkadia, he did see the end result of how that worked out for him. Desperate, in a jail cell, and then later on, stabbed to death in an act of revenge for the horrific things he did while in a position of power he practically stole. 

On the Grounder side, he had the unfortunate luck of being trapped in Polis with Ontari kom Azgeda. Initially, he went along with the whole false Commander thing, masquerading as her Fleimkepa and even gave her advice on how to maintain her power...but then he started becoming unnerved by her violent paranoia, ultimately getting traumatized by her when she viciously abused him.

Murphy’s front row seat to watching two people’s quests for power and authority left him with this valuable lesson : being power hungry will turn you in a paranoid, unhinged person with a list of enemies a mile long. You will never, ever have a moment’s peace. You will always be looking over your shoulder wondering if this is the day you get a knife in the back.

After the third season, Murphy’s desire for power and authority completely disappears. It’s not something he’s interested in anymore because he’s been shown that it’s simply not worth it. 

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Enter season five and its main villain : Paxton McCreary. What does McCreary like to do for fun? Start riots, blow things up, fire off big guns, and getting high off of combat. Oh, and he’s always, always emotionally detached and angry. His default setting is rage. It’s sounding kind of familiar, isn’t it? 

The fifth season is where Murphy’s at his most chaotic and destructive(both internally and externally). He’s blowing things up, playing with huge guns, causing riots, jumping into any battle he can for the adrenaline rush, pushing everyone away, breaking up with Emori until finally, it all comes crashing down on him. All of this chaotic behavior leads to him getting shot in the Rover, nearly losing his life in the process.

On the other side of the war, McCreary’s wrath caused untold levels of destruction. It was McCreary’s need for destruction that lead to Earth being completely fried, it was McCreary’s wrath that resulted in the loss of Monty and Harper, taking away two members of Murphy’s family from him. 

All of this unquantifiable destruction and death was a giant wake up call for Murphy. McCreary leaves him with this lesson: if you let rage and chaos possess you, you will end up losing everything. 

That’s why, when the sixth season rolls around, Murphy’s lust for battle was greatly diminished. 

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Speaking of the sixth season, it’s time to revisit Sanctum and get ourselves reacquainted with Josephine Lightbourne. 

When Murphy arrived in Sanctum, his heart was heavy, clearly in a state of mourning over those he lost when he woke up and realized Monty and Harper were gone. Not only that, but yet again, he had suffered another traumatic near death experience during Sanctum’s Red Sun event. His first day out of his long hibernation was hardly fun at all, experiencing nightmares about going to hell when he fell into a coma and waking up screaming over what he saw.

So, in a moment of vulnerability and wanting to avoid going to hell, Murphy became more and more tempted with the concept of the Prime’s method of immortality. The ultimate survivor’s move : not dying at all. It’s at this point where he met Josie and saw first hand what living forever does to a person. At first, he made a deal with her to get his hands on some empty mind drives(getting Emori in on the deal as well), but the longer he lingered in her company, the more immortality started losing its luster. When it was revealed Clarke was still alive, Murphy joined the others in helping to get Josie out of her head.

Immortality had turned Josie into a sociopathic monster, utterly incapable of respecting other people’s feelings and wishes, only focusing on her own wants and needs for the sake of preserving herself. This wasn’t who Murphy wanted/needed to be anymore, having fallen in love with Emori, and creating a family alongside her which Murphy valued too much to lose. After all, what was the point of living forever if he lost his family?

That’s why, when the mind drives come up again in the seventh season, they’re now a symbol of finite time in Murphy’s story. Just a few more hours with the woman he loved as humanity itself faced its final hours.

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With all of these cautionary tales Murphy’s seen play out throughout the seasons, avoiding all of those pitfalls the previous villains fell in, we’re introduced to his perfect foil : Sheidheda, the dark commander. 

