#like he's not Just Evil but he's done some pretty screwed up crap

[tiger-moran]

So Sherlock is Garbage, and Here's Why (I will refer to that from here on as SIGAHW) does talk about Moriarty but not Moran but watching that has made me think about what that show did (or didn't do) with my two favourite characters. Let's get this out the way first, sorry but I'm never going to like 'Jim' no matter what, even if they'd characterised him better and not done... everything they did with him, but that's really not the point here.

What is the point is they screwed Moriarty and Moran over in that show bigtime, and Moriarty/Moran for that matter, which whatever some people try to claim is a pairing that has a very strong basis in the canon, they are one of the most obvious potentially queer pairings of the canon even. There are details in there that are very suggestive even that Conan Doyle could have deliberately coded them as queer, probably for homophobic reasons, yes, but more in a way that tied to the homophobia of the day, so it was a coded way of saying these are characters who break the law and exist outside the laws and the norms of society because in that time and society male homosexual behaviour was literally illegal as well as widely being deemed 'sinful' and a 'sickness', i.e. it could well have been something that emphasised that these are characters who just do not give a shit about the norms and rules of society, something which is not in itself intrinsically queerphobic.

But there is nothing intrinsically wrong with coding villains as queer anyway (and I will fight people over this), and often a lot of queer people do latch on extremely hard to the queer (confirmed or coded) villains because we see ourselves in them. There's also nothing inherently wrong with having queer male characters be 'camp' or 'flamboyant' or whatever. But SIGAHW does address the queer-coding of Moriarty in Sherlock and it's summing up pretty well why that always rubbed me the wrong way, because it linked queerness directly with villainy. But also it didn't even show him as queer by bringing in the guy who would very obviously be a candidate for his boyfriend, i.e. Moran, it did it by making him obsessed with Sherlock and everything he does has to be because of and revolve around Sherlock because Sherlock is the Bestest Bestest Bestest Ever and So Smart and So Amazing (probably because, let's be honest here, Moffat seems to think he is as brilliant and smart as Sherlock Holmes and sees himself as Sherlock). It basically has it that Moriarty is bad and wrong and evil and all of this is because he's essentially in love with Sherlock, his 'badness' all stems from his queerness, which is fucked up and also, none of that is canonical, it's just an interpretation and a very loose one at that, yet it's taken over and they act like it is literally canonical fact and it's got to the point where even the fucking Conan Doyle Estate Ltd are spouting this shit as if it's canonical fact - they still have that Moriarty is "Sherlock’s number one nemesis and obsessive fan. Moriarty is the criminal mastermind who haunts Sherlock Holmes as the great detective hunts him during many of his investigative endeavours. Moriarty’s impeccable intelligence and wit make him a perfect mirror of Holmes, often in an eerily romantic way" crap on their website. They are literally describing Sherlock while claiming to be the 'experts' on the canon and ~guardians~ of the canon and its characters. Which is pretty fucked up, and OK that's probably not inherently the fault of that show or its creators but it does go to show how their nonsense managed to take over in people's minds while shitting on the canon.

Meanwhile the creators of Sherlock actually did go out of their way to insult Moriarty in the canon and in other versions - that "Moriarty is usually a rather dull, rather posh villain" nonsense from Moffat for instance which having seen that referenced in that video now I do remember and it pissed me off back when I did read that originally too even though way back then I didn't even love Moriarty the way I do now. It always, always felt like they had such contempt for the canon and their treatment of Moriarty was yet another example of that - it felt like this wasn't something they were adapting with genuine love and changing details to create their own interpretation sure but in some carefully crafted still very loving way as some kind of homage to the canon and those that had gone before. It didn't even feel like... they were mocking the plot holes and everything in the canon but in an affectionate way. Loads of us do that, I spend a lot of my time infuriated with Conan Doyle and his lack of fucks about making things make sense or making them not contradict each other, but I absolutely mean that in an affectionate way, whereas they seemed to genuinely think everything that had gone before was terrible, including the original stories, and everything about it needed to be 'fixed' and that they had made the stories 'theirs' now and all the other versions including the original stories could get fucked.

Also there's their habit of just tossing around words like "psycho" and "nutcase" for Moriarty (as well as the "sociopath" stuff for Sherlock) which seems... dangerous territory to be veering into? Not only for linking being a "psycho"' or a "nutcase" with queerness (as SIGAHW rightfully points out that is screwed up, in the way they did it) but also making it (again as that video points out) so you don't have to actually bother to give the character of Moriarty any real depth or consistency or, you know, actual decent characterisation because he's so ~zany~ and ~crazy~ because he's just a "psycho" which yes is piss poor, lazy characterisation, but also... you're basically 'villainising' or demonising actual real mental illnesses, or symptoms of them? And saying he's dangerous and bad because he's "crazy"... I don't know, I don't feel like I'm best placed to comment on that but that always rubbed me the wrong way too even if I maybe can't fully articulate why.

(I'm not really getting into the fact that they ultimately did just waste Moriarty too, like they didn't actually know what to do with him beyond make him infatuated with Sherlock, because I think SIGAHW did cover that much better than I ever could. But I mean, it does seem like they couldn't even commit to anything with their own take on the character, they didn't even ultimately have any respect for him never mind for any other version including the canonical character.

I'm also not really getting into how they basically set up this 'Jim loves Sherlock' thing and then proceeded to belittle fans who shipped them together, but that was very screwed up too that they did that.)

And then there's Moran. My beloved Moran. I do not know which is worse, erasing a character entirely, or effectively breaking him up into various parts, showing some of those parts but then removing the main pieces of him that make him who he is. Because in Sherlock they had a character named Sebastian (who as far as I can remember was a total douchebag), they had a character named Moran who was some sort of criminal, they had snipers, they had other people working for Moriarty. But never a Sebastian Moran, never Moriarty's right hand man, never Moriarty's friend (when he is literally called Moriarty's friend and bosom friend in the canon). Moran canonically mattered to Moriarty and he was way more than just some fucking 'henchman' - I have written many tens of thousands of words about this already including multiple essays. Moran mattered. But he didn't matter at all to 'Jim', or Sherlock's creators. And not only that they also did what they did elsewhere and not only showed utter contempt towards the canonical character, they also showed contempt for the people who love him and for the shippers of the pairing. They knew full well there were people who were desperate to see a Sebastian Moran in that show, they knew there were people who shipped Moran with Moriarty, and yet when they were asked about this they just insulted him and dismissed him as totally unimportant (that "he’s just Moriarty’s henchman. There is not much more to it" shit from Gatiss, though I'm almost certain Moffat said something else demeaning about Moran too but this was too long ago now and so much stuff has vanished without trace so that I can't find any of those quotes any more), and they made it sound like the fans desperate to see him in the show were absurd for seeing anything in him or in Moriarty/Moran or wanting that to happen, because of course 'their' Moriarty only has eyes for Sherlock. Of course (because Sherlock is a fucking Moffat stand in so of course everyone from Watson to the original character mortician to the supposed lesbian to the recurring major villain has to be infatuated with him one way or another because he's just that awesome. Even though in actuality they made him into an insufferable prick).

They did screw over Moriarty/Moran and just erase that pairing from existence in that universe, essentially, to the point where anybody who does ship the pairing in it had to create 'Seb' themselves, to fill this void that the creators deliberately put in because they thought their version of these beloved stories and characters was so much better and smarter and more wonderful than anything else, when in reality it's like that video says, it's garbage, and it's insulting to the fans who care about the stories and the characters and the pairing both in itself and in the way the creators treated those fans. No they are not the only people to do this and smugly act like they're better and cleverer than Conan Doyle and of other fans of the stories and the characters while they were merrily wrecking the characterisation and butchering the stories, I can certainly think of one rather famous author in particular who I think did something similar too, but I think they did take it to a whole other level.

[redhatmeg]

And now the fight between Sanji and Luffy.

First of all, Sanji probably doesn't believe he can be saved and that's because his family seems to be too powerful and there are too many things at stake - not just Sanji's hands and Zeff's head, but probably even Straw Hats' lives too - for him to see any way out of this situation. He also can't tell Luffy anything about this, because he's riding with his monstrous brothers and father.

So he decides to play along and say some terrible things to his captain. And he knows Luffy very well; he knows what words will make him angry and what kind of men Luffy despises. And so Sanji plays a spoiled noble, he talks about social standing and about being able to use servants and soldiers as he likes.

Look at his face in that scene. Look at his eyes and arrogant smile. He really wants to come off as evil and smug, and heartless as most of the villains Straw Hats encountered. He wants Luffy to see him as a liar and piece of shit; as a false friend not worth saving.

But Luffy went through a similar "We are not friends anymore" bullshit with Nami and Robin, and he didn't give up on them either, so he quickly see through his cook's performance and calls him out.

Yonji proposes to fight with Luffy, but Sanji tells him he will "send them off" himself. And I have two ideas as why he does that:

Because he doesn't want Luffy to face his brothers. As I said earlier, he doesn't believe right now that there is a way out of this situation. I think that recently he reverted to this scared, bullied child who is helpless against his abusers, so he doesn't believe Luffy can take Vansmokes, especially on his own. Given that Vansmokes earlier threatened him repeatedly about attacking Baratie ("There will be blood on East Blue." and all that crap), so even if Luffy used all his fighting techniques and beat up each and every Vansmoke, Baratie could suffer every moment.

Because he's playing both before Luffy and his family a cold-hearted man who betrayed his captain for wealth and comfort.

When Sanji attacks with one of his more powerful moves, he expects Luffy to fight back, to defend himself with haki if necessery... but Luffy doesn't want to fight. He wants to talk. He wants to know what's going on. As I said earlier, he went through this with Nami and Robin, and he's not going to just give up on a member of his crew.

Their fight is very one-sided (even if Luffy calls it a duel) - Sanji attacks and Luffy takes it. Finally Sanji - knowing that his captain won't give up on him and won't fight him either - uses a very powerful move that knocks Luffy out. Nami slaps him for this, but it's safe to assume that Sanji used enough power to make Luffy unconscious, but not enough to kill him. And even if the Vansmokes won't believe that Luffy is dead, they will believe that Sanji cut his ties with him.

Anyway, Luffy gets up pretty quickly and says it how it is:

"I know you were just saying things that you didn't want to! Stop lying! Did you think you could send me away that easily?! Screw that! No matter how many times you kick me, you're the one that gets hurt."

Nami is skeptical of Sanji, but Luffy shuts her down and vows to stay in one place and starve until Sanji comes back. It's important to remember that before he does it, he has a flashback of Sanji telling him about All-Blue. He even says: "Our journey isn't done yet." Sanji may say that he's happy now, but Luffy knows his deepest dream and Straw Hat wants Sanji to achieve it.

"You're the cook of my ship! I won't eat anything other than what you cook! Even if I get hungry or the spears rain on me, I'll stay right here and wait for you! Be sure to come back, Sanji! Without you, I... I can't become the Pirate King!"

This vow is especially poignient because ever since his two years in Okama hell, Sanji started to be more vocal about wanting Luffy to become a Pirate King and his own motivation for staying in Queendom was to make his camrades stronger.

Sanji knows it, Nami knows it, we know it - Luffy is a glutton and needs meat. So for him saying he won't eat anything, unless Sanji comes back, is a big deal.

[popculturebuffet]

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers BOOM! Retrospective: Issues 2 and 3 (Patreon Review for Brotoman.EXE)

Hello all you happy rangers and welcome back to my look at BOOM! Studios Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. For those just joining us, a quick recap: Back in 2016 comic published BOOM! inked a deal to produce Power Rangers comics, being the first studio since marvel to do so consitently and the first to go all out with it: a full ongoing, several graphic novels we won't be getting into for now, and eventually multiple ongings cumilating recently in the end of the longstanding ongoing before what I assume will be some kind of relaunch. Brotoman being a fan of the first run by kyle higgins asked me to cover it at least up to Shattered Grid, I agreed and here we.

PREVIOUSLY ON POWER RANGERS:

In an alternate timeline that was less 90's but green with evil still happened, the power rangers have welcomed Tommy Oliver into their ranks as the green ranger. Tommy is struggling both with his guilt from Rita's brainwashing and a rita ptsd ghost following him around making that harder, cumilating in a screw up that has his zord fail to save a bridge. Each ranger deals with this diffrently: Jason isn't fully comfortable with this or Tommy's more indvidualistic nature, but clearly wants to give him a chance, Trini and Billy are unsure but are willing ot check the servos, Kim is down bad and disapointed Tommy would rather try to win a kobiashi maru style scenario that Zordon keeps letting him replay because someone forgot to change out his tube and Zack's defualt mode to tommy despite being BRAINWASHED is

All the while Rita schemes to somehow power a mysterious black crystal using Tommy and sends Scorpina to his house as part of this plan.

So that's where we begin this issue. Also Bulk and Skull have a wacky backup story where their trying to pick up women by becoming heroes. IT's pretty neat. Overall I thought the first two issues, issues 0 and 1, were okay, but felt like we were missing a page and that the series would've been better off starting from scratch instead of trying to fit into the MMPR timeline. Will these issues be better? Will Bulk and Skull be charming? Is too much green energy more dangerous than too much pink energy? To answer your questions... a bit, yes, and somehow yes. But join me under the cut anyway would you?

Let's being: The issue starts with bIlly and trini. Billy is looking over the zords. He finds they work kinda like segways, more off the environment or something and that nothing seems to be wrong. He also admits he was reluctnant to go into the dragon zord as he assumed it might have chains and cauldrons and all that crap. Trini assures him that just because RITA is into that dosen't mean Tommy would and he's like them.

It's then we get my faviorite moment from these two isssues, a really nice, well done bit of character work and a bit of calm before things pick up: Billy almost interjects and when Trini gets him to open up he admits that Tommy's like THEM. Another fighter, traditoinally attractive (Trini points out he's no slouch, a nice nod to how Billy's actor was jacked but often wore baggy clothing early on to hdie that). Trini helps him out of it by reminding Billy that his brain is just as useful and not only has he taught her a LOT he's also the rason their able to look at the zords like this at all. Tommy's useful.. but he can't do THIS. It's honestly really cute and I woudln't of minded if they shipped the two, though I still adore who they DID end up shipping trini with. But we'll table that for now.

Back with Tommy scorpina demands what's not his, the power coin, and while Tommy bluffs to his mom, when Scorpina threatens him Tommy oliver does what tommy oliver do best: kick ass

Yes Folks tommy WEAPONIZED the rangers teleport. It's really clever. I know from watching History of Power Rangers telporting into the command center ONLY works for the rangers, protection and all that.. but I never thought about the fact it'd work just fine for anyone else. It's not super useful, this isn't final fantasy XV where they can port around fast and loose for combat, but it is VERY clever.

Tommy and Scorpina scrap but it's clear he's outmatched. I also appricate choosing her to sqaure off against him as she didn't do much as far as I can tell otuside of green with evil, so it's neat to have her take part in what's essentially a direct sequel.

Tommy's already only doing okay when Scorpina breaks out a bunch of putties

We cut to Kim and Jason. Jaosn is teaching karate at.. an actual karate school?

As I grapple with my sense of reality, Jason teaches kids, showing he enjoys the work. Kim came to visit him as her parents are having a messy divorce and she dosent' want to be in the middle of that, and Tommy's busy and Jason can see through her denial he likes her. He's less chill about his sensei asking if he could get tommy to co teach his class and I like this: Jason does try to be nice about it.. but it's claer it rattles him tos hare this space, even if the teacher means well.

At any rate our heroes don't have time to dwell as Zordon can sense when his rangers are getting their asses kicks and summons them to go save Tommy.

Back on the moon we find out Rita.. is actually really thinking this out as either way she wins: whatever the black crystal thing is it absorbs the chaos energy of the green power coin: if tommy surivvies and the rangers beat scorpina, she still gets further in her plan. If Scorina takes the coin.. then she just wins early.

Naturally it's option 1 as Jason and Kim arrive to help as does Zack. Tommy however snaps a bit after running after Scorpina who teleports away and leaving everyone else to deal with the putties. Thankfully they clear it and while Zack bites tommy's head off ab it he bites everyone elses off clearly defensive. What I like is while Jason has doubts clearly.. he assures tommy he did the best he coudl teleprorting her away and isn't ashamed. I like this a lot more.. while we still get plenty of ptsd rita in this issue she comes off more like Tommy's own slef loathign.. that he keeps pushign himself so damn hard as seen with the simulation and thus pushes the others away, constantly feeling like their judging him for something he coudln't help, like there was a part of him responsible for what rita did to him. It's great writing and really helps this issue step up from the last two.

So we end as at the center the team muses shit is dire: If rita can just teleport one minon in, tommy isn't safe but his own pride means he isn't giving up the coin to zordon. We then find out WHY the dragonzord didn't listen.. it's stopped listening to tommy. The zords are like wild animals and thus have to be in synch with their rider and either rita's plans or tommy's own doubts are doing something. Tommy gets defnesive.. and then passes the fuck out as we close issue 2, like I said a big step up with more character moments, both subtle and obvious, a great fight scene with Tommy and the putties. The series took a bit but it is getting better honestly.

Beofre ew can see if it keeps up momentum though it's time for the boys. Bulk and Skull have caught a putty and being bulk and skull hav ea stupid plan for what to do with him: take him to the basketball court of course! If it worked for airbud it'll work for him. Unfortunately their plan to make millions/beat up this creature to get kimberly and trini's respect. This naturally goes off the rails as the putty escapes before they can beat him up.

The adds I see in the digital copy remind me that Sons of Anarchy had a comic once. Haven't seen the show, don't really have an intrest in those biker micheal likers and the ad was for series creator kurt sutters original comic, but it's still weird to me that was a thing that happened. I also thought they had done Cobra Kai, Glow and Wet Hot American Summer but no that was IDW.. though it's still delightful and weird those things happened.

Speaking of delightful and weird, we check in on Goldar. Yeah despite being honestly probably THE most iconic power rangers villian apperance wise and probablys econd over all to lord zed, Goldar's been asbent as his defeat in the Green Ranger saga allowed the rnagers to turn the tide. So Goldar's spent his time since like a resonable person, moping in the smoke machine dimension from Green With Evil refusing to come out of his room till Rita actually asks for him. It should be mildly tragic but he comes off less like a warrior who lost his armor and ladyships respect and more like a kid upset his mom yelled at him.

So we get a brief jumpscare as we see what may be tommy's mother but it turns into rita.

So we instead pick up right where we left off.. with Tommy waking up and everyone fucking terrified and worried about the guy since he just aburbtly passed out. I mean it wouldn' tbe a teen drama if someone didn't aburbtly pass out at some point, but it's still not.. good.. alpha goes to get water after Tommy asks for one and we get Alpha being absolutely adorable.

No one knows what caused this but Tommy looks concern. Back on the moon rita gloats because luxirating in a teenager's misery is her whole bag baby. While Scorpina wants to be punished for failing to help, Rita assures her she did fine: she pushed tommy, the mysterious macguffin crystal she's been carrying around is almost charged and for the last push they need the dragon dagger. But rita makes a valid point

Yeah in another clever twist , turns out having Scorpina use a bunch of putties.. was also part of the plan. Since their clay.. they can make a cast out of where Tommy stabbed one but good. The stunt has it's limits: finister CAN make a copy out of the cast, but it'll be unstable, only lasting shortly but long enough. It's a an omnious sequence as Rita chants and the blade is forged. I also love this use of finster: having him be creative and it's something spinoff/prequel go go power rangers, which we'll also be covering as it has a major tie in to shattered grid and it's writer, Ryan Parrot, would take over the main books after shattered grid and make his run a direct sequel to BOTH go go and this one. It's also really fucking good so I wants to and Brotoman's fine with it for the practical reasons.

Anyways, back with the rangers Tommy's in a scienc emachine to scan his body. We also get some really good character stuff with Tommy and Trini. ON her end, Trini admits she dosen't plan to be a ranger forever, setting up her eventual peace confrence exit well: She wants to travel the world, to see other things, jealous of tommy having lived in london breifly as his family moves around a lot. It's also a sweet moment as it's the first time Tommy really opens up to his teammates. Sure Kim is INTO him, but his stress, anxiety and PTSD have had him put up walls, try to SEEM okay but not open up so his teammates don't find out he really REALLY isn't. Here he just has a casual talk and when she asks how much he remembers he says nothing.. but she gets it. Her dad also had some ptsd from his service int he miltairy willing to wait but telling him opening up does help

Sadly we don't have time for that as the command center rumbles. And since it's a few years early for it to blow up real good for the first time it's the dragonzord. It attacks, Tommy can't get in it, and while Trini fights it off for a second with a great one liner of asking "Smaug" what he's got, she gets swatted aside and Tommy's attempts to calm it down only get him eaten.. except no it's another dream sequence

Yeah... that old chestnut. Not as fond of this one but it's more Tommy dreaming of things to come. Trini goes to check le scans though.

Meanwhile we get MORE of Zack not ceasing his bitch crying

Thankfully he FINALLY gets called out for his shit by Kimberly whose also tired of this so points to the comic: his shit being mildly grating was intentional. It stilll dosen't 100% work for me at this point, we'll see where it goes as the comic goes on, but it's clear he's not completley supposed to be right: He finally lays it out: tommy came out of nowhere, worked for rita, they have no real idea how severe the brainwashing was, and he's been acting erractic. And honestly his points .. aren't wrong. The issue is more zack handling them like a whiny asshole who can't see that maybe TOMMY needs help. Which is what Jason agrees on taking a more moderate stance between "I CAN FIX HIMMMMMM LET ME HAVE MY BADBOY" and "I DON'T LIKE TOMMY BECAUSE OF MY OWN ISSUES". While the art hasing him look like he's about to murder kimberly to huey lewis his words.. are entirely on point

It's honestly the best way: Jason is right Tommy isn't doing so good, and as we KNOW by this point he's been deflecting and hiding how not okay he is... but he needs to actually open up.

And that's what finally happens next: Trini ponits out his powers ar egoing nuts, that while his powers are also tied into the morphing grid. .ti's diffrent and it's more chaotic. Their not sure if it's rita or not.. but Tommy opens up finally. He's turned a corner realizing holding it in was not working and admits to ptsd rita not sure if it's her or just him not being okay, and also opens up about the dragon> Everyone is naturally concerned but Jason is pissed.. and while maybe yelling at someone with severe ptsd isn't the right way to go unlike zack whose ALSO pissed at Tommy because he can't realize when i'ts morphin time to fuck off, Jason makes a valid point: he wasn't okay, and he shouldn't of been in the field and trying to just "tough it out" and "deal with it himself" put them all at danger. It's a nice indicment of that societal tendnecy to balk at getting help that "you need to take care of yourself" but sometimes.. taking care of yorusel fis letting someone take car eof you and not bottling up your emotoins till it creates a witch borne out of your ptsd and self loathing.

The issue ends before tommy can get therapy though as rumbling is happened.. while PTSD rita is ambigious, the dream... was a warning of things to come. Scorpina has the dragon zord and is abotu to attack the cruise ship, ending the issue on a lovely and omnious panel

Look i'll admit the art by hendry prasyata is... eh. It's not horrible, nicely stylized in places.. but feels a tad generic.. but this shot.. man is it cool.

Bulk and skull prepare to kill their clay son and grab their armor. Trini and Kim... have no idea what to do as they can't just turn into ranger mode in broad daylight.. which is weird to me. See yes fightin ga putty without powers.. is dangeorus. The rangers struggled in thier first encounter and Tommy soloing a bunch was a sign of just HOW strong he was when introduced. But by this point Kim and Trini have fought these things a LOT , morphed and unmorphed. One of them on two isn't going to be a threat. And yeah you could say "but their cover".. but Kim and Trini are CLOSE friends with three known martial artists. It's not a stretch to just brush it off as something jason taught them. While I love this doofy side comic and Steve Orlando's writing... this dosen't really vibe with the show or the main story in terms of their comptience. Though they do prepare to basketball him to death once bulk and skull show up..a nd then run away whne they realize they don't got this.

