#or well second reveal now that i ironed out her design

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Dangancember 2024 - Danganronpa Top 24 Class Trials - NUMBER 3🥉: Danganronpa 1 Case 2 {BEST CASE FROM DR1}

//Our Bronze Medalist for this ranking is the second trial from the first game. And that fact alone is kind of surprising.

//DR1 has by far the most simple of mysteries, largely thanks to the later games really going all out with the complexities and red herrings. So some of you might be wondering why this particular case, a relatively early one in its respective game, ranks so highly on my list.

//Well young boys and girls...let me tell you a tale. The tale of how Mod Creeper first discovered a visual novel series that permanently changed his life.

//Well, actually, I'm make it short. This was the very first Danganronpa case I ever experienced. Rather than starting with the beginning of the series, I initially watched a playthrough of the first game and skipped the opening case.

//Which turned out to be no skin off my nose after all.

//But yeah, the first mystery I truly immersed myself in was Game 1, Case 2, and it was a transformative moment. As soon as I finished watching it, I knew without a doubt that this was the series for me.

//And you know I mean that, because I wrote a WHOLE FANFIC CENTERED AROUND THE STUFF THAT HAPPENS IN THIS CASE.

//What makes this case particularly memorable is the compelling character dynamics it brings to the forefront. Much like the previous cases I've discussed, the interplay between the characters is one of its strongest aspects.

//Additionally, this case excels at keeping you on your toes, constantly making you second-guess your assumptions. It’s this combination of personal nostalgia and expertly crafted intrigue that solidifies its place on my list.

//Okay, so to start with, Chapter 2 is fine. It's just an okay chapter, but it's important because it's designed to keep you hooked and sets the tone for what’s to come.

//The motive Monokuma dangles in front of the students this time is as juicy as it is insidious: he threatens to reveal their most humiliating, deeply buried secrets to the entire class unless someone commits murder.

//Compared to the family-threat motive from Chapter 1, this doesn't SEEM as immediately threatening, but it does end up upping the ante by turning every interaction into a potential minefield. Who knows what horrors could be lurking in those envelopes? A secret love of pineapple on pizza? A forbidden fondness for poorly-written fanfiction? The stakes skyrocket.

//And it's what actually HAPPENS with this motive that I really like, but since it leads to the murder, we'll get to that.

//But that’s not all. This chapter also carries the weight of being the first post-trial chapter in the entire series, assuming you’re playing in chronological order. By now, you’ve endured your first taste of the ultimate despair buffet: someone you thought was your friend turned out to be an unreliable backstabber, and you watched an innocent-seeming baseball star get pulverized by an iron-fisted pinball machine.

//Suffice to say, the air is heavy, and for the first time, the game makes you sit with that weight. This isn’t just a wacky murder mystery anymore; it’s a psychological marathon, and the runners are already limping.

//On a more character-driven note, Chapter 2 marks a significant tonal shift for our cinnamon-roll protagonist, Makoto. With Sayaka out of the picture, Makoto loses that last little tether of hope she provided. Sure, she annoyed some players with her "walking embodiment of plot drama" energy, but she gave Makoto a reason to act brave when she couldn’t.

//Now, with her absence, Makoto is left fumbling to fill that void. The chapter is as much about the students attempting to "return to normal" as it is about Makoto trying to figure out what "normal" even means when your classmates keep dropping like flies. Spoiler alert: it’s not the kind of normal that includes a carefree lunch break.

//This setup works beautifully because it’s multifaceted. On top of the fear and Despair dangling over everyone's heads, the motive manipulates the social dynamic, forcing the students to confront their own vulnerabilities and question their trust in one another. Plus, the lingering despair from Chapter 1 makes it clear that the emotional stakes are here to stay. Combined with a protagonist trying to rebuild his own hope, the chapter lays the groundwork for the spiral of distrust and tension that defines the series.

//But sadly, the peace does not last, because someone does end up cracking under the pressure, and a murder is committed.

//One of the reasons this case stands out as excellent, at least to me, is how seamlessly every mystery, twist, and solution contributes to a memorable character moment. Moments that often ripple across the rest of the game in a big way. And right from the start, this case has a leg up simply because I adore both the victim and the killer.

//It’s rare to find a case where both roles are handled so compellingly, but this one nails it. And they are genuinely the complete reverse case to Kirumi and Ryoma for me, where they were BOTH INSANELY interesting to me.

//ESPECIALLY Chihiro.

//And goddammit if I wasn't so excited to get to this case JUST so I could talk about Chihiro.

//In case I haven't already made it blindingly obvious, Chihiro is far and away my favourite character from the orginal cast, and quite possibly my second favourite character in the entire series behind ONLY Kaede. He's a character whose very existence throws the audience for a loop, and I mean that in the best way possible.

//Many of the mysteries in this case stem directly from Chihiro as a character, and even in death, he remains one of the most impactful figures in the entire Danganronpa series. There’s just something so fascinating about how he subverts expectations, because on the surface, he seems shy, weak, and submissive; traits that might lead you to underestimate him. But dig deeper, and you’ll find one of the most quietly strong-hearted characters in the series.

//What really made me love Chihiro was how he reacted to Monokuma’s motive, because he does something that NO OTHER CHARACTER (Besides Kaito in V3-1 and his group, which only got interrupted by Rantaro and Tsumugi being cucks) has done before. Unlike most of the other characters, who either try to ignore the motive or contemplate murder to protect their secrets, Chihiro takes a third option. He chooses to face it head-on, not with violence, but with determination and self-improvement.

//While at this point in any Danganronpa game, others are spiraling into paranoia, Chihiro decides to do something about it. His secret, as revealed in this case as a part of the mystery to why he died in the place that he did, and it's a brilliant twist that turns the trial on its head.

//If no murder occurred, Monokuma would expose this secret, but instead of succumbing to despair or committing a crime to protect himself, Chihiro chooses a different path.

//He decides to work on himself, to build emotional and physical strength, so that he can one day share his truth on his own terms. It’s a clever, admirable response, especially coming from someone who can’t even bring himself to swat a mosquito.

//Of course, this brave decision leads to tragedy. Chihiro seeks help from the wrong person, the killer of this case, and his noble intentions are ultimately met with betrayal. It’s heartbreaking to see someone so full of potential and hope meet such an untimely end, and it makes the case all the more gut-wrenching.

//I do really wish that Chihiro had lived longer, but this case is so good, that I can forgive the decision to kill him off relatively early.

//(And no, Alter Ego is a different character than Chihiro. I have already explained that I feel this way. Despite being based on Chihiro, he is an entirely different personality, and plays a whole different role in the story, with different experiences.)

//But the beauty of this case lies in how it uses this tragedy. It doesn’t just stop at shocking revelations; it digs into the emotional fallout and how it affects the rest of the cast. Chihiro’s story, even in death, becomes a catalyst for some of the game’s most significant character growth and development. It’s not just a twist for the sake of a twist. it’s a deeply human story about vulnerability, courage, and the consequences of trust.

//And honestly, if you didn’t shed at least one tear for Chihiro, I might have to question whether Monokuma replaced your heart with a Monokuma Coin.

//But Chihiro’s death sets the stage for the investigation, which, if I’m being completely honest, is my least favorite part of this otherwise stellar case.

//Don’t get me wrong, the clues themselves are great, and piecing everything together during the trial is an absolute blast. I lost count of how many jaw-dropping moments this case delivered.

//But the journey to find those clues? Let’s just say it’s not exactly a highlight reel.

//The investigation is slow. Like, waiting in line at the DMV, slow. And the biggest drag? Spending the majority of it with Byakuya.

//Now, I get that Byakuya is supposed to be this insufferable know-it-all with a superiority complex, and he has a very important role to play in this trial, but during this segment, he takes it to a whole new level. It’s not just that he’s condescending; it’s that he doesn’t even treat you as a person.

//To Byakuya, Makoto is just some vaguely sentient tool he can use to exploit the Ultimate Lucky Student talent.

//And if you think that sounds unpleasant, trust me, it’s worse in practice. Byakuya doesn’t so much guide you through the investigation as he does lecture clues at you. Instead of letting you have the satisfaction of uncovering things on your own, he practically shoves the answers in your face while monologuing about how much smarter he is.

//Honestly, I would’ve been happier if he just handed me a checklist of locations and let me investigate solo. But no, we’re stuck with Mr. "I’m Rich and Therefore Better Than You" for the majority of this slog.

//Don’t get me wrong, Byakuya’s character is intentionally written to get under your skin, and in that sense, he’s wildly effective. But that doesn’t make it any less frustrating to have him glued to your side during what’s supposed to be a pivotal, player-driven part of the game. It’s like trying to solve a murder mystery while your annoying cousin keeps pointing out the obvious and claiming they solved it first.

//That said, I can’t let this one annoying sequence sour my opinion of the case as a whole. The investigation may drag, but it’s worth it for the payoff in the trial, where all those clues come together in spectacular fashion. So, while I may have groaned every time Byakuya opened his mouth, I can’t deny the sheer brilliance of the twists and revelations that followed. Just, uh, maybe next time give me the option to leave him in the library where he belongs?

//Anyway, the investigation wraps up, and you have your clues. It's trial time!

//This trial starts off super well, because as I said, it is absolutely FILLED with plot twists, and not a single one of them is uninteresting, or drags the trial. But the most obvious one is covered IMMEDIATELY; and not even in a way that you have to figure it out, but it's instead told to you, and you have to help explain it.

//As I mentioned earlier, one of the reasons I’m such a fan of this trial is its clever use of a red herring. Now, red herrings are a tricky beast in storytelling, because how effective they are can vary wildly depending on who you’re talking to.

//For me, a good red herring is like a well-spiced meal: it adds intrigue, hides additional mysteries, and, when done right, leads to a surprising and satisfying twist. But there’s a fine line. Overdo it, and your audience will start rolling their eyes instead of gasping in delight.

//Thankfully, Danganronpa strikes a balance that works more often than not. The series has its fair share of red herrings, but they’re spaced out just enough to avoid becoming irritating. In my opinion, the two best examples are in V3-2, where Maki’s unexpected encounter with Ryoma flips everything we thought we knew, and, of course, the one in this case. Even if you can predict the twist, the journey to uncover it and the way it’s handled are what make it memorable.

//The red herring here revolves around a character who has only been vaguely hinted at so far but takes center stage in this chapter: Genocide Jack, the infamous serial killer who exclusively targets attractive men.

//Genocide Jack’s notoriety is built up brilliantly. This is someone who’s eluded law enforcement for ages, a near-mythical figure whose very name sends shivers down spines. So naturally, when Genocide Jack’s name pops up in connection with Chihiro’s murder, thanks to a familiar message carved in blood on the wall, everyone starts freaking out and pointing fingers. Could this be the mastermind? Is the infamous Ultimate Murderous Fiend behind the bloodshed?

//And then Byakuya, in his usual smug fashion, drops the mic:

//Now, as I already admitted, the reveal isn’t exactly the world’s most shocking twist. If you’ve been paying attention to Toko’s erratic behavior, you could probably piece it together.

//But the way it’s revealed is pure gold.

//Toko is revealed to have Dissociative Identity Disorder (not the same as Schizophrenia as I was led to believe for so long, so I apologize for being unable to make the distinction in the past), with her alternate personality being none other than Genocide Jack; or, as she prefers to be called, Genocide Jill (or Genocider Sho, if you’re rocking the Japanese version).

//And let me tell you, Genocide Jill is a RIOT. She’s like the unhinged cartoon villain you never knew you needed in your murder mystery.

//What makes Jill so fascinating is how she manages to be both a perfect foil AND a twisted mirror of Toko. On one hand, she’s loud, outgoing, and unapologetically chaotic, everything Toko isn’t. But on the other hand, she shares Toko’s unhealthy obsession with Byakuya, which manifests in wildly inappropriate, borderline absurd ways. It’s a fascinating dynamic, and it keeps you glued to the screen, not knowing what she’s going to do or say next.

//Despite being a literal serial killer, Genocide Jill is mostly played for laughs, and it works. Her maniacal cackling, over-the-top dialogue, and penchant for wild, inappropriate jokes add a bizarre layer of levity to an otherwise intense trial. She’ll pretend to drop a serious revelation, only to swerve into a punchline. It’s unhinged, but it fits the chaotic world of this franchise perfectly.

//And then there’s her self-proclaimed fujoshi tendencies, which take her over-the-top personality to new heights. Jill gleefully declares that she only kills cute boys who, and I quote, "turn her on, a detail so ludicrously specific that it’s hard not to laugh.

//Because how could anyone have guessed that Toko’s repressed, introverted personality would manifest in such an explosively cartoonish, sadomasochistic alter ego this way? You could have seen the half-serial killer twist coming, but NO WAY anyone thought it was gonna manifest like this.

//It’s the kind of twist that’s so outlandish it somehow works, and it gives this trial a unique flavor that no other case in the series quite matches.

//But then it gets MORE intense, because this leads into ANOTHER possibility.

//After Toko is outed to be GJ, the group quickly narrows their focus on her. Everyone becomes engrossed in debating whether Jill could be the culprit, citing her violent history and the eerie similarities between Chihiro’s murder and Jill’s MO.

//However, the evidence doesn't line up, and not only is Jill not the killer, but she eventually becomes one of the first game’s SURVIVORS!

//And this is where another key character in this case steps into the fray: Byakuya.

//I've been eluding to him a bit so far, but this is the case where Byakuya really comes front-and-center compared to the rest of the game, besides maybe Chapter 4. But while he's not exactly as compelling an antagonist as the future rivals in the series, the Affluant Progeny laid the groundwork for the type of character dynamic that Nagito and Kokichi would go on to take and run with.

//So far, Byakuya has been an arrogant thorn in everyone’s side, but it's here that he seizes an opportunity to step into the limelight. He was already a smug elitist, and the kind of guy you’d expect to demand five-star service during an apocalypse, but this case reveals a darker, more manipulative side.

//If Chapter 1 painted him as an insufferable know-it-all, Chapter 2 cements him as a grade-A sociopath. He pulls off actions so reprehensible that it’s a wonder he wasn’t voted off the proverbial island long before the game’s end.

//First of all, as I already said, Byakuya is the one who exposes Toko’s alter ego, Genocide Jill, to the rest of the group. And the only reason he knows the truth is because Toko TOLD him, and he actively and unashamedly goes against her wishes, and outs her.

//Does he do this out of concern for the group’s safety? Nope. Does he think it’ll help solve the murder? Not really. He does it purely to stroke his own ego, basking in the chaos that ensues.

//But wait, there’s more.

//When the group begins piecing together the crime scene, suspicion briefly turns toward Byakuya for a few reasons: the extension cord used to string up Chihiro’s body matched one seen in the library, a place Byakuya frequented, and the bloodstained message, "Blood Lust," mimicked Genocide Jill’s signature style, and Byakuya was the only one who read the Genocide Jack file, which described her specific methods.

At this point, you might think Byakuya is the killer...And that’s exactly what he wants you to think. The truth, however, is far worse.

//Byakuya isn’t the killer, but he did tamper with the crime scene in the most twisted way imaginable. After noticing the actual killer leaving the girl’s locker room, he discovered Chihiro’s body and decided to "spice things up." He staged the scene to implicate Genocide Jill, stringing up Chihiro’s body with the extension cord and scrawling Blood Lust on the wall in Chihiro’s blood.

//You might think what the hell he could possibly stand to gain by doing this, especially since one misstep means that EVERYONE dies, including Byakuya himself.

//Well, it turns out all of this was done not to protect himself or even to accuse someone else, but it was to make the killing game "more interesting" and to force Toko’s secret into the open. As well as to give him an idea of what kinds of minds he's up against.

//For context, earlier in this chapter, when everyone is trying to unite under one banner, Byakuya outright refuses, and practically BULLIES Chihiro for ever thinking that a sense of cameraderie could be found in the environment of a Killing Game. And throughout the game, before and after this, he is a cold, self-centered individual with a deeply reserved demeanor. His aloofness stems from an unshakable sense of superiority and an unyielding belief that most people are inherently beneath him.

//And while it's frustrating, this mindset complies PERFECTLY to what he talks about in his backstory during his Free Time Events. It really gives you the motivation to go out of your way to spend time with him, because it really goes into good detail at why Byakuya is so adamant to comply to the Killing Game the way it is meant to be played, at least until Chapter 4.

//Born into the prestigious Togami family, Byakuya was forced to compete against his siblings in a ruthless battle for succession. Only the most competent sibling would inherit the family name and fortune, while the rest were disowned and cut off financially, labeled as dead to the family.

//Growing up in this cutthroat environment shaped Byakuya into someone who views the world through a lens of "winners" and "losers." To him, life is a zero-sum game where cooperation is a weakness and emotional bonds are trivial distractions.

//Byakuya’s disdain for collaboration and his dismissal of others as insignificant are rooted in his belief that self-interest is the only true driving force behind human behavior. His upbringing not only honed his competitive edge but also left him with a deeply cynical view of relationships, which he regards as petty and unimportant. And he perfectly summarizes it in his own words:

"You're not about to claim she wouldn't kill a close friend, are you? You still don't get it, do you? The game we're playing here isn't so kind. Honeyed words like friendship don't matter here. What matters is outwitting the opponent, defeating them...Not a person alive would sacrifice themselves for another. In the end, we're all in it for ourselves."

//This mindset obviously comes back to bite him in Chapter 4, but we have already talked about that.

//What makes Byakuya so detestable here isn’t just the tampering itself, though that’s bad enough; it’s his cold, calculated reasoning and justification behind his actions.

//He doesn’t care about Chihiro’s dignity or the emotional toll on the group. To him, it’s all a game, a twisted experiment to see how far he can push his classmates before they break. He even admits he was aware that his meddling would make him a suspect, but he couldn’t resist the "fun" of stirring the pot.

//As interesting as he ends up being, and as much development as he goes through after this, this case solidifies Byakuya as one of the most despicable little fucks in the series. Not because he’s a killer, but because his actions reveal a complete lack of empathy. He doesn’t just view his classmates as beneath him; he treats them as pawns in his personal chess game, moving them around for his entertainment. It’s a chilling glimpse into this warped psyche he has, and a stark reminder of how dangerous unchecked arrogance can be.