Sheidheda was everything Murphy could have become if he never went on his journey of redemption, falling in love, and finding a family to fight for. Sheidheda craved power and desired nothing more than to see everyone kneeling at his feet. Through the Flame, he had lived forever, waiting for his moment of opportunity to arrive where he could rise again. If something got in his way, he’d burn it all down, creating chaos and bloodshed in his wake. He’s all of the previous villains combined into one package.

We were in desperate need of a hero...and we got one.

When Murphy and Sheidheda had their first confrontation, Murphy was deep into hero mode. He helped Emori calm down a rioting crowd, saved Sanctum from a nuclear meltdown, and rescued a group of frightened children. He kept on saying he was tired of playing the hero, but let’s be honest here, he wore the title well. Sheidheda was flawlessly utilized to showcase how far Murphy had come as a character, becoming a man we know his father would be proud of. 

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There you have it! My long, long winded way of breaking down why Murphy spent so much time interacting with the villains. It was their way of marking down each stage of Murphy’s overall arc. It was very much intentional. 

[wonda-cat]

Some Thoughts on Tommy’s most recent stream (4/29)

(For the record, this isn’t going to be like my other formal analyses. I’m genuinely just ranting here, possibly unedited too. I’m only referring to the characters, unless stated otherwise.

Also obvious warning, this will be fairly negative/critical of the DSMP’s writing, so scroll past if that might bother you. I tend to criticize the media I love, so this is just par for the course in my case.)

Let’s start off with—

The Things I Liked

All of the comedy at the beginning of the stream was wonderful. Ghostbur was incredibly endearing and entertaining as usual, as well as the moments between bench trio. Tommy’s change of plans made sense and the entire journey through the prison was tense and fun to watch. As well as the moment Tommy got caught (it was inevitable.) 

It goes without stating, but cc!Wilbur and cc!Tommy’s acting was wonderful—they knocked it out of the park. I liked the little moments of Tommy calming Ghostbur down as Sam screamed at him. I also loved Wilbur's speech about his time in the afterlife when bench trio found him. 

As well as the moment with Wilbur admiring the sky and calling it ‘his sunrise.’ I’m also glad that the afterlife was explained to be caused by the Revival Book’s existence and not some general eternal torture every character will be sentenced to regardless of anything they did in life. 

But, sadly, that’s about where I stop and have to go into what I didn’t like as much, which is—

Everything Else

I’ll be talking about my major gripes with this particular stream in later bullet points down the line, but for now I’ll bring up the little things that annoyed me. This is all basically nit-picking and isn’t as awful or badly written as some of the others I’ll be discussing later. 

First off, Why is Ranboo There? In the stream before this one, Tommy had Tubbo promise to not tell anyone else about their plan. Did he just decide to tell Ranboo anyway? Why? What was the point of asking him to keep it secret if it didn’t matter? 

Adding to this, Tubbo and Ranboo were rather unnecessary for any of the other scenes that took place. They didn’t have any meaningful conversations with Tommy besides Ranboo asking why he was dreading Wilbur’s revival so much, as well as Wilbur’s comments to Tubbo about him being president. But other than that they have little to no notable speaking lines. 

They don’t Do Anything? Sure, they’re nice to have present so Tommy can vent to someone else and find comfort but, in the end, Ranboo was oddly angry and accusatory with Tommy and Tubbo was practically absent from the scene. The impression I got from Tommy and Tubbo’s conversation in the previous stream implied that Tubbo would be serving a larger role as a distraction, but I guess they changed gears or something? 

Then we have Ghostbur’s involvement, which, yeah, makes sense. Tommy, Tubbo, and Ranboo are not allowed inside the prison, so it’s best to find someone else who can get in without suspicion. But my first assumption, upon seeing Ghostbur with the group was, “Oh, he’s gonna go in there and Dream’s gonna use him to revive Wilbur. That’s the only reason why Ghostbur is here and not anyone else, who would also be willing to kill Dream. It’s not like they’re in short supply right now.”

