#meanwhile everyone in the real world is freaking out because their kids just vanished off the face of the earth

[mingot-studios]

someone should make an Utena analog horror series that's from the perspective of people from the real world, where all the main characters are missing person cases (because they've been dragged into the world of Ohtori)

[makeste]

BnHA Chapter 287: Family Reunion

Previously on BnHA: The Tomura For One VS Deku And Pals clusterfuck reached new levels of clustfuckery as AFO possessed Tomura’s body and stabbed Kacchan and Endeavor. Shouto was all “good thing I leveled up offscreen so as to be able to fly around whilst carrying 400lbs worth of people”, and did just that and it was like, damn, son. Meanwhile Deku’s rage went Mach 100, and he kicked Tomura’s ass for almost two whole seconds, but in the process he apparently forgot that IF TOMURA TOUCHES HIM THAT IS VERY BAD, and so he stupidly let Tomura touch him and Tomura was all “GAME, SET.” Fortunately for Deku, his quirk plays by its own rules, and so the chapter ended with us cutting to the METAPHYSICAL OFA/AFO PARANORMAL DREAMSCAPE OF MYSTICAL BULLSHIT, where AFO!Vestige was all “lol Tomura y u mad”, and Nana!Vestige was all “SUP DEKU, YOU’RE JUST IN TIME, LOOKS LIKE IT’S ASSKICKING O’CLOCK.” I’m paraphrasing a bit, but that’s more or less the gist of it.

Today on BnHA: AFO is all “well if it isn’t Tomura’s grandmother who I murdered that one time”, and Deku is all “?”, and AFO is all “fucking vestiges, man, wild”, and Deku is all “??”, and AFO is all “ANYWAYS GETTIM TOMURA”, and OFA is all “NOT SO FAST”, and Deku is all “???”, and really, same. AFO then goes off on some wild tangent about how Deku is unworthy because he couldn’t protect everyone and needed help from OFA and got mad about his friends being stabbed, which is such a cold take it gave me hypothermia, but it ends up not mattering since Deku and Tomura both wake up seconds later with OFA still in the possession of its rightful owner, HOW ABOUT THAT. The chapter ends with the LoV approaching on Gigantomachia’s back with Dabi practically salivating at the mouth, and Toga trying to reignite an old fandom blood feud. Toga why would you do this to me. Toga.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS

[CROWD LOSING THEIR MINDS] FINALLY THE NANA HAS COME BACK TO BNHA!! IF YA SMELLLLL WHAT THE NANA IS COOKIN!!!!! [RINGSIDE BELL CHIMING WILDLY] [LOUD AIRHORN NOISES]

“chapter 287: mistake” omg. yeah I’ll say you made a mistake, AFO. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THESE FLEETING LAST MOMENTS OF YOUR SHITTY EVIL LIFE

(ETA: so in all seriousness this must be referring to AFO’s belief that All Might/OFA made a mistake in choosing Deku, right? “I can’t believe you went and chose this shounen manga protagonist as your champion, what were you thinking.” I’ll just put this out there: however many comic books AFO read as a child, it clearly was not enough.)

wow Deku how slow are you

yes you’re inside OFA you dimbulb, did you think your clothes suddenly vanished out of the blue and the ghost of Nana just randomly appeared in the real world by some freak coincidence?? can you believe this kid. breaks his arms a measly 10-15 times in a row and all of a sudden he can’t think straight, get it together Deku

but also brb having a moment at the fact that his thoughts immediately run back to Kacchan, even with all of this nonsense going on and Nana about to lay the beatdown on AFO’s potato-lookin’ ass. forget that noise, all he wants to know is whether or not Kacchan is all right. fuckin’ geez. AM I OVERREACTING HERE A BIT. probably

(ETA: ALSO!! the way he just trails off!! “Kacchan is...” and then he can’t bring himself to complete the thought. oh my god my heart.)

HOLY SHIT

okay,

damn but this man sure knows how to ruffle my feathers. as eminently detestable as ever!!

could it be any clearer here that AFO is not on Tomura’s side?? for a moment I thought he had actually grabbed him by the back of the head in order to get him to look. but nope, he’s just resting his pointing hand on top of his head instead while he’s all “HEY TOMURA LOL IT’S THE GHOST OF YOUR DEAD PATHETIC GRANDMA”

for those keeping track at home, this would be the first time that Deku has heard this information -- that Tomura is Nana’s grandson -- and possibly the first time Vestige!Nana has heard it as well. Nana died when Kotarou was still a child, so for all we know the Vestige!Nana didn’t even know she had a grandson, lol. TODAY ON “MAKESTE RANTS AT LENGTH ABOUT THINGS THAT WILL PROBABLY BE ADDRESSED WITHIN THE NEXT THREE PANELS”, anyway moving on

lmao for the record I fucking LOLed at this giant question mark immediately bubbling up over Deku’s head

no idea what AFO is about to ramble on about now, haven’t read that far yet. but let the record show that Deku’s immediate reaction to hearing “BTW NANA IS YOUR ARCHNEMESIS’S GRANDMA LULZ” is everything I could have hoped for

(ETA: fandom nailed the shit out of this one with the confused Mr. Krabs meme lmao.)

okay so now AFO is monologuing at length about how he would sometimes have “riveting dreams” about the previous owners of all the quirks he stole. but once he gave the quirks away they stopped bothering him?? holy moly let me just take all the notes

okay so he’s saying that Vestiges are created whenever someone has their quirk stolen by AFO. but if they then disappear when he gives the quirks away, does that also mean that whoever receives the quirks also gets the original owner’s Vestige bundled in every time?? that would be wild okay hold up let me read the rest of this

so he’s saying that the Vestiges are actually the “consciousnesses” of the original quirk owners, which have become embedded in their dna or something. SOUNDS INCREDIBLY DUBIOUS TO ME LOL but on the other hand this is a world where children can be born with airplane heads, so my disbelief can hardly afford to pick and choose what it’s gonna be suspended at! anyways though, how does he know he’s the only one who was able to converse with them? did you conduct detailed six-month follow-up interviews with everyone you gave quirks to or what

and if it really is the case that this ability was formerly exclusive to him, isn’t that more evidence than ever that OFA and AFO are actually THE EXACT SAME QUIRK oh whoops am I getting ahead of myself again, sorry

MEANWHILE TOMURA IS ALL, “GRANDMA?”

“WHY AM I HERE, WELL LET ME TELL YOU A STORY, GRANDSON. YOU SEE THAT MAN GROWING OUT OF YOUR RIBCAGE THERE? WELL IT’S JUST THE FUNNIEST THING, ACTUALLY”

WAIT SO IS HE SAYING THEY’RE SOULS OR NOT??

this makes it sound like they won’t ever get to rest, which sure sounds like a soul thing to me. well whatever, soul, consciousness, I guess it’s just semantics at the end of the day

anyways though, so this asshole is finally done talking (I’m sure that won’t last), so now we can finally have the heartwarming reunion we’ve all been waiting for

sigh

-- actually, no, not “sigh”!! you know what!! because Tomura says “whatever the reason”, but that’s only because he doesn’t actually have a fucking clue about the reason. like, I don’t know if the knowledge that AFO killed Nana would be enough to give him pause, but if he knew the whole story and knew that AFO was behind not only Nana’s death, but the rest of his family’s deaths as well... now that would be a whole different thing

anyway. but at least it’s becoming clearer now why AFO spent all that time raising Tomura up as his heir and brainwashing him even though he seems to have been planning this body takeover the whole time. it’s all because he loves making people miserable! yaaaaay

btw HAS NANA HAD THE EXACT SAME MOLE ON HER CHIN AS TOMURA THIS ENTIRE TIME WTF. am I just the least observant person who ever lived lmao

lol wtf

ground: [randomly starts exploding]

Deku: “ONE FOR ALL IS BEING ERODED!!!” LOL IS THAT WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE, OKAY THEN. I’ll take your word for it

y’all I cannot fucking get over this “AFO growing out of Tomura’s hip socket like a fucked-up ventriloquist dummy” shit though

you do realize that absolutely no one can take you seriously right now, right?? it’s important to me that you know this

WHAT’S THIS NOW

seems like SOMEONE has had it up to here with a certain SOMEONE ELSE’S bullshit lmaooo bye Felicia

I SAID GOOD DAY!!

you guys why is he not dying!!

-- OH DAMN

love how Deku is just lying there like “YOU KNOW THOSE DAYS WHERE YOU’RE LIKE, THIS MIGHT AS WELL HAPPEN.” poor Deku

(ETA: where in god’s name is OFA Prime standing. why are my thoughts fully consumed by this lmao.)

are Nana and OFA Prime even doing anything?? why are they sticking their arms out like that. wait hold up is this all a big metaphor for the back-and-forth going on between Tomura trying to steal OFA and OFA being all “actually no you can’t, please enter your password and click on all the boxes with bicycles in them to prove you’re a human first”?

OH SNAP OFA PRIME SAID NO THANKS

“SORRY BRO WE’VE ALREADY MADE OURSELVES AT HOME HERE”

I have only just noticed that metaphysical!Deku has the same scars as actual!Deku. and yet his arms are not currently broken! that doesn’t really seem consistent to me but whatever!! maybe he saved right before the boss battle, that would be smart of him

anyway, that’s great and all that OFA Prime is here helping out, but I really wanted to see Nana fight AFO in a one on one though so I’m a bit disappointed. also why is it only the two of them?? where are Banjou and the others. of all the times to be sleeping on the job

FOR FUCK’S SAKE, THIS MAN

WOULD YOU STOP. WOULD YOU JUST QUIT IT ALREADY

oh shit hold up

doesn’t this confirm that the reason he wanted to transfer his power to Tomura is because he believed it would make him strong enough to finally take OFA because of Quirk Singularity? jesus christ. and here he was so sure of himself. but it turns out he doesn’t actually know shit! you can’t just fucking take OFA like that ya dingdong that’s not how it works

(ETA: SO, A THOUGHT -- is there any sort of subtle hinting here in the way that he words this? “if your strength is combined with mine”, as opposed to “if my strength is combined with yours”? no idea if the admittedly-so-small-as-to-be-almost-inconsequential distinction between those two sentences exists in the original Japanese or not, but I find it very interesting that the English wording implies that he’s the one adding Tomura’s strength to his own, rather than vice versa.)

now he’s insulting Deku!!

excuse me sir WHO ASKED YOU anyway. and never mind that being consumed by an, AND I QUOTE, “unquenchable” rage is your protege’s whole THING, and that he also needed your help to avoid being burned to a crisp a short while ago. where do you get off I swear

(ETA: also just want to point out that in the panel before this one he says that he’s been “watching through Tomura”, which pretty much confirms that his consciousness or whatever is alive inside of him all the time. Tomura is definitely not getting rid of this guy any time soon.)

