#or former evil team members

[trainerbymoonlight]

hi all! back in unova on my unovan league challenge, finally. so out of pure curiosity, nothing else, i’m wondering if any of you have any ideas as to where one might obtain a snag ball here in unova? or maybe a straight up master ball? legally or perhaps.. dubiously legal?

i know that sounds bad, and really vague, i just.. need to get a pokémon out of a bad situation. that’s all i’ll say on it for now.

my pelipper mail is open in case anyone happens to have either ball or even something similar i can borrow. i can pay for it & return it as well if needed

[leaderhoratio]

I'm so glad none of my gym trainers have left the gym to lapse back to the evil teams.

Both because it means fewer evil team members and because it makes me feel like I'm doing my job.

[internalloops]

DA:TV rant … if you are of the mind that BioWare can do no wrong /its games can be criticize or if you truly enjoying the game and are loving everything that you’ve seen so far this post is not for you. Please move along and if you don’t want me showing up on your feed please block me.  I will not be engaging with any fan that will not allow me to take up space and vent my feelings on the disaster that is this fucking game.

*Also a lot of spoilers!!

.. it’s horrible, like I knew I was going to be disappointed but holy fucking shit …

I’m about to finish act one and .. they destroyed their entire lore … BioWare destroyed their ENTIRE lore /world build of Dragon Age

Minrathous has NO SLAVES !!! They are briefly talked about via shadow dragons but they’re are none visible at all in the city ( but they have the animation to give a poor person “fake money” )

The qunari who literally fought and tried to kill solas in trespasser have been turned into mindless brutes who willingly joined the evil gods … because they command dragons ?

The blight except for one mission is harmless. They purposely turned it into a bio weapon and then (besides the dark spawn spawning from it like something out of an MMO) due to *plot armor, no one actually contracts the blight ???

The black chantry minus one building that you go through in a side quest doesn’t exist? No chantry members , no talk of the black divine ..

Dalish are all engineers now and part of the veil jumpers ( which should not exist lore wise) and all elven magic has been converted into cyberpunk technology and artifacts. Very little talk about their oppression and they are all very willing to drop all their history , even their distrust of solas , to flight the old gods .

Varric Has been demoted to inspirational speaker and narrator he has no other role and the entire team acts like he died , even when he’s in the room with him ( I think BioWare actually planned to kill him but then chickened out ) and is a husk of his former self

Same with Morgan , you can’t interact with her at all and she’s given the same mysterious background as flemeth ( the theory that she carries mythal spirit is very strong right now )

Lyrim potions don’t exist, in fact lyrim doesn’t exist at all besides the dagger. All magic has turned into technology, and if you play as a mage mana just has an automatic replenish rate /cool down effect that you can level up.

Evil gods go back and forth between an actual intense adversary and threat to the world, and a typical Disney villain.

These are just the few I can think of off the top of my head, there is so much more than this …

The game can literally be summed up as Mass effect andromeda x2 with God of war animations and marvel style writing ( not the avengers I’m talking about the recent shit)

Also for the people who want to kill solas or simply dislike him, the game pushes a sympathetic view of him on you ,even your companions who outrightly want to kill him will feel sorry for him. And I’m saying this as a solavellan fan. Yes they’re options to be mean to him and antagonize him, but you won’t get anyone agreeing with your actions ,at best they’ll be neutral about it. Now this might play out differently for those who picked the “chooses to stop him “ option , but for those who’s inquisitions wanted to save him but they wanted their rooks to hate him … you’re not gonna be happy about what you get ..

The only thing that keeping me playing is the reveal of history of ancient elves and Titans and solas’s story. And Assan!! Assan can do no wrong !! Everything else is a slog to get through.

[teriri-sayes]

Reactions to The Worst's Chapter 360

Brief summary: Cale and CH enter the academy dressed as students. Rosalyn gets her game company person who would connect the portal in the Black Castle to the game.

===========

The leader of the 6th Evil decided to help Cale in order to find out more about the 7th Evil. They knew that the 7th Evil leader was gone and that a teddy bear was acting as its proxy leader, so the 6th Evil was curious about Cale.

So they helped Cale enter the Breeze Imperial Academy as... students! Blonde and blue-eyed Cale in a white academy uniform with gold embroidered patterns! CH got dragged in too in wearing the uniform, but had his hair dyed red! I'm now craving for fanart of Cale and CH in uniforms! 🤩🤩🤩

Rosalyn got the person who would connect the portal in the Black Castle to the game. He was Kim Se Hyeon, a Chief Researcher in the game company. Or more like the former Chief Researcher because he resigned after agreeing to help Rosalyn and VP Lee Mi Jung. They also had one more insider, Park Jeong Gyu, a member of the Operations team, who remained in the company to help them.

The Transparent Bloods were aware that ARM was the ranked one player. They knew an AI was helping ARM, but were not sure of the AI's identity, so they were investigating the NPCs in the Eastern Empire.

They were also cautious of Cale, sending some hunters in Aipotu to locate Cale, and boosting the company's security in case Cale was in Earth 3.

They were also wary of the God of Chaos followers who had caused incidents in the Demon Realm and New World, though they had yet to figure out that Cale was behind it. 😂 The Transparent Bloods found out that most of the Five-Colored Bloods were already in New World.

Hmm, so Transparent Bloods would be Earth 3, and Five-Colored Bloods would be New World? Two hunter families in one arc? I guess this arc would be a long one.

Ending Remarks Student Cale and CH! 🤩 Next chapter would be Cale finally shaking hands with Bishop Selissa. I wonder what would happen after that. Why would the game give you a quest to "shake hands" with someone anyway, right?

