#notes--I think I'm only going to allude and/or flashback as needed

[midnightbears]

✿ duskbound, afterlight.

#STARRING: cybertronian femme reader & other characters.

#TAGS: fighting. lots of fighting. wounds. mentions of pain. flashbacks. 'alluding' to prostitution.

#NOTES: i actually feel so weird for this chapter because not much happens (in a sense), but i can't stress enough how much i want you to feel the mc as an actual character instead of this just being a romance story, and i'm establishing this not only for you but also for myself! you will need to read the mc's character arcs and individual chapters, even if they're long or you might think are unnecessary. if you don't read them, you're going to miss out on crucial points of the story! character arcs for your mcs are essential! even when they're just y/n! y/n is still a character, and they need a good backstory and moments to flesh them out thoroughly. fanfiction should be made with as much love and care as a 'real' book would need to be. with my usual rant issued, enjoy <3

part one | part two | part three | part four | part five

You remembered setting down the tiny bundle of belongings you carried, the meager possessions you owned neatly placed on the edge of your new berth, and your new pickaxe and hammer drill. You were still deciding where to put your things when the voice of who would be your new berthroom companion caught you off guard, breaking the silence like a sudden gust of wind.

“You can come out, my love. All is well.”

You had quizzingly looked at her after the words left her mouth, but you grew even more confused when you realized she was not looking your way. Instead, she was looking at the small locker at the end of her berth.

There was a hesitant creak, the metallic sound echoing in the quiet room. A small servo gripped the edge of the locker’s door, trembling slightly, and then a tiny figure peeked out—a sparkling, her frame barely more than a fragile outline against the dim light. She was almost painfully small, her light turquoise plating catching the faint glow in the room. 

“Come here, my light,” Starlight called out gently, extending a servo in a welcoming gesture as she sat at the edge of her berth.

The sparkling hesitated, her optics flicking nervously between you and her carrier. Her whole frame trembled with uncertainty.

You tried to make yourself look smaller, less imposing, feeling your spark crumple and crush with sympathy and curiosity at the existence of such innocence in this hellhole. So many questions and doubts ran through your processor at a speed that even the most talented racers would be jealous of.

Then, with a deep vent that sounded almost like a sigh, the sparkling took a cautious step toward her carrier. And another. And another. Until she was close enough to be scooped up into her arms.

“There you are,” She said with a tender smile, gathering the sparkling to her chest as if she were the most precious thing in the universe. The little one buried her face against her mother's chassis, and you could hear the faint whirr of her tiny cooling fans as she snuggled close, seeking comfort in the familiar embrace. Her servo moved slowly up and down the sparkling’s back. “I’m sorry for scaring you, sweetie. You’re very brave, are you not?”

Suddenly, she looked at you.

“I’m glad they sent another femme, I wasn’t about to take chances with someone who wouldn’t understand what it’s like.” She said. Although her voice was steady and unembellished, an undercurrent of intensity ran through it—tender and fiercely protective, issuing a warning. You could sense that this caution wasn’t aimed at you, but rather at some shadowy threat that lingered just beyond reach. “If they’d sent a mech, I would have thrown him out myself.”

You blinked, taken aback by her straightforwardness. You nodded slowly, trying to keep your expression open and unthreatening. Your voice was a little hesitant, unsure of how to respond to her. “I... I’m glad I’m here too.”

“Good,” she said, a half smile on her lip components, her gaze not wavering. “Then we’ll get along just fine. I’m Starlight, this is Vaportrail... she’s my everything. And I won’t let anything—or anyone—hurt her.”

Her tone now had no softness, only a hard-edged determination that made your spark tighten. This wasn’t a carrier who would let her guard down easily, not for anyone, and certainly not for someone she didn’t trust. But there was a flicker of relief in her optics, a softening around the edges as if admitting that your presence didn’t feel like a threat was a victory all on its own.

Which, in a way, made you very sad.

You opened your dermas, unsure of what to say, but Starlight cut you off with a small smile, her laughing, purple optics seizing you. “Don’t take it personally. I’m just... careful. They don’t make it easy for femmes like us. Especially not for carriers. I’m not about to apologize for doing what I must to keep her safe.”

You nodded quickly. “I—I understand. I don’t want to intrude. I just... I didn’t realize you had a little one here.”

“No, it’s fine,” Starlight said, waving a servo dismissively but not loosening her hold on Vaportrail. “You’re here now, and that’s that. They didn’t exactly ask my opinion before sending you, but... you seem alright.” Her optics scanned you up and down like she was weighing you, judging if you were genuinely trustworthy. Whatever she saw, it made her relax a fraction. “We’ll see how it goes.”

There was a silence that felt heavier than it should, and Vaportrail shifted a little, peeking out from the safety of her carrier’s hold. Her optics were still wide and oscillating, but there was a flicker now, like the spark of a tinderbox, and you managed a tentative smile. It felt awkward and unsure, but it seemed the right move because Vaportrail didn’t look away.

Starlight’s expression softened again, just a little, as she glanced down at her daughter. She leaned in and murmured, “This is…” She looked back up at you precipitously, “Sorry, what’s your name?”

You told her your new designation, the new number of the H branch in Mining Outpost R–02. You’d need to get used to it, but it would be easy enough. The overseer of your branch had already taken to refer to you as simply ‘8’.

Starlight almost grimaced at your words but soon looked down at the sparkling. “This is H-08. She’s going to stay with us for a while.”

The sparkling didn’t respond, but she didn’t hide either, and you took that as a small victory.

Starlight turned her optics towards you, revealing the complexities within her gaze—gentleness intertwined with determination, a fierce sense of protection that nearly felt rebellious. Above all, you noticed a tentative hope. It was delicate, nearly fragile, resembling something seldom relied upon and sustained by pure resolve. It felt like she was challenging you, silently urging you to either validate her doubts or, maybe, to offer her a reason to believe.

“Just make yourself comfortable,” she said with a half-smirk. “But don’t go thinking you’re a guest. You’re part of this now. And if you’ll be here, you’ll do your part to keep her safe, too.”

You nodded, meeting her gaze with all the sincerity you could muster.

“Of course,” you said. “I’ll do my best.”

You didn’t expect to follow Bluey’s advice that well.

Although you still felt anxious, there was one important lesson he ensured you understood, which was the primary reason you were managing to perform mediocrely well in the current match. Five simple words, but ones he made sure to drill into you, even at the cost of hearing him utter the sentence in your dreams.

“Always keep your head cool.”

The arena bore the scars of your prolonged clash—scorched craters, gouges in the walls, and the acrid tang of overheated metal. Across the battered expanse, your opponent circled behind a wall of waste metal. He was tall and bulky, his frame a juggernaut that had already tested your limits more than once. 

A younger you might have faltered by now, let exhaustion or his relentless power shake your resolve. But this wasn’t then. You adjusted your stance, steadying your frame and keeping Bluey’s advice sharp in your processor. This wasn’t over yet.

“Let them think they’ve got the upper hand, then take it from them in one clean swoop.”

Your opponent grinned, baring sharp teeth, his optics gleaming with something dark and eager. He lunged toward you, hurling a heavy swing of his greatsword, too fast and keen for a clean kill.

Good. You could work with that.

You ducked low, slipping just out of reach. He lunged forward, his momentum betraying him as he faltered, thrown off balance for a fleeting moment. The crowd's uproar filled the air, their cheers rising in a mighty wave, drowning out all other sounds. Bright flashes of light erupted around you, glinting off your polished armor and that of your opponent, creating a dazzling display that danced in the periphery of your vision.

“Most mechs here don’t think before they swing. Let them come to you. Half the fight is watching them trip over themselves. They’ll do half the work if you let them.”

You let him close in again, his optics narrowing as he swung, aiming for your helm this time. A broad swing of his arm—you had seen it a dozen times in practice with Bluey by now. You sidestepped and his fist cut through space, too slow to catch you. The warhammer in your grasp seemed to flow into your movements, and you did not even feel its heaviness.

He cursed, stumbling again, his frustration evident as he recovered, his vents heaving. Bluey was right; your opponent wasn’t thinking, only reacting. And now, with him unbalanced, it was time to make your move.

"Think quick, strike quicker. You don’t need to go for a kill shot in friendly matches. Just hit them where it hurts.”

So you did. Darting forward, you aimed low with your weapon, catching him squarely in the side with a swift, well-placed jab to his knee joint. The impact reverberated through your frame, his armor giving way just enough for you to feel the shock of metal against metal. He staggered, his vents hissing in pain, and you took advantage of his faltering balance, pressing forward with another strike to his leg.