WOW

first he calls Kacchan useless, then he calls Deku a simpleton, and don’t even get me started with Nana. just, you guys. this man is just... a very, very rude man

NOW OFA IS ALL “THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT MAKES HIM SUCH A GOOD PROTAGNIST YOU BUTTMUNCH” AND OMG PREACH

“DESPITE HIS COMMON SENSE” sdfkllk my man he already has one brother roasting him, take it easy guy

AHH WHAT

IS THIS BACK IN THE REAL WORLD

YEP

hahaha nice try Tomura

so Deku’s all “I didn’t lose my power! BUT” and I assume the “but” is the part where his arms are still broken and shit, and meanwhile Tomura’s body is almost healed up now finally

they’re both wiped out and now AFO is again petitioning Tomura to let him take over goddammit

“you won’t lose your mind” yep, he sure won’t! scout’s honor!! pinky swear!!

meanwhile Deku is getting fucking desperate flkjl;k my baby. and Machia is going to show up any second now too, probably. what else can fucking go wrong at this point

oh shit I shouldn’t have asked

get ready to rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrruuuumble, probably

OH MY GOD

WELL AT LEAST SOMEONE HERE IS HAVING A GOOD TIME. jesus

so as soon as he heard Endeavor was there he got all, “TIME FOR THE BIG REVEAL”, is that right? WELL JOKE’S ON YOU TOUYA, YOUR DAD DOESN’T SEEM ALL THAT CONSCIOUS AT THE MOMENT, SO THAT’S GOING TO DRAIN A LOT OF THE TENSION FROM THE SCENE WHEN YOU GO ALL REVERSE DARTH VADER ON HIM AND HE’S ALL “ZZZZZZZZ”

meanwhile Toga is having unsettlingly quiet angst

jesus christ Toga this is all we need right now

“WAS JIN-KUN NOT A PERSON” sdkfjlk Horikoshi I swear. please have mercy on this fandom. this is the debate that refuses to die!!

but seriously ffs, the issue isn’t that Jin deserved to die, it’s that the countless people whom Jin would have either directly or indirectly killed didn’t deserve to die either. people don’t only become people when you attach names and faces to them! we all loved Jin because we’d gotten to know him, but that doesn’t mean his life was inherently worth more than the lives of all the people he would have killed. sometimes there’s just no good answer

like, it’s just crazy to me that because the heroes are all “we want to protect everyone!” but then aren’t always able to do so because that’s literally impossible, whereas the villains are all “we don’t care about anyone other than the select few people that we actually like!”, the villains somehow wind up getting the better PR. it just so happens that it’s infinitely easier to be loyal to the interests of a few people as opposed to ALL THE PEOPLE. like, no shit, it’s easier to stick to your moral code when you barely have a moral code. and so the villains can kill thousands and no one bats an eye, but if a hero fails to save even one person they’re hypocritical moral failures. like what the hell

BUT ANYWAY, sorry to go off on a tangent there lol, it’s not really a big deal. I’m just preemptively trying to stave off more discourse about it lol but who am I even kidding

anyways lol, but of course they won’t kill you unless they have no choice, Toga. but when it comes to catch-22 situations, it’s a bit much to infer that the heroes don’t consider the villains people just because they opt for the choice that spares more innocent lives. I sure as hell don’t want my babies out here killing people, but to say that they can’t no matter what or else they’re no different from the villains is just...

anyway so the chapter has now just ENDED, just like that!! on a shot of Ochako’s face!

I SENSE ANOTHER THROWDOWN COMING. and it had better not be a total letdown like the last one! NANA BARELY DID ANYTHING HORIKOSHI, WHAT THE FUCK. I started out with such high hopes lol

but I will settle for Toga VS Ochako, and Deku VS Tomura: The Sequel: Shouto’s Revenge! SPEAKING OF HEROES WHO HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT MURDERING PEOPLE lmao

[only-in-december]

Chapter 3 of "I'M GOIN'..." is done! Here's the AO3 link. Or read it below. (...Or don't read it at all. I'm not your mother. Do what you want....but don't forget to brush your teeth. And get a decent amount of sleep. And brush your hair. And-)

I'M GOIN'... Chapter 3: "Friendship"

Danny went home after a couple long days in the hospital. He was glad to be home. The very first thing he did was run to his bedroom, jump onto his bed, and look up at the stars on his ceiling. He heaved a heavy sigh, naming the stars, looking for his favorite constellations. Maybe things would be back to normal soon.

He was just beginning to believe that things were still normal, that things were safe, when suddenly his arm fell through his bed. A yelp escaped him as he pulled his arm back out of the mattress. "Danny? Are you okay?" Jazz poked her head into his room, her eyebrows knit in concern. "Is something wrong?"

"Everything's fine Jazz." Danny scowled lightly and crossed his arms over his chest. He really hoped that she didn't see anything. "I just want some time alone if you don't mind."

"O–okay." Jazz's eyebrows somehow managed to knit together even tighter. "I'll leave you alone for a bit then." She looked a little hurt, and plenty worried. But Danny didn't really care. He was too caught up in his own panic, because as Jazz left the room, his legs both seemed to vanish.

He stopped himself from screaming, and tried to make his lower-half visible again. The issue was, that Danny didn't know how to control what was happening to him.

Danny was panicking. He changed. He was different. He wasn't himself anymore. There was a flash of white light, and then he was different. He could feel it. See it. And sense it all at once. And he didn't know how to change back.

He was practically touching the ceiling and curling in on himself because he was freaking out.

Then his bedroom door opened. And shut. So quickly he almost didn't notice. There in front of him stood Sam and Tucker, looking concerned.

Danny suddenly turned back to normal, and fell hard on his bed. His panic didn't die down though. "Guys! I….it...just"

"Danny, calm down. It's okay. We're here to help." Tucker sat on Danny's bed, and put a hand on his knee. "Best friends don't leave best friends to deal with sudden mutations on their own." Danny looked over at Sam who nodded her agreement.

"We're not going anywhere."

"W-what am I?" Danny's choice cracked. "I'm not–not completely human anymore. I can–I can tell. I can feel it when I change. So what am I?" Sam and Tucker shared a concerned look.

"We'll have to figure that out together." Tucker scooted closer to Danny, and elbowed him lightly. "I'm sure your parents have something that can tell us what's going on."

"Y-yeah. You're right." Danny nodded.

 

Tucker handed him a small acrylic pin. It looked like a classic alien head, and the bottom said 'out of this world.'

"I thought you were gonna stop with the pins for a while Tuck?"

"After everything that happened, I think this is a justified purchase." Tucker said with a shrug. "Plus Sam brought you a couple things too." Sam stuck her tongue out at Tucker before tossing a plastic shopping bag at Danny.

"Here. For your collection." Danny looked inside and saw four 'Ghostie Energy' cans in bright colors.

"Thanks. You guys rock." Danny smiled softly at his two best friends, and gave Tucker a half-hug. "Let me put these away, then we can raid the fridge downstairs."

Getting downstairs proved to be a slight challenge, when Danny's left leg suddenly fell through the second step. He almost fell all the way down, luckily Sam and Tucker had fast enough reflexes to catch him before any real damage was done.

Danny's parents were both in the kitchen working on some new project. It looked like a handheld computer of some kind. "Hey Dad, we're gonna get some snacks from the fridge and play some video games in the living room, okay?"

"Alright Danno. Just try not to make a mess okay?" Dad looked up from the blueprints he was studying.

"Sure thing Dad." Danny flashed a smile at his Dad as he opened the fridge up.

"Danny, could you Thank your friend for calling an ambulance for you after your accident, for me?" Mom had her goggles pulled down but Danny could still tell she was looking directly at him.

"Okay. Guys my mom says thanks." Danny said distractedly as he grabbed more snack foods from the cabinets.

"No, your other friend. The athletic one." Dad chimed in while writing a note.

"Athletic one?..." Danny almost dropped his armload of snacks when he realized who his parents were talking about. Then it hit him, he realized the one thing he had been trying not to think about. Kwan. Saw everything. Kwan saw what happened to him! "You mean Kwan?" Danny managed to choke out. "He's not really a friend. He was probably here looking for Jazz."

"Still. Make sure to thank him for us." Mom smiled sadly. "I don't know what we would have done if he hadn't called for an ambulance." She shuddered, and Danny nodded.

"Yeah okay." Danny nudged Tucker on the arm and handed him some of the snacks. "We'll be in the living room. We might head back upstairs in a little while though."

"Alright. You kids have fun!" Dad said, with a slightly distracted wave.

————————————

Meanwhile, Kwan tried not to think about everything that had happened at the Fenton's. Over the past few days he had been mainly attempting to pretend that it hadn't happened, and that he has been in no way involved. Although that didn't really happen, because The A-List inadvertently "adopted" Jazz into their group...at least tentatively.

Kwan looked up as Dash entered through his front door, dragging along a slightly confused looking Jazz. "Hey, Kwan." Dash tossed a football softly at him. "You wanna hang? The other girls already packed an entire picnic." Kwan couldn't help but grin at that.

"That sounds great actually. But, when did Star have the time to pack a picnic?" Kwan and Dash both knew that Paulina wouldn't pack anything herself unless she was forced to, and Val was absolute trash in the kitchen. Dash shrugged.

"No clue. 'Lina just called me about half an hour ago, and asked if we could all hang and have a picnic, I said sure, got Jazz, and now I'm grabbing you." Dash grinned as they started making their way toward their usual picnic spot in the park. (Luckily Kwan lived close by.)

As they reached the picnic spot the rest of the girls were all doing their own things. Star was weaving together flower crowns, Paulina was reading a fashion magazine, and Valerie was laying on her back on the picnic blanket, watching the clouds.

"Hey! Did we miss anything exciting?" Kwan skipped a little bit as they got closer.

"Nah. Star made PB&Js for everyone except 'Lina." Val said, sitting up to make room on the picnic blanket.

"No worries though! I made her a very nice sunflower butter and honey sandwich." Star dropped the flower crown she was working on and leaned over to hug Paulina.

"You guys do this kinda thing often then?" Jazz asked as she sat down.

"Not all the time, but whenever we get the chance." Kwan told her, he sat next to her and smiled. "How's your brother doing?" He didn't want to think about all the things that happened, but he did want to make sure that the Fentons were all doing alright.

"He's doing better, thanks for asking. He's back to kicking me out of his room, only talking to his friends. So that's a big plus." Jazz gave a half-hearted shrug.

"I'm so glad things are getting better!" Star beamed. "If you need anyone to talk to, you're welcome to talk with us." As if to prove her point, Star placed the crown she'd been working on, on top of Jazz's head.

Kwan looked over at Dash and Paulina, he knew those two worked hard to make sure the A-List was only the most popular kids in Casper High. Dash looked uneasy, and Paulina looked like she was working out who could possibly be bumped out of the group. While Jazz and Star kept talking about the picnic, Kwan pulled Dash and Paulina aside to discuss it.

"Guys. I think it's fine. We don't have to be an exclusive group. Plus, we all know that Jazz is cool. No one would question her hanging with us." Kwan kept his voice low.

"It's not her that we're concerned about." Dash admitted softly. "Her parents really take her down the social ladder." The football star sighed. "I just don't know if she's got enough to stand on her own in the social climate."