[mcyt-trios]

PROPAGANDA:

Eclipse Federation:

i dont like them. they ruined my life. Subz and Vitalasy had already partnered in previous seasons but this one, Vitalasy ended up leaving for a few months, leaving Subz alone, and Zam ended up getting close to him after immense trauma at the hands of his former teammates. Zam has done SO many wrongs, including to Subz himself and Subz STILL took him in and made him join Eclipse Federation after Zam died 14 times in a row and got banned then revived by the same player who's been killing him all this time. And it could've been perfect but no, Zam had betrayed his previous team due to them using dupes via exploits, and now Eclipse Federation ALSO has exploits! And he decided that yeah his morals were more important than being loved! And so he murders Vitalasy when he's at his most vulnerable point, lets everyone gaslight him into thinking Vitalasy is an irredeemable evil monster who will never change, even as Vitalasy SAID he was ready to change before the betrayal even happened, Eclipse threw out their whole revenge plans because of Zam's positive influence and he just broke everything. Subz couldn't be with Zam but also couldn't see himself at Vitalasy's side, leaving him alone. Vitalasy hated Zam and yet never killed him or hunted him down, despite Zam acting like he did. And when Vitalasy left, banning himself off from the server, Zam had some time alone to think and realized he fucked up SOOOO bad. And Subz revived Vitalasy and told him to kill him. And ban him. His last wish. His Deliverance. And to make up with Zam. And Vitalasy tried, and they kind of did make up over Subz's death, but then Zam was like "actually im going to kill everyone and destroy the server now. because i want subz back and also because i always do extremely drastic things when i don't need to because i have unchecked mental illnesses i refuse to get help for". And surprisingly when Subz came back he didn't like that! And they ended in tragedy! Eclipse is fucked up. It's a trio that's always about the absence of one person, it's a team that could only happen in one timeline and it was doomed from the very start. But the love was there. It made everything worse, truthfully. But it was there. And that matters. Also as a fun fact Zam himself on twitter has referred to eclipse as a throuple, which is not canon but that's pretty funny. he also stated on stream he didn't want to get therapy because it'd ruin his lifesteal character. and there was a saga where they would "marry" (challenge lost kinda shenanigans) and zam was the only one happy about it. he's not normal. there's something wrong with him. love that for him though sorry for the block of text. I really dislike them. They're my beloveds :3

L'mantrio:

brothers in arms. nothing much to say here I'm bad at propaganda sorey

They're brothers your honor, they're the original 3 members of l'manburg, they're so underrated, they're literally my favorite ever trio

[ranger-ribbons]

General Ranger Headcanons

Ranger Teams are protective of their youngest members and their Reds. Sometimes, this does coincide, but for the most part, the youngest and the Red are separate people

Red Rangers generally have zero self-preservation instincts, either because of trauma or daredevil personalities

Blue Rangers can be the 'tech wiz', but generally, they're just extremely intelligent

Rangers all have a pretty solid relationship with gender and pronouns. Mostly because they see and fight aliens literally every day and have decided they have Bigger Things to worry about

Reds, Yellows, and Blues are usually always there on the Ranger teams, so it's common for them to be close

Rangers have a list that they pass down to the younger teams. This list details little things like how to help give each other strength to what pain medications can help the aches and pains go away fastest, because yes the suits take most of the blows, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt later

Some Rangers have PTSD, some have anxiety, some have depression. There are, in fact, numbers of former-Ranger therapists that the Rangers all know by heart

Teams don't really drift apart, they stick together because who else is gonna understand what it's like to witness the people you hang around daily almost die every other week?

Rangers drift toward other Rangers. It's due to the Morphin' Grid power they've been imbued with and the Morphin' Grid's pull to itself

There's a point in every Ranger's fight that shift-sleeping becomes the norm amongst teams. It's to stop nightmares, but also because of the paranoia that strikes when you're in fight or flight mode too long

Rangers from space or space-adjacent stick together

Rangers in general stick together, always. Where one Ranger is, another is typically not far behind. Some teams go so far as to get houses together, others just in the same neighborhood or town. Never far from each other, and never away for too long

The Power will never, can never abandon its chosen people. Once it makes its choices, it will not deviate. It doesn't stop looking out for its chosen ones either. Once you've bonded to the Morphin' Grid, you're stuck for life, regardless of being active or not

In Universe, people write fanfiction about the Rangers. Yes, they read it, sometimes they even like it. (Megaforce and down in particular find it hilarious)

The scone the Rangers find out about their Super Sentai counterpart shows, it's on. Some find them hilarious, some find them uncomfortable, but it's all in good fun for all of them

A list of common triggers is passed around to the Ranger teams, including but not limited to: loud noises, bugs, fog, robotic voices/static

Some of the Rangers (especially those who've been fighting for years) get therapy animals

Rangers have problems connecting to people who aren't Rangers or don't know about Rangers. Similar to military or police or doctors, Rangers are never truly off unless they're inactive and even then, it's a roll of the dice as to if they'll be pulled back in. Most of them have been doing this since they were teens, so they never truly got a chance. Preston Tien, Ninja Steel Blue, once described the experience as "playing with a half-deck whilst the other decks are rigged against you" and most of the other Rangers agreed

Every Ranger knows the pain of Nightmares, which is a big part of the reason shift-sleeping became so common amongst teams. Sleeping disorders are also common, which is not easy for the Rangers to deal with. When you're trained from a young age to be fighters and saviors of the planet, you don't walk away without trauma

Rangers who've gone Evil (or started Evil) and come back to the side of Good have each other's direct lines, Tommy Oliver, Karone, Trent Fernandez-Mercer, etc, all of them share a similar fear of suddenly turning evil again

Rangers do not like Zordon for his express need to put teenagers into a war that isn't even their's

[catsvrsdogscatswin]

Since there’s a bit of a hiatus in Dracula Daily right now, I thought I’d take the opportunity to ramble about what I know of vampiric folklore and history in Europe because I cannot contain my infodump and it’s actually really interesting.