His frame buckled, his weight crashing to one knee as he tried and failed to push himself back up. His optics flared with rage as he swiped at you again, desperation taking over, but you were already out of reach, watching his movements with a clear, unclouded gaze.

"A calm mind’s your greatest weapon. Most fights end the second your opponent loses his cool. Hold onto yours, and you’ll outlast them every time.”

You watched as your opponent struggled, rage overtaking his features as he realized his momentum had failed him. He staggered back, clutching his damaged leg, his optics wild, searching for some way to turn the tide. But you were already moving, closing in before he could react. A quick swipe to his shoulder joint sent him stumbling back again, a desperate growl tearing from his vocalizer as his arm dropped, sparking where the wiring had split.

The crowd’s roars escalated, but for once, the noise didn’t faze you. You kept your focus on him, your field of vision narrowing down to this one mech and his dwindling options.

“A hit’s only as strong as the bot that lands it. Don’t go for flashy moves if a simple strike will do the job.”

So you didn’t. You kept it simple and calculated, landing a swift, final blow to his remaining arm joint. His frame shuddered, forced down by the impact as he slumped forward, defeated but still functional, vents whirring unevenly as he struggled to catch his breath.

You took a step back, exhaling as you held your stance, ready to react to any last-ditch effort he might make. But there was nothing—no fight left in him, just the slow, begrudging slump of a mech who knew he’d been bested.

Another one. You’d done it! Shifting your helm toward the other side of the arena, you glimpsed the opening that connected the arena to the Gladiators’ lobby, and you swore that behind the bars, you could see a pair of familiar ochre-pigmented optics looking at you.

Bluey was there too, flashing a cheerful, childish thumbs-up as a wide grin spread across his face. He mimicked a series of playful punches aimed at the air, then broke into applause, cheering you on with boundless enthusiasm. You did not mind it. It actually made you smile.

Just as you turned toward the exit, you were so close to doing so as you began taking the first step; a pair of guards came to haul the mech onto a stretcher, and one of them harshly gripped your shoulder, evoking a grunt from your voicebox.

“You’re not done.”

You wrenched yourself free from his hold but stared at him confusedly, “We were the last ones on the list for today.”

“Not anymore.” The other answered for his partner, staring intensely at you despite his visor. “There’s been a last-minute change for your matches.”

‘Bullway.’ You looked away with irritation in your features (never directed at them), which was answer enough for the pair of guards. They began carrying the wounded gladiator away, fighting the urge to stifle their laughs while the mech deliriously quaked about his pain.

With a languid motion, you allowed your shoulders to roll back, reclaiming your position at the heart of the arena. To entertain the multitude of cybertronians around you, you threw your arms wide above your helm, sending a ripple of exhilaration through the crowd, igniting a cacophony of cheers and shouts.

You gazed at them in mild, calculated satisfaction. In some manner, the audience determined the level of excitement in the fight, and you felt a sense of relief knowing it would be exceptionally some time before you started boring them, even if you felt disgusted by their entertainment.

Suddenly, the other gate opened.

He emerged from the shadows. You’d seen him before, though only in passing. You hadn’t paid much attention to him then; now, it was impossible to look away.

His frame was massive, and his armor was scarred from dozens of battles. The faint glow of his optics burned like embers, and the sharpness of his gaze cut through the haze of dust and noise that filled the arena. His steps were heavy and measured, the kind of stride that wasn’t rushed because it didn’t need to be.

He stopped in the center of the pit, his helm tilting slightly as his optics locked onto you.

“So,” he said, his voice low and gravelly, carrying easily over the noise. “This is what they’ve got for me today?”

You tightened your grip on your warhammer, your digits aching. He was assessing you. You could feel it—a predatory gaze that lingered just long enough for you to start overthinking. Still, you said nothing. Words were a distraction. Both Bluey and Megatronus made points about that.

He seemed to take your silence as an insult. His mouth pulled into a sharp grin that didn’t reach his optics.

“They’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel now, aren’t they?” he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain, each word sharp as a dagger. “Sending me, Celsius, some nobody.”

Your helmet shifted slightly, and the question slipped from your dermas before you could rein in your need to make him angry. “Who?”

In an instant, the atmosphere around him transformed dramatically, thickening with an almost electric tension. It surged through him, coiling like a tightly wound spring just moments before it snapped, tight and expectant. The playful mockery that had once danced mischievously in his optics was snuffed out, leaving behind an unsettling void. In its place, a chilling darkness crept in, settling heavily over his features, distorting the lines of his face.

“‘Who?’” he repeated, his voice dropping to a growl. “You don’t know who I am?”

You stared at him, unflinching. “No.”

The crowd caught wind of the exchange, and a wave of laughter rippled through the stands. His frame stiffened, his optics narrowing as the noise grew louder.

“You’re funny,” he said, though his tone suggested he didn’t find it amusing. “That’s good. Keep that up—it’ll make this more entertaining.”

Without warning, he lunged.

For a mech his size, he moved with startling speed, closing the distance between you in a handful of strides. His fist came down like a hammer, a strike meant to pulverize. You twisted away just in time, his blow slamming into the ground with a force that sent tremors up through your stabilizers.

You darted back, your hammer raised defensively as you sized him up.

He was fast, yes, but his movements were heavy, over-committed. He fought like someone who had never needed to think about his strength—who had always relied on brute force to overpower his opponents.

“Stay still!” he barked, his voice sharp with irritation as he swung again, the arc of his arm slicing through the air.

You ducked, letting his momentum carry him past you.

“You’re wasting energy,” you said, the words slipping out before you could think better of it.

His growl was low and guttural, and when he turned back to you, his optics blazed with rage.

“You’ve got a smart mouth, I heard,” he said, his vents heaving. “Let’s see how smart it is when I’m done with you.”

He lunged at you once more, his movements becoming increasingly wild and unrestrained, each swing of his fists wide and erratic. You sidestepped, remembering the footwork Bluey had practically made you memorize. Your opponent wasn’t relying on his tactical knowledge; instead, he was fueled by a burning sense of pride. That pride, however, was proving to be his greatest weakness, as it blinded him to the precision and finesse with which you fought.

“Who trained you?” he sneered, his words cutting through the air like shrapnel. “Or did they just toss you in here to die?”

You didn’t answer. There was no point. Instead, you waited, watching for the next opening.

It came sooner than you expected.

He swung wide again, his arm sweeping out in a broad arc that left his side exposed. You stepped in, driving your hammer into the joint of his leg. The impact sent a jolt up your arms, and his armor buckled under the force. He staggered, a snarl tearing from his vocalizer as he struggled to stay upright.

“You’ll regret that,” he spat, his optics wild with fury.

Once again, you didn’t respond. You didn’t need to.

He lunged again, his movements growing sloppier with each passing moment. His rage was blinding him, clouding his judgment. He was making mistakes, and you were ready to exploit them.

You darted around him, landing a blow on his shoulder joint. He cursed, the sound raw and guttural, as his arm dropped, sparking at the connection. His frame trembled with the effort of staying upright, his vents rattling like loose machinery.

“Fight me!” he roared, his voice cracking in frustration. “Stop running and fight me!”

You held your ground, your optics steady as you watched him. “I don’t need to fight you,” you said, your tone calm, almost detached. “You’re beating yourself.”

The words struck him like a physical blow. He froze, his optics wide with disbelief, before the rage returned in full force. He charged blindly, his movements a chaotic blur of desperation and fury.

You stepped aside, his momentum carrying him past you. Then, with one final swing, you brought your hammer down on his remaining shoulder joint.

The impact sent him crashing to the ground, his frame buckling under the weight of his arrogance. He lay there, his vents sputtering, his optics dimming as he struggled to lift himself.

You stood over him, your stance steady, your frame casting a shadow over his.

He looked up at you, his optics burning with hatred and humiliation.

“Who,” you said, your voice low, broken by your tired breaths between syllables, “are you supposed to be again?”

The silence that followed was deafening.

Then, like a thunderclap, the crowd erupted. Their cheers and jeers mingled in a cacophony that reverberated through the arena walls, their voices rising in a frenzy. Some shouted your name; others hurled insults at the fallen gladiator. The noise was deafening, but you let it wash over you, standing tall as their energy rippled through the air.

Their way of letting you know: That was an excellent match.

You allowed yourself a glance upward toward the tiered stands. The Overseers’ box loomed above, a dark shape crowded with figures seated in detached luxury. A few of them nodded, the faintest inclinations of approval that barely registered against the clinking of energon cubes and muted laughter from their table.

