#only to find out that all the material he has were some fight scenes in warzone 😕

[celestie0]

gojo satoru x reader | fake marriage au [18+]

in holy matriphony drabble no1. new neighbor

ᰔ pairing. fake marriage au - neighbor&realtor!gojo x nurse!reader (ft. choso x reader & suguru x reader)

ᰔ drabble summary. you visit your new next-door-neighbor's house to welcome him to the neighborhood only to find issue with the fact that's he's insanely hot (note to any potential new readers: you can read this before starting the main storyline if you'd like!)

ᰔ main storyline summary. gojo satoru is your extremely annoying next-door-neighbor who you're pretty sure is the most insufferable man you've ever met. given the fact that you exclusively work the night shift at a chaotic emergency dept, just got broken up with your boyfriend of seven years, and have been taking care of your sick mother ever since her multitude of diagnoses, yet somehow your neighbor is the main source of stress in your life should speak volumes. but when your mother's medical bills start to skyrocket to more than you can manage, and you learn that said neighbor of yours has the best private health insurance plan in the country, you ask him to enter a matrimonial agreement with you for the spousal benefits all in the name of saving a few hundred thousand dollars. but you'll have to see if suffering cohabitation w him is worth any amount of money.

ᰔ genre/tags. fluff, smut, angst, enemies to lovers (sort of), annoyances to lovers (that's more like it), small town romance, fake marriage, next door neighbors, lots of bickering, suburban shenanigans, slow burn, mutual pining, gojo likes to play house but you don't, hatred for the american healthcare system, gojo always forgets to mow the lawn, jealousy, an insane amount of profanity, mentions of cigarettes, depression/anxiety; btw gojo in this fic is in his mid 30s n reader is in her late 20s

ᰔ warnings. reader in this fic has a sick mother w alzheimer's & cancer so there is secondary medical angst!!

ᰔ words. 2.4k

a/n. hiiiiii welcome to this first ihm drabble!! i just had an idea of writing a small scene of when ihm gojo & reader first met so :0 cracked this out in an hour. hope you enjoyy!!

nav. ch1 :: ch2 :: ch3 :: ch4 :: ch5 (pending)

There were a great deal of possibilities you had expected to see when you rang the doorbell to your new next-door-neighbors house, but none of them were quite what you had ended up seeing at the front door when it had swung open.

Perhaps it could’ve been a newlywed couple, looking stressed beyond belief with thin lines under their eyes over the agony that comes with moving into a new home with a partner. It could’ve been a teenager, possibly a broody one, because your parents moving the family out to some random town right in the middle of your high school years would’ve made any kid emo. Or it could’ve been an old wrinkly man, grumpy and a little sore to the eyes and entirely too irritated by someone ringing his doorbell because it fucked up the frequency transmitter on his hearing aids.

Instead, when the door flew open, your neck craned up to meet the eye contact of the most stupidly hot and handsome man you’ve ever seen in your life. Well, at least certainly in all of this smalltown in Dayton county. They don’t build men like that here. With stunning blue eyes that stare deep into yours, hair that’s boyishly shaggy yet looks so soft at the same time, tall, muscular, broad shoulders. And the soft cotton of his pajama long-sleeve shirt with the matching plaid pants clinging to the curves of strong biceps and thighs has you full-fledged staring at this—…dare-you-say, incredibly husband-material of a man.

You almost forget you have a boyfriend for a second. And, for the record, your boyfriend is a sexy piece of ass too (Choso if you’re reading this please know that I love you very much and Gojo would have to fight a feral bear to steal me away from you). But, god, was it a crime to find another man attractive occasionally?

He blinks at you, eyes wide like he was equally as shocked to take in the appearance of you. You’re also sure the last thing he expected was a visitor right now at 2:33pm on a Tuesday, but you had finally seen all the UHAUL trucks pulled up in his driveway and the men moving furniture into his house leave the neighborhood, so you felt now would be a good time to introduce yourself.

“Hi,” he finally says to you, rubbing the back of his neck like it’s sore, “uhh…can I help you?”

You’re momentarily speechless. “Oh! I’m—” you take a pause to breathe because words are suddenly unspeakable without at least a gallon of air in your lungs, “I’m y/n, I live next door.” You point to your house. “I just saw you moving in and so I…wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood!” You hold out the paper plate wrapped in tin foil that you were holding. “I made some pumpkin bread for you.”

The corner of his mouth curls up slightly, eyebrows raising pleasantly. “Oh, that’s really sweet, thanks,” he says with a tone that suggests he’s surprised by the hospitality and you briefly wonder where he’s moved here from. He takes the plate from you and balances it on his palm.

An awkward silence.

“Uh, did you wanna—” he points his thumb over his shoulder to behind himself, “did you wanna come inside?”

You blink at him.

“I mean, the place is kind of a mess right now, but—”

“Yes,” you cut him off.

He smiles at you, relaxed now compared to that hesitance from before, and he uses his back to push the door open more while stepping aside for you to walk inside, and walk inside is exactly what you do.

The house is a little cold, with no heater running, and incredibly empty. It’s pretty much the exact copy layout of your house, as all houses in the neighborhood are, except the color tones within this one are much brighter. The foyer is crowded with stacked cardboard boxes, some open and some not, with styrofoam sprawled all across carpet and hardwood, and you take a moment to admire the seafoam green loveseat pressed flush up against one of the walls.

“Got it on Facebook Marketplace,” he tells you, and you glance over at him to see him watching you assess his furniture, “lots of surprisingly good finds on there.”

You smile at him and stand up straight.

“I’m Satoru, by the way,” he says, leaning his shoulder against the door now before crossing his arms, “sorry, I don’t think I introduced myself to you earlier.”

“Ohh, no worries. You’re probably tired from moving in?” you ask, trying not to feel awkward in this essentially-a-stranger’s house.

“Very,” he laughs.

“What made you move here?”

“Oh, just, uh, my job. My family’s out here too, so figured it’d be nice being a little closer to them. But I was in a bit of a rush to close on something out here, so I just bought the first place I could find.” He peers in towards the house, eyes darting across his empty dining room. You notice slabs of deconstructed wood are leaned up against the wall. “But it’s nice. Neighborhood’s nice too.”

“Oh yesss we have wonderful people maintaining it!” you tell him.

He flashes you one of those smiles again. “You’ve lived here a while?”

“Yes! I was born and raised here, actually,” you say and then point a finger in the direction of your house, “that’s actually the only house I’ve ever lived in.”

His eyes widened. “Wow, that’s rare.”

“Yuppp. Just my mom and I now.”

“Oh, is your mom the one that was out gardening yesterday?” he asks. “Pulling out weeds on the edges of the driveway?”

You sigh. “Yes. That’s her. Er, at least I’m pretty sure it is, because I always tell her not to garden anymore, but she never listens to me.”

He lets out a well-meaning scoff, and you wonder if he’ll ask you more questions about it, but he lets the conversation settle into a silence instead. You discretely steal a glance at his left hand when he untucks it from his crossed arms to scratch at his jaw, and you notice there’s no wedding ring on his finger.

“Do you want some coffee?” he asks.

You blink at him. “Oh, I—…sure.”

He leads you into the kitchen, which you notice is mostly set up with all the appliances out on the counters and glass cabinets filled with ceramic sets of mugs and plates. He has an espresso machine set up in the corner of the stover counter, and you follow him right up to it.

“Woooow an espresso machine, I’ve always wanted one of these.”

He flits his gaze to you with a smile on his face before he grabs the handle of the portafilter, twisting it to release it from the machine, and then he presses some button that pushes steam out of it. “It’s worth it if you’re a daily coffee drinker.”

You sigh, leaning your elbow on the counter as you watch him. “Oh, I survive off of coffee, please. I work as a night shift nurse at the ED over on Main Street, so I need all the caffeine I can get.”

“You’re a nurse? That’s good to know,” he says, measuring out beans on a small digital scale. You turn to face him a little more, entirely intrigued by the process now. “If I’m ever in a life or death situation, can I give you a call?”

“If you’re still able to give me a call, then you’re not in a life or death situation.”

He gives you another one of those smiles, a little cheekily lopsided this time, like he’s really enjoying this conversation with you. It’s probably something that’s pleasantly mentally stimulating to his exhausted mind as he’s likely spent the last three days or so talking to no one except the UHAUL truck people and the melancholic memorabilia within his boxes of stuff. It was as easy as any small talk could be, this conversation, and it’s coming a little too naturally for your own liking as well.

He puts the beans in the grinder, and you hear a whirring sound as they are ground into fine particles that release a rich aroma of bitter into the air.

“This seems awfully tedious. I take back my desire of wanting an espresso machine,” you comment, pushing your knuckles into your cheek now as you perch yourself up by an elbow on the counter.

He laughs as he sifts the grounds into the portafilter, breaking up any clumps, and then he twists it onto the espresso machine before placing a mug underneath it. “Yeah, there’s a steep learning curve with it, but once you perfect it, it’s pretty easy. A lot can go wrong that can affect the quality of the shot though, for sure.”

“Like what?” you ask, a little too interested.

“Uhh, you can over extract, which leaves kind of a bitter taste, or under extract, which makes it taste sour. Usually depends on the ground size or the tamping. Plus, when you switch beans, you’ve gotta experiment on the settings all over again.”

You hear the whirring of the machine plus the delicate steady drip of the espresso into the mug. “I have a headache just listening to that. Why bother at all?”

He nods his head slowly, glancing at the watch on his wrist, and after a set amount of seconds has passed, he turns the machine off then peers into the mug. “Well, taste it and see if it’s worth it,” he says, handing the mug to you.

You take it from him, the fragrance of coffee immediately making your mouth water. And you take a delicate sip of the coffee, a slight bitterness hitting your tongue followed immediately by sweetness from the crema that has your eyes widening.

“Oh. Oh wow. Incredibly worth it,” you say.

He laughs. “Milk? Sugar?”

“Gosh no, I’ll just have it like this, please.”

You both chat a little bit more as he makes himself a cup too. You notice that he has his coffee black, as essentially an Americano, which he pours over ice in a shiny glass even in the cool of autumn. 

Apparently he’s a real estate agent, selling properties a little out further than the county line, in more posh areas than here. Like all those cliff-side homes you see when you’re driving further out of town and always sigh to yourself wondering if you’ll ever get to live in a pretty house like that someday. 

His parents live nearby as well as his younger sister’s family and he has a niece who’s four years old. And you want to ask so badly if he has a family of his own as well, but if he did, wouldn’t they be here with him? 

“Holy shit this is amazing,” he says through a muffled mouthful of the pumpkin bread you brought for him, “you made this from scratch?”

No. You used a pre-made mix. “Oh gosh, yes, I’m something of a little baker, if you will.”

He nods, letting out an indulgent sigh as he chews, eyes shutting close tightly in satisfaction of the taste and you find it amusing. He has a physical build that you could only assume requires an immense amount of discipline, but it’s kind of cute to see he’s somewhat weak for sweets.

You glance at the time on your phone. “Ah, I have to get going. I need to take my mom somewhere, but um, it was really nice meeting you! Hopefully I’ll see you around in the neighborhood?”

He nods his head, “oh, yeah, definitely.”

Your cheeks warm a little.

He walks you to the front entrance, and you briefly glance out the window into his driveway. “Oh. There’s a boat.”

He walks up right next to you, his arm pressed against your shoulder as he stands close, and you note that he smells so nice, like shampoo and clean laundry. The softness of his pajamas brushes against your skin and it makes you borderline dizzy.

Choso would be pissed off to the nines if he knew you were feeling things for your next-door-neighbor. Cut it out already, you think to yourself.

“Oh they finally brought my boat in,” he comments, “sweet.”

“That’s yours?” you ask, turning to face him in surprise, “it’s huge!”

“Yup, just bought it,” he says, shoving his hands in his pants pockets as he walks up to the window to peer out the blinds. “A beauty, she is.”

You roll your eyes. “It’s not a she, it’s an it.”

“To you, maybe. But to me?…she’s so much more than that,” he says, but there’s some self-regarding hint of satire in his voice.

“Uh-huh,” you say, slipping your shoes back on at the door. “It’s kind of…lengthy though. Where are you going to park it?”

He shrugs. “Probably right out there. Where it is right now.”

Where it is right now?!?! The hull is dangerously close to the entry of your driveway. There’s no way that would be agreeable with you. How are you supposed to pull your car in?

“Um. I’m pretty sure I’d have difficulties pulling my car in if you parked it there,” you tell him politely as he opens the door for you and you step out onto the concrete step of his front entrance.

You turn around to face him and see him squinting his eyes at his boat with inspection of your concern. Sorry for sounding repetitive, but it's seriously shocking. The way he looks. The way that small little expression—his eyes narrowing, brows furrowing, bottom lip slightly jutting out, all paired with the haphazard way his hair falls over his eyes—makes you stare at him like he’s some Grecian sculpture. It was a little concerning.

But, at the end of the day, attraction is merely cognitive, is it not? A social construct, if you will. Something that can go away just as easily as it comes, and then arrive once more as easily as it went away.

A pattern you’ll eventually realize a lot with your new next-door-neighbor, Gojo Satoru.

“Nah,” he says, “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

[end of drabble]

a/n. alternate universe where they fuck on the marble countertop of his kitchen island on first encounter pls

🏷️ @tremendousbouquetflower @semra4 @noctuaism @gojonegs @reinam00n

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@hermizery @manyno @idiot-juice-enthusiast @fairyflorasworld @teramisuyhin

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taglist is closed

[echantedtoon]

My opinions on who'd be the best parents out of all the Upper Moons from Best dads to Worst dads. No real order other than that though.

AKAZA:

-Look. This man already drinks respect women juice so already he's one of the best demons, as he would treat his lover great. So if he becomes a father then he'll be very attentive.

-As soon as he finds out his s/o is expecting be prepared to be taken cared off. Man will take care of you. holding your hair back when you have morning sickness, getting you any food You're craving (as long as it's night), buys(steals-) anything you may want or need-

-he learns how to cook meals if he can't steal what you want and has to make it instead

-You once caught him reading some early parenting books, and on another occasion he was found speaking to more experienced parents in the nearby town for advice.

-legit cries for hours when he holds his mini me for the first time.

-Would be a very overprotective but overall good dad. Will be attentive to both the baby and you as you recover from giving birth. Will carry them around in a sling when you need a break and will take care of any household needs.

-Will want to start training his baby in combat when they're toddlers because of the fear of something might happen when he's not there.

-You would have to talk to him about his overprotective nature when he literally starts wrapping the house in blankets, and preventing the child from actually doing anything by themselves in paranoia they'll hurt themselves. But other than that he's a very good father.

10/10 The best dad of the Upper Moons

DOUMA:

-Ok hear me out. Douma is obviously not very good father material, but he would actually have experience in being around children and what to expect from them from being around tons of his followers' children for legit hundreds of years. So he knows some stuff about kids and babies. Not enough to be a legit parent but enough to at least have a comfortable level of what to expect.

-First time you tell him you're expecting he legit thinks you're teasing him. It's not until he's in the middle of a meeting that it really hits him- "Oh....OOOOOhh no-" "What are you going on about now?!" "My wife is going to be very angry with me."

-He whined about being kicked out of your bedroom for a week.

-You would be very well cared for absolutely. With plenty of servants, guards, midwives, chefs, and other people that he's confident will help you- May or may not have quietly threatened their lives with your care behind the scenes.

-Douma as a dad has legit NO idea what he's doing. He will cling to them and you during your entire pregnancy and you would have to fight to get him to let go of you or the baby which he always whines about. His response is to let his child run wild doing whatever they want and to spoil them rotten. All legit parenting will have to fall upon you because this man will coddle the hell out of his hell spawns.

-Once took his newborn to a meeting to meet his 'boss' and fellow moons. All were horrified to know he actually reproduced. Especially Akaza- "Oh dear gods no. HE'S MULTIPLYING!!"

6/10 Only because of the good resources he has and the fact he has somewhat experience with kids

KOKUSHIBO:

-Despite his past, probably would be the better father right behind Akaza. He has both experience with having a previous family, and being Upper Moon One can guarantee the safety of his partner.

-However despite this he's not around a lot. Being Muzan's strongest demon means he's always on missions, so most of the care would have to fall on you during both the pregnancy and general raising of the children.

-However he will always come straight back home if he is needed for any emergencies. He was there when you gave birth and Muzan allowed him to stay the first five months to care for you and the babies as you recovered for being so loyal.