"Plus she's just a tad nerdy." Paulina wrinkled her nose. "We don't want nerds. That takes us from the A-List, to like… the F-List."

"Guys. She isn't that nerdy. Plus we've all needed her help with homework plenty of times." Kwan defended. "She's good at moving between social groups anyway. So we don't have to make her an official A-Lister. We just need to be open to talking with her in public." Dash and Paulina still looked unconvinced. "We have been hanging with her for the past few days already. We brought her along on a picnic for goodness sakes! Get a grip! We're the only ones who care about social standing!" It took everything in him not to yell. Kwan had to stop and take a deep breath, otherwise he might have snapped.

"Kwan. We can let her join peripherally. Anything more than that and...you know how it is." Dash held his hands up in surrender sign of mock surrender.

"Dash. You're my best friend. I would jump off a bridge for you." Kwan narrowed his eyes. "But if you're lying to me. If you don't put your best effort into making this work out. I'll step down and let her take my spot on the A-List." Kwan didn't know where this was coming from, but he did recognize that Jazz needed friends. Especially right now.

"I'll do my best. Let's get back to the picnic and have some fun." Dash lightly punched Kwan on the arm, and Kwan relaxed. He knew Dash would keep his word, he may have overreacted a bit.

@i-cant-go-ghost

[crystalninjaphoenix]

MerMay Day Ten Beach Day

The boardwalk was wildly busy that morning. Tourists were bustling about, ooing and awing at the open ocean and the boats lined up along the docks. They’d take pictures of themselves standing in front of the stores, buying souvenirs and eating treats. The locals in their boats were well-used to this, and went about their business.

Nobody noticed two heads poke out of the water at the end of the pier.

“They’re not looking this way,” Chase said. He grinned. “C’mon.” He ducked back under the water, swimming closer.

“Chase! Hey!” Jackie hurried to catch up. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“Of course!” Chase nodded enthusiastically. “The only ones who’d be looking directly down at the water are kids, and the adults aren’t gonna believe them.”

Jackie didn’t quite look convinced. “What if they think we’re big fish? What if my dorsal sticks out of the water? I’d freak them out, wouldn’t I? They’d think there was a shark, and who knows what they’d do when they’re scared?”

“Just stay down a bit, it’ll be fine,” Chase said reassuringly. They’d arrived at the end of the pier, and he was now circling around one of the dock’s supports. “I’ve been people-watching for a while, it’s not too hard to avoid them.” He smiled. “C’mon. You wanted to do something fun. This is what you get for letting me choose.”

Jackie sighed. He peeked out of the water, eyes scanning the boardwalk. “What’re they doing?”

Chase poked his head out as well. “I think some of them are on vacation.”

“Vacation?”

“Yeah, they take a break from work and go see places they’ve never seen before, to do new things. Some of these guys must live further inland, so they’re coming to see the ocean.”

“Ohhhh.” Jackie nodded. That he could understand. “So we just watch them?”

“And listen.” Chase watched the tourists stroll across the dock. “I like to guess what they’re talking about, where they’re from, what they do…” He dropped a bit lower in the water. “That’s not...creepy, is it?”

“I don’t think so. I mean, what else are you gonna do, watch the fish instead? At least you can understand these guys.” Jackie backed up a bit, looking at the pier. “Besides, some of these guys are doing that anyway.” He pointed out groups of people sitting on benches, clearly watching the other passerbys.

Chase looked a little reassured for that, regaining his enthusiasm. “Alright, if they’re doing it.” He bolted, swimming along the bottom of the pier. “Oh! You can see their shadows under here!” 

Jackie laughed, easily catching up. It was nice to see Chase so happy, even if he didn’t quite understand why.

The day passed. The two merms darted about the water, hiding in the shadows under the dock. Chase would tell Jackie the names of the human stuff he seemed curious about, and they’d make up stories about the humans passing on the boardwalk. Occasionally one would toss bits of food in the water, trying to attract fish, and once they’d lost interest, the two merms would snatch it up, (though Chase always said it tasted better dry.)

But still, Jackie wasn’t the type of person to stay idle for very long. He grew restless, and started playing a game with himself. Hover on the surface of the water just behind a human who was looking away, and then duck back down just in time to dodge their gaze. Over time, he got more bold, sneaking up closer to the docks, splashing about to draw their attention just before vanishing underwater. 

Chase noticed this when Jackie decided to pull himself halfway out of the water, practically half-climbing up one of the dock’s support pillars. “Jackie!” he hissed, poking his head out of the water. “What’re you doing?”

“Dude, they’re totally oblivious,” Jackie chuckled.

“I mean, yeah, but they have cameras!” Chase said.

“They have what?”

“They’re these little devices that can take a photo—which is, like, a drawing that’s super real and captures all the details.” Chase glanced up onto the boardwalk. “They’re getting smaller, I think they started to combine them with cell phones so now everyone has one.”

“Combine them with what?” Jackie shook his head. “Look, I’m being careful.”

“Are you?” Chase asked. His eyes darted about. “Because I don’t think you—” He turned around. And immediately froze. “...fuck.”

Jackie looked behind him as well. There was a boat drifting in the water, a name written on its side in human lettering. And peering over the side of the white boat was a human, who was very clearly staring at them and gaping.

“Abandon ship!” Chase gasped, ducking under the water.

“What?” Jackie looked down at him, then up at the human, then started to follow Chase.

The human shook their head. “Wait!”

Like an idiot, Jackie paused. He looked back up at the human.

“I-I’m sorry, I just—oh my god, i-is this some publicity stunt?” The human laughed. “Like, are you going to be putting on a show later? Or…?”

The words were confusing Jackie, and he froze as he tried to process them. He knew a few human languages, but there were a few weird words in those questions, and he couldn’t quite grasp their meaning. But he understood that the human wasn’t being hostile. They seemed more confused than anything. Curious, and perhaps being a bit too bold, Jackie swam closer to the side of the boat.

“Oh my god…” The human gasped. They leaned back, running a hand through their curly blonde hair. “No way. No fucking way. You...you’re really a…? Oh my god.”

Jackie felt a tugging on his tail. He looked down to see Chase trying—and failing—to pull him underwater. He flicked his tail, easily shaking him off. And then he reached down and pulled Chase to the surface by his arm. Chase yelped. “Chase, c’mon, don’t be a guppy.”

“Shut up, I’m the one that introduced you to that phrase,” Chase muttered. He tried to dive back under, but Jackie pulled him back up. “What are you doing?! Seriously! We need to get out of here before he tells someone!”

“I think if they—I mean, if he was gonna do that, he’d be doing that already.” Jackie looked back up at the human. “He’s just kinda staring at us.”

“He’s in shock, let it kick in. Then he’ll start screaming.”

“You don’t know that! She didn’t start screaming, did she?”

Chase stopped trying to go back under. He glared at Jackie wordlessly.

“...sorry, low blow, I know,” Jackie admitted. “But my point stands. They don’t all freak out. Why are you so worried? You speak human.”

“I’m out of practice,” Chase muttered.

“Hey, um…” The human cleared his throat. “This is...kind of a lot to take in, I won’t lie. And I, uh, can’t understand your weird fish language.” He laughed nervously. “Can...you understand me?”

Jackie nodded. Chase shook his head.

“...both of those answer my question. Anyway, hi, I’m Ollie. I, uh…” The human—Ollie—looked behind him, grabbing something. “I was supposed to meet my...my friend, um, Isabelle, here...but…she cancelled on me just now. But I got her this.” He held up a small plastic bowl full of some kind of food, a plastic spoon shoved in it as well. “I don’t like vanilla, so I was just gonna throw it away, but do you guys want it or something?”

Chase’s eyes widened. “Nevermind, we are staying.”

Jackie laughed. “Sucker for food, huh?”

“Bro, take it. Try it. You’ll understand.”

Jackie shrugged, and reached up out of the water. Ollie leaned forward awkwardly, and passed him the plastic bowl. Jackie looked it over, holding it in both hands as he treaded water. He pulled the spoon out, and looked at Chase, who made a scooping motion. Catching on, Jackie scooped up some of the food with the spoon, taking a bite. His eyes lit up. “Oh my gods…”

“I know, right?” Chase grinned. “It’s called ice cream, it’s literally the best thing in the world. One of the things these guys do right is the food.”

“You guys like it?” Ollie asked. Jackie and Chase nodded in unison, and he, strangely enough, relaxed. “Alright then. You guys can chill here, I won’t bother you.” He backed away from the edge of the boat, sitting down.

Jackie and Chase, meanwhile, swam back underneath the pier, taking turns finishing the ice cream. Once they were done, Jackie swam back over to the boat and tossed the bowl and spoon back onto the deck. He heard a noise of surprise from Ollie, who looked back over the edge of the boat in confusion. Jackie laughed, backing away. Ollie shook his head, smiling, and returned to his seat.

“Still so eager to leave, Chase?” Jackie asked.

Chase considered this, though not for very long. “Nah. He’s cool.” He glared at Jackie again. “No more trying to get spotted, though.”

“Aw, alright.”

They hung around the boardwalk until the afternoon, and went home smiling and laughing. Somehow, they didn’t think anyone would be finding out about them today.

[oceanera12]

Winter Soldier!Steve

I don’t see enough of this AU

And when I do it is ALWAYS Stucky So let’s take a different route on this bad boy, shall we?

First movie follows the same story line up to the train section.

Don’t know how and don’t think too hard about it because AU but somehow Steve is the one thrown from the train, not Bucky--

BUT

Bucky isn’t Steve. Because when Bucky “dies” Steve breaks down and cries. 

When Steve “dies” Bucky stares at the point where his friend fell in shock as he realizes he’s failed his friend. His stupid, punk, friend who survived getting beaten in back alley’s, illness inducing winters, allergies, the deaths of both parents, and a freaking government science experiment. His friend is gone and all he has left of him is a metal frisbee.

Yes, he is sad. But he is mostly ticked.

Zola is found by Barnes before the other Commando’s because Barnes rips off the flipping door, grabs Zola around the neck and starts choking him (and almost kills him), but the Commando’s manage to snap him out of his death rage and Zola is taken in (albeit very afraid and very bruised)

After some “interrogation” Zola admits to Barnes having a variant of a super soldier serum from his time experimenting on the soldier. Stark looks into it, confirms the fact, and suddenly Barnes finds himself in charge of the Commandos and is given Steve’s shield.

He agrees to do it on ONE condition. In the public reports of the incident, Captain America is still Steve Rogers and will always be Steve. If anyone asks, Bucky died on that train, not Steve because gosh darn it, Bucky is not going to let his friend fade into the background again.

Bucky and Peggy have a friendship and an understanding between them. Whatever happens next is for that little guy in Brooklyn.

Bucky makes a very ruthless Captain America. He does his job with efficiency and speed. The Commando’s back him up whole heartedly.

The movie plays out pretty much the same with the Red Skull fight and Bucky getting on the plane (he doesn’t kiss Peggy, geez), and then going to crash the ship in the ocean.