Most weren’t even watching.

Your optics narrowed as you saw what held their attention. A courier had delivered a tower of tiny energon cubes to their table. One of the bosses reached out, plucking a cube from the precariously stacked pile with the same carelessness as a mech selecting a datapad. Another laughed as the tower wobbled but held its balance.

Your spark twisted violently in your chest.

They weren’t watching. After all the effort, after the pain and adrenaline, the gamble of your life against another’s... you weren’t even worth their attention.

A tower of energon cubes was upstaging you.

A surge of fury swelled in your core, hot and all-consuming. You acted before you could think, your frame moving on instinct alone. With a sharp pull, you wrenched a shoulder plate free from your defeated opponent’s armor, the battered piece of metal groaning as it came loose in your servo.

Then, you hurled the plating across the arena. It sliced through the air, the momentum carrying it in a deadly arc straight toward the Overseers’ box.

The piece struck the energon tower dead-center.

The cubes tumbled spectacularly, scattering across their table and clattering to the floor. Shouts of alarm erupted as some of the bosses scrambled back, some leaping from their seats as the impact sent their delicate drinks and datapads spilling across their laps.

The crowd gasped, the collective intake of air almost louder than their earlier cheers. A shocked silence fell over the pit, stretching taut and electric as every optic turned to you.

For a moment, you simply stood there, your plating heaving as the heat of your anger coursed through you. Then, you inclined the upper part of your frame—just a fraction, the gesture somewhere between mockery and defiance. Your optics locked onto the Overseers as if daring them to look away again.

When you finally turned, you saw that the arena gates had opened at some point, the path to the exit yawning before you. You walked toward it without hesitation, without awaiting dismissal, your pedsteps echoing in the stunned silence that followed you.

Behind you, the crowd erupted louder than before, their voices carrying an amalgamation of shock, awe, and delight. They weren’t just watching now—they were riveted.

An excellent match, indeed.

But as you crossed the threshold into the dim corridors beyond the pit, the noise faded into the distance, and you could feel the weight of the Overseers’ glares pressing against your back. For the first time, you were sure they were paying attention.

Good. Let them.

[azsazz]

MM Feedback Contd.

Anon Feedback: for the midnight muse feedback: what was missing: for me most of the plot was missing, besides their bickering phase and then them getting together i think we didn't really get much else. also a backstory for the reader character but i understand why we didnt get it here since it's a x reader fic

Yes, backstories will be flushed out for sure, a bit difficult to do like you said because x reader, but i will for sure work on this!

what you didn't like: honestly most of the relationships between them, the talk between the bat boys and az was good but it felt like they just apologized and moved on and that was it. but feyre was a terrible friend with the whole rhys situation and in her talk with reader she basically admitted she was prioritizing rhys over her and reader was just like "it's fine, we're best friends" it made me not like feyre for the rest of the story. cass going to befriend the girls immediately also feels a little weird, like i get the vibes that he didn't really think about it but i think if i was azriel i would be sad about it, of all the people in the world my bestfriend went to befriend the people i don't like? that's low. and then their relationship because it felt like it dragged on where they hated each other to then have them get together after one nice talk and then the story ends after a couple of chapters. there was some tension between them but just sexual so when they got together that's the only thing i felt. the little fight they had was unnecessary, it literally served no purpose and made no sense.

Working on friendship relationships, noted! Will also work on Cass becoming a more gradual friend instead of jumping in headfirst with them behind az's back, good feedback for sure. I will also work on reader x feyre's relationship because they're supposed to be better friends than that, so good thing to point out, thank you!

what you adored: i like the characters. reader is cool but if it gets turned into a book like i said i wish we got more story for her. i like az and even when he was being an asshole it's clear it's mostly because he has a lot on his mind and probably needs a therapist. cassian is funny sometimes but he gives too much frat boy at other times and it's a bit icky because it gives me war flashbacks, i also don't love the himbo characters usually so i think it's really personal preference. feyre was a terrible friend but other than that she was just there i guess. rhys was also giving me the ick too much in the beginning but then towards the end it got better, i like how he went and talked to reader about feyre (almost better than feyre herself did) and he was really good with azriel especially during their talk. lucien ended up not really serving much of a purpose in my opinion but his character is cool

there were def some times where i was writing cass where i was like this is probably way too much, so i'll probably rework some of his liners and such. i didn't really have a backstory for feyre x rhys but i think i do now so that will help give the story and their actions some meat/will be reworking thier characters a bit so that makes more sense as well. yeah i need to figure out what i'm doing with lu. i was trying to allude that at the coffeehouse he was there to show off reader to make one of the barista's jealous, so they were kind of using each other a little bit, reader didn't know her feelings for az at the time so she wasn't hanging out with him to make az jealous but luc kept suggesting coffee because his love interest works there.

what I should remove completely: the fight after they got together and i think how they end up being friends. i don't know cassian just going up to them and suddenly they were all besties was a little weird to me also i get what you were doing with the elevator scene because at that point they only talked if they were locked together but it's just so cliché and it's another one to add to the others like the talk was nice but it being in the elevator was predictable

I did get a lot of feedback about the fight, so this has been added to my feedback notes a lot. i mean, i don't mind the elevator cliche, or a cliche at all, as long as the entire book didn't feel like one...i'll consider it for sure during the rewrite and see how i feel about it, so thank you for the feedback on that!

things that felt off or you felt were unresolved: their relationship because like i said we got them hating each other and then they got together and it just ended. and i think at that point they really didn't know anything about each other so there was even more of a whiplash when they actually start dating immediately because you only see sexual tension before that and then suddenly they're super nice to each other and act like they always liked each other. i think people go into it already liking azriel and knowing they'll end up together so they're just waiting on it and never take it as not being a possibility because its azriel and they're reading fanfics about him because they already like him but if it's a nameless character you need to make people like the characters and like them together and feel the tension between them and like they'd be good together which i dont really get from this fic. most of the plot felt unresolved too because the dad thing never really went anywhere which i guess was the plot besides the romance, also lucien was there and then just wasn't (it also didn't really feel like he liked her much)

will definitely be working on their chemistry and them getting to know each other/building a relationship. i agree with what you're saying that they just got together and didn't know anything about each other so i'll edit that too. az's dad will have more presence in the rewrite as well, as i was writing i kept thinking of ideas (as we can tell) so that's why they weren't predated in the story etc, so i will def fill those holes in as well!

also this might just be my opinion but the idea for her tattoo is so bad im sorry, i had to stop when i read it and it's her first tattoo as well. just the thought of it looks ugly to me but even the meaning is off for me... maybe if you want to keep the hand idea let him get it because he's already so heavily tattooed that the big two detailed hands piece might kind of blend in but for her first tattoo let him get her something else, either something meaningless and pretty (i mean she's in art school i know she has to have better ideas) or something important for her but not necessarily a relationship tattoo not even a year into their relationship.

i'm not going to lie, i struggled so hard with what to give her a tattoo of and i think that's also why i didn't actually add it into the story is because i had no idea what to do. i do agree that she shouldn't have gotten that when they've only been together for not that long, and it is cringey but i felt like it made sense at the time. i will work on her tattoo ideas tho

also (and i might be talking out of my ass) but if his injury only happened a year ago i'm not sure he'd be even drawing already even if shaky, you'd have to do some research there but i think it wouldn't be bad if you pushed it back a little further in the past

this is also a fair point, i'm also not sure, but if i ever go to publish it will be a different injury so i will for sure do some research about that when i go to describe it! and yeah, i can totally move it a bit further into the past like you said :)

Thank you for the feedback this is a lot to work with here, so thank you for reading and taking the time to send all of this back to me!! 💙

[beifong-brainrot]

Ok, so I saw this post before and I though it was well written and thought out, but I also find some issues with it. I absolutely agree that atla and tlok weren't perfect, including in its representation of women. But I personally have more problems with fandom Interpretation, rather than the writers.

I think we need to remember that the prime argument for the "Katara was sidelined" thesis, the fact that Katara doesn't have a statue that was clearly displayed, is that she was actually presebt in the show. The other members of the gaang, sans Suki, were present only in flashbacks, if at all, and two were straight up dead. These statues, which, at the time of B1 and B2 releasing were the only traces of the presence of the other Gaang members, as Katara seemed to be the only one strongly embeded into Korra's time.

I don't appreciate how the fandom completely erases the weight and importance Katara had in Korra's life, which I believe was intentionally highlighted in the very first episode, with Katara encouraging Korra's escape and giving her some very poignant words that set the tone for Korra's journey.