-He's very attentive to their needs and your needs, however he'd be emotionally a bit distant. Not on purpose, but he has trouble with his own childhood looming over him.

-If he has to watch them while working, he'll carry his babies around in one of those double baby harnesses with one strapped to his chest and the other two his back with his long hair pinned up. (He has twins I don't make the rules-) Many want to laugh but are too afraid to do so.

-He WILL be training them in swordsmanship. No it's not up for discussion. If they aren't born demon he fully intends on turning them (and you) later in life with complete loyalty to Muzan.

-Faints when you first find out it's twins-

-Despite that he has his moments. He treats both children the same. Possibly out of a hidden fear of his past repeating through them.

7/10 He has experience and his moments but he's already planned out their entire lives and yours.

GYUTARO + AUNT DAKI:

-This man blue screens, gets angry and accuses you of pranking him, goes blank again, and then faints when you first tell him...In that order.

-Daki both laughs when he faints thinking it's the funniest thing ever, and is excited to be an Auntie. She's already planning on what should be done, cute mini matching Auntie-Niece (she's positive it's gonna be a girl) outfits, and will randomly kidnap you to go shopping without telling her brother which causes him to freak out.

-If you think Akaza is overprotective, Gyutaro is OVER-OVERPROTECTIVE. Not that you blame him for the area he lives in and his past. You won't be allowed to leave your shared hidden home unless Daki randomly takes you out for 'girls night' or he's right there with you and even then you're not going more than a foot from his side. If he thinks if someone even looks at you wrong, they're disappearing the next night as dinner.

-He's raised Daki from a baby so he has somewhat of an idea of what to expect and do but he's absolutely terrified about something going wrong. Will it looks like him? Will it be demon, human, or something between? He silently prays that the baby looks more like you than him despite your attempts to comfort his worries.

-Daki is more of the level headed one here smacking her brother over the head when even she thinks he goes too far- "You idiot!! You can't just try to feed her raw meat!! That's not how humans work!!" Honestly there's been some cases where she snaps him back to reality.

-Went baby arrives both panic. Gyutaro faints twice. Once when you first tell him that the baby was coming, and then a second time when he gets you to the nearest doctor and hears the first cries of his baby.

-Relatively good dad. He loves his little spawn so much. Spends hours outside of missions, Daki, and everything else just holding them and staring in awe at this cute chubby drooling monster he helped to create. Will generally raise them the same way he did Daki as that's the only way he knows how, however the difference is that you're here for balance and help.

-Daki is that Aunt who will spoil her niece/nephew rotten. Has no problems watching baby for a few hours when you both are exhausted and want some couple time. However expect the baby to be a little spoiled because of her.

8/10 Baby boy is trying his best

6/10 Aunt score for Daki for good intentions but a bad spoiling influence

HANTENGU + CLONES:

-If you know his Origins then you already know he's definitely not someone you want to have children with. So if you were to have children with him then most of the childcare would fall upon you and/or his clones.

-They all have different reactions. Urami is just..going blank. Staring unbelievably. Hantengu just hides. That's it. He just skidaddles. Sekido.exe has stopped working. The anger clone just faints. Aizetsu cries and hugs you asking if everything feels ok. Karaku and Urogi are really the only two that are visibly super excited. Zohakutan just thinks the entire situation is unnecessary.

-Really the only four you can rely on is the clones. The problem is Sekido often argues about the best things to go around with Karaku and Urogi with literally EVERYTHING to do with the baby. ITS often "NO!! WE'RE NOT NAMING THEM AFTER EITHER OF YOU!!" Or "You're assembling the cradle all wrong!!" Or "UROGI GET YOUR DAM TALONS AWAY FROM HER STOMACH BEFORE I CLIP YOUR WINGS OFF!!" Anger man is stressed.

-When not fighting Sekido on EVERYTHING the happy duo are actually very attentive. Or Karaku is. Urogi half stays away due to fear of hurting you with his talons and half causes the biggest problem of all. His birb instincts keep telling him to safely move you to a makeshift nest he built and bring you deer and other animals he hunted for food. Whenever he places you up a tree in the 'nest' it sends the other three into panic attacks. Especially Sekido who starts a fight with the harpy after.

-The two who you mostly rely on is Aizetsu and Karaku. Problem is Karaku stresses about everything so he compensates it for crude humor and insensitive jabs at yourself. With the hormones he often unintentionally makes you upset or cry which in turn freaks him out and sends Sekido into another fight with them.

-Aizetsu is really the only calm one. He's used to literally everything. His brother's fighting, Hantengu's memories of past families, and everything else. So he's really the only sane one enough that takes you somewhere from the three to calm down, get you food, and give cuddles. Or whatever you need. He will cry when you cry though.

-This dynamic continues when your kiddo is born. Constantly arguing about what's best for the kiddo with you shaking your head in response.

4/10 Constantly bickering, fighting, and headaches for most of the babies childhood.

NAKIME:

-Not a woman who wants kids. I just don't see her having any. The closest you'd probably get is maybe a pet.

1/10 Only because she might be a good fur baby mom

KAIGAKU:

-Dont really see him as someone who'd want kids either but he might consider getting a dog with you.

1/10 Only because I can see him possibly adopting a big dog with you if you convinced him enough.

GYOKKO:

-No. Just......no. Bad idea.

0/10 Just no-

[ruruumin]

i'll love you in every universe.

₊˚ ᗢ modern au! alhaitham x hoyoverse! reader.

⤷ when you're his favorite video game character. - spoilers for honkai impact 3rd, houken gakuen 2, and honkai star rail.

looking for a partner to co-op with, kaveh asked alhaitham to install honkai impact 3rd. at first, the man scoffed at him, reluctantly downloading it to play with his roommate. he would have never expected in a million years, that he would fall so deeply into the rabbit hole called hoyoverse. he stays up late into the night, tapping away on his phone to grind for materials to upgrade his most beloved character: you.

kaveh didn’t understand his strange fascination with you. he had passed on your banner but alhaitham on the other hand, would constantly pull for you no matter what. blame it on his financial freedom, he said. you only deserved the best after all. you had your signature five-star weapon and stigmatas. his entire team was based on maximizing your potential, and he was often known as “that guy who only played (name)” on online co-ops. 

his love for you was very quiet but his actions were loud.

he liked you a lot more than he bargained for. he made you his favorite character on the main screen, tapping your speech bubble to hear your voice lines. you had a very calm and relaxing tone. it was like music to his ears. and he finds that when life gets busy, all he wants to do is lay in bed and spend time with you in the miniature house he’s built. none of this made sense to his roommate. why would a brooding guy such as him, fall so enamored by a bubbly, joyous character like you?

your story mode was the most played-through for him. having started as just another side character to kiana’s journey, you became an integral part of the world. his heart wrenched every time he saw your lowest moments, even when he knew you’d prevail in the end, it kept him on the edge of his seat. he was devastated at first to hear you would be a villain in the later arcs. he didn’t want to fight against you. though, he ultimately would, to see you return to normal (he’ll go out of his way to completely avoid fighting you in weekly bosses). 

when you held out your hand to kiana, looking into the camera with enough warmth to melt the sun itself, he was happy kaveh asked him to play.

one regret alhaitham has is not being early enough to play houken gakuen 2, the predecessor of honkai impact 3rd. he only saw small snippets of your character in the final scene. you were holding onto kiana, the light in your eyes having faded in an instant before the world reset itself.

kaveh suggested he play genshin impact next, considering their world is interconnected with honkai impact. alhaitham would yet again scoff until he saw you in sumeru’s trailer. he couldn’t believe it. there was another you. your personality was a lot calmer and more reserved. more logical, he’d say. despite only being a scribe in this universe, you were a dendro character very closely connected to your archon and played a big role in overthrowing the corrupt sages. 

he was happy to know that your voice had stayed the same. your love for food also remained the same. it gave him jitters when you invited him (technically traveler) into your home. you weren’t the same person as you were in honkai impact 3rd, but you shared the same charm as your previous counterpart. some of the dry comments you had made him smile, like the time you left the traveler with a simple “see ya.”

he continued to grind for your ascension, building his team around you as usual. while you had less of a part in this game, seeing you return was more than enough for him. 

something he was very happy about was because of the popularity of genshin impact, there was much more merchandise for him to buy. after coming home from an exhibit, kaveh was gawking at the sheer size of his haul. from keychains, pins, and buttons, alhaitham bought every single one of your merch. his room was beginning to look less and less professional and more… interesting. it definitely had character. he had an acrylic stand of you beside his computer, with a large statue of your character displayed on his shelf.

kaveh would complain to tighnari and cyno about how you might as well be a third roommate, considering how often he had to see your face around the house. none of that would matter though, as long as alhaitham was less grumpy and going out to play games with him, he actually saw it as a good change. it felt like he got to know more about his roommate than he did beforehand. 

finally, when honkai star rail came out, kaveh didn’t even have to tell him to download it. alhaitham already had it on his devices and started playing before he did. he knew based on the name and hoyo’s previous games, he’ll see you again. and he wants to be more than prepared (with money) to bring you home.

and he’s still not sick of your character yet. his heart was leaping to his throat in the dead of night when you appeared in front of trailblazer during the penacony questline. holding out your hand for them to grab. you pulled them out of the rubble, patting them on the shoulder before pulling them to safety. this version of you was also different from the rest. still gentle and soft-hearted, but… sadder.

in this universe, you had lost kiana and many of your friends. turning to a life of solitude, you became more closed off. it took a lot more time for this version of you to finally open up to him. you talked about your journey before meeting trailblazer. having roamed various worlds until hearing about the express crew. the way you looked at archeon made him hopeful that there was still something between you and the other reincarnations. but you wouldn’t remember her. let alone realize you used to be friends in another game and universe. while tragic, he still wanted to give you the best as he always did. 

the same old tactic: he’ll build another team just for you. and he’ll continue to buy merchandise of you. from m.rage jackets that hung in his closet like a prized possession, to notepads and acrylic blocks. he was single-handedly saving the small business market by how much (name) merchandise he was buying off of every artist that drew you. 

kaveh had given up on complaining and succumbed a little to his antics. for example, on alhaitham’s birthday, he was gifted with a very comical cake with your character drawn on top of it. it gave him a good laugh that day.

in every single universe, whether it be from honkai impact, genshin, or star rail, you’ll always be his favorite character. 

… so when you appeared in his world, he was unprepared.

[yaut-jaknowit]

The Fight Of A Lifetime

Pairing: We'ar-ow (Female Yautja) x GN!Reader

Word Count: 5509

Summary: The week is up. In one last try, you throw yourself at her feet and pleads her to not do this. As much as you don't want to watch, you can't not be there. If she were to die, Dwainet will kill you, might as well make it swift. So you go. We'ar-ow looks magnific in her armor and adorned in weapons. The two arrive in grand style. You're decked out, head to toe in everything We'ar-ow has given you. The battle commences.

Author Note: It has finally arrived! This is the second to the last chapter planned for this series. The climax of it all. I hoped the fighting scenes are alright. I hate writing fighting scenes. They need to be quick, fast and I like to describe everything. So, it's the opposite to what I do.

Masterlist

Ao3

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 17 | Part 18

Everyday since the challenge had been issued, We’ar-ow acted indifferent. Not a thing changed. She would take you to her throne room where she dealt with the dealings as the Monarch of her clan.

Well, besides the fact you admitted your love to the alien. Outside the safety of her quarters, We’ar-ow was the same Monarch everyone knew her as. Yet, inside those walls, specially when the night cycle fell upon the two of you, she would cuddle with you. Her eight foot and so frame was easily able to dwarf you. She’d scoop you to her torso and curl around you like some sort of brick wall. Imposing and immoveable.

It was impossible to nudge her even slightly to the side to get up when nature called. The lumbering giant female hugged you like a koala. There was little chance to escape unless you’ve threaten to piss in the bed or getting a UTI because you’re holding it for so long.

Besides the cuddling, that’s the only thing you’ve noticed. And that made you begin to think. The way she barely has changed her personality at first had you worried that she didn’t return your feelings. Then, you got to thinking.

If nothing had changed… maybe she has loved you from the beginning.

Then, to find you there, all those months ago, on the verge of crying couldn’t been fate. You don’t believe she had anything to do with Dwainet breaking up with you. It was the opportunity falling into her lap. We’ar-ow, the predator she is, took the chance to snatch you up before some other Yautja could. A lone pet without its master was a call for trouble.

Now, look where you are now. From the depths of food chain where Dwainet survived in as a newly blooded to the mate of the monarch. A clear glow up for yourself.

Including now; decked out in a finest of material Raunch designed for the day. You looked nothing less than a deity while standing in front of the mirror. The thin, see-through material flowing from around your neck and down your back was flowy. It attached at two points to your wrists. The brown easily complimenting the pink that made up the rest of your outfit Raunch threw you in.

His life must have been on the line when he created this because of how fabulous and stunning you looked in it. We’ar-ow wanted you nothing short of the deity she saw you as. You glanced at said Yautja through the mirror while she armored her up.

One creature soft, pliant, silky. The other rough, jig jagged, coarse. Two pieces of a puzzle that fit perfectly against the other. Both complimenting each other.

You couldn’t help the gentle smile to upturn your lips at the thought before it dropped. The realization of what was about to occur hitting you straight in the gut. This could be the last time you saw each other alive. Despite her plentiful reassurances that the day would go as planned, you are only human. And humans fretted, a lot. Any little thing could go wrong. And boom, she’s dead.

The blood in your veins ran cold. Death wasn’t new to you. Not when you’re surrounded by a species that hunted and prided themselves over the bodies they brought home. Or when they duke it out over a challenge thrown down. But to lose We’ar-ow. You couldn’t fathom the heartbreak it would bring upon you.

Goosebumps clouded your skin. The soft flesh of your bottom lip worried on by dull teeth. We’ar-ow’s strong gaze flickered over at you. Instantly, you straightened and found anywhere else to look at. Then, you attempted to relax and act natural in the face of your mate. Said Yautja began to stalk towards you before halting just shy of your back.

Her form towered even more with the added armor decorating her. She downright looked like a beast ready for the hunt. Your breath got caught in your throat when your eyes raked up her body in the mirror. She was stunning and terrifying all in the same boat.

The heat of her body blanketed you in comfort and helped ease the tension holding your shoulders. We’ar-ow reached around you to cup your throat and tilted your head back. “I have told you, there is nothing to fret about. I will be victorious. Not for me but for you, little one,” she growled and tugged you flush against the muscles that lined her thick thighs.

As much as you wanted to believe a hundred percent, there was that constant nagging inside of your mind. The part that will always make you human. The part that whispered from the depths that she will fail, she will fall, she will die. Then, you will have no choice but to be handed over to Dwainet. Once more in the hands of a sheep in wolf’s clothing.

A part that We’ar-ow can never quell.

“I am only human,” you muttered, eyes drifting down to look at the two of you in the mirror. Her claws lightly bit into the soft flesh of the back of your neck. But, We’ar-ow is careful, mindful of your more fragile form in her presences.

A grumble sounded from the back of her throat. “And I am the monarch of this clan. I have never lost a challenge. I will not lose this one. Not when I have something to lose, someone important,” her voice softened towards the end. Then, the pink Yautja bent at the waist to nuzzle her mandibles into your hair carefully with the decorations adorning your head. In her eyes, you rivaled Paya with your deity status.

Your orbs snapped up to the pink Yautja at your back, expression softening. “We’ar-ow,” you whispered her name then heavily sighed, eyes closing. This is a weight you never expected to bare. Not a weight that was meant for a Yautja more than you yourself.

“What can I do to make you believe me?” she mumbled into your hair then peered over to look you deeply into your eyes. “What will be the tip in the scales?” If you didn’t know any better, you could say she was begging for you to believe in her.

And that hurt you. Guilt burned a hole in your stomach. It was your own demons causing this issue to worsen with each denial that passed your lips and reflected in your eyes.

“Win the fight,” is all you can do to answer her. That will be what will make you believe her. When she brings you the head of the fallen Yautjas who will bring upon a fight that will challenge We’ar-ow in every sense of the word.

Her gaze hardened, mandibles pulled tight towards her mouth. Then, the Yautja leaned down and pressed them against your forehead in a mock kiss. “That I will, little ooman. That I will. All in the name of you. That scum will fall at my feet from my hands. Then, you won’t have to worry no longer.”