//So while Nagito and Kokichi are more complex and arguably more compelling, Byakuya lays the groundwork for the unpredictable rival archetype. Love him or hate him, he makes this case unforgettable, and gives us plenty of reasons to hate him along the way.

//When the trial discussion begins to zero in on potential suspects, Byakuya’s overconfidence is momentarily disrupted, and Kyoko steps in to steer the investigation in a new direction. Her calm and incisive analysis introduces a revelation that not only reshapes the trial but also leaves an indelible mark on the game, and unlike Trial 1, REALLY defines how far this game is willing to go to catch you off guard.

//The build-up to this twist is handled with remarkable care, with every clue serving as a breadcrumb in a trail that keeps you engaged, guessing, and second-guessing. When the truth finally comes out, it’s both shocking and strangely fitting, a testament to the narrative’s ability to balance absurdity with depth.

//The lead-up to the twist begins with inconsistencies that don’t seem to add up, particularly regarding where the crime took place. Initially, it’s assumed the murder occurred in the girls’ locker room because that’s where Chihiro’s body was found. But as the discussion progresses, it’s revealed that the murder actually happened in the boys’ locker room, and the killer went to great lengths to swap the two rooms to obscure this fact.

//This revelation should theoretically narrow down the suspects, as only a boy could access the boys’ locker room due to the biometric security system that ensures nobody can enter the wrong room without being riddled with bullets. But then a new problem arises, because if Chihiro was a girl, as everyone believed, how could he have accessed the boys’ locker room?

//The contradiction hangs in the air, and tension builds as the trial teases out every angle. Then, in a moment that’s both jaw-dropping and comically over-the-top, the truth comes to light:

//Chihiro Fujisaki wasn’t a girl at all. He was a cross-dressing boy.

//And this revelation flips the entire trial, and everyone’s assumptions, on its head.

//This twist lands perfectly for a variety of reasons. For one, it’s not a sudden, out-of-nowhere bombshell, but it's not hinted at enough to be blatantly obvious. The game spends time setting up the groundwork with subtle hints, such as Chihiro’s soft-spoken nature and reluctance to use the locker rooms. These details, while easy to overlook on a first playthrough, become glaringly significant in hindsight. As ridiculous as the notion is, given how meek and feminine Chihiro always came across, it doesn’t feel forced or contrived because it’s woven into the fabric of the narrative from the beginning, making the reveal not just surprising but satisfying.

//What makes this moment even more impactful is its emotional depth. Chihiro’s decision to present as a girl wasn’t just a quirky personality trait or a superficial gimmick. It was rooted in years of pain and self-doubt.

//Monokuma reveals post-trial that as a child, Chihiro was relentlessly bullied for being weak and not living up to societal expectations of masculinity. Dressing as a girl was his way of escaping that ridicule, a shield against the harsh judgments of others.

//But this choice came with its own set of challenges, fostering a deep inferiority complex. Chihiro wanted to be seen as strong and capable, but he felt trapped, unable to reconcile his true self with the persona he had created to protect himself.

//This internal struggle adds a layer of tragedy to Chihiro’s story and elevates the twist from a mere plot device to a poignant exploration of identity and self-worth.

//It also contextualizes his actions leading up to his death. Instead of succumbing to Monokuma’s motive and resorting to murder, Chihiro chose a path of self-improvement. He began training in secret, both physically and mentally, determined to grow stronger and eventually share his truth with the world on his own terms. This decision, born of courage and hope, ultimately led him to confide in the killer, tragically sealing his fate.

//However, while the emotional resonance of this twist is undeniable, it’s not without its flaws. While the initial shock from the cast feels natural, their quick acceptance of Chihiro’s true identity comes across as a bit too tidy. Almost immediately, they begin referring to Chihiro as male, seamlessly integrating this revelation into their discussions as if it were a minor detail rather than a groundbreaking shift in their understanding of their classmate.

//While this efficiency keeps the trial moving at a brisk pace, it sacrifices some of the nuance and emotional complexity that such a revelation would realistically entail. Even for a group grappling with life-and-death stakes, this level of instant adjustment feels a bit implausible.

//The trope of cross-dressing characters is not uncommon in early 2000s anime, so this twist fits comfortably within the genre’s conventions. However, what sets it apart is the depth of emotion and thoughtfulness behind its execution.

//Chihiro’s struggles are treated with a surprising amount of sensitivity for a series known for its over-the-top antics. The twist isn’t just a shocking moment for the sake of drama, but it also ties directly into the themes of self-identity, resilience, and the impact of societal expectations.

//Moreover, it segues seamlessly into the motives and circumstances of the case, adding layers of complexity to both the mystery and the character dynamics.

//I feel like I say that a lot, but it's true.

//And then the conclusion of this trial comes about as a result of a neat little gambit from Kyoko, that finally nails down the killer, with all the facts on the table serving to place them under the guilty spotlight. The sequence is very dramatic, and very well structured.

//Kyoko skillfully draws the killer into a trap by zeroing in on a critical detail: Chihiro’s tracksuit. She highlights its specific color, implying that Chihiro had carefully chosen it for a planned training session with someone who would be wearing a matching outfit. This subtle nudge prompts everyone to recall their own tracksuit colors, and it’s here that Mondo Owada unknowingly seals his fate.

//In a clumsy attempt to prove his innocence, he eagerly states that his tracksuit was black, while Chihiro’s was blue, thinking this distinction would exonerate him. The problem? Celeste had testified earlier that she saw Chihiro carrying a tracksuit in a duffle bag but never mentioned its color.

//For Mondo to know Chihiro’s tracksuit was blue, he would’ve needed to see it firsthand at the time of the murder. Celeste confirms this detail, further tightening the noose around Mondo as she reiterates her sighting of the blue tracksuit. Taka, ever eager to contribute, recalls seeing the tracksuit and bag during the investigation, but Kyoko quickly corrects him, noting that both had been disposed of by then, leaving no chance for Mondo to craft a plausible alibi.

//Cornered, Mondo fumbles for an explanation, claiming that he happened to see Chihiro carrying the blue tracksuit as they crossed paths. But this excuse falls apart when Makoto recalls Celeste’s testimony: Chihiro had deliberately stuffed the tracksuit entirely into the duffle bag, ensuring it wasn’t visible. Mondo’s story, already thin, collapses under the weight of this contradiction, making it clear he’s lying.

//Adding to the suspicion, Kyoko astutely points out that Mondo referred to Chihiro as "dude" earlier in the trial, rather than "chick." This subtle slip indicated Mondo knew about Chihiro’s true gender, something only the killer could have known at this point. While this detail alone isn’t enough to definitively convict Mondo, it deepens Kyoko’s suspicions and primes the rest of the class for the final pieces of evidence.

//At this critical juncture, Hifumi unexpectedly steps in with a crucial revelation: he found a broken E-Handbook in the sauna. Since Chihiro’s E-Handbook was missing from the crime scene, it’s reasonable to suspect the broken one belonged to him.

//Here’s where things get interesting. Mondo had recently competed in a grueling sauna endurance contest with Taka, during which he unknowingly left his E-Handbook in his pocket. The intense heat damaged the device, inadvertently teaching Mondo about its weakness. Armed with this knowledge, Mondo destroyed Chihiro’s E-Handbook after the murder to cover his tracks. To avoid suspicion, he replaced his broken E-Handbook with Leon’s, knowing Leon couldn’t object due to being, well, dead.

//Makoto suggests a simple test to confirm this: everyone shows their E-Handbooks. But at this point, Mondo has no way out. Revealing his E-Handbook would expose the switch, proving he had Leon’s and confirming his role in the crime, so, realizing he’s cornered, Mondo finally breaks down and confesses to killing Chihiro. The students vote unanimously to convict him, sealing his fate.

//Now...Chihiro alone is already carrying this case with how brilliant a character he is. However, I would go the extra mile and say that Mondo is one of the most criminally underrated characters in the Danganronpa series, and if nothing else, definitely so amongst the killers of each game.

//What truly stands out about Mondo, and this case in particular, is his motive. Unlike many other killers in the series, Mondo didn’t kill to protect his secret or out of malicious intent. Instead, his actions stemmed from a complex mix of jealousy, frustration, emotional vulnerability, and above all, deep-rooted trauma.

//The full circumstances are as follows: Mondo grew up idolizing his older brother, Daiya, who played a pivotal role in shaping him into the person he would become. Raised with the values of strength and resilience, Mondo was introduced to the world of biking at a young age when Daiya invited him to join The Crazy Diamonds, their legendary biker gang. Inspired by his brother's example, Mondo dedicated himself to biking and helped solidify the gang’s reputation as one of the most feared and respected in Japan. Together, the siblings earned the moniker "The Diamond Brothers," becoming a household name in the underground biker community.

//Despite his growing skills and reputation, Mondo constantly lived in Daiya's shadow. Early in his riding career, he struggled to keep up, often finding himself at the back of the pack. On one such occasion, his inexperience led to an encounter with the police that caused chaos for the group. But Mondo refused to let his setbacks define him. Through perseverance and sheer determination, he rose through the ranks and eventually became a force to be reckoned with in his own right.

//Mondo’s defining moment came when Daiya decided it was time to retire and pass the leadership of The Crazy Diamonds to him. The gang members, however, doubted Mondo’s ability to fill his brother’s shoes, so Mondo issued a challenge to Daiya: a high-stakes race to prove he was worthy of the role.

//Tragically, the race ended in disaster. During the heated competition, Mondo recklessly drove into oncoming traffic. In a split-second act of selflessness, Daiya pushed Mondo’s motorcycle aside, saving his younger brother but sacrificing himself in a fatal collision with another vehicle.

//Devastated by his brother’s death, Mondo was consumed by guilt, but he honored Daiya’s dying wish. To lead The Crazy Diamonds and never blame himself for the accident. Unable to admit the truth, Mondo told the gang nothing of his involvement in Daiya’s death. Instead, he channeled his grief into maintaining The Crazy Diamonds as Japan’s most formidable biker gang, carrying on his brother’s legacy while hiding the burden of his secret.

//Fast forward to the killing game, where Monokuma introduced his second motive; revealing each participant’s darkest secret. Mondo’s envelope contained the devastating confession, that Mondo was the cause of death for his brother.

//This revelation terrified Mondo. The very foundation of his identity and leadership, the image of strength and reliability, was built on a lie. If the truth were exposed, not only would his reputation crumble, but it could also destroy The Crazy Diamonds, breaking the pact he’d made with Daiya to keep the gang intact.

//Meanwhile, Chihiro, faced with the same motive, reacted differently. Instead of succumbing to fear, Chihiro became determined to grow stronger and confront his own insecurities. Inspired by Mondo’s seemingly unshakable persona, Chihiro decided to confide his secret in him, believing Mondo could understand and provide guidance. Chihiro invited Mondo to train with him in the gym, hoping to take the first step toward self-improvement.

//In the boys’ locker room, Chihiro revealed his truth: that he was a boy who had been pretending to be a girl to avoid being bullied for his perceived weakness. He explained his desire to overcome his fears and grow stronger, no matter the challenges.

//However, Mondo, already under immense pressure from Monokuma’s threat, was blindsided by the revelation. Hearing Chihiro’s confession sparked a storm of emotions in Mondo. Jealousy, self-loathing, and anger surged as he grappled with the realization that Chihiro, someone he had viewed as weak, possessed a level of emotional strength and courage that Mondo lacked.

//Chihiro, a small and seemingly fragile boy who dressed as a girl to avoid ridicule, found the courage to confide his secret in Mondo. For someone like Mondo, built on a foundation of machismo, loyalty, and an obsession with appearing strong, this moment was earth-shattering.

//Mondo, who had spent his life cultivating an image of toughness, now felt exposed. The weight of his survivor’s guilt and the constant fear of his secret being uncovered made him feel weaker than ever. Chihiro’s bravery only magnified Mondo’s insecurities, leading to a boiling point where his envy turned into uncontrollable rage.

//In an impulsive and tragic act, Mondo struck Chihiro in the head with a dumbbell, killing him. Thus, what began as a moment of admiration and connection turned into one of the most devastating events of the killing game..a senseless murder fueled by jealousy, guilt, and the crushing weight of unspoken truths.

//Mondo’s actions are unforgivable, but what makes his character compelling is the sheer depth of his remorse over this. He doesn’t fit the mold of the cold-blooded killer or the manipulative mastermind.

//Instead, Mondo is consumed by guilt. His reaction throughout the trial is one of disbelief and self-loathing, as though he can’t come to terms with the fact that he’s capable of such a thing. And that regret alone sets him apart from every other killer in the series.

//In Danganronpa, murderers often fall into four broad categories: those who kill for selfish gain (like Celeste or Teruteru), cold-blooded killers who kill out of sociopathy (like Kiyo or Mikan), those manipulated into killing (like Gonta or Chiaki), and those with motives that, while tragic, are grounded in reason (like Gundham or Satsuki).

//Mondo, however, occupies a unique space. He is not an unwilling pawn, nor does he commit murder for a calculated purpose. Instead, his crime is an impulsive, emotionally charged act that he makes ABUNDANTLY CLEAR that he wishes to HIGH HEAVEN that he could undo.

//Mondo is the first killer in the series to express genuine guilt over his actions instead of trying and failing to justify them. But to this day, he's the only killer who you can truly tell he wants nothing more than to take it back, but tragically knows that he's already fucked himself over, and there's only one path left for him.

//Other killers in Danganronpa show remorse, but never outright condemn themselves for their actions, because a lot of them still stand by their actions, and that their ends justfied their means. Not Mondo.

//In fact, Mondo is the only killer in the first game who confesses to his crime before the vote. That moment, where he admits to the murder, is both a gut-punch and a testament to his character. It highlights the tragedy of the case. He didn’t want to be a killer, and yet he became one.

//This is highlighted by poor Taka's reaction, starting a trauma train for him before 1-3 completely wastes it. Taka, at this point in the game, is Mondo's arch-rival turned best friend and blood brother. He's the one who brings most of the heartache to the trial, because he's so adamant against the idea that Mondo could be the killer, and he's also directly tied to the piece of evidence that ultimately incriminates him. His breakdown reflects on the player, and it makes everything even more gutting.

//Adding yet nother layer of poignancy to Mondo’s character is Kyoko’s post-trial insight. She speculates that Mondo’s decision to switch the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms wasn’t solely about covering his tracks. Instead, it was a last-ditch effort to protect Chihiro’s secret for as long as possible. This act, though misguided, shows a glimmer of the kindness and respect Mondo had for Chihiro, even after what he’d done. It wasn’t enough to erase his guilt, but it underscores the depth of his regret and his desire to honor Chihiro in some way.

//What makes this situation even more heart-wrenching is the context, and reflecting on what you actually just went through after the trial. Mondo is not just a rough, gruff biker with a violent streak. Beneath his tough exterior, he has a heart of gold, as evidenced by his genuine friendship with Taka, the honor student. Their bond is one of the most endearing parts of the early game, built on mutual respect despite their vastly different personalities. To see someone like Mondo, who was capable of such strong friendships and who valued loyalty above all, commit this crime is a tragic twist.

//Meanwhile, Byakuya, who shamelessly tampered with the crime scene to boost his own ego, and Genocide Jill, a literal serial killer, serve as red herrings in this case, and survive not just past this trial, but both make it to the end of the game. The irony is almost painful: the person who seemed most trustworthy, someone who built a meaningful connection, ends up being the culprit.

//The emotional weight of this case easily rivals the infamous suicide case later in the game. Mondo’s crime wasn’t premeditated, nor was it born of pure malice. It was the result of a moment of vulnerability and insecurity, and that’s what makes it so impactful.

//You’re left not just grieving for Chihiro but also for Mondo, who is a victim of his own flawed sense of strength and masculinity. It’s a deeply human tragedy, and that’s what makes this case one of the most memorable in the series.

//And fuck me, I wish more people appreciated him.

//That's basically the majority of what I have to say on the trial, but I want to end this analysis by making a statement. Because this is heavily associated with this trial, and even though I really don't want to, I need to cover it, or else some people might come after me.

//This trial is fantastic. But in recent times, when I've been looking at other reviews for reference, I can't help but notice that some people really don't like this trial, and think that narratively, it's one of the worst in the series.

//And there's only one or two reasons for that, and they're all the same. And it pisses me the fuck off, because it reminds me that people are so quick to jump on this type of stuff, and it makes them miss what is actually genuinely amazing writing, mystery-solving, and everything the Danganronpa series stands for.

//Alright...here goes...

//This chapter, aptly named "Boys' Life of Despair," remains one of the most controversial in the series, largely due to its handling of Chihiro's gender identity and Genocide Jill’s characterization and how that reflects back on D.I.D. as a condition.

//While the case delves into deep themes such as guilt, weakness, and societal expectations, lots of people, from what I have seen, have criticized how these topics are presented. The controversy stems from whether the game misrepresents or trivializes sensitive issues such as transgender identity and mental health.

//Quite a significant number of people interpreted Chihiro's story as a poorly executed representation of transgender identity. Although the game never explicitly states that Chihiro identifies as transgender, the setup inadvertently evokes real-world experiences of gender dysphoria and societal pressures faced by transgender individuals.

//Critics argue that the game's framing treats Chihiro’s gender presentation as a plot twist rather than a nuanced exploration of identity. The reveal is pivotal to the case but comes across as reductive, reducing Chihiro’s complex internal struggles to a mere "shock factor" moment.

//Moreover, the resolution of Chihiro’s arc is problematic for some. Chihiro is framed as wanting to become “stronger” by embracing traditional masculinity, which implies that their perceived weakness is tied to their feminine appearance. Which comes across as dismissive of the broader spectrum of gender identity and expression, and for many, feels like the narrative missed an opportunity to explore Chihiro’s courage in defying societal norms rather than portraying their femininity as a flaw to be corrected.

//As for Jill, she's obviously a standout character in the series for a long time even after this trial, but her portrayal as a comic relief character often veers into caricature, with exaggerated behaviors and dialogue that reduce her mental health condition to a punchline. And that's ignoring the fact that she's a deranged psychopath.

//For many, this feels insensitive, as it reinforces harmful stereotypes about people with split-personalities being dangerous or unstable, and not as people who might genuinely need help, or suffering under a mental condition that is often born of traumatic incidents, and also that most people have no control over.