Katara: Aang's time has passed. My brother and many of my friends are gone. It's time for you and your generation to take over the responsibility of keeping peace and balance in the world. And I think you're going to be a great Avatar.

Aang is, of course, going to be alluded to in tlok, because he is Korra's predecessor, and both in story and in a meta sense, Korra is trying to measure up to his legacy. This is another reason Aang statue is so prominently displayed, because his legacy towers over Korra as she attempts to pick up the mantle he left for her. There's, as I mentioned, a level of meta commentary there too. The creators are aware how highly valued atla is, and making a followup to it is probably nerve wracking, so they are, in a way, in a similar position to Korra.

Like man idk how on the nose this can get she's literally trying to imitate his statue in the intro sequence

I've been very vocal about disliking the ham-fisted and fanservice-y way Zuko and Toph were included in the later seasons. I suppose this is up to personal preference, but I much prefer Katara's thought out and natural inculsion into the show rather than "fan favourite octogenarian enters. fights for 5 seconds. leaves.". It just feels hollow, and probably only existed because people were Very Vocal about their dissapointment about the Gaang not being heavily featured in the Show That Wasn't About Them.

I also take issue with your interpretation of Korra. She's not weak, in fact, her fighting prowess is impressive, as noted by Katara herself. Korra is, however, ill-equipped due to her years of isolation. While tlok doesn't lean into this context explicitly, it is something that can't be seperated from her character. But Korra is a very confident young woman and a strong personality. And the fandom hated her. Like, I can't understate how awful people were and still are towards Korra. She could not catch a break. If something came easy to her, she was a Mary Sue, if she struggled, she was the worst avatar ever.

Korra could not win in any way, because she was strong, loud and real. She took everything the fandom hated about Katara and cranked it up to 100. She was a teen girl, a teen girl of colour who didn't fit what people want and expect of her demographic. She broke a mould and it made people despise her.

I have... mixed feelings about Korra becoming more "thoughtful, spiritual and empathetic". I'm not opposed to such a character progression foe Korra, but hated that it seemed like a confident brown girl being beated down and essentially tortured into becoming a smaller version of herself. And it feels so weird, because previously, in B1 and B2 and even B3, Korra's confidence and hotheadedness was not presented as a core character flaw that needed to be rooted out. It really does make me question why they went down that route in B4.

I do think a lot of people did accept Korra's 'transformation' with open arms, because she was more palatable like that. I know many people who talk about her like "well she was once rude and hot headed but now she's cool" at it churns my stomach.

I wanna note that it's not like Korra was a callous, unkind bitch in the earlier seasons. Yes, she could get easily angered, but I rewatching B1, it always surprises me how nice she is since the fandom acts like she was some sort of asshole. Like let's remember how sweet and kind she was to Asami, a romantic rival after Hiroshi wa srevealed as an equalist and she recognised that Asami was in need of emotional support.

And it's honestly because fandom interpretations deviate so aggresively from the text that I can't really place all the blame on the writing. Avatar's writing makes multiple blunders and missteps, but none to warrant the level of wild misinterpretations the fandom has.

Remember how people mocked Katara over connecting with people emotionally over her dead mother, despite the show never framing this as annoying or self centered? Or how when Katara would lash out or be mean because she's a teen, this was presented as normal, but the fandom still saw it as inexcusable and bitchy? When the show explicitly showed Katara uncomfortable with the label of motherly but the fandom still slapped that mom friend label onto her?

It's because of interpretation like that that I can't exactly place the whole blame squarely on the shoulders of the writers. Because audiences already go into shows with biases from their own lives and other media they've consumed, and this shows clearly in how the fandok interprets the show, particularly characters like Katara and Korra who are deeply nuanced and complex.

You're also forgetting that people did mock Aang for his "feminine traits". Yes, it is a certain group with a certain agenda, but Aang is often mocked for being open with his emotions, looking like "a bald lesbian" and being les masculine than his counterparts like Zuko and Sokka. There is still a shockingly large contingent of people who believe he should've killed Ozai. Hell, there was a whole meta adjacent episode and atla that pointed out Aang's emasculation both in world and by viewers.

You're trying to rationalise fandom misogyny by assuming these people are being mislead by some core writing flaw, but for the flaws Avatar does have, I can't imagine they would warrant the behaviour and ideas of many of the viewers. Especially when these interpretations often clash with the source text.

And it is sad to say, but many of these people weren't lead to unconsciously minimise women and femininity, or hate female characters for being outspoken and confident. They just had those views to begin with, and those views became embedded in widespread fandom interpretation.

Avatar's writing, unfortunately, did not dispel these interpretations en masse, but I can't say with clear consience that it is the source of them.

Internalised misogyny in the Bending Universe

I just saw on tt a girl who was talking about Katara's character in tlok and that she doesn't feel like she was downplayed, on the contrary, she had a successful life and career.

While on this side I do agree with her, Katara was downplayed in TLOK. This is what I wrote in the comments:

The problem isn't that she was "reduced" as a healer (which is also an interesting choice of words, because healing takes a lot more skill than fighting), the real problem is that she isn't given the right recognition: the first example that comes to mind, is that Katara doesn't have a statue like the others. One could argue that Katara was just humble and didn't want that much fame, but the entirety of ATLA shows that Katara isn't humble: she works hard to be recognized and she doesn't accept her work being downplayed. So why doesn't she have a statue? Why does everyone talk about "the great avatar Aang" or "the wise Zuko", but Katara just gets to be seen as Aang's wife and the mother of her children? And it's not even a decision made in the story, the mistake is in the writing itself. I could literally write a dissertation on how the writers clearly and heavily favoured the part of the Gaang that was more "masculine" perceived (besides Aang, but he's the avatar so it doesn't count). Suki, for example, had a very similar destiny to Katara: yes, she was good in combat, but she was calm, kind and empathetic, exactly like Katara. Those characteristics are typically associated with women, and therefore, perceived less strong and less worthy of recognition. And tbh, something tells me that if Katara had just a bit less importance in the story, she would've faced the exact destiny as Suki: erasure.

In addition, if we also look at how Korra's character is perceived by many viewers, the effects of this writing choice can be seen: Korra is not only prone to failing, but at the beginning of her story she is also weak, immature, hot headed and impulsive. When the writers made the decision of making her learn to be more calm, thoughtful, spiritual and empathetic, the viewers didn't accept that. Why? Because they taught the viewers that the only characters worthy of being successful were the ones that were always strong, or angry, or wise, or smart. The viewers feel like Korra is being successful in the story just because she's supposed to be the hero, and that is because the show made clear that usually on the heroes' side characters like her (or like who she became) don't get recognition. And don't even think about "Oh, but Aang's calm and collected and spiritual and empathetic but he's not downplayed nor hated", because we all know about double standards for men and women. In conclusion, internalized misogyny is really deep in this show, but considering that when both ATLA and TLOK were published people weren't familiar with this concept yet, it's being brought up just now.

[starfellwish]

ML Theory: Episode 22, Finale, Ladynoir, and Everything Else

This will have rocketear and finale synopsis spoilers - be warned.

I genuinely do think that the two part finale of season 4, "The Last Attack of Shadowmoth" (which is,,, a title to say the least; more on that in a bit) is gonna be so tense for a variety of reasons.

Rocketear Analysis

We have a couple of gamechanger episodes coming up. Rocketear definitely was a gamechanger as Adrien was able to realize that Alya and Nino are aware of each other's identities with Ladybug giving them permission. And he's angry about it. He knows that Ladybug lied to him about the rules, and he also knows that her being the guardian is definitely something that has led to their relationship being affected (flashbacks to a previous s4 ep when he's like it's cool if she's the guardian, as long as their partnership isn't affected - well that was some foreshadowing, wasn't it?). Honestly, seeing that as Marinette makes all the rules now as guardian, her decisions should be able to include her knowing Chat's identity. But. Chat Blanc exists, and I think that her not telling him about it and hiding it from him is a parallel to how she wanted Alya to hide the truth from Nino (obviously this failed too - Alya went behind her back to tell Nino the truth). She knows that he'd understand if she told him and its better to tell him that he may destroy everything if they knew each other's identities than left him feeling isolated and alone and at risk for literally getting akumatized. By isolating him, she's quite literally putting the world at risk for Chat Blanc 2.0, rather than her telling him something heartbreaking and being there for him so he doesn't get hurt by Shadow Moth's intentions. I think that she'll come to realize this in the finale and learn from her mistakes.

