#raven scientist ship

[the-hilda-librarians-wife]

:)

[jetcat-14]

Texting Post.

[theshadowsingersraven]

The frustrating reality of adhering to tags also means that people who don't deserve your art of Elain Archeron and your love for her unfortunately get access to it anyway. 🥲

Either way, tho I'm probably going to post some early Solara & Elain being girl besties tomorrow.

[wearethekat]

Anticipated Upcoming New Releases

Anticipated by Me. Asterisk for titles where I haven't read anything by the author previously (ie sounds cool but unvetted)

*Single Player, Tara Tai. f/nb romance about a romance storywriter and her video game dev boss.

*Hammajang Luck, Makana Yamamoto (14 January). In a far-future world, a thief is approached by the partner who betrayed her for one last job just after getting out of a prison planet on early parole.

*Death of the Author, Nnedi Okorafor (14 January). Recently unemployed Zelu starts to write a new science fiction book, as the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur.

*Modern Divination, Isabel Agajanian (30 January). Young witch has carefully balanced her witchcraft with her demanding life at Cambridge University—only to find that her magic powers are fading.

Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales, Heather Fawcett (11 February). Book three of a series, in which Emily deals with the repercussions of being engaged to a faerie king.

*But Not Too Bold, Hache Pueyo (11 February). Novella. Sapphic retelling of Bluebeard featuring a giant humanoid spider.

Wooing the Witch Queen, Stephanie Burgis (18 February). Romantasy in which an evil sorceress queen gets catfished by a disguised imperial archduke pretending to be a librarian in a gaslamp setting.

*Greenteeth, Molly O'Neill (25 February). The legendary Molly Greenteeth teams up with a local witch to defeat an evil pastor.

*The Fourth Consort, Edward Ashton (25 February). A human representative to what's supposed to be a pan-species space confederation finds out he's actually on the wrong (and losing) side, and gets trapped on another planet.

The River Has Roots, Amal El-Mohtar (4 March). Novella. Two sisters living at the edge of Faerie tumblr into trouble when one of them takes a faerie suitor.

Once Was Willem, MR Carey (4 March). In medieval England, the eponymous Willem drags himself out of his grave to defend his village against an evil threat.

The Tomb of Dragons, Katherine Addison (11 March). Reportedly actually coming out this year! In book 3 of the series, Thara Celehar investigates a case involving an old cemetery and a miner's group.

A Gentleman's Gentleman, TJ Alexander (11 March). Alexander sticks their nose into the Regency genre with this t4t lord/valet romance.

Idolfire, Grace Curtis (11 March). One woman searching for a last chance and another woman looking for redemption travel to a sleeping magical city.

*Murder by Memory, Olivia Waite (18 March). A sci-fi mystery novella set on a generation ship, where a ship's detective investigates a mysterious murder.

*Aunt Tigress, Emily Yu-Xuan Qin (18 March). Reformed monster Tam investigates the murder of her aunt in Chinese folklore inspired urban fantasy Canada.

*The Keeper of Lonely Spirits, EM Anderson (25 March). Cursed to live forever, ghost hunter Peter starts to settle after two hundred years in a small town in Ohio.

A Drop of Corruption, Robert Jackson Bennett (1 April). Sequel. Our Sherlock Holmes coded detective investigates the disappearance of a treasury officer with the help of her trusty assistant in a complex secondary fantasy world.

*Where the Axe is Buried, Ray Nayler (1 April). In a crumbling near-future Earth, a brilliant scientist flees, because her new invention might be key to assassinating the immortal uploaded President.

*A Duke Never Tells, Suzanne Enoch (1 April). In this Regency romp, somehow both a young lady and the man she's affianced to are in disguise below stairs.

Don't Sleep With The Dead, Nghi Vo (8 April). Vo returns to the fantasy Great Gatsby setting with this novella from the POV of Nick Carraway post-novel events.

*The Raven Scholar, Antonia Hodgson (15 April). Seven candidates compete to become the next emperor—until one of them is murdered. The emperor's scholar attempts to find the killer.

*The Gentleman and His Vowsmith, Rebecca Ide (15 April). An accidentally falling in love with your wedding vendor by during your arranged marriage book, now with a locked mansion murder mystery.

*Notes from a Regicide, Isaac Fellman (15 April). Trans Griffon's adoptive parents die suddenly, leaving him to sort through their papers, which follows the failed revolution they fled.

Advocate, Daniel M Ford (22 April). Book three of a series. Insufferable lesbian necromancer Aelis is summoned back to the capital to investigate an accusation against her former teacher.

Saint Death's Herald, CSE Cooney (22 April). Sequel to my particular favorite Saint Death's Daughter. Lanie Stones must contain her murderously ambitious (and dead) great grandfather before he conquers the world.

*The Sun Blessed Prince, Lindsey Byrd (29 April). Queer romance between a prince with healing magic and the assassin sent to kill him.

Brighter than Scale, Swifter Than Flame, Neon Yang (6 May). Emissary and dragon hunter Yeva is sent to a nation that worships dragons to seduce their queen. Novella.

Drop Dead, Lily Chu (6 May). Rival journalists Nadine and Wesley spar for the scoop on a reclusive author-- until she dies suddenly, and the executor grants them both three weeks to study her papers together.

Ascension, ST Gibson (13 May). Sequel to Evocation about the contentious urban fantasy wizard polycule.

The Incandescent, Emily Tesh (13 May). A professor at a magical academy deals with some troublesome demons. (I'm VERY excited for this one)

*Anji Kills A King, Evan Leikam (13 May). In an impulsive moment, a laundry maid assassinates the king. She flees, pursued by a band of mercenaries with magic masks.

The Starving Saints, Caitlin Starling (20 May). After a six month siege, a castle is freed by a group of cultlike saints. As the castle descends into cannibalism orgies, can three women find a way to save themselves?

