#i used to think about swan queen with these songs

[lonely-night]

this morning during the intro to film class we were watching the greatest showman when the song ‘never enough’ and ‘rewrite the stars’ went off I was like ‘dont think about your ship dont think about your ship dont think about your ship’ and guess what? I end up thinking about my ship skjdgfkjsfsdk

[thoughtdaughterdisease]

okay, so i was thinking about what type of music each one of the avengers would play in the car/quinjet, so here are my thoughts !!

Tony:

Mostly AC/CD obviously, Led Zeppelin , Styx, some lynard skynard, mostly like 80s-90s rock, (or if you get lucky, some milli vanilli.)

Steve:

Yes, a lot of 40s music, feat. Taylor Swift, Marvin Gaye (thanks sam!), Queen, some of The Beetles stuff, maybe even some Bob Marley to be honest :)

Bucky:

As he said in FATWS, he likes 40s music. secretly likes certain Billie Eilish songs, ie; birds of a feather, skinny, the greatest. Would like Hozier, The White Stripes, and Sex On Fire by Kings of Leon. loves ed sheeran songs

would have the saddest relationship with Sailor Song (by Gigi Perez) EVER.

Bruce:

Definitely Classical Music. He definitely seems like the type of person to have the most chaotic self destructive relationship with Requiem by Mozart.

But, sometimes he'll definitely listen to The Beetles and Queen, (probably had a secret addiction to *NSYNC or the Backstreet Boys.) Would lowkey vibe to MARINA and Mother Mother if had the chance.

Clint:

I feel like Clint doesn't listen to a lot of music because he needs all his senses and combined with his hearing problems, it's never really been confident. However, i think if he did listen to music it would be like, Counting Crows, Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, etc.

Sam:

This man has two sides and you cannot convince me otherwise.

1. Hip Hop, or just a range of shitty rap to good rap. so 50 cent, eminem, Dr. Dre, P-Diddy 😨, Ludicrious, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye, Travis Scott, XXTENTENTIONXX. i feel like he would've made his dislike for drake very clear from the moment he got famous

2. Marvin Gaye. Jazz. Blues. The whole shebang, all of it, the slow rock, and let's not forget; Michael Jackson.

Natasha:

Again, Like Clint, i don't think she'd really like having the vulnerability of when you're listening to music but, she does like when Tony puts on his music in the Quinjet. I also feel like she'd like The White Girl Music. She genuinely Believes there's nothing better to rock out to than Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield.

Has a hidden Apprieciation for songs like Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy, because of how much she loves to dance to them. (this also applies to movies like black swan, etc.)

Thor:

He just so in love with Disney Movies that he Unironically listens to the soundtracks when someone else shows him how. It's really the only music he willingly listens to on earth. On Asgard however, I think he'd like the musicians there but he's never paid much attention to them.

Loki:

If he found out how to use spotify, his liked songs would be filled with Classical Music, Instrumental Covers of Pop Songs that he doesn't know, some Adele songs, Partition and Haunted by Beyoncé, Some MISSIO songs, Fall Out Boy, Teen Idle by MARINA, Lords, Michael Buble, Sex with a Ghost by Teddy Hyde, Artic Monkeys, PHOEBE BRIDGERS FOR SUREEE.

he is the embodiment of BLUE by Billie Eilish and nobody can convince me otherwise.

HAMILTON, HE WOULD LOVE HAMILTON.

----

i have a really unhealthy obsession with 2012 Avengers.

[kailoraurelius]

Okay, but picture it with me. 🧘 Eisa and Lin, feel free to call me, I got it all blocked out. Stage is set for Survive the Night.

Dj Pen is in the center, toward the back, on a raised platform. A set of stairs at either end of the stage, heading up to a long platform above the Dj towards the back of the stage.

Pen brings us in. As the music builds, more and more people start crossing the stage, whole gangs on the move. The representatives of the boroughs all come to form a line in front of the Dj's table. Then, bam. We get into the first borough. The Bronx jumps forward, rapping across the stage. But, right as we get to the end of his verse, he steps back as we get the, "Miracles can happen when we gather in the dark." x4.

But right as that first "Miracle" happens, a trap door opens center stage and Cleon and Rembrandt (or Cochise, I have my reasons for both of them) rise on a platform, facing away from the crowd so the first thing we see is their vests, with the red W of the Warriors. They high five, fist bump, whatever. Some acknowledgement of each other, then they split and jog off to opposite sides of the stage, where they both climb the stairs and make their way around to meet again in the center, all while the song continues.

Queens' verse. Their representative gets a moment in the spotlight. Then, as the repeating ending line comes on, that center stage platform rises again. Ajax and Fox, facing away from the crowd as, "Meet the wrong cop at night and it's brrap on sight" plays again and again. Same thing, acknowledgement of each other, split, up the stairs, meet up top.

Manhattan comes in, gets their moment. And as they step back, the platform rises with Swan and Mercy as the music repeats, "Survival all depends upon the corner you run to". Mercy, conspicuously, not wearing the vest. They have their brief (in my head, romantically charged) moment, then split and head up the stairs. However! As Swan turns the back corner to join the Warriors waiting, Mercy EXITS.

Staten Island takes their turn and, you may have guessed it, but Cochise (or Rembrandt) and Cowgirl rise onto the stage as it says, "Takin' a train to a boat to another train". Their moment, split, head upstairs.

Then the final verse, Brooklyn, ends with, "Clap your hands if you're ready to meet the Warriors!" At which point, the lights come up on the platform they're all on and we see them all in a line, backs to the audience. And as we move into Roll Call, each of them turns to face the crowd as they say their name for the first time.

Anyways, that's the stage play going on in my head lmfao.

"Miracles can happen when we gather in the dark"=Cleon, the believer, and Rembrandt because she is the one who saves the girls from the Bizzies later. They were trapped in a locked apartment, outnumbered, distracted, but Rembrandt gets them all out. Pretty miraculous. (Could also be Cochise because she, I think, believes the most in Cyrus after Cleon, as she's the only one in Roll Call that doesn't voice a complaint and sings most of Cleon's lines with her.)

"Meet the wrong cop at night and it's brrap on sight"=Ajax and Fox, pretty self-explanatory lol.

"Survival all depends upon the corner you run to"=Swan and Mercy because they repeatedly reference being in each other's/the Warriors corner throughout the play.

"Takin' a train to a boat to another train"=Cowgirl and Cochise 1. Because Cowgirl likes to ride, so her intro being about modes of transportation is a cheeky nod to that. And 2. Because this bit of the song is funny and Cowgirl and "That's high math for Rembrandt" Cochise are, undoubtedly, the funniest bitches in the crew. (Could also be Rembrandt because she's got some funny stuff too and Cochise would also fit with Cleon, so. Yeah. Interchangeable, but I like Rembrandt and Cleon, Cowgirl and Cochise.)

Anyways, enjoy this rambling. 🤙

[desmon1995]

Light It Up, Fox!

I think reunion square has to be one of the saddest members from the Warriors concept album and it gets set of every time I listen to it.

I think a big reason for that is that this song really does cement that Fox truly is the youngest of the group (I'm going to as soon as Fox is anywhere between 15 to 18 years old)

In the beginning of the song after she and the others escape the Bizzes she says " God, half of us are gone" and she later lashes out at Victor after he cat calls the Warriors.

What I find really interesting about her rant is that it shows that Fox (presumably out of every Warrior besides Cleon) has truly taken Cyrus's word to heart as she assertively points out that Victor and his ilk are the reason they've had to suffer not only here but throughout life.

She asks why can't they go back home and has eternalized herself as the "Quiet Girl" that isn't gonna make it.

What's cool though is that she flipped this on her head and ends ups truly realizing what the Hurricanes were actually was trying to say.

When you're stuck in the darkness you have to do your own life sometimes not just for you but for the others in your life that may not be able to burn as bright.

This realization causes Fox to LEAP into action realizing that if Victor calls his boys they'll be able to stop stop the train and potentially arrest/kill the Warriors.

Something of note here is that this song takes cues from The World was Wide Enough where we see Fox's life flash through her eyes.

Queens- You can do 99 things right,but meet the wrong Cop at night and it's braapt on site ya dig?