These issues were an improvment honestly. Better character moments, slightly better art, and the more frustrating elements are eithe rpart of it. The book still has an overarching problem I'll TRY not to bring up again.. but it's big and I'm not sure how much I talked about it last time: this comic REALLY shoudln't of began where it did. I get the impulse to build on the original canon and this is a neat story to tell, tommy's growing pains as a ranger.. bu tit feels like we're thrown in mid story since Saban wasn't sure if the comics were canon or not for a while. And that's.. something you NEED to know going into a continuity. You need to make it clear this is it's own thing and if it is.. just start at day one. You could still hit the big events like green with evil, the exchange of power, etc, still hit that nostalgia, but the story would've worked better starting from day one.

I admit there is some mild bias: having read go go power rangers.. i've seen what the continuity could do when it took that approach, keeping day of the dumpster mostly canon in some form, but showing the rangers adjust and giving us more time to get to know them before the big events happen. I'm fine with a good reboot, but you have to ease your way in, let us get to know these people.. instead Power Rangers starts one arc before a major castrphoe as a direct sequel to a story they didn't adapt and just assume the reader knows well. Which is fine if you watch a lot of mighty morphin or have rewatched green with evil. On this second read having watched it a few years ago to review for brotoman, it clicked a bit better.. but I shouldn't have to watch 5 episodes of a 90's tv show to pick up a comic. It's understandable without it but this story is at it's core a direct sequel to green with evil. It became most obvious on this rereading: the use of scorpina, the emphasis on the fact Rita created the green power coin, Goldor moping in the smoke machine dimension. It's not a bad idea, it's one of the most iconic power ranger stroies, but not everyone picking up this comic is going to remember the fine details or necessarily WANT to have to remmeber something they watched years ago. Some people are just casulaly picking this up because "oh hey power rangers".

Am I saying EVERY comic has to appeal to casual fans or discard continuity? Fuck no. While comics continuity can be a LOT to deal with, it can also leave little nuggets to mine later. Good stuff to use. Using pieces of the rangers continuity like the fact Rita has some dominon over the green ranger powers is neat and it's good stuff. But it feels like the story does prioritze higgins getting to tell the rangers story he's always wanted over one that can do that AND stand on it's own.

This retrospectives sibling, more than meets the eye, proves that: while i had some trouble with the varous bits of continuity from idw before this sprinkled in and wasn't super knowledgeble about g1, for the most part MTMTE eagerly welcomes you weither you have shelf after shelf of robots in disguise on display or just think their neat and wanted to pick it up. You get who these guys are, what their mission is, what this continuity is at this point in it's life, and who they are without sacrficing connections to the past. The only time it REALLY fell into "I didn't explain this shit to you good luck bitch" is Overlord, who they KINDA explain but really dont' get into why hi mshowing up is a big deal if you haven't read last stand of the wreckers. Here while it works fine enough it feels like they just dropped you into the world with only the bare basics. And while it's thankfully not imppentarable, power rangers isn't comic, I 'm curious why boom thought it was a good idea to start with a direct sequel to one of power rangers most iconic stories and THEN jump right into crisis after crisis from the looks of things. It's why the huge amount of event comics in comics is chore sometimes; you need a second to let things breathe so the bigger stuff hits harder. IT's basic storytelling and i'm hoping we get more of those character moments to at least help slow it down a tad

For now next time we finish this arc then get a one off issue that explains why zack is like this. Till then may the power protect you

[cdroloisms]

Prompt: Dream is released from prison and one night when Sam's trying to sleep the full scope of what he did hits him.

oh this one was heartwrenching anon im in love

the idea that sam and dream were FRIENDS before pandora haunts me so much ,, dream TRUSTED him, at one point, and sam trusted him back ,, it’s really the cherry on top of the whole dang screwed up cake that is the prison :’)

anyway, as is becoming the norm on this blog, please note the warnings bc this gets heavy!

tw: abuse (physical/emotional), toxic relationships, effects of starvation (it’s brief but it’s there), violence, panic attacks, illness, blood, gore (?)

There is blood on the pickaxe.

Sam's hand brushes over the netherite; even in the dark room, the metal, lit by the soft lavender light of enchantments, is clearly stained reddish-brown, some flecks reaching the polished wooden handle. He must've forgotten to clean it after the last session with the prisoner- Dream, throwing it and the rest of his Warden set in a chest haphazardly before going to sleep.

His fingers brush against it; the edge is ragged from a lack of maintenance, the dried blood leaving the entire surface patchy and irregular. The bottom of the handle is well-worn, the wood easily molding to the palm of his hand, the weight familiar. He watches himself move it with a strange sort of disconnect, maneuvering the tool - weapon around with almost more ease than his own sword. He flips it around, fingers easily finding the nick in the top third of the handle, the groove where metal meets wood, eyes tracing his own handwriting, words written in neat, blocky script along the bottom edge of the netherite.

Warden's Will Breaker

The Warden. It's hard to remember that that person was even him, wearing netherite like a second skin, sword perpetually within reach, a monotone voice and metal mask to hide everything soft away; completely emotionless, until the pickaxe was in his hand and every feeling he'd kept bottled deep beneath came up, furious, suffocating, leaving nothing behind but a simmering rage that demanded release-

(Blood on his hands the sound of cracking bones tugging on the handle and meeting resistance screams echoing on obsidian please please Sam stop please stop please-)

He breathes in, out, the pickaxe (Will Breaker) still lying in his hands, still stained with blood. He blinks down at it; it feels wrong to hold it without the rest of the Warden's gear on his body, to carry this thing still saturated with memories of dark shadows and stifling heat and so much pain, to be staring at it without the weight of a mask on his face, of armor sitting against his shoulders, of a sword on his hip. It feels like it belongs to someone else entirely, completely out of place against his creeper print pajama pants (courtesy of Ponk) and knit slippers; it feels foreign, even with memories of it held in his hands flash through his head.

(you deserve this you are a monster you didn't stop when he asked you to I'll stop when you're sorry I'll stop when you're broken behave behave behave)

The prison was all boxes, hard edges; there was no room for kindness, no room for mercy. The prison meant that he was the Warden, that Dream was the Prisoner, that they would not, could not step out of the roles carved for them in the unforgiving obsidian. The walls were stark; every inch deliberate, methodical, necessary. The Warden held the monster and the Prisoner sought to escape his Labyrinth and thus went the game, everlasting, until one of them broke, until one of them failed, Will Breaker, really, only meant to speed up the process-

Only that didn't quite happen.

The Prisoner left, but didn't escape; the Warden was no longer needed, but did not fail. In the end, it was Sam that found Dream wheezing, feverish, in the back of his cell, Sam who carried the man across the bridge, feeling him lie limply in his arms, all skin and bones, Sam who brought him into the Community House as everyone clamored over his weak and dying body.

He'd been released from Pandora (for the foreseeable future, Puffy had said, voice trembling, until he's well enough to stand trial) and Sam, unable to stare at the still-unconscious man and remember his own hands covered in blood and bits of shattered bone, had left to hide away in his base. Until he's needed to be the Warden, again, he'd muttered to himself on the boat ride over, until that responsibility is once again his to bear.

It's harder to justify it all, here, where his floor is covered in carpet and dog hair, where there's a soft light behind him from the redstone lamp hooked up next to his bed, where everything from the Warden has been scrubbed away and left just Sam, limbs a bit gangly, hunched down over a chest that's just a bit too short for him to reach comfortably, feelings raw and painful like an exposed nerve. It's hard to say that the violence and cruelty were necessary, looking at the walls laid down by hands kinder than his own, the remnants of pie still stuck in his chests and blocks of bright pink wool (You Matter <3) decorating the few that he hasn't opened in a while, staring at the soft-edged memories of someone that had yet to know that pickaxes could be stained red by something other than redstone.

("You're leaving?" Dream, younger, hands knotting in the bottom hem of his hoodie.

"Just for a bit," readjusting his crown from where it stands, off-center, on his head; Dream laughing and reaching up to straighten it for him. "I just want to explore a little. Find somewhere open where I can really rig some stuff up, you know?"

"I can't believe the things you do with that crap, man," freckled cheeks rising in a brilliant smile. "It's insane."

"You're pretty insane yourself, Mr. Manhunt," Dream tosses his head back, wheezing, and Sam laughs with him. The sun rises over them, sky pale and pink and beautiful.

"Well, this is the Community House, Awesam," Dream pulls him in, arms wrapping around his neck, head bumping against his chin. "You're always welcome here."

He smiles, soft, murmuring an agreement that rumbles deep and low in his chest. "I know. Y'all take care of yourselves, ok?"

"Of course," Dream punches him, lightly, in the shoulder, trying and failing to hide the way his eyes shine. "We always do.")

The pickaxe falls from his hand, clattering to the ground. Distantly, Sam realizes he's crying.

Prime, what had he done?

[crystal-moon-101]

Ben Gen 10 - Live Reaction Review

Right, so since I’ve finally got my hands on the new crossover episodes, and since my favourite show of all time is Generator Rex, I thought I’d watch it and write down things along the way. Mostly just reactions to things happening as they go, and then probably a simple review at the in another post of what I liked, didn’t like, and maybe what other ways this episode could have gone.

Spoilers! Kind of, for those who haven’t seen it yet! But onto the watching!

Should probably mention I haven’t seen a whole lot of the Reboot Ben 10. Not awful from what I’ve seen, some interesting and well-done aspect even, but certainly not my cup of tea. But I’m here for my boi Rex anyway so…

This is actually quite a cute theme song intro, not gonna lie

Ah, yes, a very American opening in a very American location.

Lol, of course they use Heatblast as the first alien in the episode, got the same voice actor as Rex, nice touch.

Evil...trees? Are these actually villains in the show?

Also, that little girl is precious.

Ben, are you trying to start a forest fire in the middle of the park?!

Ha, Gwen gets it!

Ah, yes, more American stuff.

“Don’t wreck the precious monuments” should have seen what you did to Mount Rushmore in your past, Ben.

Sup, Hex.

Music is evil, got it.

So Ben’s aliens are pretty famous already, at least being treated more like celebrities than monster sightings.

“Burn the flute!” A.K.A nearly burn Hex in the process.

And that’s why Ben never passed music class.

And why exactly do you want the world, Hex?

“Hopefully the last one of the summer” Don’t jinx it Max!

Time goes by so fast, doesn’t it Ben? Especially with aliens, villains and timetravel.

Max is secretly an EVO with that kind of growl.

Yes, because as we all know, villains will stop trying to take over the world once summer is over. They must hibernate for the winter.

Also, Max, did you steal those marshmallows?

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…….Ben, you good there?....Did Hex do something to your brain?

Who thought this would be great to animate!?

We all have those existential crises and talk to smores.

Jesus, Rex, got ninja skills I see.

Some homeless kid and his monkey stole my food? Time to kick some ass!

My favourite alien, Canonballoon.

I’ve missed my boy and his chimp.

Awwwww they’re sharing! Also just….feel so bad for them already. Homeless and struggling for food, my poor boys.

So EVOs do exist here? Wonder how that will be explained.

Ben out here really trying to beat up some other kid, lol. What a great hero.

Bobo, you are great.

I feel like...Ben’s going through some issues.

Ah yaaaaaaaaaaa, bring on the EVO powers! BFS!

Look ma, no hands!

Rex 1, Ben 0

Ben really wants to commit murder or assault here, wow.

Overboard is the word I’d use, yes.

The life of a background character.

Nanites confirmed! And now they’re in the watch, that ain’t good.

Huh...not what I thought was gonna happen.

The little girl is still precious.

This would be fun to explain to Azmuth.

This ain’t good.

On the run from Providence I see.

Awww, poor Rex. Really doesn’t want to hurt anyone.

I can’t tell if these people are angry because of the DNA affect them, or they’re really just being angry in general.

See ya, Gwen and Max.

Interesting to see that the Providence aircraft looks straight out of the show.

Evening, Six.

Still a badass like normal.

He said Omega, he said the word!

Also, nice blame game there Ben. It’s not like you provoked Rex by, ya know, trying to crush him like a grape.

Um...Six...did you just….try to kill a kid? He didn’t know Ben had powers, that pillar could have easily crushed a normal human.

“This is how you try to convince me you’re not a threat?” Say the dude who just tried to murder a kid!!”

Oh no, he Naruto runs! 

Oh, hello Hex.

Also, what is Providence in this world? What are EVOs and Nanites in this world? None of this has been explained yet.

Ok, so that’s what Providence is...You’d think we would have seen them before based on all the aliens showing up who want to destroy the world.

EVO Generator....I wonder if that means that there aren’t very many EVOs, like maybe there is only a set group from the same lab, and Rex is considered the most dangerous because he can make EVOs.

Ben, do you even know what an EVO is?

Jeez, I know Six is like, the sixth deadliest man on the planet, but he just tackles alien Ben like it’s nothing. This guy should take on Vilgax.

Did he say nib libs?

My boi’s back!

I’m not liking this Six...very much not the character I’ve come to love. Who are you and what have you done with the real Six!

Lol, gotta make sure the kids at home know these aren’t real guns!

Using a net on one kid, and about to beat the crap out of the other, nice.

I do have to ask why Hex was picked to me the main villain, beyond whatever the hell Providence is doing. Why the magic dude and not a tech based villain? Someone who could be both interested in the watch and nanites.

What a covenant spell you have there, Hex.

Again, why do you want to take over the world?

“No, those are my aliens!” I think that’s the least of your concern there, Ben.

Bobo 1, Hex 0

Why is Bobo one of the best-written character’s here? Not that I hate Bobo, but just…

Lol, Rex did you just lay there, the entire time? What was that net made out of?

Ah, right. Let’s attack the children rather the magical manic who clearly stated he wanted to rule the world.

Those nets are fireproof apparently.

Ooof, ah….quite the sore spot there, Ben.

Just let me hug Rex, please…

Are there EVOs are are there not!?

I know this is supposed to connect with older fans, but most of this info would fly over the head of anyone who hasn’t watched Generator Rex. They act like everyone knows what EVOs and nanites are.

Still with the blame game are we, Ben?

Judging by that look, Rex’s parents are also dead in this world. Guess he’s not allowed nice things in this universe either.

That flashback was….so latching in the dramatic department. 

Now ya wanna help, Ben.

He’s so scared of himself, noooo!

Ya, but the different between you and him, Ben, is that he lost his parents, his home, got mutated, his memories became hazy, got locked up and called a monster, and now lives on the streets stealing smores. I think Rex has more of a reason to feel scared at being new with the hero business.

Bobo gets it.

Gotta love they added details on Gwen and Max’s alien forms to make them stick out from the rest. Don’t want to confuse anyone lol.

Thinking of a clever comeback on the spot is hard, not gonna lie.

Yes, Ben, drown him.

Again, with the American music, lol. It ruins the fight scene here.

What is this fight scene?

Original Providence agents would have died on screen rather than ditching the fight.

God, everyone’s made Rex feel like everything is his fault, poor guy.

Rock 1, Ben 0

This message and heartfelt moment falls flat, the build-up wasn’t there and it just...kind of happens. It lacks a lot of flavour and impact, and it doesn’t help with how most of these characters are written.

Old people jokes.

Now we shift the blame to Kevin.

Is Fourarms Gwen bigger? Because if so, nice touch, since we know female Tetramands are stronger/bigger than the men.

Ok, so attempted murder is fine when Six and Ben try to do it, but not Rex, got it.

Get in line Hex, you’re not the first who wants to ‘recruit’ Rex. You’ve got Providence, Van Kleiss, Quarry, Black Knight, that one band, and so on so fourth.

Why is this heartfelt moment suddenly happening now? This feels like it could have been placed back when Rex refused to fix the watch.

Ben…”I’ve already tried that!” Bruh, you tried beating him up, telling Six and Providence you saw him, basically acted like he wasn’t a good hero because he refuses to get over his trauma, and reached out your hand once because it benefited you....I get what they’re trying to do, but it just makes Ben look like a jerk. I get he’s ten, but still…

Just...slap him Bobo, please…

Why are we so nervous about Rex’s sword? Ben you have aliens that can burn, cut, smash and so on, and you barely care what you do. Remember how you nearly started that forest fire at the start?...

Yo, what!? What kind of logic is that, Providence? “Whelp, guess earth is screwed, might as well burn it”

Ya, remember that time when EVOs infected the whole world, and Providence decided to just burn everything down with lasers? 

Extendo blade.

Huh, so Six’s blades can break down Rex’s builds.

Salamander...don’t you mean...Skalamander?

One ship? What is Providence packing!?

Yasss, Punk Busters!

Rex is crying, how dare you!

Now we got Smack Hands, you’re in for it, Hex!

Ooooooooooooooonnnnn iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttttttttt!

Ah yes, the sixth most beautiful man on the planet.

Again...what is with the nuking?

Magical cloth fixing, just what I need.

Pure chaos with my boy.

Cracking his neck made me cringe.

Also why the sudden change in heart, Six? This feels out of character for the character who is out of character.

Look, Rex, you’re either gonna fix the watch, or you’re gonna start the self destruct countdown. Everything is going to hell, so might as well take that 50/50.

And it worked!

Ah ya, about that missile.

See’s missile inbound “I can handle it!”

Iron Giant vibes around here.

Screw ruling the world, I’m gonna murder this one child!

My cat’s the same.

REX, DID YOU JUST KICK A MISSILE!?

So that’s his full name?

I think you need to work on those vacation days with your boss, Six.

You are not Six, I will never accept you.

So the episode starts with Rex being alone, homeless and being chased by Providence, and ends with him being alone, homeless and being chased by Providence. What was the improvement here? Self Confident?

Ben even just lets him go, doesn’t even offer him to stay with his family.

Rex deserves better.

Another heartfelt moment that just...falls flat…

“Always be family and be there for you, Ben” Until you go to college without telling him before hand

So!...That was the crossover. Not...amazing sadly. I didn’t have high hopes to begin with, and mostly was just happy enough to have Gen Rex be acknowledged. But this Crossover missed a lot of points, and fumbles quite a bit. It reminds me a lot of the Secret Saturdays Crossover and what was wrong there. But I’m tired and will do a break down/proper review another day, if people are keen for that. Thanks for reading this if you did, it was a rollercoster!

[violetnotez]

Okay, can we get more of that Mineta being a perv and the guys protecting their s/o from him shit bc??? Damn that was good. Maybe with like, Todoroki, Sero, Shinsou and maybe a girl?? Like Jirou?

Yes babes I gotchu!!! I’m sorry I don’t write for girls, I have t actually written for one and I’m afraid I’ll screw it up-maybe some day! 🥰

Pairings: Shoto x reader, Shinsou x reader

Original Posting: Includes Kaminari, Bakugo, Izuku, and Kirishima

Shoto

◦Your muscles were aching, your head was pounding slightly- you were just over and done with everything in general and just

◦Wanted. To. Sleep.

◦You were sitting on the couch next to Uraraka and Iida, watching out of boredom as Kaminari and Mineta played Mario Kart

◦You got up, excusing yourself from the sofa-

◦“I think Im gonna go take a shower and get ready for bed, night guys,”

◦Iida and Uraraka politely said good night, Mineta’s ears perking when he heard you say ‘shower’

◦The little gears in Mineta’s perverted head began to start spinning, a plan beginning to concoct in his head

◦ Unknowing to you, Mineta had been staring at you all during training and by staring I meant your chest and ass

◦ So of course this boy is gonna try something to see more of that

◦ Mineta faked a yawn, overly stretching his body- “I think Im gonna go take a nap- night!” and zoomed off, confusing the crap out of Kaminari

◦ MIneta followed you slowly from behind, making sure to stay a few feet away so you wouldnt notice him

◦ He waited for you to enter the girls’ bathroom, making sure no one was around once he heard the shower water start to run

◦ He knew he didnt have much time, so he fought the urge to sneak a peak at you in the shower and decided instead to snatch your clothes off from the counter and run to the living room- if his planned work it would be his best plan yet

◦ What a rude awakening once you stepped out of the shower though, only to find your towel sitting there- you remember grabbing your clothes- so why werent they there?

◦ You then noticed the door to the bathroom was slightly cracked open-there was no way you would leave it open like that

◦Your exhaustion instantly turned to annoyance- it had to be one of your classmates

◦ At that point you didnt care who saw you- you wrapped your body in your towel, your wet hair leaving droplets on the floor as you stomped out into the living room

◦ “Oh verrry funny guys- now were the hell is my clothes!?” you yelled out

◦ Kaminari turned around, and short circuited seeing you only dressed in a towel, Iida was rambling about public deceny as his cheeks turned bright red, Uraraka running up to see what was wrong

◦ MIneta was drooling from behind the couch, his fingers mindlessly looking for his phone- he needed the image of a fresh-out-of-the-shower you permanently in his phone

◦ While you were taking a shower, Shoto had went into the kitchen to make himself some food (yes its cold soba what else would it be) and was just chilling and sitting on the counter of the kitchen eating

◦ But when you came in the living room, clad in nothing but a short towel, your legs glistening, and your hair wet....he almost choked on his soba

◦ Holy crap- he thought you were beautiful, of course he did, but you dressed like that- his body physically couldnt handle you looking that sexy

◦ His body instantly went up a few degrees as he unknowingly stared at your chest for a few moments, shaking his head out of the daze, his cheeks red

◦ He got up form the chair, going to see what was wrong- until he noticed a purple blur out of the corner of his eye

◦ He then saw Mineta, his eyes practically bulging out of his sockets, staring at you, his phone out, the camera aimed. At you.

◦ If you have never seen Shoto mad- ohohoh today is the day

◦ Shoto is usually so calm and collected, but right now, he was practically seeing black- all he could think about was stomping that little purple grape into the carpet. He quickly grabs the phone out of Mineta’s hand, Shotos face clearly pissed off

◦ “What the hell, I was doing something-” Mineta started, but instantly squeaked out of fear once he realized who had taken his phone

◦ Shoto was towering over him, aggresive flames licking up his hands

◦ “What exactly were you doing, Mineta-kun?” Shoto’s voice was dangerously low, his tone filled with venom

◦ “I-I-I-hey!” Mineta shrieked, his wide eyes watching as Shoto froze his phone into a solid block of ice “its not my fault your girlfriends hot!”

◦ As Uraraka was trying to help you brainstorm where your clothes could be, you looked up to the sound of Mineta screaming bloody murder

◦ Shoto currently had MIneta’s shirt balled into his left hand, his right hand raised as flames licked up his skin

◦ You instantly put two and two together, runnng over to stop your boyfriend from doing anything he’d regret later

◦ Shoto was in a pure rage mode, but when he felt your hand on his arm, and turned around to see your face, his anger went down some

◦ But also- your towel had kinda slipped from running over, so know it was exposing more of your legs, and your boobs were pushed up even more as your free hand tried to keep up the towel

◦ His cheeks instantly turn red and lewd thoughts popped into his mind- he had to admit it to himself, he could see why Mineta was being so perverted

◦ But it was still inexcusable- He isntantly wrapped you into a hug, blocking your body from sight

◦ Mineta scrambled across the floor, pulling your clothes from under the sofa- “You’re insane! Here-take them back!”