Strange New World, Vivian Shaw (20 May). The fourth book in the Greta Helsing series, in which Greta escorts an angel and a demon across America .

*Behooved, M Stevenson (20 May). Princess Bianca agrees to marry a prince in order to end the war—only to have a botched assassination attempt turn him into a horse. They flee together in order to unravel the evil plot.

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association, Caitlin Rozakis (27 May). Ordinary parent Vivian has to rapidly adapt to the world of magic schools when her kindergartener is bitten by a werewolf.

June and later releases under the cut

The Listeners, Maggie Stiefvater (3 June). Hotel manager June is put to an unexpected test when the hotel's rich owners make a deal to host captured Nazi officials.

The Witch Roads, Kate Elliot (10 June). An arrogant prince enters the haunted Spires against the advice of their guide, leaving ex-slave Elen with the unenviable task of guiding a man who isn't quite the same as the one who entered.

The Mercy Makers, Tessa Gratton (17 June). Criminal heiress Iriset uses her ability to create magical disguises to infiltrate the palace and free her father, insinuating herself into the lives of the emperor and his sister in the process.

*This Princess Kills Monsters, Ry Herman (17 June). A sapphic retelling of the Grimm fairy tale The Twelve Huntsmen.

A Far Better Thing, HG Parry (17 June). Changeling child Sydney escapes and crosses over to the human world during the French Revolution to get his revenge on the fairie that took his place.

A Legionnaire's Guide to Love and Peace, Emily Skrutskie (24 June). Two redshirts unexpectedly don't die in a fantasy apocalypse after a band of plucky heroes intervene, forcing them to contemplate their one last night stand.

The Bewitching, Silvia Moreno-Garcia (15 July). A multigenerational story about three women and the curse that stalks their family.

The Memory Hunters, Mia Tsai (29 July). Secondary world academia about using memory magic powers for archaeology.

Hemlock & Silver, T Kingfisher (19 August). A retelling of Snow White from the point of view of a healer trying to cure the poisoned princess.

*Terms of Service, Ciel Pierlot (23 September). Luzia sells herself to the mysterious fae-like Astrosi who live above the metropolis in order to rescue her nephew.

[gabessquishytum]

I'm having a galaxy brain moment: Winter Soldier AU 👀

Hob and Dream both grew up together in the same neighborhood. Initially, Hob was the lanky one, as he was from a family significantly more poor than Dream. But he always fought everything and everyone, especially those who dared pick on Dream. His beautiful, dark, lonely friend.

When they grow up, Hob wants to be a soldier, fight in wars, but his physique doesn't let him. Dream, who volunteers at the same time, is sent to the front, to their mutual dismay as they are now separated.

Until a scientist named Death because the experiments haven't gone tremendously well sees Hob and asks him if he wants to be their next lab rat for their "Immortality Serum", a treatment that will make him incredibly strong and pretty much indestructible. Hob, being the Himbo we know and love, and thinking how impressed Dream will be with his new muscles, says yes.

Cut to Hob in tight Spandex and other cute outfits being shipped to the front, where he is reunited with Dream. On a mission together, Dream falls off their train and is declared dead. What's worse, right before hia descent he told Hob he loved him.

Hob is devastated. His one true love is gone, there is little for him to move forward. Eventually he crushes into some ice, and is declared Deep Frozen, until 100 years later.

The reason he was defrosted? He is believed to be the only one able to go after The Winter Soldier, a deadly assassin hiding behind a horrifying mask who seems to be taking orders from some dark master he can't refuse. It's because his master, Burgess, is using some specific magic words and runes that bind Dream to him.

Yes, the Winter Soldier is Dream. Deprived of his memories, his empathy, his identity. Hob doesn't know who he is, and they fight, until during a hand-to-hand he curses a swearword that was an inside joke between him and Dream. The Soldier freezes, and in that split second Hob is able to remove his mask. Imagine his shock when he sees Dream, his Dream, staring back at him with no recognition. But it is Dream, without any doubt. Nobody has eyes this blue, lips this pink, skin this beautifully pale.

He weeps for his friend, both happy he is still alive but also desperate because he isn't his friend? The Soldier goes back to trying to kill him, and Hob is about to let him finish the job, he won't fight Dream, he won't hurt him ever ever ever.

That gives the Soldier pause, he doesn't understand why his target doesn't fight back. That gives Hob hope, that maybe his beloved is still in there.

How will Hob bring him back?

Ahhh, this is a great au for them!! Mostly because I want to see Hob’s butt in the spandex. He would definitely cheer on the morale of the troops!

And Dream would look so cool in the Winter Soldier gear, maybe with his hair grown out and flying wildly around his face. Fighting hard against the brain washing as he tries to remember why this unfamiliar man might be important to him. None of it makes any sense, and Dream is just so tired. Burgess doesn't let him sleep properly, and although it doesn't impact his physic capabilities, it's just another method of torture because his mind can't rest. He can't dream.

He stops fighting Hob, because he's confused and because he's tired. He steps back. Hob sees an opportunity, and he seizes it! He starts telling stories from their childhood. All the games they invented, the raven that Dream nursed back to health, all the times Hob got beat up by other kids because he defended Dream’s "weirdness". Everything he can remember, finishing up with the moment Dream finally declared his love for Hob. Hob is weeping the whole time as he speaks, and Dream just listens in stoic silence.

And then his eyes fix on Hob’s face. There's the barest hint of recognition amid those dazzling blue irises. He's fighting hard against the magic. "I never got to hear your answer. If you loved me too, or not." He whispers.

"I did." Hob manages to sob. "And I still do."