The radio call is different. In the call, Bucky makes Peggy swear to tell the public it was Steve in the plane. This was Steve saving the world, not James Barnes. “Because that kid saved me before he saved anyone else.”

Then he asks Peggy to tell him about how she first met his punk brother. She obliges, tears running down her face. She doesn’t know when Barnes was cut off but by the time she was done the radio had gone dead.

Seventy years later, SHIELD pulls out a frozen Captain America. Most everyone is confused when the man is brown haired, not blonde, and upon closer inspection they find whoever this is, it is NOT Steven Rogers.

Fury pulls up the redacted reports and very old, very disclosed files before finding the truth about Captain Rogers and that the person they have found is Sergeant James Barnes.

James doesn’t bolt out of the hospital room SHIELD staged. He points out the inconsistencies, the radio game being wrong, etc, then sits down and basically asks when they are going to start torturing him for information.

Fury comes in, tells him he’s been frozen and when Bucky doesn’t believe him, Fury takes him on a tour around New York City.

Bucky requests if they release anything on Captain America being found, to say it was Steven Rogers, who is now being very recluse and does not want any attention.

Avenger’s plays out slightly different. 

For one, Tony and Bucky don’t butt heads as much. Actually, Tony thinks Bucky is Steve Rogers at first (he still really doesn’t like Steve because of how his Dad talked about him) and is extremely confused when James takes off the mask and introduces himself as Sergeant James Barnes. Then Tony backpedals on that information and does his own research on it. Tony’s the one who finds the SHIELD weapons, James is angry at Fury and actually sides with Tony

For another thing, Bucky doesn’t get along with Thor very well. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s a stupid blonde but it’s just bad memories.

Nat and Bruce are fine with James, as is Clint when he comes around.

Everyone beats up the aliens and Loki and it’s a win, win.

In between movies, Bucky hangs out with Tony to catch up on modern day (because Tony really likes watching him be confused/learning pop culture and James needs it because what are these references?) Bucky tells Tony about the “real” Steve. The kid before the shield. I wouldn’t say Tony loves Rogers now, but he definitely understands him better and has a little more sympathy for the guy.

This is important because Winter Soldier is up

Bucky meets Sam while running. Sam doesn’t know who he is at first until they are introduced, then kind of confused because isn’t Barnes dead? But he doesn’t bring it up and leaves it at that because this guy is clearly suffering from PTSD and a soldier not used to being home.

Mission with Black Widow, goes to see the giant battleships in the sky, and Bucky isn’t Steve. But he also knows this is a bit much/extreme for a constant military station so he doesn’t support the project because, yes there are aliens. So why are we looking at threats on the planet and not in space???

Bucky calls Tony and chats with him for a bit about it (he feels uncomfortable talking to Peggy because it’s not fair that Steve doesn’t get to see her). Tony points out the pros and cons of the project and cracks some jokes. Overall, not extremely helpful but helps clear Bucky’s head a little.

Nick is attacked, runs to Bucky, Nick is “killed” and Bucky chases after the killer. Similar roof scene (*note: I don’t know if Steve has the metal arm. If he does, I’m thinking it’s the right arm, not the left. Don’t know why, just think it should be that way if it is) and Winter Soldier vanishes

Okay, so-- Fury says to not trust anyone. And Bucky sure as heck doesn’t trust Pierce. But I feel like Barnes is more trusting than Steve (I’m serious, the Winter Soldier experience just threw that trait out the window). So Barnes trusts Widow enough to actually leave her with the drive and not put it in a vending machine (also tells her not to show it to anyone-- which she doesn’t.)

Just going to say the movie carries out the same for the most part (including contacting Falcon) EXCEPT--

When Bucky pulls the mask off Steve he calls his name out and we still get shot at and captured. Rescued by Maria Hill, find Fury, etc, etc.

THEN Bucky calls Tony Stark from a payphone, who’s confused as to why Captain America is wanted on the news. Bucky tells Stark about Steve. Tony probably doesn’t believe him at first because, “Hello, Barnes? He’s dead. Has been for a long time. You hit your head or something?” But Bucky explains and suddenly Tony finds himself diving into old S.H.I.E.L.D. files and reading up on Soviet science experiments from the cold war.

Also, Tony comes to help blow up the carriers because heck to the no, Hydra is not using his technology, no siree.

So Falcon and Stark are flying around the carriers and taking care of goons, when Falcon gets shot down Stark goes after him and when everything is falling apart, Stark tries to get close to Barnes to grab him, but can’t because of the big guns.

Meanwhile in the Bucky vs. Steve fight, we get the whole “trying to kill one“ another thing, but I feel like Bucky is way better at pushing Steve’s memory buttons and Bucky is a little more willing to punch Steve because he knows Steve wouldn’t want to kill him. So Steve figures out “wait, I know this guy” just before they hit the water.

When they crash in the water, both are semi-conscious and they are found by Stark who flies both to his compound and calls the doctors to come work on these two sad super soldiers.

Now Steve doesn’t remember everything. But he knows that: One, Hydra is going to be after him if they find out he’s still alive. Two, these people that helped him either knew him or know of him somehow and he really doesn’t want to hurt them. Three, his name is Steven Rogers and the punk from earlier is James Buchanan Barnes.

So Steve pulls a him and goes, “Nope, not putting you in danger” and the first chance he gets he flees Avenger’s tower and disappears into thin air.

Thanks, Steve. Thanks a lot.

Age of Ultron, nothing really changes. Tony is also looking for Steve and Bucky is a little more on top of things and tells Tony that Steve might have had something to do with his parent’s deaths but he’s not 100% sure.

Civil War. Okay, bear with me for a second because I can see Bucky actually being Pro-Accords. Not one hundred percent of the actual document but the idea behind it because “yes, people need to be held accountable for their actions” but also “you can’t save everyone no matter how hard you try, trust me I know that better than everyone, but that doesn’t mean you just sit there and do nothing because some government people tell you no, you can’t get involved.” (Basically Black Widow’s stance on this whole thing)

So when “Steve” bombs the accords, Bucky knows that’s not him and tells Tony as much (who doesn’t believe Barnes completely, but willing to give him a chance because of the past) and since Bucky technically signed the accords he has more pull in what happens to him and Tony is way more willing to listen.

Which means Bucky and Tony track down Steve in that apartment with actual permission to do so, on the condition they take the “Winter Soldier” into custody.

I’m not really sure what happens after this because Tony is going to find out about his parents, one way or another. Maybe Bucky’s stories about his old friend will keep Tony from trying to kill him. Maybe they won’t. Who knows? Heck, Zola may not even make it through the front door because Bucky is allowed to talk to Steve as the “therapist”

So end this AU however you want, I think it’d be pretty accurate. I’m just going to say the Accords got thrown out the window and Bucky and Tony start helping Steve recover from Hydra. Yay!

[lorewytch]

Writers asks: 3, 7, and 21

 I apologize for the lateness in this.. I literally fell asleep while writing this last night ahahaha 3. Give an overview/description of some of your past stories. (Only if you are willing, of course!) Hahahaha I’m assuming you want overview/description of Consumed by Shadows series right? XDD I’ll do that entire thing as a series and something from my way past. pffttt. Although I will omit Venomous Shadows since I am still working on it! WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD FOR AT LEAST ONE OF MY FANFICS!

Consumed by Shadows Series; The Shadow Realm, Overshadowed Emotions: After the events of The Shadow War, Webby is struggling to come to terms with that Lena is gone forever. Also her strained relationship with Scrooge isolates her completely from the rest of the family. Feeling alone and grieving, a sudden spark of hope ignites her drive to search for Lena in the Shadow Realm, a parallel world on the opposite side of their reality. The triplets realize that Webby has vanished and try to figure out where she went, but are quickly found out. They all realize Webby has run off to open a portal to the Shadow Realm deep within a old temple in a jungle that holds a special Shadow Stone. They race after her only for all them to come face to face with Magica, the reason for all their swirling emotions. Flinging Webby into the Shadow Realm, she turns on the family and the fight begins with her newly improved magic thanks to the Shadow Stone. Webby finally finds Lena, but the happy reunion is bittersweet as the shadow magic from the realm infects Webby and begins to consume her. Racing against time, Scrooge, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Donald, Beakley and Launchpad subdue Magica, only to realize that the portal has closed, the Shadow Stone with it. With no way to open the Shadow Realm, they resort to drastic means to open it back up, only to cause it to become unstable. Sucking in everything in its path, including Magica, Scrooge and triplets make a gamble, letting themselves be sucked inside, anchored to a rope. Magica confronts Webby and Lena, stealing the Shadow Stone and nearly destroying the kids. But Scrooge and the boys interrupt her, smashing the stone  and Lena, reveals a fact that none of them were ready for. She then turns on Magica and gives them time to escape with Webby. Heartbroken at losing Lena a second time, Webby swears to free her from the shadow realm, no matter what the cost. But how much will Webby risk to free her best friend from her prison? Also, she finally reconciles with Scrooge whom apologizes about his behavior on the Sunchaser, finally she feels like family again.

In Overshadowed Emotions, Webby is nearing her breaking point. Searching libraries, ancient texts, she consumed herself with trying to figure out everything she could about the Shadow Realm to free her best friend from it. When a transmission from Della suddenly is found, Webby listens in as Scrooge tells Donald. She is sworn to secrecy which does not go over well, as Dewey finds out that Webby is hiding something important from them all. They fight and Webby is driven into a corner. She has no choice but to tell them, but they fail to take it the way she imagined. Hurt because she lied to them, the triplets distance themselves just as Beakley decides the children need a break from being cooped up in the mansion. Meanwhile, Magica and Lena fight in the Shadow Realm, it looks like Lena will be victorious, but one split second later she is on the ground as Magica escapes from the Shadow Realm and Lena is left drained. The kids pile onto a plane that is sending them to a relaxing island to hopefully rekindle their broken friendship. But another fight and plane crash later (Not caused by Launchpad for once) Finds them scattered on a magical island not on any maps. Webby, injured finds the triplets only to realize they are being chased by the islands resident guardian golems. They take down all but one, that chases Webby to a strange temple. Inside lies a ancient god that was doomed to sleep forever. Until Webby touched her and broke the spell. 

At first hostile, the goddess turns on Webby, trying to hurt her until Dewey finally finds her, trying to protect her as he finds Webby badly injured from the battle and from the crash. After a brief conversation, the goddess, known as Whisp realizes that they aren’t her enemy. Admiring Webby’s pluck, she heals her wounds and grants her a gift. A spell designed to bring someone back from the Shadow Realm. But, she warns Webby that something must be given in exchange. Uneasy about this, Dewey and Webby leave and begin to finally talk and slowly begin to forgive each other. Once they meet up with Huey and Louie, Webby spends time with each of them and although tentative, they do forgive her for hiding something so important from them. At the same time Scrooge and the others back in Duckburg work on constructing a rocket to go up and save Della from the moon. But as it takes off into the sky, Donald at the controls, another cosmic storm appears and hinders any plans to explore further. Just before Donald crashes back to earth, they hear one last transmission from Della. Beakley finds out that the children didn’t make it to their destination thanks to Duckworth who had stashed away temporarily with Webby. Together, she and Scrooge take the boat, stopping to fish Donald out from the bay from the ejection pod and fill him in. They all meet at the beach, including Launchpad and Beakley, Scrooge and Donald. There’s a happy reunion and all leave the island, Webby now with a new mission in her heart.