◦ You had never seen the grape run so fast in his life- after that little incident Mineta was too afriad to even be in the same room as you or Shoto

Shinsou

(*in this one the reader is tipsy, so if your not for that, just skip to the next one 💕)

◦ Shinsou sighed, starting to regret letting you drag him to one of these parties you two are always invited to

◦You always begged him to go, but he always declined-until tonight

◦You had decided to go on your own, wearing a tight black dress that outlined all your curves, your hair and makeup accentuating all your best features

◦You looked delicious, and if he could have his way he would keep you home all night in that little dress-but you were persistent, insisting on going

◦The hell he was going to let you go like that by yourself-he was gonna make sure he supervised you all night

◦Once you two got to the party, all the 1-A girls instantly crowded around you and took you to the dance floor, something Shinsou would be caught dead doing

◦He decides to go sit on the couch and just people watch

◦But immediately he was invited to play some pool with Kaminari and Sero, so he reluctantly played for a good hour or so

◦When he went to go check up on you though, oh was he in for a sight

◦You were clearly pretty tipsy, a red cup clutched in your hands as you laughed a little too much, your hips swaying to the music

◦He looked down, though, and his stomach turned- that purple idiot from Class 1-A was definitely checking you out

◦ Shinsou watched as Mineta’s face twisted into an evil grin as he watched your hips sway as well, his height making it perfect to stare at your ass

◦ Shinsou seemed to watch in slow mo as Mineta’s hand went out to grab your ass, Shinsou already predicting he’d try doing something-

◦Shinsou grabbed his hand, earning a terrified squeak from Mineta-

◦ “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Shinsou’s face was harsh and his voice cold like ice, making Mineta gulp

◦Your cloudy mind heard Shinsou’ voice, turning around, oblivious to the whole encounter

◦”Hey baby!!” You drawled out happily, wrapping your arms around his neck, placing a sloppy kiss on his cheeck

◦He found your drunkenness kinda adorable, his cheecks flushing-but still, he had to admit that you could easily be taken advantage in this state

◦He was inwardly kicking himself for not watching you and making sure you were safe as you cocked your head confusedly

◦ “Wait arent you the grape guy?” You asked, giggling at Mineta’s pale face, “Your hair is really funny-isn’t it Shinsou?”

◦ Mineta’s face fell, beginning to walk away as he realized you were already taken. You continued to innocently laugh at his hair, somehow thinking it was the funniest shit in the world

◦Shinsou rolled his eyes playfully, happy you didn’t realize what could have happened a few moments ago-if you knew what he was trying to do, you would have been furious

◦He grabbed your wrists gently, pulling you in front of him

◦”Your a giggly drunk, arent you doll?” He asked with a smirk

◦You were still laughing, butterflies forming in your stomach- “I’m not drunk...I’m just-dancing!” You argued back, a hiccup escaping out of your lips

◦”Uh-Huh, and my hairs not purple.”

◦You began to protest, something Shinsou knew you would do-you were stubborn and never wanted to listen to him unless you absolutely needed to

◦,”Alright, kitten-“ He sighed, throwing your body over his shoulder, “I think it’s time for us to go home.”

I’m so sorry I literally have no motivation to write for Sero, so I hope these two boys are enough! 💕💕💕

[jess-rewatches-prodigalson]

Speak of the Devil (S2, E2)

Damn. I love this show.

As usual, my time stamped SPOILER FULL thoughts are below.

As always, I reference Malcolm’s mental health. A lot. So if talk about depression/mania/suicidal ideation is going to be a trigger for you, don’t keep reading. 

0:14 - Hector’s back!! hahaha :) 

0:40 - So Martin is worried about Malcolm.....he could stop manipulating Malcolm if he’s so worried. That would make Malcolm feel slightly better at least. 

0:50 - What. A. Boss. That ambush was gorgeously executed *chef’s kiss*. haha how many times do you think Jessica has orchestrated this type of ambush on one of her children? 

0:52 - I love this outfit on Malcolm. Seriously - why is it sooo attractive when he’s not wearing a tie?

0:55 -........he’s not seeing Gabrielle....but but he had a lollipop last episode. Am I supposed to believe he buys his own lollipops? Maybe he bought some to throw the team off the scent? UGH. MALCOLM, SWEETHEART, GO BACK TO THERAPY. YOU’RE IN CRISIS. ....wait. I bet you he’s not seeing Gabrielle because she knows when he’s lying. He’s probably scared that he’ll end up telling her about Endicott. And I’m pretty sure that legally Gabrielle can’t keep a crime a secret regardless of doctor-patient confidentiality. 

1:02 - .....Malcolm didn’t know that he wasn’t paying his own therapy bills? WHO DID HE THINK WAS PAYING THEM?!?! Damn. Rich people, am I right?

1:10 - You ever wonder how many therapists Malcolm saw as a kid before they found Gabrielle? Just me? Cool.

1:15 - OMG. “Sexual in nature”?!?! Calm down Jess. He’s a grown ass man and even if it was sexual Malcolm sure as hell wouldn’t want to talk to his mother about his sex life. 

1:19 - Oh so now both of your kids are in a “good place”? Martin, less than a minute ago you were ‘worried’ about Malcolm. Further proof that Martin is a liar and we can’t believe anything he says. Ever. 

1:43 - Tom Payne’s physical acting during this interaction with Jessica is incredible. Ugh. Honestly, can I give him an Emmy myself? Look. Look at his face when he says, “You wouldn’t understand.” This is a teenage boy trying to hide something from his mom and is terrified that she’ll see the lie if he makes eye-contact. <3 

1:45 - You know, Jessica really isn’t a perfect mother (especially to Ainsley) but she does care about her kids. I love her for it. She actually shows more concern for her adult children than most parents with adult children that I’ve been exposed to. 

2:08 - I can’t decide if I love the music that was playing through that scene or if it’s just super cheesy and cringey. I mean “I did a bad bad thing” right as the title page rolls out? Kind of amazing but also super dorky. 

2:13 - So Mr. David hears this whole conversation. Malcolm talking about his guilt, Martin calling Malcolm a hero, and Malcolm saying that the only person he can talk to about his problems is Martin. Sooooo either

 Mr. David is being paid very well to keep quiet on Whitly family drama, 

 Mr. David stopped listening years ago.

 Mr. David is a moron who can’t connect the dots. OR

 Mr. David is going to blow this whistle on this fiasco to Jessica soon. I mean, he called her in the first season when Malcolm started visiting Martin. Mr. David has Jessica’s number...and I have a hunch that Mr. David cares about Malcolm. He’s watched Malcolm grow up into a troubled, bizarre, but very sweet man. 

2:14 - “Why are you calling me?” Malcolm sounds upset that Martin is calling him; so why pick up the phone? I mean, I guess Martin will call him back incessantly but still. 

2:19 - Malcolm’s completely honest version of how he’s doing mentally is heartbreaking. He “doesn’t recognize himself anymore”? Ugh. Baby. My heart is shattering. Someone hug him. OR TAKE HIM TO GABRIELLE.

2:30 - There is a moment when Malcolm says, “narcissistic psychopath” where is genuinely sounds like he’s about to have a complete breakdown. This boy is on the verge. My whump heart loves it and it makes me evil. 

2:56 - aaannnnnnd there’s Malcolm on the verge of tears. This boy. Ugh. <3 

3:00 - “It’s not going away Malcolm. The guilt. Take it from me.” Sooooo Mr. David isn’t a moron right? He’s going to connect the dots. He has to. ISTG Jessica keeps saying “No more lies” in the promos because Mr. David told her what he overheard. 

3:06 - And that is the face of a boy who is dead on the inside. Seriously, he’s spent his whole life trying to convince himself (and others) that he is nothing like his father. But here we are - all his fears confirmed and it’s killed him. 

3:20 - “Is this what you used?” Ainsley is talking about how Malcolm disposed of the body right? Because last episode she thanked Malcolm for covering for her. Sooooo she clearly knows that she killed Endicott even if she doesn’t remember it. I mean, she was covered in blood - Malcolm wasn’t. 

3:23.- OMG. Endicott was killed with the Milton family silver. hahahaha why is that so funny to me?

3:43 - Just how big is that gap in her memory? I’d truly like to know. When did she check out, when did she check in, and are those times different than what she’s letting Malcolm believe?

3:55 - Yeah - I still want to know why she moved in. COVID? Is she afraid she’s going to do something else murdery? Because surely, living in the house where you know you killed someone can’t be pleasant. Or easy. Unless of course Ainsley is more like Martin than we’d like to believe. 

4:09 - hahahahaha I am living for Malcolm’s facial response to Jessica saying, “I am in charge of boxes.”

4:22 - hahahaha Malcolm and Ainsley teasing Jessica about Gil is so precious. I love it. I wish they were always that happy. 

4:40 - Look at Malcolm’s face when he says, “You and a certain Lieutenant”. He’s practically giddy. Whether that’s because he’s thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to tease his mother OR because he’s always wanted Jessica and Gil to be together in that way that many children who grow up in single parent homes hope for a fairytale parental ending. My guess - a mixture of both.

4:45 - Ainsley looks delighted at the idea of Gil/Jessica too. I assume it’s because she loves the gossip and the opportunity to tease Jessica. BUT I also wonder what Ainsley’s relationship with Gil is like? Do they have one? 

4:58 - “Does he let you wear his turtlenecks?” OMG. bahahahaha comedic GOLD. 

5:10 - THIS. The evolution of JT and Malcolm’s friendship is everything. 10/10 would recommend. So sweet. LOOK AT HOW CONCERNED MALCOLM IS. <3 <3 Malcolm’s been calling JT?!?! UGH. This warms my cold dead heart.

5:20 - JT is a bad liar. This dude is not okay. 

5:27 - “When I say I’m fine, I’m always lying.” .....we already knew this but it hurts to hear Malcolm say is so nonchalantly. 

5:32 - JT does the sign of the cross....so he’s definitely religious. 

5:56 - “Holy...” “Watch it Bright.” hahaha how much do you want to bet that Gil took Malcolm to church once (1) time as a kid. It went so poorly that Gil never brought him again. Malcolm was probably questioning the priest and generally just asking a lot of “why” questions. 

6:15 - Gil is so done with the Edrisa+Bright banter. Look at his face - he’s just sooo tired. .....is Gil particularly cranky this episode because Jessica is dodging his phone calls?

6:23 - Malcolm looks pensive as soon as Gil mentions that the Father had been with the church for 30 years. Why? 

6:56 - I’m not going to lie. I’m really getting tired of the crap Dani (and even Gil in this episode - is he mad at Malcolm for avoiding him when he was hospital-bound? Or just cranky because Jessica isn’t calling him back?) are giving Malcolm. He’s asking a question relevant to the case. Sure - it’s not an easy question to ask but last season they wouldn’t have glared at him for asking it. I understand that Dani is upset with Malcolm for lying to her and she probably thinks he knows something about how Endicott died. I get it - Malcolm screwed up. BUT Dani’s reaction is so over the top. I understand where she’s coming from - she has trust issues. That doesn’t give her the right to treat him like garbage for the rest of his life. It’s been literally MONTHS. 

7:11 - “That’s not a no.”....Damn, he looks cute when he says that. 

7:30 - I LOVE that Malcolm knows so much about the Bible and Catholicism even though he’s not a believer. It makes me think he investigated a ton of religions as a kid - looking for relief from his trauma. I respect that he did the research and I respect that he doesn’t (openly at least) think other people are moronic/short-sighted for believing in God(s). 

7:56 - I’ll be honest, my first reaction to Jonah was: “Why does he look and sound like he’s dying?”

8:03 - “Catholic.” haha I love some good religious comedy. BUT AGAIN GIL, THAT GLARE IS SO NOT NECESSARY. That wasn’t a ‘warning - you’re being insensitive’ glare. That was a ‘I’m your father and you’re in sooo much trouble’ glare. I love Gil with my whole heart but everyone is being a dick to Malcolm today (minus JT and Edrisa) and I’m done with it. Malcolm’s fragile mental state can’t handle it. Be nice to my boy. 

8:35 - Is this Gil’s church?!? Why does he know all the church staff by name? He either attends this church or someone gave him an amazing briefing before he got to the church.

9:34 - At least Gil knows something is wrong with Malcolm. 

9:41 - What? That’s it? No. Gil - press on. Don’t accept Malcolm’s “I’m fine”.

10:18 - I wish this scene didn’t end with Gil’s look of disbelief and concern. I wish we got to see Gil tell Malcolm not to go see Martin. I wish we got a more concrete papa!Gil moment. 

10:42 - Something about the fact that Martin is tethered to a pole like a tether-ball is hilarious to me. Also - why are some prisoners not tied up? The inmate talking to Friar Pete has no rope. 

10:52 - Ugh. When exactly did Martin give Malcolm “The Talk”? Like how old was Malcolm? How traumatic was it? Ugh. It’s very upsetting to remember that Martin acted like a good father to Malcolm for a good portion of the first 10 years of Malcolm’s life. It really doesn’t help Malcolm’s PTSD. 

11:00 - That’s right Malcolm. Don’t let Martin ramble. Stand your ground. <3 So proud of Malcolm <3

11:15 - Listen to the way Malcolm says, “Who is that?”. He’s some combination of resigned and scared. I love it. 

11:33 - Friar Pete is so creepy. The way he just walks up to Malcolm until his rope goes taught?! UGH. Poor Malcolm looks so done with this whole situation. He’s rolling his eyes and grimacing at various points throughout this scene. He has some major sass right now and I’m here for it. 

 11:41 - “You two should talk!” ....Is this Martin’s really eff-ed up way of trying to help Malcolm with his guilt about Endicott? I don’t like it.....and Malcolm’s face tells me he doesn’t either. 

12:48 - Is that true? Can churches really not exorcise people without medical permission in the current day?  I thought exorcisms were just banned? IDK - I’m a Christian, my branch of faith doesn’t do exorcisms. 

13:33 - YES! A JT AND MALCOLM SCENE. <3 <3 I’m unreasonably happy about this. 

13:45 - sooooooo is this Norman’s real home and his real mother? The first time I watched it I thought it was some sort of weird catholic-inpatient facility but now I’m not sure. 

15:10 - Ok. I can’t hold back anymore. Malcolm’s shoes. They. Are. Awful. I understand - Tom Payne is a short guy. He probably needs heels to fit in the shot. I’m not mad about the heels. I’m made that they gave him very very ugly heels. Is it just me? These shoes are hideous. 

15:14 - “Hi Norman.” .....Malcolm is so soft here and I’m in love with it. My cold dead heart is melting. Also JT’s freaked-out look in this scene is everything. 

15:25 - There’s something about the way Malcolm says “Good.” that just hits me really hard. It’s beautiful. He sounds and looks a little scared but he’s also really calm and professional and it’s just...*chef’s kiss*. 

16:44 - “He’s clearly mentally-ill.” I love this. I love that Malcolm is defending the person with a severe mental illness because he doesn’t have any proof that Norman committed a crime. It also breaks my heart. Makes me think of how many people dismissed or judged Malcolm poorly throughout his life because Malcolm’s mental illnesses. Even though they weren’t quite as extreme as Norman’s.

16:54 - I love this. JT is telling Malcolm to stay behind the line partially out of fear (because this whole Norman situation is clearly freaking JT out big time) but also partially because he just cares about Malcolm. I love their friendship and it’s evolution. SO. MUCH. 

17:21 - Is there a mirror of something? How the hell did Norman know that Malcolm crossed the salt? Was it the slight creaking in the floorboards?

17:54 - Dude. Is every suspect this season going to accuse Malcolm of being a killer? First Boyd, now Norman. This is not helping Malcolm’s mental state or his ability to hide his guilt from the team. 

18:30 - “Malcolm Bright. Always crossing the line.” lol. I love JT here. He’s half-teasing Malcolm. Makes me think that he subtly trying to tell Malcolm that he isn’t the killer Norman says that he is. 

18:44 - I DO NOT LIKE THIS. LOOK AT HOW SCARED MALCOLM IS WHEN HE WALKS INTO THE ROOM. A ROOM WITH GIL AND DANI IN IT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. HE’S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SCARED OF THEM. 

19:00 - “What the hell do you have?”. Wow. Okay. No. I love Gil. I understand that he loves Malcolm like a son and he’s scared for Malcolm and Malcolm’s mental state. But this question is so over the line. Gil knows damn well what Malcolm’s mental diagnoses are. It feels like he’s accusing Malcolm of being crazy. I don’t like it. 

19:17 - “Are you serious?” Ok. Dani really needs to start being nicer to Malcolm. She doesn’t have to trust him but some professional civility would be great. I really don’t like how hard the writers are pushing this tension between Dani and Malcolm. It makes Dani look so immature. An adult would be pissed but get over the anger after literal months. The relationship wouldn’t necessarily be the same but it sure as hell wouldn’t be this hostile.

19:40 - Something about Malcolm being the calmest person in the room is both comforting and upsetting. 

19:55 - “My father gave it to me.”.....that’s so not going to help Gil’s concern about Malcolm.

20:50 - This is cute. We don’t get to see enough of Jessica and Ainsley acting like a semi-normal mother-daughter duo. I love it. 

21:00 - “We are WASPs. It’s. What. We. Do.” OMG. Hahahaha 

21:05 - I love how invested Ainsley is in the Gil/Jessica relationship. It’s so clear that she wants her Mom to be happy and I love it. It also makes me wonder if she ever wanted Gil to be her real dad as a kid.

21:30 - Damn. This episode is creepy.

21:45 - First clue that this is a dream - Malcolm says “we” but he’s alone. 

21:57 - ...are Nuns allowed to paint their nails? #GenuineQuestion

22:14 - Not going to lie. This made me cry. I relate to Malcolm so damn much here. I’ve had a severe anxiety disorder for as long as I can remember (seriously I saw my first therapist - against my will - at the age of 4). I’ve also had chronic depression for almost as long. AND I’m a christian. I can’t tell you how many times other christians have told me to “cast my worries on the Lord” and “be free” of my pain. Or that I don’t really believe in God because I’m still suffering so visibly. The problem is - I don’t know if I want to be free. I’ve had these issues so long that I’m genuinely not sure who I’d be without them. It’s how I define myself. It affects every aspect of my personality. I feel like Malcolm might feel the same way - he doesn’t want to suffer anymore but he’s afraid of finding out who he is without the pain. 

22:17 - Okay. So there’s Gil’s voice. So Gil+ Malcolm = “we”. As though I’m supposed to believe that Gil would split up with Malcolm when they’re looking for a nun, who isn’t even a suspect, at a church. Nah. I don’t buy it. This is clearly a dream. 

22:30 - “You have to tell them what you did.”...and then we see the knife. Does this mean Malcolm is slowly convincing himself that he killed Endicott. Not Ainsley? Either way - I agree with nightmare-Ainsley. The team loves Malcolm but they’re also detectives. They’ll figure out what happened. And when they do - yikes. 

22:46 - I hate this. All season suspects have been calling Malcolm evil. Martin has been calling Malcolm a “hero”. Malcolm’s guilt is eating him alive. Simultaneously, the people who are supposed to trust and care about him (Dani, Gil, the precinct, Jessica) have all shown signs of doubting him. Dani alone has pointed a gun at Malcolm’s head. Now she’s wearing body armour? AND LOOK AT THE OTHER COPS. THEY ALL HAVE THEIR HANDS ON THEIR GUNS AS THOUGH MALCOLM IS A CRIMINAL. A THREAT. DANGEROUS. This is very bad for Malcolm’s mental health......God, the whump-whore in me hopes he has a major panic attack or something this season. 

23:23 - I love this scene. This is the papa!Gil content I’m here for. 

23:51 - JT expressing fear and concern for his unborn child makes my heart grow several sizes. Look at his puppy dog eyes here? Ugh. So precious. This whole JT arc is heartbreaking and beautiful. I love it.

24:15 - Sooooo JT knows about Jessica right? He’s a detective and a husband. He so knows. hahaha this is so cute. 

24:19 - Gil. You. Are. A. Liar......and you’ve been really grumpy this episode but I’m going to forgive you because I love you. 

24:28 - GIL. You’ve waited 20 years. How much longer can you wait for Jessica?!?!

24:35 - Maybe JT didn’t know? At least - not until Gil rambled on about waiting? JT looks like he just connected all the dots and he’s super uncomfortable.

24:43 -...... so she verbally attacks him all episode then drives him home and acts like she did toward Malcolm by mid-season 1? I’m getting whiplash. 

25:18 - This scene is so cute. They actually made the real life version of heart-eyes at each other. And Malcolm pours her a glass of water. Because 1) she’s driving and 2) she’s a recovering addict. He’s so casually respectful and I love it. 

25:28 - “Are you any different?” Ouch. Look at how hurt Malcolm is. :( Although, props to Dani for confronting him about it. Someone needed to and she’s being really calm and caring about it. 

26:10 - Dani’s little speech about being a black woman feels a little forced? Like the writers put it in so she doesn’t feel left out compared to JT? Idk, the whole thing just seemed not quite believable. Probably because when JT was racially profiled Dani - a black woman - pulled out her badge and all the white cops listened to her. It just doesn’t track. They wouldn’t have listened to her if they were racist and bold enough to attack JT in the first place.

26:47 - Anyone else think that all those lit candles are a fire hazard? Just me? Cool cool cool. 

 27:21 - Yo. This is stupid. I understand why this happened - because the plot needed it to happen. BUT WHY DID ALL THREE ARMED COPS LEAVE THREE UNARMED PEOPLE ALONE?!? And when does a team of 4 split into a group of 3 and 1??! It makes no logical sense (except for plot purposes).

28:03 - Creepy. 

28:30 - Oh. HELL no. This is absolute bs. My entire heart is breaking for JT.

29:05 - I really like how chill this Priest is. Like - he respects that Malcolm’s a disbeliever and he’s willing to talk to him without trying to convert him. 

29:55 - Listen to how upset JT sounds here!! :( :( :( My heart. :( 

30:08 - Ok so how did she end up tied in the closet and not murdered? 

30:40 - ....so did Jonah ruin that painting while Sister Agnes was in the closet or is the Sister just a moron who didn’t say anything about the guy ruining the painting?!?

30:50 - Sooooo Jonah is an “expert”. He taught Sister Agnes how to safely handle the lead-based paint. Yet - he didn’t use the protection? We saw him with a gas mask at the beginning of the episode? Did the sister not notice that he wasn’t using the protection? So much of this doesn’t track. Thankfully, I don’t watch this show for the “murder of the week” plot line.

31:30 - Malcolm is a good dude. Even now. He’s trying to help Jonah. <3 Heart of gold. 

32:25 - Martin - shut. up. 

32:45 - Friar Pete is a creepy treasure. I love him. 

33:24 - “Oh you’ve gotta be kidding.” hahaha I feel you Malcolm. I feel you. 

33:34 - Not gonna lie - when I watched this the first time all I could think is “How the eff does Malcolm remember everything Pete just said?” Maybe it’s just me but I would need Pete to go 1-2 words at a time. And slowly. ....maybe Malcolm took Latin in school? 

24:06 - Oh so all the killers this season are also going to accuse Malcolm of being a killer and/or evil. 

34:40 - Damn. I wish the team walked in right as Malcolm was screaming “the power of Christ compels you!!!”.

35:15 - I. Love. This. Gil screaming on the phone is everything. Him going to bat for JT is everything. Malcolm saying “This is bad”?!? *chef’s kiss*. ISTG Malcolm’s been scolded by Gil when Gil is that mad at some point during his teen years. 

35:53 - “I’ll take care of it.” JT. Is. My. Hero. What an absolute king. He’s going to take care of it, even though he’s terrified, because he needs to protect his family. Not just Tally and the baby. But little sister Dani too. <3 My heart is full. 

36:11 - ....okay so not to ruin a totally beautiful and profound scene but every time I’ve watched this scene JT doing that lean into the wall is very weird to me. Because he turns to face the camera. If he just slid down the wall or just leaned his head against the wall - it wouldn’t have felt so strange. It honestly distracts me from the scene. Every. Time. 

36:18 - This is hot garbage. I don’t even want to rewatch this scene because it makes me so upset. 

37:51 - I understand where Jessica is coming from but I also think she’s being a moron. I will say though, I respect the hell out of Gil for walking away when asked. A lot of men wouldn’t but he respects Jessica even if he doesn’t like what he’s hearing. So he left because she asked him to. 

39:00 - If this isn’t a red flag for Jessica about Ainsley’s mental health idk what is. 