Painting it in very broad strokes, the earliest folkloric creature we would recognize as a vampire was acknowledged in Europe in the 1100s and earlier as a human corpse that physically rose from their grave and returned to their former home/village to drink blood. (A 12th-century English text, The Life and Miracles of St. Modwenna, mentions two examples of this type of vampire.) These vampires’ victims did not become vampires as well, but sickened and died, usually from wasting diseases. What caused the original person to become a vampire was variable, but usually involved being, just, an absolute jerk when they were alive, or an increasingly convoluted series of ways in which they attracted bad luck/evil while they lived, after they died, or as they were buried.

This is where the traditions of stuffing a stone in the potential vampire’s mouth, decapitating them and putting the head in the grave between their knees, burying them facedown, cutting off their hands or feet, burying them in a too-small grave, piling stones atop the grave, or burying them with broken legs came from. All of these are regional or historical variations on ways to quite literally prevent the presumed vampire from digging their way out of the grave and causing trouble: an “And stay down there!” maneuver that we’ll see survive into modern pop culture in the form of a stake through the heart.

This was the predominant form of vampirism up until roughly the 1700s: someone nasty in the village died, and after a while, would start reappearing to their family or loved ones at night, slowly draining their lives away as they fell to a wasting disease like tuberculosis or leprosy. Once the villagers caught on, they would exhume the body, find it suspiciously preserved and with blood trickling from its mouth, and then take steps to neutralize the vampiric threat by beheading, staking it through the heart to literally pin it in the grave, stuff a stone in its mouth, or a combination of all three. 

(You may have heard of the Venetian mass-burial plague pit an archeological team discovered: one of the skeletons had a brick shoved in her mouth. She was the only body treated in such a way, implying that she was thought to have been a vampire: hypothetically even the vampire that caused this local upswing of the plague.)

A cultural shift happened in the 18th century, however, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire gained territory in Serbia and other portions of the Balkans. Since they were neighbors with the Ottoman Empire, the Austro-Hungarians kept a heavy military presence in these new territories, and the emperor of the time (Charles VI, I believe) asked the occupying forces to collect reports on the local customs and folklore and send them back.

A number of the reports they sent back included vampire stories.

Now, this was the Age of Enlightenment: many countries were pulling away from old superstitions and following the new methods of science. Belief in vampirism was a rural thing, and widespread plague situations had faded enough that they really weren’t relevant anymore and had fallen out of a lot of people’s memory. 

But the thing was... science was still new, and this whole vampirism thing sounded just plausible enough to be extremely interesting. The Austro-Hungarians sent all sorts of scientists, doctors, and clergy members to collect and dissect and discuss these stories, and for a short spate of time vampirism was the hot new discussion topic in esoteric circles. And for then and a while after, if you wanted case studies, debates, and just about any reference material on vampires, you knew you’d find it in Austro-Hungary’s library.

Eventually the scientific community all concluded that this vampirism thing was just silly peasants not understanding the process of decay, but the arts crowd -particularly the Sturm und Drang folks in Germany- remained very interested in this exotic new creature steeped in mystery and death. Sturm und Drang translates to “storm and stress” and if I had to describe their style in modern terms, I would say (roughly, and with affection) “a love of edgy tragedies.”

There were a number of poems and works spawned from this flurry of interest, but this Austrian version of the vampire still shared a common theme: more like a revenant than anything else, coming for their loved ones first, and a lot of their horror was tied up in how blasphemous and unChristian their very existence was. Less emphasis was placed on getting rid of the vampire and more was placed on the artistic allure of vengeance from beyond the grave and the vampire’s inherent exotic mysticism and threat.

Stoker, in fact, directly references an example of this in Dracula! On May 5th, when Dracula’s telling the coach driver that he knew they were trying to get Jonathan out of there before he showed up, because he himself drove fast enough to intercept them, one of the other passengers whispers to his friend “Denn die Todten reiten schnell,” which translates roughly to “For the dead ride fast,” a quote from Burger’s Lenore.

Lenore is a poem about a young woman whose fiancé died in the Seven Years’ War (connection with Austro-Hungary). In her despair, she curses god (old-school invitation for vampirism), and the following night, her lover knocks on her door to take her on horseback to their marriage bed (vampires attack their loved ones first). He takes her on an increasingly terrifying ride through the night, prompting the above quote, which ends in a graveyard, where he is revealed to be a skeleton and Lenore dies.  

Lenore was written in 1774, and although William is not technically a vampire, the poem is an example of the old-school vampire type. The vampire is a physical reanimated corpse that does not create more of its kind, but causes the people around them to die/waste away, and attacks their loved ones before anyone else. The transition to what we finally would recognize as a modern vampire started with Carmilla and was solidified in Dracula.

Written in 1872, Carmilla is a blending of both old and modern vampiric tropes. It uses the then-expected setting of the Austrian Empire, all of the titular vampire’s victims wasted away and died rather than rising as vampires themselves, and Carmilla’s coffin was filled with blood when she was unearthed. However, she was also able to shapeshift into a cat and walk through walls -no longer just a revenant- and she could walk around during the day without harm. She also does not target the people she knew and loved in life first: Carmilla is a vampire centuries old and her current victims are chosen indiscriminately. The vampire as a folkloric creature was evolving.

And, side note, while it was used partially as a narrative device to show how evil and unnatural Carmilla was, she was also gay. Gay as fuck. People who lost their shit at 

“Then the Count turned, after looking at my face attentively, and said in a soft whisper: ‘Yes, I too can love’” 

will go absolutely mental at Laura going

“It was like the ardour of a lover; it embarrassed me; it was hateful and yet overpowering; and with gloating eyes she drew me to her, and her hot lips travelled along my cheek in kisses; and she would whisper, almost in sobs, ‘You are mine, you shall be mine, and you and I are one for ever.’"

Anyway. Queerness is baked into the concept of the modern vampire from the very beginning, what of it.

With Carmilla as the springboard, though, Stoker was free to finally create Dracula, which was essentially the turning point between modern and archaic vampire depictions. He took all of the old stuff and reworked, revamped (heh), or added to it to get the foundation of the stereotypical vampire we know today.