And I ended up being right, which only frustrated me more. I wanted something unexpected. Something new. Something interesting. Yet, I got the most predictable outcome instead—Tommy fails, Wilbur is revived. 

Next, we have another big serving of ‘Tommy gets blamed for things he has no control over’ part 241. I am so, so sick of characters getting unreasonably mad at and blaming Tommy for anything and everything. It’s not new, it’s not interesting, it’s not fun. It’s just miserable. 

It is,, awful. And it’s highkey frustrating. I refuse to sit through another arc of Tommy being endlessly hurt and blamed for stuff he didn’t do or cannot control. Pick a new event in the plot. 

Try something out of left field. Do something, anything different to this. I’m begging you. 

Now, we get into the major writing pitfalls and shortcomings. Starting with—

We Need to Talk About Sam

I have no idea what is going on with Sam’s character right now. It is so genuinely confusing. I have no clue why Sam reacted the way he did to Tommy because it just doesn’t make any sense. Sam’s entire inner conflict is about him trying to cultivate and protect his humanity and morality while upkeeping a strict, closed-off demeanor.

He follows the rules, even if it hurts the people he loves. Even if these codes force him into a position to be unethical. He feels it is his responsibility should anything go wrong or if Dream escapes, because it puts others in danger.

His strict approach got Tommy killed, and it also took a life and an arm from Ponk. Both of these people are precious to him. So why on earth would he threaten to kill Tommy when, in their last interaction, he was glad he was alive—after he promised to never let something like that happen again?

He respected Tommy’s wishes to stay away from him, and rather politely too. Why would he then threaten to kill him just after weeks of saying Tommy’s death was his biggest regret? That’s not even touching on Sam saying, “This is why I let you die,” as well as blaming Tommy for something that was directly a result of his own refusal to act.

Why didn’t he have Ghostbur also hitch a ride on the same platform with Tommy? Why did he even let Ghostbur into the prison in the first place if he:

A.) Told Ranboo he wasn’t going to let anyone in there after what happened to Tommy.

B.) Also wouldn’t let people in lest they find out about Quackity’s plan.

C.) Couldn’t even kill Ghostbur because he’s incorporeal and thus cannot fully upkeep the contracts he is signing.

There’s also the issue of Sam breaking the rules he abides by when he decided to not kill Tommy after he snuck into the prison, despite it being in the contract. Why is it different now? He went against his own protocol but was also following it by refusing to let Ghostbur come back to the other platform?

Why does Sam refuse to listen to Tommy? Their argument is mind-numbingly ridiculous. Sam refuses to hurt Dream, despite him only being alive because Sam claimed Tommy wanted him alive.

But now Tommy is there, begging Sam to let him kill Dream, and Sam just goes, “No. We’re not killing Dream.” Fucking why??? Sam! You said you wanted to kill Dream at least four times by now! Maybe more!

You were on your way to do it with Quackity and the only thing that stopped you was your promise to Tommy. But now Tommy’s here, telling you to kill Dream and you fucking won’t???? I am absolutely baffled.

No matter how you spin it, it makes no fucking sense. However, if I tried,,, I could possibly come up with a reason or two. Maybe Dream is blackmailing him. Maybe Quackity is forcing him to keep Dream alive until he can get the info he needs (even though,,, why would he trust Quackity over Tommy, who he’s outwardly stated he trusts just as much, if not more?)

It feels like these plots are dancing around each other, trying to keep up this faux sense of conflict that doesn’t exist. But, here’s the thing, contrived conflict is never compelling. I can’t overstate it enough.

Dream’s Plan is Complete Nonsense

The method to revive Wilbur makes Dream seem even more short-sighted than I remember commenting on, during the stream where Tommy was brought back to life. He told Tommy that his plan was to test the book to see if it worked (which, okay fine, I can buy this.) But then he says all along he was planning to revive Wilbur in order to break out of prison, which is ???? This is baffling if he needed Ghostbur in order to pull this off. 