39:25 - Poor Malcolm looks like he’s on the verge of tears here. :( I’m genuinely scared that Malcolm is becoming suicidal. He’s reaching the level of depressed and guilt where I think it’s a possibility. I genuinely think he’d rather kill himself to stop his guilt and suffering than to admit it to Gil, Jessica, JT, or Dani. ...for legal reasons he definitely can’t tell Gabrielle. 

40:00 - Sooooo Martin is finally suggesting that it was his idea to dispose of the body. I hope it’s the truth. 

40:05 - Martin is a piece of trash. He really needs to stop playing with Malcolm’s head. It’s literally killing Malcolm. 

40:50 - Oh. SHIT. Malcolm just clapped back hard. I am so so proud of him. ...also concerned about this deep anger in him though.

 41:46 - I swear - if we don’t get a Gil and Martin face-off when Martin breaks out, I will lose my mind. It’s one of the top things I want from this show. A Martin+Gil showdown. 

Ok. So I kind of loved this episode? Even though there were...many plot holes and things that annoyed me about it. Is it just me or has this season felt much darker than last season so far? It makes sense given last season’s finale but it’s still thrown me a bit. 

BUT I CAN NOT WAIT FOR 2x3. That promo. Ugh. <3 <3 We’re going to get traumatized teen!Malcolm content and I’m a sick bastard who is living for it. 

[grimbeak]

hi! here’s another fun n cheerful ghost jay drabble, definitely not really depressing at all! :D 

Mistakes 

Pixal was expecting many things to be going on when she got back to the temple, almost a month late after her mission went awry. It was supposed to be only two weeks she was gone, but, well, duty calls. 

Out of all the things she has been expecting (mourning, an empty temple, arguing, etc.), seeing Jay on the couch talking to Cole was not one of them. 

“Um.”

Both boys look up, confused looks turning into delighted smiles almost instantly as they jump up. “Pixal!” Cole runs over to her, and she laughs as his arms wrap tightly around her in a hug. “How’ve you been? Zane and Lloyd are doing a patrol,” he explains, “something about a rogue batch of serpentine. They should be back in about an hour or two, unless something goes wrong.” 

“Great,” Pixal smiles, squeezing him back one more time before stepping away. Her eyes land on Jay, and her smile fades. “How- my apologies, but... why and how is he here?”

“Well, uh...” Cole trails off, clearly a bit uncomfortable. “He’s kind of...”

Jay’s smile, however, doesn’t falter, instead clearing his throat and pulling a paper out of his pocket (is he... see-through?). Reading from the paper, he says, “So, funny story, I died. And now I’m a ghost. With no memory of dying, or... anything that caused me to die. So, don’t-” he frowns, slightly- “don’t tell me anything that may trigger memories, and try not to act weird around me. And, um, that’s about it.” He folds the paper, slipping it back into his pocket. “Kai wrote that for me,” Jay explains. “Pretty informative.” 

Pixal blinks. “Right. Well. So you don’t remember... anything?” She’s been told about the island, but... apparently her friends have neglected to tell her that Jay is alive (well... half-alive. A ghost. Whatever) and well (as well as one can be with zero memories of their death.) 

Jay shakes his head. “Nope. And, apparently, no one’s allowed to tell me about it.” He sounds a bit disappointed at the last bit, but regains a smile that seems rather forced. “Anyway, good to see you again! I’ll go tell Kai you’re back.” 

Pixal waits until her friend (friend? Formerly-dead-but-now-alive friend? Formerly-enemy-friend? Hmm.) jogs off before turning back to Cole. “So. When did he turn up?”

The master of earth rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. “Few days after you went on your mission. From what I heard, he just kinda... popped out of the wall. Scared the crap out of Kai.” 

Pixal smiles, slightly. “So, I’m assuming I will be informed about what happened when the others return?”

Cole nods just as Jay re-enters the room, followed closely by Kai. The fire ninja offers a smile and a wave to Pixal. “Hey, Pix. How was the mission?”

“Long,” she sighs, and Kai smirked. 

“So, uh... wanna come get some tea? Lloyd made some, earlier.” Pixal raises an eyebrow, and Kai hurriedly adds, “Zane helped him. It doesn’t taste horrible, for once.” 

“Yes. That would be nice.”

***

So maybe Jay shouldn’t be doing this. 

But hey. He did figure out how to turn invisible all on his own (well, mostly on his own (having your best friend become a ghost for over a year and a half does have its advantages)), so he should use it. It’s his decision, not any of his friends’. 

Not that he’s told his friends about his ability to turn invisible, anyway, but still.

From what Jay understands, the other ninja are going to have Important Discussion Time with Pixal in around five minutes. Explain to her what happened on the island and what not.

So, the logical thing to do is sneak in while being invisible, listen to whatever happened on the island that nobody wants to tell him about, try to figure out why they didn’t want to tell him. Can’t be that bad, right?

Right. Everything’ll be fine, and Jay will be fine, and he’ll tell the others that he knows, and everything will be great. 

Pixal interrupts his train of thought, standing up with the others. “So, we’re gonna go...” She gestures vaguely to the living room, and Cole and Kai wince in unision behind her. They probably don’t think that Jay has noticed the fact that they shoo him away for a few hours every time that they have to explain his existence (half-existence?) to someone. Which, surprisingly, happens a lot. 

Jay pushes himself away from the wall he was leaning against (being able to touch solid things is a lot easier than being able to touch people, or have people touch him.) with a smile. “Yeah, sure. I’m gonna go rest for a bit, see you guys later.”

He’s not going to go rest for a bit. What he is going to do, actually, is pull the tracker off his uniform (it’s not as hidden as Zane thinks) and put it on his bed, then sneak back into the living room, invisible. 

(One of the first things he worked on as a ghost was turning invisible. Going invis is easier than getting out of invis, actually. It’s sort of like a switch you flick down to disappear.

Getting out is harder, due to the fact that it takes physical contact with someone to switch out. The last few times he’s done it, Jay just bumped shoulders with Zane while he had his nose buried in a book.

Jay hopes this meeting won’t take too long. The longer he’s invisible, the more he can feel himself fading away.)

The other ninja (and Pixal) dissapear into the Important Discussion Talk room, and Jay wanders off to his room. Quickly, he pulls the mini tracker that Zane made off his elbow (not the best hiding spot, seriously) and places it carefully on his bed. 

Time to overhear some things, like any good person questioning their existence and/or past would do. 

Once he’s back into the kitchen, Jay flips the internal switch.

And vanishes. 

It’s... it’s pretty much exactly the same as being a regular ghost, except for the fact that he can’t see himself.

Jay pushes the door open (and silently thanks the FSM that it doesn’t creak), and gets noticed almost immediately. Crap. 

Cole frowns, pushing himself up from the couch. “...Jay?”

Zane pulls something out of his pocket before turning it around so that Jay and Cole can see the screen. “No. He’s still in his room. We should really get that door fixed- does that all the time.”

...Oh thank god. 

Zane sets the tracker pad back down onto the table, Jay slinks farther into the room, and Cole closes the door before plopping back down onto the couch. “We ready to start?”

Pixal nods, slowly, looking a little less unsure than earlier. “Affirmative.” 

“Alright, so...” Kai leans back in his chair, in a ready-to-start-talking-about-our-friend’s-demise-and-resurrection pose. “Let’s begin.” 

And they do.

They talk about getting to the island, about being... not exactly welcomed by the locals (understandable), and about-

“His mother?” 

“We think so,” Cole says awkwardly. “Well, not think so, Master Wu did explicitly say that she was Jay’s mom. Said her name was Linda, or something.” 

“Liberty,” Nya interupts “But when they were kids, everyone apparently called her Libber. She used to be really nice and kind too- a lot like Jay, really, but...” She looks at the ground.

Jay can’t breathe. His mother was there, his mom, and they didn’t tell him about her? Why? 

He finds it very hard to stay quiet right now, and instead shoves his fist in his mouth and bites on it, hard. ...Doesn’t really do anything, but the numb feeling he always has grows worse. He’ll start sort of... tingling, soon. Always happens when he gets stressed, now.

“But she had lost it.”

Hold on, she- what?

Nya takes a shaky breath, and her brother squeezes her hand comfortingly. “Libber was... clearly not herself. Insane, really. Just kind of... bent on destruction. Something had happened, we don’t know what, but she wasn’t- wasn’t herself, anymore, according to Master Wu. Jay was kinda... messed up about that.”

“Of course he was,” Cole murmurs. “I mean, you meet your mom after not even knowing she existed for most of your life, and she doesn’t even care about you? Gotta screw you up a little. Along with... all the other stuff.”

Jay’s starting to think he really doesn’t want to know about all the other stuff. 

But the other ninja keeps talking, and he keeps listening, and Jay really understands why they didn’t want to tell him about any of this. 

“So,” Pixal says eventually, after Kai’s taken a break from speaking. “Just to be perfectly clear- Jay went evil slash insane because his mother didn’t care about him, and he thought that none of you cared about him as well?” 

Yes, Jay wants to scream. Yes, that’s exactly what happened. 

There are thoughts in his head, memories blinking in and out and Jay doesn’t really know what to do with all of them. 

“Well,” Kai starts slowly, “it wasn’t all that, but-” 

“Shut it, Kai,” Cole interrupts, and his companions stare at him in surprise. “Look, just- yes, Pixal. It was our fault. We made him feel like we didn’t care about him. Kai especially,” he added, and the fire ninja glared at him for a few seconds until he gave up, looking down at the ground. Cole continued. “And now we have another chance, and just- we can’t mess up this time.”

“And then what happened?” Pixal asks.

“The tribe got to him,” Cole says, “offered him a way out.” 

And they all keep tallking. 

And Jay listens.

Listens to how he turned against his friends, how he was going to destroy Ninjago to bring them pain and suffering, and how the others had no choice to but to take him down. And they did that by-

After a few seconds of silence, Pixal speaks up. “So... how’d you stop him?” 

No one says anything, and Jay’s stomach drops as Kai looks at the ground.

Pixal’s eyes widen. “You didn’t- you guys- you...” She trails off, shocked.

Kai whispers, eventually, “We didn’t mean to kill him. But he... we were just trying to hit him with all our powers at once, see if we could snap him out of it, maybe stop him, but-” he looks at his hand as if it’s covered in blood. “...We’re more powerful than we thought.” 

Jay’s frozen, and the one remaining part of his head that can think clearly hopes that this meeting’ll end soon, otherwise he’ll start to fade away. Once that happens... 

His friends-

They killed him. 

Jay had assumed it was something that happened with the tribe, or-or maybe even his mother and where was she?, but not his friends.

He feels sick. 

...Maybe he deserved it, honestly, with the way he was acting, but still. 

“OK,” Pixal says after a moment, “so he’s dead because you guys killed him.” Cole and Lloyd wince at the true accusation, but nod in agreement. “So how’d become a ghost, then? There’s... I can’t think of any logical way.”

“We think,” Cole starts, “that the tribe has some kind of resurrection ritual. But either something went wrong or there’s a cost, because Jay doesn’t know how or why he died. Also the whole ghost thing.”

“I see. And- was Libber there, too? Did... did she have to watch? Did you guys kill her, too?”

“No! She... she disappeared, just before Jay lost it. We’re not sure where she is- probably alive somewhere else. The tribe didn’t know where she went. She might’ve told Jay, but... if she did, he won’t remember.” 

...OK. So his mom is still out there, somewhere, probably insane. That’s... good to know, sort of.

“And, um...” Cole drums his fingers on the armrest of the couch he’s sitting on. Jay’s legs really hurt. “I think that’s about it.” 

“OK,” Pixal says slowly. “And I’m not allowed to tell Jay about this?”

The others shake their heads immediately. “Nope,” confirms Kai. “Too dangerous. Might go all insane-ey and lose it again.”

Jay...

Ouch.

...His friends don’t trust him, that’s for sure, and to be honest he deserves it.

But he deserves an apology, as well, not some half-baked lie about how when he died they realized they weren’t as nice to him as they could’ve been. 

...Maybe he can think of a way to tell him that he remembers, without them trying to kill him for it. 

As Jay’s thinking/beginning to have an internal mental breakdown, Cole stands up and starts walking towards the door. “I’m gonna go check on Jay, see how he’s doing. He’s asleep, right?” Zane holds up the tracker pad, which shows a little dot marked Jay on his bed. “Great. I’ll see how he’s doing, and-” 

Oops.

Jay had tried to go through the door just as Cole opened it, but apparently the other ninja has no respect for the personal space of friends he can’t see and didn’t know where there.   

Jay takes a few careful steps back, internally keeping the invisible switch down due to the fact that Cole bumped into him.

Cole hesitates, then reaches out a hand, and Jay is suddenly filled with so much dang panic that he can’t move, and Cole shoves him back so that Jay stumbles, landing hard against the wall and almost knocking over the coffee table. “Watch it!”

Cole’s eyes go wide and mouth drops open, the other ninja (and Pixal) twisting around in their seats to see what’s wrong.

..Jay’s not invisible anymore, is he.

One glance down at his body confirms that. He’s back to being a dark green/blue combo, the floor an odd colour beneath his feet.

 “You were...” Cole’s voice is quiet, but it quickly grows to a normal tone, albeit stunned. “You were listening? You were here the whole time?!” 

“I-” Jay glances around the room, eyes landing on Kai. “I didn’t-” 

His friends killed him.

His friends killed him. 

Kai swallows, before asking, “How do- Jay, are you... how do you feel?”

Jay looks at him.

And turns and sprints through the wall. 

It’s getting dark, outside, gray clouds indicating rain soon. Too bad. Jay can’t stay here.

His friends killed him his friends killed him- 

Jay hears a yell of “After him!” from behind him as the others claw their way through the temple.

He doesn’t have much time.

His friends killed him his friends killed him his friends-

Jay summons his dragon, pushing through the fear that seems to be overwhelming his body, more and more every second-

Hisfriendskilledhimhisfriendskilledhimhisfriendskilledhim-

He flies off just as the remaining ninja burst through the door. He can hear them calling their dragons, as well, with the sound of wings behind him within a few seconds.

He flies faster. 

“Hmmm, what you’re looking for is an Aeroblade, forged by Deepstone, an aquatic material mined from the bottom of the ocean. Very unique. Even more expensive.” 

Aeroblades.

Ronin.

He needs to find Ronin.

Jay looks back at the five dragons following him, their riders too far away to see clearly (he got a head start). 

He looks ahead of him, to Ninjago City the place that he apparently tried to destroy a few months ago. 

..He’ll lose them there.

[dappercritter]

Random She-Ra Season 5 Thoughts: THE FINAL RAMBLING

Yep. I finally got all my crazy absurd thoughts about this gay adventure-romance-drama cartoon summarized into one incoherent yet fun to read computer document/article! ...four months after the show itself ended. Oh well, no one’s perfect. Anyways, there are a whole lot more insane observations than ever before, so I had to put it below a link so this thing didn’t back up my blog or any of yours. Hope you enjoy reading through these as much I enjoyed spouting them for no discernible reason other than I felt like it!

-I feel that since is the last season, I ought to talk about an important part of the show that I’ve been putting off: the animation. It’s… okay. It’s definitely smoother than what the original 80’s show and it’s brother series (heheh) looked like, but at the same time it still seems to suffer from similar limitations which causes some distracting moments of stiffness. But other than that, it’s pretty good. It’s no Titmouse or Studio Mir but it looks good and it gets the job done.

         -After all, let’s not forget: “Imperfection is beautiful!”

-Even when things are at their lowest, Adora is a jock with a heart of gold.

-Horde Prime and the Galactic Horde’s aesthetic feels like a mixture of Catholicism, Scientology, Heaven’s Gate, and modern Microsoft, and honestly, that just makes him creepier.

-Speaking of Horde Prime, he didn’t waste any time with destroying Bright Moon. …apparently.

-Furthermore, on the topic of his giant holographic messages, WAS THAT A FREAKING MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE MOVIE REFERENCE?!

-Boy, Glimmer and Catra sure got along quickly! It’s almost like they magically understand each other because they both assumed leadership roles and screwed up big time! …I guess.

         -Either that or this season is going to be a speedrun.

-Wow, the Rebellion sure got used to having a once-thought-dead king as well as a known enemy general/abuser running around their camp awful fast, didn’t they?

-Mara’s got a spaceship, a cyber girlfriend, a magic grandma, a dragon, a tragic backstory, AND a force ghost?! Dang, even in death, the girl’s got it all. No wonder everyone likes her!

-(*me looking at the TV rating at the start of episode*) “Why is language in there? Is there surprise cuss words or something in this season?” (*sees Horde Prime seize control of a clone for the first time*) “HOLY FREAKING SH—oh that’s why.”

-Applause to the crew for making the “dinner with Prime” scene for making a meal between a sparkly princess, a catgirl, and alien cult leader feel even more uncomfortable than it had a right to.

-(*me throughout the season whenever a clone was onscreen*) Is that Hordak? Is that him? Is that him? Is that him right there? Oh it is—oh no wait. … Is that h—

-Extra applause for having Glimmer learn from her grey-area wetwipe phase and refusing to sell out her friends again whilst telling the imperialist cult leader where to stick it.

-I would pay a sizeable portion of my life savings to hear what a Scorpia and Swift Wind duet would sound like.

         -In fact, I’d double it if it was just Scorpia singing.

         -Ah what the heck. I would triple it for an entire She-Ra musical!

-As happy as I am to see to see Entrapta interacting with the other princesses again, I have to say that their big reunion left me with some mixed feelings. Here’s a quick rundown:

         -Entrapta, a grown autistic woman, being led around on a leash by non-neurodivergent teenagers—again: that’s bad.

         -The Princesses confronting Entrapta about joining the Horde: that’s good!

         -The Princesses blaming all their problems with the Horde bots on Entrapta’s actions and her hyper fixations alone: that’s bad.

         -Entrapta explaining herself, admitting that she regrets her mistakes, and getting the Princesses to understand that she thinks and communicates differently, but in spite of that, she really does want help find Glimmer: that’s good!

         -Entrapta never gets to call out the Princesses for how poorly they treated her: that’s bad.

         -Entrapta saves the day and goes to space: that’s good!

         -Scorpia and Entrapta still haven’t interacted even though the former is with the Rebellion in the first place because she went to look for her because she is her best friend: …can I go home now?

-How nice! Michah finally got to shapeshift!

         -And he’s rocking that She-Ra outfit to boot!

-So is Darla a back up of Light Hope or do they just run on the same operating system and have the same voice?

-I could watch an entire season of Adora, Bow, and Entrapta going on space adventure in a rundown ship with their custom-made spacesuits, tbh.

-Is anyone else weirded out that Catra’s younger self looked at her in her flashback(?).

         -Actually what WAS happening there, anyhow?

-(*watching Bow’s spacewalk to save Glimmer*) “Is that a Gravity reference?” asked the man who never saw Gravity.

-Speaking of spacewalks, how did Glimmer survive those precious few seconds in space? Does the teleporter teleport a breathable atmosphere too?

         -Also, Catra, WHY did you think it would be a good idea to teleport Glimmer into space? I know you had a plan and the ship was right there but… Ah, never mind.

-Not that I’m complaining but Glimmer’s apology to the rest of the friend squad for her HORRIBLE plan last season went… surprisingly quickly.

-You know as cool as The Star Siblings are, being a quirky band of space-travelling siblings with cool powers and some trans rep to boot, I only have one small problem with them: weren’t there already Star Sisters on Etheria back in season 1?

         -That doesn’t sound right, but I don’t know enough about Masters of the Universe characters to dispute it.

-Entrapta confirmed pan, objectum, AND horny on main. Dang girl, you’re gonna have fun whether you got Hordak back or not…

-“The Velvet Glove” is both a menacing and stupid name for a decadent overlord’s mothership.

         -Wait, it’s from the 80’s canon? Oh. That kind of explains it, actually.

-Goshdangit, I wanted Catra to face punishment for her crimes, but I didn’t think that would involve going to evil alien conversion therapy!

         -Nor did I want her to die! For a second. Actually, since it obviously wasn’t going to last I was… weirdly okay with that part???

-Horde Prime seems awfully okay with Catradora. I mean he’s still super creepy and manipulative about it, but also oddly progressive for an evil brainwashing cult leader.

-(*Adora transforms into a She-Ra through seer will*) First of all, called it. Second of all, WOAH MAMA now that’s a glow up!

-Wrong Hordak did not have to be a thing, and yet, I’m glad that he is.

-Hordak remembers the LUVD crystal and Entrapta… Hordak remembers Entrap—! It’s happening! Oh my gosh, it’s happening! Everybody stay calm!

-Wow, Entrapta didn’t have to be so forgiving of Catra for everything she’s done to her but she did. Only I’m not sure if that was Entrapta taking the high road or the low road.

         -Or which road the crew took for that matter.

-I remember when I thought those “Chipped AUs” floating around here on tumblr were just something the fans came up with and that chipping people was not an actual despicable thing Prime does in canon. I miss those days.

-I know it’s not the same as before or the original design, but True She-Ra’s designs and powers? I think they slappin’.

-Hooray, Adora and Catra are finally making up! And it only took four and half seasons worth of communication failures, toxic villainous behaviour, and physical violence for Catra to snap out of it!

         -…We can go back to Entrapdak now, right?

-Poor Elberon. First they unknowingly adopt a double agent then get invaded by the Horde and now they’re getting brainwashed and chipped by the Galactic Horde. They might be a cute village, but they got some pretty lousy security.

-You know it’s cute that Micah is doing his best to be friends with Frosta and get back in touch with his dad-side, but look I can’t be the only one worried about how the local King is a less proactive leader than the princesses or the known war criminal/abuser, right?

-“The Perils of Peekablue” or as I like to call it, “You Thought ‘Boys Night Out’ Caught You Emotionally Off-guard? Hah! Watch This.”

-You know I didn’t think Scorpfuma would be a thing aside that one moment of flirting near the end of season 4, but they really pushed for it to be a thing! This is… actually pretty great! Perfuma’s not perfect, and I would have appreciated giving them a little more time to bond and form some real chemistry, but at least she reciprocates Scorpia’s sweetness instead of rebuffing it in increasingly aggressive fashion.

-I’m not sure what’s more concerning: that Mermista set a boat on fire, that it’s worded like she had a fling as part of some experimental phase, or that Sea Hawk is turned on by this.

-Peekablue might not be real, (I think?) but he is one dapper dude! Female-to-male redesigns could learn a thing or two from him.

-It involved them getting stung and seizuring, but that was a heck of a way to reintroduce Double Trouble! I swear I got watching them cycle through their transformations in some sort of physical reaction.

         -Or maybe that was just me worrying about their wellbeing…

-Okay, I get the Chips are huge, and actually rather clever threat, but how do these characters get chipped in the first place? I get there are chipped people who spread the chips throught the population but where do they get those from???

         -Do one of those Horde Prime drones just sneak behind someone, slap a chip on their nape then hand them a whole bagfull and say, “Beep boop beep, Horde Prime’s Light, blah blah blah. Alright have fun, kiddo”?

         -Or is it some sort of Alien: Covenant deal where they’re just floating around and Lord help you if one sticks to you?

-HOLY CRAP THEY ACTUALLY GOT SCORPIA TO SING! AND SHE WAS GREAT!

         -Oh shoot. Guess I owe the crew twice my life savings now…

-Entrapdak might be what got me into this show, but it’s Double Trouble that kept me around, so you can imagine how happy I was to see them make their grand reappearance!

-Conversly, you can imagine my disappointment when they just disappeared until the finale.

         -And on that note: HOW DID YOU GUYS LOSE DOUBLE TROUBLE?!

                  -You forgot to cherish them, didn’t you?

-So, Scorpia sacrifices herself just after finding a new girlfriend and gaining some newfound confidence, Mermista and Sea Hawk are split up,and Double Trouble didn’t join the main cast. Why can’t you just have fun like a normal cartoon, show?