He shifted the geographic vampire hotspot further over from Austria-Hungary, landing it in neighboring Transylvania. Dracula’s victims weaken and die and seem to be inflicted with a strange wasting disease, but can also turn into vampires themselves. Driving a stake through his heart and cutting off his head is no longer an attempt to pin him in his grave and keep him from rising, but merely to destroy him. He was dead, yes, and very unholy, but he also had powers beyond merely being a risen corpse, and his power set became the standard for future vampire media.

Hence, Dracula becomes the foundation for the modern concept of a vampire, which is why pop culture usually treats it as the beginning point of vampirism in general.

[graveyardcuddles]

There's this post I saw on here about how if the player turns Shadowheart over to the Sharans, the rest of the party should all turn on you. I completely agree, and I think they should also mutiny against Tav/Durge if they tell Orin to just go ahead and kill the party member she takes hostage. Act 3 feels like the act where everyone in the group should care about each other the most and yet it's the act where they arguably feel most disconnected from one another. And this is all probably a symptom of the overall lack of reactions and responses to major events in Act 3 from the companions in general.

But another similar example that drives me insane is how, if you ascend Astarion and then immediately turn on him and side with the Gur, ALL of the companions will just be like "Nice work taking out the trash, team. Job well done. Another vampire lord vanquished, " without so much as a hint of emotion after you betray him, gang up on him and KILL HIM?? As if they hadn't spent weeks and possibly months traveling with Astarion, getting to know him, bonding with him, ect. As if they hadn't just all stood there and let him complete the ritual. But the moment Paladin Karen and the Gur show up, they just abandon all that over what? Some vague ideal of "evil is evil black and white no nuace" nonsense? (which is even more ridiculous if some of the other companions are evil like DJ Shadowheart or Minthara).

The only companion with a reasonable reaction is Halsin, who correctly points out you should have tried harder to stop the ascension rather than betray Astarion and kill him after it happened. I understand that not all of the companions have the best relationship with him. And I understand all of them very much disapprove of him ascending. So I don't expect the whole party to mutiny over this particular decision. But the fact that they ALL uniformly turn on him so quickly for these people they don't even know is disappointing. There should have realistically been some pushback/objections. Or at least some guilt and sadness and reflection over the fact that they all just had to kill their former traveling companion/friend that THEY allowed to become this threat they felt warranted putting down.

It feels like it should be an incredibly tragic and cathartic moment, and it just falls spectacularly flat. I tried to rationalize their reactions as just part of the shitty lack of responses the companions all generally have in Act 3. But at least with Shadowheart and the hostage situation with Orin the companions will still be ANGRY at you and express their disaproval. Whereas here it really comes off like they just don't give a shit about Astarion and never really did. It's depressing.

I feel like it unintentionally and very sadly lends validation to the idea that what Astarion says about no one else being like Tav/Durge. No one else will look out for him. No one else will have that same kindness for him. No one has a heart like them. I don't actually agree with this notion. I think based on the good epilogue for his spawn ending he's definitely capable of making friends and genuine human connections. But Tav/Durge HAS to come first. They have to be the example that shows him how.

Also why I can't stop repeatedly romancing him. Astarion needs Tav/Durge arguably more than any other companion. He has nothing and no one else.

[alicent-vi-britannia]

Why does Shirley have to die?

One of the most frequent comments I found while browsing when I entered this fandom and it bothered me greatly was that Shirley's death was useless, which reflected a lack of understanding of the series and the character of Shirley and her relationship with Lelouch and Suzaku. So today I'll explain what the effects of Shirley's murder were.

Broadly speaking, Shirley's murder serves as a catalyst between the first and second half of the second season. Likewise, Shirley's sad murder resonates with the main theme of the series and influences the narrative arcs of Lelouch and Suzaku.

1. Shirley's death was what pushed Lelouch to change his plans for the Geass Cult. Instead of controlling the orphans who had been turned into Geass users, Lelouch decided to destroy the Geass Cult by decimating the children and scientists who participated in the project by organizing a clandestine operation with the Black Knights.

1.1. This operation will later become one of the reasons why the Black Knights will betray Lelouch. It's information that is leaked to Asahina, a member of the Four Holy Swords, and reaches through him Tohdoh, who, together with Ohgi, were the ones who convinced the rest of the Black Knights that they were angry with Zero for abandoning them in the middle of the takeove of the Tokyo Settlement. So the massacre of the Geass Cult influenced the betrayal of Tohdoh, one of the pillars in the Order of the Black Knights and most loyal to their leader.

1.2. Additionally, the Black Knights' attack on the Geass Cult resulted in the death of V.V. and attracted the Emperor who took the code from V.V. and then attempted to initiate the Ragnarök Connection in episode 15, but C.C. prevented this by sealing her code and suppressing her memories. Something that will influence Lelouch's isolation. Also, in the massacre of the Geass Cult, Lelouch captured Cornelia, which will be important in the future.

2. Shirley's death was what pushed Suzaku over the edge and motivated him to coerce Kallen through refrain to get confirmation that Zero was behind her murder. About to do so, Suzaku realized that he was about to become completely corrupted and begins to rethink his beliefs and methods for the first time. It's because of this incident with Kallen that Suzaku is willing to reunite with Lelouch and team up with him, even if it means abandoning Britannia. But, well, Schneizel ambushes the two former friends and makes Lelouch believe that Suzaku betrayed him once again. Consequently, Lelouch is determined to kill Suzaku in revenge, but it turns out badly due to the cursed order he gave him long ago and which causes the total annihilation of the Tokyo Settlement, something that will mark a turning point in Suzaku's narrative arc and It will also affect Lelouch...