Manhattan- survival all depends upon the corner you run to.

Ajax- I'm sick of running

Warriors- Only the strong survive

Ajax and Rembrandt- Anybody tussle with these hands they'll see static

The battle between Fox and Vic is brutal and he beats her so badly that she breaks something and starts bleeding.

Another thing that I noticed after some repeated listening is that it seems that out of all of the Warriors, Fox seems to look up to Swan and Ajax the most (Rembrandt too apparently).

She laments that Swan could have taken Victor out but she's not her and not too long after that the cop puts his foot on her throat and kicks her into the incoming train.

I think what's beautiful about this tragic moment is that Fox ends up embodying the other sentiment of Quiet Girls and ends up becoming an arc of light both literally and metaphor.

It's actually quite a clever nod to me that Fox herself it's played by an Asian actress ( Pippa Soo) because been Chinese, Japanese, and Korean mythology there is a creature known as the Kitsune.

Kitsune are basically Divine foxes that more often than not typically take the form of females to live amongst humans.

They act as a guide to the afterlife and use something called foxfires to communicate with others throughout the night.

Fox being the one to truly embrace what the Hurricanes tried to tell the Warriors and becoming the light that guided her friends home through her demise is quite a common trope with kitsune, especially if they bonded with a human.

I just think it's a really cool way to not only lift a sort of nothing character from the original on the bed but also make them stand on their own.

[dwellordream]

Best Reads of 2024

this year i read 300 books. which i think is impressive but not as impressive as it sounds bc many of these books were very short, easy reads meant to be like, stuff you read at the airport or sitting by the pool on vacation. so it's not like i was tackling the harvard classics. i also read extremely fast; it only takes me about an hour to do 300 pages unless it's a super dense complex text. that said, here is a list of all the books i read this year that i would rate 4 stars or higher, separated by genre: Fantasy/Magical Realism: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Highfire by Eoin Colfer Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi Chlorine by Jade Song The Passion by Jeanette Winterson The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter Realistic Fiction: We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride & Jo Piazza Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent Only Child by Rhiannon Navin Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper Prima Facie by Suzie Miller Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk The Subtweet by Vivek Shraya All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg Piglet by Lottie Hazell The List by Yomi Adegoke A Winter's Rime by Carol Dunbar The Resurrection of Joan Ashby by Cherise Wolas

Mystery/Thriller: Queenpin by Megan Abbott Bury Me Deep by Megan Abbott Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley The Guest by Emma Cline Advika and the Hollywood Wives by Kirthana Ramisetti Kala by Colin Walsh Descent by Tim Johnston Wahala by Nikki May When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff We Could Be Beautiful by Swan Huntley Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll Nothing Can Hurt You by Nicola Maye Goldberg Fruit of the Dead by Rachel Lyon The Lagos Wife by Vanessa Walters Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson Yes, Daddy by Jonathan Parks-Ramage Cape Fear by John D. MacDonald Sea Wife by Amity Gaige Last Seen Wearing by Hilary Waugh The Black Cabinet by Patricia Wentworth Historical Fiction: Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen Gilded Mountain by Kate Manning All You Have to Do is Call by Kerri Maher Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt Payback by Mary Gordon A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley The Affairs of the Falcons by Melissa Rivero Longbourn by Jo Baker The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson Go to Hell Ole Miss by Jeff Barry The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird Consequences by Penelope Lively Iron Curtain: A Love Story by Vesna Goldsworthy Homestead by Melinda Moustakis Not Our Kind by Kitty Zeldis Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell Teddy by Emily Dunlay Science Fiction: Prophet Song by Paul Lynch Aesthetica by Allie Rowbottom Fever by Deon Meyer The Salt Line by Holly Goddard Jones Land of Milk and Honey by C. Pam Zhang Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins A Children’s Bible by Lydia Millet Briefly Very Beautiful by Roz Dineen

Romance: Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson American Royalty by Tracey Livesay The One by Julie Argy The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin Queen of Urban Prophecy by Aya de Léon That Dangerous Energy by Aya de Léon The Dove in the Belly by Jim Grimsley Fatima Tate Takes the Cake by Khadija VanBrakle Faro’s Daughter by Georgette Heyer Horror: Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian The Parliament by Aimee Pokwatka Cujo by Stephen King Night Watching by Tracy Sierra The Garden by Clare Beams The House of Ashes by Stuart Neville The Suicide Motor Club by Christopher Buehlman True Crime: In Cold Blood by Truman Capote Columbine by Dave Cullen Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou While Idaho Slept: The Hunt for Answers in the Murders of Four College Students by J. Reuben Appelman The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age by Michael Wolraich Fatal Vision by Joe McGinniss Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope

History: Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era by Laurence Leamer The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel The Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and Nasa’s Challenger Disaster by Kevin Cook The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson Grace and Power: The Private World of the Kennedy White House by Sally Bedell Smith As Long as We Both Shall Love: The White Wedding in Postwar America by Karen M. Dunak Babysitter: An American History by Miriam Forman-Brunell Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin All She Lost: The Explosion in Lebanon, the Collapse of a Nation and the Women who Survive by Dalal Mawad Psychology: Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker The Anxious Generation: How The Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction by David Sheff Misdiagnosed: One Woman’s Tour of -And Escape From- Healthcareland by Jody Berger Stolen Child: A Mother’s Journey to Rescue Her Son from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by Laurie Gough Zig-Zag Boy: A Memoir of Madness and Motherhood by Tanya Frank I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy Us, After: A Memoir of Love and Suicide by Rachel Zimmerman Everything Is Fine: A Memoir by Vince Granata Juliet the Maniac by Juliet Escoria

Memoir: Upstairs At The White House by J.B. West A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold Goodbye, Sweet Girl: A Story of Domestic Violence and Survival by Kelly Sundberg This Boy We Made: A Memoir of Motherhood, Genetics, and Facing the Unknown by Taylor Harris I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O’Farrell Fragile Beginnings: Discoveries and Triumphs in the Newborn ICU by Adam Wolfberg The Longest Race: Inside the Secret World of Abuse, Doping, and Deception on Nike’s Elite Running Team by Kara Goucher and Mary Pilon Remedies for Sorrow: An Extraordinary Child, a Secret Kept from Pregnant Women, and a Mother’s Pursuit of the Truth by Megan Nix Brazen: My Unorthodox Journey from Long Sleeves to Lingerie by Julia Haart Minding the Manor: The Memoir of a 1930s English Kitchen Maid by Mollie Moran Love in the Blitz: The War Letters of Eileen Alexander to Gershon Ellenbogan by Eileen Alexander Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story by Lis Smith The Apology by Eve Ensler Wild Game: My Mother, Her Secret, and Me by Adrienne Brodeur One Way Back: A Memoir by Christine Blasey Ford Biography: The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty by Susan Page Untold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson by Rebecca Boggs Roberts King: A Life by Jonathan Eig Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams by Louisa Thomas American Girls: One Woman’s Journey into the Islamic State and Her Sister’s Fight to Bring Her Home by Jessica Roy Susan, Linda, Nina, and Cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR by Lisa Napoli

Gender: Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family by Amy Ellis Nutt The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan We Were Feminists Once: From Riot Grrrl to CoverGirl®, the Buying and Selling of a Political Movement by Andi Zeisler All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership by Darcy Lockman Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks Enslaved Women in America: From Colonial Times to Emancipation by Emily West You’ll Do: A History of Marrying for Reasons Other Than Love by Marcia A. Zug The Red Menace: How Lipstick Changed the Face of American History by Ilise S. Carter Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers: A History of Lesbian Life in Twentieth-Century America by Lillian Faderman

[tartrat]

Concept based on my previous post where i suggested Queen's Killer Queen as a Night Swan and Cygnus duet. i didn't want to make something super detailed so its mainly a sketch with basic colouring, and darkest hour's background

I said in that post that i saw it as taking place sometime around Darkest Hour, so Night Swan has her Leda appearance from there. I didn't know how to make cygnus look younger so i just removed his hat

The poses above would be struck when Freddie Mercury sings "killer" (imagine that Leda's hands are actually in a claw shape here) i probably should've had cygnus point at leda for this instead of into the air, followed by them moving to the opposite side whilst spinning their hands round their faces to "Queen". Lastly at "Gunpowder, Gelatine, Dynamite with a Laser Beam" They'd start doing a marching on the spot motion whilst pointing to the top right and bottom left like in Woof's chorus but more like in the style of a marching band, if you understand what i mean its kinda awkward to explain that motion (theres another map that uses that move in a way thats closer to my description but i can't remember what one it is. I tried to do pictograms in the corner to illustrate what i mean.

