#if this does well i'll also do a post about why i banished him

[thatswhatsushesaid]

I have a MDZS question and consider you an expert on all things JGY (he did crimes, good for him) so I hope you have some insight into this: I read that NHS found the Sacrifice Ritual in JGY’s Closet of Wonders, but how did JGY get it? Was it in WWX’s Burial Mounds “library,” and if so do you know where WWX found it?

Thanks, I very much enjoy your content!

hey there anon, it's very kind of you to consider me an expert, but i really am not 😬 i've certainly read, reread, and re-reread both the EXR and 7seas translations of the empathy flashback sequence many, many, many times, in addition to the guanyin temple sequence, because those are the parts of the text where jgy's actions are most frequently criticized and taken out of context. for details like the ones you're asking after, i've got to revisit other parts of the book again because my memory is a tea sieve, and i'm also not immune to medium bleed (no one is). so please bear with me, and keep tabs on the notes of this post for any discussion that follows since my pals often chime in with details i've missed.

first point of contention tho: it is never confirmed how novel canon nhs comes by his knowledge/familiarity of the summoning ritual, though wwx does speculate extensively in the guanyin temple denouement that he hears about the ritual from mo xuanyu himself. i don't think he gets his hands on the ritual himself, and i don't think he has access to the jin sect treasure room either. from vol 5 of the 7seas translation:

So yet another person came to [Nie Huaisang's] mind. Mo Xuanyu, who had been banished from Golden Carp Tower.

In the past, Nie Huaisang might have chatted with Mo Xuanyu to glean information from him. From the mouth of the dejected Mo Xuanyu, Nie Huaisang had clearned that he'd read one of Jin Guangyao's fragmented manuscripts of forbidden magic, in which an ancient, evil ritual was recorded. He had then incited Mo Xuanyu to exact revenge for the humiliation he'd suffered at the hands of his own clan members--to use the forbidden art of the sacrificial ritual to seek retribution.

in vol 1 of the 7seas translation, this is what the text tells us about the sacrificial ritual mo xuanyu uses to summon wei wuxian:

The nature of this "sacrificial ritual" was a type of curse. The caster was to harm themselves with a weapon, making cuts on their body and using their own blood to draw the array and write the spells within. They would then sit in the center of the circle and give up their mortal body to evil spirits, using the annihilation of their soul as the price to summon a nefarious, malicious ghost. This was all done in order to request the fulfillment of a wish. Thus, it was the opposite of "possession."

While both were forbidden magics of ill repute, the difference was that the former was much less popular than the latter. After all, few wishes were so strongly desired as to make someone willingly sacrifice everything they had. This was why the technique had been nearly lost after centuries of disuse. The examples recorded in ancient books had only a handful of cases that were backed by reliable evidence, and every single one of them had been for revenge. Every malicious ghost summoned by the ritual had fulfilled the caster's wishes perfectly, in cruel and bloody ways.

i've been thumbing through the rest of the 7seas volumes as well as the EXR translation, but i don't think there's anything more concrete about where the ritual comes from. i think it is entirely possible that the jin sect found copies of something like this ritual in the burial mounds, sure, but i also wouldn't rule out a ritual like this being contained in the treasure room entirely independent of wwx. there's canon precedent for it; case in point, recall the collection of turmoil in the gusu lan's forbidden section of their library.

anyway that's what i've been able to find today, but i'll keep poking around in the books to see if i trip over a passage that neatly answers all of our questions lol.

[cloudsoffire]

Misogyny in Sonic Boom

Most of you are already familiar with the 3d animated Sonic Boom cartoon running from 2014 to 2017. Despite the lackluster critical reception of the games, the show has a dedicated following, and a ton of good reviews. I myself am a fan. However, there are plenty of things to criticize. In the body of this post, I'll be addressing the misogyny present in the series.

To begin, let's talk about that one moment with Amy and Knuckles. Because when feminism is brought up in regards to Sonic Boom, this clip is often what comes to mind.

It's funny, sure, but it's also not an incredible moment. Amy's characterization here is also lackluster, but let's focus on Knuckles. sure, what he's saying sounds good to a general audience, but if you think about it even a little, it quickly falls apart.

In this scene, we see Knuckles, a man, talking down to Amy, a woman, about female empowerment. What he says is wrong as well. Breaking of gender roles is an exception because we live in such a gendered society. It's something that we should call attention to and celebrate. It isn't the status quo, and what he's saying is extremely liberal. We all know women are just as good as men at doing stuff, so why say it? Why draw attention to it? Why disrupt society? They're bad arguments. Arguments that come out of the mouth of a writer instead of Knuckles.

That's not where it starts, though. That episode is actually from season two. But rather than going moment by moment, episode by episode, we'll be breaking down how both Amy and Sticks, are treated by the narrative.

Amy is a feminist. But in an extremely watered down sense. She talks about gender equality, but in a way that's played for laughs. And you know it's just for comedy because of all the other stuff she does. In "My Fair Sticksy," Sticks is invited to an awards ceremony for saving the town. Rather than allowing her to go as herself, Amy takes the opportunity to force femininity and gender roles onto her, a complete 180 from the female liberation she touts throughout the show. Sticks saves the day by tossing Amy's teachings aside, but that doesn't really change anything. It just shows that Sticks herself is unchangeable, not that gender roles imprison society.

So Sticks is the one who breaks away from societal expectations in a meaningful way, right? Well, sort of. She's paranoid, lives in a hole in the ground, digs through the garbage, she's not exactly ladylike. But that doesn't protect her from the writers.

"Blue with Envy." A green shrew named Swifty comes to town, sporting shutter shades and bastardized 90s slang. The episode's twist is that Swifty is actually several robots built by Eggman to usurp Sonic. But before their big race and Sonic's subsequent banishment, Swifty wins over the hearts of the village. This includes both Sticks and Amy, who actually faint over him. Sticks even says she'd disable her traps if he came to visit her, to which Amy responds by saying she never disables her traps.

And there wasn't even any mind control going on there, unlike in "Battle of the Boy Bands." It doesn't speak to Amy or Sticks' characters, specifically because of that, but the episode itself does use them to make fun of the stereotypical "fangirl". Which is at best low hanging fruit and at worst actively misogynistic. There is nothing wrong with liking a boyband or any other media, so long as you don't buy merch with food money or use it to harass people. But that's not a thing unique to women. There are plenty of men who live on instant ramen because they buy stuff for their interests. But the way those men are talked about is way different from how people describe women who are into things like boybands. There's another post I saw a while back that digs into this and it's not the main topic of this one, so I won't go too far into it.

As a whole, Amy's character is "the overbearing feminist," a tired archetype, but she's also meant to be hyper-feminine and proper. This could work if she just found that identity the most comfortable and still supported others, but instead she tries to get people outside the norm, like Sticks, to conform.

Sticks breaks the mold on the surface, but she's still a woman, and you know how women are.

They're treated badly by the plot, the writers make them say things just for the audience to laugh at them for being women, and as a whole it's just kinda gross.

This is getting long but I'm sure there are other things online that go into much more detail that I did. I didn't read any of them so I'm not 100% sure on that, but it's so blatant I'd be genuinely impressed if they didn't exist.

[puckpocketed]

how do you stay enthusiastic when your basically talking to yourself on here about some teams??

TAKE MY FIN !!! the master plan really was to infiltrate popular hockeyblr tags and then once i got followers/mutuals, to inflict upon them untold amounts of propaganda about my obscure special little guys...! the idea is to drag fandoms around them into wretched existence one shitpost and gif at a time. anyway (with soooo much rizz) is it working is it working is it working ? <3 biting every single person who has ever liked my posts about my players from the juniors/AHL and relatively dead liveblogs ...!

as always because i take some asks too seriously, we are breaking character under the cut <3

this all boils down to the unfortunate fact that someone has to be first lol

and to wit, I don't know if I'm ever talking to myself on here. i think we rarely are, even if it seems like we're alone. is that what you're concerned about? I'm trying to interpret your ask, but of course we can't exactly have a conversation (unless you hop off anon!!). anyway!! often I'll make posts about a new special little guy I've picked up off the ground and it turns out 1-2 other people really love that special little guy as well, and then i get to make a new friend !! I have unearthed some incredible things from old blogs! I imagine someone searching for their guy could stumble on my stuff and find a little connection and kinship knowing someone else loved that guy first, because that's how I feel when I'm the one finding people's posts about my guys. someone has to be first! and someone has to be second. and so on.

most recently, beloved Sharks prospect Luca Cagnoni has let me meet a really cool person (whose gifs and edits are immaculate btw.. meg if u see this i am a big fan as you already know !!!) they are perhaps the only other person on this platform who has gifed him besides me, and that's our common point of interest!! but again, someone had to be first. and then i was second <3

idk. if no one ever posted about their special guys because they thought no one else cared, no fandoms would ever exist. enthusiasm is infectious. I love to listen to my friends talk about their special interests so much. I love to hear propaganda about other people's special little guys. that's half the reason I pick up new guys!!! so deep deeeeeep down, I am hoping just a little bit that my enthusiasm for my guys catches, and someone reading my posts about my guys wanders by and thinks "whats all this??" and is compelled to join in on the fun :3 sometimes i'm the second or third person, sometimes i'm the first. i don't mind either way <3

as for the answer to your actual question... I'm enthusiastic because I'm just posting on my blog, which is the place where I can talk about my interests. that's what tumblr is all about, no?? <3 I stay enthusiastic because it's fun to yell into the void, I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't feel that way!! i get a kind of emotional catharsis venting my affections and thoughts about, say, Brandt Clarke (current mind cow, offensive defenceman who is banished to the AHL... all due respect to that league, I think his development is being hampered by staying there, he does not belong there so PLEASE LET HIM BE ON THE KINGS ROSTER FULL TIME NEXT SEASON @ ROB BLAKE AND UNNAMED HEAD COACH <3) even if like 2 other people on here know who tf he is!! even if 0 people know who tf he is!! also (voice of an only-child who has had to make their own fun) aside from my secret hope that I'm making effective propaganda, i figure that the way i feel about my teams and players exists independent of how others feel about them. why does it matter if im mostly talking to myself?