3. Shirley's death was a turning point in Lelouch and Rolo's relationship. It was a relationship in which love and hate were quite balanced, but, after this event, Lelouch leaned towards hate. I'll talk more about this point in my analysis of Rolo's motivations for killing Shirley, so that's all I'll say for now. I'll add that, if Mao made him realize that Geass can corrupt the user and Euphemia's death made Lelouch realize that Geass is an evil power, Shirley's death made Lelouch realize that Geass will condemn him to isolation (damn, Lelouch saw a lot of red flags and kept going; I don't know whether to call it idiocy or determination). At the same time, he realized how terrible the power of Geass is in the hands of a child and became terrified that all Geass users were like Rolo, which is why he thinks it is better to eradicate the Geass Cult and not control them.

4. Shirley's death is linked to the main theme of the series (will) and, in a certain way, influenced the epiphany that Lelouch will have in the final stretch of the series. Rolo didn't get into a vehicle, he drove to Shirley's house and got out to shoot her. No. Shirley was murdered, following her will. She abandoned the security force that was guarding her because she wanted to offer her help to Lelouch. To paraphrase Lelouch's words to Schneizel in the series' penultimate episode, people are actively seeking happiness, and for Shirley, her happiness was with Lelouch. Even though Lelouch erases her memory over and over again to protect her, Shirley will always do what her will dictates, and that includes falling in love with him again. Shirley's firm resolve, added to that of other characters, is what teaches Lelouch to value human beings' will and constant pursuit of happiness.

In short, Shirley's death is what leads to most of the events that occur in the second part of R2. Without that, the Zero Requiem doesn't even take place. For all this, it is ridiculous that the alternate universe continues with the same events as the canonical universe, but, well, nothing makes sense in the alternate universe (hence it is complete garbage and I'll maintain this statement until the last day of my existence.)

Having said that. If anyone still wants to be angry about Shirley's death, they have to change their focus on her. The point isn't that Shirley's murder adds nothing to the plot (we already saw that it isn't true); but this seems to show that Shirley is a "woman in refrigerator." This is a term coined by Gail Simone to refer to female characters who face disproportionate harm, which will serve as a plot device to motivate male characters. The term was used to talk about situations in Western comics, but can be extrapolated to other media. Is Shirley a "woman in refrigerator"? I would say yes, but I think that term should be applied when there are female characters who have great potential and the authors don't exploit it, but rather prefer to reduce them to a motivation for the current male hero. And Shirley is not Kallen (an action heroine and Knightmare pilot, whose talent and skill can change the flow of a battle), she is not C.C. (an Immortal Witch who knows all the secrets of Geass and is clandestinely working with our protagonist's worst enemy for her own interests), she is not Euphemia (a princess in the Holy Empire of Britannia who can challenge the status quo and change the system from the inside), she is not Nina (a prodigy in science, capable of creating a weapon of mass destruction). She's only Shirley. An innocent civilian trapped in a bloody war. She cannot contribute more than she can, so let's not ask for pears from the elm.

I really wanted to write this analysis! I just removed a thorn that was stuck. I feel better.

[princessleechan]

"You're the Man" Profiles #2

Masterlist

⚽synopsis: After your university cut your soccer team to prioritize the men’s team, it’s natural you have a falling out with your then soccer-star-player boyfriend and impersonate your twin brother at the rival university to play on their men’s team. Wait, it’s not? Oh well.

⚽pairing: afab!reader x ot13 (??? Member)

⚽genre: humor, romance, crack, eventual smut

⚽series tags: MDNI, she’s the man au, revenge au???, cross dressing!reader, reader identifies anything but male, sports au, queer themes, university au, love-whatever the fuck kind of shape, tags will vary per chapter

⚽Tag list: @90s-belladonna @the-boy-meets-evil @lirtha97 @hipsdofangirl @justineasian @kwanisms @multi-kpop-fanfics @pantumin @wooahaeproductions @mayashu @shuasdraftsalt @lone-lone-ranger @headlockimnida @horanghaezone @haolistic @porridgesblog @jeonjungkaka @luchiet @ujimatchaaa @skzdesi @cheoliehansolie @vlbii @myghobi @sisterofsomeone @joonsytip @gyublues @alltheshineofthestars-blog @randomworker @isabellah29 @savgogh @too-many-kpop-hubands @kotarousproperty @shingsoluvely @kamabokogonpachro @skittlez-area512 @seccdlurv @chisskaa @mochiteez @theyluvfrankocean @lllucere @thomawifey @middle-of-the-earth @okiedokrie @itsokaytobedumb00 @humankimbap

Seungcheol: The soccer team captain and dad who knows what’s best for his team and is essentially there in place of there coach who never seems to be around. Former MVP until Mingyu joined the team two years later but has never felt any ill will towards him, but will nag at him like a clingy mother. That just meant that Mingyu’s his favorite.

Jeonghan: team member who recently injured his leg and has been indefinitely benched until further notice. Naturally nosy and suspicious as fuck of Y/n for being unrealistically pretty, that’s his job. There has to be something up with you and he’s kind of determined to find out. Emphasis on the kinda. There are still better things to do.

Wonwoo: One of Mingyu’s closest friends and usually the person Mingyu would confide in. Joined the soccer team because Mingyu said it’d be fun so he’s on the team. Has eccentric taste. Currently interested in someone he describes being misunderstood and wishes other people would see her how he sees her.

Soonyoung: team’s defense player, emphasis on player. Has a track record for getting with everyone on the track team and other sports teams on campus while he’s at it, but gets the job done when needed and reliable teammate. Has a particular interest in you, the new guy, and wonders what is it about you that’s different than everyone else on the team. Maybe it's just his hormones talking. He’s just enthusiastic as he would call it.

Joshua: Seungcheol’s secondhand man and if Seungcheol can’t be found for some reason, Josh is your best bet. Can be a little shit instigator and loves having some power but knows how overwhelming the power can be and rather work in the shadows and let Seungcheol do the heavy lifting.

[book--brackets]

The Wicked + the Divine by Kieron Gillan (2014-2019)

Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as humans. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead. The team behind critical tongue-attractors like Young Avengers and PHONOGRAM reunite to create a world where gods are the ultimate pop stars and pop stars are the ultimate gods. But remember: just because you’re immortal, doesn’t mean you’re going to live forever.