During the verses they'd probably have different moves, but i don't know what they would look like. I guess it would sorta be Cygnus acting out certain words and Leda doing more exaggerated movements akin to how she moves in witch. The lighting would probably be darker and the background would probably change location throughout.

Whats funny is that i always envisioned that if they were to do this song that it would be a quartet with three guys fawning over a Killer queen figure. Like it would be the three acting out how she acts wih her mimicking the moves of the one who is currently "speaking", but more exaggerated. The moves that i mentioned above are what i thought would work with this original idea and it just stuck and they're all i can think about when i hear the chorus.

I guess a good way for this hypothetical routine to end would be it turning out to be a memory that Cygnus is having, and him looking ashamed. I definitely do see the relationship that they probably had as sorta romantic, but whether it be romantic or platonic, beggin does make it out that he regrets what he's done and more than likely the time he spent with her. He'd look back on this memory with guilt after seeing what she did during Locked Out Of Heaven and her further plans that come up.

Someone else has definitely suggested this song for the series before, probably during 2017 and 2018 when Don't stop me now and another one bites the dust were relatively new to the series and some were expecting another queen song for 2019, (Though in all the fanmade songlists i've seen on youtube i haven't seen any queen songs mentioned). I'm not sure if i was the first one to suggest this song for these two particular coaches either, maybe someone did last year when Beggin' came out and Sweet Dreams was still believed to be released at some point.

This was just something quick to show what i think it would look like. probably should've made a title card but i might make a more detailed version at some point and include one.

[princesssarisa]

I've been thinking about The Swan Princess. I haven't seen the entire series, but the original movie was a childhood favorite of mine.

I've been thinking of some ways the movie could have been better.

First and foremost, the issue of "What else is there?" How to offend women in 5 syllables or less keep the plot point of Prince Derek saying those words when Odette asks him if he loves her for more than just her beauty, yet without making so many audience members permanently hate him for it.

I actually wrote two entries on the Fridge Brilliance page on TV Tropes about this plot point. (1) This is a fairy tale, and in most classic fairy tales, love is just a matter of beauty, so that's what Derek expects. (2) There are hints throughout the song "This Is My Idea" that young Derek and Odette like each other long before they admit it to themselves. Adult Derek thinks at first that he fell instantly in love with Odette when he saw she had grown beautiful, but by the end he realizes he loved her long beforehand, for who she is as a person.

But maybe those things should have been made more explicit.

I personally would have made the movie more explicitly a deconstruction of classic fairy tale romances with their beauty-based Love at First Sight, more in the vein of later movies like Frozen. I would add some dialogue either before or between the verses of "This Is My Idea" showing Queen Uberta (bubbly romantic that she is) reading a classic Love at First Sight fairy tale to young Derek, and telling him that someday, when they're grown up, Odette will be beautiful and a single glance will make him love her. I might also add some dialogue for adult Derek later in the song, where he complains about having to marry Odette and imagines his preferred scenario – riding through the woods one day, suddenly encountering a beautiful dancing maiden, and knowing instantly that she's the one (a la Disney's Sleeping Beauty, or the original Swan Lake). This would show that he believes in classic fairy tale romance. Thus when "What else is there?" eventually happens, the audience's impression won't be "Derek is a shallow jerk who only values women for their looks" but "Derek has been raised with a fairy tale concept of love as something you feel just because the other person is beautiful."

Later, the ball scenes and "Princesses On Parade" would make it clear that Uberta is again trying to force the fairy tale concept of love on her son, hoping for a Cinderella-style Love at First Sight at the ball. But of course it doesn't work, not only because he's faithful to Odette, but because Love at First Sight isn't real.

I would also add some scenes throughout the movie where Odette and Derek each reminisce about their shared childhood. Odette could tell her three animal sidekicks about it, while Derek could recall it with Bromley and Rogers. This would help to avert the problem some critics find with the movie as it is: that Odette and Derek seem like different people as adults than as children and are much blander than their feisty child selves. It would also show us explicitly that they did like each other long before they knew it. We would see flashbacks to their childhood fights and pranks, and their adult selves would laugh wistfully and make remarks like "I wouldn't admit it to myself, but I enjoyed all that" and "We were never really enemies, we were just too stubborn and foolish to admit that we were friends."

Around the same time, I would also have Odette say a word or two about "What else is there?" to her animal friends, to explain why she's fully committed to Derek again despite having broken off their betrothal earlier. (Of course the cynical view would be that she only forgives Derek because she wants him to break her spell, but this movie isn't supposed to be cynical.) She would say something like "I shouldn't have left him. I know in my heart that he truly loves me, he just couldn't put it into words."

Going back to the childhood scenes, I would also find some way during "This Is My Idea" for young Odette to show her kindness. If at the end of the movie, Derek is going to say that he loves Odette for her kindness, then we should see her display it in front of him. I might show her finding and caring for a small animal in need – e.g. a stray kitten, or an injured bird – and young Derek would act nauseated by the sappiness of it all. But later, when Odette wasn't around, we'd see him find another lost or injured animal and care for it just like she did, showing that her kindness has rubbed off on him.

In his ultimate love confession, I would also have Derek say that he loves Odette's "cleverness" as well as her kindness and courage. That would reinforce the point that he fell subconsciously in love with her during their battles of will and wits in their childhood.

I think these tweaks would bring more consistency and depth to the love story and ensure viewers' sympathy for both of the two leads.

[jq37]

Little bittersweet that this might be Fig's swan song. There's like this "six seasons and a movie" mentality that makes me feel like Senior Year is the finish line, so just stick it out for one more. But, if creatively Emily doesn't feel like she can get any more out of the character, then that's that. It's best to move on rather than force it. Or not. It's the end of her time at Aguefort, doesn't mean it's the end of her time with the Bad Kids. The school part of these characters being high schoolers only really came into play this season, so let's wait and see. Emily considered retiring Fig at the start of this season and changed her mind. It could happen again.

On to the fun stuff:

-Gorgug didn't get a last hit on Porter, but he did get a clutch assist in with a narratively satisfying move that uses his Artificer class instead of his Barbarian class, helping drive the last nail in on Porters coffin. *chefs kiss* Going out of Rage while doing it was a perfect way to twist the knife.

-Riz's kill line on KP was stone cold.

-Everyone else's contributions were valuable but none more so than the newest Bad Kid, The Lava. Taking out five major threats during the battle. What a trooper and a strong candidate for Honor Roll.

-I came around on Mary Anne too. I get why some of the Intrepid Heroes were so obsessed with flipping her allegiances.

There's a lot this season that gives a strong finale vibe, but besides that hook at the end there's another thing that keeps going unresolved. Sol and his church keep fucking around and it's about damn time they find out. I don't think Senior Year will be a full-on religious crusade, but it doesn't feel like that plot point should be off the table. And what the fuck is Kalinas deal? So she was never loyal to Cass?

I hope we don't have to wait another 4 years for the next chapter of Fantasy High to get an answer to those questions.

Fig honestly would prob go to school more if she wasn't required to so it's absolutely an Emily decision more than it is a story decision. It's hard to picture FH without her but I'm sure she'll come up with something fun if she's still feeling like retiring Fig whenever they get around to Senior Year.

I think it's arguably MORE fitting that Gorgug didn't get the last hit in and instead got him with a gadget that didn't even do damage. It's like, he got Porter and not even in a way that Porter would respect because it wasn't rageful and violent. That's gotta suck more than if Gorgug had just punched him hard and KO'd him.

The lava was just so so good. It's like when you're a warlock and technically you could do other stuff but spamming Eldritch Blast just gets you the most bang for your buck so you keep doing it. Once they figured out the lava strat, they basically had to keep using it. Lava MVP for sure.