You ask me how i stay enthusiastic talking to myself, and I'm hearing "isn't it lonely?" and what I'm saying is i wouldn't be posting about anything so enthusiastically in the first place if I didn't love it enough to rant at a wall <3 and truly the answer is get obsessed. get deeply immersed. learn the deep cuts and the lore. develop parasocial beef with your team's GM for not calling up your special guy. rail at the systemic barriers (height discrimination) that keep your guys from being taken at the draft. narrativepost about them. make art and gifs and edits and poetry web weaves. write rpf stories if you are so inclined! enjoy a team or a player for exactly what they are, and do it with sincerity. no irony. no holding back. and because hockeyblr is a big and beautiful place, someone out there probably agrees with you and you'll find each other by way of yelling loud enough!!! if not now, then one day soon. do it because someone has to be first and it might as well be you <3

[ancrchy]

hey y’alllll, jay here with jeon jiwoong — spoilt brat and trust fund baby banished to daegu after repeated fuck-ups back in seoul! his dad got sick of him spending his trust fund on partying and reckless endeavours so he removed his access to it and made him live with his grandma in daegu. more info about him will be below the cut! i also have an about page up. like this post if you’d like to plot, i'll drop you a message! i’m available on discord too if that’s better for you.

₊˙ ◌ ⁎˚ 〇﹒﹙kim sunwoo. cis male. he/him.﹚guess who was almost late for their shift at lapis roasters again?? that’s right, it was jeon jiwoong! it’s a wonder their job as a/an barista isn’t in jeopardy. the 23 year old has been working at sunset galleria for three months, and is well known for their outspoken nature. on bad days, they can be rather arrogant, though. when the mall is dead at night, they can usually be found flirting with customers, but don’t tell their boss!

001. BACKGROUND

his dad’s side of the family comes from old money

they have a family business, which jiwoong is expected to inherit one day

his paternal grandparents had set up a trust fund for him, one he gained access to once he started college (he is in his final year and is currently on leave)

big mistake, because he took it as an excuse to do whatever he wanted

he went out partying every other day and dabbled in illegal activities like street racing etc.

what really did it for his dad was when he had gotten into a small accident after one of those illegal street races

his dad removed his access to his trust fund and sent him to daegu to live with his maternal grandmother

his mother had fallen ill and passed away when he was in high school but he had never healthily processed it; his dad was also too busy with work to realise that

this is also why he turned to bad company as he got older, because all the fun distracted him from the loss he never properly dealt with

he used to visit daegu during holidays when he was a child, but has never been back since his mother passed on

his dad wanted to send him away to reflect on his mistakes and have a taste of hardship, so he would understand the value of money and the responsibility that came with having a trust fund

so he decided it was best for him to live in daegu with his maternal grandma, who comes from a more humble background than his paternal family

his dad also figured that in order for him to inherit his family business one day, he has to understand the importance of hard work, which is why he insisted he get a job and not live off his grandma

i imagine this to be a time of reflection and learning for him, where he has to work for the first time ever and kind of returns to his roots, or his mom's roots, whom he avoided thinking about the past couple of years

002. PERSONALITY

a spoilt brat who has never lived a day of hardship so you can expect him to be struggling with this whole job thing

in the beginning, he most probably would be complaining or whining about how he wants to go home

but he's your typical softie whose bark is louder than his bite

might cause trouble for you and end up feeling really bad about it but doesn't know how to apologise because it makes him look "weak"

he's honestly just a child at heart and a lot easier to please than you think (just buy him some ice-cream and he'd be grinning from ear to ear)

seemingly doesn't take things seriously but it's only because he struggles with being vulnerable

is very prideful and might stay up all night perfecting his latte art just because you made a comment about how it sucked

very outspoken and not afraid to speak up about how he feels, certainly does not believe in the saying that "customers are always right"

frankly isn't the best barista out there (before this job, he didn't even know how to make 3-in-1 coffee lol) but he has a way with his words so customers often come back for more

misunderstood bad boy trope in a nutshell

potential redemption arc in the future as he loses his spoilt brat tendencies and start to come to terms with the loss of his mother

003. WANTED CONNECTIONS

enemies to lovers/enemies to friends: could be someone who thought of him as a spoilt brat at first and started to realise that he wasn't as bad as they thought he was?

a childhood friend: someone he had met when he was a child visiting daegu every holiday but grew apart from when he stopped visiting after his mom's death.

more than friends, less than lovers: is it just harmless banter or are you actually flirting with each other?

opposites attract: you are hardworking, modest and come from humble beginnings, the complete opposite of jiwoong. people who hear that both of you are good friends often ask, "how?"

bad influences/birds of the same feather: you're just like his friends back home who enjoy partying and living on the edge. he's meant to be turning over a new leaf but it's a challenge with you in the picture.

a parental/older sibling figure: someone who tries to guide him onto the right path. the person he turns to whenever he faces a problem.

neighbours: your muse lives in the same neighbourhood as his grandma. could be someone that is close to his grandma and is forced into showing him around or helping him adjust to life in daegu.

regular customers at lapis roasters: you can always expect a free upsize or a free cookie whenever you pop by.

flirtationships: doesn't have to be anything serious. you're pretty to look at and he's born with a glib tongue so he has to let you know.

[juniperhillpatient]

Sozin's Comet Part 3: Into the Inferno Re-Watch

Wow, I'll be honest I forgot how many parts this finale had (& thank goodness because it's way too much to cover in one post.) While I've randomly re-watched various episodes of this show a lot, this is my first time doing a full re-watch & only my second time re-watching these finale episodes. That's because....well, this finale doesn't fuck around!

Let's get right into it. I gotta be petty & say it's kinda funny this show is so disdainful of its own main "romance" (& calling it that is a stretch) that they have Katara & Zuko go together on a ride or die life or death journey to the Fire Nation after baiting their noncanon romance quite a bit in the last few episodes. Fun! I'll briefly address that I know a lot of you guys don't like the setup for the Zuko Vs. Azula fight, & it's certainly a little flawed but...& this might be a hot take - Zuko showing up during Azula's coronation to claim the throne & the two of them having an Agni Kai does make a certain amount of narrative sense. It's just that a few details about the setup itself (the time it takes to get from Ba Sing Se to the Fire Nation, Iroh knowing that Azula would be crowned Firelord, in general, the buildup to Zuko's decision to become Firelord) could have been executed a little better. But I still love the beautiful tragedy of the final Agni Kai & I still think it was overall set up well save for a few details.

Zuko Vs. Ozai I would argue is pretty perfectly set up by the previous episode. Aang is ready for this fight. And Ozai is ready for genocide - & showing off his abs! I'm sorry if this upsets some of you but Ozai is getting +1000 iconic behavior points for stripping off his shirt for this fight & generally acting like a dramatic king. Yes trying to burn the world to the ground is pretty bad, but Ozai sure does manage to be a fun-to-watch villain while he does it. I only wish we'd gotten more scenes showcasing Ozai's personality & badassery throughout Book 3 to really set him up as the Final Boss.

[id: Ozai about to fire-bend Aang. end id]

I can really appreciate that Aang is out of his comfort zone here. Throughout this entire show, Aang has been an evasive fighter. He's not aggressive. He prefers to deftly outmaneuver his opponents & cause them to wear themselves out rather than attacking directly himself. Aang doesn't have that option this time. First of all, Ozai is just a very aggressive fighter who is determined to take Aang down. Second of all, this is the big battle - Aang needs to do something to take Ozai down, & he knows it. I have to appreciate that Aang offers Ozai the chance to back down. Obviously, it seems silly - of course Ozai won't take this chance. But it means something that Aang offers it anyway.

Sokka, Suki, & Toph's mission feels so desperate & scary. Toph gets +1000 iconic behavior points for her badass metal bending. Then Sokka comes up with a plan that will help protect the earth-kingdom but also might just kill them & shit gets real when they're separated from Suki. My heart dropped during that scene. Sokka protectively crouching over Toph just makes me so emotional. +1000 iconic behavior points to Sokka for this insane & potentially suicidal but brave plan.

[id: Sokka crouching protectively over Toph. end id]

Yeah, this part just makes me emotional.

Speaking of being emotional.....Let's get into the beginning of the end for my favorite emotionally damaged war criminal. Azula's downfall is heartbreaking. I didn't understand what was happening the first time that I watched this show, & I was just confused about why Azula was banishing everyone until it slowly crept up on me that she was paranoid after Mai & Ty Lee's betrayal. This show is incredibly well-written & as I'm re-watching again having put a completely normal & not at all insane amount of thought into Azula's characterization, I realize that it's so much more complicated than that. Azula was abandoned as a small child by her mother, who she believed never cared about her. Later, her brother is banished & after she finally gets him back, he abandons her too - for reasons she cannot understand. Then Mai & Ty Lee too. No wonder she can't trust anyone.

And even if it weren't for all of these people turning on Azula for reasons she doesn't get, Azula was taught that "trust is for fools, fear is the only reliable way" by her genocidal egomaniac father who burned her brother in front of her when she was eleven. The same father who just abandoned her (just like everyone else does) to fulfill a rather pointless role (now that he's the Phoenix King). I'm not sorry but what the actual fuck is wrong with people who can't sympathize with --- nope, I'm just. I'm....moving on, let's continue the analysis.

[id: Azula standing in front of her mirror throwing a hairbrush at a hallucination of her mother, who is reflected in the mirror. end id]

Let's talk about the mirror scene for a second. This is another scene that's been highly analyzed & discussed already but I want to talk about it a little anyway. It's important to remember that this is a hallucination, meaning that what we're seeing is what some part of Azula's mind is conjuring up. Ursa doesn't call Azula a monster, interestingly. She says "I love you, Azula, I do." Is this what Azula remembers her mother saying? What she wants to believe her mother is saying? We just don't know because we are simply not given enough information, but I think it could be a mix of both.

I also think it's very interesting that Ursa says "I think you're confused." Again, this is some part of Azula's own mind manifesting. I think this is pretty strong evidence that Azula knows that she's wrong - this as well as the comment in 'The Beach' about believing herself to be a monster - but I don't think she has the context to really understand how or why she's wrong. How could she? She's never had the opportunity to learn from sources outside the Fire Nation, or adults other than her father, the way that Zuko did.

And then of course....we have the showdown that breaks my heart the most. Zuko & Azula's Final Agni Kai. When Azula says "I'm sorry it had to end this way, brother," & Zuko says "No, you're not," that truly is the culmination of their entire relationship, isn't it? And it's so devastatingly tragic because it didn't have to be this way - they could have been normal siblings, in another life - but at the same time, it did always have to be this way, because of generations of toxicity, because of Ozai & his choices. +1000 iconic behavior points to each of the fire siblings for being dramatic fucked-up bitches.