//The comedic tone surrounding Jill contrasts sharply with the serious nature of D.I.D, leaving many feeling that the game trivializes the disorder. This portrayal has sparked debates about whether the developers intended for Genocide Jill to be a satirical character or simply misunderstood the nuances of mental health representation. Regardless of intent, the character has been widely regarded as an inaccurate and harmful depiction of DID, leading to further scrutiny of the series' approach to complex psychological topics.

//Now...*sigh* personally, I do think these concerns are valid. Especially the one's with Jill. And people are free to debate the sexualities and gender identity of characters all they want; that's the entire fucking point of Fandom.

//And as your stereotypical cisgendered white man, who has no sway in these discussions as he cannot speak from a trans person perspective, please allow me to explain how I interpreted it, and what I genuinely believe was the intended effect, and hopefully, it will make a bit more sense.

//Danganronpa, as a series full of a variety of interesting characters, is basically BUILT on, and relies VERY HEAVILY on stereotypes. Particularly the first game's cast, because all of them are based on a well-known Japanese characterization stereotype.

//All of which have been used in anime and manga series before, quite a majority of them in one's with school settings.

//Barring Chihiro, here's the list:

Makoto is the "Everyman Protagonist." He represents the typical Japanese high school student with no standout qualities, that is most commonly seen in the position of the main character, as a means of making them more relateable to a general audience. His luck reflects the idea of fortune favoring the ordinary, a common theme in Japanese storytelling. Other examples for this archetype include Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion) and Tsuna Sawada (Katekyo Hitman Reborn!)

Kyoko is the Kuudere, i.e. the cool, calm, and collected one. She embodies the quiet, mysterious type who slowly reveals a more emotional and caring side. This is a common archetype in Japanese fiction, particularly for female leads in romance or crime stories. Other examples include Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Mikasa Ackerman (Attack on Titan), and C.C. (Code Geass).

Byakuya is the Elite Snob. He represents the privileged, highly educated upper class with a sense of superiority, and his arrogance reflects the stereotypical "rich heir" character in Japanese media. Other examples include Seto Kaiba (Yu-Gi-Oh!) and Gilgamesh (Fate series)

Toko, and by extension Jill, are the "Mojo Girl." This term came from モテない女 (motenai jo) meaning unpopular girl, shortened to モ女 (mojo). In short, Toko is the classic "weird girl" stereotype, socially awkward and self-deprecating. Her Genocide Jack persona exaggerates the duality often seen in overworked or mentally strained artists. Tomoko Kuroki (Watamote) is a prime example of this.

Hina is the Genki Girl, meaning she's the energetic, positive, upbeat female among the cast. Though she goes through a lot od ups and downs, she' generally has a cheerful and optimistic personality that aligns with the "genki girl" archetype, a common depiction of athletic and lively female characters in Japanese media. Yui Hirasawa (K-On!), Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion), and Misaka Mikoto (A Certain Scientific Railgun) are other examples.

Sakura is the Gentle Giant. Her intimidating appearance contrasts with her noble and compassionate personality, playing on themes of inner versus outer strength. A prominent example of this on other media is actually her Death Battle opponent, Jonathan Joestar (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure).

Celeste is, obviously, the Gothic Lolita, but she also subtly plays the role of the mysterious foreiner despite being fully Japanese, since she fakes having an accent, and has a very French fake name. Celeste represents the "exotic" and enigmatic character often portrayed in Japanese fiction, and her gothic fashion and affected mannerisms tie into the lolita subculture. Other examples include Kuroneko (Oreimo), Beatrice (Umineko), and Elizabeth (Black Butler).

Mondo is the Yankii, or the Delinquent. He embodies the stereotypical Japanese high-school thug, with a hot temper, loyalty to his friends, and a love for his motorbike. His pompadour hairstyle is a hallmark of the yankii style. Ryuko Matoi (Kill la Kill), and Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho) are other examples.

Hifumi is, quite obviously, the Otaku. Hifumi is a very blatant parody of the "hardcore geek" stereotype, obsessed with anime, manga, and fan culture. His exaggerated behavior and delusions about 2D characters highlight the comedic portrayal of this archetype. Daru (Steins;Gate) is another perfect example of this, almost exactly the same sterotype application as Hifumi.

Sayaka is the Popular Girl/School Idol, as well as representing the Japanese idol industry, with her cheerful demeanor and "pure" image masking the pressure and ruthlessness behind the scenes. Others in this role include Minori Kushieda (Toradora!), Yuna (Kakegurui), and a more recent example, Aira Shiratori (Dandadan).

Leon is the Lazy Jock character that reflects the stereotype of young athletes who excel in sports but secretly dream of pursuing a more "cool" career, like being a musician in his case. Ryoma from V3 also falls under this stereotype, though his story is a darker subversion of it.

Taka is the uptright Honor Student. He embodies the classic "serious student" archetype, obsessed with rules, discipline, and success. His personality mirrors the high-achieving but socially awkward individuals found in competitive academic environments, and he's none for being a stickler, and very loud in getting his points across. Tenya Iida (My Hero Academia) is an almost one-for-one identical representation of this.

Hiro is a caricature of the carefree, irresponsible fortune-teller/spiritualist, often seen as unreliable or comically inept in Japanese media. His archetype isn't as common, but Isshin Kurosaki (Bleach), as a comedic father figure with a flair for spiritualism, also falls under this umbrella.

Junko/Mukuro when she's disguised as Junko, evil antics aside, is the Gyaru, AKA, "Gal." They embody the stereotype of a trendy girl, usually one who dyes their hair blond, with a keen focus on fashion, appearances, and everything trendy. More famous examples are Marin Kitagawa (Dress-Up Darling), Minami Fuyuki (Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable), and Yukana Yame (My First Girlfriend is a Gal)

//Every Danganronpa character is some kind of trend/stereotype among these lines taken to the extreme, and in the case of Chihiro, he is a parody of "Otokonoko"

//Otokonoko, a Japanese term that translates roughly to "boy-girl" or "male girl," refers to a genre of crossdressing or gender expression where a male adopts traditionally feminine clothing, behaviors, and aesthetics. Often portrayed in manga, anime, and other forms of media, Otokonoko characters may appear as boys but present themselves in a way that emphasize femininity, sometimes to the point of resembling girls, though their gender identity typically remains male.

//In Otokonoko-themed works, the focus is usually on the character's appearance and performance of femininity, which can range from subtle to exaggerated. The genre can be used for comedic purposes, creating moments of confusion or surprise when others misperceive the character’s gender. While Otokonoko is sometimes used to depict male characters who are intentionally trying to deceive others about their gender, it can also highlight the character's internal struggles or desires to express themselves outside of traditional gender expectations.

//This ^^^

//THIS is what Chihiro is!

//He's not a statement on transgenderism, he is a PARODY of OTOKONOKO.

//A parody character in a game FULL of PARODY CHARACTERS.

//Chihiro’s decision to cross-dress and present as a girl stems not from a desire to transition or live as a woman, but from a deep-seated need to escape the societal pressures that define strength and masculinity. By a desire to hide his perceived weakness and to shield himself from the bullying he endured due to his fragile appearance and personality.

//His gender presentation is a coping mechanism, not an expression of gender identity.

//The experience of being transgender is rooted in a fundamental disconnect between one’s assigned gender at birth and their gender identity. For transgender individuals, transitioning is often a path to aligning their physical presentation with their internal sense of self, and it is a journey that involves a complex relationship with their gender, society, and body.

//For example, Four Kaiden was a boy at birth, and decided they wanted to be a girl instead. Kouji Ito was a girl at birth, and decided he wanted to be a boy instead.

//Chihiro Fujisaki was a boy and birth and decided he wanted to be a boy. But everyone around him kept telling him that he "wasn't very manly" so he PRETENDED he wasn't a boy so people would get off his case.

//And it's not something he ENJOYED doing.

//Chihiro’s arc doesn’t align with this process, as he’s not attempting to express a different gender identity but rather to adopt an appearance that matches the gender that he CURRENTLY identifies as.

//People are free to headcanon and portray Chihiro as trans all they want, I refuse to stop them, but CANONICALLY, Chihiro aims to be the boy that he was born as, and he himself IDENTIFIES as male, even though he pretends to be female. This is a key distinction.

//I do understand where the confusion and agitation comes from, though. Chihiro’s arc is still an interesting and powerful exploration of self-perception, insecurity, and societal pressures, particularly those related to gender.

//Chihiro's cross-dressing is a response to the unrealistic standards of strength and masculinity that are imposed upon him by both society and his own internalized beliefs. Chihiro believes that by dressing as a girl, he can escape being labeled as weak and fragile, two qualities that are traditionally deemed "unmanly" in his environment.

//What makes Chihiro’s arc compelling is not the twist about his gender, but the deeper emotional struggle he faces in coming to terms with his own self-worth. His internal conflict revolves around the desire to be strong, but not in a way that feels authentic to him. Rather than embrace traditional masculinity, he wants to cultivate his own strength, free from the narrow confines of gendered expectations.

//This isn't supposed to CONCIDE with the larger theme of toxic masculinity, it's supposed to highlight how the idea often forces individuals, particularly men, to suppress their vulnerabilities and present a facade of unyielding strength.

//If you think otherwise, I need to ask...Is Mondo just a NON-FACTOR in this equation to you?

//Mondo is LITERALLY THE MASCULINE CHARACTER. And in this case, his innate need to preserve that masculinity, and hide his weaknesses, makes him KILL SOMEONE!

//In what way was this trial framed to make you think you were supposed to APPROVE of that!?

//For me, when I'm looking back on it, the actual intent behind Chihiro’s character arc seems to be a narrative about self-improvement and the painful journey toward personal growth. Chihiro’s struggle with his self-image, and his eventual attempt to confide in Mondo, is about learning to face his fears and embrace his vulnerabilities rather than hide them behind a facade. His goal is not to fit into a specific gender role, but to find his own sense of strength and courage, free from the fear of judgment. In this way, his arc is less about gender identity and more about the universal struggle of reconciling one’s inner self with societal expectations.

//When Chihiro reveals his secret to Mondo, he is expressing a desire to be stronger, not by becoming someone he is not, but by confronting his fears and embracing who he truly is, even if that means appearing weak in others' eyes. This theme is supposed to resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with the weight of societal expectations, regardless of their gender identity, and Chihiro’s tragic end underscores the dangers of not being able to live authentically and the emotional toll that repression can take on a person.

//As someone who has seen Kazutaka Kodaka's ways on viewing things, I know for a fact that he is not transphobic, homophobic, or anything of that ilk. But it's not uncommon for him to present a deep idea in his work, and for it to come across in an absolutely implosive way that he didn't intend (V3-6).

/I personally think his intent in Chihiro’s arc seems to have been to portray the complexity of self-doubt and the journey toward personal growth. The twist about Chihiro’s gender serves as a plot device to challenge the assumptions of the other characters and to force them, and the player, to reconsider their preconceived notions about identity and strength.

//The issue at hand, therefire, is that the execution of this plot twist has been criticized for its clumsy handling of gender identity, especially in a modern world where transgender representation in media is often misrepresented or sensationalized.

//So all in all, rather than reflecting the experience of a transgender person, Chihiro’s arc is a story about confronting one’s weaknesses, internalized insecurities, and the difficulty of being true to oneself in a world that demands conformity. The twist regarding his gender is not meant to diminish the significance of gender identity but rather to highlight the emotional journey of someone who is grappling with their own concept of masculinity and strength. It’s about understanding that true strength comes not from hiding behind a facade but from embracing one’s vulnerabilities and learning to grow from them.

//It's just...important to keep in mind.

//As for Genocide Jill, she's...honestly a little harder to defend. But I'm gonna try.

//Genocide Jill is introduced as Toko Fukawa’s alternate personality, a violent and sadistic persona that emerges under specific conditions, such as extreme emotional distress or stress. Her dual personality is a key plot device that serves to explore the darker sides of Toko’s psyche, specifically her repressed desires and her history of abuse and trauma.

//Unlike a simplistic portrayal of DID, Danganronpa uses Genocide Jill to highlight the complexities of how trauma and emotional pain can manifest in different ways. Her violent persona is not something that Toko consciously chooses; it is a coping mechanism for dealing with her unresolved trauma and feelings of powerlessness.

//The reason why this is so hard to defend is that the concerns are extremely valid. Genocide Jill is not a clinical, nor is it an accurate, portrayal of D.I.D.

//But at the same time, it's not really trying to be. Not at all.

//Remember what I said about how the whole point of the Danganronpa characters is that they are comically exaggerated examples of typical Japanese stereotypes. Jill is a comically exaggerated example of D.I.D and mental fractures, in a way that rubs people the wrong way, but if you think about it, the basic premise, and how it comes about, is STILL THERE.

//Dissociative Identity Disorder is often seen as a response to trauma, particularly in cases of extreme abuse or neglect. In the case of Toko, Jill is a manifestation of the trauma she endured in her past thanks to the horrible childhood she had full of endless abuse and pain. The violent persona might represent an aspect of her psyche that is trying to reclaim power in a world where she otherwise feels completely weak and powerless.

//And people with D.I.D, while many are able to live with it, often struggle with different aspects of their personalities or identities that emerge in response to past trauma. Especially because they're not always in control of them.

//While Jill's violent outbursts and actions are extreme, her character adds complexity to the narrative by highlighting the ways in which trauma can affect someone’s behavior and their relationships with others. Her violent personality emerges in response to moments of vulnerability, and her relationship with Toko is crucial in showing how trauma can fracture an individual’s identity.

//Toko, who is initially ashamed and horrified by her other half, comes to accept that her alternate personality is part of who she is by the time Ultra Despair Girls comes around. This internal struggle and eventual acceptance reflect the ongoing process of reconciling with trauma and learning to navigate its effects on one’s sense of self.

//What’s significant is that, unlike many other characters who are defined by their extreme personalities, Toko's journey with Genocide Jill offers a more nuanced exploration of internal conflict.

//As the game/series progresses, Toko is never portrayed simply as "weak" or "messed up" because of her disorder; she is shown as a complex character who is learning to accept and integrate different aspects of herself. And even after Genocide Jack joins their group, as hard as it is to get used to her, nobody outright tries to keep themselves away from Toko because of her condition, as much as Toko believes they are.

//While Genocide Jill may have a sadistic personality, Toko is not solely defined by her violent alter ego; she is a multifaceted individual who struggles with vulnerability, fear, and self-worth. Making her more than just some mocking caricature.

//The criticism that Danganronpa makes a mockery of D.I.D comes primarily from the way Genocide Jill is portrayed as a comedic and exaggerated character, as well as ridiculous concept of a serial murderer.

//However, the key thing to note is that the game doesn’t try to provide a realistic depiction of DID. It’s using the condition as a plot device to further explore the darker and more humorous elements of the narrative.

//Obviously, that's not great, in and of itself, but Danganronpa is LITERALLY a Black Comedy game, a genre that very often involves absurd characters, exaggerated personalities, completely flippant portayals of mental unrest, and over-the-top situations.

//Jill’s larger-than-life nature fits into this tone, and her violent behavior is often played for laughs in the context of the absurd world of this game series.

//And that's really all I have to say about that. Again, believe what you want to believe, and think about it however you wish, but please, do not let these aspects take away from the sheer brilliance of this trial, because there are reasons for all of this.

//In conclusion, Game 1 Case 2 is a gripping and emotional rollercoaster that explores the complexities of identity, guilt, and trauma. While the portrayal of Chihiro's gender and Genocide Jill's DID may be controversial, these elements contribute to the larger narrative of fractured identities and the dark consequences of emotional struggles.

//Mondo's tragic motive, driven by a mix of jealousy and trauma, adds layers of depth to his character, turning him from a straightforward antagonist into one of the most remorseful killers in the series.

//And I love this case to death because of the way it stands out for its exploration of vulnerability, shame, and the high cost of secrets, making it a pivotal moment in the game's emotional journey.

//And with that, we have two more left...So what will be our runner up?

[speremint]

Also a rook update: very much wanted her to look like a bearded vulture. She's a Shadow Dragon mage (spellblade, of course)

[tothosewhoyearnforit]

everything i like about chaehyun

-finally got down to writing again ! and there's a second part coming soon w the release of the giddy MV. just need to got thru it once and make sure everything seems okay and i'll be all set to release it. so sorry i haven't released much fics, writing blocks really stall me a lot.

(P.S. I havent finished my sullyoon fic so...)

-2 separate scenarios, oral, sneaky seggs, creampie, i love chaehyun lots

-1957 words

You’ll never forget the continuous fits of laughter, the questioning looks from your relatives and the amount of solitude you faced after making the decision to take fashion design instead of the more popular courses like engineering or finance. But you knew that any of your classmates from back then would kill to be getting sucked off by Kep1er’s Chaehyun in a props cabinet while the MAMA awards were still going on. 

Sure your job was at risk, but you were known to be such a serious and consistent worker that it was hard to imagine that WakeOne would fire you. 

“What are *guhk* you thinking *guhk* about oppa? Do my tits not *gawk* interest you anymore?” Chaehyun says, slobbering all over your dick, a fine mess of saliva and precum coating around her mouth and dripping off her chin, just like her purity. 

“Of course not baby.”

That was the only answer. Otherwise you would never have gone so out of your way to get Chaehyun in this dress. It literally highlighted how well endowed she was on the red carpet. An elegant white dress, sleeved on one side and cut rather deep down the middle to reveal her cleavage, while the other supposed sleeve was cut such that her entire left arm was exposed, along with some of her breast. 

“Was just thinking about something for a moment.” you calmly said, caressing her cheek with your right hand as her face bobbed up and down.

“I hope it wasn’t Xiaoting or Shiro you’re thinking of… You were staring at them like a fucking wolf.” 

She lets your drool-slicken meat out of the comforting moist warmth of her mouth and strokes it with a tight grip to emphasize her slight discontent with your sudden spacing out session. It was such a power move. It was painful, sure. But it was ironically also pleasing, feeling 10 times better than what your own hands could deliver.

“Agh! Alright alright! Calm down Chae…”

“Hurry up! Manager-nim is going to come find us if we’re not back soon !”