Mary Ann being so checked out for the whole evil plot even while participating in it is so funny. Honestly, queen shit.

I really think that if Kalina is actually bad then that's a retcon from Brennan because that's never been how familiars work and Kalina did try to help them consistently throughout the season with the Spy's Tongue Curse clue. She only attacked them when she got hit with a rage crystal and that was godly interference.

I agree that there are a lot of loose ends re: The Church of Sol (Buddy, Bobby and Sandra Lynn, Helio's lack of a chosen one, Bucky's whole deal, the Helioic pantheon shakeup--how crazy is it that Cass never talks to any of her celestial sibs?). I hope that if we explore that we get to see more about the actual people of the church rather than just the gods because there was a huge god focus in back to back seasons and, as I've mentioned before, if Spyre rules mean that gods are a reflection of their followers, their followers are honestly more interesting. I can't really be mad at Sol for being what he is when his chill level is determined by Bobby Dawn and co, you know? He has limited agency as an entity. Cut out the middle man and let's chase down Bobby directly.

[freakyblud]

Meet the user :)

I really need one of those lmao so here- Hi !! Welcome to my blog <3 My name's Leo and I use any pronouns. I have multiple other blogs, including three rp blogs (Yomiel from Ghost Trick, Cabanela from Ghost Trick and Neil Perry from Dead Poets Society) and a Your fave is a ___ blog!! I am french canadian, so feel free to talk to me in french too!

LIST OF THINGS I LIKE (The things I post about will be highlighted):

shows/movies i like: dead poets society, girl interrupted, house md, reanimator, rottmnt, the black phone, jojo's bizarre adventures, bungou stray dogs, monster high, camp camp, good girls guide to murder (still havent read the books), Shameless, The Walking dead, Stars Align, Given, The Owl House, Amphibia, Gravity Falls, Tangled The Series and Vat7k, She-ra, Nimona, Mob Psycho 100, Heartstopper, Tokyo Revengers, Saiki K, It, Maze Runner, monster high, ever after high (kinda), assassination classroom, hunter x hunter, death note, Voltron, Howl's Moving Castle, LOST, most Tim Burton movies, Ghostbusters, SPIDERMAN SPIDERMAN SPIDERMANNN, Moral Orel, perks of being a wallflower, but I'm a cheerleader, wonder egg priority, ghost stories, south park, that one hello kitty anime (cant remember the name and i cant find it online :( ), white oleander, ouran high school host club, sk8, promised neverland, death note, ten reasons i hate you (i think its the name help me), tokyo revengers, black swan, the craft, arcane books: the giver (movie too), percy jackson (show too, not the movies though), jekyll and hyde, song of achilles, no longer human music artists: will wood, the cure, the smiths, system of a down, al yankovic, miku, kate bush, fleetwood mac, lemon demon, Queens, David Bowie, mac demarco, arctic monkeys, tv girl, neighbourhood games: mouthwashing, dead plate, cold front, omori, fnaf, undertale, ddlc, batim (only the first one sigh), Ghost Trick, little Misfortune, ANY ANGELA HE GAMES, Don't starve, What Remains of Edith Finch, The Quarry musicals: EPIC, heathers, jekyll and hyde, hamilton, ride the cyclone, Matilda, SIX, Mean girls, Percy Jackson, Sweeney Todd webcomics: School Bus Graveyard, Jackson's Diary, Ghost Eyes, The Glass Scientists, Heartstopper, Cupido, Kai, Our Walk Home, Jamie, It's kind of a funny story

[ouatsnark]

So.

I've seen people compare Hook killing his father, Brennan, to the EQ killing her own dad, Henry 1.

Which, yeah, technically it is the same thing on surface level but I feel like people ignore the circumstances.

EQ apologists will claim that EQ murdering Henry was his own fault because he allowed her to be abused her entire life (which... While I would argue Cora is abusive, I don't really agree with because the man himself never abused Regina and even tried to advocate for her from what I remember) and because he owed it to her so she could be happy.

They then say she made up for it by naming her kid after him (which awww sweet, naming your kid after someone you MURDERED. Isn't that such a nice way to make up for what you did?).

They say his afterlife was too good for him/was given by Regina and he should be thankful he didn't get worse when he was a 'shitty' dad.

But they then turn around and go:

Oh Hook is a MONSTER because he murdered his own FATHER.

They point to the flashbacks in a swan song, ignoring the part where he abandoned them. Saying him lighting the lantern means that he was a good dad and him abandoning them couldn't be helped.

They say his actions didn't parentify Liam 1. They say he was sorry because he named his 3rd son after his first and that should have been enough.

That Hook was an asshole who orphaned his half brother out of jealousy and showed no remorse, ignoring the fact they eventually made up.

I just... don't see how?

The number one thing with Regina apologists is that they HAVE to make Regina into the biggest victim so that they can justify their love and defense of her indefensible crimes. In short, Regina Apologists are the biggest double standard hypocritical losers I’ve ever seen.

They have to insert their head canons about Regina’s childhood, demonize Henry Sr and then lie about Killian’s father, Brennan’s and Killian’s motives, ignore canon instances of Killian’s remorse just to lift up their tyrant queen.

They then come up with these ridiculous reasons to absolve Regina and Brennan of their crimes while ignoring the fact that if we use their logic, Killian should also be absolved of his (if they’d accept canon fact of Killian’s remorse). No, naming a child after your victim doesn’t absolve you of crimes. What good does that do anyone but Regina or Brennan? It doesn’t. The naming was solely for their own benefit.

How is replacing your first born making up for abandoning your children into slavery? Oh and if they say Brennan didn’t have any choice then why does he need to make up for anything? Can’t have it both ways peeps! No, Brennan naming his third son Liam doesn’t mean he is sorry it just means he’s giving himself a second chance and assuaging his own guilt just as Regina did with Henry Jr.

How about the truth: Villain Regina and villain Killian were both monsters for killing their respective fathers? Why can’t we leave it at that? But sure if they want to play the game of which one is worse, well, I have bad news for them. Regina was.

1. Regina murdered an innocent man. Killian killed his scumbag fugitive father.

Henry Sr was a loving doting father that stood behind Regina no matter what she did. No, Henry Sr did not “allow” Regina to be abused her entire life

Anon is absolutely right when they say Henry Sr did try to advocate for Regina and did his best to stand up to Cora (1x18). Besides. What did they want him to do? She was a powerful dark magic user that could kill him with a snap of her fingers.

I find it interesting that Regina Apologists use the excuse that Regina fixated her revenge on Snow and not Cora because she was afraid of her powerful mother. Like ya wanna think about this for a second, RAs? If you claim that Regina was so afraid of her mother her entire life (even tho she snooped in her desk with no fear etc etc) then do you all think maybe her dad might have been too? What could Henry Sr have done against a powerful wife? He had no powers himself. So if he was scared of Cora, he put Regina before his own fears and stayed for Regina’s sake. He never abandoned her to face Cora alone because no matter what happened at least he could be there for his daughter? Just a food for thought there.

Bottom line was, Henry Sr never abused Regina but he was always there for her, no matter what atrocity she committed, even while she was killing him. So no, adult Regina being abused by her mother over who she marries does not justify murdering the father who loved and supported her and it sure as hell doesn’t justify murdering him so she can get a happy ending and curse an entire kingdom to a life of misery.

It’s like Regina Apologists can’t think past her heaving cleavage.

Brennan did abandon his kids to slavery and to suggest otherwise is a lie. No, him naming his 3rd son Liam doesn’t make up for his abuse

He may have left a lantern on but that means jack crap the moment he abandoned his children to save his own skin. He had a choice. His choice was to die protecting them or at the least ensuring their own escape at his expense. But he chose to save himself and left his sons to face an unimaginable fate without him. Escaping your crimes and leaving your children to face your consequences is most certainly child abuse, neglect and abandonment.

And just so we are clear: Killian’s feeling of betrayal doesn’t justify leaving his half-brother an orphan. But which crime is more understandable? I can sympathize a lot more with the pain Killian felt in the face of his father’s betrayal than I can with Regina murdering a man so she can destroy the lives of an entire kingdom.