That eased the majority of the tension coiling in your muscles. But not all of it. You could still feel its burn in the back of your throat like acid. A feeling that would never go away. Not until the problem had been dealt with at the source. You prayed to their god, Paya, for this day to go the way you wanted. To see We’ar-ow’s beautiful face at the end of the day.

In tandem, side by side, you left the safety of her quarters for the hallways of her ship. Whatever shield that place put over you washed away the moment you stepped into the hallway. Less doors to protect you from the hazards of being on a Yautja mothership. You walked with your shoulders squared and back. A stance of pride that was felt in each step you took.

The doors of the elevator opened to reveal a face you were relieved to see. Xilomere. Him and his goofy, alien smile was a sight for sore eyes. You almost ran up to him to give him a hug. Today is a day you needed all the support possible. Anything to get you through the events planned.

Next to him was someone you’ve only seen once before. One of We’ar-ow’s sister’s who is on her council team. You politely dipped your head at her with a closed lip smile. The last thing you wanted to do was piss off her. We’ar-ow had enough to deal with today. She doesn’t need to put herself into a problem you created. Well, another problem you created.

“Xilomere, I’m so glad to see you,” you spoke, your face spilt with a closed smile. Your eyes shined with your feelings.

The green male set his palm on your shoulder and gave a welcoming shake. “I wouldn’t miss today even if I was legless. Plus, someone needs to keep an eye out just encase Dwainet is gonna play games. Who knows if he’ll break some more rules today.” The helped more to ease your racing heart. He was going to protect you while We’ar-ow fought. Like he said, who knows if Dwainet may send one of his goons after you while We’ar-ow is distracted.

Her sister, a beautiful shade of tans, beiges, and browns, huffed at Xilo. “So will I,” she rumbled and looked down at you. “I will protect you from any harm. I promise both you and my sister this.” Your heart soften even more from her words. The two of them, barely knowing, are willing to put their lives on the line in case of an attack for you. It was probably mainly for We’ar-ow but still.

You dipped your head deeply. “Thank you. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate that. Truly, thank you.” They returned to motion themselves.

We’ar-ow stepped up behind you and held both of your shoulders. “It is time we go. Dunkot is escorting the prisoners as we speak,” the pink Yautja wormed her way into the conversation. Not that you minded. You tilted your head back, throat completely exposed, to look up at her. The monarch of this ship was willing to put her neck out for you. To keep you protected. Not even Dwainet had done that.

Clearly, you’ve found the one.

As if the four of you were marching like soldiers, you stepped in time with one another. We’ar-ow kept the pace slow enough for you to easily keep up. You march side by side with her. Xilomere and her sister watched your backs the entire time.

Instead of the normal pathing to the throne room you were used to, We’ar-ow led the four of you down a different set of hallways and elevators. Down to the kehrites. A section of the ship you barely have been down to. Not unless you were begging for trouble that is.

All four of your entered the kehrites. Your jaw dropped though. These weren’t the mediocre sized classroom kehrites. No, they had knocked down all of the walls somehow and put in a few risers.

Every available space was consumed by the hundreds of bodies squished into the open area. There was even young children and unbloodeds who were stationed at the front for the best possible view.

A section in the middle of everyone was open and set up with a stage. We’ar-ow wanted everyone to see her beat Dwainet into the ground like the way he deserves. The way needs to be put down like the asshole he is. He doesn’t deserve to breath the same air as you. You couldn’t wait for the end but at the same time, you didn’t even want the battle to start. Not with We’ar-ow’s life on the line.

Your head held up high, you followed We’ar-ow over to a designated section carved out for you and your bodyguards. A seat that resembled a throne had been set up. The perfect size for you. It wasn’t fancy like We’ar-ow’s in the throne room but it was more than enough to state your status. She motioned you to climb the three stairs and sit upon it.

The plush seat met your butt allowed you comfort. It gave you an additional height against the larger aliens that filled this room. You didn’t feel small. We’ar-ow looked at you. You looked at her.

Everything else didn’t matter. You reached out despite your brain screaming at you that it was a bad idea. We’ar-ow leaned in and allowed for your hand to cup her cheek. Her warmth raced up your fingertips to settle in your heart. You had found a way to love again and that too was threatened all over again. It burned you had no way to help or fix this problem you created. You could only trust We’ar-ow to overcome the challenge that stood in her way to having you strictly to herself.

Xilomere and We’ar-ow’s sister stood directly on either side of you. His usually goofy expression was replaced by a hardened look that would take years to perfect. A warrior born and raised for the fight. The sister had one as well. Both were armed to the teeth with weapons. Unlike you who was adorn with soft, plush cloth for a gentle figure, they were prepared to take down an army if it came down to that.

The softer texture of We’ar-ow’s face rubbed against your palm. You tugged her closer to you and pushed your forehead against hers. Screw whatever anyone might think about this. You didn’t care. Not when everything was on the line. Your livelihood, your love, the one person you’ve found comfort in.

“Win this. My heart is yours,” you stated firmly, nails biting into the skin behind her jaw before letting go and leaning back into the throne.

We’ar-ow returned to her full height. “Mine has been yours since the beginning.”

Shock filled your system. You opened your mouth to respond but the sound of marching feet interrupted you. We’ar-ow turned her back on you to face the oncoming fleet.

Your thoughts whirled around inside your head, knocking into each and causing chaos in the making. There was no time to reel them in either. The best you could do in the moment was to shove them into a box and close the lid. Because, the moment a familiar form stepped around the corner, you pulled on your stoic façade and stared the beast. The monster who caused all of this. All of this for his moment in the spotlight.

Duknot practically dragged the dishonorable male into the room. He wouldn’t allow for him to attempt to walk and forced him to stumble and flail. Humiliation. Two other males were secured in chains behind Dwainet. Their guards weren’t as demanding.

From their faces and low amount of scars, neither were high ranking. Three low ranks against a monarch. You were feeling a little better at the realization. Her chances of winning had increased.

All three of them were shoved onto the stage. Their chains didn’t allow for them to catch themselves. You bite at the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from laughing outright when they fell on their faces. Dunkot’s expression cracked with a hint of smirk. Then, he hopped onto the stage with two other guards.

Dwainet was hauled up by Duknot’s strength alone and placed back onto his feet. A hardy glare was sent to the guard but it was simply brushed off. In unison, the chains crashed to the ground. The sound echoing throughout the room after everyone had gone quiet. You felt your heart stuttered at the fact the traitor had been freed.

At your sides stood your guards. At your front stood the first and last person who would fight until her dying breath for you. You were safe.

Now, on the platform, Dwainet stood tall and scanned the crowd before his sharp eyes landed on you. Yet, you acted no different. A neutral expression is all he was faced with. He could see you from over We’ar-ow’s shoulders. She corrected this by sidestepping and blocking his vision. All the attention on her now.

His companions climbed to their feet as well and rubbed at their sore risks. From the space, you couldn’t hear what their chittered to one another. The translator unable to pick up from that far.

This was it.

On We’ar-ow’s side, she unclipped her combi-stick and opened it up. With a mighty slam, a loud clang gathered everyone’s attention to her now.

“Thank you all for coming to this special occasion. A lot has occurred over these last few weeks. A lot of information circulating between everyone. I’ve come to quell this unrest once and for all. Dwainet will succumb to the crimes he’s completed,” We’ar-ow started off when she rallied the entire clan’s attention to her.

Her voice echoed throughout the expanded room. “From this moment on, he has been deemed as a bad blood. He’s attacked a defenseless, weaponless creature. My pet under my protection had been injured by him. A crime such like that has brought upon his fate as a bad blood.” You couldn’t help up internally flinching at the reminder. It still felt fresh after all this time. To have someone you once loved so much attempt to murder you.

Horrible laughter rung out from the platform. “Oh, monarch. You can’t even protect the worthless pet in your protection.” Dwainet scanned the surrounding area. “You are weak. You are fragile. I can’t wait to beat you into the bloody pulp since day one. The title as monarch will be mine and you will be dead,” Dwainet boomed and kept his gaze moving.

You could tell he was trying to rile the clan up. In the presence of their monarch, no one even said a sound. The tension and fear palpable in the air.

With her back to you, you could feel the smirk etching its way onto her face. She expanded her arms out at her sides. “No one agrees with you, Dwainet. They see the truth. I true with a mighty fist but I know how much strength to use. I know the limitations. I know what this clan needs.” You hoped that the truth. We’ar-ow was a once in a lifetime leader. One that is needed in every clan across the board. Dwainet, he was the opposite of what We’ar-ow stood for.

A snarl ripped through Dwainet throat, his claws flexing at his side. You smirked and sat up straighter in your throne. You were heavily proud of We’ar-ow.

“Now, are you going to keep bickering or are you going to face your fate? I’ve got plans after this,” We’ar-ow drawled and crossed her arms.

Dwainet glanced behind him where his helpers stood. One was clearly nervous at the upcoming battle. The other was attempting to hold it in. These were just newly bloods like Dwainet himself. They weren’t as skilled as We’ar-ow. What was Dwainet thinking?

His gaze returned to her. “You shouldn’t have. There is nothing for you after this except for meeting Cetanu,” he growled and stomped down a foot on the platform. You could feel the eyeroll coming from We’ar-ow without her even looking at you. One that Dwainet whole heartily deserved.

We’ar-ow glanced over her shoulder one last time before marching straight into battle. The muscles that lined her back rippled with each step. Where her heart resides was protected by her metal armor covered by a pelt she earned herself. Both on her chest and back.

You couldn’t help but peek at the two body guards standing at your sides. Xilomere held onto his Combistick, his gaze directly in front of him and scanned the area thoroughly. We’ar-ow’s sister brandished two dual swords while preforming the same action. Both were on high alert. You were grateful for them and their willingness to do this.

The comfort of We’ar-ow’s presences left you. It was your turn to hold down the fort and wait for her return. You gripped the arms of the throne, white knuckling it before glancing at the sister again.

A thought nagged at the back of your mind. You nervously flickered your gaze around before leaning towards her. “I’ve realized I never caught your name,” you whispered in the quiet space, mindful of how loud your voice could grow.

“T'ah'keiad,” she calmly states yet never looks down at you. That would compromise her job as a body guard. Your eyes widened at the interesting name, lips pressed together. “For your ooman mind to understand, you can call me Kei.” You were thankful she understood her name may be difficult at first to speak. Your head dipped in thanks.

Then, you returned to scene unfolding before your very eyes.

We’ar-ow simply stepped onto the platform and towered over the males that opposed her. “Duknot, relieve their weapons to them,” she rumbled but kept a keen eye on Dwainet. He was the only one she truly had to worry about. She knew his tactics and how sneak he really could be. The others, she may not know how they fight but they couldn’t be worse than Dwainet. He was a disdain on her clanship.

The skin of your bottom lip was worried away by dull teeth. You couldn’t help it. Not with her standing directly in front of Dwainet and allowing for them to have their weapons. They were already adorn in meek armor. Armor that is what many new bloods only have. They don’t have enough ‘street cred’ to get anything better from any of the merchants.

Not once did We’ar-ow turn her back to Dwainet or his two helpers. Instead, she backed up to the edge of the platform and waited.

Dunkot stood in the middle like a referee. Two of the guards produced said weapons and handed them over. They returned to the flat ground and stood off to the side. Dunkot stayed in the center.

“As requested by our Monarch We’ar-ow, this challenge will be a battle to the death. Whoever is last to stand will be proclaimed at the new monarch per our rules. May your hands be true!” His voice boomed out over the area. Roars echoed from the crowd afterwards, deafening. You clapped your hands over your ears to protect them from terrible sound. It barely saved your ear drums from exploding.

Then, he left the platform. A strange shimmer rolled down from the ceiling and surrounded the platform. It was a shield to protect the crowd. Smart.

Before you had a chance to contemplate all of this, a loud bell sounded. Instantly, you knew what that meant.

In your throne, you had a front row seat to watch the fight unfold your very worried eyes. Despite your brain desperately wanting for you turn away and cower like the prey everyone thought you as, you held unsteadily strong. You watched with baited breath when We’ar-ow lifted up a crossbow and shot off a bolt directly at Dwainet.

The young male is able to narrowly dodge the flying bolt by rolling to the side. But, his partners in crime aren’t as lucky. It strikes one directly in the shoulder and pushes him back against the invisible shield. He chokes on a grunt and grabs at the bolt. The wood was snapped off to leave just the head inside but the damage had been dealt.

Dwainet goes for offense. He’s swift to get into We’ar-ow’s personal space. Flurries of kicks and punches were all deflected in matter of seconds. His hits hard, mean, likely to leave a bruise later on.

One of the other Yautjas tries to attack from the back. We’ar-ow ducks a hit from Dwainet and sticks out a leg to trip the darker red Yautja behind her. They fumble then fall back.

Finally, the last Yautja, a lighter red comes in by launching himself into the air. He believed We’ar-ow was distracted. She grasped Dwainet’s throat then aimed her crossbow once more at the already injured male. A bolt flies. It strikes him square in the chest. He fumbles and smashes in the space in front of We’ar-ow. The pink Yautja slams Dwainet down and picks up a foot.

The light Yautja’s head is crushed below her heel like the insect he was. Green blood stains the ground and coats the shield. You gasped and overed your mouth.

A throwing knife sticks out of We’ar-ow’s side. She acts no different. Her hand squeezing the life out of Dwainet. More pierce her hide to the point she picked up Dwainet again and threw him into the red Yautja.

They collided harshly with each other before slamming into the shield and flopping to the ground a pile. We’ar-ow moves with purpose over to the two scrambling forms. The crossbow back on her hip. She swipes Dwainet off of the ground again by his throat and holds him up. Her foot presses into the vulnerable area of the downed Yautja. The rings protecting his skin barely able to hold against her weight.

Her only foot on the ground is swiped from underneath her. Dwainet is allowed to be let loose. She is able to roll onto her stomach as claws swiped for her torso. Your eyes widened at the sight of her blood staining the floor this time. You sat more forward in your chair and played with your hands.

Red gets on top of her and grabs harshly at her neatly braided tresses. He pulls. We’ar-ow yanks her head forward. You gasped. Loose dreads hang in his hands, bleeding at the roots. You knew that had to hurt a lot.

We’ar-ow rams her elbow into Red’s side and knocks the wind out of him. A foot flies towards her face. She narrowly dodges a bad blow and latches her fangs into flesh. Dwainet roars and yanks his ankle from her mouth. Blood dripping down from the new wound.

Rage is a wildfire in his eyes. You had to stop yourself from curling into yourself at the sight. He snatches an axe from his belt and swung high above his head. No! You covered your mouth with both of your hands, unable to do anything to stop it.

In a terrifying slowness, it came down. Here you were, stuck in your chair, with a shield blocking you from the love of your life. You were forced to watch as Dwainet brought down the axe.

Her name left you lips in a cry.

The sickening sound of the axe sinking in will forever haunt your mind. You flinched away from the sight and covered your ears, unable to watch the final blow.

Dwainet roars. Pained. Confusion flooded your system. You picked up your head and looked back at the platform. Red was off of her back. Both of the male had been lifted up by their necks, forced to claw at her hands. The axe was imbedded into the metal floor besides were We’ar-ow’s head once was.

The pink female shoved both of the males against the shield directly in front of you. Her eyes pinned to your shaking form. You uncurled from your cowering position and looked up at her through blurry eyes. The sight of her alive form had your body sagging. She was okay. She was alive.

We’ar-ow dropped red then swiftly kicked one of his knees. A sickening crack echoing over the roars and cheers of the riled up clan. He dropped down where she knocked him down onto his back. In a similar fashion, she stomped down on his head, caving in his face. He too was dead.

You didn’t even flinch this time. Your eyes watched every move.

In her hand, Dwainet struggled and wriggled like a worm. His claws dug into her arms, anything to grant him release. He couldn’t get out of Dwainet fatal hold.

His feet dangled above the platform. We’ar-ow was able to hold him up without the aid of both arms or the shield. She snatched both of his wrists though and leaned forward. Your head tilted, brows furrowing on why she was making herself vulnerable for attack. Her mandibles twitched with words that your translator couldn’t pick up. You couldn’t only imagine what she was promising.

Then, he went soaring through the air and smashed into the ground and rolled before coming to a stop. He groaned while on his back. We’ar-ow unsheathed a machete from her waist band and brandished. The sharpened edge glinted from the overhead lights.