“Yes, yes, this is like the millionth time you said that, as though you’re not the one who dragged me into this crusty, musty room as soon as you got back from the red carpet.”

You pick up the girl bridal style and place her on the leather couch lying in some obscure corner of the room. Then, you peel back the dress like a white cocoon to reveal the butterfly underneath, Chaehyun’s large mounds. You then position yourself on top of her and place your cock in the valley between her two mounds and automatically, Chaehyun knows to press both tits together, sandwichkng your cock between them. You then begin thrusting your hips, the beautiful mounds of flesh rippling with every time your cock emerges from her cleavage, rubbing against her collarbones. It’s a truly mesmerizing sight really. Super easy to lose yourself to your reflexes of just pistoning your hips to and fro as you admire every little thing about Chaehyun in this dimly lit room. Her perky breasts that gave you so much trouble when deciding what outfits to wear, her perky nipples that you were pinching and playing with, her perfect face whose eyes were staring sluttily at you. 

She sticks out her tongue and tilts her head down. And now with each periodic motion, the head of your dick would come into contact with the warm moist muscle, delivering a whole new flavor of sensation to an already extremely pleasing dish. 

“Paint my face baby.” 

The sensory overload at this point was too much. One, two more thrusts and on the final emergence of your cock from the comforting vice grip of Chaehyun’s breasts, a torrent of cum flies onto her face; her nose bridge, her puffy cheeks, over her closed eyelids and onto her tongue. 

“Fuck! Chaehyun!” is all that manages to come out from your mouth as you throw your head back, allowing your high to wear off.

Yet another moment of your stylist ingenuity has occurred, this time glazing Chaehyun in another white. 

“Amazing as always Chae.” you say, finally dismounting her and handing her a bunch of tissues from your pocket.

-

-

-

Fast forward to about 2-3 months later, and it’s time for Kep1er’s 3rd comeback, Giddy.

Yet again, you find yourself stuck in a musty room, this time you know for sure that it’s a cleaning storage room. But you really couldn’t control yourself. Sure, you were the one who ordered all the baseball themed outfits, and they were all amazing. But Chaehyun, when she started posing for the photoshoot, she got into poses that were simply far too seductive, it was as if she was posing for you. 

For the first pose, she raised her hands like she was stretching. Nothing spectacular, until she turns her head back to look at the camera and sticks her butt out. When the photo came out on the preview television, it was a masterpiece of a picture. Her slender arms were on full display, but they also helped to lift the baseball jersey up ever so perfectly such that her tummy was exposed from the front. To add a touch of maturity to the photo, she sticks out her butt and shows off her god blessed hourglass figure. God, you just wanted to go to town on that voluptuous butt she had.

Then, the next picture gets shown on the preview screen.

Chaehyun now had her hands behind her head, fingers running through her hair which now had silver streaks running through. Once again, the shirt moves up with her arm movement, revealing her tight midriff. The look on her face was one of pure lust and seduction, and when you turned from the screen to look at the girl, her eyes were locked onto yours, screaming to you, “Come get it.”

And so you did.

“Couldn’t control yourself huh oppa?”

“Fuck, you’re so fucking hot Chaehyun.”

Her back was against the door as you ferociously dove into her mouth, engaging in a passionate kiss. The taste of her strawberry lipgloss is ever so strong on your tongue. In the meantime, your hands were reaching underneath the baseball jersey and under the bra that were struggling to contain her massive breasts, fondling with the fleshy mounds. 

You turn her around, pressing her against the door as you push yourself up even more against her as she wiggles the butt you were admiring not too long ago against your enraging boner. 

Then, in an act of pure horniness, you pull her pants and undergarments down in one fell swoop, and bury your face between the two cheeks of flesh.

“Ahh! Fuck! Oppa wait…! Slow down!”

But of course, you heed no attention to her pleas for you to slow down. The first thing that you do upon the access of her lovely moons in front of you, was motorboat your face within them. It was customary really. Whenever the two of you were alone in hotel rooms, you’d pounce on an unsuspecting Chaehyun and bury your face within her ass and smear her lewd scent all over your face.

The next thing you do is run your tongue across both her asshole and her slickening pussy, allowing your taste buds to coated in her taste. After that, you’d focus solely on her asshole, this time letting your tongue explore deeper.

“Ahhh fuck…” she whispers, trying hard to contain her pleasure inside this cramped cleaning room. 

You’re so consumed in your hunger for her that you start pushing her buttcheeks up and apart for easier access, and after a certain point, all that’s supporting her is her leaning against the door as she pretty much sits on your face. Thankfully, she’s not a very heavy person. Or maybe you’re just really strong. Or maybe you’re just way too horny and your testosterone levels are absolutely going through the roofs. 

“Shit ! This position is so..! Fuckkkkk!”

A shower ensues from above you as her squirt gushes out like an overhead water sprinkler. You lap up whatever golden nectar you can while she dismounts your face. Sweet. Just like her smile.

“Just fuck me already…I need your cock so badly right now…”

Finally, you’re able to free the shackled beast. In the blink of an eye, your pants and underwear are at your ankles. Chaehyun bites her lip and watches hungrily as your cock springs free. You line your rod up with her folds, rubbing your tip around, teasing her a bit, before repositioning your hands to hold her hips. Then, you slowly thrust your hips forward, cock slowly finding its way through her tight pussy. 

A sigh of relief. From both of you animals in heat, carnal desires finally quenched.

Your hips automatically know what to do next. Withdraw, and repeat the same motion, this time faster. And with each thrust of your hip, she lets out a moan. Finally finding a satisfying rhythm, all that can be heard is Chaehyun’s controlled moans and the sound of her ass rippling as your hips collide with it. 

“Fuck, Chaehyun. I’ll never get tired of this pussy. So fucking tight, every single damn time.”

“And it’s all yours daddy.”

A pet word. Something she had never used before in all your few years of knowing her. But it drove your mind insane, knowing that you had already placed a mark of ownership on her. She was all yours to use. Your little fuckhole. You sped up your thrusts, not following a rhythm anymore but chasing your orgasm. Soon, it was whimpers that came out of her mouth as the smacking of skin got faster and faster.

“Fuck ! Fuck ! FUCK !” 

Your thrusts start to get more and more intense, her face and breasts pressing against the door, while her hands grip onto it tightly. It was lucky that nobody had come to find either of you, but that really wasn’t your main concern, you just wanted to plant your seed deep within Chaehyun. Looking down at the mesmerizing ripple of her cheeks, you take a hand and slap her left ass cheek hard. 

“Annngh!” 

A super lewd moan erupts from her mouth, and you’re sure anybody walking down the hallway could have heard this too. A red mark forms on the spot you struck her. 

“You like that, slut ? You and you’re fucking beautiful ass, always tempting me.”

But Chaehyun can’t reply. She’s drooling on the door, her mind a flurry of pleasure. All that is coming from her mouth are moans and unintelligible mumbles. 

You start to feel your climax reaching. And with three more deep, deep thrusts, pushing your cock as far as it can go into her alluring pussy. Her pussy clamps down on your cock and she cums yet again. 

“Ahh fuck… So big…”

Your cock, on the other hand, deposits your baby batter deep into her womb.

“Take it all in, cumslut.”

You stay inside for a good while kissing Chaehyun’s back profile as she takes it all in. If you could, you would stay there forever, cock inside her comfortable pussy, but alas, you have to come back to reality.

Slowly withdrawing your cock, streams of cum flow out of her pussy and trickle down her thick thighs. She looks back at you and you know she’s about to do something slutty yet again. Her hand comes from under her and using her index and middle finger, she spreads her pussy open for you to see the complete mess you made inside her. She fingers herself a while before collecting your jizz on her digits and putting it inside her mouth and sucking them clean. 

“Thanks, daddy.”

[themattress]

The Brilliance of Sailor Moon Cosmos

Because I watched it on Netflix last night and I'm sorry - I ain't done talking about it!

First off, some background: the Stars arc is the fifth and final story arc of the Sailor Moon manga. According to Naoko Takeuchi's editor, things in the worldbuilding such as the Galaxy Cauldron were a thing in Takeuchi's head since starting the series, and that he was the one who convinced her to make the Stars arc to wrap things up after she initially intended on ending the series at the fourth arc (which was after initially intending to end it at the third...and before that, the first. The second arc was the only one not designed to potentially be the end, despite half of it ironically transpiring at a later chronological point than the other arcs).

Naoko Takeuchi served as the supervisor of the Sailor Moon Crystal web series, which became the Crystal: Infinity TV series, then the Eternal film duology, and finally the Comsos film duology. One particularly cool thing is that Sailor Moon Crystal begins including this shot:

It's the Milky Way galaxy....and Sagittarius A is very noticeable, setting up the end stage from the very beginning, which shows Takeuchi was dead set on adapting the entire manga.

What the preceding Dream arc, adapted in the Eternal films, did perfectly was set things up for this final arc. Things appeared to come full circle as the Sailor Senshi faced an evil queen nemesis to the Silver Millennium that predated Beryl and Metalia, the source of Mamoru's power and connection to Usagi's power was revealed as the Golden Crystal (Golden Crystal and Silver Crystal, Golden Kingdom and Silver Millennium...perfect symmetry!), the Inner and Outer Senshi were fully united, Chibiusa came into her own, and the goal Usagi's had for a while of reaching Neo-Queen Serenity's level finally transpired with her becoming Eternal Sailor Moon, with a heavy emphasis on how it's her loved ones who give her that power.

The end message seemed to be that nothing was more invincible than a Sailor Senshi.

So how does the final arc begin?

An evil Sailor Senshi rips out Mamoru's Golden Crystal, and he fucking DIES!

Oh, wait, sorry; that wasn't how it begins. It actually begins with a meteor shower.

Sound familiar? Well, no, not if you've watched Crystal sadly. But in the manga:

It's a way of saying "Oh, you thought the Dream arc brought things full circle? Just wait."

Now, I didn't care for the Sailor Starlights in the manga. I didn't hate them like in the anime, but I didn't really see the point of them. They were primarily build-up to Princess Kakyuu's character, and there's nothing they did that couldn't have just been given to Kakyuu if she was out and about from the beginning. However, I actually liked them in Cosmos! I think getting to hear their voices in things like their songs plus getting fully animated facial expressions did a lot for them, as did the big change in how they ultimately get taken out. In the manga, they were knocked unconscious by Sailor Lethe and stay that way even as Sailors Phi and Chi eliminate them to take their Sailor Crystals. In Cosmos, they are awake and take an active last stand in protecting Kakyuu, reaffirming that this is their life's mission and that they are proud to fulfill it. It's a stronger send-off and a far better emotional moment for Kakyuu, who now has to watch them die for her rather than simply watch them die.

Chibi Chibi is a fantastic subversion of expectations. She enters as a little pink-haired child from the future with an umbrella, which gives even the characters the impression that she's a Chibiusa retread of sorts. In reality, she couldn't be further from that, as we will later see.

So, Rei and Minako are absolutely a couple. I just can't take this scene any other way.

Another interesting thing to note about the Dream arc in relation to this one is that Usagi, quite deliberately, did not have much of a character arc. Chibiusa took center stage instead, with Usagi's role being more about proving how much she's matured and cementing that, in the words of Kingdom Hearts, her friends are her power. It perfectly sets her up for now, where she has a character arc that shakes her to her core and puts everything that she is to the ultimate test. Those friends are gradually and methodically taken out, starting with her true love. She actually represses that memory and lives in a haze of denial for a good while before finally being forced to confront reality. All of the strength and maturity she's developed seem to be failing her, her hope and faith are threatening to be crushed, and she is tempted to give in to feelings of rage and hate toward Sailor Galaxia. It's all as Galaxia herself plans, as she knows that to claim the Silver Crystal from Sailor Moon, first she has to break her.

Sailor Tin Nyanko of Shadow Galactica is utilized to show how the Sailor Animamtes aren't evil at heart. When Sailor Galaxia attacks their planets, she gives them the sadistic choice of perish with the rest or assist her in destroying everything, with those who accept having mind-controlling bracelets that grant them power put on and their Star Seed holding their soul extracted, meaning that if the bracelets go, so do they. Nyanko is the only of the Animamates that still feels a connection to her soul and still has good intentions behind following Galaxia: to ultimately get her Star Seed back and the bracelets removed, and become the new Sailor Mau on a new planet to honor the memory of the old one and her old planet. After seeing Sailor Moon protect Luna, Artemis and Diana, she lets her live...at the cost of her own life.

My favorite of Takeuchi's story arcs, the Black Moon arc, gains even more relevance in this final arc. First of all, we have Usagi still haunted by Safir's words that she and her Silver Crystal are the cause of everything wrong, which is a sentiment that goes hand in hand with Nehelenia's words in the preceding Dream arc about how light will always beget darkness.

We then get a huge fix to an issue from the previous two arcs: the Black Moon arc set up a definitive future where everyone makes it out OK, so the stakes of the Infinity and Dream arcs feel neutered when you remember this. But here, Sailor Galaxia point-blank challenges the notion that the future is set in stone...and indeed, what we see transpiring in the future shows that she might just be on to something, a theme that is revisited with Chibi Chibi's character.

And finally: Wiseman / Death Phantom! The series' best Big Bad returns with a major role in Sailor Galaxia's backstory. Projecting himself from the future with the Malefic Black Crystal's power, he is the one who guides Galaxia to the Galaxy Cauldron...and, of course, to Chaos.

While both Eternal and Cosmos do the same thing of dividing the manga arc in half, with the first movie being the first 5 and 1/2 chapters and the second movie being the next 5 and 1/2 chapters, Cosmos does it better. Eternal had to close out its first film with the second half of its 6th chapter and open the second film with the first half, which made it feel a little disjointed and caused the first movie to end rather abruptly. Cosmos, meanwhile, has its first film just end on the first half of its 6th chapter, which is a way more appropriate place to finish given that it follows a battle with Sailor Galaxia herself and has Usagi firmly rediscovering her heroic resolve, cutting off just before she and her new friends leave Earth to go into space.

I love Sailor Lethe and Sailor Mnemosyne. They have a sad and understandable backstory regarding how they joined Shadow Galactica and what they seek to gain from it, the compellingly tragic factor of Lethe hardening her heart and bloodying her hands all for Mnemosyne's sake with the latter having to anguish over this, and a great redemption with Mnemosyne finally stepping up to stop Lethe and undo the damage she's caused which is shortly afterward followed by the previously stubborn Lethe finally standing down after Usagi is willing to allow herself to be killed in order to secure a better future for them. I also love that after they are killed, they are included in Usagi's flashback to all of the friends she has lost.

Sailor Heavy Metal Papillon is the definition of a One Scene Wonder. She's only on screen for two minutes, but my God: the butterflies in a funeral procession, the graveyard of all Sailor Senshi that Shadow Galactica has killed, the gravediggers she has digging fresh graves for Usagi, Kakyuu and Chibi Chibi, the way she fucking crucifies them and then tries to burn them alive all as she relishes it....it's simply unforgettable. But OK...she goes out like a bitch. One-tapped by the Sailor Quartet doing a circus routine kind of puts a damper on her overall.

The Inner and Outer Senshi as mind-controlled zombies is a twisted but perfect penultimate hurdle for Usagi to overcome: can she kill her precious friends, the source of her strength? But I will admit to groaning when Mamoru showed up as well. "Whaaaat? Tuxedo Mask is brainwashed and evil!?" Haven't seen that before! No, wait, we've seen it twice before! It's no longer effective. He really could have just stayed vacantly at Galaxia's side and not said a word before getting shoved to his second demise and that would have been perfectly fine.

The animators spared no expense on this battle. Hot DAMN.

Bad touch, Galaxia! BAD TOUCH!

Speaking of Galaxia, her plan is brilliant. She not only deliberately broke Usagi down, but she also fully counted on Usagi building herself back up, which would make it all the more devastating when Galaxia melted all the loved ones she sought to revive into the Galaxy Cauldron, followed by Chaos revealing the truth about itself to her. Usagi would then be so unstable that her power would go out of control. When Chaos then tries to possess her and the Silver Crystal, Usagi would wipe Chaos out along with herself, leaving the Silver Crystal and control of the universe for Galaxia. Another full circle type moment calling Beryl and Metalia to mind. And it would've worked, too....were Chaos not fully aware of it, of course.

Speaking of Chaos and the truth about itself: it's a being that failed to make it out of the Galaxy Cauldron and become a star, which warped it and turned it into pure evil, negative energy. While still unable to escape the Cauldron, parts of Chaos have been able to leak out of it, and they became all the major enemies Sailor Moon has faced. The point is that so long as Chaos exists, so too will conflict. The battle between good and evil will rage on forever.

After Usagi defies all of Galaxia's expectations by saving her life from Chaos, we get one of the story's biggest, most subversive twists. Chibi Chibi, in reality Sailor Cosmos, the Big Good, has all this time been waiting for the moment at hand where she can urge Usagi to destroy the Galaxy Cauldron in order to destroy Chaos...even though this ultimately means the death of the galaxy since no new stars will be born. She is the advocate for the wrong solution. And then Galaxia, the Big Bad, becomes the advocate for the right solution through a resigned acceptance that no matter how much power you have, you cannot control the nature of existence. Even if this galaxy dies, another one would be reborn, and the conflict between good and evil would continue. Destroying the Galaxy Cauldron is not the answer.

This also leads to Galaxia's death scene, and despite how horrifically evil she has been, it still got me a little misty-eyed. Galaxia was not born evil, she was shaped that way through a truly hellish life on a barbaric medieval planet, and she always sought to heal the wounds it left on her soul with more and more power, attempting to make herself into a god in order to finally feel a sense of belonging. But only now at the end does she see that Sailor Moon, the person she had tried so hard to break, is actually the true sort of person she wished to become, and that true security and belonging lay in her values of compassion and acceptance. She is the star Galaxia has sought for so long, but as she puts it, she can't reach it. It's far too late for her to be that sort of person. But at least she can hope that Sailor Moon will last forever, since as long as she does then wretched souls like her can still find salvation in her light.