Which,,, I can’t even begin to explain how ridiculous it is that Dream’s entire plan hitched on not only the book working on people to begin with (which he tested on Tommy,,, for some reason, even though he would’ve lost his ‘favorite toy’ if he fucked it up. Which,, why even take that chance in the first place? there are other visitors he could’ve tried this with, surely. Like Sapnap and Bad,,) and it also relied on Ghostbur voluntarily going into the prison just to visit Dream?? And if he didn’t need Ghostbur after all, then why didn’t he bring Wilbur back weeks ago? 

That’s not even getting into the issue of Dream assuming that Wilbur, once brought back, would: 

A.) Want to be alive in the first place.

B.) Actually be willing to help Dream, instead of telling him to fuck off.

C.) Be even slightly capable of helping him at all when he has no allies, no PVP skill, no weapons, no armor, and no knowledge of the prison or its innerworkings. 

Why are the current DSMP writers so committed to making me think Dream is a fucking idiot? I don’t enjoy this. I used to like his character and think he was smart. Stop. 

ALSO, why did Tommy or Tubbo or Ranboo not think of the possibility that Ghostbur could very well be necessary to revive Wilbur? Why did that not cross any of their minds? It was the first thing I thought of when I saw him.

Another big thing that irks me is Tommy and Sam saying they saw Dream physically holding the Revival Book, which,,, how? Why? Dream said in previous streams that he burned the book and that was entirely the thing that kept him from being killed outright. If there was a book still in existence, did he hide it somehow? 

How did Quackity not find it? Why did Sam not take it from him when he was first arrested?? What? 

Also how the fuck did Dream kill a ghost?? They’re incorporeal? How does he not need the body to perform necromancy? That seems almost redundant. 

Also it took a matter of seconds to perform? It took,,, ?? nothing but words and sheer willpower to bring someone back to life? Why does it seem so easy? My mans just,, uses his vibes to bring people back from the dead??? 

Unless the book has instructions regarding that or has a proportional price in order to use, then I’d be more forgiving. But I’m guessing it doesn’t have too steep a cost if Dream could offer Tommy immortality despite that. But I’m sure we’ll get more information on this once Quackity (inevitably) gets his hands on the book. Hopefully… 

Which brings me to my last point—

Wilbur’s Revival (Derogatory)

Since the Revival Book was introduced, I have been actively dreading Wilbur being revived. It is the most predictable, low-hanging fruit of a plotline I could possibly conceive of. I understand that he’s a fan-favorite with a large audience (I love Wilbur more than you’d expect. cc!Wilbur is actually the reason I got into the DSMP in the first place), but there are other characters who could be developed more—utilized more. 

Unpopular opinion, I know, but I am just so incredibly unenthused about this plot development. In fact, I’d almost go so far as to say hate it. 

The Revival Book in and of itself is my least favorite thing the DSMP has ever introduced. It is a lack of consequences simplified. It’s also a lack of commitment to those mortal consequences. 

It is a ‘get out of jail free’ card for when they kill off a character and don’t want to deal with the hole that character will leave behind. Or a way to work around the reason they shouldn’t kill Dream on the spot. 

With Wilbur back again, I no longer feel compelled by his arc the way I used to. There is nothing to really leave a lasting impact anymore. Of course, there was a cater where L’Manburg once stood, but that was dug even deeper later on. You can’t make the death of a friend, of a loved one, worse than it is. It is death. 

The thing I found extremely interesting about Wilbur’s death is the way the other characters portrayed loss. It has consistently been the thing that was most comforting to me, oddly enough. When people die, there will always be loose ends. 

There will be holes left behind and things left unsaid. An unfulfilled promise. A forgotten relationship. A hollow memory.

What I always found compelling was the way Tommy and Fundy and Niki took this mutual loss and had to live with it. How they had to come to terms with the fact that Wilbur was gone and he wasn’t coming back. That they had to make peace with his memory, his legacy, and their connection to him. 