I think that Azula really is sorry it has to end this way, she does not understand Zuko's reasons for abandoning her or their nation after she did everything she could to put him back in his rightful place at their father's side. And Zuko doesn't believe her, not for a second, because their father has always made him feel like the mental, emotional & physical abuse he's been put through is all because he can't measure up to Azula & he sees her as an enemy & believes that she hates him even though she doesn't. It's all just incredibly fucking sad.

And I want to be super clear, I sympathize with both siblings here a lot, but Zuko is right to challenge Azula. Ozai & Azula need to be taken out of positions of power at this point in time. Whether Zuko or Iroh or whoever "should" have the throne, it definitely shouldn't be Azula, & Zuko & Katara are doing what they have to do here.

[id: Azula generating lightning. end id]

The music, the animation, & voice acting during the final Agni Kai is beautiful. It's just an incredible scene. It's haunting, honestly. One of the most intense & emotionally charged battle scenes in any show that I've ever seen.

And of course...Zuko taunts Azula until she shoots lightning. I think it's worth noting that Azula was avoiding doing so up until now. Almost like she didn't really want to kill Zuko. And then Azula goes for Katara. This is a coldhearted & calculated move, in a way. Azula is manipulative even in the midst of her breakdown. She knows that going for Katara is the way to disarm Zuko. But I also think that it's because she didn't want to kill Zuko. Sorry Azutara besties, but Azula didn't know Katara at all on a personal level, so I think she made the quick decision in a desperate moment that if she had to kill someone, she didn't want it to be her brother & that this would be a great way to get Zuko distracted so she could burn him & win. But like...I also think this was all whizzing through her brain in chaos because she's also mid-breakdown & had to think fast.

Anyway, Zuko takes a heroic & brave dive & saves Katara. This moment just gets me every time. However, you interpret the relationship between Zuko & Katara (for me personally, I see it as a deep friendship) this is an act of love. +1000 iconic behavior points for Zuko. Pretty sure Zuzu is already taking the lead, but I can't not award him points for saving Katara's life.

I'll end this review by saying that Aang redirecting lightning against Ozai (but still not killing him) was a really amazing moment & I loved it. +1000 iconic behavior points for Aang.

[id: Aang redirecting lightning. end id]

This show really is epic, & its conclusion is proving to be just as intense, emotional, & beautiful as I remember it.

[anyu-blue]

I have FEELINGS about the new Tears of the Kingdom game.

No want spoilers- plz scroll!! I need someplace to word vomit a bit and this should be the only post

Mkay so this is so I can see if I nailed it or got it WILDLY wrong... Because I gotta know.

The game is decently hard not gonna lie 😅 I'm struggling a bit even having come in straight from BotW.

I'm absolutely in love with Rauru... Ah. I'm certain he's taken but just AH. He's beautiful and sweet and kind and just AH. Also. Ded. VERY ded. Held on long enough to save Link many thousands of years in the future from when he lived... But he's gone after that first bit- and that KILLED me... And then it killed me again to realize... We're going to see his death (again) aren't we? Before his spirit fades... Because of all the time hubub... We're gonna see all that. And I just NOOOO!! It broke my heart already to see the sacrifices he made that I've seen!!! ... And I'm absolutely dreading one of the possibilities... That when Rauru succeeded in trapping Ganondorf... The gloom/withering stuff ate away at his body until nothing was left but his hand. As in.. He remained trapped in spirit down there like that after suffering HORRIBLY. Thousands and thousands of years. *Shudders* this damn game may well break my heart if I'm right.

I also have the hunch that Rauru was the reason his home didn't fall out of the sky/remained hidden away... And now that he's gone, it's crumbling and is doomed to fall entirely. (Thinking Ganon wiped out his people... OR, worse, Rauru is the only one of his kind 😅 don liek dat- though the former is absolutely worse... Mass culling bad/sad)

The shrines are a bit.. odd.. but they seem to be merged into another realm or something... Something outside of and beyond time. Absolutely beautiful... Though strange. And it killed me again to listen to that beautiful text when a shrine is completed because it sounds like a male and female singing... Like the essence of who the Statues represent. Beautiful Harmony. Dagger... Meet heart TT^TT

The other thing that's nagging at me... Is I'm starting to wonder if with all this time stuff ... If Link and Zelda (our very same protagonists) aren't the two depicted on the murals... The hero and princess from 10,000 years ago sealing Ganon away... As time repeats the cycle. Again and again. Perhaps Ganondorf did not merely recognize the "descendants" or "reincarnations" of the hero and princess... Perhaps him recognizing them was him recognizing THEM... Juuuust not WHEN he is.

I'm pretty certain some of the stuff I've run into is time fuckery with things having been thrust forward perhaps... But I'll be happy to help wrong about that.

I have so many more questions... Like why the dragon/animal motifs everywhere for the Zonai? What significance or relation do the dragons have to Rauru (and/or his people if he's not the only one)? Because that was made EXTREMELY clear right off the bat. What are the constructs made of? What's that stone? Why is that temple in the sky called the temple of time?! Is Link going to end up with his normal arm again with all the cleansing? Did Rauru do all those weird modifications himself? He was obs born- he has a belly button... Right? Is the Shekiah technology BECAUSE of the Zonai? I don't think he was, but was Rauru the one to banish/shun them?? (I've always had the feeling they did something they weren't supposed to to achieve what they did.. will we find out?) Where the FUCK are all the guardians and towers and old shrines??? WHERE GO?! Those things were EVERYWHERE and HUGE... WHERE GO??!!

What exactly is the thing implanted in Ganondorf's forehead, and how does it relate to the one he steals it from and/or the triforce?

I have more... But right now I'm too tired 😅

Dear gods... This game is fucking HUGE... But I think we'll get there.

Also.. LOVE the underground foliage.. absolutely love it. *Chef's kiss* perfection. Love every bit if it (though I DON'T love the gloom- ouchies!!)

[murfpersonalblog]

"That's not Claudia's and Louis's perspectives, that's your perspective."

I literally posted TWO gifs of Claudia literally saying her perspective was that Lestat's actions towards her--AND Louis--made her feel like they were his slaves--which she ALSO says in the book! (and which is EXACTLY what Louis said Lestat made him feel like in 1x3 before Claudia was even there!)--and you're saying that's NOT their perspectives but mine? XD And that this show & Lestat's dynamics with his 2 Black fledgings isn't about race? Wow. (This is PRECISELY why I used a variety of source, SPECIFICALLY so nonsense like this isn't allowed to fly over the radar to gaslight or rewrite the narrative when we all watched the same frikkin show yet you're telling me these scenes don't effing matter or didn't frikkin happen.)

"Lestat treats her terribly but Louis is as responsible for Claudia's turning and being stuck in that house as Lestat is and she ignores that."

NO she does not ignore it--she read Louis for filth in 1x5 right before she left about him not taking her to a hospital. She asks Louis over & over & over to get the train with her in 1x6; and Daniel says in 1x7 that Claudia's diaries said she "hated your guts;" and even in S2 she's PISSED that Louis "picked another one, OVER ME!" She NEVER ignores Louis' culpability; what on earth are you talking about???

"He tells him tell me if you don't love me and I'll go away and Louis doesn't. He knew he'd ultimately take Lestat back at some point and Lestat realizes too so he keeps trying and succeeds after 7 years."

And HOW did Lestat succeed? With ANOTHER love-bomb in the "Come To Me" record, which he got HIS MISTRESS ANTOINETTE to sing to Louis--you're telling me that wasn't EXPLICIT manipulation!?

Also! Just cuz Louis loves Lestat & wants to be with him doesn't mean he's not having his pigtails pulled & his emotions manipulated--getting "a rise" out of him. He's well aware that he's having his chain yanked, and he's pissed about it "I hate you," cuz he KNOWS Lestat's no effing good & doesn't deserve him. Louis has TRASH taste in men--that doesn't stop them from being trash. XD

"That doesn't mean Armand was constatly manipulating Louis's memory. We never see that."

I LITERALLY said "god knows how many false memories planted in Lou's head that Armand used to shape Louis into the perfect compliant stepford spouse;" where "god knows how many" specifically addresses the fact that yeah, we DON'T know how much Armand effed up Louis' memories--only heaven & hell knows! And that's insidious AF--it makes the horror so much worse, cuz now Louis will NEVER know how much his agency/autonomy was VIOLATED, what to believe and what to doubt--"where does the bullsh!t start Armand, Amadeo, Arun?" Esp. when Louis seems to be mad at Armand in one scene/ep and then strangely back to being happy in the next. The show deliberately leaves it openly ambiguous wtf was going on--the only way we'll know more is if they do a TVA, where Armand finally admits to more shady things he did behind Lou's back--like the Frankenstein operation on book!Claudia; or if they pull a Merrick and have ghost!Claudia say more.

"Louis didn't actually need Daniel to point out he saw Sam in two places and Armand was far stronger than the coven."

YES he did--he even excused the discrepancy, saying he must've misremembered, cuz he doesn't trust his own memory anymore; "I just got it wrong."

"He never really interrogated Armand's lie because he'd rather go with his version and not be alone and to spite Lestat."

I've already discussed Louis' hesitancy to interrogate Armand & Lestat's lies (x x), cuz it's waaaaay more than that. The whole point of his insistence that Daniel continue the interview despite Armand's constant interventions was wanting to finally get to the bottom of "Truth & Reconciliation;" "I want this, to remember!" Louis wasn't thinking about spiting Lestat when asked Armand about Banishment--he wanted to know how the heck he managed to survive, cuz SOMEONE obviously made the audience say that and it sure AF wasn't Santiago. XD Even if he thought Lestat had done it, Lestat blew his chance to set the record straight in the Tower Scene, cuz Loustat BOTH assumed that Armand really did want Louis to live. Armand was more scared to be alone than Louis. Louis even said in 2x3 that he was gonna leave & find some place small & uncrowded, specifically to be ALONE & AWAY from vamps! "I was thinking London. If it's too large, maybe Dublin." But yet I--EYE!--am the one always reading characters in bad faith? Ok, y'all. XD

"Louis knew Armand had chosen the coven. He knew he was complicit in his daughter's murder. Armand didn't lie about that. He only lied about saving him and it was a circumstantial lie."

That's not a circumstantial lie at all. Louis asked Armand POINT BLANK, and Armand took the credit specifically to manipulate Louis--cuz Armand DID pull him out of the wall (a MONTH+ later)--lies mixed with truths are most convincing!