I think that in this screenshot, we got a snippet of foreshadowing of what's to come:

I saw some people theorize that this is foreshadowing that Adrien's real identity is between Ladynoir, and while this could be general foreshadowing for the entirety of the show (Marinette is in love with Adrien, and that's why she can't love Chat Noir), I do think that interpretation could be misplaced here due to the tone of the episode. Instead, I believe that this is foreshadowing that Chat may reveal himself to Ladybug. After all, she literally knows the identity of literally every other person who has a miraculous, and is the guardian.

*Side note: It also reminds me a lot of Felix. Could be a reference to that? Not sure what my thoughts on that being, but it's just somehting that struck me.

Episode 22

In my mind, it would make most sense for Adrien to reveal himself in episode 22. We've been told by the people who make the show that since episode 22 is the 100th episode of the show overall, it will be incredibly serious. This episode may run the highest risk of Adrien being akumatized into Chat Blanc again, as tensions are definitely running high. However, another akumatization event could happen, and Chat could be left out again, making him angry. I think that him getting akumatized is more likely, however. This is because of his appearance in Sentibubbler - I think that's foreshadowing. After everything is taken care of, Chat Noir and Ladybug will get into an argument. Chat will tell Ladybug that he knows about Alya and Nino, and that he thinks she's a hypocrite. He was loyal to her, and now he's having his doubts about their partnership, because he doesn't even think its a partnership anymore. Ladybug is the guardian and has more secrets that she is keeping from him. She talks about Chat Blanc and tells him that him finding out her identity leads to basically the end of the world. Adrien is surprised that he was akumatized before. He then gets mad at her for literally hiding this from him when they could've taken precautions beforehand, and then could possibly assert that he doesn't know what else she's hiding from him. He also, at the same time, doesn't feel like he should be Chat Noir anymore if he poses that much of a risk to the world. He detransforms in front of her and gives her the miraculous. He tells her he won't be a problem again, and leaves.

Finale

Ladybug, of course, realizes her mistake and tries to get him back. However, over the course of 23 and 24, she is caught up with Alya and Nino's problems with them not hiding their secrets. Adrien is already scheduled to leave Paris for a couple of weeks with Lila, and Ladybug trying to persuade him to stay is basically one of the main conflicts of the final episode. Pair this with "ShadowMoth's Last Attack" and you've got a season finale. I think the name of the season finale, is, as always, a misdirect. There's no way Gabriel is getting all his miraculous taken away until season 5, as that's when the full reveal happens, so it seems like he'll return to just regular old Hawkie. I don't think it would make sense for him to be disarmed now and for next season's finale to have the full reveal. Here's the synopsis below so we can dissect it.

Shadowmoth's Last Attack

Having understood that if Ladybug always triumphs, it's thanks to her prudence, Papillombre (Shadow Moth) conceives a diabolical plan around a super villain endowed with the power to push his victims to take all risks. When Marinette learns that Adrien must leave Paris for several weeks with Lila, new muse of the Agreste brand, she is ready to do she is ready to do anything to stop him. How far will she go? Even to the fatal risk of betraying her secret identity for love? And will Adrien take the risk to finally stand up to his father?

Okay, so let's dissect this. What I said before adds up to Adrien leaving with Lila. It would also explain why Marinette would potentially reveal herself to Adrien, if only to get him to stay. Because she knows that he's Chat, and maybe her being Marinette will somehow influence his decision. Or, it may show him that she's finally willing to trust him with everything.

It could also allude back to the song in the movie. Since the Miraculous movie was originally intended to act as a finale to Season 5, we can take things from early development and see if they end up fitting in the narrative. In this situation I'm going to quote "Ce mur qui nous separe" (English translation: The Wall Between Us), the French song that was made for the movie when it was intended to be the Season 5 finale.

It’s strong when I see him I want to scream on the rooftops our love that reaches out to us But I know that I can’t It’s not the right moment We have to be patient be patient

Here's the French translation in case the translation Genius gave me was wrong:

C’est fort quand je le vois Je veux crier sur tous les toits Notre amour qui nous tend les bras Mais je sais que je ne dois pas Ce n’est pas le moment Il faut être patients Être patients

This part of the song is from Marinette's perspective, and the fact that she's saying that she has to wait for the right moment to actually be in love with him probably means that she knows Adrien's identity. Because why would she "know" that she can't love him? Why is it not the right moment? Why do they have to be patient? Her being Ladybug and being unable to be in a relationship may explain why it's not the right moment, but the fact that she says "our" love points me in another direction. She knows she loves Adrien, and she knows that Chat, and therefore, Adrien, loves her. But she can't tell him her identity yet. However, her knowing his identity would make sense. I remember that before season 4 started airing, a lot of the fandom wondered if Chat was going to have to reveal his identity to her because she's the guardian. After all, that would make sense. Them making it a problem over the course of the season would mean that it would have to be handled in some way. I think that her finding out Chat's identity is probably the most logical course of action, as she can't be a good guardian until she has all the information at her disposal.

There are two specific lines which I find interesting in the finale synopsis. The part where it says, "Papillombre (Shadow Moth) conceives a diabolical plan around a super villain endowed with the power to push his victims to take all risks," is particularly interesting. This could mean a couple of things. Shadow Moth could be akumatizing Felix - after all, he stopped at nothing to try and replace Adrien in order to ruin his relationship with his friends. He kissed Ladybug when she told him no. He was snooping in Adrien's things. Clearly, there was nothing he wasn't willing to do in order to get the ring back. (This whole thing is never explained either after Felix - why is the ring so important?) Maybe that will make a comeback? Or, the "his" in the synopsis where it specifies that the villain has no limits, may be referring to Shadowmoth. In that situation, it could be Lila who is again akumatized. She has clearly no limits, as she's working for Shadow Moth willingly, and likely knows his identity. This is one likely scenario. Or Shadowmoth will akumatize Adrien. He may feel detached, and Gabriel will interpret it as being sad that he's being taken away from all of his friends. Adrien is known for being quite stubborn, and having Ladybug fight Adrien's akumatized state would be season finale material. However, if he is akumatized in the finale as something else, then the Chat Blanc akumatization in episode 22 is unlikely (they wouldn't do something like that twice in a row). Of course, his akumatized state would be different than Chat Blanc because people can be akumatized into multiple different villains and Hawkie doesn't know that Adrien=Chat Noir.

The second line that I find particularly interesting is this one:

And will Adrien take the risk to finally stand up to his father?

Now, why would Adrien stand up to his father? Maybe with literally everyone betraying him, he'll find no reason to stay. He needs a constant in his life, and telling his father that he needs him to be here for him may be a step that he makes. After all, Ladybug and him are having their biggest fight, his best friend Nino told him that he finds his hero persona absolutely abhorrent, and he doesn't feel like he has a place on the superhero team. He needs someone, and he's hoping that Gabriel can be that person.

That could be one scenario, or Adrien may find out about Hawkie's basement. Now, this, could raise a lot of questions for him. While I believe that Adrien would have the normal tendency to be like "father, what the hell." He may honestly believe that this is all he has left, and therefore, will assist his father. This takes me back to the season 2 opening card.

Where is Chat Noir? With the villains.

Maybe Adrien will have his well deserved Dark!Chat Noir arc. Or maybe, he'll be a spy for the Quantic team. Ladybug and him will make up, and he'll tell her that he can spy on Hawkie for the team, and that's how they move into season 5 - with Adrien as a double agent. He will help his father in everything that he does, and therefore, get access to more information that he can share with the team. He can help establish a meeting for Hawk Moth to get caught, with evidence, by planting cameras, calling police, etc.

Honestly, I'm hoping for the latter subplot, as I don't want Chat Noir to go evil for everyone's sakes. I do think that the latter would also give him a cementable role that would logistically make sense and help establish him as an strong character, and more importantly, a valuable member of the team and Ladybug's true partner.

Or, they could go down the more simpler route, and choose Adrien to find out, be shocked, and then yell at his father for being who he is. Gabriel just assumes because Adrien is only just Adrien, he doesn't have to worry about him. He will threaten Adrien, and Adrien will stay silent in front of him, but tell the team on the side. Of course, this doesn't really mean double agent Adrien, but it still implies spy Adrien. It also still manages to make his character more relevant.

Regardless, there's a lot of different ways that line could go, and I'm excited to see where it moves on from there.