That they’d miss him and love him or hate him and try to forget him. It is a tragedy that someone like Wilbur wanted to die for so long, and in the end, he did. Because in reality, the people you love will die. 

There may be someone in your life that leaves you behind and all you’re left with is the broken pieces. And it is how these characters move on that brings me bittersweet company as someone who’s lost a lot of people. There is nothing more irritating than a story going back on its establishments—to have their cake and eat it too. 

All I want is the bare minimum—a story with narrative stakes and consequences.

The only way I could ever see myself enjoying this plot development is if Wilbur has a redemption arc and attempts to make amends with Tommy, Fundy, Niki, and Eret. OR if he aids in Dream’s downfall in some way and enjoys the simple realities of life and wants to live for the sake of living. I’d find that at least new and somewhat interesting. 

But if he’s just here to be a moustache toiling villain (or somehow worse than after his previous downward spiral), when the market is already so deeply oversaturated with antagonists, then I will probably drop the series altogether. 

Hopefully it doesn’t come to that because I love the Dream SMP and I want to keep loving it for as long as I can. 

I will hold onto more reasons to stay, so long as they keep giving them to me.

[alrighty-anubis]

I would never be angry at you (Anakin & Obi-Wan)

2No Warnings Apply 

During a game of twenty questions Anakin finds out that his master isn't the perfect Jedi. This sparks his confession about the Tusken Raiders and his marriage to Padme.

(Mentioned Obi-Wan X Cody)

Find it on AO3

Obi-Wan entered their shared quarters and flopped onto his bunk, all the grace of a Jedi Master replaced with exhaustion.

“Bad day?” Anakin asked, words mumbled by his mouth stuffed full with sweets.

“Yes.”

This was an under-exaggeration, Anakin thought, if the man hadn’t told him off for talking with food in his mouth.

Obi-Wan pulled his outer-robes and boots off before reaching under his bed.

“What is that?”

“Wine.”

“That does not look like wine, Master-”

“It's from Bail. Old, strong and illegal in 12 systems.”

“Master,” Anakin drawled out, knowing his tolerance was nothing compared to the other’s and if Obi-Wan admitted it was strong…

Obi-Wan sighed and reached behind the drawers, retrieving another (Anakin-friendly) bottle.

“How did you know that was there?”

“I’m your Master, you can’t hide things from me.”

“Why didn’t you confiscate it, then?” Anakin asked, confused by his rule-following Master allowing Anakin to stash alcohol - he’d been using that space since he was 15.

“You’re an adult now, Anakin. And quite frankly I was just glad you had friends.”

“Hey-” _________

Anakin and Obi-Wan were leaning against each other on his bunk.

“I know,” Anakin smirked, “How about we play a game.”

“Oh?” Obi-Wan looked down at Anakin.

“Twenty questions.”

Obi-Wan let out a breath laugh of amusement. “Okay, then. When was the last time you tested Ahsoka on her cultural studies?”

Anakin scowled.

“Well, you’re lucky I’ve been taking over the theory instruction of our Padawan.”

“My Padawan.”

“When she’s misbehaving.”

“Hey! Anyway, I have a question. Would you rather kiss Windu or Plo Koon?”

“It's Master’s Windu and Koon” Obi-Wan corrected.

“So you don’t mind speculating about which one you’d kiss, but the lack of ‘Master’ is where you draw the line?”

“I would kiss Plo, he is a dear friend of mine and quite frankly not as scary.”

Anakin laughed, “You’re afraid of Windu?”

“Like you aren’t," Obi-Wan feigned thinking before planting a smirk on his face, "Okay, what is your Grievous tactic?”

“How do you know that?” Anakin burst out.

“I just have a second sense when it comes to your stupidity,”

“I swear if Rex told you-”

“Wrong trooper.”