But, as they arrive back to Duckburg, Webby is told by Lena in her shadow that she doesn’t have much time left. Breaking her promise to Dewey that she wouldn’t cast the spell, she sets up what she needs and begins it that very night. The spell rocks and destroys the house, awakening everyone. They rush to Webby’s room only to see her in the midst of the spell, shadows staining her arms and tears. The spell backfires just as Magica appears, intent on destroying them once and for all. 

Fighting Magica, the adults try to safely extract Webby from the spell but when a stray blast of magic hits her, the spell shatters around them. Scrooge, smarter than the smarties uses his wits and a magical artifact to banish Magica from their home. Webby doesn’t awaken. Louie feels betrayed. Della is still on the Moon. Lena is fading in the Shadow Realm. And Scrooge...for once is at a loss. I actually think thats all I will write for this LOL. I’m too tired to write another one right now XDD.

7. Favorite writers? Have they influenced you at all? Tamora Pierce, Kelly Armstrong, A ton of manga writers ( CLAMP, Arina Tanemura etc) I think the Manga writers influenced me more than anything. But Kelley Armstrong helped me to my sarcastic tone I sometimes have lol. I loved Tamora Pierce’s worlds and views on heroines. She was really my first writer that had strong female characters who didn’t need guys in their lives. The manga writers helped me form my worlds and characters..They basically told me it was okay to have broken, random, not perfect characters.

21. What do you think characterizes your writing? I’d like to say my diverse group of characters and quick and witty dialogue LOL. I just feel like my writing, even in my original works always seems more cartoony when written out. Can’t explain it very well. But one of my first novel attempts had that cartoony humor, slapstick a bit. I always include magic and more than likely will use female lead characters I wish to be rather than others. That being said, I’m amazed that I actually really like some of the guy characters I created. A perfect example is Zakir. He’s from my novel in progress, “Illusions Cove” And he’s a magician thief that doesn’t believe in the supernatural or magic at all. Boy.. is he gonna get a shock a little later in the story XD. I love his dry wit, his fearlessness in danger and freak outs over hearing his real name. He wants everyone to call him Arthur because he hates Zakir. It will be fun to write him as he progresses.

[themarvelousspaceorphan]

X-Men Review: Uncanny X-Men #2-4

The X-Men #2 - No One Can Hold The Vanisher Publication Date: Nov. 1963 Stan Lee - Writer Jack Kirby - Drawer Paul Reinman - Inker Sam Rosen - Letterer

The next few issues are, well, kind of generic.  The Silver Age isn’t known for it’s deep character insights - but the X-Men still remain slightly lacking any personality or development.  The first part of the issue is a reminder of everyone’s powers - then, much like in issue one, we get a villain who wants things and the X-Men stop him.  (Ngl - most of the Silver Age has a pretty standard formula to it.) 

The villain this time around is The Vanisher - who is completely a classic Kirby design - outlandish in a delightful way.  It’s funny to me that the villains somewhat end up being the most entertaining part of a lot of these early issues.  Anyway, The Vanisher is a lot like a pink wearing, much uglier Nightcrawler, who is using his powers of teleportation (oh sorry... vanishing...) to steal money, and demands 10 million dollars or else he’s going to steal all the US’s defense plans and... sell them? Idk - Vanisher hasn’t quite thought this all through. 

It’s the X-Men to the rescue, except not really because, uh, how do you stop a guy who can just blink out of existence?  You don’t, really.  So Professor X steps in and decides to rewire The Vanisher’s mind, which is hilariously unethical, but I mean the saved the defense plans, right?!?

Things to Note: 

During the reintroduction of the X-Men, Warren (Angel) is being bombarded by women - and Jean Grey uses her powers to make them all float away.  Hilariously the girls don't seem to notice too much.

Cyclops uses his powers to stop a wall from falling on some construction works.  I don't know why, maybe just the ridiculousness of the situation made it amusing to me.

Prof X gives Iceman a demerit for being overly enthusiastic.  

Prof X can use his brain like a projector, and show news footage on the wall.

Prof X also can talk to non-mutants by way of ridiculous head device.  

The Vanisher's scenery chewing is about on par with Magneto's.  I also love that he gets the entire mob on his side.  

///

The X-Men #3 -  Beware of ... the Blob! Publication Date: Jan. 1964 Stan Lee - Writer Jack Kirby - Drawer Paul Reinman - Inker Art Simek - Letterer 

This issue’s villain is THE BLOB! I give it a few points for discarding, slightly, the normal structure of : Reintroduction of the X-Men -- Bad Guy wants to take over the world -- Big Fight.  

 It starts out by Prof X discovering the The Blob and inviting him to become an X-man. When The Blob declines - he has to take on the X-Men to escape the mansion.  And then, because logic and 60s comics don't always go together - The Blob decides come back and take on the X-Men again with all his circus freak friends because...he can? Does he really need a reason?  The X-Men are once again taken out until Prof X explains to Jean Grey that she really is the most powerful one on the team and frees them and then Prof X once again erases everyone's mind.  Because that's what happens when your villain is too powerful for the X-Men's power set.

The first half of this book is kind of interesting.   I mean, they go out and find a new mutant and, sure, The Blob is definitely not by any means a nice or good guy, but c'mon Prof X, shouldn't you at least vet your people before sharing all of your secrets? And when The Blob says no to being an X-Man - the X-Men attack him! 

It's kind of crazy when you think about it.  I mean, sure, The Blob turns around and fulfills his role as bad guy, but there's an interesting conversation here about who should become and X-Man and why.  Not to mention, while the Blob is still a jerk - he hasn’t done anything to the X-Men at first, and it really feels like Prof X is being the jerk for not letting him go.  

Things to Note:

This comic is so deeply misogynistic - Jean Grey is not only hounded by all of the guys, when she decides to finally hang with Cyclops, Angel swoops in and carries her off - literally.  Poor girl doesn't get a say in it at all.  Meanwhile, Jean can't seem to take on anyone until Prof X explains that she can.  God, it's frustrating to read.

Oh - and Prof X reveals he, too, is in love with Jean - which is about fifty times as creepy.  No, dude - your wheelchair is not the reason it's inappropriate to be harboring romantic feelings towards a teenage girl who is your student.  Stop.

Prof X doesn't need cerebro to find mutants - apparently his mind can just tell him where they are.  He does, however, need an intensifier gun - because 60s.  

Cyclops is beginning to be the brooding, woe-is-me Cyclops we all know and love.

Beast is also becoming Beast! - Reading calculus books with his feet and telling Angel that his colloquialisms aren't necessary.  All we need now is the blue fur and ‘oh my stars and garters’.  Ah, Beast welcome home.

Beast and Iceman's banter continues to be the best thing about the comic.

While searching for the new mutant - Beast sees someone standing in mid-air, oh wait, no, it's just a guy standing on completely clear glass putting a letter on the fourth story of a building.  What even comic logic?!?

I realize The Blob can handle it - but one of the carnival dudes straight up shoots The Blob multiple times.  Wtf dude?

///

The X-Men #4 - The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants Publication Date: Mar. 1964 Stan Lee - Writer Jack Kirby - Drawer Paul Reinman - Inker Art Simek - Letterer 

This issue feels like the real beginning of the X-Men (or more so X-Men after being introduced in the first issue).  This issue's bad guys are the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (why brand themselves with the word Evil? Well - they are pretty aware that they are), led by MAGNETO.   The issue skips the longer introduction sequences of the first few comics and dives right in.  The Brotherhood, made up of Magneto, Toad, Mastermind, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver, want to take over a small nation as a precursor to taking over the world -- or at least wanting mutants to take control over regular humans.

Interestingly, it's the first time Prof X and Magneto's ideals really clash - Prof X wanting mutants and humans to coexist peacefully, while Magneto wants mutants to dominate.  It's very black and white here - but it sets the foundation for what X-Men is built upon.

While I miss some of the banter-y aspects the first few comics had, this is probably the strongest issue so far.  The addition of the philosophical differences between Prof X and Magneto, in addition to a tad more complex action sequence gives the series a slightly bit more amount of depth.  

Things to Note:

Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver's introductions I find interesting - they don't want to be a part of The Brotherhood, but are being blackmailed by Magneto.  It creates an interesting dynamic.

In a flashback, we see Magneto rescuing Scarlet Witch from what looks like an angry mob from the 19th century - pitchforks and all.  It's a bit silly. 

I have to wonder what Magneto was doing in Europe that he just happened to stumble upon the Scarlet Witch.

Also - there's no indication that Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are Magneto's kids (it's been retconned several times - I'm not sure who the canonical parents of them are at the moment).  

Magneto and Prof X meet on the astral plane - I find it interesting that there seems to be a connection between the two of them, even though it's not presented right off the bat.  

Magneto can apparently sense Prof X through his magnetic field, lol.

Mastermind's illusions are very Nazi Germany-esque - something I think is a bit peculiar given Magento's later backstory.

Also - how is this illusion army interacting with people?

Cyclops's eye beams need to be recharged - do we ever see that idea again?

At the beginning, the kids are celebrating their one year anniversary at Xavier's - is that from when Jean started or in general? It's also the fastest time is ever going to go in these comics.

It's sort of the first cliffhanger - as Prof X is knocked out and the X-Men decide to take on The Brotherhood on their own!

Next Time - The thrilling conclusion of the Brotherhood two parter, the X-Men meet the Submarner, and the Blob makes a return. 

[twopoppies]

I got a fic request from one of my followers to give her a list of Larry fics with “a touch of art, medicine, and/or magical creatures". 

It got awfully long mostly because I love magic fics, so I’ll put the recs under the cut. Also, I’m ashamed by how few Medical fics I’ve read! 🙈 Anyway, I hope you find some you enjoy!

Magical Creatures

May We Stay Lost On Our Way Home by loadedgunn

Harry thought he had a handle on things. He hasn’t gotten papped in over a month, even the most zealous of fans have given up on finding his location, the Fortress is starting to look hospitable, and Niall just learned how to make shrimp bisque. Even having a massive crush on a gorgeous mythical woodland creature was working out for him.

Most of the time.

On March 31st, Harry Styles disappears. Though many speculate, only two people know where to find him: Niall, his former guitarist, and Zayn, who follows where Niall leads.

The fact the biggest boy band in the world broke up two weeks earlier might be related to the disappearance. The fact Harry meets a fairy named Louis in the woods is a whole other matter.

(Liam is a centaur.)