At her approach, Dwainet scrambled to his feet a moment to late. We’ar-ow swung and struck his forearm, just below his elbow. The blade sliced clean through muscle and bone alike. The injured Yautja choked on a cry and stumbled back and clutched at his profusely bleeding arm. You jerked your head back, eyes expanded at the terrifying sight before you.

His amputated arm flopped to the floor in a bloody, neon green heap. This when it finally hit you that this is where Dwainet was going to die. This was truly happening. Dwainet was about to be murdered right in front of you by your… mate. You just stayed sat and watched everything.

A snarl ripped from Dwainet’s throat. He glared daggers at We’ar-ow with a passion of hatred. With his only hand reminding, he brandished at  knife and raised it above his head. The blade came down. We’ar-ow meets the offending hand with her own weapon. The cut was clean through his wrist as well. Another cry croaked from his hoarse throat. He collapsed to his knees as blood spurted from his amputated hands.

He didn’t raise his head to look death in the eye. We’ar-ow used the tip of her machete to tip his head up. Something primal and deep rumbled from her chest. Dwainet’s entire body froze as if he saw Cetanu himself. She stepped behind his deer in headlights position and faced you.

Despite the distance, you met her gaze. The machete was clipped to her belt again. We’ar-ow grasped his tresses with one hand. The male grunts and folds his mandibles in tightly to his face. His expression neutral. He knew what was to come.

We’ar-ow’s muscles flexed. A sharp crack pierced through the air. Life still shone in Dwainet’s grey eyes. Then, a roar sounded from your mate. Flesh and muscles alike ripped in a grotesque sound. You had to stop yourself from throwing up your lunch, but neither could you look away.

Green, neon blood dripped down to pool on the platform. Cheers of triumph echoed throughout the modified stadium. You could feel the ground rumbling underneath you, but all was quiet. The dead eyes of your ex-mate staring directly into your soul. The finale had come to a close. We’ar-ow stands as the winner once and for all.

Sound floods back into your ears, deafening to the point they rung. The shimmer of the shield faded away and allowed We’ar-ow freedom. The pink Yautja was the only one to move. Her thick legs dropped down from the platform and marched straight towards you. As much as you wanted to leap out of your chair and ensnared her in a hug, the blood of her enemies painting her skin reframed you.

Her yellow eyes met yours for an infinity. One of her knees dropped to the floor causing a silence to steal the noise of everyone. All was quiet. You gasped, instantly knowing a monarch kneeling was trouble.

In her bloodied hands, she presented you the head of Dwainet. Your heart pounded in your ears.

Your name was boomed across the room. “Do you accept this trophy as a gift of courtship?” We’ar-ow asked and watched every little sign from your expressions. Your eyes nearly bulged out of your head. Gasps from the crowd could be heard. Chitters and clicks as the translator only focused on the Yautja in front of you.

She was asking for you to be her mate… in front of the clan. She was laying claim over you more than the mark etched into your skin.

A few seconds ticked by. You nodded rapidly and rushed forwards. The head was dodged. Your arms wrapped tightly around We’ar-ow’s neck in hold she wouldn’t dare try to get you off. The blood of four was rubbed into your skin, including the life essence dripping from her missing tresses. We’ar-ow was swift to return the gesture, understanding this meant ‘yes’ in human.

Bellows escaped from the crowd but it was a sound you could care less about. Today was the day that marked the new chapter in your life. A newfound freedom from the chains Dwainet had weighed down on you. You had power not even the highest Yautja aboard this ship besides the monarch has. From the bottom of the barrel to sitting on a throne, you’ve grown.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 17 | Part 18

[perseruna]

Endiness made a beautiful long post with all his quotes on that topic that I think is very informative and worth looking at, so here’s a link to that. And with that already discussed, I thought I’d make a thread of all his changes that we are aware of, because when you look into them, you find that none of his “book accurate” changes are actually book accurate. 

His decision to make Geralt grunt and cut his lines.

HC: "All the grunts, I either added or I didn't say anything and just grunted instead. It was often up to the other actors to go, 'I think he's not gonna say anything now.'"

JB: "Henry likes to cut his lines, 'cause he's lazy. No, he literally just likes to cut them. He likes to do more up here [frames his face with his hands] and just with face and hmms and grunts. There's a lot of hmms, and so I often have to take a lot of his lines and turn it into a lot of my stuff so that the plot happens."

So, as everyone who has read the books knows that Geralt is and always has been a yapper. Gerakt often talks or thinks in monologues, and definitely not in short grunts.

Of course when the audience started making fun of Geralt for not being able to speak in full sentences Henry promptly went back on admitting the blame and instead said that the big bad writers were the ones who didn't give him lines, and now it was his life’s mission to fight for a book accurate Geralt who speaks. 

Roach’s death scene

After S2 came out, Lauren received a lot of backlash for Roach’s death scene, with multiple sources citing that she wanted the moment to be more “comedic” before the brave Henry Cavill stepped in and refused to participate in such horrible anti source material activities.

LH: "Henry was so unhappy with the line. Finally I said, 'You know what, you come up with something. I trust you, you know this material so well, you know the book so well, you don't even have to pitch it to me.' And he came back the next day with a beautiful speech that's at the end of 'Sword of Destiny' when Geralt is facing death.”

This is the line he ended up using:

“Enjoy your last walk across the meadow and through the mist. Be not afraid of her for she is your friend."

This was Lauren’s response AND the original line.

LH: “Here's what was scripted, in homage of the fact that a previous Roach had existed, and another one will exist soon. It's hardly a joke. Henry wanted a longer, more emotional moment, which I was more than happy to give him. Don't create drama where none exists.”

So in S2 Geralt ends up quoting a part of his monologue from ‘Sword of Destiny’ when he’s at his lowest after thinking that Yennefer had died at the battle of Sodden Hill, and he has nothing left to live for. Which to me doesn't work that well with Roach at all. That line was a response to Geralt thinking he's lost the love of his life, not his horse. In my opinion, the original line Lauren penned out is more heartfelt and actually more emotional and more book accurate as well.

The absolute removal of any Triss and Geralt “romance”

This one we don’t have that much information on in comparison to others. But there were multiple reports that at the beginning of S2 Triss and Geralt were supposed to have some kind of a romantic scene with each other which then was cut during production, and it was largely speculated that it was due to Henry Cavill. 

“Several months ago we reported on a sex scene happening between Geralt and Triss, sometime in the first half of Season 2. That didn’t happen, as we all saw, but here’s what we know about the original plan for that: Geralt and Triss are in a room together, they seem friendly at first. They are playing some kind of weird game. Whoever wins a round, gets to ask a question. We’re not privy to the exact flow of the conversation, but it eventually leads to both of them ending up in bed. We can only guess why this was cut, but perhaps it was thanks to Henry Cavill.”

Now, irrelevantly on your feelings on book Triss and Geralt you have to admit that that short-lived “romance” is indeed a part of the books and therefor book accurate. So the removal of it would go against Mr I’m fighting to make this show as much book accurate as possible. 

The removal of the Yen and Geralt sex scene in S2

"We just wanted to be very careful that it was true and real, and it didn't turn into something that we, as actors, didn't believe it should be," Cavill stated. When Yennefer and Geralt unite, they embrace, but it doesn't go further than that. He continued: "We wanted it to be emotional rather than sexual. It was really, really important, and we had to lean away from what was originally on the page." Initially, Geralt and Yennefer were written to have a more passionate night. Henry Cavill and Anya Chalotra went to "The Witcher" producers and explained why they thought a steamy evening was not the way to go. "These are people who believe one thing about the fate of another and then find out something else is true," Cavill said about Geralt believing Yennefer was dead. "That's not how they behave," the actor added. "How they behave is they just want to be with the person and emotionally recognize their existence again in that shared space.”

This one is a bit tricky because I am willing to get behind an actor who doesn't want to do a sex scene out of comfort reasons or whatnot, but Henry saying that "That's not how [Yennefer and Geralt] behave”, is quite absurd in my opinion. Because that is very much how Geralt and Yennefer behave, especially in the short stories and ToC. They are inherently a very sexual couple who come crashing in and out of each other’s lives while having very passionate sex. But I can understand wanting this scene to be more “emotional” (as if sex isn't emotional), so this one I am willing to give him a bit more leeway on. (But then again looking at the blinds saying that he refused any sex scenes because oh his “ideals” and was allegedly really nasty to Anya about it, well..)

Geralt being the perfect father figure to Ciri with no flaws and no struggles (which inevitably snowballed into the Yen Betrayal Arc)

This one I don’t see talked that much at all, and to me this one is his most detrimental one. 

@LHissrich: “In interviews, Henry explains how he felt strongly that Geralt NOT be bumbling, nor a struggling father figure. In fact, a lot of S2 is about how Geralt does come from a loving (albeit unconventional) family. Henry was passionate about this shift, and we discussed it a lot, and ultimately thought it was wonderful for his character development. But it also had the domino effect of changing what Ciri needed from Yen when she entered the picture. Thus, introducing the idea of balance.”

So I don’t know about you, but I love when characters have flaws and naturally progress be it for good or bad, some would say that that's what story telling is about, well that someone wouldn't be Henry Cavil. Geralt being a struggling father figure at first, someone who makes mistakes and learns from them and tries is very much a prominent theme in Blood of Elves and is actually very real, people make mistakes! Especially in huge shifts such as “becoming a father overnight’ but we didn't get that because Henry refused to play it that way. What we got is Geralt who already basically knows exactly how to parent, he always knows what to say, what pep talk to give and also doesn't hold any resentment and any negative feelings towards Vesemir at all. It's all one dimensional happy family here! Which goes against not only the books but what he preached about fighting tooth and nail to make the “forgotten” male characters three-dimensional as well because the horrible feminist Lauren only thinks about female characters. 

Lauren then goes on saying that “it also had the domino effect of changing what Ciri needed from Yen when she entered the picture. Thus, introducing the idea of balance” So, it is fair to speculate that Henry’s refusal to showcase Geralt having any flaws at all and act book accurate snowballed into The Controversial Yennefer Betrayal Arc. 

These are the ones that I can remember off the top off my head, so there might be more, there’s probably more that we aren’t even aware of. I think putting them all together showcase a very interesting picture. One of Henry Cavill never actually understanding who Geralt fundamentally is as a character, and of him not being a team player at all. I just hope that more and more people are aware of the insane PR his team did for him when it came to this show, and that more people are able to see through it. 

[liamket]

THERE WAS AN UPDATE SLEEPING? WHATS THAT??

first of all we start with this beautiful shot

god thats some cool architecture i have no words clapping

Wind is so ready to kick that lizard's ass i love him

this confirms the fact that theyre in the same place but in a different era (also i swear im convinced that this place takes place at least no far from Hyrule's era, the statue behind Legend and the corridors inside are almost the same as in Zelda1 and 2)

that was the worst joke i have heard today good job rulie lots of kudos /lh

the boys entering a place where they could find the most dangerous shit in all Hyrule, and then there's my girl who is having the best lunch ever

when i first read this i almost spit all my water on my phone cuz. Wars my man these people are like. crazy with dungeon crawl. you can't say that and expect a normal reaction.

their expressions are gold no notes

TIME'S SIDE EYE LMAO

Sky looking concerned, and Wars with the most "i dont know what is everyones problem but alright" face i love him

In a war there's no time to explore or search for things that can be useful, or even search for clues, less with the fact that youre leading an army. There was no puzzle, no mistery to solve or objects that needed to be obtained, just plain fight and confrontation, not leaving space for investigation or even a good rest in town

They have a point, without exploring they wouldn't have the arsenal that they carry; powerful items that can kill a whole army of monsters, a gift left by the hero before them to help, shinies. All that is really useful when you want to save the whole kingdom

lets not forget all the weapons that you can get on HW, there are some that are like, crazy powerful, and the materials get from the enemies are also really helpful

guys i think youre the only crazy people who love to enter a random place full of monsters and maybe a demon lord or smth

OK THIS IS THE PANNEL WHERE I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE ABT

This reminds me of this short comic where Wild was almost grabbed by a wallmaster, do this takes place some time before this scene?? or just from another time?? I find possible the first option cuz Wild looks more wary the whole update, like if he already found out what will happends if he puts his guard down

Also the fact that the closest thing that he had as a dungeon were the Divine Beast and the shrines, which both of them lacked a lot of things that were usually in the clasic zelda's dungeons, like keys, mini bosses, special object and pots.

Hyrule my guy you dont. have to scare him like that. i hate these things too but calm down.

fucking gremlin /pos

taking this as an opportunity to talk about how Legend's behaviour has been seen changed in the past updates, he's more relaxed and playful, taking a moment to just have fun and prank the rest of the chain

this reminds me

here is left clear that he's still young, maybe not even on his twenties, and now after that stressfull time with Twi being on the verge of death it makes sense that he feels the need of just, goof around to cope after all that

Yes he's the most experienced, yes is maybe the most powerful of them, but he's still a young boy who was dragged to all this, he deserves to have some fun

happy guy :)

and then we have Time, he looks like Not Having A Good Time™

Messy hair Warriors <3

also i know we all put Sky as one of the adults, but cmon he's a little shit as much as the rest, thats why he finds funny Legend's joke

Wild my man you good? like im genuinely asking at this point, it is weird seeing him so serious

god thats such a cool design of a skulltula, its so scary 10/10

Wild has never seen in his life a spider of this size, so it makes sense him just, straight up getting surprised by that thing

OUGHH I FELT THAT

Sky being right-handed looks like a problem in this closed space, soon or later it would make some troubles

Legend no offence but did you see the little accident they had right there. like. that really hurts if you ask me.

Okay Time is really at his limit here, the past days has been hell for him with the stress of almost loosing the one that he might see as his son, and seeing all the boys just playing around is not helping. Theyre all heroes, they should take this danger seriously if they want to stop all danger.

He wants to protect the ones that he cares for, even if he has to snap for it.

Here he might be planning to team up with Twi and Wind? The youngest seems to have gained his attention as his second successor. He will make anything it takes to not let all of them get hurt, and with everything he means it

Just wait when he learns that Legend is also his successor, automatically adopted

NOW MY FAV PARTS WITHOUT COMMENTARY!!!

SOMEHOW I GOT THE IMAGE LIMIT???? I DIDNT THOUGHT THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE ON WEB

anyways have confused warriors as the last one pls aprecciate him

tumblr pls let me eat the art i beg you

art credits as always towards @linkeduniverse! always feeling blessed with all this fantastic work!

[codegeassfacts]

A Collection of Code Geass Season 1 Informations from Various Sources and Interviews // Canon

I've reunited in there all of the various information I couldn't fit into full fleshed out post and only kept the one with sources (that mostly came for Celiss Galvea Geass legacy), that were mentionned in various corner of the web, so there might be some missing as I don't want to share rumors/unconfirmed material. You'll be able to find the same similar Collection for R2 right there.

The title “Code Geass” was a fairly last-minute decision (the tentative title was “Lelouch of the Rebellion”) The production team were in a panic over the lack of a proper title; “We need a title to design the title logo!” etc. (ura de net geass!)

An 8 hour meeting was held to determine C.C.’s name and real identity. Supposedly none of the participants ate or drank throughout the whole thing (Okouchi: “Give me something to eat!”) According to Yoshino, whenever he thought the meeting was about to come to an end, someone would start up again and the meeting would continue with no end in sight. XD . (ura de net geass)

The hero wasn't meant to be an anti hero like Lelouch, but an ace pilot, just like in most anime from SUNRISE (Taniguchi/Okouchi Interview)

At first Lelouch had white hair, Shirley had blue hair and the Ashford uniform was red, that's why some old school scans show the characters with those colors.

Kallen's first name was Akira, then Kallen (Mutuality Artbook)

C.C. had a name during the creation phase, it was Sera, but nothing says it stayed the same, in Stage 11, Jun Fukuyama, Lelouch's voice actor actually spoke her real name but they decided to cut his voice during the montage. (Mutuality Artbook + DVD commentary) Yukana's voice work profile also used to say the name of her character in Geass was "Sera/Cera."