The Checquy Files by Daniel O'Malley (2012-2022)

"The body you are wearing used to be mine." So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her.

She soon learns that she is a Rook, a high-ranking member of a secret organization called the Chequy that battles the many supernatural forces at work in Britain. She also discovers that she possesses a rare, potentially deadly supernatural ability of her own.

In her quest to uncover which member of the Chequy betrayed her and why, Myfanwy encounters a person with four bodies, an aristocratic woman who can enter her dreams, a secret training facility where children are transformed into deadly fighters, and a conspiracy more vast than she ever could have imagined.

Tea Dragon by K. O'Neill (2017-2021)

From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes THE TEA DRAGON SOCIETY, the beloved and charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons. After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives--and eventually her own. 

The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper (1965-1977)

When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back, three from the circle, three from the track; wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone; five will return, and one go alone.” 

With these mysterious words, Will Stanton discovers on his 11th birthday that he is no mere boy. He is the Sign-Seeker, last of the immortal Old Ones, destined to battle the powers of evil that trouble the land. His task is monumental: he must find and guard the six great Signs of the Light, which, when joined, will create a force strong enough to match and perhaps overcome that of the Dark. Embarking on this endeavor is dangerous as well as deeply rewarding; Will must work within a continuum of time and space much broader than he ever imagined.

The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter (1979)

In The Bloody Chamber - which includes the story that is the basis of Neil Jordan's 1984 movie The Company of Wolves - Carter spins subversively dark and sensual versions of familiar fairy tales and legends like "Little Red Riding Hood," "Bluebeard," "Puss in Boots," and "Beauty and the Beast," giving them exhilarating new life in a style steeped in the romantic trappings of the gothic tradition.

Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews (2013-2022)

On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shih Tzu named Beast, and is a perfect neighbor, whose biggest problem should be what to serve her guests for breakfast. But Dina is...different: Her broom is a deadly weapon; her Inn is magic and thinks for itself. Meant to be a lodging for otherworldly visitors, the only permanent guest is a retired Galactic aristocrat who can’t leave the grounds because she’s responsible for the deaths of millions and someone might shoot her on sight. Under the circumstances, "normal" is a bit of a stretch for Dina.

And now, something with wicked claws and deepwater teeth has begun to hunt at night...Feeling responsible for her neighbors, Dina decides to get involved. Before long, she has to juggle dealing with the annoyingly attractive, ex-military, new neighbor, Sean Evans—an alpha-strain werewolf—and the equally arresting cosmic vampire soldier, Arland, while trying to keep her inn and its guests safe. But the enemy she’s facing is unlike anything she’s ever encountered before. It’s smart, vicious, and lethal, and putting herself between this creature and her neighbors might just cost her everything.

The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley (2005-2012)

For Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, life has not been a fairy tale. After the mysterious disappearance of their parents, the sisters are sent to live with their grandmother--a woman they believed was dead! Granny Relda reveals that the girls have two famous ancestors, the Brothers Grimm, whose classic book of fairy tales is actually a collection of case files of magical mischief. Now the girls must take on the family responsibility of being fairy tale detectives.

Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta (2008-2012)

Finnikin of the Rock and his guardian, Sir Topher, have not been home to their beloved Lumatere for ten years. Not since the dark days when the royal family was murdered and the kingdom put under a terrible curse. But then Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young woman with an incredible claim: the heir to the throne of Lumatere, Prince Balthazar, is alive.

Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.

But Evanjalin is not what she seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin's faith in her . . . but in himself.

Damar by Robin McKinley (1982-1984)

Harry Crewe is an orphan girl who comes to live in Damar, the desert country shared by the Homelanders and the secretive, magical Hillfolk. Her life is quiet and ordinary-until the night she is kidnapped by Corlath, the Hillfolk King, who takes her deep into the desert. She does not know the Hillfolk language; she does not know why she has been chosen. But Corlath does. Harry is to be trained in the arts of war until she is a match for any of his men. Does she have the courage to accept her true fate?

The Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook (1984-2000)

Some feel the Lady, newly risen from centuries in thrall, stands between humankind and evil. Some feel she is evil itself. The hard-bitten men of the Black Company take their pay and do what they must, burying their doubts with their dead. 

Until the prophesy: The White Rose has been reborn, somewhere, to embody good once more. There must be a way for the Black Company to find her... 

[crossdressingdeath]

Now that I have everyone's responses to the "Durge was an Absolutist leader" reveal, I have thoughts. I think the whole thing works best if you tell the party about you being Bhaalspawn before going to the inauguration, because if you do that they're all like "It's okay, you don't have to be evil, you can fight your father, you have to fight your father" and while some Durges would probably be upset about the repeated insistence that they Mustn't Be Evil it's definitely well-intentioned and they want to support you. And then you get to the inauguration and they're furious about the Absolutist reveal. Which is mostly fair (Shadowheart getting mad at you specifically for not telling anyone when she knows you have amnesia is just a little unreasonable), but it's also like. all that support goes away the second they learn you weren't a good little non-murdery heroic Bhaalspawn like Gorion's Ward. To be fair, their anger and sense of betrayal are understandable, it's a hell of a thing to learn and I get the sense that the party really doesn't grasp just how strong Bhaal's hold on Durge is (I don't think it's a coincidence that Jaheira and Minsc are two of the calmest about the Bhaalspawn reveal or that Jaheira takes the Bhaal's Chosen reveal better than most of the party, they have more experience and so have a better understanding of what being Bhaalspawn actually means, but even they don't as far as I'm aware know about the "literally crafted from Bhaal's divine essence" situation)! I can definitely see why they for the most part react so overwhelmingly negatively, I would too in their position. But at the same time... poor Durge? I mean, they've just learned that they were a leader of the cult that stuck a tadpole in their and most of their friends' heads and is trying to take over the world. While the response to that would vary depending on the Durge, that's a heavy thing to suddenly have to deal with! And then the closest thing to support they get from the party is Minthara and Jaheira saying "Well, you fucked up big time but you can still sort of make up for it" and a couple party members not responding to it at all. The only person in this situation who seems pleased to have them around right now is Gortash.