Through Eerie Chaos by MediaWhore @mediawhorefics

For as long as anyone can remember, Old Hillsbridge Manor has always been believed to be haunted. Everyone in the village agrees and keeps a respectful, fearful, distance. New in town after a bad breakup and an internship that led to disappointment rather than a permanent job, Harry Styles figures taking pictures of the decrepit building could be a great new creative project. Or at least a much-needed distraction while he searches for a job and crashes at his parents’ new house. No one warned him about the apparitions though; about the music, the laughter, the people who flicker and vanish when you call after them, the echoes of a past that should be long gone… Harry has never believed in spirits but even he can admit that there’s something weird going on. What starts as mere curiosity evolves into a full-blown investigation and soon enough, Harry finds himself making friends with an aristocrat from the 1920s and struggling with finding the best way to tell him that he’s dead.

The Ghost Hunter AU where Niall lives to prove ghosts are real, Zayn is a skeptical librarian and Harry gets caught up in a century-old mystery and catches feeling in the process.

Coax The Cold by MediaWhore @mediawhorefics

England, 1897.

English Professor Louis Tomlinson’s passion for the occult has been a source of mockery and derision for most of his life. When he hears whispers of a travelling freak show newly established in London claiming the existence of a monstrous sea hybrid, half-man, half-fish, Louis sees it as his ticket to credibility amongst his peers. The summer he spends undercover working on the show, however, gives him much more than that.

The Devil You Know by Awriterwrites @a-writerwrites

Harry walked slowly to the door, an eerie sense of déjà vu rolling over him. “Who is it?” he called out through the varnished maple.

“Can Harry come out to play?” The voice on the other side of the door was light and airy, musical, with a raspy edge.

Louis.

Harry felt his pulse race a little before he found words. “Harry’s not home right now.” He smirked.

There was a pause and then a light tap-tap-tap on the door, right at Harry’s ear. “Bullshit.”

**** Louis is a vampire. Harry is probably too curious for his own good.

Waiting On You by emma1234 @lads-laddylads

“Vampires,” Louis says with disgust, glaring over at the vampire who is noisily slurping from the woman’s neck nearby.

Zayn gives the neat fang marks on Louis’ neck a meaningful look.

“Can’t live with them, can’t live without them,” Louis finishes, ignoring Zayn when he rolls his eyes.

Louis takes a long sip of his milkshake, presses his fingers against the marks on his neck, and definitely doesn’t think about the vampire who left them there. 

love is divine by stylinsoncity ( @alienproof )

Being a witch doesn't help when it comes to unrequited love.

as we move slowly by snsk

"You know what color your wings are?" Harry asked conversationally, on his stomach at the tattoo parlor, while Louis played absentmindedly with one dangling hand and flipped through some designs.

// Alternatively: Louis grows wings. Harry is the only one who can see them.

Domestic Monsters (series) by @g-uttertrash

Harry is a witch from a long line of power, an ancient line that’s one of the strongest left alive in their hemisphere. He can cast spells without a word if need be, fly on a broomstick, and has a black cat (a kitten, really) named Felix that is his animal familiar. He can shape galaxies in his cupped hands and can destroy them just as easily. He can choose exactly how to use his power, for encouragement and support, or for more nefarious causes if he wishes to.

And as fate would have it, he’s scared of haunted houses.

(Harry is a witch who carries around a stuffed pumpkin, Louis is a vampire with too much time on his hands, and their best mates Zayn & Niall aren't exactly what they seem...

I Will Never Rust by stylez

What was Harry meant to say? Yes Louis, I’d date you. I want to make you come repeatedly so that must mean I have a thing for you yeah? No. Because it doesn’t mean that, because Harry refuses to get attached to anyone he wants to fuck.

or

Harry wants to suck more than just Louis’ blood but Louis refuses to sleep with Count Dickula.

Among The Humans by @the-cheshire-pussy-cat

A gothic, modern day vampire romance between a young human named Louis Tomlinson, and Harry Styles, ancient vampire and gentleman.

Creatures of the night come with more trouble than they wish to make it seem.

finding you was hard (but loving you is easy) by togetherwecouldbealright

An incredibly shameless vampire!AU filled with stupid jokes, endless dates, flappy bird, a bro man dude pal sleepover thing and there also might be some sex in strange places.

Also known as the one where everyone is a vampire, Louis is oblivious and somewhere along the way it becomes a bit too much like Twilight.

Then a string of thoughts make themselves clear in Louis’ head. First, Harry is a vampire. Second, Louis is a dumbass. Third, Louis is also unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him. Fourth, he’s pretty sure he just quoted the back of the Twilight book.

We’ve got the world in our hands by sarcasticfluentry

A mutants/superpowers AU. Louis and his friends attend the Cowell Institute for General Education and Mutant Training in London; when Louis meets Harry, the newest student at the Cowell Institute, he immediately recruits Harry to help play matchmaker for his friend Zayn. Harry and Louis are so caught up in meddling in Zayn's love life, though, that they don't notice that their own friendship is progressing into something more. Meanwhile, an ominous threat up north grows slowly until suddenly, no mutant - or human - is safe.

Magic

because I don’t know that many magical creatures fics, but these ones are magical and are so good as well!

ain’t had none like you in a while by istajmaal

It kind of sucks that instead of using time travel to go back and kill Hitler, Simon Cowell chooses to use it to get his clients to advise younger versions of themselves. Sixteen-year-old Harry's not bitter, it's just that his relationship with Louis was complicated enough before he saw him with hot dad hair.

One day to believe in you by mediaville

A mysterious force compels Louis to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Even when it's really inconvenient.

Harry blinks and has the nerve to look surprised. "You think about me when you get off?"

"Yes," Louis says. He wonders how hard he'd need to punch himself in the face to knock himself out.

"Often?"

"Yes, Christ, Harry," Louis groans. "Probably eight times a week for going on six years now. On average, you know. More when we were touring, less when I've been visiting family. Anything else you'd like to know?"

the bearded stranger by @juliusschmidt​

Harry wakes up to a bearded stranger in his bed.

(Make You Want To) Scream by @lululawrence​

While Louis' left hand plays with his nipple, his right reaches down and wraps around his dick and that's when he really knows something is wrong.

The dick in his hand does not feel like his own.

like a boomerang by @youwill​

AU in which Harry gets trapped in a lift, Louis gets stuck in a Wednesday, and it's always February 2nd. Until it isn't.

I’ll Know My Name As It’s Called Again by pukeandcry

Louis wakes up in Harry's body. This is a problem for several reasons.

the impossible now by stylinsoncity @alienproof​

A wish on Christmas Eve sends Louis to an alternate dimension where Harry is a member of One Direction.

Come Along With Me by darkofthenights @jimmytfallon​

"A little magic can take you a long way." — Roald Dahl or An AU where Harry is a magician and Louis doesn't believe in such a thing.

Fugue by iwillpaintasongforlou

Harry falls asleep a 17 year-old who lives in Cheshire and is probably rockstar Louis Tomlinson's biggest fan. He wakes up 24 with a wedding ring on his finger, two kids, and Louis Tomlinson attempting to wake him up with a blow job. The doctor calls it organic retrograde amnesia, says he might never get back the last seven years of his life. The only thing that feels the same is how he feels when Louis touches him, and maybe that's enough to make him fall in love all over again.

You Are The Blood by sarcasticfluentry

A seventh-year Hogwarts AU in which Niall gets all the girls, Liam goes on a journey of self-discovery, Zayn falls in love, Harry wants something more, and Louis tries to figure out once and for all why he, a Muggleborn, was sorted into Slytherin.

Temporary Tattoos, Hotel Hearts, Horizon Homes by Teumessian

Louis is just 18 and ends up in 2015 for one day at Harry’s request, one day to make sure his spirit is strong and hopeful enough to take him to the X Factor and end him up where he’s supposed to be. Aka, the one where Harry makes sure Louis knows how amazing he is.

my heart is breathing for this moment in time by usedtothebeach

When Louis first saw Harry at the 2010 X Factor Auditions, he thought he was watching a peculiarly special stranger. But Harry has known Louis ever since he was five years old.

Because Louis has a rare genetic disorder that causes him to Time Travel to important moments in his past and in his future - and to Harry, always to Harry. When they're put into a band together, it seems like everything Harry has been waiting and wishing for has finally come true. Except for the small fact that Louis doesn't know that Harry is in love with him- that Harry's always been in love with him. Fate, it would seem, is just getting started.

A story about growing up and growing together, and the impossible love that makes it all worthwhile.

feel the chemicals burn in my bloodstream by togetherwecouldbealright

“Alright, alright. No need to bite,” Harry says, holding his hands above his head in a general gesture of surrender.

Louis quirks an eyebrow and his foot nudges Harry’s as he moves to sit straight. “If that’s what you think biting is, you’ve got another thing coming, Styles.”

Harry blinks at him before he feels his face flush and inside the marrows of his bones there’s pulses of heat, pulses of fire spreading through him. “Is that a threat, your Highness?”

“That’s a promise,” Louis answers just as the car halts to a stop. “One I intend to keep.”

Harry is a journalist with a lot of secrets and Louis is the future king of the United Kingdom; they live together for 60 days.

Art 

I included one where the art involved is writing/poetry because the fic in question does such a lovely job of discussing art as a concept that I just couldn’t resist...but otherwise, I only included ones where the art referenced is painting/drawing etc. I’m sad that I don’t know more!

Little Technicolor Things by @tekhnicolor

Louis is a poor writer and recent university graduate, depressed, anxious, and living in London when he meets Harry, an artist with a secret who likes to paint sunrises and pretty boys from California.

I would name the stars for you (I would take you there) by impetuous

"Harry Styles is a poem waiting to happen, Louis thinks, eyes tracing peach flesh and the undercurrent of blue veins. He wants to write him all down, to capture the image of green eyes and red lips and skinny wrists... dark ink spilled across the page."

Or a vaguely Notting Hill-like AU (or that made for TV Disney movie Starstruck if you’ve seen it… no? Just me?) starring popstar!Harry and bookkeeper/soulful poet!Louis; and including guest appearances by Fate, a wise elderly aristocrat, and lots and lots of pining.

Starry, Starry Night by xxSterre (WIP)

Artist AU based on a tumblr prompt by youngandmadeof.

AU where Harry’s getting a degree in fine arts but he’s always envied street artists their freedom and the thrill coming from illegal activity. One day, he notices a particular graffiti and decides to paint into it. Louis does graffiti. One day, somebody starts messing with his murals.

Medicine

why do I only know one?

Lonesome When You Go by 13ways @13ways-of-looking

Harry, Louis, Niall, and Liam are surgeons-in-training at the most prestigious program in the United States.

More than that, Harry and Louis have a history unknown to the others, a history that involves dogs and God, anatomy lessons, food fights, vinyl jazz records, and one hell of an oyster tour.

A story of trust and friendship, of poetry and rock and roll, pink-tinged dawns and the darkest nights.

A tale of portraits, tattoos, and everlasting love.

Edit: How did I forget you @afirethatcannotdie?