2. Regina committed her crime to destroy the lives of an entire kingdom. Killian’s crime effected three people.

Regina committed cold-blooded premeditated murder of an innocent man for the sole purpose of ruining the lives of an entire kingdom. Her goal was to punish Snow for a crime she didn't even commit! The only person that Regina was taking into consideration here was herself.

Killian wasn’t even going to go through with Regina’s test of killing Brennan, a crook and a child abuser, until he learned his half-brother’s name. It became a heat of the moment crime. A crime that only effected three people: himself, his scumbag father and his half-brother.

"You named your boy Liam. After my brother, after the son… you abandoned. Was he really that easy to replace? I saw what you said to him in there! It's the same thing you said to me! It was a lie then, and it's a lie now! … you would leave me." - past Hook 5x11

And despite what Regina Apologists say, Killian didn’t kill Brennan out of jealousy. To frame this as simple as jealousy diminishes the gravity of the situation here and Killian's pain. Put yourself in Killian's shoes for a moment.

You can think Brennan is telling the truth in this scene but I don't blame Killian for not believing him. The man callously left his sons to be enslaved, an act that eventually led to his beloved brother’s death, and here he finds out that his father has simply replaced his brother with a new son. When faced with this, Killian's walls go back up.

Brennan naming his son Liam was not an apology. It was to assuage his own guilt and give himself a second chance. Brennan claims he was honoring Liam 1, and maybe he thought he was, but it doesn't mean that Liam 2 wasn't a replacement for the sons he abandoned.

Lastly, it's a lie to say Killian never showed remorse.

The fact that he made Regina swear never to speak of this shows how immensely guilty and wrecked Killian was over this.

He was also willing to die for Liam 2. Even in the past, he wanted to help his brother turn from the path he was on and not make the same bad choices he'd made. If Henry hadn't returned, Killian was ready to let Liam have his vengeance.

So I have some questions for the Regina Apologists:

If Henry Sr is a shitty father and doesn’t deserve an afterlife for not being able to protect his adult child from his powerful wife, then what does Regina deserve for emotionally abusing the son she illegally adopted and putting her curse and her happiness before his welfare? And yes, she abused Henry. Yes, she is to blame for how she treated him. This isn’t up for debate.

How is naming a child after your victim showing remorse and making up for the act? but Killian Jones can’t be forgiven when he actually expresses remorse and was willing to die for his half-brother and made peace with Liam (as Anonymous pointed out in the ask)?

if being a coward that didn’t stand up to someone more powerful means you don’t deserve happiness in the afterlife then what should murdering, raping and abusing children get you? Yeah, Regina did that.

So please answer the question Regina Apologists!

[ceescedasticity]

Unforsaken, 11c

(All sections on tumblr)

(AO3, lagging behind but more polished)

The swans finally approach them by abruptly landing among them when they're halfway done setting up camp. A horse spooks. Zena trips backwards and nearly ends up under an ox, but Elrohir catches her.

After a startled pause, Glorfindel starts, "Greetings. I understand—"

The swans turn abruptly into young men. They have pale gray hair and light gray eyes. Their features are identical, but one has a faded scar across his face.

"Eluréd, Elurín," Celeborn says warmly. "I am your mother's uncle Celeborn. I am so glad to finally meet you."

(Celeborn left Beleriand before the Dagor Bragollach and returned only during the War of Wrath.)

(He has never even seen them before, and has no idea which of them is which.)

(In fact, the only person present who has seen Elúred and Elurín in person before is, alas, Maglor. It was only seeing, and only for a moment. He was grieving and dealing with the aftermath of an ugly battle and trying to make sure Caranthir's second-in-command didn't desert with the remainder of Caranthir's former followers, and he erroneously assumed that any question involving small children could wait. He has no idea which of them is which, either. Happily. Because imagine his knowing when Celeborn doesn't.)

The silence has become awkward and Celeborn is visibly trying to choose his next steps when the one with the scar speaks. "No one has called us that since we lost our mother."

"You can call me Alphsîr and him Alphlîn," the other one adds.

(Swan-stream and Swan-pool.)

(Just to increase the awkwardness, Maglor can't help but note it's the right pattern to be names of swan-ships of Alqualondë. In fact, now that he thinks of it there was a Swan-pool — possibly a Swan-stream, too, but he was a passenger on a ship named Swan-pool for a short trip to Tol Eressëa with some Teler musicians to play under the stars. There'd been a discussion about which swan-ships had the loveliest songs which still occasionally haunts him.)

Celeborn makes introductions — slowly, cautiously.

"Your great-nephews, Elladan and Elrohir."

"Legolas Thranduilion — I believe you met Thranduil a few times?"

"Glorfindel of Gondolin, who was returned to life in Eldamar. He met your father and your sister there, if you have any questions?"

(Apparently not just now.)

"Khitwê and his sister Risyind are from the Avari realm of Pelndoru. They are cousins to your sister's husband."

(Well, not wrong.)

"Zuste, Zena, and Dyn are kin to Khitwê and Risyind, and also peredhil."

(Not wrong, exactly…)

"Gimli son of Gloin is a great friend of Legolas, and a hero of the last war against Sauron. His people are staunch allies. You can trust him just as you would Legolas."

(If anyone notices how bewildered Gimli is by that glowing recommendation they don't comment on it.)

Celeborn pauses for a moment.

"…These orcs who are helping us are Turgon of Gondolin, Sharlinnu of Pelndoru, and Whiterot of Doriath."

(Okay, Maglor knew this was going to be awkward, but surely not more awkward than the orcs?)

"And over there are the Sons of Fëanor, Maglor and Celegorm."

(For some reason not mentioning that Celegorm is also an orc makes that infinitely worse.)

After a pause, Alphlîn says stiffly, "Thank you for introducing us."

After another pause, Alphsîr says, also stiffly, "Caraxitári says we must learn to fight alongside you. Who will teach us?"

"Caraxitári is the Queen of the Geese," Alphlîn clarifies.

Well that's not an ominous name at all.

"That depends on how you want to fight," Celeborn says.

"We were going to fight like the Geese do," Alphsîr says. "But geese have teeth. Swans don't have teeth."

He sounds somewhat disgruntled.

Some people might be put off by these attitudes but Celeborn is made of sterner stuff. "It is… a little late for you to take up the sword, or the bow if you have never used it, but we have some spears. I would be happy to help you with that."

"If you want to fight with your inheritance of Melian's power, I can try to guide you," Glorfindel says. "My power was only lent to me, and is diminished now, but it is not entirely dissimilar."

(If they want to learn actual Songs of Power, Glorfindel could try or Celeborn could try or even Elladan and Elrohir could try. None of them could give as good a lesson as Maglor. No one is going to suggest Eluréd and Elurín — whatever names they're using — learn from Maglor. No one wants to suggest they get substandard lessons, either.)

"Can the Geese not show you how to fight like swans do?" Elladan asks. "I mean — obviously we can't, but I've seen swans do some damage. Does… Caraxitári think blunt force would not serve?"

This actually draws out a small smile from Alphlîn. "She thinks, not as well as other things we could do. But thank you."

After another long and awkward pause, Glorfindel says, "Well, are you more comfortable with wings or without?"

"…With," Alphlîn says.

"Then we should probably try to work with that."

[moira-mains-go-to-hell]

Overwatch Women Relationship/ General Headcannons:

These are very specific, but I find them cute.

This is super long, because it’s All. Of. Them. I was going to break them up, but then I forgot, and rolled with it.

No warnings, all sfw.

Ashe

Is very much allergic to pollen.

With that being said she has the loudest damn sneeze

Cannot cook to save her life but makes really good concoctions of stoner type food. That and she is a dip girl. Every woman from the south knows one good dip they can make and it’s been imbued in us since birth. No one else at the party has the same dip either, wonderful how it works really

Widow

Has vintage luggage she uses for long term missions

Sleeps on her back with her arms folded like she is dead just to freak you out.

Hates pressure cookers

D.va

Is really good at Pilates (she took it up instead of physical therapy after her injuries in the cinematic)

Can fold gum wrapper swans

Disassembles her blaster when she is bored just to put it back together again (she times it and keeps the times in a golf notepad)

Junker Queen

Really good at electrical engineering but has only seen YouTube lectures about it on a shitty rebuilt mac

Listens to nickelback unironically

Prefers fruity drinks, but that’s the closest you will get her to eating a god damn fruit

Kiriko

Can and will sit you down to explain the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy

Is a Jojo’s fan. Thinks it’s under appreciated.