-Gosh, I love me some shifting title cards!

-Is it just me or did they sneak in some more Annihilation references on Krytis?

         (-Said the guy who was too chicken to watch the movie and just read about it and watched a few clips online.)

-(*audibly sighs*) FINE. I guess I like Catradora now. Are you happy now, SPOP Crew? ARE YOU?!

-Hooray, Catra’s got a emotional support animal! And they’re a shapeshifting magic alien cat. Those are the best kind!

-Is it weird that I knew that weird glowing stuff on Krytis was just magic all along, or was it just not hidden very well. Anyways, I like Krytis. I like that we got to see a truly alien world with its own form of magic.

-Plus, we got a logical advancement of the magic versus science subtheme with magic being Horde Prime’s weakness! Neato!

-Getting back on the “which is worse?” wagon for a second, I don’t know what feels less right: that Wrong Hordak’s big revelation and his resolution to free himself and his brothers and friends from Horde Prime’s control is played humorously, or that Real Hordak should be the one having this moment.

-That bit with Castaspella and Shadow Weaver where she tells Casta about Etheria being a living thing with inherent magical property, or whatever, while we got a peaceful shot of some boar creatures sleeping was actually kind of nice. It would have been nicer though if it wasn’t part of a power hungry abuser’s obvious scheme. If only there was a kindly old witch lady character who was in touch with nature and knew just what to say when someone was feeling downOH WAIT.

-Furthermore… Why did Shadow Weaver and Castaspella need to have romantic tension?

-Seriously though, where’s our Madame Razz quota this season? Where’s my supportive magic grandma timelord at, yo?

-Yup, they speedran this season.

-I’m actually really disappointed we didn’t see more of an intergalactic new rebellion rising up to fight Horde Prime’s forces across the universe. Especially if it meant we got to see more Star Sibling action!

-Again, I adore Wrong Hordak but I keep wondering what was keeping the crew from just bringing in Original Flavour Hordak. (You know, aside from teasing us Entrapdak fans and trying to distract us with a loveable new character in the meantime.) I mean he could have done the whole infiltrating the clone squads and tricking them bit, too.

         -Heck, he could have done the wink, too!

-I’d gleefully point out Loo-Kee’s cameo this season but apparently, they already made some several seasons ago. That’s what I get for not rewatching the 80’s show and training my eyes first.

-(*sees Erelandians*) Are those freaking Toads and Toadettes?

-So, what’s keeping them from just hitting Spinerella’s chip again? Besides emotional baggage and gale force winds, I mean.

-Perfuma coming out of a cave scared out of her wits, demanding to know who’s there, clinging to her friends as soon as they come back, and balling her eyes out is a big, BIG mood.

-Frosta absolutely decking Catra in the face was nestled somewhere between cathartic and excessive.

         -Netossa spraying her with a bottle of water on the other hand…

-Oh, so Greyskull was the name of a Rebel Squad! I think. Meh, the important thing is we got an explanation and it still sounds cool.

-Leave it to a couple of dads to make a secret message out of a dad joke.

-You know I made fun of Light Hope for being creepy, but I swear that avatar from the Spire is even creepier. I don’t know if it’s her face—those dang blank eyes, man—or just that it she’s less animated than the real thing, but it just felt… off.

-Aww, Noelle made Netossa’s princess weakness illustrations! So cute!

-Forget episodes that deserves Emmys, Keston John deserves one for voicing Hordak, Horde Prime, all the clones, and several minor villains and giving each and every single one a distinct voice! Where my king’s respect, eh?

-Yes, Catra you had a small disagreement with Hordak. …Over sending his girlfriend and your “friend” to DIE IN A LITERAL LIVING HELL.

         -Sorry, I just had to get that out of my system.

-Why does Perfuma get pressured to get angry and go wild when Entrapta’s the one who’s had it the worst out of all them? Why can’t my gamer girl go berserk, dammit!?

-Okay, but really, how do these fricking chips work??? Are they parasite devices who store Horde Prime’s Baptizing Dew then slowly pump it into their host’s bodies? Do they have their own nervous systems? Are they technorganic? Also, how and why do we need to make these chips are bigger threat then they need to be?

-Horde Prime showing up on Hordak’s throne in grand Killing Joke style and casually throwing shades at his brother’s overblown attempts to impress him is pretty awesome, but it feels strangely underdeveloped. Hordak’s not there to have his hard work insulted and we never got to see Adora have any similar encounter with Hordak here before, so unless you look at it from the perspective of someone who has been here before in the Horde story like Catra it lacks the dramatic weight it should have had.

-Scorpia resisting the chip to save her new friends was pretty great, though.

-I swear, when they got to the scene where Adora and the others figured out that Shadow Weaver was grooming her so she could use her to get to the Heart of Etheria, I was mouthing “You B***H” through the whole thing.

-They really brought back Etherian deep magic just so they had something to make Micah threatening. …okay.

-Okay, the rest of “Failsafe” messed me up, so here’s a rundown on all the other messy thoughts I had while the show ripped my heart and ground it to dog food:

         -Entrapta and Hordak reuniting: Yay!

         -Swift Wind yanking her away before she can get through to him: Boo.

         -Catra encouraging Adora to try and take care of herself for a change: Yay!

         -Adora hurts Catra and she runs away: Boo.

         -Adora finally calling out Shadow Weaver on what an utterly horrible person she is: Yay!

         -Adora resolves to risk sacrificing herself to save the world: Bo—okay, seriously, was all this suffering really necessary, show?

-I know I mentioned in my previous She-Ra random thoughts that I supported Glimmadora, but I am okay with Catradora and Glimbow ending up canon. The only problem I have is how rushed they feel—moreso with Glimbow. With Catradora, the crew had an entire season to make it work again and they took it. Glimbow it feels like they were down to the last few episodes and went, “Oh right, we were gonna do something with these two!” then did their darndest to fit in some chemistry in between all the other stuff going down.

-As ominous as it was, the music where Horde Prime starts hacking Etheria honestly SLAPS.

-Okay, I know everyone is magic or something, but I am legit surprised getting electrocuted in water didn’t kill the heroes right then and there.

-Sea Hawk tries to flirt with his girl even as she’s trying to kill him. Truly, he is a man of taste.

-What do you know, Shadow Weaver can only do good when she’s (canonically!) punch drunk.

-You know a whole lot of this could have been avoided if Holo-Mara was Adora’s mentor instead of Light Hope.

-When I think about it, it was actually really clever to make Horde Prime the final villain for Adora to face: a domineering decadent man who’s been in power forever against a humble emotionally vulnerable compassionate young woman.

         -Not to mention the divide between cult-like oppression and progressive freedom. Or something.

-Holy crap, did the First Ones get a great freaking a Great Old One for a guard dog?!

-So, you guys seriously didn’t bring Angella back to reunite with her family OR mention her all season after the impact her death had on everyone all last season until Glimmer needs a power-up at the last possible minute and then you never bring her up again. That is absolutely a dick move in bird culture.

-Entrapta’s hacker sticker gives me life. Gamer girl gremlin princess forever!

-On the one hand, I’m disappointed that Adora and Catra don’t get to have an awesome couple battle against the security monster and win. On the other hand, Shadow Weaver is finally dead. YAY!

         -With apologies to the writers and especially Lorraine Toussaint. She did splendidly bringing this character to life and even if I hated Shadow Weaver, I adored the effort she put into making her one of the most emotionally complex villains I’ve ever seen.

-Words cannot, will not, and will never describe the pure joy that I experienced when I first saw Hordak’s big scene: standing up to and disowning his tyrant brother, saving Entrapta, declaring his love to her (albeit in a nicely lowkey fashion), and then throwing Horde Prime to his apparent doom Disney style with Entrapta cheering him with sheer glee. GOSH, it was everything I could have hoped for from this season!

         -Now if only they kept the deleted scene where they got a moment to themselves before Prime body-jacked him again like the creepy sonuvabich he is.

-Horde Prime just wouldn’t be a religious villain if he didn’t tell everyone to burn.

         -Bonus points for actually trying to burn the frigging planet.

-Aside from the idea of Adora switching to wearing a She-Ra themed dress everywhere in the future, the future vision was really quite sweet, and seeing Prime step in to ruin it made it all the more impactful.

-Can I just say that it’s absolutely wonderful that the show, for all it’s flaws, said  “**** senseless heroic sacrifices”?

-BREAKING: Lesbian cat finally makes up with her jock ex, has a canon kiss so pure it saves the world!

         -In other news, Catradora fans are still spoiled rotten.

-Wow, look at all those character comebacks they skipped through! Look, there’s the chefs from Dryl, Double Trouble, Huntara, the Horde Trio, Imp, Madame Razz—are you kidding me?!

-Grumbling aside, I actually find the idea of the Horde Trio and Imp getting involved in a G-rated science-fantasy version of the first Hangover movie quite amusing.

-Oh dang, they pulled a Castle in the Sky with the Velvet Glove!

-As nice as it was to see Aodra save Hordak from Horde Prime and destroy the latter through exorcism via sheer compassion, I’m rather disappointed we never got to see She-Ra go full Metal Gear Solid Rising: Revengence on any creepy old cult leaders.

         -Yeah, it would have gone against the “love conquers all” set up, but love takes on many forms, does it not? So, why can it not manifest as cleaving your mortal enemies with extreme prejudice to save your loved ones?

-Furthermore, in addition to Holo-Mara being a better mentor, Hordak raising Adora instead Shadow Weaver could have prevented a lot of similar problems. Maybe. Possibly.

         -Eh whatever, he has a lifetime’s worth of fanfiction to make up for it.

-ENTRAPDAK IS CANON, ALL IS RIGHT WITH THE WORLD.

-And so is Catradora and Glimbow! That’s nice, too.

-Aww, how sweet of them to skip through Catra and Scorpia, and Glimmer and Micah’s big reunions! It’s not like we’ve been waiting forever for this stuff or anything. HahahahAHAHAHDHAHAHFHAFHKSADJHFKAJHDfine.

-And so it all ends with everyone either friends, in love, or both, as heroes decide to make up for it all with a grandiose sequel promising more exciting space adventures we probably won’t see! HOORAY!

-All snarky ranting aside, I actually really enjoyed the finale. It was exciting, heartwarming, and above all it ended on happy, hopeful note without leaving too many frustrating questions unanswered. (*glares with utmost contempt at Voltron and Star vs. The Forces of Evil*)

-You know, this wasn’t bad for a final season, but I think this might have worked better as two seasons. Not in Netflix’s cheap “split a regular 13-episode season in two 6-7 episode long seasons” strategy, but I mean two full seasons with their own storylines leading up to the grand finale:

         -First, one that starts out with Horde Prime’s arrival the downfall of Etheria, focuses on the space adventures, ends with their return to Etheria and gives the characters time to recuperate from season 4.

         -Then, we have one final season that focuses on the Best Friend Squad’s Return to Etheria, Horde Prime’s plan, gives everyone more time to properly reconcile before ¾ of the entire cast gets chipped, sets up a new Rebellion made up of Princess Alliance and former Etherian Horde members, maybe even set up a proper Hordak redemption arc or something, and then our big happy ending.

-On a mostly unrelated note, I also feel that the whole show could have turned out even better if it had been either a dedicated science-fantasy war drama with some levity (like the good Star Wars shows or Avatar: The Last Airbender) or a lighthearted yet empowering slice-of-life action-adventure romcom (i.e. basically a well-made remake of the original show in the style of Adventure Time and Parks and Rec or something).

-My final random thought for this whole thing: we really could have used a triumphant end credits song or something. Aside from obviously recommending Fabulous Secret Powers, I would have also recommended the original 4 Non Blondes “What’s Going On,” a reprise of “Warriors,” Gorillaz’s “We Got the Power,” or (my favourite) Talking Head’s “(Nothing But) Flowers” since the ending scenes remind me of it.

Thanks again to the crew for giving me something to live for and/or complain about!

Now, let’s hope the He-Man reboots do as well...

[moviemunchies]

I’m sort of doing this thing where I’m reading books and keeping a log of it, and if there’s a movie adaptation I try to watch it before moving on to the next book in the series. So I’ve been meaning to get to Prince Caspian for a while now after reading the book.

This one’s weird because a large chunk of the Chronicles of Narnia fandom doesn’t like this movie very much. And I pretty much loved it since I saw it in theaters? It’s not as faithful to the book as the previous film, but that doesn’t make it bad. I’m still struck by the design of the film, which stands out from most fantasy films of the time (and many today), and it’s got a lot of action! That’s enough to make me dig a fantasy movie.

_Prince Caspian_ is the second installment of Walden Media’s Chronicles of Narnia film series and the sequel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It’s also the last film in the series that was made by Disney, as they quit because they were disappointed by this one’s reception. Walden Media managed to get another studio to fund and distribute the third movie.

After a year in England, the Pevensies come back to Narnia to find that over a thousand years have passed. The country’s been conquered by the Telmarines who have driven the Narnia creatures into hiding, thinking they’d been wiped out. The Telmarine prince, Caspian X, is sympathetic to Narnians but didn’t know they still existed--that is, until he has to run from the palace and lead them in rebellion against his uncle who wants him dead to take the throne. The Pevensies are there to help of course, but Peter butts heads with Caspian (and his siblings) on how to best fight this war. And Aslan’s nowhere to be seen, except by Lucy, who can’t convince the others to follow that lead.

This movie does actually have a lot of content from the book, just rearranged or recontextualized. The Plot is completely reworked and I don’t mind that because a huge chunk of Caspian’s story in the book is being told to the Pevensies by Trumpkin--that would be a very frustrating way to tell his story in the movie. Some things, like the animals holding faith for Aslan when others don’t, is implied by the way scenes are done rather than outright told to the audience.

There are some things that are in both the book and movie, but the movie doesn’t quite explain what that’s about. The sparring match between Edmund and Trumpkin doesn’t really make much sense in the movie.

There’s also the attack on the castle. This sequence is invented entirely for the movie, and while it’s frustrating in a similar way that Finn and Rose’s subplot in The Last Jedi is, the book does mention the Narnians losing some battles and so actually showing that to the audience is fine. Also I like seeing the way they apply griffins and mice in the raid. That’s cool thinking and I wish to see more fantasy films think about how fantasy creatures might be used on military operations.

Also I really like the design of this movie? The Narnian side mostly keeps the same designs for their weapons and armor, but it’s a lot more worn down, and that makes sense because they’ve been hiding in the woods for a few hundred years. They don’t have new weapons. The Telmarines, on the other hand, look fantastic. For their culture, WETA Workshop was inspired by Spanish and Italian culture, so instead of longswords they use side swords and falchions, and their armor brings to mind a combination of Spanish conquistadors, Italian condottieri, and Japanese samurai. They look more Renaissance than medieval and I love it.

The cast is also matched up to that, with Spanish and Italian actors playing the roles of Telmarines. Ben Barnes is an exception, as he’s English, but he’s putting on his best Inigo Montoya impression as Caspian.

You know what? Let’s talk about this cast. Ben Barnes, back when he wasn’t just playing villains. I remember classmates in high school saying that he’s too old, but if he is that’s because the actor playing Peter is also too old. Caspian is supposed to be the same age as Peter, so I didn’t mind it here. I think he overdoes the whole “YOU KILLED MY FATHER” thing but I don’t think that’s Ben Barnes’s fault as much as he’s working with the Plot point that’s been sandwiched into the story.

William Moseley does very well in playing Peter as he’s written for this movie, the problem is that Peter in this movie is written to be an absolute prat. His whole arc in this movie is about learning that he doesn’t have to be in charge and to let Aslan take the wheel. This would make sense if his life experience was only what we saw in the last movie’s adventure, but we know that he apparently grew up in Narnia and became a successful and wise warrior king. So him being so full of himself here doesn’t make sense. I got over it, as I see what they were going for, deconstructing how a kid might feel after his time in Narnia, but it is very annoying and it makes Peter very unlikable.

Unlike Edmund, played by Skandar Keyes, who is absolutely THE SHIZ in this movie. Having learned his lesson from the last movie, Edmund is a cheeky wonder child who takes no crap from anyone. He doesn’t have that much of an arc in this movie, but he is great to watch, so I forgive it. He’s the guy who keeps his head screwed on straight when Peter and Caspian need someone to keep them grounded.

Anna Popplewell’s Susan is good? They still go with her being the “reasonable” one, albeit a little less uptight than in the first movie. They have this thing in the movie in which she and Caspian are definitely into each other and I don’t think that’s too out there--in the books Susan had at least half a dozen suitors when she was queen--it does mean that a lot of her character arc is dedicated to that, and we know that it goes nowhere. This one clearly implies that she’s having trouble holding faith in things she doesn’t see in front of her, and that’s a fascinating direction that doesn’t go quite as far in this movie as it could.

And Lucy. Georgie Henley as Lucy is still delightful. They removed and rearranged a lot of the material from the book in her character arc which is a shame, because I really like a lot of that stuff. As the one who still has the faith and wants to see the magic in Narnia when even the Narnians are giving up hope, she has to come across as sympathetic and believable. That doesn’t always work, especially when she does things like walk up to a bear that’s about to attack her, not realizing that it’s not talking (there ARE non-talking animals in Narnia, dear!). But for the most part she works in this movie.

You know Peter Dinklage is in this movie as Trumpkin? I find it odd that he made it big on a fantasy show that was billed as deconstructing usual fantasy tropes while heavily featuring sex and violence when he also starred in the film adaptation of a famously Christian book series and one of the giants of the fantasy genre. He does okay. I mean I like that Trumpkin is this grumpy guy who is cynical and tired of everyone and just wants to go home, but I don’t know if Peter Dinklage is acting or just… cynical and tired of everyone and wants to go home. It’s entertaining sometimes, but not brilliant.

And Warwick Davis is in this movie? He was in the BBC series as well, but instead of as Reepicheep this time he’s playing Nikabrik, the dwarf that is even more cynical than Trumpkin and hates all humans. It feels weird for me seeing him as a villain, though I know he’s done it before. I always had trouble with Nikabrik as a character because I always felt like him going full-on evil was… well, everyone seemed strangely unperturbed by that in the book, even if we had an idea of how we got there. In the movie I felt as if Warwick Davis does well in that you get him, and you get where he’s coming from, but not enough to agree. And other characters react to his turn in a way that’s appropriate.

Ken Stott voices Trufflehunter and he does not have enough to do in this movie. Trufflehunter is not that Plot-relevant in the book, but I always had the impression that he was an important character and one of the most prominent Narnians in the story. He’s okay here, but I really thought that he should be doing more in the story. Maybe the filmmakers didn’t think it would fit the darker tone they were going for, if there was a badger running around in many of the scenes? I don’t know, I wanted more.

We do, however, get quite a bit of Eddie Izzard as Reepicheep, which is fantastic because Reepicheep is fantastic. This mouse is amazing. There were some people very surprised that a mouse is going around killing people, but it’s a fantasy film, he’s a knight, and also it wasn’t as if the first movie didn’t have violence? I’m frustrated that the movies don’t go with the “talking animals are bigger than normal animals” EXCEPT with Reepicheep, because it’s pretty darn weird that all the other animals are ordinary-sized and the talking mice are the size of cats. But Reepicheep is very entertaining, very cool, and he’s great.

Sergio Castellitto plays a surprisingly sharp Miraz? Yeah, Plot-wise he’s generically evil, but I think that Castellitto makes him A) entertaining to watch, and B) convey that he knows that he’s the least popular guy in the room with the other Telmarine lords. The book version of Miraz has no idea that they’re plotting against him. Miraz in this movie does, and although he’s definitely not bright enough to realize exactly what they’re doing, by the end of the movie he knows that they’re happy to watch him die.

Pierfrancesco Pavino’s Glozelle, for instance, is barely a person in the book? He shows up to stab Miraz in the back. Here, not only is he not the person who does that, but the movie makes him very uncomfortable with the direction Miraz’s path to power is taking, despite remaining loyal until almost the very end. He’s a complex, conflicted character and I like him. 

And also noticeable is Damian Alcazar as Sopespian, a guy who doesn’t like Miraz, but is no more likable because of it. Because he’s obviously not doing it for any sense of the greater good, he’s doing it because he wants that power for himself. I don’t think anyone mistakes his motives or thinks of him as a secret good guy at any point in the movie, which I think speaks to the actor’s performance.

Liam Neeson is Aslan. He does great, though he really doesn’t have that many lines. Which is part of the point, that he’s not there for most of the movie, so it works, I think.

Also Tilda Swinton’s in this movie. There is some justification for it, but I think it was because she loved being in the first movie, and they loved having her in it, so they just brought her back.

I like fantasy movies with lots of action and sword fights and cool design choices. So no, Prince Caspian isn’t that faithful of an adaptation of the source material (though it’s more faithful than people give it credit for), and I do get frustrated with character arcs--mostly Peter’s. But I still really love this movie, and I have tons of fun every time I watch it.

[bbnibini]

PSISLY: An Obey Me!CYOA – forty-six🔖

[ Burn the letter ]

(Mammon's affection reached MAX. You cannot raise his parameters any further.)

{ OPEN STATUS : YES

> approved > displaying capture targets

Mammon: 100♡/100♡ Satan: 85♡/100♡ Barbatos: 0♡/100♡ Lucifer: 5♡/100♡

CLOSE STATUS : YES >approved }

The piece of paper that brought you together only caused him hurt. Its scented pages filled with words of love that made you fall for him was nothing but an illusion. Your love was blind to the sides of Mammon that didn't fit the letter he had penned, forcing yourself to believe any semblance of feelings you had for him were true. Is it really love if you closed your eyes to the truth and believed everything had been perfect? Do you really love someone if you could only accept their good sides?

Such thoughts crossed your mind then, simmering there until it reached its boiling point---a love governed by ideals and strived for perfection. If that really is the love that you feel for him

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Then screw your ridiculous standards! But it hadn't been the case at all! Anger bubbled up inside you and spilled the remnants of your long-spent self-control. You wondered how your "wonderful boyfriend" had made such ridiculous conclusions. How many I love yous would it get him to understand that you didn't give a crap about the letter at all? It was him and had always been him! If your feelings for him started with an unexpected letter in your locker, then so be it. But you were free to fall in love with the real him! You wanted to shake him by the shoulders and shout at him a loud, drawn out,

"DON'T PUT WORDS IN MY FUCKING MOUTH YOU STUPIDMAMMONNNNNN!!"

…and kiss him while XXXX XXX XXX so he would fucking get that tattooed in his stupidmammon brain!!!! When you angrily texted Asmo and Levi about your boyfriend's genius conclusions, their seemingly endless spams of the laughing Blacjak stickers were already telling.

Despite your friends' best attempts to comfort you, you were inconsolable. Incensed, you held the letter near the fire and muttered stupidMammon under your breath in rapid succession, seeing it burn into ashes.

You put your phone down and groaned. You knew deep down that it wasn't good to hold onto your anger, but where the hell will you project that volatile piece of angst when every bone in your body is screaming "I want Mammon" both in a murderous and romantic fashion? You were pretty sure he was sulking right now, and any word you'll tell him won't ever register until he's calmed himself down. Well, you needed to calm yourself too, especially after you noticed that your fingers were actually burning from the fire.

Ow, was your delayed reaction, gingerly turning off the gas lamp and collecting the letter's ashes.

Wait a minute. You just had an idea.

By the time Asmo and Levi came to your room offering "tribute", they were greeted by your familiar figure laughing maniacally while looking at a pile of ashes. Judging from their nonchalant reactions, they seemed to have been already used to it. A tub of ice cream was planted on your cheek as Levi's attempt to snap you back to your senses.

"What flavour?"

"Both of them."

"Spoon."

A spoonful of mint choco ice cream was shoved in your mouth by a blank-faced Levi. The sweet and cool sensation on your tongue made you moan in happiness. Delightful!