I mentioned before that this arc and its thesis statement is sort of like Puella Magi Madoka Magica, but there's actually another comparison to be made: to Neon Genesis Evangelion. The messages of "so long as life goes on, as existence exists, then there will always be hope no matter how dark things get" and "every human at their core yearns to be with others and achieve a sense of belonging" are in both. And Usagi's epic final act displays this beautifully: combining Galaxia's Sailor Crystal with her own so that even she too can be reborn, she dives into the Galaxy Cauldron and pushes the ascendant Chaos back downward, her heart resonating with the Cauldron's power in the process. She succeeds in causing the Cauldron's energy to erupt like a geyser and send all the Star Seeds within back into the galaxy, and even attempts to embrace and purify Chaos, who pushes her off and accepts falling back into the primordial sea rather than be redeemed. It's a stunning and truly inspirational conclusion.

Can I just say how hilarious it is that all of the Sailor Senshi, including Sailor Moon herself, die in this arc....except for the Sailor Quartet, who somehow manage to outlive all of them and never once get killed and reborn. Never underestimate those four circus trolls, it seems!

When I originally read the manga, the whole Sailor Cosmos stuff was the most confusing to me, but the movie clarified it a lot better. Sailor Cosmos is the future version of Neo-Queen Serenity, who has achieved the highest possible level of power due to tapping into her bond with the Cosmo Crystal (the Galaxy Cauldron's own Star Seed) and Guardian Cosmos (basically God) that she achieved through this big sacrificial act. The Japanese version was far more blatant about this connection, as Sailor Cosmos had Guardian Cosmos' voice.

If Cosmos is God, then Chaos is the Devil. And in the far future, Chaos finally escapes the Galaxy Cauldron and incarnates as Sailor Chaos. Rather than just be grateful that she's now a star, Chaos continues to lash out in resentment of all those who became stars before her and wreaks destruction as she tries to conquer the universe. The brutal war between Sailor Cosmos and Sailor Chaos lasted so long that for all her great power, Sailor Cosmos lost all hope of prevailing, which is why she transformed into Chibi Chibi and went back in time in order to persuade her past self to destroy Chaos and the Galaxy Cauldron. But witnessing her past self's hope and faith utterly shamed her, making her realize that she can never truly be the ultimate incarnation of Sailor Moon unless she recovers that same hope and faith. Honestly, this is an ingenious Izuru Kamakura-style deconstruction of a Power Fantasy - Usagi can become immortal, insanely beautiful, and powerful to the point of being a living god, yet still end up as a failure and a coward who is outshone by her greener teenage self.

The movie adds this scene of Usagi going home and reuniting with her family and Luna to address two long-standing fan complaints about the manga. The first was that we never saw any of the cats after their death, which I always found to be oversensitive: we confirm that the Crystal Tokyo future is coming to pass, meaning Diana will be born, so of fucking course Luna and Artemis are alive again; everyone who died in this arc was revived when the Galaxy Cauldron erupted and the Star Seeds released. But the other, which is far more valid, is that we don't see Usagi's Earth family again following the scene where she leaves to go to space and Ikuko starts crying because she feels like it will be the last time they ever see her. This feels like a more valid complaint, since it feels cruel to have that scene be indeed the last time Usagi's Earth family ever sees her on-screen, plus it reinforces their importance to her.

Finally, I appreciate how the scene where Usagi wakes up in bed with Mamoru frames her as having forgotten much of what transpired in the arc as a result of her going in and out of the Galaxy Cauldron...not everything, of course, but a lot of it is now hazy. This means that she most likely doesn't remember Chibi Chibi, which in turns means that will allow her to become Chibi Chibi when she's Sailor Cosmos in the far future. It seems to reinforce that in the setting of Sailor Moon, time travel is in fact incapable of changing history, only fulfilling it. Crystal Tokyo and Neo-Queen Serenity wouldn't have happened without the Black Moon Clan trying to destroy them in the past, Neo-Queen Serenity also couldn't have come into being without the Holy Grail which was partly made by a time-traveling Chibiusa, Sailor Pluto couldn't have been on hand when she was needed had she not died in the future and gotten reincarnated in the past, Galaxia couldn't have met Chaos and set everything in motion if Wiseman hadn't projected himself from the future to tell her about the Galaxy Cauldron, and Sailor Moon couldn't have made her big decision concerning the Galaxy Cauldron if not for Sailor Cosmos as Chibi Chibi being there trying to push her into making the opposite choice.

Bravo, Naoko Takeuchi. I know it was a pain to have to keep working on Sailor Moon for longer than you ever anticipated, but you could not have ended it on a more perfect note.

[the-bjd-community-confess]

TW: Abusive friendships, mental health, emergency services, divorce, crime, substances

Toxic bjd friend anon update.

About 24 hours after my confession, I got fed up and picked a fight. She took the carefully crafted bait and ended up disowning me. Which was great, because idk what I would have done if she hadn't. I'm free! She still thinks it's her idea that she's out of my life, so she's left me alone. Turns out I have screenshots of her admitting to a felony. And a misdemeanor. Sadly the really good felony confession was an in person only event and the government already decided not to deal with that circus. (Felony under civilian law where we live, but military caught her. Victim didn't press charges and she claimed someone else did it.) If she tries to blackmail me, I can complicate things for her both crimally and civily. A few screenshots to the exhusband in progress (who's a disgrace of a human being, but legally the victim this time and trying to divorce her) and a report to a certain state agency, and her career is over. I didn't believe it then due to circumstances, but it lines up too well now. IDK if it's totally true, but the idiot did put in writing herself. If needed, I get along great with my local PD, in particular an officer who's dealt with similar idiocy before. My only regret is not lobbing a few insults back before we blocked each other. Sadly all the good responses occured to me the next morning and it helped the illusion. I did leave her a note thanking her for the trauma when I dropped off some stuff she'd left with me and kept a photo of it in case she tried anything. She's out of town so there's an enforced chill out period before we have to be near each other again. She's blocked so no more suicide attempts for dramatics. We called 911 on her the last time and even the cops didn't believe her- cancelled the ambulance and no involuntary holds, or even a warning for the self confessed drug DUI. Points for not traumating her farther, I guess? As long as I stay unreachable, it's not going to happen due to me or not my problem anymore. She has other friends now to traumatize. Notably, the only ones left are enablers/in love with her and us disowned folks stood up to her. 

I've got the energy to play with my dolls again and I'm making up for lost time. A doll clothing preorder happened to arrive a few days after this all went down, so there's been a lot of dressup. I'm customizing a playline doll into a character I've dreamed of for ages. Another bjd is finally getting some photography practice and I'm figuring out what I'm planning for the design of another. I'm starting to be able to focus long enough to do longer projects again, so hopefully I can get some clothes done. There's a backlog of things I really want to do but just couldn't. Not laziness- I would forget mid-stitch what I was doing or lose track of goals the second I tried to cut my fabric, even with a reference. Literally couldn't picture the next step or remember how to get there. I finally got my disaster of a bedroom cleaned for the first time in months, so the dolls have a nice place to be displayed. Physical health issues that defied blood test results resolved literally overnight after this, so I'm finally capable of doing more than survival/school/work now. Mental issues are uphill slowly, but in progress. I'm easing back into things with smaller projects, but hopefully I'll be able to do some bigger stuff soon too! Taking it slow though. I don't need burnout. I just need to get my life together and heal. 

I thought doing the hobby on my own would be lonely, but turns out it's just peaceful. I'm still trying to process the last three years, but I think things are going to be okay. The last week and few days has been the happiest, most peaceful week of my life since I was a child.  Ironically, due to the bait argument and what it would reveal, she can't even trash talk me too specifically without looking terrible.  I'm still being careful, but I think we're a lot more evenly matched than she had me believing. I'd love to make some less insane friends but I think I need some time to learn to be a healthy person. I don't want to accidentally continue this cycle. For now, I'm looking forward to a LOT of doll play time, catching up on sleep next to my kitty, and trying to build a future.

~Anonymous

Mod: Glad to hear such a happy update Anon! 💜

[autisticrosewilson]

Idk if you thought more about it than when you mentioned it to me but I was reading your Todd family lore stuff and I remembered when you said about Catherine as Talia’s PA thing. And now I can’t stop thinking about it.

So I don’t remember if it was a Catherine lives AU or not but I was thinking either it isn’t and she comes back too or Jason doesn’t know she survived somehow. Talia hires her knowing FULL WELL it’s her, even if she isn’t using her real name. This is her design. She’s trying to reunite them bc she knows how much Jason misses her. In a perfect world this is still when Willis is playing Jason’s bodyguard right? Talia Head sets up an “official business meeting” with the owner of the Iceberg Lounge. IDK why but like there needs to be a reason for them all to be in a room together. Now Jason is freaking out bc Talia is being cryptic right?

Then the meeting. BOOM Catherine reveal. BOOM Willis reveal. HAPPY ending.

Feat. Bruce outside like this bc he wasn’t invited:

(He deserves it)

Codi YOUR MIND!!! I actually do have the PA thing in the works and I hadn't really thought about how it fit into the larger timeline or whatever but this is so real!!! I think Willis would definitely know but if there's one thing about Todd men it's that they're going to assume the people they love are better off without them. This does give me an excuse to add Talia to the polycule, technically she is already kind of involved in it, the next installment is going to focus on Jason's conception and those who've been around awhile may recall my thoughts on Jason's bio mom and her identity...

But anyway Talia would absolutely do this!! She's a person who loves very deeply and she holds onto things she loves with an iron grip. If she thought for a second she could save Cathy she would.

[askhezureviews]

Who are your favorite characters from Helluva Boss, Steven Universe and TADC and why :]?

Helluva Boss: Season 1 Stolas because he's a powerful eldritch demon prince with a taste for dangerous thrill in his life- he fantasizes about being weak and needing a hero when its not true at all; he's a manipulative, conniving bastard who absolutely has a heart under all those feathers- he just fucks up and gets himself into trouble because he gets greedy or takes things too far- meaning he's gotta put in the work; get a major character arc if he wants things to turn around and go his way. Maybe learn some lessons, be less ignorant, actually learn how to maintain relationships, etc. He has so much potential to his character, the small amount of scenes we got with him to begin with already set up so much and tell us so much about him, it was great storytelling. Season 1 Striker is awesome. He's also a fantastic foil to Blitz. Introduced as a hired farm hand, only to turn out to be an agent gun for hire. He's dangerous, cunning, competent, competitive. He offers Blitz a place at his side- to actually overcome their status as half-imps, when HYPOCRITICALLY- HE'S SERVING A HIGH CLASS DEMON HIMSELF!!! That was a CRAZY reveal- it was aMAZING!!! especially when it shows that Stella isn't just a side character now, she's in the pool of villains- That was such a fantastic episode.

Steven Universe: Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond is my absolute favorite!! She's so complex. I love how she reverse parallels Steven. She's a bratty, needy, abused child who never felt like people could listen to her. She felt like people couldn't change, she made the decision to not fix people for her own sanity and safety and I respect that of her, but its also a double edged sword when it gives her major major communication issues. When she hurts her pearl, she shuts down and realizes she needs to change- and when she sees Earth- she becomes inspired and gains a heart of gold- but her trauma runs deep and her actions to protect others have only ended up hurting them more- yet her intentions are still often pure in nature. I wish we had more episodes of her, she was my absolute favorite.

Peridot was my second fav. She is like a sweeter, more complex Invader Zim. Her character arc was the most detailed, the one with the most care put into it. I preferred her when she was a bit more robotic and subdued with her limb enhancers, but she was my original favorite before Rose/Pink.

The Amazing Digital Circus: Cane because I'm biased I loved his VA as Spamton; but he's extremely cookey and unpredictable. He's trying to entertain people to keep them sane, but he's also at the same time ironically heartless to them too? The mystery surrounding his ai, how much control he really has over the game, him losing track of NPCs vs. actual humans- its all so mysterious and ambiguous and his design is just so fantastic- aaahh!!! I love every second he is on screen <3

Gummygoo because everyone loves him, he's the first NPC who has a relatable breakdown when he gets an existential crisis, seeing everyone and everything he knows has been written by design, that its not real. But he's fun and cute anD BRING HIM BACKKKKKKKKKKKK BRING MY EXPLODED BOY BACKKK!!!! Also shout out to Ragatha, probs my 3rd favorite. I like her optimism in the face of doom- keeping herself together through a shaky will but also holding on to her kindness. It's very sweet, as well as EXTREMELY funny to me that she keeps charming all these NPC women- it's so great, Ragatha gets all the btchs!!!!!!

[rayshippouuchiha]

RAY! RAY! RAY! I HAVE SOMETHING TO GUSH ABOUT!

So I was watching the Tatsumi family episode in the Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo anime, you know that one? Contemporary with Detective Conan and written by the same person as Detective Academy Q? That one? Yeah.

So anyway Kindaichi, our highschool detective is in a remote village investigating the death threats send to the second wife of the prominent Tatsumi family, which was signed Cursed Warrior. The village is obsessed with warriors by the way, festivals, parades, statues, a whole galore. The family had a curse placed on them by a betrayed warrior from 400 years ago as well.

To spice it up, the second wife's son was surprisingly put down in the will as the heir to all of the Tatsumi family fortune, chosen by the late master of the house over his actual blood related children, so there was inheritance war happening between the elder blood son and the second wife's son. So this Cursed Warrior thing might be related to that instead of some curse.

Ah... Spoiler alert for anyone who wants to watch the episodes I guess? It's 17,18, and 19 of the Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo anime, classic series that is, not the Returns one.

Okay so it turns out that the second wife was harassed by the first wife in her youth and when she found out that they were both going to the same hospital for their pregnancies, she switched the children. And then later, when her own child, Ryounosuke and her stolen child, Seimaru were adults, somehow she entered the family as a servant and was then chosen as stepmother by the master of the house upon his wife's death. She did the switch so her son would have a wealthy life but then her stolen child, the actual blood son of the family was surprisingly chosen as heir in a twist of fate. Ryounosuke, now the Tatsumi family eldest had hated her and Seimaru for being threat to his inheritance so Seimaru had proclaimed that he would outst him from the family instead after hearing the will. She felt as if her old harasser was winning through Seimaru.

So she killed him. Seimaru, who had fed from her breast, who had loved her, who had taken care of her, and defended her from the Tatsumi family after her husband's death, who had only declared that he would throw Ryounosuke out because he insulted her, the child she had raised, the child who loved her....and she killed him. For someone who had done nothing but repeatedly insult her and implied with relish that she was a slut.

For fucks sake, the first glimpse of Seimaru we get is him rushing to her side cos he heard she was sick.

Blood of the covenant was thicker than the water of the womb but evidently the covenant meant nothing to her.

To her blood was thicker than water and that's where it ended.

She didn't even regret it.

And ironically blood bred true, cos once the secret was revealed and Ryounosuke's own misdeeds were unearthed, including attacking his other brother way earlier, her own actions made sure that her son would never get that inheritance.

And it was all beautifully foreshadowed in the character design, with Seimaru looking quite similar to Moegi and Hayato, the other Tatsumi children, while Ryounosuke looked very different, and even acted different, but it was subtle enough that we would only notice it once the truth was revealed.

So I did not expect this kind of juicy family drama from an old detective anime and I am pleasantly surprised. The cold blooded actions of the woman was shocking. This is the sort of impact I want from shows but nobody's providing them.

Just wanted to share this with you! Thoughts?

Sounds to me like this is a classic anime I need to bump up my list of shit to watch cause goddamn

[vicky82gargoylesfan]

My Thoughts on X-Men 97 Episode 10 Tolerance is Extinction part 3

The whole season has been absolutely fantastic, brilliantly well written and it hasn't even been predictable, I wouldn't never has guessed of what happened in Episode 5 and killing a major character off. They did so well not revealing spoilers.

Episode 5 - Remember it, is my favourite episode.

The voice cast were absolutely fantastic, especially Lenore Zann, she was amazing and deserves an award.

Rogue was my favourite in the original series and she's still is now, I just love her and she has been through so much.

This was a fantastic final, it was really intense and I was at the edge of my seat throughout the episode. The score was amazing, it gave me goosebumps a lot.

Spoilers

The episode started off with a flashback, I assume this is Vietnam. I noticed they used the song Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds in this.

Oh so this is not a flashback, Charles is in his head.

The power comes back on and there are so many cameo's, Silver Samurai again, Iron Man, Captain America again and he got his shield back. Also Daredevil and Dr Strange, who's using his power to perform surgery.

With the power back on, the Prime Sentinels are back on and they are now turning on humans.

More new cameos, they show Wakanda, Black Panther and Okoye. Cloak and Dagger, don't know much about them but I recognised them straight away. Omega Red, out of his containment tube and Dark Star, don't know who the other guy is. Finally we have Alpha Flight and Psylocke.

Oh damn, Cable admitted he tried to stop the Genosha Massacre 200 times and he's in tears, that's heart-breaking.

EEEEEEEKKKKKKK!!!! The Phoenix!!!! Hmm, I wonder if this means that Jean and Madelyne were swapped after season 3.

Love Storm's little laugh.

Oh wow beautiful animation, love the imagery of the Phoenix.

The Phoenix stopped Bastion and the Prime Sentinels have been deactivated, hopefully they will be turned back to normal.

Oh wow!!!, she's stopped Sinister too by ripping out all the DNA he stole.

LOL at Morph mocking him.

Oh damn, Bastion is not stopped and has ripped out Cable's arm and uses it to change himself.

Oh wow, I love the design of Bastion new form.

Oh, so this is Bastion's Second Coming form, I haven't read the comic book story (which I will at some point) but I sort of know what happens.

Oh damn, so he's going to Asteroid M and use it to destroy earth.

Oh damn, Wolverine is poor shape, hopefully he will able to heal himself. Cyclops knows he likes Jean.

Charles has to repair Magneto's mind from his psychic attack, at least he doesn't leave him, like he did in the comics.

LOL, looks like a psychic zoom meeting here.

Aww Rogue, she's repeating the line that Gambit would of said if he was there.

"Odds may be bad, but the cards are always in the X-Men's favour"

Also

"His name was Gambit, Remember it"

Rogue's in tears while she says it, while beating the shit out of Bastion. this was awesome fight scene, love her doing the Thunderclap.

Oh no!! Bastion has the upper had and tries to strangle her. He seems to like strangling women, first Storm and now Rogue.

Oh thank goodness, Sunspot saves her, was really worried for Rogue.

Oh, so Black Panther is T'Chaka, not T'Challa.