Cannot tell you the difference between jams, jellies and preserves.

Moira

Hates chain steakhouses (outback, Texas Roadhouse, ect) Loathes the atmosphere.

Has favorite poisonous plants

Is better than you at Mario kart

Mercy

Is not good at social cues to the point she will put on the complete wrong music for a situation (think Disco Inferno while she is trying to Rez a burn victim levels of bad taste)

“Does not like coffee” but if you make it she will drink from yours

Spins her blaster when she puts it back in its holster

Pharah

Likes shows like “How I Met Your Mother” and “Rules of Engagement”

Wakes you up in the middle of the night to go with her to the dingiest convenience store to acquire the best sandwich of your life

Hates coleslaw

Brigitte

Doesn’t count her reps, only times them with specific tools (a song, a show, a podcast)

Has helped her father defy the Geneva Conventions

Thinks The Grand Canyon is made up (Torb told her as a joke when she was little and has believed it since)

Zarya

Has been to the secret Russian lab where they keep stem cells of every known disease to exist. (It’s a real thing, I think don’t quote me-)

Brings back small rocks from places she goes

Doesn’t like birds

Mei

Snow ball has a built in dance party mode specifically for when she is sad.

Doesn’t like using Amazon

Knows all of “Yakko’s World” and sings it to herself

Tracer

Tries to tip well but doesn’t know the math so she leaves way more than is needed

Has tried to convince Winston to give her a laser beam inside of the accelerator

Wears Velcro for convenience

Ana

When she is able to settle down and stop being on the move, she catches up with reality shows and calls you to tell you about them

Puts little stickers on her little healing vials to make them look friendlier… not that anyone is gonna notice

Doesn’t like to eat breakfast. Just has tea in the morning.

Symettra

Has special pads on her visor because she doesn’t like the way it sits on her face

There is a disco mode in her turrets that she will never tell a soul about

She commits to bits to get you out of trouble without even knowing the full scope of the situation.

Sombra

Sweater thief, but in the worst possible times. If she forgets hers on a mission, she takes yours and dips

Likes those little strawberry grandma candies

As good of a hacker she is, she is absolutely terrible at 1v1 combat games. Mortal Kombat, Smash, Jump Force, you name it. She isn’t winning.

Sojourn

Phone is set to military hours. You never ask her for the time

Does not nap

Makes jokes about her legs. When you compliment her she knocks on the metal and goes “Quads of steel”. She thinks it’s the funniest bit in the world

*bonus* she may be rough around the edges but she is the loudest laugher at a comedy show

[the-90s-music-colosseum]

Round 3 Match 3

propaganda below the cut! (wall of text warning)

Björk:

"sooo pretty"

"Björk looks like her music sounds. Out of this world and beautiful"

"she's like the chipmunk who visits my window"

"She is mjother. She has the range, the versatility to serve any and every kind of beautiful you could ever want. She went from cute art pop girly to icy electronic queen in the span of a few years. She served cunt while dealing with the fallout of divorce. And then immediately pivoted to ethereality and fairies. An icon. Oh also, all of Vespertine exists. Need I say more?"

"She IS grateful grapefruit. No one is doing it like Björk she's so one of a kind and insane and very beautiful and everyone should vote for her. A vote for Björk is a vote for Icelandics everywhere!!!!!!!"

"Björk's voice had such a beautiful clarity and delicate chastity that has infused some of the loveliest songs to ever be written. She is an angel that came down from the Heavens to bless us all with her talent, her mind and her grace. Vespertine, with the most elegantly crafted songs of Pagan Poetry, Cocoon, It's Not Up To You and every other majestic opus on the album stands as the most mystical, tragic, and sensual exploration of love and the core of us that makes us human, our souls. And my second favourite album only to In Rainbows. And all her other albums are great too. Just Google I Love To Love by Björk which is a cover but still shows you that she was the most talented sweetheart ever, even at 6 years old. She is my fire, the one desire. I quoted Backstreet Boys, that should tell you how dedicated I am to this cause. If that still doesn't persuade you however, I'll have you know that Justine Frischmann burned my house to the ground, frequently urinates on my lawn, abducted my mom, pushed my grandmother down a flight of stairs on her trip to Manchester and chopped my dad's "you know what" off to use as a heirloom for her house. She is a nasty and crazy woman. Vote Björk, our Icelandic queen."

"bjork is sexy in a mind-expanding way. she would [redacted] and then teach u how to build a computer. my partner says she makes music for autistic people to have sex to. also history ot touches ??????? hello????"

"Have you seen the swan dress? She's an icon and she is the moment"

"swan dress. need i say more"

(the dress in question)

Dave Grohl:

"Dave grohl. Where do I begin? THIS MAN IS GOD. I WANT HIM TO STRANGLE ME WITH THOSE GIANT TATTOOED ARMS AND STEP ON MY SPINE. I'M NOT KIDDING"

"multiple things to do to/with dave grohl (all affectionately) : 1.) shrink him, hold him in my hands and study him 2.) put him in a washing machine and watch him spin 3.) talk to him for hours on end 4.) wash his hair 5.) ask him about his hair routine 6.) give him a little forehead kiss 7.) bbq with him"

"HOW could anyone NOT pick 90s Dave? He was SOOO beautiful 😫😫 Especially in Nirvana,come ON"

"I mean- just look at the man. If I ever saw him in real life I think I'd unexplainably combust on the spot. I'd sell my grandfather at a garage sale for him."

[killiansprincss]

Timeless - a Captain Swan AU chapter 10/19

Summary: Season 3 divergence - When Zelenas time portal works, Henry wakes up alone in Storybrooke and must travel to the Enchanted Forest to get his family back. Only once he gets there he quickly realises its not like the one in his book, theres no Evil Queen and his mother Emma wasn't put through a wardrobe, theres even a poster inviting the entire kingdom to her engagement ball, to Hook. What will happen once Henry gets them to break this new curse and they get their memories back?

In which chapter is inspired by a different Taylor Swift song.

Previous Chapters, AO3

———————

'Cause all the boys and their expensive cars

With their Range Rovers and their Jaguars

Never took me quite where you do

And all at once, you are the one I have been waiting for

King of my heart, body and soul

It had been a week since Emma’s return to the Palace. She kept playing the situation over in her head, her fathers angry face and how small she felt. There was a lock on the doors to the balcony. The lock was strong, that was for sure, she tried and failed to break it open. But it was no use, even if she did she would have to face the guard posted below the balcony.. She was a prisoner. 

She hadn’t spoken to her father since he’d sentenced her. Her mother would knock and check in and give her some food, but Emma didn’t speak to her. She could have easily sided with her and didn’t. The only person she spoke to was her brother, who felt it was his fault she was trapped.

When she falls asleep, Emma dreams of being back in Killians arms. She felt safe in his arms. They were at sea for three days before they saw land again, and when they docked Emma had to take a moment to realise how vastly different it was to Misthaven. The docks were similar, but they led right into the market square where stalls were selling everything from spices to silk.

“Come on love, let me show you around.” Killian took her hand and laced their fingers together as he led her round the market, explaining this kingdom was a hub for imports, ships would arrive every day to buy what they needed, whether that be the best cheese of any realm, or the finest silk for the prettiest dresses. Some claim they had access to these items due to magic, and there may be some truth in that yet in the mountains you could see camps set up where workers were farming livestock or growing the plants needed for the materials. 

Emma dropped the hood from her cape as they walked, fingers interlaced, breathing in the smells and looking round at every corner. Something she was always afraid to do in Misthaven for fears someone may recognise her and take her back to the Castle.

__

“David. It’s been a week, hasn’t she suffered enough?” Snow asks her husband at breakfast. Sure, she wasn’t happy about her daughter running away with a Pirate, but she knew her daughter and knew it wasn’t a decision she made lightly.

“Snow, are you forgetting what he is?” Pirates had a notorious reputation for a reason, he couldn’t imagine what would happen in the kingdom if they accepted this relationship, or what would happen to Emma.