...I wonder if that's part of the reason why Gortash chooses to reveal all of this here and now in front of the party rather than trying to find a moment to talk to Durge privately. It wouldn't have been hard for him to say "Well, I want to talk to the leader of your group privately and I won't give you any information until I get to do so," make it into some sort of power play or something and then explain the situation once they were alone. It might even have been smarter, since that way the party wouldn't be suspicious of Durge. But instead he spills the beans in front of everyone, driving a wedge between Durge and the rest of the group. The others love Durge enough to stick by them even after the reveal, but Gortash couldn't have known that would be the case when he told them! It doesn't make sense to deliberately cause problems among the party if he wants them working together as a team to deal with Orin for him, but it does make sense if his ultimate goal is to get rid of the rest of the party so he and Durge can rule together as was the original plan. After all, if the group decided they don't want a (former) Absolutist leader around and chase Durge away, where could Durge go other than straight to Gortash?

[leaderhoratio]

My toxic trait is that I work in a gym that specifically rehabs ex-team members, but if Aqua could expand habitats for pokemon without fucking everything up, I would join.

[nunalastor]

Resident Evil Au

Instead of 7, it’s the first Resident Evil in the Spencer Mansion

Alastor was a former S.T.A.R.S. member who later went to make a career in radio. The only reason he joined was because he wanted to keep an eye on Guy (he was scrawny back then). He and Guy were in Alpha Team with Albert Wesker as their captain. Alastor never liked their captain, he could sense something familiar in Wesker. It was until they were trapped in the Spencer Mansion, it was revealed Wesker was working for Umbrella and Stars were just Guinea pigs for their experiments.

Alastor was about to try and stab Wesker, but he also revealed that he knew Alastor’s secret. Wesker knew Alastor was a serial killer all along and threatened to expose him if they don’t join forces. Alastor hated being blackmailed, but Wesker also promised to get Guy out there alive. The creepy part was how handsy Wesker was while threatening to spill Alastor’s secret; Wesker was rubbing Alastor’s shoulders as he felt his breathe at the back of his neck.

Yeah I added one-sided Alastor x Wesker

👀

[realpokemon]

idk why every former team aqua member talks about "believing in the mission" or whatever. real ones know we joined just because the leader was hot

you know you always hear about people joining nonsense evil teams because "ohhhh the leader was soo hot i just wanted to simp" ok but then explain team flare. make it make sense

[bihanarms]

Hi there!! 🙋🏻‍♀️

I'd really like to read a one-shot, either Carlos x reader (or OFC) or Leon x reader (or OFC). It can also be fluffy and / or hurt & comfort, whatever you're up to 😊

The reader / ofc could probably be a scientist who has to find something important in the NEST in Raccon City and is protected by Carlos or Leon.

What do you think? 😊

No problem!!! Let's go for Carlos x Reader (I felt it more with Carlos)! Takes place during the events in Raccoon City in Resident Evil 3, and I had to slightly modify the base story regarding the NEST location, Carlos' path, etc. Hoping you will enjoy it!! (Sorry for any mistakes). and ofc lets forget the whole carlosxjill thing for this story.

Carlos Oliveira x Reader! : A Former Love

You remind me of someone,"

Carlos said anxiously as he had just laid Jill down on the hospital bed. "Hang in there, SuperCop, it's going to be okay, I'll be right back."

The mercenary's mind was filled with worry after his teammate had been infected during her latest battle against the biological weapon that had been relentlessly pursuing her since they had met. He had luckily stumbled upon the former member of the Bravo team from STARS and had managed to escort her to the hospital he had originally intended to go to. Apparently, this place was connected to Raccoon City's sewer system, and from there, he could reach the NEST where a vaccine against the T-Virus was supposed to be located.

« I guess it's time to go » Carlos sighed before closing the door to Jill's room.

The mercenary cautiously made his way through the dark and silent corridors of the hospital, which seemed to have been devoid of signs of life for a while now. The flickering light of his flashlight barely illuminated the decaying walls and closed doors, creating dancing shadows that seemed to play with his already frayed nerves. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the empty corridors, and he felt his heart race in his chest as he suddenly heard the sound of glass breaking.

The man froze, listening intently, expecting the worst considering all the horrors he had witnessed so far. Ready to react to any potential threat, Carlos quickly pointed his flashlight in the direction of the sound and moved towards it, making his way through the debris and dark corridors to reach the room from where the sound had come.

As he entered the room, his flashlight revealed a familiar silhouette. He stood there dumbfounded for a moment before recognizing the woman who stood there, eyes wide with surprise.

"[Name]?"

« Oh, come on…out of all the people I could meet in this world... what have I done to deserve this? »sighed the young woman in front of him.

The woman who had just entered the hospital was [Name], a former scientist from Umbrella Corporation, and at the same time, a former fling of Carlos. They had met during several joint missions, both working for Umbrella, and had an affair before their paths separated. The young man had not expected to see her here, in a hospital in the midst of the horror of Raccoon City.

"What are you doing here? Get out of this city as soon as possible, you're completely out of your mind!" Carlos said, concerned about the situation.

[Name] barely looked Carlos in the eyes as she picked up the knife she had dropped when she had broken the window to enter.

"I'm here to get the vaccine for all this abomination outside. As a former Umbrella scientist, I think I'll be able to recognize it, and at the same time, gather evidence to show the whole world that the company you still work for is responsible for all this mess," she said coldly.

Carlos let out a small laugh at her words. When I said Jill reminded me of someone…

He looked at her, his feelings mixed. On one hand, he was surprised to see her but relieved to know she was in one piece, but on the other hand, he couldn't deny that he was still drawn to her despite their complicated past.