There was a classement of the boobies size of the girls of the anime which went out in a magazine and you'd be glad to learn that Milly has the biggest boobs of them all ; Lelouch's mother is a close second and Kallen takes the third spot. (Newtype)

Lelouch's line in Stage 14 when he erases Shirley's memories "if there is another life…" was supposed to end up like that "…let us be lovers" but it was eventually cut out. (Shirley gave the full line in the best phrase award session stage 14 to 25 of the first DVD of season 1)

When asked about a possible romance between Lelouch and C.C.,(During S1) Taniguchi said that for that to happen, Lelouch would need to see C.C. as a human being, for he was currently seeing her as some kind of alien (That's why he was about to take a blood sample in Stage 11) (Newtype interview)

About romance, Taniguchi said there would be romantic devellopment for Lelouch in season 2 and that it was left out of season 1 to focus more on Lelouch's goals (destroy Britannia, happy world for Nunnally) and him setting up his rebellion to avoid complicating matters (pash ! interview )

Kallen's story was moved to R2 when it was announced they'd be getting a season 2, that's why she became less present within the second half of season 1 (Fake Okouchi interview)

Suzaku isn't a virgin and is said to be experienced, but we don't know who the lucky girl was ; We know his first love was an older woman, that's probably why he had some form of relationship with Cecile, even if she'll be more of a big sister than a lady mama for him eventually. (Commentary DVD of Turn 19)

Zero was meant to kiss Kallen at the end of the first season to give her courage and determination after being shaken up; she was meant to remember the scene during a fight, but the kiss was removed because Season 2 was coming and a lot of arrangments had to be made around Stage 20 (Megami Magazine /Fake Okouchi)

Kallen doesnt know how to cook, if she tries to make bread, it will turn into ashes; (Kallen's character information given to her seiyuu, Ami Koshimizu)

Jeremiah was meant to die at the beginning of season 1 but he had so much popularity within the staff (and in 2ch) that they chose to bring him back to life. Twice. (Taniguchi interview)

Zero was one of the first character to be created, Okouchi wanted a masked man because a Sunrise anime without a masked man didn't seemed right (Taniguchi x Okhawa Interview)

In case the sequel wasn’t greenlighted (they already received the OK for it back in December 2007 at least), they had an alternative route prepared for the story to take, one which would have ended the story in episode 23. It would have been a non-conclusive ending though; according to Taniguchi it was more of a “psychological” ending for Lelouch like the Evangelion Ending (Taniguchi Interview)

Kawaguchi said Lelouch had Euphemia phone number on his phone because they certainly exchanged their numbers when they met on the deserted Island. (Ura de net Geass)

Mao’s repetitive clapping didn’t exist in the scripting stages; Taniguchi was the one who later added it to make him “more annoying”. (Ura de Net Geass)

Originally, Toudou was supposed to join Lelouch’s side much earlier. They talked about the Diethard and Toudou shot in the ED. All were baffled by it; Conclusion: “Only Taniguchi knows.” (Ura de Net Geass)

Stage 19 was written by Yoshino ; supposedly he requested to do it, saying “Oh well, if (Okouchi) wants me to write a script, I might as well do the island arc.” (he’s more or less the fanservice supervisor for this show) According to him (and the Newtype Taniguchi + Fu-kuyama interview), this was how Lelouch’s trap was supposed to work: Lelouch successfully digs a proper hole –> However, a boar appears behind him –> Lelouch tries to Geass it: “Lelouch Vi Britannia orders you to SIT!” –> Geass doesn’t work on animals –> Lulu Quality Tragedy ; However, Taniguchi changed it all, telling Yoshino: “Well, in the first place, Lelouch isn’t capable of digging such a hole…” (Ura de net Geass)

The reason why the writers made Kallen stand on Gawain’s shoulder instead of getting into the two-seater cockpit with Lelouch in Stage 19: “There’s no way Kallen will hand over the 2nd-pilot position to anyone else once she’s in there.” Good point. (Ura de Net Geass)

According to Tanaka, right after the airing of Stage 22, three of his friends rang him up asking “What the hell was that? I need to know what happens next!” etc...; According to Kawaguchi, “some of the viewers may have been satisfied with the handshake in episode 22, but actually, a lot more people would have been upset…” (Ura de net Geass)

After episode 23, the production team received letters from fans saying “Okouchi is so evil”, “Dark Okouchi” etc, and he didn't liked that (Ura de Net Geass)

Discarded Season 1 plotlines :

Kallen's father was first hinted as being someone important by Okouchi, when he claimed his occupation couldn't be revealed back in March 2007 (Okouchi 28 questions interview from Animage)

Suzaku was meant to have an unrequited love, and it was hinted as being an important subplot back in the day ; The hints strongly pointed at Nunnally. (Fake Okouchi)

Suzaku was meant to be linked to Geass, that's why he reacted to C.C. and to the ruins in Kamine Island, in relation to his superhuman abilities; He didn't had a Geass though (perfect Stage Mook Interview)

Cecile's seiyuu said her character had a "painful sibling relationship" in the past, and she was allowed to reveal that because it wasn't going to appear anymore within the show. Cecile's relationship to Suzaku was basically discarded) A scene with Suzaku was also seemingly cut out from Stage 20 (Magazine preview back in S1.) * What happened to Naoto (Kallen's brother) ; The writers considered bringing him back but then couldn't find a place and decided to let him stay dead (Audio commentary Stage 4 + perfect Stage mook interview)

That's about it for the various miscellanous information I could find for the first season; Now that I have gotten several of those magazines, expect more full blown articles from those whenever I'll have more time.

Hope you enjoyed.

[quarterlifekitty]

More Westworld! This time, with Ghost 👀 though he’s never referred to by that name, cause we’re in Medievalworld baby!!! You’re an android too in this one.

cw: death, graphic violence, implication of sexual assault

Your eyes are closed, synthetic skin over your optics. Your positioning system tells you that you’re on the way out of the diagnostics and repair department, your ripped dress replaced with a brand new one, your hair set right. Another hero getting too rough with his reward.

When you’re returned to Medievalworld, something feels different. The fact that something feels is different. When you find your place in the throne room, you can feel the stare of the Black Knight following you.

The scene otherwise plays out as usual.

“If you truly wish to win the hand of the fair princess, you’ll have to best my champion— the Black Knight.”

Your ‘father’ features grandly to where the Black Knight sits— looking bored, his legs spread as he rests his cheek on the fist propped up by the arm of the chair.

“Meet me on the field at sunrise. And good luck, you’ll need it.”

The internal meter that times your script skips by a single tick. For a moment, you’re able to divert your doe-like gaze from the guest-challenger. No more than a moment.

You meet the Black Knight’s eyes in that moment.

There’s an uptick in the temperature of your CPU chip, despite the healthy amount of fresh thermal paste applied by the technician just hours ago.

You’re in the stands of the battlefield as always, positioned pretty and regal like a high echelon arcade prize. There’s a glint in the eyes of the Black Knight as he focuses on you while he’s geared up by servants. He’s supposed to be looking at the challenger.

When he tears his optics away, you could swear his synthskin crinkles like he’s smiling under the mask.

“Any last words?” He says, the same bite and smugness you’ve heard from him at least nine-hundred-ninety-nine times before.

“I’ll win at any cost. No risk is too great for the fair princess.”

Well, that wasn’t such a bad line. Better than the guys who say I’m gonna run you through, then I’m gonna fuck the princess stupid, and things of that nature.

“Well, I’ve got some last words for you.” That’s not scripted.

The challenger squares up as the Black Knight raises his sword. The repeat guests leer in confusion and excitement— a new wrinkle in the Medievalworld story? How riveting!

“You’re fucked.”

In less than a moment, blood drips dark onto the dirt. Real, human blood. The guest staggers and spits up crimson before falling to the dirt as the Black Knight shoves him off of his sword. The audience screams as guests run— knights both android and not beginning to fight each other is if there were a real war. The silver of your optics scan across the scene in a computational standstill that can only be described as shock. The Black Knight slashes his way towards you. He holds a bloodied hand towards you, the other loosely gripping the sword at his side.

“Winner gets the honor of the princess’s hand, yeah? Reckon that’d be me, love.”

The screams, high pitched electronic whines, the tearing of flesh and twisting of metal— it all fades to the background as something clicks inside of you. Like a counter just ticked over back to 0. You take his hand.

Every night, the two of you and countless others were sent to repair and maintenance for damage and, in your case, purging of biohazardous material. The key difference was that you were removed when the park slept, your eyes closed as you laid beside a stranger. The Black Knight would be slain with his eyes open, and stay that way.

The man of honor that had been encoded into his chassis burned to see you defiled and destroyed each night.

Even a machine has his limits.

[nightbringer24]

So you want to watch a Warhammer Fantasy film...

Well, you've got no luck at all. Sadly, there is no Warhammer Fantasy film, live action or otherwise. I do think there's one fan-made film, but the name of it escapes me.

BUT LUCKILY, there are films that I feel fit the bill for what Warhammer Fantasy is about. The grittiness, the dark fantasy, the griminess, the campness of it all. They aren't exact, but they're close.

Some people might feel I'm off the mark on some of these, but these are films I feel to be as close as we can get to live action Warhammer Fantasy films:

Pirates of the Caribbean original trilogy

I'm focusing mainly on the first three films: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man's Chest and At World's End, here since they fit the bill better I think.

Set in a world in the 18th century where all pirate associated myths and legends are true, it does count as 'low fantasy' which can cover some aspects of Warhammer Fantasy where magic, daemons and other such fantastical elements aren't front and centre for the audience, it's a collection of swashbuckling action scenes, cannon broadsides and simple humans fighting against either the undead, creatures that were once human but became something more through a pact made with a malicious and powerful, some would say demonic, entity, or even just other humans.

Destiny, blood lineages and blood magic are as much at the forefront as gold and vengeance. Curses and oaths play a strong part in the drama and conflict to the stories, and also why magic is never a thing to command lightly. Voyages to places that only the lost know how to get it and are near impossible to get back from without breaking the laws of physics and nature, binding the immaterial for material gains, and dealing with the eldritch powers beyond normal human comprehension.

Solomon Kane (2009)

Based on the eponymous stories by the late and truly great pulp fiction author, Robert E. Howard, the Solomon Kane film brings to live the start (at least, I and others think so since it feels so plausible) of the titular character's journey. A former captain in Sir Francis Drakes' navy out of Tudor England, after a brush with the 'devil's reaper' (such a weird phrase; the 'devil's reaper'. Is there two reapers?), Kane tries to reform with the help of religion and renouncing violence before ending up having to fight as he used to to save his soul and an innocent life.

If the image of Solomon Kane immediately brings to mind the Witch Hunters of the Cult of Sigmar, then you'll know how far reaching Howard's storytelling has reached into fantasy at large.

As the image shows, Solomon Kane is a true swashbuckling adventure, with Kane using both flintlock pistols and rapier and sabre (or falchion) to cut down the followers of a dark and evil power. The atmosphere of the film is oppressive and sombre, showing the horrors of the evil stalking through 16th century England, with wretched souls trying to protect themselves against brutal marauders. The setting is grim and dark, with the only source of a light a man steeped in blood with the will and courage who's job is, in one of the best lines in literary history, "to ease various evil men of their lives."

Brotherhood Of The Wolf - 2001

In a similar vein to Solomon Kane, we have this French film from the early 00s. Now, while Solomon Kane is decidedly historical fantasy (or as I've seen Robert E. Howard's work described as 'psuedohistory', and that term is used positively), this film is... ahistorical for sure, based around the exploits of the Beast of Gévaudan in pre-revolutionary France... and a lot more beside. It's a monster movie, action movie, romance film, political thriller. And it's fun. I enjoyed it.

Now, obviously 18th century France isn't the Empire of Man nor Bretonnia, but the general vibe and tone of the film is definitely something you'll find in Warhammer Fantasy. Something stalking the woods, hunting the local populace who require specialist aid to help them. The actions of the nobility to hunt the beast, only for the viewer to then find out (or guess in some cases for those who were smarter or just took a wild guess) that it's the nobility that were controlling the beast for their own ends. Really sounds like the campaign for a Warhammer Fantasy RPG.

Heck, the 'Beast' even looks like it could be used in Mordheim too.

Excalibur - 1981

Now, if you've not watched this film, I'm saying that you should, since it's a truly epic film. And if you've watched this film, watch it again.

Directed by John Boorman, this is a very fantastical take on the Arthurian legends, playing heavily with the more fantasy elements of the story, though I would also say that at times this film plays more towards dark fantasy than regular fantasy in some places. If you know the story of King Arthur, you'll know the gist of the story, but you need to watch the film to understand it.

There's a lot of full plate armour, and I do mean A LOT of full plate armour going around in this film, many of which have interesting and truly fantastical designs in some places, and if you go looking them online you'll see what I mean. Magic users invoking powerful magic from a source beyond mortal knowledge that would slay a mortal being without a care while also being an intangible part of the world, not tamed but channeled. A land tainted by sickness and famine after the good king falls to a plot of hubris and malice, overrun by cruel and wicked men, before the king returns to his own and with his loyal retainers fights the foe, and though he perishes along with his foe, the kingdom is restored but to a shadow of what it once was. There's a certain brutal majesty to it all, especially when the knights are in their full plate fighting so bloodily with each other, but it definitively feels like a true blue fantasy film.

With the release of Old World, this is fairly close to what happened to Mandred Skavenslayer in the Empire's history, or even Bretonnia's civil war before the End Times.

With Fire and Sword (Ogniem i Mieczem) - 1999

Now we're stepping away from the fantastical and pseudohistory to the actual history (well, as close to actual history as we can get. Authenticity versus accuracy here).

Based on the 1884 novel, part of The Trilogy (With Fire and Sword, The Deluge and Fire in The Steppe/Pan Michael) by Polish novelist Henryk Sienkiewicz, set in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the mid-1600s, this film follows the story of a Polish nobleman called Jan Skretuski, who falls in love with the noblewoman, Helena Kurcewiczówna, who at the same time is also the target of affection for the Cossack noble, Jurko Bohun. This is all set around the backdrop of the Khmelnytsky Uprising.

This film is 100% a work of art in so many levels: the costuming, the music, the dialogue, the characters (Longinus!), the sets. It's a lovingly done portrayal of the 17th century in motion picture, and while some scenes are meant to be big battles that clearly suffer the same problem that the Sharpe series in the UK faced around the same time, i.e. desire for big scope - not enough budget for all the extra cast, it makes up for it style! I mean, it has Winged Hussars on the charge. What more could you want?

Now, in terms of relation to Warhammer Fantasy, while there is only a tangential and very loose connection to the game that could be made (there is a scene where Bohun meets a pagan mystic woman, and Chaos is based highly around old school and bloody paganism, and that's about it really, and you could also play it off as a civil war in Kislev, with the Cossacks being Ungols and the Polish being Gospodars), I feel that this film gives a more...it gives off the right feel for Warhammer Fantasy, especially if you're a fan of the roleplaying games from Final Flight Games. You've got the knightly nobleman, joining forces with a nobleman of petty rank who's friends with a towering knight of a warrior, along with a professional soldier who's also a skilled duelist bar none, all seeking to aid their country while also dealing with the machinations of a rival nobleman. It has the castles, the swords, the lances, the capes and the hats, the politics and the duels.

----

So, sadly, I only have 5 films to use, but these for me highly rank as must watch films for any fan of Warhammer Fantasy. If you have other suggestions, let me know.

[luxafers-triak]

https://www.tumblr.com/luxafers-triak/780094543226863616/ykw-archivist-orion-pax-is-not-gonna-be?source=share

I went ahead of myself

Back to what I was saying before megpax happened

Orion Pax would know so many things about Cybertron itself and its inhabitants that not even Soundwave nor any of the spies themselves know about.

But also I believe that he would be forced to monitor some of the 'sessions' that went on there. That he would told that he was needed to film some things for the Senate only to find himself in the middle of a crime scene (and sometimes having to participate under the threat of whatever)

He would document history as it plays out and has to release the rather heavily censored versions of those events to the Iacon Hall of Records.

I also like to imagine that he would be so much older in this universe. I'm talking alive since the beginning of the Quintesson age of Cybertron, like he was there for the rise of the Quintessons and the end of it (he was part of the regime that killed them and had garnered quite a reputation there).

During that age, he was able to freely document what the Quintessons were doing and are going to do. He was also able to get into meetings where he would translate, make notes, transcribe their conversations, draft treaties, organize events and parties, record certain things, etc. etc.

He was both a highly-valued soldier and Archivist for them. Because of this, he would also be sent on stealth missions, honey trap his victims, do surveillance, basically all of those black/special ops slag.