EVERYTHING Louis chose/decided afterwards ("do not find yourself at the theater tomorrow night at curfew; this is your death Lestat") hinged on that ONE "seismic lie:" that Armand said "Banishment," not Lestat. Louis was deceived into accepting that despite Armand's betrayal, selling them out to the coven, that Armand realized his mistake and was actively tryna get Louis (& Claudia) out safely (x x x). Cuz that was THE most commendable thing that happened; Lestat saved Louis' life (again). But Armand stole that from them, just like he stole "Tell him I love him, Armand." He's a effing snake. But here you are, blaming Louis for Armand's treachery & making excuses for yet another abuser.

"You're mixing and matching events as some sort of proof. I'm not going to waste time to prove to you otherwise."

If you call analyzing CONTEXTUAL EVIDENCE from the show itself AND its showrunner as "mixing and matching events," just cuz I can walk and chew gum at the same time? Sure, I guess. XD But fine, don't take my word for it. Nalyra just posted this ask today, wrt whose interpretations of the show we should trust the most:

So AGAIN, when Sam Reid himself says Lestat was lovebombing (ie: manipulating/controlling) Louis in 1x6 with all his gifts & apologies, stop saying we're reading into these characters in bad faith or coming up with our own interpretations or perspectives, just cuz we can be critical and choose not to only focus on the positives, but also acknowledge the effed up negatives in this show about "domestic abuse, gaslighting and love-bombing" in an interracial relationship.

For all of his shortcomings, Lestat loved Louis as he was.

Even at their worst, as the books took Louis away from Lestat--the same way books had taken his mother--Lestat never took the books from Louis.

And in an effort for forgiveness, Lestat looked to gift Louis a precious tome from his favorite bookstore.

Yet Armand always kept them out of reach for fear that something else might capture Louis.

[bhaalble]

Alistair: A Defense, a Critique

I PROMISED AN ESSAY

I DELIVER AN ESSAY.

So here we go. What’s up Ferelden, its him, ya boi

So, let’s start off by clearly delineating some things that Alistair is, and more importantly, what he is not.

I think there’s a tendency with Alistair critical posts to treat the worst possible version of Alistair as the “real him”, which is more than a little unfair. Unhardened, kinda bitchy Alistair is a part of him, yes, but its a part of him that only arises when your Warden is continually a dick to him, and I think it’s fair to say that none of us are the best versions of ourselves when we’re constantly being treated like shit or ignored. Furthermore, this isn’t really something we do when we talk about the other characters. Zevran straight up tries to murder you if you don’t have his approval ratings high enough and somehow most people don’t see Zevran as inherently a backstabbing little shit.

So, let’s run down the list of common accusations and overturn them

Alistair is not stupid. He’s just…not. Morrigan jokes, yes, but Morrigan tends to see everyone as an idiot for not sharing her worldview, including your Warden. The one who jokes about Alistair being stupid more often than anyone is Alistair, but as we see time and time again, he’s rarely the most trustworthy source for his real complications.

Alistair may not be a scholar and can make some pretty boneheaded statements, yes, but he’s hardly alone in that department for the DA:O crew. His retorts show some real wit behind them at points. He can demonstrate great social awareness (e.g. catching on to the fact that the Grand Cleric sending him, an ex-templar, to interact with the Circle Mages was definitely an intentional slight). Furthermore, I’d like to point out that he managed to catch on to the Chantry’s bullshit all on his own, before he racked up dozens of counts of mage abuse (*cough* CULLEN *cough*). He still shows some effects of the templar’s training, (especially in his treatment of Jowan and Morrigan) but I’d argue that this is hardly a surprise. He’s been subjected to it 24/7 since he was a child. But he’s aware, and based on the other templars we meet throughout the game that on its own shows some serious introspection and critical thinking.

Alistair is not selfish. While he has his moments, I don’t think that’s really who he is, deep down. Take, for instance, his forgiveness of Arl Eamon. He hasn’t seen Eamon for years. The expected arc would be that he waits for Eamon to wake up, gets an apology, and then forgives him. But based on how he talks about him when you enter Redcliffe, its clear that he’s already forgiven Eamon, and is honestly more than a little ashamed of his behavior. Frankly, this is more selfless than even I would be: imagine being twelve, having lived your life as a street urchin because your adoptive father simply won’t treat you any different than he treats his paid employees, only to be sent away from the only home you’ve ever known because your presence embarrasses his wife. Frankly, I think Alistair would be justified in resenting Eamon for it, but it’s clear that he doesn’t. He calls him a good man from beginning to end.

Furthermore, I think what the Guardian says to Alistair is telling. He doesn’t just feel sad that Duncan is gone. He feels guilty. He, deep down, genuinely believes it should have been him. He wishes he could throw himself on the sword to save his mentor. Then there’s the ritual to consider. It takes some convincing (because of course it does) but with little fuss, Alistair will sleep with a woman he genuinely dislikes (which hoo boy does this make a consent conversation more than a little shaky) to conceive a child that he will never get to see. He, a bastard child cast away from his father, is essentially doing the same thing. All to ensure that he won’t risk his friends dying. Even an unhardened King Alistair casting off a non-human non-noble Warden, while it of course hurts, to me shows a sense of latent responsibility. He genuinely loves and cares about your HoF, but he has the sense that this matters more. That even though he never wanted this burden, he has to carry it as best he can.

What Alistair is is immature.

I want to draw a fine distinction here because I think we tend to use immature interchangeably with “selfish” and “stupid”, so it can sound like I’m contradicting myself. So, to explain myself: I use “immature” in the sense of a symptom, rather than a personality.

For an example of “immature as a personality”, look no further than Tony Stark in like, the first half hour of Iron Man (arguably Tony in the rest of the movies too but ashfagdkh follow me here)

Early Tony Stark is very much someone who is irrepressibly immature. He is capable of being an adult, but he chooses not to be, valuing his own desires above pretty much everyone else’s. He acts out simply because he knows no one will stop him, chases the shiniest, biggest toys he can get, and throws a fit when he doesn’t get his way. He treats other people’s time and needs with a flippant attitude, generally behaving like they are literally side characters who only matter so long as they help him get what he wants.

This isn’t to say there isn’t a reason Tony is the way he is (his relationship with his father being a big contributor), but what is important is that Tony is fully capable of being otherwise, knows it, and chooses not to. He revels in his shamelessness, believing that his immaturity is a sign of his intelligence. Everyone else acts like an adult because they have to, but Tony acts like a child because he is smart enough and rich enough to get away with it. Call it a sort of Capitalist Peter Pan syndrome.

By contrast, Alistair strikes me as immature as a symptom. First off, his age is important to factor in here. Alistair is 20 (my age, which is trippy as fuck). He is barely done being a teenager by the time you meet him.

There are further factors that have stunted Alistair’s emotional maturity, even for the average 20-year-old. He jokes about having been raised by Mabari, but its very clear there weren’t a lot of adult influences in his life at a young age. He mentions Isolde ensured that the castle wasn’t home to him long before he was sent to the Chantry. Imagine being under ten and feeling like you were unwanted by a person who has the power to make your life miserable in every imaginable way.

Then, once he was moved to the Chantry….well, if the Circle is any indication, the Chantry doesn’t exactly know how to accommodate children. Alistair made life a merry hell for the priests but it’s clear he wasn’t treated very well by them. Then straight into templar training. All of this while barely interacting with the outside world and shunned by his peers for his status as a bastard. Kids need to engage with other people in order to grow up effectively. With that in mind, it’s frankly stunning that Alistair has as much care for other people as he does.

The observation of Alistair’s immaturity is exactly groundbreaking either. Think about his dream in the Fade. We see Alistair at his most honest and vulnerable, fully convinced of the illusion. And it seems his greatest dream is to have the family he never got as a child, via his sister. Alistair behaves childlike to the point of parody in this dream. He pleads like a child and tries to entice the Warden to stay by begging his mom sister to make a special meal, his favorite. Hell, the whole “hardening” subplot is basically about the Warden forcing Alistair to let go of the childhood he never got to have and moving forward into adulthood.

His immaturity doesn’t just express itself in the obvious childlike behavior, however. Even though we tend to forget that Alistair is a junior member of the Wardens and is barely more experienced than the HoF in terms of actually fighting darkspawn, I think we can all agree that tossing the decisions on someone who’s barely past their Joining probably isn’t great behavior. Pretty much every comment he makes, about mages, blood magic, elves, even women, also read as the words of a man who simply does not have the world experience yet to really know how to engage with people who aren’t like him. It doesn’t mean these comments don’t….yanno, suck, but there is rarely any real malice behind them. Despite the hardships in Alistair’s life (of which there have been many, I grant), he has still been on the receiving end of certain privileges by virtue of being a man and being human non-mage, and it is clear he is still unlearning the prejudice inherent in that. His youth doesn’t excuse how hurtful or ignorant his comments can be, but its the unfortunate truth that, especially for those of us who grow up relatively privileged, being mindful of the Other is a learning process.

However, the main reason I view this immaturity as a symptom more than a personality is that I think Alistair has a genuine desire to grow past this. He acknowledges that he complains a lot, with an additional note that “and you haven’t been having an easy time of it either”. If you push back on his comments (or at least when the game gives you the chance to), he’ll usually apologize for it. And as I said, the hardening storyline to me indicates that Alistair is more than ready to grow up. He’s just still learning how to do it.

None of this, by the way, means that you have to love Alistair. Its more than easy to be annoyed by him, especially for a non-human and/or non-noble character. In the interest of full disclosure, it took me romancing Alistair to move past simply tolerating him. But I think its time for all of us to stop pretending Alistair is something he isn’t. He isn’t really a side character as much as he is a deuteragonist. More than any other companion (except, arguably, Morrigan), Alistair has a character arc that acts in response to your own characters. He grows and changes over the course of the narrative in a way that parallels how the story treats him, and if you create an Alistair that behaves like an asshole, well, you might want to take a look at how you’ve been treating him

to

[gralunaisland]

I just wanted to ask,

Is it okay for me to be a J///erza Anti?

I have my reasons for not shipping the ship, but at the same time I wonder if I'm just being difficult and trying to be "different".

One part of me is like, "J///Erza shouldn't be canon because the whole Jellal almost killed Erza, and has been the cause of her trauma ever since she was a child." But the other part of me is like, "But the fans ship it, they see that Erza has forgiven him and they have official art, even their potential future son has been drawn."

It's Okay to Be a Jerza Anti (Coming from a Jerza Shipper)

Thank you so much for coming to me with this ask! I'll give you my opinion on the subject to try to help you out.

It's completely okay for you to be Anti Jerza!

Really, everyone has a right to hate whatever ship they want to! That really comes down to personal preference, and it's very subjective, not objective.