Do Not Go Gentle 

“This is all a game to you, isn’t it? Well, it’s not for me. This is a real life or death situation,” Louis says, spitting the words at him. “And I just don’t think you’re cut out for it.”

For a moment, they stare at each other in complete silence. Harry can feel his blood thrumming between his ears, can see Louis glaring at him, feels red-hot anger. And then all he feels, oppressively and desperately, is lust.

Suddenly Louis is surging up to him to press his lips against Harry’s. Harry walks the two of them backwards, pressing Louis back against the door. Louis oomphs in surprise and brings his hands under Harry’s scrub top, scratching at his lower back.

“Lock — oh — lock the… fucking door,” Louis mutters.

When Harry Styles starts his first day as a surgical intern, he expects a lot of things: to treat patients, to observe a surgery, to feel a bit overwhelmed. What he definitely doesn't expect, however, is that the handsome guy he kicked out of his bed this morning is also an intern.

A Grey’s Anatomy AU where tensions are high, Harry and Louis are hooking up in secret, and no one has time for love. Or do they?

[atamascolily]

Episode Review - Sinbad 1x02 - “The Return of Sinbad, Part Two”

In which we resolve all the dangling plot threads from the first episode and create some new ones to sustain us for the whole season. Also, Sinbad meets-cute, wizards are fond of practical jokes, Maeve is a total badass, Firouz's invention saves the day and Rumina acquires some motivation. 

Again, there's some Early Installment Weirdness, but the main purpose is to get all our characters together and give them reasons to hang out/hate each other, which it does very well. It just looks odd in light of later developments in the series....

(Photos from Far Far Away.)

When we left off, Sinbad's ship was attacked by a badass sea serpent. Some random crew members get eaten. Such is the life of a background extra in this series.

Sinbad concocts a daring plan! He shares it with Firouz. Actual dialogue:

Firouz: "That's insane!" Sinbad: "And having my men devoured by a sea serpent isn't?" Firouz: "Good point."

I love this so, so, so much.

The plan is for Sinbad to go up to the mast and throw an improvised bomb into the serpent's mouth when it tries to eat Sinbad.

It works great!

While Sinbad is coming down, Admir starts to fiddle with the ropes. Rongar, however, is Not Amused and forces Admir to back down.

Anyway, they arrive at the Isle of Dawn at last. Sinbad takes the crew ashore in a longboat and leaves them at the beach while he goes to find Dim-Dim. Instead, he's attacked by a hawk.

When he recovers, he's staring up at a beautiful woman with a drawn sword. She's not happy to see him.

Whatever you say, ma'am, Sinbad says, trying to collect himself and generally failing.

It turns out to be her hawk that attacked Sinbad. "You can talk to dumb beasts?" exclaims Sinbad in amazement.

"Isn't that what I'm doing right now?" she rejoins. Owww. Harsh but true.

It turns out the hawk's name is Dermott and he was just "protecting his mistress" which a super-weird line in light of later plot developments, so we'll just leave it alone, okay?

She starts ranting about raiders, Sinbad cuts her off and apologizes by thanking her - which is confusing - but eventually, she shrugs and says that Dim-Dim is expecting him and leads him off through a magic circle.

Master Dim-Dim lives in an alternate dimension paradise full of roses, which is one of my favorite things ever in this entire show. He's delighted to see Sinbad - his childhood ward - and they have an emotional reunion while the woman - now revealed to be Dim-Dim's apprentice, Maeve - watches awkwardly from the side.

Okay. It's been less than five minutes, but we had a real, stumbling, fall-on-your-face meet-cute moment, some extremely tsundere bantering, and now a Shipper on Deck. If you think this show

isn

't trying to ship these two <i>hard</i> with these tropes in play... nothing's going to convince you. Nothing.

Of course, Rumina and Turok are STILL spying on Sinbad even when he's with Dim-Dim becase the master wizard has no privacy shields, WTF Dim-Dim?

Quoth Rumina, Oh, Sinbad's so dreamy. Turok is not so easily amused.

Turok does another bit of transfiguration, with the intent of destroying the Isle of Dawn completely.  

Meanwhile, Dim-Dim and Doubar have a happy reunion on the beach. Maeve, however, is much less popular. "Out of my way, tubby," she says in an Irish accent that the producers of the show correctly decided to drop in later episodes. Doubar is not pleased.

Neither is Mustapha. "It's bad luck to have women aboard."

"It's bad luck to have idiots as well." 

NOW SHIT IS GOING DOWN. "Ask me about my mother," he demands.

Maeve takes the bait. "She raised a loud-mouth son!"

When Mustapha tries to throw her, she decks him completely. One-handed. Holding a hawk in her other hand. HOT DAMN. This moment is so bad-ass we will see it replayed over and over again in the opening credits. It's just that good.

Look at that expression on Firouz's face in the background. Classic.

Mustapha knows when he's been beaten.

"Welcome aboard, ma'am," he concedes gallantly.

Remember, Sinbad, the fate of the whole world is on your shoulders! Dim-Dim reminds his star pupil. No pressure!

Dim-Dim also has a reunion with Prince Cassib, which is super-awkward since Cassib barely remembered who Dim-Dim was in the previous episode. But he apologizes anyway for being a jerk, Dim-Dim accepts the apology, and then starts to playfully tease the price and play jokes on him, and laughs his head off like a lunatic. Admir is Not Happy About This and glowers quietly in the background.

Oh, and as soon as they start to leave, Turok's transfigured rock destroys the Isle of Dawn completely. Dim-Dim's all fatalistic. Welp. That's the end of everything. Guess I won't be needing it anymore! Sinbad is concerned and confused by all the ominous foreshadowing.

Generic footage of Sinbad sliding down the ropes. You'll see this in the credits a lot.

Sinbad tries to chat up Maeve about their shared connections/enemies. It doesn't work. Maeve admits to wanting to kill Rumina, not Turok, won't talk about why, and stalks off in a huff when Sinbad presses further. Not his smoothest moment, I'm afraid.

Dim-Dim teaches Maeve how to throw fireballs, which is an important life skill that everyone should know.

Maeve accidently-on-purpose tosses one towards Sinbad and Doubar to freak them out.

Hey, there's that ring around the moon again! Are we going to be attacked? Hell yes! There's that ominous music again... 

Rongar sneaks into Admir's cabin, a rifles through his belongings to find... a fake hand!

Admir awkwardly makes conversation with Firouz. Firouz is awkwardly pretending to be interested.

But Admir starts talking about his own "inventions," which gets Firouz interested enough to come to his cabin. That's Rongar's cue to plop Admir's trunk - which he dragged up from the cabin - in front of Firouz, because Rongar wants to make sure this display is public knowledge.  Because when you can't talk, the next best thing is to make a big scene.

Admir, his cover blown, decides to admit everything - he's actually a demon named Eblus, sent by Turok to corrupt the prince and derail the mission!

Also, if the teeth didn't give it away, he eats people. I'm not sure who exactly was in the trunk - you'd think Sinbad would have noticed a crew member missing - so maybe it was some poor soul in Basra? I have no idea.  

Dim-Dim tries to exorcise the demon, only to be blown away into another dimension. So much for the all-powerful wizard trope. (I wrote a fic in which this particular fact is heavily lampshaded.) Good-bye, Dim-Dim, we will never see you again except as a plot device to motivate our heroes! 

Well, this sucks, everybody is clearly thinking, especially Prince Cassib, who realizes he's been totally (literally??) screwed by this demon the whole time. Cassib's dropped the awful clothing but not the eyeliner, so you can tell he's gone over to the side of good - enough to volunteer to sacrifice himself to Eblus so that everyone else can go free. Sinbad's having none of it, of course. 

Eblus morphs into his Final Form, which is not as good CGI as the sea serpent, but still pretty good for the show as a whole.

Sinbad and Maeve crash into each other and have a Moment of Tense Shouting, which is movie-code for They're meant for each other/sexual tension.

Most of the actors avoid physical contact with the CGI, which makes it all the more startling when Mustapha dies. But hey, what did you expect, he wasn't in the opening credits. Rongar is devastated by his beloved friend's death, especially when the body vanishes to become a Force ghost.

Rongar screams in devastation, and goes for blood, but it's Sinbad who eventually stabs the demon and saves the day in a typically dramatic fashion.

Poor Rongar. You deserve so much better than this show gives you. I'm really sorry about that.

"Well done," Maeve says softly to Sinbad. Not, "Where the fuck is Master Dim-Dim and how are we going to get him back?" which apparently never comes up. Oh, well.

Turok decides enough is enough and it's time to kill his hostage Princess Adeenah in a dramatic fashion.

Turok decorates his whole island in a typically dramatic fashion. (It's called the Isle of Tears in this story arc, and Skull Island later on the series - both are pretty accurate.)

Welp, that looks ominous, doesn't it?

Group shot! Sinbad's on the tiller while everyone clusters round and tries to figure out what to do. Good thing Sinbad has a plan...

The entrance to Turok's cave is a skull because everything is a skull. Turok likes skulls. Got it?

Turok brings Adeenah out on the balcony to threaten her where Sinbad can see.

In case that message wasn't clear enough, Rumina uses the magic pool to put her image in the sky and talk to Sinbad directly. If Sinbad agrees to be her "special friend," then she'll let the crew go. The princess's death is non-negotiable, though.

Sinbad talks sweet nothings to distract Rumina while Firouz and Rongar get him ready to launch with the hanging glider (which Firouz admits they've never tested before on a human being).

Stop flirting and help me kill the princess, Turok admonishes his daughter, breaking off the conversation right there.

The hanging glider does work and it's awesome....

... allowing Sinbad to glide right into the cave entrance....

...grab the princess and slice Turok's head off. Rumina screams. Note the complete absence of blood, because this is Fantasy Violence, y'all, and also proof that Turok Is Really Evil.

Now just to get back to the ship...

"Hey, how's he going to land that thing?" Maeve asks of curiosity. Wow, I forgot to think about that, Firouz admits, like you do.

Fortunately, that's what oceans are for! Crash-landing!

Once on board, Sinbad gives Maeve a dramatic head-nod. Wasn't that badass of me? 

Maeve nods back. Yeah, that was pretty badass, actually. Oh, you crazy kids...

A pissed Rumina sends a rock monster to destroy the ship while she sobs over the decapitated corpse of her father.

Maeve tries to throw fireballs, and fails. Sinbad decides to motivate her by slapping her ass to piss her off - and thereby give her more power. He apologizes to Dermott first, to show that he's doing it strategically instead of just being a jerk, but it still doesn't carry over well on a re-watch.

It does, however, work. Maeve hits the giant so hard he collapses and the resulting shock waves send her tumbling into Sinbad's arms AGAIN, ARE YOU SENSING A TREND HERE?

Rumina, sobbing, curses Sinbad and vows to destroy him but doesn't seem too motivated to do anything about it right now, so the crew sails away without further disturbance.