"The Old One has finally calmed down, huh. Asmo, it's your turn." (Levi)

"Yay~ makeover time!~"

An equally cool gel was rubbed on your face, relaxing the remaining tense muscles in your body. Asmo seemed to delight on pampering you, smearing more products on your skin until your cheeks and your upper arms and legs were soft and supple as a cherub's butt.

Your nightly meetings with Asmo and Levi usually had a topic of interest. It was a universal truth in your friendship circle however that any enemy of yours is an enemy of both of them as well. It didn't matter the reason or the absurdity of your complaints. In pajama nights, it's always your ex who's evil and Lucifer who's unfair. Logic is literally thrown out the window in favour of satisfying all of your ids and egoistic desires. Saying that, it was rare on your part to initiate pajama nights on your own, as Asmo is its usual host, and his fling for the night or a completely clueless Solomon or Lucifer were your usual topics of hostility. Levi uses pajama nights as an excuse to rave about his favourite anime this season and was therefore banned from saying the word unless necessary™. Mammon was usually an avoided topic as well because your biased ass will side with the "enemy". Well fuck your usual. You've got a big ass target on his back and you're not afraid to shoot him (or maul him on the ground and have your way with him, whatever works). You realised your angry-horny highs were lingering within you so you calmed it down with another spoonful of ice cream.

"Fuck Mammon." you began your "meeting" with eloquence. Your two friends agreed by repeating your statement with malice only equalling your own.

"A question," Asmodeus raised his hand, pointing to the pile of ashes on your table. "That isn't Mammon, isn't it?"

"I wish." you rolled your eyes and pouted. "As stupid and dense as he is sometimes, I still love him. I brought both of you here today because I actually need your help."

"Just so you know, my arm strength isn't the best--"

"We're not burying bodies today, Levi."

"We're not?"

"I want him alive, Asmo…" you corrected. "...for now."

The two of them made sounds of affirmation. You spoke again. "I want to seduce him."

"Ooh~ How exciting!"

"S-seduce?!"

"We don't enter relationships to play house, sweetie." Levi threw a pepperoni at you upon your retort, causing you to giggle. "Joking aside, I was thinking of a public declaration of love! The more embarrassed he will get, the more he won't forget how much I love him, won't he?"

"How heavy~"

"Kinda creepy, dude…"

"Hey! I thought you're on my side!"

Asmo turned to the pile of ashes again and frowned. "And how is your public declaration of love related to your victim's ashes?"

"Oh! I was thinking of making it a good luck charm for him for the final exams!"

"How heavy~"

"C-creepy…"

"It's the letter. IT'S THE LETTER'S ASHES, GUYS."

Consulting both of them on making the good luck charm was the right choice. Levi's amazing at sewing while Asmo's sense for aesthetics was unparalleled. After arguing about the designs and the materials back and forth, the three of you finally agreed on one design. As they have dreaded, you only enlisted their help for them to teach you how to make the good luck charm yourself. No amount of their friendly reminders of your precious errors and sewing disasters intimidated you enough to consider probably asking for their help. If you wanted to win Mammon's heart back, you wanted to do it on your own! Time was limited however and so was the rift between you and Mammon growing further and further each day. You attempted to make peace with him despite his frequent attempts to avoid you, never losing your heart and staying close to your goals. You were thankful for Asmo's and Levi's undying support as if not for them, you would have started doubting yourself and charging through without considering Mammon's feelings. The least you could do is listen to him, even if you didn't agree with how he perceived your relationship.

Studying was done with the twins--Belphie's sleepy but academically inclined inputs helpful in answering the reviewers Satan prepared for you firsthand. It was a farfetched goal, but you wanted to top the exams and confess ala T☆kimeki Memorial under some big ass tree or maybe in an abandoned lighthouse. And going by the game's ridiculously high standards, no anime waifu or husbando would ever date a dumbass. If you want a CG event, top the exam, dammit! Forget your social life and hit the books! After all, Mammon looked a lot like your favourite capture target on the second installment. You wanted to look at the bright sides of your fight and start planning an otome-inspired way to end this pet project while you're at it. If not, you'd end up crying after Mammon rejects you for the nth time this week.

You swore you're trying to forget that already.  T_T

It wasn't like you weren't trying to text him either. It's just that he often leaves you on read or just spams you with nonsensical emojis. You attempted to send some noods once (his favourite hell-sauce flavour), but he only accepted your food and awkwardly tried to brush you off to the point that he almost ignored you. He would blush when you told him I love you, and would even look conflicted when he tried pushing you away, but in the end his stubbornness always wins. If he wasn't so cute when he's sulking, you would have already caused him bodily harm. You lied. You already karate chopped his ass a few times in your head. The several other times, you were doing…things to him.

After about 3 days, you managed to finish the good luck charm, which was actually good timing since tonight, RAD was holding a bonfire dance to commemorate the conclusion of the school festival. You had a vague recollection of the event being quite fun, but you were too tired from council work and too stressed over making up with Mammon to notice. He still had most of his stuff in your bedroom so you surmised that he got too embarrassed to tell you he wasn't angry anymore and probably, just probably, he realised how ridiculous his claims were especially after how your affections only intensified (and became all the more embarrassing) after your fight.

You began shamelessly bragging about him at random, and even hired a cheering squad (with you as their center) for Beel's fangol game. Contrary to their expectations however, you weren't cheering for the actual player himself, but one of his brothers watching on the bleachers.  

"That's my boyfriend over there! Look at him spectating! You're doing great, sweetie!♡"

The amount of angry Blacjak stickers he spammed you on your inbox was adorable. Your three days of Vitamin Mammon deficiency had finally caused you some intense withdrawal symptoms. Every demon in the vicinity received a hug. Even the angels weren't safe. A flustered Luke was your victim at breakfast. While Simeon's unsettling calm and soothing laughter accompanied you at lunch. At some point you felt like you hugged Lord Diavolo as well, because the day after, you were writing hundreds and hundreds of pages of reflection letters in Lucifer's study. Mammon had been its frequent victim of course, so most of the other victims exasperatedly told both of you to make up already(especially since it was getting kinda annoying). You agreed, but your lady love didn't. Unfortunately for them, you rather enjoyed the chase, so despite their complaints, you became even more annoying and relentless.

Levi had been understandably distant with you especially after your intense cuddling sessions the other day. You saw him visibly shiver as you called his name, only to calm down when you reassured him that you were reserving the rest of your frustrations at its source himself. Where was Mammon? Was a question you asked yourself as your eyes scanned the area. The moonlight was bright tonight, with several stars dotting the night sky. A large bonfire was placed on the center of the school grounds, dyeing everyone its warm red colour. Lord Diavolo hailed the tradition from Japanese school festivals, and was even excited to adopt a common legend that uncanningly fits your romantic agenda.

Confess your love to the one you like and you'll be together forever.

Romantic, right? It was a stuff from shoujo manga, and you were wholly supportive of it when it was suggested in the council meeting. Lord Diavolo was touched by your enthusiasm, meaning Lucifer (threatened) encouraged the other members who didn't raise their hands to approve of the proposal. Mammon was one of the demons who were "encouraged" which might explain his absence tonight. The announcer greeted everyone from the speakers and asked everyone to get into formation. Students of different realms began grouping themselves for the dance. You were beginning to feel nervous. "Where's Mammon?" you asked Levi and he only shrugged.

"Hiding from you, probably."

"That's not good. How am I supposed to confess to him?"

"With how many public displays of affection you've shown him, I'm sure he already got the message."

"I'll look for him."

You were reluctant to leave your spot, but you left anyway as you were worried about where he was. You saw him earlier when your class was cleaning up their booth, so he should still be in RAD. Probably. You looked for him in several empty classrooms, but your search had been fruitless. You bumped into Simeon who seemed to be in a hurry to go somewhere (your first social interaction for your whole search) so you decided to take advantage of it.

"Have you seen Mammon?"

"Mammon?" the angel pondered your question. "I think he's at the rooftop? He seemed to be going in that direction."

He really is an angel!

"Thank you! When did you see him?"

"Just now, I think? He said he wanted to practice for some…thing." he immediately covered his mouth. "Oh my, perhaps I shouldn't have said that. He was practicing to make up with you, isn't he?"

"Seems like it." you couldn't help but notice the plastic bag he was carrying. Demonus? Leeks? There was medicine in there too. Simeon noticed you staring and smiled. "I'm afraid I can't join the nightly activities. I need to attend to someone."

"Come to think of it, Lucifer seemed to be feeling unwell today. It's the season for colds now, isn't it?"

"Oh…so it seems." huh that was rare. You haven't heard Simeon stutter before. "I must go now; good luck making up with him."

You nodded and thanked Simeon again before parting ways.

💌💌💌

You would have been against scouring RAD by yourself at night if you weren't already decently familiar with the area. Moving paintings akin to the ones at Harrison Potter decorated the walls, and cursed statues that uttered your name and sometimes said 'seven days' were seen to be standing once every corner of a wing or two. Demons have weird aesthetics, one that clashed with the humans when it came to beauty standards--or maybe it was simply Lord Diavolo's own weird tastes influencing the interior design, you didn't know. The stairs leading to the rooftop creaked at every step, but you were too afraid to look back. There was light peeking from the crack of the rooftop door, a faint vermilion that must be coming from the large bonfire outside. Slightly fatigued, you wiped the sweat from your brows and held the doorknob, finding that it was unlocked.

Wow!

The entire rooftop was decorated with…envelopes? From a corner faraway, you saw Mammon busy scribbling something on paper. He jumped from his seat and dropped his quill once he heard your footsteps.

"W-what are you doin' here?!"

You picked up an envelope from the pile that read With Love, From The Great Mammon and held back a chuckle.

"Oi, don't touch that!"

"Is it for me?"

"...."

You noticed he was blushing adorably once you took a few more steps closer, now at skinship range, you smothered the silly demon in your chest and stroked his head, peppering it with kisses.

"So you do love me.♡"

Mammon didn't reply and only hugged you back.

"Let's stop fighting, okay?"

No response.

"I love you, Mammon."

Thinking he didn't hear it, you said it again.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you. I can be stupid at times, maybe even insufferable but, I really love you, you know? I was really angry when you told me I didn't! I would have railed you on the floor if Levi didn't stop me!"

You felt him tense at your words and you couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't worry! I won't do that anymore! (Probably). So, how did you like my love declarations?" you asked as you loosened the hug, greeted by his still blushing face.

"It's embarrassing."

"Buuuuut is it memorable?"

"Shaddup…"he buried his face on your chest once again. "It's stupid, ain't it? Being jealous of yourself; the stupid letter that ain't even worth much but you really like anyway…"You kissed his cheek in between his speech, and you felt him relax again. You saw remnants of Gentlemammon™ as he looked up at you, bashful and even shy. "Feels like I ain't livin' to your standards sometimes."

"So you asked the witches to curse you?"

"...you seemed to really like it when I was cursed, so I was shocked when you said you didn't."

"Because I do prefer the real you. I wasn't lying."

You saw him open his mouth and hesitate to speak again. The lovely flush on his face deepened as he seemed to think deeply about something.

"A grimm for your thoughts?"

Mammon pouted. "They ain't cheap."

"Then would a kiss do?" you smiled impishly.

!!!

There was a rather loud music playing in the background---mp3 files from the student council's playlist that everyone had compiled. Satan said it was traditional folk music from the human world, but you couldn't really tell. It did cause you to strain your ears to listen to Mammon's almost whisper of a reply.

"...yeah."

And who were you to decline? You bent down to reach for his lips, his, warm and soft on your own. It was chaste, almost comically innocent, for Mammon pouted once you pulled away.

"It's a make-up kiss."

"Even gradeschoolers can do better!"

"I don't know. I haven't kissed someone in ages.

.

.

.

.

.

Maybe if I read that someone's letters over here, it will jog my memory?"

Mammon looked flustered as he tried to stop you from reaching from the pile. But instead of a dreaded envelope on your hands, he saw a trinket instead.

"I burned the letter and made it into a charm! For academic success!"

"You what?"

"I don't really care about the letter, dummy. I was just happy to receive it from you." You smiled bitterly. "Even if you told me you got angry for a stupid reason, I still hurt you. I don't want you chase a shadow of yourself or think I'm loving an illusion of you." You placed the charm on his palm and closed it with his fist.

"What matters to me is the Mammon with me right now: you . I love you Mammon for who you are so please don't ever forget that."

"I think I won't be able to even if I want to…" With all the embarrassing crap you've done? You couldn't help but agree.

"So, what about me Mammon? Do you love me?"

He surprised you by kissing your lips in reply and saying,

"I love you. I really love you."

[ Mammon's Good Ending obtained. ]

💌autoload save slot

💌go back to prologue

💌exit

💌masterlist

[ You have unlocked ~KEY 3: Mammon's Letter ~ ]

💌enter password

(hint: the colour of the flowers decorating the love letter's stationery; one word, lowercase)

[itsthebiiii]

A messy summary of Ikepri Yves’ route from chap 16

Hey so it's me again lol. I know I'm SUUUPER late to the party and Nokto's route is out mah boiiiiis, but I finally finished one of the endings and I'm here to deliver them delicious spoilers so... here they are under the cut. Also, somehow more detailed than the last one but it's still as messy don't worry

also, sorry if there are any errors or inaccuracies!

So about that plot, well, some shit is going down that requires the princes to go to battle so they do that (once again, breezed through that part 😅). MC's quite worried bout Yves but he promises he'd return so they gucci.

While on the battlefield, everyone's all exhausted and full of blood on their hands, well, except for Yves. Leon and the gang noticed how he doesn't kill any one of the Obsidian soldiers and he just kept pushing them down. I think Yves was doing this because he doesn't want to kill one of his own because, no matter what he's got some Obsidian blood in his veins. Anyway, they notice a soldier about to attack Yves from behind, but before anyone could bat an eye, Licht comes to his rescue and gets injured. And yall know the drill, Yves feels guilty, yada yada.

After three days, the princes return and MC welcomes them. She noticed everyone looked messed up except for Yves, and when she called him it seemed like he didn't even hear her. MC is concerned bout what happened out there, but before she could ask some more, Jin asks her to take care of Licht's wound. She agrees, and while tending to his injury, Licht tells her what happened. He also told her there's one thing MC can do for Yves, but before he can say what, Jin and Clavis barges in the room with impeccable timing and some booze, announcing that they're gonna drink up for getting out alive so they gather everyone up lolol they rowdy af. Yves doesn't show up tho which makes MC even more worried

MC immediately comes to a realization that Yves might be blaming himself for what happened to Licht so she searches for him until she finds him in the kitchen. He still looked like he wasn't himself, so MC tries comforting him until he snappedt and tried pushing her away (I swear these two) Yves was like "yo wtf why do you even care for me I don't deserve that shit" and then that scene from the PV happens. Yves cried bout how much he hates himself more than anyone does and he wishes he was someone that ain't him. MC just stayed silent and listened to him pour his heart out ugh poor boi

Some time later, the princes gathered up again because they received a letter(?) from Obsidian. It said they want Rhodolite to send Yves back to Obsidian or else some shit will go down. They obviously think it's a trap of some sort but Yves agrees anyway so... that's decided. MC doesn't know of this until she hears from Luke. She rushes to Yves' room and saw him packing up. MC was also apprehensive about him going (or returning?) to Obsidian, but Yves just smiled and told her not to worry or smth. Also he was like "remember all that crap I told you that night at the kitchen? Sike, those were L I E S" and MC's just like "ye right" but because she was unable to form a response to any of that, she left the room teary eyed, with Yves also equally sad. MC returns to her room and while crying her heart out she realizes one teensy tiny detail: she's in love with Yves *insert surprised pikachu face*

So the day came for Yves to depart, but MC decides to stay in her room. Rio sees her in her state and told her "the MC I know and love wouldn't sulk around in her room smh go out there and chase yo mans" and after some persuasion MC heads out. She managed to catch up to Yves and talk to him for like 3 minutes. Also in those 3 minutes, she finally confessed her feelings and kissed him (Yves: 😲 guards: 😳😳😳) She's like "ye remember when I said I won't fall for u? Ye that kinda happened so I guess I'm yours for all of eternity" She also says she'll be waiting for him and gives him her memo pad before he leaves.

In the carriage, Yves reads MC's notes, there were some notes written about the princes but later they soon become notes about what they had done together: going to town, eating sum food, etc. He realizes that she turned it into a whole ass diary and it was mainly about him 😭 Yves was like "girl don't even know this ain't a diary... baka na no??? *sad princely sobbing*"

Back at the castle, the remaining princes gathered up again, this time with MC, and they talked about Obsidian's real motives. They talked about how Yves shouldn't have gone to Obsidian because the moment he interacts with them, he could or would get killed. MC was worried as she listens to them making plans and when Licht decided he would go first to retrieve Yves, he drags MC along with him because he's good at reading expressions and our girl MC here really wants to be useful to the story.

Meanwhile, Yves' carriage suddenly stops and one of his soldiers alerts him that there's a fuckton of Obsidian soldiers ahead and Yves realizes they've been set up. He instructs his men to return to the castle and leave him, also he warns them that there miiiight be some more Obsidian peeps on their way back so he commands them to get out alive. Despite their apprehension, well they had to obey Yves so they did just that.

MEANWHILE meanwhile, Licht and MC go to Obsidian (I don't recall if they bumped into Yves' army but meh) and they stay back a bit to watch stuff unfold. There, they see Yves talking to some Obsidian leaders or smth and the leaders were talking shit to him bout how worthless he actually is and all that crap. They were like "yo you're cursed with sum bad magic huh" Yves was like "Ye, I thought so too. But ya know what? I met someone who kept looking at me straight in the eye and focused on all my good aspects. That person made me stop denying myself. (MC: oh shiz he's talking about the stuff I told him before he left) So no matter how much I didn't want to accept myself, no matter how much I wished to be someone else, I mustn't deny the me that she believed in, I mustn't give up on myself! So ye. I'm Yves Kloss, the 5th Prince of Rhodolite!" YES my boi gain that confidence!!!

So the Obsidian peeps were like "btch u done with ur last words? Just so u know the men u let escape are prolly dead anyway so, how bout u die too aye? Pls die" and when the Obsidian soldiers point their blades at him, Licht decides it was a good time to show up

So ye, before Yves could take a blow, Licht blocked it with his sword. Yves was like "wtf r u two doing here???!" And MC replied with "we're saving you, duh" and Licht backs her up with "ye what she said" the Obsidian peeps were all ???? but they decided to kill them two as well. MC's like "ye no we have back up otw" but the Obsidian peeps thought she was just fronting. So Yves and Licht decides to buy them more time by fighting (but not killing) them. They may be strong but they're exhausted as well, then one soldier finds an opening and aims for Licht. Yves sees this and gets in front of Licht, getting his arm injured in the process.

They try stalling for a few more minutes until the gang finally arrives and they're relieved Yves and Licht are still alive. Jin was like "yo wtf we didn't agree to send Yves here just to get our princes killed in a place like this" and the Obsidian guys are like "we just wanted to welcome Prince Yves until he pointed his sword at us 👉👈🥺💦" but Jin and the other princes obviously ain't buying that crap.

So playtime's over and after all that political stuff, Leon's like "aye Yves, since u have Rhodolite and Obsidian blood, ur technically our bridge, so wtf do we do now?" And Yves says the four kingdoms should sign a peace treaty and also form an alliance to end all those beef. MC's happy for him because he finally achieved his dream of uniting Rhodolite and Obsidian through him. And ye, everybody agrees so everybody happy

BUT WAIT! Sariel announces that Belle needs to choose the next king at that very moment (like wtf couldn't they wait until they get home?) But hey, since they're forming alliances anyway. So MC's pressured and all until she realizes, ayo wait up... ya'll know what the kingdoms need? Not one, not two, but EIGHT leaders! "Ye fam, I appoint all 8 princes to lead the kingdoms... momentarily until I make my final decision." Sariel's like "That ain't allowed" and MC responds with "I know fam. But the kingdoms are in a pretty unstable situation, and we need these 8 dudes to support the kingdoms... after everything is settled and stable again do I choose the king" and they were like "if that's what Belle says, then aight smh" Then everyone finally goes home, but not before Yves and MC shares a moment and Yves faints or falls asleep due to exhaustion

Back at the castle, MC is summoned by Sariel and he shows her there is only one petal left of the rose. He tells her "I know you've technically done your job, but until you choose A KING, will you stay in the castle?" Of course MC agrees and Sariel tells her that he thinks she made the best decision for the situation.

After MC leaves, Yves enters the room and asks Sariel if he has seen MC. Sariel has half a mind to tell the truth, but where's the fun in that right? He tells Yves that MC's preparing to leave since she has done her job and according to the Belle clause, 'once the king is chosen, Belle can't interact with or see him forever' or smth like that and Yves was like "Screw that bs!" and ran to MC's room immediately, leaving Sariel to laugh in evil 😏

In her room, MC was worried about Yves' wounds so she decides to pay him a visit, when she hears knocks on her door that she recognizes was Yves'. He wasted no time entering the room and pinning MC to her bed (SQUEAAAAL) and she was like "??? ya good fam?!" And Yves replied "WHERE TF DO U THINK UR GOING HUH??"

(Ya know what I think imma put a bit of their convo here lol)

MC: To see you?

Yves: And what? So you can say goodbye and tell me we won't see each other forever? BAKA

MC: ...Eh?

Yves: I don't care what Sariel or the others decided. I can't accept this! MC, I can't even take it when you're not beside me... what will I do if we can't see each other ever again? Just thinking about it makes me crazy... You said you'll be mine forever, didn't you? Then I... I'm yours forever as well! Because I was the one who fell (in love) first!

MC: !!!

Yves: I love love LOVE you, you idiot! So don't go saying we won't be together! The Yves Kloss won't allow that even if the world turns upside down! (not sure about that last part)

SO YE. As much as that warmed MC's heart, she was like "i ain't going anywhere. Bruh Sariel's messing with u" and Yves is EMBARRASSED but he doesn't deny it anyway. He decides to say some more cute stuff so lemme put it down here xD

"MC, a lot of unexpected things happened in my life. But the most unexpected thing that happened to me is falling in love with you. Even though I swore I would never fall for you, I noticed I have. You said you were the first one to fall for me, but I think my feelings for you are bigger. MC, I'm stupidly in love with you."

And they argue about who loves the other more lolol then they do the deed 🤭

So some time passed, and the other princes were throwing MC some pickup lines (they were teasing Yves about taking the crown and the MC lolol) and Yves just stood there like "fam?? Aren't yall a lil too close?? Sariel help!!1! Licht and Chevalier too???" And he whisks MC away to his room. The other princes just smiled fondly at the two and Leon comments, "Maybe just meeting someone can fill up the gaps in a person's heart" and he recalls how they tried filling Yves' loneliness but somehow could not fill up the last piece. Until MC shows up and did just that. Jin was like "heh, that sounds like destiny" and Leon confirms that it is 🥺

Back at Yves' room, he has MC pinned down again and he declares that he needs to do his best to continue staying by MC's side. And MC says "me too fam" then she asks him a very important question: "Do you still want to be someone other than you?"

And he replies with:

"It's because you showed me my good traits and loved me for who I am that I don't hate the me I am now. Besides, if I were someone else, then I wouldn't be able to fall in love with you like this. It's because I'm like this, that you found me. That's why, from the bottom of my heart, I'm happy I'm me; I'm happy I did my best to live" ugly sobbing in the background 😭😭😭

So that beautiful CG appears, and Yves tells MC that line, "When I fell in love with you, it's as if the bad magic disappeared. Thank you... for teaching me what true love is."

A few days later, the two were at the library and Yves tells MC that before, he never knew what love is. But of course it's different now, because he tells her, "For me, the meaning of love is... you, MC."