And maybe it's enough to break the magic, at least for a moment. And even if Hob can't save Dream, at least he'll know. That he's loved. Even if Hob can't save him, Dream will fight for that love with his own hands, until he's free of Burgess. Hob’s fought for Dream often enough, and now it's Dream's turn to fight for him.

[incubotwriting]

Daughter of Mawkin

The Thoha of Zebes have put a missive out to ZDR with a seemingly simple request, but one that will see a surprise visitor to their Temple. The already thin partnership between the two tribes will be tested as Raven Beak himself takes a seeming interest in what the scientists need with proud Mawkin blood.

Grey Voice stood at the walkway to the landing pad, talons held tightly in front of him to prevent them shaking with anxious energy. He stood underneath a rocky outcrop that the pad plunged into, protected from the sheets of rain that were endemic to Crateria. 

The system scans had caught the precession leaving ZDR mere hours ago, and the first contact anyone had received was the request to land. The Itorash was a hulking fortress of a ship, a slow and heavy flagship that could only be bearing one person. 

A walkway descended from the underside of the ship after it came to shuddering stop on the pad, and sure enough a regal figure began the descent, silhouetted by the bright light of the airlock behind him.

Raven Beak walked in strong footfalls, his metallic talons striking the metal surfaces he walked on. He continued across the walkway, barely acknowledging the rain that pattered against his ornate silver armour, each rivulet barely managing to streak down the aggressive curves for a few moments before being vaporised from the energy required to drive the suit.

He approached Grey Voice, dwarfing the otherwise impressive Chozo.

["Lord Ashkar."] Grey Voice began ["When we sent off our missive, we weren't expecting a...spontaneous in-person visit"]

["You ask to utilise the blood of the Mawkin Tribe"] Raven Beak responded, his voice echoed and distorted from being re-broadcast through the armour. ["Such a matter requires my immediate and personal attention."]

He walked past Grey Voice without stopping to acknowledge him as so much of an obstacle in his path.

["Come. Plead your case."]

Raven Beak was lead through the sprawling halls of the Chozo temple, deeper into the heart of Zebes as the technology being researched became more advanced, and more secretive. Raven Beak eyed each surveillance system they passed, the feeling of observation prickling the feathers on the back of his neck. He despised the artificial lifeforms the Thoha insisted on using as computers. 

Before long he was lead to an unmarked door, manned by a scientist in a deep blue robe.

["I must ask your guard to remain at the door"] the scientist asked nervously. Raven Beak stared him down for a moment before dismissing his party with a wave of his talon.

He was let through the articulating blast door and lead into a faintly lit room, dedicated to the in construction machine at its center. The machine consisted almost entirely of a glass sphere, in the process of being filled with a luminous liquid. Heavy cables and pipes attached it to the room, connecting it to banks of computers and resource-providing machines at the edges of the room

["For imbuing other species with fragments of Chozo DNA"] The scientist explained, proud of the work in spite of the situation.

["The child will need alteration if she is to survive on Zebes beyond Crateria and upper Brinstar, as well as interface with Chozo technology..."]

Raven beak was barely listening to him, mind processing the machine in front of him, and why the Thoha would go to such an expense for a single child.

["...fortunately her species, and indeed her as an individual seem to be quite adaptable, almost as much as the Chozo ourselves"]

Raven Beak ran a metallic claw over a control panel as he circled the device, causing a nervous pause in the scientist before he continued

["...unfortunately Thoha genetics are inseparable from our own alterations, and so for the benefit of the child..."]

["...you need Mawkin blood"] Raven Beak finished for him. ["You need untainted blood to circumvent the weakness you implanted in yourselves. You wish for the child to be able to kill with an arm cannon rather than a signed order."]

The scientist stammered to a halt at a loss for words. He looked over to Grey Voice for guidance.

["We don't want to burden her with our choices"] Grey Voice finished, pointedly

Raven Beak looked at him for a moment over the diplomatic answer. The two figures stared eachother down in silence for weighted moments, before Raven Beak broke the silence with a scoff.

["Take me to the child."]

---

The congregation swarmed into the room, Raven Beak at its head. The space was brightly lit, and kept at a mild temperature almost to the point of frustration.   Raven Beak had dismissed his ornate armour, entering the room in an elegant red and gold robe over his deep black undersuit. The material was a fine silk, catching the light with a metallic sheen, joined by the glint of golden embroidery that held it together and ornamented it with Mawkin sigils. 

A regal display that was nonetheless willing to be sacrificed in a moment should his power armour be required. 

He scanned the room.

A large elongated oval window dominated one wall, providing a view out to the almost perpetual sheet of rain and vast rocky outcrops of Crateria. The rest of the room was stark, with some colourful discarded toys the only respite from the stark white stone, glass and steel.

The entire room had the affect of a palatial hospital room, with a strong disinfectant smell in the air and the single bed against the back wall, no doubt to protect the life form inside from the hostile environment of Zebes.

An Old Chozo was hunched over in one side, whispering something frantically to someone he couldn't see in a language he couldn't understand. As Raven Beak's presence in the room became too auspicious to ignore, the Old Bird straightened up to face him, a small creature clinging to his leg.

It was a young human girl, with a shock of bright blonde hair. She was dressed in humble Chozo linen, though the cloth fell baggy on her as if the tailor had taken a Chozo outfit and widened it blindly to fit the human's broad proportions compared to the slender avian frame it was designed for. 

With gentle encouragement, the girl took a few steps towards Raven Beak, away from the old bird's leg.

A growl entered Raven's Beak throat at the surroundings.

["This is the creature that is supposed to carry the blood of the Mawkin?"] he fumed ["This fragile child with the constitution of a weak elder?"]