“You know you’re sounding an awful lot like my parents when I told them I wanted to marry you.”

“That is completely different and you know it. I was an innocent shepherd who your parents already loved. That man is a Pirate who stole her innocence and is going to break her heart.” 

Snow purses her lips as she sips her tea. “How do you know he will break his heart? Have you spoken to him? Asked his intentions with our daughter since you locked him up?”

David just shakes his head, “you’re suggesting I talk to the man who kidnapped our daughter?”

Snow sighs as she takes a sip of her tea. “I don’t think our grown daughter can be kidnapped. David, she left of her own free will, you think she let herself get taken away, our daughter is strong and capable of her own decisions.” She puts her cup down and takes her husband's hand, “I don’t like that of all the men in the kingdom she's chosen a Pirate. But this is our daughter, we raised her and we know what she's like.”

David considers his wife's debate. Yes they had always taught Emma to be strong and independent, even when they came to the Palace, even when she became a Princess. But he also thought they taught her she could tell them anything. David had suspected something was up, when she became more brash at turning down suitors, but he assumed she wanted a stable boy or someone in the kitchens, he never suspected a Pirate Captain. He is reminded thought of when he first went to Snow's parents and asked for their blessing and they turned him away, he had always vowed to treat his children with respect and love. Emma was his little girl and maybe part of the reason why he was angry with her wasn’t the fact it was a pirate, but more that she was grown up and wasn’t his little girl anymore.

“I’m gonna get some answers about this pirate our daughter is so enamoured with.” David simply says as he retreats to his chamber to formulate his plan. He wanted to find out about Hook, but from someone he trusted, a third party. Which is why he dons his royal clothes for something a little more comfortable, something he was used to wearing 16 years ago. 

He rides one of the horses from the stables, one that was not a clear royal horse, and rides down to the Tavern where Emma met her Pirate. Pulling his hood over his head as he enters the tavern, he looks around for the man he was looking for. 

“I’ll take an ale please, fine sir.”

August, the man who was once a boy made of wood stares at him as he grabs a goblet from the shelf underneath the bar. David lowers his hood slowly so that the once wooden boy can see who he is.

“David?” He whispers. “Your majesty, what are you doing here?”

Throwing a few coins on the bar, David tells him he needed his opinion on the Pirate his daughter supposedly loved. Someone that saw what happened and can give another view on what went on with them.

“Well I can tell you what happened with them, or you can speak to the very man himself.” August says pointing over at a table in the corner where a group of men in leather were drinking and playing cards. Pirates. And amongst them, the man that should have been in the dungeon back at the Castle. 

______

Killian had escaped from the dungeon not long after he was put in there. He and Emma had a plan, if it went badly, they knew he could escape any shackles he was put in and Emma would sneak away and meet back at either his ship or the tavern and they would run away for good. 

But it had been days and he had not seen or heard from Emma. He was worried about her. She was always able to escape before, what if they had put her in the dungeon and she wasn’t able to escape? What if she were in shackles made of magic which made it impossible to escape from. Surely her parents were not that cruel though?

His crew noticed he was off. They all knew it’s because he didn’t have Emma but they didn’t dare to say anything. So he turns to his trusted friend, Rum. He would sit in the tavern each day waiting for Emma to show up and each day he drank more and more when it was clear she wasn’t coming. 

That was until one day around noon, he saw Emma’s father, the King, standing in front of him. “You.”

Killian banishes his crew back to the ship, claiming he had an important meeting.  “Your majesty.” He had imagined how meeting Emma’s father would go, he had seen him many times from afar but up close he could immediately see the similarities, and not just in looks. The fire in his eyes was the same Emma had when she was angry.

“Didn't I lock you up?” He asks, a fair question.

The Pirate raises his eyes at the King. “You really think a 300 year old Pirate cannot make his way out of a trap?” 

The King was practically lost for words. “Look. I didn’t come here for that. I came about Emma.” 

“Where is she? Is she okay? Please, I need to know.” he touches his chest, “I can normally feel her or sense she’s okay, but I haven’t felt her. I know that sounds crazy, but I just, I need to know if she’s okay.”

It actually didn’t sound crazy at all, David used to be the same when they were young, he would feel hurt when Snow was hurt, or if she was in trouble, he would just know.

“She’s fine, she’s back where she belongs.” Killian could sense the slight dig in his choices of words. “That’s why I’m here. I just can’t understand it, you’re a pirate she is the Crown Princess-what is it she sees in you and why do you care about her? Don’t Pirates swear an oath to hate royalty or something?” 

“I didn’t plan this, that’s the first thing you must know.” He tells the King as he orders another round to the table. “Neither of us planned on falling in love. I met her at this very tavern, I recognised her from a few nights before where I snuck into one of your balls and she threw me in the dungeon.”

“You did what?” David interrupts.

Killian waves him off, “story for another time mate. Anyway, we began talking as I wanted to know why a Princess was dressed as a commoner. I was enchanted to be honest, she was so different to anyone I’d ever met.”

Killian then explains how they got to know one another over the past few years, and how Emma felt alone sometimes despite her life being filled with people who loved her. He told the King about their adventure to another kingdom and how alive Emma had felt and that they never intended to run away forever.

“I’d do anything for her. I have lived a very long time. I was trapped in a horrid place called Neverland for almost 3 centuries and they frequent my nightmares every day since I returned. But the last few years with Emma have been the happiest of my life. I can’t imagine life without her. I understand she’s the Princess and a Pirate doesn’t fit into that, but the thought of not being with her takes me to a very dark place. I just, I beg for you not to take her away from me.” 

David didn’t know exactly what he expected to come of this conversation, but he certainly never expected the fearsome Pirate Captain to speak so highly of his daughter. He hated to admit it, but it clearly was love that drove Emma away. “Would you give it up for her? The life of a Pirate?”

Without a second thought, Killian simply says, “Yes. I’d do anything for her. I'd go to the end of the world for her.”

“I have a proposal. Now if you accept, I will let you formally court Emma, no promise of an engagement or marriage, but simply a chance at officially courting the Princess of Misthaven. It so happens my current Navy is slacking, they aren’t good enough. I could use a fine captain to whip them into shape. I can’t let a Pirate court my daughter, but a naval captain on the other hand.” 

The chance to officially court Emma. To hold her hand in public and spend the day with her surrounded by people and not live in constant fear. But he would have to leave the life he had lived for the past 300 years and go back to working for a King which he swore he would never do. “That is a very kind offer, and I would love nothing more than to accept. However, a former King is the reason I became a Pirate, why I left the Navy all those years ago.”

“You have been in the Navy previously?” The King asks.

“Aye. My brother and I were fortunate enough to be given the chance to study and learn in a former Kings Navy 300 years ago. We worked hard, and one day my brother Liam became Captain and he appointed me his trusted Lieutenant. At the time our kingdom was not in a good shape, we were at war. Our King sent us on a journey to a horrid land to retrieve a plant called Dreamshade, he told us it would heal our injured soldiers. Well an evil demon lived on this Island, and when we told him of our plans to retrieve said plant he told us it was a poison. My brother was stubborn, you see, he believed the best in our King, so to prove my suspicions he drove the spikes of the plant into his skin until he bled. And all I’ll say is Liam didn't make it back to our kingdom alive.” 

Killian had told that story to a few select people, Emma included. It was his darkest memory. If Liam had just believed him things would be very different. 

“I’m sorry about your brother, that’s horrible. I have heard Kings become tyrants in the past, but I can promise you I will never be like that. I’m not of royal birth even, I was a shepherd until I married Emma’s mother. So I feel like an outsider many times, my wife knows everything about the kingdom and how we should run it and what people deserve our attention, so I find myself sitting back and letting her do the work. And when I tell you she has the kindest soul.” 

Killian wouldn’t be leaving the high seas, not really. He would be close to the sea, and be sent on missions. But he would be paid in gold he did not have to steal. And he would marry Emma one day the right way. And King David, he did have a kind heart, but he was also a concerned father, and that’s why he knew he would never

be like the King who killed Liam. A Pirate's life came at a time of darkness, and was filled with getting revenge. But that all stopped when he fell in love with Emma. So maybe it was time for a new change. “King David, I accept your offer to be in your Royal Navy as your trusted Captain. I just would like one request.”