Implications on the Love Square

The love square seems entirely messed up this season. There is almost nothing going on in relation to it, especially in regards to Ladynoir, Ladrien, and Marichat. Adrienette has honestly the most action right now, especially with the reverse umbrella scene, them helping out Juleka together, etc. This leads me to think that while we'll get a lot of Ladynoir in the finale as they repair their relationship, Adrienette may be the strongest ship of the four when moving into season 5. Let me explain why.

Over the course of this entire season, Adrien has been getting closer to Marinette, and is honestly more warm with her than he has been with Ladybug. This can explain what everyone has been thinking - a reverse love square. Even if Ladybug and him make up, Chat may honestly want to go and see other people. This includes Mari. What Nino said about Ladybug finding him annoying may actually really affect him and his feelings and make him realize that he can find love elsewhere. It's also the fact that it was enunciated twice during Rocketear that Alya couldn't fall in love with someone that she didn't really know. That could lead Adrien to wonder if he really knows Ladybug, which will definitely complicate his feelings. The Kagami thing was never going to work out, so he just needs to find someone else who cares for him. He knows Marinette; he has called her similar to Ladybug - he may rebound from Ladybug to Marinette. Ladybug may realize that she messed up, and she has already shown that she is becoming more indifferent to dating Adrien, due to what happened with Luka. When she and Chat Noir fix their relationship, she may see him as the only person she doesn't have to lie to, and therefore thinks about pursuing a relationship with him. Therefore, a reverse love square would make the most sense in this situation.

If a ship were to start actually dating in season 5 - it may honestly depend on how the finale is. The two most likely ships imo are either Ladynoir or Adrienette. If Ladynoir makes up during the finale, then the barriers to them dating aren't really present, unless the Alya thing actually makes it complicated for them. Adrienette may get together, but Marinette is wary of dating because she's Ladybug. However, we all know she's weak in the knees for Adrien and will definitely say yes if he asked her out.

Therefore, I feel like this season is leaning more towards plot and character development, and while it may set some things up for season 5, it is important to pay attention at the little shifts in the square, because they are happening right in front of us.

Alya and Marinette

I wanted to be able to talk about this at some point in this theory, but since everything else is more Adrien centric, I added it here at the end. Okay, so we know that Alya is lying to Marinette about telling Nino things. We also know that Alya has bended the rules for Nino multiple times, both before and during Rocketear. This could go one of two ways: Alya telling Nino teaches Marinette that she needs to be able to trust Chat, and therefore helps her realize that she doesn't need to be so secretive and lie all the time. It could also lead to a plot where Alya basically messed up largely by telling Nino, and everything goes downhill from there. Ladybug shows Chat that they can't know each other's identities because of what happened with them. We also Nino is a bit of a blabbermouth - love his character, but he is. He told Adrien not only his identity, but also Alya's. He also told him that they know the other's identity. This is bad, and Adrien knowing definitely affects the plot later on. If Adrien ends up revealing himself to Ladybug, it is likely that she'll find out about Nino saying that, and having to revoke their kwamis. This could lead to a strained relationship with Alya. In fact, it is likely that at this point, Marinette will already have a strained relationship with Alya, as it could be revealed that Alya told Nino about Rena Furtive. This could lead to Ladybug being defensive and worried that she made mistakes, and literally just closing the Miraculous box because of it. Maybe Alya will go rogue? After all, it was mentioned in Rocketear (and I appreciate that they talked about this) how Alya was a reporter and that by extension means that her personality is one of a truthteller. Alya getting angry at Mari could definitely lead to a situation where she threatens to tell he everyone. I don't think Alya would or could do that, but anger leads to akumatization, and an akumatized Alya would not be good for anyone as her judgement would be impaired. Regardless, Rena Furtive may be a short time hero, and Mari and Alya may end the season in a fight. I don't see that being resolved in the finale, as no fight like that is mentioned in those episodes. There is also simply too much going on in the finale for it to make sense. It may be resolved later on, just like how other problems in season 3 started being solved in the beginning of season 4. Or, it could be fought out and resolved in episodes 23 and 24.

Therefore, I think that the Nino carelessly revealing his identity and Alya carelessly disregarding Ladybug's orders may lead to a plotpoint at some point where Alya and Ladybug fight. While I do think that it would be nice if Alya proved Ladybug wrong and showed that they were stronger for working together, I do not think it's likely. The show was deliberate in showing that Alya had a weakness for Nino, and has shown before that it has led to many situations where there were risks for everyone involved. Even Hawkmoth said that love and secrets don't go well together (is he talking from experience?), and I feel like that was so deliberate, but it could also be alluding to Chat and Ladybug. (Side note: it was so weird for Hawk Moth to say that, as he had no idea of the situation; regardless I do think this it's heavy foreshadowing.) Therefore, I do not think the situation that Alya has placed herself in is a situation which will have a peaceful ending.

Final Notes:

I personally cannot wait for the "Gabriel Agreste" episode. I think that the fact that we did not get it yet means that it has serious story implications. Personally, I believe it's going to explain allllll the backstory we need for the whole Bourgeois/Tsurugi/Agreste history and tell us why Emilie is the way she is right now. Of course, maybe it won't do everything, but the fact that it is named after Gabriel makes me wonder if it'll be his origins episode of sorts.

EDIT AFTER MEGA LEECH: IF GABRIEL AGRESTE REVEALS ADRIEN TO BE A SENTIMONSTER I WILL BE SO SO EXCITED BC ANGST BUT ALSO LIKE??? WHAT ABOUT THE PLOT? WHAT ABOUT THE NINE YEAR OLDS?

Chat snapping is honestly something that I cannot wait for. All of his anger has been building up over the entire season thus far, and the implications of his feelings are definitely serious for the show's plot.

I wonder if Mayura will be making a comeback at some point. While this is less relevant, Nathalie's health seems to be making her bedridden for a long time. Maybe she'll return to a similar state to Emilie? I saw theories that stated that if Hawkie gets his wish, Nathalie's life may be sacrificed for Emilie's, and idk, I think it's not likely that it'll happen, but it would be cool if it did. The ultimate payback for his actions being the loss of Nathalie.

Look at the end card of Rocketear:

He's looking at the moon, which was shown in New York to be something he does when he's sad. Also possible reference to him destroying the moon in Chat Blanc.

Kitty do be on a roof all alone without his lady :(

[emmys-grimoire]

Lesson 56 analysis + 57 predictions

I was right and wrong! Nothing unusual.

The Belphie-Diavolo arc continues and we go to meet up with Diavolo, only to discover it wasn't him who paged us, but his captor. We go to confront the captor who threatens us with a gun and Diavolo seems pretty carefree and oblivious about the man's true intent until he freaks out and attempts to shoot Belphie. MC can use their magic to protect him, but he informs us that bullet don't harm him anyway. A lightbulb seems to finally go off in Diavolo's head and he realizes what is happening, and he transforms and seems adamant about punishing the assailant. Belphie learns how much Diavolo cares about him and goes all tsundere-y throughout the rest of the lesson.

The big thing that happens is the Diavolo background bits and his confession + kiss. I anticipate there was much squeeing, but it was pretty standard confession fare. I have a harder time getting into it because we didn't really have any big bonding moment with him prior to him apparently falling for us.

But whatever. There are some interesting bits to comb through!

Raphael: Misunderstood?

We find out in the beginning of this lesson that Belphegor has a much higher opinion of Raphael than the rest of the brothers, that seems to have stemmed from Raphael once saving him when he got lost in the forest back in the Celestial Realm.

Up until this point, all associations with Raphael have been negative. This gives us some background on why he might be irritable and snide all the time, because Michael is also noted to be a sadist by Simeon, who enjoys making harsh demands of his underlings. He might be a hint resentful and taking it out on the brothers? That might be multiplied if Michael clearly goes easier on them due to favoritism in spite of all their troublemaking. I think that'd kind of make sense.

They like to put emphasis on how secretly malevolent the Seraphim are -- that they're duplicitously evil. Not sure how much they're actually trying to hide it, though? It sounds like Raphael was pretty upfront about how he felt about everything.

Diavolo's Flaws

We find out that Diavolo is actually aware of his penchant for using his royal status to get those around him to do what he wants. We also find out that his mother died giving birth to him, and his father was very strict in raising him. He was sheltered, and not allowed to speak with anyone outside of the castle.

Getting Tywin Lannister vibes. Diavolo isn't sure whether or not his father hates him for being responsible for his beloved wife's death.