But even beyond that, you have very understandable reasons to not like it, don't worry. I totally understand where you're coming from. The trauma Jellal inflicted on Erza at such a young age will probably never completely heal. He enslaved "willing" workers to work for him after manipulating them to think Erza was the one who had cut off their chances at escape. He killed Simon. He brutalized Erza and banished her.

Those aren't easy things to forgive. And it's really completely fine for you to not forgive those things. I'd say it just shows your empathy for what Erza had to endure, which is a good thing!

For me, the reason I ship Jerza is that I attribute all the horrible things he did to Ultear manipulating him into doing them with her magic. He thought he was doing the right thing in a dark and twisted way. I also appreciate the following arcs where Jellal is on a mission to atone for his sins and to better himself in repentance. Honestly, in my opinion, it's one of the best things Mashima has written.

But that doesn't mean you have to take that perspective! Because even though I don't blame him, it doesn't change the fact that he did commit all those harmful acts, so it's easy to see why people wouldn't like him regardless of his redemption arc.

I hope you won't feel pressured to like a ship just because other fans ship it. Fandoms seldom agree on most things, so it's natural to disagree with even a large portion of a fandom. I for one am a part of a smaller subgroup of fans who hates gr///via and all that it is (clearly haha) but there's a reason why gr///via, and Jerza, are a part of the Big Four--most people ship it. Doesn't make them right whatsoever, which is something I try to prove on this blog of mine.

I also would take official art as well as drawings of potential children as inconsequential. We shouldn't care if Mashima likes a ship or imagined their futures together. Manga authors are just as imperfect as the rest of us, so he could (and does) very well promote terrible, toxic ships. ( I talk about this topic in this post actually, I recommend checking it out!)

I hope this reassures you that your opinion matters. Don't be swayed by the masses; stand strong in what you like and dislike! >:D You got this, I believe in ya!

(Thank you for your patience!)

[solidwater05]

New Future theory: Gaster brought us here to be heroes

[PT: New Future theory: Gaster brought us here to be heroes. /End PT]

In this theory I'll explain why I think that the events of Deltarune happened before our arrival, how they went wrong, and what Gaster is doing to get a different ending with our help.

Conclusions and speculations at the bottom

The Roaring already happened, and Gaster is not happy with that

[PT: The Roaring already happened, and Gaster is not happy with that. /End PT]

When we die in chapter 1, Gaster gives us two options. If we give up, he says that 'the world was covered in darkness' (meaning that the Roaring happened) and, if we continue, he says that 'the future is in our hands' (the future he's looking forward to is not the Roaring).

[PT: the future he's looking forward to is not the Roaring. /End PT]

Further proof that the events of the game happened before is an image found in the 2016 version of deltarune.com, titled 'him', in which Gaster says that the heroes **had already appeared** to banish the Angel's Heaven.

(here's a link to the 2016 page)

[ID: White wingdings on a black background. They read "three heroes appeared to banish the Angel's Heaven". /End ID]

Gaster says that he wants to 'create a new future' with us.

Additionally, a scrapped cutscene meant to play after the vessel was discarded shows Susie begging Kris to wake up, similarly to how she does when Kris dies in ch 2. Why would Susie tell Kris to wake up like they're dead if they weren't friends at all at that point? Well, that's because that cutscene was a flashback of the ending of the previous timeline, when Kris died and couldn't stop the Roaring.

(Here's a link to a video showing the cutscene)

Why the player came to Deltarune

[PT: Why the player came to Deltarune. /End PT]

[ID: A tweet by Undertale/Deltarune posted on October 31, 2018. It says "I look forward to creating a new future with you" in Gaster's writing style. /End ID]

This tells us not only that our arrival was completely planned, but that he doesn't want to repeat the 'old future' in which the Roaring was unleashed.

Without us, the Roaring couldn't be stopped, so Gaster prepared everything so we could participate and change that ending.

Gaster wants to make sure that we can figure out how to save the world. To do this, he scripted certain parts of the story, so that we would truly act like the heroes he wants us to be.

Gaster's plan and influence

[PT: Gaster's plan and influence. /End PT]

One of the scripted things was the vessel creation sequence. No, the vessel was not discarded against Gaster's will.

And Gaster came back to Twitter after the connection was supposedly interrupted as if nothing had happened.

Gaster and the second voice are working together. Once the second voice 'cuts the connection'... The connection isn't cut at all. Gaster narrates the file select screen pre-completion, while the second voice narrates everything once the game is completed. They take turns.

(Here's a video showing Gaster's narration)

[ID: Another tweet by Undertale/Deltarune, posted on September 17, 2021. It says "How long it has been" in Gaster's writing style. /End ID]

Another thing he influenced is Ralsei.

As our companion, Ralsei guides us to follow the prophecy and save the world(s).

Ralsei says that the prophecy was 'whispered among shadows' and 'foretold by time and space', so it can be interpreted as Gaster telling him, or even inventing the prophecy. After all, he knows what will, or should, happen in the future.

Ralsei also named Castle Town as PlayerTown, and the player's name is said when only Gaster (and potentially the second voice) were present. Someone must have told Ralsei that name, and I believe that it was Gaster. But that's not the only thing Gaster told him: he knows about how Darkners work, he knows that Dark Worlds aren't real, he knows about souls... he's one of the characters that know the most, along with Seam and the secret bosses, also called Shadow Crystal holders, characters known to have interacted with Gaster before.

Ralsei has a very particular view of the world: Darkners exist just to serve Lightners, and that's the only way they can feel happy and fulfilled. He wants to be, in Berdly's words, a lackey. He accepts and embraces his lack of freedom.

So, combining his ties with Gaster, his knowledge, and his views on Lightners and freedom, we can conclude that Gaster gave Ralsei a Shadow Crystal as part of his plan.

The Roaring happened once before, Kris died, and Gaster reset the timeline to get a better ending with our help. To guide us to be heroes, Gaster scripted a few things, particularly the vessel creation sequence (it was meant to be discarded, the second voice is Gaster's coworker) and Ralsei's worldview, which he altered like he did with Jevil and Spamton.

Conclusions (and my personal prediction/speculation)

[PT: Conclusions (and my personal prediction/speculation). /End PT]

And, as for my personal speculation, I think that the intro cutscenes with a black background are meant to be flashbacks of the previous timeline, in reverse. In ch 1 we see a flashback of ch 7, in ch 2 we see a flashback of ch 6, etc. However, there's no way to prove this. Yet.

[sehnsuchts-trunken]

Hiii, I’m back again with a request. They’re still open right? If they’re not just ignore this lol

I would love some headcanons about Newt with a reader who has chronic pain. It’d make for an amazing dynamic bc I feel like Newt probably understands what it’s like. Make it platonic or romantic, I don’t mind either lol. And if you’re not comfortable writing this, I totally understand. You can totally ignore this then

Thanks already, and have a wonderful day :)

this is the request i actually meant to post so, uh, yeah :))

i messaged an old friend of mine today who i lost contact with about five months ago and who i missed so much that i almost cried every time maze runner was even mentioned around me, so in honour of her texting back and absolutely making my day i'll write some wonderful headcanons for her beloved newtie <33

thank you for the request laurie, hope you like how it turned out!

- Just as you've already mentioned, Newt understands well what pain feels like when it’s always inevitably there, and he knows just as well what it can do to a person. Whether you're aware of where the pain comes from or not, having Newt by your side is a huge help; certainly also because this boy would not judge you for anything in a lifetime, no matter what you do or say. 

- And since Newt’s, well, Newt, there would also be no pressure included - none, zero. If you’re not a talkative person, if you don’t want to share but only want him to be there, then he will be; if you want to talk, he’ll listen, and if you want him to leave you alone, then he leaves. He doesn’t assume anything - neither your weakness nor your strength, and least of all what kind of help you need. 

- He makes suggestions, of course, and offers his support wherever he can. His advice is precious and valuable and always actually helpful, because after all he goes through something very similar, but if you say no to something he’ll take the no and leave it at that. He’s nobody who’d push anything onto other people, and certainly not when it concerns their mental and physical health. 

- Basically all that he does and does not do stems from his own experiences. He acts the way he wants other people to act or wanted other people to have acted like in the past with him; so he’s very considerate, very observant, and most of all he listens to what you say - even when it goes against his better judgement.

- Newt knows what a physical injury and physical pain can do to someone’s psyche, which means that he understands mood swings, anxiety and depression, and many other issues that the other Gladers may have much more trouble figuring out. If you have problems with sleep, for example, he’ll be happy to have you move in with him, just so that when you can’t sleep, there’s someone who can hold you or someone you can talk to. (he’s certainly not the only one offering this, but he can’t sleep very well himself, and he asks no questions because of a lack of understanding like some others do - with no ill intent, but still an annoyance)

- He’s definitely the first one to stick up when you say that you can’t work on some days. While Alby needs a lot of persuading and explaining because he simply does not really grasp the concept of your pain (there’s no injury? so why would you be unable to work?) and on those exact days you’re mostly not in the mood to do so, Newt always finds the patience to reason with him and gets you enough time to rest. 

- When some of the Gladers voice their thoughts on how you should not be there because your pain causes you to be almost a liability through having to rest more and working less than others, Newt is also the first one to defend you. Again, not the only one, but he actually gets angry this time, and that happens very rarely. His continuous argument, which no one ever dares to speak up against, is that even though he is in quite a similar situation, they certainly weren’t about to banish him, were they? 

- All in all, Newt is the absolute sweetest. He doesn’t hold grudges, he doesn’t get easily offended, and he absolutely understands what chronic pain is like, so he’s one of the few people who you can always trust and just be yourself around. 

[seirei-bh]

Please let's talk about Seem, Sig, Ashelin, Damas and all the plot holes of Jak 3, because I can't take this anymore

I'm re-playing Jak 3, realizing about some details, and it amazed me how I've never seem almost anybody in JnD fandom talking about the fact Seem and his monks were working for both Damas and Veger. I'm gonna emphatize this: Seem was working for the same asshole who kidnapped the son of the king for whom Seem also works. And Damas never knew it. Yes, I don't think Seem knew Veger was behind that kidnaping and probably the Monks were a neutral group, but the problem here is Jak NEVER confronted Seem asking why the hell they was telling important info to that dangerous man who killed thousands people putting bombs in a palace. WHY???

No, Jak just saw Seem talking with Veger and he's like "I wonder why Catacombs are important" and that's all. Because see a monk talking about secret plans with the man who banished them in a SECRET Temple in the middle of the Wasteland it's pretty common. I dunno Jak, but if you don't want to confront Seem face to face, don't you think you shouldn't at least advice Damas about his monks are possible traitors who made secret plans with a Haven Counselor? I think it's important.