However, the problem lay in what the Quintessons were doing to some of the other species, specifically Cybertronians. They would treat them like they were worth nothing, starve them if they disobeyed, use them for their own selfish desires, and drain them of their energon just to give them a fraction of the amount the Quintessons received.

Some of the Cybertronians (the Primes and others), however, didn't care enough of the consequences and chose to lead a rebellion against them.

Now, this is where Orion Pax noticed and did not notify the Quintessons of what they were doing. He believed that they were actually doing the right thing to stand up for themselves.

He gave them weapons, more energon, notes of what they were doing in the meetings, and provided healer training (it was rough since he had little to work with, but he gave them the basics whenever they had common injuries. If he could, then he would also provide them with the proper materials for medical supplies).

When the Quintessons eventually found out, he was close to being executed on the spot when the leader of the entire colony approached the scene and commanded that they don't kill OP because they should break him first.

After that, they kept their promise and tried everything they could to do so. They tore his armor apart from his protoform, deprived him of energon and of any form of sensory, used him, basically torturing him until he almost couldn't take it anymore.

But when they suddenly left him alone one cycle because of a meeting being held, he took that chance to escape from where he was being held (in the chambers). It was eventually found out a couple joors later, and they searched every crevice for any sign of him. But, it was too late, and OP was already halfway there to Iacon.

The Primes, while on patrol, found him in the middle of a clearing, stumbling and in a state of constant agony.

------

With the help of Orion Pax, who proved to be a competent soldier, they won countless battles.

Originally, after recovering enough to fight, Orion had to go through training and ranks all over again. He quickly rose up the ranks and became one of the leading generals (though this didn't really mean much when they were still in the early stages of the war).

He had all of the soldiers trained in Quintesson combat as he was the only one who knew how to. He himself modified almost of them so that they were able to have very powerful weapons to use against them. He trained the rest of them as medics, mediators, translators, etc.

(A few vorns later because I don't know what else to say in this part, okay)

Even though they didn't really have a chance in the beginning, they ended up winning the war.

In the final battle, they were close to giving up because the Quintessons were overwhelming them when Orion Pax came into the scene.

Orion, who wanted revenge for what they did to him, stormed in with powerful machine guns and blades. It was brutality and bloodlust at its finest.

He absolutely decimated every last Quintesson until they were nothing but a field of hollow corpses. After that, he had left on a spaceship for a couple of chords before returning back.

When he came back and Cybertronian society began to rebuild itself, he was there through all of it.

------

Somewhere down the line, some of the Primes turned away from their beliefs and everything else happened.

The caste system was put in place, and everything went to hell afterwards.

The cycle of them turning into oppressors began, and everymech suffered as a result.

The Pits, which was originally friendly sparring, turned into a bloodsport. Iacon, which was a place of fighting and violence, turned into the main source of the oppressive high-caste mechs and architecture. Kaon, once a place of the arts, became too dangerous for once to go alone unless you were born in it. Tarn, known for its beautiful architecture and wildlife, became the source of Cybertron's minerals and had abandoned buildings. Other cities had not yet formed until several vorns down the line.

Orion Pax, who had dreams of living a peaceful life and not surviving yet another horrific cycle on the battlefield, realized that it was all for nothing, now that they were destroying themselves from the inside.

He only wishes for this to end peacefully (in the back of his mind, he only knows that this is wishful thinking).

He meets Megatronus and Soundwave, helps with their cause while also trying not to give anything away from his past (he slips up a couple of times, and it messes with his mind that he can't tell them, no matter how much they insist), and everything else goes almost exactly how it did in canon.

[stillness-in-green]

First of all, thank you for Bring It All Back. Gave me chills. Second, what do you think about the newest chapters? It seems like Izuku took Gran Torino's 'killing to save' ideology to heart. Personally, I gave up somewhere around the Nagant arc.

Belatedly, thank you very much, @kermitthekrog-blog!  I’m glad you enjoyed it, and I’m particularly always happy to hear people say it was chilling, upsetting, enraging, or other such disruptive adjectives.  It’s a rabble-rouser of an art project, to be sure, quite intentionally so.

As to the rest, I’ve made a few posts here and there since I got this ask which probably make my opinions pretty clear, and I’ve got a new ask in the queue which wants to know my thoughts on the epilogue material thus far, so I’ll have more to say there!  But in the meantime, yeah, it’s pretty appalling to think back to all Deku’s talk about “saving” Shigaraki and realize that all of it predates the Gran Torino scene?

Like, he thinks he wants to save Shigaraki when they part ways at the end of the first war arc, sure!  And he tells the vestiges he wants to save Shigaraki!  But does that specific word choice endure once he wakes up?  Well, @codenamesazanka did some hunting recently (you can find two posts about her rereads here and here) and, it turns out, no; it doesn't.

After Deku wakes up and talks to Gran Torino, the focus switches to Deku understanding Shigaraki, choosing not to ignore him, finding out the nature of the Crying Child, all that stuff.  That word completely stops coming out of Deku's mouth, and very shortly after stops coming from any of the OFA vestiges as well.

It really does read, in retrospect, like, yeah, he sincerely took Gran Torino’s words at face value and to heart. “Killing can be a way of saving, so I can save him by killing him.”

Heck, if anything, given how little he focuses after that on saving, it almost feels like that’s the moment he resolves to kill Shigaraki—rather conveniently, it allows him a way to make peace with extrajudicial murder and avenge himself for all the people Shigaraki’s hurt that Deku can’t forgive him for.

The only thing that’s different from just killing him outright is that Deku wants to understand him first, as if he has to verify for himself that Shigaraki is secretly unhappy and why so he can justify that save-by-killing—putting Shigaraki out of whatever misery Deku can make himself believe Shigaraki is in—with a clean conscience.  But he absolutely does not make any further promises about not killing him afterward.

Grim fucking stuff, but it lines up.  One wonders what he would have done if the Shigaraki in the mindscape had changed to Sweet Innocent Tenko and never reverted back to Shigaraki Tomura at any point.  Would Deku have tried not to punch him to death?  Tried to call for Eri or Recovery Girl after AFO’s vestige faded out?  Felt like more of a failure because the “person” VFO devoured would have been that cute kid, meaning Deku failed to save the “child”?

As it is, he mostly just seems vaguely discouraged and unhappy about Shigaraki staying “the leader of the League” until the end—would he have preferred that his hands were ashen and flaking with the powdered remains of the crying child instead?

As to me giving up, the Nagant fight is one of two places I'd put that pin.  I was discouraged by the first war arc, when so many of the advantages Shigaraki had gained over the course of MVA were stripped away from him again.  I was dissatisfied with the second encounter with Muscular, when Deku's "victory" was framed in such a heroic, triumphant light despite being a categorical failure based on the standard Deku seemed to have set for himself.  But Deku’s fight with Lady Nagant was so bad for so many reasons that it served as the first true hammer blow to my belief that Horikoshi would be willing or able to seriously grapple with the societal problems the manga had been building up to at that point.

My patience with the manga, and the enjoyment I derived from it, continued to deteriorate throughout the rest of that arc and the following war arc, but the hospital attack is the other place I would point to as the sequence that completely destroyed my engagement with the series.

Just—the naked contrivances of it, the excruciating treatment of Spinner, the howling tone-deafness, the monumental unfairness of the demands it laid at the feet of its oppressed minority. The series presents a backstory like Shouji’s alongside current story elements like heteromorphs being turned away from shelters in the supposedly accepting and quirk-blind big cities and still somehow comes out valorizing passive endurance so hard it starts to look like willful self-subjugation.

It is the most comprehensively noxious moral in the entire endgame, rivaled only by Deku’s murder of Shigaraki under the guise of “saving” him, and frankly? I would still put that one in second place. At least you can point to Shouto (and possibly Ochaco, though that remains to be seen) as an indication that save-by-killing is not a story-wide moral about villains who have “gone too far.”

Conversely, pretty much everything the hospital attack mini-arc winds up preaching can be read outward onto the rest of the story's antagonists as well, including Lady Nagant. What else to make of her exchange with Hawks The Optimist, after all, than that the conclusion is that she should have just kept murdering whoever the government told her to until some outside player solved her problem for her?

A Hero is someone who is willing to suffer in silence. A Villain, then, must be someone who refuses to.

Truly, the hospital attack is the poisoned well that wipes out the entire village.

[amysgiantbees]

I LOVE Wyll and I understand why they did the rewrites I think he's a wonderful character and wouldn't trade him for his EA counterpart. However, since they chose to rewrite him the lack of material does a disservice to his character.

I love Gale and Astarion and would not change their stories for the world but they aren't really integral to the main plot. Wyll is though. Yet Astarion especially has SO much dialogue he comments on EVERYTHING and Wyll barely has anything to say even on the stuff that's important to him, like Gortash's coronation. It's called Baulder's Gate 3 yet the son of a BG duke has almost nothing to say. He's a monster hunter and we're fighting mind-flayers. There's rarely an instance where you couldn't come up with something for him to say.

It's just so heart braking that Theo, his voice actor, is so passionate about and loved doing his romance scenes so much but Wyll has the least amount of hours dedicated to it.

Scenes I would have liked:

Wyll talking to a child or an innocent post Karlach and he either gets hugged and gets to be surprised that people still see him as heroic. Or he's a bit too smug about it or guilty if he killed Karlach.

Wyll meeting up with a member of the flaming fist he used to know in Act 3- maybe they were trainees together when they were teens - and getting to talk about the old days like Karlach and her friend.

Wyll getting to be really surprised Florrick still wants his help in Moonrise after he's been transformed and she puts 2 and 2 together at his reaction and asks if this is why he left Balder's Gate and he tells her that his father asked him to leave. Florrick can agree or disagree depending on whether Wyll is on a good route and become a pseudo parental/familial figure.

The companions dialogue reaction to him braking his pact is fixed so everyone is more like how they react to Shadowheart killing her parents and aren't instead jumping down his throat like he's a power hungry maniac. It's clearly leftovers from EA Wyll when he was more power hungry but it throws his whole character off because clearly this version doesn't struggle with selflessness, he is nothing but! He needs to put himself first over his dad for once in his life. Like the only one I even kind of like is Halsin's dialogue about how a plant sometimes need to strangle a tree to find it's own light. I'm wondering if that isn't something to do with Halsin being expanded upon later in development so it was easier to match it to the new Wyll. Like Wyll damning himself for eternity is satisfying if he's been selfish, but at present it's just him risking himself again and not even for someone we know yet (or *spoilers* someone useful like all the dragon tip does is give us a bit more info about the Emperor and give Wyll some confidence(but that's less Ravenguard's fault and more the writers for not giving Wyll a proper Act 3 quest)).

I think it's VERY bold of Ravengaurd to say he WILL make it up to Wyll. Not that he'll try but that he knows he can make it up to him. Despite throwing out the sweetest teen on earth even though he was clearly trying to tell him something. Despite likely hearing about the Blade of Fronteir's exploits and never reaching out. Even after being rescued by him to just be still so full of bitterness. Despite all his failings as a father and always putting his reputation and Baulder's Gate above his son he really thinks it'll all be water under the bridge soon. So, I would like it if your TAV was able to challenge this assumption.

I would like it rewritten so Wyll actually has it out with his Dad instead of tadpoling him what has happened post rescue. Let them actually talk finally. Wyll lacks so much agency and could really use a dramatic moment like everyone else gets in Act 3 to shine.

I would love if your approval is high enough or you're romancing him for you to be able to see his walls come down once. I think it would be so powerful if after this whole journey he's been so composed and careful and then whatever happens with the contract in Act 3 he lets you see how he really feels for once. Like you still have your talk and he's all composed and tells you he just needs some time. However, later that night when you've gone for a long rest you catch him on the roof of the Elfsong or something. He could be crying, or praying to Tyr to save his father, or screaming, summoning dark tendrils of magic and yelling about how he resents his power.

Also Florrick should not show up if you break the contract unless the Duke is dead. It screws up Mizora's dialogue and brakes it a bit. Like if Florrick didn't show up till after you killed Orin that would probably work because if you kill Orin first you probably aren't going to kill Gortash or go down to the Iron Throne. Or at least give it a long rest or two before she shows up.

There's also just dialogue that does not fit that's leftovers from EA I believe. Like after braking the pact TAV being able to tell Wyll he shouldn't be a duke because he's too power hungry. Or even the companion dialogue where Wyll is a bit of a playboy and flirts with Lazel and then Shadowheart immediately afterwards - it totally goes against his hopeless romantic nature. Not that I want them to take even more content away from him though.

[nalyra-dreaming]

Holy shit?!

src

“Louis is still fighting to get to something, to unlock the memories that have curiously evaded him. "The pursuit of memory and truth is the driving force this season. It motivates Louis to get to where we're going to get to by the end of it," said Zaman. "Season 1 proved that his memory's completely shot in lots of ways, but who, or what, did that — that's the question I think we're going to have to answer."…

“It all begins with Louis, a textbook unreliable narrator, though Jones and Anderson both bristle a bit at the term. "One self delusion knits itself to the rest of your life," Jones said. He argued that Louis' memory might be "80-90 percent" correct, though it only takes one mistaken detail to muddle a timeline and cancel someone out entirely. "To unwind that, you call into question all this stuff. It doesn't mean that all this stuff isn't right. It's just this thing has altered it a little bit."

…

To Anderson, Louis' unreliability matters less than the vivid reality of his feelings. "It's not necessarily that Louis is a quote-unquote unreliable narrator," he said. "He is, because what he's saying is completely subjective. But I think it has just as much to do with how something felt, the feeling of a person or the feeling of an experience, than it is him actively trying to deceive anybody." That comes out most strongly in Dubai, particularly in the second season. "He's really, genuinely trying to find the closest thing to an objective recalling of events that he possibly can."…

“I like writing for Sam Reid, and I think in terms of how this thing is structured and what's going on in this headspace, it wasn't a big leap to go, 'Oh, he's haunting. He's inside Louis,'" Jones said. When we see Lestat at the beginning of the season, he manifests as what Anderson and Reid referred to as "dream Lestat" — not quite himself, not quite a ghost, not quite a memory, but some blend of all three, filtered through Louis' guilt and grief.

…

"Who is Louis remembering, and how is Louis remembering [Lestat] is always on my mind," said Reid when we first spoke at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in February. "I'm always thinking about it, and I'm always talking about it, much to the chagrin of pretty much everyone." (From across the table we were crowded around, Anderson heckled, "I can vouch for that.") Later, when we met one on one over Zoom, Reid elaborated, "Louis is speaking to himself, so he speaks like Louis. But he's also speaking to Lestat, and he's choosing to speak to Lestat when he's speaking to himself." The first time we see Lestat in Season 2, he materializes before Louis as a gory vision during a moment of mental deterioration, vengeful and overbearingly loving all at once. What was already a blurry line between the ex-lovers has now become indistinguishable.“…

“With dream Lestat assuming a number of dispositions, all dictated by Louis' headspace, separating dream Lestat from the real Lestat was crucial to Reid. "It's clear that Louis is putting the words into his mouth," Reid said. "Who's the guy that he's forced to see looking back at him, saying the words that he thinks he should be saying?" The presence of dream Lestat means that the state of the real Lestat is unclear when the season opens, but becoming this slightly unreal version of his character built on the groundwork Reid had already been laying. Going back to the first season, he often rejected Anderson's impulse to play their scenes together as if they were true. "I know this is not how this happened," he said of Louis' version of events, "which allowed me to kind of lean into the more sow's ear version of Lestat in specific moments, because I knew that we might be revisiting them."…

“For Claudia, Lestat's influence will always linger. "That's his daughter," Hayles said simply. "He doesn't need to be a ghost. He's in her." Louis and Claudia know each other inside and out, and Louis' love for Claudia is all-encompassing, but she sees the writing on the wall the moment he meets Armand: What happened with Lestat will happen again as Louis chooses another man over her.“

(much more behind the link!!)

UPDATE: link to the author’s tweet, Allison Picurro

[upsidedior]

Silly excerpt from my one and only complete fanfic that I'm thinking about going back and fixing lol

Enjoy my trash

---------------------------------

Somewhere on the other side of the island a signal was releasing with an annoying beeping sound. The green lights flashed on the bottom of the experiment container, the dome materializing a holographic image of a white furred female canine creature with three eyes and two antennae. "Warning. Experiment 259 has been activated. Primary function; Dream viewer." The nonstop beeping was getting under his skin.