David just nods, “tell me.”

“My home is my ship, the Jolly Roger. She has been with me through everything, light and dark. But she wasn’t always a Pirate ship, she was once the Jewel of the Realm, fastest ship in the kingdom. If I’m to accept, I would wish to keep my ship. I will tell my men to bugger off and find another Captain to follow. I am already giving up my life as a Pirate, let me keep my ship. I know how she runs and her weak spots, she can be a Naval Ship once more.” 

The King smiles, “we have a deal.” 

_____

“Emma. It’s me.” David knocks softly on his daughter's door. He was too harsh on her, she has always been his baby girl and seeing her grown up and making her own decisions was hard for him, but he had to accept it. “Can we talk?”

“Go away. I don’t want to see you.” She yells back. 

“I have someone here to see you.” 

“Love, will you open the door?” As soon as Killians voice is heard, Emma opens her door and jumps into his arms. He wraps his arms around her and breathes in her scent. “I missed you.” 

Emma wipes away her tears as she looks up at her Pirate, standing next to her father. “What are you doing here?” 

It’s David that steps forward. “Emma. Firstly I just want to apologise for how I acted. It was wrong of me to dismiss you straight away, I should have given you a chance to tell your story instead of locking you away.” He truly was sorry for how he acted, he was stubborn and impulsive and when she had been missing he panicked and assumed the worst when he learnt she had run away with a Pirate. “Secondly, I would like to introduce my new Naval Captain, Captain Jones. He has my permission to officially court you, if that is what you desire.” 

Emma’s mouth widens in shock, Killian-Naval Captain? She can barely process what was going on and the words couldn’t form in her mouth, all she can manage to say is “what?”  

And so the two men explain their conversation and Emma isn’t able to stop the tears coming from her eyes. As long as she had Killian by her side, nothing else mattered.

“You will be able to court him. If things go well we will discuss your engagement.’ Her father explains and Emma couldn't believe this was happening. “I understand you wish to abdicate, but all I ask is give it time, your mother will lay off the suitors and I will see about what we can do about your duties and so you don’t feel like a prisoner in this place. If you still wish to abdicate, then I understand, we just don’t want to lose you Emma.”

Emma hugs her father, and whispers “thank you daddy.”  This was all she had been asking for, to marry someone of her choosing and for her family to listen to her. Whatever would come next, at least she had Killian by her side.

[swans-chirping-in-the-distance]

for the songs

New Person, Same Old Mistakes by Tame Impala

Killer Queen by Mad Tsai

Villain by Stella Jang

(ack sorry if these aren’t the best— they were the first songs from the top of my head 😔)

Ooooh okay

Maybe biana about her crushes? Like first she liked Keefe and then maybe her liking Tam or smth but feeling like it's unrequited

"Feeling it overtake/ All that I used to hate" she hated not having someone care for her like that other than surface level

"Wonder what if we trade" like she doesn't want to like someone who doesn't like her back

"All the signs I don't read" they're not interested right (although Tam kinda is in canon but maybe it's dex who is also kinda interested in canon??? Yk what. It's Keefe biana and insert person biana could have a Keefe situation with)

"Going with what I always longed for" she wants love

"Feel like a brand new person/ (But you make the same old mistakes)" she's changed sm but like same situation

"I don’t care I’m in love/ (Stop before it’s too late)" poor bbg

"I'm thinking it's worth the fight" she's trying tho

"Man, I know that it's hard to digest/ But baby this story ain’t so different from the rest/ And I know it seems wrong to accept" this sums up like biana having to go through that again

Gisela omg

"There was this girl/ The most beautiful in the world" leaving this here

"She would walk the halls/ And everyone would whisper and talk/ 'Cause all the girls in town wanted to be her" maybe kid Gisela??

"She's a devil in disguise/ The prom queen has blood on her hands" Gisela is so sweet idk what yall are talking about (lying)

"Every boy and girl she dates" very few believe in straight Gisela

"Disappears without a trace" she's just silly like that

"So be careful when she asks you to dance" if Gisela asked me to dance I would wake up to vesperas ghost torturing me

"She's a motherfucking killer queen/ A psychopath at seventeen/ A beauty in a blood-stained dress" she's so lovely wdym

"She'll fill your heart with kerosene/ And light you up 'til you can't breathe" soooo this is what she does to keefe

"If you cross her path you just might end up dead" *cough* vespera *cough*

"There was this girl/ Who was broken by the world/ 'Cause everyday at school they'd push and shove her/ But she had a plan/ One day she would get her revenge/ And those cheerleaders and jocks would be six feet under" this kinda sums up my theory for how she went batshi

"But behind those angel eyes/ Lies a devilish surprise/ The prom queen has killed for her crown" VESPERA

"Every boy and girl she seeks/ Never comes back in one piece" Cassius is fucked in the head and vespera is fucked in the existence

"She's dancing by herself" bro just left the neverseen

Omg this is Alvar to biana hear me out

"We all pretend to be the heroes on the good side/ Some things are black/ Some things are white/ You shouldn't look through colored lenses/ You're the good guy/ He's the bad guy/ Your boring world is in black and white" just the whole vacker legacy thing and how he's against the black swan

"So many shades of gray" He's trying to manipulate her

"Think twice before you like me" the reveal

"Because/ I'm a villain/ What makes you think otherwise?/ You don't know what a wicked little devil I am" basically the reveal

"You're a villain/ What makes you think otherwise?/ The villain you failed to notice breathes within you" this is so smth he would say to her

"I'm killing someone maybe/ You're killing someone maybe/ I'm killing you maybe/ You're killing me maybe" its so him!!

"We all pretend to be the heroes/ On the good side/ But what if we're the villains/ On the other" vacker legacyyyy

"The person you hate the most/ Is somebody's beloved child" he would!!!

"You don't know what wicked little devils we are/ We're all villains/ What makes you think otherwise?/ Look at us, the devils we failed to notice" eeekkk

[97-liners]

do you have any 2nd or 3rd gen gg songs you think everyone should listen to? or what are some of your faves?

this is such a hard question lmao, because i grew up on second and third gen kpop. if any followers have recs, feel free to drop them as well.

for me, of course there's the big or moderately popular groups (kara, 2ne1, f(x), snsd, wonder girls, apink, girls day, sistar, miss a, brown eyed girls, 4minute, aoa, after school, t-ara, secret, etc etc)

in terms of groups that might be considered more obscure:

all of 9muses' discography, in particular glue, drama, and dolls (they were not that obscure but they didn't get a single win before disbanding so they still count as flops)

evol - get up, we are a bit different (ngl they were the original girl crush concept, like girl groups were not making music like this back then! they were totally ahead of their times)

stellar - sting, vibrato (they were totally exploited by their company and sold using sex appeal, but their music was great. they deserved all the success, but NOT under that management)

spica - you don't love me (the original vocal group. if you like m*mamoo, consider listening to spica instead)

fiestar - one more, you're pitiful

rainbow - A, black swan, cha cha (rainbow blaxx)

hello venus - wigglewiggle, stickysticky, i'm ill

dal shabet - be ambitious, joker

ladies code - hate you (they're regrettably known more for the deaths of rise and eunbi than for their music, but they really did make some bops)

kiss&cry - domino game (queens.... debuted w/ this incredible song and then disbanded immediately &lt;/3)

laboum - what about you (literally one of my favorite songs of all time)

secret - shy boy (I KNOW they were fairly successful and got a triple crown w/ this song but kpoppies these days don't know them???/)

BESTie - i need you

and this isn't even getting into any of the third gen proper girl groups i loved and lost 😭 (clc, pristin, wjsn, lovelyz), OR the discographies of any of the groups i listed in the big or moderately successful category above, but I think those songs would just be easier to find if you just look up collections of 2nd or 3rd gen girl group music.

other groups i remember but never rlly got into: glam (problematic but made some fun songs), tiny-g, sunnyhill, rania (dr feel good is still iconic), berrygood

tagging @neonunau because i feel like you'd appreciate the nostalgia hit lol