In spite of being sheltered from the outside world, Diavolo still manages to meet Barbatos, which I think confirms that Barbatos was not always in their service. I was wrong that Barbatos's employment was connected to his father's machinations, though: it was Diavolo who twisted his arm into it, because Diavolo desperately wanted a friend and became enamored with the stories of the outside world that Barbatos told him.

Diavolo threatened to abdicate his throne if Barbatos didn't stay. Which is actually... kind of an asshole move? I imagine he refused for a reason, and Diavolo taking the throne was apparently very important to his father (and probably the Devildom as a whole if the succession would be muddled).

I don't think at this point Barbatos minds, but I wouldn't blame him if he initially did resent Diavolo.

Diavolo has demonstrated he has the ability to sense lies and he's a good judge of character, so him being unable to ascertain whether or not his father or Barbatos really likes him seems noteworthy. I think Barbatos is the best fake smiler among them, but he's been at Diavolo's side the longest.

He has a surprising amount of insecurities when it comes to his closest relationships, but I'm afraid a lot of it is his own fault: if he hadn't extorted Barbatos and instead Barbatos entered his service of his own free will, he probably wouldn't need to second guess the butler's intentions. Additionally, if he didn't demand Lucifer make a vow in exchange for his sister's life, there's a chance that maybe it'd be easier for Lucifer to open up and get closer to him like a friend naturally would.

And then maybe he wouldn't have spent most of season 2 worrying over how Lucifer may respond to bad news!

But he's growing out of it. Sort of. I'd be wary of him trying to strongarm MC into a decision they may not necessarily want to make, though, even now. Maybe especially now given his apparent attachment to them.

Barbatos scheming

Barbatos is being schemey!

I have a feeling this involves the information Luke relayed to him about a potential rift growing between Michael and Simeon. I would not be surprised if Barbatos has actually peered into the future and knows what Michael might be planning, and he's positioning himself to counter it.

I was hoping hard mode or the subnode would shed more light on what this conversation entailed, but nope, it was just more fluff. I doubt they were just discussing dinner, though.

Predictions

This lesson was more Diavolo-centric than I expected but that's hardly unwelcome. Like expected, it was a good fluffy lesson in spite of the, uh, grim background.

The brothers behaved for once and didn't intrude upon our bonding experience with Diavolo and Belphegor.

We didn't actually receive a star for this trial, which is... odd. Maybe we'll receive it in the beginning of the following lesson, or perhaps this romp wasn't a trial? It'd be the first one that wasn't. I'll be really surprised if they go for another twofer and don't give Lucifer his own special arc.

I was expecting to be rewarded our star and having the lesson end on a cliffhanger but it feels like the next lesson will be the beginning of the final arc. Outside of Barbatos's potential maneuvering, we weren't given any further information on what Michael may be planning.

If Season 2's format is any indicator, the next lesson is when everything suddenly hits the fan. I sense another sudden exposition dump on the horizon.

They did mention going to yet another space-themed park but that sounds like it'd be too... samey. Also not a place that sounds like it'd be Lucifer's cup of tea.

I'd be willing to bet Barbatos will play a part in the finale and by extension so will time travel (again), but other than that I got nothing. If Michael is aware of Barbatos's powers -- and he may very well be -- maybe he'll be the one who manages one hell of a Xanatos Gambit and try to turn it to his advantage. I'd be surprised if he wasn't similarly prepared, particularly if he's plotted and meddled with Devildom affairs in the past.

But I'm not even entirely sure what he really wants yet, and that drives everything.

The most straightforward motivation would be getting the brothers back, but he must know they would never willingly go back presently and we're not even entirely sure daddy would want them back. I theorized that he might be trying to get MC to turn the demon brothers back to their angel selves but there really hasn't been much progress shown in that regard.

I do expect our meddling in the flashbacks will have some unforeseen consequences which Michael alluded to, but I still don't know exactly what and I'm not entirely convinced that they will actually be to his benefit.

He might want to change the past, prevent whatever triggered Lucifer to start hating their father and/or stop him from meeting Diavolo and growing more and more doubtful about the Celestial Realm's intent... but he already had that opportunity when MC went back in time, and he would have to find a way to manipulate Barbatos into getting him to that specific point in time. If he's in league with Solomon, he could feasibly do that via the pact but...

Are we really betting on a villainous Michael-Solomon tag team? idk man

And Barbatos can just eliminate that timeline fork with a snap of his fingers, like he did before.

I guess I'm finding out along with you guys. Again!

[lokvier]

Hey so, I was sneaking around of the TFWiki and then went absolutely ballistic when I saw t h i s . 'As Chromedome recalls having altered the minds of "certain high-risk individuals" on the Autobot side, we are shown Mirage (traditionally noted for his wavering loyalties to the Autobot cause) and Pharma (who would eventually sell out the medical facility at Delphi.) Hmm...' Like. W H A T . I need someone else to go unhinged with me over this as well because W O W .

Read more because this gets long I fear

I flipped through things to see for myself and it looks like it's in the continuity notes section for MTMTE #14, which is speculation. Since I remember reading that panel and to me personally, it feels like it wasn't really supposed to allude to anything and Mirage and Pharma were just the response team. Because if we follow that line of logic then this panel from #4 would be implying Pharma was racist

That's just my opinion on the canon speculation of it but otherwise W O W indeed.... because I always thought with that whole line and what the NI stood for it's not a far reach to say everyone who worked there including Pharma were victims of mnemosurgery, yet I never saw anyone talk about it!

It also makes you question if everyone working there was doing so voluntarily of their own free will as well, like I know for Pharma a lot of fanworks cite his employment there to mean he was a terrible evil person before Delphi but I think it's a lot more than that.

But we never see anything in the NI outside of it being used as one of Chromedome's guilts and regrets. The NI as a whole only exists as a Chromedome thing, not even for a mention of it in Brainstorm's character, who we knew was a part of it too from the flashback. Basically what I'm saying is we get so little information about the NI it's hard to draw any conclusions about it and when we do it's either about CD or "look what a shitlord Zeta Prime is for the NI lol."

But back to the original point: Yeah I really wouldn't be surprised if Pharma was a victim of mind altering. Filing this under "fascinating implications in Pharma's backstory that's ignored in favour of characterizing him as the stock crazy villain"

[aij-writes]

“I could use something smaller,” Luna spoke.

Ignis looked up from his phone.  “Here,” he offered, summoning his dagger and passing it to her.

Crowe cried out, but she tried to stay still.  Ignis and Noctis had lifted her to a table where Luna had busied herself with cleaning the wound.  She’d not waited for help, tearing off part of her dress and stanching the bleeding.  She tied a makeshift tourniquet.

“You have it too tight,” Ignis spoke stiffly.

Luna shot him an annoyed look.  “Excuse me, I know what I’m doing.”

“And what you’re doing is de-arming her,” Ignis insisted dryly.

“Has anyone ever called you unpleasant?” Luna asked, concentrating despite the verbal spat on working the bullet out.

“My entire life.”

A tense silence stretched between them, where even Crowe seemed too afraid to grunt in pain.

Ignis sighed, going over.  “Let me help.”

“I don’t expect a bureaucrat to have much advance first aid, but thank you anyway,” Luna said tightly.

“I’m also Crownsguard, your Royal Highness and I’m afraid pride is not a luxury we have right now.”

“You keep being afraid and I’ll help her,” Luna snapped.

“You’re both pretty,” Crowe shot at them.  “Now would you two work together to get this bullet out?”

Ignis blinked in surprise, only to adjust his glasses.  “I’ll hold her arm steady and you operate,” he insisted.

“Yes, of course,” Luna agreed.

“Ignis,” he offered.  “Ignis Scientia.”

“Luna is fine,” she said after a bit.  “Noctis couldn’t say my whole name when he was younger and I’d rather prefer it.”  She stole a glance at Ignis.  “The bullet is a creation of the Chancellor.  It’s imbued with miasma.”

“Starscourage.”  Ignis watched the ashen wound spreading up Crowe’s arm.  “Perhaps we waste time trying to save the arm.”

“Brutal, aren’t you?” Luna asked, before letting out a small “aha!” having worked the bullet out.  Crowe let out a sigh of relief, even if Luna was back in, scrapping the wound clean.  Luna, satisfied, slapped the dagger down on the table.  She bent over, whispering a prayer.  The wound lit up and healed, though a faint redness was left behind.

“Amazing,” Crowe said, with Ignis echoing.

“It is my duty as Oracle to heal the wounds of our Star.  Eos is suffering.  The True King is the only one who can fix it, but it is my duty to serve by his side.”