~FIN~

YALL I'M STILL SOBBING BRUUUH 😭😭😭 this whole route was a blast 100/10 would read again (after I finish Nokto, I guess lolol) But ye. Yves is my best boi in IkePri because I'm a sucker for these tropes it's just so sooooft.

So I'm still undecided whether I should read the epilogue or nah because I need like 20 more affection pts? and I really wanna do Nokto's route... idk man

Well this was longer than I expected, so if you reached the end, have some more leFtOvERs from Yves! 🥧

[sally-mun]

(Sorry anon, Tumblr screwed up my draft of your ask, so you’re a screenshot now.)

I hope you realize what you’ve done, because this is going to be a VERY long story. Get a drink and strap in.

Before I can get into this too deeply, we first need to talk about Ocarina of Time. There are a lot of issues I had with OoT that I was VERY excited to see were later addressed by Twilight Princess, whether it was an intentional link or not. There are a handful of things involved here, but for me the biggest one by far is the Temple of Time.

Waaaaay back in the late 90′s/early 2000′s, the internet was still relatively young and, in a way, more simple and innocent. The standard for using it largely boiled down to, “I like [x], so I’ll search for [x]” and just seeing what mess of crap you ended up with. I did this mostly with Sonic and anime stuff, but every now and then I’d do it for things like LoZ as well. One of the sites this brought me to was called The Odyssey of Hyrule, which at the time utterly blew my mind with its content. It was a hotbed of Zelda oddities, glitches (some of which I now see often in speed runs), hoax debunks, and most importantly for this discussion, screenshots from early builds of the game.

We can probably trace the origin of my fixation back to this screenshot:

Those of you that know Ocarina of Time well can probably tell right of the bat that this is not an area that appears in the final game. The website posited that this was perhaps an area behind the Temple of Time, since the setting elements all look the same and the camera appears to be in a fixed location. After all, when you look at the building from the front, there’s a clearly visible path running along the side, and it does appear that the fence has a “gate,” although we can never open it.

See it there, behind the second gossip stone from the left? There’s a gap on either side of that bit of fence, right where the path happens to be. The rest of the fence on the right side doesn’t have gaps like that, suggesting that this bit of fence wasn’t originally there and the path was once traversable; my personal hunch is that the “gate” is actually a copied instance of the smaller bit of fencing on the left to save themselves the headache of redoing the fence entirely. The gossip stones, if they were originally there at all, were probably supposed to start from the far right wall instead of the left, which would also open up access to the path.

The longer this stewed around in my brain, the more it drove me absolutely crazy, because I realized that this could possibly explain a lot of seemingly disparate elements. For example, there’s a peculiarity in the Temple of Time that’s easy to miss if you’re not taking your time and paying close attention. After you remove the Door of Time to gain access to the sword chamber, the initial view of said chamber is actually much smaller. It’s especially easy to see when you switch to first-person, because you can more easily see how close the walls are on the left and right.

(My apologies for the shitty quality of these pictures, I took them back before we had decent digital cameras. I’ll get better ones when I post this as an actual article on my other blog.)

As you run into the chamber, the tight walls abruptly disappear and give way to the massive chamber we’re all familiar with. In fact, if you take your time and walk forward through this hallway, you can easily see the moment when the room changes from small to large before your eyes.

When comparing this oddity with the beta screenshot and the website’s suggestion that the path may have allowed you to go behind the temple, I became convinced that something else was supposed to happen back there, but was cut from the game for one reason or another. My guess is that the sword chamber really was originally very small as it first appears, and the larger chamber was a separate area behind it, which was used for... well, what? It obviously wasn’t something small and simple, like a chest with a heart piece; not for a room that grand. It was clearly for something big, something important, because it had to have a large enough scale of work that the designers looked at it and realized they couldn’t finish in time. After a LOT of mulling it over, I became convinced that it was most likely the entrance to the Light Temple.

You see, something else that always struck me as odd was the fact that you’re just given the Light Medallion as soon as you become an adult. You do absolutely nothing to earn it; it’s all part of the same cut scene that plays after you remove the sword for the first time. You meet Rauru, the Light Sage, pretty abruptly as he infodumps about what’s going on, and then he just forks over the Light Medallion without hesitation.

From a narrative perspective, it sticks out to me because Rauru is the only person you do not interact with at any point in the game. You don’t meet him at all as a child, and as an adult you only see him within the Sacred Realm. All of the other sages are people you have both a child and adult connection with in some way, and it’s up to you to awaken them to their powers by ridding their respective temples of evil. Why would they just skip that process with Rauru?

Perhaps they never meant to; maybe you were supposed to go through that same process, but the Light Temple got cut. When you’re designing a video game, there’s a practice that’s recommended before you start actually building it where you make a list of all the elements you want included, then you organize it by importance, and then you cut it in half. The top half is the one you focus on first, because it’s stuff you absolutely positively have to have in the game in order for it to work. The bottom half is stuff you get to include if you have enough time, and it’s added in the order you listed it because top items are more critical. It could very well be that the Light Temple was either on that second half of the list, or it was never on the second half at all but development time simply ran out and it got bumped.

Either way, at some point in the process I think they realized they weren’t going to be able to complete the Light Temple, so they blocked off the side path and expanded the sword chamber to eat up the extra space. After all, you can see how long the building is from the outside, so it wouldn’t make much sense for it to be a reverse Tardis and be smaller on the inside. Once the back path was removed, I imagine they reworked Rauru to reduce his role; my head canon has always been that he was some kind of high priest who oversaw the Temple of Time, since it IS essentially a church. I mean, just look at that garb. He certainly appears to be some kind of holy man.

Having him as a priest at the Temple of Time that you could actually meet and talk to as a kid would’ve finally made his presence make sense. It would explain who and what he is at all, since he just kind of appears out of nowhere as the game currently stands, and it would’ve aligned with the other sages insofar as meeting them when they don’t realize their powers, then saving them as an adult and awakening them as a sage. In fact, Rauru disappearing from the Temple of Time would’ve been the game’s first big red flag that something has gone terribly wrong in the last seven years, versus having to go outside to see all the decay and the dark energy around Death Mountain. Furthermore, each sage is someone that the game explicitly positions as a person that makes sense TO be each temple’s respective sage, and to me, a priest from the Temple of Time is the obvious choice for the Light Sage when you consider that the Light Temple is probably part of the same building.

Speaking of the Temple of Time, it has a lot of clues of its own that it may have once doubled as the Light Temple. For one thing, consider the songs that warp you around the game: The Minuet of Forest takes you to the Forest Temple, the Bolero of Fire takes you to the Fire Temple, the Serenade of Water takes you to the Water Temple... but what song takes you to the Temple of Time? It’s not a song with time in the name anywhere, it’s the Prelude of Light. This would make perfect sense if the Light Temple was supposed to share space with the Temple of Time, right?

Another clue is the warp points themselves. Each time you warp to one of the temples, you land on a large pedestal bearing the Triforce. However, there’s another image overlayed on them too: That temple’s medallion. If you play the Prelude of Light to warp to the Temple of Time, the pedestal you land on features the the Light Medallion, as though this is where you were supposed to have earned it.

I later discovered that this is even more prominent in another old beta screenshot, which is much more heavy-handed with the symbol on the pedestal.

Something else to consider is the fact that the Temple of Time is actually where you acquire the Light Arrows, the final item that you need before you take on Ganon at the end. Like the medallion before it, the Light Arrows are again just given to you without requiring any work. The other temples all have a critically important item inside that you must obtain to not only finish the temple itself, but that is then needed in other areas in the game. Doesn’t it seem like you’d have to complete the Light Temple to get the Light Arrows, and they’d follow the same pattern of being used to finish the temple and then go on for further use elsewhere (namely, Ganon’s Castle)?

Getting the Light Arrows last also lends credence toward the idea that the Light Temple was in fact lower on the development list, because it would’ve necessarily been the last temple you visited in terms of game progression. They’re not going to give you the ultimate holy weapon early on in the game; they have to save that for the end so you don’t blow through the rest of the temples without a sweat! Additionally, the Light Temple being last would only increase the tension of wondering where Rauru went, since each time you warped between the past and the future you’d have to pass through the Temple of Time and note once again that Rauru is missing.

If it were me making the priority list, the temples would be listed in the same order that you play them in-game, because obviously you need to go through [dungeon 1] before you can go through [dungeon 2] or [dungeon 3].* In this particular instance, chronological order and order of importance happen to be the same thing, and if the development team used the same reasoning, then yes, the Light Temple would be much lower on the list than the others. It’s entirely within reason to think that they had planned for it, but realized they weren’t going to have time to fully implement it, and instead blocked it off and handed over the items you would’ve obtained there so they could focus on getting other, more critical things done.

It’s also worth noting just how much infodumping happens at the Temple  of Time. As the game currently stands, there’s very little to actually do at the ToT, but there are many long conversations that take place there. You talk to Zelda, both as herself and as Sheik, you talk to Rauru (as that technically happens while you’re at the ToT), and even Ganon monologues a bit there at the end. You end up spending a LOT of time spent standing around while other characters pelt you with information in this particular location. I’m not saying that there shouldn’t have been any big conversations here, but rather that I feel like there are more than there probably should’ve been. Some (possibly most) of that information could’ve been obtained more gradually and actively if the Light Temple had managed to be a thing.

And look, I’m not saying that what we ultimately got in the game doesn’t work; there’s nothing specifically wrong with the way Ocarina of Time handles the Temple of Time. I agree that getting the Light Medallion and Light Arrows in the ToT isn’t completely out of nowhere since the ToT is connected to the Sacred Realm. I’m only saying it doesn’t come across as the original  design to me; as far as I’m concerned, it clearly, obviously screams that what we got was a back-up plan. It works just enough to make sense, but it would work so much better if they did it this other way. Everything just clicks together a little more snugly when you consider that there may have been a sixth temple. It’s not that what we got doesn’t make sense, it’s just that I believe these ideas make more sense.

This topic is something I used to go on and on about back in the day, to pretty much anyone who would listen to me. I was met with about as many different kinds of feedback as you can imagine; some people agreed that I was on to something and had maybe solved a mystery, whereas others thought I was reading way too much into details that just don’t have that deep of a meaning. Unfortunately, it’s obviously not something I could take that far in an argument because there was no way to prove my hypothesis. It’s all just a guess, and even though I think there’s some pretty strong evidence to back it up, in the end I have no way to actually verify it. Sure I could contact Nintendo, but I highly doubt they’d tell me anything one way or the other.

SO NEEDLESS TO SAY when Twilight Princess eventually came along and had a Temple of Time that was a for-realsies playable dungeon with monsters and puzzles and items to collect, I went through the fucking roof.

At the EXACT moment that I realized that this is what the game was giving me, I literally screamed and shouted and cheered because I felt so... vindicated, in a way? It felt very strongly like a soft confirmation of what I’d been saying for all these years -- ESPECIALLY since the Twilight!ToT ALSO makes heavy use of the Light Medallion symbol. I feel like that’s about as clear of a connection as you can get.

Like, I know the Temple of Time being playable in Twilight Princess doesn’t absolutely confirm that it was supposed to be that way in Ocarina of Time, but it gives me that vibe because it feels like Twilight makes a point to ‘right’ a lot of ‘wrongs’ present in Ocarina. It gives me the sense that they were making up for some of the things they didn’t (or couldn’t) do the first time around. The fact that they were willing to delay the release of Twilight Princess just to make sure everything was just right also gives me that vibe. They could’ve just cut things again, but this time, they wanted to make sure everything was there, and that it was good.

One other thing I’d like to mention before completely moving on from this topic is something that I admittedly can’t confirm, but it’s another point that’s been on my mind: Back when I was playing Twilight Princess for the first time and I was screaming about the Temple of Time, a guy I knew back then mentioned to me that the ToT that we see in Twilight is, canonically, the same ToT that we see in Ocarina. He said that he’d heard somewhere that the Ocarina world map actually fit perfectly when overlayed against the Twilight world map, and the major world features/locations from Ocarina of Time lined up exactly with landmarks and ruins in the Twilight Princess world. I did attempt to look this up for myself before writing this post, but most of what I found was a big mess; I may attempt to line the maps up myself sometime if just to be able to better wrap my brain around what might (or might not) work here. What I can definitely say, though, is that the idea is at least supported by the theme of the series in general, given that it’s based around the notion of history repeating itself. Zelda games reference other Zelda games all the time, so it’s far from unheard of.

Anyway, as I mentioned earlier the Light Temple isn’t the only thing that makes me feel like Twilight Princess is trying to make amends for things that were missed in Ocarina of Time; it just happens to be the one I was most prominently fixated on. Another big thing that Twilight Princess appears to be rectifying is the City in the Sky. Going back again to my old stomping ground The Odyssey of Hyrule, there was another beta screenshot that got a LOT of attention back in the day, because it 1) was an animated gif, 2) involves the Triforce, and 3) appears to be some kind of ‘Sky Temple,’ as it was known.

(Once upon a time that gif was reasonably sized, but since computers have roided the fuck out since the days of Windows 95, I realize it’s not the biggest or clearest thing in the world and I apologize.)

As I recall there were a couple of other screenshots that appeared to also be from this alleged Sky Temple, but sadly I don’t seem to have any of them myself, and although The Odyssey of Hyrule technically still exists, it looks like its images are all broken. In any case, the question of whether or not Ocarina of Time was supposed to have a sky temple was a HUUUUGE hot topic among Zelda sites for years. So many people spent enormous amounts of time and energy trying to find the so-called Sky Temple, largely because there was a sizable sect of the fanbase convinced that the Triforce HAD to be hidden somewhere in the game. Amazingly enough someone did eventually find the Triforce obscenely hidden in the game files (I wish I still had the pics of that, the amount of glitching needed to get to it was insane), but nothing was ever ultimately discovered about the Sky Temple. It just became one of those bits of gaming folklore that got passed around from person to person over time.

Which, of course, is why the inclusion of the City in the Sky in Twilight Princess, much like the expansion of the Temple of Time, feels a lot like Nintendo is making up for something they may have intended to do but were unable to complete.

Not gonna lie, when I played this area for the first time I couldn’t help thinking that the small glimpse in the gif above feels like it could feasibly fit in here, and it was just the coolest feeling of, “I knew it!”

Another thing that really bugged me about Ocarina of Time (and in fact still does to this day) is the fact that, even after you beat the Water Temple, Zora’s Domain remains frozen. I never understood how this could be, since every other area reverts back to its original, beautiful form after you defeat the evil in the associated temple. Not Zora’s Domain, though! It’s thoroughly unsatisfying to have gone through what is arguably the most hated temple in the game and not have a full reward for your efforts.

This, again, is something it seems Twilight apologizes for; not only does it actually replicate the original problem of the Zoras getting frozen, but IN THIS ONE YOU ACTUALLY THAW THEM OUT!! And not only that, you thaw them BEFORE you even do the temple! That alone feels like Nintendo practically coming out and saying, “Yeah, we messed up, our bad. Here, have the restored Zoras right away as our apology.” It was such a huge mental release to see that ice melt and the Zoras come back to life! My brain was finally able to let go of a frustration I’d had for years!

My last one isn’t so much something that I felt was supposed to be in Ocarina of Time, but rather something I just plain wanted to be there. I was always sad that, even though you do technically get to enter Hyrule Castle, you don’t really get to go in there. You get an extremely limited and very linear track to follow, and at best you just get glimpses of some of the other areas that probably would’ve been really cool to explore had the game been designed that way.

I always felt like the fact that you didn’t get any real exploration of Hyrule Castle upset some of the balance in the game, considering that you do have to fully traverse Ganon’s Castle as a solvable dungeon. Being able to get a thorough sense of what Hyrule Castle was originally like before evil fell would help reinforce just how much things had changed in the seven years that Link was in the Sacred Realm, especially since that contrast is such a strong theme everywhere else in the game.

So, much like my reaction when I realized I was actually entering the Temple of Time as a level, I had a very similar reaction when I realized I was getting Hyrule Castle in the same way.

I may not have freaked out quite as much, but DAMN if that wasn’t another enormous payoff for me! Getting to really look around inside of Hyrule Castle, and furthermore in a version that’s really able to convey the scale and grandness OF a castle, was an absolutely magical moment of overdue gratification.

What’s even better is that Twilight Princess almost gives you a sort of a fake-out in this regard, since at the very beginning you kind of go through Hyrule Castle but, like Ocarina of Time, it’s extremely limited and linear, so it seems at first like they’re going to do the same thing.

I remember playing this for the first time and thinking, “Well, at least I’ve gotten a little closer to seeing inside of Hyrule Castle, but I really wish they’d just friggin’ let us ACTUALLY go in.” IMAGINE MY CHAGRIN when later on that’s exactly what I ended up doing~ I’m sitting there fan-screaming and the game is going “AH HA I GOTCHA!!”

Soooooo yeah... This ended up being an extremely long post and probably way more than you were ever interested in knowing, but, yeah, I think that’s why Twilight Princess felt like such a bookend for me. Even though I did technically have the original LoZ as a child, my life as a Zelda fan really began with Ocarina of Time, and that game left me longing for several very specific things that Twilight Princess later fulfilled. I’ve never had so many large unresolved issues with any other game, and the fact that Ocarina of Time was the Zelda game that I ‘imprinted’ on, those issues left a very deep impression on me. Having Twilight Princess essentially go back and ‘fix’ those things was incredibly psychologically calming for me, and I think it’s a major reason why I haven’t particularly sought out other Zelda games in the last 12 years. Twilight Princess gave me the things I’d been looking for since 1998 -- a decade of hemming and hawing finally resolved.

I honestly feel like playing Zelda games may be different for me in some way now as I move forward, because I won’t have a part of my brain mentally searching for a way to fill those little voids in the back of my head. I have both Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, which as I said in that other post I’ve actually never tried out, so I guess we’ll find out how I relate to them whenever I finally decide to take that leap!

If you actually made it to the end of this post, THANK YOU SO MUCH and I hope you enjoyed it~

*Fun fact, this isn’t necessarily true when it comes to the Fire and Water Temples. The game wants you to do Fire first, but it’s completely possible to do the Water Temple if you want to!

[clexa--warrior]

There’s a new group of villains on Fear The Walking Dead.

Well not entirely new. These are the same people who’ve been scrawling “The end is the beginning” everywhere. The same people with the submarine who are looking for Morgan who took the Magical Key from the bounty hunter way back at the beginning of Season 6.

I admit, I’m just kind of tired at this point. Tired of all the bullshit and bad writing and the tedious characters and the predictable stories. Tired of the parade of mediocre villains. Bone weary. And yet here I am, still reviewing this damn show.

Let’s take a little walk down memory lane, shall we?

TV’s Greatest Villains

At the beginning of Season 5, after the Most Horrible Villain Of Any Walking Dead Show was taken care of at long last, we got a new group of bad guys who . . . just wanted their warehouse back? And directions to an oil refinery?

Truly, these were now The Most Horrible Villains Of Any Walking Dead Show Ever.

Logan (played by a woefully underutilized Matt Frewer) was the head honcho of these bad apples and he fooled Morgan’s group into flying a plane they didn’t know how to fly far, far away to help some strangers in another part of the vast continent of Texas. Then he . . . moved back into his warehouse! The bastard.

After half a season of trying to fix the plane so they could fly back across the Pacific Ocean (which we all know separates the two halves of Texas) Logan tries to pretend like he’s a decent guy and fools the Morganites into showing him where the oil refinery is. Dastardly Logan! Then, just when Morgan and Logan decide that their names are similar enough that they might as well be friends, the Rangers show up!

They show up on horses with rifles and expertly kill Logan and every single member of his crew but for reasons (reasons!) they spare Morgan and the Morganites. It turns out that Logan was working for the evil witch queen of Lawton, Virginia—Truly The Most Horrible Villain Of Any Walking Dead Show Ever (Seriously). She is so evil that she kills the people working for her, who helped lead her to the oil refinery, and spared some people she didn’t know who weren’t loyal to her at all for reasons.

Yes, you heard me. Reasons! You don’t get to know the reasons. That’s not how scripts work. Scripts are supposed to be confusing, opaque and riddled with plot holes and inexplicable character choices.

Anyways, Virginia and the Rangers with their horses and their cowboy hats and their idyllic Texas aesthetic become the new Big Bads sometime in the second half of Season 5. Morgan and Friends make a PSA documentary to make sure anyone wandering from gas station to gas station is able to know who to call (GHOSTBUSTERS!) if they’re in trouble (which, like, yeah it’s a zombie apocalypse) because Morgan really wants to make up for all the bad things he’s done and so do all his friends.

Virginia is very mean, though, and so she makes a PSA, too, and that pisses Morgan off so bad that he takes his people far, far away to an abandoned Western-themed park-town filled with zombies and they make another PSA on the way that’s even more amazing and magical but a dude dies making it, marking the Best Walking Dead Death of All Time in the process. Seriously a dude decides it’s so important to film a selfie shot for the PSA that he dies when a bridge that’s collapsing surprisingly collapses! And then everyone is very sad!

Then, uh, after a spell at the new town that has no resources or water because it’s a theme park town instead of a real town, Wes and Alicia paint some stuff and June and John Dorie get married and Daniel plays some guitar and sings and Frank Dillane is like “Holy shit I’m so glad I bailed on this show” and then Virginia comes because Morgan calls her because instead of walking somewhere else they decide they should call the Evil Witch Queen Of Lawton so she can rescue them by splitting them all up (even Skidmark the cat!) and then the season ends with Morgan getting swarmed by zombies but don’t worry he’s still alive and they’ll tell us as much in a trailer that comes out before Season 6 because AMC is criminally addicted to spoiling their own shows for no reason on social media and . . . and . . .

Somewhere between Season 5’s finale and Season 6’s premiere AMC and showrunners Ian Goldberg and Andrew Chambliss must have put their heads together with Scott Gimple and decided that the Rangers and Virginia were actually super dull villains, just like the last few villains (I skipped the whole Vultures plot because they were actually so stupid they put the stadium under siege but still let Madison and co. go out scavenging because somehow they never read the Siege 101 manual or something).

Anyways, for reasons that must be obvious by now, somebody must have pointed out that Virginia is not a very good villain after all, partly because she’s just not that convincing but mostly because she made a goddamn copycat PSA and someone thought that was actually a cool story because there is no God and life’s not fair and this is also why we can’t have nice things, son.

And they must have realized that the Rangers are a like a cartoon version of what might happen in Texas after a zombie outbreak (just compare this clown show to the far more realistic Vatos gang from Season 1 of The Walking Dead). All these realizations must have felt strangely repetitive after what I can only imagine were similar revelations about Martha, the Vultures and Logan. So many revelations, so little useful insight or meaningful changes!

The Believers

In any case, they had June kill Virginia after a weird series of events that also saw one of the only good characters left on this godforsaken show get killed by yet another brat, and came up with The Believers, a group almost entirely inspired by The Monkees. These totally realistic folk live underground where they grow crops and embalm zombies and talk about how you need to be able to “see” when you look at this one creepy zombie they have entwined in vines in their basement. They’re led by a guy named Teddy played by John Glover who must really be down on his luck to take a role on this ridiculous show, though he’s actually creepy as a villain so that’s something. But no, I’m not going to feel any hope or optimism because fool me once shame on me, fool me again and George W. Bush, man. He has something to say about this.

Wes and Alicia and Al and Luciana all find their way to these people. I honestly can’t remember how they found them, but they show up to scout things out. They get interviewed like we’re back in Alexandria. Things go bad when Wes runs into his long-lost brother and ends up killing him after a scuffle over a gun. Wes’s brother has had a little too much of that Kool-Aid if you know what I mean. Wes isn’t too shook up about it. Remember when the entire brothers Dixon conflict between Merle and Daryl played out over the course of one single episode of The Walking Dead? Yeah, me neither.