“Wrong trooper! Which other ones have you been hanging out with? Wait. Are you stealing my men?”

Obi-Wan just smiled.

“Fine. Ahsoka sits on my shoulders and we wield four sabers like him.”

“By the force, Anakin -”

“We spin them manically and-”

“Wait. Where did you get the fourth lightsaber?” Obi-Wan interrupted

Anakin grew quiet, his voice reluctant, “Sometimes Cody doesn’t return it to you immediately, and we both know he’s weak to Ahsoka’s tooka eyes, like most of the men,” Anakin trailed off. Just as Obi-Wan was going to scald him he carried on, “What would you do if you weren’t a Jedi?”

Obi-Wan decided to let go of his line of questioning in hopes of avoiding going grey early. “I don’t know - I’d want to help people. I could say something rather Jedi-like, such as work the land. But I’m afraid I was put off that when I was sent to the Agricorps. Realistically, I’d probably still be a general as I am now - just without a lightsaber. As much as I hate war and the bloodshed that comes with it - I am rather good at it. As much as I try to be the perfect Jedi, my skills lay in an area which juxtaposes that. It is ironic, I suppose, that I was never meant to be a Jedi Knight, I become one anyway, and then my speciality recognised by the Council is the furthest thing from peace.”

“What?”

Obi-Wan’s eyes narrowed on his glass and his signature resonated with shame, “I had planned on never telling you that. But it just felt like you needed to know. I’m sorry if I’ve shattered your image of me.”

Anakin’s face lit up with relief, “You’re not perfect”, he breathed out.

“No,” Obi-Wan’s low chuckle was exasperated and self loathing, “No, Anakin, I’ve never been perfect.”

“Why didn’t you want to tell me?”

“Because I was ashamed of my past, still am. I was a run-of-the-mill youngling: too much anger and too much pride. No Masters wanted me and I was sent to the Agricorps.”

“What do you mean no Master wanted you? You and Qui-Gon were so close!”

Obi-Wan looked down and moved away from Anakin. “We weren’t as close as you think, these memories are from when you were young and naïve. We were too different, we fought and I always knew he didn’t want me. You saw how quickly he threw me away for you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You were the best thing to come from him,” Obi-Wan’s voice was steeped in a resentment that Anakin had never thought possible.

“You were angry. As a youngling”

“Very much so. Anger and attachment were always my biggest pitfalls. I’ve worked hard on them, but I’m afraid my issues with attachments have grown rather than disappeared.”

Anakin smiled at that, taking Obi-Wan’s hand, “You know, I never realised how much like me you were. Nearly as much as a disappointment to the Jedi.”

Obi-Wan laughed, body shaking as a smile replaced his reminiscent scowl, “Well, only one of us has left the order.”

“You’re joking”

“No, Melida/Daan. Qui-Gon wouldn’t stay to help the children in the war. I did.”

“Your experience being a General before this?”

“Yes.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, comfortable in each other's presence. But as Anakin stewed in the other’s words his anxiety leaked into the force.

“This could have really helped me when I was a Padawan.”

“I know. I’m sorry. It was selfish to want to maintain the way you saw me - the perfect Jedi.”

“I always compared myself to you, looked up to you, I resented you for a bit because of it.”

“I know. And I knew at the time. I was not the Master you needed.”

“You were the best Master you could be,”

Obi-Wan laughed self-deprecatingly.

“No, Master, I mean it. You weren’t the problem. I was,” Anakin paused and wringed his hands as he considered his next words, “My anger was-is a problem. I have done things I regret and that you would hate me for.”

Obi-Wan’s shock at that statement had him sitting straight and placing a hand on Anakin’s cheek, “No, Anakin, I could never hate you, never, you’re my Padawan. I love you.”