Well, that was great, we killed Turok and Rumina, Sinbad says as a way of making conversation with Maeve. This is a dumb thing for Sinbad to say, because I don't know why he assumed Rumina was dead just because they beat her rock monster. Anyway, it's all a cue for Maeve to sigh dispiritedly, and inform Sinbad that, no, Rumina is still alive.

"How can you tell?" "Just look at Dermott."

Sinbad is so confused. “He looks the same to me.“

"Exactly," Maeve says and walks off. Clearly, there's a lot of backstory she's not telling Sinbad here....

Adeenah gets to wear Prince Cassib's ugly old outfits because the prince is a gentleman now. They're so happy and in love, and grateful to Sinbad for everything. Sinbad is very magnanimous about the whole thing.

Sinbad goes and takes the tiller because All is Well in the World. Dermott lands nearby and starts chirping enthusiastically. Sinbad is having none of it and begins to monologue. 

“Oh, be quiet, featherbrain! I know your mistress is unhappy. Maybe a long sea voyage will cheer you both up. The way I look at it, this world is growing a little too civilized for me. It’s growing up. Growing serious. Growing dull. But out there, who knows what worlds await? And out there is our good friend, Dim-Dim. I promise to find him, Dermott. ....Of course, I need a good crew.“

Dermott flies back to Maeve as if to relay this message. She looks back at him with apparent skepticism, then back to the sea again. Too bad, Sinbad. Well, you can't win them all...

And with that, the crew sails off into the sunset for the next adventure...

So it's never clear why Maeve stays on board after this. Certainly, it's not something that's ever talked about or discussed - Sinbad's monologue is pretty much the extent of it. Also, why the hell does Rongar stay; Mustapha is never mentioned again (with one memorable exception in the Season Two finale); why can't a powerful wizard - who we later learn binds a much stronger demon - defeat Eblus; where did he go and why; and why doesn't Rumina just up and kill our heroes then and there? Sigh.

But does it really matter? As I've said, the point of this two-part opener is to introduce you to the characters, their basic motivations, and get them pointed in the right direction. Everything else comes later or is ignored completely.

Good parts: some fun dialogue and exchanges, watching Firouz's hanging glider in action, Maeve being a badass, Dim-Dim's awesome rose garden, Cassib growing up, good CGI effects (especially the sea serpent).

Bad parts: Maeve's erratic Irish accent. (I'm so glad they dropped that in the later episodes; it just doesn't work well here because it feels so forced.) Sinbad slapping Maeve's ass as a plot device, so many obvious shipping tropes crammed into one episode that it starts to feel really forced - I think we could have done without the last two "falling into each others arms" bits and still gotten the point quite nicely, thank you.

But anyway - now that we've established everything, time to start doing stuff. Next up: one of the series' best episodes - "The Beast Within".

[entreprenergy]

Ignore Everybody – by Hugh MacLeod

Good ideas alter the power balance in relationships, that is why good ideas are always initially resisted.

Good ideas come with a heavy burden, which is why so few people execute them. So few people can handle it.

1. Ignore everybody.

2. The idea doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours. The sovereignty you have over your work will inspire far more people than the actual content ever will.

Your idea doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours alone. The more the idea is yours alone, the more freedom you have to do something really amazing.

3. Put the hours in.

If somebody in your industry is more successful than you, it’s probably because he works harder at it than you do.

4. Good ideas have lonely childhoods.

5. If your business plan depends on suddenly being “discovered” by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.

6. You are responsible for your own experience.

7. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.

8. Keep your day job.

The creative person basically has two kinds of jobs: One is the sexy, creative kind. Second is the kind that pays the bills. Sometimes the task at hand covers both bases, but not often.

It’s balancing the need to make a good living while still maintaining one’s creative sovereignty.

The young writer who has to wait tables to pay the bills, in spite of her writing appearing in all the cool and hip magazines… who dreams of one day not having her life divided so harshly. Well, over time the “harshly” bit might go away, but not the “divided.” This tense duality will always play center stage. It will never be transcended. And nobody is immune. Not the struggling waiter, nor the movie star. As soon as you accept this, I mean really accept this, for some reason your career starts moving ahead faster.

9. Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies that champion creativity.

10. Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb. You may never reach the summit; for that you will be forgiven. But if you don’t make at least one serious attempt to get above the snow line, years later you will find yourself lying on your deathbed, and all you will feel is emptiness.

11. The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.

Meeting a person who wrote a masterpiece on the back of a deli menu would not surprise me. Meeting a person who wrote a masterpiece with a silver Cartier fountain pen on an antique writing table in an airy SoHo loft would seriously surprise me.

A fancy tool just gives the second-rater one more pillar to hide behind. Which is why there are so many second-rate art directors with state-of-the-art Macintosh computers.

Successful people, artists and nonartists alike, are very good at spotting pillars. They’re very good at doing without them. Even more important, once they’ve spotted a pillar, they’re very good at quickly getting rid of it. Good pillar management is one of the most valuable talents you can have on the planet.

Keep asking the question, “Is this a pillar?” about every aspect of our business, our craft, our reason for being alive, and go from there. The more we ask, the better we get at spotting pillars, the more quickly the pillars vanish.

12. Don’t try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether.

13. If you accept the pain, it cannot hurt you.

You’re better off doing something on the assumption that you will not be rewarded for it, that it will not receive the recognition it deserves, that it will not be worth the time and effort invested in it. The obvious advantage to this angle is, of course, if anything good comes of it, then it’s an added bonus. The second, more subtle and profound advantage is that by scuppering all hope of worldly and social betterment from the creative act, you are finally left with only one question to answer: Do you make this damn thing exist or not?

14. Never compare your inside with somebody else’s outside.

The more you practice your craft, the less you confuse worldly rewards with spiritual rewards, and vice versa.

Never sell something you love. Otherwise, you may as well be selling your children.

15. Dying young is overrated.

Every kid underestimates his competition, and overestimates his chances. Every kid is a sucker for the idea that there’s a way to make it without having to do the actual hard work.

The bars of West Hollywood, London, and New York are awash with people throwing their lives away in the desperate hope of finding a shortcut, any shortcut. Meanwhile the competition is at home, working their asses off.

16. The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do from what you are not.

It is this red line that demarcates your sovereignty; that defines your own private creative domain. What crap you are willing to take, and what crap you’re not. What you are willing to relinquish control over, and what you aren’t. What price you are willing to pay, and what price you aren’t.

Art suffers the moment other people start paying for it. The more you need the money, the more people will tell you what to do. The less control you will have. The more bullshit you will have to swallow. The less joy it will bring. Know this and plan accordingly.

When I see somebody “suffering for their art,” it’s usually a case of their not knowing where that red line is.

17. The world is changing.

If you want to be able to afford groceries in five years, I’d recommend listening closely to the (people who push change) and avoiding the (people who resist change).

In order to navigate the New Realities you have to be creative – not just within your particular profession, but in everything. Your way of looking at the world will need to become ever more fertile and original.

The old ways are dead. And you need people around you who concur. That means hanging out more with the creative people, the freaks, the real visionaries.

They’re easy enough to find if you make the effort, if you’ve got something worthwhile to offer in return.

Avoid the folk who play it safe. They can’t help you anymore. Their stability model no longer offers that much stability. They are extinct; they are extinction.

18. Merit can be bought. Passion can’t. The only people who can change the world are people who want to. And not everybody does.

Part of understanding the creative urge is understanding that it’s primal.

We think we’re “Providing a superior integrated logistic system” or “Helping America to really taste Freshness.” In fact we’re just pissed off and want to get the hell out of the cave and kill the woolly mammoth.

19. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.

20. Sing in your own voice.

The really good artists, the really successful entrepreneurs, figure out how to circumvent their limitations, figure out how to turn their strengths into weaknesses.

Had Bob Dylan been more of a technical virtuoso, he might not have felt the need to give his song lyrics such power and resonance.

21. The choice of media is irrelevant.

My cartooning MO was and still is to just have a normal life, be a regular schmoe, with a terrific hobby on the side. It’s not exactly rocket science. This attitude seemed fairly alien to the Art Majors I met. Their chosen art form seemed more like a religion to them. It was serious. It was important. It was a big part of their identity, and it almost seemed to them that humanity’s very existence totally depended on their being able to pursue their dream as a handsomely rewarded profession.

22. Selling out is harder than it looks.

Diluting your product to make it more “commercial” will just make people like it less.

23. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself.

24. Worrying about “Commercial vs. Artistic” is a complete waste of time.

It’s not about whether Tom Clancy sells truckloads of books or a Nobel Prize winner sells diddly-squat. Those are just ciphers, external distractions. To me, it’s about what you are going to do with the short time you have left on this earth. Different criteria altogether. Frankly, how a person nurtures and develops his or her own “creative sovereignty,” with or without the help of the world at large, is in my opinion a much more interesting subject.

25. Don’t worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually.

Find a way of working that makes it dead easy to take full advantage of your inspired moments. They never hit at a convenient time, nor do they last long.

Writer’s block is just a symptom of feeling like you have nothing to say, combined with the rather weird idea that you should feel the need to say something.

Why? If you have something to say, then say it. If not, enjoy the silence while it lasts. The noise will return soon enough.

26. You have to find your own shtick.

Jackson Pollock discovering splatter paint. Or Robert Ryman discovering all-white canvases. Andy Warhol discovering silk-screen. Hunter S. Thompson discovering gonzo journalism. Duchamp discovering the found object. Jasper Johns discovering the American flag. Hemingway discovering brevity. James Joyce discovering stream-of-consciousness prose.

Somehow while playing around with something new, suddenly they found they were able to put their entire selves into it.

27. Write from the heart.

28. The best way to get approval is not to need it.

29. Power is never given. Power is taken.

The minute you become ready is the minute you stop dreaming. Suddenly it’s no longer about “becoming.” Suddenly it’s about “doing.”

You didn’t go in there, asking the editor to give you power. You went in there and politely informed the editor that you already have the power. That’s what being “ready” means. That’s what “taking power” means. Not needing anything from another person in order to be the best in the world.

30. Whatever choice you make, the Devil gets his due eventually.

31. The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.

32. Remain frugal.

Part of being creative is learning how to protect your freedom. That includes freedom from avarice.

33. Allow your work to age with you. You become older faster than you think. Be ready for it when it happens.

34. Being Poor Sucks. The biggest mistake young people make is underestimating how competitive the world is out there.

35. Beware of turning hobbies into jobs.

James Gold-Smith once quipped, “When a man marries his mistress, he immediately creates a vacancy.” What’s true in philanderers is also true in life.

“Before, this man had a job and a hobby. Now suddenly, he’s just got the job, but no hobby anymore. But a man needs both, you see. And now what does this man, who’s always had a hobby, do with his time?” My friend held up his glass. “Answer: Drink.”

36. Savor obscurity while it lasts. Once you “make it,” your work is never the same.

if they were still “eating dog food” after a few decades, I doubt if they’d be waxing so lyrically. But as long as you can progress from it eventually, it’s a time to be savored. A time when your work is still new to you, a time when the world doesn’t need to be fed,

37. Start blogging.

38. Meaning scales

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