In Magneto's mind we see Rogue, Scarlett Witch, Quicksilver and Polaris in a boat, So Magneto cares for Rogue a lot and be part of his family.

I was really worried that Bastion was going to kill Kurt.

Great fight scene, Nightcrawler, Jubilee and Cyclops fighting Bastion. Cyclops using his Optic blast at full power was amazing.

Oh wow, love the character development with Jubilee using her powers as a Catherine wheel (I think) that she was taught by Abscissa.

Oh wow, she really messed Bastion up, ewww he looks gross.

Awesome, Beast, Jean, Storm and Morph, arrive inside a Sentinel.

Cool, Morph turned into Sauron.

Oh damn!!!, President Kelly agreed to launch missals at Asteroid M, that's not good.

I doubt Bastion is dead, I bet he will appear again.

Oh Morph, you are Fantastic.

Oh no Jubilee falls out of the falling Asteroid but luckily Roberto saves her, erm I assume there in the atmosphere, otherwise they wouldn't be breathing.

Oh well done President Kelly, you basically destroyed the world.

Oh no!!! they going to sacrifice themselves to stop the Asteroid from hitting earth.

Scott saying goodbye to Cable was really emotional, I just love Jean using her powers to stop Scott's Optic blasts and let Cable see his eyes.

Oh my gosh!!! when Cyclops took his visor off to use his full optic blast at the asteroid, he was crying.

Oh my gosh!!!! this music, giving me chills.

ahh, Peter Parker and Mary Jane!!!!! He got her back then.

Awww, Morph admits he love's Logan.

Yesssssss, Magneto is fine and helps stop the asteroid.

look at Rogue's smile, she hasn't smiled like that for a long time, she deserved it.

Wait!!!! where did the asteroid go!!!!! it just disappeared. I'm so confused right now.

Oh wow 6 months later!!!! Graydon Creed is back and running for President!!!! I guess that means we will see him in season 2.

Oh wow!!! pictures of other characters.

Hmm Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are off world??? does being in live action MCU movies and FOX Movies count as being off world, lol.

Archangel is missing presumed dead, did he secretly get on asteroid m and got zapped to the past too, to finally kill Apocalypse, lol.

Jubilee, Sunspot and Cable are all AWOL, I wonder where they went

So we left with Colossus, Magik, Iceman, Havok, Kitty, Emma, Exodus and Dust (which I don't know much about them both). Will they appear next season and have a bigger role.

Bishops back!!!!

Oh wow!!! the X-Men have through gone through time.

Rogue, Nightcrawler, Beast, Professor X and Magneto are in Egjpt 3000 b.c. and encounter Apocalypse.

Jean and Cyclops are in the future 3960 and encounter Mother Askani (Rachel) and young Cable, so there doing the the Adventures of Phoenix and Cyclops comics where they help bring up Cable in the future.

I wonder where Storm, Logan and Morph are.

Love Beast's "Oh dear" at the end.

Ahh!!! Mid credit scene!!! Apocalypse is here in the present and he's holding Gambit's card, which means he's going to be resurrected as the Horseman of Death (still need to read the comic story)

Oh man season 2 is going to be nuts and possibly more emotional trauma for Rogue.

[e17omm]

Interesting. Welp, lots of thoughts about HSR 2.2 below.

Lots of thoughts so Ill start with a checklist.

Firefly: good so far. It doesnt seem like she hates her life being trapped in the SAM suit, and thats good. I was worried they were going to make her despise having to be Sam. Seems that she can survive for a while without the suit, which I find fine.

Now as long as they make her fight AS Sam and they wont really have screwed up anything with her. Not everyone needs to have superpowers. Let Firefly's powers come through Sam. She'll be a really unique character that way. Seriously, who else fights using a mechanical body armor like an anime Iron Man in a Hoyoverse game? I'd have no issues with Firefly then.

Well, except one thing, but I'll get to that later.

Now, the fucking plot twist? Holy shit. This really went from "that was kinda anticlimactic. We really went from "we do the cool thing" to "someone else does the cool thing" to "we pass out before we see the cool thing" like, really? Everythings solved and we're already ready to leave? We get on the train, have a chat with everyone, vote on where to go. And (presses hands together in front of my mouth) holy fucking shit.

My one issue is that I wish they actually ended the 2.2 story after the plot twist reveal. Of all the "cliffhangers" and "plot twists" they have tried to do, THIS WAS THE SPOT TO DO IT. THIS WAS IT. This was HUGE. Its in the third Penacony mission, so it would have avoided that thing with "oh yeah you totally wiped out the Herrscher of Dominance halfway through the second chapter" thing. Like, this is the end. We're done. We won and are leaving. In the 3rd story mission. This was THE moment to reveal the plot twist, just barely start it to not leave everyone confused, and then end it and save it for a 4th story mission in 2.3

But it was way too short. It was way too easy to just, get all the crucial pieces and solve the puzzle. We started Act 3 of the story and it only lasted like 20 minutes. It really could have done with SOME difficulty in getting all the important pieces to solve everything.

But we just learn about the plot twist, everyone important groups up, and we fight the final boss. Just like that.

Next on the list, Acheron! Or should I say, Raiden Mei? When that shadow asked for her name, I was PRAYING that Hoyo knew what they were doing, and they did! They didnt skimp out on it! Didnt go the whole "I have lost my memory of it" which would have been such a cop-out. But nope! They did it!

And the Honkai music? Fuck I had chills. And this is pure nostalgia of the best parts of HI3. Those parts were so good that you remember the music and the feelings you had with those notes.

I cant remember much of the music at the later stages of HI3. The story just hasnt grabbed me like chapters 5 to 25 did. (Hoyo should take notes of their own work, ngl)

Now... onto "Death"

"Death" might be the WORST character design I have ever seen. Not from the looks, but from their role in the story and how Hoyo uses it.

A shady character shows up, pulls out a gun, and shoots another character in the head. And later you tell me that that wasnt actually a murder? Bullshit. Get that garbage out of here.

And you know the worst part? ONE SCENE is what ruined "Death" for me.

Firefly's "Death" scene. Delete it. It ruins so much. She is the only one we see "Death" "killing". Why. She's not dead. Why did you show that "Death" "kills" like that? Who sat down and wrote that part? Literally just make us not see this scene and heavily imply that it killed her like they implied that "Death" killed everyone else and this would've been fine!

I can buy that Robin and Sunday are alive because we see neither of them dying. Robin is off-screen and Sunday is hidden from the camera.

But we saw a death when it killed Firefly.

Next time someone is shot in the head on screen I will be expecting it to be an imposter, a stunt actor, an illision, or WHATEVER ELSE. BECAUSE EVEN WHEN THEY SHOW DEATH THEY CHICKEN OUT. AND ALL THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF FIREFLY'S TRACES DISAPPEARED RIGHT BEFORE WE COULD SEE HER. WE COULD EVEN SEE "DEATH" SNEAKING AWAY AS WE ENTER THE ROOM. BUT DONT SHOW THE DEED BEING DONE.

...

Onto the final boss. ... Its... I mean, the boss fight is neat. Um, not sure if Hoyo now thinks that "big thing is intimidating" but this boss was just kinda, eh.

We've already defeated two big things with Cocolia's (now our) mecha, and then Phantylia. And now this sympthony thing.

Uh, Hoyo does know that big doesnt immediately equal "intimidating" or "scary" or "impressive", right? I just wanna be sure. Because this boss is none of that.

Uh the music also get a bit too pop-star-y? Its not bad, I just feel like it goes against the tone of what the story wanted this moment to feel like.

I also wish that Acheron actually did something to help in the end. She kinda just "eh well you can fight now. Me? Byeeeee~" I know that she had a glory moment in 2.1, but like, come on. Sunday just gives up fighting because we told him that people dream in order to wake up. Which doesnt sound philosophical enough to me to make Sunday have a freaking reality check and fall from the platform in shock and defeat.

Hoyo has really been trying to make so much of their stories in the Honkaiverse have a higher meaning and be a matter on philosophy, and then they keep asking why birds fly and I am so fucking tired of it.

Like, this is all they got and its not even a joke.

So, yeah. I kinda really wanted IX to show up and just, consume Penacony. That would've been cool and been decently foreshadowed. Could have had everyone go numb or like, whatever happens to us when we get close to IX in the Simulated Universe, and then have most people try to scramble to the ships to gtfo, and then have IX appear and consume the place.

But as long as we head to the Edo Star next, I'll be happy.

A place under attack by the Antimatter Legion and their distress signal recently went out? Send me there. Right now. Not even a question. I want to see the Antimatter Legion actually live up to what everyone has said about them. Dont fucking bait me on this Hoyo.

Oh yeah, another thing before I finish this!

Where are our ability to hear Stellarons? Did Hoyo forget that we can hear the voice of Stellarons? That is like, one of the most interesting parts about the Trailblazer!

Imagine a world where we get to Penacony in 2.0, and everything's fine and the same as it was. Except... we can hear the voice of a Stellaron. But, there's no signs of it. There's no Fragmentums. There's no sign of it at all. But we keep hearing its voice.

It could have slowly told us the story of Penacony over the course of these three patches so that we didn't have to get a history lesson before the climax of the story.

It would have easily added some mystery and questions while basically requiring no changes to the current story. Is there a Stellaron on Penacony, or are WE the only Stellaron on Penacony?

Speaking of the Stellaron inside of us... It has barely mattered after Belobog...

Hoyo... This should be a big deal throughout the story. Herta is shocked that a human body can host a Stellaron. We can hear the voices of other Stellarons. We could go nuclear if it goes out of control. Why has it not really mattered after Belobog? Hoyo, this isnt something you should just wave off like you have been doing with the Traveler's ability to wield 5 of the 7 elements. Dont make the same mistake twice.

This is dragging out, but I just keep remembering more things!

Hoyo, please dont tell me that you are unable to make long-term stories anymore. Everything has been self-contained recently. And sure, you've TRIED to make it feel like it has a larger impact, but in the end it always hasnt.

HI3 Part 1.5? It MIGHT be important later. I dunno if Vita has any importance at all to part 2 so far. All the regions in GI are basically self contained. You could take Mondstadt Traveler and toss them straight into Fontaine and you would basically not have to change them at all. All of HSR has also been rather self-contained. Happy that Dan didnt actually call the Luofu, that would have just made this all seem even more miniscule and also extremely convenient.

But... Remember when Himeko fucking died and the next 16 chapters was the fallout of that? Remember when we could have big story moments that still mattered for more than 3 months of real time?

Penacony's story is over, and I dont think that anything that happened here will have any impact on the next destination. Did we even actually pick up any new crewmembers?! Please tell me that the cowboy and Black Swan actually joins us for a while. You Chekhov's Gun'd it all the way back in Belobog!

So in short. I liked Penacony act 2 and 3 a lot. Not close to anything in HI3 chapters 5 to 25, but it was good. Could have been a lot better with (imo) rather small changes.

Also wtf is up with Hoyo's budget allocations? They put so much budget into the filler generic battle part of act 3. That was so much effort put into just filler. What's up with that?

[basedkikuenjoyer]

This here though completes our proper intro to the lovely Captain Hina. Leaving Alabasta. I've got more to say about this segment but let's do the iconic devil fruit first. Because is it not just the perfect Marine power? I love it. Simple, effective, thematic. Swipes her body "through" you and it creates an iron shackle. She can do more as we'll see in Marineford but this is Hina's bread and butter. I geek out every time it happens because it's just so damn effortlessly cool. Which pairs well with Hina's design.

That said, there is a concept this scene and it's placement could end up playing well with. This is from Chapter 217, Stowaway, where we'll reveal one of the series's greatest twists in The Sixth being...Ms. All Sunday!? Do you recall our potential 1057/1058 cameos? I'm still iffy on the second but the first really does seem like it has all the right elements in place. There was something else though we talked about:

The Sunny quietly being equipped with a timeout cage now. It could just be weird fun...but it does suit the idea there's a Quartermaster around now. There's a lot of comedic potential in the innocent cutie giving the appearance of a bondage kink, it makes sense for her background, and it reflects to role. Not to mention suits the Pinky Violence vibe for "silver-tongued" to translate into some cool interrogation scenes. Dressrosa shows that's a gap.

So what's my point? We've done this all series. While we recruit one member and incorporate them, others down the line are nudged at. Zoro's injuries and mentioning Jinbei in Cocoyashi. Vivi's stern words in Drum. Seeding the need for a shipwright in Jaya/Skypiea while Robin shows off. Luffy's gag of wanting a musician often came up when someone new came on. It just makes sense, right? Hina's a cool character in her own right and I want to get to that, but today and tomorrow I did want to acknowledge this perspective. Hina here could retroactively work for this if we were to end up with the 10th being a kinda girly/childish cool headed quartermaster to be the uptight one. And this isn't the only way the scene works for that.

[arty-shadow-morningstar]

My Maribat Betrothal AU: Take Two

Okay so people like that post that is more of a train wreck produced by my sleep-deprived brain. I expanded on it and added some changes. Fair warning: Most of my ML and DC knowledge came from Maribat fics, a few episodes and the DCU movies like son of Batman. I have Mari's pov and background stuff written and it needs some editing. Anyways, enjoy <3

It is not a continuation but: @alysrose-starchild, @buginetye, @lookatthestars1, @blackroserelina, @macncheesemonster, @mochinek0

[Masterlist]

(Part 2)

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

PART 1

Damian groaned.

He was not having a good day.

First, Father decided to pair him with Todd, TODD of all people, for patrol.

Second, while doing a stake-out for the warehouse near the docks which might be used as storage for criminal activity and enduring Red Hood's annoying taunts, they both were knocked out by tranquilizers and his mother's face was the last thing he had remembered seeing.

"Don't worry, little one. You are just fulfilling your duties as heir to the Demon's Head. Then, all will be perfect." She had said, just before he fully lost consciousness.

Third, he woke up to being chained up with a major headache. Taking a bearing of his surroundings, the room he was imprisoned in had two exits, an iron door and a window that had the view of his childhood home. He was dressed in wedding ensembles of the League of Shadows. Red Hood was chained up next to him as well but unlike him, still had his suit and helmet on. Glancing to the other side, he saw a raven-haired girl, chained up and dressed in the black and gold robes of a bride. She had also retained consciousness and was staring at him.

Bluebell eyes met his piercing green.

His betrothal was petite with Asian features. She had freckles dotting her button nose and rosy cheeks.

She is fragile and will break easily, he thought. Why did his mother want him to marry such a weakling?

"Savez-vous où nous sommes? (Do you know where we are?)" Her voice was sweet and trembling with fear. Her eyes were wide and seemed filled with innocence yet carrying great sadness. She was an Angel, an ordinary girl, not fit for this harsh and unforgiving world she was forcefully going to get married to.

She opened her mouth to ask another question and suddenly, she went limp, appearing to be unconscious. Damian furrowed his brows in confusion. Why did she-

A moment later, he heard footsteps approaching and the iron door opened to reveal his mother.

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

Jason woke up to the sight of the Bitch Talia and Demon Spawn, face to face, glaring at each other.

Talia broke the tense silence.

"Damian, I hope you know what you should do."

"To be forcefully married to that little girl. She is no one special. Why am I getting married to her?"

Married? The Demon Spawn is getting married?!

Jason saw through his helmeted vision, a girl about Damian's age, chained up like them but not yet awake. He raised his hand and saw the shackles around his wrists. The chains were connected to the wall. He experimentally yanked the chains, drawing Talia’s attention.

“Well, Jason, you are awake. You can be the best man for the wedding.”

“No. I don’t know what game you are playing but you better release us. B is gonna find us and you will pay. Let the girl go. She is innocent in all of this.” Jason said vehemently.

"Ladybug may not seem like it but she possesses great power that my father converted for centuries. Speaking of, she should be awake by now."

Talia stood up and grabbed Ladybug’s(?) hair and yanked so that her eyes met the girl's. The girl, who unfortunately was going to be the Demon Spawn's bride, lets out a cry and starts to tear up. Jason felt anger at how she was being treated, seeing the girl as a little sister already.

"Tch, See, she is more pathetic than I thought. She is not powerful." Demon Spawn growled out. The girl starts babbling in French. From the little French Jason knows, she was begging for mercy.

“Like I thought, weak. She is not deserving of the title of my wife.” Damian spat out.

"Appearance can be deceiving. Despite her demeanor, she is the current wielder of the Ladybug Miraculous and the Current Guardian. The old Guardian, the old fool had promised her in exchange for his protection." Talia countered, letting go of the girl.

Miraculous? Guardian? What the hell?

"That doesn't mean I want to marry her. She is not worthy of an Al Ghul or a Wayne. Look at her, crying at the slightest feeling of pain."

The mother and son begin to bicker. Damian refusing to marry and Talia trying to change his mind.

“Yes, both have to be willing to be married but the curse placed on both of you will ensure that you will agree.”

The dark haired girl had stopped crying and started whispering in a strange language when the fight started, fiddling with the silver ring she wore. Jason saw a terrifying smile crossed the face of the girl across him that chilled him to the bones. Later, a black blur came out of her robes and went through the door. He wondered if he imagined that before he was a determined glint in her eyes.

He blinked.

Talia was choking on the chains that were previously chained to the wall and were now around her neck. Fortunately for them, Talia had closed the door after her entrance and the guards most likely to be stationed outside didn’t storm into the cell. The girl whispered something in Talia's ear, making the woman's eyes widen with what could be fear.

The experienced assassin struggled to get free and gain an upper hand on the girl but was unsuccessful, passing out from the lack of oxygen and strangely strong grip of the small girl.

What happened next was surprising. She breathed hard on her shackles which instantly disintegrated into flakes of rust.

Holy Shit! Demon Spawn's girl is magic. Jason knows his mouth was hanging open under his helmet at that realization. Damian seems to be in the same state.

Talia didn't have the keys to the locks. Being crafty like that. Bitch

"Call me Lady." she said in lightly accented English as she summoned black orbs at the tip of her hands. “Stay still.”

She then proceeds to place her hands on Jason’s shackles, turning them into nothing more than specks.

"I am Red Hood." said Jason, rubbing his wrists.