Noctis looked up, as if realizing all eyes were on him finally.  He frowned, seeming as if he hadn’t been paying attention.  “She good?  Does that mean we can leave?”  They’d holed up in a safehouse Ignis knew about.  They’d watched out the windows as the night wore on, destroying their city and any sense or semblance.

“And where will we go?” Crowe asked, testing her arm.  Despite it all, it hurt and she winced and cried out.  “I’m waiting to hear from the Captain.”

“You won’t,” Ignis said quietly.

Crowe jumped off the table.  “Captain Drautos will not have fallen.”

“I never said that.”  Ignis turned from her.  “But while we’re on the subject, we can suffer no assumptions to the body count of last night.  We weren’t simply double-crossed, we were betrayed.  The Kingsglaive were responsible for the Gala’s security and the King, while the Crownsguard were reassigned to the people.  I have it on highest authority, the Shield himself, that these orders were directly from His Majesty.  The Marshall broke rank last night and was sent away again to his post.  He knew something we didn’t.  As he made sure I was aware of, Captain Drautos never made it to his post.”

Ignis walked to Noctis, his hand going to press on the back of his arm.  “The Kingsglaive was made up for refugees that were able to wield the King’s magic.  Show me that magic now.”

Crowe looked confused, only to realize nothing happened when she tried.

Ignis gave her a grim look.  “As of right now, I will not entrust the heir apparent’s safety to anyone but myself.”

Noctis knocked Ignis’s hand off him.  “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying the peace treaty angered those that trickled in from beyond our Walls.  Demonstrators made up of those hailing from the outlands made it known that there could be no peace if their homes were sacrificed.”

“They’d already lost them,” Noctis said carelessly.

“We fought by our King!” Crowe argued.  “We wanted the war to stop!  Not just to protect this last bastion, but for a hope that it would release our homes!  You can’t blame us for our frustration, but the Kingsglaive remained faithful to the Crown!”

“Some of us, at least,” Luche spoke up.

Ignis drew his daggers, ready.  His magic, tied to Noctis, had not faded.

Luche stepped into the safehouse, shortsword drawn in defense.  “Go on, Dragoon, preach to us about what we’ve lost.  Your people remain scattered in Nif territory to this day.  United under a banner for Old Solheim but what, are you better for dragging your way here and wiping the prince’s butt?”

“That’s enough,” Libertus cut in.  He had a commanding, hoarse voice.  “Crowe, you alright?”  He was still relying on crutches from a wound he’d received at the final battle before the tentative ceasefire.

“I’m...I’m fine.  Where’s Pelna and Nyx?”

“The hero?  He went after the king.”

Luche frowned, not as willing to put down his weapon.  “Arra saw to Pelna,” he said darkly.

Crowe watched him, confused.

“And they rallied around their leader,” Luche continued.  “Bunch of traitors.”  He motioned his head to Ignis.  “Afraid the Goonie’s right.  People weren’t happy, Crowe.  They took us, molded us, and now we fought for nothing.  A broken crown sits upon a broke world.  They manipulated us, but you know what’s worse?  They manipulated the faithless, too.  General Glauca has the Kingsglaive sworn to him.  Because it’s Captain Drautos himself.  The man that led the Nifs into our homes time and time again.  Titus Drautos, man of Cavaugh, taken in by a compassionate prince, only to become bitter when his father retreated the Wall.”  Luche spit at Ignis feet.  “Your king couldn’t even protect himself.  We all stood for a king too weak to protect even his own son!”

“That’s enough.”  Ignis had a commanding air of his own, without reaching for anger or rage.  He stepped to Luche, his eyes narrowed behind his glasses but otherwise straight backed and proud.  “What side will you stand on now is all I ask?”

“And why you ask?” Libertus demanded.  “You’re a foreigner, just like us.  This isn’t your home and the world out there suffered while you attended meetings and played house.”

“You say what you want about me.  But I stand by my king and I will accept any such allies that see our prince through.  Otherwise, we part.”

“Hold up,” Crowe ordered, reminded the boys it wasn’t a pissing contest.  She held her finger up, listening in on the frequency.  “Captain Drautos is ordering a rally for all Kingsglaive to meet at the central square.”  She lifted her eyes to Libertus.  She often scoffed and rolled her eyes, but she did look to him like a brother.  “Tell me it wasn’t the Captain,” she asked, eyes begging but her voice strong and professional.

Libertus looked down.  “We were tricked.  I...I was vain, Crowe.  I went...”  He sighed heavily.  “The resistance.  It...we’re how the Nifs got past the Wall.  They have the Crystal.”

“Oh no,” Luna gasped.  She shook her head.  “And the ring?”

“I don’t know about a ring,” Libertus said lamely.

“My father’s?” Noctis finally asked.

Luna reached for him, grabbing his wrist.  “The Ring of Lucii houses the souls of the dead kings.  Your grandfather, you great-, all the way up to the Founder himself.  It’s your right and burden to wield this power when your father--”

Noctis jerked away from her, hanging his head.  “Dies, Luna?  Why does everyone want to remind me...?” he choked around the rest.  He went up to Luche, getting into his face.  “Is my father dead?  Did the Kingsglaive betray him?” he asked, voice harsh and cracking.  Without even thinking, a mere will of his angst summoned his blade in his hand, though he did not raise it.  He gripped at it to anchor himself to something.

“As a whole?  As a unit?  Yes.”  Luche stared Noctis off, grabbing his patch and ripping it off.  “We’re all traitors.  Your father to us and we to our office.  You want to stay and fight the will of the Empire, go ahead.  Maybe they’ll let you rest on Aldercapt’s arm the same as her bitch brother.  Or maybe they’ll slaughter you, too.  I don’t intend to wait for it.”  He pointed his sword below the prince’s chin.  “After what I saw in my homeland, maybe I’ll do you a favor and show you mercy here.  Quick painless death for a coward.”

Noctis stared at him, chin raised in a haughty, defiant way, but he said nothing.  He merely raised his sword to block Ignis’s intervention.

“Lazarus, enough,” Libertus warned, voice cracking with emotion.  He grabbed Luche’s shoulder, pulling him off.  “Crowe come on.  We’re going to find the Hero and see if we can’t figure out how to jump ship.”

“The rats come in and the rats get off,” Ignis scoffed.

“You want to pick at a carcass, Goonie--!” Libertus started only to realize Crowe was squaring up at Luna’s side.  “Crowe?”

“No matter what happened tonight, I will complete my mission.  Traitor or not, I am to accompany the Princess.”  Crowe stared at Libertus.  “And I do so owing my life to her.  You can abandon your stations; I don’t blame you.  But I have my own duty.”

“And I must see to the King,” Luna declared.

“What’s the point?” Noctis demanded.  “He’s dead, right?  How...?  How could he believe their offer?  How could he be so stupid!” he yelled, going to strike out.

Ignis caught his prince by the wrists, pushing him back.  “Noct!  Your father loved you!  You must hold onto your faith in that!”  He turned to look at the rest of them.  “My duty is to my prince.  The rest of you are free to leave here; traitor and ally alike.  I will not ask to share the burden when our king has failed you.”  The words came wrenched, refusing to see King Regis’s actions as such, but knowing that they’d all been failed personally.

“How gracious,” Luche muttered.  “Careful spouting about faith, Dragoon.  Your kind hardly know the meaning.”

“My faith has been and remains in my prince.”

“Weak that he is, I suppose that’s all you can muster.”  Luche turned, though he refused to put his back to Ignis.  “Ulric!  Report.”

He and Crowe heard the same words, though the rest did not.  “You can’t synchronize with Crowe or me,” Luche explained.  “We turned off our beacons.  Yeah, I...”  He looked over to Noctis, frowning.  “Yeah, I got Libertus here, too.”  He dropped his gaze down, despite staying at rigid attention.  “I’m with the Prince and his Chamberlain.  I’ll...I’ll let them know.”

Ignis watched him, waiting.  When he didn’t speak up, Ignis demanded, “Report.”

Luche twitched at the careless authority Ignis wielded, but remained silent.

Crowe finally said, “His Majesty is gone.”

“Gone?” Noctis asked.

“Presumed dead,” Luche filled in.

Luna frowned, arms going to hug herself.  “But no body?”

Noctis turned away.  “Ignis, we do our own search,” he ordered.

Ignis watched Luche with a stony expression.  “Ask Ulric if he’s been in the hotel tower.”  He kept his voice even.

Luche rolled his eyes a little but asked.

Crowe snapped on high alert.  “Nyx says there’s airships descending on just north of Telegraph.  That’s us.”