["Lord Ashkar, please..."] the Old Bird began, but Raven Beak shouted over him

["So unsatisfied you are with tarnishing your own lineage, you seek to infect the Mawkin with some..."] He gestured a fierce talon towards the girl [...Space Pirate Flotsam"]

["Your voice is funny, mister"]

The child's fledgling-level chozo hung in the air to complete silence

The entire room held a thick tension, as if the tiniest disturbance could send the scene falling into chaos. 

Raven Beak could feel the panic emanating from the normally serene Old Bird behind her, and instinctively felt Grey Voice's balled talon trembling behind him. 

He knew that everyone in the room could do naught but wait in fear of his reaction, his legendary temper already simmering.

Raven Beak knelt down to get to the child's level. He considered her, his burning red eyes studying hers. If she had some chozo, how much had she understood? Not everything, surely, but no doubt she had enough to read the mood in the air and the tone of his voice.

The young girl's eyes were filled with a worry, undeniably, but there was something else there. A determination in the face of him, a calmness staring down what was surely a terrifying presence, and a deep rooted spark of rage from the mere word association of 'Space Pirate'.

Raven Beak slowly tilted his head, considering. Everything was becoming clear to him. 

The Thoha hadn't adopted a pet. They were trying to raise a champion.

["It is the way powerful Chozo speak, little one"] he finally replied, after moments that hung in the air like hours. He suppressed his own indignation as his curiosity took hold.

He rose from his knees

["As you will come to learn."] 

Raven Beak began a brisk walk from the enclosure, his entourage in toe. Grey Voice scrabbled to keep up with him at the head of the precession.

["You shall have your blood."] Raven Beak decreed to Grey Voice, his voice ringing through the Thoha halls. ["Your sample will come from me personally"] he continued. Grey Voice made a move to protest, but Raven Beak silenced him with a hand

["If this child is to be a daughter of Mawkin, she shall receive no less than the pride of our tribe"]

Grey Voice's face showed a consternation at the thought, but he didn't move to protest any further.

["Additionally, when she is of age, her armour will be checked by our smiths. If she is to be a warrior, she shall not be provided with farming equipment nor an antique."]

Grey Voice weathered the jab at his tribe's engineering, but clearly the sudden eagerness and generosity came as a surprise.

["You are most kind, Lord Ashkar"] He replied, with a careful diplomatic reverence.

Raven Beak turned to him, pausing their brisk walk to his quarters.

["Consider it... a gift"] He began with an uncharacteristic sweetness, preparing to spring his trap.

["...A gesture of goodwill and cooperation as we begin to undertake the project on SR388"]

He continued his walk, leaving Grey Voice behind, rooted in quiet contemplation as Raven Beak began ordering his staff to prepare for their extended stay on Zebes.

[n1ght-sh4d3]

Ref Sheet Group 1

UPDATE

~Jobs~

GD: Reaper

PR: BSRS Leader

DM: Scientist

LM: Gardener

RL: Royal Guard General

DaM: Scientist

SD: Reaper

GR: Dream's Apprentice

RD: Reaper

BP: Artist

~Parents~

GD: Geno x Reaper

PR: Ink x Dream

DM: Fell x Sci

LM: Ren x Paci

RL: Splat x Lucid

DaM: Fell x Sci

SD: Geno x Reaper

GR: Ink x Dream

RD: Geno x Reaper

BP: Ink x Blue

~Ships~

Due x Palette x Goth

Dante x Rurik x Lotus

Grisaille x Sorell

Raven x Blueprint

[theoddbun]

Greetings, I’ve made yet another self insert for self shipping. This time for Guilty Gear!!!

Meet Korina!!! She was created by a scientist who really wanted a perfect wife so he did some magic and brought her to life, but she took him literally when he said to ‘love him to death’ and ended up killing him. Her original name was simply “The Maiden.” But eventually she chose her own name, Korina. She inflicts pain on others as her own form of love. Also she is dating Raven and they are a happy couple!!! :3

[lookslikethatsallthetimewehave]

You're right about the other villains not having as much depth as Octavian. With most of them, we don’t even know their backstories!

Oh yeah, I said that.

I should make a list of the villains that have somewhat of a backstory/motivation:

Dr. Hare: Dr. Harvey Hare was the lead scientist for NISS (National Institute of Silly Sciences). There he engineered a top-secret mind control device. The device malfunctioned during testing on a bunny rabbit, fusing him with it.

Copy Cat: Copy Cat made millions selling illegally copied music, but she was caught when she offered a bootlegged computer game to an undercover agent.

Sir Rebral: Sir Rebral believes he is descended from royalty. He was apprehended while stealing the crown jewels from the Queen of Arturus from Astro-Knights Island.

Speeding Spike: Spike was a car thief, and loved speeding.

Ratman: Ratman used trained rats to help him steal money and jewels, but his pets "ratted" on him, leading to his imprisonment.

Crusher: Crusher once stole a monster truck and smashed cars in a parking lot for fun.

Betty Jetty: Betty Jetty was a pilot who flew without a license.

Director D: He is bald and is embarrassed that he is bald, so he wants everyone to be bald too.

Vince Graves: Vince is a renegade archaeologist who is often found in Egypt looking for rare artifacts, and is willing to steal artifacts if necessary. When he finds something valuable, he quickly sells it to the highest bidder and then leaves.

Binary Bard: Mordred (Binary Bard's original name) brought technology to the Kingdom of Arturus. His unnatural experiments (aka cyborgs) led to his imprisonment. Mordred escaped prison and fled into space. His unfinished ship crashed on Pewter Moon, where he was gravely injured. He rebuilt himself as part man, part machine in order to survive, becoming the space tyrant Binary Bard.

Gretchen Grimlock: Gretchen Grimlock is the wealthy owner of Gretchen's Beauty Products, Inc. Her company uses endangered plants and animals in its products. One day while searching for a rare orchid she was attacked by Bigfoot, which caused her to start hunting cryptids.