"The little shit here," as he kicked Damian's leg, " is-"

"Damian Al Ghul" she said the last name with venom. She moved on to Damian's bonds. "Son of that bitch over there, grandson of Ra's, demon heir, blah blah blah. Hold still, mon mignon. I am sure you don't want to lose a hand."

Damian stopped moving at that, due to the pet name or fear Jason couldn’t tell but by the red at the tips of his ear, it could be the former. And she used her powers to free him.

Lady somehow managed to use what remained of the chains to hog tie Talia up.

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

“How do we get out?” Damian asked, inspecting the blade that he flinched from his mother.

“Hey, kit.” A nasally voice called out. “I checked out the place we are in. Like you asked. The way to the Throne room is heavily guarded and they seem to think old Ra’s the target. The Pits are guarded too but they are nothing you can’t handle.”

“What is that?” Jason shrieked.

“Thanks, Plagg, you will get that camembert danish when we get back. This is a kwami, a god of sorts and his thing is destruction so I wouldn’t insult him if I were you. He likes to go by Plagg”, answered Lady, which doesn’t clear up Jason’s confusion.

“So, Pigtails, what’s the plan?” The floating, black cat-shaped god(?) asked.

“I was thinking of destroying the Pits to give Al Ghul a middle finger and call Maman to use the Horse to get home.”

“We need Tikki to get rid of it..”

“I will just tell Maman to bring the earrings.”

Damian snorted, “That sounds like a foolish plan. You are insane and not strong enough to take on the League alone, despite having a ‘god’ of destruction at your side. This Tikki or magic earrings will destroy the Pits, many have tried. And sorry to disappoint but no horse can make it up the mountainside of Nanda Parbat.”

“Have to agree with Demon Spawn here and I rarely do that. Your plan sounds insane, Pixie. You are just one girl. Let us help, we know the League better than you. We can come up with a better one.” Jason was worried for the girl, she was crazy if she thought her plan would work.

Lady smirked, “It is a perfectly sound plan. I know what I am talking about. Despite the weak girl act, I am no Damsel in distress. After this is all over, we will split our ways and hopefully, never see each other again.”

“We can’t separate. My mother said there is a curse that will ‘make us fall in love.’” Damian said, using air quotes. “You need to come with us so we can get someone to break it.”

“Fine. But I need to do something before I am coming with you. Plagg, Claws out.”

Bright green light flashed around her and she was now dressed in a black bodysuit with green linings. It was armoured at the chest, knees and elbows. (Add whatever details you want, I can’t do it. Jacket, designs, use your imagination) Her gloves were claws-like, reminding them of Selina and there was a belt carrying some vials, pouches and throwing stars. Her hair was now longer and braided and seemed to move on its own. Cat ears were attached to her head. Her eyes were changed so the sclera were the same shade of blue as her iries and the pupils were slitted like a cat. A black domino mask framed her face. Two ten-inch daggers appeared out of thin air in her hands.

The transformed Lady did the inhuman feat of kicking the door open. The assassins stationed outside were immediately knocked out by Lady.

“Well, are you coming or not?” She called out, before running down the corridor. Jason patted his shocked brother’s shoulder, “You doing okay there, demon spawn?”

“Tch, Let’s go, Todd.” Damian replied, trying to get rid of that funny feeling in his chest.

[tru-neutral03]

I was strong armed by a friend of mine to watch House of the Dragon. If you guys don't know I loathe the eighth season of Game of Thrones especially when it came to the storylines of some of my favorite characters (Dany, Jon, Arya, Missandei). So this was a very tough decisuon for me personally to make. Eventually I bit the bullet I started to keep up with the series when episode three (Second of his Name) came out. I waited until now to form an overall opinion since the season is almost over.

First off, the casting has been great so far. Eve Best as Rhaenys the Queen Who Never Was is by far my favorite (should've kept her black and silver streaked hair though). I've been a fan of Matt Smith since his performance as Prince Philip in the Crown and so far he's been the highlight of all of the scenes he's been in. The casting for the young and elder Rhaenyra and Alicent is out of the park, it's almost freaky how they look alike. Viserys and Otto were perfectly cast as well.

Secondly, the changes they made from Fire and Blood. The age gap between Rhaenyra and Alicent is non-existant now which I guess isn't a big deal but I wish we could've seen Alicent go from older sister type to evil stepmother. Laenor being alive will lead to a huge problem down the line when the dragonseeds come into the fold unless they kill him off later. Helaena having dragon dreams is a good touch, especially since it's implied that her dreams have traumatized her. Laena's death should've been unchanged in my opinion it seemed to me that it was graphic for the sake of being graphic. Lastly, the big one is Aegon the Conqueror's prophecy, "The Song of Ice and Fire", it felt like a stab to the heart when Viserys revealed it knowing how far off it would be from the actual thing. GRRM alluded to Aegon knowing about the Others united Westeros so that they would be better prepared for the Long Night so this may refer more to the books than season 8. The only upside of it was the little hint of Breaker of Chains playing in the middle of it. My biggest worry is that the various small changes they make will have a ripple affect like they did in GOT and screw it up in the end.

Lastly, I have to talk about the designs. The costumes are way better than they were in Game of Thrones (the only ones that could compare are Dany and Margaery's wardrobe.) Dragonstone looks way better, the mist, the Dragonmont FINALLY being seen, it feels like a dreary, mysterious volcanic island. The Iron Throne looks way more intimidating and looks like a good halfway point between the books and the show. The dragons look amazing, they look menacing, beautiful and vibrant. I love Dany's boys but the designers back then didn't capture the true beauty of the dragons like they do now. I love Caraxes' long and slender design as well as Vhagar's larger than life presence.

The writing is better than season 8 by far but that¹ isn't saying much, it's on par with early GOT in some aspects. I feel the constant time jumps have their ups and downs. We didn't get to see Rhaenyra's relationship with Harwin Strong or Daemon's with Laena. We never got to see Laena bond with Vhagar, or any of the green (aside from Aemond) claim their dragons either. I feel having two or three more episodes would've helped keep things more tightly knit between time skips. The Crabfeeder was a cool early villain to root against and for the dragons to show off their power. Above all I think the family drama is the most prominent and best aspect of the show.

A solid 8/10.

Too bad we know what happens to the last Targaryen (I'm talking about Daenerys not. . .the other one)

[whump-town]

Stubborn

Everybody taking care of old Hotch because... I don't like it when old Hotch gets left to just die on his own :( don't ask why that's where I draw the line

No pairings

No warnings

In Jack’s second semester of his junior year, Hotch collapses again. He’s home this time, out in his garden under the glaring sun. The day had begun no different than any other. The birds on the powerline chirping and causing their disturbances, as eager for the day to begin as the school-aged children shouting in the street. He’d watched them from the sliding glass door facing the street, his tea warm in his hands. He’d waved at a few, the older ones who recognize him as a mystifying adult with stories to be unlocked. The younger children give him a face akin to a monster’s, his mystery horrifying in their already confusing enough lives.

It’s an hour before lunch. Two hours before Spencer shows up because it’s Thursday and he teaches a class on this side of town every Tuesday and Thursday at 2. One that he occasionally asks Hotch to attend -- as a guest lecturer, as a treat to his students, or just for the company.

He could call just about anyone.

Emily’s downtown, on her way back from a meeting with the Department of Justice. She’d be thrilled for an excuse to not go back to the office and spend an hour or two in his kitchen telling him about those pretentious assholes.

Garcia’s about ten minutes away, working at a nonprofit teaching “at-risk” kids how to code. Being the guiding hand she’d needed as a teenager so that they might not repeat the same mistakes she made. She was lucky, Hotch saved her but he’s not around to catch any more kids like her.

Morgan got hired by a family two streets over to fix up their house before they move in. He’s there now, tearing out rotting beams.

This collapse is not of the life-threatening kind. Not to Hotch at least. There’s no internal bleeding, no emergency surgeries. He doesn’t even need stitches but he’s on so many medications that thin his blood that it’s just on the safer side. From the hospital, he calls who he needs to. Reid first, he’ll worry when he gets to Hotch’s house and sees his truck gone. Then, Jack, it’s better to hear this sort of thing from him and not Emily in half an hour when she needs to yell at someone and who better than the son of the idiot she hates right now? Dave and Emily follow and he trusts them to carry the news the rest of the way. Rather, he simply doesn’t want to talk about it anymore and he’d rather Garcia and JJ and Morgan and everyone else just be mad at him than go on to have another conversation about how he’s feeling.

Fine. He just got light-headed. It was the heat and his perpetually low iron and probably his thin blood (the killer had been his blood pressure but they’re working on that). He just needs to get better about remembering to eat breakfast -- a larger breakfast than just tea and toast. Fainting, he assures Dave, happens. Jack’s seen it happen. The heat makes it worse, the summertime drains him. He’s come in from the garden and gotten weak in the knees plenty of times. He actually moved some chairs around the sliding glass door to the yard, prepared for this exact problem.

This over clarification does not help.

Made only the more complicated when he explains his head is fine. The fainting thing really isn’t a big deal, he just needs a ride home. He’d landed weirdly and pulled his back. He left with a new problem entirely, a torn ligament in his shoulder. That is a problem for a different day.

The surgery is set for the week just before Jack’s finals. Armed with a suitcase full of textbooks, his laptop, notes from this semester (and a few from last), and just enough clothes to recycle a few and still be fine, Jack shows up on his father’s doorstep. “I mean, the hospital isn’t exactly the library… but it’s not the worst place I’ve studied.” It’s far too late to send Jack back but Hotch is reluctant to let him stay. Even if he does prefer Jack be his ride rather than the likes of Penelope and that tiny green eye-sore of a car she drives or leave him to Reid and his defensive, jerky driving.

To the sound of “Aaron Hotchner November 2, 1971”, Jack settles down with his books. He tries to put himself in the right headspace for studying but it’s harder than he anticipated. The constant motion of the room unsettles him and he looks up several times to see his father’s reaction. To gauge the anxiety in his face, in the deep breathes that he pulls in through his nose. In how tight his fists are holding the sheets underneath him. It’s a simple surgery and they’ll be out of here in no time.

“Young” his heart had not handled the heavy sedatives and morphine well. Then again, those incidents are always hard to measure against a thing like this. Rushed into the ER with nine chest wounds and having nearly bled to death, it’s natural to conclude the stress of his depleted blood supply and his very recent trauma had caused his heart to stop on the table. That said trauma was the reason his heart had maintained to be a steady problem up until they released him. Again, when he was brought in with some of the worst internal bleedings the staff had ever seen. His heart had given them trouble too.

Jack is staring blankly at his flashcards when the doctor comes out.

Hotch had gone to Georgetown to be a lawyer like his father and his grandfather. Jack went to Georgetown to get an Art History degree. He was lead by something else. Not chasing some shadow, clutching at a lie he spoonfed himself. Jack didn’t live in anyone’s shadow, never felt the pressure to look and act a certain way. Was never beaten into submission or told to hold his tongue. Jack went to museums every Saturday with his father, preferred them to the aquariums and the zoo. Hotch held him close to the artwork, pushed his dense schedule around to go to new shows, and learned the names of pieces just to recite the knowledge back to Jack.

In his lap, Jack is memorizing pieces of art like his father had years ago for him. He’s stuck on The Anatomy Lesson, eyes glued to the details. The way colorless skin is held in forceps, peeled back to reveal angry red. He can feel the pinching teeth on his own skin, feels the heavy flow of hot blood spilling down over his arm.

“Hotchner?”

Jack flinches, caught completely off guard. He stands, flushing as he tucks his notecards into his textbook, and stands. “Ugh, yeah. That’s me.” He wipes his hands off on his pants, rubbing away the nervous sweat he’s built up.

The doctor recognizes him from earlier. He’d watched Jack and Hotch get out one last goodbye. Jack pulling up a nervous smile, dirty-blonde hair, and light eyes a complete contrast to Hotch’s ever-darkening features. Somehow more solemn, voice taken by the sedatives already working through his body. He hadn’t said a word, eyes vacantly following Jack’s movements but unaware.

Jack expects the same monologue he hears every time. The one that comes out so dry and perfect that they must practice it in front of the mirror, say it softly to themselves as they as they get ready each morning. He’s got it memorized himself -- the bits about recovering in post-op, make a full recovery, and whatever on the fly timeline they give for access back to the room.

“But he’s-- He’s okay? He’s--”

Jack feels impossibly childish. Five years old and Emily’s chilled fingers brushing his tears away, “baby, I know you miss your mommy. But you’re being so terribly mean to your daddy.” He had been, a terrible little monster squirming away from his father and refusing to eat anything. Throwing tantrums about nothing and everything. Screaming and crawling under his bed every chance he got. Pushing himself to the wall knowing he couldn’t be reached.

Now he can remember Hotch just sitting at the edge of the bed. There on the floor for hours. Sometimes he read, would pick up a book, and just start from wherever just to make it so his voice was reaching where he couldn’t. He slept there too, on the hard ground just to make sure Jack knew he was there. Slipped strawberry pop tarts on crazily designed animal plated under there, offered bites of his own food to the darkness under the bed. Sippy cups full of chocolate milk and juice.

He feels like a little boy again, getting news that he has no idea how to handle.

“He’s okay?” Jack stammers. “He’s going to be okay? I can see him?”

Hotch remembers those days under the bed too. Waking up in the middle of the night as Jack groggily curled close to him, still under the bed but crawling under his blanket. The ends of those awful sobs, Jack’s little chest jerking as he hiccuped. The force of his sorrow was too much for his little body. And Jack would fall into his lap, exhausted and needing comfort. His little fingers tracing the scars on Hotch’s face. How he whispered “thank you” and “please” from underneath the bed and how he’d pop his head out to say, “Daddy, I’m going to potty. I’ll be right back.”

Jack’s legally old enough to drink now and Hotch still sees that little boy. The three-year-old wiping his snot on Hotch’s dress shirt. The six-year-old holding his hand and reminding him to look both ways twice before crossing the street. The eight-year-old he left the hallway light on for, old enough now to think he needed to brave the night without a nightlight. So Hotch would offer to keep the hallway light on, not for Jack but for him because he doesn’t like the dark. The ten-year-old sheepishly offering him a father’s day gift he bought with saved allowance, a t-shirt he’s now worn the words off of. The fifteen-year-old curling up beside him on the couch, seeking his comfort but not sure how to ask anymore. The eighteen-year-old as tall as him talking his ear off while he tries to get dinner ready, sticking his fingers in the pan and sitting on the counter.

How did he grow up so fast?

He’s not a little boy anymore. Hasn’t been for a long time.

The creaking of a chair moves Hotch’s attention and he looks away from Jack. Away from the sight of his little boy curled up on a cot, drooling onto a pillow and notebook still open, a pen dangling from his fingers. He looks over and Emily’s sitting up, her reading glasses precariously sat on the tip of her nose. “Oh look,” she mumbles. She stretches out, groaning as her joints complain from being held in this miserable hospital chair for hours. “You’ve decided to join the land of the living.”

Hotch watches her fold the thin black frames of her glasses up, gently sits them down by his hand as she stands up. Jack had called her, even though he promised he wouldn’t worry anyone. Hotch didn’t want anyone else coming to the hospital over something so small and though Jack protested that their concern wouldn’t be because he was bothering them but because they love him. The very same reason he’d come home is that people gather after these sorts of things. They need reassurance that he’s alive and he’s just going to have to accept that. They compromised in the end, everyone could come to smother him in worry after he got home from the surgery.

But Jack was scared. He called the only person he could think to, the woman whose role in his life that was never really clear. She’d gotten on him about his grades, smacked the back of his head when he said something stupid, and always let him taste-test her wine at Thanksgiving dinner. Emily knew things that not even Jessica knew and she could be sterner than both Hotch and Jessica and also more relaxed, more understanding. She was always there for both of them, in the same capacity as Jessica and yet her own unique one. A friend Hotch trusted and loved and Jack could understand that. His friends always wanted to know if they were dating and he knew intuitively that the answer was no but he would hesitate to try and explain. But he didn’t understand the gravity that pulled them together, adults and their relationships far too complex to fit it into his simple understanding of love.

He did understand she was the only person to call.

“What’d he do this time?” she asked and knew she was playing the wrong role for the wrong Hotchner because no sooner than she could ask she had an armful of Jack. She sat with Jack for hours, let him get his fear out. Held him while he sobbed, felt pulled to the past. When it was Aaron on her shoulder, terrified he’d lose his son. Life has this very odd way of bringing everything full circle.

“I bet you’re hurting.” Emily moves to the table and pours water into the little paper Dixie cup left by the nurses. “Been right dramatic this afternoon,” she informs him, a dissatisfied matter-of-fact tone in play. “I know you find that to be particularly taxing.” She holds the cup for him, gentle despite her annoyance. She’s close enough to see the iodine on his skin. Dark orange swipes across his pale skin, the smell burns with its strength.

He pulls greedily from the cup, mouth impossibly dry. Stopped only by how little she poured, he sinks back heavily into the pillows behind him. His shoulder hot and angry from forcing himself upright.

“They’re going to let you go in the morning,” she says, sitting back down. He won’t remember this in the morning. Emily holding his hand, whispering thickly how angry she is with him as tears fall down her face. How scared she was getting that phone call from Jack, racing down here to be a composed person to comfort his son thinking her best friend was in the morgue.

He’ll wake up with a pit in his stomach, residual feelings from the night before he can’t tie down to memories. Emily shows no inclination to repeat herself, just coldly informs him that she’ll have Penelope make him a cardiologist appointment (it’s unspoken that no one trusts him to do this himself). Jack walks on glass, close by but terrified of being pushed away. Hotch is too out of it to put up much of a fight, by the time the morning shift has their hands on him he’s silent. Properly dosed up for a ride home and out of his mind.

He’s groggily propped up on pillows, watching Jack and Emily fight over if he has the right to wear shoes or not. Emily wants to hold them captive, he won’t run off or refuse the wheelchair without them and Jack shakes his head, “he’s not our P.O.W, Emily. He’s even going to get that far if he does try to run.” He’s given his shoes but Emily makes a point to collect his cane, holds it while the nurse helps him into the wheelchair. He’s a flight-risk and she’s not going to trust him, he’s run off on her too many times for that.