Seem is part of the "bunch of characters who do questionable secret actions and nobody cares for some reason". As well as Onin and Samos. Because let's remember in Daxter game Onin was the one who tell Erol that Jak had special eco abilities and that's why Erol and Praxis used him for dark eco experiments, and Samos knew all the horrible things about what was going to happens to Jak after use the Rift Rider and he never said anything, nobody confronted him about this! The only scene we got is at the ending of Jak 2, where Jak asked to Samos if next time he will say something he knows and they take his silence as a joke. Wonderful.

But oh well, let's go back with Seem.

Seem's "redemption" and development happens out ot screen. All Seem interactions with Jak and Dax in Act 1 are hostiles and uncomfortable. Then in act 2, Seem asks them to get a precursor artifact from the Marauders, by communicator, in the middle of the mission. Why Seem does it if they hates Jak? Who the hell knows. After that, Seem asks them to save the Precursor Temple because the Dark Makers are attacking them, and… that's all, suddlendly Seem is your best friend. OH, and Seem apparently knew since that moment Daxter is a Precursor and Jak is THE Mar. Why? We never know, oh but look Daxter got a pants. //Insert ending credits here.//

And Seem is not the only characters with a weird behaviour and plot holes. But this post is getting long so I'll keep writing under the cut:

Also, there are more plot holes here. Ashelin should know Jak is the son of Damas. Ashelin knew Damas, she knew he was the previous king of Haven City, and she gives to Jak the Seal of Mar and told him "Don't you remember who you are?" so that means she should know already that Jak was the Kid. SO WHY SHE NEVER TOLD HIM DAMAS WAS HIS FATHER?? Ok, she could have some doubs if, as I've already theorized, Mar was born in Spargus so Ashelin wasn't sure if Damas had a son, but she should have asked to Damas, Sig, or Jak. Yeah, she was occupied handling a war, but this is important too for fuck sake, if she couldn't go to Spargus to ask, then send Pecker or somebody else!

And there is something more. Sig had a very important conversation with Jak and Daxter whose implications are never bring back later:

Sig: Haven folk are a bunch of weaklings, you know that! They already lost the war before it started. Luckily Damas has a plan to make sure we all survive.

Jak: You're playing with people's lives!

Sig: Why not? They played with mine. Survival of the fittest, baby. I suggest you get with the program, and be on the winning side.

Jak: And which side is that?

Sig: The one on top of the pile. Unfortunately, it's gonna be a big pile.

Jak: So now what?

Sig: Just keep your nose clean and stay sharp. I'll tell you when the action's coming.

And some missions later, suddendly Sig forgot all of this and helps Torn, Jinx, Jak and Daxter in Haven City to destroy metalheads in Haven. Wtf?

I assumed Sig was angry because he was used by Krew and he just forgot everything later because THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP is more important, but the fact is that conversation implied much more, like some hidden intentions related to Spargus and Haven City and that plan Damas had.

"Luckily Damas has a plan to make sure we all survive."

Cool, Sig, but what plan?

There is no plan =D

No, seriously, there is no plan.

Damas told us "My monks say the world is coming to an end, but I am a survivor. I say we live on long after this world dies! Be ready, you are shaping up to be one of my finest warriors, and I'll need you for the trials ahead." But that's all. He never told us what was his plan.

It wasn't until I read Jak 3 desing bible when I realized what was that plan: In the original script, wastelanders were going to attack Haven City, and in that context, that conversation with Sig has more sense.

Well, I don't like the idea that they were going to attack Haven City only for revenge, as it's said the the design bible. But I still find interesting a part of that idea and I think it would have more sense if they do it in order to survive, because in Haven City is were the Catacombs are, and that's where it's hidden the secret of the Precursors to protect the planet.

Wastelanders are tough people. If they have to enter in the City by force to reach the Catacombs in order to survive, they'll do. And they're not going to ask permission to the people who banished them, neither asked them for help.

The Monks knows it, and excuse me but I don't think they won't use all the opportunities they have to reach that salvation, so it's possible they not only told to Veger but also to Damas. Besides, Damas is a member of the House of Mar and knows a lot about the history of Mar, the Precursors, the City… of course he should have know that, besides in Jak 3 design bible it says Damas was interested in Precursors artifacts, and what we need to reach the Catacombs? Yes, Precursors artifacts. And where we get it? ALL OF THEM ARE IN WASTELANDS. Seem had one of them, Kleiver sold another to a buch of metalheads (Idk how the hell he talked with them and why metalheads have money but ok), and the Marauders had another. And OH WAIT, let's remember, what was the mission that Damas sent to us jus after he talked to Jak about his lost son, about all they sacrifices he had to do to save other people, and about to survive after the world ends? Yeah, he sent us to end with the Marauders in their fortress and we got an Precursor artifact after that because Seem told us by the communicator they stole it. What a coincidence, isn't it? So if we put some of these pieces together, along with the subplot ND deleted, it has sense. Besides, Why were wastelanders going to trust their Precursor artifacts to Haven City people? They already had them, and Monks knows were Catacombs are, so they can handle this.

It would have been very interesting if Jak and Dax had to confront Damas, Sig, Kleiver and Seem about this topic at least in one scene. Them trying to get Jak to choose a side while Jak is trying to convice them that the only solution is not to choose a side but to join forces with Haven City and viceversa to defeat their common enemies together, to win this last war and to protect the planet and that they should trust him to do be the bond between both sides. Then Sig and Seem's sudden change of actitude would have more sense.

It even could have sense if Seem was some kind of spy and Damas sent them to watch Veger movements. Or even Seem starting to change his mind about Jak not only because he took a random Precursor artifact from the Marauders, but also because Seem noticed Jak got a new Light inside him because the Precursors gave him light eco powers in the Temple, so Seem realized he's the choosen one to save the world. Maybe Seem talked with the Precursors in the Temple and they told them Jak and Daxter were so specials because they're Mar and a Precursor? Idk, SOMETHING.

And I didn't even start to talk about Keira's inexistence, Brutter's dissapear, and Cyber-Errol's and Darkmakers messy writing yet. But this post is too long.

Seriously, the way Jak 3 is handled after Act 2 is a dissaster.

[strangertheories]

STRANGER THINGS SEASON 4 SPOILERS

Victor Creel's role in S4

In the upcoming season of Stranger Things, one of our newest and most mysterious characters is Victor Creel. Creel is currently in a mental asylum after seemingly snapping out of nowhere and killing his entire family. His house and a grandfather clock seem to have links to the Upside Down and maybe even Vecna, this season's big bad. In this post, I'll be aiming to explain why Victor Creel killed his family, why he gouged his eyes out and his role in the show.

Firstly, and possibly the biggest mystery of this season, why did Victor Creel kill his family? As explained in detail in a previous post, I believe that Vecna will have possession powers of sorts. I think that Vecna is trapped in a parallel dimension and can only harm people in our dimension by going into their dreams or by possessing them. How does he establish this link? The Creel house clock. In D&D lore, Vecna manifested his evil into artifacts which effectively seduced his victims into killing whoever Vecna wanted them to. I think that Creel when moving into this house found the clock and this corrupted him like the victim in the previous story which meant he was vulnerable to Vecna. Vecna then tried to get him to kill so he could bring himself into our world, starting off with rabbits by gouging their eyes out. Creel eventually killed his family and gouged his own eyes out. He was then arrested but claimed that a supernatural force was making him do it by infiltrating his mind, making people believe he was insane and locking him up in an asylum.

Secondly, why did Creel gouge his eyes out? I believe this may link to the D&D origins of Vecna. Vecna is killed by having his eye gouged out and his hand chopped off. Perhaps since Vecna was possessing Creel, in order to sever Vecna's ties to our world he injured himself and thereby Vecna. Another possibility is that since Creel gouged his eyes out, he couldn't see the clock and was then immune from Vecna's powers or perhaps because he woke up and didn't want to see his dead family. I don't believe he wanted to kill his family so maybe at some point he snapped out of it and then gouged his eyes out for any of the reasons above, which would explain how his eyes have healed to an extent when we see him twenty years later this season. Maybe he also didn't want Vecna to be able to see through him to prevent more attacks which was triggered by the attack on his wife and children.

Another theory I have about this is that Vecna is said to have banished the person who gouged his eye out to another dimension. What if the body Vecna is inhabiting is actually the body of someone Creel tried to attack who gouged Creel's eyes out in self defense who Vecna then banished to the Upside Down just before Creel woke up from his possession? Vecna will be able to make portals so this is definitely possible and it would explain why Vecna wanted Creel to kill (so he could have a physical form like the mind flayer). As well as this, Vecna was in the Upside Down for twenty years as confirmed by a crew member in the SFX magazine and Creel got caught around 20 years ago. This would make total sense but still doesn't explain why the rabbits had their eyes gouged out as well.

So what will Creel's role be in season 4? I think Creel will mainly be an exposition character, like Terry Ives, who perhaps won't be involved in big battles but will be relevant to the mystery of this season. I assume someone will realize how the mystery in Hawkins and beyond is linked to Vecna and then go to investigate the Creel House. That or they first find out about the Creel House's link to the Upside Down and find out about Vecna through that. Either way, Nancy and Robin then head off to Penhurst Asylum in order to find out what Creel went through that no one believes him for. They will disguise to do this so Creel doesn't know their real identity, perhaps because they're worried he still has links to Vecna. He'll then explain what happened which I believe will be shown through a flashback.

Also, it wouldn't surprise me if then there is some sort of reveal that Vecna can still sense them through him which could act as a sort of mini-climax like the hospital scene in S4, but that's just speculation. The scene of them meeting him will probably be in the middle of the season once the audience and characters are beginning to piece together what's going on before they could start showing some intense actions like the scene in the hospital with Ms Driscoll.

To conclude, Victor Creel will be instrumental to the mystery of this season due to his links to Vecna and the history of the monster. I can't wait to see how his character unfolds. If you guys have any ideas about this, feel free to reply to this post or better yet send an ask so I can add to your thoughts. Thanks for reading folks!

[rpg-elf-girl]

Shadows House

I have a lot of thoughts surrounding this particular show, both good & bad.

Allow me to give a quick summary for anyone who hasn't seen/read it!

Shadows House is about 'a faceless family of nobles who all live within this giant manor, the Shadows House.

When a Shadow comes of age they receive a 'Living Doll' to both serve as their face and to clean the soot they emit from their bodies.