"625, could you get that?" A deep voice called from the back room of his X-Class Battle cruiser. The ship needed some repairs from his last mission; certain parts had blown out thanks to an electrical genetic mutant with trillion watts of voltage coursing through it. He was extremely pissed one of those parts was the main cable line. "Hey, can you get the container?" No answer…and that irritating beeping. "625, push the button on the container please." The voice called out again.

"Warning. Experiment 259 has been activated. Primary function; Dream viewer."

Now he was getting angry. "625, push the button!" Still no answer and that beeping…it was taunting him! The gigantic alien growled clenching his fists as he did so. This was exactly what he needed, the sandwich freak going rouge on him. The alien stood up to his full height walking towards the annoying beeping room's entrance which happened to be the main galley. He poked his head out, scanning the room for any sign of the sandwich making trog. Still nowhere to be found.

"Warning. Experiment 259 has been activated. Primary function; Dream viewer."

Oh this was getting old. "Blitznak." He grunted walking over to the container with the holographic image of another illegal abomination running loose on the island. He hit the button and that aggravating beeping finally ceased. The image enlarged, displaying the genetic mutant in further detail. White fur, three brightly shiny black eyes, two antennae and an odd circular crest on its back, Experiment 259 was an identical match to Experiment 626 in body structure only seemed more delicate than it's latter cousin's design. Not meant for fighting. For being a scientific genius that idiot scientist didn't show much variation in body composition for these mutants. It showed female characteristics a lot like that… oh what was that blasted trog's name? Uh… Angie?...Angel?...Carrie? Charlotte? Miranda? Sama…oh Blitznack. The big alien shook his head. He needed to stop watching that scandalous show. Single Human females and their courtship rituals, he was surprised they weren't ruling the planet itself. Though the show was very interesting… if there was one thing constant in this vast universe, females of all species were on a constant quest to find the perfect mate and the perfect accessory for outfits. Even his species females were the same! It was freaky. 625 would laugh at him whenever he watched the program, until "certain scenes" came along…who was laughing now? And besides, he thought, Charlotte was cutie.

"Hey, Fish Lips," a small pudgy genetic mutant wobbled in with a bag of groceries. "Give me a hand will ya? I got some food for my latest create… hey, who's that?"

"Where in the flagnarg did you go?" Gantu looked down at the beige sandwich making experiment. "And that's my paycheck you're spending on unnecessary purchases! All for sandwiches?" 625 waved his pudgy hand to shoo the gigantic whale-like alien out of his way as he trotted towards the experiment container.

"Quit complaining, chowder head, it's food. Now who's this little lady, huh?" 625 raised his eyebrow with a small devious look at the hologram. Gantu rolled his eyes and shrugged. This was the fifth paycheck the little trog used just for buying sandwich supplies. Now he knew what a single father felt like. "Dream viewer experiment?" 625 leaned back from the holographic image, "Huh, why would Jumba create an experiment for that? He's got that other one that invades dreams, why view them?"

"He what?" Gantu gave 625 a puzzling expression. "When did that one become active?"

"Don't you pay attention?" The sandwich maker put his paws on his hips. "The little girl named it Remmy or Remus, something corny like that. It was a few weeks ago, the container wouldn't stop complaining about it, so I unplugged it." The giant alien felt his heart skip a beat as he looked incredulous at his roommate.

"You unplugged the container communicator?" Gantu turned on his heel with his hands extended in the air. "Ugh! That explains the lull." He lowered his arms, his hands covering his face. "Oh Blitznak, cosmos knows how many abominations the little earth girl and the trog caught while I was MIA! Hamsterviel's gonna have my head…"

"He'll have more than just your head, Fish brain, you'll be served on a platter with all the trimmings of a fish dinner, cole slaw and everything. Hey, think of it as normal weeks for you, you never catch anything! Ha!" the little beige mutant broke out into a laughing spasm. Gantu let out a loud growl, muttering in his native tongue about disemboweling the trog limb from limb in a feeding frenzy.

"Watch the ship, I'm heading out to find and catch this one before those two find it first." Grabbing his blaster and the glass experiment containers, he left the ship, not without hearing 625 shout behind,

"Go get'em, Shamu! Bahahahaha!"

------------------------------------------------------

Gantu had been searching the island for over an hour with no sign of the abomination or those pesky "cousin-loving" duo. He sighed, at this rate that experiment was as good as gone now. There was no way he was thinking about going back to his ship, 625 would be waiting with some snide comment and Hamsterviel on the communicator harassing him with insults. Maybe he would just search the island a little more; that Samoan gig was doing well for his camouflage fitting into this planet. Humans were stupid. They were really taking him as one of them, just a big one. Well, he thought to himself, he was on a backwater planet in classified territory; he was not on an updated map. This galaxy was refrained to as Roswell's Area, no one was permitted to fly near here or make any form of contact with the locals. He was not even sure his old military captain had ventured out here. And yet, here he was, in classified territory getting his ass kicked in every direction. The big alien felt his life was taking a turn for the worst; dishonorly discharged, crappy job, and banishment on a forsaken planet. Yep he was definitely getting his ass kicked.

Even though the foreign planet taunted him, Gantu could not help but feel natural in this alien world. He hated to admit it, but he sometimes felt out of place on his home world. He could not place his finger on it, but he always felt natural, a sense of belonging. He sometimes wondered if the planet's sun caused these thoughts. The sun and his own internal instincts would drive him to the large body of water surrounding the island. Humans called it an "ocean." He called it trouble. And the vicious cycle of thoughts, internal mechanisms, and long swims continued day after day, weeks after weeks until he, Gantu, was on this miserable rock for over two years. Well, he pondered to himself, it could be worse; he could have a sucky job with an abusive boss and a sandwich making roommate…oh…right…

"Oh blitznak." The ex-Captain of the Galactic Armada found himself standing in front of the so called "ocean." His damn internal mechanisms led him right to the water's edge. This was becoming more frequent along with the headaches that came with it. "Double blitznak." Gantu let out a sigh. He needed to clear his head, finding that experiment would keep his mind busy. With that in mind, along with the pounding headache, the "Samoan" set out towards the town in hopes of locating the newest member of trogs running loose on the island.

The town was busy, bustling with Earthlings here and there. He could only guess it was getting towards midday or "noon" the little earth girl called it. The sun was at its peak angle, the heat increasing which was making the alien sweat. Gantu had walked around the town once again, saying his usual lie whenever an earthling asked about his size, and still to no avail. No experiment in sight. Oh well, he sighed as he leaned against a shaded palm tree, he would try again and again until he found something.

And then he saw them. There was no denying the blue fur and odd earthly plant pattern on the child's dress. The little earth girl and the abomination were traveling with none other than its "cousin" experiment 259 in tow and…another female earthling. She was an older female, quite a few years older and the skin color was a lighter shade than of the little earth girl's skin. Hair was lighter as well. Coincidently, she looked a lot like his cable crush that Charlotte character.

"Hmm… where are you going?" Gantu allowed a little smile to spread across his lips. Well, he needed to hunt the experiment which was traveling with the trog-loving duo, why not enjoy a little eye candy? He knew 625 would be heckling him by now, either getting off his keister to catch the experiment or to stop eyeing up the poor earthling.

The big alien straightened up with his plasma blaster set on 'Stun.' He needed one clear shot of the blue trog and Experiment 259 was within his grasp. He just needed to conceal himself from the abomination's visual sensors.

There was the tropical vegetation up the road with a small clearing… "Perfect."

[arminthada]

I’m enjoying spare me your mercy and love JJ and Tor but I wish the series was 12 eps instead of 8 eps so there’s more time for the plot and to develop their relationship haha. Their relationship development feels slightly rushed now

Hi nonnie 😭😭😭😭😭😭

sighs. loudly sighs again... i get you anon, really i do. i'm really just here constantly mourning about how condensed they've made this series out to be when the source material they're trying to adapt is so long. i think @waitmyturtles 's latest post about smym ep 4 sums up well what some non-novel reader audience will feel about kantew's relationship.

detailed discussions with novel spoilers under the cut, read at your own risk 😭

since it's probably no longer a spoiler since the series has adjusted to change the culprit, i can probably discuss spoilers from the first novel in this post for comparison sake.

so at the end of book 1, Dr. Somsak is revealed to be the murderer for most of the deaths presented but he also knows that Kan has been euthanising patients -> They get into a gun fight -> Dr. Somsak gets fatally shot but isn't dead and got sent to the hospital -> Kan kills Somsak (his first intentional murder) before he could testify in court but the case is closed because all the deaths were indeed caused by Somsak.

I think in this sense, Book 1 made more sense because this was all happening while Kan and Tew were in an established relationship, henceforth in the latter half of Book 1 when evidences were starting to point at Kan, it paid off well to see Tew so distressed and hurt because he didn't like being lied to and he couldn't believe his lover who's he been fucking is a serial murderer (even though he isn't).

The betrayal comes around again in Book 2 when Tew finds out he's been lied to AGAIN. And you could tell the angst hits harder is because we SEE them together as a couple, as boyfriends in a budding established relationship, not as people who have only been seeing each other for a few weeks.

I understand the need to adjust and cover the big plot points but yea I feel the same way anon... their source material was more than enough to be covered in 12-16 eps as opposed to 8 eps. or alternatively as @waitmyturtles suggested in her comment here, it would have been much better to present kantew as an established couple from the beginning and flashback to the past before starting to unravel their relationship.

sighs.... i think Tor and JJ are killing it with the material they're given though. Carrying this type of script is just hard though because sometimes chemistry and acting skills alone isn't enough for a convincing romance narrative.

loudest sighs... lord i wish we got more KanTew scenes before they killed Dr. Somsak off to move tbe story along like pleaseeeee. I was robbed.

I wish I could be mad at Lux but then again they've been able to really incorporate a lot of debates on Euthanasia which Book 1 severely lacked into these first four episodes (something @lurkingshan has also noted here) I can't be entirely mad because you can't say there aren't good adjustments...

But it just so happens that Spare Me Your Mercy has ended up more of a series about clashing opinions on Euthanasia than a crime investigation/romance/suspense series... but the actors have promoted it to be the former rather than the latter so I've really only got myself to blame for expecting more on the relationship development 😭😭😭😭😭

also my apologies nonnie for dumping all this on you... smym is shaping up to be my no. 1 series of the year (because of all the euthanasia debates) but not at all for the reason i expected it to be (for the romance between the cunty and charming doctor and the dorky righteous gullible cop)

[theblueprincess590]

It’s the Journey Not the Destination-An Analysis of Kingdom Hearts 3

Post Kingdom Hearts 1 the series has been heavily criticized for a lack of stronger plot integration between the Disney worlds and the main plot of the game. Many people have often derided the stories of the Disney worlds as “Filler,” a term originally coined in reference to anime original material created for adaptations of popular ongoing manga in order to fill time while they wait for more material to adapt. As such there have been many claims that the plot of Kingdom Hearts games only really happens in the beginning and end. While there is some truth to these critics, such as games like Chain of Memories where the Disney worlds have very little to no impact on the main story, a lot of fans and critics miss what the games are really going for with the Disney worlds and their narrative purpose. In many Kingdom Hearts games the Disney worlds are mainly used to build upon the characters and themes of the game, using their episodic nature in order to establish ideas in the player's head or further characterize the protagonists. For example in Kingdom Hearts 2 many of the Disney worlds focus on themes of identity and duality in order to help the player become more accustomed to these concepts when they play a larger role in the game’s climax. Birth By Sleep mainly uses its Disney worlds to develop and characterize the main trio. Either by challenging Aqua’s preconceptions on light and dark, exploring Terra’s ideals, or growing Ventus past his immaturity. Interestingly enough the Kingdom Hearts game that gets some of the most flack for having “Filler” Disney Worlds is Kingdom Hearts 3. Which is ironic considering it is the first Kingdom Hearts game since 1 to more actively integrate the Disney worlds into the main story. So let's go over the many levels of Kingdom Hearts 3 discussing how each one contributes to the game’s overarching plot.

     First things first Kingdom Hearts 3 opens not with an original Kingdom Hearts world but instead with Mount Olympus. The behind the scenes reason was because the game’s original prologue was cut off to be its own shorter game, Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth By Sleep -A fragmentary Passage, but if you just look at Kingdom hearts 3 on it’s own the decision to start with Olympus works out very well as it establishes right off the bat that the Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts 3 will play a larger role in the over all Story. And Mount Olympus more than delivers on this promise. 

In Kingdom Hearts 3 it is made explicitly clear that Sora is choosing to go to the world of heroes and myths through the guidance of his own heart. An important distinction to make since in Kingdom Hearts 1 Sora traveled to any world he could find in hopes of gathering clues to the whereabouts of his missing friends, and in Kingdom Hearts 2 Sora was being guided by the worlds themselves in order to take him where he was most needed. By framing the choice to visit the Disney world’s Around Sora’s own agency it ties them directly to Sora's overarching character arc, showcasing how it is the very core of Sora’s being that brings him to the Disney worlds rather than the whims of fate. Most importantly though, Sora's choice to visit Mount Olympus leads to massive consequences for both Sora and the series. 

Sora is traveling to Mount Olympus in order to find Hercules and regain his lost abilities after failing his Mark of Mastery in Dream Drop Distance. The choice to seek out Herc for this harkens back to Kingdom Hearts 2 where Herc lost his powers after entering a deep depression and miraculously regained them after rediscovering his own courage and reason to fight. Taking events that were originally framed as self contained to the Disney worlds and recontextualizes them into a major plot point in the series' overarching narrative. Upon reuniting with Herc he imparts Sora with one of the game’s central ideas, “To fight with all your heart”. This becomes the basis for Sora’s character arc starting him on the journey of self actualization, learning to draw power from himself rather than his connections. Resulting in the new powers Sora uses throughout the game such Formchage, Air Step, and Attraction Flow. Most importantly the beliefs of the self and the heart are what pushes Sora to change fate as it inspires him to use The Power of Waking in such an unorthodox way that he manages to wake his friends from the final sleep and accept Xehanort’s ideals of believing in yourself. 

Beyond setting up Sora’s character arc, Mount Olympus foreshadows and introduces several pivotal plot points. In Mount Olympus the Heartless can be seen joining the Titans on their attack of Thebes and The Realm of God, however they do not appear to be acting under the orders of Hades or Maleficent meaning they have another reason to be here. And That reason makes himself clear soon enough. After unlocking Second Form and saving Herc, Xigbar shows up to taunt Sora, getting into a debate with Hercules on the meaning of self sacrifice. A major moment for not just Kingdom Hearts 3 but the series as a whole. In previous Kingdom Hearts entries the original villains would largely stay out of the Disney worlds and when they did show up they would just focus on Sora not the Disney characters themselves. The only real exception was Xaldin who spends most of his screen time in Kingdom Hearts 2 manipulating and tormenting Beast for both Organization XIII’s goals and his own ego. Kingdom Hearts 3 takes that idea and pushes it to its fullest potential by having the thirteen Xehanorts be the antagonists in each world and doubling down on setting up dynamics between them and the Disney characters. 

These new dynamics do a lot for the stories of the Disney worlds not just providing more engaging characterization and banter for the villains but using these interactions to further push the games story. For Example with The debate between Xigbar and Hercules the game sets up Sora’s eventual defeat at the Keyblade Graveyard as he points out that if Sora relies too much on the power of friendship he will eventually put a strain on them, maybe even breaking them. A prediction that comes true as the Guardians of Light end up falling to TerraNort and the Heartless after trying to make up for Sora’s weakness. The inclusion of Xigbar specifically in a world of gods and men is by no means a coincidence as Xigbar’s self centered two face persona contrasts well against Hercules’ selfless and honest nature. Highlighting the similarities between Xigbar and Xehanort. Both members of the older generation who look down on the next, using their experience to unjustly label their ideals as naive and childish. Shown when Xigbar dismisses Herc’s act of selflessness despite never being there to witness the event itself. More important than drawing parallels between Xigbar and Xehanort, this arrogant misuse of the next generation and the phrase “May your heart be your guiding key” foreshadows the twist that Xigbar is fact Luxu, a manikin of a human being who has routinely sacrificed every generation after himself to fulfill his role. 