The Shogun: He and his brother Basho trained as Samurai, but Basho decided to become good and left to be a ninja. Basho was angry at his brother for leaving, and stayed with the Samurai, eventually becoming a tyrant ruling over old Japan. 

Mr. Silva: He wanted to be a fireman. But now he's stuck as a science teacher.

Holmes: Holmes was a robot created by the scientist Dr. Harold Langley to compete in game shows. Eventually he became resentful that Langley was getting all the praise.

Henry Flatbottom: Henry was best friends with Valiant, but he also had a crush on Valiant's girlfriend Fiona. Years after Fiona rejected him, Henry used his power (he's the magistrate) to organize Valiant's death so Fiona could choose him instead.

Count Bram: He was turned into a vampire, and tried for years to come up with a cure for it. Eventually his wife died (because she's a human) and Bram lost his mind.

Mark Hertz: Used to work at Poptropica Headquarters, but left for MegaFightingBots because Poptropica wouldn't allow children to type anything in order to chat with each other.

Ringmaster Raven: Bird Boy was an orphan who was born with avian-esque features. He was used as a side-show attraction in a carnival until he was left behind at a town (accidentally or intentionally). Some time later, Bird Boy was accused of burning down a shop, although it is very heavily suggested that he was most likely framed by the real arsonist. He went into hiding until he was caught, and was driven out of the town as a result.

Myron Van Buren: MVB is the last living descendant of the legendary Van Buren hunting family. He became obsessed with proving his worth.

Scheherazade: Scheherazade and her father were poor traders. One day, her father found a genie lamp, and wished to be a sultan and his daughter a princess. The Sultan became obsessed with the genie and his new wealth, forgetting about Scheherazade, causing her to eventually run away and form the Forty Thieves.

Chthonians: The Chthonians were at war with the Mole People for centuries, but only because the Moles took one of their eggs (the Moles not knowing what it was).

Rumpelstiltskin: The Red Queen captured him and kept him locked in the treasury/prison for years.

Dr. Gramston: Dr. Gramston was a dentist on the Blandside, but her business was failing because half of the townspeople (the Goofside residents) refused to brush their teeth. One day Gramston fell through a hole in her office into the sewers, where she discovered the magical crystals that could turn things goofy or bland. She created a plot to turn the entire island bland.

[the-hilda-librarians-wife]

Founding a new branch of psychoanalysis where instead of showing you pictures to interpret I make you watch Hilda The Series and ask you which characters you ship together. Rip to Freud but mine is better

[spinningbuster98]

Metroid Other M Part 8: The hallow ending

You know...I’ve noticed that Sakamoto’s Metroid games seem to have issues in regards to their endings

With the exception of Super, most of his other games tend to have some sort of weirdness to them. Fusion’s ending is too abrupt, with the AI turning good on a whim simply because Samus just happened to pronounce the magic word by accident, which effectively resolved the X-threat right then and there. Zero Mission ends on a bit of an anti-climax due to the added stealth section ending with a fight against a random Ridley robot. Samus Returns’ Ridley fight is wholly unneeded and goes against the feel of the original Metroid 2. Dread’s ending is clearly rushed with Raven Beak pretty much just dumping a truck load of exposition at you with little explanation.

But none of them even comes remotely close to the absolute train wreck that is Other M’s ending

So let’s run this shit by the order in which it happens shall we?

So Samus fights and kills a Metroid Queen that Madeline sicks on her. Y’know what? This is actually the one useful thing that Samus does in this entire game: had she not taken care of this thing, MB may have used it to eliminate the Federation guys that had just arrived, including Anthony. So yeah, after all this time, Samus does one useful thing

She kills a walking plothole

Why is there a Queen on the Bottle Ship? It had been long established, since at least Fusion, that Metroids are only capable of evolving into their mature forms when they are raised in the environment of their homeworld SR388, which is why the BSL had a whole Sector dedicated to imitating that place, as ADAM explained. The Bottle Ship was not modelled after SR388, in fact Samus compares it more to Zebes. Now to be as fair as possible: Fusion never outright states that Metroids ABSOLUTELY need their homeworld to evolve, ADAM could’ve just meant that it was more ideal and easier. However whatever the initial intentions may have been that’s not what the series ultimately went with, as the Prime games feature Metroids evolving into different subspecies, such as the Tallon Metroids, as explicitly demonstrated by that one room on the Pirate Homeworld in Prime 3, which featured autopsies of Metroids of various origins. Normally I’d say that the two subseries should be kept relatively seperate so as to not create any clashings, but in this case the Prime games simply evolved a concept already hinted at in a 2D game, so in the interest of continuity Other M should’ve kept this into consideration. I mean this didn’t need to be a Metroid Queen, its narrative role could’ve easily been fulfilled by just any other big monster, it’s only a Queen because fanservice and nothing else. We lost continuity due to dumb fanservice and now Samus’ most substantial contribution to this plot is getting rid of a plothole. Just great.

MB is the mastermind behind it all! So now the game enters full movie mode in order to quickly explain to me her generic backstory just before she’s killed off so that I can feel sorry for her. Samus’ narration during the ending is flat out laughable, she’s literally explaining to us why we should feel sorry for MB and how her character worked because the story itself could not be arsed to.

This doesn’t work for so many reasons, first of all being that MB’s backstory is built on some impressive levels of stupidity and unclear logistics. These dumb asshole scientists created an AI based on Mother Brains. MOTHER. BRAIN. The AI infamous for betraying her creators and trying to conquer the galaxy. You base your AI on that thing’s “thought patterns”, put her in charge of your station’s Metroids and other highly dangerous creatures, take absolutely no precautions whatsoever, and then you go full surprised Pikachu face when she starts to grow independent? And then when you decide to reprogram her you do it by trying to forcefully restrain her when you know her android body is stronger than normal humans and can telepathically order every creature on the station to rip you to shreds? I’ve seen time travelling demons with Deviantart-level designs with better layed out plans than this!!