At the house the other’s have gathered up, having nothing better to do evidently on a Wednesday at ten in the morning. Penelope’s frying eggs and bacon, the carnage it takes to feed their brood spread out on his kitchen counter. Reid sitting on the counter, Hank in his lap, and the two of them watching Penelope. Derek’s on the sofa, feet kicked up on the coffee table, and Savannah learning on his shoulder. Dave’s getting orange juice from the store declared them all lawless, and didn’t trust them to get the right kind.

Hotch is granted his cane to get back inside the house but Emily threatens to kick it out from underneath if he tries anything fast. He smacks her ankle and Jack has to actually step between them to keep them apart. It’s in times like these where Jack finds himself wondering how these two ever had any role in raising him at all.

“Don’t you have jobs?” Hotch asks, hooking his cane over the coat rack and toeing his shoes off. He ignores the hand Emily places on his arm, afraid he’ll knock himself over. He manages just fine, has the whole house set up so that every other step is within arms distance of something to lean on. Fingers trailing the back of the couch he limps past Derek, smiling when Savannah offers a soft “glad you’re okay”. She pats his hand and he nods back.

“Up for some food, sir?” Penelope asks and she’s not taking no for an answer. They might be having heaping servings of eggs and bacon and gravy and orange juice but she’s made two small bowls of oatmeal. She takes the medicine Jack tosses up on the counter, puts it at the end where the rest of his medication sits. “I cut up apples,” she tells Hotch with a wide grin, sliding the bowl in front of him. “Dashed a little cinnamon and sugar in there, it’ll stick to your bones. Keep you healthy.”

He’s at a healthy weight at the moment, not as thin as he leans to when he’s sick but with Hotch, it’s always a good thing to have some collateral weight for the “in case”. Lifting the spoon in his left hand he scoops some of the oatmeal up, doing his best to hide his annoyance at how weak his extremities still are. How his hand shakes under the light strain of the oatmeal. He looks up, watches Spencer carry Hank over to the highchair sitting at the table beside him. He’s distracted so Emily swoops in, takes his spoon from his hand, and tries his oatmeal. He lets her do it. He raises an eyebrow and she shrugs. She likes it. He nods, it’s pretty good.

Hank immediately knocks his spoon on the ground and makes a low whining sound in the back of his throat. “Hop help,” he whines, pointing down at his spoon. His speech is still developing so he pronounces help and hop nearly identically but Hotch understands the difference. He just can’t bend over like that. His right arm is still pinned to his chest in an intricate web of gauze and this sling.

“Reid,” Hotch calls. His voice is deep, strained from intubation and anesthesia. It makes him sound sick. “He’s dropped his spoon.”

Reid nods, he already knows.

Hank points to his shoulder and frowns, “Hop fall down?”

Hotch nods, that is pretty much what happened and at the same time, Emily sweeps in and tickles Hank. She presses kisses to his face and making him laugh loudly. “That’s what happens,” she says. “Hops is just old.” Hank is too distracted by the ongoing attack to defend Hotch not that a toddler rising to his defense is very helpful.

Hotch sighs as Jack comes up behind him, stealing his spoon too. He takes a bite of the oatmeal and deems it nearly as good as the kind that Jessica makes. Hotch wants to be annoyed by it and yet all he does is nod and finds himself smirking just a little.

Penelope calls everyone in for breakfast and Hotch ignores the kisses pressed to his cheek as people drag chairs to the table around him. To the hands that slide over his back, assurance of life he remembers Jack calling it.

Derek slides him a mug of tea, made exactly how he likes it. He sits across from Hotch, close to Hank in case either needs assistance. Emily sits to his left, slides her coffee up beside his tea so he can have some if he’s quick about it. Jack sits beside her and the rest is a blur, too much motion at once for him to take in without his contacts or glasses. Penelope slides a tea plate to him, his medicine on it, and kisses his head while he’s still scowling at the plate.

They don’t leave him alone all day.

He ends up taking a nap with Hank, the toddler’s sticky little fingers holding onto his shirt as he finds himself unable to fight off the effects of the medicine and his full stomach.

He’s squished on the couch between Derek and Dave, forced to watch baseball because he can’t worm his way upright again just yet.

They change the dressings on his shoulder, his teeth clenched tightly so that he doesn’t let anything slip.

At midnight he wakes up on the couch. Jack’s bedroom door is shut, he’s sleeping peacefully inside. His heating blanket is pulled up to his chin, the heat turned up all the way. He can’t remember getting into this state himself but he has a fate memory of JJ helping him move his hand to his mouth, encouraging him to take the pain killers before bed. Of Derek making sure he didn’t just fall straight over onto his side. He manages to find Dave stretched out on the Lazyboy -- the chair he got Hotch for his fifty-something birthday. He’ll wake up in the morning to more food being made in his lonely kitchen, JJ this time. She’ll make blueberry waffles.

If he’d wanted attention, Emily will tease the next morning, he could have just asked. And he didn’t even know he wanted this. He never finds the words to ask for it to continue but every Saturday morning it happens anyway -- his kitchen and living room full of pajamas and suits in varying degrees depending on who has what to do that morning. The fainting thing is not cool but he considers this to be a good trade.

[tarysande]

S6 Thoughts: A Tale of Two Brothers

But wait! There’s more. Thoughts on the overall arc of the series, Heaven and Hell edition:

In S1, Lucifer is “vacationing” on Earth but doesn’t plan to return to Hell. Amenadiel spends that season trying so hard to force Lucifer back to Hell, where he “belongs,” that he himself Falls. We’ve got this role reversal of an angel doing evil things to return the devil (doing ... good things, like solving crimes) to Hell. It’s all very “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” 

In S2, Lucifer still has no plans to return permanently to Hell, but he’s willing to face it to save Chloe. Of course, this then leads to him experiencing his own forced hell-loop. Amenadiel is also conflicted. Though he’s changed enough that he no longer wants to force Lucifer back to Hell, he’s still uncertain where that leaves either of them. In fact, even when Lucifer pleads with Amenadiel to return him to Hell, Amenadiel refuses. However, when Mum plants the idea of returning to Heaven as a family, Amenadiel clings to that. He’s looking for a purpose. Lucifer, on the other hand, is still very much aboard the Heaven nope train. Here, we also get the foreshadowing of celestial war, and Lucifer’s rejection of Mum’s plan because “In war, there are always casualties.” He would rather sacrifice one--Mum, Uriel--for the many. But it hurts him. If he belongs anywhere, he thinks, it’s Earth ... but, ultimately, that’s shortsighted because we know he doesn’t actually want to be on an Earth that doesn’t have the people he’s coming to care about on it.

S3 is, as we all know, a bit of a mess. But, hey, it’s actually thematically appropriate! Lucifer’s having an identity crisis (wings) that just keeps giving (or taking), and even though subconsciously (we later realize) he gave himself the wings because he was, in fact, making progress reconciling his past and present, his conscious is backsliding like (pun not intended) hell. Much as he wants Earth to be home, he’s got these non-stop reminders of both Heaven and Hell. It makes complete narrative sense that this season reaches the point where he can no longer hide from himself--or from Chloe. 

In this season, we also see Amenadiel really start to settle into the idea of staying on Earth, of embracing humanity. He’s shedding the aloofness he once had. He’s learning (we later realize) how to be the kind of God who sheds mysterious ways in favor of boots on the ground. I mean, he doesn’t realize this. But Dad ... well, he has a Plan. Lucifer begins the season with sudden wings. Amenadiel ends it with his wings’ very deliberate return. 

In many ways, this season is about Hell on Earth and torture at the hands of an entity far more intentionally and deliberately evil than the actual devil. This is why the catalyst of Cain is so important. He is all the things Lucifer has been accused of being, only he embraces it in ways we’ve seen Lucifer reject and recoil from again and again. This season is torture (lol). It’s Hell. It’s every ugly thing lies beget. And much as we love Lucifer, we’re given an extreme close-up of how his omission of truth is very nearly as devastating as Cain’s outright lies. Of course, this nearly results in Chloe’s death (in more ways than one; you can’t tell me that godforsaken marriage wouldn’t have been like dying), and the devil’s vengeance results in the removal of Lucifer’s choice about the where and when to reveal his true nature to Chloe. 

Which brings us to S4, aka The Season of Angst. For Lucifer (and Chloe), anyway. Not so much for Amenadiel, who is set on the path of fatherhood, of responsibility, of partnership and not just commands he expects to be followed. In case we’ve forgotten how much Amenadiel has changed, Remiel “mini-Amen” shows up to remind us. In Linda’s “When angels fall, they also rise” of it, Amenadiel is rising again. He’s not the same as he was, no, but ... we didn’t like old Amenadiel very much, did we? Like Lucifer, Amenadiel is on a journey of learning who he is, the good and the ugly, so he can choose the parts he wants to keep with both eyes open. 

Of course, while Amenadiel is rising, Lucifer is falling. In having to deal with Chloe’s reaction to his devil face, Lucifer is put in the uncomfortable position of either growing enough to face his own darkness and self-loathing or retreating, very literally, into who he used to be because it’s comfortable and less frightening than the prospect of change and the unknown. Until it isn’t, right? The more he becomes the devil Eve remembers, the more uncomfortable he becomes. And the more frightening he becomes. Not to Chloe, as he fears, but to himself--though it takes a while to recognize it. If nothing else, we have to hand this to Lucifer’s subconscious: when it wants him to PAY ATTENTION DUMMY, it’s pretty good at getting its point across. If S3 was Hell on Earth starring Cain as the devil, S4 is Hell on Earth starring, well, the devil as the devil with bonus demons. It’s Lucifer’s earthbound iteration of a guilt-induced hell-loop. And at the tragic end, he chooses to return to the place he swore he’d never return, losing everything good in the process, but doing it for selfless reasons. So, that’s new. And it’s why there was still a sliver of hope even when things looked impossibly dark.

S5 begins with Lucifer in Hell--farther from the things he cares about than he has ever been, but also closer to his true calling. Not that he realizes it; this is Lucifer we’re talking about. So, of course it makes sense that as the season goes on, he’ll end up confused by suddenly having everything he always thought he wanted within his grasp. The Lucifer who led a rebellion against his father because he thought he could do better than God? Of course that part of him wants to be handed the job now. No--he wants to earn it. And while some of his reasons are not great, others are. His heartbreak about the injustice and unfairness of life, well ... who hasn’t felt that way? Who hasn’t wanted the power to unilaterally make things better? But that’s not how free will works. That’s not how choice works. While Lucifer wrestles with the necessity of becoming God, Amenadiel recoils from what his S1 self would have seen as his right and his calling. S1 Amenadiel would have made a terrifying and inflexible and absolute and judgmental God. Perhaps even a God closer to our imaginings of Evil than Good.

S6 is about how sometimes personal growth means we grow out of old dreams and acquire new ones. Sometimes, it’s about reimagining those old dreams, rebuilding them with new information. For Amenadiel, that means recognizing that the person he is now is the best man for the Big Job. It means recognizing that Heaven can be (a place) on Earth if he wants it to be. It means he sets aside the pride of “If God wants something done, he sends ME” in favor of delegation and accepting help--and in doing so, helping others (his siblings) discover their callings too. He learns to lead by example, tempered with love and humility.

In Paradise Lost, Milton’s Lucifer famously declares that it is better to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven. But our Lucifer ... his calling isn’t ruling in Heaven. That’s the old dream of a person who no longer exists. Ironically, Lucifer’s calling is to serve in Hell. Not to serve a distant, ineffable, unfathomable being’s mysterious ways, mind you, but to tangibly serve the humans he has come to love, and who have taught him so much about himself. Who have taught him about love and sacrifice and light and darkness and second chances and hope and faith. When Lucifer chooses to return to Hell, he does so with his eyes open, just as Chloe returns to the LAPD with her eyes open. It’s a lesson that revisits the first episode of the season: Truth and wonder don’t have to be at odds. They can go hand in hand. The mysteries at the heart of pain and suffering and trauma--those are the ones Lucifer wants to solve. Because solving them isn’t about trusting to a higher power (aka the justice system, which is flawed) or designing the perfect torture. It’s about quite literally helping others set themselves free. Finding release. It’s about being a guide, not a judge. And it’s about fulfilling not the temporary desire that merely scratches the itch, but offering the tools necessary to help others determine--choose--their path to the desire they may not even realize is buried beneath the layers of scar tissue within them. And what could be more wonderous than that? Especially when you have a partner who makes you better at your calling, even as you make them better at theirs.

In the end, Heaven and Hell are what we make of them. One person’s Heaven is another person’s Hell. Love is what matters. In all its many, many forms.

[lavender-dahlia]

A Cure; Part Five - Resolve (Finale)

Can also be viewed on ao3 here.

Pt.1|Pt.2|Pt.3|Pt.4|Pt.5

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They were frustrated. It had been a few days now and Y/n just couldn't seem to perfect it all the way. An assortment of small dots adorned their sides. Suddenly a memory racked their brain of the deepest parts of Zaun, not too long ago. They had seen a healer and how they added the last bit to their ailments. With a single drop of shimmer. Y/n eyes landed on the vile that Viktor had kept on Y/n's desk the entire time. They bit their lip in debate, eyes shifting to VIktors once again sleeping form before throwing all caution to the wind cause what the hell did they have to lose. They popped the vile open, dipping a dropper in and dropping a single drop into their serum, it mixing together and glowing lightly.

"Here goes nothing." They whispered to themself, sliding the new vile into the syringe gun and placing it against their skin again, not even flinching at first before wincing and throwing themself forward, teeth digging into their lip so as to not alert Viktor. They tasted iron but didn't back down until their body had stopped seizing. They huffed a bit before placing the syringe gun on their desk and lifting themself from their chair. They still had to wait fifteen minutes before checking their vitals so they decided to walk over to Viktor's side, brushing his umber hair from his face to behind his ear before resting their hand on his cheek, caressing it softly. Suddenly the door slid open, revealing a familiar girl. Y/n raised a finger to their lips in a silencing motion. They walked their way towards the girl, limping a bit but still walking. They motioned for her to step into the hall with them, letting the door slide shut again. Y/n smiled sweetly at the girl.

"What is it you needed Ms. Young, It's quite late, shouldn't you be home by now?" They asked.

"A-ah, well yes I suppose so, I just. I've been working on a project for a while now and I wanted to see Viktor's opinion on it." She said, a bit flustered. Ah, they understood the situation now.

"Why not I look over it? Y'know a proofread before you present to the big boss." They smiled, a hand extended. Sky hesitantly placed the blue journal in their hand and watched as they looked over it. Their eyes widened and their jaw dropped as they looked up at the girl. What she was designing here were theories for functional hextech prosthetics. Her main focus being in particular, a leg. "Ms. Young, I- I don't know what to say-" They admit. "Your work is remarkable, could use a few adjustments here and there but whose work doesn't. I Uhm, I'm very flattered by your interest in this subject particularly."

"Well, you and Viktor both have inspired me so I thought why not repay you in some way." She brightly smiled. "Also, I know about how you two care for each other, don't think I'm trying to step in between that in any way." She reassures, pushing her glasses up her nose, a bit of sadness in her eyes but in an accepting way. Y/n chuckles at her admission.

"I appreciate the clarification, Ms. Young. Please, never lose your spark." They say, giving her a small hug before waving goodbye and going back into the lad, the door sliding shut behind them, a smile nestled on their face. They were over to their desk and draw their blood, inspection it after. At that their eyes go wider than quarters. They'd done it. They had actually done it! And they couldn't wait another second.

"Vik!" They yelped out, quickly making a second dose and notching it into the syringe gun. Viktor rustled slightly but didn't make much else of a move. Y/n bounded over to him and knelt down taking one of his shoulders in their hand and shaking gently. "Darling, please I need you to wake up." Viktor's eyes slid open at this, a short cough coming out into his hand leaving a small bit of blood causing Y/n to frown. They swipe out a handkerchief from their pocket and wipe the blood from his palm before kissing his knuckles. Y/n then looks into his eyes with a spark. "Darling, I've done it!" They say excitedly. Viktor's eyes widen and he immediately fixes his posture.

"Really?" He exclaims in slight disbelief but that disbelief is vanquished by a nod of their head.

"I'll be open and honest with you, I did end up using a bit of that sister of shimmer you brought in the other day, but it worked! It really worked this time, I promise."

"Then what the hell are you waiting for, Солнечный свет?" He said with no falter in his words. Y/n nods and pushes Viktor back in his chair and he complies. They unbutton his shirt, pushing it aside being met with the sight of his metal spine brace. There was a patch of skin exposed near his hip and they rubbed the skin with the pad of their tub before placing the syringe gun over the cool flesh. With their free hand, they grabbed Viktors and looked into his honey-colored eyes.

"This is gonna hurt like a bitch, so please bear with me," They warn, and Viktor gulps before squeezing Y/n's and nodding. They take a breath then pull the trigger letting the serum enter his bloodstream. A moment passes before he convulsed, letting out a scream of pain. Y/n dropped the now empty gun and wrapped their arms around their lover, holding him while he gripped the back of their shirt tightly. they caressed the back of his skull as the seizing dissipated, whispering sweet nothings in his ear until he was still, yet still hanging onto Y/n. "You did so well, look at that. My darling, my love. We just need to wait approximately fifteen minutes before we can check your blood, alright? Hang with me and don't pass out for the love of the gods." They say, just holding Viktor against them. They stay like that for the next fifteen minutes before Y/n moves and draws Victor's blood.

Regaining his strength a bit, he grabbed ahold of his crutch, making his way over to where Y/n stood, examining his blood sample. Once he made it to them, he slumped against their back, resting his chin on their shoulder and wrapping one arm around their stomach.

"So? what's the verdict, doctor?" He asks cautiously, yet still with a hint of humor. Y/n shifts in his arms to face him looking at him wordlessly, mouth agape. "That bad, aye?" Y/n buried themself in the crook of Viktor's neck.

"It's gone," They say almost in disbelief of themself. A knot in their throat forms as they begin to shake in their lover's hold. "I did it," They whimper out. Viktor rubs a hand across their back, on the verge of tears himself.

"You did it, my love. You saved me. And so many others." At his words, Y/n finally lets loose and cries freely into him. A tear rolls down Viktor's own cheek before he laughs lightly. "Let us go home, shall we?" Y/n nods into him. Neither of them cared for whatever else happened in the future, they had each other and that's all that mattered now.