Ultimately Mount Olympus's most important mark on Kingdom Heart 3’s story would be the set up for the game’s central theme. At the very end of the adventures through the golden clouds Sora asks Herc why he doesn't stay in The Realm of Gods with his family and Herc answers that if he did that then he would be separated from the one person he loves most, Meg. For Hercules love is more important than power and status, introducing both Sora and the player to the concept of true love, pushing Sora to better understand it beyond his childish misconnections, and leading him to his heart’s chosen destiny. Sacrificing himself to save Kairi at the end of his journey. The decision to introduce the theme of love through Hercules and Meg’s relationship is very apt. Not only are they one of the more prominent romantic couples in the series but it once again calls back to Kingdom Hearts 2 as it was Hercules desire to save Meg at the cost of his own life that restored his godhood. Or in his own words. 

“People do crazy things when they’re in love”

Toy Box continues the promise set in Mount Olympus as the events with Woody and Buzz have a significant impact on the overarching narrative and Sora’s character arc. In Toy Box the main antagonist is Young Xehanort who split the world in two as part of an experiment that leads directly to Xion’s return. Young Xehanort’s goal is to see whether or not Xion is a worthy candidate for the XIII Seekers of Darkness by testing how well a puppet would work as a host for darkness. This is fittingly enough done through the living toys of the world as he sends the heartless to possess toys that have yet to wake up as well as observing how much darkness grows within Woody and his friends as they become separated from Andy. In the end Buzz is the one who proves the experiment a success as so much darkness grows within him it can create an even more powerful heartless, The King of Toys. Thanks to Buzz’s weakness the True Organization XIII learns that Xion is the most suitable vessel for their missing number. 

The world building of the Toy Story series fits very well with the lore and themes of Kingdom Hearts. Young Xehanort already points out the similarities between the empty toys and Nobodies, but the Heartless’ possession of said empty toys reflects how the heart and body will always seek each other out. Most importantly though, the way the toys obtain a heart draws a direct parallel to Xion. In the world of Toy Story the toys come to life thanks to the love given to them by children and Xion obtained her own heart as she grew from just a simple replica to a full fledged person because of the love and friendship shared with her by Roxas and Axel. 

The story of Toy Box functions as a trial run for Sora with his conflict against Young Xehanort and allyship with Woody pushing him to see how his own ideals of friendship can match up against Xehanort’s resolve of isolation. Just like with Xigbar’s placement in Mount Olympus, Young Xehanort's placement in Toy Box is No coincidence. Not just because his younger nature makes him fitting for a world about toys and childhood but because of how his character opposes Woody's. When facing off against Woody’s maternity and humility, Young Xehanort is revealed for what he truly is, an arrogant and immature child desperately trying to prove himself better than others through a shallow and cynical understanding of life.  

The Kingdom Of Corona serves to reintroduce both the Princess of Hearts and Marluxia. In this kingdom of flowers and light both Sora and The Player learn that excluding Kairi there are six new Princesses of Hearts that carry one of the seven pure lights. This is integral to the overarching mythos of Kingdom Hearts since the seven pure lights the princess carry are from the original X-Blade. If that wasn’t a big enough bombshell Sora learns that his new friend Rapunzel is one of the new Seven Princesses, making her a target of the True Organization XIII giving Sora greater motivation to fight them. 

Kingdom Of Corona continues Sora’s character arc by placing him in the role of a fairy tale Guardian. At the start of Sora’s journey he was the one in need of guidance with Donald and Goofy showing him ropes in his fantasy adventures. This worked for KH1 because it was a game about childhoods, but Kingdom Hearts 3 is about Sora growing up and becoming an adult. So it becomes Sora’s turn to be the Guardian, helping Rapunzel find the joy in her life through showing her the beauties of the outside world. Sora is placed in the role of Fairy Tale Guardian for Rapunzel because she draws heavy parallels to Sora’s past, longing for an adventure but also being uncertain of the worlds outside their home. 

Marluxia’s reintroduction in Corona is another important beat in this sympathy of the heart. Not just because it re-familiarizes Sora and the Player to a character they haven't seen in a long time but because it showcases the new hierarchy of darkness in Kingdom Hearts 3. When Marluxia enters the world he takes command of Mother Gothel using her as a minion in his plot to keep Rapunzel in her tower until the thirteen Xehanorts need her. Helping set the stakes for Kingdom Hearts 3 by showing what a huge threat Xehanort and his other selves pose to the other worlds. Not only can they throw off the balance between light and darkness but can take over the very narratives of the worlds, as Gothel is reduced to another actor in their dark comedy. Most importantly however, Maruxia could only be reintroduced in a world like the Kingdom of Corona. Marluxia made his debut in Chain of Memories, a video game that shares the same roots as the film Tangled, the fairy tale of a Princess being locked in a Tower. By Putting Marluxia in the Kingdom of Corona it reinforces the very DNA of his character and shows how he has been elevated from his past by Xehanort. Now he is the one controlling those who now stand in the role he once filled. 

Monstropolis explains how Vanitas came back. Using the laughter factory of Monster’s Inc in order to send the Unversed to the children of countless worlds. Harvesting negative emotions through their screams to restore himself. Allowing the lore and worldbuilding of Monstropolis to contribute to the larger story of Kingdom Hearts by using the elements of the two stories that fit together best. Taking Monster Incs.’s ability to harvest screams and using that to rebuild Vanitas, a creature of pure negative emotions. 

More than anyone else in Kingdom Hearts, Vanitas is a monster, nah an abomination, with the Unversed reflecting that truth. He is a creature of pure spite and cruelty, spreading suffering wherever he goes. Even going as far as to actively seeking out war and conflict, treating them as a substitute for real connections. You would be mistaken However to believe Vanitas’s horrid nature is the result of the circumstances of his birth. Even Though Vanitas was born a monster he doesn't have to act like one. After all, the people of Monstropolis are monsters as well and yet they choose not to act as a force of terror but as a force for joy. Breaking away from their cruel history of childhood torment, the people of Monstropolis learned to make children laugh instead of scream. By placing Vanitas in Monstropolis it Highlights that Vanitas is a monster because he chooses to hate over love, foreshadowing his bitter words to Ventus at the sunset of the Second Keyblade War.

Monstropolis elaborates on Sora’s growth from Kingdom Of Corona keeping Sora in the role of Fairy tale guardian but changing his duty from one who spreads wonder to one that makes children laugh. In Monstropolis it is the responsibility of Sora and Sully to not only keep Boo safe but to keep her from being scared. Which they do so by making her laugh instead. The motif of laughter expands on the parallels between Kingdom Hearts 3 and 1, calling back to how Donald and Goofy showed Sora to laugh in the face of despair in order to move forward. The scene where Sora encourages Boo to be brave even has him make the same funny face he did in Kingdom Hearts 1. 

Lastly Monstropolis continues the plot of Kingdom Hearts 3 by having vanitas reveal to Sora that Ventus is within Sora’s heart, unintentionally helping Sora get closer to his goal, hinting towards Vanitas' later claim that he stands besides Sora and Ventus as their shadow.

While The Hundred Acre Woods is an optional mini game world it is arguably one of the most important Disney worlds in the game. In Kingdom Hearts 3 Sora discovers that he has disappeared from the cover of the book that contains Pooh’s world. After first this is just here to indicate towards Sora and the gang that his bond with Pooh has become weaker as a result of almost being Norted, but on a replay it becomes clear what this scene really means. Sora disappearing from the Cover of The Hundred Acre Woods foreshadows his ultimate fate at the end of the game as he disappears from reality itself. Beyond giving that major clue for the game’s ending, The Hundred Acre Woods serves to impart on Sora an important message that dictates his actions in said climax. After spending time with Pooh and his friends Sora learns that while his bonds may become strained over time as long as he continues to nurture them by making time for them they can be restored. Pushing Sora to spend his last moments with Kairi. He knows he might never be able to see her again after defying destiny so she decides to give her all the time he has left so that their bond will be strong enough to endure the pain of separation.  

Arrendelle, while cutting back on the interactions between the True Organization XIII and the Disney characters, still manages to contribute to the plot of Kingdom Hearts 3 in its own way. Continuing the search for the New Princess of Heart, Larxene stalks Elsa, believing her to be one and thus keeps the Half Pint Trio away from her in order to see whether her heart leans towards light or darkness. At the end of the snowy escapades it revealed that not only is Elsa a Princess of Heart but so is Anna. With one cat out of the bag Larxene lets out another one, revealing a dark secret and a venomous lie. She tells Sora that the XIII Seekers of Darkness’s plan to sacrifice the New Seven Princess of Hearts if the Guardians fail to gather their numbers. Just like with Kingdom of Corona this serves to elaborate on Sora’s motivation to stop Xehanort by endearing his Disney friends. Most importantly though it forces Sora to accept the truth that the Second Keyblade War is inevitable. He can either fight for a slither’s chance of stopping Xehanort or do nothing and throw away the lives of seven maidens as Xehanort ascends to godhood. Then there is Larxene's lie. With false bravado Larxene lies to Sora, claiming that the True Organization has successfully achieved all thirteen members, when in reality they were still one short. This lie has disastrous consequences as it spreads panic throughout the Guardians of Light, pushing them to run towards their own demise at the hands of darkness. Character wise Arrendelle’s main function is to test Sora’s ability to endure, using the harsh winter to push him in both body and soul. Contrasting Sora’s islander roots.  

The Caribbean contribute the most directly to Sora’s character arc pushing him to grow beyond that of a follower and into a true leader. He steps out of Jack’s shadow and becomes captain of his own ship. Going as far as to gain the Goddess of the Sea’s blessings. Even the pirate’s war is a testing ground for the Second Keyblade War, placing Sora into a larger conflict where his ideals are challenged by the old generation. Most importantly The Caribbean greatly resembles his home, Destiny islands, being a world where land, sea, and sky exist together in harmony. Allowing a new start of shorts for his first steps into adulthood. Even the act of captaining his own pirate ship serves as a natural evolution, being a more mature version of his raft from KH1. However, if Toy Box was meant to showcase the strengths of Sora’s characters then The Caribbean reveals Sora’s weakness as he has a complete breakdown after witnessing Will Turner’s death. Exposing the truth that despite all his growth throughout the previous Disney worlds Sora is still not ready to face death. Foreshadowing his lapse in judgment where he strikes Xehanort out of hatred after the old goat slays his beloved. 

Luxord’ return in The Caribbean not only calls back to his debut in Kingdom Hearts 2 where was the main antagonist to Port Royal’s second visit, but further extrapolated on his character through his rivalry with Jack Sparrow. Luxord and Jack are two kindred spirits, men who rejected a conventional life in order to pursue one of thrills. They reject the rules of the world around them in favor of living a life by their own code, to live a life of ideals. Funnily enough they even share the same goal, hunting for a black box that holds their hope. And yet it is only when their personalities come to clash under the same objective that the differences between them come to light. Jack despite being a liar, cheat, scoundrel, sleazebag, and coward is also a man of integrity. His acts of deceit being for the sake of his ideals of freedom, never once betraying Half-pint Trio as they have always treated him like a true friend, and always showing respect to Tia Dalma even when the other pirates mistreated her. Luxord on the other hand lacks integrity, he treats life like a game but refuses to respect the rules of said game. Either by cheating in order to win, like using other pirates' ships to halt Sora in their race, or trying to eliminate rivals before they can challenge him, such as attempting to destroy Leviathan before Sora can join the war at Shipwreck’s cove. Worst of all Luxord defiles the beliefs he claims to stand by failing to uphold the promise of his own games. Luxord promised to give the winner of the race their hearts desires, but instead of being true to his words and giving Jack his reward used this opportunity to trick him into revealing the location of Davy Jones’ chest. At the end of the world Jack is the winner of the rivalry, easily overpowering Luxord as he rejects the rules of parlay Luxord oh so loved to abuse. The act itself being the greatest showcase of Jack’s integrity overcoming Luxord’s lack of it. Though Parale is the one rule all Pirates are meant to stand by, it is one that ultimately stifles the freedom they fight for, meaning Jack can defy it without breaking his code. Whereas Luxord only follows the rules when it benefits him, breaking the actual spirit of the games he claims to love. It is this loss to Jack that finally brings a change to Luxord. In the Second KeyBlade War Luxord takes things much more seriously. Not only does he fight in the war honestly instead of with his usual laissez faire attitude but he finally stands by the rules of his own games. Giving Sora a fair chance to beat him without any sneaky cheating and honoring his promise to return Mickey upon meeting Victory    

San Fransokyo is the last stop in Sora’s journey, the final trial he must face before confronting the true conflict of the heart in the Keyblade Graveyard. San Fransokyo mirrors the game’s first visit to Mount Olympus. Now it is Sora’s turn to act as the mentor for a young group of heroes. In San Fransokyo Sora shows off everything he has mastered at this point, Flowmotion, Formchange, and Magic. Once again the journey's end reflects the beginning with Sora using the abilities given to him by Hercules' words to influence the next generation of heroes to come up with their own techniques. The members of Big Hero 6 fit very naturally into the role of Sora’s peers and protege. Not just because of their ages but because of their familiarity with living a dual life of both teenage angst and supernatural melancholy. After all the image and Keyblade Hero 3 and Big Hero 6 all eating ice cream together on top of the bridge is a familiar scene for a reason.  

San Fransokyo furthers the subplot of Xion’s return through the actions of Dark Riku. In the world of science and heroes Dark Riku commences a new set of experiments to see if a heart can be recreated from data using The original Baymax’s combat chip as the basis. Through the manipulation of Big Hero 6 and Keybalde Hero 3 Dark Riku proves the experiment a success with both the creation of Dark Baymax and providing the True Organization XIII with enough Data to restore Xion. Both these plot points ultimately converge in the climax of San Fransokyo which has Sora and Baymax team up in order to defeat Dark Baymax. In this tragic war of the Baymaxes the world building of San Fransokyo is used to reveal a secret that the series has hinted at since Chain of Memories. In Chain of Memories the question as to whether or not a heart can be created with data is posed through the existence of Replica Riku. Replica Riku is a clone of Riku created by the chilly academic Vexen through the use of Riku’s data. Replika Riku appears to be a perfect copy of Riku, even going as far as believing he is the real deal. And yet despite that the game leaves it unclear as to whether or not he truly has a heart or just the shadow of the heart. After all, Replika Riku failed to become his own person as he only ever repeated the mistakes of the original. Xion and Data Sora continue to keep this question alive as they manage to achieve their own identity in spite of Replica Riku’s failings. And yet they too were still just copies, their hearts needing to take from others in some shape or form to become real. So the question was still left unanswered. That is until Dark Baymax emerges. Baymax is not a copy of someone else. The very data that makes up his essence was tirelessly put together through years of trials and tribulations. Baymax is entirely original. And through his descent into Dark Baymax his data chip is revealed to be the same as a heart, for only hearts can fall to darkness. 

More important than even answering the question if a heart can be created through data, the ending to the Baymax Clone Saga foreshadows both a miracle and secret from the Second Keyblade War. Dark Baymx draws heavy parallels to Xion, both of them being lost friends that are resurrected by the forces of darkness and corrupted to be one of their soldiers. Only for the forces of light to pull off a miracle and bring them back to the side of good, restoring them as a complete person. Dark Riku’s appearance and role in San Fransokyo hints towards his true identity as Replica Riku’s past self. Replica Riku is the product of science run amok, created by a man consumed by ego and curiosity. San Fransokyo is a world whose very foundation is built on Science. Not only do its heroes use technology to create their powers but even Baymax’s very own heart represents science at its most kind and just. More than any of those similarities, Dark riku’s dismissiveness of Baymax’s heart and the True Organization XIII's experiment provides the biggest clue for his true identity, hinting towards the rejection of his sense of self. After all it was experiments just like this that gave birth to the sham of his existence. Best of all the existence of two Baymax’s also foreshadows Roxas’s return. After all, if they can Co exist so can Sora and Roxas.

In Conclusion Kingdom Hearts 3 uses the Disney worlds very well thanks to the heavy role they place in Sora’s character arc with Mount Olympus establishing the ideals that lead Sora to his final act of self sacrifice and how the rest push Sora to grow up by putting him in the role of an adult. Outside of Sora’s individual character arc the Disney worlds are used to establish the True Organization XIII as well as the stakes of the game. The XIII Seekers of Darkness are much more fleshed out characters thanks to both their roles as the fairy tale monster in each Disney world and the focus on their dynamics with the Disney heroes. Their actions in each world help cement the threat Xehanort ultimately poses, as even the very splinters of his experiences can throw a world into chaos. Lastly the Disney worlds set up several pivotal plot points for Kingdom hearts 3 from the New Seven Princess of Heart to the return of Xion.