We are not informed about MB’s personality in any way whatsoever, aside from her developing a daughter-mother bond with Madeline. She has literally no personality beyond that. Which was also the case with Mother Brain, but at least past games never waxed poetry about how deep the characrer was and why I should be feeling bad for her! The best thing I can say about MB is that her tricking Samus into walking to her death in Sector Zero was actually pretty smart, but that’s it. That’s all there is to her. She’s a fucking muppet otherwise, which is pretty funny, given that her “developing emotions” was the crux that started this whole shitshow in the first place

I must also ask: how DID they analyze Mother Brain’s “thought patterns” to create MB? Mother Brain was a literal brain in a jar who never left Zebes. Sure the Federation was aware of her existence, so I guess she must’ve come into contact with them in the past I...guess through telepathy? Crossing galactic distances? Whatever.

And of course Samus doesn’t even take her down. No that honor goes to Madeline and the GF troops, followed by Anthony being revealed alive and as the one who previously stopped the engines of the station and is now allowing Madeline to be brought in for questioning. I mean why should Samus even do anything after all? She’s just an outsider as Adam put it at the start of the game: all this shit that’s been going on isn’t her story, it’s Adam and his men’s!

Oh and, just to put this here real quick, it’s sometimes said that the japanese version makes a distinction between the broader Galactif Federation and the guys behind the scenes here, who are supposed to be part of the Army, which is absent in the English version...except that’s not true. The English script certainly uses the terms “Galactic Federation” and “Galactic Army” pretty interexchangeably, but the distinction is there, especially with Adam flat out calling these guys a group of Ringleaders, saying that the broader GF was indeed contemplating making Metroids but that Adam conviced them otherwise with the exception of these guys, so the whole “the Galactic Federation as a whole is not corrupt, only a select few members are” idea has always been there in every version of the script. I’m more interested in knowing if this idea also existed in Fusion and was already a thing back then or if it’s a retcon that Other M came up with as a way to justify Samus still working with the GF in later games like Dread.

Anyway the day is saved! The villain was anti-climactically disposed of! Adam was a dick head to the end and died uselessly! Samus seems to have gotten over her issues for some reason, but hey if she’s happy then who am I to complain right?

Unfortunately we’re not quite done yet. We still have a little bit left before it’s truly over

[vicmillen]

Nooooo... I want my wip done dammit. But anyway my mind got hijacked by a sci-fi au, so. Here we go again I guess, have some sci-fi settings for the LU boys🫠🫠

Feel free to use any or all of this setting for yourself, if anyone is interested. Credits appreciated tho not needed.

General background

The Links came from different time period due to the unavoidable time delay and time wrap in intergalactic travel (think Ender's Game and how all the ships arrived at the same time despite spanning decades in departure). Up to recent times where instant wrap becomes a thing, at least.

The Links, and maybe the Zeldas too, may or may not have came from a common clone source (think Dances On The Snow style cloning, gee I love that novel)

There's a war involving a certain holder of the force of power, at some point.

I actually have no idea what the Links gathered for, something something evil shadows, I guess?

Is time travel a thing? I don't know. Depends on if they fucked with the spacetime continuum hard enough (they have). Though I refuse to melt my brain again for any inevitable paradox situations so for now let's pretend they haven't.

The Links

Sky was a well decorated pilot for the Hylian air force, back when air force is still it's own division. He is the furthest back in terms of time period, being one of the test pilot on board project Skyloft, the very first large scale long distance warp jump in Hylian history. Very skilled pilot, despite the outdated training. Fi is helping a lot with his retraining. His jet is simply named Crimson.

Four is a engineer from the Picori system. At one point got himself into a freak accident involving a cloning station and a lunatic scientist. Extremely quick learner and good at solve technical problems (it's like working fourth times the normal speed, you know:)

Time is humble ranch hand, or so he claims. He's not entirely wrong, but before he become said ranch hand, he has a complicated history with the Hylian council and the intelligence community. Specialized in mech suits, heavy hitter.

Twilight is the actual rancher, being Time's adopted son. However he got himself involved in a series of abduction and trafficking cases, and somehow ended up in some human experiment. Straight up not having a good time tbh. Though he broke himself out and took down the rig before Time got invited to the carnage, which is good because there's at least something left of the offenders. Good at mech suits and piloting jets, but specialized in hand to hand. Hand to claw? Hand to fang?

Warriors was an army captain on board of Artemis' flagship. Though he specialized more on the strategic planning than the daily management, hence why Wind is the unofficial captain of the ship now. Comes across as snobby at first because damn non of this gang have any training or discipline? Mech fighter, heavy hitter. Good with jet piloting too, just don't comes with his own jet. Copilot with Sky if needed.

Wind ran with Tetra's crew before whatever leads to him joining the chain, so a privateer. Though he prefers pirate, just sounds that much cooler. He comes with his own jet, the Red Lion. Talented pilot, very good at scouting. Surprisingly the most experienced in managing the staff on board since it's similar scale as Tetra's.

Legend is, well he'll say he's a merchant. Hauling and selling perfectly legal merchandise. The Federals disagree, but they're mistaken. His private jet, Sir Raven, is not technically armed, but the 'merchandise' on board is varied and certainly useful in hostile situations. Very skilled at navigating and bullshitting the feds and fighting with his custom weaponry. Kind of a weapons expert too.

Hyrule may or may not have been one of the perfectly legal merchandise that required Legend's shipping service at some point. And may or may not have led to Legend gaining yet another wanted poster somewhere, somehow. Works miracles with the med unit, and like Legend is great with the unusual weapons that they rig up.