Anakin recoiled from the touch, not believing he deserved his Master’s love at this moment. A man so ashamed of leaving the Jedi to save children in a way zone as a Padawan. Anakin had much worse things to be ashamed of. Things he didn’t think Obi-Wan could ever even imagine himself doing. Tears gathered in his eyes as he looked down at his lap through his lashes.

“I killed the Tusken Raiders. They hurt my mother - she’s dead - and I killed them all,” the tears began streaming down his cheeks.

“Oh, oh, Anakin, dearest” Obi-Wan whispered.

Anakin couldn’t stand that tone. He stood up and began passing. Eyes puffy and hands shaking, he began to shout, “I cut them down and felt nothing. The children - they screamed for their mothers - like I had - and I cut them down like animals. I hated them. And the dark, the dark it curled around me - it was like someone was choking me and cutting me off from my body and my emotions like I was a puppet killing them all.”

He grabbed his hair tightly in his hands and pulled, sinking down to the ground, “I killed them, I killed them,” it was as if the fog had cleared and Anakin was realising this for the first time.

“Hey,” Obi-Wan stepped forward and gently grasped his Padawan’s wrists, trying to untangle his hair from his unyielding grip, “Anakin, stop. You’re hurting yourself.”

“I hurt them.”

“Yes, you did. And you can’t change that,” Obi-Wan took a calming breath and repressed his shock and upset, his Padawan looked so small and this darkness wasn’t all his own.

“Anakin, what you did was wrong and entrenched in darkness. But you are light. This action hasn’t changed that. And I do not think it happened without influence. But Anakin, so many Jedi struggle with the dark. We have the power to enact our own judgement and no one can stop us. That is why we need to stop ourselves. And this time you didn’t. You can’t bring back the Tuskens, but you can let go of your anger and make sure this won't happen again.”

“I don’t know how to let it go.”

“Oh, Anakin-”

“It is so deep inside me, tangled with all the light,” Anakin let Obi-Wan take his hands away from his hair, staring far into his eyes, “Master, help.”

“I wish I had seen this sooner. Anakin, tomorrow morning we will start. We will meditate together and I can guide you.”

“Please, I’m sorry.”

“I know, dear one,” Obi-Wan collected Anakin into his arms.

“Will you tell the council?”

“No, at least not for now.”

“They will kick me out and then I’ll have to leave you and Ahsoka and Rex and-”

“Anakin, if they expelled you we would all follow.”

“Oh. Why won’t you tell them?”

“I don’t trust them to judge the situation fairly, there is something not quite right in the council. They’re stuck in ways from times which have long passed. And Quinlan and I may be doing some under the radar investigating that which is influencing and amplifying your darkness may help.”

“You’re both taking a mission they’ve denied.”

“They can’t deny that they don’t know about.”

Anakin smiled for a moment in the comfortable silence before sombering again. “I thought you’d be angry at me,” Anakin whispered.

“No,” sadness filled Obi-Wan as he gently took Anakin’s face into his hands and placed a kiss on his forehead, “No, my Padawan, I could never be angry at you.”

He pulled a blanket to him with the force and wrapped them in it, “I wish you had told me, but I wasn’t the most approachable Master. I put walls between us unintentionally, to protect myself I guess, and you. I didn’t want you to grow attached. I knew I was and wanted to spare you the judgement and the pain. I wasn’t a good role model so part of me felt better when you despised me in your late teens. I’m truly sorry I wasn’t a better Master, Anakin. But know now, you can tell me anything and I will always love you. I raised you, all parts of you.”

“I’m sorry.” Anakin’s eyes were dry, but red and puffy, he had run out of tears and exhaustion hit him. “I’m also married to Padme.”

“I know,”

“I broke the code again.”

“Yes, but that is the order’s code - not the Jedi's.”

Anakin looked at him in confusion.

“You know, I am in a relationship of sorts with Cody.”

Anakin burst out of the blanket in shock, suddenly very awake, “Cody!”

“I thought it was obvious, even the council knows, unofficially of course. Another reason they make life harder for our lineage.”