Luciana says stuff because she’s still on this show for some reason. She says stuff a few times and people say stuff back to her. Al checks an embalmed zombie with a helmet on thinking it might be her lover girl from Season 5, because you totally embalm zombies with their helmets still on, but it’s not. Boy I was really worried there for a second!

Alicia sets the embalmed zombies on fire so they can get away and the others escape but Alicia doesn’t and then she has to have a whole entire conversation with Teddy and it’s pretty damn awkward when she tells him “You wanna kill me? That’s not gonna happen.”

Teddy’s like “whoa damn I was going to kill you but now that’s not going to happen crap” and Alicia’s like “So there, Teddy. You jerk face with your crazy-man beard.”

He knows something about Madison somehow. And he wants to “save you, Alicia” but “I don’t need saving” she tells him and then he talks in more cryptic circles. Teddy’s been looking for someone like Alicia for a long, long time and she’s like “listen old man at least I got some lines this episode!” which, to be fair, is true.

THE END. CREDITS ROLL.

Verdict

Yes, I am clearly mocking just about everything about this show. But I didn’t come up with this crap. I didn’t come up with Martha and the ethanol, or the plane and the beer-balloon, or Totally Pointless Logan, or Ginny and her boring ass cowboys. Maybe Teddy will be a better villain than all these. To be fair, he is a better villain already in a lot of ways. Then again, the bar set by the Vultures, Martha, Logan and Virginia is not very high. It’s so low, it’s less a bar and more of a speed bump.

So while Teddy is far more intriguing than the rest, and it’s even possible that Glover’s brief appearance here in this episode was better than the sum of all the other villains in this show since Season 4, I imagine they’ll find a way to screw him up also and then, as soon as he’s worn out his welcome, replace him with some other group of bad guys. The Shouters, a group of post-apocalyptic crazy people who wear zombie faces and shout at each other really loud, led by a bald woman named Alphapha.

Here’s the thing.

We need more than just Good Guys vs Bad Guys. There are other struggles to work with in fiction. Friction between the group that causes realistic, compelling internal strife. Survival against the elements and just the struggle of surviving in a world laid low by a pandemic, maybe without creature comforts like walkie-goddamn-talkies. Or perhaps a compelling story about a survivalist group at odds with a Native American tribe over water rights, whose intertwined family histories are marred by murder and revenge, where our heroes find themselves torn between both sides of a bloody fight they know very little about.

Yeah, what a notion.

Like I said at the very top of this review, I’m tired. I’m tired of Fear The Walking Dead. I’m tired of the same crap happening over and over again, another absurd bad guys who ultimately make the same fatal choice: They mess with Morgan Jones. NOBODY messes with Morgan Jones.

Maybe Morgan can make a PSA about how mean and delusional Teddy is and then Teddy can make a PSA about how The End Is The Beginning, Actually, Morgan You Twit. It’s just all nonsense at this point and it has been since the end of Season 3. We aren’t dealing with actual stories about real people. We’re watching a cartoon with two-dimensional cartoon villains and a bunch of uninteresting flat characters. Except a cartoon would be more fun.

What is the point of this show now? It’s like a goofier version of The Walking Dead, which also suffers from too many villain groups at this point and too many characters but not this level of crappy writing (usually).

Let me predict the plot for the remainder of Season 6 and likely part of Season 7 if AMC is actually going to let the current showrunners continue driving this show into the ground:

Teddy wants the key from Morgan so he can use it to activate the nuclear bombs on the nuclear sub that’s in the middle of Texas (because Texas, you recall, is separated by the Pacific Ocean which has dried up because ZOMBIES and the sub is there now). He wants to nuke the planet because he wants to save everyone because they’re weak probably. From this nuclear wasteland, new life will spring eternal and his cult—well protected in their underground parking garage with their cute little gardens—will be the new rulers of the world. Or at least of Texas which—we know because of geography class—accounts for approximately 57% of Earth’s land mass.

Look, I’m sorry. I’m really truly sorry but if this show continues to be a joke I don’t know why we should take it seriously. A mocking review if only fitting for a show that continues to make a mockery of itself. AMC has the resources and the wherewithal to produce a better zombie show and quite frankly audiences deserve one. There was nothing fundamentally awful about “The Holding” so I’m honestly not fully sure why I’m in such a snarky mind frame, but there was nothing very good about, either, and it’s just plain as day to me that they’re already falling into the same traps they keep falling into over and over and over again. Meet the new bad guy, same as the old bad guy. It’s all so predictable.

Because they don’t really learn from their mistakes, or because even if they do they just don’t know how to course correct. That’s the problem when you just don’t have much talent but nobody steps in and says “enough is enough!”

Because seriously, my droogies, enough is enough already.

[unsettledink]

So I'm offering a Starker (or Spiderio or any combo of the three) fic, min 5k, for the Marvel Trumps Hate charity auction. I know I'm not exactly well known in this fandom, but hey, here's a chance to get some custom made fic! (The auction ends Saturday the 24th!)

I know browsing the auctions for things I want bid on, I've had some moments of 'but what specifically would I want to read?'. Maybe others are having that thought too? So I thought I'd put out some of the ideas sitting around, waiting for me to write them, in case one catches someone's interest enough to donated $10 to charity! (I've got one of these for Spiderio too, if that's appealing.)

I'm kind of grouping these because it got long. (Smut, smut + feels, fluff, oh no the sads)

Just the smut! (Ok some feels):

Continuation of Hang Up – so what does happen the next morning after that phone call? (Sex. Probably more phone sex.)

Peter is dumb online – Peter decides to auction off his virginity online. Of course Tony finds out immediately. Of course Tony buys it to keep Peter from getting hurt. Of course Tony decides to meet up and teach Peter a lesson about being safe – wait. That might have been a mistake. (It's not.)

Actually, Peter doesn't like it rough – miscommunication piled on top of miscommunication because they're both idiots who are desperate for each other, until a tipping point is reached. Happy ending! Fluffy ending!

Gag reflex training – pretty much what it sounds like. Tony having a lot of fun with Peter; messy, noisy, hopefully hot.

Experienced Peter – Peter hasn't been waiting around for Tony to be the first, and he's had time to figure out some of his preferences. Like topping almost exclusively, among other things.

Civil War pick me up – after the airport, Tony goes to check on Peter and is in desperate need of something nice. Peter really, really wants to be that something nice. Could be underage, could be not.

Continuation of Gift Wrapped – (Peter/Tony/Pepper) there's a lot more sex happening for Tony's birthday than I had time to write for kinktober.

But you want me to be safe, don't you? - Peter's hit with sex pollen, but it can be taken care of without outside help. Peter would still really like it if Tony would help. Or would at least keep an eye on him. Or at least stay in hearing range! He won't be able to resist if Peter's noisy and saying his name while he gets off, right???

Armor Kink - I mean, basically what it says on the tin. Peter’s been having fantasies about the armor forever. Tony is absolutely willing to help him with that.

ABO forced presentation – Peter doesn't know what he'll end up being, and that's bad for Reasons. He convinces Tony try forcing a presentation (not noncon type forcing) and things get weird. Playing around with the idea of how non-binary might go in ABO. Possible Tony/Peter/Pepper endship. More than likely somewhat underage.

Avengers orgy – Peter's finally old enough to join in the tradition! While he's having fun with everyone, Peter and Tony keep gravitating to each other, winding up with things getting a little too emotional when Tony finally gets his chance. Potential for Tony/Peter/Rhodey endship.

The spider bite did what?!? - Peter starts having really weird cravings when he's around Tony. Weird as in blood, and Tony is going to help him figure this out. Even when it turns into a craving for sex (and bloodplay). Even when it turns into terrifying (for Peter) egg/medical kink.

*

Smut! Oh wait, where did all these feelings come from?:

Toybox – slightly darker Peter decides if Tony won't fuck him, the least Tony can do is pay for Peter's toys, and watch while Peter enjoys them. No touching allowed since Tony doesn't want him, after all. Which is a rule that gets harder and harder to keep in place; feelings, so many feelings everywhere.

Pain kink Peter – what it says on the tin, lol. “Oh Mr. Stark, maybe you should supervise this slightly dangerous sex thing I like.” I think we can guess where it heads from there.

Call boy Peter – what it sounds like! It's an accident that Tony gets him; good thing Peter was blindfolded! Bad thing that Peter's senses are enhanced and he knows from the start who it is. Good thing that Peter's not going to say anything so he can keep this reliable customer?

Evil Ex D/S verse – Peter's pretty insecure about being a good sub for Tony and it's not helped at all when one of Tony's ex subs tells him he'll never be able to take what Tony wants to dish out. Well, Peter's going to prove him wrong! Tony really doesn't understand why Peter is making himself miserable for something Tony doesn't even want, and things almost break before they get fixed.

*

Fluff! (Crap there's not much):

Follow up to Seiche – mostly fluffy 5 times +1 where the emotion sensing bond causes (minor) problems

Fluffy D/S verse – all the fluff! All the outside POV! Everyone assumes that obviously Tony is a dom; after all, that's how he's always presented himself. Everyone is wroooooong. Tony's never been happier.

Nail polish – little bit of Tony finding it incredibly appealing when Peter wears nail polish

*

Oh No + all the feelings, heavy on the bad ones:

Soulmark AU – Tony finds out first and isn't going to do anything due to the age difference. Peter finds out and thinks that's bullshit + horribly hurt that he's being rejected. Things are forced when Peter gets hit with a drug that messes with that bond and they both have to figure out how things are going to go. Possible bittersweet ending.

Screw soulmates, actually - Post CW and Tony dealing with soulmate rejection (that’s a WHOLE other fic). Peter’s become convinced Tony’s a blank like him, and then doesn’t understand why Tony’s soulmate wouldn’t want him. Peter does! They get their happy ever after without being fated for each other, and Peter gets a chance to tells Tony’s soulmate what a dick they are. All the satisfaction!

Untenable – sequel to Indefensible and … horrible. The ABO underage incest continues, Tony hates himself, Peter is distressingly happy. Mpreg makes everything ten times worse; endgame makes everything 100 times worse. Going beyond that would be spoilery, but uh. Everything becomes 1000 times worse by the end! Yay! Yikes.

ABO accidental bonding – the worst abo version, heads up. Underage Peter, omegas are treated very poorly, Peter and Tony don't know each other beforehand and don't do great getting to know each other afterwards. Biology continues to fuck Peter over, and Tony really doesn't get how desperately Peter wants Tony to like him. Mountains and mountains of angst and sad before the happy ending.

Copy - After IW, Tony makes a Peter clone/android/whatever. Unfortunately, it just makes things worse because it’s just enough off to make it super obvious it’s not Peter. And fake!Peter knows it too. He’s just enough like real Peter to fall in love with Tony too, and he can’t figure out how to make Tony care about him instead of real, dead Peter. Not that it matters when he snap is reversed (Tony lives) and fake!Peter isn’t needed or wanted anymore. (Will probably have a sequel where real Peter finds out about all this, probably happy ending for everyone.)

Nothing sticks around - years after the blip, Peter discovers Tony, alive - only Tony has none of his memories. Tony doesn’t want anything to do with these people Peter tries to reintroduce him to; he trusts Peter and wants to stay with him. And does, for quite some time, things turning into a relationship, and even if Peter feels guilty about it, he’s happy. Right up until Tony suddenly remembers everything ... except what’s been going on the last few years with Peter. Undecided if there’s a happy ending or not.

I hate time travel - once Tony figures out time travel, he decides he needs to find out if this works by hopping forward and seeing if Peter is back. And then maybe he should hop forward a little more just to check on him. Keeps doing this, about once a year, and while Peter is so glad to see him, it’s destroying Peter to basically go through Tony ‘dying’ over and over. Pretty soon it’s fucking up Tony too, after he accidentally shows up when Peter’s in the middle of sex. Very bittersweet ending to maintain the timeline.

Fuck you, Beck - Beck goes about getting the glasses in the worst ways, and Peter finds out a little too late - way too late when it comes to sleeping with him. Not that he’s going to ever tell anyone about that. Not even Tony, when Tony comes back. Not even Tony, when it turns out Tony is interested. Okay, maybe he’ll have to tell Tony when Peter’s reactions to sex become a problem. Happy ending but lots of ouch on the way.

Sequel to Dormant - so what exactly does Tony notice the morning after? And what exactly does Peter do about it? (Spoiler: A lot more than Peter thought he would, and nothing good.)

Don't punish people like that – as much Tony/Obie as Tony/Peter, maybe pre-Tony/Peter. Obie decided to deal with Tony's wild streak by punishing him in an especially awful, painful, dehumanizing, sexual way. Tony's managed to handle how awful that was by pretending it was helpful (nope!). When Peter will not stop misbehaving, the last resort Tony can think of is what was done to him. It helped, right? (He can't bring himself to in the end, which sets off a cascading failure of repressed trauma, woot!)

Sex Pollen Non-Con – Tony's hit with some sort of fuck or die stuff; only problem is that he 100% refuses to let Peter do anything, and there's no one else. Peter, convinced that Tony's going to die, stops giving Tony a choice. What's that, the trauma Tony was hoping to spare him is replaced with way worse trauma from basically raping Tony? WHOOPS. (Probably happy ending!)

Secondhand verse – following after this, things growing steadily worse, hotter, and more complex between Peter, Beck, and Tony. Bad decisions all around! Unexpected feelings all around! General unhappiness at having feelings that can be hurt all around! Probably a series of fics.

12:00 - follow up to 11:59, Tony and Peter finally getting it on and Beck being an ass in the background. Also the prequel that’s primarily Peter/Quentin, and possibly a sequel where Tony decides that maybe it wasn’t the worst thing in the world, watching Beck fuck Peter - and Peter liked it, right? Everyone’s down for a totally uncomplicated round two, right?

(And feel free to talk to me about anything here, I love an excuse to ramble.)

[queen-of-deans-booty]

The End: Final Part

Pairing: Dean x Reader

Word Count: 2,062

Warnings: typical supernatural violence, language, angst, blood, you know the usual, minor talk of physical abuse but it’s so minor like just a sentence but yeah

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Supernatural. All credit goes to their respective owners. Any and all comments on these are appreciated. I really want to hear what you guys think about this one!

Feedback is the glue that holds my writing together.

Tags at the bottom

“What really made me say yes?” you asked 2014!Dean as you rode shotgun in his car while Dean rode in 2014!Castiel’s car.

“What?”

“What made me say yes to Amara? I wouldn’t have done it impulsively so why did I say yes? What did you do?”

“What makes you think I did something?”

“Don’t bullshit me. You know I know you better than you know yourself. You know I would never say yes to someone like her unless it was the last possible resort. So, what did you do?”

“I pushed you away,” he said after a pause. “After Sam left, I guess the stress was too much for us.”

“You’ve pushed me away before. What changed?” you asked.

2014!Dean shook his head as he refused to talk about the worst night of his life. The night where he laid a hand on you and it wasn’t anything positive. That’s the night 2014!you knew you had lost Dean for good.

“Glad to know that this hasn’t changed,” you sighed.

“What hasn’t?”

“Your ability to force things down because you can’t bear the thought of talking about it. It’s one of the many things I never liked about you.”

“When you go back, force him. Force him to talk about these things because if he sees the fear in your eyes as I did when you looked at me, he’s never going to forgive himself. Make him realize that you’re not going anywhere.”

“I will,” you whispered, glad to know that he wasn’t yelling at you anymore.

2014!Dean, 2014!Castiel, Risa, you, Dean, and some other soldiers walked with rifles ready to use at any given moment. The building in which 2014!Dean claims Lucifer was in stood a few yards away from you. It was a battlefield, and while there are no Croats around, there are sure to be some inside.

“There. Second-floor window. We go in there.”

“You sure about this?” Risa asked.

“They'll never see us coming. Trust me. Now, weapons check. We're on the move in five.”

“Hey, uh, me. Can I talk to you for a sec?” Dean asked his double before taking him to the side. Looking at the group, you thought it was best to follow them and talk with them. “Tell me what's going on.”

“What?”

“I know you. You're lying to these people and to us.”

“Is that so?” 2014!Dean scoffed.

“Yeah. See, I know your lying expressions and Y/N knows them too. I've seen them in the mirror. Now, there's something you're not telling us.”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Oh, really? Well, I don't seem to be the only member of your posse with some questions, so, uh, maybe I'll just take my doubts over to them,” Dean said as he baited his future self.

“Okay, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait,” 2014!Dean sighed. “Take a look around you, man. This place should be white-hot with Croats. Where are they?”

“They cleared a path for us. Which means that this is—”

“A trap,” you finished with a sigh.

“Well, then we can't go through the front.”

“Oh, we're not. They are. They're the decoys. You, me and Y/N are going in through the back.”

“You mean you're gonna feed your friends into a meat grinder? Castiel, too? You want to use their deaths as a diversion?” you gasped as he looked away shamefully.

“Oh, man, something is broken in you. You're making decisions that I would never make. I wouldn't sacrifice my friends,” Dean judged.

“You're right. You wouldn't. It's one of the main reasons we're in this mess, actually.”

“These people count on you. They trust you.”

“They trust me to kill the devil and to save the world and that's exactly what I'm gonna do.”

“No. Not like this, you're not. I'm not gonna let you.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah,” Dean nodded. 

Before either of you saw it coming, 2014!Dean slugged his past self before grabbing your throat. Your eyes shone blue to fight him, but he puled out a small device and slammed it into the skin on your neck. Electric compulsions throbbed through your body which was enough of a distraction. The blue in your eyes faded until you laid limp against future Dean’s body as he picked you up and dragged you to the back of the house.

“Why are you doing this?” you strained to get out. 2014!you grinned as she gripped your throat tighter as Lucifer pressed his foot harder on 2014!Dean’s neck.

“I told you before. I had great plans and I needed the magic running through your veins.”

“You killed… my dad,” you choked.

“I did,” she grinned evilly. “And I made you watch as I burned your life to hell.”

“I would never let you in,” you gasped as you saw Dean rounded the corner. Lucifer stepped on 2014!Dean’s neck, breaking it and killing him. He froze as he watched 2014!you have you in a death grip and Lucifer kill his future self. Lucifer smirked at the two yous before turning around and smiling at Dean.

“Oh. Hell, Dean. Aren't you a surprise. You've come a long way to see this, haven't you?”

“Well, go ahead. Kill me.”

“Kill you?” he asked as he made a point to look at the corpse of 2014!Dean. “Don't you think that would be a little... redundant? I'm sorry. It must be painful, speaking to me in this—shape. But it had to be your brother. It had to be. Y/N had to be Amara. It all fits nicely in the puzzle of life.”

“Leave him alone,” you gasped as your magic couldn’t overpower 2014!yours.

“You don't have to be afraid of me, Dean. What do you think I'm going to do?”

“I don't know. Maybe deep-fry the planet?”

“Why?” Lucifer asked as he examined a perfectly red rose before turning away. “Why would I want to destroy this stunning thing? Beautiful in a trillion different ways. The last perfect handiwork of God. You ever hear the story of how I fell from grace?”

“Oh, good God, you're not gonna tell me a bedtime story, are you? My stomach's almost out of bile,” Dean rolled his eyes but kept his focus on you.

“Amara let her go. She won’t try anything,” Lucifer smiled. The grip on your throat loosened, and you fell to the ground in a heap of coughs.

“You know why God cast me down? Because I loved him. More than anything. And then God created,” Lucifer smirks, “you. The little... hairless apes. Then he asked all of us to bow down before you—to love you, more than him. And I said, ‘Father, I can't.’ I said, ‘These human beings are flawed, murderous’. For that, God had Michael cast me into hell. Now, tell me, does the punishment fit the crime? Especially, when I was right? Look at what six billion of you have done to this thing, and how many of you blame me for it.”

“You're not fooling me, you know that? With this sympathy-for-the-devil crap. I know what you are.”

“What am I?”

“You're the same thing, only bigger. The same brand of cockroach I've been squashing my whole life. An ugly, evil, belly-to-the-ground, supernatural piece of crap. The only difference between them and you is the size of your ego,” Dean glared. Now that Amara didn’t have you in her death grip, your eyes started to shine blue for the fight you were about to cause, but Amara put her hands on your shoulders to let you know whose powers were more powerful.

“Don’t try anything stupid. I’ll turn you to dust before you could can even breathe,” she whispered.

“I would never say no to you.”

“But you did.”

“You better kill me now. Or I swear, I will find a way to kill you, and I won't stop,” Dean threatened loudly which brought your attention back to the two men.

“I know you won't. I know you won't say yes to Michael, either. And I know you won't kill Sam. Whatever you do, you will always end up here. Whatever choices you make, whatever details you alter, we will always end up—here. I win. So, I win.”

“You're wrong.”

“See you in five years, Dean,” Lucifer grinned before thunder and lightning sounded. One moment he and Amara were there, and the next they were gone. Dean rushed to you before Zachariah appeared and brought you back to your own timeline with the touch of two fingers. Gone was the garden with the single red rose and replacing it was the dingy motel room you fell asleep in last night.

“Oh, well, if it isn't the ghost of Christmas screw you,” Dean glared.

“Enough. Dean, enough. You saw it, right? You saw what happens. You're the only person who can prove the devil wrong. Just say yes.”

“Why was I brought along? Moral support?” you groaned at the throbbing sensation in your head.

“You had a role to play, and I needed you to see that Amara is a big joke.”

“Then why was she real?”

“I’m showing you that the person you’re going to say yes to isn’t Amara. Whoever is feeding you lies is going to mean trouble for you.”

“How do we know that this whole thing isn't one of your tricks? Huh? Some angel hocus-pocus?”

“The time for tricks is over. Give yourself to Michael. Say yes, and we can strike before Lucifer gets to Sam. Before billions die,” Zach tried his hardest to convince Dean to say yes. 

The eldest Winchester looked into your eyes, and you knew exactly what he was thinking. If this little trip of yours taught you anything, it wasn’t to say yes to Michael.

“Nah.”

“'Nah'? You’re telling me you haven't learned your lesson?” Zachariah gasped.

“Oh, I've learned a lesson, alright. Just not the one you wanted to teach.”

“Well, I'll just have to teach it again! Because I got you now, boy, and I'm never letting you—” 

The next second you were gone from your motel room and on the side of the road where Castiel stood. As soon as you laid eyes on him, your heart filled with joy since it was your Castiel.

“That's pretty nice timing, Cas.”

“We had an appointment.”

“Don’t ever change,” you said as you hugged the Angel. All he could do is smirk and wait for you to pull away before he could speak again.

“How did Zachariah find you two?”

“Long story. Let's just stay away from Jehovah's Witnesses from now on, okay?” Dean asked as he pulled out his cell phone and began dialing a number—but not just any number.

“What are you doing?”

“Something I should have done in the first place.”

“He’s late,” Dean sighed.

“He’s going to show. His big brother wants him back. He’s going to show,” you said as you both heard a rumble of a car. Turning to face the direction of the noise, you saw an older beat-up car drive slowly to you and Dean before parking. The tall Winchester unfolded from the tiny car before slowly approaching you and his brother.

“Sam,” Dean said as he pulled out Ruby’s knife from his jacket pocket. Sam looked at it nervously before Dean turned it around to that the handle was facing the younger brother. “If you're serious and you want back in... you should hang on to this. I'm sure you're rusty.” Sam reluctantly took the knife and a collective sigh traveled between the three people. “Look, man, I'm sorry. I don't know. I'm...whatever I need to be. But I was, uh—wrong.”

“What made you change your mind?” Sam asked as he finally met his brother’s eyes.

“Long story,” you groaned.

“The point is... maybe we are each other's Achilles heel. Maybe they'll find a way to use us three against each other, I don't know. I just know the three of us? We’re all we've got. More than that. We keep each other human.”

“Thank you. Really. Thank you. I won't let you down.”

“Oh, I know it. I mean, you are the second-best hunter on the planet,” Dean smirked.

“So, what do we do now?” Sam asked.

“We make our own future,” you answered for Dean.

“Guess we have no choice.”

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