"Still with this conspiracy theory against Umbrella…"

"You? Why are you here?" the young scientist retorted, finally looking at Carlos in the eyes.

"I'm looking for the vaccine too, believe it or not, for a teammate," he replied, looking worried.

The woman crossed her arms, not responding immediately. She remembered the passionate moments she had shared with Carlos in the past while looking at him from head to toe, but also the fights and disagreements that had driven them apart. One of the reasons that had separated them was, of course, Umbrella.

As you may have gathered from earlier, [Name] had left Umbrella shortly after discovering the company's true intentions and hearing about recent rumors of virus leaks. She had completely disappeared from the radar, doing her best to avoid being pursued by the nefarious corporation and to conduct her research safely and discreetly. She took a deep breath before taking a few steps towards the man standing in front of her. With a determined look, she began,

"You know what? You're going to escort me down there. In addition, you wouldn't have been able to recognize this vaccine, and I've been to this place before."

She grabbed Carlos by the arm without warning and directed him towards the corridor behind them.

"And at the same time, I'll prove to you that I'm right, and you won't be able to call me crazy one more time," she added with a semi-haughty air.

"Well then let's go, sweetheart."

•

The scientist walked with confident strides, knowing the way through the labyrinth of old hospital rooms. She carried a flashlight to illuminate their path, and Carlos followed closely, keeping his weapon ready in case they encountered any trouble.

Suddenly, [Name] came to a sudden stop, gesturing for the mercenary to be quiet. She listened attentively, hearing zombie noises emanating from one of the rooms, then pointed in a specific direction. Carlos nodded and followed her, amazed at how well she knew the layout of the place.

As they made their way through a particularly dark and narrow area towards the underground facility, the scientist grabbed Carlos' arm to help him navigate the stairs.

"You know, this is the second time you've grabbed my arm. I can still walk on my own," he joked teasingly, taken aback by the gesture but finding it pleasing.

[Name] looked up at him, and he noticed a smirk on her lips despite the dim surroundings.

"Haha, gotcha there, dollface. I don't think I've seen you smile once since we started," Carlos whispered.

"Do you expect me to smile often given the situation of this city?"

"No, but when you saw my handsome face back then, I would have expected a big smile from you," the armed man joked.

[Name] pretended not to hear her temporary bodyguard as they arrived at the doors of the NEST.

"Ready?"

•

It was the long-awaited moment for the two of them, as this was where crucial information about the shady activities of Umbrella Corporation and the vaccine needed to save Jill was located. [Name] pulled out an electronic device from her pocket and began hacking the security system of the door. Carlos was impressed by her skills and watched attentively

The door finally opened with a click, revealing a modern and well-equipped laboratory. The two former partners entered cautiously, their weapons ready, but nothing dangerous was in sight. While [Name] inspected the surroundings and vials in search of the vaccine, Carlos stumbled upon a computer displaying seemingly innocuous text.

"[Name],... You were right.... All this time,"

To his great surprise, the displayed information clearly showed that the Umbrella Corporation was responsible for all the virus leaks and dangerous experiments that had led to the catastrophe in the region. There were damning evidence of how the company had concealed its illegal activities and attempted to manipulate the situation to protect its own interests.

As she finally found and grabbed the sample of the vaccine, she slowly approached Carlos, who had a horrified look on his face. She gently placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a look that said "I told you so."

"You know, Carlos," [Name] began, "I'm surprised that you remembered my name," she finished with a small smirk.

As Carlos was about to respond, a zombie emerged from the darkness and lunged at [Name], ready to bite her. The mercenary reacted instinctively, raising his weapon and firing a shot just in time to save the young woman. The creature collapsed, narrowly missing causing her fatal injuries.

A sudden cry escaped [Name]'s mouth as the sound of the gunshot and the fall of the zombie brought them both to the ground. They found themselves face to face, their faces just millimeters apart.

Emotions rushed through their minds as they looked intensely at each other.

His heart was pounding, mixed with adrenaline and concern for [Name]'s safety.

He could feel her warm breath against his face.

As their gazes locked in intense connection, Carlos found himself lost in his thoughts.

God, how beautiful she was.

« Oh come on..." [Name] regained her composure and suddenly stood up, trying not to let her "former" feelings take over.

"Did I say that out loud?" Carlos said with a small chuckle, standing up as well.

"Thank you for saving me, I owe you one, and for accompanying me," the young woman said, heading towards the exit. "There's still a second sample of the vaccine on the table at the back for your partner."

"Wait!"

Carlos rushed towards [Name] and suddenly grabbed her arm. At first annoyed by this gesture, [Name] made movements to free herself from Carlos' grip, but then noticed the seriousness in his brown eyes. He took a deep breath and began his declaration in a deep voice.

"[Name], I sincerely apologize for not believing you when you warned me about Umbrella. I was wrong, and I regret not taking your warnings more seriously. You were right from the beginning."

He paused, letting his words sink in the emotionally charged air between them.

"And about your earlier remark, I never forgot your name, not for a single second. You have always been on my mind, [Name], believe it or not. Knowing that you are safe and sound after all this time brings me great relief."

Carlos lowered his gaze slightly, collecting his thoughts.

He wasn't accustomed to expressing his emotions so openly, but he knew it was important for him to convey what he felt.

The young man tightened his grip and continued.

"There has always been something special between us, [Name]. Even though circumstances have kept us apart. Spending time with you now, in the midst of this chaotic situation, reminded me of how much you mean to me."

He looked up, meeting the gaze of his former flame, searching for a response in her eyes.

[Name] stared at Carlos, moved by his sincere words. She could see vulnerability in his eyes, something she had never witnessed in him before.

The young woman thought they had both moved on, but now, facing him, she wasn't sure of anything.

"Thank you, Carlos," she said softly. "We'll see if we cross paths again after all of this is over."

She offered him a faint smile but didn't linger. She made her way towards the exit door of the laboratory, leaving Carlos standing there.

"Well, let's go back and save Supercop now,"