Wild is a cyborg, multi talented but especially appreciated for working miracles with the food assembly thingie. Despite being the only one on board that don't need edible material to survive. Technically the owner of the ship, and technically is part of the ship too. Take care of the daily management with Wind.

The ships

The ship they're currently aboard is the Master Ship Zero very original I know, Fi is the ship's Ai. Though the three jets in the hull each have their own system. The master ship is not really meant for a crew of only 9, but between the Fours and some creative problem solving, they managed pretty well. (Or maybe the Links didn't came alone, so there are more crew, like Malon Ravio and idk, somebody else.)

Wind's Red Lion is the smallest and lightest jet. Single pilot, speedy and stealthy, but very little fire power.

Sky's Crimson is a antique very traditional fighter jet, though it's is under heavy modification to suit the need of the current situation. For a fighter is on the small side, but comes with heavy fire power.

Legend's Sir Raven is a modified commercial jet, packs a surprising punch. But overall focused on camouflage shielding and speed. The largest jet among the three, actually. At least the largest hull. Can fit the whole chain inside if need must, but cannot provide sustainable life support for more than three people.

[eco-lite]

Some gems from Dreams of the Raven by Carmen Carter:

[Text ID: “Kirk knew his science officer was suffering under the weight of this rampant speculation. ‘Mr. Spock, every new fact we gather seems to compound our difficulties.’ ‘That is the inevitable risk of any scientific endeavor, Captain,’ replied the Vulcan without apology.” End ID]

As a scientist, a relate deeply. That's the worst/most fun thing about science.

[Text ID: “When the shimmer of the transporter beam finally faded, Kirk found himself swaying dizzily on the platform. Spock steadied him with a touch. ‘Sleep is a biological necessity.’ ‘You’re the one who woke me up,’ accused Kirk.” End ID]

#/banter

[Text ID: “’You’re one of the few people on this ship who isn’t in awe of Captain Kirk. You scream and holler when you don’t agree with him. You even scream and holler at Mr. Spock, which nobody else does.’ McCoy stopped in mid-crunch. ‘You can’t be serious?’ ‘Your fights have assumed mythic proportions on the Enterprise,’ she said mischievously. ‘The crew keeps a running list of the insults you’ve thrown at him over the years. No one else would dare use them, but sometimes just reading them can make the science department feel better. Chekov swears by it.’” End ID]

It's so funny to think of Chekov doing this. I bet somebody has made a compilation of all of Bone's insults. He should watch that.

[Text ID: “’I hope that carrier is trying to escape us, Spock.’ Bootless, Kirk stood up and stripped off his shirt. ‘Under the circumstances, I’m more worried about overtaking the ship than losing it.’ The science officer considered this statement. ‘Phaser cannons, triple-field defense shields, photon disrupter buoys…’ ‘Which wouldn’t mean a damn thing if we had warp speed,’ said Kirk, now fully unclothed, as he ducked into the sonic shower. ‘However, at impulse speed we are less than evenly matched.’ Spock weighed the strengths of the two sides as if evaluating another chess game. ‘Our phasers would be hard-pressed to penetrate its defenses. Our shields could not withstand more than one direct hit. The Falchion will be at a similar disadvantage. Our combined forces may not be sufficient to counter an attack.’ ‘And these aliens do seem determined to pick a fight,’ yelled Kirk from inside the cubicle. ‘Agreed,’ said Spock. His fingers lightly touched the bishop, but did not change its position. He studied the board yet again and slowly withdrew his hand. Kirk stepped back into the room. ‘It’s cold in here,’ he complained, quickly pulling on a clean set of clothes. ‘Yes,’ replied the Vulcan. ‘And Mr. Scott is contemplating another five-degree drop to conserve power expenditure.’” End ID]

Just casual intimacy in the captain's quarters... Kirk is in another room here, but like... he got up in the middle of their chess game and just got in the shower. While continuing their conversation. That is severe married energy.

[Text ID: “’You put human beings in that unholy device?’ McCoy came to a dead stop at the threshold of the transporter room. The platform which had held Uhura was now empty. She, and a stack of cargo containers, had dissolved in a glittering cloud. McCoy turned a look of horror on the chief engineer who had effected their departure. ‘Dinna look at me as if I’m Jack the Ripper,’ said Scotty indignantly.” End ID]

Excellent references to both TMP and "Wolf in the Fold."

[Text ID: “’I don’t give a damn what he thinks,’ snapped Kirk. ‘I’m asking for your opinion.’” End ID]

Kirk is talking to Nurse Chapel here. I really loved this book's characterization of Chapel, and how it emphasized her importance on the crew. She's a badass and she deserves to be heard!