The most important rule of the living dolls is "don't fret over trivial matters"

A task which is difficult for the ever curious doll Emiliko.

Watch this tale unfold as Emiliko & her mistress Kate navigate this ever mysterious Manor together.'

For a fan of slow burn thrillers, horror, slice of life, supernatural & mystery series' this has been an absolute blast!

It's not quite the combination of genres you'd expect from a show, but it works really well here!

In fact I was so into the anime that this is actually the first show where I broke down and read the manga!

Unfortunately there's no official English release, but at least there are some people translating the series!

As much as I'd like to go on about the manga, this post is meant to be more so about the anime so I'll (try to) leave it at that.

Though i feel obligated to warn anime onlys I'll likely refer the manga a lot in a spoiler section latter in this post I'll try to be vague but I can't guarantee anything. For anyone worried about that I'll lable it do you can read on until then.

Everything from the animation to the music was amazing & completely fit the mood of the story! I remember a couple scenes where I actually teared up because of this!

The Ending theme is an absolute banger! I've listened to that on repeat ever since I first heard it! And the Opening is also great! It's cool for it to be an instrumental, stuff like that is pretty rare! I also heard the song in the op as a motif in the music throughout the show! It really sets the right mood in each scene it's in! It's amazing for getting into each episode!

In terms of adaptation almost everything from the beginning to the end of the Debut arc was done amazingly well!

Even with the stuff they cut it still holds true to the spirit of its source.

The main important part that was cut is something that could easily be introduced latter if they decide to go for a second season, so I'm not too mad about that.

However! Everything after the debut is a bit of a different story.

There was a lot I liked about the last couple episodes but there were some parts that were immersion breaking for me.

I've been being vague up until this point l, but I'm planning on going into spoiler territory for both the anime and manga after this. So I'll make a quick spoiler free summary of my thoughts before moving onto that.

I really really loved this show but in my opinion the last 3 episodes were the weakest of them all. They went anime only for the ending. I don't mind that on it's own, but it was rushed and the writing was sloppy at times.

Now I'm not telling you to not watch the show! Most of It's really really good, and I can still see people enjoying the parts I'm talking about if they want to give the anime a try. Overall I've fallen in love with this series and I could never recommend it enough.

If what I'm saying is giving you bad vibes the manga is available and doesn't have the issues I've mentioned. You can look for a translation online, it didn't take me long to find one so don't worry too much about that.