“I didn’t know.”

“-Because you were trying so hard to conceal your own relationship. I mean, you mentioned only earlier that he carried my lightsaber.”

“I didn’t think it meant anything.”

“Aren’t I always telling you that your lightsaber is your life?”

Over the shock of the new information, desperately trying not to think about Cody and his Master, Anakin asked: “How did you know about Padme and me?”

“Everyone knows, you’re not very subtle.”

Anakin huffed in annoyance.

“It's okay, Anakin. I forgive you for everything. I only ask that you forgive me for not making sure you understood the rule of attachment and for not teaching you my own interpretation.”

“What I have to forgive you for is nothing compared to what I did.”

“And yet I forgive you. I always will so long as you realise that you were wrong and want to do better. I think we forget that the Jedi code is not what we should or can be, but an ideal we should strive for, to be as close to as we can.”

“What do you think about not allowing love?”

“I think you mean not allowing attachment. Love and attachment are different. Love is selfless, attachment selfish - something that would lead you to do anything to keep those that are yours. Attachment is possessive, love is not.”

Anakin looked as if the origins of the universe had been revealed.

“Some Jedi believe we should not love, for love leads to attachment. But to be a Jedi is to live enveloped by the force, to welcome all aspects of it. Not to command it, like the dark, but to embrace it. The force is life, and loving is such a fundamental aspect of life that to ban it is to sensor a huge chunk of the force. Jedi are taught to be compassionate, and I believe it is only by loving truly, selflessly and in a way open to all life forms that we can truly be so to all.”

“How do you stop love becoming attachment?”

“I don’t know - it's never been my strong suit. If you were taken I would tear cities apart to find you, just as you would for Ahsoka - and I would too.”

“I would for you as well.”

“I’m not sure if I should say thank you or not. I know that I would not react in a very Jedi way. I have these attachments and they won't go, and I’m not willing to work on letting them go. But if you were ever to be killed, which I pray to the force doesn’t happen, I would have to accept it. It would kill me to do so, but I would - eventually. And I have in the past. I think, the law of attachment, is recognising that you are attached but building boundaries that you won't cross. I may be angry, but I would try my hardest not to let go and act on it. I would think about how you wouldn’t want me to fall. Although this is all easier said than done.”

“I can love Padme, you, Ahsoka, Rex, my men and my droids and do everything in my power to not let them get hurt so long as I don’t hurt others in the process.”

“Yes. We are not judges. Nor do we have any right to execute our will because of our emotions. But we do have a right to feel those emotions. For example, I would travel anywhere to save you, but not if it put the lives of all my men at risk. I am responsible for them, and my attachments aren’t theirs.”

Anakin nodded and tears welled in his eyes, “I want to be like that. Good. Like you. But I wasn’t. How do I know that I will be next time?”

“You know that you can talk to me, or at least I hope you do,” Obi-Wan stood up.

“Yes,” Anakin took the other’s hand and was pulled upright, they headed towards Anakin’s bunk where Obi-Wan unceremoniously plonked him, “When did you get so wise, Master?”

“I always have been,” Obi-Wan chuckled, “You’ve just never listened before.”

Obi-Wan returned to his own bunk and laid down, closing his eyes. Just as he began to drift off Anakin woke him, “Wait, all those nighttime council meetings that were too secret for me to attend, were you fucking Cody?”

“Anakin!” Obi-Wan scalded before a blush sprayed across his cheeks, “Yes, but unlike you and Padme I enjoy the illusion of discreteness.”

“Ugh, Master, I didn’t need to know that.”

“You asked,” Obi-Wan sounded all too amused at his Padawan’s disgust. “Now rest. I’m sure tomorrow will be exhausting.”

“And yet you always tell me meditating is restful.”

“Not when you’re complaining the whole way through.”

“I won’t, I promise. Not for this. Good night, Master.”

“Good night, Anakin.”

Words: 2600

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