[Text ID: “’You’ve got to operate on Spock.’ ‘What?’ exclaimed McCoy, half-laughing. ‘Are you out of your mind? I don’t have the surgical skill to operate on a Human, much less a Vulcan. I’m barely qualified to assist Cortejo…’ ‘That’s not true.’ The stiff posture of a starship commander melted away. Kirk stepped closer, arms raised to urge his appeal. ‘You’ve got the knowledge, McCoy—somewhere. Reach for it, use it.’ McCoy shook his head. ‘You don’t know what you’re asking of me, Captain.’ ‘I don’t care,’ Kirk said fiercely. ‘It’s your duty as a doctor, as my ship’s surgeon…’ ‘No!’ McCoy pulled back in horror. ‘You can’t just order me to cut open a living being. I’ve never done that before.’ ‘You’ve dine it a hundred times,’ Kirk thundered. ‘Goddammit, Bones, Spock is dying!’ The words had no effect on the man standing before him. McCoy shrugged impassively. ‘I’m not your “Bones.” I can’t remember and I can’t help him.’ ‘Can’t?’ asking the captain bitterly. ‘No, I think you won’t remember. You’re quite happy to forget the last twenty-five years. They frighten you because they weren’t tidy and predictable—they were messy and full of nasty surprises. You’re still a boy—a boy who wants to go through life without making mistakes, the bad mistakes that can’t be set right again. To admit the mistakes means facing your own weaknesses…’  ‘Stop it!’ shouted McCoy. ‘… and finding your strengths.’ Kirk’s tone turned flat and harsh. ‘Listen to me, Leonard McCoy. You many not care what happens to Spock, but somewhere inside of you is a man who would stop at nothing to save his friend’s life, to save any life, no matter what the personal cost. It was that quality that made him the best medical officer in Star Fleet. If you don’t have that same passion for the value of life, you’ll never be half the doctor he was. Of half the man.’ Kirk fixed his eyes on the doctor’s pale face. ‘Can you really let Spock die so easily?’ McCoy flinched away from Kirk’s gaze, then slowly shook his head. ‘The first time I lost a patient, I kicked a hole through a wardroom door … cost me a week’s salary to pay for the repairs. The other doctors told me I’d get used to it.’ ‘You stopped kicking down doors,’ said Kirk, ‘but you never got used to death.’ McCoy stood silent for a moment, staring past the captain at a private vision. Then his eyes blinked as if to clear it away. ‘That’s as good an epitaph as any doctor could ask for.’ McCoy took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. ‘I can’t promise anything, Captain Kirk—except that I’ll try.’” End ID]

This is just an excellent Kirk speech. I would have loved to see this in an episode; Shatner and Kelley would have done a great job with this scene. For context, Bones lost his memory of the last 25 years, so in his mind he's still a medical resident and doesn't know any of these people on the crew. Why should he care about Spock? But in the end Kirk reminds McCoy how deeply he values life. I also kind of adore that it was the desperate need to save Spock's life that triggered Bone's memory to come back.

[faybellesbeauty]

Oooh okay sending in an ask.

Asking abt your opinions on some of my rarepairs/unpopular ships

Daring x Lizzie 

Ashlynn x Farrah

Kitty x Cerise

Kitty x Cerise x Cedar

Maddie x Clara Lear

Apple x Meeshell

Justine x Farrah

Briar x Ginger

Hopper x Prudence Step

Cerise x Raven

Crystal x Ashlynn

(Ik it’s kinda a lot but…)

okay, so first of all i LOVE all of these?? u are probably the only person i've ever met who i agree so much with ahskksdjfk

anyways, heres my thoughts:

Daring x Lizzie: depends a lot!!! i don't really like Daring with anyone, but Lizzie is probably the only person besides Rosabella i would ever pair him with!

Ashlynn x Farrah: SO UNDERRATED HELLO?? i love them so so so so much one of my favourite ships

Kitty x Cerise: … literally one of my otps. that's all i have to say about them.

Kitty x Cerise x Cedar: i see it tbh!! i'm more of a Cerise x Cedar shipper by themselves because i somehow feel like Cedar would NOT like Kitty enough to ever approve of her even if they didn't date directly

Maddie x Clara Lear: makes sense now that i think about it!! i hc Maddie as aroace though so basically any ship with her is kind of a no from me

Apple x Meeshell: Apple with any non man will always be close to my heart, so i love this one as well!! they would be such a cute pair sigh

Justine x Farrah: i need to think about this one a little more because both of them are kind of unknown characters to me (i just never picked them up i guess??) but i do kinda see it!!

Briar x Ginger: alright pack it up we are going to a brain scientist. i thought NOBODY shipped them besides me we HAVE to share a brain (or a braincell)

Hopper x Prudence Step: im gonna be honest i had to google who prudence was… so i can't really say anything about them but i do think they could work well !

Cerise x Raven: OH MY LORD I SHIPPED THEM SO HARD WHILE READING THE BOOKS FOR THE FIRST TIME they are so precious to me

Crystal x Ashlynn: LOVE THEM SO BAD!!!!!! i feel like crystal kinda always had feelings for ash but never did anything because she saw how she was with hunter TT

[jetcat-14]

Sketchbook

Girl form Space AU

PT..1

Johanna is a Space Scientist working with Victoria Van Gal .

Johanna is a single mom to a little daughter (Hilda) but with help she is able work still at the lab.

Working for a large company Johanna has mainly been working on tech or studying space rock.

But something new appears in the lab .

Johanna sits at her desk. (I image Johanna has glasses on) and writing when Van Gal runs in .

'Johanna You need to see this '.

Johanna follows her out into a room where beyond the glass what seems like a human is looking back .

'Victoria.....who's the actress'?

Johanna glaces at the Raven haired women whom only sits along the wall.

'Thats not a Human Johanna'.

Johanna looks pizzled.

'Vicky.......if she isn't human....where did we find her'.

'Ship south of Trollburg.....most of crashed or something ".

Johanna finally moves all the way to the glass and looks at the women. There is just something about her Johanna likes she just can't put her finger on it .

(more to come)

[literaryspinster]

I want to write a limoreau fic real bad but the idea that's sticking with me the most will probably take like two years to finish and I don't know if anyone will be interested in reading it because it's a historical au (I love those) and they can be harder sells 😭. Also I'm not a quick updater, I used to be but I have a full time job and other responsibilities now. Including a dickkory historical au that was going to be my last multichap.

Anyway, God U reimagined as a secret headquarters ran by a Dr. Frankenstein/Dr Jekyllesque mad scientist anyone? You know i'm invested in a ship if i write them a sweeping romance set in the past and with flowery letters as an occasional framing device, but this is the first time I've considered still giving the characters their abilities instead of just cutely hinting at them (i.e. giving Gar a pet tiger and Rachel a pet Raven in my circus fic, Kory wanting to be an astronaut in my Woodstock fic, etc)