Also! if you're an anime only who's finished the series and want to know where to pick up the Manga I'd recommend at least skiming through the beginning. I know it might not be what you're looking for but there were a bunch of small scenes that either got cut or were merged for adaptation purposes that I think are super cute & give more context to different aspects of the setting. However! Pay close attention during the "night watchers part" something important got cut .

~~~Now for spoilers!!!!~~~

I don't want to make it sound like I'm some manga purist who hates the very thought of the slightest change from the source. I'm anime only for a lot of different shows and I've always despised it when that type of manga reader reared it's ugly head.

While I'll admit some changes did bother me I won't make a fuss about the smaller stuff.

With that said!

I hinted earlier in this post that I didn't have a big problem with Robe-same being cut. That was because without them there it does make for a more complete story if they only get one season to work with.

If there is another season they can easily be introduced latter on. Like maybe Emiliko & Shaun can meet them when the Debutant class reunion is going on before they talk on the roof (or right after that) I actually think that would be the perfect time to introduce them (other than the time they were supposed to appear, but I digress)

Louise teaming up & being friendly with Kate can be explained with some dialogue changes at the first Debutant Class Reunion. Louise can say she was just trying to show off or that she just wanted to get back at Edward and that she isn't interested in helping Kate with her problems. Things can then go on as they did in the manga.

Kates being reckless & telling everything to John can be explained by her being extremely panicked when Emiliko went missing, as long as there are some lines of dialogue adressing this it's fine. Though I do wish she tried to keep some stuff a secret but couldn't because Shaun tries to interfer because he's still brainwashed, or something along those lines. It felt a bit weird after she just told Emiliko to keep that stuff between them. Still that could be explained by how panicked she was.

There are other things, but I don't want to drag the post on too long. Most of the issues can be fixed with little changes here & there.

I never had a problem with the idea of them going in an anime only direction. I just want to have a good time with the show.

Unfortunately I can't 100% vouche for the direction the show went in. There were elements that I can't excuse, even viewing it as it's own entity instead of an adaptation.

My main complaint with it is how they handled the brainwashing of Ricky & Lou. They didn't say a word when the Debutants were talking badly about Edward & even went along with a plan to go against him. It makes absolutely no sense!

Shaun freaked out when John only suggested that he didn't have to be loyal to the house. These guys were flat out rebelling against an adult! It felt like Ricky & Lou didn't have a purpose & were just there to be there.

The whole point of the coffee is to influence shadows against doing stuff like this. It makes the coffee seem pointless and the adults seem dumb for relying on it to control the kids.

I haven't even brought up the fact that both of their brainwashings were broken by something as simple as a few kind words. It straight up contradicts the rules established by both the Anime and Manga.

This becomes very apparent when you consider all the trouble John & Kate went through to free Shaun & Emiliko.

This was my biggest complaint, but I have some other issues as well.

The next big one is how they handled Edward.

1. Why on earth would he even consider kidnapping Emiliko when he had complete control of the childrens wing? Before this point he was depicted as being a lot more crafty than this. He could easily have Kate monitored or something.

2. Why didn't he use his powers to stop them like what he did to Maryrose & Rosemary when they fought back being taken to the adults wing? He's already shown off his power at this point, why not?

3. Why did he reveal his soot powers at all!? Especially while using his face in front of the kids! The whole unification thing is one of the biggest secrets of the house for good reason! There's no way he wouldn't get in huge trouble for exposing it to children!

Here are some other related questions.

Why didn't Kate, Emiliko, & John react to Edward using soot powers? They shouldn't know about unification yet so why didn't they act shocked, or say anything about it?

Is Edward being banished even an option in the Shadows House? Wouldn't the third floor lords just dispose of him rather than risk letting him leave?

How did John even get a veiled dolls outfit? Louise had to use her powers to get Kate one & she left a long time ago.

I can't think of much else at the moment, but I think you get my point.

Please don't take this as me saying that I hate the show because of these episodes. Even if I consider them the weakest of the series I still found a lot of parts to be very enjoyable!

Like I thought it was adorable When Edward was attempting to interrogate Emiliko & she kept being her sunshine self pretending to eat & falling asleep.

Barbara getting to tell off Edward for breaking the rules was great!

I loved seeing Shaun hatch the plan to get Kate into the adults wing to save Emiliko.

Seeing John (attempt to) sneak around the adults wing had me rolling!

The ending scene of Shaun, Ricky, & Lou singing gave me the chills.

(Though I wonder how they'd handle Shaun & Emiliko being brainwashed again since they already used the scenes where they're freed)

Kate & Emilico being propelled by John back to the children's wing was absolutely amazing! I found Shaun & Ricky running over to catch them to be super sweet! (Not to mention the way that scene was animated was absolutely gorgeous!)

Getting hints to what was supposed to come after the debut was nice, at least the groundwork is there in case this gets a season 2!

To (try to) wrap this all up while there were a lot of things I loved and disliked about this show I still had a really fun time watching it!

I kinda hope there's a season two just to see if they can tidy up the mess that the last few episodes created.

Regardless of whether that happens or not I came out of this with a series I absolutely adore.

Heck I could make a whole other post about the manga. (Hopefully one that's less ranty)

Anyway! I won't take any more of your time.

I hope you all have a wonderful day/night! And I hope to see you in my next post!

(Sorry if this one was a bit of a mess!)

[marveloushiddleston]

The Monster Within

German Masterlist English Masterlist

Plot: After the last fight against Thanos, the task of the remaining Avengers was done. And a new team of Avengers must now protect the Earth from a new unknown force. Together with SWORD, Wanda, Vision, Doctor Strange, Carol, Bucky, Sam and Loki, who must first prove himself on Midgard as a team and face unknown enemies. Will Loki be finally himself?

Chapter 4

"...It has been three weeks since the people who disappeared five years ago suddenly returned, and two weeks that have passed since a new group of Avengers, have taken over the task of the original Avengers. Among the new Avengers also a former enemy of Earth. Yesterday, the team was sent on a mission for the first time. Loki...", Bucky took the remote control from the table and turned off the TV. He leaned back on the sofa and looked over his shoulder as he saw Carol come into the room.

"House arrest? Carol, you've got to be kidding!", Loki stormed after Carol, who walked into the open kitchen to the refrigerator, upset, "I saved people and now I'm the villain of the situation? Why am I the only one being put under house arrest?"

"Loki, no one sees you as the bad guy. Director Hayward made the decision because he felt it was in the best interest for everyone-"

"For SWORD.", Bucky interrupted as he looked at Carol and supported Loki. Loki walked over to him and sat down in the seat on the sofa next to him.

"Thanks, Bucky.", Loki patted him on the shoulder in a friendly way.

"Anyway, he made the decision to keep you under house arrest until you're no longer the subject of the media."

"What do I care about a few journalists?" he asks, snapping his fingers to turn on the TV on a random program.

"Well there are worse places to be grounded. Besides, the Director is throwing a party for us today to congratulate us on the successful mission, although I won't be there," Bucky turned his head to Carol and looked at her asking. Loki got up from the sofa again and walked over to the kitchen counters and propped himself up against it as he grabbed one of the apples from the bowl.

"What could be so important about missing a party full of annoying people, Miss Danvers?" he asks, raising his eyebrows. Carol rolls her eyes, mirroring Loki's pose.

"I have to go to an intergalactic SWORD base and I'm meeting with a Kree informant there," Carol explains, snatching his apple from the hamd before she walked out of the kitchen.

"That sounds very important to me," Bucky interjects, "Can you bring me some crackers from the kitchen, Loki?"

Loki looked at Bucky in confusion, "Get them yourself."

"Thanks!" exclaimed Bucky as Loki left the room, that made Loki laugh.

🐍

"Director Hayward.", Monica directs Tyler's attention to the five Avengers with a wave of her hand, "I'd like to officially introduce them to the Avengers team.", Hayward nods a little for Monica to continue speaking, "Sam Wilson aka the Falcon and Doctor Stephan Strange. ", Sam smiles and shakes Tyler's hand, Stephen does the same as Monica introduces Vision and Wanda, "Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch and Vision."

"Isn't that three missing?" asks Tyler as he looked at the Avengers.

"Captain Marvel is currently on our base in space. I'll just take a moment to look for Loki and Sergeant Barnes.", Monica found the two at the bar getting drunk on Asgardian alcohol from a flask and making fun of the party guests.

"Loki, hey," he says, his gaze fixed on one of the guests, tapping Loki on the shoulder to get his attention, "See that guy back there in the corner with the slightly gray hair?"

"The one the team is standing with?" asks Loki, looking in the same direction.

"That's the guy.", Bucky confirms before taking a big swig of from the flask and handing it back to Loki.

"You want me to turn his drink into snakes?" asks Loki, smiling mischievously.

"You can do something like that?" asks Bucky, startled and excited at the same time.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Monica interjects into the conversation, stepping closer to the bar in her blue cocktail dress, "This is Tyler Hayward, the Director of SWORD, who I'd like you to meet."

Monica turned and walked in the direction of Hayward. Loki and Bucky pushed off from the bar and followed her.

"Director Hayward. This is Sergeant James Barnes aka the White Wolf and Loki, the God of Mischief."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Tyler said before turning to Loki, "Though we've been hearing quite a bit about you in the news lately."

"Well, that's why you ordered me placed under house arrest," Loki says indifferently without breaking gaze with Hayward.

"It's just for your safety.", a man, with blond hair walked up to Tyler and whispered something in his ear. Hayward nods to the man, confirming something he was told before looking up with a smile, "Well gentlemen, I'm afraid I must take my leave of the party. As a director, you never get any time off."

Hayward left Monica and the team without waiting for a response, the man, with blond hair followed him.

"He's really very cordial," Bucky said jokingly.

"Well if we're all here together right now, I'd like to introduce you to your new assistant," Monica explained and looked around, she waved her hand, "Catherine!"

"Now what might we need an assistant for?" asks Stephan.

"Well a lot of new tech toys, like weapons and jets, your armor could use an upgrade too and of course coffee." explained a young woman with her dark brown hair up in a black cocktail dress. She let her gaze roam over the team. Loki's gaze banished with hers and first thing Loki noticed however were her unusual eye color, they were purple.

"This is Catherine Mikaelson, she is an agent with SWORD," Monica introduces her to the team, Monica turned to Catherine with a smile, "I guess no introduction is needed for the team?"

"You're right about that," Catherine confirms with a nod.

"It seems you are not a Midgardian.", Loki states more than that is a question.

"You're right about that. I'm-", she tries to answer, when suddenly something is thrown into the room.

"GRANADE!" yelled Monica, just before the grenade went off, sending her spinning away. Catherine ran to the unconscious Monica and pulled out her gun. She shot two of the men. A handful of men enter the room. More men break through the glass of the window. Wanda hurls two of the men back, through the window. One of the men shoots at Bucky, blocking the shots with his metal hand. Vision and Stephan fight several men in hand-to-hand combat. Loki and Sam, meanwhile, prevented the men from entering. One of the men pulled a knife and hit Loki unexpectedly, Sam flung him against the wall and knocked him out. The other guests ducked to avoid being shot. A couple of the agents did their best and fight a couple of the men. Sam punches one of the men in the face. He grabs Sam by the arm and twists him. Sam doubles over in pain. Loki throws his dagger at him, Sam catches with his right hand and hits the man. Loki pats Sam on the shoulder as he came breath.

"Damn, what was that?" asks Stephan.

"Well someone wasn't invited to the party," says Bucky as he leans against the wall.

"Loki, you should get that cut checked," remarks Vision. Loki leans against the wall as he became increasingly dizzy and his vision darkened

"Loki?" was the last thing he heard as his body fell unconscious to the floor.

A/N: My tag list is open, post in the comments if you want in it. And please also write me in the comments what you think of the chapter!

Tag-List: @silvers-hero-vault  @i-like-most-things-i-guess

[coinofstone]

3x12 The Coming of Arthur pt 1

The title is such low hanging fruit I feel bad cracking a joke about it.

It's a quest episode! I love a quest episode. Srsly feel free to send me any and all Merthur quest fics. I can't get enough 😂

This is the episode responsible for the lovely Leon fanon headcanon that he's immortal. Always handy in an Arthur Returns fic.

Uther: you must go on this mission alone

Arthur: *brings Merlin*

I do love Merlin being being a smart alec and nagging Arthur while packing. Excellent banter.

Arthur said

Arthur threatening a young boy like this is such an ugly and uncharacteristic action it makes me angry.

Merlin tending to Arthur while he's sick and injured 🥺

Also I'm sorry but Merlin shows fuckin Gilli his magic but he's hiding it from fuckin Gwaine while Arthur is suffering? Silly.

Cenred's massive army makes me wonder if it's a result of his tolerance of magic or lower standards than the knights of Camelot, or some combination of both.

Poor Leon, though. He's just got back from near death in that forest and Uther sends him right fuckin back in 😂

Looks like they snuck in to Camelot via the dragon's cave. I doubt that was the intention but I still approve 😂

Knowing he's on a suicide mission, Arthur gives Merlin an out, knowing he'll never take it, knowing he doesn't even want him to: he still presents him with the choice.

How come literally everyone else gets a crown that fits them but Arthur walks around looking like he's wearing hand-me-downs?

Morgana might be evil but she looks damn good on a throne.

3x13 The Coming of Arthur pt 2

There's a post going around Twitter about ppl who nitpick at TV shows... this comment falls into exactly that category 100% but I'm sorry, I cannot just ignore the fact that Morgana's got these massive banners and an entire army's worth of uniforms, I mean look:

Every guard with the sigil on his uniform and half a dozen banners in the council chambers alone. That's to say nothing of the ones outside. I mean look at the sheer fuckin size of these things:

Look how tiny the ppl are next to em! They've gotta be at least 15 feet long, at least. Where did they come from? Were they all magicked into existence? Who designed that sigil? What does it represent? Is it Gorlois' banner? I HAVE QUESTIONS.

Leon isn't someone I've ever been particularly attracted to, personally, but his defiant shout of "Long Live the King" in the face of Morgana's threats, is sexy as hell.

Depressed Arthur is such a mood.

So. Gwen. Originally in 3x12 when Morgana essentially invited Gwen into the fold (insofar as a Queen's servant can be), it seems to be a set up, because Morgana has been treating Gwen like shit for ages, why would she suddenly want her friend back? Especially since Morgana knows something is going on between Gwen and Arthur - there's no way she believes that they were actually under the spell of some random sorcerer, that just doesn't make any sense. So you kind of assume - or at least I did - that Morgana is keeping Gwen close knowing that she'll be useful as bait or a hostage, just essentially as a person of value to Arthur. She's known Gwen for too long to actually believe she'd cross Arthur, there's just no way someone as machiavellian as Morgana doesn't see Gwen's 'loyalty' as a simple survival tactic. All of this is to say, when Morgana and Morgause eavesdrop on Gwen's conversation with Sir Leon, Morgana is just like, 'welp, she's betrayed me. Guess I'll kill her in the morning.' as though she was actually expecting Gwen to do anything else?!?! Like, why? It would've made so much more sense to just cut that line entirely and go straight to something like

Morgana: it's as we suspected, she's betrayed me

Morgause: yes, now she can lead us straight to Arthur

And it would've made so much more sense than the weird sort of purgatory they've implied where Morgana changed her mind about Gwen very suddenly the night before she took the throne. It's not a super important detail in the overarching story but it's another example of how carelessly their story has been handled.

Me rn:

I do love that they made Freya the Lady of the Lake, and that she kept her promise by telling Merlin how to defeat the army of the dead.

How Merlin really sees Kilgharrah:

Gwen really is the smartest of all of them.

I do love that Merlin's first undead kill with excalibur is entirely an accident lol

The subtext between Morgana and Morgause is really gross. I haven't said anything before because I generally don't approve of ship shaming but the not so subtle subtext gives me the heebies.

This is such a great shot

Everything about it, his woman at his left and his man at his right, his romantic rival opposite him on his wife's side, as directly opposite her as possible at a round table with an uneven number of placements. It's a really beautiful shot, fitting for an equally beautiful scene. It's a very moving scene, the music really adds the exact emotion you'd expect for this moment we all recognize... and I feel like the knights' oaths are very well matched. The snarky part of me wanted to make a 'call me maybe' joke about Percival, but he's so sincere I just can't do it. The moment of levity added by Merlin's banter with Arthur is really, really well paced. Honestly I think it's probably the next perfect, iconic scene since Gwen and Arthur's first kiss. Hats off to this crew.

(Don't worry dear reader, I'm sure I'll get back to complaining shortly)

Santiago is so dreamy. I'd share his bedroll any day.

I like that despite all the talk of equality and doing the thing Uther wouldn't approve of, Gwen still worries about the company seeing her and Arthur kiss. Like, he's planning an insurrection with a bunch of commoners and two dudes who've been officially banished from Camelot, but she's internalized the classism and the rules of royalty so deeply that even amongst friends she instinctively keeps their relationship hidden. I'm not sure how intentional that was but it's brilliant.

The fight big fight scene with Merlin just barely missing the cup while the knights are cornered, and Gaius showing up like the brilliant deus ex machina that he is, honestly makes the previous budget-slashed episodes more bearable. Because this really is great, even knowing it's great at the expense of those others.

Morgana's screeching is eerily similar to Aithusa's.

I wonder if they knew they were getting renewed for a fourth season when they wrote this. Because you know, it really could've worked as a series finale as well. An open-ended series finale, but a series finale all the same.

As a Queens kid, I cannot explain to you the joy it gives me to watch Arthur and Merlin just chillin on the steps to the castle as tho it were a stoop, which I suppose, in a sense... it kind of is. Ahhh youthful days.

Commentary is Jeremy Webb and Julian Murphy.

And this kids, is why we're watching with commentary! They've just explained that Morgana's sigil is supposed to symbolize the Rowan tree that's supposed to be at the heart of the Isle of the Blessed. That suggests she designed it herself, so there's at least one of my earlier questions answered.

They talk a lot about how Emila Fox was very pregnant when they were filming her in this season, and they shot entirely around it - and I can't help but feel anger toward Joss Whedon and his 'handling' of Charisma Carpenter's pregnancy during S4 of Angel.

One of them called the round table scene 'curiously moving' and I think that is really fitting. They'd had this in mind for about two years, which is probably why it's so extraordinary. That's a great gestation period for a scene as iconic as this.

One final tidbit: the sword in the stone was filmed in France, and made it back to Wales intact. I guess nobody wanted to take it out. That's kind of an interesting thought, like a little set superstition or something. It's kind of cute.

The DVD extras/special features will get a separate post if I feel I have comments worth sharing.